This book was a little slow to get into and took a while to finish. It was just ok for me. I had high hopes because of the story and the great reviews.

An enjoyable but a bit predictable story about dogs and sisters and love. I thought the dialogues while Jenna and Jake were getting to know each other were way too long and covered info that we as readers already knew. Otherwise, it is well-written with interesting characters.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Jenna is on her way to return a high energy border collie to the shelter when she is involved in a car accident.
Jake, who was alsos a victim of the crash takes charge of the dog as Jenna is taken to the hospital. When
Jake takes the dog to turn him back to the shelter, he learns that the dog has already been returned six times.
Jake decides to take care of the border collie whom he names Seven and hopes to convince Seven that some
humans can be trusted. Heartwarming story about Seven's chance to find a permanent home with trom
Jake and Jenna.
#HomeisWhereYourBarkIs #SourcebooksCasablanca #NetGalley

This was an absolutely adorable book. A high energy Border Collie keeps getting returned to the shelter. He has endured a lot in his short life. Until finally he meets what could be his forever home due to pure chance- through being involved in a car accident.

This was a very cute love story. No spice really, but a few hints at it. The story was centered around 2 people who met through chance circumstances and the Border Collie plays a big role in that.

A few of the chapters are even told from the Border Collie’s point of view, which I loved! I also loved how well his personality was captured. As a Border Collie mom, they are so highly intelligent and so high anxiety like this book described.

This is a little long for a love story, but I think it’s a great read especially if you are a dog lover or have ever had a Border Collie.

Thank you to netgalley for the free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. Being a dog lover and a volunteer for loved this book. Being a dog lover and a volunteer for a nationwide rescue made me understand a bit better why Seven had been in so many foster homes. This book is a love story, well actually two love stories. It shows the bond that man can have with a dog. A strong and amazing bond. Jake and Jenna are taking things slow in their relationship. I found that this book was a feel good book and had me laughing at times at the things that Seven did!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca publishing for the arc in exchange for my honest review. (less) [edit]

This story revolves, to some extent, around and about a dog, a Border Collie who has lived in many homes with many different families - all of which returned him to
the shelter, only to be ‘tried on’ by one family after another when they find him a bit too difficult to handle, and Jenna’s sister asks her to take him back to the shelter which Jenna is somewhat reluctant to do. On her way, she is hit by another car, and ends up in an ambulance, when the man who was behind her comes to check on her, and she asks him to take care of the dog.

This is a love story, or rather two love stories, if you count the love that is extended to the dog, now named Seven, as that is the seventh time he would have ended up in the shelter, but he is determined to at least foster him, hoping that he could help the dog have a little faith and trust in him.

A sweet story with a lot of charm.


Pub Date: 19 Nov 2024


Many thanks for the ARC provided by SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca / Sourcebooks Casablanca

This was a wonderful story! I'm glad I picked it up.
At first I was afraid I wouldn't like it but it was a joy to read!
Seven made me laugh. He was an unusual dog but my favorite in this story. I adored him! He's what made this wonderful story.
Of course I liked Jake and Jenna too. I always thought they made a cute couple from the get go.
This book had some places that I didn't much care for but I still enjoyed it.
Like that silly girl at the pet store. I didn't much like her or that manager.
The cover of this novel was what made me want to read it. I love stories with pets in them and this one definitely made me laugh.
I couldn't put it down! I loved every minute of it.
5 stars from me for keeping me entertained. I highly recommend!
My thanks for a well written message about hope, love forgiveness and family.
I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
More please!
All animals deserve a happy ever after!

I’m a sucker for books with dogs, and this one didn’t disappoint. There are chapters told from the dog’s point of view, which were both entertaining and, at times, sad to read. The story begins when the main characters, Jake and Jenna, literally crash into each other—Jenna’s car is hit by a drunk driver, pushing it into Jake’s. Coincidentally, Jenna is on her way to return her sister’s dog to a local shelter, as her sister can no longer handle its high energy. While Jenna is taken to the hospital, Jake agrees to take care of the dog.

Throughout the book, we watch Jake and Jenna navigate their relationship while also seeing Jake bond with the dog, building trust along the way. In the end, they all get their happily ever after.

I wasn’t able to connect with this story at first and it took me a bit to get into the flow.

In spite of this initial response, I found this heartwarming and sweet. I really adored Seven, and appreciated the more realistic aspects of adopting a rescue dog.



Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the DRC

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for a DRC of this title.

Sweet and romantic and exactly what I was looking for when I requested it. Will definitely look forward to recommending this book (and series) to pet-loving romance readers!

Home is Where Your Bark Is is delightful, touching, heartwarming, and at times heartbreaking. Seven is a border collie whose boundless energy has resulted in his regular return to the animal shelter. Jenna struggles to find balanced boundaries with her sister, and Jake is finally able to break off a relationship that hasn’t been working. A chance accident brings them all together and life is never the same! Learning to trust is difficult for Seven, and Jake and Jenna work to help him learn and embrace that trust. In the process, they open themselves up to love, trust, and acceptance. The story is emotional, enchanting, and inspiring, and I loved it!

Home is Where Your Bark Is, a new book by Debbie Burns, hits so many different emotions. It is heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. There are two stories within the book. One is Jenna, her sister, and the family drama involved with their relationship. But the primary story is about Jenna, Jake, and Seven, a shelter dog that has been returned to multiple animal shelters six times! Some of the story is told through Seven’s point of view as Jake tries to break his distrust of humans. During the process, Jake and Jenna realize that love means never giving up on Seven when other people do. This book is for anyone who loves romance and dogs!

This is a heartwarming romance story that is highly recommended for any dog lover out there. I loved it and it was a palate cleanser for me.

This novel was a delight and a challenge to read – both relating to the history and antics of a feisty Border Collie named Seven. The high energy and intelligence associated with this breed are well portrayed as Seven responds to loving kindness and discipline after years of being returned to shelters and even abused. The book serves as a gentle reminder (almost a tutorial) on appropriately matching a dog to its prospective owner(s) as well as the patience required to overcome the effects of trauma in bonding with rescue dogs. The romance aspect between Jenna and Jake is believable and relatable, but the primary star and focus of the book is Seven.

Overall, this is a heart-warming and heart-tugging story that is sure to appeal to dog lovers and anyone who ever felt the poignancy of the advertisements appealing for funds to support animal shelters. It is my first exposure to this author, and I was impressed by her ability to convey the emotional issues. I especially enjoyed the chapters written from the perspective of Seven himself as he learns to overcome his fear and trust issues.


My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Pets and romance? What more could you ask for? That is exactly what I got in Home Is Where Your Bark Is!

I grew up with a border collie and chose this book nearly solely based on the cover; I’m a sucker for any book with a herding breed dog. And the story didn’t disappoint. Told in alternating perspectives of Jake and Jenna (the human main characters) and Seven (the aforementioned border collie), the book starts out with an emotional punch that doesn’t let up. Seven’s chapters are a unique and endearing twist on your typical dual-perspective narration style and had me tearing up at times. Definitely a tear jerker of a romance, but there are lighthearted moments and moments of hope and love to balance it out. Would definitely recommend to anyone who liked Marley and Me or The Art of Racing in the Rain.

I don't normally read books about dogs and dog related romance stories. However, this cover and title captured my attention. I thought it was a sweet novel, and it entertained me between heavier story lined books. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.