How to Read the Rescue Me Series: The Quick Answer
For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the Rescue Me series in publication order. While each book is written as a standalone contemporary romance with a satisfying Happy Ever After (HEA) for a different couple, they are all set around the High Grove Animal Shelter in St. Louis, Missouri. Reading in order allows you to watch the shelter grow, follow the progression of the staff, and enjoy cameos from past couples without any spoilers.
Start your journey with the book that launched the series, A New Leash on Love (2017), which introduces you to the shelter director, the core setting, and the heartwarming tone that defines Debbie Burns' writing.
Rescue Me Books in Publication Order
Here is the complete chronological list of the books in the Rescue Me series based on their release dates. You can follow this sequence to experience the stories exactly as Debbie Burns published them:
- Book 1: A New Leash on Love (2017) – Featuring Craig Williams, Megan Anderson, and a mischievous puppy.
- Book 2: Sit, Stay, Love (2018) – Featuring Kelsey Sutton, Kurt Crawford, and a rescued dog needing rehabilitation.
- Book 3: My Forever Home (2018) – Featuring Tess Grasso, Mason Redding, and a stray Husky.
- Book 4: Love at First Bark (2019) – Featuring Mia Chambers, Ben Thomas, and a pack of abandoned border collies.
- Book 5: Head Over Paws (2020) – Featuring Olivia Graham, Gabe Wentworth, and a dog named Morgan rescued from a flood.
- Book 6: To Be Loved by You (2022) – Featuring Ava Graham, Jeremy Washington, and a therapy program dog named Rolo.
- Book 7: You're My Home (2022/2023) – Featuring Riley Leighton, Levi Duncan, and a heartwarming second-chance reunion.
An In-Depth Look at the Rescue Me Books
1. A New Leash on Love (2017)
The series begins with A New Leash on Love, introducing readers to Megan Anderson, the dedicated and overworked director of the High Grove Animal Shelter. Megan pours her entire heart into saving animals, leaving little room for a personal life. Enter Craig Williams, a single father and veteran who is struggling to connect with his young daughter after a painful divorce. When Craig visits the shelter to drop off a puppy his ex-wife bought on a whim, he and Megan clash immediately. However, as Craig begins volunteering at the shelter, their initial friction melts into a slow-burn romance. This debut perfectly establishes the healing power of animals and the tight-knit St. Louis community.
2. Sit, Stay, Love (2018)
In the second installment, Sit, Stay, Love, the narrative shifts to Kelsey Sutton and Kurt Crawford. Kurt is a quiet, stoic ex-military dog trainer carrying his own emotional baggage. Kelsey is a warm-hearted shelter volunteer trying to find her footing in life. When High Grove rescues several dogs from a fighting ring, Kelsey and Kurt must work together to rehabilitate them. As they build trust with the traumatized animals, they find themselves slowly opening up to one another. It is a poignant story about healing, redemption, and learning to let love back into your life.
3. My Forever Home (2018)
My Forever Home focuses on Tess Grasso, a vet school dropout who works at the shelter, and Mason Redding, a former professional baseball player whose career was cut short by an injury. Both characters feel like they are stuck in limbo, grieving the loss of their primary dreams. Their paths cross when they team up to care for an abandoned Husky. Through the dog's journey to recovery, Tess and Mason are forced to confront their fears of failure and find new purpose—and love—in each other's arms.
4. Love at First Bark (2019)
The fourth book, Love at First Bark, brings readers the story of Mia Chambers and Ben Thomas. Mia is a veterinary technician at High Grove who has harbored a secret crush on the shelter's handsome landscape architect, Ben. When a group of abandoned border collies is found in a state of neglect, Mia and Ben work side-by-side to rescue and care for them. The chaotic and demanding nature of the rescue forces their unspoken feelings to the surface, resulting in a sweet, tender, and emotionally satisfying romance.
5. Head Over Paws (2020)
In Head Over Paws, schoolteacher and volunteer rescue driver Olivia Graham finds herself stranded during a severe flash flood while transporting animals. Her savior comes in the form of Gabe Wentworth, a reclusive veterinarian and former EMT/firefighter who has shut himself off from the world after a devastating breakup. As they work together to save a dog named Morgan from the rising floodwaters, Gabe is drawn out of his shell by Olivia's vibrant spirit. This book is highly praised for its high-stakes opening and deeply emotional character growth.
6. To Be Loved by You (2022)
To Be Loved by You features Olivia's sister, Ava Graham, who moves to St. Louis to rebuild her life following a difficult divorce. Looking for a fresh start, she begins volunteering at High Grove and is paired with Jeremy Washington, a youth counselor who runs a therapy dog program for at-risk teens. Jeremy is a recovering addict who has dedicated his life to helping others but believes he isn't built for a lasting relationship. Working together with the teens and a lovable rescue dog named Rolo, Ava and Jeremy must learn to overcome their past insecurities to build a future together.
7. You're My Home (2022/2023)
The seventh book, You're My Home, delivers a classic second-chance romance. Riley Leighton has spent years running away from her hometown and her feelings, but she finally returns to St. Louis to pursue her dream job. This brings her back into the orbit of Levi Duncan, the man she left behind. The chemistry between them is as strong as ever, but they have years of history and unhealed wounds to navigate. With the help of the shelter community and a few four-legged friends, they discover if they can finally make a home together.
What to Know Before You Start
Debbie Burns’ writing style is clean, heartfelt, and deeply character-driven. While the romances are central, the animals are never just background props; they are fully realized characters with their own distinct personalities and therapeutic roles in the human protagonists' lives. The books balance lighthearted, cozy shelter dynamics with heavier themes such as divorce, grief, trauma, and recovery, making the happily-ever-afters feel earned and realistic.
For readers looking for more of Debbie's animal-centered romances, her 2024 standalone novel Home Is Where Your Bark Is features a similar cozy tone and canine focus, following a protagonist who meets a handsome stranger after an accident involving a border collie named Seven. While it is not set at High Grove, it makes an excellent companion read for fans of the Rescue Me series.