Debbie Burns Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Path for Debbie Burns

For readers diving into the warm, fuzzy, and deeply emotional world of Debbie Burns, the recommended reading path is simple: begin with her signature Rescue Me series. Because this series is set around the fictional High Grove Animal Shelter in St. Louis, Missouri, reading the books in order allows you to watch the shelter grow, see minor characters step into the spotlight, and enjoy the recurring appearances of previously adopted pets. However, if you prefer standalone fiction, her contemporary women's fiction and standalone romances can be read in any order at any time.

Rescue Me Series in Publication Order

The Rescue Me series consists of seven main novels. Each book pairs a human couple finding a second chance at love with a rescue animal in need of a forever home. We recommend following the publication order to get the full experience of the High Grove Animal Shelter community:

1. A New Leash on Love (2017) – High Grove shelter worker Megan Anderson meets busy single dad Craig Williams when he comes in looking to adopt a dog for his daughter. Craig ends up adopting Barney, a lovable Golden Retriever mix, and finds his life turned upside down by Megan.
2. Sit, Stay, Love (2018) – Devoted shelter worker Kelsey Sutton takes on the monumental task of rehabilitating thirty-seven dogs rescued from a fighting ring. She matches wits and hearts with Kurt Crawford, a handsome former military dog handler struggling with PTSD.
3. My Forever Home (2018) – Focused on volunteer Tess and former military vet Mason, who team up to rescue a free-roaming stray dog that Mason names John Ronald. Together, they find healing and connection.
4. Love at First Bark (2019) – This fourth installment continues the sweet, slow-burn romantic traditions of the High Grove Shelter, focusing on the powerful bond between humans, their rescue dogs, and the unexpected ways love brings them together.
5. Head Over Paws (2020) – Olivia Graham, a middle school math teacher who volunteers as a rescue driver, gets stranded in a flood while transporting shelter animals. She is rescued by Gabe Wentworth, a reclusive veterinarian and former firefighter, and they work together to save a dog named Morgan.
6. To Be Loved by You (2022) – Jeremy Washington, a program leader running a therapy program for at-risk youth with his Bernese Mountain Dog/German Shepherd mix named Rolo, meets Ava Graham, a real estate agent and yoga teacher who volunteers her time at the shelter.
7. You're My Home (2022) – High school sweethearts Riley Leighton and Levi Duncan reconnect when Riley returns to her hometown to care for her mother and starts working at the animal shelter. A rescued Great Dane named Arlo helps bring them back together.

Standalone Novels

Alongside her famous shelter-based series, Debbie Burns has penned standalone novels that branch out into deeper themes of women's fiction, grief, and family dynamics, while still retaining her trademark love for canine companions:

• Summer by the River (2021) – A standalone contemporary novel about fresh starts, healing old wounds, and finding love along the riverfront.
• Home Is Where Your Bark Is (2024) – Jenna Dunning is in a car accident while trying to surrender a border collie named Seven. Jake Stiles, a bystander who helps Jenna, volunteers to foster the dog, sparking an unexpected romance.
• Bigger Than Us (2025) – A deeper women's fiction novel centering on Maddie Trudeau, a widow raising five-year-old twins with the help of her mother and a newly rescued Great Pyrenees after her husband's tragic death.

Children's Books: The Tukie Tales

Co-written with her sister Patty Cockrell under the joint name Debbie Burns and Patty Cockrell, the Tukie Tales series represents a completely different side of Burns's writing. Inspired by a tragic bullying incident in 1993, the sisters created these stories to teach young children the importance of empathy, teamwork, and kindness. Often collected under the title Tukie Tales: A New Beginning for a Better Tomorrow, these books are meant to be read aloud to help parents foster emotional safety and respect in the next generation.

Chronological Order vs. Publication Order Caveats

Fortunately for readers, there are no complicated timeline jumps in Debbie Burns's bibliography. The chronological order of the Rescue Me series mirrors the publication order. While each book functions as a standalone romance with a self-contained happy ending, reading them out of order will spoil which previous characters ended up together and which dogs found homes. If you do choose to jump around, you won't be lost, but starting with A New Leash on Love offers the most rewarding experience.

What to Know Before You Start

Debbie Burns's books are classified as clean to mild contemporary romances and women's fiction. The emotional stakes are grounded in real-world struggles like PTSD, grief, and self-doubt, but the tone remains fundamentally uplifting and hopeful. Animal rescue is not just a background setting; it is a core theme. Burns's biology background and her personal experience with rescue pets shine through in the realistic behaviors of the animals, making her books a must-read for any animal lover.