Title: Shelter Me
Author: Catherine Mann
Publisher: Berkley
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Series: Second Chance Ranch #1
Genre: Romance
Rating: 5
Review:
"Shelter Me" by Catherine Mann...

From USA Today bestselling author Catherine Mann comes this beautiful, heartwarming novel about a returning military officer, the daughter of his fallen commander, and a very special dog with a mission. For fans of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery.

"Nestled in the sunny fields of Tennessee lies the McDaniel family’s Second Chance Ranch Animal Rescue. Two new arrivals are on their way, but only one is the four-legged kind.

Staff Sergeant Mike Kowalski wants only one thing after he gets home from Iraq: to sleep in a king-sized bed with clean sheets. But first, he has to hand off his fallen commander’s dog, Trooper, to his family without handing off his heart to Sierra…

Sierra McDaniel needs a break. Her family life is crazy, and when she’s not mucking out kennels, she’s slogging through grad school. Sierra certainly doesn’t want another dog, especially one that reminds her of her father. And she definitely doesn’t want to see Mike with that charming smile of his…

But Trooper has a mission of his own. Before too long Mike is moving to the ranch to lend a hand—and hoping for his own second chance with Sierra."

What I liked from "Shelter Me"....

I hesitated a bit before I picked up this read after reading what this novel was about but I am so glad that I did. I will say this author really knows how to write a script that puts the reader at ease with the subject line. Let's just say this was a story that involved the whole McDaniel family. From the father, [fallen commander], his father (the grandfather), wife, daughter, son, dog and a dear friend of the family. You will find from the read that this is a military family their has been a death [a dear son, husband and father...with the surviving family members have to endure quite a lots pain before this story will end. A dear friend [Mike]to the family has brought home a dog [Trooper] that had belonged to this fallen commander. Why, because Mike had promised to do so. It seems like this dog was a reminder of a dog that had once been owned by this fallen commander. Only when Mike had done his job with delivering Trooper to this family he they will see that this family needed his help. With Mike being on leave what could he do but help especially since this would possibly put him closer to Sierra since they had broken up with much earlier before his time over seas. I will let you in on a secret... I even teared up while reading some of this good read. This author really works her magic in showing how each one of these family members were desperately in the need of his help and yet didn't Mike also need help? Also this author even gave thoughts of that of the dog Trooper...yes of what Trooper was thinking from the read. Now, you know dogs can't talk or can they?

The primary and secondary characters were all richly developed as they seemed to come alive on the pages with each scene and conversation being so complete and special. Also those hot, steamy scenes from a certain couple was off the chart...well done. I don't want to give too much away but I will say this was a excellent and yes it's a military read. So be prepared for some real issues that can happen and you will find it interesting in how they are handled. Will they be fixable? You will just have to see for yourself. "Shelter Me" was somewhat long read but nothing was over done. When this author brings it to a close at the end of the read all will be wrapped up...well except one situation that will have you wondering.... but you will have to read the next series to find out what that was. Would I recommend "Shelter Me?" YES and Yes!