She rescues animals; he rescues people. Can Rhiann and Levi rescue each other? A second-chance romance and the first in a series featuring pet rescue and adoption, this novel takes readers to property in southwestern Montana where three people have totally different views on what happens to the ranch that all three want … but only one can possess.

Gayle, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We support all furbabies, real life or fictional. We want to know all about your Fiction Furbaby, but first, please tell us about Rescue Road.

Rescue Road by Gayle M Irwin

Genre Sweet, contemporary, small-town romance

Book heat level (based on movie ratings): G

Rescue Road – First in the Pet Rescue Romance series

Sweet Contemporary Small-town Romance

Freelance writer Rhiann Kelly shelved romance for years. Her dream of starting an animal sanctuary takes deep roots after finding the perfect location in southwestern Montana and purchasing the property for back taxes.

Emergency medical technician Levi Butler knows his elderly friend left the ranch to him in his will. Levi anxiously awaits the probate to be complete so he can plan his retirement and begin his dream of raising and selling horses.

When Rhiann and Levi find each other at the ranch simultaneously, sparks fly – and not the romantic kind. Yet their mutual attraction deepens, especially after Levi finds Rhiann injured in an accident. Meantime, land developer Dallas Patterson sets his sights on charming Rhiann to obtain the land.

Can Rhiann and Levi work together to detour Patterson and find a solution in which neither needs to give up their dream, or will the fence line of their hearts – and the property – separate them forever? Can their broken paths weave their hearts together as they travel the rescue road?

Meet Jax from Rescue Road and My Montana Love

Full name: Jax Kelly

Nickname: Jax

Gender: Male

Species: Dog – Shih Tzu

Physical description: White with black patches and speckles

Relationship to main character: My primary female character’s (Rhiann Kelly) dog

Relationship to the villain/antagonist: Jax is wary and suspicious of Dallas Patterson and helps to thwart Patterson’s plan to kidnap Rhiann.

Where this furbaby came from: Came into rescue from a puppy mill operation; Rhiann helped rescue him and then adopted him.

What inspired you to create this character?

Jax embodies my own puppy mill survivor, Jeremiah, who spent the first three years of his life in the mill. He and many other mill dogs were rescued by an organization in Nebraska called Hearts United for Animals; a year after his rescue, my husband and I adopted him. I wanted to showcase Jeremiah’s story subtly into the story to help people realize the situation of puppy mill dogs and the need to rescue and adopt them.

What does the main character think about this furbaby?

Rhiann is totally attached to Jax; he is her companion and best friend as she moves to and settles upon a ranch purchased for back taxes. Her dream is to create an animal rescue sanctuary, with Jax as the mascot. Settling into a new location takes courage, and Jax helps bring that trait to life for Rhiann because of his own courage to settle into a new life as a rescued, adopted dog.

What does this furbaby add to the story?

Jax brings stability into Rhiann’s life after the death of her beloved grandmother, who helped her purchase the property, and thereby, brought Rhiann’s dream of a rescue sanctuary to reality. Jax demonstrates loyalty and courage throughout the scenes he’s in, adding sweetness to the story. He also takes on the role of protector, especially later in the book when the villain attempts to kidnap Rhiann.

What about this furbaby will readers like, and why?

Readers will cheer on this ‘underdog’ as his story and purpose unfold in the book. His devotion to Rhiann and his friendship with her may create a deeper gratitude for their own pets and the joy animal add to our lives. Because of his background as a puppy mill rescue, readers will more deeply understand how a bad start in life doesn’t mean no hope for animals like Jax, and hopefully, they will realize the cruelty inflicted upon dogs confined in puppy mill facilities and seek ways to assist rescue groups that help these animals find freedom and new life with adoptive families.

Please share an interesting fact or tidbit about this furbaby.

In Rescue Road, Jax has a blind beagle friend whom he and Rhiann assist, and the friendship between the two dogs is another testament to the loyalty most dogs have not only to people, but to their own species – even if the breeds are different. Also, in My Montana Love, Jax has a new canine companion, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Diamond; his blind beagle friend receives a new home during Rescue Road, with a vet tech named Trisha.

Describe a humorous incident involving the animal character.

From Rescue Road:

In order to jump-start fundraising for her animal rescue sanctuary, Rhiann and her friends put together a harvest-themed gala. They dress up some of the dogs in special outfits; one of those animals is Jax. With a tux, complete with bowtie, fitted for his small frame, Jax prances around the gathering, drawing attention from people. When Rhiann’s love interest, Levi, shows up, Jax is contently laying in the crook of Rhiann’s arm. Levi needs to apologize to Rhiann for his behavior the previous few days. She uses Jax as a type of fortress, keeping Levi at a distance. After his confession and her acceptance of his apology, he moves closer to Rhiann to kiss her. Levi pats the small dog’s head says Jax, “You’re looking mighty handsome, little buddy, but I need you to excuse us for a moment.” The little dog whines when Levi removes him from the comfort of Rhiann’s arms and then wraps his own around her waist and slowly kisses her. Jax paws at Levi’s pant leg, breaking the moment and generating a laugh out of Rhiann and Levi.

About Jeremiah

Which, if any of the pets in your writing are modeled after your own pets? In what way?

Jeremiah is Jax is many ways. I wanted to share Jeremiah’s story as a puppy mill survivor, so I created Jax to represent him (and other puppy mill survivors). Jeremiah came into our household knowing very little about living in a home; even the TV and telephone were strange noises to him. Slowly, over time, he adjusted and learned what it means to be fully loved and cared for in household. He’s become a joyful, playful pup and through Jax, readers will learn not only about puppy mills, but about the joy an adopted pet brings to a person’s life.

What do your pets do when you are writing?

Jeremiah and Sadie (a springer spaniel) and my two cats (16-year-old sisters Murphy and Bailey) generally sleep while I write: the dogs in my home office, and the cats in their special places in the house (usually a clothing or linen closet). The dogs are now 10 years old, so they, too, primarily sleep … until my husband or I get out a toy or snap the leash to indicate it’s “WALK” time!

Where did you find your pet?

My husband and I adopted Jeremiah through Hearts United for Animals, an animal rescue sanctuary located in southeastern Nebraska. The organization primarily rescues dogs in midwestern puppy mills, but they also take in strays people find and other animals in need of care and adoption.

Describe a toy or favorite item your pet loves.

Jeremiah’s favorite toy is an old washcloth. Because of his small face and mouth, and the fact he only has 12 teeth due to extractions because of poor nutrition, he has a difficult time clamping down on “regular” toys. A washcloth is soft, thin, and easy for him to shake, carry around, and chew on. However, he can enjoy small, soft squeaky toys – his favorite among the four he now has is a green snake, again because of the small size.

Where to buy Rescue Road

Amazon https://amzn.to/2W7fpBe
Amazon Author Page https://amzn.to/37WMk0V
Barnes and Noble https://bit.ly/3w5fgio_BN2021
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/rescue-road-2
Books2Read https://books2read.com/u/4DE9Oe

Gayle M Irwin Social Media

Gayle M Irwin is a contributor to seven Chicken Soup for the Soul books and the author of many inspirational pet books and stories for children and adults. Her clean, contemporary romance series, Pet Rescue Romance, consists of Rescue Road, released November 2019, Finding Love at Compassion Ranch, released in May 2020, a 2020 holiday novella, Rhiann’s Rescue (the series’ prequel), and My Montana Love (sequel to Rescue Road), released March 2021. She subtly weaves important life lessons within the lines and pages of her stories, including the importance of pet rescue and adoption. Learn more about Gayle and her writing here on her website: https://gaylemirwinauthor.com/
Blog https://gaylemirwinauthor.com/blog/
Twitter https://twitter.com/wyoauthor1
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GayleMIrwin
Pinterest www.pinterest.com/gaylemirwin
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/wyoauthor1
Amazon Author Page https://amzn.to/37WMk0V
Get to know Gayle M Irwin better by signing up for her email newsletter: https://gaylemirwinauthor.com/ OR follow her bi-monthly blog at https://gaylemirwinauthor.com/blog/

Shout out to Rob’s Rescues – founded by a 9-year-old animal activist

Rob’s Rescues is a non-profit organization in Georgia helping people in need care for and feed their pets. It was founded in 2014 by a then nine-year-old boy. Rob’s Rescues is dedicated to collecting pet food for people in need to reduce shelter surrenders, and to advocating for the adoption of shelter pets. Rob writes monthly articles advocating for shelter animals in the Around About Local Media magazine publications. His column was first published in 2014. He also has pet food collection sites for people in need in the community and interviews amazing people. His interviews appear online once they are published in his column.
Rob volunteers for Pet Buddies Food Pantry, the Cherokee County Animal Shelter and Cobb County Animal Control and collects pet food for these organizations and the communities they serve. He also wants to bring attention to smaller, rural shelters. Mostly he wants to get kids to be Rob’s Rangers to teach kids that they can help shelter animals. Rob has also talked to kids in a classroom setting.
Rob’s Rescues is a Non-Profit Corporation and all donations are tax deductible.
Website http://www.robsrescues.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/robsrescues/
Twitter https://twitter.com/RobsRescues

Shout out to Hearts United for Animals

Hearts United for Animals is a no-kill animal rescue, sanctuary, and welfare organization located in southeastern Nebraska. A main mission for this group is rescuing and rehabilitating puppy mill dogs; they have helped more than 10,000 puppy mill survivors. Large or small, dog or cat, each animal receives love, care, socialization, and medical services, and animals that cannot be adopted (such as those with extreme health conditions) live out their lives at the sanctuary. Learn more about their work and current animals available for adoption, or to donate to this special organization, visit the website here: https://hua.org/