i was unable to stop myself putting this straight to my tbr pile. haven't we all heard the line or something similar to "oh poo this i'm running away to the circus" and other lines to do with such themes lol. the blurb and premise hooked me right in. i've never read a blurb like it and so i was far too invested before i even began which could e a great thing or not so great depending on the book!
i've got to admit. if someone could lure me into a book its with a lion cub to be adopted or some animals to be surrounded by. and this book had that. i was indeed that little girl that had cuddly lions and wished she could have one of there own lol.
this book i'm so glad to say did not disappoint. from beginning to end i was wanting more. and read it so quickly i felt i was chastising myself for finishing my time with it so soon.
this book has a warmth and lovely way its told and written. not everything went perfectly for our character, far from it. but somehow i left with hope, left feeling better. the flow and wording in this book was smooth, smart and captivating.
Rosie was our main character and i felt for her on instant after what she'd been through. unwanted from everyone who should love her and she certainly feeling it. she was unwanted by her parents and abused by her husband. ugh,poor lass right? to escape all this and her demons she runs away and joins the circus. here she gets the love and in turn falls in love with a baby lion cub. it gives her all shes needed and this part had me in unshed tears. she also fits right in amongst the gaggle of performers and other animals. a found family of sorts. but then something happens and once again all Rosie feels she can do is run. oh Rosie luv, wherever you go, you are. this woman needs a helping hand and to heal, come on world give her a break!
Rosie wants new purpose. but this one brings her back to a straight and "normal" life. there though she finds out about some Tigers being kept in the desert. instantly she knows and has that same rumblings of what she must do. shes got to save the Tigers of course. because if she can keep saving other things. make it right for other things who need rescuing, might she rescue herself?
this story was wonderful. the type you'd give as a gift to keep or one you'd love to receive as one. its heartfelt, its true, its deep and emotionally layered and just makes you feel. feeeeeeeel all the feelings but not in an overwhelming or heavy way.
i was rooting for Rosie from the start. and by the coming to ending points in this book i was almost anxious that she would get some sort of "happy ever after" i needed to know Rosie would be ok. i was drawn in to every single part of this book and feel so grateful i got the chance to know this story.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy of Do They Have To Be Lions? I loved, loved, loved this book! Unwanted by her father, rejected by her mother, abused by her husband, ROSIE KOVACS does what any sensible thirty-year-old woman would do. She files for divorce, quits her job
and runs away with the circus. This is a beautiful tell of a young woman who finds her purpose. For the first time in her life, she feels good enough, until a tragic event on her watch shatters her confidence. But she finds her way back and is able to help other animals in the process.

This story focuses on Rosie, a 30-year-old woman who has always been unwanted and unloved by her parents and abused by her husband. To escape her inner demons, she makes the abrupt decision to quit her job and join the circus. It is here that she falls in love with a baby lion cub and starts to feel loved, not only by the lions, but also by some of the circus performers, especially Ivan, who adores her. But when tragedy strikes, Rosie once again runs in hopes of finding a purpose in life.

Later, Rosie stumbles upon three Bengal tigers being kept in the desert by a dying old man and she needs to save these “boys” in order to save herself.

I think the premise of the story is a good one, the lions demonstrate love and strength to Rosie, something she’s never found in humans. The lions ground her and give her a purpose. It’s a beautiful story full of emotion, love and redemption.

Thank you, NetGalley and Insurgent Press for the advanced reader copy.

Cheryl Baden-Powell does an amazing job in writing this book, it had that element that I wanted and was looking for and enjoyed getting into this storyline and how the characters were so well written. I enjoyed the concept and thought it worked in this genre. I appreciated how realistic it was and enjoyed the overall feel of this.