I, Cosmo by Carlie Sorosiak is told well by Cosmo, a 13-yr.-old Golden Retriever. He describes his forever family and the special bond he has with Max, the boy in the family. Although a children's book, this is a very good read with a happy ending. It deals with a lot of family issues. It made me laugh and I think you will enjoy how it all plays out as I did.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)
Teaser from page 22: The bathroom doors remain closed following that first instance, many years ago, when I discovered the joy of toilet paper, unrolling sheet after sheet in frenzied merriment. Television is my saving grace.
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It is with great sorrow that we had to help our dog cross the Rainbow Bridge last Monday. I thought about this book and the letter I wrote to our dog back in November of 2014 so thought this would be a good post to update and post again. A Letter to My Dog by Robin Layton is a happy, feel-good book that is a collection of notes from people (some well-known) to the dogs which show the value of rescue dogs. Along with the notes are full-page photos of the dogs and in the back is a summary of the dog-owners with their dogs including smaller pictures of them together. I enjoyed this book very much and found myself smiling all the way through. It is a quick-read that I recommend to anyone who is considering getting a dog as well as all dog owners. This book inspired me to write the following letter to our dog:
Dear Abby a/k/a Abby Dabby Doo or Abby Dabs,
You are the best dog we could ever have! You won our hearts the first day we met you with your soft thick fur, your big beautiful brown eyes, your sweet personality, your curly fluffy tail, your big smile and your gentleness. I am amazed at how well-behaved you were from the first day we met you. You got along with our two cats just fine and fit right into our family with no problem at all.
I love how all kinds of people are drawn to you. It was so much fun taking you to dog training classes at PetSmart because you managed to make people laugh and still were the best at following commands most days. You are so eager to please and easy to train. We are so proud of you! I love to watch you enjoy the outdoors and wish we had an area where you could run off leash like you did at the park the one day when the clasp broke off and you got in a good run. I couldn’t believe how fast you could go and how happy you were that day!
The bond you have with Gerard is heartwarming to me. I know you will always be a daddy’s girl, but just hope you know how much I love you too. I enjoy feeding you breakfast every morning and reviewing the commands you learned. I like giving you big hugs and belly rubs too. You are such a good dog and I am so glad we decided to look on Petfinder for you when we did. You have certainly enriched our lives!
Addendum to letter--5/25/19: We are so sorry you dislocated your shoulder January of 2017 and that you were in pain for a couple years. You were so tough and stubborn and we just wanted to have as much time with you as possible. It was so hard to watch you not be able to enjoy so many of the things you used to be able to do. Yet, you were a trooper and still wanted to please us! When you finally reached the place where you could not longer get up or walk through the house even, we knew it was time to say goodbye. Tell Mr. Moe and Manny Boy we miss them too and say "hello" to them for us. We know they would be ready to greet you as you cross the Rainbow Bridge.
Karen, Lucky Mom of a Rescue Dog
(Karen's review 11-6-14, 5 stars)
A Letter to My Dog by Robin Layten is a collection of letters written by people to their dogs. Some famous, some old, some young contributors all have one thing in common: they love their dogs! The pictures in this book alone are a reason to get this. It is filled with full-page color glossy pictures of all kinds of dogs on every other page! The letters are very touching, some funny, some sad. If you are a dog lover, this is a must read! I'm sure you can agree with most, if not all, of the letters. I know I did!
What a great book to start off with for November! I love you, Abby!
(Gerard's review 11-5-14, 5++ stars)
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!
Another Good Dog--One Family and Fifty Foster Dogs by Cara Sue Achterberg is heartwarming non-fiction. Cara really misses her companion of 17 years--her wonderful dog, Lucy! Her husband got her a "back-up" dog, but it is not the same! Cara needs something to ease the pain. She decides to tackle a new adventure of fostering dogs.
If you are a dog lover, you will love this book! She has her ups and downs in this new adventure, some funny, some sad. She writes about her experiences very well. I think maybe even a non-dog lover would enjoy this. Keep up the good work, Cara!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)
Teaser from page 7: I'd thought I would wait to adopt another dog, wait until I didn't miss Lucy so much and wouldn't compare every potential dog to her. But months had passed, and I only missed Lucy more.
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Will's Red Coat by Tom Ryan is a true story about Tom who lives a simple life in the mountains of New Hampshire with his two Schnauzers, Atticus and Will. It is the story of how his dogs helped him become a better person and how he helped his dogs, especially Will who was an older rescue dog in bad shape with biting and incontinence issues that no one else wanted.
This book has a wonderful theme: old age is not a disease and it's never too late to love or receive love. I enjoyed the parts about his dogs and the wildlife, especially the bear who became their friend. I really liked the nature parts of this book where he included the reader on his hikes through the forests and mountains. Sometimes though, he went off on tangents about his beliefs and philosophy which I found boring and thought distracted from the story. Of course, I cried when one of his dogs had to be put down. It just brought back the feelings I felt when I had to put down several cats. That is why I gave this book only 3 stars.
(Karen's review)
Gerard's review 11/13/17, 5 stars:
Will's Red Coat by Tom Ryan is a true story which makes it that much better! Will is an old dog. Most people think it does not have much time left, but Tom decides to take him in. His friends did not think this was a wise choice.
This book is a story of love! If you are a dog lover, this book is one you will love reading. I give credit to Tom for writing this book about his dog!
Teaser from page 17: "No. I meant what would you have me do if you were the one who was old, in pain, alone, and had no place to call home?"
This is the second book I read by this author. The first one was Following Atticus, which I also loved.
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!
In Rescuing Finley by Dan Walsh, Amy and her girlfriends decide to do a little 5-finger discount. Amy gets caught and refuses to rat out her friends. She is in major trouble! Chris is helping to fight the war. He steps on a landmine and his fighting days are over. He comes back home, but is in a bad way emotionally! Finley's owner is killed in the war. Finley, a dog, gets turned into the Humane Society and is depressed. The lives of these three come together to create a good read.
Teaser from page 37 (Loc. 436 on Kindle): As they approached, the dog started jumping toward them, but Kim didn't see an ounce of aggression in him. He was just a loving goofball, probably starved for attention.
I thought this book was written very well. I enjoyed all the characters very much and even though it has a predictable ending, it did not take away the enjoyment of the book for me.
(Gerard's review 9/16/17, 5 stars)
Karen's review: Rescuing Finley by Dan Walsh is an enjoyable read about Amy, a prisoner in the program for training dogs to be service dogs for vets, Finley, the dog she trains and Chris, the vet who Finley is being trained to help. I really loved this book because it got my interest right away and kept it throughout. Yes, it is predictable; however, it still was interesting and a fun read. (5 stars)
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The Underdogs by Melissa Fay Greene tells the story of Karen Shirk, who was so disabled that she was not even allowed a dog. Some nurses encouraged her to raise her own service dog though and she did! Now, 1,000 dogs later, she runs 4 Paws for Ability, placing dogs with children and their families.
This is a WONDERFUL book that tells the stories of kids and their dogs. The stories are so good and heartwarming! Look up 4 Paws for Ability and you will see the great work they do. God bless you, Karen, for the work you do and thanks so much for sharing the stories!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)
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Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls is a children’s story about a hard-working, determined boy who loves to go coon hunting with his two hound dogs, Old Dan and Little Ann. He lives in the Ozarks on a farm with his mother, father, and three sisters and a cat. He also has a close relationship with his grandfather who helps him out and encourages him.
I have mixed feelings about this book because I like all animals so felt a little sorry for the poor raccoons who got hunted down by the boy and his dogs. It was interesting though learning habits of the raccoons. I didn’t like the boy or the parents in the beginning when he set his traps and caught his cat several times! That got me mad. Then he redeemed himself when he loved his dogs and had great adventures with them which included some suspense. At certain parts I cheered but thought the ending was horrible. This story has its ups and downs. If you enjoy sad books, you have to read this one! Yes, this is a tear jerker. I think the story should have ended sooner, like after the big coon hunting contest, and I would have liked it much better. The title of the book isn’t explained until the very end which I thought a bit strange. Get your tissues ready if you choose to read the whole book!
It is similar to the Shiloh series which I loved!
(Karen's review, 3 stars)
Gerard's Review 8/30/15 (4 stars):
Billy Coleman is a little boy living with his family in the Ozark mountains. What he wants most of all is two coon hounds so he can go hunting and to keep him company. It does not seem he is going to get them, but then he decides to do something about that. The first 100 pages I did not think this book was all that! From page 100 to the end though, it got really good. That is because the dogs became the focus on the story, and what a story it is!
I really loved Billy and how he would do anything for his dogs! The dogs were fantastic! I did not like the ending though--too sad. Anyway, based on Billy and his dogs, I give this 4 stars.
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!
The Mountaintop School For Dogs and Other Second Chances by Ellen Cooney is about a young lady named Evie who decides to take a job working in a sanctuary for dogs who are there to get a second chance to find a forever home. Evie does not know all that much about dogs, but she is a quick learner.
This is a good heartwarming story. I really liked Evie and of course I loved the dogs! You will find out some new things about how dogs think. If you are a dog lover like me, it's a must read!
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)
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A Dog Named Slugger by Leigh Brill is the true story of Leigh and her service dog, Slugger. Leigh needs Slugger because she has Cerebral Palsy. This book tells of the special heartwarming bond they formed with some really great stories and funny moments too! It’s a must read for dog lovers. Loved it!
(Gerard's revuew5++ stars)
A Dog Named Slugger by Leigh Brill is a wonderful book that shows how service dogs can help people with disabilities other than blindness. This was new to me so I really enjoyed reading about the bond between Leigh and her dogs Slugger and Kenda. Leigh has Cerebral Palsy and the parts where she shares her struggles before Slugger came into her life are sad. I really felt bad for her, but overall, this book is uplifting. For this type of book, I'm giving it 5 stars. I was not disappointed in it because Slugger is a big part of it and I learned more about service dogs than I knew before I read it. (Karen's review, 5 stars)
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Merle's Door--Lessons from a Freethinking Dog by Ted Kerasote is the true story about a man named Ted. One day while he was camping, a dog came and claimed him. He agreed and called the dog Merle. Merle was an amazing dog! His story deserved to be told and Mr. Kerasote does it so well!
This is a fantastic read! The two best dog books I ever read were A Pack of Two and Rose in a Storm, but this book now makes the list three. It's right up there with my other two! I LOVED IT! If you are a dog lover, it's a must read. Bring tissues but do not let that stop you. So far, this is my book of the month!! Love you, Merle.
(Gerard's review 8/14/14, 5++ stars)
I liked Merle's Door by Ted Kerasote because Merle was such an adventuresome dog and the bond he had with Ted was heartwarming. I could have done without the research side notes that the author included about history of dogs and studies that have been done but am sure some people would find all that interesting. Personally, I liked the parts about Merle and his adventures, his bond with Ted, and his encounters with other dogs and wildlife. Of course, the ending made me cry but if you don't want to read the sad part, just stop before the last couple chapters. It is a good book and I enjoyed it, probably because Merle reminded me of our dog in some ways. (Karen's review 8/21/14, 4 stars)
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Haatchi and Little B by Wendy Holden is the true story of a special needs dog and a special needs little boy. It tells how they got connect to form a special bond. If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be "love": the love between the boy and dog, the love of the parents, the love of the various people who had connections to the dog and boy! Wendy tells the story so well you will be caught up in it quickly. It's a feel good book that we all need to read every so often! Don't miss this one!
(Gerard, 5 stars ++)
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The Dog That Talked to God by
Jim Kraus is about a bitter widow who blames God for taking away her
husband and son who died in an auto accident when hit by a drunk driver
more than about the dog. Mary doubted her faith and stopped
praying to God for a long time. She got a puppy she named Rufus and
used it as a sounding board. Then one day the dog talked to her. This
Christian fiction book dragged along for me but at least had a good
ending. I preferred the author’s other book better—The Cat That God Sent. (Karen's review, 3 stars)
The Dog That Talked to God by Jim Kraus is about a woman named Mary who decides to get a dog for companionship after her husband passes away. She names the dog Rufus and what a tale
tale they tell! This book starts out a bit slow, but stick with it. I
loved Rufus and I grew to like Mary too as the book went on. It has some good stuff that I did not see coming and a great ending! It's worth the read! (Gerard's review, 5 stars because Rufus is so good!)
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"Letters from Angel" is told by Angel, a senior dog who tells about his life with Mr. Levin and his aid, Paula. It's a great story that Angel tells very well. It is short but well worth reading. Any dog love will love it just like I did! Have some tissues handy, just in case.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)
"Letters from Angel" is a cute book written from the dog's point of view. It is about the bond between a Sr. dog that was adopted from a shelter by a 90-yr-old man for companionship after his wife died. It is a very quick read and even though it has a sad ending, the author shares his experience of having to put down his dog in a sweet way. The dog is a Golden Retriever/Chow mix that won my heart.
(Karen's review, 3 stars)
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I LOVED Braced For Murder--a Beanie and Cruiser Mystery by Sue Owens Wright! This is a good mystery that I did not figure out with no dirty words or bad plot lines. Dogs, dogs, dogs--loved the story line. This is a must read for any dog lover!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)
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Mischief Master Class by dogs, two cats and a turtle assisted by Annette
Vivian is a really fun book about mischief real pets get into. It has
lots of great short stories and pictures! I LOVED it! (Gerard's review, 5+ stars)--UPDATED 2/13/13
Mischief Master Class by Dogs (two cats and a Turtle!)...assisted by Annette Vivian is a must read for all dogs! It is a great reference book giving 20 rules that dogs (and any pet really) should know for getting away with mischief by becoming a "Master of Mischief." It is a collaborative effort spearheaded by Snoopy (visit his blog by clicking the link), a dog blogger who is a bearded collie therapy dog but that doesn't mean he can't get into mischief. In fact, he even hosts a "Monday Mischief" blog hop every week. Various pets on the Internet contributed their mischief stories which Snoopy cleverly used as case studies to illustrate how the rules work. By the way, our pets have rule #1 down pat: "Look Cute."
It has lots of colored photos and URLs for videos to watch of the contributors too (with their blog URLs) as well as many of Snoopy himself, of course. It is a quick, fun, light read that I enjoyed in spite of the overuse of a couple words: "doh" and "Tee Hee." My favorite mischief was the two dogs who ate the cookies that were hidden inside the oven and then left the empty tray inside and closed the door when they were done! I must admit, I've never seen any other book quite like this one although "Dear Sparkle: Cat-to-Cat advice" which is written by a cat for cats comes close.
Mischief Master Class is available in paperback and Kindle versions on Amazon with 50% of the proceeds donated to Therapy Pet Support charities which we think is awesome!
Good job, Snoopy and your buddies!
(Karen's review)
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Dancing Dogs by Jon Katz has 16 short fiction stories all centered around dogs. Most of the stories are really, really good! I loved it! If you are a dog lover, I think you will love it too! This book was recommended by People Magazine.
(Gerard's review, rating 5 stars)
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A Dog’s Purpose by Bruce Cameron is touching and at times funny. The dog narrator will made me question how my dog feels how good a dog owner I am. The dog has several different lives with various owners throughout this book, but is loyal to the end to the boy, Ethan. I especially enjoyed reading about the dog’s life as Ellie, the search and rescue dog and laughed when the dog said the cats he lived with had no purpose. The dog’s relationship with Ethan shows how loyal dogs are and was heartwarming. This is an emotional read because when some people mistreated the dog, I felt a lot of anger rise up in me. Although the dog dies, it’s not too sad because it is reincarnated as another puppy and gets another life! I recommend this book to any dog lover.
(Karen's review 6/27/12)
I really enjoyed A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron. This is told by a dog who knows he needs to find a purpose for his life. He meets a boy named Ethan, then he becomes a search and rescue dog with a fantastic and touching ending! If you are a dog lover, you will love A Dog’s Purpose. I sure did! I highly recommend you read this book!
(Gerard's review 7/27/10)
Other book by this author that we both liked is A Dog's Journey
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!
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A Dog’s Journey by W. Bruce Cameron is about the dedication of a dog to its owner. This story follows Clarity June (CJ) from toddler through her 70s when she dies in Hospice and how her dog(s) watched over her. CJ is neglected by her mother after her father died in a plane crash, struggled with anorexia, bad boyfriends, pursued an acting career, was a dog walker, attempted suicide, but found love with her best friend. It’s a cute story actually and although the dog dies several times in the book, he comes back as a different dog but keeps all his old memories and is re-united with CJ over and over again. He’s an “angel dog.” There's even a cat in it named Sneakers!
This is an emotional read. I was angry at the mother right from the beginning of the book but other parts were funny and touching. I loved that the dog was the narrator of the book and enjoyed his perspective on things. I’m glad I read this one and plan to read his first book, A Dog’s Purpose too! I recommend this to any dog lover.
(Karen's review)
Gerard's review: A Dog's Journey by W. Bruce Cameron is a must read for animal lovers. It is told very well by a dog. It is funny, sad, and very touching. What it isn't is boring, and that's a good thing! I loved this book from page 1 and it only grew as I read it! The ending left me with tears and a smile! I loved both books I read by this author, the other being A Dog's Purpose.
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!
We are donating 50 cents for each legitimate comment we receive on all our blogs during June and July to The Wounded Warrior Project which helps wounded warriors and their families returning from current conflicts.
WOW! Following Atticus by Tom Ryan is good!! It is the true story of Tom Ryan and his dog, Atticus. After a close friend of his dies from Cancer, Tom takes it upon himself and Atticus, of course, to climb all 48 mountains in New Hampshire twice to aid the Jimmy Fund, a cause to help fight Cancer.
It is an amazing story of the bond between Tom and his dog. You will get caught up in it liked I did and just a little spoiler here--Atticus does not die. Read and enjoy!
(Gerard's review)
Have you read this one? What did you think of it?
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The Puppy Diaries is absolutely a wonderful book about raising a puppy. Jill's old dog, Buddy, passed on to the Rainbow Bridge. Jill wasn't sure she was ready for another dog right away, but when it was time, she picked out Scout. If you are a dog lover, you will enjoy this book! It is very funny at times and you will see yourself in the struggles that Jill and her husband experienced. There are also some great tips on how to handle a puppy. I LOVED THIS BOOK and think you will too!
(Gerard's review)
Have you read this one? What did you think of it?
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A Dog Named Slugger by Leigh Brill is the true story of Leigh and her service dog, Slugger. Leigh needs Slugger because she has Cerebral Palsy. This book tells of the special heartwarming bond they formed with some really great stories and funny moments too! It’s a must read for dog lovers. Loved it!
Merle's Door--Lessons from a Freethinking Dog by Ted Kerasote is the true story about a man named Ted. One day while he was camping, a dog came and claimed him. He agreed and called the dog Merle. Merle was an amazing dog! His story deserved to be told and Mr. Kerasote does it so well!
A Dog’s Purpose by Bruce Cameron is touching and at times funny. The dog narrator will made me question how my dog feels how good a dog owner I am. The dog has several different lives with various owners throughout this book, but is loyal to the end to the boy, Ethan. I especially enjoyed reading about the dog’s life as Ellie, the search and rescue dog and laughed when the dog said the cats he lived with had no purpose. The dog’s relationship with Ethan shows how loyal dogs are and was heartwarming. This is an emotional read because when some people mistreated the dog, I felt a lot of anger rise up in me. Although the dog dies, it’s not too sad because it is reincarnated as another puppy and gets another life! I recommend this book to any dog lover.
(Karen's review 6/27/12)
