"A Dog Named Slugger" by Leigh Brill is a Must Read for Dog Lovers! (UPDATED)

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) 

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!

"Merle's Door--Lessons from a Freethinking Dog" by Ted Kerasote (UPDATED)

 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) 


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!

A True Story About a Boy and His Dog: "Haatchi & Little b" by Wendy Holden

Watch this video to see what this book is about:

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 ++)

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!

"The Dog Who Could Fly" by Damien Lewis is one of the Best Books I Read This Year!

The Dog Who Could Fly by Damien Lewis is the true story of airman Robert Bozdech and the bond he forged with a dog named Ant during World War II.  I loved this book!  It is an incredible story of how Ant even went on flying missions with his master.  You do not have to be a dog lover to appreciate this book though.  Please read this book--it's a story you need to hear!  It doesn't get any better than this!  This is my book of the month so far and will be in my top 10 for the year!
(Gerard's review, 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!

"The Winter Horses" by Philip Kerr (UPDATED)

Watch this video to see Gerard and I discuss this book:


The Winter Horses by Philip Kerr is based on a true story, or I would like to believe that it really happened.  Read the book, then you decide.  It is about an old man and a young girl who save two horses that might be the last of their kind.  It takes place during World War II.  I liked both the main characters, the old man and the young girl.  I also liked the animals in the story--both horses and especially the dog!

This is a real page turner that I loved!   Give it a chance.  If you liked War Horse, you will like this one too because it's similar.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Karen's review:
The Winter Horses by Philip Kerr is a moving historical novel about Kalinka, an Ukrainian Jewish orphan girl who saves a couple very special Przewalski’s (pronounced “shuh-VAHL-skeez”) horses during World War II with the help of an old man named Max, a loyal wolfhound named Taras, a kind German army Captain and a kind Russian Major.  The wild horses did their part in the struggle to survive as well.

This is an amazing story that made me cry three times!   It addresses the wide range of how low and how kind people can be.  Part of the book I especially enjoyed were the words of wisdom Kalinka remembered her grandfather saying.  It is a wonderful story about a girl’s special connection with a couple wild horses and a great dog too!  Although it had several very sad and disturbing parts, I loved it!  It is a page turner that I didn’t want to put down. 


Join in with Mama Kat's Vlogging prompt:  Book Review.

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!

"Daisy and Josephine" by Melissa Gilbert

We both enjoyed this short children's book, Daisy and Josephine by Melissa Gilbert with illustrations by Julia Kuo.  It is about a lonely little girl who loves her dad and travels around with him, but doesn't really have any friends until one day her daddy gives her a strange looking dog.  This book actually made me laugh out loud when the girl tried playing with her dog who didn't want to play.  You will have to read the book to find out how they finally bonded and what they agreed to do.  It was interesting to me that the author has a French Bulldog named Josephine.
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

This book tells a very short story about a little girl and her dad.  She follows her dad on the road but would like some companionship.  Her dad gets her a dog.  The story and the drawings in this book are really good.  If you have a young child, it's a very good read they will enjoy.  I know I did!
(Gerard's review, 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!

"Touchdown Tony Crown and the Mystery of the Missing Cheerleader" by Peter Guy George

Touchdown Tony Crowne and the Mystery of the Missing Cheerleader by Peter Guy George is a fun read about three elementary school kids, Tony, Judd and Ash and Tony’s 80 lb. dog, Curly. 

This book had several angels to it:  football, a bit of mystery, and the chasing down of the criminal.  It is a book of Tony saving the damsel in distress, the missing cheerleader, with the help of a real detective, a friend and his dog.  It is geared to kids, but I enjoyed it—especially the football game part and the dog.
(Karen's review, 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!

"Suspect" by Robert Crais - NYT BESTSELLER (updated)

The dog has a big role in this book!  Woof!  Woof!

UPDATED 2/14/13:
Suspect by Robert Crais got my attention right from page 1 and kept me turning pages all the way through.  This is so much more than just a mystery.  Maggie is a German Shepherd that got shot in Afghanistan and became a partner to Scott James who is a cop recently transferred to the K-9 unit after his partner was killed.  Both Maggie and Scott suffer from PTSD and are trying to recover to return to active duty.  I liked how Maggie developed a strong bond with Scott and how Scott really became attached to Maggie and trusted her.  Scott and Maggie work together to find out who the men were that killed his partner and shot him.   The story moved quickly and suspense built up as it went along.  I enjoyed this and would recommend it to anyone who likes dogs.
(Karen's review)

Suspect by Robert Crais is a novel about a cop and a dog. The cop lost his partner in a shootout and nine months later is still having nightmares. The killer is still out there too! The dog lost his master during the war in Afghanistan and was shot at.

The cop joins the K-9 unit at the meet up and becomes a pack of two with the dog to go after the bad guys. This book has lots of action so it goes fast. I especially liked the parts where the dog tells the story. It is currently No. 5 on the New York Times best sellers list! I recommend it--read and enjoy!
(Gerard's review, 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!

"Road Trip" by Gary Paulsen and Jim Paulsen

In Road Trip by Gary and Jim Paulsen, a father and a son go on a road trip to rescue a dog from a shelter but they find a whole lot more than they expected—adventure that is. This is a small book but packed with interesting people. I especially enjoyed the dog’s side of the story. Kids and older people would enjoy this book.

(Gerard’s review, rating 4.5 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!

"Buddy (How a Rooster Made Me a Family Man)" by Brian McGrory

Buddy (How a Rooster Made Me a Family Man) by Brian McGrory is a really good true story of a man who comes into a family that includes his wife, two young girls, a dog, and a rooster! This is a family book. Kids would enjoy reading it as well as parents. Brian, who tells the story, learns about life from his dog and the rooster. I LOVED it!
(Gerard's review, 5+)

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!

"Buddy" by M. H. Herlong

Woof!  Woof!  A great dog story about bonding!

Buddy by M. H. Herlong is a real good story about a boy and his dog. The boy is 13 and always wanted a dog. On the way to church, their dad hit a dog with their car and they took it in. When hurricane Katrina comes, they have to make some hard decisions about the dog. This is a quick read and I enjoyed it, even though it is a children's book. Although a cute dog is on the cover, this book is more about the family and what goes on with them than it is about the dog. Give it a read, you will be glad you did!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Buddy by M. H. Herlong is a good story about a 13-yr-old boy, his family and his 3-legged dog, Buddy, who got separated when hurricane Katrina hit their home in New Orleans. The boy narrates the story from his point of view. Through the story, this book reveals what people went through in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It brought out several different emotions as I read this: happiness, sadness, and anger. It is a moving story about a kid growing up and maturing to where he thinks of others and seeks to do what is right.  I highly recommend it it to dog lovers, especially boys!
(Karen's review, 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!

"Words" by Ginny L. Yttrup is a Must Read

Words by Ginny L. Yttrup is an inspirational quick read that is about choices, redemption, hope, healing.  Kaylee, a little girl is abandoned by her mother and left with her boyfriend to be neglected, abused and raped.  They live in a little cabin in the woods and the girl stops talking.  She finds words comforting and reads the dictionary over and over to help her focus on something else while hoping that maybe her "mother will come back today."  When Sierra, a woman whose child died just a few days after birth due to Sierra's drug addiction, visits the cemetery on the 12th anniversary of her child's death, spots Kaylee in the hollowed giant redwood tree and thinks she saw a ghost.  Sierra is lonely so takes in a stray dog she names Van Gogh.  The dog helps comfort Kaylee when they meet and is a wonderful addition to the story.

Sierra finally is able to accept God's forgiveness and move on with her life as she starts thinking about Kaylee and becomes her friend.  Kaylee looks forward to seeing the nice lady in the woods again at her special spot inside the tree.  Kaylee doesn't talk, but can communicate by writing and has an unusually big vocabulary for a girl her age.  Through Sierra, Kaylee discovers Jesus is the most important word and learns the truth that He really does love her and is able to set her free from the screams in her head and help her to speak again.

I liked this Christian fiction book very much in spite of the "fairy tale" ending.  I couldn't help but pull for Kaylee and Sierra to get together and thought the Children's Services worker did a good job.  Sierra was searching for God's purpose for her life and it was very realistic how because of her past with drugs, she was able to sympathize with Kaylee's mom and was torn between helping her get better or not because she was afraid of losing Kaylee.  The abuse Kaylee endured is done in good taste, leaving details to the reader's imagination.  There is so much humor and love in this book that prevents it from becoming depressing.  The dog, Van, was a great addition to this book, showing how pets can by wonderful companions and give unconditional love.  The information about the giant redwood trees was interesting too and provided symbolism throughout the book.  This book even inspired me to read my little dictionary, a page a day!  This is a great read that I highly recommend and am so glad I read!
(Karen's review)

Gerard's review:
This book is told by two people:  Kaylee, a 10-yr.-old girl who is abused physically, sexually, emotionally and neglected at her cabin in the woods, then abandoned by her mother who is a meth addict and Sierra, a young woman who mourns the death of her baby and finds Kaylee who she wants to help. 

I liked this book very much.  It's a good story and I got into it right from the start.  I highly recommend you read it too!  It's a feel good book and you will feel happy at the end.

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 May to Joni and Friends for Camp Scholarships for families with special needs children.

"Katie Up and Down the Hall" by Glenn Plaskin

Katie Up and Down the Hall by Glenn Plaskin is a wonderful story about Katie, a small dog, who is able to bring people together in a small apartment complex in New York.  I especially enjoyed the part of how they all dealt with the tragedy of September 11, 2001.  This is really a good read and the writing is very good.  Give it a try, it's worth it!
(Gerard's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

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