– An Emotional And Inspiring Story –
After spending years in prison for a crime she didn’t intend to commit, Rose Collins is suddenly free. Someone who knows about the good work she has done—training therapy dogs while serving time—has arranged for her early release. This mysterious benefactor has even set her up with a job in the coastal Massachusetts community of Gloucester, on the edge of Dogtown, a place of legend and, for the first time since Rosie’s whole world came crashing down, hope. There she works to rebuild her life with the help of Shadow, a stray dog who appears one rainy night and refuses to leave Rose’s side.
Meghan Custer is a wheelchair-bound war veteran who used to be hopeless, too. Living at home with her devoted but stifling parents felt a lot like being in prison, in fact. But ever since she was matched with a service dog named Shark, who was trained in a puppy-to-prisoner rehabilitation program, Meghan has a brand new outlook. Finally, she can live on her own. Go to work. And maybe, with Shark by her side, even find love again.
Two strong women on a journey toward independence whose paths collide in extraordinary ways. Two dogs who somehow manage to save them both. A tale of survival and a testament to the human spirit, The Dog I Loved is an emotional and inspiring novel that no reader will soon forget.
Details
- Author: Susan Wilson
- Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
- Publication Date: November 12, 2019
- Genre: Women’s Fiction
- Excerpt
- Hardcover: 368 pages
My Thoughts
Susan Wilson’s has such a touching way of using dogs in her stories. And even if you’re not a dog lover, here’s a warning: you may find yourself looking up the address of the nearest animal shelter after reading one of Wilson’s books.
This book is about survivors of both war and life. We have Rose who has spent years in prison for a death that was nothing more than an accident. Why was she convicted? Her rich, ruthless soon-to-be mother-in-law needed to punish Rose for killing her son. And Rose’s lack of funds made it hard to obtain competent representation.
While in prison, Rose is lucky enough to be chosen to train service dogs. While doing that work she meets Megan, a struggling, ex-soldier who is confined to a wheelchair. Shark, the dog Rose is training is going will be given to Meghan. Both women are struggling in their own way, yet the two find friendship in sharing. Rose’s family hasn’t talked to her since entering prison, and Megan is still trying to discover who she is now that her life has changed.
Though Rose has given up on anything but passing her time in prison, she is released. It seems a mysterious benefactor has had her case reviewed, plus she will be provided a job working as a project manager. At first, Rose is very confused and the job is unsettling. She will be working and staying at a very old and neglected house, located in an area with lots of history.
The chapters have the viewpoints of either Megan, Rose, or very short ones from two dogs that are in the book.
Megan and Rose maintain their friendship but in time something surfaces which might possibly jeopardize their relationship.
The reader is taken through two lives, how they merge, and how dogs play a part in that.
If you’ve read many of Wilson’s books, then you know the type of stories she writes. And, if you’re like me, you will keep coming back for more and more.
My thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the opportunity to read and review this ARC, #TheDogILoved. The thoughts and opinions offered are not in any way altered by receiving the review copy.
What Concerned Me
This is a very small concern: I can understand the relationship between Megan and Rose, but I’m not sure either character is fleshed out due to both sharing the spotlight.
What I Liked Most
Wilson creates such wonderful relationships between humans and dogs. Though the descriptions of her characters aren’t terribly in-depth, I can always picture both dogs and people. They all come to life and tell believable, touching stories.
About The Author:
Susan is the author of nine well-received novels including her 2010 novel, ONE GOOD DOG, which enjoyed six weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and THE DOG WHO DANCEDreceived the coveted Maxwell Medal for Fiction from the Dog Writer’s Association of America in 2012.
Her 1996 novel BEAUTY was made into a CBS Sunday Night Movie starring Jamey Sheridan and Janine Turner and can still be seen occasionally on the Lifetime network.
She is working on her next novel, another work featuring the complicated relationship between humans and the dogs they love.
She lives on Martha’s Vineyard with her husband. She has two grown daughters and three grandchildren. Susan is also a horse lover with a Quarter horse mare, Maggie Rose.
