#animalfiction – Rosepoint Publishing

A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry #AudiobookReview #ThrowbackThursday

A Voice of the Wilderness Novel Book 1

Book Blurb:

This gripping novel about survival and family is based on the real story of one wolf’s incredible journey to find a safe place to call home. This irresistible tale by award-winning author Rosanne Parry is for fans of Sara Pennypacker’s Pax and Katherine Applegate’s The One and Only Ivan.

Swift, a young wolf cub, lives with his pack in the mountains learning to hunt, competing with his brothers and sisters for hierarchy, and watching over a new litter of cubs. Then a rival pack attacks, and Swift and his family scatter.

Alone and scared, Swift must flee and find a new home. His journey takes him a remarkable one thousand miles across the Pacific Northwest. The trip is full of peril, and Swift encounters forest fires, hunters, highways, and hunger before he finds his new home.

Inspired by the extraordinary true story of a wolf named OR-7 (or Journey), this irresistible tale of survival invites readers to experience and imagine what it would be like to be one of the most misunderstood animals on earth. This gripping and appealing novel about family, courage, loyalty, and the natural world is for fans of Fred Gipson’s Old Yeller and Katherine Applegate’s Endling.

Includes information about the real wolf who inspired the novel.

My Review:

Okay, so it’s billed as a middle school book, but certainly not one that an adult can’t enjoy as well.

As most of you who follow my blog know, I tend toward animal stories (well, among the suspense and thrillers), most predominantly dogs. This is close, and while not exactly a Canis Lupus Familiaris (domestic dog), a Canis Lupus (wolf). Our domesticated dogs, of course, a subspecies of the wolf, though it’s uncanny how many look and still have inborn Lupus traits.

Such a controversy with wolves! The ranchers cite the wolves’ tendency to take down domestic animals and hunters their game animals. The ever-encroaching spread of human habitation tends to push their boundaries.

Still, they go a long way to creating a balanced ecology and restoring biodiversity. Their management creates a tear in the normal cycle of life.

A Wold Called Wander by Rosanne Parry — A Wolf Called Wander-US cover

This is a story remarkably told from a wolf pup’s POV. He is Swift and his pack includes brothers and sisters along with mom and dad who keep them fed, train them in noble wolf ways, and protect them—until the day a rival pack attacks and he and his family are forced to flee.

It’s a coming-of-age story. And Swift has a lot to learn to survive as he is suddenly thrust into a raw world he is not totally prepared for. Since each in the pack has its “job”, he has never yet truly brought down prey.

A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry — A Wolf Called Wander – UK cover

I love that the narrative follows the true story of a real wolf that had been tagged and followed through a thousand mile journey as he seeks a new territory to call his home. The epilogue at the end describes the life of the wolf and wolves in general, as well as the tracking of the wolf’s odyssey. Along the way, he encounters coyote packs, a deadly forest fire, and a lack of food/prey and water confronting and surviving each. He meets a female eventually and together create their own pack family in the Siskiyou’s of northern California, southern Oregon.

Having lived in Yreka (California) a number of times, I can attest to the beauty of the area and the miles of remote forested wilderness. It’s a gorgeous, largely untamed area, boasting 14,000 foot Mt. Shasta (a dormant volcano).

I greatly enjoyed the narration by Kirby Heyborne for his lively reading of the audiobook. I had to chuckle, however, when he mispronounced Siskiyou—obviously never having heard it pronounced correctly.

Many thanks to my local library for providing me with the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Children’s Fox & Wolf Books, Animal Action & Adventure for Children, Animal Fiction for Children
Publisher: HarperAudio
ASIN: B07NDLGJL1
Listening Length: 3 hrs 54 mins
Narrator: Kirby Heyborne
Publication Date: May 7, 2019
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Links: Amazon-US
Amazon-UK
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

The Author: Rosanne Parry is the author of seven award-winning middle grade novels, including the newly released A Whale of the Wild and the NY Times best seller A Wolf Called Wander which is published in 11 languages. Rosanne is a part-time bookseller at legendary Portland independent bookstore, Annie Blooms, and is the captain of the League of Exceptional Writers, a free mentoring workshop for young avid readers and writers (on hiatus until 2022). She lives with her family in an old farmhouse in Portland Oregon and writes in a treehouse in her backyard. You can find Rosanne at http://www.rosanneparry.com

Here’s a list of all her books

Heart of a Shepherd
Second Fiddle
Written in Stone
The Turn of the Tide
Last of the Name
A Wolf Called Wander
A Whale of the Wild

#throwbackthursday

Dogged Pursuit by David Rosenfelt #AudiobookReview #animalfiction

An Andy Carpenter Mystery Book 31

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

In Dogged Pursuit, David Rosenfelt takes listeners back to the start of this beloved series as Andy Carpenter begins his career as a defense attorney in Paterson, New Jersey.

Andy Carpenter has spent the three years since graduating law school working as a prosecutor in Paterson. But having seen how the system never looks out for the little guy, he leaves to start his own practice as a defense attorney. His office might be a little bit of a dump, but he’s excited to make a change.

Andy goes to the shelter to adopt a dog, where he meets his beloved golden retriever, Tara, for the first time and feels an immediate connection. The shelter is crowded and Tara’s been sharing space with a dog named Sunny; Andy hates to break them up and so asks to take Sunny, too, but since there’s a pending criminal case involving the owner, he’ll need to get written permission for temporary possession.

Andy discovers that Sunny’s owner, Frank Tierney, has been arrested for the murder of his ex-boss. But he takes an immediate liking to Frank and his clear dedication to his dog, and ends up with his first case along with the two dogs.

This prequel to the long-running and perennially popular Andy Carpenter mysteries is a gift for fans and a terrific entry-point for newcomers.

My Review:

I never get tired of the Andy Carpenter Mystery series and haven’t missed many since discovering them in 2016. In this case, I shared the wealth with the CE back in June of this year. Have to admit, however, he got gypped when he read the ebook, as you can’t beat one of my favorite narrators as the wise-cracking but extremely effective defense attorney.

This is actually a prequel to the popular series, introducing the reader to his first marriage, then to Tara, the Golden Retriever who starts it all. Additional support characters are gradually brought in and we see how the team is formed.

The prequel starts a fledgling criminal attorney position, having left the prosecution side of the court. Tara comes with a buddy, a little dog belonging to a man arrested for murder. Taking on the case of a person accused of blowing up a car resulting in multiple deaths also deals a blow to his already shaky marriage. It is also the introduction to Laurie, an ex-cop investigator.

As he is making friends and influencing people, the stakes are rising to deadly heights. The “I didn’t do it” mantra becomes centrally significant and begs the question, “then, who did?”

It gets complicated and there are no Carpenter books that aren’t. Combined with a snarky sense of humor, lively courtroom scenes, and heart-melting doggy vignettes, it’s a perfect launch for someone who hasn’t started the series. For those who have, but didn’t actually start with Book 1 (when do I ever?), it answers a number of questions.

Grover Gardner became Andy Carpenter a long time ago, but those discovering the series through the prequel will understand how and why he’s now the voice of the quintessential attorney. I always recommend Gardner’s narration over an ebook.

Many thanks to my local library for providing me with the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Book Details:

Genre: Animal Fiction, Animal Cozy Mysteries
Publisher:
Macmillan Audio
ASIN: B0DFRLWNHG
Listening Length: 6 hrs 30 mins
Narrator: Grover Gardner
Publication Date: July 1, 2025
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Links: Amazon-US
Amazon-UK
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

The Author: David Rosenfelt, a native of Paterson, New Jersey, is a graduate of NYU. He was the former marketing president for Tri-Star Pictures before becoming a writer of novels and screenplays. “Open And Shut” was his first novel; “First Degree,” his second novel, was named a best book of 2003 by Publishers Weekly. He currently lives in Southern California with his wife and 35 dogs.

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The Narrator:

Grover Gardner’s narration career spans twenty-five years and over 550 audiobook titles. AudioFile Magazine has called him one of the “Best Voices of the Century” and features him in their annual “Golden Voices” update. Publishers Weekly named him Audiobook Narrator of the Year for 2005. His recordings have garnered 18 “Golden Earphones” awards from AudioFile and an Audie Award from the Audio Publishers’ Association.
http://grovergardner.blogspot.com/

Have a Happy Thanksgiving

Hunting the Truth by Kathleen Donnelly #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

National Forest K-9 Book #2

Book Blurb:

“Hide, Maya. Don’t let the bad people find you.”

Those are the last words Forest Service law enforcement officer and K-9 handler Maya Thompson ever heard her mother say.

Returning to the Colorado mountains, ex-soldier Maya is no longer a scared little girl. She’s here to investigate her mother’s cold case, but fear creeps in when it comes to her personal life—things are getting serious with sheriff deputy Josh Colten.

After new DNA evidence surfaces, both her beloved grandfather and Josh warn her away from the case, suspecting that she could be the next victim. But Maya doesn’t listen.

Instead, Maya and her K-9 partner, Juniper, track a suspect deep into the forest and directly into grave danger…

My Review:

I read and reviewed Chasing Justice recently and greatly enjoyed Book 1 of the series which introduced the Malinois Justice and main character Maya with the projected romance character Josh.

Maya is ex-military and has issues connected with her service. Josh has his own issues given his previous involvement in the Chicago Police Department. He’s the new deputy in town and quickly caught the eye of everyone including Maya, who tries hard not to act on the tension between them.

Maya is a US Forest Service Law Enforcement officer for the Pino Grande National Forest in Colorado. Maya begins to dig deep into the deaths of her mother and grandmother, their cases never solved. As Maya digs deeper into those cases, however, secrets begin to surface that scar.

Pops, her grandfather is prominently featured as well as Juniper, and the atmospheric description of the forested areas of Colorado is a beautiful character as well, lending mystery to searches.

I enjoy the explanation of training techniques, the special qualities attributed to the breed, and the strong bond that is developed between the two. Fortunately, the storyline weaves canine details and twists into the plot and the pacing is fairly even.

The romance angle between the two, Maya and Josh, tends to overshadow the main thrust of the narrative which is brought up short by the intrusion of Juniper. Finally, it just gets a bit heavy on the romance for me. While I’d intended to read the series, I’m now backing off that plan.

Still, for most that enjoy romance in their books, and specifically in this one, police romance, then this novel coupled with an amazing dog should add even more spice to pique your interest.

Many thanks to my favorite fully stocked library that provided the ebook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Rating: Four Stars 4 stars

Book Details:

Genre: Police Romance eBooks, Animal Fiction
Publisher: Carina Press
ASIN: B0B72FJLHJ
Print Length: 324 pages
Publication Date: September 26, 2023
Source: Local Library

Title Links:

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Award-winning author, Kathleen Donnelly is a handler for a private narcotics K-9 detection company. She enjoys using her experience to craft realism into her fictional stories. Kathleen loves the beauty of the mountains, which inspired her choice of setting for her series. She lives near the Colorado foothills with her husband and her four-legged co-workers. Visit Kathleen on her website at http://www.kathleendonnelly.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/AuthorKathleenDonnelly/, follow her on Twitter @KatK9writer or find her on Instagram @authorkathleendonnelly.

Happiness is a reading buddy. — AI generated graphic courtesy Gemini

Chasing Justice: A Thrilling K-9 Suspense by Kathleen Donnelly #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

National Forest K-9 Book 1

Book Blurb:

A former marine learns to love again in this suspenseful, action-packed K-9 search and rescue from Kathleen Donnelly

After losing her military K-9, former marine Maya Thompson swears she’ll never work with dogs again. But when she returns home to Colorado and accepts a job with US Forest Service law enforcement, fate brings K-9 Juniper into her life just as another tragedy unfolds.

Juniper, a beautiful two-year-old Malinois, isn’t the only new addition to Maya’s life. Josh Colten, the local deputy sheriff, insists on helping with her new case. Handsome and mysterious, he’s all anyone in town can talk about, but Maya can’t let herself like him, let alone trust him.

When Maya’s grandfather goes missing amid a growing drug war, Maya must put her faith in Josh, and her own battered instincts, to find him. But there’s a web of secrets tying her grandfather to the tragedy that brought Juniper into her life—secrets someone would kill to keep hidden.

My Review:

I love it when I find a new author and book series I can really get into. This is one that hooks immediately and keeps a reader’s attention throughout.

Not my first book regarding a female National Park employee as I’ve read most and loved Nevada Barr’s park ranger Anna Pigeon series, the last one being A Superior Death. Whereas Anna Pigeon is appointed to different US parks, however, Maya Thompson is solidly assigned to the US Forest Service in Colorado. (And, of course, I do miss the Pigeon series narrator Barbara Rosenblat but I chose to read, not listen, to this novel.) Also, I do love and have read most of Margaret Mizushima’s Timber Creek K-9 books, the last being Gathering Mist. It’s hard to beat a Timber Creek K-9 installment.

Maya lost her K-9 while she was in the service in Afghanistan and swore she’d never go through that loss again, but circumstances found her the owner of Justice, a young, brilliant, and energetic Malinois. Oh yeah, and Maya has returned home with PTSD.

Maya returned to the area where her grandfather is the local sheriff. Also, you guessed it, there is a new deputy in town, Josh Colten, handsome and available who tends to set her heart tingling. Again—something she swore off of after returning home.

They end up in a high profile drug case that allows the spotlight on Juniper often and Maya’s demonstration of how to manage a high energy, high prey drive animal. The forest is atmospheric and adds a deep dimension to the scene.

Malinois parachuting from airplane. — **Fun fact about the Belgian Malinois:**
🐕🦺 **They can skydive!**
Belgian Malinois are so smart, athletic, and brave that military and police units often train them to parachute out of airplanes alongside their handlers. Some have been part of high-profile special ops missions! Basically, they’re like the Navy SEALs of the dog world. AI generated fun fact from ChatGPT. AI generated photo courtesy Gemini.

I like both characters, Maya and Josh, but I’m not in love. Her military service gives her an edge of experience in combat, she’s sharp, intelligent, and can strategize well with her service dog. Josh is not exactly battle hardened but carries baggage of his own. So, yes, I loved the dog and the personality she is given. I noted a few edit misses and tend to tire a bit with repeated (romance) issues, but enjoyed the premise, the plot, the dog, and the pace enough to go look for Book 2—and found it. Look for Hunting the Truth shortly.

Thanks to my local library for the loan and providing me the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own. If you enjoy animal, dog stories, this is a good series to start and I can recommend them.

Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Animal Fiction, Police Romance, Cozy Animal Mysteries
Publisher: Carina Press
ASIN: B097YJ2FD3
Print Length: 351 pages
Publication Date: May 24, 2022
Source: Local Library

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Visit Kathleen on her website at http://www.kathleendonnelly.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/AuthorKathleenDonnelly/, follow her on Twitter @KatK9writer or find her on Instagram @authorkathleendonnelly.

#TuesdayBookBlog

The More the Terrier: Andy Carpenter Book 30 by David Rosenfelt #AudiobookReview #AnimalCozyMysteries

in Animal Cozy Mysteries

Book Blurb:

The next installment in David Rosenfelt’s bestselling Andy Carpenter series brings a lone pup to his doorstep, but when it comes to dogs, The More the Terrier.

Reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter is relieved to be headed back to Paterson, New Jersey, after a week-long family vacation in the Adirondacks. He’s ready to put the holly jolly season way behind him and settle in at home with his three dogs. But when they finally arrive, there is an extra dog eagerly awaiting them, as well as one anxious dog sitter.

When the dog showed up on the doorstep a few days ago, the sitter knew Andy would know what to do. Indeed, Andy recognizes Murphy, who the Carpenters fostered before the dog went home with BJ Bremer and his mother. BJ wanted to learn all he could about caring for Murphy, which made Andy like him immediately.

When Andy goes to take Murphy back to the Bremers, though, instead of the happy reunion he expects, he finds BJ’s mother in tears. It turns out Murphy ran off…after BJ was arrested for murder. Andy had hoped for a quiet Christmas vacation, but he likes Murphy’s family and his golden retriever, Tara, likes Murphy, so he can’t resist getting involved. The case isn’t as simple as Andy thought it would be, though, with BJ suspected of murdering one of his professors. With nothing to go on but Andy’s own conviction in BJ’s dog-loving character, proving his innocence would be a Christmas miracle.

With equal doses of doggy humor and courtroom drama, as well as Andy Carpenter’s traditional humbug Christmas spirit, David Rosenfelt delivers another winner.

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.

My Review:

Another doggy series and one I adore from David Rosenfelt and Grover Gardner. No, Gardner didn’t help write it, but his familiar voice and the way he narrates Andy Carpenter keep you coming back for more. This is number thirty? No problem—I’m already looking forward to number thirty-one (except I hope we don’t have more of the Jersey mob in the next one),

Yes, it’s a popular and successful formula, but these characters all come together in each of their roles perfectly drawn and work beautifully. Even better, you could come in on number thirty as easily as number five as the author supplies the reader with enough background info to show you how they relate to the overall main character, Andy Carpenter.

Still, those of us who know and love Andy at this point remember that Laurie (his wife and ex-cop) still starts Christmas before Halloween, he’s still paying for (and threatening to cut them off) his buddies at their favorite haunt, and he still walks and talks to his dogs while pondering his cases. All except for Sebastian who he has finally acquiesced to allowing him to do his business without the long walks. Tara hasn’t rescued Andy lately, could still do so, but patiently listens to his arguments without comment.

In this episode, Murphy, a terrier, shows up at Andy’s door step one evening, a past rescue, Andy’s main passion. He remembers her of course and tracks down the mother and son who adopted the dog. Unfortunately, the son has been arrested for murder. Of course, Andy will take the case even as he vows to stop being a criminal attorney. These cases just keep popping up keeping him from fully retiring.

While you might think this formula could get old, it doesn’t for several reasons. I love the sarcastic sense of humor, the quick wit that keeps him on his feet both with dealing with law enforcement, other lawyers, and in the courtroom. That sharp mind almost misses nothing and when it does, niggles at him until he susses it out.

These stories are deemed cozy mysteries, but they far exceed the cozy concept with deeply complex and layered storylines and always keep you second guessing. Love the courtroom “dance” and I usually learn something new. In this case, the metaverse. Metaverse!!—really?

I downloaded a copy of this audiobook from my local well-stocked library. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Animal Cozy Mysteries, Animal Fiction, Holiday Fiction
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
ASIN: B0CWB2412M
Listening Length: 6 hrs 34 mins
Narrator: Grover Gardner
Publication Date: October 15, 2024
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Link: The More the Terrier – Amazon-US
Amazon-UK
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

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The Narrator:

Happy Autumn Weekend to you from Rosepoint Publishing

A Dog’s Courage and A Dog’s Promise by W Bruce Cameron #AudiobookReview #ThrowbackThursday

Book 2 (of 2), the sequel to A Dog’s Way Home (a hit movie) and Book 3 (of 3) from A Dog’s Purpose (another major motion picture stemming from A Dog’s Journey.

Without looking more closely, I thought I was getting Book 2 and 3 of the same series. Apparently not. Which one did I prefer?

A Dog’s Courage

Book Blurb:

Bella was once a lost dog, but now she lives happily with her people, Lucas and Olivia, only occasionally recalling the hardships in her past. Then a weekend camping trip turns into a harrowing struggle for survival when the Rocky Mountains are engulfed by the biggest wildfire in American history. The raging inferno separates Bella from her people and she is lost once more.

Alone in the wilderness, Bella unexpectedly finds herself responsible for the safety of two defenseless mountain lion cubs. Now she’s torn between two equally urgent goals. More than anything, she wants to find her way home to Lucas and Olivia, but not if it means abandoning her new family to danger. And danger abounds, from predators hunting them to the flames threatening at every turn.

Can Bella ever get back to where she truly belongs?

A Dog’s Courage is more than a fast-paced adventure, more than a devoted dog’s struggle to survive, it’s a story asking that we believe in our dogs as much as they believe in us.

A Macmillan Audio production from Forge Books

My Review:

Unfortunately, this one is narrated by a woman who over-dramatizes pretty much everything. After I started the audiobook, I remember I’d started it before and DNF. This time I tried finishing the novel as the plot is interesting and it’s well-paced. The plot mirrors an often repeated problem in the mountains, that of forest fires, and just how quickly they can explode from tree-top to tree-top incinerating everything below.

This is the story of Bella, once a lost dog apparently doomed to repeat the experience and this time with the addition of the cubs and the fire. How the dog handles the cubs and her connection to the felines is engaging, suspenseful, and gratifying borne of her independent and wild experience before. The thought processes of the dog, the POV, often seem as authentically from the canine herself. Oh yes, and I liked that the main character was a female this time.

Book Details:

Genre: Animal Fiction, Family Life Fiction
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
ASIN: B08KYJRQ27
Listening Length: 10 hrs 18 mins
Narrator: Ann Marie Lee
Publication Date: May 4, 2021
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Link: A Dog’s Courage [Amazon]

>——————-

A Dog’s Promise

Book Blurb:

A Dog’s Promise continues the story of Bailey, the good dog whose journey started in A Dog’s Purpose (the international hit film) and continued in A Dog’s Journey (soon to be a major motion picture in May 2019). This time, Bailey is joined by Lacey, another very special dog, who helps Bailey fulfill his promise over the course of several lives.

This charming, wise canine soul brings joy, laughter, and comfort as he unites a family fractured by life’s inevitable obstacles. The love and loyalty of these two memorable dogs shows us the incredible power of hope, truth, and unending devotion in this moving audiobook by award-winning author W. Bruce Cameron.

My Review:

This is the story of Bailey who is joined by Lacey, his soul mate. This one is narrated by a man who does an admiral job of being the main character’s POV.

This one threw me when the main character dies about a third into the book. Then he begins as a puppy again and passes about two-thirds into the book, and, you guessed it, becomes a puppy again, each time with a new name but essentially the same characteristics, even some of the memories, particularly scent memories. Each time he finds his purpose as an adult and it’s during this memory of previous jobs that the humans in his life discover a possible connection. Some skepticism, but perhaps arguable points.

I liked the human characters in this book, a diverse cadre of people, although I did tire of the animosity between the brothers. The life span of the dogs takes the main human characters through years of life until all the threads are neatly brought together in conclusion, as I correctly assumed they would. After all, it’s a feel good book.

Book Details:

Genre: Animal Fiction, Family Life Fiction
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
ASIN: B07THCL254
Listening Length: 10 hrs 48 mins
Narrator: William Dufris
Publication Date: October 15, 2019
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Link: A Dog’s Promise [Amazon]

The Author: W. Bruce Cameron is the New York Times bestselling author of 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, The Dog Master, and the A Dog’s Purpose series. In 2011 he was named Columnist of the Year by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. He lives in California.

Summary

Both books are good although I found the inner dialogue of the dog in A Dog’s Courage a bit more intelligent using more thought processes than in A Dog’s Promise. Bailey and his successive soul brought into those dogs a more simple thought process, immediate gratification, concentrating on food first and his lady-love Lacey second. Also, the plot appears to meander a bit, sometimes losing the main thread before ascending into the next mini-drama.

No clear winner here. Preferred the male narrator of Courage, but the storyline of Promise. Plot for plot, each reader might find their preference—animal driven or (human) character driven.

I downloaded a copy of this audiobook from my local well-stocked library. These are my honest thoughts.

#ThrowbackThursday

The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived by Will Pass #BookReview #animalfiction

Book Blurb:

The human who found me is fine. She feeds me. She cuddles me. She puts a roof over my head. But I do not appreciate being held captive. Because I have the intelligence of a human. And I aim to find out why.

Accompanied by Shakespeare, a Pug with the intelligence of a Pug, I run away from home, embarking on an epic quest for freedom, understanding, and, quite possibly, revenge.

Together we must survive a harsh desert of cannibalistic coyotes, stray humans, a fugitive white tiger, and one hypnotic beacon that shines from a city of sin, luring us back into so-called civilization.

My name is Rousseau. I seek the truth. Even if it means I lose my mind…

Full of imagination and humor, The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived is a dog book like no other, with a canine narrator who questions the value of human society, and a dog’s place within it.

His Review:

The life of a stray is not an easy one. Even near the country’s largest casino city. The primary risk is the game warden. His job is to capture the strays and run-aways and either adopt them out or eliminate them. The cute puppies are adopted quickly and sent to loving homes. The older more mature animals are usually slated for euthanize.

Dr. Francis attempts to save them all. However, his budget is limited so he must keep the adoptable numbers to a minimum. Mary is a kind soul who saves as many slated for death as she can. The result is a large population of strays around the desert areas near Los Velos, a large gambling community in the desert.

We all have to eat and strays are no exception. One of this band of strays has secured a local hamburger joint. The trick is to hide beside the driver’s side of the car and wait until the bag of burgers is offered through the drive-up window. A quick jump and there may be hamburgers all around. A hungry dog can eat four or more at a time.

Leo is one of those strays and a little bigger than most. He has been living in the desert with coyotes and is thankful he is not their dinner. A few smaller dogs that travel with him take advantage of his size and protective tendencies. However, sufficient food is never available for all.

Trigger: Animal death

The book is well written with many fun vignettes. The writer has woven human relationships and prejudices into a very believable tapestry of adventures. The underdogs are literally the escaped or abandoned. Read and enjoy. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

This is a real surprise for a debut that combines both humor and anguish with an animal POV—rather unlike most you’ve read before. You’ll enjoy the adventure and characters whether or not a dog lover.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my own thoughts.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Animal Fiction, Satire Fiction
Publisher: Thiessen Press
ASIN: B0CW1D8T8N
Print Length: 467 pages
Publication Date: October 4, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Links:

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble

The Author: Will Pass practiced as a veterinarian in Las Vegas before becoming a novelist and medical writer.

He lives in Colorado with his wife, son, two cats, and very good dog.

The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived is his first novel.

Rosepoint Reviews – August Recap – Books, Covid, and Dogs

Rosepoint Reviews-August Recap

Just when we had a stretch of mild weather, beautiful temps for everything I wanted to do outside, I went grocery shopping. A few days later, I came down with Covid—whichever variety is currently going around, I guess, and a few days after that, the CE came down with it. Here we’ve gotten all through ’20, ’21, ’22, and ’23, then got caught. Definitely laid me low for two weeks and then another two weeks still lacking any energy and short on stamina. Fortunately, our son didn’t catch it for another few days, so he was able to see we had something to eat. Well, I covered that saga in my reviews posted both the eleventh and the thirteenth.

Also fortunate that our son was able to double down and take care of his own dog, a mini-Aussie-Jack Russell and ours as well. Punkin is always careful to make sure Cooper remembers the house is hers, but Cooper made herself at home early on. Cooper (Remember the puppy?) It is a year last August our daughter surprised us with her. I was missing Frosty so much—but more than that—the joy and companionship a dog brings to the household. Cooper grew into approximately 35 lbs of exuberant and energetic watch dog and indefatigable ball retriever. She tries so hard to talk, but I haven’t quite understood a word yet.

So obviously, not a lot of activity on the blog in August, although I did get some reading done. I’m still getting books from NetGalley as well as author and publisher requests, and my local library. Two novels were given a DNF this month (not included in the list below), one from the CE and one from myself and both at just about 25%. Just didn’t click with either of us, totally unusual. As always, links on titles are to our reviews that include purchase or source information.

Rosepoint Reviews - August Recap

The Blind Devotion of Imogene by David Putnam
On Wahoo Reef by Tim W Jackson
The Broken Truth by Reavis Wortham (CE review)
Zephyr Trails by Nicki Ehrlich
Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee
Echoes of Memory by Sara Driscoll (audiobook)
Big Love and War Horse by Shallen Anne Chitwood
Hillbilly Elegy by J D Vance (audiobook)
Dog Day Afternoon by David Rosenfelt (audiobook)

Favorite Book of the Month

I really enjoyed Hillbilly Elegy but waffled on five stars. The CE gave The Broken Truth five stars, so I must bow to his choice.

**Favorites for August – The Broken Truth by Reavis Wortham**

My Reading Challenges page…

Reading Challenges page—at this point woefully behind schedule and forced to reduce the Goodreads Challenge from 150 to 130. The CE is reducing his reading and reviewing and I still owe two reviews to Goodreads.

Love my new subscribers—welcome! Thank you to those of you who continue to monitor, read, and comment on my posts. I appreciate you!

Enjoy Your Sunday