Possible spoilers***

This was a great story and the different plotlines came together perfectly. I was a little unsure at the end, did Shadow move with Rosie or stay behind? Was Shadow maybe the dog/ghost of the dog that belonged to Susannah?

I loved this story of a woman finding peace and redemption with the love of a dog. There aren't enough of these stories, and it was a satisfying read.

This was an inspirational novel! The story is about mistakes and new beginnings. It’s about family and friendships. And dogs and our bonds with them. Meghan was injured during her military service and now requires a wheelchair. When she stumbles upon a prison program that trains service dogs, she decides to apply. She gets Shark, who was trained by Rosie. Rosie is serving a sentence for a mistake she made years ago. Meghan gains independence with Shark, but still struggles emotionally with her disabilities. Rosie became estranged from her family right before she went to prison. The two women form a close friendship. The story is about what they went through, their regrets, and the challenges they have to overcome.

This is the first book that I have read by Susan Wilson and I will say that this will not be my last. I enjoyed the journey that these 2 women went on. They formed such a bond with each other and the dog.

Rose at the age of twenty five is sentenced to twenty years in jail. she has had her share of bully cell mates.she was the only girl and the youngest of six.she had been innocent,devoted,loyal.interesting,but I couldn't get hooked

The Dog I Loved is great and shows how paying it forward and paying it back are both important in life. This book tells the story of two totally different women and how they change each other's lives for the better.

In this book, two women are struggling with their lives, but for different reasons. Rosie Collins is accused of killing her fiancé, in an accident that went horribly wrong. Megan Custer, a wheelchair bound vet, once had the world on a string, but her time in a combat zone, where she was badly injured, ended all that. These two women are brought together by one little dog, who changes their lives for the better. Rosie spends her time in prison training service dogs, which later leave and go on to work with and for those in need. Megan is convinced she needs and wants a service dog. Little Sharkey works with both, helping them become a citizens/woman—Rosie to train him and Megan to live with him. Megan does what she can to help Rosie, after her freedom from prison, moving into and becoming a part of a world she had once left behind and never thought she would see again. Both women need each other, though for different reasons. Read and find out what draws them together and what they both need. You will possibly be surprised at the role Sharkey plays in all this.

I really loved the first half of the book. The second half, after the two women re-entered the world they had left behind, making do with what they were given, was very interesting, but not as heart wrenching as the first half. As a dog lover, I really enjoyed reading about the difference the dogs made in their lives and how the dogs themselves were impacted. Both Megan and Rosie had secrets and events in their pasts, which weighed heavily on them. The dogs (Sharkey and the other two) helped them work through these, to ultimately resolve them and become better. I was impressed with the major role the dogs played in the book, as often dogs play a role in a story, but seldom as major. This is a book for dog lovers and for people who enjoy reading about second chances (and not always in the realm of romance). I would like to give the book more than five stars if I could, but I cannot. I received this from NetGalley to read and review,

I’m always incredibly weary of books involving dogs. It’s not that I don’t love dogs, but that I do. For the better part of my life I’ve had a dog, and I understand the deep sense of loss you feel when losing them.

Because of this, I’m always hesitant to read any story where one of the main characters is a canine. But this one is something else.

The Dog I Loved is told in alternating points of view from the two main characters - Rosie and Meghan. Rosie is a twenty-nine year old inmate at a correctional facility in Connecticut, serving twenty years for accidentally running over her fiancé. While serving her time, she becomes part of a program where inmates train puppies to be service dogs. Meghan is a wounded veteran and paraplegic who has recently returned to civilian life and is struggling to have independence. The two meet when Meghan applies for a dog from the program and is matched with Shark, Rosie’s first puppy. The two become unlikely friends. A few years later Rosie is unexpectedly released from prison, through the help of a mysterious foundation, and given a job rehabilitating a historic home in Dogtown, an abandoned village on the edge of Gloucester, MA.

I was immediately interested in this novel for a few reasons, probably the biggest one being the location in the second part of the story, Gloucester MA. I spent the better part of my summers throughout my childhood in Cape Ann and nostalgia got the better of me when I was looking for my next read.

That being said, this is a fantastic book. It is a beautiful tale of the power of dogs to make us feel less alone and help us in ways that humans cannot. But it also is a gorgeous tale of female friendship and kindness. It’s an incredibly emotional story from start to finish, and any who has ever loved a dog should read it!

Rosie Collins is convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the death of her fiance Charles Foster.
Though he was cruel and controlling in the relationship, and he was instrumental in the estrangement from her family, his death was really an accident.
In prison Rosie procures a place in the program training therapy dogs.
She trains a chocolate lab named Shark, who eventually becomes a service dog for Captain Meghan Custer, a veteran who was seriously injured and disfigured in Iraq. Confined to a wheelchair and being taken care of by her parents, she longs for more freedom and control in her life. She hopes a service dog will make it possible.
After six years in prison, Rosie is suddenly exonerated and released from prison. A mysterious benefactor sets her up with a job and a place to live in the coastal area of Gloucester, Massachusetts, near Dogtown.
She is overseeing the renovation of a sadly neglected historical estate.
She adopts a stray dog that is hanging around the property and names him Shadow. He helps her gain confidence as she seeks to acclimate back into society.
Rosie and Meghan become friends and with the help of their dogs, and each other, they begin to heal and lead independent lives.
A wonderfully written, heartwarming story of how animals improve and enhance our lives. It also delves into the serious subjects of PTSD trauma, prisoner dog training programs and family relationships.
This beautiful book captured my heart.
Thank you to St. Martin's Publishing Group for the e-ARC via NetGalley.

Honestly I have never read a book about dogs before. So I wasn't sure what to expect. Overall, it was a very heart warming story, and I really enjoyed Rosie and Meghan's story. My favorite part was the bit about Susannah Day. I love hearing about other people's lives and how people lived before our modern age fascinates me. However, I did have a couple issues with the book. The chapters that were from the dogs perspective just didn't feel right to me. I believe she was trying to bring the story full circle by including the dog's perspective but I think this made the book fall a bit short. In reality, we have no idea how a dog thinks or why they do the things they do and I think Leaving that mystery Intact would have strengthened the book. The only other issue I had was that the book was predictable. I knew most of what was gonna happen before it did, and that took away some of the beauty for me. But it's still a very heartwarming story that has a couple lessons in it that I think people would benefit from reading. So I would recommend this book to people who enjoy not only dogs, but a nice feel good story.

A wonderful story of redemption told by the point of view of two broken souls that would be brought together by a service dog. One it's prison trainer the other it's new owner broken by a devastating war injury. A Good story for all who love dogs. The author writes from a candid voice of these two characters that is engrossing and heartfelt and includes the young puppies point of view. At times it's hard to read but you are engrossed by the equally heartfelt stories.

This book was a 3.5 star review for me and I struggled in deciding whether to round up or down on the stars. There were parts I loved about this book and parts that just didn't flow right for me.

I was really interested in this book for a number of reasons. I'm a dog lover and have always had dogs. But more importantly, my husband and I have really been considering getting me a service dog and that aspect of this storyline made me jump to want to read it. Anyone who has ever had a dog knows of not only their healing powers, but how they can completely change your life for the better. Every dog I've ever had has made me a better person in some way. And that is the beautiful heart of this story - how dogs not only changed two women's lives but also made them better people. And in their own ways helped heal them. It's a incredible story about love, friendship, redemption, second chances and learning to believe in yourself and others. And the dogs in this story were the catalyst for all of this. It's a heart warming story that will make you smile, and want to have a dog snuggle up with you!!! Susan Wilson does an incredible job of showcasing how dogs can not only be companions and friends but healers too.

Here are the parts I struggled with in the book. I felt, at times, that the story would get a little discombobulated and not flow very smoothly. Some of the conclusions to the story at the end felt like they were rushed and squeezed into the last few pages where as other parts of the story seemed to drag on a little longer than they needed to. It didn't feel balanced to me. The author chooses to make some of the chapters the perspective of the dogs and those felt short, choppy, and not really thought out. But instead just thrown in the book to add space.

Having said all of that, I did enjoy this book and it's one I would recommend to others to read. I don't feel you have to be a dog lover to like this book.

My thanks to Susan Wilson, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you have ever had a dog you know that they bring a sense of calm and happiness to everyday. In this story Rosie is in prison for an accident that killed her fiance, during her time she begins to train therapy dogs. Her training gives her a sense of purpose when she felt like there was none. Her first dog Shark becomes a service dog for Meghan.

Meghan is a veteran who was injured while serving overseas. She has been living at home and feels beholden to everyone for help. The idea of a service dog gives her hope for independence, so she doesn't feel like a burden to her parents. When she learns of the prison program she knows that is the one she wants to use. Meghan meets Rosie and they form a bond.

When Rosie finds out a silent benefactor has arranged for her release she is grateful but also shocked. Getting to start over is scary and given a job to help rehab an old house is something she has no idea how to do. Finding a stray dog, gives her a sense of safety and comfort.

With the help of their dogs both Rosie and Meghan find a way to move forward and start over, building their friendship.

The only thing that I found a little strange was Rosie's stray Shadow seemed to have this weird backstory as if he was the same dog from many owners, not sure if it was reincarnate or something else but it is more eluded to than outright said, so I was a little confused.

There is so much to love about this book. Being a big dog lover I couldn't wait to read this. The story touches on several sensitive subjects such as domestic abuse, death, wounded veterans and estrangement from family. I didn't feel like the story was all wrapped up in a bow. It showed the struggles and challenges that the main characters persevere through. I would highly recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of the book. This review is in my own words.

First I want to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to be a late reader of the galley for The Dog I Lover. I read about the book on November 6 and immediately requested an opportunity to read the book expecting to love it. Like is a better description for the book as I expected more information about the training of service dogs and a deeper storyline. This is a heartwarming tale of personal redemption, growth and a bond between characters that are flawed, yet through a service dog become whole. Ultimately this is a story of survivors of both war and life.

A Story of Hope

Rosie Collins, imprisoned for a crime she didn’t commit, finds solace in training service dogs. One of the dogs she trained goes to Meghan Custer, a wheelchair bound veteran, who feels confined until her service dog, Shark, helps her find independence. Both women struggle with feelings of being imprisoned either behind high walls of an actual prison, or a prisoner of a damaged body.

Rosie gains an early release from prison and gets a job near Dogtown, On the Massachusetts coast near the town of Gloucester, where she is helping to restore a crumbling mansion. She’s doing well until her history comes out.

Meghan’s life changes completely when with her service dog, Shark, she finds that she can live on her own and rebuild her independence. She connects with Rosie through Shark and the women become friends.

I loved this book. Rosie and Meghan are strong women who face and overcome obstacles. It was emotionally gripping to see them finding hope and the role their dogs played in their growth. The setting is perfect for the story, particularly as Rosie learns more about Dogtown, a town where women lived alone with their dogs for protection.

I didn’t particularly like the chapters where the dogs shared their opinions. I felt it was distracting from the women’s stories. However, that’s a small criticism. I highly recommend the book.

I received this book from Macmillan for this review.

The Dog I Loved by Susan Wilson is a harder look at humanity than the previous books I have read written by her. That is not to say that it doesn’t have heartwarming parts or that they are characters that I didn’t grow fond of while reading. However, it does present some harsh realities along the way too.

The main characters of this story are women who could be called survivors. In Meghan’s case she is a heroine too being a wheelchair-bound war veteran. For Rose is more a survivor of bad choices or at the very least trusting the wrong people. They are a contrast and yet have common ground. A story for dog lovers but also a remarkable story for thinkers too.

This novel seizes you from the beginning and does not let go until you've read the last word of the last page. Rosie leaves her family to live with Charles Foster in New York. He comes from old money, position, and education and almost immediately begins to separate Rosie from her family and friends. He is demeaning and cruel. His death, however, is truly an accident, but through Charles' mother's contacts and her own incompetent PD, ends with a lengthy prison sentence.

Service-connected paraplegic, Meghan, is struggling with the loss of independence and over-protective and smothering parents until she learns of the service dog program trained by prisoners. She will meet Shark, the first dog trained by Rosie and during the orientation, the two women bond.

When Rosie is mysteriously exonerated and released after six years, she is also plunked into the position of overseer of a complete renovation of a historic property. The house is just outside Gloucester, a coastal city on Cape Ann, Massachusetts, at the remains of an area known as "DogTown." In the meantime, a large and perceptive dog Rosie names Shadow insists on sharing the cottage being restored.

Author Susan Wilson has penned a masterful tale weaving modern-day storyline with a discovered journal of the remote area she is overseeing. All the characters are so fully engaging, including the fully-fleshed dogs, that the reader easily invests in each as well as the well-plotted and engaging narrative. Gripping and emotive, the book hits so many tough subjects from women in prison to wounded warriors, PTSD, dysfunctional families, estrangement, and friendship. Unique plot--totally immersive.

I was granted a download of an uncorrected digital galley by the publisher through NetGalley and was totally thrilled. My first experience with this author won't be the last and I'm off to see what else I can find written by Susan Wilson. It is one that will resonate for some time to come. Thank you Alexis at St Martin’s Press! It’s officially a book hangover.

See my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2019/11/12/the-dog-i-loved-a-novel-by-susan-wilson-a-bookreview/

Fantastic, Ten-Star Book
This is the best piece of women's fiction that I have read in a long time. It touches all of my favorite things; dogs, history, family, wounded warriors and gratefulness. The story will bring a tear, a smile, some anger, and some love into your heart. Awesome! I am putting this book on my list for getting the hardcover to place in my library. Yes, it is that good! I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

With a mystical feel and uplifting messages, separate tragedies irrevocably change two women's lives and a service dog brings them together. Travel this journey with Rosie, Meghan and their respective canines, Shark and Shadow, and be ready to hand over your emotions to their profound, touching, and compelling story.

This author has a wonderful writing style, doling out bits of the past as puzzle pieces the reader collects, eager to fit together and reveal the whole story. Set in New England and full of history, this book will keep you riveted from the first page to the last. Devastating, poignantly beautiful and inspiring, The Dog I Loved will have you believing in redemption and cheering for second chances. If you read only one book this year, make it this one.

*I read a pre-publication version of this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide feedback and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source.