Amazing journey! Wonderfully written, full of raw emotion and very powerful. Impossible to put down until the very last sentence has been read

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this edition and hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partner

“The Dog I Loved” is the first book I have read by Susan Wilson, and I will be seeking out more! A story about growing up, friendship, starting over, and the amazing relationship one can have with a dog had me entranced from the start. An easy read I didn’t want to put down until I finished the very last page.

I have read many of this author’s books and loved every one of them, and this one is no exception. Susan Wilson “gets” dogs in a way that few humans do. But she also “gets” women, and the underlying emotional complexities of many different cultures and classes. There is fine attention to emotional as well as physical detail in this wonderful novel, and I will be purchasing it when it is released to give to several friends. This book offers healing, as well as insight into dog behavior... and human behavior.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I've read several of Susan Wilson's books and they are always interesting. She gets dog's behavior and obviously loves them. This was about service dogs and the difference they can make in someone's life. The characters are skillfully crafted and believable. The family dynamics and unmet expectations play a major part in this story. It's a good reminder of what happens when we judge people by our own standards instead of letting them be who they are. A great story.

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are completely my own.
#TheDogILoved #NetGalley

Skip the "whodunit's" and "romcom's" and immerse yourself in this sweet and simple tale of loss, forgiveness and redemption. The title is misleading as The Dog I Loved is about several dogs, and they are the hero's (along with a disabled veteran) of the story. Rose has spent six years in jail for killing her fiance-an evil man who is the poster child for "justifiable homicide." Meghan is a service member who came home in a wheelchair. They meet when Rose participates in a therapy dog training program through her prison. Both Rose and Meghan have deep scars- physical and emotional-and they bond through Shark-the dog Rose trains to assist Meghan. The Dog I Loved is such a joy to read even with such dark circumstances. Susan Wilson adds some mysticism with the inclusion of Shadow-a dog who literally appears out of the shadows and recounts memories (there are chapters told from the dog's POV-some of the best parts of the novel!) from decades ago. This blend of fantasy and grim reality works beautifully in a way it might not have without the dogs. The Dog I Loved has Lifetime or Hallmark movie written all over it-I hope a film is in the works. I'd watch it again and again, and probably fall more in love with the dogs (and people) every time.

Rose Collins ends up in prison, sentenced for 20 years, even though she didn’t commit murder like they said. Life in prison was difficult, until she was selected to train dogs as part of a prison rehab program. The first dog she trained, Shark, went to Meghan, an ex-soldier who is struggling after ending up in a wheelchair after an explosion ends her career. Little does Rose know how much meeting Meghan is going to change her life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not only does Meghan help win Rose’s release from prison, but she secretly helps her find purpose to her life. That helps Meghan as much as it helps Rose. Added bonus was the dogs and hearing their point of view in brief chapters! Highly recommended! Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I truly loved this story! It is an emotional journey of a young lady who finds herself in a Women's Correctional Facility for manslaughter.
Rose needs to stay afloat in this lonely place. Can she spend twenty-five years here and survive?
When a new program comes to the prison, Rose applies and is accepted to train puppies to become service pets to folks in need. It is the answer to her prayers.
Shark is who gives Rose purpose and love each day.
Then comes the day he must go to his new owner. ( and the tears begin.)
But.... this is just the beginning of Rose's story as she eventually begins to move forward with her own life.
Anybody who loves dogs will not be able to put this novel down!
The feelings of each person and the dogs in this novel come through in beautiful detail.
It is seen and certainly true that a dog will bring out the best in a human and Susan Wilson has proven this! Excellent!

I absolutely loved the dog connection in this story and the how the author took historical context and wove the past and the present into a satisfying read.

Having recently finished “The Dog I Loved” by Susan Wilson, I am happy to have had the chance for the preview; thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press!

This was a wonderful story about new friendships made while learning to live with extreme emotional and physical challenges. The fact that 4-legged friends were such a large part of this storyline made it all the more heartwarming. It was a nice surprise, and not unbelievable, for their furry point of view to be expressed throughout the book. By the final chapter, I felt I knew all these characters, how their lives might continue and... will miss them.

This was a magnificent novel. Following Rosie through the beginning of her freedom was lovely. I really enjoyed learning Rosie's story bit by bit as the tale progressed.
The fact that Shark and Shadow has their own chapters dedicated to their own voice was beautiful.
I also loved the history of Dogtown and the connection Rosie starts to feel with those early settlers.
The relationships in this book were so realistic and raw. True pain wasn't skipped over, it was embraced.
This book was amazing to read. The ability of dogs to help in any circumstance is a gift. They're ability to be there for their people is something everyone should be able to experience. I loved this book and I can't wait to read more by this author.

Fabulous! The switching of characters was not hard to follow at all, and the blend between the two major characters was beautiful. I love that the author have the dogs in the story a voice as well. Trigger warning for those people who may have experienced domestic violence.

I loved this book. The characters both human and canine, come to life and are so real. the emotions and relationships are believable. Once I got into the story I could not put it down.

4.5 stars.
“The Dog I Loved”, by Susan Wilson, is a gripping foray into the historic human-dog relationship and a powerful tale about healing and redemption.
More focused on the human/canine bonding, and on service dogs in particular, with the refreshingly realistic and credible point of view of the canine characters, the novel features two women who form an unexpected friendship because of the dogs in their lives.
I liked that Susan Wilson doesn’t sugarcoat the severity of Meghan’s injuries, although I felt her physical characterization could have been less general/abstract.
I also enjoyed having an interracial romance, and I just hope Rosie and Tucker will have their HEA too.
Shark, Shadow and Spike are wonderful creatures, so committed to their humans, yet so earnest to have fun and behave like regular animals when not performing working functions.
I found this a completely absorbing story, with Rosie’s background slowly revealed and the Dogtown history.

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I read it and then immediately read it again, slowly taking in every word. That, to me, is a sign of a special book. I have read several of Ms. Wilson’s books and I have enjoyed them but this one hit it out of the ballpark.
Rosie is in prison for accidental murder. She keeps to herself until she starts a prisoner rehabilitation program training service dog. She is released suddenly and is given a job overseeing the renovations of an old house.
Megan is a disabled vet in a wheelchair whose life is changed when she receives Rosie’s first dog. A friendship between the two women emerges.
Rosie’s story is revealed slowly. I love the first-person point of view by many of the characters especially the dogs. I think I loved it so much because this is my favorite type of story, first person by different characters.
I loved the history of Dogtown.
Ms. Wilson’s writing is fresh and easy to read. Thank you for writing this story and thank you Net Galley.

Loved this book! "The Dog I Loved" is no simple story about life with dog(s). It's a multilayered study of human nature, both individual and societal, our relationships with each other and with our dogs. Do our dogs rely on us, or do we rely on them? Are we their guides, or are they ours?

Rose finds herself imprisoned unjustly, and the story takes us through her backstory as well as her experiences in prison. While there, she keeps to herself while learned to how to posture/fake it 'til you make it in terms of strength. She's barely surviving. And then she is granted the opportunity to train a service dog. This is life changing for Rose. This opportunity brings Meghan, an injured in the line of duty ex-soldier who will be receiving Shark, Rose's service dog-in-training. The cross-section of Rose/Meghan/Shark is both a difficult and ultimately heartwarming story. As a lifelong dog lover, it provided all the feels. I particularly loved that Shark is his own character as is Rose's next dog. I especially enjoyed how the author weaves the history of Dogtown into the story, and how it is pivotal to Rose's personal growth.

This was a highly enjoyable read, that I would recommend to anyone. I look forward to reading more from Susan Wilson in the future!

Rosie has been convicted of manslaughter in the death of her fiance and is in the middle of a lengthy prison sentence when she gets the opportunity to help train a service dog, Shark. Her time with this remarkable dog, whom she comes to love, is the only thing that gets her through her time behind bars. Shark is being trained to help former soldier, Meghan, who is wheelchair bound. Readers get a chance to hear from all the characters, Rosie (in first person, Meghan and even Shark. I won’t lie to you, this was a difficult book to read, from the prison conditions Rosie suffered through, to her wrongful conviction, and most heart breaking of all, her good-bye to Shark. But never fear, justice finally prevailed and there are more dogs and people who need their help