I wanted to like this book. But I just didn’t.
I thought it was about a lost dog and its travels back to the owner.
It isn’t.
Religion weighed heavily in this story. I don’t mind some but this was too much for my taste.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for my honest review.

I received an ARC from the authors and Nelson Books through NetGalley for an honest review. This was a powerful story. Steven's dog Oliver was stolen from his vehicle one night. He and his sister put out flyers and offering a reward for the return of Oliver.
As he is looking for his boy, he not only lost his dog but he lost his faith in God. We learn of his struggles and why he is the way he is. He has sightings of his dog in Mount Vernon so he goes there and he finds the community, welcoming, helpful, and kind. A lot of the people in the community is sure it is a boy named Del so Steven goes to his apartment where his mother says the dog isn't there and the community blames everything on Del. Even though Steven is pretty sure Del is the one who took his dog he can't find Oliver. Oliver stays in Mount Vernon and he is learning so much from the people who live there. Oliver was found wandering around by Manny and Walaa. They took care of the dog and happened to see a flyer that Steven had put up. Manny called Steven and Steven got to FaceTime with Oliver. He was only a block away from them and when he got near enough for Oliver to see him, Oliver jumped through the open window right into his arms.
When Oliver was stolen, it sent Steven back to his old way of thinking. God let him down, His ordeal lasted seven days and in that time he was given many gifts. The gift of kindness, community, love, and with that Steven let go of his hatred, distrust, and resentment. When he got Oliver back he thanked God for putting him through the ordeal and showing him he could make it through and how much he is loved.
Two weeks after getting Oliver back he went back to Mount Vernon to look for Del. After he had learned so much about himself in those seven days, he thought about what those seven days were like for Del. Steven knew that Del played a big part in his transformation and wondered if maybe he was meant to be a part of his.
He someday wanted to take Del to an animal rescue and get him a dog of his own because he knew dogs make us better humans and bring out the best in us.
This is a reminder that sometimes the worst thing that happens in your life can teach you valuable lessons and show you how loved you are so that we can make it through rough times. and see yourself differently.

Steven is a middle aged man. Very much a product of his upbringing, he's seen highs and lows, been married and divorced. Now he lives alone in a small cottage he rents from the owners of the farm on which it sits. Oliver is his best friend. One evening, after a particularly long day at work. Steven takes Oliver with him for a ride. He makes a brief stop, leaving Oliver in the car. When he returns, Oliver is gone.

Those who aren't pet people may find it difficult to understand, but a pet is more than an animal that lives in your house. To those of us who live with them, a pet is a member of the family, one who provides unconditional love, who can read your mood and offer comfort at just the right time, and one that leaves a huge hole in your heart. To Steven, Oliver was his whole world.

Interspersed with stories of his past, this is the story of Steven's frantic search for Oliver and the promises and the disappoints of the search, coupled his belief that he'll succeed and his fear that he won't. Simply written, the story beautifully conveys Steven's grief, his hope, his frustration and his discovery of the invisible threads that bind people together in both tragedy and in celebrations

How far would you go to find your stolen pet?

On Valentine's Day 2019, Steven Carino left his dog, Oliver, in the car while he bought cigars after a long day at work; however, when he returned, Oliver was gone with no sign of his whereabouts. Feeling as though his heart had been ripped out of his chest, Steven falls apart. Embarking on a search to find Oliver, Steven will not stop until they are reunited; what he doesn't expect is the number of people willing to help him in the hunt.

Oliver: The True Story of a Stolen Dog and the Humans He Brought Together is a heart-wrenching yet uplifting book that reminds us that when we put our trust in the Lord, He will always be with us and help us in our time of need.

"If you can endure tribulations and, as it says in Proverbs 3, 'let love and faithfulness never leave you,' you will gain the wisdom that brings true well-being." ~ Steven Carino

Steven is a fantastic storyteller! His portrayal of the events before and after Oliver's disappearance allowed readers to be right there with him and Oliver as they found their way back to one another. The flashbacks into Steven's life also gave us more insight into who he is and the journey he has been on, adding another element of connection in this incredible odyssey of healing, forgiveness, discovery, and faith.

"Friends reminded me I was loved; strangers shared my pain. A single block in a challenged neighborhood became my world, and I saw that this world was beautiful." ~ Steven Carino

I enjoyed every moment of this book. Steven's words brought everything to life, allowing me to sit front and center for this amazing story of love. Every page emphasized the devotion Steven has for Oliver and vice versa, which will undoubtedly touch the hearts of animal lovers worldwide. Not only was this a book about finding a stolen pet, but it also paid homage to all the people, mostly strangers, who stepped up and took action. Steven's words couldn't be more profound, "Something was happening. Something bigger than me. My eyes were being opened to a greater truth about the world, an insight into our shared humanity, a close-up look at the extraordinary power of love and empathy." While we migrate past one another on the streets, you can be sure that when it comes time to take action, people will be there to lend a hand. Oliver reminds us of this truth and will be a beacon of hope into the lives of all who pick up this book.

How far would you go to find your stolen pet? All. The. Way.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight... Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared." Proverbs 3:5-6, 25-26

Positive content: 5⭐️
Language: 1⭐️
Sexual content: 1⭐️
Violence: 1⭐️
Age: 13+

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a pre-release copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are entirely my own!*

Oliver is the heartwarming story of Steven Carino and his dogs, most notably Oliver.
On Valentine's Day, Oliver was kidnapped from Steven's car. He was missing for a week. During that time, Steven goes through all the phases of grief - anger, sadness, denial, and fear. Being unable to accept that Oliver is gone forever, Steven and his family and friends begin an exhaustive search for Oliver. Along the way, Steven meets many wonderful people that show him compassion, unconditional love, and acceptance. All of them were so willing to help him find Oliver, that Steven eventually realized that Oliver's missing was a gift from God as it taught him forgiveness and unconditional love for his fellow man.

This is a book that I wanted to like. I do like the general theme of animal lost, animal found. Sadly, I found this book to be poorly written and more religious than I prefer.

If you are a dog lover, this book will tug at your heart strings. Oliver is stolen from his owner Steven on Valentines Day and Steven is heartbroken. But with the help of family and friends, Steven comes to find not only Oliver but many truths about himself, humanity, and most importantly God along the way. Written in a casual way so you will feel like you are getting coffee with Steven and hearing his story, this tale will have you invested until the very last page.

I absolutely loved the story about Oliver, the stolen dog, and how a community worked together to reunite this sweet dog with his owner. The animal community is wonderful, compassionate and empathetic bunch of people who understand and appreciate what animals mean to people's health and wellbeing. This is just that story and more. If you were not crying your eyes out about what this little dog meant to his owner, then being snatched, then reunited after sometime; you are not paying attention. I went through all types of crying read this book and so glad there was a happy ending and the author shared his story with us. Thank you for that!

I highly recommend this to any animal lover. You will not be disappointed. I will definitely be purchasing at publication.

Thanks to Netgalley, Steven J Carino and Nelson Books: Thomas Nelson for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 1/26/21

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
As a dog-aholic, this book was love at first sight. The author's life is truly shaken when his beloved dog is stolen. While he searches for his sweet boy, he learns some life lessons and meets some people who he'd likely never know otherwise. I enjoyed this book and like that he gave some background on past trials in his life. I would be absolutely beside myself if my dogs were stolen so I really admire him for his determination to recover his dog, with the help of his amazing sisters.

This is such a heartwarming story. about a man searching. for his best friend. When his dog was stolen from his car, he will do whatever it takes to find him again. The story takes you through the heartbreaking days after the dog disappears and the grief Steven experiences as his hopes are raised and dashed as he searches for Oliver. His. faith in God is tested. As Steven shares his search for Oliver, he also takes you back in time. to his life. growing up with his. family and explains why he approaches life the way he does.

I received an advance copy of, Oliver by, Steven J. Carino, and Alex Tresniowski, I really wanted to like this book, but I could not. I thought this book would be more about the dog, then the owner. Not for me, but someone else might enjoy it.