Recovered from the events that took place in Florida and Utah, the Carpenter family and their three furry companions embark for a new adventure!
The Carpenters have been invited to visit Tina's parents in Arizona, which ties into some training Tina wants to sign Sarge up for. The problem arises when Rick isn’t quite ready to tackle the desert yet. The physical wounds are long gone, but he’s still working on the mental ones. Deciding to stay home and work on the bugout property, the couple decides to divide and conquer. Tina doesn’t mind visiting her parents without Rick, though she misses her husband. She decides training is just what her and Sarge need. All was going perfect until a small plane went down nearby and some from her class are enlisted to help find the survivors.
Meanwhile in Michigan, having some of the best noses out there, Ophelia and Opus, along with their human, Rick start on a journey to find a lost scout pack, and their den leader. Little do they know that getting to them is only the smallest part of the journey!
Both adults find themselves a country apart in search and rescue missions. When things go wrong, they go really wrong.
The couple, in two different locations with their service dogs, are each pulled into separate S&R missions. Of course, a disaster happens, and they as well as their friends collaborate to get to them to safety. Adventure and comedic relief from beginning to end.
So sad to see this one end; wishing there would be at least one more in the series--is that too much to ask? This book was a treat in that it had 2 storylines going halfway across the country from each other. Granted, Tina's adventure didn't get as much coverage as Rick's, but it was still enjoyable to have them going off in different directions and kind of doing their own thing. I like that the author branched out that way. It was also a treat to have more of the background characters come closer to the foreground, in a sense. I'm surprised Karen & Jaime didn't put a 'monkey-stomping' on anyone! Good story, great characters & mostly believable conversations. (Seriously, how many young boys [Pete] are going to ask a grown man 'how long have you two been married?). Still, looking forward to another in this series (fingers crossed!)--gotta give us one with the training, S&R & more OJT for Opus, Ophelia, and Sarge!
It's always good to catch up with Opus and company, but this was the weakest of the series. The first half of the book is bogged down in minutiae with little to no action other than the protagonist's day to day activities.
Previous books may have had short asides featuring the dogs POV and it usually worked. In this edition it's overused and doesn't work for me at all.
The second half of the story does pick up, and there are some elements that made me laugh and others that made me a bit emotional.
Quite a bit different than I expected but in a good way
I think Boyd Craven is an excellent storyteller. Not that I know Mr. Craven, but I have to believe that “Rick” is slightly art imitating life. I absolutely LOVE the strong female characters, and there are quite a few. Tough as heck but hilarious. It’s a great series. The dogs are the stars of the books, so intelligent, well trained and protective and loving to the humans they own. It really makes me miss my two yellow labs that passed around 10-11 years back.
I really enjoyed all three books. They were such a great change from most prepper books. My only criticism is the last book really was messed up when it came to the Scouts. He should have consulted with an actual Scouter. No den would do an overnight, and most certainly would have followed the two deep leadership guidelines. Also Cubs do not earn merit badges. If not for those important details of a lone leader the book was a great story. It was good to see how our characters came back from adversity!
I read the first books a while back and loved them. Even more the second time I read them while waiting rather impatiently on book four! Well it finally dropped March tenth so I backed up and read all four of them in one sitting and was absolutely wrapped up in the plots and adventures again! Please there has to be MORE coming! Keep writing we'll be reading. BBL gotta go check on Stinky Joe now.
Called out to help find a missing Cub Scout den in the Huron National Forest, Opus and his humans find themselves cut off by a tornado. A great story of an extraordinary dog and his human, supported by an entertaining cast of characters - including neighboring women who kick the butts of Sherriff's deputies, Forest Rangers, and anyone else in the way to clear a path to those trapped by the weather.
The stories and characters in this series are engaging and a bit different which makes them so damn attractive to the reader. I encourage everyone who likes a different story line to read them. My thanks to the author for his stories and look forward to more.
Sad to see the series end but it almost seemed rushed like the author wanted it over and done with. I binged on all the books after finding them and wished there would have been a better ending. Maybe another book? I was hooked on the first but it winded down too fast IMO The Florida story was my Fav
I got this book this morning and have done nothing all day but read it! Boyd is my favorite author and the Opus books ate my favorite of his stories. I love all his books, but Opus, Ophelia and Sarge are my favorite characters. Enjoy!!
Once again, Boyd just wrote another of his famous endings!!! Opus, Olphelia and Sarge save the day. This series will definitely get you involved with the dogs, whether you are a dog person or not. The storyline will have you wanting more.
Craven has out done himself this time. At first I was wondering where he was going with the story, but then it all clicked. As always a great story, and I love that Sarge is developing his own personality.
I loved all four read them in one binge sitting! All of the characters were amazing and the dogs were just icing on the cake. Glad to see dogs getting the credit they deserve! Thank you, Mr. Cravens. Please keep writing.
I loved this book by Boyd Craven III. I also loved the characters. I can’t wait for the next book by this author. I would recommend this book and all of this Boyd’s books. I listened to this book on audiobook.
I read all four books without being able to stop. They were addictive. Loved all the characters. It was like making new friends. The dogs are priceless. Being a dog person made me fall in love with them. Now I with there would be more books in this series.
It has been a little while since I started this series, and I had forgotten how much I enjoyed it, I love the way Boyd writes, I love the dogs, I sure wish I could get our dogs trained half as good ha ha. Can't wait for the next episode.
Of a great story and beloved characters. It was really nice to catch up with Opus, Ophelia. Sergeant and their humans. Although helpful to read the other stories, it isn’t necessary for the story arcs.
This was an exciting, fulfilling, and humorous book. I always like stories with Rick, Tina, Owen and all the dogs in it. The girls and Annette’s journey through the woods was priceless! Keep them coming, Boyd!
The couple, in two different locations with their service dogs, are each pulled into separate S&R missions. Of course, a disaster happens, and they as well as their friends collaborate to get to them to safety. Adventure and comedic relief from beginning to end.
While I normally enjoy Boyd's novels, this one left me a bit disappointed. As always, the characters make you smile or laugh, but this story felt as though he was quickly meeting a deadline, and the story never got teeth.