Heart to Heart, Hand in Paw: How One Woman Finds Faith and Hope Through the Healing Love of Animals

by Peggy Frezon

Luanne and her husband share a dream of living a simple life in the beautiful Vermont countryside. They stumble through building their own log home, gathering sap to make real maple syrup, and filling their little farm with animals. But these middle-aged homesteaders soon discover that their piece of paradise isnt without challenges.
The dog has separation anxiety.
The goose is afraid of water.
Theres a fox in the pigpen and raccoons in the hen house.
Their homesick donkey cries all night.
And their truck has slipped into the pond.
And from there, things only get worse! Drawing upon a lifetime of meaningful relationships with animals, Luanne finds the courage to persevere. And when desperate circumstances threaten all that shes worked for, Luanne discovers strength in a most surprising place.
Heart to Heart, Hand in Paw is a true tale of faith and the healing bonds of animals. Luannes story shares how our pets can love, comfort and teach us as we take our own journey through life.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction

170 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2012

About the author

Peggy Frezon is author of books about the human-animal bond, contributing editor of Guideposts magazine and All Creatures magazine. She loves animals, especially dogs, and also the wildlife of the beautiful Vermont countryside where she grew up. Over the years, she’s shared her home with dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, turtles, and fish. She and her husband rescue senior golden retrievers, and do therapy dog work.

An award-winning writer and author of books about our bond with animals, her books have received accolades from Dr. Marty Becker, DVM America’s Veterinarian as seen on The Dr. Oz Show and Good Morning America, NY Times bestselling author of You Had me at Woof, Julie Klam, and Suzanne Charleson, author of The Possibility Dogs, among others.

Her books include Mini Horse, Mighty Hope, The Dog in the Dentist Chair, Faithfully Yours, Heart to Heart, Hand in Paw, and Dieting with My Dog.

Connect with Peggy at www.peggyfrezon.com, on Twitter @peggyfrezon and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PeggyFrezonB...


BOOKS:
MINI HORSE, MIGHTY HOPE (Revell 2021)
THE DOG IN THE DENTIST CHAIR and other true stories about animals who help, comfort and love kids (Paraclete Press 2019)
FAITHFULLY YOURS the amazing bond between us and the animals we love. (Paraclete press 2015)
DIETING WITH MY DOG (Hubble and Hattie, 2012)
HEART TO HEART, HAND IN PAW(Inspiring Voices 2012, and Guideposts Books 2013)

CONTRIBUTOR TO:
ANIMALS AND THE KIDS WHO LOVE THEM (2011)
THE ULTIMATE DOG LOVER (2008)
THEIR MYSTERIOUS WAYS TOO (2011)
MIRACLES AND ANIMALS (2007)
MIRACLES OF HOPE (2008)
MIRACLES EVERY DAY (2007)
LOVE IS A VERB (2011)
A JOYFUL HEART (2012)
SOUL MATTERS FOR MOTHERS (2005)
GRACE GIVERS (2006)
EVERYDAY GRACE, EVERYDAY MIRACLE (2006)
FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS GRADUATES (2007)
THE ULTIMATE MOM (2009)
THE ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS (2008)
A CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND (2006)
GUIDEPOSTS JOYS OF CHRISTMAS 2010
GUIDEPOSTS JOYS OF CHRISTMAS 2011
AND
MORE THAN A DOZEN CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOULS

AWARDS:
GUIDEPOSTS WRITERS WORKSHOP 2004
THE CHILDREN'S WRITER TRUE STORY 2007

CONTACT ME:
http://peggyfrezon.com
http://twitter.com/peggyfezon
http://facebook.com/PeggyFrezonBooks
http://linkedin.com/in/peggyfrezon
email: peggyfrezon@gmail.com
Fetch! the newsletter

Reviews

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The author's foreword stated she hoped she did a good job trying to accurately portray her mother, well if it wasn't accurate, it was well written. Entertaining, heartwarming, sweet and funny. What a life her mother led. Makes my situation seem much less idyllic. I loved all the animals featured, many adventures just taking care of them all.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about Peggy's mom, Luanne who loves all animals... dogs, cats, lambs, chickens, goats. You name it, Luanne loves them all! Each of them help her to overcome hardship and struggle while trying to live a simple life in rural Vermont... which turns out to not always be so simple. Luanne and her husband are building their dream log home and it turns to to be more work than they realized. But the animals help Luanne through and they always keep everything in perspective for her dream of living a simple life.
My heart melted reading about Luanne's many special connections to all the different animals. I also found myself holding my breath when one of the animals was ill or in trouble. Luanne truly love animals and Peggy captured the heart of her Mom and her love for her animals. I didn't want the book to end and when it did I found myself wishing I could have a cup of tea with Luanne and Peggy and talk about animals all day long!
If you are looking for a book to lift your heart, I highly recommend Heart to Heart, Hand in Paw.

[Eryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful read! I love that the author included some photos so we could have a better idea of what everything looked like, also making it much more palpable as the story itself was so out of the ordinary. It was so fascinating to read about the many ups and downs that happened in Luanne's life, seemed like there never was a dull moment. It was heartbreaking to read about the things she had to go through, even as a young child. It was so inspiring to read about them overcoming struggles as a family (with God at the helm), from being practically homeless, to building their own house and filling it with so much love. How she saw herself in the animals she cared for, and how they helped and supported each other in their own ways.

[Barbara Hodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Homesteading Challenges

I was awed by this family's hard work, their faith and their patience to make this do-it-yourself project of homesteading at an older age work out at all! The experiences shared made fascinating stories, even while I was thinking I could never tolerate many of those situations. I loved all of the portraits of animals and their behaviors and personalities.

[Jackie Bouchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I read it slowly, savoring the author's lovely words and the delightful stories about the animals on the farm. If you're an animal lover, I think you'll love this book too. There are so many sweet, funny, quirky animal stories here: the fox that likes to join the pigs for dinner, the goose that falls in love with Luanne's husband, and the hens who school the rooster were some of my favorites. Frezon also does an excellent job weaving tension throughout this true story: are the animals going to be okay? Will the house get built? Are Luanne and her husband going to be okay? Lots of great storytelling here to keep you turning the pages!

Note: I was provided a free copy of the book by the author.

[Caren Gittleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am certain that you have had struggles in your own life that your love of animals helped to see you through. You will find yourself nodding your head, smiling and even shedding a tear as you relate Luanne’s tale of faith and the healing that SHE received from animals to your own life. You will love this story and appreciate how as Peggy states, “Luanne’s story shares how pets can love, comfort and teach us as we take our own journey through life.”

Luanne’s arduous journey will remind you, as I paraphrase what Peggy so perfectly stated: to be grateful for the roof over your head, the pets under your roof and for the healing bond that exists between humans and animals.

[Terry Sattler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet, tender story. I really liked and respected Luanne. Her story can teach us so much. She doesn't see herself as brave, but she is. She has spunk, pioneer spirit, and a lovely, nurturing way with all her critters.

Such great imagery -- like the baby raccoons perched in the hen house. Peggy Frezon spins the story in a way that really makes you feel like you are there in the moment with Luanne, her family, and all of those wonderful animals who share in their life.

[Kate Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming (easy read) tale of a woman's journey from childhood to adulthood and her relationship with animals, not always being what she expects. From her very first stray dog to building her own little farm in the woods of Vermont, the book entertains with cute and touching anecdotes about her struggles with life, her dream of building this farm and how her relationships with animals give her the strength and a greater understanding to persevere.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mud season ...
Gerti don't like her gander ...
Hold the door, we're coming ...
Parts are sadder, others are side splitting ...
A heartwarming story about life ...
The ups, the downs, and the downers ...
Am encouraging this read ...
Especially if you are a friend to critters ...
Excellent ...
Writer draws you in the story ...
I consumed the book in a matter of several hours ...
(I had the time to do so)

[Andrea McDermott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't get all the feelings I was hoping from this book. Seemed rushed.

[R.J. Kottke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book to read. It was fun hearing about all the different animals.