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The Dog I Loved
New York Times bestselling author Susan Wilson is back another signature heartwarming novel--one that begs the question: Can a dog lead the way to finding one's humanity?
After spending years in prison for a crime she didn't intend to commit, Rose Collins is suddenly free. Someone who knows about the good work she has done--training therapy dogs while serving time--has arranged for her early release. This mysterious benefactor has even set her up with a job in the coastal Massachusetts community of Gloucester, on the edge of Dogtown, a place of legend and, for the first time since Rosie's whole world came crashing down, hope. There she works to rebuild her life with the help of Shadow, a stray dog who appears one rainy night and refuses to leave Rose's side.
Meghan Custer is a wheelchair-bound war veteran who used to be hopeless, too. Living at home with her devoted but stifling parents felt a lot like being in prison, in fact. But ever since she was matched with a service dog named Shark, who was trained in a puppy-to-prisoner rehabilitation program, Meghan has a brand new outlook. Finally, she can live on her own. Go to work. And maybe, with Shark by her side, even find love again.
Two strong women on a journey toward independence whose paths collide in extraordinary ways. Two dogs who somehow manage to save them both. A tale of survival and a testament to the human spirit, The Dog I Loved is an emotional and inspiring novel that no reader will soon forget.
After spending years in prison for a crime she didn't intend to commit, Rose Collins is suddenly free. Someone who knows about the good work she has done--training therapy dogs while serving time--has arranged for her early release. This mysterious benefactor has even set her up with a job in the coastal Massachusetts community of Gloucester, on the edge of Dogtown, a place of legend and, for the first time since Rosie's whole world came crashing down, hope. There she works to rebuild her life with the help of Shadow, a stray dog who appears one rainy night and refuses to leave Rose's side.
Meghan Custer is a wheelchair-bound war veteran who used to be hopeless, too. Living at home with her devoted but stifling parents felt a lot like being in prison, in fact. But ever since she was matched with a service dog named Shark, who was trained in a puppy-to-prisoner rehabilitation program, Meghan has a brand new outlook. Finally, she can live on her own. Go to work. And maybe, with Shark by her side, even find love again.
Two strong women on a journey toward independence whose paths collide in extraordinary ways. Two dogs who somehow manage to save them both. A tale of survival and a testament to the human spirit, The Dog I Loved is an emotional and inspiring novel that no reader will soon forget.
531 pages, Library Binding
First published November 12, 2019
235 people are currently reading
2998 people want to read
About the author
Susan Wilson
22 books574 followersBorn in Providence, RI, raised in Middlefield (Rockfall) Connecticut. Post High School Education, Middlesex Community College, Middletown, CT and Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT.
Married, two grown daughters and a granddaughter and two grandsons - plus four step grands.
Lives in Oak Bluffs, MA, on Martha's Vineyard.
Those are the stats. I am a novelist, ten published, one in progress. I frequently contribute to the on-line magazine, Stay Thirsty.
Married, two grown daughters and a granddaughter and two grandsons - plus four step grands.
Lives in Oak Bluffs, MA, on Martha's Vineyard.
Those are the stats. I am a novelist, ten published, one in progress. I frequently contribute to the on-line magazine, Stay Thirsty.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
October 28, 2019
I am a sucker for books involving dogs. So, of course, I was going to read The Dog I Loved, which deals with the healing power of dogs.
Rose is in prison for voluntary manslaughter of her controlling boyfriend when she gets the chance to train puppies for service work. Meghan is a military vet, confined to a wheelchair, who sees a service dog as a means to independence and being able to escape living with her parents. Rosie trains Shark who becomes Meghan’s service dogs and the women become friends. And then, Rose gets early release and a job out in Dogtown.
We hear from both women. We also hear from Shark, the chocolate lab and Shadow, a stray. I can’t say I cared for those chapters but they were short. Later, Rosie finds Susannah Day’s journal from the 1830’s and I really enjoyed those bits as they give a sense of the history of Dogtown.
I enjoyed hearing both women’s current stories, especially as each attains an independent life and learn to trust people. Rose’s history with her boyfriend is interspersed. These chapters were harder for me, as she never addresses why she fell and stayed under this guy’s spell, because it’s quickly apparent he’s a true asshole (even before an unconscionable act). In fact, my one criticism of this book is that I expected more introspection from both women.
What Wilson always gets right is the love between a human and a dog, and a dogs ability to suss out the human’s needs. The scenes between humans and dogs were always spot on.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
Rose is in prison for voluntary manslaughter of her controlling boyfriend when she gets the chance to train puppies for service work. Meghan is a military vet, confined to a wheelchair, who sees a service dog as a means to independence and being able to escape living with her parents. Rosie trains Shark who becomes Meghan’s service dogs and the women become friends. And then, Rose gets early release and a job out in Dogtown.
We hear from both women. We also hear from Shark, the chocolate lab and Shadow, a stray. I can’t say I cared for those chapters but they were short. Later, Rosie finds Susannah Day’s journal from the 1830’s and I really enjoyed those bits as they give a sense of the history of Dogtown.
I enjoyed hearing both women’s current stories, especially as each attains an independent life and learn to trust people. Rose’s history with her boyfriend is interspersed. These chapters were harder for me, as she never addresses why she fell and stayed under this guy’s spell, because it’s quickly apparent he’s a true asshole (even before an unconscionable act). In fact, my one criticism of this book is that I expected more introspection from both women.
What Wilson always gets right is the love between a human and a dog, and a dogs ability to suss out the human’s needs. The scenes between humans and dogs were always spot on.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
September 4, 2019
If a dog has ever owned your heart, you will understand how two strong-willed women were healed all because of a special canine. You will also believe in a dog’s mission in life, because they are a special companion throughout humanity’s history.
THE DOG I LOVED by Susan Wilson is a heartwarming tale of personal redemption, growth and bonds formed. Told through the POVs of the two main characters, as well as a canine POV, follow along as a prison inmate learns to trust again when she is placed in the service dog training program. Her life will be further changed when she meets the wheelchair-bound war vet who will take the dog she has trained. What neither woman expected was the bond they would share between themselves or how much they truly needed a real friend, both human and canine as they each find a dog that feeds their souls.
Wonderful, reading, superb characters that are flawed, yet not broken. The dogs? They have a magic all their own!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from St. Martin's Press! My honest review is voluntary.
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (November 12, 2019)
Publication Date: November 12, 2019
Genre: Women's Fiction
Print Length: 368 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
THE DOG I LOVED by Susan Wilson is a heartwarming tale of personal redemption, growth and bonds formed. Told through the POVs of the two main characters, as well as a canine POV, follow along as a prison inmate learns to trust again when she is placed in the service dog training program. Her life will be further changed when she meets the wheelchair-bound war vet who will take the dog she has trained. What neither woman expected was the bond they would share between themselves or how much they truly needed a real friend, both human and canine as they each find a dog that feeds their souls.
Wonderful, reading, superb characters that are flawed, yet not broken. The dogs? They have a magic all their own!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from St. Martin's Press! My honest review is voluntary.
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (November 12, 2019)
Publication Date: November 12, 2019
Genre: Women's Fiction
Print Length: 368 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
September 9, 2019
Rosie is sent to prison, and is released after 6 years of her 20 after her case is reviewed and the conviction determined to be unjust. She has trained service dogs through a prison program, and becomes friends with Meghan, the disabled veteran who is matched with the dog she trained. There are several stories in this novel. I really liked the one with the service dogs and the veterans. I really disliked the one about Rosie's cruel ex. I was kind of shocked that a book aimed at dog lovers would have her ex kill her dog. Two and a half stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2019
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.
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.
September 6, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A fabulous heartwarming story wrapped around amazing service dogs and the incredible trials and triumphs of the character Rose Collins.
A fabulous heartwarming story wrapped around amazing service dogs and the incredible trials and triumphs of the character Rose Collins.
February 6, 2023
It is hard sometimes to rate a book. For me in this case 4 or 5 stars? I am going to give it a 5 as it was a good book I enjoyed, and I love how Susan Wilson writes, but I liked her other books more. There didn’t feel to be as much of the huge peak after a big one in the start of the book, but I did like all the story arcs though and enjoyed how they were all smoothly worked out.
The book was most powerful when the main character Rosie is in prison for a 20-year sentence. The feeling conveyed of being in prison was so powerful. I felt like the author must have spent time in prison to be able to convey that feeling so well. Here is a bit from that part:
“Nearly four years in and I no longer felt like the fearful young woman, innocent of the crime and innocent of the ways of the gray world of prison. I saw them arrive, those youthful ghosts of me. Trembling, weeping, calling for their mothers. I felt for them, but I wasn’t kind to them. Kindness slows the hardening of the carapace you need in prison. Now I felt fully armored by my certainty that my life was fixed in the amber of prison rules, mores, and constant sense of threat – from fellow inmates, from randy guards. Some inmates got through by talking about what they would do when they got out, who they would see, what foods they would enjoy. Not me. By my fourth year, I had accepted this joyless, soul-dead life.”
I see in the end she credits in the resources a book on woman in prison, which doesn’t lesson the authors accomplishment of putting together a great book.
Susan Wilson is good at putting you in the mind of the characters and that is why I have prioritized reading her books even though I have more that 250 other books on dogs on my bookshelf waiting to be read. I just like her characters and stories. You are left wanting to have her characters be your friends.
The dog aspects in this book was good. Rosie trains dogs in prison for service work. She becomes friends with the handicapped person who gets the dog she trains. Later Rosie gets a dog, so the book has two good dogs going for it. I like this exchange when Rosie describes the dog:
“Meghan, I got a dog.”
“Oh Rosie, that’s so great.” If anyone deserves to have a dog of her own, it’s Rosie. “What kind?”
“God only knows.”
“Good breed, I hear.”
The other thing that is good about her books is that there are short pages where we are told what one of the dogs is thinking, and it is told at a level that just make sense and helps to emphasize the mood of what is happening to the characters.
I know others can write better reviews other than my comments that ‘I liked the book,’ but I don’t like to give too much away of the story. I end by just saying I recommend Susan Wilson’s books be on your reading list.
The book was most powerful when the main character Rosie is in prison for a 20-year sentence. The feeling conveyed of being in prison was so powerful. I felt like the author must have spent time in prison to be able to convey that feeling so well. Here is a bit from that part:
“Nearly four years in and I no longer felt like the fearful young woman, innocent of the crime and innocent of the ways of the gray world of prison. I saw them arrive, those youthful ghosts of me. Trembling, weeping, calling for their mothers. I felt for them, but I wasn’t kind to them. Kindness slows the hardening of the carapace you need in prison. Now I felt fully armored by my certainty that my life was fixed in the amber of prison rules, mores, and constant sense of threat – from fellow inmates, from randy guards. Some inmates got through by talking about what they would do when they got out, who they would see, what foods they would enjoy. Not me. By my fourth year, I had accepted this joyless, soul-dead life.”
I see in the end she credits in the resources a book on woman in prison, which doesn’t lesson the authors accomplishment of putting together a great book.
Susan Wilson is good at putting you in the mind of the characters and that is why I have prioritized reading her books even though I have more that 250 other books on dogs on my bookshelf waiting to be read. I just like her characters and stories. You are left wanting to have her characters be your friends.
The dog aspects in this book was good. Rosie trains dogs in prison for service work. She becomes friends with the handicapped person who gets the dog she trains. Later Rosie gets a dog, so the book has two good dogs going for it. I like this exchange when Rosie describes the dog:
“Meghan, I got a dog.”
“Oh Rosie, that’s so great.” If anyone deserves to have a dog of her own, it’s Rosie. “What kind?”
“God only knows.”
“Good breed, I hear.”
The other thing that is good about her books is that there are short pages where we are told what one of the dogs is thinking, and it is told at a level that just make sense and helps to emphasize the mood of what is happening to the characters.
I know others can write better reviews other than my comments that ‘I liked the book,’ but I don’t like to give too much away of the story. I end by just saying I recommend Susan Wilson’s books be on your reading list.
July 24, 2019
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.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 28, 2019
A solid good read about the redemption of one woman (unfairly incarcerated) and the healing of another (a wounded Army veteran) which is woven in with a story from the 1880s from 'Dogtown' Massachusetts. The stories interlocked really well and there is lots to learn while reading a good novel. Anyone with an interest in Dogtown, or therapy dogs or incarceration, or ptsd....all are thoughtfully explored in the cloak of a good story. Despite the themes this is a gentle story; the pace is easy and the outcomes just.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2023
charming tale
I really enjoyed this book. The characters come to life, and how can you not love the dogs, Shark and Shadow? It has a lot to say about life and love, and the connections we make with others. Heartfelt. I highly recommend it.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters come to life, and how can you not love the dogs, Shark and Shadow? It has a lot to say about life and love, and the connections we make with others. Heartfelt. I highly recommend it.
November 30, 2019
The Dog I Loved
Susan Wilson
Narrated by Christina Delaine
11 hours 4 minutes
Susan Wilson’s latest bandwagon for the dog novel is heartbreaking and heartwarming staring two amazing women and the dogs that loved and healed them. Her plot is poignant, hopeful and realistic featuring a picturesque flowing inspiring dialogue that will bring tears of joy and of sadness. The two stars are both well defined and well developed but of the two Megan, the wounded warrior is the less complicated perhaps because of fitting more into a mold. Making Rosie the more mysterious so Wilson’s attention to every detail about Rosie is invaluable filling in the blanks about how Rosie got to prison, the fear she felt while there and not only from the other inmates, and what she did with her life when given the chance to live it again. Wilson’s giving voices to her canines is a bit haunting and gives just a hint of magical realism to the tale. Any dog lover (including this grateful for her small fur-ball rescue mommy) would lap this up and anyone not having a dog would run to rescue one after reading this.
Christina Delaine’s narration is more than excellent it’s superb giving the audible audience much more than their money’s worth. Thanks to her expressive, emotion filled alto she performs to perfection both male and female voices and her recitation of the dogs is downright goose-bump generating haunting.
When Mary Rose Collins met the man she would tragically and accidentally kill she never knew he would become her abuser or that she would because of his mother’s influence spend almost six years behind bars for his death. She also never could have imagined that being chosen for an experiment training service dogs while behind bars and her first dog would literally save her life. Or that someone would become her advocate and initiate her release from prison.
When Megan Custer left for war she never imagined she’d return home literally broken, a paraplegic angry and afraid. She also never imagined learning about a prison project training service dogs would eventually give her back her independence or that her service dog would save her life. She also never imagined she’d become fast friends with her service dog’s trainer or that she’d be able to pay it forward by setting in motion the woman’s eventual release from prison.
Susan Wilson
Narrated by Christina Delaine
11 hours 4 minutes
Susan Wilson’s latest bandwagon for the dog novel is heartbreaking and heartwarming staring two amazing women and the dogs that loved and healed them. Her plot is poignant, hopeful and realistic featuring a picturesque flowing inspiring dialogue that will bring tears of joy and of sadness. The two stars are both well defined and well developed but of the two Megan, the wounded warrior is the less complicated perhaps because of fitting more into a mold. Making Rosie the more mysterious so Wilson’s attention to every detail about Rosie is invaluable filling in the blanks about how Rosie got to prison, the fear she felt while there and not only from the other inmates, and what she did with her life when given the chance to live it again. Wilson’s giving voices to her canines is a bit haunting and gives just a hint of magical realism to the tale. Any dog lover (including this grateful for her small fur-ball rescue mommy) would lap this up and anyone not having a dog would run to rescue one after reading this.
Christina Delaine’s narration is more than excellent it’s superb giving the audible audience much more than their money’s worth. Thanks to her expressive, emotion filled alto she performs to perfection both male and female voices and her recitation of the dogs is downright goose-bump generating haunting.
When Mary Rose Collins met the man she would tragically and accidentally kill she never knew he would become her abuser or that she would because of his mother’s influence spend almost six years behind bars for his death. She also never could have imagined that being chosen for an experiment training service dogs while behind bars and her first dog would literally save her life. Or that someone would become her advocate and initiate her release from prison.
When Megan Custer left for war she never imagined she’d return home literally broken, a paraplegic angry and afraid. She also never imagined learning about a prison project training service dogs would eventually give her back her independence or that her service dog would save her life. She also never imagined she’d become fast friends with her service dog’s trainer or that she’d be able to pay it forward by setting in motion the woman’s eventual release from prison.
July 1, 2020
Solid 4 star and added 1 for the Dog ! xx
May 21, 2019
- Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review -
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.
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.
February 20, 2020
I found this book rather boring. I wasn't impressed with the weak female lead. It seemed there were plot holes which just didn't make sense. I also wasn't sure why there were the dogs' POV chapters. What was the point since they added nothing to the storyline?
This book was a gift so I pushed through but it really didn't get better.
This book was a gift so I pushed through but it really didn't get better.
July 4, 2019
I gave up after about a 10o pages. I felt that the story was moving too slowly and that the flashbacks to what had happened in the past to explain what was happening in the present were taking too long.
September 9, 2019
My thoughts: 4 Stars
I am a sucker for books with dogs, or any animal really. I often find myself relaxing at the end of a long, busy day with a book in one hand and the other rubbing the velvety soft ears of my Golden Retriever mix. Now and then he will crack open his honey brown eyes and I can’t help but feel special that he chose me seven years ago at the humane society. We take for granted our daily freedoms as a society. We get to walk out the door and go wherever we want, choose our own daily activities, decide what we want to eat and more without a thought of those who are unable to make choices of their own anymore.
Rosie Collins can no longer make her own decisions and is in constant danger as she does her time in prison for the murder of her fiancé. She must learn the ropes quickly and grow a spine if she ever wants to survive her new way of life. Her cellmates come and go quickly and the hierarchy must be established quickly each time between the two women. The food is tasteless, she’s cooped up in her cell most of the time and the days and years tick by in a steady yet slow fashion. Her break finally comes when she hears about a prison program that allows inmates to train service dogs. Rosie’s days finally have purpose when her first puppy arrives for her to train. A strong bond quickly forms even though she knows that her time with her puppy, Shark, will be only a matter of months. There will be other puppies if she is successful, but Shark is special to her and always will be.
Meghan is a disabled veteran who is not used to anyone helping her. She misses her independence, her other soldiers. Friendships come and go as soldiers return home to their lives and families after their time is done and none never keep in contact. Now she has to face a life of depending on others for her every need...or is there another option? By chance, Meghan hears about a prison program where inmates train service dogs to help people gain independence once more. Meghan decides to eventually jump on the chance and a relationship blooms where it may have been seen as nearly impossible. Two women’s lives are changed forever because of their various choices and one loveable Labrador.
This book truly did give me “all of the feels” and I highly recommend you give this a try if you like the underdogs (and dogs!) of the world. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I am a sucker for books with dogs, or any animal really. I often find myself relaxing at the end of a long, busy day with a book in one hand and the other rubbing the velvety soft ears of my Golden Retriever mix. Now and then he will crack open his honey brown eyes and I can’t help but feel special that he chose me seven years ago at the humane society. We take for granted our daily freedoms as a society. We get to walk out the door and go wherever we want, choose our own daily activities, decide what we want to eat and more without a thought of those who are unable to make choices of their own anymore.
Rosie Collins can no longer make her own decisions and is in constant danger as she does her time in prison for the murder of her fiancé. She must learn the ropes quickly and grow a spine if she ever wants to survive her new way of life. Her cellmates come and go quickly and the hierarchy must be established quickly each time between the two women. The food is tasteless, she’s cooped up in her cell most of the time and the days and years tick by in a steady yet slow fashion. Her break finally comes when she hears about a prison program that allows inmates to train service dogs. Rosie’s days finally have purpose when her first puppy arrives for her to train. A strong bond quickly forms even though she knows that her time with her puppy, Shark, will be only a matter of months. There will be other puppies if she is successful, but Shark is special to her and always will be.
Meghan is a disabled veteran who is not used to anyone helping her. She misses her independence, her other soldiers. Friendships come and go as soldiers return home to their lives and families after their time is done and none never keep in contact. Now she has to face a life of depending on others for her every need...or is there another option? By chance, Meghan hears about a prison program where inmates train service dogs to help people gain independence once more. Meghan decides to eventually jump on the chance and a relationship blooms where it may have been seen as nearly impossible. Two women’s lives are changed forever because of their various choices and one loveable Labrador.
This book truly did give me “all of the feels” and I highly recommend you give this a try if you like the underdogs (and dogs!) of the world. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 3, 2019
I entered the ARC giveaway for "The Dog I Loved" because--well, dogs! I was unacquainted with Susan Wilson's work and hadn't read any reviews, so I guess I expected a warm account of life with a dog. And indeed this is a story of life with dogs, but from the perspective of damaged people whose lives are changed by the presence of these perceptive, intelligent creatures--with short pages here and there from the perspective of the dogs themselves.
The story is well-told, engaging, compassionate. The gritty, hard side of life is conveyed without overplaying that hand. This isn't maudlin. I've lived with two family members who use and need wheelchairs, so I can attest to the real challenges faced in physical disability. I am less familiar with the effects of trauma, PTSD-style trauma, and the glimpses into how that can affect daily life and relationships were presented well. I spent considerable time reflecting on this after reading the book, realizing that none of us is unscathed by life and thinking about how much comfort and joy dogs have brought me throughout my life. Dogs have been our companions for thousands of years and are most certainly useful animals. But their utility is matched by their steadfastness, their love for us humans. We would be lesser, unhappier beings without dogs.
I highly recommend this book. My thanks to the author and her publisher for sending an advance reader's copy. I will seek out more of Susan Wilson's books, and might have gone my whole life without discovering her had it not been for this ARC.
The story is well-told, engaging, compassionate. The gritty, hard side of life is conveyed without overplaying that hand. This isn't maudlin. I've lived with two family members who use and need wheelchairs, so I can attest to the real challenges faced in physical disability. I am less familiar with the effects of trauma, PTSD-style trauma, and the glimpses into how that can affect daily life and relationships were presented well. I spent considerable time reflecting on this after reading the book, realizing that none of us is unscathed by life and thinking about how much comfort and joy dogs have brought me throughout my life. Dogs have been our companions for thousands of years and are most certainly useful animals. But their utility is matched by their steadfastness, their love for us humans. We would be lesser, unhappier beings without dogs.
I highly recommend this book. My thanks to the author and her publisher for sending an advance reader's copy. I will seek out more of Susan Wilson's books, and might have gone my whole life without discovering her had it not been for this ARC.
April 10, 2021
Really 3 & 1/2 stars but I rounded up because I love dogs so much. The author did a great job of developing likable underdog characters who benefited greatly from their service dogs. She also took the time to develop the dog’s personalities, which I really liked. I enjoyed the bit of old found history/mystery in there as well.
May 9, 2019
I received this book as a free giveaway from Goodreads and couldn't put it down. This is the story of how an incarcerated woman, who learned how to train dogs for people with special needs, changed her life forever. The people/dogs who become part of her future, make for a very compelling story. I highly recommend this book - it was quite an inspirational story! Best of all, I can really relate to this topic since my late dog, Flash, was trained by an inmate at a correctional facility!
December 2, 2019
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!
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!
April 24, 2019
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. It’s my second book by this author. The Dog I Loved is told from the point of view of the two main characters (Rosie & Meghan) and their dogs (Shadow & Shark). Meghan and Rosie become friends after Meghan adopts a service dog that Rosie trained while she was in prison. They each help one another, along with their service/therapy dogs, through very difficult circumstances. It’s a touching and beautiful story that I really enjoyed. I hope there is a book #2 because I would like to find out more about Meghan & Rosie and their dogs.
April 4, 2019
This book is not what I expected. I won this from GoodReads! This novel tells the story from the two human protagonists POV and also from the dogs' perspective. A young lady is imprisoned for murdering her fiance, but although it was really an accident, the man's mother makes certain that she is punished. While in prison she has the opportunity to participate in a program training service dogs. These dogs are trained to help individuals with physical limitations as well as PTSD. A mysterious benefactor arranges for the girl to be released from prison on the condition she participate as a project manager in restoring an old home to its previous condition. Learning to live in the outside world again is challenging, but luckily a dog adopts her and become her unofficial emotional support animal. Our protagonist had to give up the dogs she trained in prison, but she bonds with the new owner of her first dog and is reunited with her new human friend and her old canine companion. The two young ladies help each other adjust to independent living, with the help of their dogs.
May 27, 2019
I fell in love with all of the dogs in this book and was engaged by the conflicts of the main characters.
This is one of those books that I was up reading in the middle of the night. I really wanted to find out how all of the issues would be resolved.
Susan Wilson has a great grasp of dog psychology and captures the essence of relationships between dogs and their owners. This is a tale of service dogs, therapy dogs, and those dogs that come into our lives and somehow have the ability to keep us sane and happy with their love.
The Dog I Loved was a rare read for me because I didn't fill the pages with sticky-note reminders. I just wanted to kick back and enjoy the story. It was pure entertainment!
The Dog I Loved was an advance reader copy received as part of a Goodreads giveaway. I have already been to Amazon and have placed Two Good Dogs, The Dog Who Saved Me, A Man of His Own, The Dog Who Danced, and One Good Dog on my wish list.
This is one of those books that I was up reading in the middle of the night. I really wanted to find out how all of the issues would be resolved.
Susan Wilson has a great grasp of dog psychology and captures the essence of relationships between dogs and their owners. This is a tale of service dogs, therapy dogs, and those dogs that come into our lives and somehow have the ability to keep us sane and happy with their love.
The Dog I Loved was a rare read for me because I didn't fill the pages with sticky-note reminders. I just wanted to kick back and enjoy the story. It was pure entertainment!
The Dog I Loved was an advance reader copy received as part of a Goodreads giveaway. I have already been to Amazon and have placed Two Good Dogs, The Dog Who Saved Me, A Man of His Own, The Dog Who Danced, and One Good Dog on my wish list.
March 31, 2019
I received the book "The Dog Who I Loved". in the goodreads giveaways. I love to read books that have dogs in them. Susan Wilson writes many books that include dogs as characters. Rose Collins end up in jail because of an accident. She spends many years there. While in prison, she is selected to train puppies to be service dogs. Her first dog "shark" ends up with a young woman named Meghan who is in a wheelchair. She was injured as a soldier. Soon Rose is out of jail thanks to a benefactor who gets her a job in a place called "Dogtown" a place that's history dates back to the mid 1800s. She soon starts learning the history of Dogtown. Meghan the ex soldier is also there. Rose befriends a stray dog and names him Shadow. Rose hopes to keep her freedom after getting out of jail but fears people from her past could be a threat to her freedom. I enjoyed this book and liked how the author brought dogs into the storyline.
October 2, 2019
4.5 stars
I’m a sucker for books with dogs, but the storyline is what sold me on this one!
Rosie and Meghan are both trying to rebuild their lives, but what brings them together is ultimately what saves them.
Rosie is in prison for a crime she didn’t intend to commit, but while there she joins a program to train service dogs...one of which will go to Meghan, a wheelchair-bound war vet. Suddenly Rosie finds herself free after receiving an early release, and is set up with a job overseeing the rehabilitation of a historical house all while trying to navigate through her new life. It is there that a stray dog she ironically names Shadow finds her, and soon she develops a new outlook on life...much like Meghan has after she received her service dog, Shark.
This story is about two women who are thrown together by very different circumstances, but they find a common ground through the dogs who help them heal and give their lives purpose again. I loved the POVs from the dogs too and thought it was a nice little addition to the story. It was definitely an emotional read and so heart-warming, but also emphasized the strength of the human spirit.
Highly recommend!
*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I’m a sucker for books with dogs, but the storyline is what sold me on this one!
Rosie and Meghan are both trying to rebuild their lives, but what brings them together is ultimately what saves them.
Rosie is in prison for a crime she didn’t intend to commit, but while there she joins a program to train service dogs...one of which will go to Meghan, a wheelchair-bound war vet. Suddenly Rosie finds herself free after receiving an early release, and is set up with a job overseeing the rehabilitation of a historical house all while trying to navigate through her new life. It is there that a stray dog she ironically names Shadow finds her, and soon she develops a new outlook on life...much like Meghan has after she received her service dog, Shark.
This story is about two women who are thrown together by very different circumstances, but they find a common ground through the dogs who help them heal and give their lives purpose again. I loved the POVs from the dogs too and thought it was a nice little addition to the story. It was definitely an emotional read and so heart-warming, but also emphasized the strength of the human spirit.
Highly recommend!
*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
July 16, 2019
Rosie Collins has served six years in jail for a murder she didn’t commit. During that time she
Becomes part of a program to train therapy dogs. She forms a bond with the first dog she works with
named Shark.
Meghan, an ex-soldier is confined to a wheelchair , and becomes Rosie’s friend when she meets Shark, who will be her service dog. Even though it is hard to give up Shark, Rosie sees how important he is to Meghan
An unknown benefactor helps Rosie get released early from prison and gets her a job as s project manager for the rebuilding of an old estate in Dogtown. She researches the history of the town and finds out that the women who lived there always had a dog for protection.
Coincidentally a stray dog becomes her protector and she names him Shadow. He brings new purpose to her life and she finally comes to terms with her past with the help of Meghan.
I loved reading this book that I received from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. The chapters are narrated by Rosie, Meghan, and their dogs. The relationship they had was really special to read about. I really enjoyed the history of Dogtown. Highly recommended!
Becomes part of a program to train therapy dogs. She forms a bond with the first dog she works with
named Shark.
Meghan, an ex-soldier is confined to a wheelchair , and becomes Rosie’s friend when she meets Shark, who will be her service dog. Even though it is hard to give up Shark, Rosie sees how important he is to Meghan
An unknown benefactor helps Rosie get released early from prison and gets her a job as s project manager for the rebuilding of an old estate in Dogtown. She researches the history of the town and finds out that the women who lived there always had a dog for protection.
Coincidentally a stray dog becomes her protector and she names him Shadow. He brings new purpose to her life and she finally comes to terms with her past with the help of Meghan.
I loved reading this book that I received from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. The chapters are narrated by Rosie, Meghan, and their dogs. The relationship they had was really special to read about. I really enjoyed the history of Dogtown. Highly recommended!
March 1, 2025
This was my first book by this author, Susan Wilson, but it won't be my last! First, I am a huge dog lover and have always owned dogs. I had 3 at once but 1 died back 10 years ago, so we only had 2. Then 1 of them died in November 2023 so we got another dog, our first Havanese, in December 2023. So I always love dog stories, both fiction and nonfiction.
In The Dog I Loved, there is a wounded woman from the war and a woman in prison. Their stories are very different but similar in some regards. Rosie is a dog trainer in prison, and who doesn't love service dogs! I mean, they're so well-behaved and obedient plus they save lives. When Rosie and Meghan meet, thanks to Rosie's dog, Shark, the ladies find support from each other and over time they both learn to trust and be able to live more normal lives. Not to mention all the dogs in the story and how some of the dogs helped Rosie and Meghan become more healthy individuals.
I absolutely loved this book and recommend it. I know I will read more of this author's animal books.
In The Dog I Loved, there is a wounded woman from the war and a woman in prison. Their stories are very different but similar in some regards. Rosie is a dog trainer in prison, and who doesn't love service dogs! I mean, they're so well-behaved and obedient plus they save lives. When Rosie and Meghan meet, thanks to Rosie's dog, Shark, the ladies find support from each other and over time they both learn to trust and be able to live more normal lives. Not to mention all the dogs in the story and how some of the dogs helped Rosie and Meghan become more healthy individuals.
I absolutely loved this book and recommend it. I know I will read more of this author's animal books.
March 28, 2020
The dog I loved by Susan Wilson was a wonderful story of Rose who was wrongly
convicted of killing her boyfriend, and sentenced to 20 years and Meghan, a war veteran, whose now in a wheelchair. Rose, becomes involved in training therapy dogs in prison, and meets Meghan who becomes the recipient of Shark, Rose's first pup. When Rose is suddenly released from prison, and given a 2nd chance, a mysterious dog shows up at her door to give her support, make her feel safe, and strong. I loved how the author wrote the book, going back and forth between the two women, and including a few comments from the dogs as well. My first book by author but not my last!
convicted of killing her boyfriend, and sentenced to 20 years and Meghan, a war veteran, whose now in a wheelchair. Rose, becomes involved in training therapy dogs in prison, and meets Meghan who becomes the recipient of Shark, Rose's first pup. When Rose is suddenly released from prison, and given a 2nd chance, a mysterious dog shows up at her door to give her support, make her feel safe, and strong. I loved how the author wrote the book, going back and forth between the two women, and including a few comments from the dogs as well. My first book by author but not my last!
January 10, 2021
I loved this book. I loved her writing style. I was fearful it would be a feel good fluff book but it was far from it.
The author was able to put in words what truly goes through women’s thoughts based on their life experiences.
The mind of a military perfectionist who intuitively reads people’s behaviors because that is her life calling that made her good at her job. I get that. I get intuitive skill and calling.
The woman who made mistakes with her family and clearly recognizes her character defects but does not give up on life even when life gets almost unbearable.
I also love dogs and the dog training and use of service dogs story was very good.
Just a darn good book if you are looking for a easy but beautiful read.
The author was able to put in words what truly goes through women’s thoughts based on their life experiences.
The mind of a military perfectionist who intuitively reads people’s behaviors because that is her life calling that made her good at her job. I get that. I get intuitive skill and calling.
The woman who made mistakes with her family and clearly recognizes her character defects but does not give up on life even when life gets almost unbearable.
I also love dogs and the dog training and use of service dogs story was very good.
Just a darn good book if you are looking for a easy but beautiful read.
February 11, 2022
I normally really enjoy her books, but this one was only around a 3.25-3.5 for me. The individual story threads were good, but I think that the way Rosie's story was told in flashback pieces didn't work as well. What really bothered me was that her books are geared to dog lovers, yet there was an animal cruelty aspect to this book that made it difficult. I think what made it worse was that you knew it was coming as it was referenced early on in the flashbacks, but it took a long time to get there and so it was always in the back of my mind that this was coming. There was a great quote in the book that I agree with 100%: "Sometimes the best part of the day is dog kisses."
December 31, 2021
This is my first Susan Wilson dog book and won’t be my last. I actually picked up the paperback at Sam’s club, started reading it on a trip back in March and somehow put it aside until finishing it this week. The characters are so relatable and love how the dogs play a key role in interweaving the humans’ lives together. Loved learning about the prisons’ Dog training program for wounded warriors. I'm a huge dog lover, so I am always looking for great dog books with happy endings. This is one book I didn't want to end!
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