Guiding Emily: A Tale of Love, Loss, and Courage

Guiding Emily #1

by Barbara Hinske

Emily Main had it all: a high-powered career with a leading technology giant and a handsome fiancé bounding up the corporate ladder. Their island wedding and honeymoon were idyllic-until a tragic accident causes her retinas to detach. Her well-ordered life is shattered as all treatments are unsuccessful and she slips into blindness. How will those around her cope with her tragedy? Can she rebuild her life in this most unwelcome, new normal? Meanwhile, a black lab puppy named Garth fulfills his destiny to become that most esteemed of all creatures: a guide dog. Guiding Emily is a heartwarming tale of love, loss, and courage as Garth and Emily make their way to each other. Interview with the Author Q: Have you always wanted to be a writer?
A: I'm an attorney and have done a lot of technical writing, but knew I wanted to write novels. I thought I'd find time when I retired. Fate stepped in, as it often does, and put me on this path sooner. I broke my neck in an auto accident and suffered from double vision for months. I couldn't read or watch TV, so I conceived the plot for my Rosemont series. Q: Why did you decide to write a series?
A: I prefer television series to movies. The longer format of television allows for deeper character development. The same holds true for series fiction. I like to fall in love with a character or hate a character (but root for them to change their ways). I feel like Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi from Alexander McCall Smith's Ladies' Detective Agency series are old friends. I wanted to recreate that sort of connection in the Rosemont series. Q: What other authors do you read or admire?
A: I'm a fan of women's fiction, women's sagas, romantic suspense, domestic suspense, crime fiction, and romance. I love Rosamunde Pilcher's later trilogy -The Shell Seekers, Coming Home, and September . Jan Karon's Mitford series creates an enchanting world, as does Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove. My Rosemont series is set in the current day, but I've tried to capture a feeling of camaraderie and connection (among the good guys) that takes us back to a slightly simpler time and place. Q: What are your favorite books?
A: In addition to the works I've already mentioned, I adored A Man Called One, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and A Long Way from Chicago. Q: Who has had the greatest influence on your author life?
A: My dad--without question. He told me or read me a bedtime story every night of my childhood, often adding his own twists and turns to the plots or dialogue. He had an incredible, gentle sense of humor. He also wrote novels--who-done-its--when he retired. Q: What are the high points of your author journey?
A: There are 3 things I hold very dear: 1) hearing from readers--especially newly blind adults--that my Guiding Emilyseries has given then hope and provided comfort, 2) having my novella The Christmas Club made into a Hallmark Channel movie of the same name (2019), and 3) seeing my name on the USA Today Bestseller List. Q: What of your own interests have you written about in the Rosemont series?
A: I love my home and all things related to homemaking: cooking, gardening, decorating, and entertaining. I love
celebrating all of the seasons and I change my decor for Easter, 4th of July, fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring.

Genres: Fiction, Animals, Dogs, Audiobook, Contemporary, Book Club, Disability

330 pages, Paperback

First published June 7, 2020

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author Barbara Hinske is an attorney who recently left the practice of law to pursue her career as a full-time novelist. She inherited the fiction gene from her father who wrote mysteries when he retired and told her a story every night of her childhood. Barbara is the bestselling author of the beloved Rosemont series; the acclaimed Guiding Emily series; a collection of murder mystery thrillers in her "Who's There?" collection; and her sweet Christmas novellas The Christmas Club (adapted for the Hallmark Channel in 2019), Paws & Pastries, and No Matter How Far.

She and her husband share their own Rosemont with two adorable and spoiled dogs. She is besotted with decorating, entertaining, cooking and gardening. Now that her novel The Christmas Club has been made into a Hallmark Channel movie, she is completely star-struck and thrilled to have her work on the screen.

Reviews

[MarilynW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guiding Emily: A Tale of Love, Loss, and Courage  by Barbara Hinske, narrated by Fred Berman and Julia Whelan  

I'm so glad I had the audiobook for Guiding Emily. Julia Whelan has become one of my favorite female narrators but the star of this story, for me, was Fred Berman's narration of the black lab, Garth. Fred has a very distinctive voice and I remember his narrated part in Daisy and the Six. I could listen to him narrate Garth's days and nights for days on end...his part in the book makes me smile whenever I think about it. 

We meet Emily as she is getting married to her British fiancée. An accident happens and Emily is blind. It's so hard reading the hardships she has to go through, after surgery to treat her detached retinas, the hope for recovery of her eyesight that doesn't come, the depression that follows, and the betrayal that comes after this momentous life change. After complete denial that her blindness is going to be permanent, Emily goes through the grieving process but she is strong and she has support from her mother, co-workers, and an amazing eight year old "best friend". 

Mixed throughout Emily's story we have Garth, starting with his time with his siblings and the other pups that have been bred for some type of service. Then Garth goes to the home where he'll be raised until he's old enough to go to guide dog school. Finally Garth makes it to guide dog school, and graduates! As hard as things are for Emily, I can't count the time tears came to my eyes during Garth's narration. His foster family loves him so much, he loves them and he has the traits he needs to be chosen as a guide dog. Later he meets Emily and I just felt so sappy but happy for Garth, his proud foster family, and Emily...the perfect person for him. 

I don't think any of these things are spoilers, this is where the book is heading (with major drama on Emily's side and one big drama on Garth's side). I love being in Garth's head and Berman's narration is just so wonderful for this excited, tenacious dog, bred and born to do just this very job. This story makes me want to know more about services for the blind and about guide dogs. 

Audio published Dec 1, 2020

Thank you to Podium Audio and NetGalley for this ARC. 

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a women's fiction book. This book switches between Emily's story of her loss her eye sight and Garth (a black lab) journey to become a guide dog. Emily knows her retinas could detach if she has a fall, and while she is on her honeymoon there is an accident that causes her retinas to detach. After, her retina detach she has to learn to live with the fact she has loss her eye sight. I have to say I hated the husband character, but I kindof feel that it is written to not like the husband character. Emily's character was really well-written and really shows how hard it is to overcome the loss of your eye sight. I have to say I really loved the characters told from Garth's point of view. There is also an Autistic character in this book, and I loved how that character is written. This is a heart warming story that shows you that love can be found from a tragic loss. I listen to the audiobook of this book, and I have to say I really enjoyed the narrator. I loved this audiobook. I was kindly provided an e-audiobook of this book by the publisher (Podium Audio) or author (Barbara Hinske) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 WOOFS 🐶🐶🐶🐶

Love is blind.

Or Emily Main would have seen her fiancée’s true colors long before her wedding or the honeymoon, which would change her life.

I hated Connor from the get go!
Is it wrong to be hoping two people would end up divorced almost from page one?! 🙄

After her accident, it is clear that Emily’s new husband will not be up to the task of helping Emily learn to live life as a legally blind person.

Fortunately there are people, old and new who will be!

As Emily trains to be independent without sight, the puppy who will eventually be her GUIDE, is also training for his role.

Not since Enzo, from “The Art Of Racing In the Rain” (Garth Stein) have we been able to get inside a dog’s mind!

The chapters alternate, with most from Emily’s POV, and a few from Garth’s (that’s the puppy 🐶)
until the two meet.

Sure, this story is a predictable and like a Hallmark movie, but who cares?!

I enjoyed learning about how handlers and guides train for their life together, and only wish that we had more chapters of Emily and Garth together!

This review is for the AUDIBLE edition!
I didn’t love the narrators, but I loved this heartwarming story! 💕

[Rosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know how sometimes, no matter how predictable a story is, you still love the book. This could either be because you were in the perfect mood for that genre or because the book has one topic that you always enjoy, no matter what. For me, this book came in the latter category, and the topic is dogs. I love dogs, and I'm a sucker for books centred around dogs. No wonder then that I loved this book! (Conditions apply, of course. Can't read anything on dog abuse.😞)

Guiding Emily is narrated from two perspectives:
1. Third person narrative focusing on Emily Main, a high-flying professional whose life turns upside down after an accident renders her blind.
2. First person narrative by Garth, the puppy 🐶 who is being reared as a guide dog.

Emily's narrative is pretty good. It is very realistic in terms of how it depicts her anger, her frustration, and her struggles with the change in her circumstances. I loved how her troubles were shown honestly without any attempt to whitewash the disability or beatify/vilify the disabled. I could actually feel Emily and her pain. After all, isn't blindness one of the worst fears of an avid reader? (Btw, I have a new respect for audiobooks now because of this.)

What I didn't enjoy in this narrative was the attitude of her husband Connor, who seems to be an outright jerk. I didn't even get their attraction to each other. Ever have dealt with a character whose mere appearance on the pages causes you to go "Grrrrr...." like a dog? That was me whenever Connor came on the scene. I can understand why his character is made a part of this book, but I would have loved the book a lot more without him. (The deducted 0.5 star is entirely due to Connor.😤)

Needless to say, my favourite chapters are all the ones narrated from Garth's pov. He is so adorable! 😍😍 His awareness seems to be lopsided: he knew stuff like stucco and West Coast but was ignorant of tomatoes and guides.🤷🏻‍♀️ But hey, it's a dog! I had a huge grin on my face during all the Garth chapters. His description of Emily for instance was how she had "Golden Retriever curls" and how she seemed to be the "pick of her litter"! How can you not smile at that thought! 😍😍

I was lucky enough to get the audiobook of Guiding Emily from NetGalley. And let me tell you, the narrators bring the book to life! The way they enact the various characters is brilliant. Especially Fred Berman who brings Garth alive with his performance!

Author Barbara Hinske was inspired to write this book after her visit to The Foundation for Blind Children and is donating half of the book proceeds to the Foundation. Respect!

If you love dogs, you'll love Guiding Emily.
🐶❤️

I received the audio ARC of the book from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.


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[Barbara Hinske]

I was inspired to write Guiding Emily after I toured the Foundation for Blind Children. I was moved to tears by the life-changing work I witnessed -- with students from birth to 104. I asked what I could do to help? They said that they wanted to raise awareness of the isolation that the visually impaired experience in the sighted world and (since they are a non-profit) they always need money. I'm a novelist and I immediately told them a novel could do both. Emily Main and Garth popped into my head in that moment.

I write about the isolation issues and about problems that legitimate service dogs encounter from phony service dogs in both Guiding Emily and The Unexpected Path. AND I'm donating half of my proceeds from Guiding Emily to the Foundation for Blind Children. For the price of a book, you get an engaging read and you help a worthy cause! Win/Win.

[donna backshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like with Daisy Jones & The Six, I felt like I had to keep checking to make sure this story wasn't real! Emily's story felt so authentic and intriguing, without all the unnecessary hype that sends a reader diving into disbelief.

Also related to DJ+6, for the audiobook we also have two stellar narrators reading Guiding Emily. I loved them then and I loved them here. Garth's dog voice was perfectly served up by Fred Berman, and come one, who doesn't love Julia Whelan in, like, everything she does?

I'm more of a thriller or sci-fi fan, so this purely fiction novel was definitely a choice outside my comfort zone, but I'm glad I chose it because it was such a refreshing and eye-opening (pardon the pun) view of ordinary life being hit with extraordinary circumstances. I could feel Emily's anguish, as well as Garth's enthusiasm. It wasn't totally a feel good book, but I believe I'm a better person for having read it.

[Lisa G. Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH!

Once in a while a story comes along that has it all - a cover that grabs your attention, a plot that pulls on your heartstrings, characters that you love and dislike, a very educational story and it’s told from two points of view with one being an adorable Black Labrador Retriever!

Author Barbara Hinske has written a story that perfectly illustrates Tragedy to Triumph. Emily Main’s life has turned upside down. She is a Team Leader of a Specialized Tech Team. After suffering an injury on her honeymoon that resulted in her becoming blind, Emily immediately begins to see the true character of her new husband. At the same time, Garth, a beautiful Black Labrador Retriever puppy, is beginning his training to be a Guide. That means he spends the first part of his life with a family that teaches him basic behavioral skills that are required for him to be accepted to Guide Dog School. Both Emily and Garth experience setbacks that almost derail their opportunities for success. If not for the encouragement of two special friends, Emily would not have received special training for the blind to be able to go back to her job and live independently. They also convinced her to go to a Seminar about Guide Dogs. After the presentation and a trial run, Emily was hooked! The wait list usually took two years unless for some reason a certain person and dog did not match correctly and they had to pass. Emily and Garth were a Perfect Match! Emily knew her tragedy had been changed to triumph! Do not miss this unforgettable story!

As someone who has owned Labs for over 20 years, I can testify that they make the best companion pets! They are “people dogs” and “play well with others!” In fact, we are blessed to live with Boudreaux, our 12 year old Black Lab. He’s such a people person that he has No Clue he is a D.O.G.!

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

[Stephen Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw someone describe this book as women's fiction, which is a good description. The chapters go back and forth between a lady Emily who has to deal with sudden blindness and the development of a black lab puppy Garth who is in training to be a guide dog. It was a good solid story. Felt very much like a hallmark story, and I mean that in a good way. The story was a bit predictable from the moment we are told she is marrying Connor Harrington the third.

The chapters on the development for Garth were told from the dog's point of view. I am not a big fan of that, as too often they are usually unrealistic, but other than unfortunately one part in the very first chapter, the dog's narration was kept reasonable for me. I would have loved to hear more aspects of training guide dogs told from a dog's POV, but didn't seem to find much new.

That passage that I found unrealistic coming from a dog was:
"I'd seen her before. Emily Main was a beautiful young woman in her late twenties. Auburn hair cascaded around her shoulders and shone like a new penny. With my jet-black coloring, we'd make a striking couple."

That is a nice description, but unfortunately totally not the way a dog would think or 'talk.' Considering it was the only part that irked me as being unrealistic, that is not bad. The story was nice, but I don't want to give things away other than what you might guess. Seemed very authentic of how people would feel and deal with going blind.

I didn't really see any great prose I wanted to share, here is a bit for Emily first is given the suggestion to get a guide dog:

"I think it's not the right thing for me. Connor doesn't really like dogs, and our condo is only a two bedroom. I've been around guides and their handlers at the foundation. You have to feed them, exercise them, take them out to relieve themselves, and a bunch of other stuff."
"Having someone to love and take care of is good."
I've got Connor," Emily said.

[Christie Bane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recognize that as someone who’s been in the guide dog industry for 20+ years as a professional and even longer than that as a volunteer, I’m a tough audience for this book. Overall, it was enjoyable. Will and I spent the entire book trying to figure out what the author’s experience was. Did she have a blind family member? Did she know someone who used a guide dog? My impression at the end of the book was that she did know a lot about adjustment to blindness, and something, but not that much, about how guide dogs really work. There was a surprisingly accurate traumatic encounter with a fake service dog in there too. The writing was pretty good although I felt like the story was pretty predictable at times. So as I said, overall enjoyable, but can’t really rate it higher than that unless the reader is really interested in the process of adjustment to blindness.

[Natalie "Curling up with a Coffee and a Kindle" Laird · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful audiobook. It warmed my heart.
It was an interesting approach to blindness and moving on, using the perspective of the guide dog to narrate some chapters, which I thought was a lovely idea, and very cute! As a person obsessed with dogs, I loved it!
This was also an extremely poignant book, and shed a very strong light on how a person has to learn to adapt to their blindness, after losing their sight in an accident.
The narrators were fantastic and kept me engaged throughout.
Fantastic read.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet but Serious Story

As a dog lover, I can't say a bad thing about this book. It's a great story with very serious undertones. Blindness being the big one at the surface but so many more underneath.
Nice quick read with all the feels and maybe a tear.

[Lynn Jarrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Guiding Emily” is a story of having it all, having it drastically change, and looking into what is really important to rebuild your life after the whole world goes dark . . . literally. Emily Main had her whole life planned out before her. She had a handsome British fiancé who was going places in the world of business. She was in charge of a computer programming team at a prominent company in San Francisco in a job she loved.

After a dream-come-true wedding in Fiji, Emily and her new husband begin their honeymoon. They are on horseback riding along the beach. In a matter of a few simple seconds, her whole life turns upside down and what was supposed to be the happiest time of life, turns tragic. What follows is a major introspective look into what and who are really the most important in rebuilding your life and regaining your independence.

Emily quickly learns the love of her life, who she thought she could depend on, would ultimately let her down. She eventually realizes she must totally rebuild her life and become dependent on herself, as much as she is able.

Emily’s life priorities change, and she creates a whole new world of exciting opportunities for herself and her sole companion, Garth, a black Lab guide dog, who is totally devoted to her. Emily comes to learn there is very little she and Garth cannot do, together.

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, my this book was wonderful! I’ve been fascinated with guide dogs since I first read “Follow My Leader” by James Garfield as a kid. This one had so much interesting detail about the work that goes into training a guide dog, and about how blind people must prepare to be guided. It also covers the important differences between actual trained service animals, and those that some people, sadly, try to pass off as authentic. I had never thought about untrained dogs being a threat to working guide dogs; the scene where that event occurred was hard to get through. And, the parts where the family that raised the puppy have to, inevitably, say goodbye, never fail to bring a lump to my throat. I’ve always had the highest admiration for people that can raise these puppies, then let them go to become life partners for others in need.
Definitely going on my “Best Of 2021” list! I can’t wait to read the next one!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily loses her eyesight while on her honeymoon. She is having to learn new skills mto live the new life she is given while mourning the loss of her sight. Those around Emily are also having to learn how to navigate around Emily. Meanwhile Garth the puppy is dealing with his own trials and successes of becoming a guide dog.

This is not my typical genre I gravitate toward. I am so glad I decided to participate in a book club’s challenge to read a story about loss and this book was one of the featured recommendations. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story from both Emily’s and Garth’s Point of Views and their journeys they both had to travel to become great partners. Even though this book is about loss this was a pleasurable reading experience and I loved the ending of the story. I recommend this book to fans of women’s fiction.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I have not been by anyone.

[Ian Mcnamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic story. I felt i lived emily’s journey with her. Really loved the fact that the story was told from both points of view of both Emily and Garth. I loved the two narrators and felt they were perfect for this book. As a blind person myself i felt that the blindness was very well researched. I really hope that Audible do the sequel of this book and the same narrators read it. I loved the support that emily had from Druve and Zoe specially. I really did not like Connor from the start, i understand that being newly married and your wife going blind is a big adjustment however I don’t feel he really tried, everything was all about him and what he wanted.

[Federica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily gets blind because of a silly accident on her honeymoon. Garth is a puppy getting trained to become a guide dog.
Of course their paths will meet, that's clear from the beginning of the book, but the journey that brings us there is beautiful and emotional.
I loved this audiobook, I loved being inside Garth's head and following Emily's painful journey from despair to confident and self sufficient.
Beutifully written and narrated!

Thank you to NetGalley and Podium Audio for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Melissa B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was a bit predictable but loaded with information about the guide dog process. My grandpa had a guide dog in the early 1960s, and although the process was a bit different then, so much was the same. And the end result was rewarding.

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly an uplifting, heartfelt story told in alternating chapters between Emily and her best friend, Garth.
You will love Garth as we follow him from puppyhood to his job of guide dog.
His "Person" Emily is also learning to live with a challenge and to overcome heartbreak and anguish!

However- I know anyone who reads this journey of two souls will love it and will cheer them both on!!
Well done!!

[V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guiding Emily by Barbara Hinske is an emotional and exciting story about a woman’s journey of losing her sight and dealing with the aftermath of discovering secrets that turn her world upside down coupled with the lighthearted and adorable point of view of Garth the guide dog.

If it isn’t clear already, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I had never really read anything quite like it and I found that the juxtaposition of the intensely real and emotional turmoil of Emily and the cute excitedness of Garth made the story so easy to read and so much fun as well. I especially enjoyed how much effort was obviously put into the details surrounding how Emily adapted to being blind and her having to deal with her depression surrounding this sudden change in her life. It is clear that the author had done a ton of research on what someone who went blind fairly quickly would have to do to survive both physically and mentally. There were so many moments where I feel like I genuinely learned something about blindness and the relearning that it takes to move around and be independent.

The only critique I would give is that I wish there was a little bit more closure towards the end regarding Connor and Gina. I know we did get some sense of a resolution about Connor but it felt like Gina just completely disappeared from Emily’s mind and I wish they had a moment after the initial situation (no spoilers).

All in all, 4 out of 5 stars. Thank you Netgalley and Barbara Hinske for sending me this audiobook to listen to and review.

[Dara S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily loses her sight when her retinas detach. The writer captures the feelings of someone who is suddenly blinded. Emily finally seeks help and enters training to learn to walk with a cane and use a computer She eventually gets a guide dog to assist her. The author does a great job with the personality of the dog, Garth. Several chapters are written from the dog's point of view. This is an inspiring and delightful read.

[Vicki O. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guiding Emily is a wonderful book that will take your emotions on quite a ride. Part of the story is told by Garth a black Labrador puppy in training to be a guide dog. Garth takes us through his trials and triumphs and introduces us to his trainers. Very interesting an informative. The rest of the book is about Emily. Emily is a young woman who becomes blind due to an accident on her honeymoon. We learn of her journey to reclaim her life. I received the book on a Tuesday as an Advance Reader. Not quite two days later I was finished. So interesting that you just have to keep reading. You will fall in love with some of the characters and a few you will want to slap. Pick this book up now and be sure there is nothing on your schedule to interfere with reading it.

[Jodie (That Happy Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is told from the parallel narratives of Emily and Garth. Emily has a rising career in a technology company and a successful fiance whose also making his way up the corporate ladder. Emily suffers from a very serious medical condition whereby even minor trauma to her head can cause retinal detachment. In a more amusing story, Garth is a young lab puppy destined to be a guide dog for the blind. His story starts as a young puppy and concludes with his graduation from guide dog training.
While on her honeymoon, Emily suffers tragedy and loses her sight. Despite surgical intervention, this loss is permanent. Faced with learning to live in a world without sight, she experiences all the emotion you would expect: grief, depression and anxiety to name just a few. As time passes on, it becomes more and more evident to Emily who will support her, and sadly who won’t, as she journeys back to a life of independence.
Garth’s story is one that is humorous and loving, seen through the eyes of the pup. The author has a magical way of describing Garth’s experiences seen through canine eyes and I found this highly entertaining. The comic relief provided by Garth helps to balance the more emotional moments in Emily’s story.
I really enjoyed this book. The character development was very good. I felt Emily’s grief for all that was lost as a result of her accident. The book has excellent flow, and was a quick read. Without giving too much away, I also felt disgust at those that did not provide support to Emily during a very challenging time in her life: an all too common tragedy that effects many with health challenges. I appreciated the bond she formed with her young friend and the extent of their friendship. Most of all, I loved Garth’s adventures and perspectives on his world.
It should also be noted that the author was inspired to write this book while touring The Foundation for Blind Children and is donating half her proceeds from the book to this Foundation. What a wonderful way to support this foundation! Well done!
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by Julia Whelan and Fred Berman. Both narrators were articulate and easy to understand and I enjoyed listening to them. I must add that Mr Berman really created a whimsical voice for Garth which was a highlight for me. I listened to this audiobook at my usual 1.25x which provided a comfortable experience. I highly recommend the audiobook version of this book to those that enjoy this format.
Thanks to Netgalley and Podium Audio for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for the honest review provided here.

[Susie Sellner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guiding Emily is a fascinating story sharing the struggles of blind people, some of the ways they can retain their independence, the process of a dog becoming a guide dog and a person receiving a guide dog, and the effect someone's becoming blind can have on various types of existing relationships. Having the point of view alternate between the human perspective and the guide dog's perspective kept the story sweet and hopeful. The novel was easy to read and kept this reader interested and curious throughout the novel. The cover picture of Garth's face sweetly held in the human's hands immediately attracted me to the book. I love that all the proceeds are going to the Foundation for Blind Children.

[Sue Boahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome and Thought Provoking

Love all of Barbara Hinske’s books and this book is no exception. Barbara tells the story of a woman who becomes blind on her honeymoon. I can’t begin to imagine what it would be like to have to learn life all over again in a totally different way. Barbara took such care with the character of Emily. She is such a strong character. I learned so much reading this book. I especially loved the chapters written through the eyes of the service dog Garth. Wonderful book. A definite must read.

[Michele Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happiness is bittersweet

Re




this amazing story is better than watching a Hallmark movie. Yes it is a happily ever after in some way but also an uplifting story of courage, independence,and abiding live and friendship.
You get caught up in the life of Emily Main from her tragic accident to her journey to independence,despite having lost her sight. You will also meet Garth who becomes the best friend anyone could hope to have, even if he is a dog.
Looking for a feel good story to make you smile? Choose this book.

[Lois Strachan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and heartwarming story. Having lost my sight, I could empathise with Emily’s difficult journey from loss to independence. I felt the author handled Emily’s situation with sensitivity. The author does a great job of explaining the tools and techniques at a blind person’s disposal. And Garth was a delight, reminding me in so many ways of my own beautiful guides. Overall, this is a charming story that leaves you with a sense of hope.

[Katie Maney · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book! You could really feel the emotions Emily was going through when she lost her eyesight. I enjoyed learning about Garth’s journey to become a guide dog. As a member of Delta Gamma service for sight, guide dogs, and visual impairments/blindness is close to our hearts as it is our philanthropy. I encourage all DG’s to read this book!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the beginning I struggled a bit to find my footing with this book. In fact, I had only gotten a few chapters in and stopped listening. I came back to this book a few weeks later. Something happened and I was feeling this book. I finished listening to it in one day.

The narrators Julia Whelan and Fred Berman were great. Mostly this story is focused on Emily and her journey from losing her sight to learning to live a normal life with vision impairment. I enjoyed most of the characters in this story. I hated Emily's husband, Conner. Every time that he made an appearance in the story, I would cringe. Kids are so adorable in stories. Zoey was no exception. The way that she wanted to help Emily was cute.

Garth is training to be a guide dog. I loved his voice in this story. I wanted him to be featured more. The moments when he was, were so funny and great. There is a moment in this story were Garth has an encounter with another dog that was very real like and got me very emotionally charged. The way that his trainer, Katie reacted to the other dog owner is justified. I actually trained a guide dog many, many years ago. So, I know how important the training is to these dogs and to have a moment like the one Garth and Katie encountered can be very traumatic.

If you were looking to this book to learn something about training a guide dog, you won't learn from this book. However, this dis not discount the fact that this is a good book that is worth your time to read or listen to the audio version.

[Elizabeth James · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOD - brilliant does not come into my thoughts on this wonderful book.

The research that has gone into this is incredible. What I love, I have read other books that are well researched but it often feels like the author thinks, "Oh I learned this so I need to make sure I put it in." With Barbara, it doesn't feel forced. The information she puts in there is accurate (I know for a fact) and it is also subtle. There is a lot of it but it is done in a natural way.

One of the very best things about this book was how Emily and Garth each had their own hapters so you saw it from Emily's point of view and also Garth's. That was wonderful. I often think about writing a story with a dog's point of view. this was so clever.

More importantly, I am severely sight impaired myself and this book gave me HOPE where there felt like only darkness and fear. It showed me that things can work out. I would have no hesitation in reading any other Barbara Hinske books - I acutally wish Guiding Emily was a series.

Thank you, Barbara, if you read this, for writing the best book of this genre since Emma and I which I read many, many years ago.