Bookish Thursday - I Chose You by Carmen Leal

Yes!

Another book review for WOW-Women on Writing. And this one will make you laugh and cry and hug your dog!

As I sit down to write this post, it is early morning. Slider and Ruby have had their breakfast and are doing their morning 'let's wrestle on the bed' routine. 

But first, while I tell them to tone it down, let's get the business out of the way...

Book Summary

For every pet parent who knows there's no such thing as 'just a dog,' this collection of uplifting glimpses into the lives of ordinary-turned-extraordinary dogs and the people who love them is a tail-wagging good read.

Thanks to the rescue dog who saved her life after a traumatic brain injury, Carmen Leal went from saying she'd never have a dog to becoming an advocate for man's best friend. Carmen volunteered at the local rescue shelter by writing bios and social media posts, applying for grants, and helping to save and re-home over 6,500 dogs from a high-kill shelter. This endearing anthology includes stories that celebrate the bond between canines and humans including:

Buddy the beagle who went from living chained under a porch to becoming the town's only therapy dog

Heavenly Joy, the frightened Chihuahua who changed the life of a grumpy old man

Bogey, an abandoned mixed-breed trained by prison inmates and adopted by his forever family

I Chose You is a collection of memorable, beautifully written stories of dogs rescued by people and, ultimately, people rescued by dogs. If you like four-legged friends and happy endings, you'll love Carmen Leal's touching collection of heart-warming stories.

Fetch a copy of I Chose You, the feel-good book that resonates with anyone who has ever loved a dog. 

Publisher: EABooks Publishing

ISBN-10: 1955309035

ISBN-13: 978-1955309035

Print Copy Pages: 264 pages

Purchase a copy of I Chose You on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Bookshop.org. You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list.

About the Author, Carmen Leal

Carmen Leal is a storyteller and the author of multiple books, articles, devotionals, and human-interest stories. Carmen relocated from Hawaii to Oshkosh, yes, there is a story behind the move, and has become an awesome dog mom. Carmen and her husband have become reluctant gardeners and know a crazy amount about Wisconsin weeds. She is the mother of two sons, two incredible grandsons, and Coconut, the best imperfectly perfect rescue dog in the world. Learn more about Carmen and Coconut by visiting carmenleal.com. 

Find the author online:

http://carmenleal.com/blog

https://wagawaypublishing.com

https://wagawaypublishing.com/interviews (more to come)

https://www.facebook.com/Rescuemoredogs

https://www.facebook.com/carmen.leal.794

Praise About the Book

“I’m so thrilled to discover this beautiful collection of stories featuring these imperfectly perfect rescue pups. I Chose You has won my heart!” — Janice Thompson, author of Paws for Reflection: 50 Devotions for Dog Moms 

“Great read! Nothing in life is perfect except unconditional love. I Chose You captures that choice!”  — Adrian Palmer Board of Directors Medical Advisor Australian Shepherds Furever Rescue 

“The best prescription I can write for trauma survivors, veterans with PTSD, and others with mental health issues, is the healing power of dogs. I Chose You is the perfect gift for yourself or a dog lover and a wonderful reminder of the unbreakable bond between canines and their people.”  —Angela Miller, Licensed Professional Therapist 

Now for my opinion...

I have always been a 'dog rescue' person, with the exception of Slider. Technically, he is a 'mutt' too, being a mixture of many different large breed dogs to become an 'American Bully'. Ruby is my most recent rescue dog, being the companion to Slider. She has been with us since October and fit well into the household.

The picture above is Noel - our longest lived and most precious rescue dog.

Anyway...on to the review.

First off, I love the fact the book is a series of small stories about dogs that have been rescued. How they came into the lives of their person and what they mean to them. This means the book is a great book for sitting down and reading a story or two at a time. 

Secondly, it will make you at least tear up at times. Not that it is a bad thing, but you will want to cuddle your four-legged buddy and shed a tear of sadness or joy. 

Third, it will have you scanning the adoption options available at your local animal shelter, realizing you already have 2 dogs and 4 cats and do not need another animal!

The book runs the gamut from people who went in search of a dog to adopt to those to say 'no dog' and wind up with one. With every glimpse into the world of dog and their owner, you see how much this 4-legged, hairy beast means to them. 

Do I go to bed every night, telling Slider and Ruby to 'move your ass over'? Certainly! Would I change a minute of it...not on your life.

Pick up this book and share the life of Carmen and Coconut with your own dog.

(Note: I rescue cats too!)

But for more opinions, check these out...