Product details
- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: Penguin (28 Oct 2010)
- ISBN-10: 0241951062
- ISBN-13: 978-0241951064
About the book:
When Megan and Ian got married, they wanted to start a family. But their desire to be parents ended up bringing one furry bundle of fun after another into their lives.
At the same time as embarking on difficult and traumatic fertility treatment, Megan and Ian became involved with a charity which provides helper dogs to people with disabilities. And into their home one day came Emma, a soft, sweet-natured puppy with whom they fell instantly in love.
However, after six months Emma had completed her training and was given to someone in need. To get over their broken hearts, Megan and Ian took in another pup: Freddy. And fell in love all over again . . . only for Freddy to move on too.
Megan and Ian didn't know if they could keep taking in these adorable puppies and giving them away later. It was getting too hard, too painful.
But then, one Christmas, little Traffy came along . . .
My take on this book:
I love reading books about dogs, so when this one came in the mail I sat down and read it the same evening. Well it turned out to be much more than just another cutesy dog story. Instead its about the authors journey of longing to have a baby and deciding that while she and her husband Ian deal with the issues of infertility they will volunteer in a charity program called Helper Dogs. We read how the Helper Dog program works and we follow along as Emma, and then Freddy the two helper dogs that Ian and Megan take care of opens their hearts allowing them to ultimately find their forever dog Traffy. This story was just wonderful. It takes place in England so some of the terms and wording were a bit different but I quickly adjusted. The author easily brought to life the ups and downs of being a volunteer taking care of puppies for Helper Dogs.I could imagine the excitement and pride she felt in Emma and Freddie. I thought it was clever that Emma actually had her own newspaper article, and in a sense became a spokesperson for the program.Freddie was a real character, and I can't help but wonder how the two dogs are faring now. The author also allows us to feel the disappointing struggles she and her husband had with infertility. The message I took away from this story is that family is whatever we choose to make it, and for many of us our beloved pets are often the only family God chooses to bless us with. This book will hold appeal for anyone who enjoys dog stories, but more than that its a story of family and one woman's struggle with infertility. Recommended!
* I won a copy of this book from Librarythings Early Reviewer program.*
Sounds like a fitting heartwarming Christmas book. Bummer about infertility ..my best friend is going through it & it's heartbreaking! --Like what you said about how perhaps pets might be what God chooses to bless some with.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love your template.. chocolates rock! ..I miss changing backgrounds.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great story!! I loved reading Marley & Me so I think I'd love this one too. Thanks for sharing! :)
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