When special forces soldier Jason Morgan awoke from a months-long coma, he was told he'd never walk again. Discovered face-down in a Central American swamp after a jungle mission gone wrong, he had a smashed spine, collapsed lungs and countless broken bones. It was a miracle he'd even survived. Months of painful surgery followed, with Jason's life balanced on a knife-edge. Released from hospital in a wheelchair and plagued by memory loss, Jason's life fell apart. Left alone to raise his three infant sons, all hope seemed gone, until Jason met Napal, a handsome-as-hell black Labrador provided by a very special charity. With this one incredible dog at their side, Jason's life and that of his family would never be the same again. With Napal's help Jason was able to conquer his paralysis, eventually completing a marathon and winning numerous medals in the Wounded Warrior Games. More than that, this amazing service dog helped heal a family and taught Jason to be the father his kids needed him to be. A Dog Called Hope is the moving and heart-warming story of how Jason rediscovered his life's mission, his strength as a father and, through his beloved dog, his hope. It's the story of the closeness between one man and one dog like no other, and how this mesmerizing duo changed countless lives. Inspirational, tear-jerking and laugh-out-loud uplifting, this is a story that will brighten any day and warm every heart.
An unwanted dog. An emotional rescue. Two lives forever changed. Laurie's dreams had been shattered before she came to work at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch—the ranch of rescued dreams—where broken horses and broken children encounter healing every day. In an attempt to soothe her aching soul, Laurie reached out to save a dog in need. And she soon began to realize that the dog was rescuing her. An inspiring true story told through the engaging voice of Kim Meeder, Blind Hope reveals poignant life lessons Laurie experienced from her ailing, yet courageous canine friend. Despite the blindness of her dog—and her own heart—Laurie uncovered what she really needed most: authentic love, unconditional trust, and true acceptance, faults and all. As Laurie and her dog, Mia, both learned to follow the lead of a master they couldn’t see, Laurie discovered the transforming power of God’s grace even for imperfect and selfish people—and she experienced a greater love than she had ever known. “Love is a bridge that stands firm through difficulties and connects one heart directly to another, not because of how it looks, but because of what it is.” —Kim Meeder, Blind Hope
Praised by Newbery Medal–winning author Katherine Applegate as "graceful" and "miraculous," this Schneider Family Book Award–winning novel tells how one girl's friendship with a homeless dog mends a family's heart. Cally Fisher knows she can see her dead mother, but the only other living soul who does is a mysterious wolfhound who always seems to be there when her mom appears. How can Cally convince anyone that her mom is still with the family, or persuade her dad that the huge silver-gray dog belongs with them? With beautiful, spare writing and adorable animals, A Dog Called Homeless is perfect for readers of favorite middle-grade novels starring dogs, such as Because of Winn-Dixie and Shiloh.
There are some things in life that only a dog can teach you. A poignant, heart-wrenching, but ultimately uplifting novel about the unbreakable bond between a boy and his dog. Perfect for fans of A Dog’s Purpose, The Art of Racing in the Rain and Marley and Me. In the farming town of Riverside in Washington, Toby Fuller is feeling more alone than ever. Nothing Toby did was ever good enough for his father, but he never expected his father to leave, to abandon him and his mother forever. He loses hope, until a scruffy golden retriever called Buddy follows him home from school. Though he’s struggling to walk, Buddy matches Toby step for step, never taking his eyes off him, as if Toby is all he needs in the world. And from that day on Buddy never leaves Toby’s side. Buddy shows Toby a loyalty that he has never known. But then disaster strikes and Toby’s life is changed forever. Will Buddy be able to give Toby the strength he needs to carry on? A tale of how unconditional love can bound into your life when you least expect it, giving you hope in the darkest of times. What readers are saying about A Dog’s Hope: “Perfect for fans of A Dog’s Purpose, The Art of Racing in the Rain and Marley and Me. This book drew me in from the first page… I honestly shed tears reading this wonderful book, I highly recommend this book to anyone, especially dog lovers.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars “I am completely demolished, this was the most heart-warming, sweet and beautiful book I've read in a while. It grabbed me and just stole my heart… I can't even express my feelings, just read it!” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars “A totally heart and gut-wrenching novel… I read the last couple chapters through tears as it touched me very deeply. I absolutely recommend this page-turner! You will not want to put it down!” The Write Review, 5 stars “Wow!... This story is one of heartbreak, love, loss, forgiveness and overcoming! It’s a wonderful story about the peace that comes when you find your sweet, furry soulmate and I believe everyone has one!... We can learn so much from a dog and this book captured that perfectly!” I Have Lived a Thousand Times, 5 stars “Omg! Omg! Omg!... This book just breaks my heart into thousand pieces.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars “If I could rate this 10 stars, I would!... This book drew me in from the first page… I definitely shed some tears reading this. If you love dogs and are looking for a book with REAL meaning, grab this one!” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars “I so so so totally, utterly loved this book… If you are a dog lover, you will love this story too. If you are wondering why people love their furry friends so much, you should read it and maybe you will understand why.” B for Book Review, 5 stars “Once I began reading, I couldn't put the book down. A Dog's Hope is a heart-warming journey between a young boy and an abandoned dog… a glimpse into the thoughts and feelings from a dog's perspective and how we can learn from each other.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars “Beautifully written story that will remain with me for a long time… I definitely required tissues at hand to get through… several times the intensity required me to put the book down which made it a wonderful, memorable story.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars “This review practically writes itself. If I could give this enchanting story more than 5* I certainly would. It is an outstanding story… Told from the heart… I loved every page of it.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars “From the very beginning I needed a box of Kleenex… This book is something incredibly special, and so I will read it again and again. This book becomes my first favorite of 2020.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars “A story that will show you how amazing the bond between a human and a dog can be… Amazing and breathtaking… A very beautiful story.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars “A heart-warming story that has heart-wrenching situations… It made me cry but also made me happy… It was more than just a read, it was an experience… I absolutely loved this book!” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
For fans of Nala's World and Arthur, this is an uplifting and unforgettable true story about how the love of a good dog can save your life. Rob Kugler adopted his chocolate Lab Bella as a puppy - a bundle of fun and love to keep his girlfriend company as he headed off to war. But when Rob's brother died and his relationship fell apart, it was Bella who was there to help heal the wounds, and make Rob's life worth living again. So when Rob was told Bella had cancer - first in her leg, which had to be amputated, and then in her lungs - he was devastated. With only months of Bella's life left, he knew just what he had to do for his furry best friend. Determined to show her the same unconditional love she had always shown him, Rob decided to give Bella the farewell adventure of her doggy dreams. Criss-crossing the USA from coast to coast, making many new friends along the way, Bella taught Rob never to give up and to live each day as though it's your last. A heartbreaking but ultimately uplifiting true tale, A Dog Named Beautiful is full of hope, love, tears and laughter. Enjoy the journey. _______________ 'Teaches the reader a wealth about the value of making human connections.' FORBES
A New York Times bestselling book! Allen and Linda Anderson adopted a traumatized one-year-old cocker spaniel who had been abandoned. Soon, the troubled dog they named “Leaf” turned their home into a war zone. Although Leaf and Allen were forging a friendship with visits to dog parks and bonding time, Leaf’s emotional issues overwhelmed the couple. Shortly after Leaf’s arrival, Allen, who had spent eight years as a big city police officer and survived so many close calls that Linda called him “Miracle Man,” received a diagnosis from his doctor that made him think his luck had finally run out. Allen had an unruptured brain aneurysm that could be fatal, and the surgery to repair it might leave him debilitated. Having seen his father live for years with the effects of a massive stroke, he dreaded that the worst fate might not be death. What Allen didn’t know is that he and Leaf, like comrades facing the ultimate battle, would be there for each other with the miracle of this man and this dog coming together at exactly the right time.
Max meets A Dog Called Homeless in this sweet and poignant middle grade novel told from the humorous, thoughtful perspective of a rescued pit bull as she trains to be a service dog for an injured veteran and his family. Daisy has only ten weeks to prove her usefulness or else be sent back to the pound. Yet if she goes back, who will protect Colonel Victor from his PTSD attacks? Or save the littler human, Micah, from those infernal ear muzzles he calls earphones? What if no one ever adopts her again? Determined to become the elite protector the colonel needs, Daisy vows to ace the service dog test. She’ll accept the ridiculous leash and learn to sit, heel, shake, even do your business, Daisy when told to. But Daisy must first learn how to face her own fears from the past or risk losing the family she’s so desperate to guard—again.
BETTY WHITE on EVERY DOG HAS A GIFT: "This book gives us some specific examples of the unique therapy that dogs provide when it is needed most. Enjoy a good read, after which I’m sure you will appreciate your own dog even more.” As anyone who has ever gotten home after a long, hard day and been greeted by their dog and that soulful look of adoration will tell you: Dog love is one of the best kinds of love there is. In Every Dog Has a Gift, founder and executive director of The Good Dog Foundation Rachel McPherson explores the inspiring work that dogs are doing to help humans cope with a wide range of physical, mental, and emotional problems. Millions of dogs around the world are heroes every day. These therapy and service dogs (and often quite ordinary, "uncertified" dogs just like your own): bring their healing presence into hospitals and hospice centers; provide a calm and centering "home base" for autistic children; and serve as the perfect audience for kids who need help practicing and improving their reading skills. In telling these stories, Every Dog Has a Gift pays homage to the gift that each and every dog possesses: the ability to bring the healing power of unconditional love into our lives.
A heartwarming dog story like no other: Tuesday, a lovable golden retriever, changes a former soldier’s life forever. A highly decorated captain in the U.S. Army, Luis Montalván never backed down from a challenge during his two tours of duty in Iraq. After returning home from combat, however, his physical wounds and crippling post-traumatic stress disorder began to take their toll. He wondered if he would ever recover. Then Luis met Tuesday, a sensitive golden retriever trained to assist people with disabilities. Tuesday had lived among prisoners and at a home for troubled boys, and he found it difficult to trust in or connect with a human being–until Luis. Until Tuesday is the story of how two wounded warriors, who had given so much and suffered the consequences, found salvation in each other. It is a story about war and peace, injury and recovery, psychological wounds and spiritual restoration. But more than that, it is a story about the love between a man and dog, and how, together, they healed each other’s souls.
