Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Guide dog trainer Lenae McIntyre left the high-speed world of television news writing behind, and now she helps other visually impaired people adjust to life with their canine companions. She teaches her students and their dogs to trust each other, but a past betrayal and the determination to be self-sufficient and independent keep her from trusting her heart to see love.

Cara Bradley compensates for her family's shallow celebrity lifestyle by devoting her life to helping others, while keeping to the background. She reluctantly commits to a year of puppy walking a four-legged whirlwind named Pickwick so she can film regular segments for a local news program while helping promote the McIntyre Training Center, but she is unprepared for the changes that the driven and aloof Lenae will bring to her life.

Blindsided by love, can Lenae and Cara learn to trust and guide each other toward a new vision for their future?

 

Book Review

I was entranced, startled, and had my heart stolen, all by the puppies and the guide dogs! Most of the story takes place in Washington State’s Puget Sound region and I rather fell in love with that part of world, too, along with the puppies. Additionally, the women are pretty amazing, but the animals unequivocally stole the show when they were front and center. Furthermore, I was thrilled to learn so much about what it takes to bring an initially suitable puppy right up to guide dog status...it is a multi-year operation and commitment by the training facility and a host of volunteers. Impressive!

Lenae McIntyre has been vision impaired since birth. That is a very different scenario than for someone who loses their eyesight later in life, but either way it is an on-going and never to be forgotten element in the life of someone who doesn't have their eyes to assist them in all the things that life throws at anyone. Her relationship to her guide dog, Baxter, is just a miracle to behold. She, herself, is pretty darn special, too, but with all manner of curious personality adaptations along with some very impressive skills. She made a major life decision that turned her work world completely upside down and eventually required her to seek additional assistance pretty much counter to her core lifestyle. The world really needs to bring itself up to speed about how many assumptions and miscues it makes when dealing with vision impaired individuals. Along with a fascinating story and growing love affair, I hope that message makes it out to world too. Incredible!

Cara Bradley is the youngest child from a very talented, fairly famous acting family. This life situation has molded and formed her style, desires, and rebellions from very early on. She battles with a sense of inadequacy, a desire to make a difference, and a bottomless need for her parents to just love and support her. If only there were a parallel training facility for her like the guide dog operation that could smooth away her sense of inadequacy, let her feel loved, and see that some folks are honest, true, and caring. I rooted for Cara although she looked as though she had been pretty thoroughly convinced herself there were no silver linings in this world. She really doesn't know what hits her when she interviews Lenae McIntyre for her “Around the Sound” public television show. Astounding!

This was simply a thoroughly enjoyable and eye-opening book. Although I truly enjoyed the hot goings-on in the bedroom scenes, they were icing on the cake. The trials and tribulations that face our leading ladies were definitely delightful side jaunts, while the wondrous elements associated with the fabulous puppies, guide dogs, and all the elements of the training facility swept me off my feet. I hope everybody on the planet reads this book and enjoys the incredible journey of all the characters, but especially the ones the animals take. Superlative!

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Bold Strokes Books for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel240 pages/68800 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	01-August-2014
Price	$9.99 ebook, $16.95 paperback, $19.99 bundle
Buy Link	http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/9781626391215e.html