5 stars
C Quilts (USA) (Amazon)
Loved this one! Excellent illustration of how we fight that which we don't want to accept, but through our choices, can make it into something wonderful. Beautifully done!
5 stars
J. Lee (San Francisco, CA) (Amazon)
This is one of those books which seems light and entertaining on the surface, but draws you into the many facets of life's challenges with grace, humor, and insight. Suzanne has a talent for bringing you into another time and place - in this case the 60's era, in the shoes of a spunky woman dealing with the loss of sight. Romance, remarkable dogs, and a loved one with Alzheimer's. Real and relatable, along with a good dose of humor! A wonderful, uplifting read!!
5 stars
RebeccasReads.com "Rebecca's Reads" (Austin, Texas) (Amazon)
Reviewed by Danelle Drake for Rebecca's Reads (08/09)
Every now and then a book comes along that you just can't put down. It touches you in ways you just couldn't imagine and leaves you feeling just good. "For the Love of Dogs" by Suzanne Woods Fisher one of those books. It is a very compelling, heart touching story. Samantha is a very competent, independent person who finds herself going blind. It is incredibly hard for her to accept the fact that she needs anyone else.
As with most people it is hard for anyone to admit weakness and that is so with Samantha. Her family is supportive but she is having a very difficult time facing her future. She is paired up with a wonderful, talented yellow lab named Azure destined to prepare for what is to come.
In this compelling tale, which has many complex characters intertwining with Samantha, Azure, and Jack, you will cover each emotion possible and leave you feeling drained and fulfilled at the same time. Personally, this book has touched my soul and I can't wait to read other works by this outstanding author
5 stars
Dora Thomas (PA) (Amazon)
Hey Suzanne, Just wanted to thank you for keeping me up late at nignt the last four nights in a row. How you say. I just finished reading For The Love of Dogs. I have to say, it was really good, enjoyed every bit of it. I'm amazed at how you can come up with all those characters and plots. Just how do you do that? You also have a gift of incorporating God in your books that is not a turn off. You just slide him in there at just the right times. Just handed your book over to my co-worker this morning for her to read. When she is done, I will be passing it on to my daughter and then my sister and further down the line. I'm going to use you for my excuse for being tired at work today. What a good excuse!!!
Once again keep up the good work. I really do enjoy reading your books.
Your number one fan.
5 stars
Stephanie Perkins (Pleasant Hill, Ca) (Amazon)
This book is about so much more than just dogs! Although the power of the bond between humans and dogs is clearly demonstrated, it is also about overcoming life's' challenges, opening yourself up to new possibilities, the power of persistence, love, and second chances. I highly recommend this book to all!
3 stars
Cynthia Herrmann (Amazon)
This book is a nice story but it is not gripping and you aren't sad when it ends. Often I say to my mom, "You have got to read this!" Not this book. It is a 3 out of 5-good enough to finish.
5 stars
Hallie Grossman (Diablo, California) (Amazon)
Even if you are not a dog lover, do not miss this book!
Samantha Christiansen is a strong, capable heroine with an independent spirit. You will find yourself rooting for her as she handles business and family issues all while dealing with her own declining eyesight. This story has elements of love, family, even danger all woven together with the underlying current of God's abiding love and grace.
Suzanne Woods Fisher creates a story with characters so human and believable they will draw you in right away and linger on in your mind days after you finish reading this inspiring book. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
5 stars
Lily Ann Sholer (Danville, California) (Amazon)
In "For the love of Dogs," Ms. Fisher has brought to light the plights our blind neighbors endure, just living life. The pure depth of the characters engage the reader to feel as though we are part of the story. You will smile, laugh, cry, and frown! The amount of research involved before the pen was even put to paper is obvious. I highly recommend this book for all age groups. You will come away with knowledge and insight you might never have gained otherwise. Thank you Suzanne. Can't wait to read "Amish Peace."
5 stars
susan niello (California) (Amazon)
I loved the book by Suzanne Woods Fisher- "For the Love of Dogs".I enjoyed it as much as "Eat, Pray, Love". Suzanne is the wonderful author of several great books.This is a real winner and a terrific read!
5 stars
Reader Views "Reviews, by readers, for readers" (Austin, Texas) (Amazon)
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views
I've always thought that good writing in many ways resembles a magic trick. Just think about it - a flick of the wrist with a magic wand and a white rabbit emerges from the previously empty top hat... a flick of the wrist while turning a page and one can plunge into a totally new and different world, one whose existence was a total mystery before.
Suzanne Woods Fisher's "For the Love of Dogs" is an encouraging and deeply wise book. It's a book which teaches you how to put things in perspective, how balance matters most and how good things can emerge from events that look desperately horrible at first. It is a book about love, about forgiveness, about wisdom in many forms and first and foremost, it's a book about trust.
Samantha and Kathleen, the twins who were raised by their grandparents while their parents worked as missionaries, are doing quite well, managing The Running Deer, a ranch devoted to the production of olive oil. It's the days of Woodstock and the man first landing on the moon, so the benefits of the olive oil are not so well known yet. In spite of that, the ranch is getting a lot of national recognition and even receives a couple of important awards. While on the surface all looks smooth, there are a lot of undercurrents threatening to destroy the idyll. First of them is Samantha's near blindness, which is progressing rapidly. While Samantha manages nicely with the help of a cane, she is all too well aware that one day soon the last shreds of her vision will be gone, yet she refuses to get a service dog. Her new neighbor, Jack, who trains them, is just too annoying for words, and she will not admit that she needs help. After finally giving in and learning to trust - and what a hard lesson that was! - Samantha returns to the ranch and finds it in utter turmoil. Her twin has a miscarriage and sinks into deep depression, her beloved grandmother, Nonna, is clearly getting befuddled and her brother-in-law, Pete, is being threatened by two hoodlums. It will take a lot of courage, wisdom and even more trust for Samantha to disentangle the twisted mess and see the things as they really are.
In addition to the well constructed and multi-layered story, which drew me in within minutes, it was the author's strength in creating strong, likeable and well-rounded characters. Nobody's too good to be believable, and everybody shows at least some weaknesses. Each of them has a distinctive voice, which goes double for the sweet Etienne Number Five, the elderly Frenchwoman who delivers one of the most important messages in the book, "Everyzing iz a matter of balanz." The characters are so well built that I found myself even feeling sorry for the two hoodlums. Who could not feel sorry for somebody this inept?
I would love to see more books by Suzanne Woods Fisher in the future. Her messages about courage, trust in God, trust in others and keeping things in balance are important for all of us, and listening to them would make this world a better and sometimes easier place to live in. "For the Love of Dogs" is an encouraging and deeply wise book.
5 stars
Mocha with Linda (Texas, United States) (Amazon)
This multi-faceted story of Samantha Christiansen, a young woman who is rapidly losing her sight, is heartwarming and drew me in on so many levels. First and foremost, of course, is Samantha's journey. Managing Running Deer Ranch, her family's burgeoning olive orchards which produce their cutting-edge and award-winning olive oil, is a huge responsibility in itself. Then there's the adjustment to her encroaching blindness. She had been "making do" with a cane, but she finally, albeit reluctantly, allows her family to convince her to get a guide dog. During the ensuing month at the California Canine Academy for the Blind, Samantha learns as much about herself as she does about Azure, her new companion. Of course, her instructor and new neighbor, Jack, seems to know her better than she knows herself, which can be highly annoying! Especially since he's got a whole set of baggage himself. But doggone it, he's fun to be with too! Finally, Sam's family issues also weigh on her - her beloved grandmother's increasingly unusual behavior (a personal touch from the author's experience with her own dad's Alzheimer's Disease), her feisty yet troubled twin sister, and her AWOL parents, whose devotion to their missionary work and seeming indifference to their daughter has deeply wounded Sam and left her with a fractured faith and scars of rejection that are still not healed.
Woven throughout the story are wonderful details and life lessons about guide dogs and blindness. I even learned a bit about olive oil! Yet Suzanne Woods Fisher expertly makes it all flow together seamlessly into a beautiful story of trust and love.
5 stars
April M. Gardner (Amazon)
Once again, I feel compelled to rave about author Suzanne W. Fisher's knack for developing a wonderful cast. Each character, down to the most "insignificant" is full of life and color. In the end, Sam, Jack, Kathleen, and even irritatingly troubled Lucy, are more than just names on a page. They're my friends!
Character, Samantha, uses her stronger senses to hear, feel, and smell her way through life, which adds richness and depth to the story. I also appreciated Samantha for her serious, no-nonsense personality. It was a refreshing angle for a leading role, and contrasted perfectly with easy going, take-life-as-it-comes Jack. Those two kept me chuckling. They're perfect for each other, and watching them figure it out is quite the adventure!
For the Love of Dogs is set is 1960's California. The 60's is a period rarely seen in Christian fiction, and I would like to have experienced a bit more of it in the descriptions. I did, however, get an excellent feel for the sunny California coast.
Apart from a compelling story, every novel needs an imperceptive tutorial, and author Ms. Fisher is always good for it. Raising guide dog puppies herself, she has intimate knowledge of the ins and outs of owning one of these gentle guides. Her expertise shines through giving the reader a tiny taste of being be blind and leaving only gratitude to the Lord for the gift of sight.
Her portrayal of dementia and how it affects loved ones is, sadly, also from the author's personal experience. This novel gave me a deeper respect for those who witness the devastation of Alzheimer's, and also, of course, for the blind.
As if the quality of the story isn't enough to compel you to purchase the book, the author is generously donating all royalties to Guide Dogs for the Blind.
To sum it up, this novel will motive you to achieve your dreams despite the unpleasant odds. In the end, though, none of it is possible without strength from Above.
Ps. 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. |
