I’ve read and enjoyed several of Dan Walsh’s books over the years. I purchased Rescuing Finley a few years ago where it sat in my never shrinking TBR pile. I moved it to the top earlier this year and like Dan’s other books, it didn’t disappoint.
Blurb
Amy Wallace has made plenty of mistakes in her young life, but she didn’t see this one coming. Chris Seger is a marine serving in Afghanistan. His life is forever altered by a single, fateful step. A mother of another Afghan war vet suffers a devastating loss, which changes the course of Finley’s life for good.
Finley is a mostly golden retriever, who suddenly finds himself alone and confused in a dog shelter. Could this prison actually become the place where Finley finally finds freedom? Rescuing Finley tells the story of how one rescue dog powerfully impacts three tragic lives and puts all of them on a road toward redemption and healing.
My Review
When you have a beloved dog, a wounded warrior, and a certified animal trainer who pairs dogs with veterans, you’ve got the makings of a good story.
Amy Wallace is a young girl who makes mistakes. She gets involved with drugs and turns to shoplifting to support her habit. Amy gets caught and goes to prison.
Chris Seger is a marine who is severely wounded in Afghanistan when a plastic IED explodes. He loses his leg but survives. Like many wounded warriors, Chris has many obstacles to face once he turns home.
Finley is an adorable Golden Retriever. He can’t understand why his beloved owner Chaz has left him in the care of Chaz’s mother. Unknown to Finley, Chaz also enlisted in the Marines and was killed in action. Chaz’s mother isn’t much of an animal lover, so she surrenders Finley to a local animal shelter. When Finley arrives at the shelter, he’s depressed and refuses to eat.
Enter Kim Harper, Animal Behavior Manager and dog trainer at the shelter. She’s started a program that allows inmates to train dogs to serve veterans suffering from PTSD.
As you might guess, Amy, Chris, and Finley are brought together. While they both had issues from the past to overcome both Amy and Chris were likeable characters. The romantic in me cheered for them. And of course, Finley needed a forever home.
This is the first of four books in Walsh’s Forever Home series. If you like animals and enjoy happy endings, I recommend this one.
27 Responses
Great review. Thanks for sharing, Joan 🙂
Thanks, Harmony!
Love animals. Love happy endings. This is a book for me. Thanks, Joan.
I think you’d like this one, Karen.
Aw, it sounds like a sweet story. Thanks for sharing your review, Joan!
It was, Priscilla. Thanks for stopping by today.
I’m glad for the happy ending. I think my heart would hurt before that. Thanks for the honest review, Joan.
You know how I feel about animals and our veterans, but this was a sweet read. Sometimes I need a break from the other stuff I read.
I have the same soft spots for animals and vets. I get it.
Sounds like another good story.
It was, Craig.
This is on my TBR list. I’ve read books 3 and 4 in Dan’s Forever Home series, but not 1 and 2. I want to catch up with those, and your review has spurred me to Amazon. I just bought Rescuing Finley. Now I just have to work it into my backlog of reading!
I’ve read the first two (I’ll post my review of the second book in a couple of weeks). Now I’m wanting to read books three and four. I’m like you, need to fit them into the reading schedule.
If the furry friends get their forever home by the end, it’s gets a thumbs up from me. Nice review, Joan – thanks for sharing this!
I totally agree, Teri! As long as the furry friend gets a home, a book is all right by me.
This sounds like the kind of story that can warm the heart. Thank you for sharing, Joan!
I love animal stories with happy endings. This one lived up to my expectations.
This sounds like a heart-warming story, Joan. Thank you for sharing your review. 😊
It was that, Gwen. Thanks for stopping by today.
You had me at golden retriever. This sounds like a barking good story. Thanks for sharing your review!
P.S. I just downloaded it on my Kindle!
Hope you enjoy it!
I have a soft spot for animals.
This sounds like a wonderful series. Great review, Joan!
Thanks, Jacquie. I’ve read the first two of the series (my review of book two will post in a couple of weeks). Mae Clair was read books three and four. I’m looking forward to reading them.
What a lovely sounding book, Joan.
Thanks, Robbie. It was an enjoyable read.