Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt

Synopsis:

Dr. Lucy Peterman was not built for a messy life. A well-respected surgeon whose patients rely on her warmth, compassion, and fierce support, Lucy has always worked hard and trusted in the system. She’s not the sort of person who ends up in a twelve-step program after being caught stealing supplies from her hospital.

But that was Lucy before the accident—before her husband and unborn baby were ripped away from her in an instant, before her future felt like a broken promise. Caught red-handed in a senseless act that kept her demons at bay, she’s faced with a choice: get some help or lose her medical license.

Now she’s reluctantly sharing her deepest fears with a bunch of strangers, avoiding her loneliness by befriending a troubled girl, pinning her hopes on her husband’s last gift, and getting involved with a rugged cop from her past. It’s only when she is adopted by a stray mutt and moves her group to the dog park that she begins to truly bond with the ragtag dog-loving addicts—and discovers that a chaotic, unplanned life might be the sweetest of all . . .

Review:

After Lucy Peterman lost everything she tried to get on with her life.  However Lucy just couldn’t get past the loss. She tried to take control in a way that was not good for her and not legal. She was stealing hospital supplies. When she is finally caught red-handed, she turned to her brother Charlie as her life preserver. The hospital had other ideas. She was forced to go to AA meetings. There Lucy meets a ragtag group of misfits that she just can’t relate to. She isn’t an alcoholic. Things continue to unravel for her until a little dog comes into her life.

Little Dog as Lucy names her gives her more purpose. She helps Lucy to find a way out of the mess that has become her life. She finds a friend at her AA meetings in Sidney, who is dealing with an eating disorder and has a dog. She becomes attracted to a police man, Mark, that she actually went to school with and is also a member of the AA meetings. He has to step in to save her more than once with her sticky fingers. Lucy decides to volunteer at the animal shelter. There she not only helps the animals, but realizes that her friends at the meetings may need a pup as well. First it is Coltrane for Ron, the paralyzed veteran. Then Claire gets in the act. Claire is fighting cancer and the dog helps her is so many ways. One of the biggest surprises is the friendship Lucy begins with the troubled teen Sara. Sara is negative and angry. She also used to stay at Mark’s house when she didn’t have a home. Lucy and Sara become close and their relationship is very heartwarming. They both needed help and they both were able to provide it for each other.

This book is a roller coaster of emotions, laughter, tears, anger, and fear. They are all there. I can not say I could relate to the things that Lucy was faced with. Her loss was astronomical. I could see myself in tiny parts of most of the characters.  Some parts were a bit out there, I just could not see them really happening. The way things were portrayed in this book, however I could just about believe it was real. Ms Garvin’s writing style is very interesting and easy. The characters are wonderful. And of course there are dogs, who doesn’t love dogs?

I would recommend The Dog Year to so many different types of readers. It could be enjoyed by anyone that enjoys good fiction, a heart tugging novel, chick lit, dog lovers. It is just a really good read. So many emotions are exposed, so many weaknesses and strengths are revealed in each of the characters. The dog lovers will enjoy this book as well. If you are looking for a book that fills every nook and cranny of your heart, then read The Dog Year.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*