The Dog Who Danced

By: Susan Wilson

Narrated by: Fred Berman, Christina Delaine

Length: 10 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

"Multiple hankies, dog lovers…this is an emotional read." –Library Journal

If there's been a theme in Justine Meade's life, it's loss. Her mother, her home, even her son. The one bright spot in her loss-filled life, the partner she could always count on, was Mack, her grey and black Sheltie – that is, until she is summoned back to her childhood home after more than twenty years away.

Ed and Alice Parmalee are mourning a loss of their own. Seven years after their daughter was taken from them, they're living separate lives together. Dancing around each other, and their unspeakable heartbreak, unable to bridge the chasm left between them. When they find a little black and gray dog by the side of the road, they take him in.

Fiercely loyal, acutely perceptive and guided by a herd dog's instinct, Mack has a way of bringing out the best in his humans. Whether it's as Justine's partner, or just the ebb and flow of a family's rhythms, it's as though the little Shetland Sheepdog was born to bring people together.

Everyone needs Mack. But to whom does the little dog who danced belong?

©2012 Susan Wilson (P)2012 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“If you are a dog lover looking for a good read, you should definitely pick up a copy...this is a heartfelt story.” —Phillyburg.com

“A superior entry in the growing genre of canine-centric fiction.” —Booklist

“A heartwarming tale.” —Publishers Weekly

If you love dogs

This book moved me because it shows how the love of a dog can change how people think and act toward each other. The suspense builds right to the end.

Engaging

I liked this book. It kept me engaged and I really liked the presentation. The book illustrates how much a pet can impact -even change - our lives for the better. You'll find yourself loving this little dog and appreciating the emotion, passion and position of the pet owner/parent.

Wonderful!

I loved this book! It was done a lot in the dog's perspective, which made the listening different and delightful. Performance couldn't have been better. would recommend to anyone who loves dogs.

Love dogs already, you will love them even more.

It's a great story, its emotional at times and quite funny at other times. Overall lovely book recommendable for all types of readers.

A sweet tear jerker!

If you love dogs, and you’re a bit of a sensitive and a little bit corny person, you will love this book. Not Pulitzer Prize material, but well written and a perfect pick me up!

A Dog's Love Makes a Difference

This is a story of torn relationships and growing up. The unconditional love of the dog contrasts with the conditional love of the adults. Very well narrated.

Such a sweet story, I really enjoyed it

Again this author has created real characters with real feelings. I will recommend it to my friends and family

Another great story!

An exciting tale and another great book by Susan Wilson. I look forward to more!

Amazing!!!

I loved every bit of this book and my heart melts for these two families and then they unity.

Great Road Trip Entertainment

My mother and I listened to this book over the course of a weekend road trip. We're both "dog people," but I don't like overly sentimental books or blatantly manipulative tear-jerkers. This book had an interesting story that kept our interest to the very end. In fact, we listened to the last several minutes sitting in our driveway.

For those of you who don't like sad endings, this one shouldn't be a problem for you. Without spoiling it for you, I can say I felt the ending made sense and was actually what my mother and I had both said would be the best solution to a difficult problem.

The main characters in this book were well rounded and interesting, and even secondary characters who started out as stereotypes were mostly revealed as flawed people who had reasons for the things they did.

I enjoyed this book greatly and will look for other titles by this author.