Book Review: Lawyers, Dogs, and Money (Veronica Kildare K-9 Mystery, #2) by Tracy Carter

Lawyers, Dogs, and Money by Tracy Carter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

While the author set the bar high with the series' excellent debut, she definitely met and surpassed it in this exciting follow-up.

Lawyers, Dogs, and Money is the second book in author Tracy Carter's marvelous working dog-centric series, the Veronica Kildare K-9 Mysteries, and continues the suspense-filled story of the title character and her canine partner, Leda, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever rescue. Carter set the bar high with the series' excellent debut, Dogged Pursuit, but she definitely met and surpassed it in this exciting follow-up.

The story unfolds from Veronica's point of view, and she is a calm and steady protagonist, although still healing from the past trauma of losing her fiancé, Zach, at the hands of a serial killer. Formerly a legal assistant in an Ohio district attorney's office, she relocated to Colorado to start over as a working dog trainer and handler far from the now-incarcerated murderer. She and Leda have gained renown as a successful team in search and rescue and drug detection in the Boulder area. Her narrative is told with a strong, confident voice, and she comes across as genuine, engaging, and relatable as she deals with her lingering grief and learns to let go of her lost love. She's always on the go, with numerous irons in the fire; however, she reacts authentically rather than super-humanly, knowing she needs regular rest and respite.

In addition to Veronica, several well-developed and engaging secondary characters are integral to her personal life and business operations, most notably her father, Bob Kildare, and her assistant trainer, Michael Fletcher, a young man she rescued from the streets of Denver in the previous book. I enjoy Michael's contribution to the story immensely and am delighted with his continued success in his studies and growth as a trainer and handler. However, I was completely charmed by Bob, with his unwavering support of his daughter, his skills in the kitchen, product demonstrations and reviews, and dogged investigatory computer research. Bob has been a widower long enough, and there is a hint of a romance in his future.

The book's opening sequence is attention-grabbing and exceptionally well done, absolutely setting the pace for what's yet to come. A central mystery unfolds, with a wide array of possible suspects and motives to investigate and rule out. Just when I felt I knew where the threat was coming from, new details emerged and sent the characters in an alternate direction. I thought that the author accurately depicted reality when the parties to the investigation were pulled away to work on other things and couldn't devote their 24/7 to the one case, as often happens in many mystery stories. The dog-training scenes were fascinating, informative, and entertaining, as were the interesting tidbits the characters shared about Kadri's birth country and the import/export business. The author uses the Colorado setting to advantage, painting vivid and enticing pictures throughout. I did have a very minor issue with Veronica's tendency to over-explain at times, using definitions that sounded like they came straight out of a dictionary; however, these were few and far between.

Even though this is the second book in the series, new readers shouldn't have any trouble catching up and enjoying the story. With its engaging characters, exciting plot, and non-stop action, I recommend LAWYERS, DOGS, AND MONEY to mystery readers, especially those who enjoy stories featuring working dogs, search and rescue, drug detection, or books set in Colorado.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.


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Children's Book Review: Ruby (Service Dog, #1) by Jack Heape

Ruby by Jack Heape
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Inspirational and informative story of Ruby and Toby’s journey from show ring to service dog.

Ruby is the inaugural book in author Jack Heape’s new middle-grade series about service dogs, telling the inspirational story of a budding champion show dog and her young handler who discover another calling in their lives as a service dog and a service dog trainer. Readers of all ages will surely find the story informative and heartwarming.

Toby Durham developed a passion for handling dogs in the show ring early and became one of the youngest and most successful handlers in competition. He longs to start and finish his own champion, and he gets that chance with owner/breeder Madeleine Fulbright and a young Irish Setter puppy named Ruby. The story details much of the behind-the-scenes work and commitment involved in pursuing his dream, including the considerations and accommodations his family and parents make to help him realize it.

While this aspect of the plot is awesome on its own, it’s not the only storyline. When Toby’s family moves for his father’s job, one of Toby’s new neighbors is Rachel Parker, a girl about his own age who experiences seizures of such an unpredictable nature that she is literally restricted to her own home. A chance meeting and Ruby’s instinctive actions, which appear to warn Rachel of an impending seizure, changes life for everyone.

Ruby, Toby, and Rachel’s story is inspirational reading and chock-full of dog care, dog and handler training, and the amazing collaboration between one incredible dog and the humans in her life. I recommend RUBY for readers of middle-grade fiction, especially those who love books about dogs.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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Children's Book Review - Harry: A Service Dog (Service Dog, #1.5) by Jack Heape

Harry: A Service Dog Series Novella by Jack Heape
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Warm and wonderfully inspirational story of the making of a service dog and a service dog trainer.

Harry: A Service Dog is the second book in author Jack Heape’s lovely middle-grade series about service dogs, their selection, development, and training, as well as the variety and range of assistance areas, and their young human volunteer trainers. However, while featuring youthful main characters and their experiences, readers of all ages can enjoy their journey and learn about this absolutely amazing partnership between humans and these special dogs.

Sophie Martin is the young teenage protagonist of the book, who, as a budding writer, attends a two-week intensive summer creative writing camp. There, she meets a deaf teenager named Lucas Walker, with whom she develops a close friendship and discovers the extraordinary ways he interacts with his world, using senses other than hearing. Curiosity piqued, she asks him to teach her about ASL (American Sign Language), and he shares some common signs with her during the waning days of their camp session. However, most of their conversations are conducted through written messages in notebooks they pass back and forth. It is an offhand mention by Lucas about how his sister’s dog alerts him to their doorbell ringing at home that sticks with Sophie and inspires her to research service dogs. Kudos to the author for crafting engaging dialogue and realistic interactions between the two teenage protagonists, which felt both natural and authentic.

The author tells a fun and absorbing story of a platonic friendship between a hearing girl and a deaf boy, who meet because of their shared interest in creative writing. However, their collaboration launches a deep desire in Sophie to help Lucas live a safer, fuller life, with the freedom a service dog of his own would grant him. Heape deftly shows the depth of commitment required to undertake the training of these dogs, as well as the reality of day-to-day life while doing so. I enjoyed Sophie’s determined campaign to convince her parents that she was serious and would be dedicated to following through on her plans. There is also the emotional side of the partnership; the trainer will be completely engaged with this dog, from puppyhood until they are certified, and then will part with them as they are sent to their new owner. The training is rigorous, and the dog could be determined unsuitable to continue in the program at any point along the way: not a bad dog, just not the right dog.

I recommend HARRY to middle-grade readers with an interest in dogs and dog stories.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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Book Review: Sick As a Dog (Veronica Kildare K-9 Mystery, #3) by Tracy Carter

Sick as a Dog by Tracy Carter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This 'must-read' for dog lovers hits the ground running and never lets up!

Sick As a Dog is the third book in author Tracy Carter’s exciting dog-themed series, the Veronica Kildare K-9 Mysteries, featuring the energetic dog handler and trainer, her talented Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Leda, and a host of amazing service and support dogs. With an engaging group of recurring characters, their dogs, and several diverse, interwoven storylines, Veronica’s latest adventure is action-packed from page one as she and Leda complete the first of many search and rescue missions.

Veronica Kildare is a young 30-something with a tragic past, a summary of which the author skillfully weaves into the current action. Although this is the third book in the series, the concise retelling of how Veronica came to be in Colorado, the owner of a successful dog training business and well-appointed facility, will provide readers new to the series with an excellent foundation to enjoy this one as a standalone. Veronica continues to suffer the emotional and physical aftereffects of what occurred in Ohio, leading to her relocation to the Rocky Mountains, but she is slowly coming to terms with her past, altered future, and the reality that she needs to move on and live the rest of her life. Her dedication to helping find persons lost or in trouble in the surrounding Colorado mountains has, in turn, helped her as well.

As previously mentioned, the plot takes off quickly with Veronica and Leda on the trail of a missing rock climber and with little pause they are called upon to assist in a new concern involving the suspected illegal dumping of hazardous waste that appears to be impacting a local river and the water source for a large natural area as well as downstream agri-businesses. When Leda discovers the semi-nude body of a young woman in the same location and the park ranger who initially asked for assistance is critically injured in a single-car accident that was no accident, Veronica, her father, Leda, Officer Tim Donovan, and a local investigative reporter dig in to find answers and determine if these diverse events are related.

The descriptions of the natural areas Veronica and Leda search are vividly drawn, and you can almost hear the insects, birds, and other wildlife or breathe the fresh mountain air as you read. The detailed recounting of the search and rescue missions puts you on the scene and is a highlight of the book, as are the descriptions of the dogs’ training sessions and their often amusing and clever antics.

I recommend SICK AS A DOG and the entire Veronica Kildare K-9 Mystery series to mystery readers, especially those who love working dogs and canine family members.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.



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