Oliver: The True Story of a Stolen Dog and the Humans He Brought Together

What a wonderful story! The best thing is that it is a true story with real people, real emotions, real connections, and a deep understanding that emerged from a personal crisis. I understand abuse and how it can tear your soul apart, I understand how difficult healing is, and I also know the same God that helped Steven through helped me as well. And He never leaves us! This is a story of heartbreak and hope, of rock bottom and of mountain top experiences, and of a humble, healthy gratitude that we are really all family. This really resonates with me and with my life. Anyone with a connection to animals will have their heartbeat in synch with Steven's from the first page to the last. This is beautifully written, A joy to read, and a source of hope. God be with you!

What a heartfelt story of a wonderful connection between a man, his dog, the community of good people all over, and the goodness of God!

I loved the story since the beginning. It made me cried as I have a dog. I don't know how would I feel and act if she was lost. Completely different and makes you think that even in these hard times man is essentially good loving and caring.

I read this book in one sitting. Anyone who has lost a beloved dog, or anyone who has lost faith in humanity should read this book. I love that the author described how his faith played a part in all this. All these things work together. I lost a dog many years ago due to the carelessness of a family member who was taking care of him. We did the flyers, we did lots of the same things that Steven did to find Oliver. I went to my church in the middle of the day about 5 days into the yelling ordeal, lit a candle and prayed. We did get our precious dog back after six days. He was found by a farmer who was finally able to see the tag with our number. So miracles do happen. That was 30 years ago. I lost my precious dog from my adult years three years ago when she was fifteen. I am still wrecked by her loss.

All I can say is that this is a wonderful story about kindness and community. I highly recommend this book!

This is a book that all dog owners should read! It's well worth it!! It took me a little bit to get into it but once I did I didn't put it down! Enjoy!

First of all, thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for providing an advanced review copy (ARC) of the book. Given that I received it after the book was released, I had expected the ARC to be in better condition. It was still in need of significant editing and design work. But such is the nature of ARCs. So, no points were taken off my rating for that.As for the book itself... It's always heart-warming to see the strong bonds that develop between a human and their pets. And this one is no different. Steve and Oliver are both wounded in different ways and are sensitive to each other's needs. So, when Oliver is stolen, Steve's life goes into a tailspin.We're given a lot of insight into why Steve is the way he is and why he's wrestling the way he is. Some of that is certainly necessary to illustrate why Oliver is so significant to him. Yet, some of the information just seems incomplete. And some of it is more than we really needed to know.What we're given here, though, is a unique insight into how one man learned to face his problems and shift his perspective so he could see the potential good to come out of it. Steve made a conscious decision to be open to what this experience could teach him, and that touched the lives of those around him.Knowing that the pair are reunited in the end was the icing on the cake. But the real story here is less about Oliver's journey (it was left a bit unclear as to what exactly had happened), as it is about Steve's emotional maturing. At one point in the story, he is likened to George Bailey from "It's a Wonderful Life," except here it's not what the world would be like without Steve Carino, but what Steve's life would be like without Oliver. (Actually, making Oliver the equivalent of George Bailey, not Steve.)In the end, Steve gains a deeper appreciation for the people in his life and those he meets along the way. And that's always a positive thing.

Very well written and uplifting

I read this book for my book club! I enjoyed it and I am thinking of buying it for a friend that just lost her dog that looks like Oliver.

havent had a chance to read it yet but am looking forward to it