619-822-3296 
The Mountaintop School for Dogs and Other Second Chances,
by Ellen Cooney
I was recently given the opportunity to read and review an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of “The Mountaintop School for Dogs and Other Second Chances“, a fun tale with a bit of whimsy, regarding the characters that operate a dog rescue, and the “strays” they take in.
An old and defunct ski lodge provides the imaginative and intriguing backdrop for a group of “retired nuns” who have taken up the task of retrieving, rehabilitating and re-homing dogs in need. Evie is a somewhat lost and troubled young lady who stumbles upon the school by accident. Intent on succeeding in her new venture as a dog trainer, Evie presses on, despite her feelings that she is being thwarted at every turn by her superiors, and feeling that she is both disliked and unwanted. Unbeknownst to Evie, each of the players in this operation is struggling with some of their own, personal issues, just as there are dogs in need, with issues of their own. It’s enjoyable to read about the successes and connections Evie makes with each of her charges, and how she, unsuspectingly, gets through to them. While the book, at times, can come across as a bit harshly opinionated and unpleasant, I enjoyed this new take on dog rescue tales, and found myself enjoying the story more and more as it progressed. I was surprised and saddened when I reached the end, which seemed somewhat abrupt, but, as we know in dog rescue, the stories never really end, more just keep coming. I’m sure the author had many more ideas and could have written on forever. Instead, she wrapped things up in a good place and on a good note. I enjoyed “meeting” each of her characters and watching them grow and thrive.
Jennifer Casula and her family (3 dogs, 3 cats, 2 turtles and 1 husband) recently moved to the Dallas area. When she isn’t reading and reviewing books about dogs, she spends her time teaching group exercise classes and fostering for Texas Cattle Dog Rescue.
