Quick read. Not that fabulous. Very cute cover. Author just took forever and a day to tell the story that they lost a dog, everyone looked for it and then they found it. Nothing remarkable about it. ( )

This is a wonderful, heartwarming story. There are times in our lives and there are people in our lives who need to read a feel-good story and be reminded that there are good, solid people in the world. Janet Elder's story of lost/found puppy will be very satisfying, especially for readers whose lives are not complete without pets. ( )

When Janet Elder was diagnosed with breast cancer, she and her husband promised their twelve-year-old son Michael that they would get him a puppy as soon as she was better. They realized that life is too short to deny their son something he so desperately wanted, but they also knew that she would be in no condition to care for a puppy for a while.

True to their word, they got Michael a red toy poodle, whom he named Huck and whom they all immediately fell in love with. They couldn't imagine a life without Huck in it. Then, while they were on a much-needed vacation and Huck was staying with Janet's sister in New Jersey, the unthinkable happened. Huck ran away. The family immediately returned to start looking for their dog, and they found unexpected help throughout the small town of Ramsey, New Jersey.

This was a heart-warming story, but, being honest, I didn't find it very unexpected. I think being from a small town (it's not even technically a town) and living my whole life in a couple of small towns within half an hour of home skewed my perspective a little. I would have been more surprised if the people they came across didn't offer to help. Pretty much every business in the small towns I know have a community board to post lost dog signs and business cards. That said, this was a reminder not to take that for granted. Huck and his family live in New York, and they were amazed that perfect strangers spoke to them, helped them look, and let them post Lost Dog signs.

That's really about all I have to say. Huck sounds like a very sweet dog, and animal lovers of all kinds will enjoy this tale of "hope and happy endings." ( )

Leading busy, full lives in Manhattan with their son Michael, Janet and Rich didn't feel they had time for a dog despite Michael's nearly life-long campaign for one. But when Janet is diagnosed with breast cancer, she and Rich agree that a dog would be a comfort and diversion to Michael during this difficult time, and poodle puppy Huck joins the family and they all fall in love with him.

But when they take a Florida vacation to celebrate the end of Janet's cancer treatments, Huck runs away from Janet's sister's home in Ramsey, NJ. The family fly back and start a physically and emotionally demanding search that brings them in touch with the nicest and most helpful folks in Ramsey and neighboring towns. Rich, a New Yorker, can't believe or fathom the kindness of strangers. And it is one of these angel strangers who actually do help re-unite Huck with his family.

Janet, despite her curt and cold cancer diagnosis, and ongoing treatment, focuses on the positive, hopeful and wonderous parts of life - family love, dog love, and incredible kindness and friendship. Makes you want to move to Ramsey, NJ! Very sweet and readable. ( )

This is Janet's story. It's a very sweet story about a puppy, but even more, it is a story about people. Janet has no intention of getting a dog for her son, in spite of frequent requests from the time he is old enough to phrase the question. The first chapters deal with why Janet feels the why she does about Michael having a dog-- her love for animals that influenced him from when he was young; her history with beloved family dogs; and (most of all) the problems with a dog in a New York apartment and two very busy parents.Then comes Janet's cancer ordeal, which leads her to change her mind, and decide Michael needs the love and stability a dog would provide in his life.Notice, so far Michael is peripheral to the story, and Huck doesn't enter the story until about 1/4 of the way in. This is primarily Janet's story, framed by her son, his dog, and a lot of other people. And that's OK.As soon as Huck arrives on the scene, everyone in the book falls in love with him. I'm more of a cat person than a dog person, but I could see the appeal of this puppy!The book continues through Huck's integration into their lives, and then their first vacation without him, leaving him in the loving hands of family members. The book follows the family's reaction to Huck's disappearance, and the experience of searching for him.The story had me tearing up over and over again, although never quite crying. One page I'd be tearing up because of her cancer diagnosis, then because of all the help she received from others. The book goes back and forth on this emotional trip. I occasionally wondered if it would start to feel manipulative, but it never crossed that line for me.As I read this book, I kept thinking that it would make an excellent gift for animal lovers and for those that like being reminded about the good in our world, whether or not they are dedicated readers. ( )