Reviewed by Cheryl
TITLE: Rudolph the Rescue Jack Russell
SERIES: Must Love Dogs
AUTHOR: Andrew Grey
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 87 pages
RELEASE DATE: 6 December 2022
BLURB:
Alex goes to a dog rescue with one mission: overcoming one of his fears. But he gets more than he bargained for when he unexpectedly bonds with a Jack Russell terrier named Rudolph and decides to take him home.
When shelter volunteer Luther offers to show Alex the ropes of dog ownership, their time together proves they have more in common than just Rudolph’s affection. But if they’re going to have a happy holiday, Alex needs to come to terms with his issues. Can Luther help him see that love really can be unconditional?
REVIEW:
The author is on top form in this feel-good story about a dog looking for a forever home after his owner dies and a young man with an anxiety disorder facing his fear of dogs.
The prologue and epilogue are written from the POV of Rudolph himself and I absolutely adored them. I knew the writer had a knack for writing with children’s voices but I never realised until now that he could speak dog, too.
Whilst visiting the pound to face his fear of dogs, Alex meets Rudolph, and a worker, Luther. Between them, Luther and Rudolph gently but completely turn Alex’ world upside down, but in doing so they smooth the edges and he finds his anxiety beginning to release its strangle hold on his life. Luther is the absolute perfect boyfriend for anyone who suffers from the kinds of issues Alex has. He’s calm, understanding, and knows when to push and when to back off.
Given that the book is so short, the author has done a good job of sketching some pretty well-rounded characters (including the dog) and I would love to see more of the three of them in a longer story.
This is an absolute must have for anyone who’s looking for something short, sweet and that hits you right in the fuzzies. There’s just enough angst to give it weight and take the edge off the utter sweetness of it all – and may I say that after meeting Alex’ mother I can quite understand why he’s got issues – but not enough to push you to the edge of your seat.
Perfect for Christmas. Just the right kind of vibe to go with coffee and mince pies under the lights when you get a short break from the crazies. Highly recommended
RATING: 
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