The Dog Who Danced

By: Susan Wilson

Narrated by: Fred Berman, Christina Delaine

"Multiple hankies, dog lovers…this is an emotional read." –Library Journal

If there's been a theme in Justine Meade's life, it's loss. Her mother, her home, even her son. The one bright spot in her loss-filled life, the partner she could always count on, was Mack, her grey and black Sheltie – that is, until she is summoned back to her childhood home after more than twenty years away.

Ed and Alice Parmalee are mourning a loss of their own. Seven years after their daughter was taken from them, they're living separate lives together. Dancing around each other, and their unspeakable heartbreak, unable to bridge the chasm left between them. When they find a little black and gray dog by the side of the road, they take him in.

Fiercely loyal, acutely perceptive and guided by a herd dog's instinct, Mack has a way of bringing out the best in his humans. Whether it's as Justine's partner, or just the ebb and flow of a family's rhythms, it's as though the little Shetland Sheepdog was born to bring people together.

Everyone needs Mack. But to whom does the little dog who danced belong?

©2012 Susan Wilson (P)2012 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“If you are a dog lover looking for a good read, you should definitely pick up a copy...this is a heartfelt story.” —Phillyburg.com

“A superior entry in the growing genre of canine-centric fiction.” —Booklist

“A heartwarming tale.” —Publishers Weekly

If you love dogs

This book moved me because it shows how the love of a dog can change how people think and act toward each other. The suspense builds right to the end.

Great Road Trip Entertainment

My mother and I listened to this book over the course of a weekend road trip. We're both "dog people," but I don't like overly sentimental books or blatantly manipulative tear-jerkers. This book had an interesting story that kept our interest to the very end. In fact, we listened to the last several minutes sitting in our driveway.

For those of you who don't like sad endings, this one shouldn't be a problem for you. Without spoiling it for you, I can say I felt the ending made sense and was actually what my mother and I had both said would be the best solution to a difficult problem.

The main characters in this book were well rounded and interesting, and even secondary characters who started out as stereotypes were mostly revealed as flawed people who had reasons for the things they did.

I enjoyed this book greatly and will look for other titles by this author.

Buy a fresh box of kleenex

Vague spoiler alert: It has an emotional, but happy ending.

The story kept me on edge. I finished it in two days because I had to know what happened next.

I really liked the narration. The different voice for the dog's thoughts was great.

The only thing I didn't like, is the family dynamic. Why are all step mothers evil? (ok, I may be sensitive because I am a step mother). Also, I that I think she let the father and step brother off the hook too easily. But I guess the story would have had to evolve differently if the family had been different.

Overall, a very good book.

Loved!

I loved this book. The characters were real. so heartwarming. There are always people who care.

Worth every bit of the credit that I spent on it.

The writer has summed up every feeling that both dogs and people have for each other. The dog movements and gestures are amazingly real and warm. Anyone who knows dogs will see that this writer has all dog feelings, loyalty and bodily emotions very true to form. I cried and laughed in this book. Again worth every credit used for it.

Wonderful story.

Wonderful story. Heart breaking, throughout----then finally heart warming. It was really hard to put down this read. Who could not love a dog like this This book really proves the intelligence of our dogs.
I loved this book.

Easy to listen

I just loved this book, but you need to be a "dog-person" to understand it. Sometimes I have difficulties in getting into the story - this one was easy from the beginning. Well read - easy for a non-englishspeaking listner

sad and then happy.

If you could sum up The Dog Who Danced in three words, what would they be?

light heartwarming romance.

What did you like best about this story?

liked that it went along at a nice pace and held my interest. i could imagine it all happening in life. i enjoyed the plot and the reading. scenery was well discribed.

What does Fred Berman and Christina Delaine bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

they read this book with sympathy and feeling. they understood how easy it is to fall in love with a dog.

Any additional comments?

this is a really good holiday read. it has so many issues that are easy to empathise with. i really enjoyed this book.

Dog lovers will truly enjoy reading.

I have not read too many books with one of the central characters is a dog,but I will be looking forward to reading more in the future. Also love books with happy endings.

Dances into your heart!

Undoubtedly one of the best books I've listened to in a very long time. I've only listened to one other book by this author, One Good Dog, which took a little while to get into but was a good story. This book had me empathizing with the female main character AND her Sheltie not only because I am a "Dog Person/Spirit," but because I am a Sheltie HuMom, too! I've had one Collie and nine Shetland Sheepdogs (presently have four, one of whom is very similar to the canine main character in physical attributes...a Bi-Blue with two piercing blue eyes, and all with the same temperament, intelligence, AND LOVE)! In the end, I just wanted the story to NOT end! I plan to continue reading dog-themed books by this author.