Worthy

By: Catherine Ryan Hyde

Narrated by: Nick Podehl, Tanya Eby

They might've been a family.

Virginia finally had the chance to explore a relationship with Aaron when he asked her on a date. She had been waiting, hoping that the widower and his young son, Buddy, would welcome her into their lives. But a terrible tragedy strikes on the night of their first kiss, crushing their hopes for a future together.

Nineteen years later, Virginia is engaged, though she has not forgotten Aaron or Buddy. When her dog goes missing and it comes to light that her fiancé set him loose, a distraught Virginia breaks off the engagement and is alone once again. A shy young man has found the missing pet, and although he's bonded with the animal, he answers his conscience and returns the dog. Before long, Virginia and the young man discover a connection from their pasts that will help them let go of painful memories and change their lives forever.

©2015 Catherine Ryan Hyde (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Just What You'd Expect

The author has a predictable formula; some weird, quirky, good-hearted people, most of whom are just getting by, one or two steps above the Tom Joads of the world come to a crossroads in their lives. Initially they fight the inevitable and each other; then they come together realizing that connection is not just what makes not just happier; but what makes us human. In this case it the presence of a dog and the memory of a man special to them both that brings a fifty six year old woman and a twenty three year old man together.
This isn't a cougar and the kid romance story. It is a fictional rendition of two battered but not broken people who find love where they least expected it. A boy who has no memory of ever having had a mother, finds one; and a woman finds the boy she had once planned on being a stepmother to. Despite the summary that might give the impression that she is so formulaic that she's just phoning it in most of her books receive five star ratings form our little group.
The characters become almost human to the reader/ listener. She has no one dimensional, and very few two dimensional characters; the main characters especially are nuanced three dimensional to the point that you can imagine talking to and interacting with them. Catherine Ryan Hyde is an author in the tradition of John Steinbeck; bringing to life the type of people we see everyday and do not notice. Perhaps these characters are us; in any case her books are very good listening experiences.

Both my husband and I really liked this.

Different, positive, some suspense, encouraging, leaves you with a good feeling when the story ends.

Loved it!!!

Loved it!!! At first I thought the narrator made Jody sound too whiny but then I realized that it was probably very realistic. I loved the conclusion but wanted the story to go on longer to show us how Jody moved on with his life.

AMAZING READ...Thank you Catherine Ryan Hyde!

A beautiful story of friendship, love, and the meaning of family. The troubles a little 4 year old faces after losing his loved ones, and the man he grows to become, with the help of some very special people along the way. Highly recommend! 10+stars!!!

Absolutes delightful book!

Catherine Ryan Hyde never fails to deliver a riveting story. This is one of the best I've read.

A Good Read

Good story, even when you know how it will end. Very descriptive, you can visualize and hear the setting.

Definitely Worthy of a credit!

This was an awesome story. It warmed my heart with characters you want to call your friends. The performance was great as well. I'm sad that it's finished. Don't bypass this one!

good, positive story line

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

i would. love it when good people get the positive results they deserve

What did you like best about this story?

all of it

Have you listened to any of Nick Podehl and Tanya Eby ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

i haven't

Heartwarming read

The book kept me entertained as I completed other tasks. Down to earth, easy to understand story about a woman, her boyfriend and her dog. Life takes turns, as it does, and the dog ends up with a young man with emotional problems. The plot thickens and the boy, the dog, the woman and the boyfriend all come together with expectedly unpleasant results but the story ends well, with all ties bound as they should be. I'll probably listen to the story again in a year or so and enjoy it all over again.

heart warming

great little book. entertaining. good story to listen to on the way home from work.