The Dog Lived (and So Will I)

July 2, 2012
Discouraged by her past and hoping to turn a new leaf, divorced 41-year-old Rhyne vows to follow a convenient “alphabet life,” for all she needed was “Alcohol, Books, Coffee, and Dogs.” Moving to the suburbs of Los Angeles and casually dating a handsome younger man from her writing class, she is off to a good start when she meets the rambunctious beagle, Seamus. Although initially reluctant, she quickly finds her love of beagles rekindled. Yet soon after Seamus joins the household, he is diagnosed with cancer, with less than a year to live. Witnessing Seamus’s courageous battle for survival helps Rhyne deal with the challenges of his treatment, unexpectedly preparing her for her biggest battle yet—her own breast cancer diagnosis. Rhyne’s self-deprecating humor is mostly charming, but at times comes across as insecure. This encouraging tale of finding love and hope in unexpected places is full of small yet valuable life lessons that any animal-lover would appreciate: “Seamus had taught me this before... sometimes, you just need to focus on the cookies.” Agent: Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency.