In my opinion, a good book can be defined as one that holds the reader’s attention, is entertaining, and when reaching the end of the last page, the reader can walk away with a smile.
By this definition, debut author Allie Larkin’s book, “Stay,” is a good book! It is entertaining, has humorous bits and some sadness, but in the end, left me with a big smile on my face.
“Stay” is the story of Savannah “Van” Leone. To say Van was having a bad few days would be stretching it.
After watching her best friend Janie marry the man who had been Van’s former college boyfriend, a man Van herself thought would be her future husband, Van finds herself a little depressed. After drowning her sorrows in a few rounds of Grape Kool-Aid and vodka, (never a good idea!) and watching a “Rin Tin Tin” marathon, Van decides that she needs someone in her life that she can totally depend on for absolute love and companionship. So she buys a dog, a German Shepherd puppy. On the Internet. From Slovakia. Sight unseen.
Did I mention that Grape Kool-Aid and vodka is not a good idea?
When she arrives at the airport to pick up her new pooch, Van is shocked to see her “puppy” is a nearly full-grown, long-haired, fine-looking black German Shepherd who only responds to commands in Slovok. But it was love at first sight, and Van and the dog she names Joe proceed to begin their life together as Master and hound.
Life seems good. Joe is loveable and cute, but the first time that he goes on a wild running spree through her condo, an alarmed Van hauls him to the nearest vet to find out if her canine is normal. Kind and good-looking Veterinarian Alex Brandt comes to her rescue, assuring her all is well, and the sparks start flying between Alex and Van. But soon bits and pieces of Van’s past begin to threaten the fledgling relationship, and Van finds herself not only making adjustments in her life with her new pet, she does some house-cleaning with her past in order to try and hang on to Alex, the best thing that has come along for Van in a long time.
Allie Larkin has created a charming, light-hearted tale of how a funny pooch named Joe could bring true love into his owner’s life. In this well-crafted story, the reader will find moments of giggling competing with moments of emotional tears as Larkin tells the story of Van Leone’s disarrayed but funny life. Dog lovers and lovers of good books will find “Stay” to absolutely be one of those books you put in your keeper pile to revisit again and again. It’s just a dog-gone good book!
About The Author:
Allie Larkin lives in Rochester, New York, with her husband, Jeremy, their two German Shepherds, Argo and Stella, and a three-legged cat. (That's Argo on the cover of the book!)
She is the co-founder of TheGreenists.com, a site dedicated to helping readers take simple steps toward going green. STAY is her first novel. Check out her website at http://www.allielarkin.com/
Special thanks to Dorothy Thompson of Pump Up Your Book Promotions for inviting me to host this stop on Allie Larkin's book blog tour! I received a copy of this book from Dutton Books, and was not compensated for my opinion.
