Teresa Rhyne vowed to get things right this time around: new boyfriend, new house, new dog, maybe even new job. But shortly after she adopted Seamus, a totally incorrigible beagle, vets told Teresa that he had a malignant tumor and less than a year to live. The diagnosis devastated her but she decided to fight it, learning everything she could about the best treatment for Seamus. Teresa couldn't possibly have known then that she was preparing herself for life's next hurdle -- a cancer diagnosis of her own.
She forged ahead with survival, battling a deadly disease, fighting for doctors she needed, and baring her heart for a seemingly starcrossed relationship. The Dog Lived (and so Will I) is an uplifting and heartwarming story about how dogs steal our hearts, show us how to live, and teach us how to love.
Teresa was in her forties and a twice-divorced lawyer who was hanging out every second weekend with Chris, who is more than ten years younger than she is. Given her track record, she didn't acknowledge they were in a relationship because she figured it will jinx things. As times goes on and he spends more and more time at her place, they were indeed a couple ... much to the disapproval of his parents.
Teresa is an animal lover and adopted Seamus, a one-year-old beagle with a mind of his own. When it's discovered he had cancer, she did all she could to get him well. Then when she discovered that she had breast cancer, she took all that she had learned getting Seamus well to get herself well ... she and Chris figured that if the dog lived, so will she (hence the name of the book).
I enjoyed this book. It is a story of love (the love between Teresa and Chris and the love between Teresa, Chris (who was not a dog lover) and Seamus) and survival.
I liked the writing style. Despite the nature of the story, it is funny, sarcastic but honest.
I liked Teresa (she and I are about the same age). She is an animal lover (like me) and was willing to do whatever she had to do to get Seamus better, regardless of the cost. She cut through the crap to get the answers she needed with both her and Seamus' recoveries. Chris sounds like quite a guy ... staying true to his heart and being with Teresa despite fact that his parents didn't approve of her as his girlfriend when they first got together. I loved that he supported her when she was going through chemo and radiation (and lost her hair) to wait to get a haircut so they would get one together. Seamus sounds like a fun dog ... spoiled but devoted.
I'd recommend this book!
Sounds like a book my mother in law would enjoy!
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