This is a Leonberger blog but sometimes I post about books that are not about Leonbergers but that are books that I want to promote. This is another one of those. I just read Sam, A Shaggy Dog Story (Kindle Edition), by Sally Cronin. It was a book that I loved and therefore I want to promote.
- Kindle – November 10, 2013, Publisher : Moyhill Publishing, ASIN B0CBTY2K5C, 108 pages. It is currently $3.50 on Amazon.com. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.

This book is about a dog, a Collie named Sam who comes to live with David and Sally Cronin in Ireland. The story of Sam’s life is told through his voice by Sally. Due to the author’s skill and understanding of her dog this way of imaginary telling of a dog’s story works extremely well. It is plausible and beautiful. Click here to view my review on Amazon.
My Amazon Review of Sam, A Shaggy Dog Story
The Story of the Life of a Dog Told by the Dog
This is the story of the Collie Sam, told through the voice of Sam. His mistress Sally imagines what he must have been thinking as we follow him on all of his adventures, including his happy, sad and crazy moments, throughout his life. Sam has many dog and cat friends, and he understands cat language and so does his mistress. There was his friend Henry, the almost dead stray cat who found a home with Sam’s family. There was Danny the mischievous little dog who led Sam astray, the dangerous attack by the big vicious dog, the car rides, the beaches, and how Sam learned how to say a word in English, for real, and much more. It is the life of a dog, told by the dog himself, and it is a story well told.
Sam is also a very well-traveled dog and as you are reading the book you will learn something about traveling with dogs within the EU. You also learn something about the dog owner’s experience. I think the author is apt at figuring out how a dog must be feeling and what he might be thinking in different situations. She is well informed about dog behaviors and the reasons behind them. I’ve owned many wonderful dogs throughout my life, and I felt that the author was interpreting dog behavior and putting it into imagined dog feelings and thoughts in a very plausible manner.
I think this was a fun and interesting read. It was a real page turner, well it’s kindle, so location traverser, as you want to find out what is going to happen to Sam next. It is gripping and emotional in a good way. I think putting the story of Sam as if it is told by Sam is a clever and unique way of presenting the story of a dog’s life. I highly recommend this kindle book to all dog lovers.
About the Author

Sally Cronin is the author of sixteen books including her memoir Size Matters: Especially when you weigh 330lb first published in 2001. This has been followed by another fifteen books both fiction and non-fiction including multi-genre collections of short stories and poetry.
As an author she understands how important it is to have support in marketing books and offers a number of FREE promotional opportunities on her blog and across her social media. The Smorgasbord Bookshelf.

Sounds like a good one. I’ll have to check it out. Thanks!
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Yes it is a fun and very good book. Thank you Laura.
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A lovely review Laura and I was delighted Thomas enjoyed and shared his review here and on social media.
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Thank you for your kind words Sally.
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Thanks for the idea !
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You are welcome
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From the point of view of the dog, that’s so cool!
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Yes it is pretty neat. Thank you Priscilla.
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Thanks Vera.. he was very independent and self-sufficient from 8 weeks old and trained himself almost.. quite the character.
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I love the POV! Can’t wait to read this one, and wishing Sally much success!
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Thank you so much Kymber. I also thought it was a great point of view.
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Sam’s story is way at the top of my favorite dog stories (your Bronco’s up there, too). I love this pup. Sharing…
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Thank you so much Jacquie and I agree Sam’s story is way at the top of my favorite dog stories too. Also thank you for sharing.
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Thanks very much Jacqui and for your loyal support of Sam and his book.. Bronco is featured over at my place later in September and looking forward to showcasing his life.. xx
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Thank you so much Sally
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Sounds like a lovely book. Dogs are such characters.
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Yes it certainly was. Thank you Denise.
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Putting ourselves in an animal’s place, trying to understand life from their point of view, is a worthy endeavor of empathy. I started a book like this about our walker coonhound, Doodle, may she rest in peace. Maybe Sally’s book will get me back to it.
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Yes I agree, and I think it would be great if you finish the book you started. I would certainly read it.
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Thanks for the encouragement!
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Hi Thomas, how lovely to find this book of Sally’s showcased here. Michael, my son, and I both enjoyed this lovely story.
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Thank you Robbie I certainly agree that it is a lovely story.
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All is Sally’s books are wonderful 💐
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That is good to know
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Un blog simpaticissimo ed empaticissimo! Buon proseguire ai suoi attori tutti,anche a quattrozampe!🖐️🤗🌞😄🏞️
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Grazie mille per il tuo gentile commento (google traduttore, spero che abbia funzionato). 😊
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Google Traduttore è una buona risorsa per il mondo che vuole comunicare, dear Thomas!
🖐️😊🤗
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Sì, di solito funziona ma non sempre
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I need to move this one up on my Kindle!
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You do!
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Thank you so much Alex and I love your book too. I am around the middle right now.
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That’s great! Thank you so much for that! 🙂
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Thank you so much Liz
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You’re welcome, Thomas.
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Everybody loves Sam. This was a lovely review for Sally’s beautiful book. 🙂
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Thank you so much D.G. I appreciate your kind comment, and I agree it is a very beautiful book
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🙂 🙂
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A lovely review of one of my favourite animal books. Sam’s character bounces off the page and is, as you say, so convincing.
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Yes I certainly agree with you and as I mentioned in my last comment above I love your book too. Thank you so much Alex.
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You’ve made my day!
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Thanks for sharing this idea. Anita
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Thank you Anita
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Cute!
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Sounds like it will be a fascinating read!
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Yes it is, thank you Jennifer
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Sam’s next book how I had to sue my manager my owner and everybody else for withholding all the treats not thinking I knew how many treats I was getting paid but they think I’m a dog and I don’t know better but I know how many treats I was getting and I wasn’t getting them out of treats that I was getting paid I was getting shafted so I had to take them all to court to get all my treats out of the bank because they were moving it from One bank to another and let me know some were even taking treats out just for themselves when I didn’t even approve they forged my signature.
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What a terrific review. Makes me want to read this book ASAP. 😊
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Tails Around the Ranch / Monika, thank you so much for your kind comment.
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