Rescue Me, Maybe

Despite death being a very strong theme in Rescue Me, Maybe, the book is surprisingly humorous and ultimately very life-affirming. When the story begins, Jane Bailey is in a bad way. She's been dealt the one-two punch of losing both her husband and her beloved dog to cancer. She's grief-stricken about the dog; she's relieved and racked with guilt about the husband because she'd been on the verge of asking him for a divorce right before he got sick. Wanting to leave all the bad memories (and her controlling mother-in-law) behind, Jane decides to return to the place where she was happiest and still has friends - San Diego.

Familial obligation forces her to make a pit stop at a kitschy B&B in Arizona (The place is dedicated to chickens!), where she has to help run things for a few weeks while her Aunt Sugar (a hilarious character you will not soon forget) has surgery. Before she even gets to The Chicken & Dumplings, Jane crosses paths with a sweet, starving pooch that she decides to aid because she can't in good conscience leave the poor thing on its own out in the middle of nowhere. How this very special dog proceeds to change and enrich Jane's life is the heart of this touching tale.

There were so many things to love about Rescue Me, Maybe. All the clever bits like Jane's penchant for making lists in her head while trying to fall asleep (i.e. "Ways I Was a Terrible Wife") and the Sugarisms (Jane's aunt gets the meanings of words and phrases mixed up with comical results, saying things like "going Brando," instead of "going commando.") Jane's interactions with the kooky and often demanding guests at the B&B elicited many chuckles from me. And her slow burn relationship with Kai, the inn's bear-like handyman, was delicious. Best of all was seeing Jane's evolution throughout the book. I always enjoy watching characters grow and find themselves in an organic way, which Jane does with the help of Maybe and her new friends at the inn.

Rescue Me, Maybe is a must-read for dog lovers, fans of Women's Fiction, and anyone who likes a funny, well-written story about overcoming life's obstacles. This book is another winner from author Jackie Bouchard, whose work continues to entertain and impress me. Warning: Once you pick up Rescue Me, Maybe, you won't want to put it down!

I received a copy of Rescue Me, Maybe in exchange for an honest review.