I was given a chance to read this ARC, thanks NetGalley and Thomas Nelson. I have to say that while I have owned many dogs in my life, and have had some disappear, I don't believe I have ever had any intentionally stolen. While I felt sorry for Steve and Oliver, I just could not make myself care that much about Steve. I wanted to read a story about a stolen dog, not read a book based 85% percent on his owner's life. Steve has some mental issues for sure, but I could really care less about what happened to him when he was a kid. I don't care that he memorized 36 Presidents names, etc. I wanted to know about Oliver. To be honest, I skimmed over several pages when he was telling us and reciting all the psalms that he decided to learn. I am happy he got his dog back, happy he found out people cared in this world. But the book was a flop for me.

It has been a long time that a boom has made me cry happy tears. This book did just that. It is a touching story about how Steve will do anything to get his dog Oliver back. I love all the people that came and helped. It shows there is good in the world. The book has reflections of the past and how it helped the author grow. As a dog owner this book touched my heart.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. If you love your dog and uplifting stories you will like this memoir. Oliver, his dog, is stolen and while that is the main theme of the story, it also details a difficult childhood. This book is full of love and caring people. I especially LOVE all the God winks throughout the book.

The title really does a good job of summarizing the book! The owner of Oliver tells the story in 1st person account, & easily managed short chapters. His descriptions are such that I could easily imagine the surroundings/atmosphere. He intersperses throughout the story...the abduction, the search, the author's family & childhood background, how he got to where he is today, some religion, the area neighborhoods & it's people...& a little bit of their history too..... All of this combines to make a quick, heartwarming read. I think everyone would find something to like about this story.
I received an e-ARC of the book from the publisher Nelson Books via NetGalley, in return for reading it & offering my own honest review.

I enjoyed so much this adorable heart warming and heart wrenching story of Oliver and his human Steve Carino. Steve wrote a lot about his past and what helped make him who he is today. I believe it helped us to see where he came from and some of his struggles. I loved the fact that he shared with us all the positive things he learned from this trying but growing experience. Once I started this story, I couldn't put it down. I had to see what the ending was. As an aside, the very next day while we were getting the groceries in the house my 3 pound Yorkie got out and ended up three doors down our street, before we realized she was gone. I thought I already knew how Steve was feeling, but I truly learned how devastating that experience could be. Praise God Zoe was only gone between 5 – 10 minutes, but it felt like eternity. I loved this book and would recommend it.
I thank Thomas Nelson Publishers for allowing me, through NetGalley, to read this book. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Princess Fuzzypants here: When you look at the face on the cover, and you read the blurb that it is the story about a stolen dog, you know you had better keep the tissues nearby. Here is a further leaky eye alert. This is a very moving story about a beloved dog who is snatched from a car and devastates his human. Oliver is more than a pet to Steven. He is his reason for living, his companion, his life. Losing him sets off a chain of events and emotions that threaten to overwhelm him in a sea of self pity.

He has not had an easy life. Some of the pain and difficulties were caused by others, often unintentionally, as is often the problem with families. Some of them were self inflicted but when Oliver disappears, it comes crashing down and he is on the verge of giving up. And then something marvellous happens. People care. People reach out. People help. He never knew how many of them both in his life before and those he will meet on his journey truly cared about him and his little pal, Oliver. Person to person on Facebook and tv, the story spread and before he knew it there was an army of supporters who wanted to help. And it was from this army that the first glimmer and then success would unfold.

Naturally his reunion with Oliver is going to be charged with emotion. Every animal lover will identify with his loss and his joy. They may have never, and we hope they have not, been forced to go through the hell of Steven’s situation but we can all empathize. But what lifts this story even more is the recognition of a formally cut off person who thought he was alone into someone who realizes that there are many caring human beings out there and that he can be one of them. It is a story well suited to the isolation so many of us are feeling thanks to the pandemic.

Five purrs and two paws up.

I was expecting to read a book about how a stolen dog made his way home again, but this book was so much more! When Steven Carino's dog is stolen from his car on Valentine's Day 2019, Steven feels that his life has hit rock bottom. During the next week, as he starts to look for his missing dog, Oliver, Steven is discovering so much more! He sees how much he is actually loved by family, friends, and strangers alike! My eyes often watered as I read Steven and Oliver's story.

Steven and his siblings grew up with an alcoholic, dysfunctional father. His loving mother died early from cancer. The story switches back and forth from the search for Oliver to what life was like for Steven growing up. He shares about the abuses of his father, his college experiences, and how marriage and divorce lead him down a path of destruction and alcohol. Having pets along the way pulled him up from a life of despair.

Through the kindness of strangers and community, where everyone has your back, Steven learns about the power of love and righteousness in the hunt for his missing dog. He meets great people and even digs deep in his soul to find the power of forgiveness.

This book is a healthy memoir and could be used as a guide for people facing struggles in their lives. It is amazing how social media, television, strangers, lost dog signs posted everywhere, and community can interconnect to help find a dog and help discover inner happiness in one's life!

I enjoyed reading Steven's story and following him on his journey as he searched for adorable little Oliver. I thought it was heartfelt, touching, and sweet. It was hard to read about his mother's death and father's alcoholism but he tied it together well and I found his path to be positive and redemptive. The story had some surprises and the last twists were unexpected.

It was an easy, fun read. However, toward the end there were more biblical verses than expected and they seemed to be dropped in with not a lot of context. Overall, the messaging was positive and uplifting and I'd recommend this story. Thanks to Netgalley, Steven Carino, and Thomas Nelson Publishers for a copy of the book.

This is more than a story about a broken man and his stolen dog. It’s about love, life, the huge impact of loss, how important it is to care and what can be achieved when people from all walks of life unite.
What’s not to like about this incredibly moving true story. Animal lover or not you can’t pass this by!
If you are anything like me you will have experienced the priceless love of a dog and believe that love has a amazing power to heal the mind and heart as well as break it. I am proud to confess I had to dry my eyes several times during the reading.
A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in return for an honest review.

Steve’s mother died when he was 13. His alcoholic father undermined his self-confidence. Dogs helped calm him. Then Oliver was stolen from his SUV. At first, he’s a mess, but he experiences an outpouring of love: from store owners where fliers are posted, from Facebook users sharing his sister’s post, his uncle with whom he’s not in close contact doubles the reward, a friend’s George Bailey speech. He comes to believe that God or his deceased parents are trying to open his eyes to all the love he never realized was there.
Proverbs chapter three was a favorite for him. He realized he hadn’t taken it to heart while Oliver was missing, and probably would stumble again in the future. Nothing unusual there. His belief that his parents and dead brother are watching over him—he gets mad at them and God for allowing Oliver’s theft—make me uneasy.
His assumptions of what Oliver is thinking during his ordeal are endearing.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I received an advanced reader copy from netgalley in exchange for my honest review!

Its a good story.. you definitely feel all the emotions and have some tissues near! Being a pet lover myself and a mom of a Yorkie I know EXACTLY what the writer feels about his Oliver! You feel a connection to the story and the people!
You won't be able to put the book down!

Steve Carino might not be described as a wealthy man by societal standards. He lived alone in a small studio cottage with Oliver, his precious dog. This fact alone makes him rich. But, one ordinary day takes a nasty turn when someone steals Oliver from Steve’s car. For anyone fortunate enough to have fur-babies, the story resonates. I have four adopted pets, and each one from ages 16 to 2 is important to my husband and me. This book won’t win a Pulitzer Prize, but it won my heart. Mr. Carino never gave up looking for his beloved Oliver. Still, it took the help of a large village of people, friends, family, newscasters, and good-hearted individuals to bring this story to a successful conclusion. Oliver by Steve Carino gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️ happy stars from me. #dog #owner #petlove #lostpet #community #caring #sharing #neighbors #God #proverbs3 @netgalley #netgalley #Oliver #stevecarino

I loved the story but could have done without the narrator. His speech was too stilted and distracting

“Man’s best friend” is a truthful phrase. In this heartbreaking and heartwarming true story, Steve takes us down his journey with his dog Oliver. Sadly, Oliver gets stolen then lost snd Steve will stop at nothing to get his best friend back. Will Oliver get his beloved buddy back? Read to find out!
(Side note: As a dog owner myself, this book hit me straight in my heart!)

This is a heartwarming true story about a man and his dog.

Steven Carino, who drove people around for a living, was heartbroken when his Shi Tzu-Yorkie mix, named Oliver, was stolen from his van on Valentine's Day 2019. Steven had no spouse or children, and little Oliver was his best friend and cherished companion.

Dark thoughts assailed Steven as he considered the dog-napper. Was it someone who took Oliver on a whim? Someone who wanted a dog of their own? Someone who would harm the little pooch? Steven feared he might never see Oliver again, and could hardly bear to think of it.

Steven called his older sister Laura, who could always 'set a target, zero in on it, and blast through all obstacles to reach it.' Sure enough Laura knew just what to do. Laura made missing dog flyers - offering a $2500 reward - to post around the Mount Vernon, New York neighborhood where Oliver was taken; arranged for a TV reporter to interview Steven; and posted the story to Facebook. Pretty soon thousands of people knew about Oliver, and many left messages expressing sympathy and encouragement.

The search for Oliver went on for day after day, and came to involve a cadre of caring people. Steven's sisters joined him in Mount Vernon, to help look for the dog; Steven's uncle contributed $2500 to double the reward; children searched the streets calling Oliver's name; police, shopkeepers, and residents offered support; people called in tips; and so on.

Steven had trouble maintaining hope, and grew despondent many times, but his faith helped sustain him - and Steven talks about this a lot in the book. At times, Steven even imagined little Oliver's reaction to being taken, and thought Oliver would be bewildered, but would behave himself, waiting for 'Stee' to come get him.

The story of the search for Oliver is interspersed with flashbacks to Steven's past, which was difficult. Steven's beloved mother died of cancer when he was thirteen, leaving Steven with a father who drank, got into rages, and constantly criticized his son. As a result Steven grew up feeling worthless and insecure, and he failed in many business and personal relationships.

With shaky human interactions, Steven's best friends were always his dogs, all of whom he fiercely loved. Thus Oliver's disappearance was especially devastating. Still, the dognapping had a silver lining because Steven realized how much his friends and relatives loved him, and how kind the public could be.

I don't want to spoil the suspense, but books like this always have a happy ending, so the story is safe to read. There's a children's version as well, appropriately edited for content.

This is a touching story about Steven and his adorable dog Oliver. Recommended to animal lovers everywhere.

Thanks to Netgalley, Steven Carino, and Thomas Nelson Publishers for a copy of the book.

Reading Between the Wines book review #18/115 for 2021:
Rating: 3 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book 📱: Oliver
Author: by Steven J. Carino; Alex Tresniowski
Genre: Biographies & Memoirs | Nonfiction (Adult) | Religion & Spirituality
Release Date: Available Now!!! Released on January 26, 2021

Sipping Synopsis: Steven is a huge dog lover and uses his dogs for love and therapy due to some childhood issues. So, when his dog, Oliver, was taken right out of his car, Steven thought his life was over. Follow Steve’s journey to find Oliver and how he found the kindness and thoughtfulness of complete strangers.

Final sipping thoughts: This was a feel good, happy ending book that was a good break from my usual psychological thrillers. I felt Steven’s despair and sadness. Not because I too have had a dog stolen but through his words and actions. While I knew Oliver was going to be found, according to the blurb, it did not prevent me from waiting with abated breath each time he got close to finding Oliver. “Stee’s” reliance on his faith in God and the reciting of Bible verses was also a nice addition to read. One thing that I did not like was the choppy back and forth of the timeline that left me confused at times. Oliver is a good book for those that want to read something that lifts their spirits and leaves a smile on your face.

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @NelsonBooks for an advanced copy of @Oliver

#Oliver #NelsonBooks #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #Biographies #memoirs #BiographiesAndMemoirs #NonfictionAdult

Fact 1: About 10 million pets are lost every year in the US.
Fact 2: Of these, only about 15% of dogs and 2% of cats get returned safely to their families
Doesn't this blow your mind? It's so sad and simply unbelievable!

'Oliver' tells the story of one such dog, stolen from his owner's car when he had stepped in a shop for a few minutes, leaving the dog behind. The owner, Steven Carino, who also happens to be the author of this book, then goes on a quest to get his canine baby back at any cost.

As a real-life story, this book deserves a read. Being a dog lover, I was thrilled to see the passion that Carino has for his dogs and the committed efforts he put into being reunited with Oliver. His love is so obvious in the way he speaks about his little pet, has imaginary conversations with him, and creates imaginary responses from Oliver too. I enjoyed all the dog parent bits by Carino.

Another positive in the book is the way Carino was supported in his quest. As he writes about his epiphany, "Maybe I’m not as alone in this thing as I think I am." Right from family to friends to Facebook strangers, so many people stepped in to help without expecting anything in return, just for a lost dog. It was amazing to see the community bonding over a pet.

However, if I have to rate the book for its writing, it will dip sharply. As a debut author, Steven Carino probably felt the need to include as much as he could remember to justify his love for Oliver. This results in a rambling book with an overdose of information. There are many flashbacks interspersed with the present narrative, some of which are crucial and some others, superfluous. After a point, the philosophical soliloquies become a bit too much to handle. Carino also suddenly deviates to an excessively religious tone after the 70% mark, with him quoting biblical scriptures after every few paragraphs. It modified the tone of the book too much. (Just to clarify, I'm a Christian too, so this has nothing to do with the Bible and more to do with the way the story incorporates it.)

I went for the book solely by virtue of its cover. And to a great extent, the hero of the cover, Oliver, didn't disappoint me at all. I fell in love with the little cutie and his antics. My dissatisfaction is mainly with the writing. I wish the book had been edited to a much tauter narrative. It would have been such a pleasure to read then.

Still, I'd recommend this to all dog/pet parents and to cynics. It's a book that fills your heart with joy and hope that there is still goodness left in the world.

My rating: 3.5 rounded up to 4

Thank you, NetGalley and Nelson Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such a life affirming book that I enjoyed so much. Thank you, Steven for being so honest about your life. This book was so sad at first, Steven’s beloved dog, Oliver is Stolen and he is so heartbroken, but between his wonderful sisters and friends, a search is started for Oliver.

This leads to such an incredible journey for Steven. He knows he must seek his dog out, but do so in a way that is about caring, forgiveness, and understanding. He comes to learn that the world cares so much back.

As an animal lover and owner of a small dog, I was just crying thinking of how attached we get to our Fur Babies. So, it teaches us about trust, love, and compassion. Dogs Make us better humans, they make us better people.🐾 So, well said and true. Their kindness brings out the kindness is us and others.

Loved this book! Thank you so much for giving me an ARC NetGalley, Steven J. Camino, and Thomas Nelson Publishing. I was also given a copy of the Audio, too which was a great combination.

This book is a great inspirational read. The authors do a great job of intertwining the story of the lost doggie with the big picture story of the doggie's owner Steven's life. Steven is incredibly open about the struggles that he has faced in the past and how the current situation is affecting him. It helped me as the reader to feel more comfortable with my own humanity to know how losing his dog affected him in such a profound way. The book spotlight's the kind and caring nature of people in all different walks of life which is a welcome reminder and feel's good to ponder at this time. I also loved that this is a true story.

I absolutely love stories like this. Books like this remind you at your core what it is to love and what it is to be human. I can deeply relate to Steven's love for his dog Oliver as I have that same love for my little dog Cash. If you have ever had the friendship of a dog in your life or ever loved at all you will simply delight in this book. Reading through this I felt every emotion so real and raw as if it was happening to me. This beautiful book brought tears to my eyes. Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy!