Review: "Almost Perfect" by Diane Daniels Manning

Note: This ebook was provided by AuthorBuzz via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm going to be very upfront--I'm a sucker for almost anything that has to do with dogs. I grew up in a family that's always had at least one dog and now I care for a few of my own (plus a couple of cats and some fish). My heart has a special spot for dogs and I tend to enjoy books, fiction or otherwise, that are about my favorite four-legged, furry friends. ^.^ When I saw Almost Perfect on NetGalley, I knew I simply had to sink my proverbial teeth into it and I'm glad it was available for review.

This was sweet story about seventy-year-old Bess Rutledge, a famous breeder and trainer of standard poodles and owner of Umpawaug Kennels, and teenager Benny Neusner, a student at a nearby therapeutic school, New Hope School, for young people with special needs. Bess has officially retired from both breeding and training poodles and has sold all her dogs except for the one closest to her heart, McCreery. The one regret she still carries with her was not winning Westminster, the world famous annual dog show and competition.

Benny has always wanted a dog to call his own but he refuses to have a poodle because his father doesn't think they're all that great of a breed and his stepmother doesn't think he's responsible enough to take care of one. When he meets McCreery, it's love at first sight but Bess refuses to sell the dog to Benny and offers the pick of the latest litter that McCreery has fathered. Benny chooses a pup that looks just like its father and calls him Breaker. Benny then thinks that entering the pup in competitions will get him the attention he's been desperately seeking from his mother.

While Bess and Benny are the main characters of the story, supporting characters like Bess' son, David, and her twin sister, Mona, as well as Benny's three parents, his therapist, Dr. Kate, and his best friend, Steffie, and, of course, the dogs, especially McCreery and Breaker, are definitely more than mere decorations. They're able to help the monotony had this been exclusively about Bess and Benny and that makes the book a better read because they're stories are also important to the relationship that Bess and Benny have with each other.

There are several editing issues with the book but I didn't want to make that factor into my rating and review. This is a good book that isn't limited to any particular age group. It's a lengthy read but I do suggest you take breaks, which is something I did several times, rather than give up on it or not read it at all. I'm giving Almost Perfect four stars and as noted on both Goodreads and Amazon, up to 100% of Diane Daniels Manning's profits are to be donated to animal and children's charities. ♥

Date read: 17 October 2014

Learn more about author Diane Daniels Manning here.

Grab a copy of Almost Perfect on Amazon.