Title: Atticus: A Woman’s Journey with the World’s Worst Behaved Dog

Author: Sawyer Bennett writing as S. Bennett

Genres: Women's Fiction, Comedy

Release Date: June 12, 2018

A heart-warming and deliciously funny story about the world’s worst behaved dog and how he trained his human how to love herself again.

Through the haze of vodka and self-loathing, Hazel Roundtree saw the poor creature lying in a ditch.

One brown eye. One blue.
Covered in mud and crying from pain, the puppy was desperately trying to free itself from a hopeless situation.

She almost kept walking by. She had her own problems and besides… no one had ever stopped to help her.

Who we’re ultimately meant to be is a journey without end, but there’s always a defined start…

Hazel had no idea the dog would be her beginning, her second chance, the miracle she never saw coming. She named him Atticus. He grew up to be a very bad—and completely awesome—dog. He took Hazel on a life-changing journey filled with mischievous adventure and painful heartbreak. In the end, Hazel grew up to be completely awesome, too. 

 Atticus: A Woman’s Journey with the World’s Worst Behaved Dog by S. Bennett
Laura's rating: 5 of 5 iScream Cones

I have said it before and I will say it again... Ms. Bennett has to be one of the most versatile authors out there. She can write stories in a variety of genres and I am hooked from just the first few pages. When I saw that she was writing a book based upon the shenanigans of her pooch, I just had to try and get an ARC to read for the release. Once again, Bennett has delivered another sweet, heartwarming, funny, refreshing story. It is one that any pet owner, like myself will be able to relate too. I am sure not all of us have dogs like Atticus, but there is plenty about not just his portion of the story, but his owners as well that resonates with a lot of us out there.

I have spent well over half my life working with large breed dogs and when I read that Atticus' story was based on Bennett's Bernese Mtn. Dog, I was so excited. Large breed dogs are some of my absolute favs and Atticus delivers. I loved how I was able to picture him from the time he was a pup and into adulthood. The mischief that he got into had me laughing out loud at times. I really enjoyed the fact that Atticus had his own pov in this book. It was so well thought out and written too. The fact that Bennett was able to write from a dogs perspective was awesome. It truly brought Atticus' character to life for me.

Hazel has spent the last fourteen or so years trying to find her way in life. Leaving home and school at the young age of eighteen she thought she had the world and her life right where she wanted them. Now at the age of thirty-two, she finds herself sleeping on a friends couch and bartending a few days a week just to make ends meet. Although I liked her character, there were times that I wanted to jump into my tablet and shake the everloving shit out of her. I get that she fell in love and walked away from everything for a guy, something that a few of us may have thought of at some point in our lives, but to continue on a path that is like that of a teenager drove me crazy. I am sure that there are plenty of us who can relate to what she is dealing with, but my hell, pick yourself up and find a purpose, a reason to move forward and better yourself. In Hazel's case that takes finding a puppy in a ditch. The puppies life is so much worse off than her own and I think it helps her to gain some perspective in her life to want to be better.

I absolutely loved this book! Bennett is one of my Top 10, go-to authors and she has delivered yet another amazing read. If I could give it more than five stars I would. Atticus is funny, heartwarming, believable, relatable and refreshing. I found myself needing a few tissues for once as well, something that rarely happens to me when I read. I have to admit there were a few times that I laughed so hard, I cried. If you are looking for a new author to read or just need something that is a little different and heartfelt, then Atticus is the story for you. It is one story that will appeal to all types of readers, but those of us lucky enough to have pets that are part of our family will really be able to relate and understand it that much more. Atticus has made my list of Top 10 reads for 2018!
So, pull up a comfortable seat, grab your fur baby and settle in for the antics and life that is all Hazel and Atticus.

5+ iScreams Cones