I’m a sucker for a good dog story and this one combined with some WWII history was just terrific. Really enjoyable read! ( )

What kind of person thinks they have a right to volunteer another soul for violence or any sacrificial act? She felt so strongly about her patriotism? Then she should have gone herself! ( )

So far, I have loved all of Sarah Wilson's books and I'm just afraid of running out of them. I was worried about finishing A Man of his Own---afraid of where he ending might be headed. Wilson does not disappoint. She tells a complete story, from beginning to end. ( )

The sweet and heartwarming story of a remarkable dog who touches three people's lives, Susan Wilson's A Man of His Own is sure to be a hit with animal lovers.

Rescued as stray when he was just eight weeks old by aspiring baseball pitcher Rick Stanton, Pax is a beloved family pet that is a source of comfort to his wife, Francesca, while Rick is on the road during baseball season and after Rick is drafted into service during WW II. But the most important role of Pax's life comes when he becomes a part of the Dogs for Defense program and he fully captures the heart of his trainer, Keller Nicholson. Reluctant to return Pax to the Stantons after both he and Pax have been released from service, Keller accepts Stantons' offer to become Rick's caregiver. With Pax as the heart and soul of their unusual family, Rick grows increasingly despondent as he struggles to overcome his debilitating injuries while Keller and Francesca are confronted with an unexpected attraction to one another.

A Man of His Own spans the years leading up to, during and after World War II. Beginning with Rick's rise from the minor leagues to the majors, his early years of marriage to Francesca and a brief snapshot of his wartime service, the majority of the novel takes place after Rick and Keller have returned home from the war. Rick's struggles to deal with his catastrophic life-altering and career ending injuries are heartbreaking and he finds it impossible to confide his guilt over his role in the loss of his comrades in arms. Francesca is still deeply in love with Rick, but she is growing increasingly frustrated with his inability to adapt to his new circumstances. For the first time in his life Keller experiences unconditional love when he is paired with Pax and while he initially agrees to stay because he cannot bear to be separated from him, Keller soon finds himself falling in love with Francesca while caring for Rick. But the best part of the story is Pax and his unwavering love and loyalty to the humans in his life and his uncanny ability to recognize and fulfill all of their different needs.

Told in present tense from all of the characters' (including Pax) perspectives, A Man of His Own is an engrossing story of love and devotion that unfolds at a leisurely pace. Susan Wilson keeps readers guessing exactly how this engaging and emotional novel will end. A lovely epilogue ties up all of the loose ends and brings this beautiful tale to a bit of a teary finish. An all around wonderfully unique story that I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend. ( )

There are few things in this world as beautiful and profound as the soul of a devoted companion animal. Author Susan Wilson writes with great sensitivity and thoughtfulness about one special dog who goes from an orphaned stray, to a beloved pet, to a brave, battle-tested K-9 Corps service dog. Set in the poignant and patriotic WWII Era, "A Man of his Own" is the story of Pax, a German Shepherd mix, who is rescued as a young pup from starvation in an alley. The man who saves Pax, Rick Stanton, has had a lifelong dream of playing professional baseball. One day at the ballpark, Rick meets a beautiful young woman, Francesca Bell. After a short courtship, the two are married, and Pax must learn to share his master's attentions. When Rick is drafted, he and Francesca later decide to lend Pax to the Dogs for Defense program, and all of their lives will be forever changed. Keller Nicholson has known little real affection during his life. Orphaned during the Great Depression and shifted from one unwelcoming relative to another, he was pulled from his life in a boys home by his great-uncle, who saw Keller as free labor for his lobster fishing. The day after his eighteenth birthday, Keller enlists in the army, eventually being accepted into the K-9 Corps unit. Pax becomes his dog, and the two of them are deeply bonded by their combat experiences. They survive, and the day comes when Pax must be returned to Rick and Francesca. Rick was gravely wounded in combat and is now a paraplegic, wheelchair-bound and never again to be the athlete who lived to play baseball. Keller can't bear to let Pax go, and Rick can't be without his beloved pet, so Rick asks Keller to work as his home healthcare aide. An unusual alliance is formed--a family of sorts--and Pax is one happy dog being with all three of his people. However, as Rick's depression and drug-dependency escalates, so does the tension in the household. Is there more between Keller and Francesca than friendship? This story is told in turns by each of the people, and also by Pax himself. It's a touching tale of how three people and one very special dog survived a time of war and found a measure of healing when and where it was least expected.

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