The Stray Dogs by Ruth Hogan

Vet Leona 'Leo' Lennox leaves her busy city practice to move to the countryside and open a rescue centre for dogs. Unexpectedly, she finds a supportive community and romance along the way.The Stray Dogs by Ruth Hogan immediately appealed to me; I loved the author's previous two books, I really enjoy uplifting fiction, and I'm an animal lover. This book offers it all. I did approach it with a little trepidation though, wondering how many times I'd be reaching for the tissues.Leo has become jaded with her life as a vet. Having sold her share of the practice she owns, she's working her last day when a terrible pet owner shows up, insisting that his dog be euthanised. You can feel Leo's despair as she tries to convince the owner that there are other options, but he's adamant. All of this confirms for Leo that she's made the right decision to leave.Arriving in the small town of Fiddlers Green, Leo meets local plumber Desmond. Desmond is one of those characters who will help anyone. Taking a shine to Leo, he immediately offers support for her project. Being set in a small town, this is one of those places where everyone knows everyone else, and there is a strong sense of community. Mixed in among the individuals willing to help are quite a few eccentric characters who help to keep the story light. There's also an antagonist, who is just the right side of being a pantomime villain to have you staring daggers whenever they appear.As well as being a tale about community, it is primarily a story of second chances. From the abandoned dogs that Leo gives a home to, through to the men Desmond was in a band with when he was younger. The dogs are offered unconditional love. For Desmond and his band mates, it's something different; a chance to reconnect, to find a purpose, to heal wounds. The trepidation I felt at the beginning was unfounded. There are some sad elements to the storyline, but the author doesn't exploit these for emotional effect. I would, however, have preferred to see a redemption arc for the pantomime villain or a karmic ending. I felt she got off far too easily.The Stray Dogs by Ruth Hogan will be published on 27th August 2026 in paperback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for a review copy.Author DetailsRuth Hogan studied English and Drama at Goldsmiths College and went on to work in local government. A car accident and a subsequent run-in with cancer convinced her finally to get her act together and pursue her dream of becoming a writer. The result was her debut novel - The Keeper of Lost Things, which went on be a global bestseller. She is now living the dream (and occasional nightmare) as a full-time author, along with her husband and rescue dogs in a rambling Victorian house stuffed with treasure that inspires her novels.