Always by My Side: Life Lessons from Millie and All the Dogs I’ve Loved

Guideposts editor Grinnan (The Promise of Hope) is a specialist in heartwarming tales, and he knows his dog tails too. The titular pooch, a golden retriever, is the most comprehensively portrayed of Grinnan’s lifetime pack of canines. Grinnan has a gift for storytelling and characterization: his pets have distinctive personalities, and his love for them is evident. He weaves in a lot of narrative, including some stories borrowed from his magazine, and adds episodes from his life that don’t involve dogs but touch on his family of origin and his early struggle with alcohol. All is deftly written to hang together nicely and is likely to inspire the audience he already commands through Guideposts. The book is best for those who really like dogs; cat people may not be quite as tutored by Millie et al. Grinnan’s pets are well loved and make for a disarming, appealing light subject. (Feb.)