The story of a wolf/dog hybrid & the man who befriended him
347534
R.D.Lawrence's book "The North Runner" is quite simply magnificent.  It tells the true story of one man's friendship with a savage dog/wolf hybrid that sees man as his natural enemy, especially as he has  been ill-treated since puppyhood.
When Lawrence takes the Hybrid into his  home he finds that he has true savage on his hands, and that it will take  all his skills as a naturalist to tame an animal that was more wolf than it  was dog.  This is not a sentimental book though Lawrence and the hybrid he  names Yukon do become friends, rather it is a story about two creatures  getting to know one another, in an unforgiving world.
Yukon is testament  to man's inability to understand the mind and soul of a wolf.  Lawrence  eventually realizes that Yukon will never be a "people" dog and  that the remainder of his life must be spent in the wild with wolves.  And  so Lawrence makes the ultimate sacrifice, he lets Yukon go, giving him the  freedom that should have been his from birth.
This a poignant, funny,  humorous and often sad book about a man and a hybrid and how they learnt to  respect and love one another, yet never loose sight of which side of the  fence that each belonged.  For all nature lovers, especially those with a  passion for dogs, wolves and hybrids.
Since I wrote this review in 2002, this book is now back in print which I am really pleased about.
I am also sad to say that R.D. Lawrence passed away in November 2003 aged 82 so for all you nature lovers out there, this is the time to stock up on his books before they go out of print again.
2808241
Lawrence Wertan does a wonderful job in this story of an incredible dog who goes through his own self discovery and in the process enriches and changes the lives of the people who love him.... He definately captures the  complex personality of the worlds most versitle breed of dog.
4701808
Compelling story of the relationship between a man and his dog, and how their mutual trust changes their lives in wonderful ways. This dog had something special and the story is told with skill.
2689753
True, amazing story of a man who connects with the alpha of a wild wolf pack, and tries to help her survive in a world where mankind is hunting her kind to extinction.
1164385
A tender and very touching story about the relationship that develops between a man and a dog and the dog's loyalty to the man.
4111584
for an animal who was caged and his mate killed along with their cub...he (the Tiger) in his animal form was a killer but in his human form he adored the human he finally mated with (his wife) Fantastic story
3686354
I love books that make the world a better place for their existence, and Nick Jans definitely accomplished that with "A Wolf Called Romeo." His fascinating story of Romeo, the gregarious black wolf, and all the human characters--both good and bad--make this book a fast read. You just have to know how everything turns out.

And even if you already know the ending, or suspect it, it doesn't ruin the book--because in addition to the story, you will learn a lot about the secretive life of wolves. It's a book you can read for the page-turning narrative while becoming a virtual wolf expert at the same time. How cool is that?

On a personal note: I live in Montana, a state chockfull of wolf-haters, so I could really relate to the downright evil people Jans exposed. I thank him for not only publicizing their names, but also for including their photos. Longtime trophy hunters and thrill killers like Walter Palmer (killer of Cecil the lion) and those in "A Wolf Called Romeo" will never stop, but the more often the media and society express their disgust for such behavior, the less often new people will embark on such barbaric practices. After all, what good is a trophy room when those who view it don't see a manly conqueror, but a pathetic excuse for a human being instead?

I highly recommend "A Wolf Called Romeo," and I'm looking forward to reading more books from Nick Jans.

Marty Essen
Author of:&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Endangered-Edens-Exploring-the-Arctic-National-Wildlife-Refuge-Costa-Rica-the-Everglades-and-Puerto-Rico/dp/0977859991/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Endangered Edens: Exploring the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica, the Everglades, and Puerto Rico</a>
and&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Cool-Creatures-Hot-Planet-Exploring-the-Seven-Continents/dp/0977859975/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents</a>
3314055
This was a wonderful book full of great times with friends and their dogs.  But,It was really the story of one man and a remarkable dog and how they learned to know each other in ways I didn't know was possible between humans and animals.  The way they learned to rely on each other was nothing short of amazing.  The  discription of the trips they took hiking, canoeing, sking and hunting and just walking about took me along for the trip.

The way he treated this dog was that of a member of the family with responsibilities resulting in this dog learning many words and showing a remarkable ability to think.  Through out there are laughs and feelings of amazement at what this dog was able to understand and do.

I can readily understand why he took so long after this dog passed to get another dog.  Merle was so special you could never replace him and finding another dog to fill his paw prints would be very very difficult.  The results of having this great dog and then losing him startsTed Kersote undertaking the monumental task of finding a way to extend the lives of these faithful friends, our dogs.

Now that is the next novel written by Ted and what he finds on one of the most extensive journeys through out the world to discover what needs to be done to extend the lives of our pets both dogs and cats.  It is also the greatest story of Ted looking for and finding his next best friend Pukka.  Be sure to read the next book.
4776195
Wonderful story about a man and his best friend a service dog - Sophie that loved her work and her master.  Very smart dog that was the best companion any man could ask for
4359337
This is a captivating story about a dog who loses his forever family and about his quest to reunite with them.  During his search, he encounters some very interesting people characters. His intelligence, intuition and loyalty help to rescue these people in many different ways. His adventures provide for a great read. Highly-recommended for dog lovers of all ages.
442268
Any Pup owner will be entertained,amused,and moved by this story of devotion between man and his animal pals.
2790712
Really enjoyed this book about such a unique situation.  What a great gift the people of Juneau got with this very unusual wolf.  I'm glad I ran into this book even though the end to Romeo's adventure was so sad and frustrating.
2723954
This is so true of both Uggie, the actor, and his story; a well-told and insightful look into the diminutive star's life and fortunes.  The scene-stealing and endearing companion becomes a narrator (with the aid of accomplished writer Wendy Holden and his coach, Omar von Muller) of a tale (tail?) that reveals the dog behind the legend and work of a career that began on the streets of L.A., and almost didn't begin at all.  Uggie's story carries us smoothly along as he relates the highs and lows of a "pound-bound hound" transformed by love, structure and support into an iconic idol and first-rate actor.

This book is an easy read, with a story bound to appeal to readers of all ages and stripes (or spots).  The collaboration between artist, coach and author creates a vivid account of a pup with mischievous tendencies transformed, but not corrupted, by the Hollywood lifestyle for which he seems to have been cast from birth.  If there is any follow-up after his retirement from movies, a screenplay based on this dog's tale will make for an interesting and emotional "behind-the scenes" film from which all ages and species could take inspiration.
4896695
THE BOOK: They are Breeds, males and females, part human - part animal genetically engineered in Genetics Council labs run by scientists without conscious and malicious trainers. Jacob and Faith are wolf breeds forced together into a breeding experiment that neither can stop and Jacob unknowingly marks Faith setting off the "mating frenzy," a heat more brutal to the female than male. Thinking it the best thing, he stays away leaving Faith alone for six years and he leaves her to deal with the torture of unresolved mating heat that grows each year. She is now the Liaison for Pack Security between the Wolf Packs at Haven, the Wolf compound and Jacob is back.

He left so she wouldn't be reminded of the forced moments just minutes before their rescue from the labs; but now he's back and he is watching her. Watching her because she sets his blood ablaze and he needs her safe even if he can't have her. But as the mating heat burns between them, they can't ignore what Nature intends for them both. Can Faith get past what she sees as his abandonment? Can Jacob let her have the time to comes to grips with what he wants from her or will their enemies force the issue and keep them apart forever ...

THE SERIES: This is the 8th book in a series of currently 26 books thus far. If you enjoy the genre you will find this book a good read within the series. The story line sets a new slant on shape shifters amid those evil factions threatening the freedom and peace the Breeds seek after the hellish existence in the labs where their creators and jailers tell them they have no soul because they were created by man, not God. The author notes on her website that the series was published over a few publishing houses, a couple of anthologies, and the series sequencing is hard to catch because titles are not set in true order and the mix between the different breeds makes for confusion in reading the titles. The sequencing on her website and the book descriptions are sketchy or incorrect. However, I have set my reviews by number and type for ease in reading. I have noticed that Ms. Leigh has begun to pull the various disjointed threads of the series together and is finding her flow within it. I can also see her development of the story line and characters without relying so heavily on the erotic scenes to carry the story as her writing improves and these areas develop more fully. If you want a summer series to read, this is a good read.

8 out of 10 Bookends
391485
This book is the story of Shaun Ellis, star of the Animal Planet Show "Living With The Wolfman". The bottom line is that Shaun would rather be a member of a wolf pack than a member of the human race. Although the book is well written it really didn't give me clear insight into why a man would want to live with wolves to the extent of sharing a raw carcass with the pack and forgoing life with humans. The only clue the reader is given is Shaun's lonely childhood without a father and an "in and out" mother. His grandparents raised him and at a young age Shaun bonded with a group of foxes. That's about all the reader is given as to figuring out Shaun's goal to live with a wolf pack. The rationale Shaun gives in the book is that wolves have been demonized unfairly and he wants to bring a better understanding of wolves to the world. That is all well and good, but the extremes Shaun goes to are beyond remarkable.  Parts of the book, such as Shaun's recollections of the two years he spent with a pack of wolves in the Rockies would be hard to believe if I hadn't seen the series on television. What struck me is that while Shaun was following his dream of being a member of a wolf pack, he is an absent father repeating his own history. This seem incredibly brazen as Shaun understands what it is like to grow up without a proper mother and father. This bothered me deeply. If someone wants to devote their life to living with wild animals, that is fine- unless it affects innocent children brought into this world. Nonetheless, this is a book well worth reading and I recommend it highly. I sure did learn a lot about wolves and pack heirarchy. It was interesting to learn about the different rolls of each wolf in a pack and that it is the female wolf that is in the alpha position and lead hunter. I also enjoyed reading about the parallels of dog and wolf behavior. I think that dog owners could learn a lot from Shaun's studies of wolves.
4751757
The most incredible book about wolves you will ever read! As I read the book I was amazed and mesmerized at the way the book was written. It was.as if the author, Ken Kaufman, could penetrate the soul of the wolf in a believable and emotional way...It stirred so many emotions in me as I was reading it....I could not put it down...It is very puzzling why this book is not a huge best seller...Come on folks...wake up and buy a copy...You will not be sorry, I promise you...If you are a wolf lover, you will love wolves even more...If you have limited knowledge about wolves, it will be a learning experience, and you will really appreciate wolves and become a wolf lover...It is a magical novel and I hope there will be a sequel ....
2157656
This book tells the story of the early days of Wolfie and Terra. You may have read about Wolfie before in some of Aimee's other wolf tales.
Terra is doing her best to survive in a human world by suppressing her wolf. She has fled from her pack and her alpha father and tried to avoid other wolves. She first meets Wolfie in his wolf form with a collar and a leash. His "owner" assures Terra that they just want to sit and talk to her, but she knows that Wolfie is an alpha male and not a pet. She gets away from them, only to run into an even worse problem - her father. He tells her that she can either come home and give him a grandson as an heir, or find her nephew and help him turn for the first time and bring him to the pack.
Terra did not even know she had a nephew. To make matters worse, Wolfie's pack lives nearby and Wolfie has claimed her nephew as part of his pack of misfits. He also plans to help Terra make nice with her wolf, and with his.
Many things will go wrong, and some things will go right, before all this is sorted out. Join Wolfie and his band of rejected wolves as they storm their way into Terra's heart.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I wouldn't call the ending a cliffhanger, but it does leave you wanting more.