It’s a Wonderful Dog – Summertime -Book 3
The summer installment in the four-book It’s a Wonderful Dog series.
Bear Bailey – The Great Pyrenees changing lives one season at a time.
I’m thrilled to announce the release of It’s a Wonderful Dog – Summertime, a heartfelt new book for anyone grieving the loss of a dog or looking for a healing story full of warmth and hope. As the third book in the It’s a Wonderful Dog series, this summertime chapter follows Bear Bailey on a soulful journey filled with love, community, and the quiet magic dogs bring to our lives. Whether you’re navigating pet loss or simply adore meaningful dog books, It’s a Wonderful Dog – Summertime is a comforting return to the world beyond the Rainbow Bridge that began in Book One.
🌻🐾🌈 Book Description for It’s a Wonderful Dog – Summertime 🌻🐾🌈
It’s summertime in Merivelle, and Riven Chapowits is on a mission to show he’s a changed man. An earlier vow doesn’t allow him to explain himself, testing his resolve to stay the course of redemption. Bear Bailey, the Great Pyrenees who sees the best in everyone, endeavors to help Riven get involved in the community. But Riven’s history, coupled with Bear’s age, makes it challenging for both of them.
Hoping to put her beloved town on the map, Bear’s owner, Mary Bailey, makes a deal for a country music superstar to film a series of videos in Merivelle. Juggling the new venture, she neglects to keep tabs on old friends. When a visitor arrives right before the week-long video shoot, they may have a history that jeopardizes everyone’s hard work.
Meanwhile, a sweet, but scared puppy soul refuses to come to Earth until the Rainbow Bridge angels tell her stories about Bear Bailey. Eager to meet the Great Pyrenees, Betty appears in Merivelle and learns that even when life’s road is difficult, it’s still an adventure worth taking. Especially when you share the journey with a wonderful dog.
Meet Betty – Bear’s new companion in the third book. We love her and think you will too!
Excerpt from It’s a Wonderful Dog – Summertime
Chapter One
School was in session at Butterfly Academy. In a field of wildflowers, dog mats had been laid out for the puppies in attendance. However, the little dogs of every kind toppled off their spaces, too engaged with the colorful butterflies, bees and birds swirling about them. Nipping at one another in play, the pups somersaulted into one another’s area, scattering the balls and Frisbees they were learning about to prepare for playtime on Earth.
The angel Gheeta, known for her love of small things with wings and music, sighed as she looked out at the puppy mayhem. “Puppy souls, please listen. You’ll soon go to Earth. Many of you still have much to learn.” She pointed at a large chalkboard that had words written on it.
Potty outside. Also known as “Do Your Business” or “Showtime”.
Don’t beg for food. Avoid chicken bones and chocolate.
Never chase vehicles.
Careful what you chew—wait for permission.
“If you can’t sit still with butterfly distractions here in Heaven, you’re going to have some issues on Earth.”
Almost every puppy’s head snapped in worry.
The angel continued speaking, a kind look on her face. “But I have full trust in every one of you sweet wiggle bottoms.”
The whole classroom filled with gleeful yips.
An English Bulldog puppy held up their paw. “How will we know when it’s our turn to go?”
The angel smiled. “Remember what we learned?”
All the puppies barked excitedly as they thought of their own journeys to Earth soon.
“Sit!”
At the angel’s instruction, all puppy behinds were instantly on their mats, solemn looks of regret on their faces as they waited.
“Butterfly Academy works in harmony with the Rainbow Bridge. When a dog crosses over from Earth, it’s almost always time for a puppy soul to begin their own journey with a human family.”
A Vizsla puppy with long legs and floppy ears pointed to the front entrance of the school grounds. “That’s why sometimes souls who are already in Heaven come to pick one of us Butterfly puppies. To send to a human they love on Earth.”
Gheeta nodded in pride. “Good listening! Treats for everyone!” Dog biscuits fell from the sky as the puppies giggled.
At the back of the canine crowd, one Aussie puppy faced the opposite direction.
“Betty’s still scared to go to Earth,” the Vizsla puppy said. “She’s a real scaredy cat.” He chomped his biscuit and thought. “More of a scaredy dog.”
The little dog spoke rapidly, her anxiousness clear. “Can I hear more about Bear Bailey? The Great Pyrenees who makes life more wonderful for everyone he meets? He’s changed a whole town with his love and loyalty. Even that old coyote, Riven Chapowits, is doing things that would surprise people. Mary’s living her best life with Theodore. Cybil’s booth at Bear Bailey’s Co-op and Grocery is a magnificent success. Lupe is close to citizenship, so she and her children are almost safe—” She fell to the ground, out of breath but calmer. “I love stories.”
“You need to sit and listen to your lessons right now, Betty. With all your friends.”
Puppies were chewing on the edges of their mat, a few chasing butterflies around the open classroom as they waited for Gheeta to resume teaching.
“What if I sneak over to the Golden Meadow and listen to Angel Lea tell more Bear Bailey stories? I feel I would learn more that way.”
“What if I read you some nursery rhymes here?”
“I need a more of a story. One that has a lot of ups and downs.”
“You say that’s exactly why you don’t want to go to Earth. Too much drama.”
“I can read about drama, but that doesn’t mean I need to live it. I’m never going to Earth.”
“What should I tell that kind gentleman that chose you to send to his daughter? She could really use a friend like you.”
“Can’t you show him another Butterfly puppy?”
“He’s come nearly every day for an entire year, specifically for you. We can’t keep telling him that you’re still learning. You’ve already graduated from the Cocoon, Caterpillar and Butterfly classes. It’s time for you to have courage and fly.”
Betty shook her head as she looked down. “Have you seen Earth these days? Sadness, fear, anger, fighting—not to mention all the coyotes on Earth.”
“There are no coyotes where the gentleman wants you to go to help his daughter. She lives in a big city.”
“But coyotes can be real or imagined.” Betty swayed in place, appearing to be near fainting. “Dark Dens can be in your mind as much as a burrow under the ground.”
Already bright with sun, the area around Butterfly Academy grew even more luminous with the appearance of Josephine and Lea, the angels from the Rainbow Bridge.
The miniature Aussie jumped in surprise. Watching the glimmers around Josephine, her mouth fell open.
“How do you know about Bear Bailey here at Butterfly Academy?” Lea asked with an amused expression.
“Everyone knows Bear Bailey. He’s famous in Heaven.”
Josephine lifted an eyebrow.
Falling on her back with her feet in the air, Betty spoke in a contrite tone. “When I’m supposed to be napping, I go over to the edge of Butterfly Academy and listen to stories floating over on the breeze from the Golden Meadow.”
Gheeta looked at both angels. “Betty’s very curious and gets distracted. But she’s also very kind to her fellow puppies. She loves to assist however she can.”
The sparkling light around Josephine shimmered. “With that kind of devotion, why aren’t you already down on Earth? You could be a real help to a human who needs you.”
Betty shivered as the center fur on her back stood up on end. “Earth is such a tragic place. I wouldn’t even know where I would want to go.”
“A heavenly soul keeps coming back,” Gheeta explained. “He’s sure Betty is a match for his daughter. But Betty won’t go.”
“Souls always know best when they try to send a puppy from Butterfly Academy,” Lea said.
“Do you see how many dogs are down there without homes, abused and mistreated? No, thank you.”
Lea stroked Betty’s ears. “Some stories that come over the Rainbow Bridge are harrowing.”
“Harrowing—an adjective. Extremely distressing or painful,” Betty said, nodding. “Exactly what I’m scared of.”
“The dogs who are mistreated on Earth get very special attention once they cross the Rainbow Bridge,” Lea said, glancing back to where the two angels had come from moments before. “Angels come from all over Heaven to shower those dogs with great love for all their courage.”
Betty growled, her eyes wide in fear.
Lea looked at the distressed dog. “It makes little sense to your puppy soul. But those dogs understand what they’re trying to accomplish on Earth. They agreed to it before they went. A soul contract, of sorts. And while it’s heartbreaking, most humans love their dogs and would do anything to make their life special.”
“I don’t know,” Betty said, backing up from where the angels stood. “I think I’d rather sleep up here among you angels than wake up to a life on Earth with humans.”
Josephine dangled her fingers in front of Betty, prisms of light dancing again in front of the dog. “What if Bear Bailey hadn’t gone to Merivelle? Mary and Theodore wouldn’t be together. Riven would be a miserable old man with no friends. And Cybil wouldn’t be on Earth showing so many people the joy of finding new hobbies and purpose later in life.”
“What about the Posada family?” Betty whispered, though she already knew the answer.
“A snake would have bitten Pablito. He would have lost his leg, or much worse. His mom and sister would have had a much different life without the joy he brings them.”
“Bear stepped in and that snake didn’t have a chance,” Betty said admiringly. “The whole town changed because of that wonderful Great Pyrenees. You don’t even hear of coyotes out at Sagebrush Farms anymore. Everything is finally safe and sound.”
The strains of an orchestra tuning up filled the space as an oboe played.
“Do you hear that?” Betty asked, a bleak look on her face. “It’s so melancholy. Like impending doom.”
A breeze swept through Butterfly Academy as the sound of woodwind instruments filled the air. “Listen to the clarinets, flutes and trumpets with the oboe. It’s a break in the sadness. The sound of hope and good things to come,” Josephine said.
Betty opened her eyes.
“And now—trumpets, trombones and other brass horns.”
The Aussie giggled. “The trombone is funny, isn’t it? And don’t get me started on a flugelhorn.”
The symphonic sounds of violins, violas, cellos and double basses filled the air. Gossamer strings of spider webs glistened in the sun as they floated over the school, giving it the outline of a bandshell. The sweeping swell of notes lulled Betty into deep thought as she yawned, fighting sleep.
Josephine looked at the other two angels. “Perhaps Betty could spend some time with us in the Golden Meadow. A few stories to make her path forward more inviting.”
To read more of Betty’s adventures in Merivelle, please visit Amazon and other online retailers for hardcover, paperback and Kindle copies.