One of the scariest things about writing a book–once you get past the fear you’ll never finish it, or that the story will be stale by the time you do, or that you won’t find a publisher–is, of course, the fear that no one (except your family) will tell you they like it.

So far, I’ve been blessed to receive only good reviews. That can always change, but for now, I’m savoring five stars, courtesy of Tracy Slowiak for Readers’ Favorite.

Here’s Tracy’s review:

“In an absolutely amazing piece of work, debut author Jacki Skole brings us Dogland: A Journey to the Heart of America’s Dog Problem. In a wonderful piece of investigation into the supply of dogs in our country, Jacki Skole has taken her heartfelt interest in the origins of her family pet, which she and her family adopted from a rescue as an eight-week-old puppy, and turned it into a work that any lover of dogs, or of animals in general absolutely must read. She spent time interviewing people involved in rescuing canines, from animal rights activists to shelter managers throughout the country, and presents their stories in a beautiful and empathetic manner.

I simply could not recommend Dogland any more highly. This is not only an incredibly well-written and engrossing read, but it is an important and thought provoking work that challenges each of us to evaluate how companion animals are treated and traded in this country. Author Jacki Skole has done an absolutely masterful job at presenting the information she obviously spent a huge amount of time in gathering, all in what is also quite clearly a labor of love for her. Reading the personal stories of both her own family and the many she meets along her research path, one truly appreciates the work that good people are doing in the world of dogs. But for every good work, there are so many more that are the diametric opposite, and can cause irreparable damage to the very creatures that many profess to love. Any reader who loves dogs, loves great investigative work, or loves memoirs should absolutely read this book. It is an A+, five star read, and a book that will stay with you long after you finish the last page.”