Cleo: The Cat Who Healed a Family... A Review

Cleo: The Cat Who Healed a Family

When I first opened the pages of Cleo, I knew there was a tragedy... I knew that Cleo, that cute little kitten on the cover, was the glue that was going to put Helen Brown's family back together. What I didn't realize was that the tragedy was the devastating loss of Helen's nine-year-old son, Sam, and it took my breathe away. But Helen's honesty and amazing writing, turned her tragedy into something uplifting and moving. Cleo touched my heart, but so did Helen's writing. Funny at times, heart-wrenching at others, this is the kind of book any animal lover would enjoy reading. From the publishers...

"We're just going to look at them." Helen Brown had no intention of adopting a pet when she brought her sons, Sam and Rob, to visit a friend's new kittens. But the runt of the litter was irresistible, with her overlarge ears and dainty chin.

When Cleo was delivered weeks later, she had no way of knowing that her new family had just been hit by a tragedy. Helen was sure she couldn't keep her-until she saw something she thought had vanished from the earth forever: her son's smile The reckless, rambunctious kitten stayed.

Through happiness and heartbreak, changes and new beginnings, Cleo turned out to be the unlikely glue the affectionately held Helen's family together. Rich in wisdom, wit, heart, and healing, here is the story of a cat with an extraordinary gift for knowing just where she was needed the most.

Helen's writing flows off the page easily as she takes us inside what a family feels as they are going through such loss and eventual healing. Helen's ability to share her true feelings without sugar coating them, makes the book shine. Cleo is a memoir, but I think it reaches beyond just the story and offers insight for others to grab hold of, who are in need of comfort. But, Cleo is also a cat lover's book,

with wonderful bits of cat lore at the beginning of each chapter...

" A touch of paw can work better than aspirin."

"Nothing is more damply magical than a kitten's kiss."

"Even though the cat is a solitary creature, it is capable of acts of great kindness."

A wonderful book on many levels, and if you enjoyed books like Marley & Me, or Dewey the Small Town Library Cat, you will enjoy reading this book. I want to thank Rose Marie at Inkwell Management for sending me a review copy of this very special book! And if you missed it, here's my guest post with Helen Brown.

*I want to thank Inkwell Management for sending along a review copy of Cleo by Helen Brown!