A Dog Named Speed: A Story of Unconditional Love and Faith

by Larry Fitzgerald

Join Speed, the most adventurous pup ever, in "A Dog Named Speed" by Larry Fitzgerald! Speed had a rocky start in life, living in a cave beneath the Blue Mountains of Oregon, battling freezing winters, sneaky coyotes, and even a junkyard keeper with a trigger-happy finger. But Speed's luck takes a turn when he's rescued from a watery disaster and adopted by Babe, a young newspaper boy.



As Speed and Babe grow up together, they embark on thrilling adventures in the wilds of Oregon, discovering secret fishing spots and having daring encounters. Speed becomes Babe's trusty sidekick, and together, they form an unbreakable team.



But it's not just about Speed and Babe; this story is packed with excitement and surprises! Speed meets Kate, a lively Australian shepherd, and their connection adds even more adventure to the mix. Plus, there's a deeper message about faith and friendship that will make you think.



If you're ready for action, friendship, and a heartwarming tale, "A Dog Named Speed" is the book for you. Get ready to cheer for Speed and Babe as they navigate life's ups and downs and discover the true meaning of loyalty and love. This is a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat and warm your heart at the same time!

Genres: Christian Fiction

228 pages, Paperback

Published December 4, 2023

Reviews

[A. R. Parr Burdett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cute story with a powerful message. The author is also amazing!

[Renee Knoblauch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speed is a heartwarming story that will melt your heart and stay with you for a long time. You will never look at a stray dog without imagining more.

The story is based on the author’s dog Speed growing up in a small mountain town in Oregon. It is told from a dog’s point of view in heaven who is waiting for his beloved person.

One topic that readers may disagree with is whether or not an animal goes to heaven. The authors believe that dogs go to heaven when they die.

Speed had a rough start in life. He was taken away from his mom and sibling, abandoned, and abused. Speed wanted nothing to do with humans and would proclaim that he hated people. He saw his protector and best friend, Big get killed by a human. Big taught him a lot. They searched for food, kept each other warm, and protected each other. Big loved Speed enough to give his life for him.

One day Speed found himself in a life-altering situation. For the first time, he saw the compassionate side of humans. That event made him curious about people. Speed started to follow the newspaper boy. The boy was always kind to him and tried to earn his trust. Speed just kept his distance. Speed followed him on his morning delivery route to his home daily. One day the temperatures outside were the most severe that Speed had ever encountered and he knew he was in trouble if he didn’t ask for help. He decided to go to the newspaper boys' house and ask for help. From that point, Speed adopted a young newspaper boy and found the true meaning of love.

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product through Celebrate Lit Bloggers in exchange for my honest thoughts.

[Patti Whitson Stephenson She Lives to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve ever had a dog that seemed more like a family member to you than a pet, you’ll enjoy this book about a boy and his dog.

This story is a heart-touching account of the author’s life with his beloved dog, Speed. What makes this story unique is that it is told from Speed’s point of view as he follows his master, “Babe”, throughout their growing-up years. I enjoyed seeing life through a devoted dog’s eyes. I also appreciated the lessons about faith and love that Babe learned from Speed’s complete devotion to him. Speed had a life-long impact on his master’s life and their love for each other shines clearly through the story.

One thing I wanted to mention is the author’s belief that dogs go to heaven when they die. In this book, Speed is recounting his story from his “heavenly viewpoint”. I know readers may have various views on this subject, so I wanted to mention that in this review.

This book is a sweet tribute to a dog that had a great impact on his master’s life.

I voluntarily received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

[Wendy Andrus]

A Dog Named Speed is a unique, entertaining story, with a bit of a twist. It's told from the dog's point of view. Not only that, it's told as if he's in heaven, recounting his life on earth.

Speed had a pretty rough start. He was abandoned and abused, which caused him to hate humans. Then one time he came across some compassionate humans, and even adopted a young newspaper boy.

Anyone who has had a beloved dog knows how strong that bond can be. There are the carefree adventures of childhood with one's best friend. If you can relate, you will want to grab yourself a copy.

I received a complimentary copy. These opinions are my own.

[Patti Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are searching for a captivating work of fiction with heartwarming themes and rich storytelling, A Dog Named Speed by Larry Fitzgerald is a must-read.

Set in the picturesque Blue Mountains of Oregon, this novel tells the story of Speed, a resilient dog who starts his journey living on his own, sleeping in a cave. The narrative quickly hooks you with its twists and turns, beginning when Speed’s solitude is interrupted by a larger, older dog named Big, who saves him from a band of coyotes.

The challenges don’t stop there for Speed. Freezing winters, confrontations with a shotgun-wielding junkyard keeper, and other dangers make his journey thrilling and emotional. The story turns poignant when Big dies, leaving Speed to navigate the world alone once again. Eventually, Speed forms an unexpected connection with Babe, a newspaper boy, weaving a thread of hope and friendship into the tale.

What makes A Dog Named Speed truly special are its Christian values and Biblical references, which add depth and inspiration to the story. The beautifully described landscapes transport readers to the rugged yet serene setting of the Blue Mountains, making it easy to feel immersed in the world Fitzgerald has created.

This book made me laugh, cry, and reflect on the bond between humans and animals. The characters felt real, and their journeys were touching and inspiring.

I wholeheartedly recommend A Dog Named Speed to anyone looking for a compelling and faith-filled story. It’s one of those books that stays with you long after the last page.

If you have read A Dog Named Speed, let me know your thoughts in the comments!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

[Kendra Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian Fiction is one of my favorite genres to read. I also have a LOVE for Dogs and reading books by "new to me" authors. A Dog Named Speed: A Story of Unconditional Love and Faith by Larry Fitzgerald is the most recent book that I have read.

WOW, this book is truly heartwarming and touching. The 2 main characters in this book are Speed and Babe. Speed was the authors dog for many years. The book is narrated by Speed from a heavenly view. Babe is Speeds owner. Speed was a rescue dog, having had a rough start to life. Speed was abused by former owners and has a mistrust of humans. Babe rescues Speed and slowly Speed begins to build a new life in a LOVING and warm home. I really LOVE how Speed recounts his life from heaven and expresses how much he felt loved by his owner. The adventures they had in Babe's childhood were so heartwarming. I TRULY love this book as I had a Dog growing up that we adopted when she was 6 months old and was abused by previous owners. It took a while for our dog about a year to warm up to humans and trust us. I understand that many may not agree that pets don't go to heaven, but I, like the author do believe pets go to heaven and we will see them again one day. I was sooo touched by this story! I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who loves Dogs and heartwarming stories. GREAT BOOK!

[Becky Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I want to learn to love my Master like you love me, Speed. With you, it’s so natural.”

Dog lovers and lovers of small-town mid-twentieth century historical fiction will especially enjoy A Dog Named Speed. It’s a semi-autobiographical fictionalized account of the author, Larry Fitzgerald, and the dog he had growing up.

With Speed’s example, we learn about loyalty, trust, and turning from hate to love -“The hate I used to carry was gone…Love for my master had overcome all the hate I once had.” As Speed, the narrator shares many poignant, endearing anecdotes, then often relates them to how we as humans should view our Master, Jesus, or how we need to trust Him and let His love change us. At these points, the story slows a bit to get the points across. I especially enjoyed Hootie, who occasionally appeared with very short messages of faith or encouragement.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Don’t you want to put everything in God’s hands and let Him direct your steps?”

“Hatred destroys. Learn to love.”

“I wanted to make him like me, something he could not ever be. God makes us all unique to serve his purposes, even animals.”

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dog Named Speed is a sweet based on a true story book that you’re going to love reading this holiday season. It’s heartwarming. It’s sweet. And it’s utterly adorable.

I think this is an amazing novel. I loved following the story and seeing what the dog thinks of life. As someone who has had multiple dogs throughout my life, I could relate to this novel. A dog is a great companion. And I’ve often wondered what is going through their heads. Do they think like we do? Do they feel like we do? Is love something they feel? We know they’re loyal, but what if we knew more?

When I was a child my dog was named Buster. He was a Sheltie. And he was mine. He was very much a one-person dog and actually didn’t even like other people near me. When I got married it was rather hilarious. He’d sit between my husband and I. His loss was so hard on me and I like to think he’s part of this novel.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a touching novel for young readers, especially lovers of dogs. The narrative is written from the dog's viewpoint so we get insights into what a dog may be thinking and feeling. There are many moral lessons included, such as Speed having to share when another dog came on the scene and stayed with the family for a while. There is a very clear Christian faith message included, illustrated by the events happening in the story.

The story starts with the dog who would later become Speed as a wandering canine. We do not get the backstory as to why he came to that situation until about a quarter of the way into the book. I would have preferred that information right at the beginning as it would have helped me, and especially young readers, understand Speed's character and decisions earlier.

Nonetheless, this is an entertaining novel for young readers with a strong Christian faith message. Be sure to have your tissues ready as you near the end.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Mary Hake · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fictional account reads like the events actually happened—probably because they are based on the author’s own childhood experiences with his dog. Told from Speed’s point of view, the novel takes you right into his heart and emotions. Although, his perspective seemed too human and like an adult, although supposedly he’s recounting this from heaven. That brings up another problem—I don’t believe the Bible teaches dogs will go to heaven and become intelligent beings there. Nevertheless, the tale makes an exciting read with all the scrapes and adventures Speed and his master face. And there are lessons to be learned from the story, such as how we respond to our master and how we relate to others. Unconditional love is surely exhibited by the canine. And this is set in my lovely home state of Oregon, which always adds to the pleasure of reading for me. It is a pretty quick read with only eighteen chapters. I received the book from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dog Named Speed: A Story of Unconditional Love and Faith is the first book I had the pleasure of reading from author Larry Fitzgerald. I adored taking this heartwarming story with Speed and learning along the way with him on this adventure. This is one of those books that puts an instant smile on my face. I loved it.



Five stars is what I am going to give A Dog Named Speed: A Story of Unconditional Love and Faith. I recommend it for fans who love to read clean fiction about beloved canines. I would love to read more like this one from Larry Fitzgerald in the future.



I received a paperback copy of Larry Fitzgerald's A Dog Named Speed: A Story of Unconditional Love and Faith from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

[Deana Dick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading stories about animals. This one is about a dog who is scrappy, loveable and sweet. On his journey he runs into danger from people and other animals. How many of you have ever seen a homeless dog? I have encountered many and always want to bring all of them home. My heart has a special place for them because I know what it is like to feel unwanted.

The author does do a good job of showing teachable moments that relate to the Bible. As Speed travels around he yearns for a home. He wants to be loved, fed and feel safe. I had a feeling this story was going to make me cry and it did. It is hard for me to think of a stray animal out there looking for food or a safe place to sleep. I won’t spoil the story so I will just say this was a nice book that for me was emotional.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

[Dawn R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a heart-warming story of the unconditional love between a boy and his devoted dog, told from the personal vantage point of the dog himself. Throughout its pages, Speed shares his adventures as a former street dog turned beloved family pet. Interwoven within are the lessons he learned about God’s love, compassion, and mercy towards his children and creation. To all the dog lovers out there, especially those who have been blessed with that one special dog who forever changed their lives, this book is a must-read.

[Candy Haralson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dog Named Speed is a touching story of a dog and his boy. Written from the dog's perspective, I related to it easily as a dog owner. Larry Fitzgerald, the author set the story in northeastern Oregon where beauty abounds, just like the beauty of this story. I couldn't put it down!

[Alfred L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have ever owned a pet, especially a dog, you are going to love this story. It is about a boy and his dog who love and need one another and who grow up together in the mountains of Eastern Oregon.

[Kim Mosiman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story of faith, friendship and everlasting love. I’ll read again with my grandson… delightful!

[Cass Everett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been crying for 10 minutes straight and now I want to cuddle my dogs.😭