Do animals just keep us company, or could they draw us closer to God? What if the animals who share your life are not distractions from spiritual formation, but participants in it? This book invites you to nurture the God–human–animal bond as a place where the Spirit is already at work. The Holy Link of the God-Human-Animal Bond: Reimagining our Stories to Include Animals presents a theological perspective that sees human relationships with animals as sacred places where God’s presence can be experienced. Cooper shares personal stories of dogs, a mouse in a combat zone, birds, cats, and her therapy donkey, Winston. Then, she introduces the God-human-animal bond (the GHAB™), a triadic relationship among God, humans, and animals. Featuring a foreword by theologian John Mark Hicks, this book situates our relationships with animals within God’s steadfast love for all creatures (Psalm 36:6). Hicks commends Cooper’s work as "a rich and passionate theological invitation to love God’s creation" and to see our shared life with animals as a gift. Cooper suggests that the Holy Spirit acts as the “Holy Link” in this triadic bond and challenges traditional human-centered frameworks that often overlook animals and creation. Through her work as a chaplain and Pet Partners therapy donkey, Winston, she shows how shared moments with animals can become powerful reminders of God’s love and the broader missio Dei (mission of God). "It's clear this isn't just a theological text, it's an invitation to experience God's love..." Reviewed by Martin Goodman While Cooper traces creationism from its theological roots through our evolving relationship with animals from livestock to beloved family members, it's in ordinary moments where she frames Christian mysticism. A rushed trip across a grocery store parking lot slows into contemplation when she notices a sparrow moving beside her cart. In another moment, she recognizes the relief she and her dog find in stopping for a cool drink after a tiring day. Rather than separating spiritual life from the natural world, Cooper suggests that encounters with creation are themselves moments in which God may be glimpsed. She connects these experiences to the history of Christian mysticism, arguing that what earlier mystics described is something many people continue to encounter in ordinary life, even if they lack the word for it. It is through her personal stories that this idea feels the most realized, allowing theology to emerge through experience rather than explanation. When the book turns fully toward academic framing, however, the tone shifts. Repeated concepts and extended theological discussion occasionally slow the narrative momentum that gives Cooper's personal reflections their strength. Alongside these sections, Cooper includes reflection questions and guided activities intended for individual or group use, pointing toward a devotional or ministry-oriented readership. Positioned alongside extensive footnotes and dense theological discussion, however, these contrasting approaches can feel as though they are reaching for different audiences within the same volume. Despite this, Cooper's central argument remains both compelling and thoughtfully articulated, inviting readers to reconsider humanity's place within creation, not as separate or superior, but as deeply interconnected with all of God's creation, a vision that carries both spiritual and ecological implications. Reviewed by Lauren Hayataka "Dr. Cooper's study on the holy link is enhanced by personal stories of her myriad experiences with animals—from traveling to nursing homes with her beloved donkey Winston to building a meaningful relationship with a mouse in Kuwait. It's in these personal stories where The Holy Link... is at its most impactful. The personal stories shine in illustrating Cooper's point but also in inspiring readers to put faith first and to feel the warmth of creaturely connection. I don't think anybody's leaving this book without the notion of wanting to hold their dog a little closer or to listen more attentively to their needs." Reviewed by Toni Woodruff, Independent Book Review In many ways, this book began writing itself in me long before I ever put words on a page. In 2013, after leaving the VA chaplaincy and entering a demanding season of healing from PTSD, I found myself drawn into long, contemplative walks with my dogs. Those creation-centered prayerful walks became a kind of living Lectio Divina , where God spoke in the rhythm of paws on the earth and in the steady presence of creatures who asked nothing of me but my being. Out of that season emerged A Dog's Utopia, LLC—now faithfully owned and operated by Jenny, my spouse. This special home-boarding environment became a sign that something new and life-giving was taking root even amid deep struggle. My healing journey has been rigorous and, at times, more than one person should have to bear. Yet throughout, the animals kept me grou