Rusty isn’t anyone’s hero. At least, he doesn’t think so. He runs a used bookstore in a quiet Alaskan town, walks his dog, and keeps mostly to himself. But when his memory begins to fade, the life he’s built starts to shift beneath his feet. He forgets appointments. Then names. Then things he was sure he’d never lose. Except his dog. Goober stays. Through the confusion. Through the silences. Through the end. And maybe, somehow… beyond it. The Two Dogs Who Stayed is a quiet, powerful novel about the souls we overlook, the memories we carry, and the rare companions who refuse to let go. Told in two parts, it traces a life lived simply, but not without meaning, and the quiet possibility that some connections stretch farther than we know. Some stories don’t end. Some friends never leave. "The writing is plainspoken. It's stripped down, direct, almost conversational. That style made me lean in, like I was hearing Rusty tell me these stories over coffee instead of flipping through pages. I enjoyed how ordinary details, like the smell of cedar or the sound of snow under boots, were given weight. It reminded me that the small, everyday things are where life actually lives." -Literary Titan " Plot/Idea : Caldwell's plot transitions nicely from a more individual story to a larger narrative, inviting readers to relate to its themes of love and belonging. Prose : Caldwell writes with a steady voice, in forthright prose and staccato descriptions that pair well with the story's premise. Originality : The Two Dogs Who Stayed strikes a healthy balance between intimate stories and overarching, universal themes. Character/Execution : Throughout Caldwell's writing, the book's animal characters take on just as much of an identity as the human ones, giving them the same amount of power to drive the narrative forward. Rusty's softness makes him more relatable as a lead protagonist, and he is unwavering in all the important ways: loyal, steadfast, and honest." -BookLife Prize "This is one book that grabbed onto my heartstrings right from the start." "Caldwell developed Rusty to be a relatable character to many readers on varying levels." "Readers will not only feel the cold temperature outside, but they can see each scene play out before them firsthand." — Reader Views Book Awards