*AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW* | 'A DAILY DOSE OF HOPE' Jojo Moyes | How do you welcome someone new into your home and heart? A week before Christmas 2022, former BBC journalist and award-nominated podcaster Rory Cellan-Jones received a special delivery that changed the course of his life. This is the story of #SophieFromRomania, told in full for the first time.
In January 2022, the Cellan-Jones-Coyle family said goodbye to their beloved elderly Collie Cross, Cabbage. Newly retired, Rory had become inseparable from her during daily pandemic walks which alleviated his Parkinson's Disease symptoms. After a grief-stricken year, Rory and his wife Diane contemplated opening up their hearts again and came across a dog listing for 'a kind girl who loves everybody and is just looking for her forever home'.
Bright-eyed, big-eared and trembling, Sophie arrives in London in a van from Central Europe on 17th December. Rory holds the Romanian rescue in his arms, excited for their first walk together - unaware it is more than a year ahead. Sophie from Romania follows the journey of her adoption - from her battles with anxiety, to the joys of play and her first foray outside - as Roryand Diane work with expert dog trainer Si to win Sophie's trust, and navigate Rory's Parkinson's diagnosis.
This is a moving story of growing together through love, kindness and a lot of patience, revealing how adopting pets can be challenging but also full of rewarding moments. It's also a celebration of rescue dogs, and communit,y as Rory uplifts fellow Romanian dog owners and his new friends from the #SophieFromRomania hashtag.
'Fills my heart with so much joy' Niall Harbison, bestselling author of Hope'In a dark time, a daily dose of hope' Jojo MoyesHow do you welcome someone new into your heart and home? A week before Christmas, newly retired BBC journalist Rory Cellan-Jones receives a special delivery that will change his life. This is the story of rescue dog #SophieFromRomania. In January 2022, the Cellan-Jones-Coyle family said goodbye to their beloved elderly Collie cross, Cabbage. She and Rory had become inseparable during daily pandemic walks, which alleviated his Parkinson's symptoms. After a grief-stricken year, Rory and his wife Diane come across a listing for 'a kind girl who loves everybody and is just looking for her forever home'. Bright-eyed, big-eared and trembling, Sophie arrives in London on 17 December 2022. Rory holds the Romanian rescue in his arms, excited for their first walk together - but the road ahead will be a long one . . . This book follows the real journey of Sophie's adoption - from her battles with anxiety, to the joys of play and her first time outside - as Rory and Diane work with expert dog trainer Si to win Sophie's trust and navigate Rory's Parkinson's disease. This is a moving story of love, kindness and a lot of patience, paying tribute to rescue dogs and their tender community. The ultimate Christmas gift for dog-lovers!