A Robot in the Garden by Deborah Install

What would you do if you saw a robot in your garden sitting next a tree watching horses in the next field?  He can't stand it, he has to go talk to it.  It's not making much sense and it prefers the garden.  It won't stay in the garage.  And his wife is losing her temper with him.  If he wants a robot, she wants an Android, not an antiquated robot.  When she walks out on him, he decides he might as well try to get his robot fixed.  The glass tube that holds the robot's fuel is cracked and leaking.

Sourcebooks Landmark and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published May 10th.

It's a good thing he has an inheritance from his parents because taking a robot on a plane isn't easy.  Especially not when the robot demands a premium seat.

I really liked this tale.  He and his robot travel to visit two specialists who can't help the robot.  Then they visit the mad scientist.  He truly is and it's a good thing the robot can fix himself.  They have to break out to escape the prison he's locked them in.

This whole story is full of impossible things that are interesting to read about.  His wife goes to stay with his sister, then moves in with a man who's everything he's not.  He tries to let it go but as he and his robot travel about and he keeps answering the robot's "Why?" questions, he begins to see why his wife got frustrated with him.  He also is learning how to take care of a child. 

The story ends happily ever after and the robot is happy, too.  I think having a robot is a lot better than having an invisible friend...