Life on the Leash
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4.3 • 4 Ratings
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- $19.99
Publisher Description
In this “witty celebration of dogs, romance, and taking chances” (Stacey Ballis, author of Wedding Girl), a woman who is a master at training her four-legged friends discovers that she still has a lot to learn about love.
Cora Bellamy is a woman who thrives on organization. She’s successfully run her own dog training business for years, perfectly content with her beloved rescue pitbull as the main man in her life. She’s given everything to her business, and her lack of social life (or slobber-free clothes) has been completely worth it.
But all that changes when she meets Charlie Gill, the hottest client she’s ever had. The only problem? Charlie’s taken. Luckily, Cora’s new friend—the sweet, lovably geeky Eli Crawford—is always there to help Cora with her problems, including her love life. That’s why she’s shocked to realize that even as things start heating up with Charlie, there might just be a more-than-friends spark between her and Eli, too.
As Cora’s life gets more tangled up than a dogwalker’s leashes—and as she prepares to audition for a dog-training TV show that may irrevocably change her entire life—she has to figure things out before it all goes straight to the dogs.
“Playful, lovable, and heartwarming” (Amy E. Reichert, author of The Coincidence of Coconut Cake), Life on the Leash will inspire you to cheer for every underdog looking for love.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Real-life dog trainer Schade's debut is a light, warm-hearted romp that's a little weighed down by extraneous detail but still delivers a fulfilling tale for its two-legged and four-legged protagonists. Cora Bellamy walked away from her corporate career in favor of opening her own dog training business. Working with the furry companions of some of Washington, D.C.'s most eccentric denizens sustained her through heartbreak, and now, it's offering her two chances at romance: alluring and urbane (and taken) Charlie Gill, and mild-mannered, considerate, and clearly smitten Eli Crawford. While trying to navigate these new romantic possibilities, Cora learns about an upcoming audition for a new dog training show that offers her the chance to quash a rival trainer by showing off her humane approach to training, if she can only find the confidence to follow her heart. The reliance on romantic comedy stereotypes is heavy, and multiple secondary story lines distract at times from the main plot. Nevertheless, Schade combines some original elements and excellent canine characterization with an earnest, infectiously funny tone that dog lovers, especially, will find delightful.
Customer Reviews
Great Fun But Also Poignant...Will Grab Your Heart
If you love dogs, then you’ll obviously connect with this book. There’s a ton of laughs and interesting plot developments but it’s so much more than what I was expecting, a light comedic romp. It slowly reveals important truths and life lessons about relationships, both those in the friendship and romantic zone. So while you’re chuckling away and engrossed in the characters and their predicaments you might at first miss the poignancy and subtlety of the writing. And, yes, romance abounds but it’s less about the endgame than the path you take getting there. And, of course, it’s packed with dog training tips and will resonate with those committed to rescue and the training methods based on positive reinforcement...no love for punishing alpha males here!