Bodie was on death row in a Los Angeles shelter, having been abandoned by his owner. Belinda was in a heap on the floor of her vintage apartment, having been dumped by the man of her dreams. Two lost souls ready to find a new life.
Together they embark on a 2,000-mile West Coast road trip taking in spectacular Big Sur, a pack run in the wilds of Oregon, afternoon tea at Doris Day’s dog-loving hotel in Carmel, a fragrant encounter with the creator of Kennel No.5 furfume and a bar stop in a small town near San Francisco where a dog was elected mayor, two years running…
Join Belinda and Bodie on this soul-searching adventure along one of the most iconic highways in America and you too will feel the wind in your hair and a wag in your tail.
Belinda Jones was born in Turnbridge Wells, Kent England. At the age of 19 she moved to London, where she resided for the next ten years before moving to California. She now lives in Los Angeles.
Belinda Jones writes books for women which focus around travel and womens issues, particularly relationships. Her books tend to fall into the romance, chick lit and women's fiction categories
Wonderfully rescue positive, with plenty of stress on adventure and the bond between a human and their dog. Cute, but there were some elements of the self-discovery aspect that I had a hard time getting behind. Solid three star read.
Belinda was distraught, her boyfriend at the time, Nathan, had chosen his career in the US Navy over their relationship. Bodie was in a worse predicament though. Abandoned by his owner if he was not rehomed very soon then the animal shelter would have to euthanise him. Belinda didn’t think she could get any lower. They say that you should not rush into another relationship after a breakup and the same rules apply when getting a dog, but she needed some company. When applying online she had four options to say why she wanted a dog:
Playmate for family dog
Guard dog
Exercise motivator
Companionship
She thought long and hard before making her selection. However, she felt that she needed to try and turn this around and this was why she was standing in front of Bodie’s cage. All that was needed was a home visit and it was arranged for a few days later, and suddenly he was her responsibility.
It took a little while to get used to having a dog around the house as well as getting into the routine needed. She became really good friends with Molly and her dog, Winnie. The only problem was just as it happened she found out that Molly was moving to Portland, Oregon and she invited her to her home after she had settled in. A road trip seemed in order and it seemed the perfect opportunity to drop in at some doggy themed stops on the way.
It is a beautiful coastline to travel along and take in the views of the Pacific. Bodie is a gentle, friendly dog. And as well as a trip to see their friend, it is primarily a journey of discovery for them both, where their limits are and how they can fit in with each other. Letting him off the lead for the first time was a nerve-wracking experience. She manages to find hotels that accept dogs and begins to take the steps that she needs to get over her previous relationship, which she mostly does. Except on the way back home, the phone rung, and as she was busy doing something else, didn’t look at the caller. It was Nathan and he wanted to meet up again…
This is more of a personal memoir with an element of travel. You are not going to discover anything profound about this part of the world, rather it is a feel-good type of book. It is written in a chatty and upbeat style with some amusing anecdotes. Jones is honest with her feelings throughout the book, telling it just how it is. If you have read Me, My Bike and a Street Dog Called Lucy then this would be one you’d like.
If I had to sum up this book in one sentence it would be: Funny, heartwarming and full of doggy adventure!
Bodie on the Road is a great book that drops you knee deep into a fantastic Californian road trip with Belinda at the wheel and Bodie, her new and recently rescued dog companion, as her passenger. Bodie and Belinda's relationship is adorable, they were definitely meant for each other, and the reader is taken to some amazing places along the California coast. It was written so well that at times I felt like I was travelling in the car with them!
This book is really good, and everything I expected from the author. I'm really hoping that there will be more Bodie and Belinda adventures very soon!
I absolutely loved this book. What I adore about Belinda Jones is her attention to detail when it comes to her surroundings. I could picture everything as vividly as though I was seeing it with my own eyes. One woman and her dog, taking the ultimate pooch friendly road trip. The interspersed pictures of Bodie enjoying himself are just precious. He is truly adorable. I can't wait to read the next part of their adventures together.
I loved reading Bodie on the Road and hearing all about Bodie and Belinda's fabulous and humorous travels! It was great to learn more about which hotels and attractions will allow dogs, from such a travel expert and dog aficionado, because I am all about spending more time with my dog! I loved reading about how Bodie was adopted, this is such a fun and uplifting book about adopting a dog and taking him on a adventure up the west coast! I enjoyed every minute reading it!
This is a story to appeal to all dog-lovers and travellers. It made my spirit happy to go on this adventure vicariously with Bodie and Belinda Jones. Heartwarming. Enjoyable. A pleasure to read. Recommended highly. My thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review.
Lost count of how many times I've read this, my favourite book by one of my favourite writers. Having recently bought our own rescue dog home it resonates even more. Every dog lover and rescue parent should read this beautiful book.
The author Belinda,a journalist and romance writer from England, but living in California, was feeling a bit lost after having broken up with the man she thought was “the one”. Along comes Bodie, a dog that she adopts from a street adoption in Studio City, Los Angeles, up until then she had always been a cat person. This story takes us on a fun journey up the west coast, of California and Oregon, visiting all of the wonderful and crazy dog friendly places one can go. The final goal visiting a friend of theirs, and her dog who had move from California to Portland. We find out about the wonderful parks, hotels, restaurants, wineries , museums, beaches you name it, that allow dogs. It was a wonderful story of them binding and of both coming into their own. Belinda searches for what is important for her life, and by the end of this trip the author had a clearer picture of what direction she needed to take and what to do with that ended relationship that had haunted her the whole way. I would like to thank NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for the ARC of this book.
As someone who recently adopted a puppy named Brody, I could not resist reading a book about another rescue who just happens to be named Bodie! My interest was peaked even further to see that the author took a road trip with her new companion. Part-memoir and part-travelogue, I can’t remember when I found a non-fiction book so entertaining.
I found myself doing a lot of head nodding and chuckling as author Belinda Jones shared her experiences and resulting insights in becoming a first-time dog owner (or owned by a dog depending on your perspective.) Bodie’s antics, as well as those of other canines he met along the way, kept a smile on my face throughout.
Bodie and Belinda’s itinerary of dog-friendly adventures along the California-Oregon coast filled me with envy. From dog-friendly restaurants and hotels to dog shows, parks, charity fundraisers, and even a dog psychic - the possibilities seemed endless. To add to the interest, the book is dotted with pertinent facts and statistics related to the dog world particularly of rescues, and quotes from an assortment of famous individuals.
Last, but not least, I was delighted to discover lots of additional tips and suggestions in the appendices as well as Bodie’s web site http://www.bodieontheroad.com/ which also referred to a list of over a dozen other “travelicious” novels by the author. I’m looking forward to exploring both!
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in return for my honest opinion.
I love reading books about animals so that's why this book caught my eye ... plus how could I resist the face on the cover?!
Belinda is an English author living who was in Los Angeles. Nathan, the love of her life, had recently broken up with her and she needed a change. She had been a cat person but decided to adopt a dog and found Bodie at rescue. She then became friends with a woman and her dog, Winnie, who decided to move to Portland, Oregon. Belinda uses this as a reason to go on a road trip with Bodie.
Belinda plans their itinerary with fun things for both them ... lots of beaches, trails, dog-friendly hotels and restaurants, doggy daycare, etc. plus learning experiences for her. Her road trip sounded like a lot of fun and I would have liked to have accompanied them!
I thought this was an interesting and fun book. As I was reading it, I Googled some of the things she was experiencing to learn more. I liked the writing style, though I did get a bit tired of her mooning over Nathan as often as she did.
Dog lovers, lovers of travel and dog loving travelers will like this book.
Thanks Netgalley for the digital edition in exchange for my honest review.
Loved this book. Makes me want to road trip with my dogs. Thoroughly enjoyed reading about Belinda’s and Bodie’s road trip up and down the Pacific Coast Trail. I highly recommend this one to dog lovers and travel lovers.
I like dogs, have almost always had a furry friend for my 80 years. They are and were great pals: Mike, Tyrus, Jaeger, Jasper, Duke, Buddy, Gracie, and Barney, I loved them all. Then looking at the map at the beginning of the book is what sold me, a route I have traced many a time: highways 1 and 101, interstate 5, and a few state highways. I’ve been in all the towns and areas on her map. It was great fun to get another person’s perspective. I knew where she was at all points.
Belinda is what we would have called in my day a free spirit. She is English, and Brits write well, but she writes for a living, so one would expect some excellence. Her descriptions drip with detail but in an elegant fashion, almost Shakespearean. I liked her style. The book is a travelogue and a journey to self-realization for the author. She was a self-described cat person, but at 41 after a failed relationship-she got dumped-she got a rescue dog. Who rescued whom?
OK, she talks to her dog. Well, what dog lover doesn’t? Bodie’s responses, at least her interpretation of them, are interesting. They bond, which is usually the case between an owner and their dog. She finds a friend who is loyal, relatively undemanding, and somewhat of an adventure since she has never owned a dog before. Her road trip with Bodie is determined by places that like dogs or events that are dog-centered. He, at least according to Belinda’s observations, for the most part has a great time. So does she, particularly as she increasingly gets over her failed relationship and just lets go and enjoys the scenery and the dog lovers she crosses paths with.
If you like dogs and a whimsical travelogue, you will enjoy this book. It reads easily. If you are at all familiar with the places she goes, that will make it more enjoyable.
Nachdem ihr Freund mit ihr Schluss gemacht hat, holt Belinda sich einen Hund. Nicht spontan, sondern doch überlegt und mit dem Vermieter abgesprochen. Bei so vielen spontanen Anschaffungen von Tieren zu Weihnachten etc. finde ich das erwähnenswert. Das Zusammenleben mit Bodie funktioniert gut und zusammen machen sie sich auf den Weg. Jeder Halt hat etwas mit Hunden zu tun oder kann gemeinsam mit dem Hund erlebt werden. Hotels, die Massagen für Hunde anbieten, Hundeparaden, Parfüm für Hunde... Es ist spannend zu erfahren was es alles gibt. Natürlich hat sie das Geld um das ganze zu tun, sonst hätte sie die Strecke anders geplant. Ich bezweifel, dass ein Aufenthalt in solchen Hotels für mich erschwinglich ist. Es ist tatsächlich keine Werbung nur für Luxusartikel, so beschreibt sie auch die Ausflüge in verschiedenen Parks und Bodies Freude, als er das erste Mal ohne Leine oder durch den Sand läuft. Das Buch liest sich gut weg und ich hatte richtig Lust mir einen Hund zu holen und selbst auf Tour zu gehen. Am Ende des Buches gibt es Ratschläge für die Reise mit Hund und einen Hinweis auf ihren Blog, denn die Beiden reisen weiterhin durch die Welt.
I was given a copy by Goodreads for an unbiased review.
Belinda was in a similar situation to me last year at the start of the book - 39, newly single and childfree. I knew the feeling of needing something to give a bit more meaning to your life. Her choice to find a rescue dog was definitely the right decision for her (but sadly not practical for me).
I loved the stories of the places they visited whilst on the road and the motels and lodges they stayed in - I have had a few road trips in the States and I could really picture myself there.
Belinda's love for Bodie comes through and the stories of the things that didn't go quite as planned as well as those that did, the people she met due to having Bodie with her were told in a way that made it really enjoyable to read.
It was also interesting to hear about Belinda's life - both her past experiences and how her feelings changed towards her future.
This is a lovely book for dog lovers and those who like to travel.
I am so glad I chose to read this book on NetGalley and that the publisher gave me an approval for reading because I absolutely adored it. The time I spent on the journey with the writer and her dog was well spent. Belinda's writing style is so enjoyable. Each anecdote and advice from her travels with Bodie through California and Oregon was thoughtful and worth noting for anyone's future reference. Her relationship with titular Bodie was adorable and her misadventures with that pup are so relatable to any pet lover. People she met on the journey were interesting and worth reading about. The journey was also a spiritual one, as it managed to heal her broken heart and made her realise that she deserves much more than a fleeting romance and uncertainty of long-distance relationships. If your hobbies include both animals and travel, then this book is absolutely a must for you.
Jones relates the start of her life’s journey with her new dog Bodie, a mixed rescue pup, who had been on death row in a Los Angeles dog shelter.
Jones had recently been dumped by her military boyfriend and was now alone in her life once more.
Jones falls in love with Bodie the moment he plants his furry butt on her bare, flip-flopped foot.
The two embark on a 2,000-mile West Coast road trip.
This trip goes through some spectacular places such as Big Sur, the sand dunes of Oregon beaches and they even have afternoon tea at Doris Day’s dog-loving hotel in Carmel.
Along the way, she learns about herself and she gains strength from the support of her dog Bodie.
I found this book an inspiring journey on how a dog can really help change your life for the better as a woman’s best friend.
This is a wonderful story told with heart of a heartbroken woman who adopts her first rescue dog after a lifetime of owning cats. She embarks on a 2000 mile road trip with her new rescue Brodie, and recants her adventurers with this wonderful dog for her readers. The adventure and antics they experience together will endear them to every animal lover. I adored this book and loved the way the author incorporated moving forward, taking a leap of faith and loving our pets into the story with great compassion as well as adventure. This is a book for all animal lovers to enjoy. and everyone that loves a starting over story. Thank you for the ARC which did not influence my review. I highly recommend this book.
Belinda decides to get a rescue dog after the breakdown of her relationship and it seems that it’s love on first sight. This is her adventure with Bodie on a 2000 mile dog themed road trip down the West Coast. I think anyone who loves their dog can recognize themselves a little in this book and secondly, I was very impressed that there were so many dog friendly/orientated places they visited!
I related to the way that people often stop and talk to you when you have a dog and I smiled as Belinda recounted her conversations with Bodie (we all do that don’t we?) This was an enjoyable light read and I loved the inclusion of photos of their holiday, they both look so happy.
And the question is who really rescued who?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC copy to read
Belinda Jones sets a charming, easy tone that takes us through one of the greatest journeys in life: finding our four legged soul mate. "Bodie on the Road" is a wonderful story full of humor and how Bodie and Belinda were able to adopt each other and fill in the empty spaces in both their lives. I found it incredibly uplifting and love how Belinda made something positive out of her hardships and gave life another go with Bodie.
I generally adore books about animals however I found it difficult to relate to the author and her lifestyle. The more I read, the less I enjoyed. I loved Bodie of course and was thrilled that he was rescued …however I didn’t find the story realistic for most people. Also - although the author turned out to be a somewhat decent dog mom, she was completely irresponsible at the beginning ( and during parts of her dog travels).
Part travel part self discovery memoir, this wonderfully written book made my heart warm. It was lovely to reminisce on my same PCH trip of last year as well as discover the Oregon coastline with the author. I have now read all the released books by this author and she never disappoints with her wittiness and themes. A great read for travel fans, pet fans or just for fans of good fun reads.
This book is a great canine adventure. Dog lovers will enjoy reading about the travels of Bodie. Some great descriptions, and attention to detail, of the Pacific Coast Trail up to Oregon. A part of the USA I would love to revisit. Dogs and travel, what's not to enjoy? I really enjoyed this fun read. Thanks to Net Galley for my copy.
Belinda's heart is broken by the love of her life. She finds her solace in the heart of a mystery mix breed rescue. When her pup's best friend moves to Portland, Oregon. Belinda plans a 2,000 mile dog friendly road trip. This book reads like a travel log. Many of the dog-friendly location that were mention sounded very cool. I found the book enjoyable even though it was a slow read.
I loved this book! It was fun, exciting and entertaining. I couldn't put it down because I wanted to see where and what adventure they explored next. I would like to see a follow up book with the rest of the story. I felt like it cut us short. I really like a happy ending! On a side note, I got a puppy after reading this book!
Naive new dog owner discovering what most readers will already know. Celebrity-obsessed author with high standards and an even larger budget providing little in the way of insights into what would have been interesting country. Even so had to at least give a second star for trying....
What a lovely uplifting book. I almost wish I could pack my car, load in my sleek precious greyhound and head for the coastline of california and Oregon to experience what the author did on her trip.
Recently widowed and new guardian to two beautiful pooches this book really struck a cord. It is a reminder of the joy to be found when you see the world through the eyes of your pets. Well written and engaging.
I may be suffering from shelter-in-place overload but I enjoyed the fact that Belinda and Bodie were traveling, talking to strangers, staying in hotels and motels, seeing the sights. Might have to read this again when I can get out-and-about and see if I enjoy it as much!
Interesting story about traveling with a dog from LA to Oregon. This involve dog friendly resorts/motels, pet friendly restaurants and attractions. The author planned all this ahead of time so that she and her pet can enjoy the trip. At the back of the book are for traveling with a pet.
Cute read in many ways but a little hard for me to really get into sometimes. Love the relationship between the author and her dog. Also love the idea of taking a road trip with one of my dogs and my daughter. Nice idea.