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Life on the Leash
Must Love Dogs meets My Not So Perfect Life in this hilarious romantic comedy about a dog trainer who’s a master at managing her four-legged friends, but when it comes to her love life...let’s just say she still has a lot to learn.
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 has a new friend—the sweet, lovably geeky Eli Crawford. More loyal than a retriever, he’s 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.
Charming, witty, and warm-hearted, Life on the Leash inspires you to cheer for every underdog looking for 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 has a new friend—the sweet, lovably geeky Eli Crawford. More loyal than a retriever, he’s 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.
Charming, witty, and warm-hearted, Life on the Leash inspires you to cheer for every underdog looking for love.
352 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 2018
88 people are currently reading
5412 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Schade
15 books406 followersVictoria Schade has been a dog trainer and writer for over seventeen years. During that time her dog duties have included working behind the scenes on Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl as the lead animal wrangler, appearing on two seasons of the Animal Planet show Faithful Friends, writing dog training content and appearing in educational videos for NBC/Universal, Pet360, PawCulture and petMD, and writing two dog training books, Bonding With Your Dog and Secrets of a Dog Trainer.
Victoria shares her 1850’s always-in- need-of- renovations home with Millie the Smooth Brussels Griffon (who wants you to know that she is not a skinny pug), Olive the mixed breed dog, the occasional foster pup, and her incredibly tolerant husband, Tom.
Victoria shares her 1850’s always-in- need-of- renovations home with Millie the Smooth Brussels Griffon (who wants you to know that she is not a skinny pug), Olive the mixed breed dog, the occasional foster pup, and her incredibly tolerant husband, Tom.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 286 reviews
September 14, 2018
5 big old ginormous stars for this book from me! Any book that gives you chills at the end deserves a full sweep!
I loved everything about this book - not only did it appeal to my love of dogs but it was so, so much more. It was about the kindness and compassion of people like our main character, Cora, who have made such a difference in the lives of animals.
I have three rescue dogs myself, so this was especially close to my heart. The message here is an important one. It was also a realistic depiction of dog training with positive reinforcement instead of negativity and abuse.
But! It’s not just about dogs! We have a villain, two love interests, and a landscaping competition reality show. There was humor and depth and romance. I loved the comic relief from Cora’s roommate and best friend, Maggie. I adored Eli and his salsa dancing and giant heart. And the dogs - they all had their own personalities and were important characters!
I highly recommend this to animal lovers! You will not be disappointed!
A huge thank you to Gallery Books for my early copy. This one will be available September 18th!
I loved everything about this book - not only did it appeal to my love of dogs but it was so, so much more. It was about the kindness and compassion of people like our main character, Cora, who have made such a difference in the lives of animals.
I have three rescue dogs myself, so this was especially close to my heart. The message here is an important one. It was also a realistic depiction of dog training with positive reinforcement instead of negativity and abuse.
But! It’s not just about dogs! We have a villain, two love interests, and a landscaping competition reality show. There was humor and depth and romance. I loved the comic relief from Cora’s roommate and best friend, Maggie. I adored Eli and his salsa dancing and giant heart. And the dogs - they all had their own personalities and were important characters!
I highly recommend this to animal lovers! You will not be disappointed!
A huge thank you to Gallery Books for my early copy. This one will be available September 18th!
September 18, 2018
Happy pub day to this fantastic furry read!! Get your hands on this.
Oh my gosh this was such a fun and adorable book!! First off... LOVE the title of this book and the cover!
Life on the Leash is a perfect mix of humor, love, friendship, and even a lil mix of romance :) You can help but love on your main character Cora. Cora has her own dog training business in Washington D.C and has such a huge heart helping her fellow dog companions. Cora finds an amazing opportunity to audition for a tv show that is right up her alley... training for dogs.
While Cora has the reality show on her mind, she meets a new client Charlie Gill that is practically the man of her dreams. But, only one tiny issue... he comes with his other half Maddison. On the upside, Cora meets a new friend Eli, who may turn out to be more then just her friend. Can Cora get it together and untangle her web of leashes between these two men and compete for this reality show?!
This book was so refreshing to me... I can't tell you how nice it is to see something different then the typical dark thrillers.
Victoria Schade is new author for me but one I am definitely going to put on my radar moving forward as should you! :)
If you love dogs like I do, a little bit of romance, and quirky yet sassy characters then this is the perfect women's fiction novel for you.
4.25 stars rounded up on this one! This is one not to miss and to pre-order! :)
Huge thank you to Gallery and Netgalley for an advanced arc in exchange for my honest review.
Published to GR: 6/29/18
Publication date: 9/18/18
Oh my gosh this was such a fun and adorable book!! First off... LOVE the title of this book and the cover!
Life on the Leash is a perfect mix of humor, love, friendship, and even a lil mix of romance :) You can help but love on your main character Cora. Cora has her own dog training business in Washington D.C and has such a huge heart helping her fellow dog companions. Cora finds an amazing opportunity to audition for a tv show that is right up her alley... training for dogs.
While Cora has the reality show on her mind, she meets a new client Charlie Gill that is practically the man of her dreams. But, only one tiny issue... he comes with his other half Maddison. On the upside, Cora meets a new friend Eli, who may turn out to be more then just her friend. Can Cora get it together and untangle her web of leashes between these two men and compete for this reality show?!
This book was so refreshing to me... I can't tell you how nice it is to see something different then the typical dark thrillers.
Victoria Schade is new author for me but one I am definitely going to put on my radar moving forward as should you! :)
If you love dogs like I do, a little bit of romance, and quirky yet sassy characters then this is the perfect women's fiction novel for you.
4.25 stars rounded up on this one! This is one not to miss and to pre-order! :)
Huge thank you to Gallery and Netgalley for an advanced arc in exchange for my honest review.
Published to GR: 6/29/18
Publication date: 9/18/18
July 3, 2018
Cora is a successful dog trainer and her love of dogs is a priority in her life, but could Mr. Right be in her near future?
Cora spends all her time training dogs for clients that really have no clue about dog ownership (yes, we do have to train them to potty outside). She is a hero to the dogs she helps and she has the special touch it takes to understand the pups. The one thing that is missing from her life is that special man (he needs to be a dog lover of course). One of her new clients is quite the hunk, but he has a gorgeous girlfriend. He is taken, but she wishes he would act like it (yep, I know the type) and stop all the shenanigans.
Dog lovers will love the mishaps, the adventures and the gentle training methods Cora uses to help her clients with their pups. She doesn't mind getting sloppy kisses or muddy paw prints on her clothes. How could I not love her?
A sparkling story that was full of laughs, four-legged friends and a few compromising situations. This was the perfect light and fluffy read I needed.
Thanks to Gallery Books for my ARC. Review will post to Amazon/BN on publication date Sept. 18,2018
Cora spends all her time training dogs for clients that really have no clue about dog ownership (yes, we do have to train them to potty outside). She is a hero to the dogs she helps and she has the special touch it takes to understand the pups. The one thing that is missing from her life is that special man (he needs to be a dog lover of course). One of her new clients is quite the hunk, but he has a gorgeous girlfriend. He is taken, but she wishes he would act like it (yep, I know the type) and stop all the shenanigans.
Dog lovers will love the mishaps, the adventures and the gentle training methods Cora uses to help her clients with their pups. She doesn't mind getting sloppy kisses or muddy paw prints on her clothes. How could I not love her?
A sparkling story that was full of laughs, four-legged friends and a few compromising situations. This was the perfect light and fluffy read I needed.
Thanks to Gallery Books for my ARC. Review will post to Amazon/BN on publication date Sept. 18,2018
April 23, 2019
4 aDORABLE stars and a big sloppy kiss!🐶
*** Mini Review ***
This was such a fun book full of humor and heart and of course lots of fur babies! A perfect pallet cleanser in between all those dark twisted thrillers. Cora was a wonderful character someone you would love to call friend. She was kind and compassionate and not only to four-legged friends but to the two-legged ones as well.
This book had a little of everything humor, love, friendship, and even a reality television show. Cora is a dog walker who meets her perfect man, the problem is he is already attached. She also has an amazing friend in Maggie as well as Eli who might be even more than a friend? She also has an opportunity to audition for a reality television show about dog training, kind of like the dog whisperer but with a more positive approach. The story is told with charm and wit and will definitely make you smile.
PS: one of my dogs was giving me lots of kisses while I was writing this review! She must’ve known!
*** thank you so much to Gallery for my copy of this book ***
*** Mini Review ***
This was such a fun book full of humor and heart and of course lots of fur babies! A perfect pallet cleanser in between all those dark twisted thrillers. Cora was a wonderful character someone you would love to call friend. She was kind and compassionate and not only to four-legged friends but to the two-legged ones as well.
This book had a little of everything humor, love, friendship, and even a reality television show. Cora is a dog walker who meets her perfect man, the problem is he is already attached. She also has an amazing friend in Maggie as well as Eli who might be even more than a friend? She also has an opportunity to audition for a reality television show about dog training, kind of like the dog whisperer but with a more positive approach. The story is told with charm and wit and will definitely make you smile.
PS: one of my dogs was giving me lots of kisses while I was writing this review! She must’ve known!
*** thank you so much to Gallery for my copy of this book ***
November 26, 2018
Maybe more of a 2.5. This was a fine little Rom-Com, but I definitely had more issues with it that I expected to. If you really, really love dogs you might like this, but overall it was just kind of.. meh.
I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher in a Goodreads giveaway. This in no way influenced or swayed my review.
I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher in a Goodreads giveaway. This in no way influenced or swayed my review.
July 19, 2018
3.5/5 stars
This review wouldn't be complete without a picture of my own dog, so reading world, meet Luna (named after a Luna-cat in Sailor Moon).
The main reason as to why I picked this book up:
"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."
Sure, the cover caught my eye too, but once I saw the words rescued pitbull I was sold. As an owner of a pitlab mix dog I am sick and tired of people judging the poor breed for what we, as humans, did to them (and sadly still continue to do).
Will a cub tiger try to eat you or will it cuddle you? Baby animals do not learn their instincts until they are are taught them - by their mother or by a human. As shocking as it sounds a pitbull dog doesn't want to fight another dog for your entertainment . But it will do it if its trained to do so. So before you call a pitbull (or a doberman, or a boxer or whatever breed you have prejudice with) a monster, think about the true monsters behind the dog who enjoy watching innocent animals fight to death so they can make money on it.
I got a bit off topic over there, but some things you just can't keep inside. I enjoyed every single bit of this book that had to do with dogs - dogs of all shapes and sizes. Cora is a dog whisperer and the bond she was able to share with each dog made me pet my dog twice as much as I normally do (and I already pet her a lot!)
The only reason this book wasn't a complete winner for me was because I didn't really care for the tv-show plot. There was just too much tv-show talk in it - I read books because I don't care about tv-shows, so obviously I don't really want to read about them. But it did propel the plot forward and all of the things that happened were nicely wrapped up in the end.
Cora was a great main character - she was shy, but strong. She had her baggage but she always came through when important things were on the line. And her devotion to her profession was truly remarkable. We need people like Cora in real life! The love interest, or should I say the lust interest of Cora's infuriated me, but in the end I was able to see where Cora was coming from and forgave her.
The side characters were well developed and added nice dimension to the story. I really enjoyed Maggie, although her falling out with Darnell and then falling back in was a bit too easy to be believable.
Despite the happy ending the book wasn't the lightest of reads for me. As a loving dog owner it was incredibly hard to read about abuse and injustice many dogs had to go through. And from the hands of their owners! It broke my heart and I definitely teared up more than once while reading.
I think that this will make a great summer read for both dog lovers and those who don't know much about dogs and how they operate. If I had to classify this I'd say chick-lit + dogs. The book is actually rich on good dog advice (thanks to the author's dog training background) so I think I also learned something from it.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket books for an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own, honest and come from the heart. Life on the leash will be published in September of 2018.
My WEBSITE
My INSTAGRAM
My WORDPRESS BLOG
This review wouldn't be complete without a picture of my own dog, so reading world, meet Luna (named after a Luna-cat in Sailor Moon).
The main reason as to why I picked this book up:
"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."
Sure, the cover caught my eye too, but once I saw the words rescued pitbull I was sold. As an owner of a pitlab mix dog I am sick and tired of people judging the poor breed for what we, as humans, did to them (and sadly still continue to do).
Will a cub tiger try to eat you or will it cuddle you? Baby animals do not learn their instincts until they are are taught them - by their mother or by a human. As shocking as it sounds a pitbull dog doesn't want to fight another dog for your entertainment . But it will do it if its trained to do so. So before you call a pitbull (or a doberman, or a boxer or whatever breed you have prejudice with) a monster, think about the true monsters behind the dog who enjoy watching innocent animals fight to death so they can make money on it.
I got a bit off topic over there, but some things you just can't keep inside. I enjoyed every single bit of this book that had to do with dogs - dogs of all shapes and sizes. Cora is a dog whisperer and the bond she was able to share with each dog made me pet my dog twice as much as I normally do (and I already pet her a lot!)
The only reason this book wasn't a complete winner for me was because I didn't really care for the tv-show plot. There was just too much tv-show talk in it - I read books because I don't care about tv-shows, so obviously I don't really want to read about them. But it did propel the plot forward and all of the things that happened were nicely wrapped up in the end.
Cora was a great main character - she was shy, but strong. She had her baggage but she always came through when important things were on the line. And her devotion to her profession was truly remarkable. We need people like Cora in real life! The love interest, or should I say the lust interest of Cora's infuriated me, but in the end I was able to see where Cora was coming from and forgave her.
The side characters were well developed and added nice dimension to the story. I really enjoyed Maggie, although her falling out with Darnell and then falling back in was a bit too easy to be believable.
Despite the happy ending the book wasn't the lightest of reads for me. As a loving dog owner it was incredibly hard to read about abuse and injustice many dogs had to go through. And from the hands of their owners! It broke my heart and I definitely teared up more than once while reading.
I think that this will make a great summer read for both dog lovers and those who don't know much about dogs and how they operate. If I had to classify this I'd say chick-lit + dogs. The book is actually rich on good dog advice (thanks to the author's dog training background) so I think I also learned something from it.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket books for an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own, honest and come from the heart. Life on the leash will be published in September of 2018.
My WEBSITE
My INSTAGRAM
My WORDPRESS BLOG
September 17, 2018
4.5 Stars
What a delightful, heartwarming story! I had so much fun reading Life on the Leash!
Victoria Schade has written a funny, refreshing, feel-good novel that is perfect for a lighthearted, quick read. Wait, did I mention there are dogs in the book??!! Oh, yes!! Lots of dogs, which is one of the main reasons that I picked this book up since I'm a huge dog lover and always have my 10-year-old black lab/pit bull mix Onyx right beside me (hogging the couch or bed) whenever I'm reading or writing my book reviews! There's also some romance going on in the book, and you just have to love a book with romance and dogs!
Cora Bellamy, the main character, is absolutely adorable! I love her! She is one of those book characters who you just want to be best friends with; I'm sure we've all encountered one or two of those along the way while reading, right? I love spending all my time with my dog, being covered with his kisses, and trying to get black dog hair off my clothes, so I think she and I would be great friends!
Cora used to be hugely successful in corporate America, but she left that world to follow her dreams to work with and help save dogs because of a passionate love for dogs she's had since she was a young girl. Now, she has a successful dog training business and blog that advocates dog behavioral training methods based on kindness, gentle corrections, and positive training instead of training dogs using aggression and fear. The excellent dog training advice throughout the book was just an added bonus and when I realized that Schade is a dog trainer, I appreciated it even more!
The other characters, people and pups alike, are fabulous too--even the few that you dislike because they are so well written and characterized! They range from wonderful, friendly, funny, silly, quirky, sad, despondent, sinister, egotistical, selfish, amazing, and drool-worthy!
Cora's rescue pit-bull, Fritz stole my heart with his loving affections and the way he made every rescue dog she brought home feel welcomed and safe. He's just the epitome of doggie friendship and is the way I wished everyone viewed rescue dogs and beautiful pits, who have such loving hearts and only fight and are aggressive if trained that way, as well as all rescue dogs, who are so loving and need a second chance at a loving, forever home!!
While Life on the Leash has its romantic moments and the ending was fantastic, what I loved the most was the emphasis on friendships throughout the book! Cora's best friend and roommate Maggie is always there to brush her off and give her a needed push, and Cora is there to do the same for Maggie. And her friend Eli is always around anytime Cora needs him and shows her what it really means to be a true friend, which is so much more than what she's getting out of the burgeoning relationship between her hot but very much taken client!
Life on the Leash is the perfect read for when you are looking for something a little lighter like I was when I read it! It will make you laugh, smile and if you are like me, you will even shed some tears over how some dog owners treat their own dogs, but that in no way ruined my enjoyment of this delightful book since that's, unfortunately, the sad truth.
I highly recommend dog lovers pick this one up! Actually, I think all animal lovers will be won over by Cora and her unadulterated love of dogs and the friends in her life! Definitely, don't miss this one because Schade has written a wonderful book full of heart, joy, and about taking second chances!
**Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books for my ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. **
What a delightful, heartwarming story! I had so much fun reading Life on the Leash!
Victoria Schade has written a funny, refreshing, feel-good novel that is perfect for a lighthearted, quick read. Wait, did I mention there are dogs in the book??!! Oh, yes!! Lots of dogs, which is one of the main reasons that I picked this book up since I'm a huge dog lover and always have my 10-year-old black lab/pit bull mix Onyx right beside me (hogging the couch or bed) whenever I'm reading or writing my book reviews! There's also some romance going on in the book, and you just have to love a book with romance and dogs!
Cora Bellamy, the main character, is absolutely adorable! I love her! She is one of those book characters who you just want to be best friends with; I'm sure we've all encountered one or two of those along the way while reading, right? I love spending all my time with my dog, being covered with his kisses, and trying to get black dog hair off my clothes, so I think she and I would be great friends!
Cora used to be hugely successful in corporate America, but she left that world to follow her dreams to work with and help save dogs because of a passionate love for dogs she's had since she was a young girl. Now, she has a successful dog training business and blog that advocates dog behavioral training methods based on kindness, gentle corrections, and positive training instead of training dogs using aggression and fear. The excellent dog training advice throughout the book was just an added bonus and when I realized that Schade is a dog trainer, I appreciated it even more!
The other characters, people and pups alike, are fabulous too--even the few that you dislike because they are so well written and characterized! They range from wonderful, friendly, funny, silly, quirky, sad, despondent, sinister, egotistical, selfish, amazing, and drool-worthy!
Cora's rescue pit-bull, Fritz stole my heart with his loving affections and the way he made every rescue dog she brought home feel welcomed and safe. He's just the epitome of doggie friendship and is the way I wished everyone viewed rescue dogs and beautiful pits, who have such loving hearts and only fight and are aggressive if trained that way, as well as all rescue dogs, who are so loving and need a second chance at a loving, forever home!!
While Life on the Leash has its romantic moments and the ending was fantastic, what I loved the most was the emphasis on friendships throughout the book! Cora's best friend and roommate Maggie is always there to brush her off and give her a needed push, and Cora is there to do the same for Maggie. And her friend Eli is always around anytime Cora needs him and shows her what it really means to be a true friend, which is so much more than what she's getting out of the burgeoning relationship between her hot but very much taken client!
Life on the Leash is the perfect read for when you are looking for something a little lighter like I was when I read it! It will make you laugh, smile and if you are like me, you will even shed some tears over how some dog owners treat their own dogs, but that in no way ruined my enjoyment of this delightful book since that's, unfortunately, the sad truth.
I highly recommend dog lovers pick this one up! Actually, I think all animal lovers will be won over by Cora and her unadulterated love of dogs and the friends in her life! Definitely, don't miss this one because Schade has written a wonderful book full of heart, joy, and about taking second chances!
**Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books for my ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. **
July 17, 2018
What a lighthearted sweet story! 4.5 Stars
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you’ve never read an author before, sometimes it can be a little disconcerting because you don’t know what you’re going to get. When I was looking at this to review, I thought it was a more of a women’s fiction. However, I was pleasantly surprised that this was actually a contemporary look at living life and a yearning for romance.
I love what the author did with the story. You take a ex-corporate girl who decided to follow her passion. Then throw in a bit of man crush, some humorous friends, many wacky clients, and you get a delightful story with a happily ever after ending that leaves a smile on your face.
It was direct and very accurate story of what we experience in life today. I loved her characters and great personalities that she gave them. What was best of all was that they were not perfect. They made mistakes but through that they got stronger and found their way to filling their dreams.
Fresh, fun, and full of optimism, not to mentions some great dog training tips, this story is a sweet read, perfect for women of all ages. You need to grab this one for your must read list!
* Cope received for review consideration
Full Review - http://amidlifewife.com/life-on-the-l...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you’ve never read an author before, sometimes it can be a little disconcerting because you don’t know what you’re going to get. When I was looking at this to review, I thought it was a more of a women’s fiction. However, I was pleasantly surprised that this was actually a contemporary look at living life and a yearning for romance.
I love what the author did with the story. You take a ex-corporate girl who decided to follow her passion. Then throw in a bit of man crush, some humorous friends, many wacky clients, and you get a delightful story with a happily ever after ending that leaves a smile on your face.
It was direct and very accurate story of what we experience in life today. I loved her characters and great personalities that she gave them. What was best of all was that they were not perfect. They made mistakes but through that they got stronger and found their way to filling their dreams.
Fresh, fun, and full of optimism, not to mentions some great dog training tips, this story is a sweet read, perfect for women of all ages. You need to grab this one for your must read list!
* Cope received for review consideration
Full Review - http://amidlifewife.com/life-on-the-l...
September 9, 2018
3.5 Stars!
Victoria Schade is a new author on the scene. She's written a couple of books about dogs, Bonding with Your Dog: A Trainer's Secrets for Building a Better Relationship and Secrets of a Dog Trainer: Positive Problem Solving for a Well-Behaved Dog , but Life on the Leash is a fiction book and I really liked her voice and writing style.
CORA BELLAMY is a dog trainer who believes in treating dogs humanely while teaching them to do what it is you want them to do. She spends so much time with her dogs that her social life has suffered. Her last relationship didn't end well, so she's thrown herself into her business. Most everyone she works with loves her and her methods. But while dogs are man's best friend, she begins craving a friend of the "man" variety.
When hot and successful CHARLIE GILL enters her life via his adorable dog, she is smitten. He says the right things, flirts and kisses her better than she's ever been kissed before. But Charlie isn't single and he keeps stringing her along, promising there will be a day when he leaves his live-in girlfriend.
ELI CRAWFORD is a good man with morals who knows how to treat women. While he really likes Cora, he accepts that he's been friend-zoned. He's there when she needs help and when her dogs need rescuing. Cora seems blind to the goodness that is Eli. She's so wrapped up in the handsome Charlie that she can't see all that Eli has to offer. That is until Charlie's light goes dark and Cora sees Eli for all that he is; loyal, handsome, and kind. Unfortunately for Cora, Eli is done being used.
While I enjoyed Cora's story and her desire to have the world adopt her views on humane training, I questioned the love triangle in this book. Cora is a woman with a heart of gold who would never dream of hurting an animal so I had a hard time accepting that she would willingly enter into and continue a relationship with someone who had a girlfriend. So while this added angst to the storyline, and at times tugged at my heart-strings, I was also conflicted by the apparent contrasting morals her character displayed.
I loved Eli! He was quirky, sensitive and had a heart of gold. His self-confidence was sexy and his self-preservation was endearing.
While reading Life on the Leash, I found myself laughing one minute, wanting to throw my Kindle across the room the next. Overall, I enjoyed the story and hope to read more from Victoria Schade in the future.
I was provided a review copy by the publisher. This did not influence my opinion of the book nor my review.
Victoria Schade is a new author on the scene. She's written a couple of books about dogs, Bonding with Your Dog: A Trainer's Secrets for Building a Better Relationship and Secrets of a Dog Trainer: Positive Problem Solving for a Well-Behaved Dog , but Life on the Leash is a fiction book and I really liked her voice and writing style.
CORA BELLAMY is a dog trainer who believes in treating dogs humanely while teaching them to do what it is you want them to do. She spends so much time with her dogs that her social life has suffered. Her last relationship didn't end well, so she's thrown herself into her business. Most everyone she works with loves her and her methods. But while dogs are man's best friend, she begins craving a friend of the "man" variety.
When hot and successful CHARLIE GILL enters her life via his adorable dog, she is smitten. He says the right things, flirts and kisses her better than she's ever been kissed before. But Charlie isn't single and he keeps stringing her along, promising there will be a day when he leaves his live-in girlfriend.
ELI CRAWFORD is a good man with morals who knows how to treat women. While he really likes Cora, he accepts that he's been friend-zoned. He's there when she needs help and when her dogs need rescuing. Cora seems blind to the goodness that is Eli. She's so wrapped up in the handsome Charlie that she can't see all that Eli has to offer. That is until Charlie's light goes dark and Cora sees Eli for all that he is; loyal, handsome, and kind. Unfortunately for Cora, Eli is done being used.
While I enjoyed Cora's story and her desire to have the world adopt her views on humane training, I questioned the love triangle in this book. Cora is a woman with a heart of gold who would never dream of hurting an animal so I had a hard time accepting that she would willingly enter into and continue a relationship with someone who had a girlfriend. So while this added angst to the storyline, and at times tugged at my heart-strings, I was also conflicted by the apparent contrasting morals her character displayed.
I loved Eli! He was quirky, sensitive and had a heart of gold. His self-confidence was sexy and his self-preservation was endearing.
While reading Life on the Leash, I found myself laughing one minute, wanting to throw my Kindle across the room the next. Overall, I enjoyed the story and hope to read more from Victoria Schade in the future.
I was provided a review copy by the publisher. This did not influence my opinion of the book nor my review.
December 13, 2018
Rating: 4/5 stars
This book came into my life in perfect timing! I got a puppy about a week or two before this book unexpectedly came in the mail. Everything that the protagonist was saying related to my situation (chewing, eliminating inside and ruining furniture), so I even learned a few things. I was also grateful that a few of the things that happened in the book weren’t happening to me. For example, this one lady was keeping her puppy in her apartment and not taking her outside and not toilet training her. It sounded like a nightmare!
As you can probably tell, I really enjoyed the dog aspects to this book. I thought it was really interesting to read about how to train a dog. The protagonist, Cora, is a dog trainer and meets with clients at their homes to help with making their pets well-behaved. Readers get an insight into how a dog trainer helps the animals they are working with, which is actually quite fascinating! It was awful to see how some people treat their pets, but really kept me engrossed because I felt so bad for them.
Cora is a likeable and dynamic character. I love that she was able to speak her mind and was in control of her life. The relationship she had with her friends Maggie and Eli was really fun to read about and the relationship she had with her rescued pit bull was so cute.
The plot was slow-building and it took me a while to understand where the story was going. There are two love interests she has but then there is also a reality tv show she becomes interested in. However, she often meets clients, some of whom feel a bit irrelevant to the main story. This was the only issue I had with the book. Otherwise, it was very enjoyable.
I’d recommend this book for anyone who likes dogs, romance and drama.
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for the advanced reader copy that I received in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2018
2 1/2 stars.
Dogs + Romantic Comedy = made for me.
Everything about this book from the adorable cover art to the synopsis indicated that it should be meant for me. Unfortunately, Life on the Leash just wasn't everything I hoped for.
It's not that there's anything necessarily bad about this book except I honestly believe that it would have benefitted from some serious editing.
It's simply that the overall novel felt flat and tone deaf to me. It's disappointing because I was expecting something like Must Love Dogs or The Truth About Cats and Dogs. I was hoping for a romantic comedy that is smart and charming featuring a dog trainer and her canine sidekick. But this book has haphazard plotting that plods along in an "and then..." fashion, awkward dialogue, one dimensional characters and absolutely zero romantic tension . The whole thing just felt so hokey, it really makes me sad. Typically I would be able to get past these things but there were quite a few other things that bothered me such as: belittling a mental health issue, occasional slut-shaming, a previous relationship that solely exists for the sake of the MC and her friends to mock and trash talk, some girl hating and a MC that is so self unaware that it's unbelievable. I just couldn't connect or care about anyone in this book at all.
Here's the thing; this book has a lot of parts that are cute and would make an enjoyable romantic comedy, it just wasn't well planned or executed. The story seems to plod along - and without a clear direction, witty banter or tension to carry it - it just falls flat. And it's unfortunate because the potential is there.
Dogs + Romantic Comedy = made for me.
Everything about this book from the adorable cover art to the synopsis indicated that it should be meant for me. Unfortunately, Life on the Leash just wasn't everything I hoped for.
It's not that there's anything necessarily bad about this book except I honestly believe that it would have benefitted from some serious editing.
It's simply that the overall novel felt flat and tone deaf to me. It's disappointing because I was expecting something like Must Love Dogs or The Truth About Cats and Dogs. I was hoping for a romantic comedy that is smart and charming featuring a dog trainer and her canine sidekick. But this book has haphazard plotting that plods along in an "and then..." fashion, awkward dialogue, one dimensional characters and absolutely zero romantic tension . The whole thing just felt so hokey, it really makes me sad. Typically I would be able to get past these things but there were quite a few other things that bothered me such as: belittling a mental health issue, occasional slut-shaming, a previous relationship that solely exists for the sake of the MC and her friends to mock and trash talk, some girl hating and a MC that is so self unaware that it's unbelievable. I just couldn't connect or care about anyone in this book at all.
Here's the thing; this book has a lot of parts that are cute and would make an enjoyable romantic comedy, it just wasn't well planned or executed. The story seems to plod along - and without a clear direction, witty banter or tension to carry it - it just falls flat. And it's unfortunate because the potential is there.
February 13, 2019
4.5★s
Life on the Leash is the first novel by American dog trainer and author, Victoria Schade. Cora Bellamy’s dog training business is going well. She loves her job because she loves dogs and people and wants their interactions to be positive. Her emphasis is on love and compassion and reward, unlike the famous Dog Dictator, Boris Ershovich, whose tele-evangelist-like shows promote forced submission and punishment. Cora vents her anger over his methods on her anonymous blog, ChienParfait.
Cora’s methods give dog owners proven ways to correct their pets’ behaviour without cruelty: excessive barking, toilet training, jumping up at visitors, separation anxiety, all manner of impolite and perhaps dangerous behaviour can usually be remedied if owners are prepared to follow her instructions and practice consistently. Cora’s own dog, Fritz is a rescue dog, and she regularly fosters other rescue dogs until a forever home can be found.
And now, Cora has the chance to promote her kinder, science-based method: she’s going overcome her anxiety to audition for a new dog training TV show. Her friends and clients are all very supportive, and Cora hopes she can make a good impression. But she is somewhat distracted by one of her clients: a gorgeous (hot!) dog lover who is making eyes at her despite his ongoing relationship with a high-powered attorney. Cora is eighteen months ex-fiancé and her sexual frustration could be clouding her usual good intentions to maintain a professional distance...
While parts of the plot are predictable, there are one or two surprises. The tone is fairly light-hearted, most of the characters not deeply complex, and both dialogue and several incidents offer plenty of humour. There is a love triangle, which is probably necessary as the very intelligent protagonist seems to have difficulty picking the decent guy without first experiencing the sleaze-bag. She could be allowing lust to overcome sense and appears set, at one stage, to make some disappointing decisions.
Schade’s love for, and expertise with, dogs is apparent in every scene, and her protagonist is a passionate advocate of her philosophy in dog training, eschewing force over kindness. This feel-good novel with its happy ending will appeal especially to dog-lovers. Dog shelters and rescue schemes will also appreciate the positive publicity afforded them by this heart-warming debut novel.
Life on the Leash is the first novel by American dog trainer and author, Victoria Schade. Cora Bellamy’s dog training business is going well. She loves her job because she loves dogs and people and wants their interactions to be positive. Her emphasis is on love and compassion and reward, unlike the famous Dog Dictator, Boris Ershovich, whose tele-evangelist-like shows promote forced submission and punishment. Cora vents her anger over his methods on her anonymous blog, ChienParfait.
Cora’s methods give dog owners proven ways to correct their pets’ behaviour without cruelty: excessive barking, toilet training, jumping up at visitors, separation anxiety, all manner of impolite and perhaps dangerous behaviour can usually be remedied if owners are prepared to follow her instructions and practice consistently. Cora’s own dog, Fritz is a rescue dog, and she regularly fosters other rescue dogs until a forever home can be found.
And now, Cora has the chance to promote her kinder, science-based method: she’s going overcome her anxiety to audition for a new dog training TV show. Her friends and clients are all very supportive, and Cora hopes she can make a good impression. But she is somewhat distracted by one of her clients: a gorgeous (hot!) dog lover who is making eyes at her despite his ongoing relationship with a high-powered attorney. Cora is eighteen months ex-fiancé and her sexual frustration could be clouding her usual good intentions to maintain a professional distance...
While parts of the plot are predictable, there are one or two surprises. The tone is fairly light-hearted, most of the characters not deeply complex, and both dialogue and several incidents offer plenty of humour. There is a love triangle, which is probably necessary as the very intelligent protagonist seems to have difficulty picking the decent guy without first experiencing the sleaze-bag. She could be allowing lust to overcome sense and appears set, at one stage, to make some disappointing decisions.
Schade’s love for, and expertise with, dogs is apparent in every scene, and her protagonist is a passionate advocate of her philosophy in dog training, eschewing force over kindness. This feel-good novel with its happy ending will appeal especially to dog-lovers. Dog shelters and rescue schemes will also appreciate the positive publicity afforded them by this heart-warming debut novel.
January 28, 2019
3.5/5 ⭐ You can also find this mini-review on my blog righhhht HERE!
-
When this book turned up, I literally had no excuses to read it as soon as I could because I was in a serious mood for some contemporary romance and animals can always make your day better. Little did I know this book would have me on the brink of CRYING. Yes, animals make us sad too. Because it’s been a while since I read this book but I do have some awesome general thoughts on it, today I bring you a mini-review 😀 (let’s be honest, my normal reviews are like essays, yes I’m sorry…not sorry).
Never has a book made me want a dog more than ever but also show me how much work having a dog can be! I have a cat and having a cat is pretty low maintenance in itself – reading this book we’re introduced to Cora who’s basically a dog whisperer and trains them for a living. She was such a great and relatable character to read, she’s determined and strong, most of all such a kind and professional dog trainer.
Throughout the book, we’re exposed to many various situations with dogs and their owners, especially how those owners affect and treat their dogs. Some of the situations were truly heartbreaking and it was brilliantly written in that I was crying and just as desperate as Cora to help these dogs. As Cora is going about her business training dogs, we’re also introduced to the main plot (what I think is the main plot) and that’s her meeting two different love interests while trying to figure out whether she should audition for a dog reality tv show. One of the interests completely infuriated me while the other was the obvious perfect fit. The reality tv show part of the plot was interesting and really fit Cora’s character and personality, and I was generally hoping that she would be successful for it while reading.
I thought this book was really cute, light-hearted for the most part but there were, unfortunately, some downsides I personally didn’t enjoy. The main one being that the dialogue and the writing weren’t always cohesive and didn’t seem to fit the characters sometimes. Not sure if it’s just me, but it felt like the writing may have been trying a little too hard to make Cora and the other side characters sound young, super enthusiastic and ‘trendy’ when I think they would’ve been just as well-rounded characters without. I’m also not a huge fan of love triangles and going for the guy that already has a girlfriend, but I do like the way the ending of the book turned out and it actually created a pretty good character development for Cora.
I’d definitely recommend this book to dog AND cat lovers because I learnt a lot while reading this book, and flew through it so fast because it was such an easy read.
Do you own any pets?
Until next time,
xx Tracy
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Many thanks to Allen & Unwin for kindly me sending me the review copy for this book at my request in exchange for an honest review.
-
When this book turned up, I literally had no excuses to read it as soon as I could because I was in a serious mood for some contemporary romance and animals can always make your day better. Little did I know this book would have me on the brink of CRYING. Yes, animals make us sad too. Because it’s been a while since I read this book but I do have some awesome general thoughts on it, today I bring you a mini-review 😀 (let’s be honest, my normal reviews are like essays, yes I’m sorry…not sorry).
Never has a book made me want a dog more than ever but also show me how much work having a dog can be! I have a cat and having a cat is pretty low maintenance in itself – reading this book we’re introduced to Cora who’s basically a dog whisperer and trains them for a living. She was such a great and relatable character to read, she’s determined and strong, most of all such a kind and professional dog trainer.
Throughout the book, we’re exposed to many various situations with dogs and their owners, especially how those owners affect and treat their dogs. Some of the situations were truly heartbreaking and it was brilliantly written in that I was crying and just as desperate as Cora to help these dogs. As Cora is going about her business training dogs, we’re also introduced to the main plot (what I think is the main plot) and that’s her meeting two different love interests while trying to figure out whether she should audition for a dog reality tv show. One of the interests completely infuriated me while the other was the obvious perfect fit. The reality tv show part of the plot was interesting and really fit Cora’s character and personality, and I was generally hoping that she would be successful for it while reading.
I thought this book was really cute, light-hearted for the most part but there were, unfortunately, some downsides I personally didn’t enjoy. The main one being that the dialogue and the writing weren’t always cohesive and didn’t seem to fit the characters sometimes. Not sure if it’s just me, but it felt like the writing may have been trying a little too hard to make Cora and the other side characters sound young, super enthusiastic and ‘trendy’ when I think they would’ve been just as well-rounded characters without. I’m also not a huge fan of love triangles and going for the guy that already has a girlfriend, but I do like the way the ending of the book turned out and it actually created a pretty good character development for Cora.
I’d definitely recommend this book to dog AND cat lovers because I learnt a lot while reading this book, and flew through it so fast because it was such an easy read.
Do you own any pets?
Until next time,
xx Tracy
BLOG | INSTA | TWITTER
Many thanks to Allen & Unwin for kindly me sending me the review copy for this book at my request in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2019
“I wanted to help people do the same with their own dogs, to find that magic that transforms relationships.”
“So here I am. My life is all about animals.”
I was really careful when it comes to picking the right books to read. That’s why I didn’t get to read a lot of new releases last year. I don’t want to read it in a bad time.
Turns out this story had proved me wrong likewise.
See, the thing with this book was it felt so out of place that I kept having a hard time if I should still continue to read or dnf it. And deciding to continue was definitely... a pain.
I get it that it’s centered on dogs. And dogs that need some serious loving and attention. But just because Cory Bellamy is a professional dog trainer doesn’t mean the story has to include random, bland characters(which I could barely catch up.) It doesn’t make the story any sense at all if some of them don’t feel important to Cory. So why the sudden appearance then?
It actually promised readers a fluffy, warm-hearted love story. But all we get in return was “a diary about her life.” The fact that the romance hardly exists until the second half, especially a love interest(who only appeared 30% throughout), made this book even more disappointing.
“So here I am. My life is all about animals.”
I was really careful when it comes to picking the right books to read. That’s why I didn’t get to read a lot of new releases last year. I don’t want to read it in a bad time.
Turns out this story had proved me wrong likewise.
See, the thing with this book was it felt so out of place that I kept having a hard time if I should still continue to read or dnf it. And deciding to continue was definitely... a pain.
I get it that it’s centered on dogs. And dogs that need some serious loving and attention. But just because Cory Bellamy is a professional dog trainer doesn’t mean the story has to include random, bland characters(which I could barely catch up.) It doesn’t make the story any sense at all if some of them don’t feel important to Cory. So why the sudden appearance then?
It actually promised readers a fluffy, warm-hearted love story. But all we get in return was “a diary about her life.” The fact that the romance hardly exists until the second half, especially a love interest(who only appeared 30% throughout), made this book even more disappointing.
October 8, 2018
Not gonna lie this was kind of a let down because I felt everything very inflated? Conversations seemed unnatural and nothing really happened except a lot of training dog cases and how dogs were being mistreated. Kind of sad to read. Romance was iffy between cora and Charlie and later on with Eli, it seemed rushed. But cute overall. I thought the book was also too long lol for what it was worth.
October 23, 2018
I don’t even know where to start with this book. Cora as main character was a mess in a bad way, she kept contradicting herself first saying that Maggie would totally make her date Charlie and when Maggie found out about Charlie she kept calling him a douchbag. Cora cares about animals but she does not have the same empty for humans. She slut-shames and she has no problem kissing a guy fully knowing he is in a relationship. The random french was weird and I don’t know if it was grammatically correct but if the random spanish told me something is that the writer and the publisher of this book can’t speak spanish.
Some dialogues felt a little over the top and the plot seemed to go no where.
Some dialogues felt a little over the top and the plot seemed to go no where.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2018
I will put this disclaimer out there, I normally will NOT pick up a book if it relates to dogs. Even though I am obsessed with dogs, my heart can't take it if something happens to a dog in a book. With that being said, I ADORED and LOVED this book. I love me some romance, and this book was the perfect balance of that, along with the dog training, friendships, dogs, dogs, and more dogs! I don't have a single gripe. This book was utter pawfection! So please, if you love dogs, THIS is the book for YOU.
May 13, 2018
This is a fun dog lovers book with a human romance. Cora has a dog training service in the Washington DC area and is happiest when she helping her canine customers. Her best friend, Eli is encouraging her to try out for a tv show looking for a dog trainer. Lots of training hints and solutions for common puppy problems. Cute story that’s fun to read. Victoria Schafer is a new author for me and I found her style quite refreshing.
September 18, 2018
Loved it!!! If you are a dog lover looking for a feel good read, this is it!!
October 11, 2018
2.5 stars
I'm a very mellow person. In fact, there might only be two things that I can be extreme about: Animal rights and feminism. Before reading this book I never thought the two could come into any sort of opposition. But you see, as much as the animal lover in me loved this book, the feminist was seething at the many many sexist comments throughout the whole book. From women casually and constantly calling other women bitches and whores to the immediate judgments passed on female characters based on their amount of makeup, clothes and body to the thousands of mentions of "dumb blondes", "Yoga moms" and the kind, just thinking back to the many offences in this book is making me angry again. As much as I wanted to love Cora for being an animal advocate, I couldn't get past her terrible attitude towards other women.
“Cora wondered if Madison ever actually cooked in their beautiful kitchen.” God forbid any mention of the guy ever using the kitchen to cook. No, how dare his girlfriend never cook for him in their beautiful kitchen?
“Maggie said as they walked through the empty store, ignoring the bitchy reps at the makeup counters.” You might think these women have a role in the story, but no, this is their only presence and for some reason, it's important for us to think of them as bitchy make-up reps.
“Rachel added. “Now that the twins are in preschool maybe I’ll get back to my photography.”Right, one of the only things we know about this character, who appears only once, is that she couldn't possibly have a job or a hobby before her kids went to preschool.
“ It sounds like you should be one of those dumb bitches on The Bachelor”
“Brooke Keating, had a fame whore-y reputation”
“causing her oversize breasts to ricochet in her tiny sports bra.”
“it was basically a clear shot down the front of her blouse to her push-up bra.”
“She reached into her pocket and threw a twenty on the bar. “Drinks here are expensive. My contribution.” It was a final test. Was he a gentleman?” Right because a woman contributes to the bill only if his date is an asshole.
“her soccer mom clients hoped would rub off on them if they hung around her enough.”
Should I go on?
It's such a shame really, because the animal part? It's all there, and the rating's a true testament to how much I loved those bits when normally a tenth of the sexism in this book would have been enough to guarantee a one-star rating from me.
I'm a very mellow person. In fact, there might only be two things that I can be extreme about: Animal rights and feminism. Before reading this book I never thought the two could come into any sort of opposition. But you see, as much as the animal lover in me loved this book, the feminist was seething at the many many sexist comments throughout the whole book. From women casually and constantly calling other women bitches and whores to the immediate judgments passed on female characters based on their amount of makeup, clothes and body to the thousands of mentions of "dumb blondes", "Yoga moms" and the kind, just thinking back to the many offences in this book is making me angry again. As much as I wanted to love Cora for being an animal advocate, I couldn't get past her terrible attitude towards other women.
“Cora wondered if Madison ever actually cooked in their beautiful kitchen.” God forbid any mention of the guy ever using the kitchen to cook. No, how dare his girlfriend never cook for him in their beautiful kitchen?
“Maggie said as they walked through the empty store, ignoring the bitchy reps at the makeup counters.” You might think these women have a role in the story, but no, this is their only presence and for some reason, it's important for us to think of them as bitchy make-up reps.
“Rachel added. “Now that the twins are in preschool maybe I’ll get back to my photography.”Right, one of the only things we know about this character, who appears only once, is that she couldn't possibly have a job or a hobby before her kids went to preschool.
“ It sounds like you should be one of those dumb bitches on The Bachelor”
“Brooke Keating, had a fame whore-y reputation”
“causing her oversize breasts to ricochet in her tiny sports bra.”
“it was basically a clear shot down the front of her blouse to her push-up bra.”
“She reached into her pocket and threw a twenty on the bar. “Drinks here are expensive. My contribution.” It was a final test. Was he a gentleman?” Right because a woman contributes to the bill only if his date is an asshole.
“her soccer mom clients hoped would rub off on them if they hung around her enough.”
Should I go on?
It's such a shame really, because the animal part? It's all there, and the rating's a true testament to how much I loved those bits when normally a tenth of the sexism in this book would have been enough to guarantee a one-star rating from me.
March 30, 2019
When I finished the book, I was pissed. I contemplated giving it 1 star. The last time I gave 1 star to a book ? It was in 2011. When it comes to certain things, I can be pretty intransigent and that's the reason why I didn't like this book. Not because it's bad, not because it wasn't well written, but only because one detail stopped me from enjoying the story, and two other points disappointed me.
I couldn't get over the fact that Cora pursued a guy who had a girlfriend and encouraged him, in accepting his invitations, pretending it was for the job when it was obvious, even to herself, that there was nothing professional between them. They might not have do the deeds (but it was near) and the fact she put herself in a position where she knew it could and would probably happen is what bothered me the most. I think that playing with temptation is the first step to cheating and that she didn't see it as something major nagged me. At the end of the day, if I don't respect the main character, I can't enjoy the book.
As for the things that disappointed me, there's the fact that Cora had not what I would call a romance with Eli. They get together at the end as expected but they had almost no time together and I just couldn't believe in a love match in this context. And since this book was writing by a dog trainer, I expected to feel more deeply that for her heroine, dog training is more like a passion than a job. Yeah, I could see that Cora loved dogs and her job but I guess I expected more canine situations.
I couldn't get over the fact that Cora pursued a guy who had a girlfriend and encouraged him, in accepting his invitations, pretending it was for the job when it was obvious, even to herself, that there was nothing professional between them. They might not have do the deeds (but it was near) and the fact she put herself in a position where she knew it could and would probably happen is what bothered me the most. I think that playing with temptation is the first step to cheating and that she didn't see it as something major nagged me. At the end of the day, if I don't respect the main character, I can't enjoy the book.
As for the things that disappointed me, there's the fact that Cora had not what I would call a romance with Eli. They get together at the end as expected but they had almost no time together and I just couldn't believe in a love match in this context. And since this book was writing by a dog trainer, I expected to feel more deeply that for her heroine, dog training is more like a passion than a job. Yeah, I could see that Cora loved dogs and her job but I guess I expected more canine situations.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2018
This was fun and very sweet. I can't imagine a dog lover NOT going gaga for this one. I loved spending time with Cora and all the dogs. The training bits were really interesting, and who can resist a cute pup. Lots of heartwarming things happened with the dogs, but I also enjoyed getting to know Cora. Her whole path from college to dog training was interesting, and I was cheering for her, when some really awesome dog related opportunities came her way.
There were two men vying for Cora's attention in this book, but the right choice was so obvious, since the other guy was deplorable.
This was light and fun and also, quite heartwarming.
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There were two men vying for Cora's attention in this book, but the right choice was so obvious, since the other guy was deplorable.
This was light and fun and also, quite heartwarming.
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November 12, 2018
For dog lovers!
November 18, 2019
(free review copy) LOVED all the dog stuff, got a bit annoyed with Cora's romantic decisions. BUT I loved all the dog stuff, so you know...........sigh. Maybe it just represents how I feel about the world in general? I love all the dogs and lots of people annoy me? Maybe so. Regardless, it's a decent contemporary fiction story that has great dogs.
September 21, 2018
Audiobook Review: 4.5 Stars
Story: 4 Stars - Audiobook experience: 5 Stars
If you could sum up Life On The Leash in three words, what would they be?
Dogs, love, and friendship!
Who was your favorite character and why?
I loved Cora and her dogs!! The one she owned and the ones she trained. I am not a dog person, but I support 100% the well being of pets in general and I felt connected with Cora in that regard. There’s another aspect of her character that made her so much lovable and more real to me. Before she finally noticed the real love interest in this story, she was attracted to one of her clients, and that created a bit of drama in this book. And I enjoyed that drama, it kept me stick to the book/audiobook wanting to know how it would wound up.
Would you consider the audio edition of Life On The Leash to be better than the print version?
I had the chance to both read and listen to Life ON The Leash and I loved both experiences. The writing was fluid and easy to follow and the characters were loveable, so it was oh so easy to get into the story. And the narration of Em Eldridge was wonderful, she interpreted Cora perfectly, fitting her personality, and the secondary characters were greatly read. So, for me, there’s no better version, but a perfect companion between book and audiobook.
Would you recommend this book/audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Absolutely. I would recommend it to romance readers who enjoy pets in books because we all know they make the stories better. And of course, I’d also recommend it, because Victoria’s writing is great, with awesome characters, a cute romance—surrounded by amazing dogs—and a lovely HEA.
100% recommended.
Story: 4 Stars - Audiobook experience: 5 Stars
If you could sum up Life On The Leash in three words, what would they be?
Dogs, love, and friendship!
Who was your favorite character and why?
I loved Cora and her dogs!! The one she owned and the ones she trained. I am not a dog person, but I support 100% the well being of pets in general and I felt connected with Cora in that regard. There’s another aspect of her character that made her so much lovable and more real to me. Before she finally noticed the real love interest in this story, she was attracted to one of her clients, and that created a bit of drama in this book. And I enjoyed that drama, it kept me stick to the book/audiobook wanting to know how it would wound up.
Would you consider the audio edition of Life On The Leash to be better than the print version?
I had the chance to both read and listen to Life ON The Leash and I loved both experiences. The writing was fluid and easy to follow and the characters were loveable, so it was oh so easy to get into the story. And the narration of Em Eldridge was wonderful, she interpreted Cora perfectly, fitting her personality, and the secondary characters were greatly read. So, for me, there’s no better version, but a perfect companion between book and audiobook.
Would you recommend this book/audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Absolutely. I would recommend it to romance readers who enjoy pets in books because we all know they make the stories better. And of course, I’d also recommend it, because Victoria’s writing is great, with awesome characters, a cute romance—surrounded by amazing dogs—and a lovely HEA.
100% recommended.
September 18, 2018
Cora is a successful dog trainer, fully in the camp of gentle methods and no tugging. Her bestie is a pit-mix named Fritz, who generously shares his affections with her roommate Maggie and a number of foster dogs that have come through their tiny Washington D.C. apartment. Having spent her time in corporate America, Cora created her dream job and started her own company and has a roster of successful and happy dog-owner partnerships. There’s only a couple of tiny burrs in her world of doing for the dogs: a boxer puppy named Ollie, a toy poodle named Chanel, their owners, and watching her ex strut and floss on television as part of a reality landscaping television show. Ollie is just a puppy – and like all puppies, he’s got his own way of looking at the world, made easier with some consistent, kindly performed training: but his ‘parents’ are on two sides of the coin. One wishes that he be perfect, NOW, and the other is more willing to endure and enjoy his puppydom, all in a way to flirt with and get closer to Cora. Charlie also has a high-powered job as an attorney of a rescue organization – and is gorgeous to boot, leaving Cora more than a bit flummoxed and starstruck.
But, a visit with one of her favorite people and her Bouvier, she meets Eli, a ‘geek-chic’ computer whiz with a way with dogs, an easy demeanor, and neighbor of the barking and often neglected poodle Chanel. But Eli is a ‘comfortable’ guy – when Cora is (and history proves it) attracted to the twuntwaffle himbos, selfish, egotistical and wholly unbothered by morals, loyalty or even their own over-developed competitive natures. Charlie is an utter cad, but she can’t help but think with her libido – and when he fails her spectacularly – it really fails. But, in the middle of that relationship failing, we see Cora’s quiet but always apparent affinity for dogs, bringing her into helping with Chanel, a white toy poodle with an owner who is incapable of taking care of herself, let alone a dog. More than a bit depressed, with an apartment full of clutter in a ‘hoarder’s starter kit’ way, Eli’s first running into Cora and Chanel, and Chanel’s obvious liking of him, to his stepping into the breach to foster the desperately needy dog is wonderful and a perfect example of the ‘right’ man for Cora – if only she would see it.
It’s not all about dogs – or even training: it’s Cora’s ability to befriend canine and humans alike, all with her quiet and considered approach. Her no-nonsense roommate always ready to boost her up when she’s low, fashionista who pulls together outfits and is that sort of best friend who is ready with ice cream, hugs or a bottle of champagne. As a duo- these two play off one another as friends should, and the bolder Maggie is more than willing to push Cora into things she should do: mostly auditioning for a new dog training show. From nerves through the audition, and her back and forth between Charlie and Eli, Cora has a ton of revelations come to her, and more than a few disappointments. A nice mix of friendship and chick-lit feel to the solid train-wreck that is the romance to nowhere with Charlie, and the unexpected emergence of Eli in the running for her heart – the story was sweet, cute and clever: particularly the ‘pro shelter doggie’ message with her rescued pit, and his ‘doggie welcome wagon’ approach to meeting and welcoming new doggie friends. If you like dogs- you’ll love this. If you are a cat person- well, you may find a new tolerance for the canines you encounter. And everyone can appreciate Cora’s growth in confidence and her relationship with Eli – perhaps even more than wanting to put her in a time-out when it comes to Charlie.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
But, a visit with one of her favorite people and her Bouvier, she meets Eli, a ‘geek-chic’ computer whiz with a way with dogs, an easy demeanor, and neighbor of the barking and often neglected poodle Chanel. But Eli is a ‘comfortable’ guy – when Cora is (and history proves it) attracted to the twuntwaffle himbos, selfish, egotistical and wholly unbothered by morals, loyalty or even their own over-developed competitive natures. Charlie is an utter cad, but she can’t help but think with her libido – and when he fails her spectacularly – it really fails. But, in the middle of that relationship failing, we see Cora’s quiet but always apparent affinity for dogs, bringing her into helping with Chanel, a white toy poodle with an owner who is incapable of taking care of herself, let alone a dog. More than a bit depressed, with an apartment full of clutter in a ‘hoarder’s starter kit’ way, Eli’s first running into Cora and Chanel, and Chanel’s obvious liking of him, to his stepping into the breach to foster the desperately needy dog is wonderful and a perfect example of the ‘right’ man for Cora – if only she would see it.
It’s not all about dogs – or even training: it’s Cora’s ability to befriend canine and humans alike, all with her quiet and considered approach. Her no-nonsense roommate always ready to boost her up when she’s low, fashionista who pulls together outfits and is that sort of best friend who is ready with ice cream, hugs or a bottle of champagne. As a duo- these two play off one another as friends should, and the bolder Maggie is more than willing to push Cora into things she should do: mostly auditioning for a new dog training show. From nerves through the audition, and her back and forth between Charlie and Eli, Cora has a ton of revelations come to her, and more than a few disappointments. A nice mix of friendship and chick-lit feel to the solid train-wreck that is the romance to nowhere with Charlie, and the unexpected emergence of Eli in the running for her heart – the story was sweet, cute and clever: particularly the ‘pro shelter doggie’ message with her rescued pit, and his ‘doggie welcome wagon’ approach to meeting and welcoming new doggie friends. If you like dogs- you’ll love this. If you are a cat person- well, you may find a new tolerance for the canines you encounter. And everyone can appreciate Cora’s growth in confidence and her relationship with Eli – perhaps even more than wanting to put her in a time-out when it comes to Charlie.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
December 16, 2018
This is like a low-rated chick-flick - you still finish it because its easy - its a kind of painful where you want to know the end - which could have been worse by far. It referenced sexism and feminism without being self-aware at all of the many ways it was so typically sexist, superficial, cliche and cringey.
I really dont like seeing people who dont respect couple's relationship boundaries -Sigh.
The dogs were the only saving grace. The dogs and the main characters relationship with the dogs was really enjoyable to read.
2 stars: It was okay
I really dont like seeing people who dont respect couple's relationship boundaries -Sigh.
The dogs were the only saving grace. The dogs and the main characters relationship with the dogs was really enjoyable to read.
2 stars: It was okay
May 7, 2023
I had a hard time liking Cora. The fact that she claimed to hate cheaters but then was willing and ready to have an affair with Charlie behind his girlfriend's back made it really hard to like her. She claimed to be torn about it and that she just wanted to be able to do something without thinking about the consequences but the only resistance I saw from her was based on her idea of professionalism.
February 19, 2019
I hated this so much I dug up my memories from six years ago of how to insert a gif into a goodreads review because this is absolutely necessary
I had fairly high hopes for this one which I think in part made it even more disappointing but this... was not good. This popped up on my radar late last year after I'd started getting into adult rom com novels and really enjoyed Roomies, Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating and The Hating Game - and it sounded like it would be perfect for me, a dedicated dog lover. Unfortunately things started falling apart from the very first page. I think for this review I'm just going to take you through my journey of very quickly realising that this book was not going to be the perfect, dog-filled romantic comedy of my dreams.
Ok so my first update on this book was literally only 15 pages in when I couldn't help myself commenting on HOW BADLY IT'S WRITTEN. For context, I tutor students aged 6 - 16 in English and whilst I've always been a lover of gorgeous writing, my sensitivity to bad or immature writing has increased exponentially since I started this job. This book has phrases that make it unironically sound like it was written by a 12 year old/author of My Immortal/one of those cheap churned out Scholastic Book Fair teen novels that's part of a 500 book series. It's just... so badly and immaturely written and it was so grating. And this is just in general phrasing and exposition. The dialogue is even worse - so unrealistic and unnatural. Nobody talks like that! And worse, on top of that - txt speak. I honestly cannot believe that in the year this was published, anyone was still going around writing messages like "He looked gud but cnt belve wht he said!!!" like excuse me do you expect me to be able to read that. Has anyone written a text message like that in the last 10 years.
An example of terrible dialogue (and for context: this is the cliffhanger end of a chapter as well): "Holy shit, your ex-fiance just made a gay slur on national television. He is going down the hard way." It's like bad dialogue from a mid 2000s bad chick flick except somehow it manages to be worse. Reading this actually hurt my eyes.
Another part of this book which made it seem incredibly immature was Cora's characterisation. The first thing to annoy me: her tendency to "slip into French" like ok we get it you studied French in college... unable to control the stream of French. She often broke into her second language when she was feeling uncomfortable ...really don't think people "slip in" to the second language they learnt as an adult. It really felt like an attempt to make her Quirky! and Interesting! but it felt so embarrassing to read. Other character tropes included "I don't know how to wear makeup as a grown woman wow I'm so not shallow at all but still beautiful without it!" which like.... Cora did you fall out of a YA novel written in 2010 and somehow end up in an adult romance in 2018. Are you lost do you need help?
This brings us to Cora's only other character trait: her "morals" when it comes to dog training that doesn't involve aggression and force. Which, to be clear, I totally agree with - but the exposition around these ideas felt far too obvious and like I was reading a pamphlet on it or, alternatively, that I was literally watching a bad low budget dog training show on late night television. It was completely preachy, unsubtle and not naturally integrated into the narrative, basically just paragraphs on paragraphs of "this is bad". Yes. I know. It's fairly obvious. I had the same issue with the way we were emotionally manipulated to hate the people who weren't caring for their dogs properly, because again. It's obvious. You're not supposed to like these characters. But the author has to spell every single thing out for you, and then spell it again just in case you didn't catch it the first time. This is an adult novel - presumably I'm an adult reading it, I can pick up these things on my own thanks very much. Yes, I am going to be annoyed at this woman who only wants dogs for the aesthetic and refuses to take any advice on how to look after them properly to promote their happiness. No, I don't need you to repeatedly emphasise how she is a Bad Person. I get it.
Moving on. This is a romance novel. And yet there is a surprising lack of romance for most of the novel. There's a sort of weird love triangle thing going on here, where Cora is attracted to the boyfriend of one of her clients (for no particular reason other than physical attraction, to be clear) and has to wrestle with the ethical dilemma of him cheating on his partner with her. Which also was done really heavy handedly and over the top. I was honestly surprised at the direction this took, in having her not end up with him. I guess it gets points for subverting the trope? But it was done so poorly. Half way through the book, I was thinking this can go in one of two ways. If she chooses Charlie this book basically condones cheating and also he's a disgusting person, Cora you have terrible choice in men, why would you do this when you know what he's like with his actual girlfriend. Eli is the better choice but then what's even the point of having the romance with Charlie. The love triangle was so unnecessary, which further reinforces my theory that Cora accidentally fell out of a YA novel published in the early 2010s. She had absolutely no chemistry with either love interest - even Eli, who I was rooting for since I prefer his kind of character, was an absolutely flat character with no emotional depth. Christina Lauren have spoilt me for good slow burn relationships, I realise that now - I could not have cared less about either romantic relationship in this book, and it's supposed to be a romance novel! I was absolutely NOT feeling it and was very disappointed on that front. There's no angst, no tension, no chemistry, nothing to make me invested in these relationships and characters' happiness.
Finally I want to briefly mention the representation and diversity of the characters in this novel. And I get that it's a straight white romance novel. It's not going to be on the cutting edge of diverse representation. But this reminded me why I'm continually wary of how straight female authors write about (and are sometimes weirdly obsessed with) gay men. (We have one lesbian character in this story who is present for about one page. She's pretty cool. But present for about one page.)
- On page 26 Cora mentions that the only guy in her yoga class she would consider dating is "perfect, but gay" and this strays uncomfortably close to all the times in high school I overheard conversations about gay celebrities with "it's such a shame/such a waste" like ok. First of all how would you think you have a chance with a fucking celebrity even if he was straight and also, gay men don't exist just for straight women's entertainment and obsession. But it crops up a lot and I'm over it.
- Our next example of stellar rep is a nameless contestant on the reality TV show Cora's ex-boyfriend is competing in, who is relevant only when he is called a homophobic slur (as aforementioned in this review) and Cora gets to be mortified by it. Charming.
- And finally. What would a romance be without the stereotypical gay older man who's obsessed with fashion and exists again, only to provide makeup and wardrobe and relationship advice to our main character? Amazing, show-stopping, never been done before, how original.
I'm over it, guys. It's not that hard to write good representation into your stories. I don't get it. It's not overtly problematic but it makes me somewhat uncomfortable and I'm just tired.
This book lived up to one of my expectations: there were a lot of dogs. But it failed so hard on everything else that I came away from this bitter, unsatisfied and incredibly disappointed. I just wanted a good romance and this was not that. The only thing we have to thank this book for is that it read incredibly easily and it's hopefully finally lifted me out of my reading slump, and also hopefully is the last in a string of 2 star reads this month.
tl;dr don't waste your time on this book read something good instead.
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