Diamond in the Ruff [Hardcover]

Emily Carmichael (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2001

Can a pup with a nose for trouble collar two lovers who need a miracle?

Lydia Keane figured she’d be heading for heaven after finding her best friend, Amy, the perfect husband. But instead the reluctant angel’s still stuck here on earth, trapped in the chubby body of a corgi named Piggy — and blackmailed into another matchmaking mission!

This time the job means manufacturing a little mischief before any marital vows are exchanged — an assignment that lets her hound every human within sniffing distance....

Wedding consultant Joey DeMato knows firsthand how hard it is to find true love. So when it comes to romance, Joey is all business — until Alicia, an old friend from college, becomes Joey’s latest client.

Alicia is rushing into a marriage with a hero cop who saved her life. But as Joey tries to stay on the sidelines, the gorgeous groom gets under her skin — with more than a little help from a conniving canine!

Piggy’s scheme includes nixing the planned nuptials in favor of Joey and the handsome lawman — but Piggy’s not the only one who wants the bride out of the way. Now, with just days until the wedding, can one devilish dog put the bite on a mysterious stalker and still find time to play canine Cupid?

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

iggy, the conniving corgi from Carmichael's Finding Mr. Right, is back to defuse danger and play cupid in this cute and cuddly romantic caper. This time Piggy must find a mate for Joey DeMato, a hardworking wedding planner who has little time for men or corgis she attributes her offer to care for her friend's pesky pups to a moment of insanity. During a chaotic trip to a pet superstore, Joey encounters her old college chum, Alicia Somers, and agrees to plan her hasty, high profile wedding. Alicia's nuptials promise to be a major media event; she's marrying Ben Ramsay, the police detective who saved her from a stalker. To Joey's chagrin, Alicia's groom is the same wiseacre cop who gave her a speeding ticket a few days earlier, and he still has the unnerving ability to puncture her cool reserve. Although the two try to ignore the feelings brewing between them, Piggy's perky little nose senses the sparks, and she's determined to use her wily ways to bring them together. The romantic tension heats up as the bridal party heads to a Colorado ski lodge for a week of skiing, skating and danger. Piggy's monologues interrupt the novel's pacing and are often redundant, but her sassy demeanor keeps the tale lively. Dog lovers and romance readers will enjoy this satisfying stocking stuffer.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From Booklist

Joey DeMato, wedding consultant, is in a hurry when Detective Ben Ramsay pulls her over for speeding. When Joey starts being a smart aleck, he hands her a ticket, even though he kind of enjoys her attitude. This would have been the end of the matter if Joey didn't run into her old college friend, who asks her to orchestrate her wedding. The groom is none other than the policeman who gave her the ticket. Joey and Ben start off as adversaries, then deny their growing feelings for each other. Not only are their feelings a problem, but there is real danger involved. And then there's Piggy the dog. Joey has been taking care of another friend's pet corgi, who actually has the soul of a gorgeous gal who still has to perform some good deeds before getting to heaven. It's interesting to see how Joey and Ben try to get around the fiance issue, but Piggy's story is great fun in its own right. Maria Hatton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: San Val (October 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1417716258
• ISBN-13: 978-1417716258
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,049,438 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A feel good/have fun story laced with suspense, November 11, 2001

By 

Freelance Reviewer "Carla" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Diamond in the Ruff (Mass Market Paperback)

Josephine "Joey" DeMato is proprietor of The Perfect Wedding. Lately, though, that seems to be a misnomer as Joey is confronted with all manner of ups and downs while trying to conduct her business. The latest cog in the wheel is the smart aleck cop who pulls her over for speeding. Irritation quickly sparks between the two before Mr. Macho Cop lets Joey continue on her way. The fates decide to tantalize Joey further by sticking her with her honeymooning friend's two obnoxious corgi dogs, and a chance meeting in a pet store with Joey's former college roommate, who just so happens to need a wedding planner, like immediately. Although Joey had planned to take a hard-earned vacation, she can't say no to Alicia -- or her money. When the time comes to meet the groom -- yup, you guessed it -- he turns out to be Mr. Macho Cop.

Ben Ramsey is temporarily demoted to regular cop from detective after having a confrontation with his boss. Despite that, he should be on top of the world; he's marrying gorgeous, rich Alicia Somers in a month's time. So, why is Ben starting to feel like a "kept" man? Matters deteriorate further when Ben and Alicia go to the wedding planner's for dinner. He finds himself face to face with the woman he gave the speeding ticket to earlier in the day. At Alicia's urging, Ben apologizes to Joey and admits he's been a little cranky since the demotion. Being a patrol cop is getting on his nerves.

Lydia Keane is a reincarnated corgi, of all things. If she can atone for her sins in her former life, Lydia will finally earn her wings. Now named Piggy, Lydia is disgusted with her appearance and inability to get her people to pay attention to her when they're in danger. Hilarity ensues when Joey, Alicia and Ben travel to the ski resort that Alicia has decided is the perfect spot for her and Ben's wedding.

DIAMOND IN THE RUFF is pure fun with a smattering of suspense. Just when you think Emily Carmichael will never be able to carry off the romantic aspect of the book, all heck breaks loose. Poor Ben is Alicia's knight in shining armor after saving her life from a stalker. When these two open their eyes and their hearts to what is really going on between them, the drama begins, but the humor never lets up. Joey can't believe she's lusting after Alicia's fiance and tries desperately to avoid Ben at all costs. Alicia, herself, is clueless until it's almost too late. The tension and conflict between all of the characters is believable and endearing and Lydia/Piggy is sorely put upon in her role as matchmaker/guard dog extraordanaire.

Emily Carmichael delivers another hilarious, yet poignant story of true love and how some people find it in the most unexpected place and manner. I highly recommend DIAMOND IN THE RUFF as a feel-good, have fun story with an unusual storyline and compelling twists and turns.

5.0 out of 5 stars Diamond in the Ruff a FUN read., September 26, 2010

By 

Ann Rankine - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Diamond in the Ruff (Mass Market Paperback)

I raise Corgis and Miss Emily must really know them. I recommend her books to all buyers of my puppies.

3.0 out of 5 stars The further adventures of Lydia...uhm...Piggy the Corgi, February 27, 2009

By 

Flush Barrett-Browning (Tennessee Valley) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Diamond in the Ruff (Mass Market Paperback)

Emily Carmichael's cleverest creation is Piggy, the wayward Corgi. The self-described 'stumpy-legged, sausage-shaped, big-eared, stupid-looking dog' is the earthly form of Lydia - the sexy homewrecker who was killed with her lover and is trying to earn her way to heaven through Piggy's good deeds. To be honest, Carmichael's human characters are rather ho-hum and predictable; the plot is also typical romance novel fare. But Piggy does have her comic moments.
So if you're looking for a way to pass a quiet evening or boring flight, the adventures of Piggy might just serve. But barely.