Finding Mr. Right [Mass Market Paperback]

Emily Carmichael (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2, 1999

It takes a heavenly dog to make a hell of a match--

Right before her untimely death, Lydia Keane made one terrible mistake--she had an affair with her best friend Amy's husband. Barred from the afterlife until she makes amends, Lydia has been ordered back to Earth for one final mission: to find Amy a new husband. But there is just one small catch: Lydia must rely on her smarts rather than her centerfold body--because she has been reincarnated as a mangy stray dog!

Although Lydia was always an expert matchmaker, she never had to play Cupid while trapped in the body of a furry mutt. But if she wants a chance to rest in peace, Lydia must figure out a way to find Amy the most handsome bachelor in town--and pray that woman's best friend can spot true love.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"You, Lydia Keane, are in a great deal of trouble," says heavenly host Stanley. Having died while fooling around with her best friend Amy's husband, Lydia must atone for her sins by going back to earth and finding Amy a new spouse. It's a job that sexy Lydia thinks she can do with her hands tiedAuntil she discovers that her hands are paws. It seems that in a fit of celestial pique, Stanley has sent her back as a pudgy, flea-bitten corgi. Lydia's matchmaking efforts prove that her choice of men is, alas, no better as a dog than it was as a woman. Besides, Amy is having no trouble finding Mr. Right on her own. Lydia begins to wonder why she's here, unless it's to use her heightened dog-senses to help Amy find out who's trashing her place, and why. Although Lydia's character has occasional flashes of sharp humor and potential for more, Carmichael ultimately opts for cute and sweet, with lots of doggy antics and sex scenes that stop at the bedroom door. While the ending is somewhat predictable, Carmichael's latest has the irresistible warmth and charm of a newborn puppy.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The recently deceased Lydia Keane has a lot to atone for before she can make it into the hereafter. Not only did she have an affair with a married man, but that man, now also dead, was married to her best friend, Amy. So Lydia returns to Earth in search of a suitable husband for AmyAonly she comes back as a dog. Light and whimsical with a touch of mystery, this unusual romance abounds with offbeat humor, animals of all kinds, and appealing protagonists who love them; it should appeal to readers with a soft spot for dogsAcorgis in particular. Carmichael (Windfall, Warner, 1997) has written a number of romances and lives in Illinois.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (February 2, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 055357874X
• ISBN-13: 978-0553578744
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #991,660 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Total escapism--a real hoot!, April 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Finding Mr. Right (Mass Market Paperback)

I, like the reader below, from Michigan, usually don't hit the Romance Section when looking for reading material. However, I am glad that I "mistakenly" bought this book, not knowing it's category.

Of course it's not "deep", I don't think it is meant to be anything other than what it is--a really fun, entertaining read. Actually it IS a bit thought provoking, makes one wonder what really goes on in the afterlife!

I couldn't wait to find out the "secret", and also, (blushing a bit here) really enjoyed the love scenes!

If you want to just get away from it all, have fun and laugh out loud, this is the book for you! Some of the best lines are from "Miss Piggy" the dog, so suspend your disbelief and just go with it!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Stunning, Humorous Success!, November 4, 2002

By 

Kimberly Borrowdale (Oregon USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Finding Mr. Right (Mass Market Paperback)

Lydia Keane is murdered while having an affair with her best friend's husband (the husband is also murdered). Before she is allowed to go to her eternal rest, however, Lydia must atone for her sins by finding a new husband for her now-widowed friend, Amy. The problem is that Lydia doesn't get to go back to earth in her own gorgeous body--she has to be in a dog's body. And not even a classy dog like an Afghan or an Irish Setter, but a short, scruffy, sausage-shaped Welsh Corgi.

As a stray Corgi, Lydia is adopted by Amy and named Miss Piggy. Amy, a freelance photographer who spends her weekends at dog shows and other people's weddings, was always the shy, bookish type without many boyfriends, but Lydia has *plenty* of experience with men... and before she knows it, sexy, wealthy, charming TV celebrity Tom Gordon is paying lots of attention to Amy--but so is Miss Piggy's new veterinarian, Jeff Berenger: definitely not rich, nor very stylish or handsome (not to mention those two holier-than-thou Border Collies he owns). How can Lydia/Miss Piggy steer Amy in the right direction when she is a prisoner in Amy's home (and has to deal with Amy's other two Corgis) and can't even talk?

When I first heard about this book, I was pulled two ways about reading it. Being a lover of both dogs and romances, I loved the premise--but I knew I would be disappointed if the author couldn't pull it off. Thank goodness I took the risk--Ms. Carmichael more than pulls it off, she makes it stunning. All of the characters--primary and secondary, human and canine--are multi-dimensional and well-rounded. Dog lovers will enjoy the dog shows, herding trials, and interpretation of canine senses; romance lovers will enjoy the building relationships, sexual tension, and, yes, actual dating (it seems that in many romance novels, characters never go on any dates, just fall into each other's arms). Ms. Carmichael makes a humorous premise believeable, and I'm ready to read more of her books, whether they have dogs in them or not.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars And I found a WONDERFUL book!, April 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Finding Mr. Right (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is thoroughly enjoyable and a great read. The human characters are fascinating and very well-developed, and "Miss Piggy" is the star of the show with her insightful comments about viewing life and people from the body of a corgi dog. Once I started reading this book I could not put it down, and I was laughing out loud at many places. I highly recommend this book, and I vote for the author to write a sequel about the further adventures of "Miss Piggy".