A New Leash on Life [Mass Market Paperback]

Emily Carmichael (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 29, 2005

Dog trainer Jane Connor has always preferred the company of canines, so when her kennel is destroyed in an Arizona wildfire, she finds her whole world in ashes. Jane managed to rescue all the animals, but her status as a local hero won’t pay the bills. Soon she’s reluctantly agreeing to work on a reality TV series about life on the dog show circuit–starring herself and her golden retriever, Shadow.

Jane has complete confidence in Shadow’s star quality–until she sets eyes on their chief competitor:an irritatingly perfect little papillon! Worse, the dog is attached at the leash to hunky Cole Forrest. Jane can hardly hide her attraction off-camera, so how will she conceal it from a national audience? It’s exactly the kind of distraction
she doesn’t need. But in a summer of surprises, Jane just might discover that an old dog learn new tricks–when love is the treat.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Carmichael's latest pet-themed romance takes an affectionate look at the unglamorous, itinerant life of the dog-show circuit. Jane Connor is a successful trainer and handler until an Arizona wildfire strikes her property, on which she had let her insurance lapse. Left without home or income, she's forced to accept a producer's offer to feature in a documentary film about canine agility competitions. Demi-celebrity jars self-effacing Jane, as does the prospect of sharing an RV for months with her bubbly blonde producer. Her handsome trainer/handler competitor, widower Cole Forest, unsettles her still further, especially after Cole and his ornery daughter, Teri, have a vehicle breakdown and begin to travel in the same RV as Jane. Many of the plot twists feel artificial, as does the almost pathological level of self-deprecation that keeps Jane blind to Cole's attraction. Though this book is less strong than Carmichael's earlier efforts (Gone to the Dogs, etc.), her lively prose, sensitivity to Teri's inner battles and insight into all things canine still make this an appealing tale. (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Jane Connor's life is going to the dogs, and she likes it that way. As the owner of the Bark Park in her small Arizona town, she prefers dogs and cats to people. Jane and her young golden retriever, Shadow, are scoring high marks at an obedience competition when she's approached by a reality TV producer who wants her to star in a show about the dog competition circuit. Jane wants no part of it and returns home, but a wildfire soon destroys everything she owns. In an effort to give herself some breathing room, and to make some money, Jane agrees to be filmed. As she and the producer travel from trial to trial, she becomes friends with Cole Forrest, his dog, Dobby, and his young daughter, Teri. Regardless of how much she believes she's not a people person, Cole creeps under her defenses. Carmichael has created yet another wonderfully written romance featuring charming animal characters, this time around offering a truly enjoyable on-the-road adventure. Maria Hatton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (November 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553586351
• ISBN-13: 978-0553586350
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 1.2 x 4.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,084,965 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A NEW LEASH ON LIFE, February 2, 2010

By 

Virgie M. Baker "VB riverfarm" (Blanco, NM) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A New Leash on Life (Mass Market Paperback)

Emily Charmichael, the name is enough to get my attention. She always delivers a great story with fun leading ladies. There is always a curve or two in every chapter when you least expect it.
RIVERFARM GAL

4.0 out of 5 stars Calling all dog lovers!, March 22, 2006

By 

Annie "bookwishes4" (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A New Leash on Life (Mass Market Paperback)

Independent and single Jane Connor loved the simple joy of competing in competitions with her four legged friends so when she was approached to be filmed for a documentary about life in the dog show circuit, she quickly turned it down.
All that changed though when her home and business got burned to the ground in an Arizona fire that left Jane with nothing. She reluctantly contacted Angela, the film maker and agreed to be taped over the course of the summer with her dog Shadow while they competed for the grand prize of $100,000 which would be more than enough to rebuild her life.
Cole Forrest along with his 8 year old daughter Teri, and his talented little papillon Dobby also are on the same dog circuit for the summer. Cole lost his wife two years ago to cancer and is spending the summer trying to reconnect with his daughter while touring with Dobby.
Jane and Cole have an instant attraction to each other but they have many hurdles that must be overcome before they can come together and admit their true feelings for each other.
A New Leash On Life is a fun easy to read book about love and taking chances on a new life when you least expect it. I am actually surprised that more people have not read and reviewed this book.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars amusing road show "tail", November 29, 2005

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A New Leash on Life (Mass Market Paperback)

Dog show trainer Jane Connor has had a successful career until a wildfire destroyed her Arizona home. Since she failed to pay her biannual insurance bill as the envelop slipped under her car seat, a stunned Jane feels like stupid burnt toast when she learns she has nothing though she rescued all her canine pals and is a bit of a heroine in the Flagstaff area.

Needing income, Jane accepts an offer from producer Angela Gardner of Rising Star Production to star with her dog Shadow in a documentary film on canine agility competitions. The only problem with the job is sharing the traveling RV with several people. First there is bubbles (as she classifies the enthusiastic over everything Angela) who can drive the self deprecating Jane to lunacy with her energy that would wear out the bunny. Then there is handsome rival widower Cole Forest (and his nasty, at least to Jane, daughter).

Though lacking some of the bite from tales like GONE TO THE DOGS, etc.), A NEW LEASH ON LIFE is an amusing road show that looks deeply into the lives of people and canines involved in agility competitions. Dog aficionados will appreciate the deep look at those DIAMOND IN THE RUFF competitors as their owners ready them for the shows. Teri is filled with angst and is a vulnerable child rarely seen so sensitively written in literature. Though Jane's self-censuring becomes an irritating bark, fans will enjoy who let the dogs out escapades.

Harriet Klausner