Life on the Leash

Real-life dog trainer Schade’s debut is a light, warm-hearted romp that’s a little weighed down by extraneous detail but still delivers a fulfilling tale for its two-legged and four-legged protagonists. Cora Bellamy walked away from her corporate career in favor of opening her own dog training business. Working with the furry companions of some of Washington, D.C.’s most eccentric denizens sustained her through heartbreak, and now, it’s offering her two chances at romance: alluring and urbane (and taken) Charlie Gill, and mild-mannered, considerate, and clearly smitten Eli Crawford. While trying to navigate these new romantic possibilities, Cora learns about an upcoming audition for a new dog training show that offers her the chance to quash a rival trainer by showing off her humane approach to training, if she can only find the confidence to follow her heart. The reliance on romantic comedy stereotypes is heavy, and multiple secondary story lines distract at times from the main plot. Nevertheless, Schade combines some original elements and excellent canine characterization with an earnest, infectiously funny tone that dog lovers, especially, will find delightful. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary. (Sept.)