Book Review: The Dog Sitter
I’m delighted to be on the book blog tour today to share a book review of The Dog Sitter by Zara Stoneley. Thanks to @ZaraStoneley & @rararesources for inviting me to join the tour today. So let’s jump straight into the book…
Book Cover Notes
One dog. Two strangers. An unfurgettable romance.
Wanted: someone nice, normal and trustworthy to housesit a beautiful cottage in the Lake District while the owner is away on a business trip. Must like dogs.
Wanting to escape from crap bosses and useless boyfriends, Becky jumps at the chance of being a dog sitter and the perfect escape – rest, relaxation and a very cute pooch called Bella.
But looking after Bella comes with a catch, namely gorgeous, brooding, Chris Hemsworth-worthy Ash James, who claims Bella is his dog and will stop at nothing to get her back!
Becky’s not about to hand over lovely Bella to any Tom, Dick or Ash. She’s determined to watch every move Ash James makes…even if it gets her very hot under the collar.
My Thoughts
I can never resist a book that includes a waggy tail and cute paws, so I knew I had to read The Dog Sitter. Set in the beautiful Lake District, the scenery descriptions throughout the book all sounded fantastic. I really want to go there and see for myself as I’ve not visited the area yet.
We are first introduced to Becky as she races through the smelly, mucky countryside on her way to a Dog Sitting job. The perfect opportunity to get away from it all for the next month and reassess her life in peace and quiet. So she thinks.
Bella, the delightfully energetic and crazy Cockapoo has other ideas. Greeting Becky as she opens the cottage door with a proper spaniel welcome. Bouncing, barking and racing around the garden with the zoomies.
Zoomies seem to involve running at full pelt in no particular direction and flattening anything in your path. Like plants. Or people. She hurdles a lavendar bush and gallops over to me, before flopping over on her side on the lawn and rolling madly, her tongue lolling out of her mouth comically. Then she’s gone again.
As an owner of two very active Working Cocker Spaniels, I was soon laughing out loud at Bella’s character. You can tell that the author is talking from experience and that she lives with a crazy spaniel 🙂
Of course, the story isn’t just about Bella. Georgina has left her much loved pooch in Becky’s ‘capable’ hands whilst she is away. There are several house rules that Georgina has stipulated as part of the job. Can Becky keep to these rules? Especially when she realises there are one of two minor details that Georgina may have forgotten to mention…
I enjoyed following the relationship between Becky, the hunky ex-marine Ash and Bella dog. I found myself rooting for them to work things out as the story unfolded.
Quote I liked
It’s one thing being considerate and fitting in with people, but it’s not good to try so hard to please another person that you end up losing who you really are. What you actually want.
Summary
Bella may be an online influencer in the canine world but she is still a crazy spaniel at heart. I nodded and tutted and giggled my way through this lovely story. I totally related with Becky’s initial dog sitting disasters as she quickly learnt what it’s like to live with a mud loving, water loving, furball.
This is a ‘Pawfect’ feel-good romcom to snuggle up with on the weekend. But be warned you may crave Kendal Mint cake and proper Ginger Bread by the end. I really want Ginger Bread now.
Where to Buy
The Kindle version of the book is available from 11th February. If you prefer paperback books then this will be available from 1st April, but you can pre-order now so you don’t forget.
About The Author
Zara Stoneley is the USA Today bestselling author of The Wedding Date.
Born in a small village in the UK, she wanted to be a female James Herriot, a spy, or an author when she grew up. After many (many) years, and many different jobs, her dream of writing a bestseller came true
She writes about friendship, dreams, love, and happy ever afters, and hopes that her tales make you laugh a lot, cry a little, and occasionally say ‘ahhh’.
Zara now lives in a Cheshire village with her family, a lively cockapoo called Harry, and a very bossy (and slightly evil) cat called Saffron.
Zara’s bestselling novels include ‘The First Date’, ‘Bridesmaids’, ‘No One Cancels Christmas’, ‘The Wedding Date’, ‘The Holiday Swap’, ‘Summer with the Country Village Vet’, ‘Blackberry Picking at Jasmine Cottage’ and the popular Tippermere series – ‘Stable Mates’, ‘Country Affairs’ and ‘Country Rivals’.
Where to find Zara online
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram (also Harry’s INSTA)
Further Book Info:
- Published Date: 1 April 2021 (Paperback)
- Publisher: One More Chapter
- Page Count: 416
We LOVE Emma Bridgewater Dogs and Cats Range
Book Blog Tour hosted by Rachel’s Resources
Thanks to Rachel @rararesources for inviting me on the tour. Also thanks to @ZaraStoneley for my digital copy of the book. All views are my own.
I hope my book review of The Dog Sitter has been useful. Happy reading.
Miche xxx
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