Diamond in the Ruff

September 3, 2001
Piggy, 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.