cover image Housebroke

Housebroke

Jaci Burton. Berkley, $17 trade paper (336p) ISBN 978-0-593-43959-3

Bestseller Burton (The Heart of a Killer) pairs an animal lover and a millionaire in this charming romp. After Hazel Bristow’s good-for-nothing ex-husband leaves her with nowhere to live, Hazel and her five foster dogs move into her friend’s soon-to-be-sold house. Then the new owner, handsome house-flipper Lincoln Kennedy, arrives unexpectedly. Lincoln is startled by the squatter and ready to kick her out—until Hazel’s delicious cooking persuades him to hire her as his chef while he’s working on the house. Not trusting her taste in men, Hazel does her best to stay out of Lincoln’s way, but that proves difficult when he bonds first with her dogs, and then with her. Lincoln, meanwhile, has been burned by women who were only after his money, so he keeps his immense family wealth a secret. Given Hazel’s trust issues, will this budding romance survive when the truth comes out? Burton ratchets up the sexual and emotional tension throughout, keeping readers on their toes as they race to find out the answer to that question. The appealing supporting cast—especially the canine characters—add to the fun. Burton’s fans will lap this up. Agent: Kimberly Whalen, Whalen Agency. (Dec.)