A New Leash on Love: A Rescue Novel

Burns’s auspicious debut contemporary is a warm cuddly tale full of dogs, cats, kids, and genuinely likable adults. From the moment they lay eyes on one another, Megan Anderson and Craig Williams rub each other the wrong way. She manages a St. Louis no-kill animal shelter and he’s brought in his daughter’s chocolate Lab pup to surrender it for adoption. Putting instant attraction aside, Megan assumes he’s a typical “dog dumper,” the type who buys a pet as a gift but is ready to get rid of the critter as soon as it pees on the carpet. Craig sees her as a judgmental do-gooder unable to accept that sometimes there are extenuating circumstances. The friction serves to heat up a relationship that neither is ready to handle. Yet his daughter, the animals, and a well-constructed plot all contrive to push Craig and Megan together. This heartstring-tugger is certain to win fans who are yearning for a wholesome summertime read. Agent: Jessica Watterson, Sandra Dijkstra Agency. (July)