Pardon My Frenchie

For this doggone delightful rom-com, Rochon (The Boyfriend Project) pairs a canine-averse ex-Marine with a doggie day-care owner. Ashanti Wright hopes to expand both her dog boarding business, Barkingham Palace, and her newest venture, Duchess Delights, a dog treat business, into a nearby property. She faces a setback when Thad Sims, her favorite customer’s grandson, unexpectedly buys the property with plans to convert the building into a gathering place for his fellow veterans and active servicemembers. After his grandmother moves to an assisted living facility following an injury, Thad reluctantly assumes responsibility for her dog, Puddin, putting him and Ashanti into frequent proximity as the conflict between them deepens. When Puddin and Ashanti’s dog, Duchess, share a treat in a Lady and the Tramp–style moment on Barkingham Palace’s webcam livestream, the pooches go viral, so much so that Ashanti and Thad are invited to bring the pups onto a daytime talk show in New York City. Despite the lingering real estate tension and Thad’s initial aversion to all things canine, sparks soon fly. The pair’s witty banter and inevitable enemies-to-lovers arc captivate, while Puddin and Duchess’s love story adds humor. Readers will be thoroughly charmed. Agent: Evan Marshall, Evan Marshall Literary. (June)