Sweet Contemporary Romance

In this prequel to the Dogwood series, you’ll learn how the legend of the matchmaking dog came to be, and meet many of the quirky characters who made life in Dogwood, Colorado interesting over the years. The short stories include:

“A Forever Kind of Love” by Pam McCutcheon  When two high school sweethearts are reunited after he returns from the military, can they find love again?

“Gone to the Dogs” by Laura Hayden  When two strangers drive together cross-country to deliver a school bus, they rescue several stray dogs along the way. But will they be able to rescue each other?

“The Cowboy and the Librarian” by Jodi Anderson  Caught together in a snowstorm, can a cowboy and a librarian find common ground with the help of a canine matchmaker?

“A Match in Disguise” by Pam McCutcheon  Susan Brown has always hated her bland, boring name and life. Will a reunion with the town’s golden boy help her shine?

“Rescuing Nora” by Jude Willhoff  When Nora Blake wrecks her car in a snowstorm, will she freeze to death before she can reunite with her estranged husband?

“In Search of a Match” by Sharon Silva  Determined to find her soul mate, Emily Harrington accidentally kidnaps the town’s matchmaking dog. Will Match be able to help her find her soul mate...or will the handsome police officer intervene?

“Give a Dog a Chance” by Karen Fox  Dog trainer Jenna Howard proposes a program to give rescued dogs and prison inmates a second chance, but will Brand Thatcher, the man who dumped her after high school, approve it?

“Take Me Home” by Angel Smits  When Gina and Ted find their marriage hitting a rough patch, can their marriage be saved with the help of their grandchild and a special dog?

This collection of stories range from humorous to emotional, but each and every one is a heartwarming story about couples who are fated to be together, and the dogs who love them. Dogwood, Colorado: where the best things in life are rescued. 

The short stories include:
“The Book of Matches” by Pam McCutcheon  A scrapbook of the first matches seems to imply Match isn’t 100% accurate. Can an eager reporter save the town’s reputation—and his own—with the help of an attractive historian?

“Once Upon a Hero” by Sharon Silva  Lacy Morgan follows the clues found in an old Mason jar from the time capsule to unravel a mysterious message hidden since World War II. As she and Chaney Roberts dig into her family’s past, they discover a love story like no other.

“Small-Town Treasure” by Torie Fox  Handywoman Louisa Clarke can do pretty much anything: fix a fan, unclog a drain, or build a wall—including the one around her heart. But when the town’s time capsule reveals a match to her cherished heirloom necklace, can she keep her walls up in the face of a charming jewelry appraiser who seems as interested in her as in her jewels?

“Royal Exposure” by Karen Fox  When Shelley Malloy examines the items from the newly opened time capsule, she never expects to find an old photo of a prince visiting Dogwood and his sister who looks just like Shelley. She’s determined to find out if she’s related to the prince and newspaper reporter Heath Turner has signed on to help her. Only one problem—is he interested in her or the article he could get?

“Chasing Mayberry” by Jodi Anderson  When Grady Hamlin accidentally rear-ends Trixie McDevitt, she is charmed by the handsome doctor. But how can she risk her heart with a man who might be leaving when her focus is on her dream of opening her own pie shop? Especially when she learns that the time capsule might have a clue to her family legacy.

“Penny’s Promise” by Jude Willhoff  A haunting poem from the past, a hidden secret, and a missing item from the time capsule bring Josie Evans and Henry Winters together. Will their search for answers to the mystery give them a second chance at romance?

“A Letter from George” by Laura Hayden  Lost, stolen, or strayed? Several artifacts are missing from the time capsule display and someone has put fakes in their place. It'll take the expertise of Cole Lattimer and the inventiveness of Miranda "Randi" Moon to track down the culprit and recover the missing items.

“No Place Like Home” by Angel Smits  When Amelia Reade returns home to small-town Dogwood after losing her big-city job, will her past continue to haunt her, or will Mitch Callahan’s open arms give her the home she’s always desperately wanted?

Dogwood, Colorado: where the best things in life are rescued.

Dyan Evans is reluctant to return to Dogwood, Colorado where Jack Donovan broke her heart nine years ago. But she’s inherited the family realty business and is determined to make a success of it. With any luck, she can avoid seeing him altogether.

Unfortunately, fate has other plans. Jack has grown into a handsome, caring man, and now works for the Dogwood police department, which she is forced to deal with all too often as she attracts funny, oddball situations like a magnet. Though her feelings for him start to stir again, she backs off when she learns he is engaged to her high-school nemesis, Carolyn.

Jack isn’t sure how he let himself get manipulated into this engagement with Carolyn, but when Dyan shows up in his life again, he realizes how much he still cares for his high-school sweetheart. He has to break it off with Carolyn before he can pursue Dyan, but he doesn’t want to hurt Carolyn’s feelings. Rock, meet hard place. Maybe he can convince Carolyn breaking the engagement is her idea.

Despite Dyan’s frequent misadventures as a real estate broker, and the chaos they often cause, Jack feels the chemistry between them grow. But his principles won’t allow him to pursue Dyan until he’s a free man. If that ever happens, can he convince Dyan to let the past go and plan a future with him?

Love at First Bark is a stand-alone sweet romance, third in the Dogwood series (may be read in any order). If you like reading about second chances, matchmaking dogs, and humorous situations, you’ll enjoy this book.