A tribute to a dozen wonderful dogs who never failed to astonish, delight, exasperate, humble, inspire, comfort, and love the woman who was their caregiver.

First love gets a second chance when a mischievous dog finds a way to keep fetching the town librarian’s high school sweetheart in this charming small-town romance. The last person librarian Elinor Rodriguez wants to spend time with is her first love, Levi Jackson, but it seems her mischievous rescue dog has other ideas. Without fail, Dory slips from the house whenever Elinor’s back is turned. And in Pine Hollow, calls about a dog herding cars on Main Street go straight to Levi. The quietly intense lawman broke Elinor’s heart once, and now she’s determined to move on, no matter how much she misses him. As the kid who barely graduated—and still struggles to hide his dyslexia—Levi always believed that Elinor was way out of his league. Even though he ended their engagement all those years ago, Elinor still takes Levi’s breath away whenever he sees her. But with a little help from a four-legged friend, Levi and Elinor may just get the second chance they deserve. Includes the bonus novella I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Hope Ramsay!

Find enlightenment at the end of a leash with this delightful look at the Buddha nature of our canine companions. An afternoon nap in a patch of sunlight, a meandering walk in the woods, a full-body shake to greet another soul. No other creature displays the joy of living in the moment quite like a dog or exhibits the unquestioning devotion, honesty, and sheer selfl essness that is the essence of the Buddha nature. Zen Dog celebrates this great truth, bringing koans and canines together for the fi rst time. Inspiring quotations from the Buddha, Lao Tzu, and other Zen masters are paired with charming black-and-white photographs of dogs that illuminate the message. A dog wagging its tail in the breeze, for example, provides a surprisingly apt answer to the age-old question, "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" And the image of a family pet awaiting a tasty table scrap offers a whole new perspective on the saying, "If you know the power of a generous heart, you will not let a single meal pass without giving to others." The perfect gift for dog lovers and spiritual seekers, Zen Dog might even prove who the true "masters" in pet-owner relationships really are.

Stories of brilliance, loyalty, courage and extraordinary feats.