Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts (Dillon Lucy); Hodder & Stoughton, 2009

When the abandoned strays from a local dogs home are matched with brand new owners, it turns out it might not just be the dogs who need rescuing.

Rachel s aunt has left her a house, a Border Collie and, despite knowing nothing about dogs, a crowded kennels. But since her life has collapsed she s not sure she can deal with any more lost souls.

Zoe s ex-husband has given their children a puppy. The kids are in love, but she s the one stuck training Toffee the impossible Labrador. She s nearly at the end of her tether until Toffee leads her to a handsome doctor...

Meanwhile Natalie and Johnny s marriage hasn t been easy since they started trying for a baby. But is a fridge-raiding, sofa-stealing Basset hound like Bertie really the child substitute they re looking for?

As the new owners paths cross on the town s dog-walking circuits, their lives become interwoven. And they and their dogs learn some important lessons about loyalty, companionship and unconditional love . . .