Bed & Breakfast Blues — Susan Ralph

Honey Benton is a twenty-eight-year old third-grade teacher who lives alone. Tired of wasting time with the wrong men and halfway through her voluntary yearlong sabbatical from dating, she adopts Bowser, a rescue dog. Not only is her dog a loving and protective companion, he senses her moods and respects them. He has simple needs and is undemanding and very reliable. Now if she could just find a man with these attributes, her life would be complete.

Ace Sanford, who turns up at the wrong time, makes her knees tremble, and insists on getting his way all the time, isn't that man. Yet he puts her commitment to her sabbatical to the test. Then, when he charms her dog into going over to his side, she knows she's in trouble.