Susan C. Daffron

Kat Stevens is a slightly insecure, mostly bored technical writer who likes her cat a lot more than her boss. When she inherits her great aunt Abigail's house in the small town of Alpine Grove, Kat's life gets a lot more complicated because the inheritance comes with some hairy conditions: four dogs and five cats. After coping with out-of-control dogs, cat fights, dust dinosaurs, massive spiders and serious roof problems, things get even more interesting when Kat meets Joel, an unemployed techie type with an enigmatic past.

Chez Stinky

Growing up in the small town of Alpine Grove, Beth Connelly was the weird, shy kid who hid in the back room of her mother's bookstore. But all that study time led to being the class of 1985 valedictorian, a college scholarship, and a dream job offer in Arizona. Ten years later, her life is almost perfect. But not for long. Beth returns to Alpine Grove after an unfortunate series of events, just in time for the 10-year high school reunion she vowed not to attend. But her vow is no match for a sneaky former cheerleader who tricks her into going. While she's there, she runs into the one person she hoped to never see again: Drew Emery. Drew is just as easy to talk to as ever, and maybe she shouldn't have said all those terrible things to him so long ago. But everyone deserves a second chance, right?

Bark to the Future

Carly Buchanan's "happily ever after" takes a nosedive when, after fifteen years of un-wedded devotion to the man now nicknamed "Captain Prickard," he boots her from their home so his new girlfriend can move in. At least Carly still has her sweet dog, Trixie. In need of moral support, Carly invites her sister and two college friends to join her at a lake house near the small town of Alpine Grove. The tranquil escape turns complex when Carly and her friends discover a stray dog that's just had puppies. After enlisting the help of reluctant next-door neighbor, Brent Michaelson, the women set out to rescue the pups. Brent has retreated to his family's lake cabin to overcome a creative block that threatens to derail his art career. The last thing he needs is his refuge to be overrun by a rambunctious litter of noisy, spotted puppies. But who can resist puppies in need? As secrets are revealed, Carly's summer vacation might not be the self-reflective interlude she expected, but maybe a little furry chaos, intrigue, and romance is exactly what she needs.

The Last Train to Barksville

Tess Mitchell would love to give her regards to Broadway, but so far that plan isn't working out. After bungling countless auditions, Tess returns to her home town of Alpine Grove where her only fans are her cats: John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Although selling advertising may not satisfy her thespian aspirations, it pays the rent--if only she could find a place willing to accept the Fab Four. While careening down a dirt road, Tess almost slams into a massive road grader. The driver is none other than Luke Bennett with his dog Barney riding shotgun. Tess hasn't spoken to Luke since he broke her best friend's heart, but in a small town, you always seem to run into the last person you want to see. Luke has a solution to her housing problem if Tess is willing to put up with a few inconveniences like squirrel-obsessed squatters who have cut holes in the walls. When Tess learns that the beloved Grove Theater is destined for the wrecking ball, she joins the crusade to preserve the historic icon. While working to save the theater, Tess learns more about Luke and the talents he's forsaken. Could saving the theater salvage both of their dreams for the future?

The Hound of Music

Tori Merrill detests Halloween. All the fake blood, creepy crawlies, and ghastly ghoulies make her squeamish. But as a partner in a new candy business, Halloween is a holiday she can't ignore. When her partners encourage her to attend the local Haunted Barn event and hand out candy samples to trick-or-treaters, against her better judgment, she agrees. But first, she has to convince someone to care for her spoiled, cranky dog, Ginny--preferably someone who has never heard Ginny bark. Scarred by long-ago events, Dale Holbrook has made a point of avoiding anything to do with his family's toy business with two exceptions: he voices the company mascot, Harvey the Penguin, and he helps with the Haunted Barn because it benefits his family's charitable foundation. Decked out in a grotesquely pink Little Bo Peep outfit at the Haunted Barn, Tori crashes headlong into Robin Hood, Zorro, and Holbrook family dramas. Amid grisly gnomes, creepy clowns, chainsaw-wielding zombies, and barfing dragons, Tori confronts her long-held beliefs about Halloween, hoop skirts, truth, and love.

Who's Afraid of Virginia's Woof?

With the exception of a few failed forays into higher education, Tracy Sullivan has lived her entire life in the small town of Alpine Grove. When she is fired from her hostess job, Tracy hits a new all-time career low. Now she's officially a repeat underachiever and almost completely broke. The income from her second job as a veterinary assistant is barely enough to pay her rent and keep her temperamental dachshund Roxy in dog food. Desperate for a change of scene, Tracy splurges on a digital art class in the city where she meets Rob Thompson, a geeky computer networking guy who wants a new career as much as she does. After seeing her illustrations, he offers Tracy a temporary job, but adding "starving artist" to her dubious list of achievements doesn't seem wise. Against her better judgment, Tracy takes on the project. But then everything goes haywire and Tracy may never look at her ancient car, fungi, or Rob the same way again.

The Art of Wag

After a life-altering setback destroys Rebecca Mackenzie's career, she jumps at the chance to start over as a real estate appraisal trainee in her uncle's office. Although a job change had been in order, being the new kid did have some downsides, including being forced to do a rush appraisal in the small town of Alpine Grove over Thanksgiving weekend. Although map reading has never been her strong suit, Becca's navigational skills are pushed to the limit in a town that doesn't believe in road signs. When the supposed-to-be flurries turn out to be a record-setting blizzard, the trip literally goes downhill after Becca's car slides nose-down off the road into a ditch. Accompanied by his huge mountain dog, a scruffy stranger wearing a massive coat with dozens of pockets drags Becca to safety. In the darkness of a small log cabin in the woods, Becca confesses far too many secrets to Jack Sheridan. Sure, if she'd known she'd end up trapped in the middle of nowhere with a guy named Jack, she never would have watched that scary movie. But maybe Jack isn't such a dull boy after all.

Snow Furries

Most people think about publicity in the context of bringing people to events or raising money. But publicity can bring you other benefits as well. You can use simple and affordable publicity tactics to recruit volunteers, find foster families, and increase adoptions. Get practical advice, along with creative ideas, inspirational case studies, and examples of real press releases that will help you plan and implement your own publicity campaign. Publicity doesn't have to be complicated, expensive or scary. Even if you're a bit shy or introverted, using just a few simple publicity tactics, you can spread the word about the great things you're doing to help the animals! Susan Daffron is also the author of the popular shelter and rescue fundraising book, "Funds to the Rescue: 101 Fundraising Ideas for Humane and Animal Rescue Groups."

How to Get More Attention for Your Animal Shelter, Humane Society or Rescue Group to Raise Awareness, Increase Donations, Recruit Volunteers, and Boost Adoptions

Publicity to the Rescue

After years of lousy luck, karma finally gives Mia Riggins a break. The arrival of a mysterious package of postcards and lottery tickets results in a sudden windfall that makes it possible for her to finally abandon her dead-end job and the dreary industrial area where she grew up. Accompanied by her digestively challenged dog Gizmo, Mia sets out on a road trip to find a new life--preferably a better one. While changing a flat tire along the shore of a stunning lake, she meets architect Chris Blanchard who seems oddly familiar. After driving hundreds of miles to escape her past, Mia has managed to encounter the only person in the tiny town of Alpine Grove who remembers her as Amanita, the bizarre "poisonous mushroom girl" from high school. What were the odds? Probably about the same as winning the lottery.

The Luck of the Paw

Get the first four Alpine Grove romantic comedies in one collection at a discount! Four full-length feel-good novels that include a little bit of humor and a whole lot of fur. Each novel stands alone, but Alpine Grove is a small town, so many characters do tend to reappear. After a while, you'll start to feel like you're a member of the community. The Love, Laughter, and Fur collection from Susan C. Daffron is 1200 pages of romantic comedy fun that readers say literally has them laughing out loud. If you like a little light romance, quirky animal stories, and tales of small town life, or you're just someone who is looking for a light read to help escape the daily grind, you won't be disappointed. Books in this collection: CHEZ STINKY Kat Stevens is a slightly insecure, mostly bored tech writer who likes her cat a lot more than her boss. When she inherits her great aunt’s house, she finds it's filled with pets and complications. After coping with out-of-control dogs, cat fights, dust dinosaurs, massive spiders and roof problems, things get more interesting when Kat meets Joel, an unemployed techie type with an enigmatic past. FUZZY LOGIC Librarian Jan Carpenter likes things just so. Nestled in her tidy little cottage on the outskirts of the small hamlet of Alpine Grove, she enjoys her quiet life with her friendly, rotund black lab, Rosa. Jan's orderly life is turned upside down when she attends her mother's latest wedding in San Diego where she encounters Michael Lawson, the obnoxious neighbor kid from twenty years ago. He's still irritating, but not as annoying as his dog who has a habit of eating...everything. THE ART OF WAG With the exception of a few failed forays into higher education, Tracy Sullivan has lived her entire life in the small town of Alpine Grove. When she is fired from her hostess job, Tracy hits a new all-time career low. Now she's officially a repeat underachiever and almost completely broke. Desperate for a change of scene, Tracy splurges on a digital art class in the city where she meets Rob Thompson, a geeky computer networking guy who wants a new career as much as she does. After seeing her illustrations, he offers Tracy a temporary job, but adding "starving artist" to her dubious list of achievements doesn't seem wise. SNOW FURRIES After a life-altering setback destroys Rebecca Mackenzie's career, she starts over as a real estate appraisal trainee in her uncle's office. Map reading has never been her strong suit, and on a trip to Alpine Grove, Becca's navigational skills are pushed to the limit in a town that doesn't believe in road signs. When the supposed-to-be flurries turn out to be a record-setting blizzard, the trip literally goes downhill after Becca's car slides off the road into a ditch. Accompanied by his huge mountain dog, a scruffy stranger wearing a massive coat with dozens of pockets drags Becca to safety.

Susan C. Daffron

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