Warm Creature Comforts — Miriam Pace

When she comes eyeball to eyeball with a two-hundred pound pygmy hippo, veterinarian Sierra Sanchez begins to have suspicions about the “accidents” that have been plaguing the Mariposa Zoo. Esmeralda couldn't have gotten out of her enclosure on her own. Sierra has heard the rumblings of local businessmen who would like to see the zoo razed and a shopping mall put up in its place. Still, who would be so callous as to endanger the lives of animals -- and the zoo staff?

Sierra's problems are compounded by the appearance of new zoo director Frank Woodward. Sure, he is handsome and charming, but he also follows her around all day, jotting in his notebook the cost of every syringe and cotton ball she uses. At first she is tempted to wrap his pet boa constrictor around his next. But as Frank lets down his guard, Sierra learns that there is a lot more to the man than dollars and cents. And as they fight to keep the zoo afloat, the love they feel for the animals begins to spill over into their personal lives…