Hot Dog — Laurien Berenson

In an effort to escape tail-chasing males--namely her ex-husband Bob and boyfriend Sam--Melanie Travis opts to track down the elusive owner of an adorable Dachshund puppy that's about to be put on the block at a charity auction. She, her son Davey, and her prizewinning poodles are more than willing to take little Dox in as a boarder. But the more Melanie discovers about the pup's background, the messier the case gets.

It seems the wiener dog is part of a divorced couple's emotional tug-o-war. As if tiptoeing through the minefield of a broken marriage isn't nerve-wracking enough, there's also Melanie's new stalker--or stalkers--to deal with. The obvious pair is pesky local television reporter Jill Prescott and her cameraman, Rich, who figure that Melanie's nose for trouble will lead them to the next Big Story.They're annoying, but what's truly frightening is the presence of someone stealthier--and far more sinister. Someone who's gotten into her house at night; someone who's stolen her wallet, and let her dogs loose in the neighborhood. Someone who's dognapped Dox.

With the doggy abduction and her son's safety on her mind, Melanie's determination grows. Because as things grow more desperate--and dangerous--it's beginning to look like her life may be the next thing up for auction...