Harte's Desire, the Pet Shelter Series #1 - Pet Shelter Suspense, #1

Finding the dog of your dreams could be lethal.
Canine-phobic divorcee Fran Marshall, 45, reluctantly visits a no-kill pet shelter, intending a fast in-and-out. Immediately, a withdrawn, once-abused hound dog captures her heart. Fran knows all about abuse and its consequent withdrawal; she'd been married to Evil Ed for too many years. How can she, still marred by those traumatic years, help Millie out of her shell?
Django Harte, 38, ex-Wall Street hotshot and now the shelter's pro bono manager, sees the petite blonde stranger trying to stay calm as she talks to the unresponsive problem dog. Who's more nervous? But he gives the woman points for trying, and finally encourages Fran to sit with Millie. It'll be good for both of them, he reasons. In no time, everyone seem to be coming out of their shell and Fran leaves her marshmallow business often enough to become part of the shelter life. Unaware of her impact, neither Fran nor Django realize a malign force is planning a twisted payback.
Newbie Fran doesn't get the undercurrents swirling around the shelter, nor does she foresee the trouble she'll be in when she accepts a leadership position in an annual event. Despite dire warnings from her plugged-in sister BethAnn, Fran forges ahead with high hopes and careful plans. Someone else is making careful plans as well, and an escalating series of unpleasant events culminate in a vicious confrontation that pits Fran against a surprise adversary s. As Django frantically searches for Fran, they face a challenger that seems to hold most of the best cards. .