As the new director of Sunnyside Assisted Living, Lauren has her hands full with everything from a budget-obsessed boss to a 90-year-old muffin-juggling resident.

And now Lauren’s got a brand-new fire to put out.

There’s a beautiful stranger outside her office, waiting to steal a moment of Lauren’s time –with a fox perched on her shoulder.

Grace just launched her animal-assisted therapy business with almost no start-up money and a borrowed fennec fox, but she knows furry companions will transform the lives of Sunnyside’s elderly residents.

The moment she sets eyes on the raven-haired Lauren, Grace wants this deal even more.

Too bad Lauren’s stodgy boss takes one look at the fox and gives the idea a big heck no. Lauren the rule-follower reluctantly shows Grace the door.

But Grace is no quitter – when it comes to business or the woman who caught her eye. She comes back with service dogs, and not only do they bring Sunnyside’s most isolated resident out of her shell, they revive a decades-old romance between two women who never expected to see each other again.

Witnessing the awesome power of Grace’s animals – and her dedication and passion – Lauren decides defying her boss is a risk worth taking. But as she and Grace grow closer, can she go from breaking rules to risking her own heart?

Cara Malone