Five-star Readers' Favorite from an award-winning author.Richard's house is broken into, he loses his job, is ditched by his gold-digging fiancée, and a daughter he didn't know he had is dumped on him by his ex-wife.Has Richard's life become a disaster, or is fate offering him a chance to escape a lifestyle forced on him by his father? Will Richard find another love? Fourteen-year-old Maria knows her mother doesn't want her, but can she believe her father does, or is she a burden he'd be happier without?Ben, a rescue centre dog adopted by Richard, supposedly doesn't like children, but he likes Maria. The Jack Russell defends the girl, but will his life be forfeit and Richard jailed?.