A Match in Dogwood: A Sweet Romance Anthology Prequel: Dogwood Series, #0

By Jodi Anderson, Karen Fox, Laura Hayden and 4 more

Welcome to Dogwood, Colorado, where a special dog named Match brings soul mates together!

In this prequel to the Dogwood series, you'll learn how the legend of the matchmaking dog came to be, and meet many of the quirky characters who made life in Dogwood, Colorado interesting over the years. The short stories include stories ranging from humorous to emotional, but each and every one is a heartwarming story about couples who are fated to be together, and the dogs who love them. 

"A Forever Kind of Love" by Pam McCutcheon
When two high school sweethearts are reunited after he returns from the military, can they find love again?

"Gone to the Dogs" by Laura Hayden
When two strangers drive together cross-country to deliver a school bus, they rescue several stray dogs along the way. But will they be able to rescue each other?

"The Cowboy and the Librarian" by Jodi Anderson
Caught together in a snowstorm, can a cowboy and a librarian find common ground with the help of a canine matchmaker?

"A Match in Disguise" by Pam McCutcheon
Susan Brown has always hated her bland, boring name and life. Will a reunion with the town's golden boy help her shine?

"Rescuing Nora" by Jude Willhoff
When Nora Blake wrecks her car in a snowstorm, will she freeze to death before she can reunite with her estranged husband?

"In Search of a Match" by Sharon Silva
Determined to find her soul mate, Emily Harrington accidentally kidnaps the town's matchmaking dog. Will Match be able to help her find her soul mate...or will the handsome police officer intervene?

"Give a Dog a Chance" by Karen Fox
Dog trainer Jenna Howard proposes a program to give rescued dogs and prison inmates a second chance, but will Brand Thatcher, the man who dumped her after high school, approve it?

"Take Me Home" by Angel Smits
When Gina and Ted find their marriage hitting a rough patch, can their marriage be saved with the help of their grandchild and a special dog?


Each book in the Dogwood series is stand-alone and can be read in any order. However, this is the order in which they were published:

 

• A Match in Dogwood anthology
• Chasing Bliss by Jodi Anderson
• Sit. Stay. Love. by Pam McCutcheon
• Love at First Bark by Jude Willhoff
• Must Love Dogs by Karen Fox
• Second Chance Ranch by Sharon Silva
• A Dogwood Christmas anthology
• Dogwood Secrets Unsealed anthology
• Her Fake Fiancé by Karen Fox
• Second Chance Cowboy by Sharon Silva
• The Ghost of Dogwood by Laura Hayden
• Fiancée for Hire by Pam McCutcheon
• Welcome Home, Soldier by Angel Smits
• A Dogwood Valentine anthology
• #KissMeKieran by Torie Fox
• Dogwood Fortunes Revealed anthology

Dogwood, Colorado: where the best things in life are rescued.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Parker Hayden Media
• Release date: Jun 19, 2018
• ISBN: 9781941528662

Book preview

A Match in Dogwood

Also by Jodi Anderson

Dogwood Series

A Match in Dogwood: A Sweet Romance Anthology Prequel

Chasing Bliss: A Dogwood Sweet Romantic Comedy

A Dogwood Christmas: A Sweet Romance Anthology

A Dogwood Valentine: A Sweet Romance Anthology

Dogwood Secrets Unsealed: A Sweet Romance Anthology

A Love and Laughter Dogwood Collection: Four Sweet Romantic Comedies

Also by Karen Fox

Dogwood Series

A Match in Dogwood: A Sweet Romance Anthology Prequel

Must Love Dogs: A Dogwood Sweet Romance

A Dogwood Christmas: A Sweet Romance Anthology

Dogwood Fortunes Revealed

A Dogwood Valentine: A Sweet Romance Anthology

Dogwood Secrets Unsealed: A Sweet Romance Anthology

Her Fake Fiance: A Heartwarming Sweet Romance

Hope Chest Series

The Prince

The Hope Chest Series Boxed Set (Books 1 - 5)

The Three Graces

A Touch of Charm

Three Graces Series Boxed Set

Also by Laura Hayden

Dogwood Series

A Match in Dogwood: A Sweet Romance Anthology Prequel

A Dogwood Christmas: A Sweet Romance Anthology

Dogwood Fortunes Revealed

A Dogwood Valentine: A Sweet Romance Anthology

Dogwood Secrets Unsealed: A Sweet Romance Anthology

The Ghost of Dogwood: A Short Story

Hope Chest Series

The Thief

The Hope Chest Series Boxed Set (Books 1 - 5)

Margin Duo

A Margin in Time

Standalone

Ghost of a Chance

Also by Pam McCutcheon

Dogwood Series

A Match in Dogwood: A Sweet Romance Anthology Prequel

Sit. Stay. Love.: A Dogwood Sweet Romantic Comedy

A Dogwood Christmas: A Sweet Romance Anthology

Dogwood Fortunes Revealed

A Dogwood Valentine: A Sweet Romance Anthology

Dogwood Secrets Unsealed: A Sweet Romance Anthology

A Love and Laughter Dogwood Collection: Four Sweet Romantic Comedies

Fiancee for Hire: A Sweet Romantic Comedy

Hope Chest Series

The Mesmerist

The Hope Chest Series Boxed Set (Books 1 - 5)

The Three Graces

Belle of the Ball

Three Graces Series Boxed Set

Standalone

The Trouble With Fairies

The Writer's Brainstorming Kit: Thinking in New Directions

Also by Sharon Silva

Dogwood Series

A Match in Dogwood: A Sweet Romance Anthology Prequel

Second Chance Ranch: A Dogwood Sweet Romance

A Dogwood Christmas: A Sweet Romance Anthology

Dogwood Fortunes Revealed

A Dogwood Valentine: A Sweet Romance Anthology

Dogwood Secrets Unsealed: A Sweet Romance Anthology

A Healing Hearts Dogwood Collection: Set of Three Sweet Romance

Once Upon a Cowboy: A Collection of Sweet Romances

Second Chance Cowboy: A Sweet Romance

Also by Angel Smits

Dogwood Series

A Match in Dogwood: A Sweet Romance Anthology Prequel

A Dogwood Christmas: A Sweet Romance Anthology

Dogwood Fortunes Revealed

A Dogwood Valentine: A Sweet Romance Anthology

Dogwood Secrets Unsealed: A Sweet Romance Anthology

Also by Jude Willhoff

Dogwood Series

A Match in Dogwood: A Sweet Romance Anthology Prequel

Love at First Bark: A Dogwood Sweet Romance

A Dogwood Christmas: A Sweet Romance Anthology

Dogwood Fortunes Revealed

Dogwood Secrets Unsealed: A Sweet Romance Anthology

A Healing Hearts Dogwood Collection: Set of Three Sweet Romance

Sweet Home Colorado

No Direction Home

Fly Away Home

Home Sweet Home

Sweet Home Colorado Trilogy

Standalone

Writing Secrets of 33 Bestselling Romance Authors

From Dreamer to Doer: A 12-Step Indie Author Business Plan for Writing Success

Living Well With Chronic Pain

My Otherworldly Prom Date

CONTENTS

Dogwood Series Books

The Legend of Match

A Forever Kind of Love

by Pam McCutcheon

Gone to the Dogs

by Laura Hayden

The Cowboy and the Librarian

by Jodi Anderson

A Match in Disguise

by Pam McCutcheon

Rescuing Nora

by Jude Willhoff

In Search of a Match

by Sharon Silva

Give a Dog a Chance

by Karen Fox

Take Me Home

by Angel Smits

Reader Letter

Dogwood Series Books

About the Authors

A MATCH IN DOGWOOD

A DOGWOOD ROMANCE PREQUEL ANTHOLOGY

JODI ANDERSON KAREN FOX LAURA HAYDEN PAM MCCUTCHEON SHARON SILVA ANGEL SMITS JUDE WILLHOFF

Parker Hayden Media

The Legend of Match Copyright © 2018 Pam McCutcheon

A Forever Kind of Love Copyright © 2018 Pam McCutcheon

Gone to the Dogs Copyright © 2018 Laura Hayden

The Cowboy and the Librarian Copyright © 2018 Jodi Anderson

A Match in Disguise Copyright © 2018 Pam McCutcheon

Rescuing Nora Copyright © 2018 Jude Willhoff

In Search of a Match Copyright © 2018 Sharon Silva

Give a Dog a Chance Copyright © 2018 Karen Fox

Take Me Home Copyright © 2018 Angel Smits

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eBook ISBN: 978-1-941528-66-2

Print ISBN: 978-1-941528-70-9

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Parker Hayden Media

5740 N. Carefree Circle, Ste 120-1

Colorado Springs, CO 80922

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), events or locations is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.

Art credits:

Cover Design: LB Hayden

Legs: tawanlubfah/DepositPhotos

Dog: mdorottya/DepositPhotos

DOGWOOD SERIES BOOKS

Dogwood Series Books

These novels are in order of publication, but may be read as stand-alones in any order.

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Novels

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Chasing Bliss, a Dogwood Romantic Comedy

by Jodi Anderson

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Sit. Stay. Love., a Dogwood Romantic Comedy

by Pam McCutcheon

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Love at First Bark, a Dogwood Sweet Romance

by Jude Willhoff

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Must Love Dogs, a Dogwood Sweet Romance

by Karen Fox

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Second Chance Ranch, a Dogwood Sweet Romance

by Sharon Silva

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Her Fake Fiancé, a Dogwood Sweet Romance

by Karen Fox

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Second Chance Cowboy, a Dogwood Sweet Romance

by Sharon Silva

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The Ghost of Dogwood, a Dogwood Sweet Romance Short Story

by Laura Hayden

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Fiancée for Hire, a Dogwood Sweet Romantic Comedy

by Pam McCutcheon

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Welcome Home, Soldier, a Dogwood Sweet Romance

by Angel Smits

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#KissMeKieran, a Dogwood Sweet Romantic Comedy

by Torie Fox

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Short Story Anthologies

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A Match in Dogwood, a Dogwood Sweet Romance Prequel anthology

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A Dogwood Christmas, a Dogwood Sweet Romance anthology

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Dogwood Secrets Unsealed, a Dogwood Sweet Romance anthology

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A Dogwood Valentine, a Dogwood Sweet Romance anthology

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Dogwood Fortunes Revealed, a Dogwood Sweet Paranormal Romance anthology

THE LEGEND OF MATCH

The town of Dogwood was settled southwest of Colorado Springs during the 1860s by the Blakes and McPhersons, miners wanting to exploit the mineral deposits in the area. The McPhersons brought some of their beloved dogwood trees with them, and in this area, the most temperate climate of Colorado, they found the perfect spot to plant them down by the river. The trees thrived, giving the town and the creek their names.

One fine Memorial Day a few years after the second world war, the story goes that a group of young men were building picnic tables and gazebos by Dogwood Creek so that everyone could enjoy the beautiful area in comfort. The young women of the town pitched in with food and drink to reward the young men and, subsequently, use the new park for the first time. As the young ladies waited for their beaus to finish, they wove garlands and crowns from the fallen pink blossoms.

One young woman named Susannah had brought her dog with her—a black Labrador retriever puppy with a curious heart-shaped blaze of white on his chest. She’d been training him to carry messages between her and her beau, Robert, so when the young men completed their labor, Susannah jokingly tossed her crown of flowers around her dog’s neck and bade him carry the token to her one true love.

The puppy cocked his head and stared at her for a moment as if seriously considering her request, then unerringly made a beeline for the young men. Susannah laughed, wondering how Robert would react, but the dog dropped her offering at the feet of a shy young man named Johnny who had been admiring her from afar. Emboldened by the dog’s choice, Johnny stared at Susannah with his heart in his eyes and she knew, all at once, the dog had chosen the perfect man for her.

No one remembers what the dog’s name was up to that point, but since he had brought two unsuspecting soul mates together, he became known as the matchmaking dog, or Match, and the name stuck. People brought their hopes of a similar union to Match, and he took his job seriously, pairing couples who belonged together, and refusing to confirm matches that wouldn’t work. He was never wrong, and Susannah and Johnny lived a long, love-filled life together.

After a rich life of bringing couples together, Match eventually crossed the Rainbow Bridge, and a beagle puppy with a brown heart-shaped marking was born in Dogwood. It soon became evident that the puppy possessed the same ability to see into lovers’ hearts, so she was named Match as well.

After each Match passes on, a new Match is born in Dogwood. The dogs’ breed, color, and gender have varied widely over the years, but each has a heart-shaped mark located somewhere on their body, proudly proclaiming their ability and responsibility to bring soul mates together.

A FOREVER KIND OF LOVE

BY PAM MCCUTCHEON

Dogwood, Colorado, 1973

Will you marry me? Paul McPherson asked, mischief sparkling in his eyes as he posed dramatically on one knee on the damp grass of the park near Dogwood Creek.

He was the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome, even though his formerly long hair had been cut shockingly short. What girl could resist him?

Well, Sandy Blake had to. She sighed. Not that again, Paul. He’d asked her about once a week, ever since he was released from the Air Force. Get up.

He rose to his feet, brushing his damp knee. Why won’t you marry me? he asked, grinning engagingly at her and wiggling his eyebrows in a manner he knew she found amusing.

But not this time, especially since his reaction seemed so fake. Sandy sighed and walked on, letting her rare Havanese pull her along the park path. This was Match’s favorite place to walk, but Paul knew it, too. Was she going to have to change it to avoid him?

Sandy and Paul had been high school sweethearts, but after he went to Vietnam, he’d come back....different. She couldn’t imagine what he’d gone through over there, but knew that here, stateside, he and the other poor men who’d served in Vietnam—willingly or not—were reviled and spat upon by anti-war protesters. Unfortunately, Paul wouldn’t talk about any of his experiences, and he continued to act as though he didn’t have a care in the world. He’d always been fun-loving, but now he seemed sort of....manic. He was no longer the boy she’d fallen in love with, and she didn’t know the man Paul had become—he wouldn’t let her in.

He hurried up to walk beside her. Come on, Sandy, tell me why you keep saying no.

She shook her head at him, giving him an exasperated look. Lots of reasons.

Name one, he challenged her.

She thought for a moment. They’d had many discussions over the weeks he’d been back, but not once had he admitted he’d changed, though he’d become expert at changing the subject. Not wanting to go through that again, she said, Well, for one, you don’t love me.

You mean you don’t love me, Paul protested.

No, that wasn’t what she meant at all. She did love him, but it couldn’t work. She just shook her head.

But I do love you, Paul insisted.

You just think you do, Sandy said, giving him a repressing look. They’d corresponded while he was in Vietnam, and she suspected he thought he loved her because she’d been one of the few connections he had during the war with home and the life he’d left. But the serious, thoughtful young man she’d corresponded with didn’t seem anywhere in evidence here.

Also... She paused, not wanting to sound hokey.

What? Tell me, so I can fix it.

She shook her head sadly. You can’t. I want....a forever kind of love. Not one born of convenience or comfort, but true love, one that would last a lifetime.

What makes you think we can’t have that? he demanded.

She glanced down at her dog whose heart-shaped splotch proclaimed her as the latest incarnation of Match, the matchmaking dog. Remember in high school when I asked Match who my true love was? Though Paul had been present, Match hadn’t done anything—she’d just looked bored.

I wasn’t ready then, he protested.

It’s not about being ready—it’s about being right for each other. Match didn’t put us together.

You’re letting a stupid legend decide your future? he asked incredulously.

Another Match brought my parents together, she reminded him. I want what they have and I won’t settle for anything less. Wanting to change the subject, she said, Besides, you’re running against my father for mayor. The Blakes and McPhersons had founded this town, and had competed for its governance in a friendly rivalry over the years, but Sandy didn’t think her father would appreciate her becoming engaged to his opponent.

That doesn’t have anything to do with you and me, he protested.

Of course it does. You know I’m Dad’s campaign manager. Why are you running against him? You really don’t have a chance of winning. Not against an incumbent, and not as a Vietnam vet. Besides, his family had enough money that he didn’t have to work a day in his life.

Match took off in a new direction to investigate a promising smell, and Sandy followed her. Paul did, too, shrugging. Because I have a cause I care about—helping animals.

I care about animals, too, but how will running for mayor help them?

It’s a matter of educating people about the injustice and cruelty animals suffer. Millions of cats and dogs are born each year, and there aren’t enough people around to adopt them all. They suffer from neglect, abandonment, euthanasia, being used to fight each other—

You can’t save them all, Sandy protested.

"No, but I can save a few. And I can push for one small town—this town—where animals can live in peace and safety. Where people are educated about neutering and the suffering of animals, where they actively go out of their way to take in strays and care for the abused. We need to not only set up no-kill shelters, but a no-kill town where cats and dogs....and rabbits and horses and whatever can be protected and find loving homes." His voice rose as he got into his subject.

You want to start a movement? she asked jokingly. That’s what it sounded like to her.

Maybe, he said, sounding defiant.

Wow, she’d never seen him so worked up before. Obviously, he really cared about this. Why does this matter to you so much? she asked.

He hunched his shoulders, and his gaze turned inward, shuttered. It just does.

Once again, he shut her out. If only he felt as passionate about her....

Sandy leaned down to pet Match so Paul wouldn’t see the pain in her eyes. She couldn’t marry him, but couldn’t abandon him altogether, not when his other friends had moved on with their lives and his family didn’t seem to know what to do with him. You know what, Paul? Let’s just be friends.

Friends, he repeated softly, sounding defeated.

Yes, Sandy said firmly. And maybe one day, Match would find the perfect guy for her.

A couple of weeks later, Sandy was revisiting the idea of being friends with Paul. He didn’t seem to get the message, and he still wouldn’t open up to her. It hurt to see him try to be so carefree, like the Paul of old, when she knew darned well he’d changed.

Her mother had suggested she invite him over to dinner, and she’d agreed, hoping the presence of other people would help buffer the strain of their relationship.

The doorbell rang and Match barked. Sandy opened the door to see Paul dressed in his best, looking nervous. Sandy wasn’t sure what he had to feel nervous about—he’d spent plenty of time around her family before.

Come on in, she said. It’s just Mom and Dad and us tonight. My brothers all had other plans.

She led him into the living room where she surprised her parents smooching like teenagers in the door to the dining room. She cleared her throat noisily, but they ignored her.

Her dad gave Mom one last kiss then grinned at Sandy. Making out with my girl is one of my few pleasures, he said, and I won’t let you or anyone else embarrass me.

The girl in question smiled, patted her hair, then greeted Paul. It’s so nice to see you again, Paul. Do you still like pot roast?

I love it, Paul said, and seemed to relax.

Good, then come on in. Dinner’s ready.

They seated themselves at the dining room table, and the discussion turned to the upcoming mayoral election. Mostly, it was Dad feeling Paul out about his political views. Paul fielded his questions easily, more as a mature peer than a junior subordinate, and was more relaxed than she’d seen him since he came back. Strangely, she felt proud of