In her post prison life, Stella Gale, a tough, charismatic, and paradoxical ex-madam from Georgia, has become a renowned Rare Breed dog breeder (Dogue de Bordeaux). In her world, people not only keep secrets from each other, but also from themselves. Bobby Kansas, Stella’s husband, has no memory of the first ten years of his life and he doesn’t know why - Stella does, but she’s not telling.

Annie Evans moves in with Stella and Bobby at age 17, but how she came to meet Stella is not what she believes.

Ultimately, the web of secrets that held them together unravels and each must choose a course of action. Interspersed throughout are the hilarious antics of individuals in the Rare Breed dog world, sparring for ribbons in the ring, and clawing for power and recognition.

The dogs of Galestorm Kennel - Big Bertha, Amazing Grace, Ivan the Terrible, and Oz - have a compelling role in the unfolding of this human drama.

An aside from the author:

When Stella Gale burst into my life, it was more than a decade ago on a cold and grey New England morning. I had just pressed an English muffin into the toaster and poured myself a steaming cup of black coffee when I heard her - loud and clear. "You need to sit your ass down and open your ears real wide ‘cause, honey, I got me a story to tell and you got a story to write!"

I dropped everything, except my coffee, and sat down. Why? Because in my gut I knew this was the beginning of something extraordinary.