Sit! Stay! Speak! by Annie England Noblin

Needing a change, Addie decides to move from Chicago to the small town of Eunice, Arkansas, after inheriting her Aunt Tilda's house.  Addie used to spend time each summer as a child with Tilda, but it's been many years since she visited.  Addie's plan is to stay a few months to fix her aunt's house up so she can sell it.  However, after rescuing an abandoned dog she names Felix, becoming friends with Wanda Carter (who is the queen of sassy southern sayings), and falling for lawyer/farmer Jasper Floyd she just might find it too hard to leave. Despite all this, Addie finds herself in trouble after she refuses ignore the fact that someone in Eunice is abusing dogs. Sit! Stay! Speak! is a cozy first novel full of charm, romance and quirky characters.