With her former fiancee, Sam, off finding himself and their wedding plans kaput, Melanie Travis figures the only ring she'll be seeing in the near future is one where she's showing her prized poodles. But at least somebody still believes in happily ever after: her brother Frank is about to tie the knot with his true love, Bertie Kennedy. With little knowledge of tulle, favors, or hors d'oeuvres, Melanie is content to leave the nuptial arrangements to Sara Bentley, a fellow dog-handler moonlighting as a wedding coordinator. But when Sara vanishes without a trace a panicked Bertie gives Melanie a choice: either pinch-hit for Sara -- or find out where she is.

Opting for the latter, Melanie begins sniffing around into Sara's past -- and unearths far more trouble than she bargained for, when Sara's cottage burns to the ground and a woman's body is found in the rubble.

What became of Sara isn't the only mystery on Melanie's hands. For some reason, her ex-husband has resurfaced and seems to want to start up their old relationship.

Melanie soon realizes that despite the best-laid plans, anything can happen, from a rekindled romance to high-spirited canine hijinks and a surprise human pregnancy. And when it comes to Sara Bentley, nothing is certain -- except that it's up to Melanie to stop a murderer in his -- or her -- tracks.