Philippe Le Vilain

Philippe Le Vilain was born in gloomy Paris, France, and moved to California in 1992, chasing sunshine and a Ferrari. He got the sunshine first.

He spent over three decades talking people through things they did not want to do, which turned out to be useful training for a life that rarely goes to plan.

He writes warm, funny, true stories drawn from real life.

He lives in California with his wife, Robyn, and their dog, Riley.

The warm, funny, true story of how a scruffy stray from Puerto Vallarta bulldozed his way into a cat-ruled house, and into the heart of the man who absolutely did not want him. Part love letter, part reluctant surrender, it's a quick, feel-good read about second chances and being proven wrong in the best possible way.

What it is: an honest, laugh-and-the-occasional-tear dog memoir. What it isn't: a training manual or a sad-dog tearjerker.