More Than Just a Game is, at heart, a story about loyalty, love, and the bonds that tie us together. There’s no better example of that than the unconditional love of a dog. This book is a tribute to the four-legged sisters and brothers who have touched Laura’s life.

The story features two very different sisters—two very different dogs: Maggie, the intellectual one who preferred a quiet plan, and Hattie, the bold one, always up for an adventure. The characters’ personalities mirror those of their namesakes—both rich and full of life.

Every character in this novel who isn’t based on a real person is named after a dog—Albert, Clyde, Sadie, Scamper, Allie, Maggie, Hattie, and Lillie—each one celebrated for their loyalty, mischief, and heart. Their spirit is part of every chapter, and their names and personalities live on in the characters they inspired.

Beloved dogs from family and friends—Hoover, Mickey, George, Stella—have also made their presence known in these pages, lending their names, their quirks, or just a bit of their spirit to the world of the story.

Now, Maggie has joined the loyal companions who came before her, while Hattie keeps a close eye on Lillie, the newest member of the pack (whose full story is still to come). Like the sisters in the story, Maggie and Laura shared a bond that stood the test of time—a bond that lives on in these pages, and in Hattie and Laura’s hearts.

For Maggie—sisters now, sisters forever.