by Ali Standish
This book could never have happened without the real Bella, and so I want to thank all those who helped her come into our lives and who have loved and cared for her alongside us over the years. There are too many to name individually, but I do want to mention the Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation for rescuing Bella from the pound and giving her a second chance at life; Melissa Poulin for providing her with a loving foster home; Harri Laakso for forgiving us for not taking his dog advice; Julie Mitchell and her Zoey for being Bella’s best ever playdates; Ritva Laakso, Jacobo Caballeiro, and Leidy Suarez for caring for her so tenderly and helping her to heal from her hip surgery; Kevin Cusick for making sure she would always be able to run; John Lester and Kevin Bull for giving her a second home and family in Grantchester; and Mom and Dad for helping every step along the way.
And, of course, to Aki Laakso, who knew right away that Bella belonged with us, who has been the most loving and devoted doggy daddy a pup could ask for, and who has loved this book since the very first word. Thank you for choosing our girl.
About the Author
Photo by Aki Laakso
ALI STANDISH, author of the critically acclaimed The Ethan I Was Before and August Isle, grew up surrounded by dogs. Big ones and little ones, slobbery ones and smelly ones. (And she’s not complaining.) She now lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with her husband, Aki, and their two rescue dogs, Bella and Keeper. Despite all evidence to the contrary, she maintains they are the best dogs in the whole wide world. You can visit Ali and her pack online at www.alistandish.com.
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
Books by Ali Standish
The Ethan I Was Before
August Isle
Copyright
BAD BELLA. Copyright © 2019 by Ali Standish. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
Cover art © 2019 by Melissa Manwill
Cover design by Laura Mock
* * *
Digital Edition SEPTEMBER 2019 ISBN: 978-0-06-289327-7
Print ISBN: 978-0-06-289325-3
* * *
19 20 21 22 23 PC/LSCH 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
FIRST EDITION
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty. Ltd.
Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Bay Adelaide Centre, East Tower
22 Adelaide Street West, 41st Floor
Toronto, Ontario, M5H 4E3
www.harpercollins.ca
India
HarperCollins India
A 75, Sector 57
Noida
Uttar Pradesh 201 301
www.harpercollins.co.in
New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand
Unit D1, 63 Apollo Drive
Rosedale 0632
Auckland, New Zealand
www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF, UK
www.harpercollins.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
195 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
www.harpercollins.com