Nina Shepard is a single woman who is slightly lost in her current situation. She has recently left a dead-end job in publishing and is earning money by walking dogs through the city streets. Being a dog walker allows her entrance into the private lives of some of Manhattan's most interesting characters. Nina isn't afraid to snoop or pry, but she is afraid to fall in love. That is exactly what she does with Daniel Maguire, a 32-year-old high-powered attorney. Daniel however isn't exactly what he seems --- or who he seems, for that matter.

Nina has to navigate her way through the crazy streets of New York, the crazy lives of the strangers whose apartments she escapes into, and the crazy personalities of the people in her life. She is a very likable character who is real and honest, and who undoubtedly thinks and speaks with her heart. Nina allows the reader to escape into her own personal and private thoughts as she tries to tackle a life that has suddenly gotten off its leash.

Leslie Schnur, the former editor-in-chief of Delacorte Press, understands how to make characters come alive on the page. She has created a hilariously touching debut novel that is impossible to put down. It is a tribute to anyone who has ever lived in a city, dreamed of living in a city, or found themselves slightly lost in the day-to-day complications of life. Nina Shepard is one of the most likable characters to come across modern fiction today. THE DOG WALKER is a must-read!