The Chart

Heart Chimes by Denise Janette Bruneau  (2020) A Basket Full of Puppies
The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan (2012) Full Grown Cat That Likes Snuggles

Lazlo's Dream Machines by Tracey Kramer-Kelly (2020) Cat Only Snuggles When it Wants

The Magnolia That Bloomed Unseen by Ray Smith (2019) Basket Full of Kittens

Prophetess by Tam DeRudder Jackson (2020) Aloof Cat
The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea by Kerrelyn Sparks (2020) Aloof Dog

The Soldier's Lady by Susanne Dietze, Janette Foreman, Gabrielle Meyer, Lorna Seilstad (2012) Basket Full of Kittens

Stealing Thunder by Patricia Rosemoor (2009) Dog that Likes Snuggles

*****

Basic Rubric: (not hard and fast, just general guidelines)

A basket full of kittens = Light, frothy, fun

A basket full of puppies = A little less light, but still frothy and fun. Think of books where the main character is dumped at the outset by a significant other who is terrible

Full grown cat that likes snuggles = The main characters solve a murder and we are glad the victim's dead

Dog that likes snuggles = The main characters solve a murder where we are sad the victim's dead

Cat only snuggles when it wants = The main characters have relatable emotional baggage

Aloof cat = Someone has a secret identity or secret baby

Aloof dog = Main characters or characters we like have past abuse or trauma

Aggressive cat = Violence, Death, or nonconsensual sex hinted at but not fully discussed/described.  Trigger warning may be necessary

Aggressive dog = Just short of full on crime scene.  Violence.  Death or nonconsensual sex discussed but not in print. Needs a trigger warning

Full on crime scene.  Violent.  Death in print or nonconsensual sex in print.  Needs a trigger warning. Not even going to analogize this to an animal