Series:
K-9s on Patrol (Book 4)
A dangerous mission…
Might just offer them a second chance.
After lawman Dillon Diaz spent one incredible weekend
with a mysterious woman, he's shocked to encounter her months later…when he's
assigned to rescue an injured hiker in the mountains. And stunning Roslyn Kern
has news that will change his life. Now, battling a fiery blaze and an escaped
fugitive, it's up to Dillon and his K-9, Bentley, to protect long-lost Rosie --
and Dillon's unborn child.
Like the other books in this series, this one grabbed my
attention at the beginning and kept me hooked to the end. The story opens as Roslyn,
a Chicago DJ, returns to Idaho to find the man with whom she shared an intense
weekend five months earlier. She has something to talk to him about and is very
nervous about it. To postpone the inevitable, she sets out on a hike with
friends. She becomes separated from them while taking pictures and sprains her
ankle as she tries to get back to the trail. With a forest fire raging not too
far away, she's worried about getting out.
Dillon is a police officer and search and rescue team
member with his dog Bentley. It is his day off, which he spends part of trying
to track down the woman he can't forget. After hitting more dead ends, he
decides to take a break and go for a walk with Bentley. Before he can leave, he
gets a call about a missing hiker, and he and Bentley join the search. Imagine
his surprise when he discovers the lost hiker is his "Rosie."
Roslyn is shocked when she realizes her rescuer is the
man she came to find. Initially, things are pretty awkward between them as
Dillon fights his anger over how she ghosted him after their weekend. For Roslyn,
this was not how she wanted to tell him he would be a father. But the two will
have to get past the awkwardness and work together because a change in the
fire's direction means they have a longer walk to get back to civilization.
I liked seeing the rekindling of the relationship between
Roslyn and Dillon. Once Dillon overcame the shock over her pregnancy, he was
determined to show her they belonged together. He has no trouble picturing
their future as a family. Despite her continuing attraction to him, Roslyn is
wary of committing to anything. She was burned in her last relationship and isn't
sure she can trust her judgment. I liked how Dillon's patience and care helped
ease her fears. But it takes surviving a dangerous situation for Roslyn to take
that leap of faith. I loved the hospital scene at the end and seeing Dillon and
Roslyn embrace a future together.
The suspense of the story was terrific. Neither Dillon
nor Roslyn knew as they made their way back to civilization that an escaped murderer
was also trapped in the same area. Roslyn is unaware that she caught him in the
background of one of her photographs, and he is determined to keep her from
sharing that photo. She and Dillon get a feeling of being followed but aren't sure
until Anderson tries to steal her camera during the night. They become more
cautious after he gets away from Daniel's pursuit. The tension ramps up as they
are on the lookout for another attempt. I was glued to the pages when it came,
as Anderson was a desperate man willing to do anything to avoid going back to
prison. The confrontation was intense, and I loved how it went down.
Meanwhile, the missing hiker and the escaped convict draw
much attention back in town. With Dillon cut off by the fire and little cell
service, the Jasper police cannot let him know they may be in danger. I could
feel their frustration as their investigation leads them to believe that
Anderson is in the same area as Dillon and Roslyn, but a visiting Federal agent
tells them otherwise. Fortunately, Brady and Ava trust their instincts and make
their own plans.
The media are also all over the story of the missing
hiker. Roslyn was a famous DJ back in Chicago when she got caught up in a media
firestorm after she ended her engagement. After seeing the wild speculations
some of them came up with, Roslyn's desire to keep a low profile was
understandable. I liked seeing the Jasper cops deal with them.
Captain Rutledge continues to be a thorn in the department's
side. His arrogance is maddening, and his dislike of the K-9s continues to rub
others wrong. I loved seeing Emma from the Canine Academy tear him a new one
after an especially egregious action. His press conference was infuriating,
particularly when he made statements about his future role in the department. I
want to see him knocked down a peg or five before the end of the series.
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