Alpha Tracker - Cindi Myers (HI #2080 - July 2022)

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.

Foothills Field Search - Maggie Wells (HI #2074 - June 2022)

Series: K-9s on Patrol (Book 3)
 
An officer and his K-9
Stand between a mother and her worst nightmare…
 
When two kids are kidnapped from plain sight, Officer Brady Nichols and his intrepid canine, Winnie, spring into action. Single mother Cassie Whitaker thought she'd left big-city peril behind -- until it followed her to Jasper. Brady and his K-9 are on the case, but can they protect Cassie from a stalker who won't take no for an answer?
 
Terrific book that sucked me in from the first page and kept me hooked to the end. I love stories with K-9s and their partners; this series has been excellent. The book opens as Brady and his K-9 partner, Winnie, arrive at the training academy for a celebration. Just as he gets Winnie out of his vehicle, he draws the attention of a little girl named Jilly. She is fascinated by Winnie, who returns the attention. The next moment, Jilly's mother, Cassie, is frantically calling her name. I liked that Cassie and Brady turned the encounter into a teachable moment regarding working dogs without stomping on Jilly's enthusiasm. Brady also meets Jilly's older sister Brook and follows the three into the academy grounds. Brady is intrigued by Cassie but isn't looking for the complications of getting involved. But when the two girls disappear during the fun, Brady and Winnie are front and center of the search.
 
I could feel Cassie's fear, especially when they discovered the girls had left with an unknown man. I could feel Brady and Winnie's determination to find them and their frustration when the trail went cold. I loved Brady's kindness and empathy with Cassie as they worked to figure out who took them. It didn't take long for Cassie to produce the logical suspect. I laughed out loud at her confrontation with Brady the following day as she insisted on going along when the search resumed. The search scenes were intense, and while the girls were found safe, the kidnapper got away.
 
I loved seeing the relationship develop between Brady and Cassie. He feels very protective of the three of them and invites them to stay at his house to keep them safe. Seeing the little girls wiggle their way into his heart and his life was fun. It doesn't take long for him to feel like they are a family and to wonder if it is possible. Cassie is a little warier, having had two disastrous relationships, but it doesn't take long for her to trust Brady. There are some sweet scenes of the two together as they get to know each other. There are a couple of clashes as Brady's protectiveness runs up against Cassie's independence, but they handle them with communication rather than hurt feelings. When everything is over, they must decide if what they feel results from the circumstances or their feelings for each other are real. I loved the ending, especially the two girls' reactions.
 
The suspense was terrific and kept me reading well past my bedtime. Cassie could not shake the man who wouldn't take no for an answer. His mind games were disturbing, but with Brady's help, Cassie could be more mad than scared. As the threats escalated, I could feel their frustration at not being able to find the guy. The final confrontation was intense. Winnie was amazing, and Brady arrived at the perfect time. My favorite part was seeing Cassie tear into her stalker - don't mess with mama bear's cubs!

Decoy Training - Caridad Pineiro (HI #2062 - Apr 2022)

Series: K-9s on Patrol (Book 1)

His fresh start is about to be interrupted by a threatening foe.
 
Former Marine Shane Adler's used to perilous situations. But he's stunned to find danger in the peaceful Idaho mountains -- especially swirling around his beautiful dog trainer. After tragically losing her hero husband, Piper Lambert's rebuilt her life. Now it's up to Shane -- and his loyal K-9 in training, Decoy -- to make sure a mysterious enemy won't derail her new beginning…or his.
 
Good book, but let me correct one thing right away. The blurb states that Shane is a former Marine. He is not. He was in the army. Piper's husband was a Marine. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, staying up until long past midnight to finish it.
 
The book opens as Shane and his dog, Decoy, are headed to Idaho to visit a friend. Shane feels a little lost now that he's been medically retired from the army, thanks to injuries he received on duty. If it hadn't been for Decoy, Shane likely would have died in the bombed-out building. Shane still has nightmares from that time, but Decoy is terrific support for him. During Shane's visit with his friend, Gonzo suggests that Shane and Decoy train for search and rescue and sends him to the Daniels Canine Academy. There he meets Piper, the woman who will do their training.
 
Piper is a widow. Her Marine husband was killed in Afghanistan four years earlier, and she still grieves for him. She moved to Idaho from California to start over and help her friend Emma with the DCA. She's not thrilled when she finds out she'll be training Shane. Too many military men remind her of her husband and how much she misses him. We also meet Chipper, the corgi/pit mix puppy that Piper adopts. On her walk home from work the day before Shane's arrival, Piper gets the creepy feeling that she's being watched.
 
I enjoyed the first meeting between Shane and Piper. He arrives early and sees Piper, Emma, and vet tech Tashya working with the puppies. He's immediately drawn to Piper, but her reaction to him isn't as warm, mainly because she is as attracted to him, and it makes her uncomfortable. She is determined to stick to training only and not let him get too close. His plans to join a SAR unit in Montana reinforce that desire. I enjoyed their training sessions. Shane and Piper quickly relax into their training partnership, which helps reduce the tension between them. It isn't long before the sparks between them grow stronger.
 
When Piper's feeling of being watched escalates into the knowledge that someone tried to break into her home, Shane's protective instincts kick in. And when her home is later entered and searched, Shane moves in to protect her. This also allows them to grow even closer. I liked how Piper gave Shane the understanding and compassion he needed to begin healing from his trauma. At the same time, Shane understands that everyone grieves at their own pace and gives Piper the space she needs. But as the danger intensifies, sooner or later, both realize that they need each other to move forward. I loved Shane's big moment at the end.
 
The suspense of the book was terrific. It started slowly, with Piper's feeling of being watched, then moved on to the evidence that someone had tried to get into her house. About this time, we get a peek into the mind of the person behind it all and learn what is driving him. We see his attacks escalate as he grows more desperate. Thanks to Shane's background, he can investigate his suspicions. I ached for Piper as she defended her husband against the implications while at the same time they were looking for the truth. The intensity ramps up as they identify a suspect, but he evades them. When the final confrontation comes, Piper is at the mercy of a desperate man. I liked seeing how, though everyone worked together to find her, it was Decoy who came up with the clue that saved the day. The ending was a nail-biter, and I was glued to the pages until it was over.
 
I loved the dogs in this book. Decoy is the perfect companion for Shane. They bonded overseas when Shane would feed Decoy, which led Decoy to find Shane when he was trapped. I was happy that Shane worked to get Decoy back to the States with him. It was sweet to see how Decoy would wake Shane up from his nightmares and give him comfort. Their bond was fantastic and will serve them well as a search-and-rescue team. I also adored Piper's puppy, Chipper. She was sweet and smart and a bundle of joy. It was fun to see her jump all over Decoy and watch him put up with it. It looked like Chipper learned a few things from Decoy also. I can't wait to get to know other dogs as the series continues.

Sniffing Out Danger - Elizabeth Heiter (HI #2067 - May 2022)

Series: K-9s on Patrol (Book 2)

Her first big case…
Could be her last.
 
When former big-city cop Ava Callan stumbles upon a bomb, she seizes the chance to prove herself. Not only to the small-town police department where she's transitioning to become a K-9 handler…but especially to charming lead investigator Eli Thorne. The only thing more explosive than her chemistry with the out-of-town captain? The danger menacing them at every turn…
 
Terrific book that kept me hooked from beginning to end. After a personal tragedy back in Chicago, Ava came to Jasper for a new start, but she still feels like an outsider after six months. As the only K-9 handler, she's having trouble connecting with her fellow officers, and the small town also feels closed off. That begins to change when she and her dog Lacey stumble upon a bomb while doing a wellness check.
 
Jasper doesn't have its own explosives expert, so they request help from a nearby town. Eli Thorne comes to Jasper to take the lead on the investigation. He's wary when Ava is assigned to the team investigating because of her aloofness. He's used to being able to charm anyone he meets into working with him, but Ava seems impervious. As they work together on the investigation, Eli breaks through some of Ava's reserve, and they discover that they work well together.
 
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Ava and Eli. Though initially cool to each other, their excellent work rapport quickly thaws the ice between them and exposes a simmering attraction. As much as they like the heated kisses they share, they also realize pursuing their attraction could be a dangerous distraction from their investigation. Ava is cautious because of being burned in a previous relationship with a coworker. I loved how Eli made it clear that he wasn't rejecting what was happening, simply postponing his pursuit until the case was over. I loved seeing them grow closer and Ava becoming comfortable enough to share her past with Eli. I liked how he worked to show her that she belongs in Jasper after an unexpected call from Chicago has her thinking about returning. I especially enjoyed seeing Ava's pleasure when Eli's prediction came true, and she finally started to feel part of the community. I loved the ending and seeing them take a chance on the future.
 
The suspense of the story was excellent. Eli, Ava, and the rest of the team know that their time is limited if they are going to find the bomber before it's too late. I could feel their frustration at their lack of progress, especially once they identified a person of interest. Matters became complicated as they questioned some of their conclusions following a bombing. An unexpected twist exposed the truth and left Eli and Ava scrambling to stop a potential disaster. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as he raced to defuse a bomb while Ava faced the bomber. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.