Guardian K-9 on Call - Linda O. Johnston (HRS #2182 - May 2022)

Series: Shelter of Secrets (Book 2)

She protects those in need…with her K-9 by her side!
 
When a brutal homicide crosses her desk, K-9 cop Maisie Murran is determined to find the culprit. Evidence points toward an unlikely suspect, veterinarian Kyle Kornel. Maisie suspects that someone is framing the compassionate doctor, and she offers to help him find the real killer. Working together to prove his innocence puts them both at risk -- and makes the heat between them impossible to ignore…
 
Good suspense combined with romance. This animal shelter in Chance is a no-kill shelter that takes in abused and unwanted animals. Unknown to the rest of the town, it is also a shelter for abused women. They are taken in, given a chance to heal while working with the animals, then given new lives elsewhere. The shelter's manager, Scott, is an undercover police officer (Her Undercover Refuge).
 
The newest employee at the shelter is Kyle, a former cop turned veterinarian. He is on-site when K-9 cop Maisie brings her dog, Griffin, in because of an injured paw while she was patrolling near the shelter. The sparks between them were evident from the start, and they made plans to get together.
 
While at the shelter, there is an altercation between Kyle and a pair of women who bring a dog to the shelter. One woman is a local pet supply store owner who displays dogs for adoption while encouraging adopters to purchase supplies from the store. There is some question about the legality and ethics of her actions, and Kyle is not very happy with the resolution of the argument. He finds her body when he goes to the pet store later to talk to the woman and check the situation. He calls the police but is considered the number one person of interest in the murder because of the earlier argument.
 
This puts a crimp in the blossoming relationship between Kyle and Maisie. As a police officer, getting involved with a murder suspect is not a good idea. But they can't stay away from each other despite Maisie's initial questioning of Kyle's guilt or innocence. Their attraction grows as they work together to prove Kyle's innocence. I liked that, though their chemistry was strong, they limited their involvement while the case was ongoing. I liked Kyle's protectiveness toward Maisie after he received a threat that included her, even though he respected her abilities as a police officer. I wanted their chances for a future together after the case ended, and they were free to explore their relationship.
 
The suspense was good. There were questions about the motives and actions of the murdered woman from her first appearance at the shelter. Kyle is a logical suspect even though the reader knows he is not guilty. Reading the book requires some suspense of disbelief as Maisie, a K-9 cop only peripherally involved in the investigation, decides to look into things on her own. She also informs one of the suspects (Kyle) of what she finds. Putting these quibbles aside, the search for the murderer kept my interest. In addition to Kyle, there were other possible suspects in the murder, from the woman's ex-husbands to employees of the store.
 
The intensity increased when Kyle received a threatening text, indicating that the murderer was not happy with his pursuit of the truth. As information about one of the other suspects came to light, the spotlight moved away from Kyle but didn't decrease his desire to find the truth. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as the murderer made their move on their actual target. The face-off was intense as Kyle and Maisie faced a desperate killer bent on revenge. The resolution was neatly done (I loved Griffin and Spike's involvement), though I found the murderer's motive a bit far-fetched. I'm looking forward to the next book.

Her Undercover Refuge - Linda O. Johnston (HRS #2146 - Aug 2021)

Series: Shelter of Secrets (Book 1)

He protects the vulnerable but his new employee might also need his help
 
Scott Sherridan is an undercover cop offering vulnerable people a safe place to hide. When Scott hires former LAPD officer Nella Bresdall, he tells himself that his growing feelings for her won't be a distraction. But when a threat against Nella's life arises, Scott realizes he might have to lose her to keep her safe…
 
Good book with an interesting concept. I liked the idea of an animal shelter also doubling as a shelter for people in danger. Scott is a cop with the local police department, but his primary duty is running the Chase Animal Shelter. His "managers" are also law enforcement, while the "staff" are the people who need protection. I loved seeing the detail Scott and the Chase PD put into making the shelter as safe as possible.
 
Nella is a former LAPD officer who left the department after losing her partner during a gang-related shooting. Her boss recommended the shelter as a good place for her to work, and Nella's enthusiasm for it is evident as she arrives for her interview. As Nella waits for her interview, another woman comes looking for a "job" and is obviously afraid. Even though she doesn't yet work there yet, Nella's actions show she's a good fit.
 
I liked the development of the relationship between Scott and Nella. The attraction is there from the start, though neither intends to do anything about it. Both are cognizant of the employer/employee dynamic and how inappropriate it would be. But the connection between them won't be denied, and they can't stay away from each other. When the texted threats start, Scott's normal protectiveness toward the shelter and its inhabitants ramps up even further to keep Nella safe. While Nella appreciates Scott's protection, she isn't one to stand back and let someone else take all of the risks. She makes it clear that she has a stake in her own safety. As the days go on, Scott and Nella spend a lot of time together, both alone and with the others, and it is easy to see their feelings grow stronger. Despite a speedbump in their relationship caused by Nella's reluctance to endanger the others, their big moment at the end was great.
 
The suspense of the story was well done. When the first threat arrives, Scott and Nella aren't sure who it is directed to. I liked seeing Nella use her newness at the shelter to get to know the others' stories and see if those lead anywhere. Once the threats focus on Nella, the tension steadily grows. I could feel their frustration at the lack of progress in identifying the source of the threats. Nella is convinced that it is one of the gang members from her last operation, but her former boss doesn't make any progress either. As the book neared the end, I suspected the source of the threat and the reason. However, I never saw the twist that came along with the final confrontation. I was on the edge of my seat until it was over and loved how it happened.
 
One of the things I enjoyed about this book was the prominent part the animals played. I loved meeting the various critters and how they had their own personalities. My favorites were Spike and Baby. It was sweet to see how Nella connected with them. I also liked the attention paid to their training and the vetting of the potential adopters. I enjoyed getting to know the human residents and look forward to seeing more of them in later books.