LOVE INSPIRED SUSPENSE BOOK SERIES CRITIQUE - ROCKY MOUNTAIN K-9 UNIT (2022)

I keep hoping for an Arizona series, but this is getting close.

Note - this critique will give spoilers of the series.

The main story involves a car crash with one fatality, one person in a coma and with amnesia when she recovers, and one missing baby. Other stories include a serial killer striking at various state parks who targets blondes (such as K-9 officer Harlow Zane in book 6) and Sergeant Tyson Wilkes working to  convince his highers up to make the K-9 unit permanent, in spite of several sabotage attempts.

This series includes:

1. "Detection Detail" by Terri Reed.
2. "Ready to Protect" by Valerie Hansen.
3. "Hiding in Montana" by Laura Scott.
4. "Undercover Assignment" by Dana Mentink.
5. "Defending From Danger" by Jodie Bailey.
6. "Tracking a Killer" by Elizabeth Goddard.
7. "Explosive Revenge" by Maggie K. Black.
8. "Rescue Mission" by Lynette Eason.
9. "Christmas K-9 Unit Heroes" by Lenora Worth and Katy Lee.

Once again, I didn't read the Christmas novella duet.

In the previous series, the broad stories are resolved in books 7 and 8, but this one completes one of the stories in book 6. My favorites are "Undercover Assignment" and "Explosive Revenge." The former one is based in New Mexico (the territory for this K-9 Unit is from New Mexico to Montana); not quite Arizona, but close enough for me to feel homesick.

While I enjoyed the series, there was one story I had a hard time getting into, a first for the K-9 series, that being "Hiding in Montana." Also, there were two different stories in this series where the heroine enters the book struggling to keep her business afloat, with her main business antagonist is a suspect for the trouble-making, and exits the book selling her business to that main antagonist (who was not part of the troublemaking after all) to take another job and be close to the hero. I may be one of the few, but that made me feel sad in both cases. 

That said, this series is full of great suspense and romantic tension. 

 

JEFF'S FAVORITE NOVEL LIST FOR 2023

Episode 1830 by Adele Kindt

Raise your hands if you've been anticipating my annual fiction (and non-fiction) book lists! 

This year, I haven't read as many novels as I have recent years. Thus, it's easier to make this a top ten list, in comparison to the top twenty songs I shared yesterday. 

Part with less novels read - I only read more than one book from the same author this year, that being Donna Fletcher Crow. I used to do that deliberately when I read less novels. This time it was not planned. Thus, I had several novelists move up one slot each on my all time reading list, but it didn't have a lot of effect. Jessica Patch moved into a tie with Steven King for 10th place with 8 each. John Otte and Janet Sketchley moved into a tie with Jill Williamson for 12th place at 7 each. Donna Fletcher Crow gained a little breathing room for second place (21), and putting her only two from the seemingly unpassable Dame Agatha Christy. 

As usual, I will give them in alphabetic order. Will this tradition change? Well, if you read yesterday's blog, you'll notice a slight variation: I did identify my favorite song for the year. Let me know if you like that change. But I'll go back to the typical approach of making it straight alphabetic order by author for this year. So here's my top ten:

1. Deadly Burden (Green Dory Inn Mystery Book 4) by Janet Sketchley. Each story gets better! This one has a Christmas theme. Book Review Link
2. Explosive Revenge (Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit, Book 7) by Maggie K. Black. For those unfamiliar, Love Inspired Suspense (Harlequin) has an annual 8 part K-9 series, each novel written by a different author. Book Review Link
3. George Bronson Private Eye by Hal Ames. A fun mystery story by a good friend. The review will be posted January 11.
4. Lost Bits by Kerry Nietz. An excellent dystopian sci fi story by one of my favorite authors. Book Review Link
5. The Refiner Of The Realm: Of Queens and Clerics (The Celtic Cross Book 3) by Donna Fletcher Crow. Book Review Link(includes a bonus review of Crow's An All Consuming Fire - The Monastery Murders Book 5)
6. Shielding the Baby (Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit Book 1) by Laura Scott. This is the fourth K-9 Series first book I've read, and it definitely is the best. There are 7 more books in the series, so while you find some loose ends resolved, there are others that aren't. But this was an exciting book with plenty of turns. The review will be posted January 18.
7. Theme Park Abduction by Patsy Conway. This is a Love Inspired Suspense novel, though not part of a K-9 series. Book Review Link
8. A Tincture Of Murder (Lord Danvers Investigates, Book 4) by Donna Fletcher Crow. This series, based in the 19th century, tells a mystery while including a real crime from that era. Book Review Link
9. 12 Days... by Heidi Glick. This is a Christmas time suspense novella. Book Review Link
10. Undercover Assignment (Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit Book 4) by Dana Mentink. Even though it's set in New Mexico and my old stomping grounds is Arizona, this story makes me homesick. Book Review Link

 

BOOK REVIEW - RESCUE MISSION (ROCKY MOUNTAIN K-9 UNIT BOOK 8) BY LYNETTE EASON

 

What missing memories does Katie have about the night when she was in an amnesia-causing accident and a baby had been kidnapped? Can Lucas Wilson and his K-9 Partner Angel keep her alive until she's able to help them find the infant?

Rescue Mission by Lynette Eason is the finale of the Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit series. (Okay, there's a pair of novellas following this, but this novel completes the unresolved story-lines the previous volumes established.) Katie Montgomery is introduced (comatose) in the first novel, and the following books follow Katie's coming to and the few clues they have to what happened.

If you like exciting romantic fiction, especially with a helpful and trained K-9 assistant, you'll definitely love this story. Since it's the last one in the series, I'd advice reading the other books first, but more so to be able to enjoy the stories that set up for this one than to not feel lost reading the last book first. 

BOOK REVIEW - EXPLOSIVE REVENGE (ROCKY MOUNTAIN K-9 UNIT BOOK 7) BY MAGGIE K. BLACK

 

Will the bi-monthly attacks on the Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit's HQ result in the closure of this team? Is there a connection between this vandalism and the past of the Unit's director, Sergeant Tyson Wilkes? And will his K-9 partner Echo and local Detective Skylar Morgan be able to help him solve this mystery before their world goes KABOOM? 

Explosive Revenge by Maggie K. Black is the seventh installment of the Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit series. For those unfamiliar with the annual K-9 series by Harlequin's Love Inspired Suspense line, there are eight novels and a double novella written by different authors. While there are usually three overarching story-lines covering the whole series, each have their own story as well, and are written that a person who picks up a book in the middle of the series won't be lost. 

This is true of this volume. The first novel deals with the first mysterious attack, with others  popping up in the series. As director of the Unit, Tyson is a supporting character through the series, and Skylar has a couple of appearances as well. This novel places the spotlight on this storyline and focuses on the couple. (What do you expect? This is a Harlequin imprint!)

I thought this was a well written story. Black manages to keep things moving so you're constantly trying to guess who the villain is. It develops its main characters believably (including Dutch Shepherd Echo). 

Would it surprise you if I recommended both this book and the series so far? I wouldn't be surprised either.

 

BOOK REVIEW - TRACKING A KILLER (ROCKY MOUNTAIN K-9 UNIT BOOK 6) BY ELIZABETH GODDARD

 

Where is the serial killer focusing on blondes at state parks going to strike next? Will K-9 officer Harlow Zane's cadever dog find the missing ranger, and will she still be among the living? Will her former co-worker, FBI special agent Wes Grey, be a help or a hindrance (or both) to this case? And is she the killer's next target? 

Tracking a Killer by Elizabeth Goddard is a nail-biting suspense story. This is the sixth part of an eight part series, but even though the serial killer has been mentioned through the series, you don't need to read the previous stories to be terrified ... I mean to enjoy this thrilling book. The characters are compelling, and the plot will keep you guessing. 

Now the big question - is it a coincidence that the main characters' last names are Zane and Grey? Is this an attempt to draw in Western novel fans?

Back to being serious. This is a well-written novel, as the rest of the series is, and I really enjoyed it.

 

 

BOOK REVIEW - DEFENDING FROM DANGER (ROCKY MOUNTAIN K-9 UNIT BOOK 5) BY JODIE BAILEY

 

 I got hooked on Love Inspired Suspense by two novels back in 2019: Undercover Protector by Elizabeth Goddard, which was set in an animal rescue center (focusing on tigers) and Dead Run by Jodie Bailey. Well, the 5th installment of Love Inspired Suspense's Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit is Defending From Danger, which is set in an animal rescue center (focusing on wolf/dog hybrids) by Jodie Bailey. Kind of sounds like full circle doesn't it? (By the way, the next book in the series is written by Elizabeth Goodard!)

Those who read my reviews know I'm a Jodie Bailey fan. This story is no exception. The reveal of the villain surprised me. It, as usual for Jodie Bailey, has great characters and an exciting story. 

As usual, I recommend this story.

BOOK REVIEW - UNDERCOVER ASSIGNMENT (ROCKY MOUNTAIN K-9 UNIT BOOK 4) BY DANA MENTINK

 

Which of the guests at Sam Kavanaugh's hotel is responsible for threatening his son and tearing apart his business? And why is the pretty nanny accompanied by a threatening looking Belgian Malinois?

Undercover Assignment by Dana Mentink, the fourth novel of Love Inspired Suspense's Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit, is an exciting tale of suspense and mystery. This is the fourth novel I've read by her, and in the first three, I knew who the bad guy was by the time I finished the first chapter. This one has a mystery that is as good as Dame Agatha. 

I absolutely loved the characters, and I enjoyed a mystery of being in a hotel knowing there's at least one dangerous individual lurking. Also, the New Mexico setting made this Arizona boy feel at home.

I highly recommend both this book and the series.

BOOK REVIEW - READY TO PROTECT (ROCKY MOUNTAIN K-9 UNIT PART 2) BY VALERIE HANSEN

 

 Who killed the Congresswoman and why? Is eyewitness and expectant mother Jamie London safe on K-9 officer Ben Sawyer's Wyoming ranch, with his Doberman Shadow keeping guard? And who will arrive first: Back-up or the baby?

Valerie Hansen's Ready to Protect is the second installment of the 8 part Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit (each novel by a different author). As typical in these series, there are some stories that slowly develop through the series, but the main story stands alone.  

This novel has a lot of nailbiting suspense. Hansen also does a great job dealing with Ben's relationships with Jamie, a father whose help is failing, and a half-brother who isn't trusting of the Sawyer family. 

Plus, it's got a Dobie in the story! My wife and I took care of a Dobie for a couple of years, and I enjoyed reading about one.

I highly recommend this novel. 

BOOK REVIEW - DETECTION DETAIL BY TERRI REED

 

 

Was Mia Turner and her best friend guilty of burning down a warehouse and killing the mayor's son a decade earlier? Did she have anything to do a car fire, and a possible child abduction? And are K-9 Officer Nelson Rivers and his yellow lab accelerant sniffing partner Diesel her source of protection from someone who's trying to destroy her business and her life? Or do they represent a different kind of danger - the romantic kind?

This is the first book of Love Inspired Suspense's Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit series. Terri Reed, besides telling the story of Mia and Nelson (and Diesel), is setting up other mysteries which this story doesn't solve. That's what the seven other books of this series will do.

Terri Reed is becoming one of my favorite authors. I've read four of her novels, all parts of K-9 series.  This one is great, with surprises and two strong lead characters... make that three - I keep forgetting Diesel!

I really enjoyed this story, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series.