Susan F. (scoutmomskf) - , reviewed on 5/1/2023 + 2618 more book reviews

Good book with a slow-burn romance and steadily intensifying suspense. I liked Kell and Jenna, the two main characters, and their dogs, Bradley and Misty. The book opens as Jenna returns to Conard County from her service as an Army nurse. She did not leave the army willingly, and her reasons for doing so were heartbreaking. Her ability to trust has been severely damaged, and she is a bit lost about what is next for her, though her first order of business is to retrieve her aunt's dog, Misty, from where she is being boarded. I loved Jenna's close connection with Misty.

One of the first people Jenna met was Kell, along with his dog, Bradley. Kell is a former Marine, and Bradley was his K-9 during the war. After Kell was injured, he returned to Conard County, bringing Bradley. Bradley also has PTSD, and my heart broke for him and Kell, who tries to help Bradley through his episodes. Bradley and Misty are great friends and playmates, bringing Kell and Jenna together almost daily.

Because of what she'd been through, Jenna is initially very wary of Kell. He senses that wariness and wonders about its cause but is very sensitive to her feelings. I loved how careful Kell was to respect her boundaries and how that care made it easier for Jenna to relax around him. The two dogs created plenty of opportunities for Kell and Jenna to spend time together. I liked seeing them grow closer, and I cheered when Jenna could tell Kell what had happened to her. Kell won my heart with his reaction and what it meant to Jenna. Meanwhile, the sparks of attraction were growing between them, and Jenna had to decide if her trust in Kell was strong enough to give in to them. I liked what followed, and it bodes well for their future. The ending was fantastic and left me hoping they appear in later books.

The suspense of the story was good. It started with a prologue that set the scene for what Kell and Jenna would face - a cult leader-like preacher with secrets he'll do anything to keep. Kell and Jenna get the first inkling that something is wrong when Bradley alerts on a neighbor's body as the EMTs bring it out of the house. Kell is puzzled and worries that something is wrong with Bradley but trusts him enough to take his concerns to the sheriff. It happens again with another neighbor, leading Kell and Jenna to believe that Bradley is onto something.

Jenna takes a chance and uses her experiences to attempt to get close to a former cult member, but it backfires. A threatening note accompanying a worrisome letter sends them back to the sheriff. I loved Gage's reaction and felt his frustration at his inability to do anything without solid evidence. Jenna and Kell felt the same frustration and decided to do something about it. Seeing them develop a plan and execute it successfully was highly satisfying.

There was another player in the drama, and I still have questions about him. We get his link to the prologue at the end, but he is not above reproach. Will he appear again in a later book?

I loved the two dogs almost as much as I did Kell and Jenna. Each has a distinct personality and relationship with their human. Seeing how the two pups get so excited to see each other was fun. They are terrific companions to Kell and Jenna, providing love and support when needed. Their actions and reactions are also frequently amusing and have a way of lightening a dark mood.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details