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Texas K-9 Unit #1

Tracking Justice

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In the night, a young boy goes missing from his bedroom. Police detective Austin Black assures desperate single mother Eva Billows that he'll find her son. He has to, so he can put to rest his own harrowing memories. With his search-and-rescue bloodhound, Justice, Austin searches every inch of Sagebrush, Texas. And when Eva insists on helping, Austin can't turn her away. Eva trusts no one, especially police, but this time, Austin and Justice won't let her down.

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

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763 people want to read

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Shirlee McCoy

158 books436 followers

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5 stars
528 (53%)
4 stars
312 (31%)
3 stars
126 (12%)
2 stars
22 (2%)
1 star
7 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
Profile Image for Melanie.
2,215 reviews599 followers
April 1, 2019
Tracking Justice was fine. I didn't particularly feel like it was a memorable read, but I loved the K9 aspect. This was written well, it was just the storyline that felt a little unrealistic? I don't know, it just wasn't a favorite. I liked how the son right away got attached to the dog -- it was so cute!

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
Profile Image for Gail.
1,545 reviews
July 24, 2018
Eva's 7 year old son Brady is abducted during the middle of the night. Later they find out he witness his neighbor being hit over the head with a brick and the K-9 dog is stolen. Austin and his dog Justice are on the case and determined to get to the bottom of it. A heartwarming story that will melt your heart. I loved every minute of it!
Profile Image for Judy.
3,299 reviews
January 16, 2016
Tracking Justice by Shirlee McCoy
Texas K-9 Unit Series Book 1
Police Detective Austin Black and his long eared partner, Justice, have a job to do. Sometimes it ends happy but not always. They work in search and rescue and just received another call, a boy gone missing. Austin could only pray it would turn out to be one of the happy endings.

Eva Billows was taught not to trust anyone but God and herself. When her son Brady goes missing, she isn’t going to trust anyone to find him without her. Especially considering the police already failed her by never finding who murdered her parents. And she definitely was not going to let her heart believe that some men were good, was she?

The first book in this new Love Inspired Suspense series definitely has me wanting to read the next five books. As in all series some of the mystery is solved in the first book and love is found but there are still some more bad guys out there to be caught. Looking forward to the next book in this series; Detection Mission by Margaret Daley.
**Received through NetGalley for review
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3,946 reviews1,764 followers
January 13, 2019
Tracking Justice is the first book in the Texas K-9 Unit continuity series. I missed the first couple of books back in 2013 so I'm super excited to have had the opportunity to read Austin and Justice's story! How can you not love a suspense with a bloodhound hero?! And his handler is pretty cool too. :-)

Austin's a dedicated K-9 officer who has seen a lot in his career. Enough to know that he can't afford to become personally involved in a search. But somehow Eva gets past his defenses as she doggedly refuses to be left behind. Frustration turns to admiration and a grudging respect for the determined single mom and it isn't long before Austin is falling hard. Eva's wary though -- prickly and guarded, with a past history that makes it hard to trust both cops and men. Great romantic tension explodes off the page as danger draws closer and an intriguing web of mysteries beg to be solved. A page-turning delight!
Profile Image for Patrizia.
1,954 reviews42 followers
February 16, 2020
4 stelle e mezza
Avevo comprato questa serie anni fa, fra l'altro dopo aver letto un capitolo-campione proprio di questo libro, ma poi mi ero completamente dimenticata della sua esistenza. Ora l'ho recuperata e devo dire che promette bene. Questo libro ha il giusto equilibrio fra suspence e storia d'amore, con due protagonisti "intensi".
Profile Image for Paula Legate.
Author 17 books25 followers
June 29, 2015
This is the second time I've read this book and enjoyed it just as much as the first time I read it.

This book drew me in from the first chapter. Eva is a single mom, that has always had to do everything herself. She is a waitress, and she is going to school. She wants a better life for her, and her 7 year old son. When her son Brady was kidnapped, She couldn’t just sit by and wait, and watch. She followed the lead K-9 detective against his wishes, on the search. The action doesn’t stop there. This was a heart wrenching story line, with a good ending. My only complaint was Eva’s fears and her doubts were said over, and over throughout the book. It made it sound like she was whining. It was annoying to read the same thing over and over again. Austin did make a perfect and patient Hero. This book was more on an emotional level. The physical was limited to a few times Austin Kissed Eva. Eva maintained her guarded heart, and kept her doubts throughout the book, breaking free the last chapter
Profile Image for June.
1,542 reviews17 followers
February 19, 2013
This is going to be a great series and Tacking Justice kicked it off to a good start. Shirlee McCoy always writes a riveting story. And this story is no different. Austin, Eva and Brady were all great characters. Was hard to put this story down before I finished it. Looking forward to reading book 2.
Profile Image for Catarina Águas.
2,364 reviews209 followers
May 21, 2023
Loved this. Eva had been burned a lot in her life and didn't any man in her life but she couldn't resist Austin. He was a fantastic guy, he really wanted to be with her and her son, he kept coming back because he knew that no matter how many times she pushed him, she wanted him too. They made an amazing couple and I loved them as a couple
2,323 reviews38 followers
January 4, 2013
Tracking Justice by Shirlee McCoy
4 STARS
Tracking Justice is a Texas K-9 Unit continuity series book.
It has a lot of drama,cute kid,cute dog and some romance thrown together, and it leaves some unanswered questions for the next book in the series so I hope it is coming soon.
Eva Billows is a single mom who is independant. She works and goes to school while being a good mother. She thought she heard her son so got up to check him and he was gone.
Brady age 7 is missing at 2 am. He did not argue with his mother and runaway.
Police detective Austin Black in the K-9 unit answered the call. He was curious about thier being two calls to this street hours apart.
Eva answers the questions but she wants him to take his dog and start searching right now.
When he loses the tracks in the woods near by and they start a search command Eva says she is going with him to find her son. She will not be talked out of it. She had a cell phone so if someone else found him or more questions they can get in touch with her.
Eva was brought up to trust no one. The police were not much help in solving her parents murder over a year ago either.
I like Eva and Austin both our untrusting in relationships and don't want to be attracted to each other.
This is a fast read, keeps your attention in the story. Also keeps you wanting more.
Its a clean read. I want to read more of Shirlee McCoy's books in the future.
I was given this book to read in exchange for honest review from Netgalley.
01/02/2013 PUB Harlequin Imprint Love Inspired Suspense ISBN-10: 0373675410 288 pages
Profile Image for Busybeth76.
738 reviews3 followers
January 5, 2018
Faith. Hope. Love

This story of mystery, past crimes, current crimes and finding love amidst all those painful situations, is well written and truly touching. Two lonely souls, hurt and crossed by past romance, find each other. Eva and Austin have learned to live alone and lonely, grasping their faith to maintain hope. Austin is a detective in the K9 unit of Sagebrush, TX. In the past his relationships have been brief and painful. He's withdrawn into his career with his K9 partner. Justice a talented bloodhound tracker. He and Austin usually find who they track, sometimes with unhappy, sometimes joyous results. Eva is a single mom, working as a waitress, going to college to be a teacher and raising her son Brady, pretty much on her own. When Brady is kidnapped and Austin comes into their lives, Eva finds it hard to accept Austin, and he has his doubts about her. But as the mystery and danger are unveiled they both realize how important they can be to each other, along with Brady & Justice. This is a story of heartwarming moments, threatening situations and binding family love. Excellent start to the series.
Profile Image for Nicole.
955 reviews
January 13, 2018
Tracking Justice was on the front page of my library's ebook selection and since I adore Shirlee McCoy's stories it was a quick grab.

Eva is desperate to find her son when he is taken out of his window in the middle of the night. With almost no clues to go on and no real leads a canine tracking unit is brought in. Austin with his dog Justice is determined to find the boy no matter what it takes.

Like the majority of Shirlee McCoy books I have read the girl does depend on the guy a lot to protect her normally I strongly dislike this but with Shirlee McCoy's writing flair it just feels right. Tracking Justice is a light, fun, read with strong moments of suspense.
945 reviews9 followers
June 17, 2021
An exciting read from the first page to the last. Eva is a single Mom and tough lady who won't take no for an answer, and so she follows Austin, a K-9 officer, and his dog into the thick woods to search for her kidnapped son Brady. Austin's kindness to Brady makes him a hero in the young boy's eyes, and who wouldn't love Justice the K-9 dog? An exciting suspenseful story. Will read more by this author.
Profile Image for Dana.
Author 85 books283 followers
February 4, 2015
Shirlee McCoy is one of those authors I buy without even reading the synopsis. I'm never disappointed. This was no exception. I loved Austin and Eva from page one and Brady stole my heart. Definitely a keeper.
729 reviews7 followers
May 23, 2018
EXCELLENT!

I love books that bring not only romance and intrigue into a book but faith in God. To me that is as important as breathing and makes the love that much more sustainable. This was wonderful.
Profile Image for Geneva.
676 reviews8 followers
June 14, 2019
I loved the Story Tracking Justice by Shirlee McCoy the story was heartwarming and wonderful, I loved the little boy and Justice the dog and all the characters in the story, I especially loved the very happy ending.
395 reviews9 followers
June 22, 2019
This is a touching story about a single mom and her son. A K -9 officer Justice and his partner/ handler Austin rescue the son and both make their way into their hearts and lives. I definitely recommend this book and author.
Profile Image for Teri Wilson.
Author 207 books1,636 followers
January 23, 2013
Loved it! This was a great start to the new Texas K-9 Love Inspired Suspense continuity. I'm already looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I particularly liked the hero in this one.
938 reviews
February 14, 2018
Great start to a new series. Loved the storyline and the characters. Lots of romance and drama. The storyline will carry on throughout the series and I love that!
1,409 reviews16 followers
April 24, 2018
this is a good story, i love stories with the k9 dogs in them/ this is a series so not all is discovered but if you love this type of book you will love the series. looking forward to the next book
Profile Image for Dorel.
4,347 reviews38 followers
July 16, 2023
I loved ❤️ this book's storyline. I loved ❤️ the action in this story. I loved ❤️ the Christian ✝️ theme in this story. I loved ❤️ Austin's character. I loved ❤️ Eva's character. I loved ❤️ Brady. I loved ❤️ Justice 🐕. I loved ❤️ the ending. Awesome job Ms. McCoy.
Profile Image for Wendy Sparkes.
Author 3 books24 followers
August 15, 2013
Captain Slade McNeal's police dog Rio is stolen, his father badly beaten up, & a young neighbour has witnessed the whole thing.

Later that evening, he is kidnapped.

Enter Justice, a bloodhound from the K-9 Unit, & his handler Austin Black who immediately set out to track Brady & rescue him before it is too late.

It soon becomes clear though, that something a lot deeper than anyone realised is going on in the Lost Woods - it is up to the K-9 Unit to figure it out before the evil encroaching on Sagebrush wins!

A great start to the Texas K-9 Unit continuity & I really love the dogs from the K-9 Unit which have a huge part to play in this series. You really do need to read these books in order as each book, while a story on its own, also has a plot which runs & develops through all the 6 books, building up to the grand finale in book 6. This means that you will not only want to read this book, but also the following 5 in the series! So if you are looking for a one off story to read, then this is not the book for you. However, if you are short of reading material & want a series to get you going, then you might want to try out this series.

#2 Detection Mission (Texas K-9 Unit, #2) by Margaret Daley #3 Guard Duty (Texas K-9 Unit, #3) by Sharon Dunn #4 Explosive Secrets (Texas K-9 Unit #4) by Valerie Hansen #5 Scent of Danger (Texas K-9 Unit #5) by Terri Reed #6 Lone Star Protector (Texas K-9 Unit #6) by Lenora Worth

Also coming out near Christmas time there is another book centred around the K-9 Unit which I'm looking forward to reading:
Texas K-9 Unit Christmas Holiday Hero\Rescuing Christmas by Shirlee McCoy
Profile Image for Dora Hiers.
Author 74 books122 followers
February 6, 2013
About the book~
In the night, a young boy goes missing from his bedroom. Police detective Austin Black assures desperate single mother Eva Billows that he'll find her son. He has to, so he can put to rest his own harrowing memories. With his search-and-rescue bloodhound, Justice, Austin searches every inch of Sagebrush, Texas. And when Eva insists on helping, Austin can't turn her away. Eva trusts no one, especially police, but this time, Austin-and Justice-won't let her down.

In my humble opinion~
Have you ever fallen for a guy who turned out to be a liar and nothing but trouble? Eva Billows did, once, but she doesn't intend to make that mistake again. Now a single mother, she vows to give Brady a better life, one that doesn't include a man. Detective Austin Black has his own hangups about relationships after his last breakup and chose to give up dating rather than live with someone's disappointment over missed birthdays and dinners, but he still longs for a family to come home to. When someone kidnaps Brady, Austin and his bloodhound, Justice, are called in to work the case. Fierce and protective as a Mama Bear, Austin can't help but fall for Eva.

This book is part of a Love Inspired Suspense continuity series called Texas K-9 Unit. I tend to lose interest in continuities, so typically I don't read them, but I couldn't resist picking up a Shirlee McCoy book. McCoy crafted a well-constructed plot with characters you feel like you've known your entire life. And the romance? Sweet, with just enough conflict to keep you guessing if Eva and Austin will get their happily-ever-after. Clear your evening and curl up on the couch with a strong cup of coffee. You''ll want to read this book straight through to the end. Purchase Link

How do you feel about continuities?
Do you enjoy reading all of them? Or are you like me and pick out one or two to read?

Disclaimer: A huge thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense for providing a free copy of Tracking Justice in exchange for my fair and unbiased review.
Profile Image for Trinity Rose.
434 reviews18 followers
March 16, 2015
The Texas K-9 Unit series is just fantastic and full of life, adventure and love. I’m just going to comment on the first book in this series Tracking Justice by Shirlee McCoy, but the other two are just as fantastic as the first one.
Tracking Justice starts right off with action when a woman finds her son missing from his bed and she won’t let the trackers go alone without her. She wants to help look for her son and be there for him.
In Tracking Justice the little boy, Brady sees a crime taking place next door so the criminals kidnap him to keep him quiet. He gives the police clues, but doesn’t feel safe unless Austin and his dog Justice [the ones who found him] are there.
Brady’s mom, Eva works hard to give Brady a safe, secure place to live and being a single parent makes it much harder.
The K-9 units are very dedicated and very serious about there jobs. They are always looking for ways to make things better in their units and for the victims.
I really love these books and know you will also. Buy the 3 book set, because one book leads into the other and they are priceless. Highly recommended.


“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one of the products mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Profile Image for Erica Welch.
Author 6 books12 followers
February 4, 2017
Eva Billows walks into her son's room and comes face to face with every mother's worst nightmare. Her son Brady is missing, taken in the middle of the night. K-9 detective Austin Black and his canine partner, Justice, are called in to find the missing boy and return him to his frantic mother. Working together, can the two find the missing child and keep him safe?

Tracking Justice has just the right amount of suspense to keep you flipping the pages and enough romance to keep you invested in the burgeoning romance between Austin and Eva. It incorporates many of the elements I've loved in the romantic suspense genre for years: a missing child, a dedicated K-9 officer, a strong but gentle cop, and a fiercely protective heroine who more than matches the hero. Brady was a smart, brave little boy you couldn't help but love, and Justice was the type of search and rescue dog I would want tracking me down if I were missing. If you love Christian romance with plenty of suspense, a cute dog and a cuter kid, I can't recommend this one enough. It's the start of a series, and if the rest of the series is as well done, it promises to be a great one!
Profile Image for Mishael.
Author 30 books50 followers
March 14, 2015
This was an engrossing, quick read. I didn't want to put it down and actually stayed up all night reading it to the (mostly) satisfying conclusion. The romance is sweet - no graphic sex. Really, there's no sex at all - just kissing, and even that comes well after we get to know the characters and they get to know each other better. Not anything like what happens in so many romance novels, where the main characters meet and end up in bed together the same day without really getting to know each other. I can't stand books like that, so I was more than relieved that this one wasn't like that.

The suspense part was well done. The character development was good. I found a few typos and one instance of a character name being misused, but overall the editing was as clean as the romance. Plus, there's a dog, and dogs are awesome! This is one book you won't want to miss if you're a fan of romantic suspense. I can't wait to read the other books in the series!

Profile Image for IrenesBookReviews.
1,039 reviews28 followers
January 21, 2013
This book starts out with action and will keep you reading till you find out how everything comes together. From a missing boy, to gunfire in the woods, to a tracking dog there is nothing in this story that will disappoint!

I gave this book 5/5 stars. I liked the action and suspense. I thought the interaction of Austin and Eva, the two main characters, was very well written and the conversations were believable. Sometimes you can read a book and not get a feel for the characters personalities but this author did an excellent job of character development. If you like suspense mixed in with romance you will enjoy this book!

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.
Profile Image for Ashley Dawn.
Author 41 books81 followers
January 31, 2013
This was a great book. Eva doesn't trust anyone, especially when it comes to her son. Now with him missing, she is having to put all her faith in Austin Black and his search and rescue dog Justice. Her seven year old son is missing, it is cold outside and there are terrifying reasons her son could be missing.

I loved Austin. He was such a strong, steady, compassionate man that it was hard not to like him. Eva was a puzzle for a while but she has her own past that she has to contend with. Her little boy was strong and steady, like his mother. The storyline had nail biting moments and twists. I still want to know about Rio though!

I rate this a 5/5. I completely enjoyed this book!
Profile Image for Chrystal Mahan.
Author 7 books20 followers
March 16, 2015
It has been a while since I have sat down to enjoy a cozy animal related mystery with a love story twist. I absolutely enjoyed the tale of Justice. When a Texas boy goes missing from his bedroom, the detective and his K-9 unit help the mother find her son, and then find themselves.

Despite having extremely tired eyes, I couldn't put it down. The mystery with the kidnapping of her son appears to be related to the death of her parents. A detective never rests until the truth comes out. While the romance blooms with single mom and detective, a boy learns to trust with the help of his new best friend; Justice.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews

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