Chasing Justice

Mountain Country K-9 Unit #3

by Valerie Hansen

A man falsely accused…

Can a K-9 unit dig up the truth?

While escorting a prison van transporting her ex-boyfriend who was wrongly convicted of murder, Deputy Selena Smith never expected the van to be violently forced off the road. But when she and Finn Donovan are attacked, Selena and her K-9 partner become his unlikely protectors. With gunmen closing in, they must hunt down the real killer. But will the truth free an innocent man…or make them the next victims?

From Love Inspired Courage. Danger. Faith.

Mountain Country K-9 Unit

Book 1: Baby Protection Mission by Laura Scott
Book 2: Her Duty Bound Defender by Sharee Stover
Book 3: Chasing Justice by Valerie Hansen
Book 4: Crime Scene Secrets by Maggie K. Black
Book 5: Montana Abduction Rescue by Jodie Bailey
Book 6: Trail of Threats by Jessica R. Patch
Book 7: Tracing a Killer by Sharon Dunn

Genres: Suspense, Love Inspired Suspense, Romance, Mystery, Romantic Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Clean Romance

217 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 21, 2024

About the author

Valerie Hansen is the pen name of Valerie Whisenand.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Although I have been a published author since the mid 1980s, I have been writing women's Christian fiction almost exclusively since 1999.

There is a longer, more detailed bio on my website so there's no need for me to repeat all that here. Right now, I write for all three Love Inspired lines, Romance, Suspense and Historical. I'm delighted to have been included that broadly and besides, it keeps me so busy that I stay out of trouble. Well, mostly.

You'll find me on the LI Historical blog as well as other LI features. If I try to do much more I won't have time to write my books!

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

They spent more time chasing Sean, then doing any real work.

[Karen R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plenty of action in this one, with a pair who ended up on opposite sides of the law. The 'bad guy' is obvious, but the path leading to his confrontation has plenty of turns in it. The importance of family and faith shine through both of the main characters' stories. Interesting learning more about the training and handling of K 9 partners. Amazing dogs!
Good story with a fairly steady pace. Enjoyed it. 4 stars

[Patrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stelle e mezza
Devo dire che è stata una piacevole lettura, nonostante fosse chiaro fin dall'inizio chi fosse il cattivo. Forse è stato il personaggio di Sean a mettere un po' di pepe alla storia.

[Ethelann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chasing Justice is an excellent book of second chances and being wrongfully accused of murder.
It's a real page turner.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Selena Smith has never gotten over Finn Donovan, the only man she's ever loved, even though he dumped her years ago right before she left for the police academy with no explanation. Now, she's a member of the Mountain Country K-9 Task Force along with her Malinois K-9, Scout. When she returns to her home state of Idaho as part of the team working on the Rocky Mountain Killer case, she is irritated when her former boss/current local liaison Sheriff Unger tasks her with escorting a prison transport van. She's horrified to realize that the prisoner being transported is Finn. Selena had known that he'd been convicted of the heartless murder of his birth father, but she's never believed that he did it.

Finn Donovan still thinks of Selena Smith from time to time, even though he's been locked in prison for the last three years for a crime he didn't commit. She isn't exactly the one that got away - she's the one he shoved away from him for her own good. Already having seen himself as tainted by a bad boy past when he broke off their relationship, he knows he is even more wrong for her now that he's a convicted felon, even if he can manage to have his conviction overturned in a requested retrial based upon new evidence that proves the main witness against him perjured himself for a big payoff. But when they're thrown together after the prison transport van is forced off the road and bullets begin flying, they'll have to rely upon each other and Scout to stay alive and discover who wants Finn dead and why.

The pace of the novel is pretty solid and I liked the main characters a lot. However, I'm with Finn when he's confused about how finding kidnapped comfort K-9 Cowgirl is likely to help solve the Rocky Mountain Killer case. It could be because I haven't read the earlier two novels, but I'm reading a later novel in the series and its connection to the RMK plot is much stronger. The focus of this novel is, of course, on Finn's wrongful conviction for murder, but it feels like the RMK plot connection is thrown out the window when Finn's younger brother Sean shows up and acts like a typical teenager to the detriment of everyone. I would probably have given this book four stars if it had been a standalone novel.

There were some typos but no obvious continuity errors. I'd love to have a chance to beta read the novels for Love Inspired/Love Inspired Suspense authors. I should look into how to make that happen. All in all, if you enjoy Christian fiction and a good suspense novel with a clean romance, you'll enjoy this quick read. Plus, dogs make everything better.

[Glenda Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review today is on the Love Inspired Suspense, Chasing Justice. This is book three in the continuity series Mountain Country K-9 Unit. I love the continuity series that LIS does each year. Probably because they use some of my favorite authors. Valerie is indeed one of my favorites. This story is well-written, action-packed, and full of drama. I know you are going to love it.

Mountain Country K-9 Task Force Officer and a former sheriff's deputy Selena Smith has come home with her K-9 partner. Searching for the Rocky Mountain Killer. The sheriff has her escorting the van carrying a prisoner from a court case. The man is the only man she has ever loved. As they were on a mountain road a box truck attacked the van and it went over the deep ravine. Brokenhearted she went down to see if he survived.

Finn Donovan was not only seat belted in but he was hand cuffed to a chain. The guard in the back with him refused to unchain him. The guard was hurt, he couldn't see the driver. A woman and a dog came and spoke to the dispatcher stating the driver was dead. Selena! Could it possibly be her? She uncuffed him then helped the guard. As they were fleeing from the van a shot rang out. Finn had tripped a almost fallen down. The guard took the bullet. They had to get out of there.

A harrowing journey to stay one step a head of the killer. God has a plan for these two, a plan for hope and a future. God has a plan for you too. A good plan for peace and not for destruction. Give Him your heart and watch Him turn your life around.

[Jeff Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is Finn Donovan guilty of murdering his recently discovered birth father, or has he been framed? Since he's been found guilty, why was the van transporting him attacked? And why choose his ex-girlfriend, Deputy Selena Smith, and her Belgian Malinois K-9 partner of all people (and dogs)?
"Chasing Justice" by Valerie Hansen is book 3 of the 9 volume, multi-author Mountain Country K-9 Unit series from Harlequin's Love Inspired Suspense imprint. As you'd expect, you have plenty of action, starting from the beginning when a truck pushes the vehicle transporting Donavan off a cliff and continuing to the showdown between the bad person and the heroes of this story. There's also development and chemistry between the male and female leads of this story.

Considering this is the third book of a series, should you read parts one and two first? You can enjoy this story if you read this by itself, but I would recommend that you first read "Baby Protection Mission" by Laura Scott and "Her Duty Bound Defender" by Sharee Stover (respectively books 1 and 2 of this series). As usual, this series combines a unique romantic suspense novel (in this case, the story of Finn and Selena) with three sub-plots that span the whole series. In the Mountain Country K-9 Unit collection, these are trying to catch the Rocky Mountain Killer (aka RMK) who committed three murders ten years ago and has resumed with two - or is it three? - new victims; the dognapped therapy dog Cowgirl (is this connected to the RMK?), and the sabotage of their crime tech's chances to be a foster parent.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chasing Justice AUDIO by Valerie Hansen is a feeble attempt at a police procedural. Selena is a K-9 officer who, with her dog, is escorting convicted murderer, Finn, back to his hometown for a retrial. They had been involved when they were younger and this was all very difficult. She was contemplating just that when the van carrying Finn was forced off the road. After rolling several times, it came to a stop. What had saved Finn was probably the fact he was chained up so he didn’t get knocked around. That began days if babysitting Finn and his younger brother as they tried to prove Finn’s innocence. She was supposed to be tracking a serial killer, but instead there was this. And she still loved Finn, which made it all worse.

The characters were thin and the story thinner. Keeping Finn anchored to Selena as he awaited retrial was unlikely to happen in real life. What could have been a decent novel was not, instead riddled with inexperienced writing and shallow story line.

The book was narrated by Rachael Warren-Allen, who did a credible job with what she was given.

I was invited to listen to Chasing Justice by Harlequin Audio. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #HarlequinAudio #RachaelWarrenAllen #ValerieHansen #ChasingJustice

[Rosemarie Grainer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with action and great characters

Selena is following the prison van transporting her ex-boyfriend Finn. He was convicted of murder but new information has come up strongly suggesting it was a mistake. The van is run off the road and Selena and her K-9 dog are helping the survivors when they are all shot at. The guard is killed, so she and Finn go on the run. This is the start to an action packed story in the Mountain Country K-9 Unit series. Can they survive figuring out who did it?

The pace is breakneck and the tone is uncertain yet hopeful with an action and character oriented storyline that has no steam at all. The characters are vivid and endearing. The Christian ideals are a major part of the story. This is a part of overarching storyline, so the main mystery is not solved but moves that much farther. You must read these in order to fully understand this story. If you like tons of action with your Christian romance then this is for you. Enjoy!

[Elaine Applebury · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Chasing Justice,” is the third installment of the Mountain Country K-9 Unit continuity series. Valerie Hansen writes a story full of action and suspense. They are looking for the Rocky Mountain serial killer. This story heads to Idaho to try to save a potential victim, and to see if the stolen therapy dog has been sighted there.
Deputy Selena Smith and K-9 partner, Scout, return to her hometown in Idaho with part of her team to warn a possible RMK victim that they could be on the killer’s radar and to checkout a possible sighting of the stolen therapy dog. She is asked to escort a prison van. The prisoner turns out to be her ex-boyfriend, Finn Donovan, wrongly convicted of murder. The action starts when the van is forced off the road and gunmen start shooting at Finn. Who wants him dead?

[Wenona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chasing Justice by Valerie Hansen is book three in the Mountain Country K-9 Unit book series through Love Inspired Suspense. These reads always remind me of a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries type of reads.

Earlier in this series we learn a little about Salena and her prior love, who crushed her heart. Finn loved Salena yet worlds apart, he does what he thought was the right choice and breaks up with her and then is arrested and convicted of murder.

Fast forward to book 3 - these two are thrown together after a prison van crash and an attempted murder of Finn. Charged with his protection and securing that he is always within a 100 feet of her at all times, can they survive the numerus attempts on his life, learn to trust one another and heal past hurts?

This is a quick read that holds your interests and a nice series too!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chasing Justice by Valerie Hansen is #3 in the Mountain country K-9 series. Narrated by Rachael Warren Allen. Selena Smith and her K-9 Scout return to her hometown of Idaho to help in the transport of her ex boyfriend Finn Donovan who was falsely accused sans convicted of murder. Someone keeps trying to kill Finn and Selena is tasked to keeping him alive. Find Finn’s brother Sean is trying to see him and “help”. They definitely spent more time tracking down his brother. The surgery said at the end that she definitely took liberties with this book. Thank you to #NetGalley, #harlequin audio and the author did this arc book. The opinion is mine alone

[Tami Willard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 3 in a multi author interconnected series centered around a multi agency special K-9 task force. Best read in order.
They were in love years ago until circumstances caused him to let her go. She's in law enforcement with her trusted K-9 partner. trying to catch a serial killer, find a missing therapy dog, and now tasked with escorting a prisoner. He's trying to get a retrial to be acquitted for the murder of his biological father.. Between matchmaking bosses, an impulsive teenager who won't listen, and unsubs that are getting desperate, their chances of completing their objectives might just be impossible.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up. The thrilling, yet believable, plot kept my interest the entire time. There were actually two main mysteries going at once, one of which is solved during the book. The only slight drawback for this reader was that you weren’t confronted with side suspects that were plausible; there was only one person your mind went to as the murderer. That may be because it isn’t the first book in the series, but it is a good one. There was interesting information woven in about how K-9 officers are trained and what skills they offer.

[Kathie]

This is book 3 in the series and was very good.

From the back cover:
"While escorting a prison van transporting her ex-boyfriend who was wrongly convicted of murder, Deputy Selena Smith never expected the van to be violently forced off the road. But when she and Finn Donovan are attacked, Selena and her K-9 partner become his unlikely protectors. With gunmen closing in, they must hunt down the real killer. But will the truth free an innocent man…or make them the next victims?"

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great audio the narrator is awesome. The book and the plot are wonderful and the K9 officer fits in well. The author did a great job with the K9 officer and how the K9’s and their partners work and interact together. The storyline was good and the wild ride Finn and Serena go on with so much suspense it will keep you listening to see what happens next.

This a review audio as provided by Netgalley

[Allyson Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful read and great addition to this series. Serena and Finn have a history, and Serena has family dynamics. Loved the plot line, the chemistry between Finn and Serena, close proximity, and Finn's transformation. Finn's younger kid brother Sean is a bit of a handful. I enjoyed the wild ride and suspense as someone is after Finn who has been framed for a crime he didn't commit.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read. I love these K-9 suspense series.
This one was different, with the male character being a convicted felon...but it made for an interesting story.
Loved the characters, especially Finn's teenage brother Sean, determined to help his older brother prove his innocence.
And going about it in all the wrong ways.

[Teresa Pollock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome K-9 work and lots if suspense and working a case.

Valerie Hansen thus book was amazing. The police k-9 unit and their dogs and prisoners(s) they had to protect while looking at others to hopefully catch was both intriguing and suspenseful. Thabks for the read. Can't wait for more to come.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Selena Smith, a member of the K-9 Unit, is thrown violently together with her ex-boyfriend, Finn Donavan things go from bad to worse. Is Finn behind the violence that surrounds them or is someone really trying to kill him and because she's guarding him - her too?

[Loraine Nunley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

I really enjoyed the suspense right from the start plus the push-pull of Selena and Finn’s feelings when thrown together. I struggled with the series serial killer storyline because I read this as a standalone. However, Finn and Selena’s romance was nicely developed in this book.

[Harlequin Books]

Inspirational Suspense, Wholesome Romance, Animal Fiction, Romantic Suspense
Miniseries
Mountain Country K-9 Unit (Book #3)

[Harlequin Books]

Inspirational Suspense, Wholesome Romance, Animal Fiction, Romantic Suspense
Miniseries
Mountain Country K-9 Unit (Book #3)

[Sheri Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick easy read. I'm really enjoying this series and while it was pretty obvious how this would turn out, it was a wild ride getting there.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story

I really enjoyed reading this story. It kept you turning pages to see how things would play out. I like that the K-9 has a big part to play in the book.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I really liked the characters. The story had perfect pacing and kept me turning the pages to see what happened next.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first by this author, it won't be the last. Loved the surprises and the humor.

[Annette Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book! I love this series so far!

[Doris Ware · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent series

[Jean Cable · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked the K-9 part but I guess stories of faith and love are not for me.