Protecting the Pack

Protectors at K-9 Ranch #4

by Julie Miller

When a terror campaign goes awry
A cop, a foster mom and a canine protector are on the case

Foster mom Stella Smith and Officer Joe Carpenter’s makeshift family unit is threatened with the arrival of two new vulnerable foster boys and a terror campaign waged by the boys’ biological mother’s violent boyfriend. When threats and extortion fail, the culprit resorts to kidnapping at gunpoint, leaving Stella injured and the kids fighting for survival. It will take a fearless cop—and a fiercely loyal canine—to face down a monster and bring the children home alive.

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Audiobook, Harlequin

226 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 25, 2025

About the author

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

USA TODAY Bestselling author Julie Miller writes breathtaking romantic suspense. She's won a National Readers Choice Award and two Daphne du Maurier Awards among other prizes. She was also honored to receive a Career Achievement Award from RT BookReviews and has been a finalist for many national and international awards. Her books have appeared on the USA Today, Publisher's Weekly, Amazon and BookScan Top 100 Romances bestseller lists.

Writing about Kansas City cops, Julie has crafted bestselling, award-winning books for Harlequin Intrigue. In addition, Ms. Miller publishes romantic suspense books with a military twist. Millions of copies of her books have been sold in print and digital formats around the world.

Reviews

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this one was a little different…
Each time I’ve read a K-9 novel, it usually revolves around a police officer and his canine companion/partner.
This one did in fact have a police officer, but the dog was just a family dog.🐕

Stella is a 48 year old single female. She was in a serious relationship, and on her way to her wedding, when her whole life changed… and she’s really never gotten over it! Currently, she is fostering FIVE children, and crating a safe, happy, healthy home for all of them.

So, when a hunky 50-ish guy (Joe) walks into her barn and tells her that their mutual friends want to set them up, she’s shocked!! And also, mesmerized. He’s adorable. And, did I mention…hunky??

She’s not about to get her hopes up. He’s great, and she sees herself as older…overweight…with a bunch of kids…and, not much to offer…
But, she IS a trust fund baby, and she has a bunch of money… but, she doesn’t even want him to know anything about that…

And anyway, in the past, the guys have always been literally ‘running away’ when they find out about all her foster kids.

But…they set up a first date…and right in the middle of it, Stella gets a call 📞 to come to the police 👮‍♂️ department, as there are 2 boys, who have had it pretty rough, and are in need of a foster home.

It really gets interesting after this, as the boys mother, who has legally given them up, is still trying to see them…so that her violent, ex-convict, boyfriend can try to get some money from them, or by using them. 😮😮

Thank God Joe has entered the picture!

Sweet. Personal. Hopeful. Heartbreaking at times…
Really makes you think… and be grateful for what you have!

And, nice that it’s based on a middle aged couple, instead of a 20 or 30 something one!

4 big ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

#PreotectingThePack by #JulieMiller and narrated nicely by #MalloryTaylor.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #HarperAudio for an ARC of the audiobook!
It was released in February, so look 👀 for it on shelves now!! ***

You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my all-time Julie Miller favorites. I was teary at the end! This one is all about the character of the characters and the purposeful way they live their lives. The chemistry is there and it’s hot, but doesn’t need to be graphic to feel. LOVE this book!

[Jeriann Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie Miller’s exciting K-9 series continues in Protecting The Pack, a mature romance featuring 48 yr old Stella Smith and 50-ish KCPD Sargent Joe Carpenter.

One thing I love about Ms. Miller is her ability to create sexy, compelling “senior hunks” heroes and sexy, interesting, mature heroines. A trust fund heiress, Stella is a dedicated foster mom of three kids when her friends from the K-9 Ranch introduce her to Joe Carpenter on a blind date. I especially enjoy when Ms. Miller gives us strong and sexy heroes who are not towering over their heroine. Joe sounds like he’s about two or 3 inches below 6 feet and he’s still sounds like a hunk of a guy. Stella is a bit insecure about her rounder figure. They seemed like two real people I could identify with.

Stella gets called to the police station to pick up two brothers, Gio & Tyrell, who were taken into custody. Really bad dudes are after the two boys, and this puts danger into the household where Stella is guarding her now 5 foster kids. Joe steps up to help out so there’s really strong element of danger as Joe and Stella are trying to do something about their attraction to each other while guarding five kids who desperately need some sort of real family, including a father figure. (Hint, hint,)

This romance is all about found family and sometimes strangers come together quickly and have this inexplicable bond and suddenly you’ve got a family. I enjoyed reading this as usual there is a great mystery.

It’s definitely worth a read.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this ARC. To

[Kathy B. (NE) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Protecting The Pack is the fourth book in the Protectors at K-9 Ranch mini series. I have to say out of the four, this one is my favorite. This book features a bunch of misfits that are looking for a soft, safe place land. Who knew that place would be with one another?

Stella Smith is a foster mom who has a heart of gold and who will do anything to give her little band of foster children a second chance at life and the love of a family. She too, has had it rough in the life and love department, but better things are on the horizon for her. Stella is set up on a blind date with Officer Joe Carpenter, who at the time isn’t looking for a family per se, but eventually is pulled into Stella’s foster family orbit. Little did he know that Stella and her foster children were going to be the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for him.

All the books in the Protectors at K-9 ranch feature a dog and this book is no exception. Jasper the big, black Newfoundland is the glue that keeps everyone is Stella’s world safe and happy.

This book delves deeply into the intricacies of taking on foster children. Foster children bring a lot of baggage with them to a new home, and it takes a special person, or in this case, persons (Stella and Joe) to show them what living in a loving home can be like. Since this is a romantic suspense, there is, of course, danger to this little family to be from the outside, and it takes all of them working together to thwart the bad guys and end up with their happily ever after. In the end, both Stella and Joe and the kids learn that a family doesn’t necessarily have to share the same DNA, they just have to share love and respect for each other. This was very satisfying read that I highly recommend.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

So emotional. Stella is amazing, the family she has created, the unconditional love she shows her kids and then Jasper, the dog she has also brought into the family, warms your heart.
Joe falls for Stella and he may be worried that he has never really been around kids, but just like Stella, he rocks it!
Stella and Joe are awesome, but the kids will steal your heart, they have been through so much, seen far too much and still manage to bounce back and embrace family life...some quicker than others...but they all get there!
An amazing, emotional rollercoaster of a read but a fantastic addition to the series.

[Jo-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stella is living a life she loves, raising her three foster children alongside Jasper, the dog who completes her family. However, her friends from the K-9 Ranch believe she could use more in her life and arrange a blind date with Joe Carpenter. Joe, former military officer and now a police officer, never anticipated that this date would introduce him to a woman who would profoundly change his life for the better.

When two kids are in urgent need of shelter, Stella takes them without hesitation. Unfortunately, their past brings danger to everyone involved, as menacing men pursue the boys. This risk threatens Stella's household, now home to five foster children.

Joe steps in to assist, adding a strong element of tension as he and Stella navigate their mutual attraction while providing protection to the children in desperate need of a loving family.

Joe quickly develops feelings for Stella. Despite his initial concerns about his inexperience with children, he soon discovers it is less challenging than he feared.

While Stella and Joe are remarkable characters, the children captured my heart. Despite experiencing and witnessing so much hardship and distress, they managed to adapt, recover, and embrace family, some more readily than others, yet all eventually find their place.

I found Stella and Joe being a mature couple, particularly appealing.

This installment of the K-9 series was thoroughly enjoyable, featuring an engaging mystery as always.

[Yvonne Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this stand alone suspense romance.
Stella Smith came from a wealthy family but she never acted as such. After a betrayal from her ex, she’s dedicated her life to fostering kids. Her kids are her life .
Fifty year old, former military and nowadays cop Joe Carpenter, never expected that the date his friends set up would be with a woman who would turn his life upside down in a very good way.
When two kids are in need of shelter, Stella takes them without hesitation. But their past will come to put everyone in danger.
Protecting and loving Stella and the kids that are starting to feel like his, will be Joe’s new goal in life. Even if it means putting his life on the line.
The plot was engaging from the start to the end. The main characters as well as the kids were likable and well developed.
Having Stella and Joe be a mature couple was wonderful. Especially with these two big hearted characters.
The story was also a reminder of the heartbreaking stories some of the foster kids have experienced in their short lives.
Lastly , the narrator, Mallory Taylor, did a great job with the various voices.
I was entrusted a copy of this audiobook by Netgalley and Harlequin Audio. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

[TINNGG · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some books you make time to read. Some books you read while doing laundry or sitting in a waiting room. This is more the latter than the former. Nothing wrong with it; just not going to set the world on fire.

So the couple from two books ago decide to set friends up on a blind date. The H prefers to actually meet beforehand - guess he doesn’t like surprises - and there is mutual attraction so…

It’s a mature couple again. It’s also clean, which surprised me a tiny bit but considering how many foster kids are underfoot…ok, that makes sense. What doesn’t make sense though is that he doesn’t get a buddy to keep an eye on things once he knows there’s trouble. Also doesn’t make sense that none of the cops knew who the kid referred to when the bad guy’s first name was mentioned by one of the kids. Kinda hard to believe that a dealer who did that much business managed to not be known about somewhere…Also bemusing that two of his men were bothering the girls at a bar run by a former DEA agent and nobody detained them.

Yeah ok, it had plot holes.

[Pam Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎧5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🎧
I received an ALC (Advanced Listener Copy) of this audiobook from NetGalley & Harlequin Audio.

I couldn't put this book down. Foster mom Stella Smith and Officer Joe meet for a blind date, and their chemistry is undeniable.

Stella gets a call from the police station that two brothers, Gio & Tyrell, are in need of a foster home and Stella won’t have it if they are separated, so she brings them home. These boys have seen a lot and been dealt a bad hand. But if Stella has anything to say about it, they will never have to worry about anything but being a kid. But it seems their mother and her pimp have other things planned for the boys.

Officer Joe is dedicated to ensuring Stella's well-being and making her life easier. This story shows the pursuit of justice and righteousness, along with finding love and happiness.

Mallory's narration stood out because she gave each character a distinct voice.

[Meg Napier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Protecting the Pack was an unexpected delight. Stella is a foster mom whose heart is full to bursting with love for the many children she cares for but bereft of romantic love since her life is so darn complicated. Luckily, Stella’s friends step in and attempt match making. But before Stella and police officer Joe Carter can even go on their first date, Stella’s household increases, as do menacing overtures from both a former fling and a criminal trying to menace the two new additions to Stella’s family. Jasper the dog plays a loveable dual role as protector and huggable friend to the children and adults, and of course, there’s a lovely happily-ever-after. I’ve missed the earlier books in this series, Protectors at K-9 ranch, so I’m off to track them down now! I'm grateful to NetGalley for an early copy of this book in audio format.

[Monae Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book four in the Protectors At K-9 Ranch series.

This story is about a woman named Stella Smith. She is currently fostering five children. She meets fifty-ish Joe Carpenter on a blind date. Joe is a cop. Stella is being threatened by the biological mother’s violent boyfriend.

When threats and extortion fail the culprit resorts to kidnapping at gunpoint leaving Stella injured and the kids fighting for survival. It will take a fearless cop and a fiercely loyal canine to face down a monster and bring the children home alive. I liked both Stella and Joe together as they got to know each other. I liked how Joe is with Stella. She would talk about how she had a lot of curves and Joe wasn’t turned off by how she looked. Joe was a very wonderful older gentleman and I liked the foster children in this story. I wish there had been some spicy moments in this story.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Protecting the Pack by Julie Miller, narrated by Mallory Taylor. This is book #4 in her Protectors @K-9 Ranch series. Stella is a wealthy 48yr old single Foster mom who is set up on a blind date with Officer Joe Carpenter. They have instant chemistry. Stella has an ex who she can’t seem to shake. The new foster boys come with baggage also which sends Joe into officer protector mode. Very different read with the dog normally a partner to an agent or cop, instead Jasper is the family dog. Stella is the epitome of what a foster mom should be. Released Feb 25, 2025. Thank you to # NetGalley and #Harlequin Audio for this Arc. This is my honest review.

[Melanie Toler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting read!!

This is an awesome book! With a woman who thinks she'll always be alone with her dog and her foster kids, and a cop who thinks his life is boring and he'll be alone the rest of his life. Both of their lives takes a turn for the better when friends hook them up on a blind date.

[Lynn A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming

What a beautiful, heartwarming story!
The two main characters with so much love to be shared. Add the children who needed someone to set them on the right path. It makes one wish that there were so many more people like that in this world!

[Harlequin Books]

Animal Fiction, Romantic Suspense, Police Procedural Mystery & Detective, Crime Thriller
Miniseries
Protectors at K-9 Ranch (Book #4)

[Harlequin Books]

Animal Fiction, Romantic Suspense, Police Procedural Mystery & Detective, Crime Thriller
Miniseries
Protectors at K-9 Ranch (Book #4)

[Penny Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

This book is an awesome read. It is scary, suspenseful, sweet and touching.Julie Miller always delivers a great read but this book is among my favorites!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed story, shows a great example for foster parents to follow!!

[Debra Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Stella and Joe's story.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good one. lots of interactions with children getting to know each other. Some really nasty bad people. A happy kind of ending.

[Annette Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book! I love the older couple story. Joe and Stella are an adorable couple!!!

[Catherine Luzier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the K9 series

Excellent family story. Full of love and intriguing twists. I highly recommend the series. The dogs always add interest to the storyline.

[Sheri Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! Everyone could benefit from having a Joe in their life.

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love always rings true

From the promise of a date to love and the story in between is one to cherish and warm the heart. Thoroughly recommend

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stella Smith is a loving foster mom and her life is about to change when she meets KCPD Sergeant Joe Carpenter. The meet during a blind date and the couple hit it off. Meanwhile Stella’s little family grows overnight when she is called to the police station to pick up two little boys, Gio and Tyrell, brothers who just might be in danger. Apparently there is someone after the boys and this then puts Stella and her foster kids in danger.

Found family is becoming one of my favorite tropes. Love can be found at any age and with this sweet story, that definitely is the case for Stella and Joe. First, they must get past the danger that is close on its heels. What a sweet, suspenseful story.

Many thanks to Harlequin Audio and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Romantic Suspense, and this is the fourth book in the Protectors at K-9 Ranch series. I have read the first three books in this series before picking up this book. I read this book by listening to the audiobook, and I really enjoyed the audiobook. I have really loved reading this series, and this book was no different. I loved all the characters in this book, but the dog and the kids brought so much to this book. I really loved this book. This book is fast paced, and it has a ton of action and suspense with just a little bit of cute romance. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

[Karen Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good. I got hooked early and couldn’t stop. I do love “made family” stories and Stella has made the best family with her foster kids. Joe is wonderful - wish I knew a real life Joe! And Joe and Stella together are great. The pacing is perfect - never a dull moment in the book. The character development of all of the children, in addition to the main characters, is detailed and well thought out. I would rate with more stars if I could. Highly recommend. Can be read stand alone but the whole series is very enjoyable.

[Karen Torrance · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book. All venues from foster kids to really bad guys, everything was covered. I especially enjoyed the fact that neither the hero or heroine were really young or thing. I love this author