Training Her Alaskan K-9: An Uplifting Inspirational Romance – A Love Inspired Small Town Single Dad Story

by Teri Wilson

Can a little girl and her K-9
lead the way to healing?

Service dog trainer Ella Grace is surprised when her childhood crush, professional hockey player Luke Tanner, returns home to Snowhaven, Alaska…with his orphaned niece in tow. Luke is struggling to be the best guardian he can be for sweet Bethany, who has hearing loss, and looks to Ella for help. When Ella volunteers to train a deaf puppy to be the perfect companion for his niece, he quickly sees how the little girl is comforted by her new emotional support dog. But as old insecurities and past secrets come to light, will they be brave enough to fight for a love they both deserve?

From Love  Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

K-9 Companions

Book 1: Their Unbreakable Bond by Deb Kastner
Book 2: Finding Her Way Back by Lisa Carter
Book 3: The Veteran's Vow by Jill Lynn
Book 4: Her Easter Prayer by Lee Tobin McClain
Book 5: Earning Her Trust by Brenda Minton
Book 6: Guarding His Secret by Jill Kemerer
Book 7: An Unlikely Alliance by Toni Shiloh
Book 9: A Reason to Stay by Deb Kastner
Book 10: The Veteran's Holiday Home by Lee Tobin McClain
Book 11: An Alaskan Christmas Promise by Belle Calhoune
Book 12: A Steadfast Companion by Myra Johnson
Book 14: A Friend to Trust by Lee Tobin McClain
Book 15: Her Alaskan Companion by Heidi McCahan
Book 16: A Companion for Christmas by Lee Tobin McClain
Book 17: Her Christmas Healing by Mindy Obenhaus
Book 18: Finding Their Way Back by Jenna Mindel
Book 19: Their Inseparable Bond by Jill Weatherholt
Book 20: Bonding with the Babies by Deb Kastner
Book 21: Her Son's Faithful Companion by Jill Weatherholt
Book 22: Training the K-9 Companion by Jill Kemerer
Book 23: A Companion for His Son by Lee Tobin McClain
Book 24: Her Loyal Companion by Heidi Main
Book 25: A K-9 Christmas Reunion by Lisa Carter
Book 26: His Christmas Salvation by Lee Tobin McClain
Book 27: Guarding Her Christmas Secret by Jill Weatherholt
Book 28: A Faithful Guardian by Louise M. Gouge
Book 29: The Veteran's Valentine Helper by Lee Tobin McClain
Book 30: Rescue on the Farm by Allie Pleiter
Book 31: An Unexpected Companion by Mindy Obenhaus
Book 32: Earning the Veteran's Trust by Lisa Jordan
Book 33: Holding Onto Secrets by Lee Tobin McClain
Book 34: His New Companion by Jill Kemerer
Book 35: The Soldier's K-9 Companion by Belle Calhoune
Book 36: Her Surprise Neighbor by Lee Tobin McClain
Book 37: Healing the Veteran by Ciara Knight
Book 38: An Unexpected Christmas Helper by Lee Tobin McClain
Book 39: The Rancher's Christmas Gift by Jolene Navarro
Book 40: An Unexpected Texas Reunion by Heidi Main
Book 41: Training Her Alaskan K-9

Genres: Christian Fiction

208 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published January 27, 2026

About the author

New York Times Bestselling Author Teri Wilson writes heartwarming contemporary romance with a touch of whimsy. Four of Teri’s books have been adapted into Hallmark Channel Original Movies, including UNLEASHING MR. DARCY (plus its sequel MARRYING MR. DARCY), ROYAL-ISH, based on her book ONCE UPON A ROYAL SUMMER, THE ART OF US and NORTHERN LIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS, based on her book SLEIGH BELL SWEETHEARTS. She is also a recipient of the prestigious RITA Award for excellence in romantic fiction and a 2022 inductee into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame.

When she’s not writing, Teri enjoys volunteering in her community with her Cavalier King Charles spaniel Charm, a registered therapy dog, reading education assistance dog and crisis emergency response canine. Teri is also a three-time volunteer at the Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race in Alaska and has been active in conformation dog shows and performance events.

A cupcake enthusiast, Teri also loves Hallmark movies, barre classes, crocheting and taking her dogs out for pup cups. Visit her at www.teriwilson.net or on Instagram @teriwilsonauthor.

Reviews

[Sheila]

This was a really good read. I really liked the characters.

[Gail Hollingsworth]

I enjoyed this book very much. From Ella Grace the service dog trainer, hockey player Luke Tanner, his niece, eight year old deaf Bethany to the animals, especially Snickers and Cupcake. Luke was trying to get a service dog for his niece but she was deemed too young by Ella. Luke left disappointed and discouraged. Bethany kept weighing on Ella’s mind and went to the local shelter in hopes of finding a small puppy companion. What happened all along seemed God ordained. Yes, I had happy tears and big smiles as I read. If a cute little girl and puppy can’t make a person smile probably nothing will.
This was a personal purchase and I’m reviewing because that’s what I do.

[Heidi]

This is the sweetest! Loved the small-town Alaskan setting, the dogs, the wholesome romance...so satisfying.

[Rosemarie Grainer]

Sweet K-9 dogs and a superb storyline about believing in yourself

Luke, new guardian for his young niece Bethany who is deaf, goes to see Ella about a hearing assistance dog. Ella just walked into her K-9 training office to find a runaway dog trainee Snickers on her desk clearly skipping training! Unfortunately, Bethany is too young to get a hearing assistance dog, but when Ella goes to the shelter to find possible dog trainees, she finds puppy Cupcake who is adorable and also deaf. Could this be the solution to Luke's concerns about Bethany? What about Ella's old crush on Luke, her brother's best friend? Is Luke really ready and able to parent Bethany and start over again in his old hometown? Read this to find out!

The pace is engrossing and the tone is uncertain yet hopeful with a character centered storyline that has a few kisses only. The characters are vibrant and endearing. The Christian ideals are a part of the story. I really hope the author does a follow-up K-9 companions story for Ella's brother Travis. He really needs one! I loved this sweet K-9 Companions romance with detailed characters and superb dogs!

[Renee Simmons]

This is such a sweet book of second chances , single dad and a broken past.. Ella Grace has lived in Snowhaven, Alaska her entire life, and is happy with the life she has made by training service dogs,and matching them with the perfect person, but never got over the way her heart was broken when she was 14 and embarrassed herself when proclaimed her love for her brother’s 18 year old best friend. She is surprised when Luke Tanner shows up after being gone so long and made a life for himself as a professional hockey player. But he needs a favor since he unexpectedly became the guardian of little Bethany after his brother passed away, and wanted Luke to be the one to raise his daughter. Bethany is deaf and with the loss of the only parent she has known, and with the bullying in her previous school, she is having nightmares and anxiety. On a whim, Luke brings her back to his hometown but he has a lot of doubts when he arrives. This book is so heartwarming and I highly recommend falling in love with this town and the wonderful people characters and precious dog characters! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Jo|Ruth Reads]

Such a sweet story, and I love that it included sweet Bethany, sign language, and even Cupcake and Snickers. Getting a glimpse into Travis’s character was also fun, knowing book 2 is his story.

Luke comes back home to raise his niece, whom he is now the guardian of. More than that, he is hoping to reopen the hockey rink and convince Ella to help him get a dog to help Bethany, his niece. He doesn’t expect the pull toward Ella once he’s back home and near her. She used to be in love with him until he broke her heart. And now she seems content to keep him out of her heart the second time around. But his heart is the one at risk. With meddling families impacting their future decisions, it’s hard to know what’s in store for Luke and Ella.

The romantic tension I loved. And sweet Bethany’s day to day life and journey while being deaf and navigating her new dog were so fun to watch. It seems like Luke and Ella can never get their feelings to align at the right time, but I was rooting for these two!

I gave this 4.5 stars rounded to 5 stars.

[Kate Vale]

Another in the K-9 Companions series, in which dog trainer Ella Grace is confronted by the man she had a crush on in high school with an intriguing challenge. His niece, deaf, needs help. Can Ella help? She can and does when she considers providing an emotional comfort dog for the little girl, age 8, who is too young to manage a service animal.

But what also happens is Luke has bought the old ice rink where he first perfected his hockey skills. Can it bring it back to life? And what will his parents think of that, when he knows they've never seen him as talented as his late brother, the father of little Bethany?

When they show up to try to convince him to sell the renovated rink, will Luke break his own heart and those of both Ella and Bethany to leave with him? Or will he stick to his guns and keep the rink?

[history49]

What I liked: 1) training dogs, including briefly stating what Emotional Support dogs are about, and that they aren’t afforded the same rights as Service Dogs; 2) scripture verses and Christian themes.

It was a short book, and started out pretty well, and I liked it pretty well. I had hoped that the book was going to have more about dogs within the story since Ella was a part owner in a dog training facility, but the romance part quickly eclipsed that part, IMO. Had the story been another 100 pages longer, maybe the author could have fleshed out more about training service dogs. Then again, there probably aren’t as many readers wanting more of that.

[Kathy Sinaguglia]

Wonderful!

I enjoyed reading “Training Her Alaskan K-9” So Much! What a wonderful tale of a deaf child whose parents have died being loved by her uncle. This is the story of how God brought them back to her Dad and uncle’s hometown. Where both the little girl and her uncle could be blessed by the woman the uncle loved in high school. Where that woman now trains service dogs, and how a service dog changes and improves their lives. And of course there is a love story with a great ending!!

[Tina Cooke]

What a heartwarming story. Whats not to love when it comes to animals, children having a disability. I love how Ella and Luke come together to help Bethany with a sweet puppy. I can relate due to me having congenital hearing loss. I'm looking forward to reading the next sequel.

[Dorel]

I love ❤️ the cover. I enjoyed this book's storyline. I enjoyed the Christian ✝️ theme in this story. I enjoyed Ella's character. I enjoyed Luke's character. I loved ❤️ Bethany. I loved ❤️ all the dogs 🐕 in this story. I enjoyed the information I learned from this story. I enjoyed the ending.

[Susan Simpson]

I really enjoyed the characters in this book, how they grew and learned to forgive and trust. Vivid descriptions made me feel like I was in Alaska! The author did a wonderful job of combining faith snd romance. I highly recommend this book!

[Cheryl Bledsoe]

Beautiful Story. Can’t wait to read more from Teri Wilson

[Janice Sisemore]

A great story.

[Vicky Sluiter]

Loved it! The character, the plot, all of it. Especially sweet little Bethany and her dog, Cupcake.

[Laurel]

This was another delightful read in the K-9 Companions series, and the first book in Teri Wilson's new Alaskan Hearts series.

[Karen DeCarlo]

I have recently discovered Teri Wilson's books and have absolutely loved them.This book was no exception. In fact it was probably one of my favorites.

[Jennifer]

Loved this book so much! Ella is a dog trainer and Luke was her childhood crush who just came back to Alaska with his newly orphaned niece. She has hearing loss and Ella is helping her to train a deaf puppy for her. This book kept me engaged and I really enjoyed it!