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National Forest K-9 #5
Deadly Revenge: A National Forest K-9 Suspense – A Heartpounding Search and Rescue Romance Novel
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire…
Danger—and revenge—threaten the forest in the fifth book in Kathleen Donnelly’s thrilling search and rescue National Forest K-9 series.
There’s nothing more terrifying than a trail of smoke over a summer-dry national forest—at least, that’s what Forest Service law enforcement officer Maya Thompson thinks when she and her boyfriend, sheriff’s deputy Josh Colten, spot the first signs of a fire over the Colorado mountains.
But when she learns that a teen girl has been kidnapped and taken deep into the wilderness, a new fear grips If she and her K-9 partner, Juniper, can’t reach them fast enough, the fire might not just destroy her beloved forest—it might be the end to an innocent girl’s life.
An innocent girl who is tied to Maya in ways she never could have imagined. And in ways that will upend everything she’s always believed about her family…and the dark past that haunts her.
Danger—and revenge—threaten the forest in the fifth book in Kathleen Donnelly’s thrilling search and rescue National Forest K-9 series.
There’s nothing more terrifying than a trail of smoke over a summer-dry national forest—at least, that’s what Forest Service law enforcement officer Maya Thompson thinks when she and her boyfriend, sheriff’s deputy Josh Colten, spot the first signs of a fire over the Colorado mountains.
But when she learns that a teen girl has been kidnapped and taken deep into the wilderness, a new fear grips If she and her K-9 partner, Juniper, can’t reach them fast enough, the fire might not just destroy her beloved forest—it might be the end to an innocent girl’s life.
An innocent girl who is tied to Maya in ways she never could have imagined. And in ways that will upend everything she’s always believed about her family…and the dark past that haunts her.
381 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 28, 2026
About the author
Kathleen Donnelly
7 books915 followersAward-winning author Kathleen Donnelly is a K-9 handler for a private narcotics dog detection company. She enjoys using her K-9 experience to craft realism into her fictional stories. Kathleen lives near the Colorado foothills with her husband and her four-legged co-workers. Visit Kathleen on her website at www.kathleendonnelly.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/AuthorKathleenDonnelly, follow her on Twitter @KatK9writer or find her on Instagram @authorkathleendonnelly.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
September 30, 2026
Kathleen Donnelly has written another great installment of her Maya Thompson series. In Deadly Revenge, her old nemesis, Abigail has escaped from prison and arranged for a kidnapping of a fourteen-year-old girl name Hope. Abigail's accomplices have taken Hope deep into the Colorado forest where a fire is raging. Abigail was originally with the FBI and knows all the tricks that law enforcement uses. Maya must play chess with her to save the young girl before the fire traps them. Maya soon learns she has a special relationship with Hope. The chapters vary from Maya's point of View to Hope's well-rendered teenage Point of View. Maya is always sympathetic, smart, and ethical. She has special relationships with her beau and her dog, Juniper. Her boyfriend, Josh, is both rugged and caring. Juniper is the kind of fierce and loyal Belgian Malinois any of us could love. Deadly Revenge is well written with lots of twists, including a hidden villain you won't guess. Highly recommended.
October 14, 2026
Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance
Deadly Revenge is the fifth title in the National Forest K-9 series, and I strongly suggest reading it in order, if at all possible, because Maya and Josh’s (and Juniper’s) story builds over several books. Each novel stands on its own in terms of the current situation, but the couple and amazing search-and-rescue dogs have a long, ongoing relationship in the previous novels that still needs to develop. (this isn’t the end) And I know that’s not always possible, because I need to catch up on two stories, but if you can, I’d recommend reading in order.
A truly evil person from Maya’s past has re-emerged to deal out their style of vengeance when a kidnapped teenage girl is taken deep into an area where a raging forest fire threatens not only the forest and the wildlife, but Hope’s life as well. The race to find and rescue her is intense, and a connection that Maya never expected turns the rescue more personal than she could have imagined.
This story is intense, well-written (I’ve yet to read a story from Kathleen Donnelly that hasn’t pulled me in from the first page), emotional, and dangerous, with twists and turns the reader and the characters won’t see coming. I always love revisiting one of my favorite pups, Juniper, and seeing how Maya and Josh’s relationship develops. Add to that a deeply tension-filled romantic suspense story that kept me flipping pages and on edge throughout. If that sounds like your kind of Romantic Suspense, then you’d enjoy Deadly Revenge.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. I chose to leave a review sharing my personal opinion of this book.*
Deadly Revenge is the fifth title in the National Forest K-9 series, and I strongly suggest reading it in order, if at all possible, because Maya and Josh’s (and Juniper’s) story builds over several books. Each novel stands on its own in terms of the current situation, but the couple and amazing search-and-rescue dogs have a long, ongoing relationship in the previous novels that still needs to develop. (this isn’t the end) And I know that’s not always possible, because I need to catch up on two stories, but if you can, I’d recommend reading in order.
A truly evil person from Maya’s past has re-emerged to deal out their style of vengeance when a kidnapped teenage girl is taken deep into an area where a raging forest fire threatens not only the forest and the wildlife, but Hope’s life as well. The race to find and rescue her is intense, and a connection that Maya never expected turns the rescue more personal than she could have imagined.
This story is intense, well-written (I’ve yet to read a story from Kathleen Donnelly that hasn’t pulled me in from the first page), emotional, and dangerous, with twists and turns the reader and the characters won’t see coming. I always love revisiting one of my favorite pups, Juniper, and seeing how Maya and Josh’s relationship develops. Add to that a deeply tension-filled romantic suspense story that kept me flipping pages and on edge throughout. If that sounds like your kind of Romantic Suspense, then you’d enjoy Deadly Revenge.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. I chose to leave a review sharing my personal opinion of this book.*
October 15, 2026
This is a Romantic Suspense, and this is the 5th book in the National Forest K-9 series. I have read the first four 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 loved the fast pace of this book and the suspense throughout this book. I did not like that there was so many characters, and I found at times it was hard to keep up with them all. I loved the dogs in this book. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
May 22, 2026
ARC NetGallery & Harlequin - Romance | Carina Press
Pub Date Jul 28 2026
Book 5 of National Forest K-9
I was excited to be accepted for the ARC for the 5th book. I missed one of my favourite K-9 dog Juniper!
This storyline brings together a Mayas family reunion, a forest fire, a kidnapping and the return of Abigail!
I enjoyed reading Maya and Juniper adventure as they tracked down the kidnappers to save a teenage girl with the help of law enforcement and Maya’s boyfriend Josh.
The ending was just the sweetest icing on the cake and I can’t wait for the next book!
Pub Date Jul 28 2026
Book 5 of National Forest K-9
I was excited to be accepted for the ARC for the 5th book. I missed one of my favourite K-9 dog Juniper!
This storyline brings together a Mayas family reunion, a forest fire, a kidnapping and the return of Abigail!
I enjoyed reading Maya and Juniper adventure as they tracked down the kidnappers to save a teenage girl with the help of law enforcement and Maya’s boyfriend Josh.
The ending was just the sweetest icing on the cake and I can’t wait for the next book!
July 29, 2026
Deadly Revenge by Kathleen Donnelly ✨🥹 🐕 National Forest K-9 (Book 5)
"Smoke, Family Secrets, and a High-Stakes K-9 Rescue in the Colorado Wilderness"
It’s been such an amazing journey for Maya and Juniper 🥹 they’re so lovely characters! This book is full of mystery, intrigue, but there is romance too 🥰. Here is my full review of Kathleen Donnelly's latest release...
In Deadly Revenge, author Kathleen Donnelly plunges readers right back into the breathtaking yet treacherous mountains of Colorado. The story ignites when a rising plume of smoke alerts U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer Maya Thompson and Deputy Sheriff Josh Colten. However, the threat of a wildfire quickly turns into a hunt for a human predator when they discover a teenager has been abducted in the forest. Alongside her brilliant K-9 partner, Juniper, Maya launches a desperate tracking mission. The stakes skyrocket when the team uncovers that the kidnapping is deeply tied to the dark history of Maya’s own family, forcing her to confront long-buried secrets.
Deadly Revenge is an absolute must-read for fans of fast-paced romantic suspense, wilderness survival stories, and K-9 fiction. It grabs you from the opening chapter with its claustrophobic tension and leaves you thoroughly satisfied with a gripping family mystery. 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏
Happy reading to you all 📖 📕
"Smoke, Family Secrets, and a High-Stakes K-9 Rescue in the Colorado Wilderness"
It’s been such an amazing journey for Maya and Juniper 🥹 they’re so lovely characters! This book is full of mystery, intrigue, but there is romance too 🥰. Here is my full review of Kathleen Donnelly's latest release...
In Deadly Revenge, author Kathleen Donnelly plunges readers right back into the breathtaking yet treacherous mountains of Colorado. The story ignites when a rising plume of smoke alerts U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer Maya Thompson and Deputy Sheriff Josh Colten. However, the threat of a wildfire quickly turns into a hunt for a human predator when they discover a teenager has been abducted in the forest. Alongside her brilliant K-9 partner, Juniper, Maya launches a desperate tracking mission. The stakes skyrocket when the team uncovers that the kidnapping is deeply tied to the dark history of Maya’s own family, forcing her to confront long-buried secrets.
Deadly Revenge is an absolute must-read for fans of fast-paced romantic suspense, wilderness survival stories, and K-9 fiction. It grabs you from the opening chapter with its claustrophobic tension and leaves you thoroughly satisfied with a gripping family mystery. 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏
Happy reading to you all 📖 📕
August 18, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 2.25 stars rounded down.
The positives: story arc and premise is good and engaging. This is book 5, and it is able to be read as a stand alone story. The K9 handling aspect is good.
The negatives: language, writing, and pacing.
Aside from Hope's chapters, the first half of the book is incredibly slow paced and dragged out. It takes 20 long repetitive chapters for the action to kick in. And when I say repetitive, I mean repetitive. Both in language and in content. We hear over and over how much Abigail hates Maya, and how evil and dangerous Abigail is from Maya's perspective. Abigail is almost a comically evil antagonist. We are told 3 times in a single page that it's hot and they need to remember to water the dogs. We get it. We are told more than that that it's hot so Juniper (the dog) is wearing cooling vest instead of Kevlar vest. We get it. It's hot, and she's not protected from gunfire or stab attempts. It feels like the expectation is that the readers are stupid and can't retain a single thing.
The language is incredibly simplistic and basic, and at times clunky. There is very little description of the characters or setting other than Abigail being a bad guy who is manipulative and intelligent. But we are TOLD and not shown. Nothing is written and left to be inferred. We are told what we should think about the characters. We aren't shown and allowed to make our own conclusions. There is no interesting language use to describe the characters, and we are barely even getting pronouns. It's Maya, Abigail, not "the ranger" or "the officer" etc etc. "Maya" is used 1527 times in this book. That is 4 times per page on average. Considering that there are 3 POVs in this book- Abigail, Maya's, and Hope's (who doesn't learn Maya's name until chapter 39- 70% mark of the book)- it illustrates just how sparse the use of any kind of descriptive language is. Similarly, there isn't much in a way of action tags- especially the first half of the book- it's "maya said" and "Josh said" etc.
----
Spoilers ahead
With proper editing this book could be about 2/3 of the length- the last three chapters attempt to tie up "loose ends" into a happy ending- we have been told how twitchy Josh has been the entire book- it's crystal clear (even not knowing the character), that he's intending to propose, and it's an incredibly lacklustre proposal. Similarly all Eric's dirty cop lawbreaking is turned into a "let's give you some community service and move you in with long lost family".
All in all, if this was not an ARC, I probably would have DNF at around 30% mark. I pushed through, and the book does improve with some decent action from about 50%-80% as well as an excellent dog apprehends the criminal scene (and tries to drown her), but I would not call this a page-turner.
Rating: 2.25 stars rounded down.
The positives: story arc and premise is good and engaging. This is book 5, and it is able to be read as a stand alone story. The K9 handling aspect is good.
The negatives: language, writing, and pacing.
Aside from Hope's chapters, the first half of the book is incredibly slow paced and dragged out. It takes 20 long repetitive chapters for the action to kick in. And when I say repetitive, I mean repetitive. Both in language and in content. We hear over and over how much Abigail hates Maya, and how evil and dangerous Abigail is from Maya's perspective. Abigail is almost a comically evil antagonist. We are told 3 times in a single page that it's hot and they need to remember to water the dogs. We get it. We are told more than that that it's hot so Juniper (the dog) is wearing cooling vest instead of Kevlar vest. We get it. It's hot, and she's not protected from gunfire or stab attempts. It feels like the expectation is that the readers are stupid and can't retain a single thing.
The language is incredibly simplistic and basic, and at times clunky. There is very little description of the characters or setting other than Abigail being a bad guy who is manipulative and intelligent. But we are TOLD and not shown. Nothing is written and left to be inferred. We are told what we should think about the characters. We aren't shown and allowed to make our own conclusions. There is no interesting language use to describe the characters, and we are barely even getting pronouns. It's Maya, Abigail, not "the ranger" or "the officer" etc etc. "Maya" is used 1527 times in this book. That is 4 times per page on average. Considering that there are 3 POVs in this book- Abigail, Maya's, and Hope's (who doesn't learn Maya's name until chapter 39- 70% mark of the book)- it illustrates just how sparse the use of any kind of descriptive language is. Similarly, there isn't much in a way of action tags- especially the first half of the book- it's "maya said" and "Josh said" etc.
----
Spoilers ahead
With proper editing this book could be about 2/3 of the length- the last three chapters attempt to tie up "loose ends" into a happy ending- we have been told how twitchy Josh has been the entire book- it's crystal clear (even not knowing the character), that he's intending to propose, and it's an incredibly lacklustre proposal. Similarly all Eric's dirty cop lawbreaking is turned into a "let's give you some community service and move you in with long lost family".
All in all, if this was not an ARC, I probably would have DNF at around 30% mark. I pushed through, and the book does improve with some decent action from about 50%-80% as well as an excellent dog apprehends the criminal scene (and tries to drown her), but I would not call this a page-turner.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m really enjoying this series of a CO Forest Service Officer and her K9. One of the best parts of the story is how instrumental the K9, Juniper, is to Officer Maya Thompson, and the series. I love catching up with Maya, Juniper and Maya’s boyfriend, Josh, who now has his own working K9, Finn. This installment brings back Maya’s estranged father, Eric, and has Maya, Juniper, and Josh picking up where Eric left off on his investigation of Abigail, a dirty cop who was captured and arrested in the last installment. Abigail escapes and is on a psychotic path of revenge to Maya and everyone she loves. This isn’t a spoiler since it’s pretty much how the story started.
Most of the story revolves around finding Abigail who has kidnapped a teenaged girl, Hope, from summer school. There are secondary storylines like the one of found family for Maya. Hope is Maya’s niece and Eric’s other kids, Nick and Isabella, show up to help find Hope. There is also a raging fire plowing through CO forest and mountainside where it is suspected Abigail has Hope. There is also another one of Josh acting kind of weird. No spoiler alert here though.
It’s into the second half that the hunt for Abigail and Hope gets out of control, at least for Maya, the FBI and the Marshals. That’s when Maya realizes that if she, Juniper and Josh are going to find Hope and Abigail, they have to do what they do best, which means they have to go off script and get away from the FBI and the Marshals. Needless to say, the level of danger skyrockets. LOVED the ending!!! Juniper is such a bad@$$!!! Maya too, of course. The finale was kind of a lead-in for the next installment that I am so excited to see where Donnelly goes with the series.
The continuing character development for Maya, Juniper and Josh was well done, along with a few other characters like Eric and Nick and Hope too. Can’t wait to see if and how Donnelly integrates them into the series. The pacing was steady to fast, especially in the second half. This is pretty par for this crime thriller series. I flipped back and forth between the ebook and the audiobook so that I could squeeze in a chapter here there whenever I had some free time. The storyline was a good wrap up for this arc with Abigail and the murders of Maya’s mom and grandma. Looking forward to seeing what Donnelly has in store for Maya and Juniper and the rest of the gang in Pinecone Junction. The writing was well done and classic Donnelly, who is a really good writer and storyteller. This was my fave installment of the series – so far. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.5 that I’m going to round up to a 5star review. I want to thank NetGalley, Harlequin Romance, and Harlequin Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #HarlequinRomance #HarlequinAudio #DeadlyRevenge
Most of the story revolves around finding Abigail who has kidnapped a teenaged girl, Hope, from summer school. There are secondary storylines like the one of found family for Maya. Hope is Maya’s niece and Eric’s other kids, Nick and Isabella, show up to help find Hope. There is also a raging fire plowing through CO forest and mountainside where it is suspected Abigail has Hope. There is also another one of Josh acting kind of weird. No spoiler alert here though.
It’s into the second half that the hunt for Abigail and Hope gets out of control, at least for Maya, the FBI and the Marshals. That’s when Maya realizes that if she, Juniper and Josh are going to find Hope and Abigail, they have to do what they do best, which means they have to go off script and get away from the FBI and the Marshals. Needless to say, the level of danger skyrockets. LOVED the ending!!! Juniper is such a bad@$$!!! Maya too, of course. The finale was kind of a lead-in for the next installment that I am so excited to see where Donnelly goes with the series.
The continuing character development for Maya, Juniper and Josh was well done, along with a few other characters like Eric and Nick and Hope too. Can’t wait to see if and how Donnelly integrates them into the series. The pacing was steady to fast, especially in the second half. This is pretty par for this crime thriller series. I flipped back and forth between the ebook and the audiobook so that I could squeeze in a chapter here there whenever I had some free time. The storyline was a good wrap up for this arc with Abigail and the murders of Maya’s mom and grandma. Looking forward to seeing what Donnelly has in store for Maya and Juniper and the rest of the gang in Pinecone Junction. The writing was well done and classic Donnelly, who is a really good writer and storyteller. This was my fave installment of the series – so far. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.5 that I’m going to round up to a 5star review. I want to thank NetGalley, Harlequin Romance, and Harlequin Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #HarlequinRomance #HarlequinAudio #DeadlyRevenge
July 30, 2026
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
As with Buried Lies, I inhaled the next book, Deadly Revenge, in one sitting. The earlier books in the National Forest K-9 series were good but these last two were really good. Throughout we have been with the point of view of Maya, a forest service ranger. Her grandfather is sheriff and her fiancé, Josh is his deputy. Maya has a K-9 Juniper, and Josh has just finished training with Finn.
Some of the themes from the last book are expanded here. The dirty cop Abigail, arrested in the last book, is scheming her revenge for Maya and her father, Eric. Just as a big forest fire is raging in the area, a teen girl seems to have gone missing.
The pacing is quick and exciting. There are numerous plot lines with the forest fire, the missing teen, learning more about her father and half siblings, her relationship with Josh and the new cabin they are building, and an escaped convict dirty cop out for revenge. Juniper and Finn really play key roles and are involved throughout which is something I always prefer.
Maya is happy to work with the CBI agent Kessler but she doesn't trust the others on his team or the guy her half sibling brought along, or even the teen's father. Somehow Abigail has been a step ahead of them after her escape. It's believed she has teamed up with someone else from law enforcement. So the tension of not being able to trust many of those involved and supposed to help is intense.
I can really recommend these romantic suspense thrillers with K-9 characters and layered plots. I would read them in order.
Review copy was received from Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
As with Buried Lies, I inhaled the next book, Deadly Revenge, in one sitting. The earlier books in the National Forest K-9 series were good but these last two were really good. Throughout we have been with the point of view of Maya, a forest service ranger. Her grandfather is sheriff and her fiancé, Josh is his deputy. Maya has a K-9 Juniper, and Josh has just finished training with Finn.
Some of the themes from the last book are expanded here. The dirty cop Abigail, arrested in the last book, is scheming her revenge for Maya and her father, Eric. Just as a big forest fire is raging in the area, a teen girl seems to have gone missing.
The pacing is quick and exciting. There are numerous plot lines with the forest fire, the missing teen, learning more about her father and half siblings, her relationship with Josh and the new cabin they are building, and an escaped convict dirty cop out for revenge. Juniper and Finn really play key roles and are involved throughout which is something I always prefer.
Maya is happy to work with the CBI agent Kessler but she doesn't trust the others on his team or the guy her half sibling brought along, or even the teen's father. Somehow Abigail has been a step ahead of them after her escape. It's believed she has teamed up with someone else from law enforcement. So the tension of not being able to trust many of those involved and supposed to help is intense.
I can really recommend these romantic suspense thrillers with K-9 characters and layered plots. I would read them in order.
August 6, 2026
Do to the fact Deadly Revenge is only sold in paperback on Harlequin.com the author told me to use this link to review the paperback book. Link to review book is: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
I was given a paperback book by the author to read & review and below is my honest review.
If I could rate this book more than 5 stars I would I loved this book because I was engaged from beginning to end, it was action packed, thriller sort, mystery sort, with some romance thrown in and the plots and story lines were excellent as were the main and secondary characters.
So Maya Thompson and Josh Colten were planning a weekend getaway for camping just the two of them but just like best laid plans usually go plans either change or don't happen at all so what happens next are things they never expect to happen and beyond their control but that doesn't mean that they can't change the outcome that is already planned so what happens? To get all those answers and more you need to read the book and if you want to buy the kindle book it's on Amazon but if you want to buy the paperback the only place to buy Deadly Revenge paperback is Harlequin.com This book is A MUST READ!!!!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND DEFINITELY WILL BE READING THE BOOK AGAIN!!!!
NOW GO BUY, BUY, BUY, BUY THIS BOOK AND REVIEW IT TO HELP THE AUTHOR!!!!
I was given a paperback book by the author to read & review and below is my honest review.
If I could rate this book more than 5 stars I would I loved this book because I was engaged from beginning to end, it was action packed, thriller sort, mystery sort, with some romance thrown in and the plots and story lines were excellent as were the main and secondary characters.
So Maya Thompson and Josh Colten were planning a weekend getaway for camping just the two of them but just like best laid plans usually go plans either change or don't happen at all so what happens next are things they never expect to happen and beyond their control but that doesn't mean that they can't change the outcome that is already planned so what happens? To get all those answers and more you need to read the book and if you want to buy the kindle book it's on Amazon but if you want to buy the paperback the only place to buy Deadly Revenge paperback is Harlequin.com This book is A MUST READ!!!!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND DEFINITELY WILL BE READING THE BOOK AGAIN!!!!
NOW GO BUY, BUY, BUY, BUY THIS BOOK AND REVIEW IT TO HELP THE AUTHOR!!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An enemy from the past surfaces with intent to kill Maya and Juniper!
While Abigail has been in prison, put away for crimes against Maya's family, she has been planning her revenge. When her plans come together, she manages to escape and set revenge in motion.
Maya has many reasons to hate Abigail, mostly for killing both her mother and her grandmother. Maya was brought up mostly by her grandfather "Pops", after her father went on the run. Life wasn't great for her, but her time in the Marines and then the Forestry Service have become her life, along with boyfriend Josh and her K-9 Juniper. Now Maya and Josh are doing well, ready to take some time away when both a forest fire and Abigail's escape derails their plans.
I enjoyed this book a lot. It is very fast-paced and interesting. The introduction of Maya's newly found brother, sister and niece are sure to add layers to any future stories. I loved the surprise at the end which I will not be writing about...no spoilers here!
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.
While Abigail has been in prison, put away for crimes against Maya's family, she has been planning her revenge. When her plans come together, she manages to escape and set revenge in motion.
Maya has many reasons to hate Abigail, mostly for killing both her mother and her grandmother. Maya was brought up mostly by her grandfather "Pops", after her father went on the run. Life wasn't great for her, but her time in the Marines and then the Forestry Service have become her life, along with boyfriend Josh and her K-9 Juniper. Now Maya and Josh are doing well, ready to take some time away when both a forest fire and Abigail's escape derails their plans.
I enjoyed this book a lot. It is very fast-paced and interesting. The introduction of Maya's newly found brother, sister and niece are sure to add layers to any future stories. I loved the surprise at the end which I will not be writing about...no spoilers here!
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.
July 29, 2026
Forest K-9 Officer Maya Thompson has a lot on her plate. Not only is there a teen named Hope missing, she is trying to stay ahead of a spreading forest fire while she searches for the teen. Previously, Maya had gotten a dirty cop off of the street Her name is Abigail and she has escaped prison. Abigail has a sole purpose and that is to reign revenge on Maya. As Maya soon learns, it is Abigail who has abducted Hope.
Meanwhile, Maya is not just at a crossroads in her relationship with Undersheriff Josh Colton, Maya is seeking to cement other family relationships. Just as she’s fully come to terms with who her father is, he makes a surprise move that she wasn’t quite ready for.
This thrilling installment in the National Forest K-9 series is rich with action, drama, and excellent pacing. This book, along with the previous two, Killer Secrets and Buried Lies, has been wonderfully narrated by Hayli Henderson. She brings a lot to a wonderfully written series and has been a pleasure to listen to.
Many thanks to Carina Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Meanwhile, Maya is not just at a crossroads in her relationship with Undersheriff Josh Colton, Maya is seeking to cement other family relationships. Just as she’s fully come to terms with who her father is, he makes a surprise move that she wasn’t quite ready for.
This thrilling installment in the National Forest K-9 series is rich with action, drama, and excellent pacing. This book, along with the previous two, Killer Secrets and Buried Lies, has been wonderfully narrated by Hayli Henderson. She brings a lot to a wonderfully written series and has been a pleasure to listen to.
Many thanks to Carina Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
September 5, 2026
Another in the National Forest K9 series brings Maya and Josh back, and this time the worst is happening: a forest fire. While they battle their jobs and what they need to do for the fire, they are also hampered by a kidnapped girl, one that has ties to Maya that she only just found out. Maya, Josh, and their awesome K9s, Juniper and Finn, need to find the teen before something bad happens to her or the fire catches up to them. However, someone in the different agencies that are searching for her is a mole and is feeding the kidnapper intel to keep one step in front of them the whole time, making finding her even harder.
This is a wonderful, fast-paced, exciting, and suspenseful book/audiobook. I have really enjoyed listening to this series narrated by Hayli Henderson. She has really brought this story to life and is a great voice actor. This series is for anyone who likes police procedural books, and even more so if you like the K9s, as she does them well and has really taken the time to learn what it takes to work them.
Review copy provided by Netgalley
This is a wonderful, fast-paced, exciting, and suspenseful book/audiobook. I have really enjoyed listening to this series narrated by Hayli Henderson. She has really brought this story to life and is a great voice actor. This series is for anyone who likes police procedural books, and even more so if you like the K9s, as she does them well and has really taken the time to learn what it takes to work them.
Review copy provided by Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A romantic suspense, that is a whole lot of suspense. It gave me Monica from The Rookie vibes. Maya and her K-9 partner Juniper are hot on the trail after a teenager is kidnapped and brought to the forest where Maya is an officer in the Forest Service. It is a race against time as there is a forest fire and it is burning at a rapid pace. Add into this many players from her past are showing up and she is not sure who to trust. To top it off, the person she loves most, Josh, the Undersheriff, is acting odd and nervous. It is a race against time to find the missing girl, figure out who the big bad is, and sort out who is who. I had not read the first 4 books in the series, and didn't need to to follow the story and become invested right at the beginning. I will say that after reading this one, I want to go back and read the first 4! A fantastic quick read that kept me on my toes. Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for the advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Deadly Revenge
Kathleen Donnelly
July 28, 2026
Maya and Josh were packing for a get away when there phones rang with warnings of fire in an area of the National Forest where he needed to head towards the Colorado forest to make certain patrons have been evacuated and are safe. In the interim Maya received a message regarding a teen being held captive with a couple traveling through the same area. Loading Juniper in her car with their go-bags and vests, she takes off.
Deadly Revenge will be published by Carina Press of Harper Collins on July 28, 2026. I was able to read and review Donnelly’s latest novel via NetGalley.
It is a good suspense however it did become somewhat tedious at times with extra information regarding the investigations. I think the second half of the book was more exciting. It is the fifth in the National Forrest K-9 Suspense series well worth readers time. Do enjoy!
Kathleen Donnelly
July 28, 2026
Maya and Josh were packing for a get away when there phones rang with warnings of fire in an area of the National Forest where he needed to head towards the Colorado forest to make certain patrons have been evacuated and are safe. In the interim Maya received a message regarding a teen being held captive with a couple traveling through the same area. Loading Juniper in her car with their go-bags and vests, she takes off.
Deadly Revenge will be published by Carina Press of Harper Collins on July 28, 2026. I was able to read and review Donnelly’s latest novel via NetGalley.
It is a good suspense however it did become somewhat tedious at times with extra information regarding the investigations. I think the second half of the book was more exciting. It is the fifth in the National Forrest K-9 Suspense series well worth readers time. Do enjoy!
August 8, 2026
Deadly Revenge is the perfect weekend read if you want to totally lose yourself in a book. Maya and her K-9 partner get thrown into a total nightmare, tracking someone down while a massive wildfire rages through the mountains. The tension increases when they realize a dangerous threat from the past is using the chaos and smoke to hunt them down.
Kathleen Donnelly keeps the pacing super fast, building a high-pressure environment where you can feel the danger closing in from every angle.
The whole survival vibe is incredibly gripping because the stakes feel so real and personal for Maya. My favorite part has to be the deep trust and connection between Maya and her loyal dog. It anchors the chaos and keeps the search scenes feeling totally grounded instead of over-the-top.
It is a fast-paced thriller that perfectly balances heart-pounding action and genuine loyalty. If you want something suspenseful you should definitely grab a copy.
Kathleen Donnelly keeps the pacing super fast, building a high-pressure environment where you can feel the danger closing in from every angle.
The whole survival vibe is incredibly gripping because the stakes feel so real and personal for Maya. My favorite part has to be the deep trust and connection between Maya and her loyal dog. It anchors the chaos and keeps the search scenes feeling totally grounded instead of over-the-top.
It is a fast-paced thriller that perfectly balances heart-pounding action and genuine loyalty. If you want something suspenseful you should definitely grab a copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
We are back in Colorado with Forest Service K-9 Officer Maya Thompson and her boyfriend sheriff deputy Josh Colten.
What starts out as reporting a fire, gets more dangerous and complex.
A teen is missing and it appears she has not only been kidnapped but she’s also Maya’s niece. The daughter of a recently discovered half brother.
Maya and her K-9 Jupiter risk their lives as they e run into the fire to find the missing child.
Maya suspects the kidnapping is related to her past. It seems the woman who killed her mother and grandmother has created this entire mess in order to harm Maya.
This engaging audiobook will keep the listeners on the edge of their seats from the beginning to the end.
The narrator, Hayli Henderson brought the story to life.
I was entrusted a copy of this audiobook by Netgalley and Harper COLLINS. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
What starts out as reporting a fire, gets more dangerous and complex.
A teen is missing and it appears she has not only been kidnapped but she’s also Maya’s niece. The daughter of a recently discovered half brother.
Maya and her K-9 Jupiter risk their lives as they e run into the fire to find the missing child.
Maya suspects the kidnapping is related to her past. It seems the woman who killed her mother and grandmother has created this entire mess in order to harm Maya.
This engaging audiobook will keep the listeners on the edge of their seats from the beginning to the end.
The narrator, Hayli Henderson brought the story to life.
I was entrusted a copy of this audiobook by Netgalley and Harper COLLINS. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It's finally time for their vacation but Josh is acting weird. Maya is determined to get to the bottom of it when the get to the campsite. But when they get called into work for a forest fire they both know their weekend away is going to have to wait.
Maya is trying to evacuate all the campers at a campsite when she finds out there may be a little girl whose been kidnapped and she has to find out, and to make sure they aren't going toward the fire with this little girl.
Could this day get any worse? Oh but it can get so much worse because what she learns next is that her own enemy has escaped jail. And is involved.
Read to see what all happens and which one of these women will make it out alive?
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Maya is trying to evacuate all the campers at a campsite when she finds out there may be a little girl whose been kidnapped and she has to find out, and to make sure they aren't going toward the fire with this little girl.
Could this day get any worse? Oh but it can get so much worse because what she learns next is that her own enemy has escaped jail. And is involved.
Read to see what all happens and which one of these women will make it out alive?
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Deadly Revenge by Kathleen Donnelly was an absolute thrill ride from start to finish! I was so excited to get early access to this one, and it did not disappoint! I had the hardest time putting it down! The suspense is intense and relentless right from the opening pages — between a wildfire tearing through the Colorado mountains and a kidnapped girl racing against the clock, the stakes feel impossibly high and the action never lets up. This is actually the fifth book in the Search and Rescue K-9 series, and while I jumped in without having read the others, it didn't diminish my enjoyment one bit - though it did leave me eager to go back and read them all from the beginning.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 28, 2026
Deadly Revenge is another outstanding addition to Kathleen Donnelly's National Forest K-9 series! Having binge-read Books 1 through 5, Donnelly has quickly become one of my go-to authors for K-9 romantic suspense.
As an actual K-9 handler, Donnelly brings an unmatched level of realism to the training, teamwork, and bond between the handlers and their dogs. Juniper, the Belgian Malinois, steals the show with so much personality alongside Maya and Josh. Combined with the atmospheric Colorado National Forest setting, a perfect balance of romance and suspense
If you love working dogs and well-crafted romantic suspense, I can't recommend this book—and the entire series—enough!
As an actual K-9 handler, Donnelly brings an unmatched level of realism to the training, teamwork, and bond between the handlers and their dogs. Juniper, the Belgian Malinois, steals the show with so much personality alongside Maya and Josh. Combined with the atmospheric Colorado National Forest setting, a perfect balance of romance and suspense
If you love working dogs and well-crafted romantic suspense, I can't recommend this book—and the entire series—enough!
July 30, 2026
Kept me glued to the pages, flipping one after the other. Fast moving, full of suspense and the great K9 Juniper. This is book 5 in the National Forest -9 Series, but you are not lost. The author was great about seamlessly weaving in the information you needed. This book had my heart racing with the suspense and rejoicing in the HEA. Highly recommend for those who enjoy suspense, law enforcement, K9 and the highs and lows of family relationships. I received and advanced copy and am leaving my review after release date. This book released July28th and if you haven't picked it up, grab it! #DeadlyRevenge #NationalForestK-9 #KathleenDonnelly #Harlequin #CarinaPress #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Part of an interconnected series that is best read in order. Each book is written in a way that it could be read as a standalone however it does have characters that overlap with a storyline that continues throughout the series..
Her biological father is on the run.
She has siblings she's never seen.
A boyfriend that is acting weird.
Now she's trying to find a missing teenager and an escaped convict in the middle of a wildfire before it's too late.
Found family
Betrayal from within
Kisses only with some mild cursing.
Her biological father is on the run.
She has siblings she's never seen.
A boyfriend that is acting weird.
Now she's trying to find a missing teenager and an escaped convict in the middle of a wildfire before it's too late.
Found family
Betrayal from within
Kisses only with some mild cursing.
October 14, 2026
A "Hot" story
I've followed Maya and Juniper for a long time. This story ties up a lot of lose ends, In many ways. Excitement, intrigue, adventure... Danger at every turn. Quite a nail biter in places. I didn't get much accomplished except read this to the end.
If you like adventure in what you read you won't be disappointed. The many twist and turns will keep you guessing. Who is the partner? Why did they do that? What will happen to the hostage girl? Will they accept her? See, an exciting read.
I've followed Maya and Juniper for a long time. This story ties up a lot of lose ends, In many ways. Excitement, intrigue, adventure... Danger at every turn. Quite a nail biter in places. I didn't get much accomplished except read this to the end.
If you like adventure in what you read you won't be disappointed. The many twist and turns will keep you guessing. Who is the partner? Why did they do that? What will happen to the hostage girl? Will they accept her? See, an exciting read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Deadly Revenge is non-stop action, and I was glued to it from the first page. It is an intense nail-biter, with plenty of twists. Every time I thought maybe Maya, Josh, and Kessler had the upper hand, something else would happen. Add in an encroaching forestfire, and nothing is a sure thing. As usual, Juniper plays a big part in solving the case, with Finn doing his part to find missing persons. My nerves were on edge from beginning to end.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Deadly Revenge by Kathleen Donnelly is #5 in the National Forest series. We are back with Maya, Josh and their K-9's Juniper and Finn. A forest fire blazing, a kidnapped teen, revenge, and a search and rescue before it's to late. Fast paced romantic suspense that will keep you on your toes. I have been loving all the books in this series. Thank you to #NetGalley and #Harlequin Romance for this Arc. This is my honest review. Releases July 28, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Somehow I missed book 4, so I think I missed a few things. This one has the return of Abigail, who is bent on revenge. The suspense is real, they are racing against a wildfire and finding a kidnapped girl. The story is fast paced, I couldn’t put it down. Maya meets more of her family and things with Josh heat up. Hayli Henderson does a great job with narration. Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for a ALC for a honest review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Deadly Revenge continues the adventures of Maya and Josh with their K-9 partners, Juniper and Finn. As they get ready for a much deserved weekend camping trip in the mountains, smoke appears on the horizon. With the possibility of a forest fire, their weekend away is canceled and they are back at work. Add to the pressure of a fire, they discover there could be a missing teenage girl somewhere in the Colorado wilderness. There is danger, suspense, and a kidnapper bent on revenge. The book had me riveted until the very end.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I always enjoy reading this series of books featuring Maya and K9 Juniper. They are easy reads, with plenty of suspense and a layer of tension throughout. I like the characterisation and Maya's developing relationship with Josh. This is a very good summer read for lovers of romantic suspense thrillers. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
So many twists and turns and just when I thought the end was near…..another piece of the puzzle gets revealed. If you enjoy books of suspense, police or military background, a surprise ending, Deadly Revenge is the book for you. Also awesome are the canine partners involved in the investigations. Five stars for this heart pounding suspense novel
July 30, 2026
Wonderful addition to a great series! Kathleen Donnelly's newest National Forest K-9 suspense novel sends readers into the Colorado wilderness for danger, mystery, and a race against time—as Forest Service officer Maya Thompson and her K-9 partner, Juniper, fight to save a kidnapped girl before it's too late.
August 3, 2026
4+ Stars ✨
I believe this is my favorite in the series so far. This is all about family and Abigail’s revenge.
Gotta love Juniper and of course Maya. No more hints. Recommended.
I believe this is my favorite in the series so far. This is all about family and Abigail’s revenge.
Gotta love Juniper and of course Maya. No more hints. Recommended.
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