Deadly Revenge: A National Forest K-9 Suspense – A Heartpounding Search and Rescue Romance Novel

National Forest K-9 #5

by Kathleen Donnelly

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. 

381 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 28, 2026

About the author

Award-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.

Reviews

[Rary ⏾ ⛧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Jenny x Carolena · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Barbara Tobey · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting romantic suspense. Not really much time for romance. It is definitely action packed. Several family issues. Past crimes are also featured. Engaging and entertaining story. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a wildfire raging through the forest most of the available first responders were doing what they could to assist the firefighters and help evacuate areas as needed when Maya learns that a 14 year old girl, who could be her niece has been abducted and is likely in the area. With an assist from the FBI and the girl's uncle, a US Marshall and his partner, Maya, Juniper and Josh head out to track her. Once they confirm that Abigail is the instigator, Maya knows that she and her father are the reason this girl was taken. She has to find her and return her to safety.
Now that my pulse has slowed to something resembling normal, I need to tell you all what a simply fabulous book this is! My heart was in my mouth for a good portion of it. Will Maya and Juniper survive another round with the evil Abigail? Will Abigail get her revenge on them for locking her up? What is going on with Josh and his anxiety? And why did Eric choose now to turn himself in? All these questions and more are answered in this exciting addition to the National Forest K-9 series. They don't call it Romantic Suspense without good reason! I cannot recommend it highly enough.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book for my honest thoughts.