Defending the Innocent Target

by Carol J. Post

Danger in the shadows.

A K-9 keeping guard.

When Isaac Cooper and his K-9 partner investigate suspicious activity at the house next door, they discover Brandi Feldman, the frightened new owner who has been attacked. The home she inherited hides dark secrets, and there are traps around every corner. As threats against her escalate, it’s clear someone wants her gone—at any cost. Under Isaac’s vigilant protection, Brandi must uncover the truth about her deadly inheritance. But can they outmaneuver a killer determined to make Brandi’s next move her last?

From Love Inspired  Courage. Danger. Faith.

Canine Defense

 Book 1: Searching for Evidence
Book 2: Sniffing Out Justice
Book 3: Uncovering the Truth
Book 4: Witness Safeguard Mission
Book 5: Defending the Innocent Target

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published September 1, 2026

About the author

Carol J. Post is a New York Times bestselling author of fun and fast-paced Christian romance and Christian romantic suspense stories. Her books have won several awards and been nominated for two RITA® awards and an RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award. She is also a popular speaker, presenting workshops on a variety of craft topics.

Carol especially enjoys research trips, which usually involve camping, with some hiking, kayaking and bonfires thrown in when possible. She also loves playing the piano and writing songs with her musical husband. Her two grown daughters and grandkids live too far away for her liking, so she now pours all that nurturing into taking care of two sassy cats—Ziggy and Ziva—who also love camping and are known to occasionally take over her blog with their “It’s Zaturday!” posts.

Reviews

[Gloria]

Defending the Innocent Target is a nonstop action filled story with danger and suspense. Brandi gets the surprise of her life to find that she has been left with an inheritance from a grandmother that she never knew. She left Pensacola where an ex was trying to get to her to go to see her new home outside of New Orleans and found danger there as well. But she met her handsome neighbor Isaac and his Coast Guard K-9 Dakota. This story is one wild ride as the two try to stay one step ahead of someone trying to kill her. Suspenseful and nail biting with a thread of faith and romance are what I expect from Carol Post's books and this one fits the bill.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my thoughts.

[Kristina Anderson]

What a page-turning adventure from the very first chapter! Defending the Innocent Target by Carol J. Post blends danger, intrigue, faith, and romance into a warm yet suspenseful story that kept me happily engaged. Post’s fast-paced writing brings just the right mix of adventure, emotional depth, and edge-of-your-seat mystery, while the subtle faith thread adds a meaningful touch. Brandi and Isaac are relatable, courageous characters, and I especially enjoyed watching their relationship grow naturally amid the danger surrounding them. With mysterious attacks, clever traps, hidden motives, and ties to the ongoing Canine Defense series, this story offers plenty for returning fans while remaining easy for new readers to enjoy. Defending the Innocent Target is a compelling, heartwarming suspense novel that left me turning pages—and smiling at the finish.

[J.E. Grace]

Defending the Innocent Target is a fast-paced, high-tension suspense novel that I couldn't put down. I finished it in one sitting. The Feldman family was close, and Brandi Feldman was surprised to inherit a house and money in New Orleans from someone she never knew. That's when everything became complicated, and a secret held for years was finally revealed.

The storyline is amazing as more secrets surface and Brandi suddenly watches her life fall apart. I loved the sweet, slow romance as Brandi begins to trust Isaac. The ending wraps everything up nicely, as I was on the edge of my seat to the end. There are no dull moments in this one.

I received an ARC copy from the author; a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own. I highly recommend this book and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Joy Burke]

Brandi has been raised by two loving parents and twin brothers. Then one day she gets a letter telling her that her grandmother has passed away and has left her estate to Brandi. What a shock she gets to find out that she was adopted as a baby. So she heads to New Orleans thinking this might be the very thing she needs to escape her controlling ex-boyfriend. She soons find out that trouble keeps finding her. Not long after going into her grandmother's estate , she's grabbed and told that she was warned not to come. What has she gotten herself into and why has she been attacked? Thankfully her grandmother's closest neighbor, Isaac Cooper who has been keeping an eye on the property notices a car in the driveway and checks it out. This book kept me turning the pages and finishing it up in one day. Just who is threatening Brandi and why? Is it her ex-boyfriend who is making good on his threat or is it an entirely different person? Can she forgive her parents for not telling her about her adoption and will she find the answers as to why she was put up for adoption? Will Isaac be able to protect her along with his K-9 partner, Dakota? These couple of sentences stood out to me " If you try to put your faith in people, they'll disappoint you, whether they mean to or not. God is the only one who's always there, never changes and never fails." I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are what I thought of the book.

[Valri Western]

This book was non-stop action and a slow burn romance - my favorite!
We've met Brandi in previous books in the series, but this can be a standalone book if you haven't read the other books. I love the Feldman family. They are tightknit and watch out for each other. I especially enjoy the siblings' closeness. When earth-shattering news comes to Brandi to blow apart her world, she must move to another state and try to resolve what is happening in her life. However, there are still unresolved issues in her past life too.
I loved her new neighbor, Isaac. He's had a tough life but had made something of himself in the Coast Guard with a K-9. His K-9, Dakota, stole the show! Such a fabulous dog! When trouble comes to Brandi over and over, Isaac and Dakota are close at hand. I don't know if I would have been as brave as Brandi in all the things that happened to her! She was amazing.
A fantastic story with great characters, lots of action and themes of relying on Good to see us through whatever comes up in our lives.

[Yvonne Cruz]

This clean Christian suspense romance is another engaging story in the series.
Brandi Feldman, who is still recovering from a stalker, travels from Pensacola to New Orleans when she’s contacted by a lawyer. She is shocked to discovered that not only she had a grandmother she never knew of, but also that she’s inherited a house in the outskirts of New Orleans, and more shocking , that she was adopted! This last one has hurt her deeply since she was never told she was adopted.
Brandi meets her new neighbor Isaac Cooper and his K-9 dog,Dakota, when he sees someone roaming Brandi’s backyard and goes out to investigate.
From the moment these two meet, the attraction is evident. But Brandi doesn’t trust her judgement in men after her experience with the stalker and Isaac’s upbringing never taught him anything about families .
As the danger escalates, discoveries are made in and about the house as well as about one of Brandi’s cousins. Is the cousin the one causing all the trouble or is it her stalker? Or someone else?
The plot keeps the readers guessing and hoping that in the end, Brandi and Isaac survive the danger and get their HEA.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Jane Weaver]

Brandi Feldman receives an envelope warning her not to come to New Orleans to check out the old home she inherited from a grandmother she knew nothing about. Brandi Feldman is twenty-six years old and finds out she's adopted. Her biological grandmother left her the home in New Orleans, but someone doesn't want her there. Thank goodness for next-door neighbor Isaac Cooper and K-9 partner, who checks out movement in a house that has been empty for months. This is a great mystery of who wants her dead and why. There's a mystery in that house that needs solved. I was given an advance copy by the author, but these are my own words and thoughts.

[Carolyn Frazier]

If you like an inspirational suspense that keeps you guessing while you bite your nails, Defending the Innocent Target is the book for you. Carol J Post has woven a peril-filled story that kept me on the edge of my seat, reading to find out which shoe would drop next and where. This book is filled with unexpected, unique events and dangers. I wholeheartedly recommend this intense, but entertaining tale with great characters and an amazing K-9 named Dakota. I received an advance copy from the author. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

[Ethelann]

Defending the Innocent Target is a really exciting book that keeps you guessing all the way through until the end!

Coast Guard officer, Isaac Cooper and his K-9 partner, Dakota, stop to check on suspicious activity at their next door neighbors home and find Brandi Feldman, the granddaughter and heir of his neighbor's property, has been attacked. But there's someone who wants her gone before secrets are found out. As threats against her escalate, it becomes very clear someone wants her gone one way or another. As Isaac continues to protect her, he and Brandi work to uncover the truth about her deadly inheritance. Even as they are developing definite feelings for one another.

[Teresa Reitnauer]

Brandi Feldman discovers she is adopted, and her biological grandmother left her estate to Brandi. The house holds secrets, and someone doesn't want her there. The next-door neighbor, Isaac Cooper, and his K9 partner want to protect her. As things escalate, she's driven back to her family home; however, another kind of trouble awaits her there. This page-turner has a great plot and wonderful, complex characters. Neither Brandi nor Isaac was ready for a relationship, especially so quickly. The heart wants what it wants. They take their time to capture their HEA.

[Kimberly Heck]

This was a great book. It was action packed and suspenseful. Carol did an amazing job with the characters. Both Isaac and Brandi had past hurts and trauma that they had to get over and Carol showed that with God’s help they were able to do that. Isaac longed for a family but did not think himself worthy enough to have one and Brandi had put her trust in the wrong person and so it was very hard for her to trust people. I love how they both had doubts but did not let that stop what was happening between them. Brandi’s family was so good. The way that Carol had them be there for each other and love each other no matter what was phenomenal. This is definitely a book worth reading!
“I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.”

[Debra]

I received this book as an ARC with no expectations of a positive review. Brandi receives news that has has an inheritance from her grandmother. She is shocked to find out she is adopted. At no time did her parents tell her. She makes the trip from Pensacola, Florida to Belle Chasse, Louisiana. She met with the attorney for her grandmother's estate. She finds out she is the primary recipient of her grandmother's estate. She is the only living relative. She has two cousins who each inherited specific sums of money. As she steps into the estate of her new home, she has no idea that danger lurks. Join Brandi and Isaac as they try to keep Brandi safe and find out who is behind all the danger as well as why.

This book will have you turning the pages as the twists keep coming at every turn.

[Rhondia Cannon]

This book is filled with action! By the opening scene, Brandi has been threatened twice and the perils escalate from that point on to the happily ever after. The level of danger was a bit much in my opinion. And Brandi seemed a little self involved while Isaac was almost too wonderful. It was a good book but not my favorite by this author. I received an advanced copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.

[Diane]

Wow! This was a fantastic story that also shares the gospel message. I literally did not want to put this book down. There was constant mystery suspense, and intrigue. The fact that there was at least one canine in the story only added to it. I was given a complementary copy of this book and the opinions are my own.

[Rita Vincent]

Very good

[Zanese]

In "Defending the Innocent Target", the fifth in Carol J. Post's Canine Defense series, the author adds another K-9 service dog, Dakota, and his Coast Guard handler, Isaac, based in the New Orleans suburbs, to the Pensacola, FL-based group of law enforcement friends and their canines from the prior books.
Brandi leaves Pensacola for Louisiana on discovering she's inherited a family member's house there. But when she arrives, it's clear someone does not want her on the property. Is it a relative fighting for a part of the will? Or someone with a vendetta? Next-door neighbor Isaac is familiar with the family and property and is determined that he and his dog Dakota will protect Brandi, as she is barely escaping multiple attempts at harm from whoever is trying to force her to leave.
As usual, the author builds a story with suspenseful scenes, romance, and faith conversations. And the camaraderie of the group of friends that spend their lives serving and saving others (including Brandi's brothers who are K-9 handlers) undergirds and connects the books in the series. Highly recommended!