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Pup: Epic Finale of Force Recon | Book One of DAWGS
404 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2026
About the author
Holleigh Rae
24 books38 followersHolleigh Rae is a Southern small-town romance author based in Mississippi, known for stories rich in heart, strength, and the unmistakable warmth of country living. A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, she finds endless inspiration in her rural upbringing and the tight-knit communities that helped shape who she is today.
Her passion for storytelling took root in middle school, when she began crafting characters and building imaginary worlds that would later evolve into full-length novels. Before stepping into the role of full-time caregiver for a disabled family member, Holleigh dedicated 13 years to teaching mathematics in Southern Mississippi. During that time, she nurtured not only her students’ understanding of numbers but also their love of reading, often sharing books from her personal collection.
Now, she pours her lifelong love of literature into romance novels that honor love, family bonds, resilience, and the simple beauty of small-town life. Her heartfelt stories with a distinct Southern spirit are available on Kindle for readers who crave emotionally rich, character-driven romance.
Her passion for storytelling took root in middle school, when she began crafting characters and building imaginary worlds that would later evolve into full-length novels. Before stepping into the role of full-time caregiver for a disabled family member, Holleigh dedicated 13 years to teaching mathematics in Southern Mississippi. During that time, she nurtured not only her students’ understanding of numbers but also their love of reading, often sharing books from her personal collection.
Now, she pours her lifelong love of literature into romance novels that honor love, family bonds, resilience, and the simple beauty of small-town life. Her heartfelt stories with a distinct Southern spirit are available on Kindle for readers who crave emotionally rich, character-driven romance.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 3, 2026
The Force Recon era has ended. The era of the DAWGS has begun.
Jon—callsign "Pup"—has always been the kinetic heart of his elite Force Recon team. He’s lived for the mission, the brotherhood, and the adrenaline of the edge. But when his team is called back to the mysterious Ward estate in Jacksonville, he finds a mission he never expected: Jess.
As the estate's lead engineer, Jess (Foundry) doesn't just see the walls of the fortress—she sees the "Heirloom" power pulsing beneath the floors. She is the brilliance to Jon’s brawn, the steady hand to his hair-trigger temper. While Jon watches the perimeter, Jess is busy unlocking a fifty-year-old secret that could change the course of human history.
But the Sovereign Hand is closing in.
When a Mach 3 strike targets the nursery, the "First Duty" becomes the only priority. As the legendary Wards realize they are the keepers of the Nineteenth Vial, Pup must transition from the unit's youngest brother to the family’s fiercest guardian.
To save the eighteen children under their roof, Jon and Jess must combine her technical genius with his lethal precision. In the heat of the Ambuscade, they discover a bond deeper than blood—and a love worth more than any secret archive.
The mission has changed. The pack is formed. And the journey to the Citadel has just begun.
YOU'RE MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!!! Please read and pay close attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. There is some content and scenes in this book that may not be suitable for all readers and could be triggering for others. Always remember that your mental health comes first at all times.
Tropes: Protective MMCs, Brilliant FMC, Secret-Legacy Military, Suspense, Military, Found Family, Elite Tactical Skills x Brilliant Engineering, 18 Children, Legendary Matriarch, Brotherhood of Warriors, Under Siege in a High-Tech Fortress, Forced Proximity, Slow-Burn, Secret Lineage (19 Genetic Vials and a 50 year old Mystery), Child Endangerment, Foster Care, Missions, Brotherhood, Mystery, Mysterious Ward Estate, Emotional, Action Packed, Depth, Intense, Drama, Twists & Turns, Struggles, Military Training, Leadership, High-Stakes, Emotional Depth, Conflicts, Growth, Escalating Tension, Action, Loyalty, Protection, Shared Purpose, Military Romance, Evolving Relationships.
Pup is the 1st book in the DAWGS Series and the 4th and epic final book in the Force Recon Series by Holleigh Rae. PUP is the gripping bridge novel in the True North universe. It delivers the heart-pounding finale of the Force Recon series and the high-octane origin of the DAWGS. This is the perfect book for fans of protective heroes, brilliant heroines, and secret-legacy military suspense.
Pup is the epic finale of the Force Recon series and it’s also the 1st book of the D.A.W.G.S. series by Holleigh Rae. Pup shifts this series into something new, something bigger and different. She blends the familiar brotherhood that we know and love with a more intense, high-stakes storyline, plot and sub-plot taking us in a new direction we never thought “Pup” and his brothers would ever go in.
Jon who’s callsign is “Pup” has been a part of the elite Force Recon Team and his team has always considered him their kinetic heart. Jon has always lived for each and every mission he’s been sent on, his brotherhood, and the adrenaline that keeps him living on the edge. But everything changes for Jon and his team when they are called back to the mysterious Ward estate in Jacksonville. It’s there that he finds the one mission he never expected. A mission with the name of Jess.
Jess (Foundry) is the estate’s lead engineer and she sees more than just the walls of the fortress around her. She sees the “Heirloom” power that pulses beneath the very floors they all walk. Jess is pure brilliance to Jon’s brawn; she’s the steady hand to his hair-trigger temper. And while Jon and his team patrol the perimeter keeping the estate and all inside safe, Jess is busy working to unlock a 50-year-old secret. A secret that could, once unlocked, change the very course of human history.
But there are other’s that want the secret and will do anything to get their hands on it and the Sovereign Hand is one of them. And the Sovereign Hand is closing in around the estate.
Suddenly a Mach 3 strike targets the nursery, the “First Duty” is now the only priority. Now the legendary Wards realize that they are in fact the keepers of the Nineteenth Vial, and Pup realizes that he has to transform himself from the youngest member of his brotherhood to his family’s fiercest protector.
18 children live within the estate and in order to save them, Jon and Jess have to combine forces utilizing Jess’s technical genius with Jon’s lethal precision. And it’s in the heart of the ambush, Jon and Jess discover there’s a bond between them that’s deeper than just blood – and they’ve fallen in love and it’s worth more than any hidden secret.
Now both Jon and Jess realize that their mission has changed, their pack has been formed. And now the journey to the Citadel has only just begun.
I have to admit that “Pup” feels so much faster, heavier, and a lot more layered than the previous Force Recon books. I found that there was a strong focus on the pressure Jess and Jon faced both externally, internally, and personally. And we got to see how all these characters adapted when everything around them suddenly started escalate. And Holleigh used the pacing of the book to reflect all of that, and the pacing helped to give the story a sense of constant movement without losing any of the emotional core.
The found-family trope is one of my favorite and in “Pup” the found-family element helped to reinforce the strongest theme across the entire series: protection is more than just a role; it’s a choice you make. Unity, responsibility, and when you have a shared purpose feels so much more pronounced even as everything else keeps growing in scale.
What I really appreciated is how Holleigh used this book to open up to something new and start a new series while she honored what came before and used this book to bridge from the ending of one series to move into a new series. I never felt like there was a hard stop to Force Recon. I just felt like there was this smooth transition, a smooth bridge to move into D.A.W.G.S. and in my opinion I felt like it was just a beautiful and different way to start a new series and end the old.
If you are the kind of reader who loves a military romance, action-driven plots, strong partnerships, found family, suspense knitted throughout the story, and a unique was to move from one series into the next then you’ll want to read “PUP”. I personally would recommend reading the Force Recon series first but you don’t have to in order to enjoy this book, you’d just get to know past events, Pup aka Jon, and all the other characters before you jump into this book.
Jon—callsign "Pup"—has always been the kinetic heart of his elite Force Recon team. He’s lived for the mission, the brotherhood, and the adrenaline of the edge. But when his team is called back to the mysterious Ward estate in Jacksonville, he finds a mission he never expected: Jess.
As the estate's lead engineer, Jess (Foundry) doesn't just see the walls of the fortress—she sees the "Heirloom" power pulsing beneath the floors. She is the brilliance to Jon’s brawn, the steady hand to his hair-trigger temper. While Jon watches the perimeter, Jess is busy unlocking a fifty-year-old secret that could change the course of human history.
But the Sovereign Hand is closing in.
When a Mach 3 strike targets the nursery, the "First Duty" becomes the only priority. As the legendary Wards realize they are the keepers of the Nineteenth Vial, Pup must transition from the unit's youngest brother to the family’s fiercest guardian.
To save the eighteen children under their roof, Jon and Jess must combine her technical genius with his lethal precision. In the heat of the Ambuscade, they discover a bond deeper than blood—and a love worth more than any secret archive.
The mission has changed. The pack is formed. And the journey to the Citadel has just begun.
YOU'RE MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!!! Please read and pay close attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. There is some content and scenes in this book that may not be suitable for all readers and could be triggering for others. Always remember that your mental health comes first at all times.
Tropes: Protective MMCs, Brilliant FMC, Secret-Legacy Military, Suspense, Military, Found Family, Elite Tactical Skills x Brilliant Engineering, 18 Children, Legendary Matriarch, Brotherhood of Warriors, Under Siege in a High-Tech Fortress, Forced Proximity, Slow-Burn, Secret Lineage (19 Genetic Vials and a 50 year old Mystery), Child Endangerment, Foster Care, Missions, Brotherhood, Mystery, Mysterious Ward Estate, Emotional, Action Packed, Depth, Intense, Drama, Twists & Turns, Struggles, Military Training, Leadership, High-Stakes, Emotional Depth, Conflicts, Growth, Escalating Tension, Action, Loyalty, Protection, Shared Purpose, Military Romance, Evolving Relationships.
Pup is the 1st book in the DAWGS Series and the 4th and epic final book in the Force Recon Series by Holleigh Rae. PUP is the gripping bridge novel in the True North universe. It delivers the heart-pounding finale of the Force Recon series and the high-octane origin of the DAWGS. This is the perfect book for fans of protective heroes, brilliant heroines, and secret-legacy military suspense.
Pup is the epic finale of the Force Recon series and it’s also the 1st book of the D.A.W.G.S. series by Holleigh Rae. Pup shifts this series into something new, something bigger and different. She blends the familiar brotherhood that we know and love with a more intense, high-stakes storyline, plot and sub-plot taking us in a new direction we never thought “Pup” and his brothers would ever go in.
Jon who’s callsign is “Pup” has been a part of the elite Force Recon Team and his team has always considered him their kinetic heart. Jon has always lived for each and every mission he’s been sent on, his brotherhood, and the adrenaline that keeps him living on the edge. But everything changes for Jon and his team when they are called back to the mysterious Ward estate in Jacksonville. It’s there that he finds the one mission he never expected. A mission with the name of Jess.
Jess (Foundry) is the estate’s lead engineer and she sees more than just the walls of the fortress around her. She sees the “Heirloom” power that pulses beneath the very floors they all walk. Jess is pure brilliance to Jon’s brawn; she’s the steady hand to his hair-trigger temper. And while Jon and his team patrol the perimeter keeping the estate and all inside safe, Jess is busy working to unlock a 50-year-old secret. A secret that could, once unlocked, change the very course of human history.
But there are other’s that want the secret and will do anything to get their hands on it and the Sovereign Hand is one of them. And the Sovereign Hand is closing in around the estate.
Suddenly a Mach 3 strike targets the nursery, the “First Duty” is now the only priority. Now the legendary Wards realize that they are in fact the keepers of the Nineteenth Vial, and Pup realizes that he has to transform himself from the youngest member of his brotherhood to his family’s fiercest protector.
18 children live within the estate and in order to save them, Jon and Jess have to combine forces utilizing Jess’s technical genius with Jon’s lethal precision. And it’s in the heart of the ambush, Jon and Jess discover there’s a bond between them that’s deeper than just blood – and they’ve fallen in love and it’s worth more than any hidden secret.
Now both Jon and Jess realize that their mission has changed, their pack has been formed. And now the journey to the Citadel has only just begun.
I have to admit that “Pup” feels so much faster, heavier, and a lot more layered than the previous Force Recon books. I found that there was a strong focus on the pressure Jess and Jon faced both externally, internally, and personally. And we got to see how all these characters adapted when everything around them suddenly started escalate. And Holleigh used the pacing of the book to reflect all of that, and the pacing helped to give the story a sense of constant movement without losing any of the emotional core.
The found-family trope is one of my favorite and in “Pup” the found-family element helped to reinforce the strongest theme across the entire series: protection is more than just a role; it’s a choice you make. Unity, responsibility, and when you have a shared purpose feels so much more pronounced even as everything else keeps growing in scale.
What I really appreciated is how Holleigh used this book to open up to something new and start a new series while she honored what came before and used this book to bridge from the ending of one series to move into a new series. I never felt like there was a hard stop to Force Recon. I just felt like there was this smooth transition, a smooth bridge to move into D.A.W.G.S. and in my opinion I felt like it was just a beautiful and different way to start a new series and end the old.
If you are the kind of reader who loves a military romance, action-driven plots, strong partnerships, found family, suspense knitted throughout the story, and a unique was to move from one series into the next then you’ll want to read “PUP”. I personally would recommend reading the Force Recon series first but you don’t have to in order to enjoy this book, you’d just get to know past events, Pup aka Jon, and all the other characters before you jump into this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Pup: Epic Finale of Force Recon / Book One of D.A.W.G.S. by Holleigh Rae shifts the series into something bigger, blending the familiar brotherhood with a more intense, high-stakes direction.
At the center of this story are Jon “Pup” Ward and Jess (Foundry), whose dynamic brings a different kind of balance to the series. He’s more instinct-driven and reactive, while she’s precise, strategic, and grounded, and that contrast really shapes how their connection develops under pressure.
This one feels faster, heavier, and more layered than the previous books. There’s a strong focus on pressure both external and personal, and how the characters adapt when everything around them starts to escalate. The pacing reflects that, giving the story a constant sense of movement without losing the emotional core.
The found-family element expands in this installment, and it really reinforces one of the strongest themes across the entire series: protection isn’t just a role, it’s a choice. The sense of unity, responsibility, and shared purpose feels even more pronounced as everything grows in scale.
What I also liked is how this book opens the door to something new while still honoring what came before. It doesn’t feel like a hard stop, it feels like a transition into the next phase of the story world.
Overall, this is a strong bridge between endings and beginnings. It raises the stakes, deepens the connections, and sets the tone for what’s coming next.
If you enjoy military romance with action-driven plots, strong partnerships, found family, and a touch of suspense woven throughout, this is a solid continuation into the next era.
As always be mindful of trigger warnings, what I like you may not.
Happy Reading! 📚✨
At the center of this story are Jon “Pup” Ward and Jess (Foundry), whose dynamic brings a different kind of balance to the series. He’s more instinct-driven and reactive, while she’s precise, strategic, and grounded, and that contrast really shapes how their connection develops under pressure.
This one feels faster, heavier, and more layered than the previous books. There’s a strong focus on pressure both external and personal, and how the characters adapt when everything around them starts to escalate. The pacing reflects that, giving the story a constant sense of movement without losing the emotional core.
The found-family element expands in this installment, and it really reinforces one of the strongest themes across the entire series: protection isn’t just a role, it’s a choice. The sense of unity, responsibility, and shared purpose feels even more pronounced as everything grows in scale.
What I also liked is how this book opens the door to something new while still honoring what came before. It doesn’t feel like a hard stop, it feels like a transition into the next phase of the story world.
Overall, this is a strong bridge between endings and beginnings. It raises the stakes, deepens the connections, and sets the tone for what’s coming next.
If you enjoy military romance with action-driven plots, strong partnerships, found family, and a touch of suspense woven throughout, this is a solid continuation into the next era.
As always be mindful of trigger warnings, what I like you may not.
Happy Reading! 📚✨
April 19, 2026
Pup: Epic Finale of Force Recon / Book One of D.A.W.G.S. by Holleigh Rae delivers a fast-paced, high-stakes story that bridges the end of one series and the start of something bigger.
At its core, the book focuses on Jon “Pup” Ward and Jess, whose relationship adds emotional depth as they navigate conflicting instincts and approaches to life and love. Their struggles feel real, and their growth together anchors the story amid escalating tension.
The pacing is strong, blending action, military training, and personal challenges as Pup steps into a leadership role. As the story expands, so does the found-family dynamic, reinforcing themes of loyalty, protection, and shared purpose.
Overall, this book feels like a transition done right. It honors what came before while setting the stage for a new direction with higher stakes and broader scope. A solid pick for readers who enjoy military romance with action, emotion, and evolving relationships.
At its core, the book focuses on Jon “Pup” Ward and Jess, whose relationship adds emotional depth as they navigate conflicting instincts and approaches to life and love. Their struggles feel real, and their growth together anchors the story amid escalating tension.
The pacing is strong, blending action, military training, and personal challenges as Pup steps into a leadership role. As the story expands, so does the found-family dynamic, reinforcing themes of loyalty, protection, and shared purpose.
Overall, this book feels like a transition done right. It honors what came before while setting the stage for a new direction with higher stakes and broader scope. A solid pick for readers who enjoy military romance with action, emotion, and evolving relationships.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Pup is book four of the Force Recon Series as well as book one of the D.A.W.G.S. Series.
We start the story really focusing on the love story between Jess and Pup (Jon). They are struggling a bit as they both have different ways of approaching and reacting in a relationship. There is some strain that they both have to work through to get to a future together. Then we go into the military training and see if Pup has what it takes to be a leader in the field. As the story progresses, the whole group we have met so far get enveloped into a bigger and grander story. I can see why this is the ending of one series and the beginning of another, as we leave one road behind to go on another and see where it will take us.
We start the story really focusing on the love story between Jess and Pup (Jon). They are struggling a bit as they both have different ways of approaching and reacting in a relationship. There is some strain that they both have to work through to get to a future together. Then we go into the military training and see if Pup has what it takes to be a leader in the field. As the story progresses, the whole group we have met so far get enveloped into a bigger and grander story. I can see why this is the ending of one series and the beginning of another, as we leave one road behind to go on another and see where it will take us.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely loved reading every minute of this book, in fact the whole damn series !! Holleigh rae took us on an incredible journey , introduced us to amazing characters and twisted us up with the plots and storyline. She made it have so much action, deapth, drama, and love that it hooks you from the beginning, never wanting it to end.
I can't wait to see what she brings us next. Highly recommend.
I can't wait to see what she brings us next. Highly recommend.
April 20, 2026
This was a bit of a jump in for me and you should probably read the previous stories to make sure you get the full picture before jumping in but it was still very worth the read and it is opening up into a new series at the same time so again well worth the time to jump into!
I will definitely be going back to read the rest of the stories!!
Very intense, lots of depth, drama and found family really looking forward to more here!
I will definitely be going back to read the rest of the stories!!
Very intense, lots of depth, drama and found family really looking forward to more here!
April 22, 2026
This was a good military romance book. This was more in depth and different from the first three in the series. I enjoyed the characters and the story. Some of the parts were hard for me to follow at first. I had to refer back to the map of the estate. This book was written very well.
I really enjoyed the series!
I really enjoyed the series!
April 20, 2026
Jon and Jess
Pup, Jon, and Jess must work together to keep things going and everyone safe. And find each other in the meantime. What an amazing, emotional, mystery, and action packed read. Highly recommend this slow burn.
Pup, Jon, and Jess must work together to keep things going and everyone safe. And find each other in the meantime. What an amazing, emotional, mystery, and action packed read. Highly recommend this slow burn.
May 14, 2026
This was a good military romance book. This was more in depth and different from the first three in the series. I really enjoyed the characters and the story.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews