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Rocky Mountain K9 Unit #4
Through the Fire
He's tall.
He's dark.
He's brutally handsome...
And he may be her only hope.
Kit Jernigan despairs of ever fitting in with her new tight-knit K9 unit—they've been through too much to welcome a stranger. So when a killer strikes, it's a fight to convince her fellow officers to trust her long enough to catch the woman she knows is responsible.
She can't do it on her own. What she needs most is a partner: local fire spotter Wesley March.
Wes knows in his heart that Kit is right, and he's willing to leave his lonely tower to help her prove it. But the more time they spend together, the hotter the fire smolders...and the more danger they're in. A member of the K9 unit's inner circle is determined to have her revenge—no matter who gets burned in the process.
This time, it's personal.
Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit Series:
Run to Ground (Book 1)
On the Chase (Book 2)
Survive the Night (Book 3)
Through the Fire (Book 4)
He's dark.
He's brutally handsome...
And he may be her only hope.
Kit Jernigan despairs of ever fitting in with her new tight-knit K9 unit—they've been through too much to welcome a stranger. So when a killer strikes, it's a fight to convince her fellow officers to trust her long enough to catch the woman she knows is responsible.
She can't do it on her own. What she needs most is a partner: local fire spotter Wesley March.
Wes knows in his heart that Kit is right, and he's willing to leave his lonely tower to help her prove it. But the more time they spend together, the hotter the fire smolders...and the more danger they're in. A member of the K9 unit's inner circle is determined to have her revenge—no matter who gets burned in the process.
This time, it's personal.
Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit Series:
Run to Ground (Book 1)
On the Chase (Book 2)
Survive the Night (Book 3)
Through the Fire (Book 4)
399 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 28, 2018
654 people are currently reading
707 people want to read
About the author
Katie Ruggle
19 books1,212 followersA fan of the old adage “write what you know”, Katie Ruggle lived in an off-grid, solar- and wind-powered house in the Rocky Mountains until her family lured her back to Minnesota. When she’s not writing, Katie rides horses, trains her three dogs, cross-country skis (badly) and travels to warm places where she can scuba dive. A graduate of the Police Academy, Katie received her ice-rescue certification and can attest that the reservoirs in the Colorado mountains really are that cold. A fan of anything that makes her feel like a bad-ass, she has trained in Krav Maga, boxing and gymnastics. You can connect with Katie at http://katieruggle.com/, https://www.facebook.com/katieruggleb..., or on Twitter @KatieRuggle
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 308 reviews
April 16, 2023
Not quite 3 stars.
This entire series just wasn’t that great. I read to the end because of all of the unanswered questions in book one, and lucky for me, they were mostly answered. Granted, it was a good trick by the author to stretch out the suspense, as it did get me to read the series, but I think I’m done with Ruggle for the moment. Her stuff is just too far fetched and her plotting mediocre. She has a nice writing style and writes strong heroines who rescue themselves, most of the time, but her story development needs work.
But before I get into dissecting this book, I NEED to address this shitty cover! Who exactly is that dude on the cover? Because the MMC in this book is a bearded mountain man and the story is set in the middle of winter. Who this sleeveless, clean cut guy on the cover is, I have no idea. Also, the bloodhound, tracking dog belonged to Kit. She is the K9 officer and she is particularly bad ass. Why is she not on the cover tracking with her dog? They tracked together several times in the book and yet this other dude is on the cover. It’s an obvious baiting technique to sell books and it’s annoying! It makes you think the story is about a male cop and his tracking dog. In reality the MMC in this book had very little to do with the suspense plot or the investigation at all. Publishers need to do better and stop insulting the intelligence of female readers by attempting to lure them in with ‘hot guys’ on the cover of romantic suspense. It’s gross.
That being said, this book had some good parts too. Kit, the heroine, was very capable and badass. She had grit and intelligence and she single handedly figured out who the villain was early on and didn’t let her fellow cops’ lack of trust in her and her dog’s instincts deter her.
Also her and Wes’ relationship was very sweet. Wes was cute and socially awkward. He was most likely neurodivergent, but there was no diagnosis mentioned. He avoided people because he had trouble following social cues, so he immersed himself in his robotic inventions and in his tower as a forest fire spotter. Kit and Wes’ interactions were sweet and I liked their relationship. It was a slower burn, with a hfn ending though, and I would have liked to have seen more of them together. The last page, Kit says they were headed towards love. As this is the last book in the series, I would have liked more than that, even an epilogue several months later would have been nice. I still feel like this entire series was more of a new adult style for romance than anything, as the characters all seemed young, despite them being in their mid to late twenties.
Now the two big issues I had with this storyline were the following:
1. The previous characters, Hugh, Theo and Otto were all depicted as assholes towards Kit, the new lone female k9 officer, and were very mistrustful of her. They blocked her interrogations, doubted her dog and and shut down her theories. This annoyed me so much. Why do authors ruin characters from previous books to create conflict? There has to be a better way. I hated Hugh in this book. He was bad at his job and seemed like a bully. It’s hard to move forward in a series if you are having previous heroes torn down in follow up books.
2. The motivations of the villain were completely unbelievable. I’ve had this problem in all the books in this series. It’s a shitty ploy in suspense to simply claim the villain is ‘crazy’ to explain stupid motivations. I’d rather they were motivated by money because mental illness doesn’t ever work this way in real life and frankly, I find it lazy writing. You can’t just say ‘oh she tracked down and murdered all these people because she went crazy! Don’t worry that it doesn’t make sense, dear reader, crazy just doesn’t make sense, amirite?’ No. Nope. No. Sorry authors, you actually need to do the work and build a believable villain with complex motivations, otherwise you will always just have shitty suspense plots. This is exactly what happened here; Ruggle’s suspense writing is sophomoric and needs more depth and complexity. I’ve had this problem in most of her books, so for now I’m done with her.
I did enjoy a lot about this series, except overall its resolutions were underwhelming. Maybe I will check back with Ruggle in a few years, and see if her writing has matured and developed.
So this series is ok with cute K9 officer dogs, but if you are a devout suspense reader, this will not cut muster.
This entire series just wasn’t that great. I read to the end because of all of the unanswered questions in book one, and lucky for me, they were mostly answered. Granted, it was a good trick by the author to stretch out the suspense, as it did get me to read the series, but I think I’m done with Ruggle for the moment. Her stuff is just too far fetched and her plotting mediocre. She has a nice writing style and writes strong heroines who rescue themselves, most of the time, but her story development needs work.
But before I get into dissecting this book, I NEED to address this shitty cover! Who exactly is that dude on the cover? Because the MMC in this book is a bearded mountain man and the story is set in the middle of winter. Who this sleeveless, clean cut guy on the cover is, I have no idea. Also, the bloodhound, tracking dog belonged to Kit. She is the K9 officer and she is particularly bad ass. Why is she not on the cover tracking with her dog? They tracked together several times in the book and yet this other dude is on the cover. It’s an obvious baiting technique to sell books and it’s annoying! It makes you think the story is about a male cop and his tracking dog. In reality the MMC in this book had very little to do with the suspense plot or the investigation at all. Publishers need to do better and stop insulting the intelligence of female readers by attempting to lure them in with ‘hot guys’ on the cover of romantic suspense. It’s gross.
That being said, this book had some good parts too. Kit, the heroine, was very capable and badass. She had grit and intelligence and she single handedly figured out who the villain was early on and didn’t let her fellow cops’ lack of trust in her and her dog’s instincts deter her.
Also her and Wes’ relationship was very sweet. Wes was cute and socially awkward. He was most likely neurodivergent, but there was no diagnosis mentioned. He avoided people because he had trouble following social cues, so he immersed himself in his robotic inventions and in his tower as a forest fire spotter. Kit and Wes’ interactions were sweet and I liked their relationship. It was a slower burn, with a hfn ending though, and I would have liked to have seen more of them together. The last page, Kit says they were headed towards love. As this is the last book in the series, I would have liked more than that, even an epilogue several months later would have been nice. I still feel like this entire series was more of a new adult style for romance than anything, as the characters all seemed young, despite them being in their mid to late twenties.
Now the two big issues I had with this storyline were the following:
1. The previous characters, Hugh, Theo and Otto were all depicted as assholes towards Kit, the new lone female k9 officer, and were very mistrustful of her. They blocked her interrogations, doubted her dog and and shut down her theories. This annoyed me so much. Why do authors ruin characters from previous books to create conflict? There has to be a better way. I hated Hugh in this book. He was bad at his job and seemed like a bully. It’s hard to move forward in a series if you are having previous heroes torn down in follow up books.
2. The motivations of the villain were completely unbelievable. I’ve had this problem in all the books in this series. It’s a shitty ploy in suspense to simply claim the villain is ‘crazy’ to explain stupid motivations. I’d rather they were motivated by money because mental illness doesn’t ever work this way in real life and frankly, I find it lazy writing. You can’t just say ‘oh she tracked down and murdered all these people because she went crazy! Don’t worry that it doesn’t make sense, dear reader, crazy just doesn’t make sense, amirite?’ No. Nope. No. Sorry authors, you actually need to do the work and build a believable villain with complex motivations, otherwise you will always just have shitty suspense plots. This is exactly what happened here; Ruggle’s suspense writing is sophomoric and needs more depth and complexity. I’ve had this problem in most of her books, so for now I’m done with her.
I did enjoy a lot about this series, except overall its resolutions were underwhelming. Maybe I will check back with Ruggle in a few years, and see if her writing has matured and developed.
So this series is ok with cute K9 officer dogs, but if you are a devout suspense reader, this will not cut muster.
June 12, 2019
Through the Fire is book four in the Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series by Katie Ruggle.
I’ve enjoyed the audiobooks for this series. Each novel brings us a new couple to fall in love with and keeps the previous characters in the story.
We are treated to the small town of Monroe and it’s tough men and women who live in and around it as they deal with the troubles from outside forces that come their way. The author has weaved an ongoing plot arc around the women who end up in this town and who are hiding from organizations that want them dead. In Through the Fire the author twists this idea around in that it’s not the heroine on the run, but a new female K9 police officer Kit Jernigan who is about to get involved in the happens in Monroe and her love interest, Wes March, a nerdy, somewhat awkward, but handsome fire watcher.
This tale picks up shortly after Survive the Night. We are treated to action, suspense, and geeky moments. Kit’s first meet with Wesley is a bit awkward and then she is soon meeting her fellow officers Theo, Hugh, and Otto. This meet kicks off her instincts and she knows something is off.
The suspenseful plot that started in Run to Ground with Jules and her siblings is wrapped up here. Sam stole my heart in book one as did all the kids, but here we get to spend more time with him as Kit helps him to train a dog.
The romance was a slow sweet burn. Wes is such a sweet man, if not a little awkward. When Kit and Wes interacted they made me grin. I will say Ruggle did surprise me with the ending. I never saw it coming. I also loved the HEA and that this group of men and women all becoming good friends.
Narration: Callie Beaulieu has been the narrator for this series. She’s done a stellar job with the voices, capturing the emotions, and building up the suspense. I’d recommend the audiobooks for the Rocky Mountain K9 Unit.
**Note: I did win a complementary paperback ARC copy, but deiced to listen to the audio from my library instead.
Rated: 4 Stars
I’ve enjoyed the audiobooks for this series. Each novel brings us a new couple to fall in love with and keeps the previous characters in the story.
We are treated to the small town of Monroe and it’s tough men and women who live in and around it as they deal with the troubles from outside forces that come their way. The author has weaved an ongoing plot arc around the women who end up in this town and who are hiding from organizations that want them dead. In Through the Fire the author twists this idea around in that it’s not the heroine on the run, but a new female K9 police officer Kit Jernigan who is about to get involved in the happens in Monroe and her love interest, Wes March, a nerdy, somewhat awkward, but handsome fire watcher.
This tale picks up shortly after Survive the Night. We are treated to action, suspense, and geeky moments. Kit’s first meet with Wesley is a bit awkward and then she is soon meeting her fellow officers Theo, Hugh, and Otto. This meet kicks off her instincts and she knows something is off.
The suspenseful plot that started in Run to Ground with Jules and her siblings is wrapped up here. Sam stole my heart in book one as did all the kids, but here we get to spend more time with him as Kit helps him to train a dog.
The romance was a slow sweet burn. Wes is such a sweet man, if not a little awkward. When Kit and Wes interacted they made me grin. I will say Ruggle did surprise me with the ending. I never saw it coming. I also loved the HEA and that this group of men and women all becoming good friends.
Narration: Callie Beaulieu has been the narrator for this series. She’s done a stellar job with the voices, capturing the emotions, and building up the suspense. I’d recommend the audiobooks for the Rocky Mountain K9 Unit.
**Note: I did win a complementary paperback ARC copy, but deiced to listen to the audio from my library instead.
Rated: 4 Stars
August 28, 2018
This was an awesome read even though I equal parts hated and loved it. Which is probably why I enjoyed it so much. . .
Even though I felt conflicted about past characters, the MCs, Wes and Kit, managed to really click with me and I was 100% invested in their story. When you can connect with the characters so strongly, even when the story doesn't pan out how you expected, its still pretty awesome to see it through to the end. I've probably said it before but KR writes some amazing characters that you can't help but fall for :)
Kit and her loyal canine partner, Justice have just transferred to Monroe after she gained a bad reputation for ratting out her partner for illegal dealings. She's looking for a fresh start and determined to get along with her new team.
Her optimistic plans are kind of shot to hell right from the start when a arson in the area pits her against her fellow officers. Lucky for her, Kit makes friends with one person who makes her instantly feel right at home. Wes works with the forest service and shares the same suspicions as Kit. Tired of fighting Hugh and Theo on what she should and shouldn't do in an active investigation, Kit finds herself instead, teaming up with Wes to uncover the arsonist and murderer hiding in their midst.
What I liked about it:
I liked Kit right from the start and it sucked to see her feeling instantly alienated in Monroe, but especially by her supposed team of fellow officers. I seriously hated that she had to fight so hard to prove herself, when it had nothing to do with her but rather the guys' own misgivings and assumptions. I warmed to her right away and it was easy to like her. She was loyal, funny and sweet. She was a strong heroine who knew her own limitations but also her strengths. She was refreshing.
With this author, I'm not surprised that I loved her latest Hero. Wes was just so endearing and charming in his own unique way. I loved him from his blushing to his beard, to his formal talk and his half smiles. Like Kit, I found him amusing and adorably sexy *fans self* Together, these two were a great team :)
Memorable Moment:
I was pretty charmed by the sweet if a eccentric Wes from the very beginning but the Wes or Wesley scene. . . I loved how adorable he was.
What I didn't like about it:
Hugh and Theo. Agh! Both came off as bumbling idiots! What. Happened? So aggravating and I definitely felt Kit's frustration when it came to dealing with their gullibility. A shame because in previous books, both guys seemed intelligent and capable, but from Kit and Wes' POV, they both came off as jerks and too easily manipulated by a pair of doe eyes and a sob story. To disregard protocol simply because they didn't want to rock the boat? It was TSTL! I hate to say it but I really didn't like this side of them :( Where were their spidey senses? Gut instincts? These guys are seasoned cops and they literally turned a blind eye to things that not only Kit questions but simple civilians like Wes and Vicky - who have no training, did? Made no sense.
* * * ARC provided for an honest review * * *
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
SAFETY INFO:
Even though I felt conflicted about past characters, the MCs, Wes and Kit, managed to really click with me and I was 100% invested in their story. When you can connect with the characters so strongly, even when the story doesn't pan out how you expected, its still pretty awesome to see it through to the end. I've probably said it before but KR writes some amazing characters that you can't help but fall for :)
Kit and her loyal canine partner, Justice have just transferred to Monroe after she gained a bad reputation for ratting out her partner for illegal dealings. She's looking for a fresh start and determined to get along with her new team.
Her optimistic plans are kind of shot to hell right from the start when a arson in the area pits her against her fellow officers. Lucky for her, Kit makes friends with one person who makes her instantly feel right at home. Wes works with the forest service and shares the same suspicions as Kit. Tired of fighting Hugh and Theo on what she should and shouldn't do in an active investigation, Kit finds herself instead, teaming up with Wes to uncover the arsonist and murderer hiding in their midst.
What I liked about it:
I liked Kit right from the start and it sucked to see her feeling instantly alienated in Monroe, but especially by her supposed team of fellow officers. I seriously hated that she had to fight so hard to prove herself, when it had nothing to do with her but rather the guys' own misgivings and assumptions. I warmed to her right away and it was easy to like her. She was loyal, funny and sweet. She was a strong heroine who knew her own limitations but also her strengths. She was refreshing.
With this author, I'm not surprised that I loved her latest Hero. Wes was just so endearing and charming in his own unique way. I loved him from his blushing to his beard, to his formal talk and his half smiles. Like Kit, I found him amusing and adorably sexy *fans self* Together, these two were a great team :)
Memorable Moment:
I was pretty charmed by the sweet if a eccentric Wes from the very beginning but the Wes or Wesley scene. . . I loved how adorable he was.
"Should I call you Wes or Wesley? Or Mr. March?"
After another pause, he blew out an audible breath. "Not Mr. March. I like how the other two sound when you say them, though. Could I have some time to think about this and get back to you?"
She laughed, a delighted huff that she couldn't hold back. he was different, yes, but in a surprisingly lovely way.
What I didn't like about it:
Hugh and Theo. Agh! Both came off as bumbling idiots! What. Happened? So aggravating and I definitely felt Kit's frustration when it came to dealing with their gullibility. A shame because in previous books, both guys seemed intelligent and capable, but from Kit and Wes' POV, they both came off as jerks and too easily manipulated by a pair of doe eyes and a sob story. To disregard protocol simply because they didn't want to rock the boat? It was TSTL! I hate to say it but I really didn't like this side of them :( Where were their spidey senses? Gut instincts? These guys are seasoned cops and they literally turned a blind eye to things that not only Kit questions but simple civilians like Wes and Vicky - who have no training, did? Made no sense.
* * * ARC provided for an honest review * * *
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
SAFETY INFO:
September 14, 2018
3.5 Stars
Kit has moved up to Monroe, Colorado to get away from a bad situation in her previous job as an officer with K9 companion. But Kit doesn’t realize the drama that’s gone on in Monroe since she’s applied for and accepted her position. It’s obvious when she first starts that it’ll be a while before her fellow officers accept and trust her, and this is a bit discouraging to Kit. They all seem to love her bloodhound Justice, though. Then there’s Elena, also a new arrival who sets off all kinds of alarms. Her damsel-in-distress act doesn’t fool Kit one bit, but just about everyone else including her fellow officers seems to buy her act. Despite some of these obstacles Kit is determined to work hard and gain trust. Plus, there’s Wes a gorgeous, but awkward forest ranger, as she’s arrived in to town doesn’t hurt.
Really liked Kit and Wes. The way she just got Wes and found him to be so utterly attractive even with his awkward social interactions. Wes was immediately attracted to Kit and was over the moon that she didn’t seem repelled by his lack of social skills. She seemed to understand and accommodate the fact he got overwhelmed in a group. AND (!) he didn’t fall prey to Elena’s helpless girl act was a huge positive in my book!
Loved the relationship Kit had with her adorable bloodhound K9 tracker partner, Justice, and that she was willing to help Sam with his training of Fifi, another bloodhound.
I’ve really enjoyed Katie Ruggle’s romantic suspense stories, and her Rocky Mountain K9 Unit has been filled with thrills and danger! I had fun with Through the Fire, but I wasn’t pleased that Kit’s concerns over Elena were ignored or brushed aside. It felt unbelievable in a few instances. Didn’t like that it took so long for the guys to believe Kit after enough red flags pointed Elena’s direction. Just the fact that Sam didn’t like her should’ve registered with Jules and the gang! Still, the fact that I loved the awkward and sweet romance between Kit and Wes made up for the disappointment.
A copy was kindly provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Kit has moved up to Monroe, Colorado to get away from a bad situation in her previous job as an officer with K9 companion. But Kit doesn’t realize the drama that’s gone on in Monroe since she’s applied for and accepted her position. It’s obvious when she first starts that it’ll be a while before her fellow officers accept and trust her, and this is a bit discouraging to Kit. They all seem to love her bloodhound Justice, though. Then there’s Elena, also a new arrival who sets off all kinds of alarms. Her damsel-in-distress act doesn’t fool Kit one bit, but just about everyone else including her fellow officers seems to buy her act. Despite some of these obstacles Kit is determined to work hard and gain trust. Plus, there’s Wes a gorgeous, but awkward forest ranger, as she’s arrived in to town doesn’t hurt.
Really liked Kit and Wes. The way she just got Wes and found him to be so utterly attractive even with his awkward social interactions. Wes was immediately attracted to Kit and was over the moon that she didn’t seem repelled by his lack of social skills. She seemed to understand and accommodate the fact he got overwhelmed in a group. AND (!) he didn’t fall prey to Elena’s helpless girl act was a huge positive in my book!
Loved the relationship Kit had with her adorable bloodhound K9 tracker partner, Justice, and that she was willing to help Sam with his training of Fifi, another bloodhound.
I’ve really enjoyed Katie Ruggle’s romantic suspense stories, and her Rocky Mountain K9 Unit has been filled with thrills and danger! I had fun with Through the Fire, but I wasn’t pleased that Kit’s concerns over Elena were ignored or brushed aside. It felt unbelievable in a few instances. Didn’t like that it took so long for the guys to believe Kit after enough red flags pointed Elena’s direction. Just the fact that Sam didn’t like her should’ve registered with Jules and the gang! Still, the fact that I loved the awkward and sweet romance between Kit and Wes made up for the disappointment.
A copy was kindly provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2018
Kit Jernigan is the new K9 officer in Monroe with her tracking dog Justice, the bloodhound. They just left their last home when Kit turned in her corrupt partner and things got uncomfortable. Looking for a fresh start, Monroe seemed like a quiet mountain town to settle in for her new job. She learns pretty quickly that Monroe isn't as quiet as she thinks.
Wesley March is the local fire spotter who rarely comes to town. He's a genius with math and electronics but lacks the social skills that make him comfortable around people. He rarely comes to town until he meets Kit, who seems to draw him out of his shell.
I loved Wes and Kit so much. I'm such a fan of quirky characters and I loved how Kit was so charmed by Wes. It breaks my heart a little when Wes struggled with reading her at times but Kit knew exactly how to set him at ease.
On top of such great main characters, I loved seeing all the characters from the previous books. We finally got to see a resolution to the unresolved issue from book one's characters. The only thing I wish was different was the cover of the book. The main character is police woman with a k9 dog so I think the cover should reflect that.
I really enjoyed this series and highly recommend it. It has a little bit of everything from action, suspense, and a bit of romcom. Add in dogs and children and I was just as charmed by these characters.
Wesley March is the local fire spotter who rarely comes to town. He's a genius with math and electronics but lacks the social skills that make him comfortable around people. He rarely comes to town until he meets Kit, who seems to draw him out of his shell.
I loved Wes and Kit so much. I'm such a fan of quirky characters and I loved how Kit was so charmed by Wes. It breaks my heart a little when Wes struggled with reading her at times but Kit knew exactly how to set him at ease.
On top of such great main characters, I loved seeing all the characters from the previous books. We finally got to see a resolution to the unresolved issue from book one's characters. The only thing I wish was different was the cover of the book. The main character is police woman with a k9 dog so I think the cover should reflect that.
I really enjoyed this series and highly recommend it. It has a little bit of everything from action, suspense, and a bit of romcom. Add in dogs and children and I was just as charmed by these characters.
August 15, 2018
Review written: August 15, 2018
Star Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Heat Rating: ☀☀☀☼☼
An Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book was received free via Netgalley for an honest review.
This is the second time in recent memory I have the unpleasant duty to write a negative review of a book by an author who has consistently been awesome. I have been reading Katie Ruggle books since On His Watch which got me into her books. While I've had quibbles before, never have I felt so horrible about a book in all that time, until now.
So let's start with what I liked: Kit, Justice, and Wes. As long as the focus was on Kit and Wes and their relationship, things were better than ok. I loved their geeky brand of relationship building and I especially loved Wes' intelligence and his vulnerability. He was a fascinating character and I wished I got to know him better.
I liked Kit and Kit with Justice. I liked how she saw the world and I liked how she wasn't vanilla. Kit's a strong woman with a strong sense of ethics and I felt for her a great deal. She just made sense in a way that many of the other characters didn't. I wanted to know more about her too!
But then, there was everything else about the story. And I do mean everything else. Let's start with Alex/Elena. That's not a spoiler since the book opens with it. Alex is a horrible villain. You'll say: "But a villain is supposed to be horrible!" and I'll say: "There's horrible and then there is the caricature of villainy a la twisting that mustache and Alex is twisting the mustache." By the time we get to Alex's motivations, it's not a case of "too little, too late", it's straight up "WTF??!!". Frankly, this book world is far better off without her given what she has actually done and how wrong her brain actually is. I love well-drawn villains and since we spend so much time in her head, you'd think Alex would be well-drawn. She's not.
Let's move on, shall we? Yes, let's talk about Theo and Hugh and Otto. Because those three need to take their share of the blame for why I didn't like this book. When each of their women came to Monroe they got suspicious. They wanted to look into things. They were not let's leave this alone and they were not let's just treat her like a poor victim. That this time they do it feels more like a force. They can't do it to make the plot work, so they don't. And I get the whole "blow up Monroe and lose the captain because he's a scumbag thing" but I swear these guys stood around with their thumbs up their butts! Seriously! Someone just arrives in town (to my love's house) and there's an arson and a murder, you better believe I am going to look into things. Because, does Theo love Jules or not? After all that, does he not want her safe? And to freaking blame Kit and Justice and call into question their abilities is just garbage. Where are the men from the previous books? Definitely MIA here.
And then there's the plot. OMG! It dragged and it dragged and it dragged some more. Look, I get it. Survive the Night was just over the top insane with what happened in Monroe. You can't top it with Through the Fire. It's not possible. But this book is so far the opposite direction, it'll give you whiplash. This is one time when dramatic irony really did not help the story. By the time Alex makes her move, I was so beyond ready for it to be over. I mean, how willfully blind and clueless does everyone have to be? I needed something, some clue that people actually had brains. Unfortunately, it never came.
And the glossing over stuff! OMG! The glossing over; it burns us; it burns us! From the issues Kit had at her previous job to Courtney and her child abuse to the mess that is still Monroe to the lack of a police department to the absurd unmasking of Alex, everything of importance got glossed over! I mean, the big scene with Courtney was over so fast and with so little anything I wondered if I had read it at all. Talk about anti-climactic! Everything was anti-climactic. Not one important moment got the time and attention it deserved.
As the last book in an otherwise wonderful series, Through the Fire most definitely does not do what it needs to, which is end the series on a good note. Instead, it ends with a whimper at best. Poor decimated Monroe sits forlornly without a diner, without a police headquarters, without half the town, and apparently without any brains.
But, one bad book does not cancel out all the wonderful books I have read by Ruggle. I'm ready to read Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas and have been looking forward to it for some time. I've also branched out into Ruggle's other author persona, Katie Allen.
This review is ©August 2018 by Monique N. and has been posted to Netgalley.
Star Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Heat Rating: ☀☀☀☼☼
An Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book was received free via Netgalley for an honest review.
This is the second time in recent memory I have the unpleasant duty to write a negative review of a book by an author who has consistently been awesome. I have been reading Katie Ruggle books since On His Watch which got me into her books. While I've had quibbles before, never have I felt so horrible about a book in all that time, until now.
So let's start with what I liked: Kit, Justice, and Wes. As long as the focus was on Kit and Wes and their relationship, things were better than ok. I loved their geeky brand of relationship building and I especially loved Wes' intelligence and his vulnerability. He was a fascinating character and I wished I got to know him better.
I liked Kit and Kit with Justice. I liked how she saw the world and I liked how she wasn't vanilla. Kit's a strong woman with a strong sense of ethics and I felt for her a great deal. She just made sense in a way that many of the other characters didn't. I wanted to know more about her too!
But then, there was everything else about the story. And I do mean everything else. Let's start with Alex/Elena. That's not a spoiler since the book opens with it. Alex is a horrible villain. You'll say: "But a villain is supposed to be horrible!" and I'll say: "There's horrible and then there is the caricature of villainy a la twisting that mustache and Alex is twisting the mustache." By the time we get to Alex's motivations, it's not a case of "too little, too late", it's straight up "WTF??!!". Frankly, this book world is far better off without her given what she has actually done and how wrong her brain actually is. I love well-drawn villains and since we spend so much time in her head, you'd think Alex would be well-drawn. She's not.
Let's move on, shall we? Yes, let's talk about Theo and Hugh and Otto. Because those three need to take their share of the blame for why I didn't like this book. When each of their women came to Monroe they got suspicious. They wanted to look into things. They were not let's leave this alone and they were not let's just treat her like a poor victim. That this time they do it feels more like a force. They can't do it to make the plot work, so they don't. And I get the whole "blow up Monroe and lose the captain because he's a scumbag thing" but I swear these guys stood around with their thumbs up their butts! Seriously! Someone just arrives in town (to my love's house) and there's an arson and a murder, you better believe I am going to look into things. Because, does Theo love Jules or not? After all that, does he not want her safe? And to freaking blame Kit and Justice and call into question their abilities is just garbage. Where are the men from the previous books? Definitely MIA here.
And then there's the plot. OMG! It dragged and it dragged and it dragged some more. Look, I get it. Survive the Night was just over the top insane with what happened in Monroe. You can't top it with Through the Fire. It's not possible. But this book is so far the opposite direction, it'll give you whiplash. This is one time when dramatic irony really did not help the story. By the time Alex makes her move, I was so beyond ready for it to be over. I mean, how willfully blind and clueless does everyone have to be? I needed something, some clue that people actually had brains. Unfortunately, it never came.
And the glossing over stuff! OMG! The glossing over; it burns us; it burns us! From the issues Kit had at her previous job to Courtney and her child abuse to the mess that is still Monroe to the lack of a police department to the absurd unmasking of Alex, everything of importance got glossed over! I mean, the big scene with Courtney was over so fast and with so little anything I wondered if I had read it at all. Talk about anti-climactic! Everything was anti-climactic. Not one important moment got the time and attention it deserved.
As the last book in an otherwise wonderful series, Through the Fire most definitely does not do what it needs to, which is end the series on a good note. Instead, it ends with a whimper at best. Poor decimated Monroe sits forlornly without a diner, without a police headquarters, without half the town, and apparently without any brains.
But, one bad book does not cancel out all the wonderful books I have read by Ruggle. I'm ready to read Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas and have been looking forward to it for some time. I've also branched out into Ruggle's other author persona, Katie Allen.
This review is ©August 2018 by Monique N. and has been posted to Netgalley.
October 8, 2018
Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.
I started Through the Fire and got to chapter five and decided that it wasn't such a good idea starting a series at book #4. Stupid me, you would think that I had learned my lesson about doing that by now. So, I'm going to do this right and read the other three books starting with Run to Ground. It is strongly recommended that you read the first three books as this series is tightly bound both character and time wise. Katie Ruggle really hits her stride with this book, it is a taunt suspense and a really sweet love story.
Kit Jernigan arrives in Monroe, CO to start a new job as a K-9 officer. She is looking for a fresh start and instead finds a town has been devastated by a series of bombings. Everyone is suspicious of any newcomers and on her first day there is a fire and a murdered body is found. Kit and her dog, Justice, find a trail that leads to Jules house. Jules is K-9 cop Theo's girlfriend. They find "Elena Dahl" there. She is a "friend" of Jules and Jules' home is a place for women sent by the mysterious Mr. Espania. Trust is something that is hard to earn sometimes, but when someone is bent on undermining that trust, it can be impossible.
Wesley March, local fire spotter and crazy smart recluse meets Kit on her first day in Monroe and is attracted to her. Wes is socially awkward, but Kit only sees an incredibly handsome and smart guy. He likes Kit and is drawn into the investigation knowing that Kit is right in her assessment of "Elena". He just has to help her prove it and not get burned in the process.
I started Through the Fire and got to chapter five and decided that it wasn't such a good idea starting a series at book #4. Stupid me, you would think that I had learned my lesson about doing that by now. So, I'm going to do this right and read the other three books starting with Run to Ground. It is strongly recommended that you read the first three books as this series is tightly bound both character and time wise. Katie Ruggle really hits her stride with this book, it is a taunt suspense and a really sweet love story.
Kit Jernigan arrives in Monroe, CO to start a new job as a K-9 officer. She is looking for a fresh start and instead finds a town has been devastated by a series of bombings. Everyone is suspicious of any newcomers and on her first day there is a fire and a murdered body is found. Kit and her dog, Justice, find a trail that leads to Jules house. Jules is K-9 cop Theo's girlfriend. They find "Elena Dahl" there. She is a "friend" of Jules and Jules' home is a place for women sent by the mysterious Mr. Espania. Trust is something that is hard to earn sometimes, but when someone is bent on undermining that trust, it can be impossible.
Wesley March, local fire spotter and crazy smart recluse meets Kit on her first day in Monroe and is attracted to her. Wes is socially awkward, but Kit only sees an incredibly handsome and smart guy. He likes Kit and is drawn into the investigation knowing that Kit is right in her assessment of "Elena". He just has to help her prove it and not get burned in the process.
February 3, 2019
Kit the cop and Wesley the hermit.
I loved the MCs, even though I didn't believe that Wesley's character was truly socially inept.
He's supposed to have difficulty reading people's social cues, but he seems to read Kit just fine and you don't see him interacting with anyone else. He is awkward though and speaks in a very formal way, being careful what words he chooses. But I still loved him!!
Kit hasn't had an easy life and left her previous job under a cloud , and sadly, has already had to deal with suspicious small minded co-workers. I loved how observant and quick-witted she was!
The romantic zing between him and Kit, every time they are on the pages together, made me want to give a girlish giggle. ; )
The identity of the villain isn't a mystery (to the reader) except that you don't know her background and reasons till the very end. Not having read the previous books in the series I wonder if it would be more or less of a mystery to those who have read them??
You do get her POV from time to time and it is icky (as usual for villains) but those times are brief and to the point.
I don't think that my no having read the previous books reduced my enjoyment of this one at all.
If it weren't for the H's(her cop coworkers) and h's from the previous books being by and large ignorantly suspicious morons for the majority of the book, I would have given the story a higher rating. I have to say it started to seriously grate on my nerves before the halfway mark. Wesley was in Kit's corner and totally agreed with her, which helped. But there wasn't an opportunity for him to stand up for her with the other cops. I REALLY WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN THAT!!!!
I did like some of the other side character, mostly Jule's younger siblings and Kit's dog Justice. They were all great!
Action was tight and well choreographed. Mystery was well laid out (except for the willful ignorance of the other cops).
The ending was a little 'meh'. I had similar issues with the ending of the first book I read by this author and have to wonder if this is just her writing style.
I felt that all that shit end of the stick Kit was getting from Theo and Hugh (and Jules too) should have panned out to a front and center apology that I (as the reader) could enjoy wallowing in...
Safety is great
So 3.5 stars rounded down because of the ending cop-out. (Pun intended!)
I might read Otto's book but def, NOT Hugh or Theo's.
August 24, 2020
With an over the top villain "Princess Firebug" more efficient than any Katie Ruggle has ever written it is another hilariously funny wild ride for the tiny town of Monroe. After reading all the one and two star reviews by people who hadn't read the first 3 books in this series I was concerned but was laughing out loud when I started reading the story. It is most certainly NOT a stand-alone and the publisher should make it a box set ASAP as unlike her other series this one needs to be read with the others as a result of the outstanding character development and intricate plotting that make this series so enjoyable. You will definitely miss the best jokes if you haven't read the other books. I am really looking forward to the next series!
August 30, 2018
Coffee Dates with Through the Fire
First Date: After the explosive ending of Survive the Night, I wasn't sure what we would find. This tale picks up shortly after as Ruggle mixes things up. In the previous novels the females were all on the run and this time, we have a new female K9 police officer and her love interest is a nerdy, somewhat awkward, but handsome fire watcher. Kit Jernigan and her K9 tracker, were forced out of last unit and is eager to fit in in Monroe. As she is moving in, she bumps into Wesley March. I loved their first encounter. There was MATH involved, and it was awkward and cute. Her meeting with fellow officers Theo, Hugh, and Otto was a tad awkward, and she immediately knows something is off.
Second Date: Hounds, action and geeky moments! Jules has a new housemate Elena, and this worries the men. The suspenseful plot surround them as Ruggle wraps up the dangerous suspense thread that began in Run to Ground with Jules and her siblings. Sammy stole my heart a long time ago, and we got to spend time with him as he and Kit train dogs together! Don't worry about this installment being tame compared to the action in Survive the Night, you'll see fire, kidnappings and more.
Third Date: I loved the romance. Conversations about Kit, between Wes and his sister made me giggle. Wes, was such a sweet man. When Kit and Wes interacted, they made me grin like the cheshire cat. Ruggle surprised me with a twist at the end as she wrapped up the suspenseful thread for the Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series. It left me with my jaw on the floor. I honestly never saw it coming, but it made sense in the long run. I ended this final date with a smile and have a good feeling about the folks in Monroe.
Callie Beaulieu has narrated the series and has done a stellar job with voices, capturing emotions and building up the suspenseful tones. I would try a new author/story if they listed her as the narrator. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
First Date: After the explosive ending of Survive the Night, I wasn't sure what we would find. This tale picks up shortly after as Ruggle mixes things up. In the previous novels the females were all on the run and this time, we have a new female K9 police officer and her love interest is a nerdy, somewhat awkward, but handsome fire watcher. Kit Jernigan and her K9 tracker, were forced out of last unit and is eager to fit in in Monroe. As she is moving in, she bumps into Wesley March. I loved their first encounter. There was MATH involved, and it was awkward and cute. Her meeting with fellow officers Theo, Hugh, and Otto was a tad awkward, and she immediately knows something is off.
Second Date: Hounds, action and geeky moments! Jules has a new housemate Elena, and this worries the men. The suspenseful plot surround them as Ruggle wraps up the dangerous suspense thread that began in Run to Ground with Jules and her siblings. Sammy stole my heart a long time ago, and we got to spend time with him as he and Kit train dogs together! Don't worry about this installment being tame compared to the action in Survive the Night, you'll see fire, kidnappings and more.
Third Date: I loved the romance. Conversations about Kit, between Wes and his sister made me giggle. Wes, was such a sweet man. When Kit and Wes interacted, they made me grin like the cheshire cat. Ruggle surprised me with a twist at the end as she wrapped up the suspenseful thread for the Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series. It left me with my jaw on the floor. I honestly never saw it coming, but it made sense in the long run. I ended this final date with a smile and have a good feeling about the folks in Monroe.
Callie Beaulieu has narrated the series and has done a stellar job with voices, capturing emotions and building up the suspenseful tones. I would try a new author/story if they listed her as the narrator. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
July 6, 2018
I have very much enjoyed these stories about the tough men who live in and around the town of Monroe that virtually shuts down as winter approaches. The author has cleverly weaved an ongoing plot arc around women who end up in the town hiding from those who are connected with organised crime. This particular book twists the idea a little as this time it’s not the heroine who is on the run but she’s about to get very much involved with those who enjoy the ‘safety’ of Monroe.
Kit is the new deputy in town and right from the start she’s struggling to fit in with her new colleagues. Kit knew she would need to earn their trust but there’s something odd about the family that lives just out of town and Kit seems to be the only one with reservations about exactly what’s happening. An attack of arson and a murderer on the run with the only lead appearing to be found by Kits faithful bloodhound and yet the police just don’t seem to want to pursue it so it’s obvious to Kit that she needs to start digging !
Wes is the love interest thrown into this story and if blunt I thought he was underused. He’s written as a man apart, someone who functions better without inane, human distractions. The author never directly mentions that he is possibly on the autistic spectrum but to this reader it seemed implied. I liked Wes and adored how he shyly approached a relationship with Kit but honestly their romance felt rushed and peripheral to the wrapping up of the overall story with brings so much from previous books to ahead.
It was an interesting read and I enjoyed the switch from the cops saving the damsel in distress aka Kit to her actually being the saviour. I remember the author previously writing about a socially awkward character but somehow this time it felt lacking something. There’s humour here and so much sweetness too but I thought it primarily seemed to be a vehicle to wrap up the story of Jules and her siblings which started the whole series. So the romance felt overshadowed to this reader but nevertheless I did enjoy it and would recommend this series.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
Kit is the new deputy in town and right from the start she’s struggling to fit in with her new colleagues. Kit knew she would need to earn their trust but there’s something odd about the family that lives just out of town and Kit seems to be the only one with reservations about exactly what’s happening. An attack of arson and a murderer on the run with the only lead appearing to be found by Kits faithful bloodhound and yet the police just don’t seem to want to pursue it so it’s obvious to Kit that she needs to start digging !
Wes is the love interest thrown into this story and if blunt I thought he was underused. He’s written as a man apart, someone who functions better without inane, human distractions. The author never directly mentions that he is possibly on the autistic spectrum but to this reader it seemed implied. I liked Wes and adored how he shyly approached a relationship with Kit but honestly their romance felt rushed and peripheral to the wrapping up of the overall story with brings so much from previous books to ahead.
It was an interesting read and I enjoyed the switch from the cops saving the damsel in distress aka Kit to her actually being the saviour. I remember the author previously writing about a socially awkward character but somehow this time it felt lacking something. There’s humour here and so much sweetness too but I thought it primarily seemed to be a vehicle to wrap up the story of Jules and her siblings which started the whole series. So the romance felt overshadowed to this reader but nevertheless I did enjoy it and would recommend this series.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
April 8, 2019
This is the weakest of the series so far, and serves as an epilogue or finale.
Our heroine drives into this small mountain town that has been blown to bits in the first 3 books. Unlike the earlier books, here the woman is not the victim. The other guys, their girls, the kids, and the dogs are all there. Plus they had to throw in a pile of puppies, as if there wasn't enough cuteness to go around.
The main couple develop their relationship smoothly, and while rapid, it has a lot less of the insta-love feel compared with the earlier books. This is good.
This author likes to include the perspective of the bad guys, which doesn't work well for me, as it doesn't really jack up the tension.
I still recommend the first 3 books.
Our heroine drives into this small mountain town that has been blown to bits in the first 3 books. Unlike the earlier books, here the woman is not the victim. The other guys, their girls, the kids, and the dogs are all there. Plus they had to throw in a pile of puppies, as if there wasn't enough cuteness to go around.
The main couple develop their relationship smoothly, and while rapid, it has a lot less of the insta-love feel compared with the earlier books. This is good.
This author likes to include the perspective of the bad guys, which doesn't work well for me, as it doesn't really jack up the tension.
I still recommend the first 3 books.
September 10, 2018
I loved the characters in this one. I loved the dogs. I loved seeing Sam growing into the hero he will one day become (I hope!).
But... Wes was such a great, unique, well-written hero, I wanted to see more of him. I wanted more of the romance between Wes and Kit, period. It was so wonderfully done. But it almost felt like a subplot of the suspense story.
Great action scenes. Kit was a strong heroine, and I'm glad she wasn't dumbed down. Loved the scenes with the 4 kids. Real, funny, touching. In a story populated with so many characters, it's hard to give everyone their moment, but I just wanted more from the recurring characters from the previous books in the series. They weren't always true to how they appeared in previous books, and some (Otto! my favorite--were almost 1-dimensional), but that might be due to the lack of pages available, rather than a storytelling choice.
Others have mentioned the cover, too. I know with a traditional publisher, authors don't get much say in the final cover. But there is so much wrong about this cover... the story deserved better. I think Sourcebooks Casablanca missed an opportunity to put a unique hero (who is all kinds of nerdy lumberjack hot!) on the cover, and draw in readers. Or, since this was more Kit's story, why not put the heroine on the cover? At least get the right season on the cover. Winter? Snow?
Overall, I would have given it a 3. But truly, Wes is worth the read. I loved him so much, he gets his own star.
But... Wes was such a great, unique, well-written hero, I wanted to see more of him. I wanted more of the romance between Wes and Kit, period. It was so wonderfully done. But it almost felt like a subplot of the suspense story.
Great action scenes. Kit was a strong heroine, and I'm glad she wasn't dumbed down. Loved the scenes with the 4 kids. Real, funny, touching. In a story populated with so many characters, it's hard to give everyone their moment, but I just wanted more from the recurring characters from the previous books in the series. They weren't always true to how they appeared in previous books, and some (Otto! my favorite--were almost 1-dimensional), but that might be due to the lack of pages available, rather than a storytelling choice.
Others have mentioned the cover, too. I know with a traditional publisher, authors don't get much say in the final cover. But there is so much wrong about this cover... the story deserved better. I think Sourcebooks Casablanca missed an opportunity to put a unique hero (who is all kinds of nerdy lumberjack hot!) on the cover, and draw in readers. Or, since this was more Kit's story, why not put the heroine on the cover? At least get the right season on the cover. Winter? Snow?
Overall, I would have given it a 3. But truly, Wes is worth the read. I loved him so much, he gets his own star.
June 22, 2018
I just love this series! So much fun! Kit and Wes are great characters and the twists and turns of this one are insane. I sat down and didn't stop until I finished. I want to go back and read the whole series. I also want the next book in the series😄.
If you haven't tried this series run to the store and get book 1!
If you haven't tried this series run to the store and get book 1!
August 5, 2018
After that breathtaking climax at the end of the last book and that teaser there in the last few sentences, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. New twist in a lady K-9 cop and her adorable tracker bloodhound to take up this exciting leg of the series.
Through the Fire is book four in the Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series. This is a series that must be read in order as each book builds on the others and is four interlocking parts to the overall series suspense arc.
The lead character in this one is Kit Jerrigan a female cop who left her last job under a bit of dark cloud and is starting over in the small mountain town of Monroe. She's had a rough time since blowing the whistle on a corrupt partner and now hopes for a fresh start. Only, her first day in town and on the job is a doozy. Her new co-workers, Theo, Hugh, and Otto, regard her with suspicion and her cop sense is tingling when it comes to what they and their ladyfolks are hiding. Then, they respond to a fire call and a dead body crops up and the trail leads to someone the others refuse to treat as a suspect. On the bright side, she gets a good sort of tingly feeling around the awkward Forestry Dept fire spotter, Wes.
Like the last one, this one was full throttle in places and kept things really moving along in the latter part of the book. The set up at the beginning was not devoid of good stuff, but it does build slowly before it gets moving. I was startled when the murderer got several sections of narration along with Kit and Wes, but knowing what they were doing did not affect that surprise twist in the end. Whew boy, that was a stunner and yes, it did come out of nowhere.
This book, this book... It took me by surprise- in a good way, I think. Still processing, but I do want to share my immediate thoughts. Overall, I enjoyed it and enjoyed what I got.
Kit was a strong heroine and I liked her. She was up against a lot and had been in her past too. She could have gotten ugly and angry, but instead, she knuckled down and did her job and did it well. She was intuitive and smart, but genuinely kind and understanding particularly with Sam, Jule's brother who was so fragile in his way. She took time out for troubled kids and her dog. Seriously! Justice was adorable and a colorful quirky character in his own right.
Wes was a cutie. So cute, all! He was socially awkward and struggled so hard to be around people and understand social cues, but he stepped up and tried hard when it came to Kit. And, Kit the darling! She saw the treasure that was Wes. But don't be fooled, this boy was hotter than a firecracker when the clothes did go flying.
Now, don't take this as a major criticism because its not. Once in a while, I come across a book that that doesn't fit neatly in the box. I finished this one and felt like I was missing something. I wasn't and the book wasn't underdeveloped or missing anything, but I was left feeling this way. Why? Well, it was that 'out of left field' ending that was a stunner, but not actually that far out. Just wow! She got me and, on reflection, I loved being startled like that. And, this isn't the first time she's pulled a 'gotcha' in her twists and reveals through both her series.
Okay, so besides my weird feelings about the end, I loved how this story wrapped up this series arc wonderfully. Loose strings were tied off and a great deal of time was spent with all the regulars in this one. Newbies Kit and Wes were a good fit with the others even when I wanted to smack a whole bunch of people for being deliberately obtuse and ignoring Kit's worthy concerns, but they were blinded by their own issues. If I had a niggle, it was wanting a little more of Kit and Wes because they were so great together.
I'm not sure if this was the finale to the series, but it felt like it. I know a companion story standalone is coming out next about a side character that was in the earlier series and this one, but I had the distinct feeling that there isn't really anything left to wrap up (a story about Mr. E would be welcomed however).
So, there you have it. Another fab read from an autobuy author. If you love quirky small town mixed with action-packed romantic suspense, you need look no further.
My thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Through the Fire is book four in the Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series. This is a series that must be read in order as each book builds on the others and is four interlocking parts to the overall series suspense arc.
The lead character in this one is Kit Jerrigan a female cop who left her last job under a bit of dark cloud and is starting over in the small mountain town of Monroe. She's had a rough time since blowing the whistle on a corrupt partner and now hopes for a fresh start. Only, her first day in town and on the job is a doozy. Her new co-workers, Theo, Hugh, and Otto, regard her with suspicion and her cop sense is tingling when it comes to what they and their ladyfolks are hiding. Then, they respond to a fire call and a dead body crops up and the trail leads to someone the others refuse to treat as a suspect. On the bright side, she gets a good sort of tingly feeling around the awkward Forestry Dept fire spotter, Wes.
Like the last one, this one was full throttle in places and kept things really moving along in the latter part of the book. The set up at the beginning was not devoid of good stuff, but it does build slowly before it gets moving. I was startled when the murderer got several sections of narration along with Kit and Wes, but knowing what they were doing did not affect that surprise twist in the end. Whew boy, that was a stunner and yes, it did come out of nowhere.
This book, this book... It took me by surprise- in a good way, I think. Still processing, but I do want to share my immediate thoughts. Overall, I enjoyed it and enjoyed what I got.
Kit was a strong heroine and I liked her. She was up against a lot and had been in her past too. She could have gotten ugly and angry, but instead, she knuckled down and did her job and did it well. She was intuitive and smart, but genuinely kind and understanding particularly with Sam, Jule's brother who was so fragile in his way. She took time out for troubled kids and her dog. Seriously! Justice was adorable and a colorful quirky character in his own right.
Wes was a cutie. So cute, all! He was socially awkward and struggled so hard to be around people and understand social cues, but he stepped up and tried hard when it came to Kit. And, Kit the darling! She saw the treasure that was Wes. But don't be fooled, this boy was hotter than a firecracker when the clothes did go flying.
Now, don't take this as a major criticism because its not. Once in a while, I come across a book that that doesn't fit neatly in the box. I finished this one and felt like I was missing something. I wasn't and the book wasn't underdeveloped or missing anything, but I was left feeling this way. Why? Well, it was that 'out of left field' ending that was a stunner, but not actually that far out. Just wow! She got me and, on reflection, I loved being startled like that. And, this isn't the first time she's pulled a 'gotcha' in her twists and reveals through both her series.
Okay, so besides my weird feelings about the end, I loved how this story wrapped up this series arc wonderfully. Loose strings were tied off and a great deal of time was spent with all the regulars in this one. Newbies Kit and Wes were a good fit with the others even when I wanted to smack a whole bunch of people for being deliberately obtuse and ignoring Kit's worthy concerns, but they were blinded by their own issues. If I had a niggle, it was wanting a little more of Kit and Wes because they were so great together.
I'm not sure if this was the finale to the series, but it felt like it. I know a companion story standalone is coming out next about a side character that was in the earlier series and this one, but I had the distinct feeling that there isn't really anything left to wrap up (a story about Mr. E would be welcomed however).
So, there you have it. Another fab read from an autobuy author. If you love quirky small town mixed with action-packed romantic suspense, you need look no further.
My thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 24, 2018
Having loved the first book in this thrilling series, I came to expect something more with the following ones. And after finishing each one I’d think, this is my favorite. I did get more than I expected with each book and each one did become my favorite. Guess that means the author will surely have to wow me again with this fourth book. And I won’t keep you in suspense. She did.
Kit Jernigan and Wesley March are the star character’s this time around. Kit is the beta to Wesley’s alpha. She may seem like the alpha in the beginning, as Wesley is a bit of a loner and prefers his time alone. But when the danger comes calling in the guise of one of their own, Wesley sheds his loner persona and steps right into his alpha role, making them a formidable team.
I like how Katie changed things somewhat, giving a female K-9 officer a leading role. And where usually the previous character’s have a more supporting role, this time they all come out to shine together. This worked gloriously. There were so many funny, adorable scenes, my face hurt from grinning. And my jaw hurt from clenching my teeth at the scenes of extreme danger and betrayal. Every one of my feels came into play and I couldn’t have asked for more.
The author wraps up her series with an ending that set me back on my heels. Whoa. I sure want to tell you all about it, but……..
Genuine character’s with flaws and insecurities have continuously stepped up to the plate throughout this series. Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten their brave, true and most loyal four-legged partner’s and companions. Being a binge watcher, if this were ever made into a television series, I’d watch it over and over again.
Did I enjoy Through The Fire? Oh, yes. Every single bit of it. Would I recommend it? I gave it the highest rating allowed. That should answer the question!
Read by Callie Beaulieu
Callie does another superb job of narrating. I’ve enjoyed listening to her through the entire series.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
Kit Jernigan and Wesley March are the star character’s this time around. Kit is the beta to Wesley’s alpha. She may seem like the alpha in the beginning, as Wesley is a bit of a loner and prefers his time alone. But when the danger comes calling in the guise of one of their own, Wesley sheds his loner persona and steps right into his alpha role, making them a formidable team.
I like how Katie changed things somewhat, giving a female K-9 officer a leading role. And where usually the previous character’s have a more supporting role, this time they all come out to shine together. This worked gloriously. There were so many funny, adorable scenes, my face hurt from grinning. And my jaw hurt from clenching my teeth at the scenes of extreme danger and betrayal. Every one of my feels came into play and I couldn’t have asked for more.
The author wraps up her series with an ending that set me back on my heels. Whoa. I sure want to tell you all about it, but……..
Genuine character’s with flaws and insecurities have continuously stepped up to the plate throughout this series. Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten their brave, true and most loyal four-legged partner’s and companions. Being a binge watcher, if this were ever made into a television series, I’d watch it over and over again.
Did I enjoy Through The Fire? Oh, yes. Every single bit of it. Would I recommend it? I gave it the highest rating allowed. That should answer the question!
Read by Callie Beaulieu
Callie does another superb job of narrating. I’ve enjoyed listening to her through the entire series.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
August 28, 2018
Kit is starting over, new location, new job, new home; the only thing coming with her from her previous life is her K-9, Justice. With a lot to prove to herself, and her new co-workers and Kit jumps right in. Quickly finding herself in over her head, Kit is rescued by her mysterious mountain man twice.
Wes never imagined rescuing a deputy from a firing squad, or falling in love with her. A computer savvy engineer, Wes has always been fine in his watch tower with his gadgets. Becoming part of the community and making friends was almost laughable. Unable to fight the pull any longer Wes breaks down and faces his fears to spend time with Kit.
Wes and Kit have a sweet-flirtatious relationship to start with. It was more of a slower building romance than previous ones that are almost combustible from the start. They are a couple that took their time and playfully bantered and flirted before letting the sparks ignite. Ms. Ruggle answered a question that I have had throughout the last two novels…interesting turn of events; something readers have been curious about, it’s finally answered, all laid out.The plot is a fast paced, action packed plot that really focuses on the couple and Kit’s K-9 Justice.The characters are well developed and help the plot flow nicely throughout this novel and in connection with previous novels. Through the Fire is a great addition to the Rocky Mountain K-9 Series, although it’s not my favorite, it’s still a great read!
July 6, 2018
Ok, so I'm just gonna be very honest here. Although I marked this a 4 star rating, I'm actually giving it a 3.5. It would have been a solid 4 if not for ONE MAJOR THING. What you ask? The COVER!!! What's wrong with the cover? Keep reading....
Kit has been a cop for about eight years. After blowing the whistle on a co-worker and having her friends turn on her, she's decided to move to a new town and start over. What she didn't know is that after she interviewed for her new job in Monroe, the town has gone through a few...changes. Starting a new job is hard enough. Fitting in as a half Asian newbie when there's drama on the first day is down right impossible.
Wes is the fire lookout for the City. He's also the man who no one really knows because he lives in his tower all year long, only going in to town in the early morning hours to pick up what he needs. Needless to say, he's not much of a people person. He's rugged, hairy, extremely smart and ridiculously shy. But once he meets Kit, there's just something about her that's making him step outside his comfort zone to learn more about her. Now if the town can just stop blowing up, burning down or having kidnap victims, he might get a date.
I really enjoyed this story line. I enjoyed the newbie coming in to town and trying to fit in, "earning" her keep. I even enjoyed reliving the "Jules" story (you have to read the first one). Here's where things started to irritate me. Look at the cover again. Do you see a rugged man with lots of hair? Do you see a half Asian girl with black hair? Nope. The only thing that's true to the story line is the bloodhound. Seriously. That's it. This is a MAJOR pet peeve of mine. The cover HAS to match the story or else I spend most of it wondering if I'm reading the right story or if someone else is going to be coming in to the story. It's very distracting. #sorrynotsorry
Now. Take away the cover. The cute innocence of Wes and Kit's newbie status were a perfect match. I honestly loved revisiting Jules and the kids. I fell deeper in love with Sam. I can happily say that the gadgets Wes creates has spurred some ideas of my own. At least ones I can buy (LOL). All in all, very cute story. I just wish the cover didn't "taint" my opinion as much as it did.
Kit has been a cop for about eight years. After blowing the whistle on a co-worker and having her friends turn on her, she's decided to move to a new town and start over. What she didn't know is that after she interviewed for her new job in Monroe, the town has gone through a few...changes. Starting a new job is hard enough. Fitting in as a half Asian newbie when there's drama on the first day is down right impossible.
Wes is the fire lookout for the City. He's also the man who no one really knows because he lives in his tower all year long, only going in to town in the early morning hours to pick up what he needs. Needless to say, he's not much of a people person. He's rugged, hairy, extremely smart and ridiculously shy. But once he meets Kit, there's just something about her that's making him step outside his comfort zone to learn more about her. Now if the town can just stop blowing up, burning down or having kidnap victims, he might get a date.
I really enjoyed this story line. I enjoyed the newbie coming in to town and trying to fit in, "earning" her keep. I even enjoyed reliving the "Jules" story (you have to read the first one). Here's where things started to irritate me. Look at the cover again. Do you see a rugged man with lots of hair? Do you see a half Asian girl with black hair? Nope. The only thing that's true to the story line is the bloodhound. Seriously. That's it. This is a MAJOR pet peeve of mine. The cover HAS to match the story or else I spend most of it wondering if I'm reading the right story or if someone else is going to be coming in to the story. It's very distracting. #sorrynotsorry
Now. Take away the cover. The cute innocence of Wes and Kit's newbie status were a perfect match. I honestly loved revisiting Jules and the kids. I fell deeper in love with Sam. I can happily say that the gadgets Wes creates has spurred some ideas of my own. At least ones I can buy (LOL). All in all, very cute story. I just wish the cover didn't "taint" my opinion as much as it did.
December 5, 2018
Kit is an 8 year veteran K9 officer, transferring to Monroe. When she arrives, she discovers the town has basically been demolished since she interviewed. Her new partners greet her with more skepticism than the stranger who shows up right after a house fire with a charred body in it.
We know right from the beginning that “Elena” is the bad guy. Only Kit seems to realize something is off with her. The 3 guys/officers from the prior books, who previously were extremely untrusting, seem to be taken in by Elena. Huh?! I struggled with their obtuseness. They were pathetic excuses for police officers.
Wes is an introverted, outdoorsy, tech genius, park ranger. He prefers solitude to interacting with people, struggling with social situations. He was just awkward. Loved his gadgets and inventions. I just never got the Wes/Kit connection.
This book feels more like an afterthought than the conclusion to the series. Granted, after the over the top last book, this one had big shoes to fill. It was woefully unable to. The suspense dragged for most of the book and Elena’s character was more annoying than interesting.
The new character is a half Asian woman canine officer. Why is a man gracing the cover with a dog?
Courtney is a child abuser and pedophile yet she gets to walk away after signing custody over to Jules? WTH?!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.
We know right from the beginning that “Elena” is the bad guy. Only Kit seems to realize something is off with her. The 3 guys/officers from the prior books, who previously were extremely untrusting, seem to be taken in by Elena. Huh?! I struggled with their obtuseness. They were pathetic excuses for police officers.
Wes is an introverted, outdoorsy, tech genius, park ranger. He prefers solitude to interacting with people, struggling with social situations. He was just awkward. Loved his gadgets and inventions. I just never got the Wes/Kit connection.
This book feels more like an afterthought than the conclusion to the series. Granted, after the over the top last book, this one had big shoes to fill. It was woefully unable to. The suspense dragged for most of the book and Elena’s character was more annoying than interesting.
The new character is a half Asian woman canine officer. Why is a man gracing the cover with a dog?
Courtney is a child abuser and pedophile yet she gets to walk away after signing custody over to Jules? WTH?!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.
November 23, 2022
SPOILERS: In this review and in my reading activity.
Another amazing edition to this series! In Through The Fire we have a different set up than the previous books, where our main character Kit Jernigan, is not one of Mr. Espina’s runaways, but a cop who is joining Monroe’s police force. And the male romantic interest, Wes, is not someone we have met before in any previous book. Kit is new to town so from her perspective we’re outsiders looking in. Which for me, was frustrating at first because I’m not privy to whatever it is my favorite group is talking about! Naturally, nobody trusts Kit at first because.. well the towns been through a lot! But also because at the same time Kit is arriving in town, so is a woman named Elena, who is one of Mr. Espina’s girls. And Kit doesn’t trust her, which doesn’t sit well with Theo, Hugh and Otto considering it was Jules, Grace and Sarah, that had been sent by Espina as well.
It was so interesting getting to observe the dynamic of the group from a strangers eyes. Everything is new information to Kit. I was cracking up at this part,
“'I knew it!' Hugh exclaimed, sounding more satisfied about being right than put out on his partner’s behalf. 'Gracie refused to tell me, but I knew what was going on the second I saw her chasing you down at the viner.'
Kit blinked. Theo’s girlfriend and Hugh’s girlfriend were having an affair? This small-town policing had a lot more drama than she’d expected.”
I liked the fact that romance took a little bit of a backseat in this one, if only because the two main love interests were people we didn’t know, so at first I was worried we wouldn’t be seeing the rest of the group as much, I'm so glad that wasn't the case! If you read the description of the book, it’s correct to say, “This time, it's personal”. Through The Fire is more plot heavy and focusses on the character development of the characters from the other books, as well as Kit. Which was definitely how I preferred it. So I don't recommend reading this book before the previous three. My one criticism would be that, I feel like it should’ve been Kit on the cover of the book. She was such an awesome heroine! And I liked Wes a lot but Kit truly was the MVP of Through The Fire.
It was also fun getting to see semi serious Hugh as Kit’s training officer. Which lasted all of 5 minutes before his personality broke through. At first I was like… I can’t picture Hugh having to be in charge of anybody at work. Then I was like…. yeah that’s probably exactly what he would be like if he was in charge of somebody at work. They were such a fun pair, they had a brother-sister type of banter, it was hilarious to see.
“'Why would I slow down for you?' she said. 'If you can’t keep up, just get in the car.'
'Oh, I can keep up.' He sounded like he was back to his usual self. 'We could run all the way to Denver, and I’d still keep up. In fact, I could run even faster than you, much faster, but I don’t want to get ahead of the handler.'
'Hugh.' She gave him a sharp look, knowing why Theo always seemed to be at the end of his patience."
As a side note I just want to point out how funny it is that Hugh’s been injured in one way or another in every single book, can we please get him an MRI or something?!
Kit’s relationship with Sam was perhaps the most heartwarming, wholesome part of the book for me. Sam wants help training one of the dogs from the kennel and asks Kit for help, very reluctantly, as reserved and guarded as he is. They share another connection when Kit realizes he has the same suspicions as she does of Elena. And their bond is solidified in the chapter where Courtney arrives in town and Kit stands up for him in the Viner. Which by the way is one of my favorite chapters in the whole series, having that resolution for Sam and Jules’ entire family was so important. It was such an emotional moment, I had tears coming down my face through most of it! One of my favorite parts was towards the end of the book when Sam tells Elena to take him as hostage instead of Kit.
“Kit knew that whoever left as Elena’s hostage was most likely not coming back. She was willing to take that risk with her own life, but not with Sam’s. Not Sam.”...."‘If you take him, I’ll chase you down.’ The gun barrel jammed harder into her back, but Kit ignored the pain and the way that her head injuries and adrenaline were making the room spin. She couldn’t mess this up. Sam’s life was at stake. ‘Think of how much you hate me. I ruined all your plans. How good will it feel to use me as your hostage and then kill me?’”
It was such a relief that the last chapter wasn’t a definitive ending. As a super fan of this series, I hope we get 100 more installations of the Rocky Mountain K9 Unit, I would love to read another book from the POV of our already existing characters again, or a multi POV book, I miss being inside their heads! But really I would read anything set in Monroe.
“It had been worth the frustration and loneliness and fear and even the painful hole in her leg to have found her place in this weird mountain town she’d grown to love.
Finally, against all the odds, she was home.”
Another amazing edition to this series! In Through The Fire we have a different set up than the previous books, where our main character Kit Jernigan, is not one of Mr. Espina’s runaways, but a cop who is joining Monroe’s police force. And the male romantic interest, Wes, is not someone we have met before in any previous book. Kit is new to town so from her perspective we’re outsiders looking in. Which for me, was frustrating at first because I’m not privy to whatever it is my favorite group is talking about! Naturally, nobody trusts Kit at first because.. well the towns been through a lot! But also because at the same time Kit is arriving in town, so is a woman named Elena, who is one of Mr. Espina’s girls. And Kit doesn’t trust her, which doesn’t sit well with Theo, Hugh and Otto considering it was Jules, Grace and Sarah, that had been sent by Espina as well.
It was so interesting getting to observe the dynamic of the group from a strangers eyes. Everything is new information to Kit. I was cracking up at this part,
“'I knew it!' Hugh exclaimed, sounding more satisfied about being right than put out on his partner’s behalf. 'Gracie refused to tell me, but I knew what was going on the second I saw her chasing you down at the viner.'
Kit blinked. Theo’s girlfriend and Hugh’s girlfriend were having an affair? This small-town policing had a lot more drama than she’d expected.”
I liked the fact that romance took a little bit of a backseat in this one, if only because the two main love interests were people we didn’t know, so at first I was worried we wouldn’t be seeing the rest of the group as much, I'm so glad that wasn't the case! If you read the description of the book, it’s correct to say, “This time, it's personal”. Through The Fire is more plot heavy and focusses on the character development of the characters from the other books, as well as Kit. Which was definitely how I preferred it. So I don't recommend reading this book before the previous three. My one criticism would be that, I feel like it should’ve been Kit on the cover of the book. She was such an awesome heroine! And I liked Wes a lot but Kit truly was the MVP of Through The Fire.
It was also fun getting to see semi serious Hugh as Kit’s training officer. Which lasted all of 5 minutes before his personality broke through. At first I was like… I can’t picture Hugh having to be in charge of anybody at work. Then I was like…. yeah that’s probably exactly what he would be like if he was in charge of somebody at work. They were such a fun pair, they had a brother-sister type of banter, it was hilarious to see.
“'Why would I slow down for you?' she said. 'If you can’t keep up, just get in the car.'
'Oh, I can keep up.' He sounded like he was back to his usual self. 'We could run all the way to Denver, and I’d still keep up. In fact, I could run even faster than you, much faster, but I don’t want to get ahead of the handler.'
'Hugh.' She gave him a sharp look, knowing why Theo always seemed to be at the end of his patience."
As a side note I just want to point out how funny it is that Hugh’s been injured in one way or another in every single book, can we please get him an MRI or something?!
Kit’s relationship with Sam was perhaps the most heartwarming, wholesome part of the book for me. Sam wants help training one of the dogs from the kennel and asks Kit for help, very reluctantly, as reserved and guarded as he is. They share another connection when Kit realizes he has the same suspicions as she does of Elena. And their bond is solidified in the chapter where Courtney arrives in town and Kit stands up for him in the Viner. Which by the way is one of my favorite chapters in the whole series, having that resolution for Sam and Jules’ entire family was so important. It was such an emotional moment, I had tears coming down my face through most of it! One of my favorite parts was towards the end of the book when Sam tells Elena to take him as hostage instead of Kit.
“Kit knew that whoever left as Elena’s hostage was most likely not coming back. She was willing to take that risk with her own life, but not with Sam’s. Not Sam.”...."‘If you take him, I’ll chase you down.’ The gun barrel jammed harder into her back, but Kit ignored the pain and the way that her head injuries and adrenaline were making the room spin. She couldn’t mess this up. Sam’s life was at stake. ‘Think of how much you hate me. I ruined all your plans. How good will it feel to use me as your hostage and then kill me?’”
It was such a relief that the last chapter wasn’t a definitive ending. As a super fan of this series, I hope we get 100 more installations of the Rocky Mountain K9 Unit, I would love to read another book from the POV of our already existing characters again, or a multi POV book, I miss being inside their heads! But really I would read anything set in Monroe.
“It had been worth the frustration and loneliness and fear and even the painful hole in her leg to have found her place in this weird mountain town she’d grown to love.
Finally, against all the odds, she was home.”
September 15, 2018
FTC DISCLAIMER: I RECEIVED AN E-ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER THROUGH NET GALLEY. I VOLUNTARILY OFFER MY HONEST REVIEW OF THE BOOK, THOUGH IT IS NOT EXPECTED OF ME! RECEIPT OF THIS BOOK IN THIS MANNER DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION OF THE BOOK OR THE CONTENT OF MY REVIEW!
I've had my ups and downs with this author's different series, but on the whole it's been a good experience overall. After the ending of the last book, I was hoping for a lot from this book and I wasn't disappointed!
I wasn't sure who could be left to pair off, so bringing in two new characters was a good move to me. I really liked Kit and Justice, but really wanted a lot more of their background than what I got. I also wanted more background on Wes, but I was able to easily connect with him and saw a lot of my son in him as well. He really made the book for me! I absolutely loved the fact that this book tied up several loose ends in the series! It provided that final bit of closure and really made the series shine overall for me. There were a couple of nagging questions at the end of everything, but on the whole I quite enjoyed it!
I've had my ups and downs with this author's different series, but on the whole it's been a good experience overall. After the ending of the last book, I was hoping for a lot from this book and I wasn't disappointed!
I wasn't sure who could be left to pair off, so bringing in two new characters was a good move to me. I really liked Kit and Justice, but really wanted a lot more of their background than what I got. I also wanted more background on Wes, but I was able to easily connect with him and saw a lot of my son in him as well. He really made the book for me! I absolutely loved the fact that this book tied up several loose ends in the series! It provided that final bit of closure and really made the series shine overall for me. There were a couple of nagging questions at the end of everything, but on the whole I quite enjoyed it!
November 9, 2018
After the explosive third novel in the Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series, Survive the Night, I knew that it would be a tough act to follow, and I'm sad to say that Through the Fire proved me right--it just didn't live up to suspense and excitement of the last novel, and I can only give it a 2.5-star rating.
This novel does start out like gangbusters and introduces the villain, Alex/Elena in the prologue, as she commits murder and sets the house afire. Of course, we don't know who the victim is yet, but if you've been following this series, the common threads binding these novels together are the K-9 unit, arson and murder.
It's in the next chapter we meet the heroine, Kit Jernigan, and her K-9 companion, Justice, as she's running late for the first day of her new job with the Rocky Mountain K-9 unit in tiny Monroe, Colorado, the setting for this series. Trying to maneuver her car and trailer into her driveway, we also meet Wes, a large, gorgeous hunk of a bearded mountain man who is as attracted to Kit as she is to him, and he helps direct Kit to get the car and trailer where she wants them, and then she's off to meet her fellow police officers at her new job.
When she eventually shows up at the sheriff's office, she finds that it's a blasted out shell, as is what was once the local diner, and she drives around town and finally notices that there are some squad cars parked at what appears to be a VFW post, and it's inside that she meets her new co-workers, discovers that she's the only female on the force, and realizes that this building is now referred to as the "viner."
If you've been following this series, you already know these police officers--Otto, Hugh and Theo, and the women they've paired up with in the previous novels--all of whom live in the same run-down house with their children and siblings, and all of whom ended up in Monroe because they were on the run for their lives, and brought out the protective instincts of their men, including the latest arrival, Elena, who shows up just after the most recent arson/murder. Yet these same men are not all that welcoming toward or trusting of Kit, which certainly isn't what she was hoping for as it was her honesty, ethics and loyalty to the job that cost Kit her last job. In the previous novels these guys were suspicious of everyone who might be a threat to their women, but when Kit meets Elena, senses that something just isn't right about her, and when she mentions her suspicions, the guys basically ignore her as if she isn't a trained police officer. It just felt wrong to this reader.
From the opening chapters to the rest of this novel, the story plodded along slowly, the only bright spots being Kit's growing relationship with Wes, who we learn is the forest fire ranger, a definite computer/electronics nerd, and who seems to suffer from some sort of social anxiety disorder, but who's really sweet on and with Kit. Add to that another familiar character, Sam, the abused teenager whose sister, Jules, spirited him and his siblings away from their dreadful stepmother. Sam bonds with Kit's dog, Justice, and Kit agrees to help him train a rescue dog, Fifi, as a tracker. Those scenes were wonderful and charming and it was heartwarming to see Sam finally begin to come out of his shell.
To this reader, it seemed as though Kit was the only police officer who acted like one. Theo, Hugh and Otto seemed so besotted with their woman that Kit appeared to be the only one actively trying to solve the most recent arson/murder and find the person responsible for it. Rather than listening to or believing in Kit's instincts as a trained police officer, they did nothing other than ignore her and her suspicions. These men were never around to back her up, and having read the previous novels in this series, it seemed totally out of character for all of hem. Where were the heroes from the previous books? They certainly weren't there for Kit, and this was a huge disconnect for this reader. The only time these men acted as police officers was when Courtney shows up. Se's the evil stepmother of Jules, Sam, Dee, Ty and Tio, and she demands that Jules be arrested for kidnapping them, and the rest of the children returned to her care. Her sudden appearance had little to do with the rest of the plot, except that it did point out where the mens' priorities were, and they certainly weren't with Kit. That situation was resolved in short order, in fact, I wondered why it needed to be included in this novel to begin with, other than tying up one loose end that didn't make it into the earlier novels.
Then there's the villain, Alex/Elena, and while she's hiding in plain sight, the other officers accept her presence at the home of their love interests, and they don't even bother checking out why she's there, who's after her, why they're after her, or anything else about her. They simply accept her as a victim, tell Kit to do the same thing, and totally ignore Kit's and Sam's suspicions.
It's not until the end of the novel that the action picks up and we get to understand Alex/Elena's motives. Yet, when we finally do learn what her motives are, they certainly stretched my willing suspension of disbelief to the breaking point. I'd go into greater detail but won't because I don't do spoilers, but if you find the ending as ridiculous and unbelievable as I did, you won't be alone.
While I enjoyed the first three novels in this series, this final book was a let-down, and not at all indicative of Katie Ruggle's talents as a storyteller. I'll consider this as an anomaly, and hope that she regains her standing as an excellent novelist with her next book.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
This novel does start out like gangbusters and introduces the villain, Alex/Elena in the prologue, as she commits murder and sets the house afire. Of course, we don't know who the victim is yet, but if you've been following this series, the common threads binding these novels together are the K-9 unit, arson and murder.
It's in the next chapter we meet the heroine, Kit Jernigan, and her K-9 companion, Justice, as she's running late for the first day of her new job with the Rocky Mountain K-9 unit in tiny Monroe, Colorado, the setting for this series. Trying to maneuver her car and trailer into her driveway, we also meet Wes, a large, gorgeous hunk of a bearded mountain man who is as attracted to Kit as she is to him, and he helps direct Kit to get the car and trailer where she wants them, and then she's off to meet her fellow police officers at her new job.
When she eventually shows up at the sheriff's office, she finds that it's a blasted out shell, as is what was once the local diner, and she drives around town and finally notices that there are some squad cars parked at what appears to be a VFW post, and it's inside that she meets her new co-workers, discovers that she's the only female on the force, and realizes that this building is now referred to as the "viner."
If you've been following this series, you already know these police officers--Otto, Hugh and Theo, and the women they've paired up with in the previous novels--all of whom live in the same run-down house with their children and siblings, and all of whom ended up in Monroe because they were on the run for their lives, and brought out the protective instincts of their men, including the latest arrival, Elena, who shows up just after the most recent arson/murder. Yet these same men are not all that welcoming toward or trusting of Kit, which certainly isn't what she was hoping for as it was her honesty, ethics and loyalty to the job that cost Kit her last job. In the previous novels these guys were suspicious of everyone who might be a threat to their women, but when Kit meets Elena, senses that something just isn't right about her, and when she mentions her suspicions, the guys basically ignore her as if she isn't a trained police officer. It just felt wrong to this reader.
From the opening chapters to the rest of this novel, the story plodded along slowly, the only bright spots being Kit's growing relationship with Wes, who we learn is the forest fire ranger, a definite computer/electronics nerd, and who seems to suffer from some sort of social anxiety disorder, but who's really sweet on and with Kit. Add to that another familiar character, Sam, the abused teenager whose sister, Jules, spirited him and his siblings away from their dreadful stepmother. Sam bonds with Kit's dog, Justice, and Kit agrees to help him train a rescue dog, Fifi, as a tracker. Those scenes were wonderful and charming and it was heartwarming to see Sam finally begin to come out of his shell.
To this reader, it seemed as though Kit was the only police officer who acted like one. Theo, Hugh and Otto seemed so besotted with their woman that Kit appeared to be the only one actively trying to solve the most recent arson/murder and find the person responsible for it. Rather than listening to or believing in Kit's instincts as a trained police officer, they did nothing other than ignore her and her suspicions. These men were never around to back her up, and having read the previous novels in this series, it seemed totally out of character for all of hem. Where were the heroes from the previous books? They certainly weren't there for Kit, and this was a huge disconnect for this reader. The only time these men acted as police officers was when Courtney shows up. Se's the evil stepmother of Jules, Sam, Dee, Ty and Tio, and she demands that Jules be arrested for kidnapping them, and the rest of the children returned to her care. Her sudden appearance had little to do with the rest of the plot, except that it did point out where the mens' priorities were, and they certainly weren't with Kit. That situation was resolved in short order, in fact, I wondered why it needed to be included in this novel to begin with, other than tying up one loose end that didn't make it into the earlier novels.
Then there's the villain, Alex/Elena, and while she's hiding in plain sight, the other officers accept her presence at the home of their love interests, and they don't even bother checking out why she's there, who's after her, why they're after her, or anything else about her. They simply accept her as a victim, tell Kit to do the same thing, and totally ignore Kit's and Sam's suspicions.
It's not until the end of the novel that the action picks up and we get to understand Alex/Elena's motives. Yet, when we finally do learn what her motives are, they certainly stretched my willing suspension of disbelief to the breaking point. I'd go into greater detail but won't because I don't do spoilers, but if you find the ending as ridiculous and unbelievable as I did, you won't be alone.
While I enjoyed the first three novels in this series, this final book was a let-down, and not at all indicative of Katie Ruggle's talents as a storyteller. I'll consider this as an anomaly, and hope that she regains her standing as an excellent novelist with her next book.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
August 22, 2018
ARC REVIEW
Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit #4, I knew I shouldn't have started this book at night, at bedtime I got a sudden case of "Insomnia" and could not sleep. I even went as far as putting the book down but then the characters started whispering in my head telling me I was missing something so picked up the book and started reading again and around four o'clock in the morning I finished it and was finally able to fall asleep. Funny how that things work, huh? If you have read any of my previous review for this series you know how much I love this series and this author you also know I love the strong silent types and really smart ones too, Wesley March fits that bill to a T.
Kit is the newest member of the Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit and she has her bloodhound. It's her first day on the job and it already is starts off with a bang, or should I say a blazing inferno. Luckily the newest K-9 is trained in tracking people and Justice, Kit's bloodhound, is up to the task unfortunately Justice leads them straight to Jules' house. Jules has a new "Old Friend" visiting and everyone but Jules takes her at face value. Jules knows Justice wasn't wrong tracking the scent to that house, and later after another incident the same thing the bloodhound leads them straight to Jules house. It's bad enough that Kit doesn't feel like she fits in but she knows her co-workers aren't telling her everything and they don't trust her yet. So far the only one who really believes her is Wesley March. Wes is the Fire Watcher set just outside the city limits upon meeting Kit he feels a connection to her, and Wes is a loner he lives at the watchtower all year round, rarely makes it into town for supplies but after meeting Kit he finds any excuse to see her. Kit is quite taken with Wes as well.
The Peace never lasts for long in Monroe and soon the life Jules and the kids have built here starts to fall apart with the appearance of yet another stranger. Overall, this was a great conclusion to the series. Wes is so freakin' adorable I want one of my own. Justice and the other dogs make the book along with the kids. Katie Ruggle never ceases to amaze me with the crap she puts her characters through. The series is really one that should be read in order because it all ties in together but it's a great series.
Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit #4, I knew I shouldn't have started this book at night, at bedtime I got a sudden case of "Insomnia" and could not sleep. I even went as far as putting the book down but then the characters started whispering in my head telling me I was missing something so picked up the book and started reading again and around four o'clock in the morning I finished it and was finally able to fall asleep. Funny how that things work, huh? If you have read any of my previous review for this series you know how much I love this series and this author you also know I love the strong silent types and really smart ones too, Wesley March fits that bill to a T.
Kit is the newest member of the Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit and she has her bloodhound. It's her first day on the job and it already is starts off with a bang, or should I say a blazing inferno. Luckily the newest K-9 is trained in tracking people and Justice, Kit's bloodhound, is up to the task unfortunately Justice leads them straight to Jules' house. Jules has a new "Old Friend" visiting and everyone but Jules takes her at face value. Jules knows Justice wasn't wrong tracking the scent to that house, and later after another incident the same thing the bloodhound leads them straight to Jules house. It's bad enough that Kit doesn't feel like she fits in but she knows her co-workers aren't telling her everything and they don't trust her yet. So far the only one who really believes her is Wesley March. Wes is the Fire Watcher set just outside the city limits upon meeting Kit he feels a connection to her, and Wes is a loner he lives at the watchtower all year round, rarely makes it into town for supplies but after meeting Kit he finds any excuse to see her. Kit is quite taken with Wes as well.
The Peace never lasts for long in Monroe and soon the life Jules and the kids have built here starts to fall apart with the appearance of yet another stranger. Overall, this was a great conclusion to the series. Wes is so freakin' adorable I want one of my own. Justice and the other dogs make the book along with the kids. Katie Ruggle never ceases to amaze me with the crap she puts her characters through. The series is really one that should be read in order because it all ties in together but it's a great series.
October 18, 2018
Katie is one of my favorite authors and this ragtag bunch of characters in this series keeps growing on me. When a new police office and a new friend come to town at the same time it threatens to upset the very precarious balance of the group of people who have been able to call Monroe home. Who do they trust in this situation when everything hangs in the balance? You'll have to read it to find out. I enjoyed it. I gave it four stars instead of five because it took me too long to get into the story this time.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2018
Through the Fire is book 4 in the series but takes a slightly different trop than the previous books. Kit isn't one of the girls Mr. Espina saved. She is a K9 officer who takes a job in Monroe. The first person she meets is Wes, the fire service lookout. These two are adorable! Wes is certainly a beta hero and I found his awkwardness so endearing. Kit and Wes are both outsiders. Kit's suspicion of what is going on in the tiny town only further her status as outsider. But, she is a good person and a great cop. The action centers more around the other town newcomer, Elena, and Jules (from book 1) and her siblings.
I enjoyed getting back into this world and getting some resolution to Jules' story. I felt that at times, Kit and Wes were more a vehicle for a conclusion to Jules story which was disappointing. They are such wonderful characters it would have been good to have more focus on them. However, for anyone who is invested in the series like I am, this book is delightful. I am assuming its the final book in the series, so I would have liked an epilogue, but overall, an enjoyable. read.
POV: 3rd
Tears: no
Trope: police, secret identity
Triggers: none
Series/Standalone: series
Cliffhanger:
HEA:
The Red Stone Security series from Katie Reus, True Heroes series from Piper Drake, Badge of Honor series by Susan Stoker...then you will probably like Through the Fire!
Through the Fire
See full review on The Book Disciple
August 31, 2018
Finally! This is the book I’ve been waiting for all series. The characters were great, there was quite a bit of K9 work, and the suspense was very nicely done, but without all the over the top helicopter chases and everything blowing up all over the place. After the last book (Survive the Night), I really didn’t know where this series could go because it was so epic and excessive. This book didn’t try to top it, thankfully, it went back to basics and was all the better for it. Plus it brought the whole series full circle and was a good read.
I really liked Kit and Wes. Both are outsiders, neither quite knowing how to fit in, yet they’re also likeable and interesting and so cute together. I liked Kit. She’s strong and determined, so despite not feeling particularly welcome by her new K9 unit she’s willing to work at it. I liked the way she read people and wasn’t taken in by certain characters, while others she knew to give a bit more space. It explained how she got along with Wes and Sam so easily. Plus she had Justice. I loved that dog! He’s wonderful.
Wes is wonderful too, with his awkwardness, electronic genius and anxious attempts at dating. I loved his relationship with Kit. They’re perfect together and all their moments were cute, with humour and plain adorableness thrown in for good measure.
What I didn’t like so much was the way the other characters are portrayed. We’ve spent a whole series getting to know Hugh, Theo, Jules and all the others, but this book turns them into idiots. Except for Sam. Sam finally gets his moment and I just… my heart broke for him at the same time I was cheering him on. The rest of them were useless. Yes, they’ve been through a lot and it’s been tricky, but the way they handled things with the villain and Kit made me want to shake the lot of them. How could they possibly be that oblivious? Hugh always does background checks. He’s sneaky but cautious. Where was that Hugh now? Theo distrusts everyone, oh, except the new villain because fragile-female-alert. That’s never worked on him before, so why now, except for plot reasons? And Jules who knows Sam’s history, why didn’t she put more stock in his behaviour? The whole bunch of them were infuriating.
Which is a shame, because the antagonist herself threw in a surprise or two and I thought her side of things was nicely done. High level threat, plenty of suspense and a few murky motivations. Shame a lot of her success relied on the others being oblivious or downright blind.
So it’s not perfect, but for me it was far and away the best of the series. The suspense plot was good, it was great to finally have the long-running issues resolved and Kit, Wes, Sam and Justice were amazing. Everything else I can forgive. I’m only sad that this series is over and we’ll never see if Justice successfully woos his way into Lexi’s hard heart…
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)
I really liked Kit and Wes. Both are outsiders, neither quite knowing how to fit in, yet they’re also likeable and interesting and so cute together. I liked Kit. She’s strong and determined, so despite not feeling particularly welcome by her new K9 unit she’s willing to work at it. I liked the way she read people and wasn’t taken in by certain characters, while others she knew to give a bit more space. It explained how she got along with Wes and Sam so easily. Plus she had Justice. I loved that dog! He’s wonderful.
Wes is wonderful too, with his awkwardness, electronic genius and anxious attempts at dating. I loved his relationship with Kit. They’re perfect together and all their moments were cute, with humour and plain adorableness thrown in for good measure.
What I didn’t like so much was the way the other characters are portrayed. We’ve spent a whole series getting to know Hugh, Theo, Jules and all the others, but this book turns them into idiots. Except for Sam. Sam finally gets his moment and I just… my heart broke for him at the same time I was cheering him on. The rest of them were useless. Yes, they’ve been through a lot and it’s been tricky, but the way they handled things with the villain and Kit made me want to shake the lot of them. How could they possibly be that oblivious? Hugh always does background checks. He’s sneaky but cautious. Where was that Hugh now? Theo distrusts everyone, oh, except the new villain because fragile-female-alert. That’s never worked on him before, so why now, except for plot reasons? And Jules who knows Sam’s history, why didn’t she put more stock in his behaviour? The whole bunch of them were infuriating.
Which is a shame, because the antagonist herself threw in a surprise or two and I thought her side of things was nicely done. High level threat, plenty of suspense and a few murky motivations. Shame a lot of her success relied on the others being oblivious or downright blind.
So it’s not perfect, but for me it was far and away the best of the series. The suspense plot was good, it was great to finally have the long-running issues resolved and Kit, Wes, Sam and Justice were amazing. Everything else I can forgive. I’m only sad that this series is over and we’ll never see if Justice successfully woos his way into Lexi’s hard heart…
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)
August 29, 2018
This series just keeps getting better. Although I have absolutely no desire to visit Monroe any time soon!!
After being in a reading slump for weeks this was a breath of fresh air and I raced through the book.
The book opens with a woman called Alex killing a woman called Elena and stealing her identity before setting the house on fire to cover up her crimes.
Kit is a K9 police officer. After reporting her former partner for dishonest behaviour she was ostracised and has decided to make a new start in the small town of Monroe. After the cataclysmic events of the last book Monroe looks like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie, complete with burnt out police station. She is just getting acquainted with her new colleagues (Theo, Otto and Hugh from the three previous books in the series) when they are called to a house fire. Although the owners have left Monroe for the winter the firefighters find a charred body in the wreckage.
This is another great suspense from Katie Ruggle. The reader knows that Elena is not who she seems and a killer to boot but the rest of Monroe seems taken in by her scared and helpless act, except Kit. There's also a hunky, nerdy mountain ranger who creates gadgets in his spare time. Oh and lots and lots of beautiful clever dogs. What more could anyone want?
This appears to be the end of the series and what a satisfying end it turned out to be!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
After being in a reading slump for weeks this was a breath of fresh air and I raced through the book.
The book opens with a woman called Alex killing a woman called Elena and stealing her identity before setting the house on fire to cover up her crimes.
Kit is a K9 police officer. After reporting her former partner for dishonest behaviour she was ostracised and has decided to make a new start in the small town of Monroe. After the cataclysmic events of the last book Monroe looks like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie, complete with burnt out police station. She is just getting acquainted with her new colleagues (Theo, Otto and Hugh from the three previous books in the series) when they are called to a house fire. Although the owners have left Monroe for the winter the firefighters find a charred body in the wreckage.
This is another great suspense from Katie Ruggle. The reader knows that Elena is not who she seems and a killer to boot but the rest of Monroe seems taken in by her scared and helpless act, except Kit. There's also a hunky, nerdy mountain ranger who creates gadgets in his spare time. Oh and lots and lots of beautiful clever dogs. What more could anyone want?
This appears to be the end of the series and what a satisfying end it turned out to be!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
September 11, 2018
I typically love Katie Ruggle books, but this one just left me feeling disappointed. The romance was pretty much non-existent with only some cute flirting and one steamy scene that came 70% into the book. I mean we didn't even really get a HFN in this one with the ending, at least it felt that way. I'm just left wondering where the rest of the book went. I mean if that much time was spent on a plot that revealed the villain in the beginning, then I expected a great romance story to go along with the lack of surprises in the plot. Now I feel like I just wasted 11 hours listening to an audio book that didn't even end with a HEA for the H/h, but rather had a scene that featured every other lead character from the previous books BUT the hero. The ending simply felt rushed. I'm just left baffled and feeling incomplete. If this was the end of the series, I definitely expected more from the book.
So what did I like? I liked Wes. He was nerdy, awkward and cute. I loved his gadgets and how he stepped out of his comfort zone for Kit. I also liked that Kit didn't judge Wes but instead embraced his fear of being around others and went out of her way to make sure he was comfortable. I really wanted more romance between these two though since they were such a cute couple and I wanted to see how they lived now that things are back to a semi-normal state in Monroe.
I didn't really like the previous book heroes turning into complete idiots in this one. They're supposed to be police officers, but they sure did let their personal feelings and relationships get in the way of them doing their jobs. Thankfully, Kit didn't let it deter her investigation and she figured things out quickly. Too bad it caused her to get hurt, but at least the big guys fell over themselves trying to make it up to her for being wrong.
Then there's the whole scene in the end where Kit leaves her dog with Wes AND her weapon. I mean she's a cop, she's going into a potentially dangerous situation that she knows is probably bad from the get-go. Yet she doesn't have a weapon or her K9 partner that has been by her side the whole book? Yeah, that lapse in judgement wasn't realistic at all to me given how vigilant she'd been for the most part until then. At least it all worked out and she was able to stay strong despite it all.
Even though this wasn't my favorite, I can say that the next series has been anxious. I loved reading the ARC of Rocky Mountain Cowboy and if that's any indication to the series, it'll be a good one.
So what did I like? I liked Wes. He was nerdy, awkward and cute. I loved his gadgets and how he stepped out of his comfort zone for Kit. I also liked that Kit didn't judge Wes but instead embraced his fear of being around others and went out of her way to make sure he was comfortable. I really wanted more romance between these two though since they were such a cute couple and I wanted to see how they lived now that things are back to a semi-normal state in Monroe.
I didn't really like the previous book heroes turning into complete idiots in this one. They're supposed to be police officers, but they sure did let their personal feelings and relationships get in the way of them doing their jobs. Thankfully, Kit didn't let it deter her investigation and she figured things out quickly. Too bad it caused her to get hurt, but at least the big guys fell over themselves trying to make it up to her for being wrong.
Then there's the whole scene in the end where Kit leaves her dog with Wes AND her weapon. I mean she's a cop, she's going into a potentially dangerous situation that she knows is probably bad from the get-go. Yet she doesn't have a weapon or her K9 partner that has been by her side the whole book? Yeah, that lapse in judgement wasn't realistic at all to me given how vigilant she'd been for the most part until then. At least it all worked out and she was able to stay strong despite it all.
Even though this wasn't my favorite, I can say that the next series has been anxious. I loved reading the ARC of Rocky Mountain Cowboy and if that's any indication to the series, it'll be a good one.
August 12, 2018
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Copy received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
★Book Basics★
Genre : - Contemporary Romance
Series : - Fourth in the series, should not be read as a stand alone
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author/or in this series? - Yes
Rating - 3.5 stars
★Review★
I have really enjoyed this series.
And I enjoyed this book.
However, I felt like the suspense part overtook the romance aspect and we never really got to trul know the hero and heroine.
Certain story lines were finished, from previous books, although a touch rushed. And then we had new things introduced and left unanswered.
And I liked both the hero and heroine, but for me at times the hero was a touch too, almost child like. I am not sure if the author was writing him just as a shy recluse, or even some form of Autism/Aspergers crossed with some sort of mad inventor. But at times he was written as quite "young". And given he was a recluse, and written as he was, having to ring his sister to "interpret" if the heroine was giving off signals that she liked him, yet has a box of condoms just lying around the place.
I liked it, it was an easy read, but for me, certain things did not add up and it left me wishing it had just been more.
Copy received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
★Book Basics★
Genre : - Contemporary Romance
Series : - Fourth in the series, should not be read as a stand alone
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author/or in this series? - Yes
Rating - 3.5 stars
★Review★
I have really enjoyed this series.
And I enjoyed this book.
However, I felt like the suspense part overtook the romance aspect and we never really got to trul know the hero and heroine.
Certain story lines were finished, from previous books, although a touch rushed. And then we had new things introduced and left unanswered.
And I liked both the hero and heroine, but for me at times the hero was a touch too, almost child like. I am not sure if the author was writing him just as a shy recluse, or even some form of Autism/Aspergers crossed with some sort of mad inventor. But at times he was written as quite "young". And given he was a recluse, and written as he was, having to ring his sister to "interpret" if the heroine was giving off signals that she liked him, yet has a box of condoms just lying around the place.
I liked it, it was an easy read, but for me, certain things did not add up and it left me wishing it had just been more.
June 3, 2020
This is the first book I have read by Katie Ruggle, but it will not be the last. Thanks go to the publisher, via Net-Galley, for inviting me to read and review in advance of publication. My opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.
Through the Fire is an exciting romantic suspense with plenty of nail-biting suspenseful scenes. The pacing is good, and the romance is fulfilling. Ms. Ruggle’s writing flows smoothly, giving the reader enough description to still use their own imagination.
Kit’s character resonated with me because I too have experienced not fitting in, so I really identified with her. Her determination to prove herself impressed me. Her tenderness with the children and her faithful bloodhound in this tale touched me.
Wes is the silent, brooding hero with lots of depth. His willingness to step out of his comfort zone stole my heart. He is reserved and shy and his social interactions are awkward except with Kit, making him a character that is easy to fall in love with.
Let’s talk about romance. This couple is perfect for each other and adds greatly to the story. While their chemistry doesn’t burn up the pages, their meeting of minds is very appealing. I was glad they found their happy ending.
The villain in this piece is truly terrifying because her devious mind lends itself to horrific acts. Ms. Ruggle certainly knows how to create highly suspenseful, and at times, graphic scenes, making this novel a thriller.
If you enjoy a book with plenty of action, an interesting array of characters that you’ll want to get to know better, then you will love Through the Fire. I can’t wait to read more by this talented author. Happy reading!
Through the Fire is an exciting romantic suspense with plenty of nail-biting suspenseful scenes. The pacing is good, and the romance is fulfilling. Ms. Ruggle’s writing flows smoothly, giving the reader enough description to still use their own imagination.
Kit’s character resonated with me because I too have experienced not fitting in, so I really identified with her. Her determination to prove herself impressed me. Her tenderness with the children and her faithful bloodhound in this tale touched me.
Wes is the silent, brooding hero with lots of depth. His willingness to step out of his comfort zone stole my heart. He is reserved and shy and his social interactions are awkward except with Kit, making him a character that is easy to fall in love with.
Let’s talk about romance. This couple is perfect for each other and adds greatly to the story. While their chemistry doesn’t burn up the pages, their meeting of minds is very appealing. I was glad they found their happy ending.
The villain in this piece is truly terrifying because her devious mind lends itself to horrific acts. Ms. Ruggle certainly knows how to create highly suspenseful, and at times, graphic scenes, making this novel a thriller.
If you enjoy a book with plenty of action, an interesting array of characters that you’ll want to get to know better, then you will love Through the Fire. I can’t wait to read more by this talented author. Happy reading!
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