What do you think?
Rate this book
Military K-9 Unit #8
Valiant Defender
His daughter’s been taken…
The last showdown in the Military K-9 Unit series
After relentless searching, Captain Justin Blackwood’s closing in on the Red Rose Killer. But when his daughter becomes a target, the hunt turns personal. With the help of his new partner, Captain Gretchen Hill, and his K-9, Quinn, Justin will race to save his daughter and bring down his nemesis once and for all…or die trying.
The last showdown in the Military K-9 Unit series
After relentless searching, Captain Justin Blackwood’s closing in on the Red Rose Killer. But when his daughter becomes a target, the hunt turns personal. With the help of his new partner, Captain Gretchen Hill, and his K-9, Quinn, Justin will race to save his daughter and bring down his nemesis once and for all…or die trying.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 6, 2018
414 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
April 15, 2019
Finally we get to the book in which Boyd Sullivan gets caught. And of course it has a sweet love story to go along with it. :)
June 1, 2019
An MP and His K-9
Shirlee McCoy has penned another Murder Mystery Thriller for her readers. She never disappoints and always keeps reader's turning pages and bitting their nails until the killer has been stopped in his tracks and locked away in prison . But it's the action packed chase that keeps mystery lovers glued to the pages.
In Valiant Defender , Boyd Sullivan also known as the Red Rose Killer has escaped prison and returned to Canyon Air force Base seeking revenge on MP officers or any one who gets in his way. He always leaves a red rose and a note to his victims ahead of his attack, terrorizing them with fear and uncertainties as to when he will try to kill them . Sullivan has been very hard to apprehend and always manages to be one step ahead of Captain Justin Blackwood and his K-9 Quinn. The Red Rose Killer wants nothing more than to kill Captain Justin Blackwood because he was instrumental in having his military career ended when he was dishonorably discharged from the Air force. He was not above kidnapping victims who were important to the person he really wanted to kill. He enjoyed tantalizing them and would kill both victims after making them suffer.
There's also some romance between Captain Justin Blackwood and the Beautiful Captain Gretchen Hill who has been temporarily transferred to Canyon Air force base to learn how to train K-9 dogs .
All readers of murder mystery will be swept into this story. It's put out by Love Inspired so it is clean read.
I downloaded this book from the Amazon Prime Library. A positive review was not requested. All opinions shared here are my own.
Shirlee McCoy has penned another Murder Mystery Thriller for her readers. She never disappoints and always keeps reader's turning pages and bitting their nails until the killer has been stopped in his tracks and locked away in prison . But it's the action packed chase that keeps mystery lovers glued to the pages.
In Valiant Defender , Boyd Sullivan also known as the Red Rose Killer has escaped prison and returned to Canyon Air force Base seeking revenge on MP officers or any one who gets in his way. He always leaves a red rose and a note to his victims ahead of his attack, terrorizing them with fear and uncertainties as to when he will try to kill them . Sullivan has been very hard to apprehend and always manages to be one step ahead of Captain Justin Blackwood and his K-9 Quinn. The Red Rose Killer wants nothing more than to kill Captain Justin Blackwood because he was instrumental in having his military career ended when he was dishonorably discharged from the Air force. He was not above kidnapping victims who were important to the person he really wanted to kill. He enjoyed tantalizing them and would kill both victims after making them suffer.
There's also some romance between Captain Justin Blackwood and the Beautiful Captain Gretchen Hill who has been temporarily transferred to Canyon Air force base to learn how to train K-9 dogs .
All readers of murder mystery will be swept into this story. It's put out by Love Inspired so it is clean read.
I downloaded this book from the Amazon Prime Library. A positive review was not requested. All opinions shared here are my own.
December 12, 2018
Woohoo -- the grand finale of an epic continuity series! Valiant Defender is the eighth Military K-9 Unit novel and I was about ready to crawl out of my skin in anxious anticipation of the Red Rose Killer's capture. Kudos to all the authors for keeping the over-arcing suspense plot fresh and compelling over the course of the series. Loved the way clues were laid out and snippets of fresh information gleaned and, of course, missing dogs recovered in each book. And I appreciated that each story had it's own suspense plot too...and all that romance -- blissful sigh. That's a lot of happily-ever-afters!. Oh -- and K-9 heroes and heroines!!!! A howling success! (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)
So, while each book in the series could be read as a standalone, I think this one is better appreciated if you've read the others. It would totally make sense but I really think it makes more of an impact if you've been following along right from the start.
McCoy has done a fantastic job of tying all those lose ends together. And I was thrilled to discover that I actually figured out another piece of the puzzle before Justin and Gretchen did. That didn't happen very often in this series so I'm pretty chuffed.
I fell hard for Justin. He's been intriguing me for months now so my expectations were really high -- both for his backstory and his love story and this author didn't disappoint. She delivered so much more than an outstanding suspense. As much as I'd anticipated bringing closure to this monster case, it was the romance that carried me away. Such depth and emotion amidst all the danger and intrigue. Stellar from start to finish!
So, while each book in the series could be read as a standalone, I think this one is better appreciated if you've read the others. It would totally make sense but I really think it makes more of an impact if you've been following along right from the start.
McCoy has done a fantastic job of tying all those lose ends together. And I was thrilled to discover that I actually figured out another piece of the puzzle before Justin and Gretchen did. That didn't happen very often in this series so I'm pretty chuffed.
I fell hard for Justin. He's been intriguing me for months now so my expectations were really high -- both for his backstory and his love story and this author didn't disappoint. She delivered so much more than an outstanding suspense. As much as I'd anticipated bringing closure to this monster case, it was the romance that carried me away. Such depth and emotion amidst all the danger and intrigue. Stellar from start to finish!
December 12, 2020
Very enjoyable series! Clean and action-packed.
December 17, 2018
My review today is on the Love inspired Suspense, Valiant Defender. This is the eighth book in the Military K-9 Unit Continuity Series. This has been a great series and I'm sure you have been loving it. This book like all of Shirlee's books is well written, action packed and full of faith. You are going to love it.
Captain Justin Blackwood has spent the last seven months tracking a killer. The last few months he has been working with a fellow officer assigned to him to observe his K-9 Unit. He has come to really enjoy his relationship with the Captain. He will hate to see her leave. He believes he's closing in on the Red Rose Killer, then his teenage daughter is abducted and now it has become personal.
Captain Gretchen Hill has been assigned to partner with Captain Blackwood to learn all about the K-9 Unit. She will soon return to her home base and start a K-9 Unit at Minot Air Force Base. She has been involved with the search for the Red Rose Killer for these last few months. Something in her died when her fiance` had died four years ago, so how can she be drawn to this man and his daughter.
A journey of two broken hearts trying to survive in a world somehow turning upside down. God has a plan for these two, a plan for a hope and a future. God has a plan for you too, a good plan and not for evil. Give Him your heart and watch Him move in your life.
Captain Justin Blackwood has spent the last seven months tracking a killer. The last few months he has been working with a fellow officer assigned to him to observe his K-9 Unit. He has come to really enjoy his relationship with the Captain. He will hate to see her leave. He believes he's closing in on the Red Rose Killer, then his teenage daughter is abducted and now it has become personal.
Captain Gretchen Hill has been assigned to partner with Captain Blackwood to learn all about the K-9 Unit. She will soon return to her home base and start a K-9 Unit at Minot Air Force Base. She has been involved with the search for the Red Rose Killer for these last few months. Something in her died when her fiance` had died four years ago, so how can she be drawn to this man and his daughter.
A journey of two broken hearts trying to survive in a world somehow turning upside down. God has a plan for these two, a plan for a hope and a future. God has a plan for you too, a good plan and not for evil. Give Him your heart and watch Him move in your life.
June 17, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It had action, suspense, and romance. I loved the characters in the story. Captain Justin Blackwood was always a bachelor. He had a daughter that lived with her mother. He was there when he needed to be for his daughter, but was always happy to live alone. Something happened, and now his daughter is living with him. It was sweet to see the bond between daughter and dad develop throughout the story. He was a very protective dad. When Boyd Sullivan broke out of prison, and made his daughter his new target Justin worked even harder to capture him, and put him back behind bars. I loved the romance between him and Gretchen who worked the case with him. They were both Captains, so it was nice that he didn’t call all the shots. At times he wanted to follow his heart, instead of his training. That’s when Gretchen was there to either back him up, or talk some since into him. They made a good team. This book is a keeper!
September 14, 2018
This was the final book in the military K-9 series and Shirlee does it well. You can see personal things in the way Shirlee writes the book. I loved how they ended the book with Justin Blackwood's story. I really enjoyed his character and Captain Gretchen Hill. I enjoyed the way she brings out the strength in their characters and how well they work together. Shirlee also brings out how important family is both of them. I like how she ties all the lose ends up and brings all the storylines to a close. She also keeps a steady but yet fast pace of what is going on in the story. She also shows how close Justin is to his daughter and what he is afraid of. I will miss this series once we see the Christmas bonus. Awesome job Shirlee.
May 31, 2020
Military K-9 Unit #8–Shirlee McCoy. I really enjoyed this book.
The RRK and his accomplice are getting sloppy. They are making mistakes at every turn and Captains Justin Blackwood and Gretchen Hill are fast on the trail.
RRK, Boyd Sullivan, has infiltrated Canyon Air Force Base once again. This time his target is Blackwood’s daughter, Portia. Portia is the anonymous blogger who has targeted the Special Forces team and the RRK. He has kidnapped Portia to force Justin to come rescue her. Portia is rescued and Sullivan escapes yet again.
Gretchen will become RRK’s next victim for her part in Portia’s rescue. She is taken. Justin Blackwood and his team move heaven and earth to find and save Gretchen.
The RRK and his accomplice are getting sloppy. They are making mistakes at every turn and Captains Justin Blackwood and Gretchen Hill are fast on the trail.
RRK, Boyd Sullivan, has infiltrated Canyon Air Force Base once again. This time his target is Blackwood’s daughter, Portia. Portia is the anonymous blogger who has targeted the Special Forces team and the RRK. He has kidnapped Portia to force Justin to come rescue her. Portia is rescued and Sullivan escapes yet again.
Gretchen will become RRK’s next victim for her part in Portia’s rescue. She is taken. Justin Blackwood and his team move heaven and earth to find and save Gretchen.
November 18, 2024
The Base is on full alert! Portia the 16 year old daughter of head of security is missing.
Justin the head of Base Security found out his sixteen year old daughter was the hidden blogger that taunted the Red Rose Killer. Now the Killer knew Portia was the blogger and has kidnapped her. He has started to taunt Justin with how he would kill her. The only thing keeping him sane was Gretchen the other Captain who had been undergoing training in how to put together a K-9 unit like his. And of course his trusted dog, Quinn.
Everyone who could was out hunting this monster who not only kills adults but goes after children also.
Justin the head of Base Security found out his sixteen year old daughter was the hidden blogger that taunted the Red Rose Killer. Now the Killer knew Portia was the blogger and has kidnapped her. He has started to taunt Justin with how he would kill her. The only thing keeping him sane was Gretchen the other Captain who had been undergoing training in how to put together a K-9 unit like his. And of course his trusted dog, Quinn.
Everyone who could was out hunting this monster who not only kills adults but goes after children also.
October 4, 2018
Good ending to the Military K-9 saga. The Red Rose killer is finally captured, and the mystery of the anonymous helper is also solved, giving an insight into how twisted this killer is.
Captain Gretchen Hill is on TDY at Canyon to learn about setting up a K-9 unit at her home base in Minot, ND. She hits a snag when she falls in love with her trainer and investigative partner, Captain Justin Blackwood.
Good story with some action, some surprises and a lot of happy endings. Kudos to all these authors for bringing in so many adorable puppies. too.
Captain Gretchen Hill is on TDY at Canyon to learn about setting up a K-9 unit at her home base in Minot, ND. She hits a snag when she falls in love with her trainer and investigative partner, Captain Justin Blackwood.
Good story with some action, some surprises and a lot of happy endings. Kudos to all these authors for bringing in so many adorable puppies. too.
November 26, 2018
Wonderful conclusion
Loved this series, I have enjoyed all of the book in this series. It seems as each one of the main characters got their Happy Ever After, plus they captured the bad guy. Each character had things they were dealing with, the loss of a parent, loss of a fiance three weeks before the wedding, guilt over the loss of a comrade, PTSD, but God brought love, peace,understanding, New relationships, to each and every one of them. If we just wait on the Lord, and remember that ALL things work to the good for those who love Him. Amen💗💗
Loved this series, I have enjoyed all of the book in this series. It seems as each one of the main characters got their Happy Ever After, plus they captured the bad guy. Each character had things they were dealing with, the loss of a parent, loss of a fiance three weeks before the wedding, guilt over the loss of a comrade, PTSD, but God brought love, peace,understanding, New relationships, to each and every one of them. If we just wait on the Lord, and remember that ALL things work to the good for those who love Him. Amen💗💗
November 2, 2018
love the story if you like suspense and romance along with dogs you have to read this book Justin is having a hard week, he is upset with his daughter and them she is kidnapped, Gretchen is helping him find her, along with Quinn his k9. can they find her before it is to late? love the series. looking forward to the next book
January 19, 2025
Valiant Defender
Look Crime is put out of business and Sullivan and his accomplice arrested. They found the Anonymous Blogger and another couple is engaged. This was a great series.
Look Crime is put out of business and Sullivan and his accomplice arrested. They found the Anonymous Blogger and another couple is engaged. This was a great series.
October 20, 2018
Great story and series. All loose ends of the series were wrapped up logically in this fast moving story.
November 10, 2018
The Red Rose Killer has been a great series, to read. I do hope you all find another exciting series to write.
November 14, 2018
awesome conclusion to this great series
November 15, 2018
Heroic and auspense
It amazes me on what this author has done to bring the love and strength to this people and the animals are so talented and well trained.
It amazes me on what this author has done to bring the love and strength to this people and the animals are so talented and well trained.
November 29, 2018
Exceptional Series
I read the entire series of the Military K9 Series and enjoyed each and every book. This was a great series and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have....
I read the entire series of the Military K9 Series and enjoyed each and every book. This was a great series and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have....
December 17, 2018
A satisfying end to an action packed continuity series!
January 12, 2019
Great way to end all the drama, romance and suspense!!! Loved the book!!!
February 8, 2019
I loved reading Valiant Defender by Shirlee McCoy. I could hardly put it down.
February 20, 2019
Finally
This series comes to an end. Soooo good but I will miss it. I hope to some day read it again. The ending was good.
This series comes to an end. Soooo good but I will miss it. I hope to some day read it again. The ending was good.
April 8, 2019
Good job
Thin and repetitive dialogue but the best in the series so far. It great if it’s a beginner novelist. Series had great potential.
Thin and repetitive dialogue but the best in the series so far. It great if it’s a beginner novelist. Series had great potential.
September 24, 2019
Wow!! An ending worthy of the series!! No spoilers, but if you read the other books in the series, you’re going to love this book!! This series was truly fantastic!!
November 1, 2019
Excellent
I could see and hear Shirlee in this book. Great job both with the suspense and with living out their faith.
I could see and hear Shirlee in this book. Great job both with the suspense and with living out their faith.
May 10, 2020
I always enjoy books with dogs in them. The plot was a little weak.
June 17, 2020
Great read!
I like fast paced suspense and this book did not disappoint! Now I want to read all books by this author!
I like fast paced suspense and this book did not disappoint! Now I want to read all books by this author!
November 13, 2020
I love dogs!
But, in this series, I learned more about K-9 dogs used by the military!
Awesome work, you who measure up to the job!
Kudos to McCoy for writing this amazing end!
But, in this series, I learned more about K-9 dogs used by the military!
Awesome work, you who measure up to the job!
Kudos to McCoy for writing this amazing end!
April 10, 2022
A good story. Quick paced. Finished the series story line.
April 25, 2022
Loved it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews