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September Day #4
Fight or Flight
When a violent flood sweeps Shadow away, he must save himself--and others--to find his way home.
A THREAT FROM THE PAST seeks a deadly revenge.
A MENACING SECRET terrorizes children.
AND A LOST DOG braves fire...to find true love.
The 4th installment of Shojai's dark, female-driven domestic thriller series...featuring pet-centric plots!
FIGHT OR FLIGHT fills in the blanks of Shadow's missing week from SHOW AND TELL.
Lia Corazon channels her energy and emotions into the dogs she trains in her North Texas dog training kennel. She especially enjoys Karma's enthusiasm, but the Rottweiler pup's owner makes her uneasy. There's something very...wrong about him.
After a vicious storm destroys her kennel, flooding washes a mysterious black German Shepherd into her life. Shadow's presence awakens hidden talents within Lia, talents she suspects come from the parents she's never known. She'll do anything to discover the truth about her Hawaiian roots.
When a dog training exercise takes a deadly turn, Lia turns to police Detective Jeff Combs for help and learns the killer targets Hawaiian girls just like her. She sends Karma to protect a young run-away, but the killer will burn anybody who crosses him.
Police dogs are born to love, trained to serve, and called to protect. To fulfill her destiny, Karma must defeat instinct to save her family. Through the process, she'll discover what Shadow already knows: that home isn't a place--it's a person.
A THREAT FROM THE PAST seeks a deadly revenge.
A MENACING SECRET terrorizes children.
AND A LOST DOG braves fire...to find true love.
The 4th installment of Shojai's dark, female-driven domestic thriller series...featuring pet-centric plots!
FIGHT OR FLIGHT fills in the blanks of Shadow's missing week from SHOW AND TELL.
Lia Corazon channels her energy and emotions into the dogs she trains in her North Texas dog training kennel. She especially enjoys Karma's enthusiasm, but the Rottweiler pup's owner makes her uneasy. There's something very...wrong about him.
After a vicious storm destroys her kennel, flooding washes a mysterious black German Shepherd into her life. Shadow's presence awakens hidden talents within Lia, talents she suspects come from the parents she's never known. She'll do anything to discover the truth about her Hawaiian roots.
When a dog training exercise takes a deadly turn, Lia turns to police Detective Jeff Combs for help and learns the killer targets Hawaiian girls just like her. She sends Karma to protect a young run-away, but the killer will burn anybody who crosses him.
Police dogs are born to love, trained to serve, and called to protect. To fulfill her destiny, Karma must defeat instinct to save her family. Through the process, she'll discover what Shadow already knows: that home isn't a place--it's a person.
342 pages, ebook
First published July 31, 2018
238 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Amy Shojai
130 books311 followersAmy Shojai has been reinventing herself for years. She writes THRILLERS WITH BITE! in her debut thriller LOST AND FOUND that features a service dog, hero cat, an animal behaviorist named September Day, and assorted mayhem. The sequel HIDE AND SEEK continues the story with terror from the past revisiting the heroine. The next book in the series, SHOW AND TELL brings the story full circle. The 4th title FIGHT OR FLIGHT introduces some new characters and challenges. And book #5 HIT AND RUN answers many questions about September's past.
Amy's a certified animal behavior consultant, and the award-winning author of 35+ best-selling pet books that cover furry babies to old-fogies, first aid to natural healing, and behavior/training to Chicken Soup-icity. She created the puppies.about.com site and was the cat behavior expert at cats.About.com. Amy has been featured as an expert in hundreds of print venues including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Reader's Digest, and Family Circle, as well as national radio and television networks such as CNN, Animal Planet's DOGS 101 and CATS 101. She brings her unique pet-centric viewpoint to her Bling, Bitches & Blood Blog, public appearances.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 23, 2024
This is very much the sequel to the book ahead of it in the series: it opens with Shadow being swept away in the flash flood that ended SHOW AND TELL.
The body of the story introduces a new character, Lia, and is mostly told from her POV with September, Macy and Shadow having several cameos dispersed throughout. This entire novel is non-stop action: tornado, flash flood, wild fires, human trafficking. A wild ride.
SPOILER ALERT:
I respect this author's non-fiction work, so was disappointed to see she feature not one, but two dog trainers with intact pets. But, I guess it was necessary to the series' future.
The body of the story introduces a new character, Lia, and is mostly told from her POV with September, Macy and Shadow having several cameos dispersed throughout. This entire novel is non-stop action: tornado, flash flood, wild fires, human trafficking. A wild ride.
SPOILER ALERT:
I respect this author's non-fiction work, so was disappointed to see she feature not one, but two dog trainers with intact pets. But, I guess it was necessary to the series' future.
July 18, 2021
A much better read than her first few books.
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2021
Fight or Flight by Amy Shojai is the 4th book in her series and I'm very happy with this audiobook. It's my favorite book in the series and I'm so glad to see that she's growing in her writing skills, plot line and even narration. I know that in the beginning, I wasn’t fond of her narrating her books and I just kept going with it because I absolutely love books with K-9 handler dogs. Well done and I'm looking forward to listening to book 5!
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2021
Fight or Flight by Amy Shojai is the 4th book in her series and I'm very happy with this audiobook. It's my favorite book in the series and I'm so glad to see that she's growing in her writing skills, plot line and even narration. I know that in the beginning, I wasn’t fond of her narrating her books and I just kept going with it because I absolutely love books with K-9 handler dogs. Well done and I'm looking forward to listening to book 5!
April 7, 2022
Talk about family drama!!! Fun book that added new characters to the series and some serious curve balls I didn't see coming.
I'm really glad Amy Shojai promises not to kill animal characters. It would be horrible to loose these characters (she sure kills off the humans!) These are just great books.
I'm really glad Amy Shojai promises not to kill animal characters. It would be horrible to loose these characters (she sure kills off the humans!) These are just great books.
August 1, 2018
Did not disappoint!
Just finished Fight or Flight, and ! look forward for the next one. Loved the new characters you introduced. They mesh together perfectly. It was so good I couldn't put it down.
Just finished Fight or Flight, and ! look forward for the next one. Loved the new characters you introduced. They mesh together perfectly. It was so good I couldn't put it down.
August 31, 2018
Courage Overcomes Evil
First, to know: this story successfully weaves 4 of Ms Shojai's previous novellas about Lia and Karma her Rottweiler into novel length with new, updated, and explanatory chapters involving September and Shadow.
If you have read any these ('Fight or Flight', 'Lost & Found', 'Hide & Seek', or 'Show & Tell'), you will still absolutely enjoy this book.
Main characters: Kia and September - dog trainers with some surprising connections.No
Karma and Shadow - dogs trained to be companions for police or people in need.
Plot - no spoilers
Through extraordinary circumstances Lia and Karma are helped by Shadow. Lia would keep him, but his love for September beckons him home.
When Lia accidentally stumbles upon a child abduction ring, and danger becomes intense, Shadow reappears.
I'll say no more. Read it!
PG-13/Mature readers
No strong language that I can remember
Horrible people plan violence, but none is described
Intense situations
No sex
Keep these stories coming, Amy.
First, to know: this story successfully weaves 4 of Ms Shojai's previous novellas about Lia and Karma her Rottweiler into novel length with new, updated, and explanatory chapters involving September and Shadow.
If you have read any these ('Fight or Flight', 'Lost & Found', 'Hide & Seek', or 'Show & Tell'), you will still absolutely enjoy this book.
Main characters: Kia and September - dog trainers with some surprising connections.No
Karma and Shadow - dogs trained to be companions for police or people in need.
Plot - no spoilers
Through extraordinary circumstances Lia and Karma are helped by Shadow. Lia would keep him, but his love for September beckons him home.
When Lia accidentally stumbles upon a child abduction ring, and danger becomes intense, Shadow reappears.
I'll say no more. Read it!
PG-13/Mature readers
No strong language that I can remember
Horrible people plan violence, but none is described
Intense situations
No sex
Keep these stories coming, Amy.
July 18, 2021
I listen to this on AuthorsDirect. The narrator did a wonderful job. I did have a problem with the changing points of view the story was being told from. The hardest was the puppy’s, Karma. Once I got past that, it was a really good story.
This is the first in the series that I have read. It centers on 21 year old Lia Corazon trying to follow her passion of training a police dog. This woman has not had an extremely tough life but not a normal childhood. Her mother was killed in childbirth and she was raised by her grandparents. Lia has been sheltered from the truth of her conception and information about her parents. She does fit in.
This is an uplifting story by the time you get to the end of it. I couldn’t get through it fast enough.
This is the first in the series that I have read. It centers on 21 year old Lia Corazon trying to follow her passion of training a police dog. This woman has not had an extremely tough life but not a normal childhood. Her mother was killed in childbirth and she was raised by her grandparents. Lia has been sheltered from the truth of her conception and information about her parents. She does fit in.
This is an uplifting story by the time you get to the end of it. I couldn’t get through it fast enough.
December 1, 2020
I’m giving this one a 3.5, rounded up to 4. It’s a good enough read I’m tempted to pick up other books in the series (it’d be nice to know some of the backstory that is obviously in play in parts of the book).
OTOH, there were issues that bothered me—like early in the book, when Lia told the police about the little girl she had found near the murder victim’s body, and the cops kept pushing the focus back to the corpse. Seriously? This little girl may be a witness. She may be in danger. She is out in the woods pretty much alone. I guarantee any cop on the planet would tell you this takes priority. The murder will still be there after she’s found.
Also, the book at times takes us into the POV of the dog, Karma, and while it works quite a bit of the time, there are times where we are told things that just seem way too complicated for a DOG to be thinking. I’m sure dogs do have more ability to reason than we give them credit for, but I’m also almost certain they do not know or care what oxytocin is. On those pages it seems like the reader is brought into this weird blend of the dog’s POV and that of some omniscient narrator. It probably doesn’t bother everyone but POV violations always bother me.
And at times we get to a climactic point in a storyline...and the chapter ends, and the next one picks up days later in the aftermath. I’m not sure what I wanted there—I didn’t need to go to the hospital w certain characters towards the end, but the jump just seemed abrupt and frustrating.
Long story short, I did like the book—I discovered I liked K9-type storylines after reading the Creed series by Alex Kava. And I think this author has a real talent for storytelling. I’m a bit undecided about picking up earlier books in the series because I have a feeling the things that frustrated me here will be more problematic in earlier books. But I AM curious about some of the backstories, and I would love to see how this author develops in later books in this series. I have a feeling a lot of this is going to be smoothed out very nicely as the writing continues.
OTOH, there were issues that bothered me—like early in the book, when Lia told the police about the little girl she had found near the murder victim’s body, and the cops kept pushing the focus back to the corpse. Seriously? This little girl may be a witness. She may be in danger. She is out in the woods pretty much alone. I guarantee any cop on the planet would tell you this takes priority. The murder will still be there after she’s found.
Also, the book at times takes us into the POV of the dog, Karma, and while it works quite a bit of the time, there are times where we are told things that just seem way too complicated for a DOG to be thinking. I’m sure dogs do have more ability to reason than we give them credit for, but I’m also almost certain they do not know or care what oxytocin is. On those pages it seems like the reader is brought into this weird blend of the dog’s POV and that of some omniscient narrator. It probably doesn’t bother everyone but POV violations always bother me.
And at times we get to a climactic point in a storyline...and the chapter ends, and the next one picks up days later in the aftermath. I’m not sure what I wanted there—I didn’t need to go to the hospital w certain characters towards the end, but the jump just seemed abrupt and frustrating.
Long story short, I did like the book—I discovered I liked K9-type storylines after reading the Creed series by Alex Kava. And I think this author has a real talent for storytelling. I’m a bit undecided about picking up earlier books in the series because I have a feeling the things that frustrated me here will be more problematic in earlier books. But I AM curious about some of the backstories, and I would love to see how this author develops in later books in this series. I have a feeling a lot of this is going to be smoothed out very nicely as the writing continues.
April 28, 2023
Oh wow! You certainly get a lot in this story from the tail end of a hurricane, flooding, a deadly fire and that is just what mother nature throws at the characters. The story starts just before the last book (show and tell) ends with what 'The good dog Shadow' goes through at the end of the hurricane and how he returns to his family September. At the same time we are introduced to a new character and the setting behind the story. September isn't in this book as much and the story is more focussed on Lia and her young pup but September and Shadow still play a key role in the adventure and What an adventure it is! The story is packed full to bursting with animals, bad guy's, secrets and dangerous situations to keep your heart pumping and I just loved it. Off to start the next book.
Lia is determined to prove she can make it on her own, when she turns her back on her grandparents money to follow her dream and become a dog trainer. A hurricane and a man with a gun nearly put a stop to everything and now back with her grandparents she has just weeks to prove she can make it. A dead body and a missing girl get in the way of training her favourite and puppy and only chance of making it as police dog trainer. Instead Lia once again finds herself defying her grandparents wishes and she and Karma join in the search. A search that turns a lot more complicated and deadly. September Day is reluctant to put her dog Shadow in any more danger but not even she can resist helping but will it be enough to keep everyone safe?
I like the narrator. She helps bring the story to life with emotion and compassion.
I was given free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntary left this review.
Lia is determined to prove she can make it on her own, when she turns her back on her grandparents money to follow her dream and become a dog trainer. A hurricane and a man with a gun nearly put a stop to everything and now back with her grandparents she has just weeks to prove she can make it. A dead body and a missing girl get in the way of training her favourite and puppy and only chance of making it as police dog trainer. Instead Lia once again finds herself defying her grandparents wishes and she and Karma join in the search. A search that turns a lot more complicated and deadly. September Day is reluctant to put her dog Shadow in any more danger but not even she can resist helping but will it be enough to keep everyone safe?
I like the narrator. She helps bring the story to life with emotion and compassion.
I was given free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntary left this review.
December 15, 2021
This is my first of Amy Shojai's books and it won't be my last. This book has a lot going on. There is human trafficking, dog and cock fighting, a flood, a fire, and family drama. There is a lot of dog training which I found quite interesting. Her use of a shock collar in this book was quite unique. We meet Lia Corazon, a dog trainer who is about to lose her kennel. She is a strong female lead like September Day and I hope we see more of her. Her problems with her grandparents play an important role in the book. My favorite character by far was Karma the dog. Part of the book is told from Karma's viewpoint and I loved it. How I wish I could talk to dogs! September's dog Shadow also plays a crucial role in this story. Ms Shojai's descriptions had me right there, going through the flood and the fire with my panic building, nearly in tears fearing for the dogs' safety. In the epilogue the author talks about the fact and fiction behind the book-much of it is based on fact.. I admire Ms Shojai for the work she does. I received a review copy of this book from Story Origin to whom I am eternally grateful for introducing me to this wonderful author and her tremendous characters.
March 21, 2023
Lia Corazon has poured her heart and soul into her kennel, but a severe storm destroys it. A mysterious, black German Shepherd appears during the storm and helps her. Afterwards, Lia makes a deal with her strict grandparents in hopes of getting back to training dogs full time. She starts training a young Rottweiler named Karma as a police dog. When Karma finds a body during a training session along with a young girl, Lia is thrust into a dangerous police investigation.
I've really enjoyed this series and this book is no exception. It's well-written with well-rounded characters, some of whom you'll like and others you won't, and it has a fast-paced plot. I liked Lia who is a determined young woman who has worked for her dream and has a wonderful connection with dogs. This book was a page-turner full of action, intrigue, and suspense. I did have a couple questions that were not answered in the end, but I am looking forward to the next book. I highly recommend both book and series which I think is best read in order.
I've really enjoyed this series and this book is no exception. It's well-written with well-rounded characters, some of whom you'll like and others you won't, and it has a fast-paced plot. I liked Lia who is a determined young woman who has worked for her dream and has a wonderful connection with dogs. This book was a page-turner full of action, intrigue, and suspense. I did have a couple questions that were not answered in the end, but I am looking forward to the next book. I highly recommend both book and series which I think is best read in order.
August 16, 2021
Another enjoyable installment in the September Day series. In this book, Lia wants to follow her passion in training dogs, but her family doesn't approve. Family secrets are uncovered and Lia must deal with those as well as murder and mysteries she finds herself pulled into.
I'm impressed with the knowledge and information about animals that Amy Shojai is able to incorporated into her stories. I especially love how she even includes scenes from the animals perspective.
There were a few minor hiccups in the audio quality, especially as things moved from one chapter to the next, but overall it wasn't too distracting.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.
I'm impressed with the knowledge and information about animals that Amy Shojai is able to incorporated into her stories. I especially love how she even includes scenes from the animals perspective.
There were a few minor hiccups in the audio quality, especially as things moved from one chapter to the next, but overall it wasn't too distracting.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.
December 9, 2020
I have read most of Amy Shojai’s books and have enjoyed them all. I was surprised that September Day had a very small part in this book. It featured a new character. I enjoyed reading about her and her dog, Karma, but I was not impressed with her character nor her sister’s character thus the four star rating. Yes, there was drama and a lot of excitement, but Lia Corazon lacked a trait I can not pin point. I hope there are more of September Day and if there is another book on Lia Corazon, I will read it too.
April 8, 2021
Fight or Flight By Amy Shojai
Fight or flight is the 4th book in the September Day series. My goodness! This series are the best I have read! Each can stand alone, but when I finish one, I immediately want the next. The series is full of good and bad people and wonderfully trained dogs! There is mystery, suspense, nail biting goodness in every book. I know you will fall in love with this series and author!
Fight or flight is the 4th book in the September Day series. My goodness! This series are the best I have read! Each can stand alone, but when I finish one, I immediately want the next. The series is full of good and bad people and wonderfully trained dogs! There is mystery, suspense, nail biting goodness in every book. I know you will fall in love with this series and author!
February 20, 2022
The author did a great jLeah was a great job with this one. Being a former Rotweiler owner made this a very believable read. They are very loyal and will do anything to please. Toys are very important to them & provide comfort as well as play. Leah was a great character. She had faith in Karma and the will to succeed. This story was full of hope, survival & pure survival. I have read 2 out of this series & want the rest as well. This will keep you turning pages. Great series.
April 27, 2019
Family is so to choose to make it
Loved this book, #4 in the series. There was lots of drama, mystery and suspense and was so interesting I read it all in one sitting. Recommend this book to every person who like mystery, drama and suspense with animals and humans. It deserved a #5 rating, which I have given it.
Loved this book, #4 in the series. There was lots of drama, mystery and suspense and was so interesting I read it all in one sitting. Recommend this book to every person who like mystery, drama and suspense with animals and humans. It deserved a #5 rating, which I have given it.
June 6, 2020
I loved the continuation of the September Day series #4
Good story, I couldn’t put it down as I finished it at 1:40 am. I Amy Shojai’s series and couldn’t wait for the audio book. #5 will come when Amy gets the time but her animal babies are needing her help so she can’t write as much. Thanks Amy for the news letter that’s how I found out about this book.
Good story, I couldn’t put it down as I finished it at 1:40 am. I Amy Shojai’s series and couldn’t wait for the audio book. #5 will come when Amy gets the time but her animal babies are needing her help so she can’t write as much. Thanks Amy for the news letter that’s how I found out about this book.
October 1, 2020
Another Stellar Book
Some new characters are introduced in this, the fourth book in this exciting series. I have enjoyed everything about the stories told about September and her dog Shadow. There is nothing that is wrong with any of these books. They are just brilliant! I’d highly recommend this series to anyone of any genre.
Some new characters are introduced in this, the fourth book in this exciting series. I have enjoyed everything about the stories told about September and her dog Shadow. There is nothing that is wrong with any of these books. They are just brilliant! I’d highly recommend this series to anyone of any genre.
July 21, 2022
comments
Good story line, but I didn’t like the Hawaiian pining English, Hawaiians have spoken clear English for decades now. I think the pijin is derogatory. Also, the thinking of the dogs gave them powers that. Real dogs don’t have or operate for. I probably won’t be reading any more of this series. It may be a good story for adolescent readers.
Good story line, but I didn’t like the Hawaiian pining English, Hawaiians have spoken clear English for decades now. I think the pijin is derogatory. Also, the thinking of the dogs gave them powers that. Real dogs don’t have or operate for. I probably won’t be reading any more of this series. It may be a good story for adolescent readers.
August 8, 2018
I couldn't put this book down! What an exciting page-turning romp through the ever-changing weather and elements of Texas. I absolutely love Amy Shojai's intuitive writing from the dog's perspective. This makes me want to go back and read her previous thrillers.
August 3, 2018
This 4th book in series is as delightful as the first three. Shojais' comments at books end are rewarding in that the reader learns even more about the history of the setting and facts known regarding cats and dogs. I will watch for more in the series.
June 6, 2019
This series of books held my interest so much I finish a book a day when I wasn't dragged away on real life intruding. I admit worrying towards the end of this one that I'd be disappointed. That didn't happen. Many thanks to the author.
October 20, 2019
I liked this book. Would have liked more of September & Shadow. But I also liked the other characters. I hope there is another book coming as I would like to learn more about Tee. Also the story of September's mom & Lia's grandmother. Plus much more about the dogs.
July 7, 2022
So much good about this book, but this book didn't live up to the promo.
Ideally liked the characters, or most of them. But as much as I loved Karma, there wasn't enough Shadow. Too much of the story didn't mesh.
Ideally liked the characters, or most of them. But as much as I loved Karma, there wasn't enough Shadow. Too much of the story didn't mesh.
May 13, 2023
Fight or Flight is an interesting thriller about a dog trainer and some very intelligent dogs. The story stretches believably at times, but its an entertaining read. The narrator does a good job with the book.
September 20, 2018
Great
This is a great installment in the series. I was a little disappointed that September did not play a bigger roll, but I found I liked Lia!
This is a great installment in the series. I was a little disappointed that September did not play a bigger roll, but I found I liked Lia!
November 21, 2018
Story was disjointed compared with previous 3. Also too many new characters & not enough September
August 25, 2021
I am hooked on these books. Cannot wait to read the next one.
September 22, 2024
Love dogs!? You will love this!
Great story! This will be a great series for your enjoyment! A great dog nowadays K9! She is with September Day! Enjoy!
Great story! This will be a great series for your enjoyment! A great dog nowadays K9! She is with September Day! Enjoy!
August 14, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
I received an ARC of this from the author. Here's what I thought of it. I love the way Ms. Shojai writes about probable dog thoughts, motivations and how they seem to have a very special connection with their humans. She is truly an authority on this subject! In this fourth book of the September Day series, she introduces Lia and her rottie mix, Karma to September and her dog, Shadow. Lia has been trying to get her dog boarding and training business up and running after several major setbacks. Along the way, she gets involved in trying to help bring down a child abduction ring. The bad guys seem to specialize in Hawaiian girls. So happens that a lady cop out of Chicago, a Hawaiian herself, is also helping out. Tense and dangerous twists abound! Then there's the family. Long-kept secrets come out and are quite surprising, and not only the human ones. Thriller to the end.
I received an ARC of this from the author. Here's what I thought of it. I love the way Ms. Shojai writes about probable dog thoughts, motivations and how they seem to have a very special connection with their humans. She is truly an authority on this subject! In this fourth book of the September Day series, she introduces Lia and her rottie mix, Karma to September and her dog, Shadow. Lia has been trying to get her dog boarding and training business up and running after several major setbacks. Along the way, she gets involved in trying to help bring down a child abduction ring. The bad guys seem to specialize in Hawaiian girls. So happens that a lady cop out of Chicago, a Hawaiian herself, is also helping out. Tense and dangerous twists abound! Then there's the family. Long-kept secrets come out and are quite surprising, and not only the human ones. Thriller to the end.
October 12, 2022
The first three books in this series weren't bad. But there are way too many unbelievable, over-the-top scenarios in this series and too many loose ends. The best part of these books are when we get to read the dogs perspectives on things.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews