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National Forest K-9 #1
Chasing Justice: A National Forest K-9 Suspense
Mystery
Don't miss this page-turner for the mystery lover
A former marine learns to love again in this suspenseful, action-packed K-9 search and rescue from debut author Kathleen Donnelly.
After losing her military K-9, former marine Maya Thompson swears she’ll never work with dogs again. But when she returns home to Colorado and accepts a job with US Forest Service law enforcement, fate brings K-9 Juniper into her life just as another tragedy unfolds.
Juniper, a beautiful two-year-old Malinois, isn’t the only new addition to Maya’s life. Josh Colten, the local deputy sheriff, insists on helping with her new case. Handsome and mysterious, he’s all anyone in town can talk about, but Maya can’t let herself like him, let alone trust him.
When Maya’s grandfather goes missing amid a growing drug war, Maya must put her faith in Josh, and her own battered instincts, to find him. But there's a web of secrets tying her grandfather to the tragedy that brought Juniper into her life—secrets someone would kill to keep hidden.
Don't miss this page-turner for the mystery lover
A former marine learns to love again in this suspenseful, action-packed K-9 search and rescue from debut author Kathleen Donnelly.
After losing her military K-9, former marine Maya Thompson swears she’ll never work with dogs again. But when she returns home to Colorado and accepts a job with US Forest Service law enforcement, fate brings K-9 Juniper into her life just as another tragedy unfolds.
Juniper, a beautiful two-year-old Malinois, isn’t the only new addition to Maya’s life. Josh Colten, the local deputy sheriff, insists on helping with her new case. Handsome and mysterious, he’s all anyone in town can talk about, but Maya can’t let herself like him, let alone trust him.
When Maya’s grandfather goes missing amid a growing drug war, Maya must put her faith in Josh, and her own battered instincts, to find him. But there's a web of secrets tying her grandfather to the tragedy that brought Juniper into her life—secrets someone would kill to keep hidden.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 24, 2022
693 people are currently reading
523 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen Donnelly
8 books753 followersAward-winning author Kathleen Donnelly is a K-9 handler for a private narcotics dog detection company. She enjoys using her K-9 experience to craft realism into her fictional stories. Kathleen lives near the Colorado foothills with her husband and her four-legged co-workers. Visit Kathleen on her website at www.kathleendonnelly.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/AuthorKathleenDonnelly, follow her on Twitter @KatK9writer or find her on Instagram @authorkathleendonnelly.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
January 5, 2026
This is a Police Mystery/Suspense. I struggle to rate and review this book. There are parts of this book I really enjoyed, but there are some parts I really did not like. I guessed some of the twisted way before they were revealed, but I did like the ending. There was a lot of action and suspense during this book. I did not love the main character, and I did not love all the drinking that happened in this book. I feel that I had a lot of trouble connecting to the characters because of all the drinking and craziness going on in the book. I really feel this book just had too much going on, and I think that took away from the storyline and character development. I also feel the beginning was very confusing. This book is written to be a Romantic Suspense, but I do not find any romance in this book. There was some attraction. I did enjoyed the k-9 dog parts, and I enjoyed the chasing and action parts. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Carina Press) or author (Kathleen Donnelly) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
April 1, 2022
This exciting debut suspense features a terrific new crime-fighting duo: U.S. Forest Service Officer Maya Thompson, an Afghanistan war veteran whose explosives detection dog was killed on the job, and Juniper, a Belgian Malinois whose handler was murdered. The two need each other and bond during the investigation that follows the handler's homicide. Author Kathleen Donnelly, who manages drug detection dogs during her day job, delivers an authentic thriller with plenty of K-9 and outdoor action in a Colorado setting. This story captured me in chapter one and didn't let go. It's a must read for dog lovers and crime fiction readers alike.
March 21, 2022
This story centers around former K-9 Marine handler Maya Thompson. After she lost her K-9 partner in Afghanistan due to an IED, she decides her military career is over. The guilt of the death of her dog, the loss of her grandmother, the guilt of not attending the funeral, and her grandfather still not forgiving her for not attending said funeral, has Maya spinning out of control. Alcohol has become her vice.
Now back home in Colorado, Maya has started a job as a US Forest Service law enforcer and hope it works out.
What she never expected was to have her best friend Doug, another US Forest Service law enforcer, killed by a bomb, and she becoming once again a K-9 handler. Something she never wanted to do again.
In the midst of finding out the reason for the bomb, it becomes evident that drugs are being produced in the ranch close to the forest.
Can Maya trust Josh Colten, the deputy sheriff her grandfather has her working with? What secrets are Josh and her grandfather, the Chief sheriff, keeping? Who can she trust? Was Doug involved with the drugs?
The story was engaging and the characters well developed. A whodunit that keeps you guessing from the beginning to the end. Some issues are left unresolved, so this reader assumes a series might be developed .
Aside from the plot, this story is a reminder of the danger and stress those in the military and law enforcement deal in their lives and how it affects the individuals and their loved ones.
It’s also a story about forgiveness. Not only from others but also from themselves.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Carina Press. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
Now back home in Colorado, Maya has started a job as a US Forest Service law enforcer and hope it works out.
What she never expected was to have her best friend Doug, another US Forest Service law enforcer, killed by a bomb, and she becoming once again a K-9 handler. Something she never wanted to do again.
In the midst of finding out the reason for the bomb, it becomes evident that drugs are being produced in the ranch close to the forest.
Can Maya trust Josh Colten, the deputy sheriff her grandfather has her working with? What secrets are Josh and her grandfather, the Chief sheriff, keeping? Who can she trust? Was Doug involved with the drugs?
The story was engaging and the characters well developed. A whodunit that keeps you guessing from the beginning to the end. Some issues are left unresolved, so this reader assumes a series might be developed .
Aside from the plot, this story is a reminder of the danger and stress those in the military and law enforcement deal in their lives and how it affects the individuals and their loved ones.
It’s also a story about forgiveness. Not only from others but also from themselves.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Carina Press. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
April 18, 2022
Debut author, Kathleen Donnelly, delivers the ‘goods’ with Chasing Justice—suspense, action, crime, mystery, a spark of romance, and a dog. Her engaging cast and many twists and turns for Maya and K-9 Juniper will keep you flipping pages past your bedtime. Chasing Justice is a tale of a dark time in U.S. Forest Service officer Maya’s life. PTSD from her service as a Marine, loss, addiction, drugs, and murder seem like insurmountable battles for her. Emotional upheavals, trust issues, and forgiveness threaten her ability to reconnect with her family and her new partner. Maya must overcome these obstacles to save her family and herself. The biggest risk she takes is sharing her heart again and trusting Juniper and Josh with her life. Donnelly is masterful at the K-9 handler scenes, showcasing the bond and trust between dog and human in a heartwarming manner that makes you cheer this team on. Maya’s occupation is a fresh and intriguing take on the law enforcement protagonist. Juniper captured my heart from the start with her bravery and instant connection to Maya. Chasing Justice will keep you guessing until the end while planting a seed of hope for Maya, Josh and Juniper to continue their crime fighting adventures. What a great start to a new series!
May 19, 2022
Chasing Justice by debut author Kathleen Donnelly is an action-packed page-turner. I was hooked from the first chapter. The suspense was palpable and the tension held throughout. I really liked the main characters, even with their flaws and baggage. I found them likable. What an exciting read! I hope to find more stories by this author in the future.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
May 20, 2022
Another book by a new-to-me author, and although this novel was billed as romantic suspense, there really wasn't any romance present. It should have been billed as a crime/mystery/police procedural novel instead, and although it wasn't badly written, I never really connected with the main character, Maya Thompson, a former Marine K-9 handler, who served in Afghanistan and returned home with PTSD, a pile of guilt, blaming herself for the death of her K-9 in an IED explosion, and a serious drinking problem. She's now back in Colorado working for the U.S. Forest Service in a police capacity but when her lifelong best friend and Field Training Officer, Doug, also a K-9 handler, dies, she unwillingly inherits his K-9 companion, Juniper.
Although I certainly understand how big the issues of PTSD, alcoholism, self-medicating with illegal substances, and suicide are to our returning veterans, I found myself wondering why I didn't feel a whole lot of sympathy for Maya. I'm guessing it was because her character never really was fully developed, most of her internal dialogue consisted of her feelings of guilt and self-pity. When 12-step programs and/or therapy are mentioned, she's unwilling to try to help herself. And those are just some of her issues.
I must also advise readers that in addition to those touchy subjects, this novel also includes scenes of violence against women, and discussions of suicide. If these are triggers for you, you might want to read something else.
As far as the action/suspense/mystery elements this novel went, all were there, although somewhat confusing in their presentation--the common denominator being the mixing, sale and distribution of illegal drugs--another subject that simply didn't hold a great deal of interest for this reader, who found the best parts of this novel were the scenes of training, working with, and getting to know the personality of K-9 Juniper.
All in all, it wasn't a bad read, it just the wrong book for this reader.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
Although I certainly understand how big the issues of PTSD, alcoholism, self-medicating with illegal substances, and suicide are to our returning veterans, I found myself wondering why I didn't feel a whole lot of sympathy for Maya. I'm guessing it was because her character never really was fully developed, most of her internal dialogue consisted of her feelings of guilt and self-pity. When 12-step programs and/or therapy are mentioned, she's unwilling to try to help herself. And those are just some of her issues.
I must also advise readers that in addition to those touchy subjects, this novel also includes scenes of violence against women, and discussions of suicide. If these are triggers for you, you might want to read something else.
As far as the action/suspense/mystery elements this novel went, all were there, although somewhat confusing in their presentation--the common denominator being the mixing, sale and distribution of illegal drugs--another subject that simply didn't hold a great deal of interest for this reader, who found the best parts of this novel were the scenes of training, working with, and getting to know the personality of K-9 Juniper.
All in all, it wasn't a bad read, it just the wrong book for this reader.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
September 5, 2022
Maya Thompson, a U.S. Marine has returned home from Afghanistan to Colorado with PTSD after losing her K-9. Best friend Doug Leyton is now Maya’s field training officer (FTO) to become a U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer. On the 2nd last day of training Maya makes a promise to Doug under emergency conditions that she doesn’t know if she can keep.
There is a note at the beginning of the novel advising:
After finishing the novel it was not surprising to learn that Kathleen Donnelly is a co-owner and K-9 handler for Sherlock Hounds Detection Canines, a private narcotics detection company. Authenticity and realism add heightened interest to the relationship between Doug and his K-9 Juniper and as Juniper responds to changes in his handling have genuine sparks of detail and emotions.
I was engrossed in Kathleen Donnelly’s debut novel! I am thankful that Kathleen Donnelly began following my book reviews on Instagram or I might not have discovered her writing.
Exploring the author’s social media, it was very exciting to read an announcement made on FB this summer.
There is a note at the beginning of the novel advising:
“Chasing Justice includes material some readers might find difficult, including violence against women, drug and alcohol use, and discussion of suicide.”I felt all subject matter was vital to the story and handled with care not to exploit or minimize.
After finishing the novel it was not surprising to learn that Kathleen Donnelly is a co-owner and K-9 handler for Sherlock Hounds Detection Canines, a private narcotics detection company. Authenticity and realism add heightened interest to the relationship between Doug and his K-9 Juniper and as Juniper responds to changes in his handling have genuine sparks of detail and emotions.
I was engrossed in Kathleen Donnelly’s debut novel! I am thankful that Kathleen Donnelly began following my book reviews on Instagram or I might not have discovered her writing.
Exploring the author’s social media, it was very exciting to read an announcement made on FB this summer.
“I have exciting news…I signed a two book deal with Carina Press! I'm so excited…‘Hunting the Truth’ is scheduled to come out in the summer of 2023 and ‘Killer Secrets’ will be out in 2024.”I’ll be watching for the pre-order buttons!
September 7, 2025
For the last four months I’ve purposely read books that were in a warm, fun, lite category. Summer is over, back to the real world. This was the first thing I picked up and I have to say this is definitely not a warm and fuzzy dog handler book. This Maya is troubled and has had a difficult life. She tends to make life more difficult for herself. Relax and have fun is not her thing. The dog is portrayed realistically. That doesn’t mean the dog Juniper is not fun to follow. This isn’t a talking dog. This isn’t a dog where we get to go in and read its mind. This is a working dog who when he has some downtime does fun stuff like a regular dog and I must say Kathleen Donnelly did a very good job creating this dog’s character. I kind of wish I knew a little bit more about the town and we had way more descriptions of the national forest just to give me a stronger sense of place. This is the first book in the series and there’s a tightness in Donnelly’s writing I assume will loosen up as she gets deeper into the series. Maya has a lot of demons and she’s going to have to face them.
Did I enjoy reading this? Yes.
Will I continue reading this series? Yes.
Am I glad I picked up this series? Yes. .
Did I enjoy reading this? Yes.
Will I continue reading this series? Yes.
Am I glad I picked up this series? Yes. .
June 1, 2025
Well now I’m hooked on another K-9 series. Wasn’t sure about this one when I saw it was also a romance novel, (romance novels are not my thing), but I gave it a shot, and glad I did. The romance part was a mute point, and the story was very good. Maya is the main character, she was a K-9 handler in the military. Her dog was killed in action, and when Maya returns home she swears she will never be a handler again. She joins the US Forest Service and is being trained by her best friend, Doug, and his dog Juniper. Tragedy hits and Doug is killed, and Maya is assigned as Junipers handler. She’s scared to be a handler again, but after the first day she and Juniper have bonded. A lot of action in here and Maya and Juniper are a perfect team. At 2 years old, Juniper is still considered a puppy, and when shes not working she gets bored and does puppy damage, like destroying Mayas couch and rug and toys. But when shes working she’s a perfect K-9 partner with Maya.
July 21, 2025
Emotionally charged? Check
Action-packed? Check
Characters we care about? Check
High stakes? Check
Kathleen Donnelly checks all the boxes in this high-speed thriller set against the rugged backdrop of Colorado's forests. Maya Thompson, a former Marine haunted by loss, is reluctantly drawn back into the K-9 career field when she’s partnered with the high-spirited Malinois, Juniper. As a local threat escalates and her grandfather disappears, Maya must compartmentalize her grief, investigate a deepening drug war, and throttle her wary attraction to a deputy sheriff she's unsure she can trust.
Fans of Alex Kava's Ryder Creed series are going to fall in love with Donnelly's National Forest K-9 books!
Action-packed? Check
Characters we care about? Check
High stakes? Check
Kathleen Donnelly checks all the boxes in this high-speed thriller set against the rugged backdrop of Colorado's forests. Maya Thompson, a former Marine haunted by loss, is reluctantly drawn back into the K-9 career field when she’s partnered with the high-spirited Malinois, Juniper. As a local threat escalates and her grandfather disappears, Maya must compartmentalize her grief, investigate a deepening drug war, and throttle her wary attraction to a deputy sheriff she's unsure she can trust.
Fans of Alex Kava's Ryder Creed series are going to fall in love with Donnelly's National Forest K-9 books!
September 18, 2022
Questo libro mi è proprio piaciuto, nonostante fosse chiaro fin dall'inizio chi fossero i cattivi, ma c'erano comunque situazioni poco chiare. Mi sono piaciuti i personaggi principali, ben caratterizzati, e in un paio di occasioni mi sono sentita molto vicina alla protagonista per le emozioni che provava (in un caso mi è cascata una lacrimuccia, lo confesso). Ho scoperto che c'è un seguito, che non vedo l'ora di leggere, peccato che esca fra un anno...
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October 10, 2024Healing and working
Maya is the main character and she meets us with a lot of emotional baggage as a veteran K9 officer. The book starts with an explosion and leads to a tale with murder, undercover agents, moles and betrayal, family secrets and a possible romance. It also has an amazing K9 who is the heroine of the book. I enjoyed the characters and writing style and look forward to seeing more of Maya and her grandad the sheriff and her new friend/maybe more Josh.
Maya is the main character and she meets us with a lot of emotional baggage as a veteran K9 officer. The book starts with an explosion and leads to a tale with murder, undercover agents, moles and betrayal, family secrets and a possible romance. It also has an amazing K9 who is the heroine of the book. I enjoyed the characters and writing style and look forward to seeing more of Maya and her grandad the sheriff and her new friend/maybe more Josh.
October 7, 2025
I had to put the book down a few times because she kept the tension going throughout the story. There isn't an overload of foreshadowing or pitiful me despite what the main character is dealing with. Being a veteran and a dog lover I could empathize.
Enjoyed this book more than I thought I would.
Enjoyed this book more than I thought I would.
August 3, 2024
Fab
Loved this story. Any animal lover will gall in love with this dog. She is high drive and has such a personality. Anyone who has owned a high drive breed will associate with this dog and handler. So well written
Loved this story. Any animal lover will gall in love with this dog. She is high drive and has such a personality. Anyone who has owned a high drive breed will associate with this dog and handler. So well written
July 26, 2024
great story
I really liked this book and the characters. I can’t wait to read the next one. I’ll always looking for a great series
I really liked this book and the characters. I can’t wait to read the next one. I’ll always looking for a great series
April 7, 2025
*****I received this audiobook free from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Anyone who knows me knows that I chase this book because it had a dog on the cover. It was a great read. An FBI agent and her service dog are asked to pick up her old friend from prison. He is not guilty and keeps getting in the line of fire. She and her dog have to protect him and his younger troublemaking brother.
Anyone who knows me knows that I chase this book because it had a dog on the cover. It was a great read. An FBI agent and her service dog are asked to pick up her old friend from prison. He is not guilty and keeps getting in the line of fire. She and her dog have to protect him and his younger troublemaking brother.
May 22, 2022
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
3.5 hearts
I'm a huge fan of K-9 stories, so when the author asked if I would review this one I was happy. The genre is usually connected with military or law enforcement and some kind of mystery, so it's all my type of reading.
Chasing Justice has a lot to recommend it. I really liked how the dog, Juniper, was very involved in the story and we got to see her actually do some work. Maya is just back in town after leaving the military. Her grandfather is the sheriff but they have been a bit estranged since her grandmother died. She is working for the federal forestry service being trained by her friend, Doug.
Things fall apart when there are murders and a drug war happening. I was able to guess much, but not all of the mystery plot. There were a few twists. Maya works with her grandfather's second, Josh, to find her grandfather who has gone missing. Maya has a pretty good skill and strategy set; she's careful since she doesn't trust Josh. She's attracted to him, but the romantic element is in the background. The situations are very dangerous.
I enjoyed reading and the layers of story with the "police" investigations, K-9 training and work, personal relationships and romantic elements. I wouldn't really call it a romance, as there is mostly just attraction, with no relationship. I'm hoping this will be a series and we will see more of these characters and setting.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
3.5 hearts
I'm a huge fan of K-9 stories, so when the author asked if I would review this one I was happy. The genre is usually connected with military or law enforcement and some kind of mystery, so it's all my type of reading.
Chasing Justice has a lot to recommend it. I really liked how the dog, Juniper, was very involved in the story and we got to see her actually do some work. Maya is just back in town after leaving the military. Her grandfather is the sheriff but they have been a bit estranged since her grandmother died. She is working for the federal forestry service being trained by her friend, Doug.
Things fall apart when there are murders and a drug war happening. I was able to guess much, but not all of the mystery plot. There were a few twists. Maya works with her grandfather's second, Josh, to find her grandfather who has gone missing. Maya has a pretty good skill and strategy set; she's careful since she doesn't trust Josh. She's attracted to him, but the romantic element is in the background. The situations are very dangerous.
I enjoyed reading and the layers of story with the "police" investigations, K-9 training and work, personal relationships and romantic elements. I wouldn't really call it a romance, as there is mostly just attraction, with no relationship. I'm hoping this will be a series and we will see more of these characters and setting.
January 23, 2023
I discovered this new doggie duo series from fellow GR member and award-winning author, Margaret Mizushima, who I follow. This story and it’s MC’s Maya Thompson and her K9 partner, Juniper (a female, Malinois), reminds me of a couple of other series characters that I am currently reading. Initially, Maya, a returning Afghan, MP vet suffering from PTSD, kind of reminds me of Mercy Carr from Paula Munier’s Mercy & Elvis series, except Maya actually has a real job working for the US Forest Service in CO.
The book summary is pretty vague and basically just introduces the primary characters in the story. The story starts out with Maya’s childhood best friend, Doug, training her for the forest service along with Doug’s K9 partner, Juniper. Doug is killed in the line of duty in the first few chapters of the book and their chief for the forest service reassigns Juniper to Maya. Maya’s K9 partner, Zinger, was killed in action in Afghanistan because of a mistake that Maya made that led to his death. Maya is absolutely guilt-ridden and vowed to never work with another K9 for fear of making another mistake that would get her partner killed. However, because Doug had asked Maya to take care of Juniper before he died, Maya feels obligated to honor her promise to her best friend.
There are secondary storylines with one of them being the strained relationship between Maya and her grandfather, who is the local Sheriff. There is also another secondary storyline that surrounds the growing attraction between Maya and the local Deputy Sheriff, Josh. The first half of the story has Maya, Juniper and Josh investigating the bombing of the remote, mountain drug lab that killed Doug.
In the second half, the disappearance of the Sheriff is added to her and Josh’s investigations. Most of the story flips back and forth between Maya and the leader of a local extremist, anti-government, militia group, Carson, who also manufactures a drug called Krokodil, and then distributes to a Russian mob. The ending got pretty intense and scary for Maya, Juniper, and Josh as well as the missing Sheriff.
The end is a lead-in to a future installment with Maya wanting to investigate her grandmother’s suicide and bio mom’s murder, which reminds me a little of the storyline from Mizushima’s Timber Creek series, where the MC Mattie Wray investigated the disappearance of her bio mom. It’s a good storyline where the author can reveal a lot of character development to the reader, which is needed in this series.
My fave MC’s are brave, bold, bad@$$, female law enforcement types, and while Maya is a halfway decent example of this, she didn’t come off as the most likeable character. Returning vets suffering from PTSD can be a little prickly sometimes, so there is that. Hopefully, as she learns to deal with her PTSD in future installments, she will become a more likeable MC. The story is a solid 3star rating, and I look forward to the next installment.
The book summary is pretty vague and basically just introduces the primary characters in the story. The story starts out with Maya’s childhood best friend, Doug, training her for the forest service along with Doug’s K9 partner, Juniper. Doug is killed in the line of duty in the first few chapters of the book and their chief for the forest service reassigns Juniper to Maya. Maya’s K9 partner, Zinger, was killed in action in Afghanistan because of a mistake that Maya made that led to his death. Maya is absolutely guilt-ridden and vowed to never work with another K9 for fear of making another mistake that would get her partner killed. However, because Doug had asked Maya to take care of Juniper before he died, Maya feels obligated to honor her promise to her best friend.
There are secondary storylines with one of them being the strained relationship between Maya and her grandfather, who is the local Sheriff. There is also another secondary storyline that surrounds the growing attraction between Maya and the local Deputy Sheriff, Josh. The first half of the story has Maya, Juniper and Josh investigating the bombing of the remote, mountain drug lab that killed Doug.
In the second half, the disappearance of the Sheriff is added to her and Josh’s investigations. Most of the story flips back and forth between Maya and the leader of a local extremist, anti-government, militia group, Carson, who also manufactures a drug called Krokodil, and then distributes to a Russian mob. The ending got pretty intense and scary for Maya, Juniper, and Josh as well as the missing Sheriff.
The end is a lead-in to a future installment with Maya wanting to investigate her grandmother’s suicide and bio mom’s murder, which reminds me a little of the storyline from Mizushima’s Timber Creek series, where the MC Mattie Wray investigated the disappearance of her bio mom. It’s a good storyline where the author can reveal a lot of character development to the reader, which is needed in this series.
My fave MC’s are brave, bold, bad@$$, female law enforcement types, and while Maya is a halfway decent example of this, she didn’t come off as the most likeable character. Returning vets suffering from PTSD can be a little prickly sometimes, so there is that. Hopefully, as she learns to deal with her PTSD in future installments, she will become a more likeable MC. The story is a solid 3star rating, and I look forward to the next installment.
March 23, 2022
Maya left the Marines after the tragic loss of her K-9. She is back in her hometown to hopefully heal and move on with her life. She has experienced a lot of loss and trauma - even before her time in the Marines. But coming home almost immediately hits her with even more loss and trauma. She immediately thrust into an environment where she doesn't know who to trust.
The villains in the story are not exactly a secret - but the way it is shown really works for the story and advances the overall narrative. I also liked the relationship building between Maya and her grandfather - and Josh. Even though they don't spend a lot of time together on the page - it felt authentic and emotional. Particuarly in the face of everything else that was happening.
This definitely falls in line with other romantic suspense series - think Stephanie Plum or Eve Dallas. This book touches on a possible romantic relationship between Maya and Josh - but doesn't go too far down that road. That makes sense in terms of the trust building between them and all of the baggage they both bring to the table. So if that type of thing is your jam - this will be a great read for you. The story leaves us with some hope - and some clear forecasting for where things are headed.
There is definitely some sensitive content to be aware of - drug use, alcoholism, loss of a family member, abuse, and a boat load of PTSD.
I received this through NetGalley as an ARC, but these opinions are all my own.
The villains in the story are not exactly a secret - but the way it is shown really works for the story and advances the overall narrative. I also liked the relationship building between Maya and her grandfather - and Josh. Even though they don't spend a lot of time together on the page - it felt authentic and emotional. Particuarly in the face of everything else that was happening.
This definitely falls in line with other romantic suspense series - think Stephanie Plum or Eve Dallas. This book touches on a possible romantic relationship between Maya and Josh - but doesn't go too far down that road. That makes sense in terms of the trust building between them and all of the baggage they both bring to the table. So if that type of thing is your jam - this will be a great read for you. The story leaves us with some hope - and some clear forecasting for where things are headed.
There is definitely some sensitive content to be aware of - drug use, alcoholism, loss of a family member, abuse, and a boat load of PTSD.
I received this through NetGalley as an ARC, but these opinions are all my own.
March 24, 2022
A good read. Quite a setup for this one guys but hang there the ending is amazing and worth the extra time in the beginning.
Maya is struggling after returning from Afghanistan and losing both her K-9 partner and her Grandmother so close together. When her best friend helps her out by telling her about a Forest Service position, after her her Grandfather, the sheriff, won't hire her it seems like a blessing.
Read this book for quite a puzzler.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Maya is struggling after returning from Afghanistan and losing both her K-9 partner and her Grandmother so close together. When her best friend helps her out by telling her about a Forest Service position, after her her Grandfather, the sheriff, won't hire her it seems like a blessing.
Read this book for quite a puzzler.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2022
I really enjoyed this book! The connection between dog and handler (Maya) was fantastic, which was fascinating after realizing the author is a k-9 handler herself. How cool is that? The story flowed well, there was a spark of romance and good suspense. Great read by the fire, but not in a cozy way. More like stay awake and read all night kind of way. I sure hope this becomes a long-running series. I would like to see what these characters face next. (ARC review)
May 22, 2022
Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance
I’m going to start this review with a possible trigger warning… because readers deserve to know this beforehand. You will find mention of violence against women, drug and alcohol use, and discussion of suicide in this story. I didn’t find it overwhelming, but these subjects are mentioned – should any of these subjects be a trigger for you, then simply be aware.
Chasing Justice is intense in both the story itself and in some of the subjects that make up Maya’s and Josh’s story. It’s gripping, it’s tense, and I easily fell into their situation. Maya has left the Marine Corps after losing her K-9 companion to an IED. That loss tore her apart and she’s vowed to never work with dogs again. Around the same time, her grandmother died and she was unable to be there for her grandfather, something he certainly has not forgotten and is slow to forgive. Maya hit rock bottom when she lost her K-9 and made some really bad choices as she struggled to cope with the loss and her guilt.
Back stateside, Maya has taken a job with the law enforcement side of the US Forest Service. When a friend and fellow officer is killed while on duty, Maya will inherit his K-9 dog, Juniper over her objections and, in reality, her fears that she will let another dog be killed in service.
Josh, a local deputy sheriff is also on the case of the bombing and insists on helping Maya or at the very least, working together on the case. For her own reasons, Maya cannot allow herself to trust Josh but when the sheriff, her grandfather, goes missing she has no other choice.
While I enjoyed my time in Chasing JusticeI also felt that the story was laying some world-building for a continuing story or series. The romance is light, definitely hard-fought-for but believable in an enemy-to-lover kind of way. Watching Maya and Josh fight the attraction between them, and not always acknowledging it was an interesting choice that I would like to learn more about in a future story. The bad guys are as vile as possible and completely believable. I felt the build-up to the conclusion of this story very strongly, even though we are aware of who some of those villains are. I would call this more of a police/crime procedural than completely romantic suspense, but that was my reaction to the story, yours might be different.
In all, I enjoyed Chasing Justice, and would happily return to this world for more. If you like a gritty suspense story with a touch of romance, love K-9 dogs involved strongly in the plot and love to put puzzle pieces together, then this story is perfect for you.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own – good, bad, or indifferent. I was not financially compensated for this review and no expectation of a positive review was promised.*
I’m going to start this review with a possible trigger warning… because readers deserve to know this beforehand. You will find mention of violence against women, drug and alcohol use, and discussion of suicide in this story. I didn’t find it overwhelming, but these subjects are mentioned – should any of these subjects be a trigger for you, then simply be aware.
Chasing Justice is intense in both the story itself and in some of the subjects that make up Maya’s and Josh’s story. It’s gripping, it’s tense, and I easily fell into their situation. Maya has left the Marine Corps after losing her K-9 companion to an IED. That loss tore her apart and she’s vowed to never work with dogs again. Around the same time, her grandmother died and she was unable to be there for her grandfather, something he certainly has not forgotten and is slow to forgive. Maya hit rock bottom when she lost her K-9 and made some really bad choices as she struggled to cope with the loss and her guilt.
Back stateside, Maya has taken a job with the law enforcement side of the US Forest Service. When a friend and fellow officer is killed while on duty, Maya will inherit his K-9 dog, Juniper over her objections and, in reality, her fears that she will let another dog be killed in service.
Josh, a local deputy sheriff is also on the case of the bombing and insists on helping Maya or at the very least, working together on the case. For her own reasons, Maya cannot allow herself to trust Josh but when the sheriff, her grandfather, goes missing she has no other choice.
While I enjoyed my time in Chasing JusticeI also felt that the story was laying some world-building for a continuing story or series. The romance is light, definitely hard-fought-for but believable in an enemy-to-lover kind of way. Watching Maya and Josh fight the attraction between them, and not always acknowledging it was an interesting choice that I would like to learn more about in a future story. The bad guys are as vile as possible and completely believable. I felt the build-up to the conclusion of this story very strongly, even though we are aware of who some of those villains are. I would call this more of a police/crime procedural than completely romantic suspense, but that was my reaction to the story, yours might be different.
In all, I enjoyed Chasing Justice, and would happily return to this world for more. If you like a gritty suspense story with a touch of romance, love K-9 dogs involved strongly in the plot and love to put puzzle pieces together, then this story is perfect for you.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own – good, bad, or indifferent. I was not financially compensated for this review and no expectation of a positive review was promised.*
December 7, 2023
K-9, women handlers, mystery and romance all in one book--WOW!
Chasing Justice is the start of National Forest K-9 series by Kathleen Donnelly. I stumbled on this novel as I was making a list of novels involving K-9, ex-military handlers, suspense and romance for a cross country road trip I would be taking soon. All it took for me to download this book was one sentence, the teaser, before the synopsis. "A former marine learns to love again in this suspenseful, action-packed K-9 search and rescue from debut author Kathleen Donnelly." Amazingly one book checked every keyword on my search. The icing on the cake is that the ex-marine is a female and former military K-9 handler. As with many wounded female veterans, Maya Thompson, returns to her hometown, battered and broken, but still able to get the job done. Boy, does she rise up and prove she got the stuff heroes are made of! The action starts on page one and continues to thrill to the end of the book. Between the action and suspense, Kathleen Donnelly beautifully weaves a love story. Chasing Justice is more than a romance between a man and women, it illustrates the love and trust that exists between a person and their dog, and the everlasting love of family. Chasing Justice punched all my buttons!
Kathleen Donnelly, used all her experiences, to create characters a reader couldn't help but love. Maya, the male hero, Josh Colton and even the K-9 star of this novel, Juniper are so real and believable, they jump from the pages of this book into my living room. I found the character development to be more in line with an experienced author than a first-time writer. Phenomenal!
The budding romance between Maya and Josh, the local deputy, was sweet and the slow burning chemistry enough to ignite a forest fire. Even a simple kiss, in Kathleen Donnelly' s hands, raises goosebumps on me! Yet, it is the secrets that surround Maya, her grandfather and the town she grew up in that really captured my attention. Love balances the adrenaline overload that is caused by the twists and turns of the suspenseful storyline. And when the book comes to a surprising happily ever after ending, it is the love story that allows your pulse to slow down and the smiles to show through the tears.
Chasing Justice is a very well written book. It is a beautiful testament to the talent, imagination and creativity of debut author, Kathleen Donnelly. i can"t wait to dive into the next novel.
Chasing Justice is the start of National Forest K-9 series by Kathleen Donnelly. I stumbled on this novel as I was making a list of novels involving K-9, ex-military handlers, suspense and romance for a cross country road trip I would be taking soon. All it took for me to download this book was one sentence, the teaser, before the synopsis. "A former marine learns to love again in this suspenseful, action-packed K-9 search and rescue from debut author Kathleen Donnelly." Amazingly one book checked every keyword on my search. The icing on the cake is that the ex-marine is a female and former military K-9 handler. As with many wounded female veterans, Maya Thompson, returns to her hometown, battered and broken, but still able to get the job done. Boy, does she rise up and prove she got the stuff heroes are made of! The action starts on page one and continues to thrill to the end of the book. Between the action and suspense, Kathleen Donnelly beautifully weaves a love story. Chasing Justice is more than a romance between a man and women, it illustrates the love and trust that exists between a person and their dog, and the everlasting love of family. Chasing Justice punched all my buttons!
Kathleen Donnelly, used all her experiences, to create characters a reader couldn't help but love. Maya, the male hero, Josh Colton and even the K-9 star of this novel, Juniper are so real and believable, they jump from the pages of this book into my living room. I found the character development to be more in line with an experienced author than a first-time writer. Phenomenal!
The budding romance between Maya and Josh, the local deputy, was sweet and the slow burning chemistry enough to ignite a forest fire. Even a simple kiss, in Kathleen Donnelly' s hands, raises goosebumps on me! Yet, it is the secrets that surround Maya, her grandfather and the town she grew up in that really captured my attention. Love balances the adrenaline overload that is caused by the twists and turns of the suspenseful storyline. And when the book comes to a surprising happily ever after ending, it is the love story that allows your pulse to slow down and the smiles to show through the tears.
Chasing Justice is a very well written book. It is a beautiful testament to the talent, imagination and creativity of debut author, Kathleen Donnelly. i can"t wait to dive into the next novel.
January 20, 2024
SPOILER ALERT
Maya Thompson, former Marine, suffering from PTSD after Afghanistan, and denied a job by her grandfather, Wayne Thompson, the Sheriff, has taken a position with the US Forest Service. Her partner is K-9 handler Doug Leyton. On a call to a cabin in the mountain, Doug is severely wounded, as is his Malinois Juniper. Maya escapes by leaping behind a fallen log. Some person was at the cabin and had a detonator. Doug had some agenda and Maya is going to determine what.
She is reluctant to take Juniper on, even though she had promised Doug before he dies. She believes she had caused the death of her K-9 through negligence on her last mission. But they quickly bond and the dog begins helping Maya to heal. The Forest Service along with the FBI and the DEA are watching a group of ranchers led by Carson Ray. They are disgruntled by the removal of federal grazing allowances, due to an endangered bird, and are determined to let the Feds know. Carson also has a thriving drug business. His daughter Jenna is manufacturing a form of cocaine that is called Krokodil, that can cause infection and eventually gangrene. Carson's son, Cody, is using the drugs. A completely screwed up family. One of the Sheriff's men, Ceputy Sam King is working with Carson, but the Sheriff suspects. Sam puts it into Maya's head that the new Deputy, Josh Colten, from Chicago, under a shadow of a failed mission, is the mole in the department. She needs to watch her back. Carson is working with a Russian, Lana, aka Svetlana Egorov. Doug, had become involved with Jenna, and had gone to the Sheriff to confess his connection to the drug organization.
Carson's girlfriend is Bobbi, undercover DEA agent Roberta Lind, whom he kills when he suspects her of being the law.
But Colten and Maya with the help of Juniper will watch the ranch, see the activity and go in when they are looking for the Sheriff. Wayne is kidnapped by Jenna as leverage. Jenna, who is also using her drugs, has set explosives all over the ranch, intending to escape and run the organization from outside. They will save the Sheriff, catch Jenna, but Carson and Sam King will die in the shoot-out.
But with
Maya Thompson, former Marine, suffering from PTSD after Afghanistan, and denied a job by her grandfather, Wayne Thompson, the Sheriff, has taken a position with the US Forest Service. Her partner is K-9 handler Doug Leyton. On a call to a cabin in the mountain, Doug is severely wounded, as is his Malinois Juniper. Maya escapes by leaping behind a fallen log. Some person was at the cabin and had a detonator. Doug had some agenda and Maya is going to determine what.
She is reluctant to take Juniper on, even though she had promised Doug before he dies. She believes she had caused the death of her K-9 through negligence on her last mission. But they quickly bond and the dog begins helping Maya to heal. The Forest Service along with the FBI and the DEA are watching a group of ranchers led by Carson Ray. They are disgruntled by the removal of federal grazing allowances, due to an endangered bird, and are determined to let the Feds know. Carson also has a thriving drug business. His daughter Jenna is manufacturing a form of cocaine that is called Krokodil, that can cause infection and eventually gangrene. Carson's son, Cody, is using the drugs. A completely screwed up family. One of the Sheriff's men, Ceputy Sam King is working with Carson, but the Sheriff suspects. Sam puts it into Maya's head that the new Deputy, Josh Colten, from Chicago, under a shadow of a failed mission, is the mole in the department. She needs to watch her back. Carson is working with a Russian, Lana, aka Svetlana Egorov. Doug, had become involved with Jenna, and had gone to the Sheriff to confess his connection to the drug organization.
Carson's girlfriend is Bobbi, undercover DEA agent Roberta Lind, whom he kills when he suspects her of being the law.
But Colten and Maya with the help of Juniper will watch the ranch, see the activity and go in when they are looking for the Sheriff. Wayne is kidnapped by Jenna as leverage. Jenna, who is also using her drugs, has set explosives all over the ranch, intending to escape and run the organization from outside. They will save the Sheriff, catch Jenna, but Carson and Sam King will die in the shoot-out.
But with
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2025
Intriguing set up, not a great execution. A positive about this book, is that it is clear that the author did a lot of research into law-enforcement and police K9 topics. Unfortunately, I felt like the author was trying to flaunt that - the story didn’t seem as smooth because she was constantly stopping the book or forcing sentences into the storyline that served no purpose, except to show that she knew about the topic. That took away from the story itself for me.
I have two big complaints about this book, one being that the characters lacked the authentic feel. They were all pretty boring, lackluster, and only seem to interact/say things based on what the authors narrative was. This was supposed to be a romance, but the main character started off hating the main male character, based on “ arrogance”, which he never really showed, but you knew he was arrogant because she repeatedly said it. They had little interaction, before she started the immediate inner dialogue of “ I don’t need to get involved with him.”
Seemed very forced.
My other big complaint is that everything that happened in the book again it seemed forced to fit what the author wanted to happen. The opening chapter start with the main character drowning in mental health issues from her service overseas, specifically related to the death of her K9 partner. But within just a couple chapters, and a series of ridiculous and forced events, suddenly she predictively ends up with a K9 partner. MINOR SPOILERS - specifically, when your training officer/best friend is killed on duty in an event that you were present for, you don’t tend to immediately get on the phone with your boss after leaving the hospital, who is already giving you his vehicle and telling you that he have to work the dog.
Overall, it’s a good premise. However, it missed the mark with me mainly because the whole book lacked authenticity.
I have two big complaints about this book, one being that the characters lacked the authentic feel. They were all pretty boring, lackluster, and only seem to interact/say things based on what the authors narrative was. This was supposed to be a romance, but the main character started off hating the main male character, based on “ arrogance”, which he never really showed, but you knew he was arrogant because she repeatedly said it. They had little interaction, before she started the immediate inner dialogue of “ I don’t need to get involved with him.”
Seemed very forced.
My other big complaint is that everything that happened in the book again it seemed forced to fit what the author wanted to happen. The opening chapter start with the main character drowning in mental health issues from her service overseas, specifically related to the death of her K9 partner. But within just a couple chapters, and a series of ridiculous and forced events, suddenly she predictively ends up with a K9 partner. MINOR SPOILERS - specifically, when your training officer/best friend is killed on duty in an event that you were present for, you don’t tend to immediately get on the phone with your boss after leaving the hospital, who is already giving you his vehicle and telling you that he have to work the dog.
Overall, it’s a good premise. However, it missed the mark with me mainly because the whole book lacked authenticity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2025
Read my full review on Rosepoint Publishing.
Not my first book regarding a female National Park employee, it’s hard to beat Margaret Mizushima’s series or Nevada Barr’s series, but this one caught my attention and kept it.
Maya returned to Colorado where her grandfather is the local sheriff and there is a new deputy in town, Josh Colten. She lost her service K-9 while she was in Afghanistan and swore she’d never go through that loss again, but circumstances found her the owner of Justice, a young and energetic Malinois.
They end up in a high profile drug case that allows the spotlight on Juniper often with Maya’s demonstration how to manage a high energy, high prey drive animal. The forest is atmospheric and adds a deep dimension to the storyline.
I like both characters, Maya and Josh, but I’m not in love. Her military service gives her an edge of experience in combat but leaves her with PTSD, she’s intelligent and can strategize well with her service dog. Josh is not exactly battle hardened but carries baggage of his own. I loved Justice, the dog.
I tend to tire a bit with repeated (romance) issues, but enjoyed the premise, the plot, the dog, and the pace enough to go look for Book 2 and found it.
Thanks to my local library for the loan and providing me the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own. If you enjoy animal, dog stories, this is a good series to start and I can recommend them. 4.5 stars
Not my first book regarding a female National Park employee, it’s hard to beat Margaret Mizushima’s series or Nevada Barr’s series, but this one caught my attention and kept it.
Maya returned to Colorado where her grandfather is the local sheriff and there is a new deputy in town, Josh Colten. She lost her service K-9 while she was in Afghanistan and swore she’d never go through that loss again, but circumstances found her the owner of Justice, a young and energetic Malinois.
They end up in a high profile drug case that allows the spotlight on Juniper often with Maya’s demonstration how to manage a high energy, high prey drive animal. The forest is atmospheric and adds a deep dimension to the storyline.
I like both characters, Maya and Josh, but I’m not in love. Her military service gives her an edge of experience in combat but leaves her with PTSD, she’s intelligent and can strategize well with her service dog. Josh is not exactly battle hardened but carries baggage of his own. I loved Justice, the dog.
I tend to tire a bit with repeated (romance) issues, but enjoyed the premise, the plot, the dog, and the pace enough to go look for Book 2 and found it.
Thanks to my local library for the loan and providing me the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own. If you enjoy animal, dog stories, this is a good series to start and I can recommend them. 4.5 stars
March 10, 2024
Love the dog!
I love a good book with a good dog, but I held off reading this book for a long time because I really dislike romance books, especially when I'm trying to read a police procedural and/or murder mystery and someone has to plonk the obligatory sexual tension between the lead characters and muddy up what could be a good book. It seems like that romance takes top priority, and the rest of the story ends up being filler. I did like the characters, although Maya sometimes comes off a bit childish and muleheaded in the beginning. That's hard to swallow when you know she's former military K9 police; who'd put up with that? I pretty much skimmed over the “romance” parts of the book, especially when the kissing started. I did find it really hard to believe that these two officers of the law decided to start making out in the middle of a surveillance after her grandfather/chief of police is kidnapped. That was unbelievable and one of the reasons I hate romance in this type of book. It was hard to think of either Maya or Josh as professionals after that. Tacky. But I did love the dog, Juniper, the Maligator. She was so much fun! It sounds like the author knows her stuff when it comes to working dogs, and this made up for the parts that I didn't quite like so much. I will probably, well, definitely read the next book. Even if it's just to see what Juniper is up to.
I love a good book with a good dog, but I held off reading this book for a long time because I really dislike romance books, especially when I'm trying to read a police procedural and/or murder mystery and someone has to plonk the obligatory sexual tension between the lead characters and muddy up what could be a good book. It seems like that romance takes top priority, and the rest of the story ends up being filler. I did like the characters, although Maya sometimes comes off a bit childish and muleheaded in the beginning. That's hard to swallow when you know she's former military K9 police; who'd put up with that? I pretty much skimmed over the “romance” parts of the book, especially when the kissing started. I did find it really hard to believe that these two officers of the law decided to start making out in the middle of a surveillance after her grandfather/chief of police is kidnapped. That was unbelievable and one of the reasons I hate romance in this type of book. It was hard to think of either Maya or Josh as professionals after that. Tacky. But I did love the dog, Juniper, the Maligator. She was so much fun! It sounds like the author knows her stuff when it comes to working dogs, and this made up for the parts that I didn't quite like so much. I will probably, well, definitely read the next book. Even if it's just to see what Juniper is up to.
May 11, 2022
Maya, a local US Forest Service officer, through tragedy ends up as a K9 handler. She’d lost a K9 in Afghanistan and blames herself but she is getting redemption with her new dog. Josh is the new deputy in town. He’s quite a hunk and has all the women in town swooning. Both suffer from PTSD and addiction. Now they’ve joined forces on the case to find answers about the tragedy. But can Maya really trust Josh? Are there others not trustworthy?
Both Maya and Josh are engaging characters. Josh, especially, is intriguing as we don’t know whether to trust him. There are lots of fun twists and surprises throughout. The pacing is well crafted. And the dog is a lovable secondary character.
The book really showed the negative effects of drugs- alcohol and narcotics- and how it adversely affected the main characters lives as well as the lives of the suppliers. I was happy to see the very credible emphasis of AA and NA mostly at the end of the book.
I’m not quite sure there was much romance - I saw more just friendship- in this book so I’d give it a 3.5/4 out of 5. I’ll round up to a 4, though, since the rest of it was so good and suspenseful.
Thanks to NetGalley and Carina Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Both Maya and Josh are engaging characters. Josh, especially, is intriguing as we don’t know whether to trust him. There are lots of fun twists and surprises throughout. The pacing is well crafted. And the dog is a lovable secondary character.
The book really showed the negative effects of drugs- alcohol and narcotics- and how it adversely affected the main characters lives as well as the lives of the suppliers. I was happy to see the very credible emphasis of AA and NA mostly at the end of the book.
I’m not quite sure there was much romance - I saw more just friendship- in this book so I’d give it a 3.5/4 out of 5. I’ll round up to a 4, though, since the rest of it was so good and suspenseful.
Thanks to NetGalley and Carina Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 20, 2022
Awesome Series Debut
Maya Thompson is a newly hired U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer and a veteran Marine K-9 handler with PTSD. The PTSD premise could be a bit of a cliché, but Donnelly manages to make Maya’s psychological struggles fresh, timely, and completely relatable. Devastated by the death of her beloved working dog in Afghanistan, Maya blames herself for the pup’s demise via IED. She never wants to be a handler again. But never say never when along comes a young Belgian Malinois named Juniper, who serendipitously falls into Maya’s care through the death of a dear friend who is Juniper’s long-time partner. The encouragement of a local Deputy Sherriff in dire need of Maya’s expertise, seals the deal. Author Kathleen Donnelly, a canine handler of drug “sniffer dogs” herself, does a completely masterful job of making Juniper an essential character in the book without anthropomorphizing or simplifying the dog’s involvement in any way. Under Donnelly’s evocative word-smithing, tracking the bad guys with Maya and Juniper leaves the reader thoroughly engaged. The plot is heart-pounding and the book is impossible to put down! I can’t wait to read the author’s next installment in the series.
Maya Thompson is a newly hired U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer and a veteran Marine K-9 handler with PTSD. The PTSD premise could be a bit of a cliché, but Donnelly manages to make Maya’s psychological struggles fresh, timely, and completely relatable. Devastated by the death of her beloved working dog in Afghanistan, Maya blames herself for the pup’s demise via IED. She never wants to be a handler again. But never say never when along comes a young Belgian Malinois named Juniper, who serendipitously falls into Maya’s care through the death of a dear friend who is Juniper’s long-time partner. The encouragement of a local Deputy Sherriff in dire need of Maya’s expertise, seals the deal. Author Kathleen Donnelly, a canine handler of drug “sniffer dogs” herself, does a completely masterful job of making Juniper an essential character in the book without anthropomorphizing or simplifying the dog’s involvement in any way. Under Donnelly’s evocative word-smithing, tracking the bad guys with Maya and Juniper leaves the reader thoroughly engaged. The plot is heart-pounding and the book is impossible to put down! I can’t wait to read the author’s next installment in the series.
March 25, 2024
I recently finished reading book one of this series, Chasing Justice, by Kathleen Donnelly. A key factor in starting this series in the first place was that one of the main characters is a National Forest K-9, Jupiter!
Once again, as I was reading this, I envisioned an action movie. In my opinion, any book that comes to life to me is definitely an excellent read and worth recommending. In addition to meeting Jupiter, the K-9 officer, you will also meet Doug and Maya, National Forest law enforcement officers and K-9 handlers, Josh, "grandpa", and many other intriguing characters.
Also worth noting is that the series touches on topics such as PTSD, suicide, murder, drugs, and gun violence. It's advertised as a "romantic suspense mystery" series, but even though there is romance, I would not make it the first word in my description (and I'm already about 1/3 finished reading book 2). That said, I strongly suggest you give this series a shot - I'm fairly certain this appeals to a broad audience of readers.
Once again, as I was reading this, I envisioned an action movie. In my opinion, any book that comes to life to me is definitely an excellent read and worth recommending. In addition to meeting Jupiter, the K-9 officer, you will also meet Doug and Maya, National Forest law enforcement officers and K-9 handlers, Josh, "grandpa", and many other intriguing characters.
Also worth noting is that the series touches on topics such as PTSD, suicide, murder, drugs, and gun violence. It's advertised as a "romantic suspense mystery" series, but even though there is romance, I would not make it the first word in my description (and I'm already about 1/3 finished reading book 2). That said, I strongly suggest you give this series a shot - I'm fairly certain this appeals to a broad audience of readers.
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