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Working Dogs #0.5

Sitting Ducks

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Moving from FBI Forensics to the K9 unit wasn’t my best idea.

My partner hates me and he’ll hate me even more if he finds out the secret I’m keeping. I’ve spent weeks winning his respect, and as an added bonus, the sexual tension built on the foundation of his hate is so arousing I almost forget we’re just fucking with each other.

Only we don’t have time to process, because we’re thrown into the middle of a raging forest fire, trying to find a missing hiker before it’s too late.

At the worst possible time, I figure out the case, but if I tell Hayes he’ll hate me. If I don’t tell him, we might die in the woods.

How to tell your partner you nearly killed his last partner when you want to keep fucking him, while dodging bullets, was not covered in FBI training.

119 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2022

4 people are currently reading
158 people want to read

About the author

J.R. Gray

58 books1,315 followers
When not staying up all night writing, J.R. Gray can be found at the gym where it's half assumed he is a permanent resident to fulfill his self-inflicted masochism. A dominant and a pilot, Gray finds it hard to be in the passenger seat of any car. He frequently interrupts real life, including normal sleep patterns and conversations, to jot down notes or plot bunnies. Commas are the bane of his existence even though it's been fully acknowledged they are necessary, they continue to baffle and bewilder. If Gray wasn't writing…well, that's not possible. The buildup of untold stories would haunt Gray into an early grave, insanity or both. The idea of haunting has always appealed to him. J.R. Gray is genderqueer and prefers he/him pronouns.

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5 stars
34 (17%)
4 stars
55 (28%)
3 stars
79 (41%)
2 stars
17 (8%)
1 star
5 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
Profile Image for Ky.
589 reviews92 followers
January 10, 2022
* 2.5 stars *

The best part about this story, for me, were the dogs. The rest of it was good too, but only until about the 50% mark. After that there was some - in my opinion - unnecessary action and a lot of unprofessional behaviour from both MCs.

Also, throughout the book, there were references to an older investigation that the two MCs had taken part in, but the constant mentions of it started becoming frustrating at some point as they were always talking or thinking about it and at the same time they seemed reluctant to really talk about it. The reason for that became apparent at the end of the book: this story is a prequel to a new series and the older case is the plot of the first book.
Profile Image for the kevin (vaguely alive).
975 reviews178 followers
January 29, 2022
DNF at 10%

what even

• nerd character claims to be INTJ and bad at reading social cues. and then flirts relentlessly (and cringely but whos asking) allegedly has 2 phds at age 24. bullshit. you can have a nerd character without being extra about it. plus the myers briggs? pop sci. back to reddit with you, loser.

• jock character: "i don't know what those newfangled words mean" dude, myers briggs is old school, you're 39, stop acting like a total dipshit. "i know how to use my phone! unless it updates." you're 39, again. this isn't cute. technology is a basic skill, you are worthless

• the himbo thing. ugh. just a mess of a conversation.

• the steroids garbage. it is so tired to accuse every muscular person of being on gear. it's not funny, clever, interesting. it's just dredging the bottom of the slag pile.

• the blurb...is like an entire book. what's left? baffling.

in summary, the characters are asshole with intensely boring "personalities", and i can only imagine how much worse it would get. someone save the dogs!!
Profile Image for Nedra81 .
907 reviews
January 7, 2022
Another engaging read by J.R. packed with suspense, dark and angsty characters, action, some feisty banter, and loads of sexual tension. An exciting prequel with some amazing characters and intelligent K-9’s that hooked me for the remainder of the series.

“𝕀’𝕞 𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕙𝕠𝕨 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕥𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕕.”

Kolt is literally my soulmate with his level of intelligence and sixth sense. He has this alluring sexy nerd appeal about him that is difficult to deny. Not to mention he’s packing in other departments 😉. But, he’s genuine and honest, though he’s also skeptical and secretive about his past.

“𝕂𝕖𝕖𝕡 𝕡𝕦𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕥, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕀 𝕨𝕠𝕟’𝕥 𝕓𝕖 𝕤𝕠 𝕟𝕚𝕔𝕖 𝕟𝕖𝕩𝕥 𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖.”

Hayes screams dominance through his actions. He’s cocky and arrogant, but never overdoes it. He takes charge, stubborn and he’s not afraid to go after what he wants or needs. I absolutely loved his dominant personality while in the field, but he also allowed Knox the opportunity to voice his opinion.

“𝕀 𝕥𝕠𝕝𝕕 𝕪𝕠𝕦, 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕣𝕖𝕟’𝕥 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕘𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕖. 𝕀’𝕞 𝕥𝕒𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕤.”

The sexual tension between these two characters was overwhelming! Between their feisty banter and evident chemistry, the lust was through the roof! Not mentioning their connection….WOW!!! Mix this with that unexpected climatic suspense about 3/4 of the way through, and you have yourself a five star start of a highly anticipated new series.
Profile Image for Heather Duff.
1,909 reviews40 followers
August 7, 2022
Action-packed, steamy novella between a grumpy K9 FBI agent and his new nerdy partner.
I highly recommend reading this with Scapegoat, Book 1 (which was terrific IMH) as this one references it a fair bit.

It’s quite a lot of fun, with these two pushing each other's buttons, and unable to keep their hands off each other. But in the meantime, they need to find a way to push their lust and hate to the side in order to find a missing woman.

Though let's be honest, their K9 partners Fish and Anubis steal the show. I mean, they are completely adorable.
Profile Image for Delia.
122 reviews
April 17, 2022
Only 4 stars because this story was way too short. I loved the push and pull between Knox and Hayes, I loved the dogs and could not believe it ended when everything was more interesting.
Profile Image for Nic.
987 reviews23 followers
January 6, 2022
If I am ever lost in a national forest, I definitely don't want these two as the agents trying to find me. They're so distracted by lust that they'd never find me. The background could've been more developed because I spent a lot of time wondering what really happened in Wisconsin and when Colton finally revealed his big secret to his partner, it was totally anticlimactic. I couldn't take either one of them seriously as FBI agents, especially Colton with his fear of guns. The story would've benefited from less "ass" talk and more substance.
Profile Image for Katherine.
2,872 reviews13 followers
February 20, 2022
Not the best short ever, but definitely has potential for a series and some interesting/amusing points to it.

Hayes has worked the canine unit for years and recently his partner has gone on leave after being shot. With it looking like his partner isn't coming back he is given a new partner, in fact a new recruit to the unit. Knox is young, a transfer in from the labs, and has an unconventionally trained dog. All of it, from the change of partner to the change of actions, sets Hayes on edge and makes him try to push this new partner away. But Know is stubborn and keeps pushing past, even if all he can get is hatred with respect.

There are some odd things in this story with the characters. Since there is an age gap between the two (24 and 39) they have made it that the Knox is the lab geek and tech guy, while Hayes is the muscle jocks. While the basics make sense the idea that a 39 year old doesn't understand his cell phone because it is too new fangled doesn't ring true to most 39 year olds today, whether or not they are a jock, since it is so intrinsic in our world. Adding in the idea that since Hayes is a field agent he is more brawn than brains doesn't make much sense either as his position would still require a considerable degree and training. Then considering Knox and how he states not to be great at social cues, but actually fits in extremely well and is very adept at social situations, it's as though that statement was forgotten and then just ignored. As these parts didn't ring true for the characters it made it a little harder to connect, but at the base they were still interesting and watching them come together to work out their partnership was good.

The other bother with the story is the 'big secret' that Knox is keeping. It turns out both men were involved in the case that took out Hayes last partner, just from different sides. The only part that never gets cleared up is why on earth Knox thinks it is his fault. As Knox was no where near the scene it doesn't really make sense for the blame. it sort of made it feel like the drama of the story was predicated on a rather flimsy point.

As the idea of this was to introduce the canine team and the series that can come from there it did serve to being interest to that, and hopefully a longer story will bring out more from the characters and the situations.
Profile Image for Kel.
914 reviews
Did not finish
January 22, 2022
Dnf. One of the characters is an INTJ. Uuhhhmmm, ok.
Profile Image for tara.
229 reviews11 followers
February 14, 2022
interesting read, though i am confused in some parts but i'm really excited to start the series bc i need more of them. (hopefully more books on them!!!)

updated: read up on book #1 and im sad its not about them but a different couple so im... pending
Profile Image for fishreads (back? from hiatus).
674 reviews20 followers
March 12, 2022
I was honestly baffled by this story and if it was an accurate representation of the author's skill I don't have any hope of liking the Working Dogs series.

Knox and Hayes are both FBI agents, where Knox and his dog Anubis are new transfers to FBI K9 response unit and Hayes is a veteran agent who has recently lost his partner to injury on their last case. Knox is young and apparently nerdy and Hayes is older and supposedly a jock (even though they're both in prime physical shape and both exercise regularly), and Knox's roommate makes a remark about them being a sunshine and grumpy pair, which I did not really read as such.

There is animosity on Hayes' side as he does not want to be paired up with a rookie agent and there is flirting and ogling in the showers. Then they get called in for their first case together and on their way to report to their superior they think it is good time to hook up for the first time? This was the first time where their actions made absolutely no sense to me and unfortunately it was not the last. During downtime from their search and rescue operation Knox gets angry about having to share a room and bed with Hayes, because he can't help his attraction to him, I guess? They continue flirting in the woods while unsuccessfully searching for a missing woman. They get shot at. Knox gets injured and getting back home after his surgery right after waking up in his own bed and taking some pain pills they think it is good time to have sex. I mean could their actions be any further from reality if they tried?

Also in the blurb Knox is introduced as special agent James Knox and then in the story it is changed to Colton Knox.

After finishing reading Scapegoat I also have to note that this novella is not actually a prequel to the series as the plot of Sitting Ducks happens after the events in Scapegoat so this should be actually labeled as Working Dogs #1.5 instead of #0.5.

Themes: dual POV, FBI agents, K9 dogs, age difference, animosity, opposites attract
Profile Image for Beth.
2,941 reviews27 followers
February 7, 2022
I was feeling “eh” about this book as I didn’t really like either MC. The first problem is that there appeared to be no gravitas to them…and we’re supposed to believe they are part of an elite K-9 unit? They don’t even work with or interact with their dogs while supposedly working. And the sex scenes just weren’t believable.

I didn’t feel like I really knew anything about the MCs and there were these continual vague references to an incident that happened before that were increasingly annoying. My annoyance multiplied tenfold when I discovered that this novella which was boiled as a novella and listed as book .5 in the series, which clearly occurs AFTER “the Wisconsin incident”, actually precedes the book about the Wisconsin incident. That book is now spoiled before I even start it since so many details were revealed in this book. It all makes no sense. Why would this book be released before book one?

Not really impressed.
Profile Image for J.L..
Author 14 books70 followers
March 3, 2022
This novella is a study in extremes for me. I truly loved the things I enjoyed about this story, and I was severely annoyed by the things I disliked. They balance each other in the end for the rating I give this book, but I think I’d have a much different reaction had I read it after Scapegoat, the true first story in this series. Gray teases the events of that book by setting this novella after the fact, but all it did was leave me more confused than intrigued.

That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the main characters and actual relationship arc. If I disregard the confusing baggage carried by both Hayes and Knox, this is a great enemies-to-lovers story where the characters aren’t enemies so much as playing a delightful game of “gay chicken.” Both men make assumptions about the other based on their background, in and out of the FBI. They don’t come out to each other so much as poke and prod at each other until the first kiss reveals all. Even then, the push and pull between them only gets taken to another level, resulting in a truly epic hotel room hookup.

Gray leaves readers with a pretty solid “happily for now,” but I would love to see another story featuring the continued adventures of this new partnership (in all senses of the word).
Profile Image for Molli B..
1,534 reviews62 followers
December 17, 2022
Meh. I was pretty excited about this. K9!! But the writing wasn’t great. Jumpy, unrealistic conversation and actions in places, stuff came out of nowhere…like the editing was extensive and in some places, stuff was deleted but the gaps weren’t smoothed over. The dogs are largely ignored by the author in situations when the two guys 100% would have been engaged with and interacting with them. Disappointing.

And the two guys… wildly unprofessional. Yes, I like the steamy stuff as much as the next reader, but I’d much rather the characters save it for an appropriate time and otherwise show some competence. These two…ugh. Please have something other than sex on your mind 24/7. You’re both highly trained professionals. 🙄

Big letdown. I won’t be reading the first book in the series, whose plot line was wildly skirted in this book. Bah.
Profile Image for Relly.
1,674 reviews29 followers
February 11, 2022
3.5 stars

I started the first working dogs book and felt like I was missing something, and found out I had this freebie which is the prequel. I stopped and started this one first. It's a nice introduction but it actually should be 1.5 in the series as it happens after the events in the first book.

I liked Knox and Hayes well enough, but both were still scarred by what happened in Wisconsin and that effected the way they both acted. It was mentioned continually throughout the book and I felt lost not having read that book.

I loved the way the guys were with their dogs and the working relationship between the group. The story was entertaining. I can't wait to read on in the series
Profile Image for Aethena Drake.
1,189 reviews3 followers
March 5, 2022
I liked Knox. I am a 'science nerd' and a 'jock' so I always appreciate a character who has both those qualities. That dichotomy between being a person who is focused and introverted during certain social situations, but also being a person who is laid back and comfortable with small groups in other social situations is challenging to write. I live that so I appreciate the effort.

The story was a bit... twisty. So much of what happens in this short is a result of what happens in the next book even though this is technically a prequel.

Overall an entertaining read, and I hope to see more of Knox.
Profile Image for Iz.
988 reviews19 followers
February 3, 2022
3.5

Uh that was fantastic. Action-packed and pretty steamy. I'm usually not a big fan of novella length stories but this one felt really complete!
I loved both MCs (enemies to lovers/hate sex galore! Reluctant partners! Only one bed!) but I think Fish and Anubis stole the show.
"Sitting Ducks" was a fabulous start for this brand new series. Now, I'm really really curious to start "Scapegoat" and to finally know about Hudson and what, precisely, happened in Wisconsin.
Profile Image for wordsandblankspaces.
875 reviews7 followers
February 9, 2022
I'm so torn about what to rate this book (I think I'm like at 2.5 stars). Loved the banter and the romance scenes but honestly could do without the rest. I really can't get over the fact that they were on their way to a search and rescue but pulled over to make out in a parking lot first. Like what the heck? I would like to read a full length book by this author to get a better feel of if I like their style or not.
Profile Image for Samyka.
27 reviews
January 3, 2022
I simply loved this book. The two MCs and their sexy banter were exactly what I expected from a book by this wonderful author. The suspense in the last quarter of the book was a bit unforeseen and therefore even more exciting! All in all a wonderful prequel to the new series Working Dogs. Can't wait to get my hands on the next part!
Profile Image for Debra  (Dragon Nanny) Phiri.
1,656 reviews21 followers
January 20, 2022
Sweet sweet heat! Thinking this little series is going to be hotter then the sun if this book is any indication!


The sparks, the banter and the dogs, oh my! Knox and Hayes’ story had it all. Fast paced, sexy times, witty banter and action that made sense and gave you a glimpse of what’s to come.

Anubis and Fish are sweet and I hope we get to know more about them as well as the men!

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Profile Image for Dixiecowgirl.
1,437 reviews25 followers
February 9, 2022
Terrific short story!!!

Loved the characters and the dogs are great! The story pulls you in and you really are trying to figure out who the bad guys are, The supporting characters are also well done and give us a hint of things to come,

I enjoyed reading about Hayes and Knox who are great characters.
Profile Image for Carole-Ann.
2,740 reviews88 followers
September 26, 2022
Griffin Hayes is a K9 FBI field agent, and Knox Colton, a lab-rat, is brought out into fieldwork after an episode in Wisconsin (which may or may not be relevant...) to work with him and those (damned) K9s.
Lots of banter, an acknowledged attraction; and many scenes totally stolen by those doggies - Anubis and Fish!!! :)
(NB: Haye's previous partner Hudson's story is told in "Scapegoat" )
Profile Image for Carol.
1,095 reviews79 followers
January 4, 2022
Griffin and Knox partned up with their sweet dogs in the K9 unit of the FBI! Loved the banter and chemistry between our mains and the fact their dogs are so cute, inteligent and simply amazing got me hooked. Really want to read more of this series filled with dogs !
Profile Image for Malena Mendes.
217 reviews6 followers
January 6, 2022
Griffin and Colton are amazing, and I really liked how playful and trusting with each other they became BUT there’s so many holes and bad development in this short story that just left me feeling “meh” about it
Profile Image for Bkwrm24.
1,909 reviews14 followers
January 28, 2022
4 Stars 🌟
Short and Spicy start to a promising new series...I enjoyed this novella, I only wished it was longer. I can't wait to learn more about the other guys on the team, plus I am loving the addition of the working dogs...be still my heart 🐾❤️🐾
823 reviews6 followers
February 13, 2022
I love this series already! Knox and Hayes are really good together both at work and not. I like that Knox stands up for himself when it might be easy not to. I also like that Hayes encourages Knox. I would love to see more of these guys specifically as well as more books in this series!
Profile Image for Bárbara.
1,220 reviews81 followers
July 4, 2022
It took me a while to finish because life got in the way... But it was a good read to sneak in between work and other obligations. An entertaining story. A bit messy at times, plot-wise, but the world-building made up at least for some part.
Profile Image for Smut Librarian.
1,336 reviews53 followers
December 31, 2022
An interesting story, but I found the secret keeping thing a little tiresome after a while. There was a lot of thread to keep up with in the plot and it made it harder to enjoy the story as a whole. I did enjoy many aspects of the story and the characters are well written.
Profile Image for Jessica.
168 reviews
January 17, 2022
Good intro to the series. Knox and Hayes have the depth and back story to want want more from them.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews

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