Happy Release Day & #Giveaway ~ Risk It All (Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters, Book 2) by Katie Ruggle ~ @KatieRuggle @SourcebooksCasa #RomanticSuspense

Risk It All
Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters Book 2

Katie Ruggle

Publication Date: 12/31/2019

About the Book:

When bounty hunter falls for bounty, they’ll risk it all to save the one they love.

Cara Pax never wanted to be a bounty hunter—she’s happy to leave chasing criminals to her more adventurous sisters. But if she wants her dream of escaping the family business to come true, she’s got one last job to finish.

Too bad she doesn’t think her latest bounty is actually guilty.

Henry Kavenski is a man with innocence to prove. But when his enemies target Cara in an attempt to force his hand, he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe. Deep in the Rocky Mountains, surrounded by danger on all sides, Henry and Cara will have to learn to trust their unexpected partnership if they want to make it out together—and alive.

Meet the Author:

When she’s not writing, Katie Ruggle rides horses, trains her three dogs, and travels to warm places to scuba dive. A police academy graduate, Katie readily admits she’s a forensics nerd. Connect with Katie at http://katieruggle.com/, https://www.facebook.com/katierugglebooks, or on Twitter and Instagram @KatieRuggle.

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2QoiCKi

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Apple: https://apple.co/366ZGWM

Kobo: http://bit.ly/368oHk6

IndieBound: http://bit.ly/2PhbaQI

BAM: http://bit.ly/2sPbjmP

Read an Excerpt:

When the woman stopped the stroller next to the bus-stop bench and took a seat next to Kavenski, Cara knew something was up. For one, she would eat her phone if that woman would ever set foot on a public bus. Also, Kavenski, for all his hotness, was a big and intimidating guy. No one would casually plop themselves down next to a dangerous-looking stranger, especially with her baby right there.

With both Kavenski and the woman facing forward, it was impossible for Cara to see if they were talking. She was tempted to move closer to the pair to see if she could eavesdrop, but Kavenski had known she’d been following him earlier, and that made her hesitate. It was one thing for her to follow as he skulked around town, but this meeting seemed very shady and purposeful. He’d let her go once, but who knew what he’d do if she had incriminating information on him.

The woman turned her head toward Kavenski for just a few seconds, and Cara hurried to take a few pictures. With the oversize sunglasses, hat, and scarf, it was hard to get an idea of what the woman actually looked like, especially from a distance. The only things Cara was sure of were that she was white, tall, and fashion-conscious.

To Cara’s frustration, she saw that the woman’s lips were indeed moving. Once again resisting the urge to get close enough to listen to their conversation, Cara watched as the woman reached into the stroller and appeared to adjust the baby’s blanket. When she withdrew her hand, however, she was holding something white and rectangular.

Almost bursting with curiosity, even as her heart pounded from fear of discovery, Cara found herself leaning forward, straining to see what the woman had taken from the stroller. In just the split second it took her to pass the item to Kavenski, Cara was pretty sure it was a legal-sized envelope. Before she could see any other details or even take a few steps closer, he slipped the item into his jacket pocket.

The woman stood and pushed the stroller past Kavenski, and Cara realized that she would be passing right by. After a frozen second, she forced her gaze to her phone screen. Her hair fell in heavy curtains on either side of her face, hiding her profile from the woman’s view, and Cara was intensely grateful that she hadn’t pulled it back that morning.

The seconds seemed to tick by agonizingly slowly as the burr of stroller wheels and the sharp click of the woman’s bootheels drew closer. Cara didn’t breathe as the woman passed just five feet away, and her pounding heart was so loud it made it hard to hear if the footsteps were slowing.

When she couldn’t hold her breath any longer, she dared a pseudo-casual glance and saw the back of the woman a half block away. Sucking in a much-needed breath, Cara returned her attention to Kavenski, just in time to see him rocket off the bench right into rush-hour traffic. The movement was so sudden and unexpected that Cara jerked back a step, startled.

“What is he doing?” Without considering the wisdom of what she was doing, Cara bolted toward him, her eyes locked on his big, surprisingly nimble form as he played a terrifying game of Frogger with oncoming cars. Brakes squealed and drivers laid on their horns as Kavenski shot across the road to the far lane. Turning to face the SUV heading toward him, he raised both hands, palms out, like a traffic cop.

He faced down the oncoming vehicle barreling toward him. The tires squealed as the wheels locked, and Cara instinctively reached toward him as if she could somehow snatch him to safety. His huge frame actually looked small as the five-thousand-pound vehicle bore down on him.

Cara reached the curb, a useless shout of warning building in her chest. Kavenski stared down the SUV, not even flinching as it rocketed closer. Just inches from Kavenski, the vehicle lurched to a halt, rocking back from the force of the stop. Cara’s breath escaped her in a rush. She stopped abruptly, realizing that she had been about to run right out into traffic. She’d been so focused on Kavenski’s near death that she hadn’t even thought about her own safety.

As the driver of the SUV rolled his window down and screamed invectives, Kavenski turned and strode over to a small dog huddled in the center of the lane. Scooping up the tiny furball, Kavenski stepped out of the street, waving casually at the still-yelling driver to continue on his way.

Cara gave a small gasping laugh at Kavenski’s nonchalance. He was acting as if risking his life to save a tiny dog was no big deal, while Cara’s heart was still trying to pound out of her chest and her hands shook with an overdose of adrenaline. As if he’d heard her slightly panicked laughter, Kavenski met her gaze across the four lanes of traffic. They stared at each other for an eternal moment before the corner of his mouth kicked up in more of a grimace than a smile.

***

Excerpted from Risk It All by Katie Ruggle. © 2019 by Katie Ruggle. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

**As Katie Ruggle is one of my favorite authors, a review of Risk It All will be coming soon!

Enter the Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Book #Review ~ In Her Sights (Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters, Book #1) by Katie Ruggle #RomanticSuspense #Romance @KatieRuggle @SourcebooksCasa

Book Details:

Title: In Her Sights
Series: Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters, Book 1
Author: Katie Ruggle
Print Length: 384 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: March 26, 2019
ASIN: B07HK4KGRG

Purchase Link: Amazon

About In Her Sights:

Five bounty-hunting sisters
Deep in the heart of the Rockies
Fighting to save each other
...and the men who steal their hearts

Bounty hunter Molly Pax fought hard for everything she has, turning the bail recovery business she shares with her sisters into an unqualified success. So when their sticky-fingered mother jumps bail and puts the childhood home up as collateral, Molly's horrified. To make matters worse, every two-bit criminal in the Rockies now sees her family's misfortune as their next big break.

She needs help, stat.

Enter rival bounty hunter John Carmondy: six feet of pure trouble, with a cocky grin to match. John's the most cheerfully, annoyingly gorgeous frenemy Molly's ever had the pleasure of defeating...and he may be her only hope of making it out of this mess alive.

My Review of In Her Sights:

https://saphsreviews.blogspot.com/2019/08/book-review-in-her-sights-rocky.html

Book Review ~ Survive the Night (Rocky Mountain K9 Unit, #3) by Katie Ruggle @KatieRuggle #RomanticSuspense @SourcebooksCasa

Book Details:

Print Length: 418 pages

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (February 6, 2018)

Publication Date: February 6, 2018

ASIN: B073HQDYGD
Amazon

About the Book:

He's always been a haven:

For the lost. The sick. The injured.

But when a hunted woman takes shelter in his arms, this gentle giant swears he'll do more than heal her battered spirit―he'll defend her with his life.

K9 Officer Otto Gunnersen always had a soft spot for anyone in need. As Monroe's very own Dr. Doolittle, he dedicates himself to rehabilitating the injured souls that cross his path―but for all his big heart, he's never been in love.

Until he meets Sarah Clifton's haunted eyes. Until he realizes he'll do anything to save her.

All Sarah wants is to escape a life caught between ambitious crime families, but there's no outrunning her past. Her power-mad brother would hunt her to the ends of the earth...but he'd never expect Sarah to fight back. With Otto and the whole of Monroe, Colorado by her side, Sarah's finally ready to face whatever comes her way.

It's time to take a stand.

My Review:

Survive the Night by Katie Ruggle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Survive the Night features Otto, a tall silent type, and another of Theo’s partners from books 1 & 2. He loves animals and is completely devoted to helping his family and friends. When Jules and her family take in another occupant, Otto, who’s never been in love, falls head-over-heals. He knows Sarah is the one for him and when duty calls, he’s right there to answer.

Sarah is the sister of a crime boss. When she has the chance to escape, Sarah become part of the large family in the rundown house in a small Colorado town. Knowing her brother will scour the ends of the earth to find her, she is constantly on guard. Sarah also discovers that there are people in this world who will fight with her and for her against those who come calling.

Survive the Night is the most anxiety-filled story in this series so far. I enjoyed the content, the pacing, characters, and world building. There is wonderful character development. The dynamics between the three cops in the series are wonderful. They truly are brothers in all ways that matter whether they are sporting the uniform or not. Jules and her family accepted Sarah immediately and she became one of the family.

There is continued character development in Survive the Night with both the new character and everyone we met in previous books. I was able to feel the emotions of the characters - Sarah becoming accustomed to her new home, anxiety surrounding being found by her brother or his associates, Otto’s feelings for Sarah, and the continued build-up of Jules’ situation. The world-building also allows for clear visualization of the story as I read along. I enjoyed another action and emotion-filled novel by Katie Ruggle.

I was given a copy of this book to read.

View all my reviews

Upcoming Book Release & #Giveaway ~ In Her Sights (Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters, Book #1) by Katie Ruggle ~ @KatieRuggle @SourcebooksCasa #RomanticSuspense

Five bounty-hunting sisters 

Deep in the heart of the Rockies 

Fighting to save each other 

...and the men who steal their hearts 

About the Book:

Bounty hunter Molly Pax fought hard for everything she has, turning the bail recovery business she shares with her sisters into an unqualified success. So when their sticky-fingered mother jumps bail and puts the childhood home up as collateral, Molly's horrified. To make matters worse, every two-bit criminal in the Rockies now sees her family's misfortune as their next big break. 

She needs help, stat.

Enter rival bounty hunter John Carmondy: six feet of pure trouble, with a cocky grin to match. John's the most cheerfully, annoyingly gorgeous frenemy Molly's ever had the pleasure of defeating...and he may be her only hope of making it out of this mess alive.

Read an Excerpt:

In Her Sights (Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters #1) Excerpt 3

“Where’s the bathroom?”

“All the way down the hall,” she answered automatically, her brain caught up in the overwhelming proximity of him. “Last door on the left. Why do you smell like bubble gum?”

He blinked. “I do not.”

“You do.”

“I do not smell like bubble gum. I’m not a sticky six-year-old.”

Suddenly realizing the ridiculousness of their argument, she shifted back and mentally changed gears. “Fine. You don’t smell like bubble gum, even though you really do. Hurry up in the bathroom. As soon as you’re done, I want to take a shower. Dutch’s and that empty warehouse left a film of grossness on me.”

He scowled at her, looking like he was dying to continue their discussion, but he clamped his mouth closed with a tight nod and moved to the door instead. At the last second before he disappeared down the hall, he turned back toward her. “Leave those sheets on,” he said, a trace of his usual smirk back in place.

He waited, so she held her hands up in the universal I won’t do anything gesture. “Fine. If you want to sleep in my stink, I’m not going to stop you.”

“I do.” He gave her a wink—which should’ve looked stupid, but because it was John, turned out stupid hot instead—and headed to the bathroom.

As soon as he was out of sight, Molly let out a deep breath and started to sink down onto Felicity’s bed. The squishy mattress called to her, tempting her to lie down and close her eyes, just for a moment. With a groan, she forced herself to stand again. Once she was down, she’d be out like a light, and she’d been telling the truth about needing to wash off this terrible night.

She headed out into the hall, figuring that she might as well check on Norah while she was attempting to stay awake. Cracking her sister’s door, she saw that her room was lit by dim blue light from her sister’s computer screen. Molly knocked softly, pushing open the door the rest of the way when Norah made a quiet sound that she took as an invitation to enter. Norah was sitting on her narrow bed, her legs curled underneath her and her laptop open. The rest of her bed was taken up by a snoring Warrant. Norah’s face was bathed in the bluish light from the screen, making her look even paler than usual. Even though Molly knew it was just an illusion, she still couldn’t stand to see her sister look so sickly. It reminded her too vividly of the many emergency-room visits when they were younger and Norah’s asthma wasn’t controlled. Molly flicked on the floor lamp to its lowest setting, bathing the tiny room with warm yellow light, and Norah instantly looked healthier.

“I know we need to find Mom as soon as possible,” Molly said, leaning on the dresser. She was tempted to plop down on the bed next to her sister, but she knew it’d be just as easy to fall asleep here as it would be in Felicity’s bed. Besides, the thought of waking Warrant and getting him to move was too much effort at the moment. “That doesn’t mean you can’t take a few hours off to sleep.”

Norah finally glanced up to meet Molly’s gaze. “I know. I just keep falling down research rabbit holes.”

“I get it. Find out anything interesting?”

“Maybe.” Norah’s voice was hesitant, cautious as always, and Molly knew not to push. Her sister never liked to share information until after she’d confirmed and reconfirmed her facts.

“John’s staying over tonight.”

That caught Norah’s attention. “He is? With you?”

“Uh…no.” She hated that she’d hesitated on her answer, but the mental image that had sprung up in her head had been very distracting—and, despite knowing it was a bad idea, very tempting. “We had to slip away after Dutch’s exploded.”

“Exploded?” Norah stared at her, eyes wide, her ignored laptop tilting to the side.

“No one was hurt.” After pausing, Molly corrected herself. “I’m pretty sure no one was hurt. We were out of the building at that point. You might want to add getting the police and fire department reports to your to-do list, though.”

“Okay. You’re not hurt? What about John?”

“I’m fine. John’s a little banged up, but I did a beautifully executed dive roll. You should’ve seen it.” Now that the sense of urgency and danger had faded, she wished that move had been recorded.

Norah’s small smile disappeared a moment after it touched her lips. “You need to be careful, especially when you’re dealing with Sonny Zarver.”

“I know, and I will.” Molly made the words a solemn promise.

From Norah’s nod, she understood and accepted it as such.

“Don’t forget to sleep.” Straightening from her leaning position, Molly turned off the light and slipped into the hall before sticking her head back in. “All the rabbit holes will still be there tomorrow, and everything will probably make more sense.”

Although Norah made a sound of agreement, it was absentminded, and her attention was completely focused on her screen again.

“Good night.” Molly pulled her sister’s door closed as she withdrew, knowing that all the well-intentioned nagging in the world wouldn’t get Norah in bed any sooner. She’d finish when she was done researching, and then she’d sleep until noon.

Turning away from Norah’s bedroom door, Molly found herself face to bare chest with John. She couldn’t stop herself from taking in the broad, muscular expanse before resolutely tipping her head back to meet his gaze. She wasn’t sure why she’d thought that looking up would be any less distracting. His beautiful face—with his mile-long dark lashes and full mouth and those tempting dimples—was just as drool-worthy as the hard planes of his chest. He, of course, noticed her looking, and his teasing grin was fully in place.

“See something you like?” he asked, flexing.

**Sapphyria's book review is coming soon!

What People Are Saying:

"I love Ruggle's characters. They're sharply drawn, and vividly alive. I'm happy when they find each other. These are wonderful escapist books."—CHARLAINE HARRIS, #1 New York Times Bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse series

"Sexy and suspenseful, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough."—JULIE ANN WALKER, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author for Hold Your Breath

"Chills and thrills and a sexy slow-burning romance from a terrific new voice."—D.D. AYRES, author of the K-9 Rescue Series for Hold Your Breath

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2FeU5Ss

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Apple: https://apple.co/2Doz9Hy

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2uk9SdL

Indiebound: http://bit.ly/2I2u913

Author Website:

http://katieruggle.com/ 

Enter the Giveaway:

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Book Review: On the Chase (Rocky Mountain K9 Unit, Book #2) by Katie Ruggle ~ @SourcebooksCasa @KatieRuggle

About the Book:

Injured in the line of duty,
His orders are simple:
Stay alive.

But when a frightened woman bursts into his life, Hugh and his K9 companion have no choice but to risk everything to keep her safe.

The sole witness to a horrific crime, Kaylee Ramay flees to the Colorado Rockies to start a new life. There she becomes Grace, a dog kennel employee desperately trying to avoid attention—especially from dangerously attractive K9 Officer Hugh Murdoch.

Because Hugh is tall, dark… and nothing but trouble.

Hugh is anxious to get back in the field after an act of heroism left him warming the bench. Until then, he and his K9 partner Lexi spend their hours teasing the town’s mysterious newcomer. But when their simmering attraction is nearly cut short by a sniper’s bullet, Hugh’s mystery woman must come clean about the secrets she keeps…

Or both of them will pay the price.

Book Details:

Print Length: 386 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: September 5, 2017
ASIN: B01ND1K3M6

Amazon

My Review:

On the Chase by Katie Ruggle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

On the Chase involves Hugh, one of Theo’s partners from book 1. He’s been injured and no longer on street. Sitting behind a desk with his K9 partner is pretty boring but running into the new occupant of Jules’ home brightens his day. She beautiful, mysterious, and lights up like a firecracker with his teasing.

Contacting the same person who relocated Jules and her family, Kaylee has become part of the large family in the rundown house in a small Colorado town. Known as Grace, she’s trying to make her way in unfamiliar waters with a hotter-than-sin cop watching her every move. Their slow boiling attraction increases intensity with one passion-filled kiss and just as quickly cools right off when someone takes a shot at them.

I enjoyed the content, the pacing, characters, and world building. There is character development but keep in mind that Grace (along with Jules and her family) is harboring a huge secret and to let anything slip, especially to a cop, could be disastrous. The dynamics between the three cops in the series are wonderful. They truly are brothers in all ways that matter whether they are sporting the uniform or not. Jules and her family accepted Grace immediately and she became one of the family.

There is continued character development in On the Chase with both the new character and everyone we met in book 1. I was able to feel the emotions of the characters - Grace becoming accustomed to her new home, anxiety over being discovered by those hunter for her, Hugh’s feelings for Grace, and the continued build-up of Jules’ situation. The world-building also allows for clear visualization of the story as I read along. I enjoyed another action and emotion-filled novel by Katie Ruggle.

I was given a copy of this book to read.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Run to Ground (Rocky Mountain K9 Unit, #1) by Katie Ruggle ~ #RomanticSuspense @SourcebooksCasa

Run to Ground by Katie Ruggle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Amazon

About the Book:

He lost his mentor.
He lost his K9 partner.
He almost lost his will to live.
But when a ruthless killer targets a woman on the run, Theo and his new K9 companion will do whatever it takes to survive—and save the woman neither can live without.

Grieving the death of his partner, Theo Bosco has no room in his life for distractions. Though his instincts scream that he should avoid Juliet 'Jules' Jackson, he can't seem to stay away. It doesn't help that Theo's new K9 companion has fallen head over paws with Jules's rambunctious family.

Or that when he's with her, Theo finally knows peace.

When Jules rescued her siblings, whisking them away to the safety of the beautifully rugged Colorado Rockies, she never expected to catch the eye—or the heart—of a cop. Yet as Jules struggles to fight her growing attraction to the brooding K9 officer, another threat lurks much closer to home...

And this time, there's no escape.

My Review:

Run to Ground is another fabulous book in another fabulous series by Katie Ruggle. I binge-read the entire series before sitting down to write each review. We actually met Theo at the end of In Safe Hands (book 4 in the Search and Resue series). I was really hoping that he was going to be the hero in her new Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series. I was not disappointed.

The emotional content in this book is rich and plentiful. Theo has just lost not only his cop partner but also his K9 partner. He is grieving hard for both. When his partner dies, Theo takes Don’s K9 partner as his own, and it’s an epic disaster. Viggy mopes and doesn’t fulfill his K9 duties the way he should, Theo is distraught, and both of them are depressed. When a stranger and her family move into town, both Theo and Viggy perk right up.

Jules and her family are on the run. Constantly fearful of being discovered and having her family ripped apart, Jules tries to keep a low profile. When she comes face-to-face with a trio of cops and is attracted to one of them, Jules doesn’t know if she should stay or flee. Falling for a cop is the absolute worst thing that can happen but fall she does.

Amid the chaos of Theo’s loss of his partner and subsequent gain of his partner’s dog, and Jules trying to keep it together for her family, danger is lurking around the corner. The target could be one of many; Jules and the kids, Theo, the police department, or the entire town. The stress and suspense of this book increases into a mind-blowing conclusion that I never saw coming.

Many people seemed disappointed in the ending of book 1 and instead of getting through the series, knocked Run to Ground, well, to the ground. Patience is a virtue, just sayin’. Yes, this book has a loosely resolved ending for the hero and heroine and ends in a bit of a cliffhanger. There are wild threads all over the place. None of these issues make this any less of a good book. Of course, I didn’t read it when it was first released. I started it right before book 4 came out so I was able to smoothly move from book to book without having the customary wait time. Please be open minded when you start this series. Each book plays off the others so make sure to read them in order.

I enjoyed the content, the pacing, characters, and world building. There is character development but keep in mind that Jules is harboring a huge secret and to let anything slip, especially to a cop, could be disastrous. The dynamics between the three cops in the series are wonderful. They truly are brothers in all ways that matter whether they are sporting the uniform or not. Jules is very protective of her siblings and moving them to a small town is nerve wracking for her. She does her best to not be overprotective. I was able to feel the emotions of the characters and visualize the story as I read along.

View all my reviews

Read an Excerpt from Upcoming Release of Through the Fire (Rocky Mountain K9 Unit) by Katie Ruggle #Romantic #Suspense @KatieRuggle @SourcebooksCasa #Giveaway

He’s tall.

He’s dark.

He’s brutally handsome…

And he may be her only hope.

About the Book:

Kit Jernigan despairs of ever fitting in with her new tight-knit K9 unit—they've been through too much to welcome a stranger. So when a killer strikes, it’s a fight to convince her fellow officers to trust her long enough to catch the woman she knows is responsible.

She can’t do it on her own. What she needs most is a partner: local fire spotter Wesley March.

Wes knows in his heart that Kit is right, and he's willing to leave his lonely tower to help her prove it. But the more time they spend together, the hotter the fire smolders…and the more danger they're in. A member of the K9 unit's inner circle is determined to have her revenge—no matter who gets burned in the process.

This time, it's personal.

Read an Excerpt:

The snow crunched under Wes’s boots as he climbed. It was a beautiful day, with the late-afternoon sun shading to orange as it approached the mountain peaks it was about to hide behind, but Wes didn’t pay much attention to the scenery. He was intent on reaching the bat cave.

Despite its name, the bat cave was more of a rock overhang than a cave, but the bat part was true enough—it housed a good-sized colony of silver-haired bats. Researchers and animal-loving hikers frequently visited the location. Although Wes had gotten some striking photos at the bat cave, he hadn’t even brought his camera with him this time. He was more interested in the cell reception.

When the trail evened out, leading to a large, flat rock overhang, he pulled out his cell phone. Sure enough, he had reception. Finding his sister’s name in his short list of contacts, he called her. As he waited for her to answer, pacing back and forth across the granite ledge, he made a mental note to set up a cell-signal booster at the tower. He should’ve done it before, but he hadn’t missed phone service. Having to mindfully go somewhere with cell reception allowed him to control when and whom he called. It wasn’t enough now, though, not when there was someone he was hoping to call—as soon as he got her number.

“Wes!” Leila sounded winded. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.” Well, nothing except his social skills when women—not including his sister—were around.

“Oh.” There was a pause. “I thought there was an emergency. You never call except for every other Sunday afternoon.”

“No emergency.” He tried to mentally plan out his question. “I need some advice.”

“Advice?” Another silence fell, and Wes could almost hear the gears in her brain turning. He smiled. Leila was even smarter than he was, and she was a whole lot more intuitive and perceptive. That’s why he was calling her. “Does this have something to do with a woman?”

“Yes.”

She squealed, the sound so excited that he smiled wider even as he winced and pulled the phone slightly away from his ear. “Are you dating someone? What’s her name? When do I get to meet her? What does she do? Is she funny? Pretty? Smart? A badass? Tell me details, Wes!”

“Answering most of your questions might be premature.” As much as he wanted to talk about Kit, Wes knew it could be dangerous. The more he said, the more real the possibility of something happening with her felt, and he didn’t want to build up hopes too high. After all, the more excited he got, the harder the disappointment would hit if she never wanted to talk to him again.

“Fine.” Although Leila was obviously trying to sound calm, Wes could tell that she was thrilled, and it made him wonder if he’d done the right thing by calling his sister. Now there might be two extremely disappointed people if nothing happened between him and Kit. “Just answer the basic ones, then. Are you dating?”

“No. We’ve only met three times.” He didn’t think their radio conversation counted.

“But you like her?”

“Yes. I like her.” It seemed like a barely adequate phrase to encompass the fizzing excitement he’d felt around her—and even later, when he was alone and thinking about her. “I’m…interested in her.” That didn’t seem much more accurate.

Leila let out another small squeal, and Wes looked up at the sky, even as he felt his face heat. “Sorry,” she said as if she could see his long-suffering expression. “That’s out of my system now. Back to basic questions. Is she interested in you?”

“I don’t know.” Crouching down, he absently picked up a few small pebbles, his brain fully occupied with the mystery that was K9 Officer Kit Jernigan. “That’s what I wanted to discuss with you.”

“Hang on. I think I need to get comfortable for this conversation.” There were a few rustling noises, and then Leila spoke again. “Okay. I’m ready. Let’s start with the first time you met. Tell me what happened.”

“I needed propane, so I refilled my tank at the station on the southeast side of town. I wanted to be back home before things got busy—”

“Wesley,” she interrupted. “I’ve been to your Podunk town, remember? It never gets busy. There are, like, ten buildings and eight people total.”

“The population of Monroe—”

“Nope. Don’t care. Tell me the story.”

It never hurt his feelings when Leila cut him off like that. In fact, he appreciated her directness. It was easier than trying to guess what a person was thinking by their body language or tactful words. “Four days ago, I was driving west on Mule Drive at six fifty-four, but I was forced to stop due to an SUV backing a small utility trailer into a driveway.” He frowned at the memory. “Attempting to back a small utility trailer into a driveway.”

“Go on. No, wait! Let me guess. Did you save this woman from getting run over?”

“No.”

“Oh.” She sounded disappointed. “Go on, then. What did happen?”

Wes smiled slightly. His sister was terrible at listening to stories. She didn’t have any patience, wanting to rush right to the conclusion instead. “After talking with the driver, I didn’t think she’d move the trailer into the driveway efficiently—which meant I’d be late—so I got out of my truck in order to help.”

“She was the driver?” Her voice was hushed, amusing Wes.

“Yes.”

“That’s so romantic!”

His eyebrows scrunched together. “It is?”

“Well, not really, I guess. I think I’m just anticipating that it’s going to be romantic soon. Go on… Get to the good part!”

He hesitated. “I’m not sure what you’d consider the good part.”

Her gusty sigh was audible. “Just tell me the rest. I’m dying of curiosity here!”

“I helped her get the trailer into her driveway and unhitched it.”

“And then?”

“She drove away.”

There was a long beat of silence. “That’s disappointing.”

“It was.”

“Did she tell you her name, at least?”

Wes found himself smiling. “Yes. Kit Jernigan.”

**Saph's Note**

I have read the entire series, including Through the Fire and it a 5 star series. I'm still trying to get caught up on writing reviews but check back on the blog in the near future for my review of the entire Rocky Mountain K9 series. You can't go wrong with a series by Katie Ruggle!

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Novella Review: After the End (Search and Rescue, Book #4.5) by Katie Ruggle ~ @KatieRuggle @SourcebooksCasa

After the End by Katie Ruggle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Free on Amazon

About the Book:

For fans of sexy, brooding ice divers
Motorcycle Club bad boys turned firefighters
Tall, dark, and silent wilderness guides
And cops with hearts of gold...
The end is just the beginning.

What happens after happily ever after? Now that the murderer has been caught and the arsonist is behind bars, the town of Simpson, Colorado has returned to its sleepy, picturesque former glory. Yet for the heroes of Search & Rescue, work is never done...

...especially not if the extraordinary women if their lives have anything to say about it.

Told in alternating chapters focusing on four unforgettable romances, this slice-of-life novella catches up with fan favorites from Katie Ruggle's Search & Rescue series—proving once and for all that the end is just the beginning.

After the End is the fun and heart-warming epilogue novella to the exciting Search & Rescue series by Katie Ruggle.

My Review:

After the End is a collection of short story epilogues for each of the books in the Search and Rescue series. Each story provides a glimpse into the lives of each of our favorites couples. I enjoyed catching up with each couple.

Please note that the short stories only take up half of the free ebook. The rest of the book sets the stage for book 1 in the author's new series, Run to Ground (Rocky Mountain K9 Unit, #1). We actually meet one of the heroes from the new series in one of the short stories in After the End.

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Book Review: In Safe Hands (Search and Rescue, Book #4) by Katie Ruggle ~ Romantic Suspense ~ @KatieRuggle @SourcebooksCasa

In Safe Hands by Katie Ruggle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Amazon

About the Book:

He was her hero,
But one wrong move ended their future before it could begin.
Now he'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe,
Even if that means turning against one of his own.

As a member of the Field County Sheriff's Department, Chris Jennings is used to having it rough. The Colorado Rockies aren't for the weak-of-spirit, but he's devoted his life to upholding the law-and to protecting the one woman he knows he can never have. He'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

Daisy Little has lived in agoraphobic terror for over eight years. Trapped within a prison of her own making, she watches time pass through her bedroom window. Daisy knows she'll never be a part of the world...until the day she becomes the sole witness of a terrible crime that may finally tear the Search & Rescue brotherhood apart for good.

In the remote Rocky Mountains, lives depend on the Search & Rescue brotherhood. But in a place this far off the map, trust is hard to come by and secrets can be murder.

My Review:

After the bomb was dropped at the end of Gone Too Deep, I'm glad I had the final book in the series, In Safe Hands, ready and waiting. Due to how Gone Too Deep ended, In Safe Hands started off stressful and laden with suspense. No one in the small Colorado town of Simpson has any idea that there is a threat to the town cleverly disguised as someone to trust. The author did a wonderful job building up conflict in the background of the entire series. Each book plays off of the others so I suggest you read this book from the very beginning.

Katie Ruggle's Search and Rescue series is phenomenal. The world building and character development in each book is extraordinary. The relationship between Daisy and Chris is sweet and subtle. After suffering a horrific event eight years earlier, Daisy hasn't left her house, ever. She is terrified of anything outside the walls of her home. She's not alone though. Chris is a deputy in the Sherriff's department and spends a lot of time with Daisy. He trains her to protect herself and gives her the companionship she craves. The slow burn chemistry between Diasy and Chris is unmistakable and their relationship is fleshed out nicely - slowly and so realistic. The romance is one of several key themes but it doesn't overshadow the seriousness of the events that unfold. Katie Ruggle does a superb job with these characters not only with their romance but with the struggles each faces, Daisy's phobia and issues that crop up in Chris's world, plus the overarching storyline, In Safe Hands.

Katie Ruggle's writing style is wonderful; her worlds just flow across the pages smoothly, easily, and powerfully. I was engaged immediately and the content kept me focused. There are several themes weaved throughout the story, with one main one that stretches throughout the entire series, keeping the book from becoming stale, but not so much that the reader feels confused or overwhelmed. The characters were well developed and Daisy and Chris are really likeable and realistically written.

I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves romantic suspense!

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New Release Book Spotlight & #Giveaway ~ Survive the Night (Rocky Mountain K9 Unit, Book 3) by Katie Ruggle @SourcebooksCasa

"Vivid and charming." —CHARLAINE HARRIS, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

About the Book:

He's always been a haven:

For the lost. The sick. The injured.

But when a hunted woman takes shelter in his arms, this gentle giant swears he'll do more than heal her battered spirit—he'll defend her with his life.

K9 Officer Otto Gunnersen always had a soft spot for anyone in need. As Monroe's very own Dr. Doolittle, he dedicates himself to rehabilitating the injured souls that cross his path—but for all his big heart, he's never been in love.

Until he meets Sarah Clifton's haunted eyes. Until he realizes he'll do anything to save her.

All Sarah wants is to escape a life caught between ambitious crime families, but there's no outrunning her past. Her power-mad brother would hunt her to the ends of the earth…but he'd never expect Sarah to fight back. With Otto and the whole of Monroe, Colorado by her side, Sarah's finally ready to face whatever comes her way.

It's time to take a stand.

Read an Excerpt:

A car turned onto the street, and her heart sank even further when she saw the light bar on top of the vehicle. Logan was a police officer. Had Aaron sent him after her? During that horrible dinner, Judd had mentioned that Logan had contacts. Did they include anyone at the Monroe Police Department?

As her brain raced, she’d frozen for a few seconds, long enough for the squad car to pull up to the curb in front of the carport. It was too late to run and pointless to hide. As close as the squad car was, the cop had to have seen her on the carport. A strong gust of wind pushed her off-balance, and Sarah sat abruptly. There might be no escaping him, but at least she wouldn’t be blown off the roof.

As the police officer swung open the driver’s door and got out, unfolding his large frame, Sarah felt her throat tightening. It was the tall, burly cop she’d met after she’d just arrived, the one who was so terrifyingly handsome that it was a struggle to look at him—like a cross between a Viking and a lumberjack. The one who’d watched her steadily and silently with light-blue eyes until he’d quietly left her room. The way he’d looked at her made her illogically worried that he could read all of her secrets and was just waiting for her to confess.

Once Grace had introduced him as a cop, Sarah had sealed her lips together, afraid that something incriminating would tumble out of her mouth. It didn’t matter that she’d done nothing wrong, that she was an adult and legally couldn’t be forced to stay with her brother—much less marry creepy Logan. There was something about him that still made her…not nervous, but jittery. No, she thought, jittery isn’t right, either. He made her feel too aware of him.

He immediately looked up at her, confirming her suspicion that he’d known she was on the roof even before he pulled up. As he walked closer, he held her gaze, silently as he had before. Rather than ordering her off the roof or yelling at her to get down, as she’d expected, he circled around to the side of the carport. Instead of climbing on the car, as she had, he reached up and grasped the edge of the roof and hauled himself up with an ease that Sarah envied. Once he was up, he sat a few feet away from her.

She eyed his profile as he looked out over the street. What was he doing? If he was going to arrest her, to take her into custody and hand her over to Logan, she wished he’d just get it over with. Sitting next to him, waiting for him to do something, was making her muscles painfully tight.

When he hadn’t said anything for several minutes, Sarah knew she had to break the silence. If one of them didn’t talk, her head was going to pop like an overinflated tire.

“Sorry.” The word came out too softly, and it squeaked in the middle. “There were elk.”

He turned his head to look at her.

“They were fighting?” Clearing her throat, she tried to make her words sound more definite. It was hard, though. His continued silence was freaking her out. “I was afraid of getting caught in the middle, so I climbed up here. Did someone call you?”

His chin dipped down in a nod. Even though he hadn’t actually said anything out loud, the gesture was a huge relief.

“I was going to get down, but I was worried they’d come back. Then I heard your car engine, and…well, you arrived.”

It was a weak finish, she knew, but there was no way to explain her terror at hearing a car, not without telling him too much about her former life. After all, she still didn’t know if he was one of Logan’s contacts. Even if he wasn’t, if a fellow cop arrived and said something awful—like that she wasn’t mentally sound or that she’d committed a crime—Otto would believe the police officer over some woman he’d just met. Sarah had been sheltered, but she’d read books and watched TV. She knew that cops were loyal to each other.

“Is it strange?” Now that she’d started talking, she didn’t want to return to that unnerving silence, the one that made her think he was reading her thoughts with some magical, gorgeous-cop superpower. He cocked his head slightly, as if in question. “Strange that the elk are in town, fighting in the middle of the street? I’m new to the mountains, but it seems weird to me. I mean, squirrels can hang out in town, or rabbits, but elk right here next to all these houses? That seems wrong.” 

His lips twitched in something that might have been a start of a smile. There was another pause, long enough for Sarah to think he wasn’t going to answer. Was this some strange interrogation technique? He refused to talk until she spilled all of her secrets? If so, it was surprisingly effective. His silence made her want to open her mouth and let everything inside her head spill out. Quickly, she sealed her lips together. Sharing her thoughts with this cop would be dangerous—very, very dangerous.

He cleared his throat and she jumped. “It’s not strange. Not here, at least.” His voice was a bass rumble, not loud but big and full. It fit him.

“Oh.” Relief flowed through her when he finally spoke. For some reason, hearing his voice made her warm and brought that same not-quite-jittery feeling she’d experienced before. Not able to hold his gaze, she glanced down at his car. “I probably should’ve just stayed where I was, then. If it’s normal and all. Those antlers crashing together was just very…loud.”

There was another pause, although it wasn’t quite so long this time. “You were smart to move out of the way.”

“Good. I mean, thank you.” Silence settled over them again. “Why are you here, then?”

“We got a call that you were up here.” He met her gaze, and she couldn’t manage to look away. “I, ah, wanted to make sure you were okay.”

It wasn’t what she’d expected, and it wasn’t what she was used to. No one ever worried that she was okay. His concern sparked a warm glow in her belly. She smiled, and his gaze dropped to her mouth. “Thank you. I’m okay.”

His eyes snapped back to hers. “Good.” There was a short silence. “Do you need help down?”

“Yes, please.” She glanced at the ground below. Now that the scare was over, she wouldn’t feel right climbing onto the car, and it was a long drop for her five-foot-nothing self. “Just a hand down, though. Don’t call the fire department or anything. That could be embarrassing.”

His mouth quirked again. “I won’t.”

Moving over to the edge of the roof, he swung his legs off the side and lowered himself down. Once again, he made it look so effortless that Sarah felt a little silly for asking for help. She followed, turning onto her belly and letting her legs slide over the edge. His hands steadied her, sliding from her calves to her thighs and then gripping her waist. It was a strange sensation, his firm grip both comforting and slightly dizzying, and it made her pause.

“I’ve got you,” he said in his low, steady way, his fingers wrapped almost all the way around her middle.

It was crazy to trust this stranger—this cop—but Sarah couldn’t help herself. Just from their short conversation, her gut told her that he was nothing like Aaron or Logan or any of the petty, vicious people who had populated her previous life. Maybe he was conning her, but Sarah suspected he was honestly good.

Closing her eyes, she let go of the roof. Just as he’d promised, Otto carefully lowered her down. Even after her feet were securely on the ground and he’d released her, Sarah could still feel the warm impression of his hands pressing into her skin.

“Would you like a ride home?” he asked, and she realized that she’d been staring at him.

Ripping her gaze from his face, she glanced around. “I think I’ll finish my walk. It looks like the road is elk-free. They probably went to the diner for breakfast.”

That almost-smile came and went quickly, but it still gave Sarah a charge that she’d caused it. As she started to walk back toward Jules’s driveway, she expected to hear the squad car engine roar to life, but the morning stayed quiet. The wind had dropped to a gentle breeze, and the rising sun warmed her. When she reached the turnoff for her driveway, she couldn’t resist—she glanced behind her.

Otto was still parked by the carport. She wondered if he was watching to make sure that she made it home safely. The thought gave her a warm thrill, but she quickly quashed it. Monroe was just a temporary stop on her road to freedom. She needed to focus on building her new life, not on a Viking-lumberjack cop with steady blue eyes and huge, warm hands.

At the memory of his firm grip, another frisson of excitement whirled through her. This time, she let it stay. She’d enjoy it for a few moments, she promised herself, but then she would do her best to avoid Officer Otto Gunnersen. With a final glance at the surprisingly intriguing man behind her, she strode up the rutted dirt driveway, smiling.

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Book Spotlight & #Giveaway ~ On the Chase (Rocky Mountain K9 Unit Book 2) by Katie Ruggle @SourcebooksCasa @KatieRuggle

“Vivid and charming.”—CHARLAINE HARRIS, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

About the Book:

Injured in the line of duty,

His orders are simple:

Stay alive.

But when a frightened woman bursts into his life, Hugh and his K9 companion have no choice but to risk everything to keep her safe.

The sole witness to a horrific crime, Kaylee Ramay flees to the Colorado Rockies to start a new life. There she becomes Grace, a dog kennel employee desperately trying to avoid attention—especially from dangerously attractive K9 Officer Hugh Murdoch.

Because Hugh is tall, dark…and nothing but trouble.

Hugh is anxious to get back in the field after an act of heroism left him warming the bench. Until then, he and his K9 partner Lexi spend their hours teasing the town’s mysterious newcomer. But when their simmering attraction is nearly cut short by a sniper’s bullet, Hugh’s mystery woman must come clean about the secrets she keeps…

Or both of them will pay the price.

Read an Excerpt:

The floor in the entry creaked, reminding Grace of her most urgent issue at the moment: someone was in the house. As quietly as possible, she started backing up. This was not a good room to be trapped in. The only door was the one into the hallway—where the intruder was. The large, central window was solid. The two smaller panes of glass beside it would reluctantly crank out a few inches, but definitely not wide enough to fit her entire body through.

Why had she hesitated when she first heard the knock? If she’d immediately headed for the back door, she’d already be far, far away. Now she was stuck.

Her gaze ran over the room, searching for hiding spots, but there weren’t any good ones. The closet was too obvious, but it would have to do. Maybe they wouldn’t bother searching.

As she hurried toward the small closet door, her heart thumped painfully against her ribs. It beat so loudly that it felt as if everyone still left in Monroe could hear the pounding.

“What are you doing?”

She whipped around, grabbing the first thing within reach to use as a weapon.

Hugh looked from her face to her hand with his usual expression of barely contained amusement—a look that aggravated Grace more every time she encountered him. Even the dog standing next to him looked entertained. “The mute button doesn’t work on me. Trust me. Others have tried.”

There was still so much residual fear flooding through her body that Grace had a hard time understanding what he meant. She followed his gaze to the improvised weapon in her hand and realized that she was pointing the television remote at him. As her panic started to abate, anger took its place, along with a healthy dose of embarrassment.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded, allowing her arm to drop back to her side.

“I could ask you the same thing,” he said.

“What?” It was almost a screech. Grace blamed residual nerves…and the fact that Hugh was truly aggravating. “I live here!”

“Jules said you were job hunting today.” She opened her mouth, but he spoke again before she could ask how that justified him breaking into her house. “Why didn’t you open the door when I knocked?”

Her eyes narrowed. “You came in because you thought I wasn’t here? What were you going to do? Go through my stuff?”

The guilty look that flashed over his face disappeared quickly, but she still caught it. “You were!” Another thought occurred to her, and she almost growled. “How did you get in?”

His expression of pure innocence just made her suspicions double. “What do you mean? The door was unlocked.”

“No, it wasn’t. I definitely remember locking—”

“Hey!” he interrupted, his attention on the TV screen. “Is this the Tattered Hearts where Tatiana realizes that Natasha and Jorge are scheming against her?”

“What? I don’t know. I’ve never watched this show.”

“You’ve never seen Tattered Hearts?” He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the couch. Bemused by the sudden topic shift, she sat. “You are missing out. It’s the best show ever.”

Hugh plopped his oversized self on the couch right next to Grace, jostling her. He was so big, a wall of heat and muscle and sexiness—whoa. She shut down that thought abruptly. His dog stretched out in front of them, her furry head resting on Grace’s foot, which was comforting and kind of nice. She scowled and briefly considered telling Hugh to leave—although the dog could stay—but Grace was curious why he was so obsessed with this soap. Besides, as annoying as Hugh could be, arguing with him kept her mind off Martin Jovanovic. She honestly didn’t want to be in this big, creaky house alone anymore, especially after having the snot scared out of her, so she settled in to watch.

“Wait,” she said after a few minutes. “So the guy with the waxed chest—”

“Jorge.”

“So Jorge is cheating on the woman with the scary eyebrows—”

“Tatiana.”

“Jorge is cheating on Tatiana with the lizard-faced woman?”

“Natasha.”

“Why?” Keeping her gaze locked on the television, Grace made a face. “Tatiana is so much hotter, and Natasha is all about the drama. That gets so tiring.”

“I know.” Hugh sighed. “Jorge’s an idiot.”

“Yeah. He is.” Although she wanted to talk more about Jorge’s poor life choices, Grace went quiet so she could watch the show. As the soap continued, she found herself leaning forward, fascinated despite herself.

“Oh. My. God.” Grace clapped a hand over her mouth in shocked glee as a commercial filled the small screen. “Did Tatiana actually tell Jorge about the secret baby?”

“I know, right? Natasha knew all along, too.” Hugh shook his head and tsked. “Just wait. Javier—”

“Stop! No spoilers!” Lunging toward him and laughing, Grace clapped a hand over his mouth. As soon as she made contact, she froze. His skin was warm—almost hot—and his cheeks as stubbly as his lips were smooth. Grace stared at him. What was she doing? This was Hugh, a cop who was so suspicious of her that he’d broken into her house to dig through her things. Why was she flirting with him?

Realizing that she was still touching him, Grace started to yank her arm back, but he caught her hand before she could pull it away. He gave it a gentle squeeze before releasing it.

“What—”

“The show’s on,” Hugh interrupted. “Hush, or you’ll miss it.”

Watching Tattered Hearts was more important than smacking him down for shushing her, so Grace settled against the sofa cushions and tried to ignore the annoying, muscle-bound cop sharing the couch with her. She couldn’t deny how nice it was to have him there, though. It made her feel a little less alone.

Grace felt herself relaxing for the first time in over a week. With a relieved sigh, she let herself enjoy the warmth of Hugh’s shoulder so close to hers and the comfort of his presence. She got caught up in the drama of Tatiana, Jorge, and Natasha, and forgot about anyone with the name Jovanovic for a little while.

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Meet the Author:

When she’s not writing, KATIE RUGGLE rides horses, shoots guns, and trains her three dogs. A police academy graduate, Katie readily admits she’s a forensics nerd. While she still misses her off-grid home in the Rocky Mountains, she now lives in a 150-year-old Minnesota farmhouse near her family.

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