Review - - Fish Out of Water

Fish Out of Water

by Katie Ruggle

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Release Date: February 13, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

When Dahlia Weathersby's sister disappears on what should have been a simple day hike, Dahlia immediately heads deep into the Colorado Rockies to find her. Knowing she'll never survive the mountains alone, she convinces the local hermit—adorably grouchy survival expert Winston Dane—to be her guide. All it takes is a good helping of Dahlia's charm…and just the teeniest bit of blackmail…before she's got all six-foot-something of him wrapped around her finger. But even with her very own mountain man in tow, things aren't going to be easy. There are:

• Long hikes through gorgeous wilderness? Check.
• Bears? Check.
• A single shared sleeping bag? Check.
• Enough sparks to set the Rockies ablaze? Check, check, check.

With everything the wilderness has to throw at them, it'll take more than charm and some city girl ingenuity to make this trek anything but a disaster waiting to happen…and an adventure she'll never forget.

PJ's Thoughts:

I've been reading Katie Ruggle since her debut novel. Her slightly offbeat characters, complex storylines, and slow-building, edge-of-your-seat suspense have landed her first two series on my keeper shelves and cemented her as an auto-buy author. After a few years publishing hiatus, Ruggle is back with something a little different. There's still the quirky characters and terrific banter of her earlier books but Fish Out of Water is lighter in tone, more romcom than suspense, though still with a bit of danger.

I enjoyed this book that pairs a chatterbox makeover artist from the city with a Mr. Grumpy Pants, reclusive author from the mountains. Dahlia and Winston are hilarious, endearing, and more than a little quirky. It's a vibe Ruggle has used before and does well. Even during the spicy bits I found myself grinning and chuckling along with the unlikely couple who somehow seem perfect for one another. I admit that there were times when I found myself wondering if they had forgotten about Dahlia's missing sister. I had to suspend belief a bit there but I willingly did so because this book was more romcom than suspense and, also, I was having fun with these two. Even when the danger showed up around the 80% mark, I was so entrenched in the lighthearted vibe of the story by that point that I took it for granted that all would be well.   

Did I miss the complex character development, emotional depth, and breath-stealing tension of Ruggle's earlier books that I love so much? Yes, I did, but once I realized that this was a different type of book I was able to appreciate it for what it is: a lighthearted, laugh-inducing, slightly bonkers, adventurous romcom...with a touch of danger and a happy ending. 

Review - - Risk it All

Risk it All
by Katie Ruggle
Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters - Book 2
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: December 31, 2020
Reviewed by PJ
    

Cara Pax never wanted to be a bounty hunter. She’s happy to leave chasing criminals and tackling skips to her sisters. But if she wants her dreams of escaping the family business to come true, she’s got one last job to finish... Only problem is, she doesn’t think her bounty is guilty.

Henry Kavenski is a man with innocence to prove. When he realizes that Cara believes him, he’ll do anything to keep her out of harm’s way. Escaping criminals and dodging cops might not be the best time to fall in love, but Henry and Cara won’t give up, not when there’s a chance at a new life ahead—if they can survive the fall.

PJ's Thoughts:

Katie Ruggle has been on my auto-buy list since her first series. I love her well-developed, out-of-the-box characters, tightly-woven suspense, edge-of-the-seat danger, and fast-paced story lines. I love the overarching mystery that begins in the first book of each series but doesn't conclude until the last, keeping me eagerly returning for each book in the series. She pulls me into each connected group - family, friends, co-workers - that populates her various series, creating a fascinating dynamic that engages me emotionally. But, I have to admit, of all her series, so far, I'm enjoying these five bounty hunting sisters the most. I love how they interact with and support one another, the banter, humor, and sass in their relationships, and how they are each a unique, different personality but mesh together into an unbreakable, loving unit. And I love their dog. I so love their dog!

Cara is the sweet sister everyone protects. She's the one who stays behind to do computer research when she's not in class working toward a degree to fulfill her dream of being a kindergarten teacher (a dream their mother has successfully delayed too many times), all of which makes her the least likely sister to go after a suspected murderer on her own. Which, of course, makes this book all the more interesting when she and Henry are forced to go on the run.

I really enjoyed these two together. Ruggle ratchets up the tension, sending them into the wilderness in a race for their lives where they're forced to depend on one another. The romance portion is a slow build, making it much more realistic considering the circumstances, while the danger is high intensity. Cara is one of my favorite Ruggle heroines. I really enjoyed watching her come into her own during this story. I love how protective Henry is of her, in both action scenes as well as personal ones. And, speaking of Henry, I was right there with Cara, hoping Henry would turn out to be innocent of the charges against him but still wondering how it would all turn out right up until the reveal. Kudos to Ruggle for story telling that kept me guessing. I love when an author accomplishes that. 

Risk it All is the second book in this series and will stand on its own but to better understand the overarching mystery, the dynamic among the sisters, and the precarious position their law-breaking mother has put them in, I recommend readers begin with the first book in the series: In Her Sights. 

Tour Review, Giveaway & Excerpt - - In Her Sights

In Her Sights
by Katie Ruggle
Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters - Book 1
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: March 26, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
 

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 thoughts: 

I have yet to meet a Katie Ruggle story that I didn't like and In Her Sights is no exception. Being the first in a series with an overarching mystery, this book naturally sets the stage for future books as well as introducing the cast of main characters yet at no time did I ever feel overwhelmed or confused by the number of characters in the book. Also, while Molly's sisters all have roles in this book and we begin to know each one's individual personalities and quirks within the family dynamic, the primary focus remains consistently on Molly and John. 

Did I mention how much I adored Molly and John? These two are so much fun. I loved their chemistry, their banter, and how they oh so slowly move from rivals to temporary bounty hunting partners to friends and then more. Molly is independent, sarcastic, and a protective mama bear to her younger sisters. Her take-charge attitude has been ingrained since she was a young girl and it's not about to change now. But who takes care of Molly? Enter John Carmondy, a mountain of a man with a sweet smile, protective nature, and a marshmallow heart, at least when it comes to Molly. 

"He's in loooove," Felicity cooed, and Molly jabbed her sister in the side with her elbow. "How have you not realized this? He basically has cartoon hearts where his pupils should be whenever he looks at  you." 

He's head over heels and, of course, Molly is the only one who doesn't see it. She thinks the only reason he seems to be around when things go sideways is because he's trying to steal her skips. 
Nope. John's motivation is something else entirely. Watching these two strike sparks off one another was pure pleasure. Watching them finally come together was even better!

While the tone of this book is lighter than Ruggle's previous books, there's still plenty of action and a mystery at its core. Get ready for lots of twists and turns as Molly, John, and Molly's sisters all work together to discover what their criminal mother has actually done this time and where she's fled. Pieces of the mystery will be solved in this book but there are still questions to be answered in future ones. As for Molly and John, you can expect a smile-inducing, happy ending for those two and, undoubtedly, more shenanigans in the future. 


Have you read any Katie Ruggle books yet? Do you have a favorite?

Do you enjoy your romantic suspense light and humorous or dark and twisty? Or perhaps, both?

In Her Sights (Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters #1)

Excerpt 2

The chilly air brushed against her damp face, making her realize how warm the bar was. She peered down the dim alley, checking both directions. Except for the dumpster that she’d warned John about, the narrow lane was empty. Frustration rose in her chest, squeezing her lungs. Sonny’d had too much time to get away. The crowd had succeeded in giving him enough of a head start to escape. Without a direction, Molly knew they had no hope of finding him.

John made an irritated sound, and Molly turned to meet his gaze. “I know. It sucks. At least we know he hasn’t left town…yet. Should we go back and see what we can pry out of the zombies? Someone has to know where he’s been crashing.”

He looked unhappy about this idea. “That’s a pretty hostile bunch. You shouldn’t go back in there.”

Although a big part of her bristled at the implication that she couldn’t take care of herself, an even bigger part was relieved. She didn’t want to question the bar patrons, and John was giving her an out. She’d be an idiot to insist on endangering them for a slight chance that someone in the crowd was willing to talk.

Letting out a disappointed huff of air, she stepped into the alley. When John didn’t immediately follow, she turned to raise a questioning eyebrow. “You weren’t planning on staying, were you?” Her stomach churned with concern at the thought of him alone in Dutch’s. Sure, he was a strong guy, but even he couldn’t fight off dozens of people if they meant him harm. Who knew how many were armed, too. The bouncer hadn’t checked the two of them for weapons, and they weren’t even regulars.

“No.” John finally followed her out, and she released the door so it swung shut behind him. “I was just surprised you didn’t insist on staying.”

She shrugged, not wanting to admit that she’d considered it out of foolish pride, even though it had just been for a moment or two. “I have a greater sense of self-preservation than that.”

“I…” Whatever he had been about to say was lost when his voice trailed off, his eyes locked on the back of a neighboring building. Molly followed his gaze to a door that was cracked open just an inch or two. Turning her head, she exchanged a speaking look with John, and they both moved quietly toward the barely open door.

“You armed?” he asked so quietly that she could barely hear him.

“Depends how you define arms.” Slipping her Taser from her pants pocket, she held it at her side. “You?”

“No gun.” His gaze stayed fixed on the dark gap between the door and the frame as they moved closer to the building. “I do have arms, though.”

She was pretty sure he flexed, although her attention, like his, was focused on the slightly open door. A touch of amusement ran through her, but it was quickly swallowed by apprehension. Who knew what kind of danger hid in the shadows of the warehouse?

When they were just a few feet from the door, Molly reached her free hand toward the edge, intending to push it open, but there was suddenly a huge man in her way. With a glare at the broad back in front of her, blocking her way and even her view of the entry, she dodged around him, giving him a sharp elbow in the side. Even if he was just trying to be chivalrous, it was still a ridiculous thing to do.

Easing the door open, she took a cautious step inside, grateful for John’s watchful presence at her back. The murky ambient light illuminated the interior just enough to see shadows and forms. Dust and the lingering hint of old chemicals prickled her nose. Before she could take a second step, a darting movement caught her attention. Molly sucked in a startled breath and spun to face the threat, her entire focus was on who—or what—was in the dark space with them. Before she could race after whoever it was, the world behind them lit up, whiting out her vision. She didn’t have time to think or plan or even duck before a ferocious boom sounded, so loud that she felt it through her entire body.

John! her brain screamed, even as she knew it was too late to help him. The explosion had already sent her flying forward, weightless, from the force of the blast.

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Purchase Links:   

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2GfYh7f 

B&N: http://bit.ly/2E21tkN 

Apple: https://apple.co/2Doz9Hy 

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2uk9SdL 

Indiebound: http://bit.ly/2I2u913 

Author Website: http://katieruggle.com/ 

Review - - Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas

Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas
By Katie Ruggle
Rocky Mountain Cowboys - Book 1
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: September 25, 2018
Reviewed by PJ

When firefighter and single dad Steve Springfield moved his four kids to a Colorado Christmas tree ranch, he intended for it to be a safe haven. But he never expected danger to follow them to his childhood home...

Or that he would come face-to-face with the one girl he could never forget.

Folk artist Camille Brandt lives a quiet life. As the town's resident eccentric, she's used to being lonely―until Steve freaking Springfield changes everything. Brave and kind, he's always had a piece of her heart, and it doesn't take long before she's in danger of falling for him again. But as mysterious fires break out across the sleepy Colorado town, Steve and Camille will have to fight if they want their happy family to survive until Christmas...


My thoughts:

You know how sometimes you meet a secondary character in a series and think, "Hmmm...he's intriguing. I'd like to know more about him." but his role in the series isn't significant enough to warrant his own book? And then, you meet him again in the author's next series? Still intriguing but still, no story. And then...one day you're in the goodie room at a conference and you pick up an advanced copy of an upcoming book by said author. You don't read the back cover blurb because she's one of your favorite authors and you know you'll be reading the book, no matter what it's about. Then, later, you open the book and read the first few pages and suddenly you realize...OMG!...it's his book. It's Steve - freaking - Springfield's story! Yeah, to say I was excited would have been a massive understatement. But then you start to worry. You've been anticipating this story for almost three years...through eight books. What if it doesn't meet your expectations? 

It met my expectations. I read the entire book in one day. Then I read it again. And, recently, I read it for a third time. Once again, Katie Ruggle has penned a story that's funny, suspenseful, and emotional, filling it with everyday characters who are so vibrant, complex, and real that I forget they're characters and begin to think of them as actual people. Steve is such a good guy and a great dad. I adored him. And Camille, well, she's someone I just want to wrap up in a big, warm hug...except that would probably freak her out so much that she'd go running from the room. Steve's kids (who range in age from 10 to 15) come close to stealing every scene they are in but he and the kids are a package deal and I can't imagine enjoying this book - or Steve and Camille's relationship - as much as I did without all four of the kids. Each of them is unique and interesting in their own right. I'm hoping their characters will continue to develop throughout the rest of the series. Setting this first book in the new series at Steve's family Christmas tree ranch brings his three single brothers into the equation as well. I love how Ruggle digs into family dynamics - and dysfunction - in her books and I can't wait to find out what she has in store for the Springfields. 

Another of Ruggle's strengths is her ability to slow build suspense throughout a story as she once again does in this book. It's not in your face but over your shoulder, always there, as it builds to a climax with a twist that I never saw coming. I'm very curious to see how that twist factors into the rest of the series.  

If you enjoy romantic suspense with characters who will capture your heart and twists and turns that will leave you guessing, all wrapped up in a beautiful Colorado, postcard-worthy, Christmas tree ranch, then you'll want a copy of Katie Ruggle's Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas under your tree this year. 

If you're interested in going back to when Steve Springfield and his family were first introduced to readers, pick up a copy of On His Watch, the prequel novella to Katie Ruggle's debut Search and Rescue series. It's currently free.

Taking Time Off...and Recommended Reads

Hi Everyone,

The blog is going to be quiet for a couple weeks. I had to make an emergency trip out of state a week ago. One of my brothers is dying and I'm with him and other members of my family. I'm the oldest in my family and he's next in line - 5 years younger. We've always been incredibly close, share a love of music, theater, and football, and I can't begin to wrap my mind - or my heart - around the fact that he will soon be gone. 

As I have with past tragedies in my life, I've been escaping into romance novels as I sit at his bedside. The love and hope in the stories we all enjoy bring me a measure of comfort as I deal with the sadness of losing someone I love. I've tried to write full-length reviews to share these books with you but I'm just not able to focus my mind enough to do that right now. Instead, I'm listing five of the books below with a few of my thoughts. I hope you'll check them out. They are all wonderful! 

Thank you for your understanding.

~PJ


The Governess Game
By Tessa Dare
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: August 28, 2018

He’s been a bad, bad rake—and it takes a governess to teach him a lesson

The accidental governess

After her livelihood slips through her fingers, Alexandra Mountbatten takes on an impossible post: transforming a pair of wild orphans into proper young ladies. However, the girls don’t need discipline. They need a loving home. Try telling that to their guardian, Chase Reynaud: duke’s heir in the streets and devil in the sheets. The ladies of London have tried—and failed—to make him settle down. Somehow, Alexandra must reach his heart . . . without risking her own.

The infamous rake

Like any self-respecting libertine, Chase lives by one rule: no attachments. When a stubborn little governess tries to reform him, he decides to give her an education—in pleasure. That should prove he can’t be tamed. But Alexandra is more than he bargained for: clever, perceptive, passionate. She refuses to see him as a lost cause. Soon the walls around Chase’s heart are crumbling . . . and he’s in danger of falling, hard.

I admit that I'm a huge fan of Tessa Dare's writing. I've read every book she's written and most of them have places on my keeper shelf. Yet, even among that exalted "keeper" company, for me, The Governess Game shines as one of her best. I loved the chemistry between Chase and Alexandra, the witty banter, the sensuality, and the heartfelt emotion. I adored the two orphaned girls for whom Chase is responsible and appreciated the fact that they are not wallpaper but fully developed, essential characters with key roles in the evolution of Chase and Alexandra individually as well as them as a couple. Dare's trademark humor also shines in this book with many laugh-out-loud scenes. If you're looking for a feel-good romance with plenty of humor, sizzle, and heartfelt emotion, you can't go wrong with The Governess Game. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

When a Duke Loves a Woman
By Lorraine Heath
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: August 21, 2018

Gillie Trewlove knows what a stranger’s kindness can mean, having been abandoned on a doorstep as a baby and raised by the woman who found her there. So, when suddenly faced with a soul in need at her door—or the alleyway by her tavern—Gillie doesn’t hesitate. But he’s no infant. He’s a grievously injured, distractingly handsome gentleman who doesn’t belong in Whitechapel, much less recuperating in Gillie’s bed . . .

Being left at the altar is humiliating; being rescued from thugs by a woman—albeit a brave and beautiful one—is the pièce de résistance to the Duke of Thornley’s extraordinarily bad day. After nursing him back from the brink, Gillie agrees to help him comb London’s darker corners for his wayward bride. But every moment together is edged with desire and has Thorne rethinking his choice of wife. Yet Gillie knows the aristocracy would never accept a duchess born in sin. Thorne, however, is determined to prove to her that no obstacle is insurmountable when a duke loves a woman.

This is the second book in a series that is quickly becoming one of my favorites by Lorraine Heath. Heath's writing is emotional and romantic, with superbly crafted characters, and stories touched with occasional humor and a whole lot of heart. I thoroughly enjoyed Gillie and Thorne and am already looking forward to the next story in this series.

~~~~~~~~~~

Tempted by Love: A Montana Heat Novel
By Jennifer Ryan
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: August 21, 2018

Alina Cooke—little sister of his two best friends—is the last woman DEA agent Jay Bennett should be waking up next to on the day of her brother’s wedding. But their powerful attraction ignited a powder keg of desire, and their once simple friendship has just become impossibly complicated.

Alina’s always been steady, focused, and lived on the safe side of life. Jay is totally devoted to his dangerous job. She knows a future with him will be filled with worry that one day he won’t come home. She’s done it with her brothers. She’s not sure she can face that uncertainty with the man she loves. Yet being in his arms is a bad idea they keep repeating, again and again.

When Alina is run off the road, Jay fears his job has made her a target. But the threat in Alina’s life is closer than they think. As the enemy gets more ruthless, Alina proves she’s no easy target and Jay will do anything to bring them down. Because surviving and being together is the only thing that matters.

If you enjoy romantic suspense with a western flair, you'll want to give Jennifer Ryan a try. I discovered her a couple years ago and have been happily gobbling up her books ever since. In Tempted by Love, Ryan brings us one of my favorite tropes: little sister falling for her brother's best friend. In the case of Alina and Jay, he's the best friend and co-worker of two of her brothers. Double the trouble if they find out, right? Though this is the third book in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone. However, I'll warn you that once you meet Alina's brothers in this novel, you'll probably be downloading their stories too!

~~~~~~~~~~

Through the Fire

Rocky Mountain K9 Unit - Book 4

By Katie Ruggle

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Release Date: August 28, 2018

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.

Over the past two years, Katie Ruggle has become one of my favorite romantic suspense authors. In Through the Fire, she brings readers another intense, suspenseful, and emotional story set high in the Rockies and once again, she had me glued to the pages from beginning to end. Each of her series has four books with a mystery beginning in book one and concluding in book four. For that reason, I strongly encourage readers to read the books in order. For this series, those books are: Run to Ground, On the Chase, Survive the Night, and Through the Fire. 

~~~~~~~~~~

The Laird's Willful Lass
The Likely Lairds - Book 1
By Anna Campbell
Self-Published
Release Date: July 31, 2018

An untamed man as immovable as a Highland mountain…

Fergus Mackinnon, autocratic Laird of Achnasheen, likes to be in charge. When he was little more than a lad, he became master of his Scottish estate, and he’s learned to rely on his unfailing judgment. So has everyone else in his corner of the world. He sees no reason for his bride—when he finds her—to be any different. 

A headstrong woman from the warm and passionate south…

Marina Lucchetti knows all about fighting her way through a wall of masculine arrogance. In her native Florence, she’s become a successful artist, no easy feat for a woman. Now a commission to paint a series of Highland scenes promises to spread her fame far and wide. When a carriage accident strands her at Achnasheen for a few weeks, it’s a mixed blessing. The magnificent landscape offers everything her artistic soul could desire. If only she can resist the impulse to smash her easel across the laird’s obstinate head. 

When two fiery souls come together, a conflagration flares. 

Marina is Fergus’s worst nightmare—a woman who defies a man’s guidance. Fergus challenges everything Marina believes about a woman’s right to choose her path. No two people could be less suited. But when irresistible passion enters the equation, good sense soon jumps into the loch. 

This book marks Anna Campbell's return to full-length novels and though I've thoroughly enjoyed her novellas of the past few years, it was wonderful to immerse myself in one of her longer tales again. In this book, she takes us to beautiful Scotland and introduces us to two characters - a traditional, autocratic Scots hero and an artistic, independent Italian heroine - for whom marriage is not a goal. As you can imagine, plenty of friction and banter - not to mention sizzling chemistry - ensues. Traveling the road to love along with these two was pure pleasure. Campbell's descriptions of the Scottish countryside reflect her love of this country and created a stunning portrait as vivid and vibrant as the paintings her heroine creates with her brush. 


What are you reading that you would recommend?

Review & Giveaway - - On the Chase

On the Chase
By Katie Ruggle
Rocky Mountain K9 Unit - Book 2
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: September 5, 2017
Reviewed by PJ

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.

Kaylee Ramay is living her dream life in California: great job, good friends, beautiful condo, gorgeous clothes...until the evening she accompanies her new boyfriend to his uncle's home for dinner, takes a wrong turn on her way to the bathroom, and finds herself running for her life...with the mob on her heels. Now she's in a remote Colorado mountain town, with an assumed name (Grace), wearing decidedly non-designer clothing from the local thrift shop, sharing a rundown house with people she's just met, and shoveling dog poop at the local animal shelter. If she can keep a low profile, make sure nobody looks too closely into her fictitious background, and steer clear of the annoying - and way too sexy - nosy police officer who has her in his sights, she just may get out of this predicament alive. 

Hugh Murdoch is not a man prone to relaxation. On medical leave after being shot, he's driving everyone around him crazy with his attempts to convince them to let him come back to work before he's fully healed. With all that restless energy threatening to explode it's no wonder he latches onto the mystery of the new woman in town. Hugh knows when someone is lying and when someone has trouble on their tail. He's sure Grace (or whatever her real name is) hasn't given him a straight answer to a single question. She's living with his friends and Hugh is determined to make sure she isn't bringing trouble to their door. He's going to stick to her like glue. Of course, it doesn't hurt that she's intelligent, beautiful, and full of sass...and doesn't that get his engine revving! Gradually, as they spend together, they begin to become friends...then more...but then trouble finally arrives. Is it someone from Grace's past or Hugh's that has them in the crosshairs? Their only hope of a happy ending is to figure out who it is and stop them...before they both pay with their lives. 

As with her previous books, On the Chase grabbed my attention from the first pages, gradually increasing the suspense throughout and keeping me riveted to the story until the very end. It's well-paced and packed with action but also has plenty of humor and heart to balance it.

Ruggle has a talent for creating a sense of place - her small mountain town is one I'd recognize on sight - and filling it with characters that are well-formed and relatable. Her villains are ordinary enough to be chilling in their evil and the good guys, while flawed, are people in whom I'm invested and for whom I cheer. Grace and Hugh are two of those people. I appreciated Grace's strength, her refusal to give up or give in, and enjoyed watching her grow into the person she is meant to be. There are facets of Hugh's personality that would drive me crazy in real life but he's a good guy, loyal friend, and determined to protect those about whom he cares. One of those being his K9 partner, Lexi. She, Grace, and Hugh all cemented their places in my affections during one pivotal, heart-in-my-throat, scene that about sent me over the edge. 

While the main romance in this book is between Hugh and Grace/Kaylee, key characters from the first book in the series, Run to Ground, play substantial roles. We see growth in the relationship between Jules and Theo (heroine and hero of the first book), and learn more about Otto (hero of the third book, Survive the Night, due out in February 2018). We also see more of Jules' siblings with additional hints dropped about the events that brought them to Colorado. I'm hopeful that we'll have full disclosure of their story before the end of the series. 

While On the Chase can stand on its own, for maximum enjoyment, I strongly encourage readers to read Run to Ground first. I've already marked my 2018 calendar for the February release of Survive the Night. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do you enjoy animals in your romances?

Are you a dog or cat person? Or something else?

If you had to go on the run, which of your possessions would be most difficult to give up? What new name/job would you choose?

PJ's Birthday Month Giveaway!

One randomly chosen person leaving a comment before 11:00 PM, September 7, 2017 will receive a print set of the four books in Katie Ruggle's Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue series. (U.S. only)

Excerpt and Giveaway - - On the Chase by Katie Ruggle

PJ, here. Hold Your Breath, Katie Ruggle's 2016 romantic suspense debut, launched what quickly became one of my favorite series of last year. This year she returns with new characters, emotional stories, and plenty of action in her new Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series. The second book in the series, On the Chase, will be released September 5th and, as with her earlier books, kept me glued to the pages from beginning to end. If you have not yet discovered Katie Ruggle, I enthusiastically recommend giving her a try.

Note: For maximum enjoyment, I strongly encourage reading the books in both her Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue series and her new Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series in order.  

Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue
On His Watch (prequel novella)
Hold Your Breath
Fan the Flames
Gone Too Deep
In Safe Hands
After the End (series epilogue extended-length novella)

Rocky Mountain K9 Unit
Run to Ground
On the Chase (9/5/17)
Survive the Night (2/6/18)

Excerpt

ON THE CHASE

 “How’s your head?”

His smile dimmed just slightly before returning to full wattage. “Still where it’s supposed to be. I might have lost a few brain cells, but there were plenty to spare.”

Grace rolled her eyes. Of course he would joke about almost dying. Forget that she hadn’t been able to sleep or think about anything else for the past five days since Jules told her about the explosion. She didn’t know why she cared, why she worried about him, why the idea of him almost dying made her heart hurt. It wasn’t like they were friends. Every time they saw each other, they argued. Even now, seeing Hugh all happy and smirky and healthy-looking, she felt her worry turn to annoyance. “Have you found out who planted the bomb yet?”

“Can’t talk about an ongoing investigation,” he said lightly. “You know what we can talk about, though?”

“What?” she asked warily. He was just a few steps away, and she realized that she’d been moving closer without even realizing it. Stupid feet. Don’t they know he’s an ass?

Hugh gestured at her soaked coveralls. “This incredibly fashion-forward look you have going here.”

Her finger hovered close to the trigger. So maybe he’d lose a little skin if she gave him a quick spray. Really, it was what he deserved. With a great effort of will, she kept the washer down at her side.

“You like it?” Posing with her free hand on her hip, she gave him her best sultry-model face. If she had to be stuck wearing wet coveralls and too-large rubber boots, then she was going to own the look.

He chuckled, although his gaze heated as he took her in. “Oh yeah. It’s kennel chic.”

“Right.” Dropping the pose, she frowned at him, trying to figure out why he was looking at her like he wanted to eat her. There was nothing appealing about her at the moment. She’d known this even before she glanced down again, confirming the horrid state of her appearance. “I miss wearing pretty things.”

Immediately, his gaze sharpened. “Pretty things? Like what you used to wear to work? What did you do before in…Bangor?”

That slight pause reminded her that he was a cop—a cop who thought she was a liar. Tipping her head, she gave him a flirty look. “You want to know something?”

“Yeah. What?” He moved a half step closer, his inquisitive expression shifting to something a little…hungrier.

She smiled and leaned toward him. His gaze dropped to her lips. “I’m beginning to understand why someone would want to blow you up.”

To her surprise, he laughed. It made him even more stupidly attractive than usual, and Grace found herself unable to look away. “I’m told that a lot.”

Thrown off guard, she scrambled for a witty retort. “Maybe you should, you know, work on that.”

“Work on fixing my personality?” He leaned against the wall, and Grace gave a silent sigh. It looked as if he was settling in for a chat. As much as she welcomed an interruption from kennel cleaning, Hugh wasn’t her first pick. Whenever he was around, she felt strange, unsettled, almost jittery. He’d pop into her head at odd times, and just the thought of him sent a rush of adrenaline through her veins. It was…uncomfortable.

She realized that he was watching her with a tiny, knowing smile, and she tried to remember what they’d been talking about. “Whatever.” Grace figured that would cover most potential topics. “Why are you here?”

“Otto’s working with his latest project.”

“That explains why he’s here. Why are you here?”

He smirked. The man was impossible to offend. “I was bored, so I tagged along. It’s a good thing, too. We haven’t talked much lately. I was going to stop by to watch Tattered Hearts with you again, but Theo gave me a little lecture about the importance of keeping my lockpicks in my pants.”

“What a shame,” she said flatly, proud of herself for not giving in and smiling. It was hard to resist Hugh’s easy charm. “Well, this was a nice chat. We’ll have to do it again sometime…or not.”

His grin grew, and it became harder to keep her deadpan expression in place. “Oh, our visit isn’t over. Otto won’t be done for a while yet. So tell me, Not-Grace, how long did you live in Bangor?”

“Almost two years.”

“And before that?”

“Austin, Texas.”

“For how long?”

“Eight months.”

“Before that?”

“Portland.”

“Maine or Oregon?”

“Oregon.”

“Do you ever tell the truth?”

“Why do you think I’m lying?”

He smiled at her—a long, slow, easy, predatory baring of his teeth. “I can tell when someone’s lying. It’s my superpower.”

Grace shivered and immediately hoped he hadn’t noticed. By his expression, however, he’d seen it. He looked like a smug housecat, ready to pounce on a trapped mouse. “It’s none of your business. So I’ve moved around a lot. That’s not a crime. I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Then why are you lying?”

“I told you.” To her annoyance, she couldn’t hold his gaze. Turning her head, she stared at one of the kennels. “I’m not lying. Go away. I have to get back to work.”

She started spraying down the kennels again. The entire time, she felt his gaze on the back of her neck, as hot as sunburn on her skin. It made her crazy that he could bring out such a reaction in her, when she was just a suspect to him. Every time Hugh was nearby, her skin buzzed and her blood flowed faster, and when he left, she felt let down and lonely. He was a cop, and an annoying one at that. Why did she allow him to affect her like this? When she reached the end of the row, she couldn’t take it anymore. Turning, she huffed, “Would you please just…”

He was gone.

She glanced around, but she was alone. Moving over to the door, she looked out and saw Hugh limping slightly as he made his way to the squad car.

It was her turn to watch him. Crazily enough, she felt slightly deflated now that he’d left. Shaking off her idiotic thoughts, she firmed her jaw and turned back to the kennels. Forget Hugh, she told herself firmly. There’s poo to clean.

Even so, she couldn’t resist a final glance out the open door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

While recovering from an on-the-job injury, Hugh surprisingly becomes hooked on an afternoon soap opera, Tattered Hearts. What's your guilty TV watching pleasure?

Have you read any of Katie Ruggle's books yet? Do you have a favorite book or character?

Kaylee is on the run from someone who wants to kill her. What would be your location of choice if you had to "disappear?" 


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ON THE CHASE
By Katie Ruggle
Rocky Mountain K9 Unit - Book 2
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: September 5, 2017

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.

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