I am seriously going to have to read every book author Nicole Edwards recommends. She’s two for two so far. Ms. Edwards often tells her fans what she’s reading in her e-mail newsletter and I finally decided to check out one of the books she was reading. I read the first book in the Blood Brothers series by Rebecca Zanetti, Deadly Silence, and got hooked on that series and more by that author. A couple of months ago, Ms. Edwards was reading Through the Fire, the fourth book in this Katie Ruggle series. Well, this is a new-to-me author so I decided to give this first book of the series a try. Amazing! Once again, Nicole Edwards has impeccable taste.

All of the alpha-male cops in this story are guys I want to get to know more. Theo is the main focus of this story, but his pals Otto and Hugh have me itching to know more. There is such a wonderful and deep connection with them all, even if they try to play it off as giving each other crap more than giving each other love…we know the truth. These guys love each other and would do anything for one another.

Theo is more of a strong silent type than the others, but that understandable. Not only did he lose his own K9 partner to cancer less than a year ago, but he also lost his human partner recently. He’s not the only one reeling from the loss. His deceased partner’s K9, Viggy, is just not the same since the loss. Not only does Theo have the guilt of his partner’s death on him, he also feels like a failure when it comes to Viggy. When Jules moves to town, he can’t help but be suspicious of the woman who constantly seems to be ready to jump out of her skin. But he also can’t help but want to learn more about her for personal reasons. She’s a ray of sunshine for him and seems to be the only person able to start pulling him out of his funk.

Jules will do anything to protect her 4 underage siblings, so hooking up with a cop is not on her agenda. Yet, like Theo, she cannot resist their pull. As unsettled as they make each other in some ways, they calm each other in another way. Jules craves the safety she feels when Theo is around and Theo craves the peace Jules gives his soul. And, although Viggy isn’t himself most of the time, the dog loves Jules and her siblings. It’s the only time he acts like his old self.

The relationships Theo forms with Jules and the kids is very touching. There is so much going on around them it’s hard for the reader to know for sure who is good and who is bad and what the actual threat is, and is it aimed at Jules? Who knows! It’s a wild ride. (I feel I should point out that there are a couple of dicey gun situations in this book, including one that takes place around a school. I don’t want to give spoilers, but I want to make sure you know going in this book can be intense for some people.)

There are one or two slight timeline issues, but nothing major. And the cover is atrocious. Seriously, ignore the cover. Nobody stands in that awkward way in real life. Don’t let that stop you for reading this one. And the next one, I’m sure. Because while the overall story of Theo, Jules, and the kids is wrapped up to a certain extent, this story isn’t quite over. There are still many unresolved issues, and the story ends with more of a HFN than a HEA. It’s not what I would necessarily consider a cliffhanger, but there is still more to be told. The author was genius in keeping me hooked to the end and leaving me wanting more.

This review can also be found at https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.com/2018/11/02/run-to-ground-book-review/

Merged review:

I am seriously going to have to read every book author Nicole Edwards recommends. She’s two for two so far. Ms. Edwards often tells her fans what she’s reading in her e-mail newsletter and I finally decided to check out one of the books she was reading. I read the first book in the Blood Brothers series by Rebecca Zanetti, Deadly Silence, and got hooked on that series and more by that author. A couple of months ago, Ms. Edwards was reading Through the Fire, the fourth book in this Katie Ruggle series. Well, this is a new-to-me author so I decided to give this first book of the series a try. Amazing! Once again, Nicole Edwards has impeccable taste.

All of the alpha-male cops in this story are guys I want to get to know more. Theo is the main focus of this story, but his pals Otto and Hugh have me itching to know more. There is such a wonderful and deep connection with them all, even if they try to play it off as giving each other crap more than giving each other love…we know the truth. These guys love each other and would do anything for one another.

Theo is more of a strong silent type than the others, but that understandable. Not only did he lose his own K9 partner to cancer less than a year ago, but he also lost his human partner recently. He’s not the only one reeling from the loss. His deceased partner’s K9, Viggy, is just not the same since the loss. Not only does Theo have the guilt of his partner’s death on him, he also feels like a failure when it comes to Viggy. When Jules moves to town, he can’t help but be suspicious of the woman who constantly seems to be ready to jump out of her skin. But he also can’t help but want to learn more about her for personal reasons. She’s a ray of sunshine for him and seems to be the only person able to start pulling him out of his funk.

Jules will do anything to protect her 4 underage siblings, so hooking up with a cop is not on her agenda. Yet, like Theo, she cannot resist their pull. As unsettled as they make each other in some ways, they calm each other in another way. Jules craves the safety she feels when Theo is around and Theo craves the peace Jules gives his soul. And, although Viggy isn’t himself most of the time, the dog loves Jules and her siblings. It’s the only time he acts like his old self.

The relationships Theo forms with Jules and the kids is very touching. There is so much going on around them it’s hard for the reader to know for sure who is good and who is bad and what the actual threat is, and is it aimed at Jules? Who knows! It’s a wild ride. (I feel I should point out that there are a couple of dicey gun situations in this book, including one that takes place around a school. I don’t want to give spoilers, but I want to make sure you know going in this book can be intense for some people.)

There are one or two slight timeline issues, but nothing major. And the cover is atrocious. Seriously, ignore the cover. Nobody stands in that awkward way in real life. Don’t let that stop you for reading this one. And the next one, I’m sure. Because while the overall story of Theo, Jules, and the kids is wrapped up to a certain extent, this story isn’t quite over. There are still many unresolved issues, and the story ends with more of a HFN than a HEA. It’s not what I would necessarily consider a cliffhanger, but there is still more to be told. The author was genius in keeping me hooked to the end and leaving me wanting more.

This review can also be found at https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.com/2018/11/02/run-to-ground-book-review/