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The purpose of Thrifty Thursday is to read a book which was free (at some point).
I love K9 stories and liked another series by this author. Overall this series is a bit too dramatic for me in the romance storyline.
Kindle freebie on December 30, 2024 (currently $5.99 at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited as of writing this post)
Overall rating 4.50 with 2,290 ratings and 124 reviews

Series: Tin Star K9 #2
on September 2, 2021
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Pages: 230
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible



While on a run in the mountains, K9 Renegade finds a red high-heeled shoe. He and his handler, Deputy Caitlyn Reed, locate its twin — on the foot of a dead woman floating face down in Moose Lake.
The death appears to be a suicide, but when Caitlyn and Sheriff Colt Branson search for the woman’s identity, they find themselves hunted by a ruthless killer.
Maverick is the second book in the Tin Star K9 series. Normally I am a stickler for reading a series in order. I think I would understand the characters better if I had since this series seems to focus on one couple Caitlyn Reed and Colt Branson who grew up together. They were high school sweethearts who broke up when Colt made a one night mistake around graduation. They both ended up in law enforcement.
In this book, Colt is acting sheriff; Caitlyn is his deputy having just graduated with a degree in criminal justice and then take law enforcement training, as well as K9 training with her Belgian Malinois Renegade. Colt is trying to win her back as 10 years have passed since graduation.
While there are many aspects I liked, there were many things which gave me problems. I would prefer more actual K9 work and training (always). Caitlyn is smart and well-educated in her field and she certainly has fresh ideas which are helpful. However, it seemed like she was glorified with almost no law enforcement experience. I thought Colt should have had a bit more weight with his years of experience. They are a small department but they don’t always have backup or get backup for bad situations.
The other part was a new doctor was coming into town to possibly take over for his retiring uncle. Again, the young doc had some limited experience. He also constantly flirted with Caitlyn and was asking her out. I normally am ok with love triangles but this one really irked me.
I liked the police procedural and K9 story mostly, the romance side was not annoying. I am interested to see how it goes with a main couple throughout the series.
Kindle freebie on July 9, 2024 (currently $5.99 at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited as of writing this post)
Overall rating 4.62 with 1,936 ratings and 80 reviews

Series: Tin Star K9 #5
on September 1, 2022
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Pages: 296
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon




When her personal life spins out of control, Deputy US Marshal Caitlyn Reed is quick to volunteer for a case hunting a murderous fugitive in another state, far from home. She and Renegade escape the tangle of relational issues and jump into a forthright battle against crime.
Sheriff Colt Branson must grapple with the shock of family turmoil and an absent fiancée. While dealing with emotional upheaval in his world, Colt continues his search for the murderer of a local father and son that took place in Moose Creek months ago. His investigation uncovers the killer’s connection to a New York crime syndicate.
When Caitlyn suddenly falls off the radar, Colt risks everything to find her. He has nothing to go on besides Renegade and Caitlyn’s abandoned truck. Colt joins forces with the Reed brothers and a team of US Marshals led by Caitlyn’s mentor, Dirk Sterling. Together, their unit has the combined skill and manpower, but will they get to her in time?
Now I am on to the fifth book in the series, Bloodline. Colt is sheriff and Caitlyn is a US Marshal K9 agent. They are engaged with a strong relationship. It’s what they both have always wanted.
Suddenly, Colt learns he has a 10 year old son from his mistake after graduation. Caitlyn gives herself space by going to work on a case out of state where a prisoner escaped. The prisoner goes on a killing spree, enjoying it after the first kill. The Marshals and Caitlyn do a great job of finding clues to where he is traveling and going. Renegade does some work which helps. But when a man just keeps changing cars it’s harder to track when he goes off in a new car.
Colt navigates helping to support his son, getting to know him and working out a parenting schedule with his mother. He convinces the mother to move back to town. She is a widow having lost the only father his son knew. Colt is very worried about how it will impact his relationship with Caitlyn and her family.
Caitlyn, even with plenty of support goes off on her own and gets abducted. It’s terrifying. The whole team plus Colt and Caitlyn’s brothers, one with his K9, search for her. Her brother and his K9 are much more experienced and Colt is just a stand-in for Caitlyn with Renegade.
The suspense of this book was well done and the K9 work was a bit frantic. Renegade was going to find her. Caitlyn utilized what skills she could against her captor. This ending was much more of an HEA with things working out in the end.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 25-COYER
The dog on the first book looks just like Badger, lol. Sorry there aren’t more K9 parts, I would be disappointed too.
yes but I always want more K9 parts. 🙂 It was the romance part which didn’t make sense and took more time than I wanted.
I need to read this series. I have so many K-9 books saved to read and I should get to them. My pups are my life and since I incorporate them into my blog, I need to start reading a few more. Great review on this one! I would want more K-9 parts too but it still sounds good.
yes I read lots of K9 You should check out my Series on Saturday posts for that topic for the best ones.
Never been a love triangle fan so I’d be wanting more of the mystery and K-9 working side. That second book sounds intense with the serial killer, kidnapping, and the family drama.
t’s a little bizarre I read these because I did not read the series in order. Especially since it is one couple throughout, sort of. But the K9 always catches my interest.
Sounds like these were good enough reads, at least they were freebies! Thanks for sharing!
yes I liked them but they are not my favorites. Probably without the K9 aspect I wouldn’t read them.