EXPLOSIVE SECRETS follows Nicki, who's pregnant, dumped by the boyfriend who ran up bills on her credit cards, losing her cook's job - and who has no idea why a criminal gang is after her. Yes, her sneaky cousin Ariana was killed by drug dealers, but that's all she knows. But she's a survivor, and she's sure she'll make it. Jackson's boss decides to keep Nicki under watch by arranging for her to cook on Jackson's small ranch, where he lives with his elderly uncle. Smart enough to foil more attacks, Nicki still sees the sense in agreeing. Jackson, who's returned from Afghanistan with the explosive-tracing dog, admires the lady, but after failed relationships he's certain that law- enforcement and romance don't mix. It turns out to be hard enough just keeping her alive.

There is action and a great sense of place in EXPLOSIVE SECRETS, even more than some others in this linked series because not all the action is set in built-up areas. Valerie Hansen pulls in detectives from the earlier books to keep coherence - I really felt concerned that a police Rottweiler had been injured by a shooter, having followed her work in 'Guard Duty'! And we get to meet all the K9 unit at a barbecue. However the book can be read as a standalone because it focuses on Nicki and Jackson.

While this is written as inspirational fiction I do find it hard to justify Nicki's being thankful so many times in the story. But I can understand how a young deserted mother-to- be would wish to find support in a caring community, and this may explain how she has found her way back to being a committed Christian recently. The girl inspires a protective instinct in Jackson which encourages the start of a relationship, but she is not just looking for a father for the baby. Give Valerie Hansen's book about this brave, highly-trained bomb-detecting team a try, especially if you like dogs; having read EXPLOSIVE SECRETS you'll read the rest of the series!

Book Summary