What starts out as a fun mountain hike for the wedding party of Violet James & Lance Wells, takes a deadly turn when the tour guide is shot and bridesmaid Ariel Potter is pushed off the side of a mountain in ALASKAN RESCUE.

Now Ariel, Violet, Lance, and best-man, Jared Dennis, are missing in the rugged Alaskan terrain.  State Trooper and K-9 Handler, Hunter McCord, is dispatched to the search-and-rescue scene with his dog Juneau.  It’s not long before he finds Ariel clinging to life on the side of the mountain, but the rest of the wedding party is nowhere in sight.  Something about the situation stirs up protective instincts in Hunter and he is determined to keep Ariel safe, but Ariel is not ready for an overprotective guardian.  She’s devoted to her dog sled team and breeding business and she’s not used to taking orders from others.  That is until the attempts on her life continue to escalate.  After being shot at and nearly strangled, Ariel realizes she needs to start trusting Hunter to protect both her life and her heart.

This first book in the Alaska K-9 Unit series is a great start.  There is plenty of intrigue and suspense to keep readers turning the pages as two mysteries unfold and intertwine.  The central mystery that will continue throughout the series involves what really happened on the top of the mountain.  The second mystery involves the direct attempts on Ariel’s life.  Are the two mysteries connected, or did a vengeful killer see an opportunity when it presented itself?  Could Ariel’s attacker be her jealous ex-boyfriend, a new dog breeder in town, or Ariel’s former college roommate?  The pace moves quickly with compelling action and dialogue and the stakes continue to rise as each attempt on Ariel’s life escalates out of desperation.  Yet,  Ariel is not going down without a fight.  She’s a strong independent character with an interesting vocation, and Hunter, the handsome State Trooper with a guarded heart, is a perfect match for her.   

ALASKAN RESCUE is a strong start to a series that promises danger, love, courage, bravery, and highly capable canines.  The various K-9 Unit Handlers and their dogs are introduced in this book building anticipation for the subsequent books in the series.  The mix of compelling action, rescue dogs, and rugged terrain will appeal to both mystery and animal lovers.

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