Series:
Warrior Security (Book 1)
Beckett Sinclair doesn't do complicated.
He trains K-9s at Pawsitive Connections, runs ops with
Warrior Security, and keeps his PTSD under control. Until a dead friend's
little sister shows up.
Audra Cartland is jumpy. Exhausted. Sleeping in the
equipment shed when she thinks no one's watching. Beckett knows that look—he's
seen it in combat zones, in victims, in his own mirror.
Someone's hunting her.
She won't talk. Won't explain the fear in her eyes or why
she flinches at shadows. But Beckett made a promise to her brother years ago in
Afghanistan, and those debts don't die.
Beckett should walk away. He's got enough ghosts without
taking on hers.
Instead, he arranges a job. A safe place to sleep. His
protection.
When the hunter becomes bold enough to strike in his
town, on his watch, Beckett stops playing defense. He's lost too many people
already. Failed too many times.
Not Audra. Not this time.
Some battles choose you.
Fantastic start to
Resting Warrior Ranch's spin-off
series, Warrior Security. This is another book that grabbed my attention and
didn't let go until I finished it. The story is fast-paced and emotional, with
intriguing characters told from the dual first-person viewpoints of Audra and
Beckett.
Audra has been running from a stalker for more than a
year. She's at the end of her rope physically and emotionally when she arrives
in Garnet Bend. Her late brother told her stories of his fellow soldier's life
there growing up, telling her to contact Beckett if she ever needed help. She
winds up at Pawsitive Connections, where Lark puts her to work without asking
too many questions.
Beckett works for Warrior Security and trains K-9s at
Pawsitive Connections. His survivor's guilt and PTSD keep him from getting
close to anyone he might lose. The dogs and cats he works with give him focus,
purpose, and healing. Beck is suspicious of Audra when they first meet. He can
tell that she's hiding something, and his protective instincts kick in.
I enjoyed watching Beck and Audra's relationship develop.
It is purely a working relationship at first, as both fight the attraction that
pulls them together. Things change when Beck discovers one of Audra's secrets. I
loved his brusque and matter-of-fact attitude as he fixed her living situation
while trying to hide his attraction. It takes Audra a while to overcome her
wariness and trust Beck with the truth about her situation. Once she does, it
doesn't take long for her heart to get involved. However, both Beck and Audra
will have to overcome their reluctance to let anyone close to them before they
can have the future each longs for. There are some gripping, emotional scenes
as those walls begin to crumble.
The suspense of the story was terrific. Audra's fear was
palpable on every page, as was her determination not to endanger the people she
cared for. I loved it when she finally opened up to Beckett after the stalker
found her again. The intensity of his protectiveness and his immediate
involvement of the men of Warrior Security showed how seriously he took the
threat. I was intrigued by each member of the team and how they used their
various skills. The escalating danger kept me glued to the pages as the team
closed in. The evilness of the stalker oozes off the page, intensifying the
threat. A twist in the investigation led to a nail-biting conclusion.
I enjoyed getting to know the other members of Warrior
Security better. Travis and his quirks are especially fascinating, and I look
forward to his story whenever it comes. I especially liked Cooper's
interactions with Beck, from his teasing to his help with Beck's PTSD episodes.
Pawsitive Connections owner, Lark, also intrigues me, and I'd like to know more
about her. But my favorite secondary character was Jet, the failed security dog
who instantly connected with Audra. He was adorable and clearly worshipped her.
I loved how everyone underestimated him.
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