K-9 Security - Nichole Severn (HI #2195 - Feb 2024)

Series: New Mexico Guard Dogs (Book 1)
 
He and his K-9 always get the job done.
But this case will test even the toughest heart.
 
Military contractor Cash Meyers and his Rottweiler, Bear, show up in time to save Elena Navarro from being abducted by a drug cartel. But they're too late to protect her little brother. Rescuing the boy means confronting a criminal who will sacrifice anything -- and anyone -- to claim Elena. Cash's instincts are battle-honed, but will his intense attraction to Elena put them both in danger?
 
Excellent start to the new series. The story was fast-paced, with nearly non-stop action and a hint of romance, taking place over a few days. The story opens as Elena's small town is under attack by a cartel. Homes are in flames, and Elena is desperate to protect her eight-year-old brother. Elena's fear leaped off the page as they encountered cartel members determined to stop them. Her ferocity in trying to protect Daniel was incredible, but they managed to overcome her in the end. Elena was saved from a similar fate by the arrival of a stranger who whisked her away to safety.
 
Cash is a member of the military contractor firm Socorro Security. A former Marine and DEA agent, a past betrayal drives his need to protect.  Guilty feelings over that same past have locked up his emotions. He also feels guilty for not seeing the imminent attack and warning the town. Saving Elena is the least he can do, but that doesn't explain his intense compulsion to protect her.
 
 I enjoyed watching the beginning of Cash and Elena's relationship as it fights for life amid the dangers of their search for Daniel. Cash and Elena each have baggage relating to the cartel that has deeply affected them, but they decide to work together to save Daniel. As they spend time together, bits of that baggage are unpacked and shared, and they begin to heal. There are some obstacles for them to overcome, such as Elena's connection to a cartel lieutenant and the secret Cash is keeping about the night of the attack. In the end, love wins out.
 
The story's suspense was intense, with an explosive beginning and barely time to breathe. The twists and turns of the action and a shocking revelation at the end kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. I got frustrated with Elena's tendency to rush into action without thinking about potential difficulties. On the other hand, Cash tended to go the other way by attempting to plan for every detail and possible problem. Cash and Elena got into several situations that had me on the edge of my seat until they were safe. The final confrontation was intense and terrifying, and I honestly didn't know how they would get out of it. Kudos to the author for a gripping finish.
 
I loved the relationship between Cash and his K-9, Bear. The story of how they became partners was heartbreaking, but their closeness is undeniable. I enjoyed their "conversations," which showed another side of Cash. I also liked how Bear immediately connected with Elena - it was a good sign for the future. 

My only complaint about the book was one line: "Tell Ivy that Echo got off his leash" from a man who helped Elena escape. But we never see Elena give Ivy the message or see Ivy's reaction.