K-9 Defense by Elizabeth Heiter
First in the K-9 Alaska series. Harlequin Intrigue. Contemporary romantic suspense.
Kenzie has been searching for her kidnapped younger sister for over a decade. A note left behind at a remote Alaskan mini grocery has Kenzie traveling to the small town to help search in person. The FBI calls the note a hoax but Kenzie manages to convince Colter and his K-9 dog Rebel help her do some investigating.
Alaska is known for its beauty and freezing cold weather. It’s also the place that people go to hide.

Fast paced and easy to read, this romance kept up the intriguing investigation and suspense. Okay, once or twice I wanted to yell at them to go over their clues again. They had what they needed! Ok, I knew where they needed to go. And get that poor injured man some ice packs! Shouldn’t ice be easy to find in Alaska?
Anxious and looking forward to reading the next book in the series. ( )

K-9 Defense by Elizabeth Heiter is a fast-pasted romantic suspense set in rural Alaska.

Kensie Morgan has never given up searching for her younger sister, Alanna, who was kidnapped at the age of five. After learning of a note which is purported to have been written by Alanna, Kensie rushes to the small Alaskan town in hopes of finding her. Unprepared for the harsh weather conditions and isolated area, she cannot be dissuaded from her search for Alanna. Meeting reclusive Colter Hayes is a stroke of luck but even with his assistance will she find her missing sister?

Wounded in action, Colter moved to the remote Alaskan town in order to recover from his wound and grieve the loss of his brothers in arms. Away from the hustle and bustle of city life, his PTSD and panic attacks are now under control. With only his combat mission dog, Rebel, to keep him company, Colter is surprised by how quickly he adjusts to having Kensie by his side. Despite his misgivings, Colter nonetheless assists Kensie throughout her investigation.

Kensie's and Colter's search for Alanna is a bit of a slow starter since the townspeople have a live and let live attitude. Kensie soon becomes convinced they are on the right track but local law enforcement is uncooperative. Many of the people live off the grid and fiercely protect their privacy. Kensie crosses paths with a couple of people she believes could help her find Alanna. When she finds herself in dangerous situations, will Colter rescue her before it is too late?

Set in the Alaskan wilderness, K-9 Defense is a fast-paced and suspense-laden romance. Colter and Kensie are appealing characters whose lives have been shaped by their respective tragedies. Their search for Alanna is filled with tension as they try to figure out which of their suspects might have her. Elizabeth Heiter brings their search to an action-packed conclusion. Fans of romantic suspense are sure to enjoy this exciting Alaskan adventure. ( )

Very enjoyable story involving a years old kidnapping case. Extremely likable and sympathetic lead characters in Kensie, who is still searching for her kidnapped sister who was kidnapped fourteen years ago; and former Marine Colter who along with his combat tracker dog, Rebel, is Kensie's reluctant helper in her search. The setting of Alaska really added to the story and I could feel the frigid temperatures, biting winds and desolation of the surroundings. I absolutely loved the dog, Rebel. Not only was she brave and heroic but I loved how she always knew when Kensie or Colter needed comforting. ( )

Good book about two people, haunted by tragedy, whose chance encounter changes both their lives. Kensie came to Alaska following a lead that is her last hope of finding the sister who was kidnapped fourteen years earlier, at the age of five. Kensie blames herself as she was supposed to be watching her sister at the time. The rest of her family has given up hope, but Kensie continued the search. Both the police and the FBI told her the clue was a hoax, but Kensie refuses to believe it. Something tells her that this one is real. It seems that someone doesn't like the questions she's been asking around town, because she has a close encounter with a fast-moving car. If it weren't for Colter's dog, Rebel, Kensie could have been killed.

Colter is a former Marine who moved to Alaska with his combat dog to escape his PTSD and his grief. He and Rebel were the only survivors of an attack in Afghanistan that killed the rest of his team. He considered those men his brothers and his guilt over his survival has taken over his life. The last thing he wants is to get pulled into Kensie's problems, but he can't stay away.

The first meeting between Kensie and Colter was kind of rough. Rebel was the one who saved Kensie by pushing her out of the way of the speeding car. When she found out about his work in the military, Kensie tried to talk him into helping her, but he flat-out refused. However, when Kensie put herself into a dangerous situation in her quest for assistance, Colter couldn't walk away.

I loved the development of the relationship between Kensie and Colter. Both are hurting and vulnerable, although they hide it well from the outside world. Because they recognize each other's pain, they connect almost immediately. Colter sees a woman who has put the pain of her loss to constructive use while he has hidden from his. Kensie sees a man who is strong yet vulnerable in his pain. I liked how the way they understood each other brought them closer, even though they both fought their feelings. Colter especially resisted because being around Kensie broke through the walls he had put around his heart and made him start to feel again. There were some intensely emotional scenes between them as they shared the events that made them who they were. I ached for them both as they could see no way for them to be together. The conclusion was fantastic with a solution I didn't see coming but made me love Colter even more.

The suspense of the story was very good. From the moment Kensie arrived in Alaska, her determination was clear, even though law enforcement tried to discourage her. But each step they took led to a deeper belief that Kensie was on the right track, especially as the attacks on her escalated. There were many twists and turns to their investigation with some results that I did not expect. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as Kensie and Colter faced resistance from an unexpected source. I liked the realism of what happened at the conclusion, as reactions were not what they expected.

The dog, Rebel, was probably my favorite character. I loved her loyalty to Colter and how she so quickly sensed his feelings, and when he needed her. I also loved how quickly she bonded with Kensie and had the same kind of reactions to her stress. There were some adorable scenes as Rebel comforted both Colter and Kensie. There were also some exciting scenes, from Rebel's rescue of Kensie at the beginning to her support of Colter in his big moment. ( )