Books & Spoons Review for GUARDIAN by Terri Reed

PROTECTING THE SINGLE MOM 

When a fellow FBI agent is kidnapped and a protected witness vanishes, Leo Gallagher will stop at nothing to find them both.
So when he discovers a link between the case and a single mother in Wyoming, Leo and his trusty K-9 partner rush to question Alicia Duncan. Could she be the key to locating the missing persons? Not if a killer has anything to say about it.

Someone is determined to keep Alicia from talking, so Leo and his chocolate Lab must keep her and her little boy safe on their family ranch. With danger lurking around every corner, Leo must work overtime to not lose another person who's important to him.

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The new K-9 Love Inspired multi-author series takes off with intense, danger-filled story riddled with life-threatening events, deadly collateral damage, and keen teamwork from the FBI unit and local law enforcement. Mix in a whirlwind romance, puppies, and a cute little boy and you have the makings of a winner tale. 
The Prologue in the story set the stage for the series, with one of their own hurt and missing in action, kidnapped by the escaping criminals, the rest of the FBI's K-9 team is willing to do anything to save him and bring the ones responsible to the justice. 
I love the K-9 stories for many reasons, one of them being the loyal partnership between the dogs and their handlers. Those units have a unique harmony and understanding between them, that I admire immensely, and enjoy reading about. 
The danger and threat towards Alicia Duncan, and possibly to her son, is constant and escalating. The steps taken to secure her and her family were logical and believable. I loved that modern technology was used as part of the story, somehow bringing it up a notch, and giving it a fresh feel. The clues come along take them one step forwards and two steps back. But the unit is not about to give up, the determination to get the killer lurking around strengthen the closer he gets to Alicia and  Leo. 
Leo Gallagher is a stellar hero. He is likable, honest, and honorable. His faith in God is his guiding light and overcoming his childhood and the challenges he faced as a young child were admirable, a small miracle in itself that he was the man he is today. The only down faults are his stubbornness and control-freak nature that makes him take blame in every situation, even when there's no blame to go around. 
Alicia Duncan is a teacher, mother, and a young widow of a police officer, who witnesses a crime. With unhappy marriage behind her, she is not open to a relationship, yet the attraction she feels towards Leo is palpable and transparent. She is fierce, tough, smart, and loving, nearly as stubborn as Leo, but able to make compromises. She is willing to stand for the victims of the heinous crimes and brave enough to help the law enforcement to identify the culprit she saw in action. She leans on her faith in God, and gladly share it with people around her. 
I liked the chemistry between Leo and Alicia. Even though their emotions and attraction deepen fast and take root I felt their feelings to each other were believable and convincing. Alicia's little boy, Charlie, made them an instant family unit, where love, care, and protective feelings were evident. 
A riveting and perilous start for the series, that showcased the abilities and the unity of the FBI's K-9 team, mixed with sweet and adorable love-at-first-sight romance that made me sigh and smile. 
The mystery of their kidnapped teammate is not solved, but this story had a satisfying ending, leaving me eagerly waiting for the next installment of the series. 
~ Four Spoons 

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