ARC Review: Through the Fire by Katie Ruggle

Through the Fire (Rocky Mountain K9 Unit, #4) by Katie Ruggle
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on August 7, 2018
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Kit Jernigan despairs of ever fitting in with her new tight-knit K9 unit. They've been through too much to open their arms to a stranger―and as mysterious fires begin raging across Monroe, she can't convince them to trust her long enough to catch the woman she knows is responsible.Wesley March, local fire spotter, knows Kit is right, and he's willing to help her prove it. But the more time they spend together, the closer they get...and the more danger they're in. A member of the K9 unit's inner circle is determined to get revenge―no matter who gets burned in the process. This time, it's personal.
Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit Series: Run to Ground (Book 1)On the Chase (Book 2)Survive the Night (Book 3)Through the Fire (Book 4)

~~Reviewed by Amy~~

Through The Fire is overflowing with intrigue, sexual tension, and lots of twists and turns. Katie Ruggle knows how to combine thrills, mystery, and the kind of passion that shows action can mean more than explosions and high-speed chases. Her newest addition to the Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series has everything I know and love about romance and suspense: a great love story, an intriguing plot, and an incredible ass-kicking heroine I loved rooting for.

Kit Jernigan was eager to start her new job with Monroe, Colorado PD. She’d left a bad situation in her previous job in the city. From what she’d seen of Monroe in the past, it would be a picture-perfect town for a new job with less stress. She was nervous about starting over and working to fit in with new people and new surroundings. But as she arrived in Monroe, those things didn’t seem to matter so much anymore. “Her new town was a devastated wreck, and a possible murder-slash-arson had happened within the first hour of her first day. She was beginning to wonder if she’d survive this new job.” There were some strange things happening in Monroe and Kit is certain she knows the woman responsible. The only problem is no one else seems to agree. No one except Wes March, the local fire spotter. Kit and Wes are determined to find the truth. And to do so, Kit needs to get her new partners to trust her. The lives of everyone in Monroe could depend on it.

I loved every pulse-pounding moment of Wes and Kit’s story. Kit, though nervous about her new start, was tough. She felt like she was on her own at times, but she didn’t back down. She had a theory about who was behind the arson but she didn’t try to make the evidence fit that theory. She looked for the facts to lead to her answers. Wes was more than he seemed at first. As fire lookout for the forest service, he’d lived pretty much like a hermit in the tower for the last 7 years. His seldom appearances in town and his little idiosyncrasies made the town view him as somewhat of an oddball. He was pretty nerdy, but he was also brilliant. I loved the slow build of his and Kit’s relationship. The awkward flirting, the initial touches, and the handholding. Their romance was sweet but there was definitely sparking tension between them. Kit was just what Wes needed. She listened to him and saw past his idiosyncrasies. Most people made him feel tense but Kit relaxed him. Kit liked his honest, straightforward manner and how easy he was to talk to. Especially since she felt like everyone else in Monroe was keeping things from her. It was fun to watch that new romance blossom. They were a charmingly sweet couple. And when all hell breaks loose in Monroe, the tough cop and the local nerd made a pretty badass team.

I was thrilled to see characters from previous books again. Hugh has always been my favorite and he didn’t disappoint in this one. We learn a lot more about the background story of Jules and her family too. And Mateo Espina finally makes an appearance. I hope there’s a book for him. His story is absolutely tragic and I want to see him find happiness.

Having read this entire series, I can’t imagine reading this book as a stand-alone. There’s just so much history that leads to this point. Had I not known what Otto, Hugh, and Theo had previously experienced on the force, I wouldn’t have understood their apprehension about sharing info with Kit. Everyone’s story is connected and you won’t get the twists and turns if you haven’t read the series. Believe me, once you read the first one, you’ll be hooked. This series sets your pulse racing and will keep you glued to your seat till the very end.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

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About Katie Ruggle

A fan of the old adage “write what you know”, Katie Ruggle lived in an off-grid, solar- and wind-powered house in the Rocky Mountains until her family lured her back to Minnesota. When she’s not writing, Katie rides horses, shoots guns (not while riding, although that would be awesome), cross-country skis (badly) and travels to warm places where she can scuba dive. A graduate of the Police Academy, Katie received her ice-rescue certification and can attest that the reservoirs in the Colorado mountains really are that cold. A fan of anything that makes her feel like a bad-ass, she has trained in Krav Maga, boxing and gymnastics.

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