On-the-edge-of-your-seat romantic suspense in a griping story about a sister who will do anything to protect her siblings and her journey to save them from the unimaginable.

Suspense, secrets, explosions and police officers in a small town leave Jules wondering who she can trust.

Note-trigger warning of child abuse and trauma.

While this can be read as a standalone, the entire Rocky Mountain K9 series is fast paced and worth the read.

DNF @ 20% - this story feels incredibly choppy to me with the back and forth timelines. Especially since I don't feel like Juliet's past (of five days ago) is adding anything. Also, there is no nuance to the characters. Everything was very in my face, leaving nothing for me to 'glean' from their pasts or interactions. I checked out some reviews of this book, and the way things are 'resolved' doesn't inspire me to finish.

Run to Ground is another fabulous book in another fabulous series by Katie Ruggle. I binge-read the entire series before sitting down to write each review. We actually met Theo at the end of In Safe Hands (book 4 in the Search and Resue series). I was really hoping that he was going to be the hero in her new Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series. I was not disappointed.

The emotional content in this book is rich and plentiful. Theo has just lost not only his cop partner but also his K9 partner. He is grieving hard for both. When his partner dies, Theo takes Don’s K9 partner as his own, and it’s an epic disaster. Viggy mopes and doesn’t fulfill his K9 duties the way he should, Theo is distraught, and both of them are depressed. When a stranger and her family move into town, both Theo and Viggy perk right up.

Jules and her family are on the run. Constantly fearful of being discovered and having her family ripped apart, Jules tries to keep a low profile. When she comes face-to-face with a trio of cops and is attracted to one of them, Jules doesn’t know if she should stay or flee. Falling for a cop is the absolute worst thing that can happen but fall she does.

Amid the chaos of Theo’s loss of his partner and subsequent gain of his partner’s dog, and Jules trying to keep it together for her family, danger is lurking around the corner. The target could be one of many; Jules and the kids, Theo, the police department, or the entire town. The stress and suspense of this book increases into a mind-blowing conclusion that I never saw coming.

Many people seemed disappointed in the ending of book 1 and instead of getting through the series, knocked Run to Ground, well, to the ground. Patience is a virtue, just sayin’. Yes, this book has a loosely resolved ending for the hero and heroine and ends in a bit of a cliffhanger. There are wild threads all over the place. None of these issues make this any less of a good book. Of course, I didn’t read it when it was first released. I started it right before book 4 came out so I was able to smoothly move from book to book without having the customary wait time. Please be open minded when you start this series. Each book plays off the others so make sure to read them in order.

I enjoyed the content, the pacing, characters, and world building. There is character development but keep in mind that Jules is harboring a huge secret and to let anything slip, especially to a cop, could be disastrous. The dynamics between the three cops in the series are wonderful. They truly are brothers in all ways that matter whether they are sporting the uniform or not. Jules is very protective of her siblings and moving them to a small town is nerve wracking for her. She does her best to not be overprotective. I was able to feel the emotions of the characters and visualize the story as I read along.

I really enjoyed this one!. Katie Ruggle is quickly becoming a favorite author, and is on my watch list. Theo is one of the best heroes I've read all summer (ok, it's fall now, but I read this while it was still hot out!) I loved how sure he was that Jules needed him, and how protective without being creepy he was. I was slightly less enraptured by Jules and her situation (I mean, how can she possible keep this storyline from imploding?) but I loved the siblings, especially Sam. I will definitely read the rest of the series, if only to find out how it is all resolved without any jail time.

Sorry I was not able to read you book but it went to archive before I could get to it. Sorry once again.

Over the past two years, I've become a fan of Katie Ruggle's Search and Rescue series, so when I saw she was starting a new series about a K9 unit, I was eager to read and review it, but I'm sorry to say that for me, it was just an okay read for a number of reasons, and I can only give it a 3-star rating.

At the outset, we first meet the heroine, Jules, in a flashback to seven years earlier. She's a CPA who has been working for the mob (we're never given a reason why she isn't working for a legitimate firm), and with the financial assistance and the new identities provided for all of them by the brother of her boss, she kidnaps her own younger siblings from their respective schools and heads for Colorado, to save them all from their stepmother's abuse. We don't know what that abuse entailed, and unfortunately, by the end of the novel, we only begin to learn about the abuse of one of her younger brothers, Sam, and the fact that Jules is claustrophobic since said stepmother used to lock her in a dark closet for hours. Missed opportunities seems to be the norm in this novel.

They end up in a ramshackle mess of a deserted house in Monroe, Colorado, where Jules has found a job as the waitress in a diner, where she first encounters Theo, a police officer, whose grim, humorless, depressed at the suicide of his former partner and mentor, Don, and Theo is struggling to form a working relationship with Don's K9 dog, Viggy, who is also depressed and disheartened at the loss of his master. But when Theo spots "squirrely" Jules, and yes, he refers to her as "squirrely" for most of the novel, he's finally interested in something--like interrogating her, and his manner can only be described as gruff. Jules knows that the last thing she needs is a cop hanging around her and her family, but there seems to be no stopping him, and she does find herself reluctantly attracted to the strong, gruff officer.

The secondary plot of this novel involves some very odd characters, including a couple of off-the-grid reactionaries who are all too fond of guns and explosives, and one mysterious character, Norman, who appears at the diner every morning and appears to be stalking Jules. We never really learn exactly why he's doing this, what he's after, or why he's fixated on Jules--another missed opportunity, in my opinion.

As the attraction and relationship between Jules and Theo heats up (and when it does, it's not over-the-top explicit), so too do the threats to Jules, and her fear that their stepmother has located them escalates. Meanwhile, after being warned by his fellow officers that Jules is still a mystery and shouldn't be trusted, Theo flatly refuses to investigate her and her past, something his friends in the department keep trying to force him to do. His lack of curiosity about her just seemed totally out of character for any police officer, and I was surprised that his friends didn't go behind his back to check up on her. Another missed opportunity.

While I liked the primary and secondary characters well enough, especially Jules' siblings, and even the attempts to rehabilitate poor Viggy, too many questions remained unanswered, and there were far too many loose ends to suit me. When the climax of this novel came directly out of left field, although it proved to be incredibly exciting, after all was said and done, there were still unanswered questions and a bit of a cliffhanger to lead you into the next book in the series. The eventual HEA ending simply happened too quickly and too neatly, and Theo's willingness to let Jules tell him her story in her own time, if ever, just didn't sit well with this reader. I'd have much preferred that she tell him the truth, since it was quite clear that he'd do anything in his power to protect her and her family. Again, a missed opportunity for more character development and drama.

As I stated at the beginning of this review, I'm a Katie Ruggle fan, but while this novel was an enjoyable read, it simply wasn't up to the standards I've come to expect from this extremely talented writer. I'm still eager to see the loose ends at the end of this novel tied up in the next installment in the series, and I am hopeful that it will be up to the high standards she set for herself in her Search and Rescue series.

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

Run to Ground was a read all night, can't put it down addition to her growing book list.

I'd to mention, I'm not a fan on 3rd POV. But Ruggle's writing and character development were enough to make me unable to not think about this book when I wasn't reading. I just loved Jules and Theo. They were both so different and then so wonderful together. I loved all the secondary characters as well.

I was kind of sad that in the end, Jules didn't share her secret with Theo, but I guess it would have made for a difficult hole to crawl out of. But I am looking forward to seeing her, Thep, and the kids in the next book.

Run to Ground is the first book in the Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit series byKatie Ruggle. Grieving the death of his partner, Theo Bosco has no room in his life for distractions. Though his instincts scream that he should avoid Juliet 'Jules' Jackson, he can't seem to stay away. It doesn't help that Theo's new K9 companion has fallen head over paws with Jules's rambunctious family. Or that when he's with her, Theo finally knows peace. When Jules rescued her siblings, whisking them away to the safety of the beautifully rugged Colorado Rockies, she never expected to catch the eye—or the heart—of a cop. Yet as Jules struggles to fight her growing attraction to the brooding K9 officer, another threat lurks much closer to home, and this time, there's no escape.

Run to Ground is a contemporary romance that takes emotional wounded characters and helps them find love, and some peace. Theo lost his K-9 partner, and not long after his human partner. He is struggling with guilt, and trying to connect to the dog that has lost just as must as he has. Jules is trying for a fresh start, siblings in tow. A cop and a fugitive connect despite themselves, and I loved the slow burn and self doubt that is deeply woven into their story. I liked both characters, and adored Jules' younger siblings and the relationship they all had. I liked the connection Theo and Jules built, and how all of the town's regulars looked out for each other. I will admit that there are some important aspects to the ending that really bother me, although I do understand why things were left the way they were. However, overall I thought the balance of emotional and physical danger was nicely done, and I am more than a little eager to see what happens next.

Run to Ground is another engaging romance from Ruggle. It was not perfect, and I had a couple issues with it. However, I am still very much looking forward to the next book in this series and will gladly keep reading anything she publishes at this point.

What’s it About? Still mourning the loss of his human partner, and his canine partner, Officer Theo Bosco doesn’t want to have to deal with a woman whose body language screams On the Run but he also senses that Jules Jackson needs help and protection. Easily solving his dilemma is his new K-9 partner . Jules is technically on the run after rescuing her siblings from a bad situation, she’s settled her family in the Colorado Rockies for now. Her growing attraction to Theo isn’t the only problem though, someone is after Jules and Theo is the only one she can trust to help her.




Overall reaction to the story? Wow. That’s the first word that comes to mind. I’ve read Katie Ruggle before but wasn’t all that impressed with it but this book? This book is what I wanted to read. Run to Ground is heavy on emotional turmoil and Ruggle does an impressive job of setting up a suspenseful plot and building a convincing romance on top of that. I enjoyed the heck out of this book and can’t wait to continue with the rest of the series. My only small complaint was a bit of a cliffhanger with a new character that is mentioned in a mysterious way that leaves you going “Are you serious? That’s all you’re going to say about her????”



Describe the hero in five words: Brooding. Hurting. Intelligent. Stubborn. Protective.

Did you like him? Yes.

Why? To be honest it took awhile for me to get a clear read on who Theo was as a man. He was definitely in pain over his partner Don’s death and adding to that Theo was still mourning his K-9 partner Goose. The topping on Theo’s slice of grief? He became the new handler of his dead partner’s dog, Viggy. Viggy is also mourning the loss of Don and is reluctant to trust someone else. Poor Theo. He was so broken by his partner’s death and racked with guilt over not being able to save him. That was pretty much what defined him for the first quarter of the book or so. He’s a bit grumpy too but he’s the type of guy you want in your corner when things get tough. I liked his dedication to doing what was right even if it meant going off the books. The changes in Theo after he met Jules were slow in coming but that made his grief convincing and told me a lot about how much he cared for the people around him, even with his grumpy attitude.



Describe the heroine in five words: Scared. Brave. Intelligent. Loving. Determined.

Did you like her? Yes.

Why? There’s something to love about a character who will do whatever it takes to protect those weaker than them and that’s exactly what Jules did. She was a woman who had followed the rules almost all of her life but she was prepared to break some major rules to protect her siblings. That really stood out to me as well as her kindness. She was a born nurturer even when she didn’t know how to help someone. I loved that part of her that just wanted to help no matter how complicated her life was.



Let’s talk about the romance: The romance in Run to Ground was super slow to develop and it kind of made the story drag on a bit but with Theo’s grief and Jules’ being on the run, it was natural that these two wouldn’t just jump into bed together. Jules had to protect her siblings the best she could. However, it wasn’t like nothing happened between Theo and Jules, they developed a strong friendship before anything romantic really happened. I didn’t mind the friendship though because they both needed someone to confide in and lean on.



How about that supporting cast? The real heartbreakers were Jules’ siblings. Those poor kids really broke my heart. They were so trusting of Jules but at the same time their experiences before Jules had them really scarred them. I loved their development as much as I loved Jules and Theo.





And really there are no words to express how much I adored Viggy the dog.


Click It or Skip It? Click It. Run to Ground is a slow burn romance but there’s plenty of character growth to keep a reader mostly occupied.

This one really tugged at my heartstrings. I felt very badly for Theo and K-9, Viggy for the losses both of them suffered. I liked the way that when Jules and her brood of siblings came into the picture, this two were given some light and hope. Jules was a great heroine, and I liked the way she stepped in and made certain her siblings were safe, at no little risk to herself. This one had likable characters, a great suspenseful storyline, and some tender romance. It was a very good start to a series.

Katie Ruggle is sexy suspense done right. I thoroughly enjoyed Run to Ground from start to finish. The hero and heroine, as well as the secondary characters, are vividly multi dimensional and I connected with them easily. The primary couple matched well and I was content to take the journey to happily ever after with them. The book is very balanced between passion/romance/ and action/suspense. I so appreciated that about Katie Ruggle's books I would compare her writing to that of Suzanne Brockmann or Lori Foster's Edge series.

If you enjoyed the Rocky Mountains Search & Rescue series by Katie Ruggle, then you better schedule a whole afternoon or whole evening for "Run to Ground" because you can't stop reading until you're done.

The first book in the new Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series, Ruggle does it again – creating three-dimensional characters that you just can't help yourself fall in love with them.

Meet Theodore Bosco, a K9 unit cop who is the epitome of the saying "silent waters run deep." Still grieving the loss of his mentor and his K9 partner, Theo feels numb inside, that is until he met Jules, a newcomer in town.

Theo instinctively knows that Julie is hiding from something or someone, that she might even on the run. But, even his cop instincts cannot deny the attraction he has for her.

"Run to Ground" is quintessential Katie Ruggle story – a romantic thriller with a little bit of whodunit. You get so involved in the story because you want to know how the hero and heroine get to their happily ever after. While, on the other hand, you want to solve the mystery!

Then of course, you have these secondary characters that you also get invested with. And the most important, though this book has the main plotline resolve, there is that secondary plotline that you know will connect all the books in the series, its resolution to be revealed in the final book of the series!

But don't worry. It is worth the wait. Ruggle's first series, "Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue" shows that the author knows how to tell a yarn and hold you interest until the end.

"Run to Ground" is Rated M for Mature due to violence and some sexual content. 5 Stars

Wow, where to begin? New to me author. The first book I've read with an animal (paranormal shifters not included) as one of the main characters.

There is a cop, there is a dog, there is a woman in trouble and what does that mean?

Nope, not that. This cop is not going to be solving this damsel's problems with his handy dandy gun.

I think one of the best things that I found with this book is that just because Jules was in trouble and Theo is a cop didn't automatically mean that she confessed to him. What with him having to uphold the law as he swore to do even if what she did was for the good of all involved.

Another thing that I loved was Viggy. It broke my heart seeing him like that. Seeing both Thoe and Viggy struggle in the aftermath of what Theo's partner and Viggy's owner did. It made me cry and laugh (while crying) seeing Viggy come out of his shell and start acting like himself and Theo finally getting in the right mind to help him do so. That journey was heartbreaking and heartfelt to watch.

I will be definitively be looking forward to the next book. I think Mr. Espino is the Robin Hood of the mafia or something!

I liked this book. Theo lost his partner and gained a bad attitude and a K9 with issues. He is intrigued by the new waitress at the diner, Jules. She is skittish and he knows she is running from something. Being around her makes both he and his K9 partner feel like themselves again, but she is definitely hiding something. Jules kidnapped her siblings to get them out of a terrible environment and needs to stay well away from the police. She really needs to stay away from Theo and the pull of attraction she feels for him.
I wasn't certain at the start that I was going to enjoy this book. Everyone was treating Theo like he might explode and it was probably reasonable but it came across as annoying. That being said, that is exactly how the author wanted you to feel, now you relate completely with Theo and his bad attitude! I felt so bad for him, he blames himself for his partner's suicide and then add on top of it the K9 that used to be top notch is acting like an abused dog. I wanted to yell at Jules to run the other way when she and Theo started getting close. She has so much that would look bad with the kidnapping, though they were all happy and willing, it is still illegal. Overall, I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the next one that was set up quite well at the end of this one!
It was a 4/5 for me. Love the characters and hope the next love match is one of the characters I'm already adoring!!

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

So often the characters in romantic suspense are larger than life, exagerated with swagger and confidence. I totally get it; it’s one of the reasons I continually read the genre. But when flawed characters are written so robustly with layers of compelling … life … it draws me like a lodestone. In the first installment of Ruggle’s new Rocky Mountain K9 Unit, we meet officer Theo Bosco, who is angry at the world and not finding success in connecting with and caring for his late partner’s canine, Viggy; and waitress Jules Jackson, who is jumpy and clearly on the run from something.

Theo is drawn to Jules from the start, seemingly fascinated with her at the diner where he has breakfast every morning. He’s a brooding, emotional mess months after Don’s suicide, and the fact that Viggy continues to grieve and battle anxiety doesn’t help. Theo’s emotional state roars to life constantly, and is off-putting to everyone. Jules and her younger siblings have settled in the little community of Monroe, Colorado with the help of Mr. Espina, a connected man of questionable ethics (and methods). To attract the attention of a moody cop makes her a nervous wreck, but unbeknownst to her, she makes Theo feel again. The development of the characters and their healing is fascinating and so well-written. I cannot wait for the next story in this series!

Theo, a member of the K9 unit, is waiting for his co-workers, Hugh and Otto, to arrive. He knows they're continuing to keep an eye on him as they have for the past two months since he lost his mentor, Don, especially since it hasn't been that long since he lost Goose, his K9 partner. Theo knows he hasn't been the same since, and is in fact struggling to bond with Viggy, his new K9, and the one Don had before his death. Theo knows Viggy is in mourning as well. Today, however, his attention keeps returning to the beautiful new waitress, and as he's found himself watching her a few times, he's become aware that he seems to make her nervous. Theo surmises it must be his uniform, but why?

Jules, a CPA, lost her license and all her clients when her client was investigated. Though Jules was, of course, innocent, her refusal to turn over information on his finances, due to client confidentiality, has left her unemployed and in dire need of an income. When her last possibility is denied, it all feels hopeless. She needs to find a way to get her younger siblings away from a dangerous situation, a fact made even more so evident after hearing her sixteen-year-old brother begging to live with her the next before. When the person she thought was refusing to help, instead offers a different kind and what she needs to make it happen, a choice she would've never considered if her siblings' (Sam, Tio, Ty, and Dee) situation wasn't so dire, and trying legally for years has always failed...she knows she's going to do it.

When Theo visits the diner again, he may have, okay, he did, essentially interrogate Jules. Jules is shaking by the time Theo is done, yet she's trying to hide it and makes an escape ad quickly as she can. Only to be faced with another nosey customer. The only difference is this time Theo steps in to ensure she's okay.

It isn't long before Theo's curiosity switches from professional to personal where Jules is concerned. Theo knows nothing can come of it though, fearing he's too broken and damaged to explore anything with Jules, however, he has a feeling they could both use a friend, especially since he knows she's running from something, or someone. Okay, the latter is true, but he yearns to be more than her friend.

As Theo and Jules's paths continually cross, sometimes intentional, others not, the attitudes of both subtly change. Theo's losing some of his grumpiness, looking forward to seeing Jules and her siblings and Jules is smiling when she sees him now, imagining what could be. When they decide to explore their feelings, it isn't long before they've fallen for one another and begin to picture what their lives could be like together. However, someone wants Theo to suffer, and they know his weakness is Jules.

Can Theo keep Jules safe? Will Theo and Viggy ever bond as a dog and his handler should? Will Jules take a chance on the happiness she could find with Theo? Or will she let it slip through her fingers due to her situation? Will Theo ever know what Jules is running from? Or will he trust in her enough to know if it's something bad, it was with good reason and a last resort? Will Theo ever begin healing from his losses? Will Jules help him feel again? Will they get a HEA?

One-click now and follow along with this new series as two people, both struggling, albeit for different reasons, meet and begin a journey toward love. However, as Jules, and her siblings, were given a second chance, so too will others, and one is on her way to Jules now. Her name is Grace and she needs a safe place to start her new life.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.**

I have been a fan of Katie Ruggle for several years. Her heros always listen to their gut and go above and beyond to keep the people they love safe. The women are NOT damsels in distress. Her women are already fighting to get out of bad situations. No wallflowers or damsels, we are watching women take actions for themselves but find it a little easier with help. Trust is always earned through actions.

To start this new series Theo is recovering from losing his partner and trying to heal his new K9. Viggy is a bomb sniffing dog that has become too timid to be effective. Theo is intrigued by the new waitress in town. There is more to her story than she is telling and it is highlighted by the skittish way she acts around his police uniform. When he meets the children more questions emerge but are doomed to remain unanswered.

Jules kidnapped her siblings and has been relocated to a small town in Colorado. She knows that she made the right choice but fear of going to jail and leaving her family defenseless is very real. Jules knows that starting a relationship with an officer is just about the stupidest thing she could do, but he is perfect.

There are already so many directions this series could go. The secretive Norman, the other waitress Megan, the new surprise guest, and Theo's 2 best friends Otto and Hugh each could easily be our new focus. My fingers are itching for the next one.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Rachael – ☆☆☆☆
This is my first book by this author, but the blurb was too interesting for me to pass up. What can I say, a K9 story gets me every time. While I will say that I absolutely adored the storyline with the dog and Theo and how the kids help, I do have to say that I wasn't as invested in the love story or how Jules got to where she was.

I felt like the whole thing with Jules and her siblings and her past employer was all too hastily thrown together because I never really understood how all of it came together except for the small mentions in tiny passing comments the characters made or thoughts that were shared. I would've really liked to see that part of the story expanded upon so that we could really connect with Jules more.

Theo was... interesting. I can see how he let his attraction and curiosity for Jules lead him toward her when he feels like he should be running the other way. I really don't ever get how he could simply say what he does at the end. It really didn't fit for me, not with his profession and who I came to think of him as.

However, when it came to the drama and the kids, I did enjoy it. It was different and interesting and well written and for that, I have to ultimately come to the conclusion that it was a good book.


Mary – ☆☆☆☆
Theo Bosco lost his K9 partner and his mentor, and now is working with Viggy, his mentor's K9, who doesn't want to work with anyone. Viggy knows his partner is gone and can Theo help him survive?

Jules takes off with her siblings to save their lives. They end up in Colorado and Jules catches the eye of a local cop. Just what they don't need. When things start happening, like Jules seeing something or someone outside her house, Norman showing up at her house and other strange things, she has to wonder if they have been found. But Theo is always there to save them.

Can Jules tell Theo what she is running from? Will Theo finally let someone in and be happy? Will Viggy finally become the happy and confident dog he once was?

I loved Katie Ruggle's Search and Rescue series and couldn't wait to see how this series would begin. It was interesting, but I would have liked to have had more from Jules’ past to get to where she was. It seemed to be missing some parts. And Theo's past was heartbreaking and poor Viggy.. Altogether though, I liked the story and can't wait for more in this series.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Theo is a great cop. He has been sort of surly, but overall, he is well liked and knows when something is amiss. Because he lost his partner to a suicide, he is kind of floundering. Viggy is his fallen partner’s K-9 police dog and both of them are having a difficult time. Theo needs to find a way to get Viggy to come out of his own depression, but with Theo struggling too, it’s not an easy request. When he’s hanging out at the local diner, he notices a new waitress. He is instantly drawn to her, but he is also suspicious of her too.

Jules is on the run. She’s running with her siblings, but she’s on the run and so scared that they will be found out that she’s very jittery. Because cops frequent the diner that she works at, she just has to get over her fear and try to behave like everything is normal.

When things begin to happen around town, Jules and Theo form a unique bond. Theo is able to help Jules with her siblings and gain her trust. The kids who are staying with Jules are able to help Viggy come out of his depression and help Theo create a new bond with him.

Overall, this was a great mystery and budding romance. There are still a lot of questions left unanswered at the conclusion of this story, but I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Katie Ruggle really is a fantastic author. I've read a few of her books now and Run to Ground was at the top end of those. Theo was struggling to cope with losing his partner and mentor after he killed himself and taking on his partners k9 dog added a charming layer to Theo. They were both struggling and so Jules unexpected arrival to their small town in Colorado was a welcome addition. However, Jules jumpy behavior and unanswered questions about her brothers and sister has Theos cop instincts screaming for answers he's not sure he wants the answers to. Absolutely captivating story line with compelling characters and suspense. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

First book of the new Katie Ruggle series, Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit, Run to Ground is an intense read. It is a great story about second chances and moving on from grief. Katie Ruggle as with her last series has an overall story arc that isn't concluded in this book, so it is going to be important to read the series in order. I loved the book so much I don't even mind the semi-cliffhanger. Theo, Jules, Viggy, and the kids are all great characters and the mystery behind Jules and the kids is very intriguing.

Theo lost his K-9 partner to cancer and a year later his mentor commits suicide. Theo isn't the only one feeling the grief of losing someone close to him, Viggy is having a hard time adjusting to losing his person (Viggy is a Belgian Malinois). Theo and Viggy are also having a hard time adjusting to their new partnership, Viggy isn't doing his job and Theo feels lacking and doesn't feel like he deserves a new partner; they are both depressed and just muddling through. Jules and her four siblings (Sam, Tio, Ty, and Dee) are starting with a clean slate, on the run from Dee's mother. A horrible woman whose evil has yet to be completely revealed. Jules basically kidnapped her own siblings to get them away from the abuse they are suffering from and now with new identities they just need to keep a low profile but the good looking angry looking cop that comes into the diner every morning doesn't help Jules nerves.

Theo knows the new waitress at the diner is hiding something, him and the other K-9 officers are pretty sure she's on the run from something. At first Theo is determined to find out what but he starts to spend time with her and her siblings that it becomes less and less important especially since there is a cop killer on the loose and Jules has been targeted by a creepy guy who they suspect blew up her barn. This family seems to be exactly what Theo and Viggy needed, little Dee helps Viggy over his grief and Jules helps Theo find and renew his purpose.

Overall, I loved this book so much I don't even mind that it ended with a sort of cliffhanger (more of a hook). The story lead to an unexpected twist and had some great action. The romance does fall second to the suspense but there is also quite a bit of character development and the first couple of chapters flip flop from past and present, but it is very well done.