Otto Gunnersen is a K-9 officer in the small town of Monroe. He is quiet, doesn’t talk or smile much, has a big heart, is known as the animal whisperer and is a gentle giant. He takes in stray, injured, neglected animals. He currently has a horse, goat, retired K-9 partner, cat, 4 puppies and chickens. We aren’t told very much about his background.

Sarah (Alice) is running from her mobster family and their connections. She’s been very sheltered, locked in her room and paraded out at society functions. Her family has used her as a means to advance their standings in business her entire 23 years. Recently she was presented to another mobster family member for marriage. She is rescued and sent to live (hide) with Jules.

This was an awkward romance story to read. Otto and Grace have huge communication issues. Both are shy, introverted, self-conscious, nervous and insecure around the opposite sex. Lots of talking in their heads and not to each other. It became frustrating to read. I wanted one of them to take the lead. These two needed more time together, developing their relationship.

The suspense part of the story was slow moving at first, then picked up the last third. It was a bit excessive, over the top and not very believable. Nonetheless, it was entertaining.

Previous couples are an intricate part of this story. Jules tells more of her and her siblings’ history to the people closest to them. Hugh and Grace continue their bickering/flirty relationship. Their easy banter made me smile a few times. We also learn a little more about Mr. Espina.

This is the third book in the series and can be read as a standalone, but it will make more sense and flow better if you read them in order. Not my favorite book from this author. I was really looking forward to Otto’s story but this book fell short of my expectations. With the hint given for the next book, I look forward to reading it.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.

Survive the Night is the third book in the Rocky Mountain K9 Unit Book Series by Katie Ruggle and will not disappoint. This fast-paced action-packed suspense read is full of heated drama and steamy romance. Ruggle gives you a glimpse into the backstory of the man who has helped the women disappear from the horrific lives they are in and escape to a small town in the breathtaking Colorado Mountains. Page after page will have you on pins and needles as we follow along this intriguingly interesting read that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. Survive the Night is the perfect addition to this amazing series and the fans of Katie Ruggle is sure to love.

Whenever I pick up a book by Katie Ruggle, I know it's going to be an action-packed adventure! Survive the Night was a fun, entertaining, heart-pounding, and steamy novel! This was the perfect book to cuddle up with on a rainy afternoon.

Otto was the main male character, and he was a charming and adorable teddy bear. He came off as a tough and burly man but he was just a soft and cuddly muffin underneath that intimidating exterior. I feel in love with his charming and adorable personality. His desire to protect both humans and animals truly warmed my heart. Sarah, the main female character, was a kind, smart, gentle, and caring woman. I admired her dedication to keeping everyone safe and how she never wanted anyone to get hurt on her behalf.

Otto and Sarah made for one heck of an endearing couple. Otto and Sarah continued to tip toe around their feelings, even though the sexual tension was obvious! The chemistry between Otto and Sarah was steamy and full of passion. The romance might have felt fast paced, but I felt like it matched the action-packed pace of the overall plot of the boo.

The plot of this book was full of nail-biting action that kept me glued to the pages! There were times when I felt like some of the things that happened seemed a bit ridiculous and out of place, but they definitely kept the story interesting.

This was another fun and romantic addition to this series! Fans of this series will not be disappointed!

3 / 5 Fangs

*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *

No review. I'm not reading or reviewing this book. This author just doesn't work for me, unfortunately.

Book Info
Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages
Expected publication: February 6th 2018 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN 1492643106 (ISBN13: 9781492643104)
Edition Language English
Series Rocky Mountain K9 Unit #3
Other Editions (1)
Source:Netgalley EARC

Buy book from
Amazon
B&N

BOOK BLURB


He's always been a haven:
For the lost. The sick. The injured.
But when a hunted woman takes shelter in his arms, this gentle giant swears he'll do more than heal her battered spirit―he'll defend her with his life.

K9 Officer Otto Gunnersen always had a soft spot for anyone in need. As Monroe's very own Dr. Doolittle, he dedicates himself to rehabilitating the injured souls that cross his path―but for all his big heart, he's never been in love.

Until he meets Sarah Clifton's haunted eyes. Until he realizes he'll do anything to save her.

All Sarah wants is to escape a life caught between ambitious crime families, but there's no outrunning her past. Her power-mad brother would hunt her to the ends of the earth...but he'd never expect Sarah to fight back. With Otto and the whole of Monroe, Colorado by her side, Sarah's finally ready to face whatever comes her way.

It's time to take a stand.

My Thoughts


Talk about your pulse pounding read. This story was so full of fire that it almost ignited my reader!

Finally we get K9 Officer Otto Gunnersen to star in his own tale, the man has always fascinated me ever since this Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series started. It was not only well worth the wait but totally in keeping with his characters laid back personality. Of course we find that Otto may be a gentle giant but he is no pushover when it comes to protecting someone he cares about.

Sarah Clifton came to Monroe Colorado for the same reason Jules and Grace did before her, looking for a safe place to catch her breath and escape her past life before it is too late to get out of it. She had no intention on staying longer than a few months in the small town, she just needed time to stand on her own to feet and learn how to survive on her own. Funny how plans go by the wayside when one least expects it isn't it.

If had to pick a favorite amongst the heroes of this wonderful series it would be Otto Gunnersen, he just stands out as a wonderful friend to both animals and humans. A man who would go that extra mile for those he considers in his care, including the entire town of fictional Monroe Colorado.

Sarah starts out as someone who is almost afraid of her shadow, it is a nice change as the story unfolds to see the strong woman emerge from her shell and take charge of her own life in every respect that counts.

Together these two work, even though they are both soft spoken that big stick comes out when needed and it at times is even comical to see just how much of a force each one can be to everyone else but each other.

By the end of this read it has become my favorite so far of all the books that I have read by this author.

For a while I was struggling to reacquaint myself with the others who had come before in first two books but from the get go never felt totally confused as this story unfolded because it immediately captured me and drew me into the action.

[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

Survive the Night by Katie Ruggle is the 3rd book in her Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit series. I enjoyed the first two books in this series, and I thought this one was even more exciting. The theme of this series is a woman is helped to escape her terrible life, and sent to a small town in the Colorado Mountains, to live in hiding. Sarah Clifton, our heroine, is on the run after a mind-blowing escape from her bad brother, who wants her to marry an evil mobster leader. She ends up living under a fake name, with the two previous heroines. The story was very suspenseful from the start to finish, with a lot of action all the way through. The last ¼ of the book had me holding my breath, as Sarah’s life was on the line twice and no one knew where she was. Sarah was a fantastic heroine, who managed to fight her way out of terrible conditions to help her new friends, and animals, as well as herself for survival.

K9 Officer Otto Gunnersen, is a sweet gentle giant, who also takes care of animals. He works with Theo and Huge on the K-9 Unit, and envies that they have found their mates; something he does not see happening to him. Otto meet Sarah. The moment he sets eyes on her, at the house that the other girls and their family live in, he is hooked. He is very shy, and in a short time Sarah takes a liking to him. Since Otto lives in a bunker style house, with safe rooms, and tunnels, Sarah agrees to move in with him. The romance doesn’t take long to heat up, as both have not had relationships previously. They were really so good together, and I loved the addition of the two dogs, cat, horse and goat. There romance was so sweet, you couldn’t help rooting for them; and Otto was wonderful and protective with her.

As usual, Theo and Huge know that Sarah is running away, like their girls, but to get information on the man who helped them run away was not forthcoming. However, Sarah will tell them about Aaron (brother) and Logan ( her forced fiancée), and how dangerous they are. The previous books were exciting, but I thought Survive the Night was pulse pounding action right from the start. In a short time after Sarah arrives, Aaron will find her to try to bring her back. She manages to escape and the guys arrest him.

What follows is an intense, wild adventure that will put all of them in danger, as the villains will bring all their resources to the small town to prevent them from getting help. This was so exciting that held me on the edge of my seat with so much action. Sarah turned out to be a big lifesaver, especially with the animals.
Survive the Night is another suspenseful, action packed story, and I can’t wait for the next book in this series. Katie Ruggle has written a great story, wonderful couple, and exciting action packed throughout. I suggest you read this series and start with the first book, Run to Ground.

This was a fast-paced book filled with action, adventure and romance, and it definitely delivered from start to finish! I have heard a lot about this author but haven't read any of her books previously. I loved the idea of a woman on the run and a man coming to her rescue, so it was an obvious book to pick up when I was browsing for new books to review. While I did feel it was a bit predictable, I still enjoyed every moment of it.

In hiding from her mobster brother and her equally-criminal fiance, Alice Blanchette is living in a remove town under a different name. Nervous that her brother may find her, she stays inside most of the time, only interacting with her host family and their friends. One such friend is Officer Otto Gunnerson, an officer in the K-9 unit of the local police force and a softie at heart. While Otto isn't usually a big talker anyway, he gets completely tongue-tied every time he sees Alice, smitten at first sight. Alice almost instantly recognizes Otto as someone she can trust and someone who can protect her. But her brother isn't going to let her be in peace for long, and soon their relationship is tested in more ways than one.

Alice and Otto were a really cute couple, making it easy to bond with them as a reader. Alice was kind and giving, and her ability to cope with all of the things thrown at her in life was amazing. Otto was a giant teddy bear, or, as Alice liked to say, a "Viking lumberjack cop", so that instantly endeared him to me. I did feel the author laid it on a bit thick at times with how sweet he was, making him seem without flaws - other than his inability to communicate with Alice initially, I saw nothing wrong with him at all. A bit too perfect, if there is such a thing, so my one critique is that he needed something wrong to make him more believable. However, this character development was not a huge issue, and I still greatly enjoyed the character interactions and the story line. It had a lot of fun quotes and things I highlighted for reflection later on.

I look forward to reading more books by this author! She writes a great story and funny characters, making it a go-to book if you want an enjoyable read.

Great suspense/romance. Well crafted plot and characters. A edge of your seat read. I highly recommend to fans of suspense.

I like how by now those in the know, know when a "friend" of Jules comes for a visit things were complicated. I had to laugh at how Jules and Grace tried to reign in Hugh and Theo. But the best was Otto's reaction. Otto has been a dark horse, a quiet giant, so him being instantly smitten with Sarah was great.

I didn't mind that Sarah's past came out early on, mostly because of the change made, Sarah staying with Otto. These two were so cute together, giving each other support and each of them loving all the animals that Otto had. Later when all hell broke loose Sarah proved how much she valued those animals.

You would think that this little town couldn't possible have chaos reign again, but it did and this time it was so much worse. I liked the way that the townspeople banded together to stay safe and do what they could to defend things. It made the end of the chaos great.

a fun-but-tense romp
Otto & Sarah are the couple from the Rocky Mountain K9 series I would probably like best IRL. They do fall in insta-love (like, both struck speechless on their first meeting), but it kinda fits their characters and experiences, so I'm okay with it. Plus that are surrounded (literally) by sweet critters throughout the story, so that increases my affection. We learn a little of Otto's backstory; although I would've liked more detail there, it probably would've slowed the pace.

I really appreciated that even with Otto's alpha male size and strength and Sarah's sheltered, isolated upbringing, he is very respectful of her and assures her consent at every step (not a lot of on-screen action here, but again, it fits their characters).

We do get to catch up with Theo & Jules and Hugh & Grace, as well as various townspeople, white hats, black hats and morally ambiguous hats. Mr. Espina, Norman Rounds and the despicable Courtney Young have walk-on bits. Sets things up for book 4.

oh yeah... free e-book from NetGalley and Casablanca Sourcebooks in exchange for a candid review. Thanks!

I love the characters that live in Monroe, Colorado and had such high hopes for the big, quiet man that is Otto. Described as a cross between a Viking, a lumberjack and a ninja this gentle soul seemed almost like a candidate for my favourite fantasy man ( that's still George in Gone Too Deep by the way ). Unfortunately I just didn't really fall for him as initially he seemed so very tongue tied and shy that honestly it was embarrassing ! He's this tough mountain man and a police officer to boot so you can possibly understand my disappointment.
Otto is matched by Sarah and like Otto she's not exactly the most confident or worldly. She's spent her life bullied by her family so I had sympathy but honestly their interactions to me just felt well odd . It's a romance that didn't work for me but nevertheless I did actually enjoy the story although it was a little drawn out and had me rolling my eyes as at times it was difficult to actually believe all that was taking place. Still I do enjoy these books and even though this pairing of a socially awkward couple failed to set the pages on fire I'm definitely on board to read more. Plus if you love cuteness there's plenty of that with sneaky , slightly mischievous children and adorable animals. So not my favourite from this author but still an entertaining read .
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Survive the Night is the third book in the Rocky Mountain K-9 series by Katie Ruggle. It is currently scheduled for release on February 6 2018. I highly recommend reading the series in order, not just because of the larger story arc and character building that has been done thus far, but because it is an entertaining read.

He's always been a haven: For the lost. The sick. The injured. But when a hunted woman takes shelter in his arms, this gentle giant swears he'll do more than heal her battered spirit—he'll defend her with his life. K9 Officer Otto Gunnersen always had a soft spot for anyone in need. As Monroe's very own Dr. Doolittle, he dedicates himself to rehabilitating the injured souls that cross his path—but for all his big heart, he's never been in love. Until he meets Sarah Clifton's haunted eyes. Until he realizes he'll do anything to save her. All Sarah wants is to escape a life caught between ambitious crime families, but there's no outrunning her past. Her power-mad brother would hunt her to the ends of the earth, but he'd never expect Sarah to fight back. With Otto and the whole of Monroe, Colorado by her side, Sarah's finally ready to face whatever comes her way. It's time to take a stand.

Survive the Night is all I was hoping for, and a little more. I love Otto's character. He is the big, silent type- but only because he is a big ole softy and trying to hide it. Sarah (Alice) has been controlled and abused all her life, and is more than a little scared of just about everything. Otto's social goofs and Sarah's joy in the little things really sold me on both the characters. They are just both so earnest and sweet that I could not help but love them both. I think they are my favorite couple from the series. I loved the duo of skittish hearts, and think they are the perfect pairing. The danger and survival aspects of the story are intense, and beyond my expectations.

Survive the Night is a wonderful addition to the series. My only issue is that it left me looking for more and I am a little too eager to see how it all plays out, and who the next pairing might be since all of our K-9 officers and ladies are paired up.

Otto gets book! K9 Officer Otto Gunnersen is a tall Viking god with a hard body and a soft heart. Both come in handy when he meets Sarah Clifton. He is utterly gobsmacked. Not something we see often with Otto.
This story sees Sarah escape a horrid situation in Texas to end up in small town Monroe, Colorado. The town will never be the same again. This story is as action packed as any movie. Prepare time to read this because once you pick it up it will be impossible to put down. Romantic suspense at its finest. My favorite of the series to date.

The story starts off on a suspenseful note. You can tell that Alice has been abused just about all her life. She lives under the ruling thumb of her brother, someone who deals in shady stuff. You'd think that because she has a bodyguard assigned to her, that she'd be safe. Except, the bodyguard is more of a prison guard and he doesn't care if he has to use force to get her to do what her brother wants. Needless to say, right from the start you are afraid for Alice. So, when her grand escape takes place, I was on the edge of my seat hoping that she got away. Thankfully she does and her contact sends her to the middle of nowhere Colorado to live with Jules and Grace, two other women this contact has helped escape from a nightmare of a life. You'd think it would be pretty quiet from there on out but not even a quarter of the way in, the author tosses some pretty intense scenes at the characters. Basically, I was on pins and needles right from the start.

I love Otto's character. I will admit that he never really stuck out to me in the previous two books. He's always the quiet, reasonable one when it comes to his and his two buddies. You would see him at the shelter working with one of the dogs there, but you never really knew much about him. So, I was a little excited to finally see Otto as a leading character. Boy, did he not disappoint. He's serious, cautious, caring, shy, sympathetic, and loyal. When we get a look inside his house, it's filled with neglected or abused animals. There's a horse that's terrified of humans, a cat with half an ear, a goat, a litter of orphaned puppies, and even his old K9 partner lives on his ranch with him. Not to mention, he takes in that dog from the shelter that we see him visit in previous books. A dog that's so badly abused and afraid of humans that it was heartbreaking to witness. Yet, Otto is so gentle and patient with her. When the shelter says they can't hold her anymore since they need the space for adoptable dogs, Otto immediately decides to take the dog in. That is just one of the reasons why I loved this guy. The other being his extreme awkwardness around Alice/Sarah. He's attracted to her the moment he meets her and instead of being a cocky alpha, like we see way too often, he just stares at her and gives a shy half wave before retreating. Then when he has a conversation with her one on one, he tells her that her mouth is pretty before turning beet red and walking away. It was those adorably awkward moments that really pushed Otto up into my top male characters of all time.

"He was a Viking lumberjack cop who bottle-fed orphaned puppies? If he'd spent years trying to think of the most effective punch to the ovaries, he couldn't have come up with a better plan."

Since Sarah escaped her brother and also the betrothal of being a crime lord's wife, she is always looking over her shoulder... and for good reason. Usually in a romantic suspense there's some parts that might spook you and the characters, but the big conflict happens at the end of the book. With Survive the Night, let's just say this book should have been called Survive the Week. It was insane how many things happened. Just when you thought the characters might finally be able to relax, BOOK something else blew up in their faces. I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop when it came to this story because you knew that given how strong of a crime lord this guy was, and how crazy her brother was, that there was no way they didn't have a handful of aces up their sleeves.

Survive the Night was perfect. I loved every minute of it. The characters were lovable, there were animals galore, and so much suspense that my heart was racing almost the entire time. Usually I like my main characters to have some sassy snark, but I absolutely loved the shyness between these two characters and how awkward they were when they interacted. Now, I know I loved Run to Ground, the first book in the series, but I dare say that I loved Survive the Night even more. I mean, there's a part in the book where things are dicey and Sarah wrangles up Otto's rag-tag group of animals and leads them to safety, and we're not talking about a simple cat and dog. Oh no! She managed to get a seriously spooked horse to trust her, a sassy goat to follow her begrudgingly through the snow, and a beaten down, terrified, rescued bait dog to trust her. That scene the author describes of her riding the horse with the dogs and goat following her through the snow storm... goosebumps!

I am really enjoying this series, but I think this was my least favourite so far. Which is a shame as Otto was the one I was most looking forward to.

I felt like the relationship between Otto and Sarah was overshadowed, and quite frankly the suspense part of the action got a bit ott and ridiculous toward the end.

It felt more like a filler book, moving the suspense part of the story along but at the expense of the hero and heroine.

It was still enjoyable, but I felt like something was missing.

This book was even better than the last one! I can’t wait for the next book. This book has lots of suspense and romance. I flew right through it!

Alice has wanted to escape from her family and their business for years. When one of her brother's staff tells her to be ready, she is confused. Later someone appears at her window and she escapes. She is placed in Colorado with Jules and her family and becomes Sarah. Jules and Grace are also in hiding which is told in the first two books. . Local search and rescue K9 officer Otto recognizes the haunted look in her eyes, but she is keeping her secrets. He relates better to animals, but can't get her out of his mind. When her brother catches up with her, it will take the entire team to not only save Sarah, but the entire town. A fast paced, suspenseful story that ends with a reveal that sets up the next book!

Survive the Night is the third installment in the Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series and Sarah is my favorite heroine of the three. Sister to a wanna be mob boss she has been locked behind doors and abused for her whole life. That may sound like Sarah would be a victim but she has a bit of steel in her spine. After escaping her brother she moves in with Jules and Grace (heroines from books one and two)and starts to practice what she has been internally preaching…she wants to live a normal life. When she sets eyes on K9 cop Otto she isn’t scared by his size, she is captured by his sweetness watching as he rescues animals and rehabilitates them with a soft touch.

Of course, this is a Katie Ruggle novel so you know trouble is coming and Sarah needs to gear up for a fight. Sure enough, when her brother tracks her down it affects Grace too as their reasons for being in Monroe are tied together. There are some great action scenes that really drive the story. Sarah, separated from her friends when the trouble starts does not hide until its all over. She takes the bull by the horns and seeks out her friends showing she has spunk and is a fighter even after being beaten down for years.

If there was one thing missing for me it was with Otto. He was a big sweet lug who loved animals and took in strays. He was pretty one dimensional and I would’ve liked to have made more of a connection with him. After all he was in the previous two novels, unlike Sarah so I should’ve felt more for him than I did. His purpose was to be there to help save the day and win his girl. He got to do both in a very satisfying way. I enjoyed reading this book on an overcast Saturday afternoon and it hit the spot.
❤️❤️❤️❤️

I was given a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest.

***ARC received for an honest review***

A dude that rescues abused animals meets a domestic violence victim in hiding. Confectionary sweetness ensues.

<b>"Could her lumberjack Viking with a soft spot for puppies possibly have a soft spot for her, too?"</b>

It's no secret that while I inhaled Ruggle's Search and Rescue series, I find that this series lacks a spark. There's sweetness, and dogs, and adventure. But the characters don't have quirks or dimensions or sass. The edge is missing.

Some questions were answered. A big issue from book 1 was resolved - with no fan fair. And the entire gang from this series was very much a part of this book. This just won't be my favorite work by Katie Ruggle.

<a href="http://www.alleskelle.com/"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1471716947r/20097901.jpg?v=1471716951482"width="400"></a>

This is the 3nd book of the K9 series, and man! this must be the most action packed book in the series.


I do not want to put anything, because the release date is next month, but i had to read it because reading Ms. Ruggle's books is like watching a soap opera. You have to savor each page for it contains too many things that is overwhelming and at the same time rendering, because the characters are so much alive in every scene.

I am looking forward in reading the next book in the series.