When Elena's younger brother is abducted by the cartel that's been slowly taking over the town, she must turn to Cash and his canine partner Bear in her crusade to get him back.

I'm a sucker for a dog on the cover. And Bear is a working dog, which is a novel idea for someone whose own dog lives for sleeping, eating, and sniffing every blade of grass he comes across on his daily walks. 

This is an action-packed story, where the main characters take on a drug cartel practically single-handedly. Elena and Cash's secrets are unfurled slowly, and I appreciated how their backstories added to their current conflicts and the way they approached the rescue and the kindling of their romance. Bear is a sweetheart and I wanted to squish her face throughout. 

However, I did feel like the romance was very underdeveloped, which makes sense considering the amount of ground covered in not that long a book. If this were a movie, I'd probably describe it as action-adventure with a minor romantic subplot rather than romantic suspense - not bad in itself, but not really what I was promised either. And while I understood Elena's impatience, her insistence on plunging into mortal danger without a second thought repeatedly was unrealistic and exasperating.

A great story but full of lots of triggers. Make sure you read the trigger warnings before you begin the book. If you can deal with those it is a wonderful read.

K-9 security is the only book that I have read by Nichole Servern and even though it was a tough subject it was one that I am glad that I read. I can't wait to read the next books in the series.

On the positive side, I like the author's writing style and the non stop action. I like that Harlequin has the Cast of Characters at the beginning. I also like books with K-9 and Bear and Maverick are special dogs.

Perhaps Elena and Cash are made for each other, but I found that she is not the brightest tool in the shed. To get out of her small town, she allowed herself to be wined and dined by a slick, wealthy, handsome man. By three months into the marriage she realizes that she married a fraud. As often happens with an abuser, first he isolated her by moving them from her family and friends. And though it was not mentioned in the book, if he did not use his legal name, were they even legally married? It turns out that he is high up in a Mexican cartel. She starts collecting evidence against him and then escapes. But instead of disappearing using one of the organizations whose mission is to help abused women escape and disappear, she goes back to her parent's house. So was it a surprise that her husband uses his men to descend on the town to grab her and her 8 year old brother Daniel and destroy the town? Not at all. Daniel gets grabbed to be conscripted into the cartel along with any other young men they could find. And the town is pretty much burnt to the ground. She is rescued by Cash and his dog Bear, before her husband can grab her. After 3 tours in the Marines he came home and joined Socorro Security, a private military contractor company, paid by the Pentagon to battle the Cartels. But he recently was betrayed by the person he was closest to, who he loved the most, and missed seeing that the attack was coming, which was his job. While he decides he will do whatever is necessary to save Daniel, she keeps going off half cocked putting all three of them in danger, making one mistake after another as if she was invincible like Supergirl, when she is not even trained in self defense. I just found her annoying. I hope the rest of the series will have more believable characters.

I was gifted with an advanced readers copy provided by NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

This book was a trip that was so much action around every corner. I enjoyed seeing how this action-packed fast-paced book went. I liked getting to know the characters and I love the strength in Elena. She was smart, resourceful, loyal and very strong-willed. She was willing to do everything and anything she could to find her brother and to help keep her family safe. There was so many twists and turns and at some point it was very hard to tell who was to trust. Cash is a military contractor who helped Elena get away and he has his own demons to deal with. Like these people were really willing to sacrifice everything and it was interesting seeing how everything played out I mean there's so much going on. Overall a really great read.

This was a fast-paced action packed story, and I absolutely devoured it. However, there was one scene where Cash is warning Elena of a couple of natural dangers in the desert, and while I think this was meant to set the scene for the reader, it came off as mansplaining because Elena has lived in that area almost her whole life-- wouldn't she already know about said dangers?

I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This is a Romantic Suspense, and this is the first book in the New Mexico Guard Dogs series. This book was full of action and suspense from the very first page, and it kept me wanting to keep reading to find out what was going on. I loved the romance in this book. I really loved everything about this book. Great Read and Great start to a new series.I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin Intrigue) or author (Nichole Severn) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Fast-paced and action-packed!

Cash is trying to keep Elena safe from a drug cartel, but she keeps running headlong back into danger to rescue her young brother from becoming their newest recruit. This story is one intense action scene after another, with compelling characters and ripped-from-the-headlines realism.

The entire story takes place in less than a week, so the HEA, while battle-tested, is still somewhat abrupt. Even so, Cash and Elena prove to be a remarkable team as they rely on each other through some very dangerous situations and bring a solid sense of justice to every level of evil they encounter.

I honestly couldn't put this book down once I started it, finishing it in less than a day. It's an easy one to recommend for anyone who enjoys suspense and action filled contemporary romances. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

The attack on Alpine Valley, by the cartel, was unexpected and vicious. Elena Navarro had returned to the valley along with her younger brother Daniel and now was caught up in a fight for her life and his. Her husband, a man she thought she knew, but didn’t, has kidnapped her brother. Daniel will be forced to become a soldier unless she can save him. Unexpected help comes from Cash Meyers, former military who works for Socorro Security. Socorro handles sensitive missions, for the Pentagon, that can’t be handled by regular military. Elena has information on her phone that may help bring down the cartel, but her phone is missing. She has never met a man like Cash who has worked his way into her heart. He realizes that Elena is a fighter who won’t give up until she saves her brother. Betrayed by someone they trusted, she and Cash once again must fight, for their lives and their chance at a future together. Absolute non-stop action and danger through to the exciting end! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

Excellent start to the new series. The story was fast-paced, with nearly non-stop action and a hint of romance, taking place over a few days. The story opens as Elena's small town is under attack by a cartel. Homes are in flames, and Elena is desperate to protect her eight-year-old brother. Elena's fear leaped off the page as they encountered cartel members determined to stop them. Her ferocity in trying to protect Daniel was incredible, but they managed to overcome her in the end. Elena was saved from a similar fate by the arrival of a stranger who whisked her away to safety.

Cash is a member of the military contractor firm Socorro Security. A former Marine and DEA agent, a past betrayal drives his need to protect. Guilty feelings over that same past have locked up his emotions. He also feels guilty for not seeing the imminent attack and warning the town. Saving Elena is the least he can do, but that doesn't explain his intense compulsion to protect her.

I enjoyed watching the beginning of Cash and Elena's relationship as it fights for life amid the dangers of their search for Daniel. Cash and Elena each have baggage relating to the cartel that has deeply affected them, but they decide to work together to save Daniel. As they spend time together, bits of that baggage are unpacked and shared, and they begin to heal. There are some obstacles for them to overcome, such as Elena's connection to a cartel lieutenant and the secret Cash is keeping about the night of the attack. In the end, love wins out.

The story's suspense was intense, with an explosive beginning and barely time to breathe. The twists and turns of the action and a shocking revelation at the end kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. I got frustrated with Elena's tendency to rush into action without thinking about potential difficulties. On the other hand, Cash tended to go the other way by attempting to plan for every detail and possible problem. Cash and Elena got into several situations that had me on the edge of my seat until they were safe. The final confrontation was intense and terrifying, and I honestly didn't know how they would get out of it. Kudos to the author for a gripping finish.

I loved the relationship between Cash and his K-9, Bear. The story of how they became partners was heartbreaking, but their closeness is undeniable. I enjoyed their "conversations," which showed another side of Cash. I also liked how Bear immediately connected with Elena - it was a good sign for the future.

My only complaint about the book was one line: "Tell Ivy that Echo got off his leash" from a man who helped Elena escape. But we never see Elena give Ivy the message or see Ivy's reaction.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This book was action packed with a romantic twist. The cartel is coming after Elena and her brother and Cash is the man to step in to protect Elena and find her brother.

Fast paced storyline with lots of action. One you don’t want to miss.

A fairly predictable romantic suspense novel but still good and kept my attention from beginning to end.

What a good story. Elena had left her husband when she discovered he was cartel. Then the cartel burned down her house and quite a bit of her parent's town and kidnapped her 8 year old brother. They would have had her if not for Cash, who was a private military contractor trying to stop the cartels. He had Bear with him, who was his K-9 dog. Bear had been his brothers but when he was killed, Cash took over her care. Bear wasn't officially a K-9 but still worked with him.. Elena and Cash thought they knew where her brother was but were caught and then escaped. Then a friend of hers betrayed her and paid for it with his life. There was lots of drama, fighting and injuries but the good guys won in the end.

I got this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

K 9 Security is a ver well written romantic suspense. This book has an edge of your seat plot that kept me reading to the very end. I definitely recommend this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

This was such a fun read! Had me hooked from the beginning. Witty and funny and I loved the dog. Low on the spice but high on action, it felt like mission impossible.

Cash works for Socorro, a security firm that utilizes his talents as a former Marine to protect Alpine valley and its residents from the cartel taking over the area. By his side is his partner, Bear, who is a Rottweiler that he saved from being put down after her years of service were done.

Elena is a young woman desperate to keep her brother, Daniel, safe. Now she has the help of someone just as determined as her in Cash.

This book has a lot of great twists and turns. I love that both main characters are smart and united by a similar past of betrayal so they understand each other well from the start.

Very well written and fast paced. I felt like the scenes jumped off the page because of the word choices picked for descriptions. The action scenes kept you on the edge of your seat and rooting for both main characters as well as Bear.

The ending wrapped up nicely and was full of action as well. Everyone had their part in the fight including Bear. This was my first read by this author and I through my enjoyed the whole book!

K-9 Security was an exciting start to a new series by Nichole Severn. Cash is a man haunted by the death of the one man he thought he could always count on. Disillusioned, he starts working for a private security company. When he meets Elena, he gets the immediate impression that his life is about to change.

Elena is desperate to find her brother and parents. She doesn’t know where her parents are but she does know that the cartel has her brother. Time is ticking and if they don’t get Daniel out quickly he will suffer at the hands of her ex-husband, Matias.

Cash and Elena team up to get Daniel out of the grips of a madman but getting caught wasn’t the plan, until they did.

K-9 Security is an action packed intrigue with well-written characters, a highly developed plot, and a love story that adds to the suspense and intrigue of this new series.