His life was destroyed when his parents murdered. Now he's rebuilt his new life but still feels like someone is watching him. She's there for a different case but arrives in time to get mixed up in his. Who's after him and why? Will he have to run again?

A fantastic read! When a man in witness protection is compromised a police officer and her service dog step in to assist. Being together starts a relationship between them.

Deadly Badlands pursuit by Sharee Stover is book #2 in the Dakota K-9 Unit series - this was a first by this author and for this series. I enjoyed this series and the overall storyline. It starts out as if the story is either picking up from the last book or for this story - "mid sentence". So, not sure if this can be truly a stand alone, although once in - I believe it can stand alone.

Deputy US Marshal Gracie is in the area on another assignment when she is asked to "check in" on a government witness. When checking in on Cameron, she is there when there was an ambush and she barely gets him safe. From that moment on, is it someone from his past, who knows his identity or from his current life?

At every turn, Gracie must keep him alive and can she protect her heart all the while????

This was a quick cozy mystery/suspense read.

I like this one it was the first I’ve read by author and has a happy ending. Gracie is sent out because one the witness protected people aren’t responding but turns out he had good reason . He thinks he has been found and is not sure who to trust. Is there a leak in the agency ? You follow the characters on a hunt to find who the shadow that seems to be lurking. But on the way the two main characters grow closer . You shouldn’t fall for the one you’re protecting but sometimes you find the one you needed where you weren’t looking.
There are light faith elements woven through the story that are not heavy for someone new to the faith or just wants a lighter read .

After reading several K9 audio ARC's recently, I have been very sad to report that the last few have left me very disappointed. Maybe it is just me and I wasn't in the right headspace, but then this book came along.

We have a similar type of same type of storyline, there is our MMC - Cameron - who is in Witness Sec with the US Marshalls Dept, and he hasn't reported in. So, they send in another agent - Deputy US Marshal Gracie Fitzpatrick and her K9 Partner Bane- to do a welfare check to make sure he was okay and not just blowing off his handler. Oh, did I mention that this is set in South Dakota’s treacherous Badlands. In other words, they are truly very far away from civilization.

Without going into too much detail, there really is a bad guy (s) who has discovered who Cameron really is/was and the two MC's (and Bane) are in a fight for their lives.

There is a Christian undertone to this- but it is not preachy. Gracie just has a tremendous faith, and she uses that faith to grow closer to Cameron and help build him up as his world is falling apart.

The only bad, well, not bad per se, but the thing that took the rating down a notch was that there is really an insta-love trope in this one. Was it believable? Well, hmmm, maybe??? But regardless, it did not take away from the enjoyment of the story.

The audio was narrated by Mac Fowler and I felt like he did a fine job.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review this Audio ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone. This book will be out for publication on April 29 2025.

Deputy US Marshal Gracie Fitzpatric is asked to check on a man in witness protection. When she arrives, she is attacked and realizes the man doing the attacking knows the real name of the man in hiding.
Bane is her K-9 companion and when they fight the man off, she realizes there is problems for the man in hiding. Cameron is the witsec man and he knows someone has been watching him. As Gracie and Cameron work together to get things set-up so that he can disappear again. There is a woman he dated that was a stalker is she the one after him or the employee he fired recently.
Great narrator and story.

This is a Romantic Suspense, and this is the second book in the Dakota K-9 Unit series. I have not read the first book in this series before picking up this book. I read this book by listening to the audiobook, and I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. The audiobook was easy to listen to. I was pulled into this book from the first page, but I felt the middle was filled with suspense/action and drama. I think the romance was just not needed in this book. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

Deadly Badlands Pursuit by Sharee Stover
(Dakota K-9 Unit Book 2)
A K-9 team has a witness to defend…
and a murderer to track.
When Deputy US Marshal Gracie Fitzpatrick checks on a government witness, she unexpectedly walks into an ambush at Cameron Holmes’s ranch. She and her K-9 partner, Bane, fight off the assailant—but to protect Cameron, they must escape into South Dakota’s treacherous Badlands. Tracking dangerous enemies is what Gracie does, and Cameron’s life in witness protection has left targets on his back. With a killer waiting in the shadows, Gracie and Cameron must work fast to uncover the truth about who wants him dead…if they want to stay alive.
This is Deputy US Marshal Gracie Fitzpatrick's story.
This is Cameron's story.
“Where would you prefer to start, Bane? A missing witness or tracing a gun trafficker’s connections?” Deputy US Marshal Gracie Fitzpatrick stroked her K-9 partner’s velvety head. “Don’t answer that, I already know what you’ll say.”
Her Belgian Malinois panted contentedly beside her.
“Negative. Our POA is as follows,” Gracie responded, referencing the plan of action. “Since it’s late already, Bane and I will check in at the Pronghorn Hills Guest Ranch and confirm Cameron Holmes’s status.” That was the first part of her mission
make contact with a man in WITSEC who hadn’t checked in with his handler lately.
Supervisory Deputy US Marshal Dallas Brafford had advised that Holmes had failed to report in.
Cameron Holmes had purchased the guest ranch two years prior. It was no big stretch for Gracie’s mind as to why he would do so. South Dakota offered rich landscape and incredible atmosphere. A guest ranch most likely provided a profitable income while permitting Cameron to relax.
Gracie inwardly gasped. James Dunwood was Cameron’s old name—the one he had for eighteen years before obtaining his witness-protection identity.
I recommend this book.
Deadly Badlands Pursuit by Sharee Stover is a 4 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Sharee Stover.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.
From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

A heart-in-throat page turner from the get go. Stover has an incredible gift of mixing intensity with humour which adds a unique zest to this romantic suspense. And Gracie’s sassy sarcasm and indefatigable spirit brings an upbeat vibe to even the direst situations.

She arrives at Cameron’s ranch for a routine wellness check and winds up with way more than she bargained for. Fighting off an unknown assailant and trying to gain the confidence of a surly and understandable, wary government witness is the ‘perfect’ way to end a long day. And things are only about to get a whole lot worse.

Loved the way the relationship develops in the midst of relentless danger. Both Gracie and Cameron have pasts that make it hard for them to trust easily which brings a bit of suspense into their romance. Will they or won’t they? How can they possibly with a future that only seems to hold uncertainties? Loved the twists and turns and the way the author wrapped things up by the end.

Goodness, I haven’t even mentioned Bane yet. Belgian Malinois and dedicated K-9 officer, there’s nothing Bane can’t track and he’s not bad to have in your corner during a fight either!

This is the second book in the Dakota K-9 Unit multi-authored continuity series but can easily be read as a standalone. There’s some great interaction with her team and now I’m excited to get to know each of them better when they have a chance to star in their own stories.

I listened to the audio edition narrated by Mac Fowler who did a wonderful job bringing distinctive voices (and attitude) to every character. The ease she brings to her performance makes for a comfortable and satisfying listen.

My thanks to Harlequin Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

Deadly Badlands Pursuit is a very well written and narrated romantic suspense. I enjoyed the plot, well developed characters and the setting. I definitely recommend this book.

Gracie and her K-9 are in the badlands of South Dakota to find a gun ring. She gets sidetracked from that job to help Cameron, a man in witness protection. Cameron is in danger.
The action is pretty constant. I enjoyed the story. I felt a bit let down that the ending doesn’t resolve some of the problems.
I enjoyed listening to the book. The narrator did a good job.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to read the book.

Author Sharee Stover transport readers back to the South Dakota’s Badlands National Park. This is the second book in this series.
The South Dakota landscape is beautiful but rugged. Cameron Holmes has been in the Witness Protection Program (WITSEC) since his family was murdered. He has been living on the ranch for a couple of years. K-9 Deputy US Marshall Gracie Fitzpatrick stopped by to check on Cameron while she was in the area investigating gun trafficking. It has been a while since Cameron checked in. The ranch was under ambush when Gracie arrived. It is up to Gracie and Bane, her K-9 partner, to keep Cameron alive. Together Bane, Gracie and Cam escaped into the Badlands. . Bane is a Belgian Malinois.
Cameron and Gracie are attracted to each other. Cameron likes where he lives and doesn’t want to be transferred to another safe house. Someone has discovered Cameron’s identity, and they are there to take him out.
It didn’t take Cameron and Gracie long to realize they had a lot in common and they are attracted to each other. The action is gripping and non-stop. This is a Christian romance.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

A breathless race through the South Dakota badlands to keep witness protection person, the marshal and the K9 safe and alive. This is a very good story with lots of action.

I received an advanced listeners copy of the audiobook from Harlequin and Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

Deadly Badlands Pursuit by Sharee Stover, narrated by Mac Fowler is a wonderful story with action, mystery, and suspense. Sit back and enjoy the read of US Marshall Gracie Fitzpatrick and her K-9 partner Bane when they end up trying to save themselves and Cameron Holmes who is the WITSEC program who they came to check on since they have not heard from him. Thank you to #NetGalley, #Harlequin Audio for this Arc. This is my honest review. Releases April 29,2025

This second addition to the series takes us back to the Dakotas where Cameron Holmes has been living in his ranch for a couple a years. This is a man that since his family’s murder, has been in the WITSEC program.
Meanwhile, while K-9 US Marshall Gracie Fitzpatrick and her co-worker are in the area checking on gun trafficking , they decide to check up on a Cameron, who has been radio silence for a bit.
What no expected was to arrive at the ranch just when Cameron is being attacked.
Trying to keep Cameron alive and likely ready to move again, the tension and the attacks intensify. As does the unexpected attraction between Cam and Gracie. But In additioin to the danger, the likelihood of having to once again leave everything behind, means also leaving Gracie.
Will the group be able to overcome the enemy? And really, who is really after Cam? What happens with the feelings these two have?
This was an engaging, action packed clean Christian romance that will keep the listeners on the edge of their seats. Especially , since the story is brought to life by the narrator, Mac Fowler.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Harlequin Audio. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Review of Deadly Badlands Pursuit by Sharee Stover
Narrated by Mac Fowler

Deadly Badlands Pursuit delivers a well-paced suspense story set against the rugged beauty of South Dakota’s Badlands National Park. The isolation of Cameron’s ranch and the harsh landscape ramp up the danger, while Sharee Stover balances action, investigation, and backstory with a steady hand. The plot keeps you guessing with clever red herrings, hiding the real culprit until the final twist.

One element that did not resonate as strongly for me was the pace of the romance. Still, there is no denying the connection between Gracie and Cameron. Her willingness to listen and value his opinions—especially after years of feeling voiceless in WITSEC—helps diffuse his defensiveness and builds trust between them, adding substance to their relationship.

Mac Fowler’s narration enhances the audiobook with crisp diction and a steady, engaging tone. Her performance makes dialogue easy to follow and keeps the listener grounded in the unfolding suspense.

Deadly Badlands Pursuit is a strong entry in the Dakota K-9 series, reflecting themes of courage, trust, and faith over fear.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.


Story 4.5 ⭐️
Audiobook Performance 5⭐️

I really enjoyed this Dakota K-9 suspense novel! The narration was enjoyable and it was the perfect length for a quick suspense.

I received an audio ARC from Netgalley and all opinions are my own.