Shane Adler, injured in Afghanistan when the building he was in collapsed from a car bomb, retired from the Army rather than take a desk job. Now he and his dog, Decoy, who had located him in that building’s rubble and remained by his side until he was rescued. Shane had only ever wanted to be a soldier and was at loose ends now that the door had been closed on that dream. They were headed to Daniels Canine Academy outside Jasper, Idaho, to train as a search and rescue team: a stop-gap measure while he figured out what he wanted to do with the rest of his life.
Piper Lambert had been very young and very much in love with her marine husband when he’d been killed in action in Iraq. Devastated, she relocated from sunny California to Jasper at the invitation of her college friend, Emma Daniels, who operated a highly successful dog training business there. Emma had offered her a place to stay and a new career at just the right time, so Piper could grieve over her loss and try to work out what her future should be. Four years later, she has numerous dog training success stories to her credit. Yet, the thought of David would still reduce her to tears.
The connection between Shane and Piper is immediate. However, as both are still recovering from their private tragedy, both are reluctant to act on their attraction. Decoy is quick to learn his lessons; he’s a natural at search and rescue. But this only highlights that Shane and Decoy are only there to earn the proper credentials and will soon be leaving to pursue a search and rescue job in Montana: just another reason for Piper and Shane to keep their relationship strictly business. But then odd and frightening things begin to happen at Piper’s secluded mountain home - strange muddy footprints on her deck leading to her sliding glass door and doors mysteriously left open. Shane’s concern for her and his natural protectiveness kicks in, and the tension mounts, as does their desire for one another while they wait for the next shoe to drop.
Decoy Training by Caridad Pineiro was a fast-paced, easy-to-read suspense novel with a sweet and slowly smoldering romance. The characters are both at pivotal points in their lives. Both have been recovering from past trauma but are now ready to take steps toward a new future. They are perfect for each other, and their meeting has come at just the right time. They just need a little nudge to get things going in the right direction. Emma provides this by assigning Piper as Shane’s trainer without prior discussion. I liked that they are dog lovers, and this was the basis for their meeting and their relationship to begin and develop. Decoy and Piper’s new puppy, Chipper, were fun, and I especially enjoyed it when the action involved the dogs.
The plot is about healing and moving on, but it is also suspense-filled! Someone is watching Piper, and the story is tense and edgy when told from that person’s perspective. There was that creepy, someone-is-watching feeling throughout the story, and it kept me turning pages to get to the bottom of what was happening!
DECOY TRAINING is the first book in the K-9s on Patrol series, a new six-book set in the Harlequin Intrigue line, with each story written by a different author. Even though this book focused on Piper and Shane, the author also introduced characters that will be featured in subsequent books in the series. Some are fun, quirky, or have issues of their own lurking in the background, but the author did a great job of bringing them into the current story, hooking me for future K-9s on Patrol stories. I recommend DECOY TRAINING to fans of Caridad Pineiro, romantic suspense, or stories with a canine connection.
Former marine Shane Adler’s used to perilous situations. But he’s stunned to find danger in the peaceful Idaho mountains—especially swirling around his beautiful dog trainer. After tragically losing her hero husband, Piper Lambert’s rebuilt her life. Now it’s up to Shane—and his loyal K-9 in training, Decoy—to make sure a mysterious enemy won’t derail her new beginning…or his.
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