Run to Ground by Katie Ruggle
Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit #1

Never having read a book by this author but liking books with dogs, especially K-9 dogs that seem to work with great men and women, I was very interested in reading what seems to be the first book in what will be a trilogy of the stories of three K-9 partners located in small town Monroe, Colorado.

This is a story of siblings on the run. As the story unfolds an inkling of what their past must have been like is leaked a bit at a time…and they really did need to get away. How they managed to flee is part of the story as is their fear of being found. Anyway, the eldest is Jules and she has brought her three brothers and sister to Monroe where she is working as a waitress. One of her most intriguing customers is curmudgeonly Theodore Basco. Theo picks up early on that Jules has secrets and that abuse is part and parcel of her past but he does not push. As the story progresses there are bomb threats, a shooting on/near a school, a militia that is anti-government and on the wrong side of the law, a romance, a depressed dog and someone out to kill and create havoc. The romance is interesting and worked for me. The siblings are close and care deeply about one another. The issues to be faced are not small potatoes and are not all dealt with by the end of the book – things are wrapped up BUT there are still problems that may rear their ugly heads in future books. And, from what I read about book two, there will be more action, another person in need of escape and another romance to enjoy. I do believe I am looking forward to reading book two and wonder how long I will have to wait.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4 Stars

After being a huge fan of Ruggle's last series, Search and Rescue, I couldn't wait to jump in to another similar series. This is the first installment to what looks to be the beginning of another suspenseful series.

Jules is officially an outlaw. No, she hasn't killed anyone, but she's taken something that doesn't exactly belong to her. Now she's living in the small town of Monroe, trying to start a new life. Figures that the first male to show interest in her is a cop. Geez. What luck. It actually turns out to be good luck. At least so far...

Theo has had a bit of a hard time this last year. Not only has he lost his K-9 to cancer, his partner took his own life and no one knows why. Now Theo is stuck with his partner's dog who's just as messed up as he is. They're quite the pair, but they slowly start to pull themselves back together. Thanks to a certain young lady named Jules.

Like I mentioned before, this is a good start to a series that is sure to be filled with drama and love. Jules really IS a good person and although she doesn't come clean to Theo about her past (clearly setting things up for more drama to come), their connection with each other is very cute. I'm in love with Jules' family and can't wait to hear a little more about their past lives and why Sam-I-Am has his studder (although we get a little glimpse in this one). One of the things I like I like most about Ruggle's writing is that I always find myself pulled in to the secondary characters as much as the main. Theo's friends/partners, Otto and Hugh are a hoot. I just KNOW that they'll get their own stories soon enough, and I can't wait!

You'll notice that I haven't really mentioned anything about the drama in this book. I feel like if I mention it, it might ruin it for you guys. Just put two and two together. I mean, cop K-9's are used for specific reasons, right? I'm pretty sure that this series will have more than one boom-ing story line.

reviewed by xena

3.5 Stars

Rocky Mountain K9 Unit is Katie Ruggle's brand new series starring the member of said unit and escapees who came to Monroe to start a new life. In Run to Ground, we met with Jules and her four siblings. While she's not a criminal, Jules was not totally squeaky clean either. The fact that had her wary of any law enforcement officer.

Those who read the author's Search and Rescue closing novella After the End might have seen a glimpse of Officer Theo Bosco in one of the story. Even then, his broody figure pulled me. And now that he took the center stage in Run to Ground, the grief and bewilderment were more pronounced, not only from Theo but also from Viggy, a K9 dog of Theo's late partner. It's a heartbreaking story to read, these two forlorn - two and four legged - officers grappling to make sense of the tragedy that affect their life.

As the first entry, Run to Ground did well in introducing characters in the series, especially the key players that - later on - would told their own tale (and having their own book). It's a deceptively even-paced story stirred to life with the help of a series of suspenseful incidents. The end result of which didn't particularly show Monroe PD of their best case-solving ability, imho. That said, I loved the brotherhood of K9 unit in Monroe PD and pray like hell it wouldn't turn out like what happened in their sister series. ;-)

On the romantic front, the combination of Jules and Theo life didn't seem conducive for romance, which made the situation all the more interesting. What I liked from them were how sensible Jules and Max over any possibilities in their relationship. That there's potential of more thing to come; more so given Jules's contact is the red thread in this promising series.

Even so, it's Theo/Viggy duo who hold more appeal to me. I really wish there's more to the pair's development as partners than shown here, especially considering the escalating suspense. I'm not saying there's a lack of that in the book, I just thought it wasn't explored enough. As it is, to me the healing process felt too much like an aside. But just like with Jules and Theo, the Theo/Viggy is still an ongoing process. Therefore, while looking forward to Hugh and Otto's own stories, I expected to see further of Theo with Jules and Viggy in the series.


Advanced copy of this book is kindly provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Run to Ground is the first book in Katie Ruggle's newest series, Rocky Mountain K9 Unit. It is every bit a page turner as Ms. Ruggle's previous books in her Search & Rescue series. It has mystery, resilient but never boring characters, some action and of course, the clincher, a dog! Jules, Theo and Viggy all have their issues and their problems and it might take awhile before any of it gets resolved. But Run to Ground also has a great storyline, great dialogue, and an almost humorous tone despite the seriousness of the topic. Jules and Theo are great together while Theo and Viggy's moments are so heartbreaking you just want to weep. It's a promising start to another promising new series from Ms. Ruggle.

I have been eagerly anticipating this new novel by Katie Ruggle. In her previous Search and Rescue series I really enjoyed her unique characters and thrilling storylines. Run to Ground, the first in her new K-9 Unit series did not disappoint. Our heroine Jules Jackson, rescued her siblings from an abusive step parent and skipped town. She’s understandably nervous, expecting cops to break down her door at any minute. So, when Theo, a cop, shows an interest in her she tries to avoid catching his eye. Theo is slightly suspicious of her twitchiness but his inner demons are calmed when she’s around and so he ignores his instincts and doesn’t investigate her too deeply. Theo’s been very depressed since his previous partner committed suicide. He inherits his deceased partner’s K-9, Viggy, who has also been extremely depressed since his death. The two of them are a sad pair but when Viggy meets Jules’s brothers and sisters he starts acting like a normal dog and Theo is drawn even more into Jules’ orbit.

For a girl who had the balls to steal her siblings away from a bad situation I was a little disappointed that Jules was so timid. It was a little annoying, but the fact that she liked Theo despite those fears, and didn’t try too hard to avoid him helped me get over that annoyance pretty quickly. Her brothers and sister were charming and their interaction with Viggy was so sweet it helped balance Theo’s rather anti social personality. When Jules’ life is in danger, we see both Theo and Viggy in a heroic light, overcoming their fears.

This novel was a little different than her previous books, but I still enjoyed the connection these characters made with each other. If I was disappointed at all it was because it took me a little longer to identify with these characters. However, the book was still filled with action and suspense and made for an enjoyable weekend read. I look forward to her next novel which will continue with Jules’ runaway family storyline as a subplot to our next romantic duo.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received an ARC of this book for my honest review, and I was honest.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

3.25 Hearts Ok so I had a bit of a hard time with this story. First, Theo is a bit hard and stays that way for more than half of the book. While I can see that he has potential I have no idea why Jules becomes interested in him. Jules is on the run with her siblings and is on edge every moment of her life now. Even Viggy, the dog, is going through a hard time. Everyone is just so low.

The story is interesting and keeps the reader’s interest to see what is going on. I do have to say I figured out the “who-dun-it” shortly before it was revealed but that was fine. It is not like I had it from page 5 or something.

There is a lot of repetitive internal dialogue. I got to the point where I skipped over a number of paragraphs about how Jules knew it was the right thing to take her siblings and shouldn’t be involved with a cop but the story is still good. I also got aggravated at the end of the book. There was no definite ending. We never find out EXACTLY why Jules took her siblings, yes we get a general idea, but it doesn’t finish up. It gives us a setup for the next book though.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. It is a start of a new series by Ms. Ruggle that is set in the same world as her Search and Rescue series. It definitely is written a bit differently that her previous books. Subplots are not tied up in pretty little bows. Now, this does not bother me, it tells me there are more books to follow, and that the world building is not complete yet. The main story line of Jules and Theo is resolved, very nicely.

Theo and Jules are damaged people who gravitate to each other. I really liked how gruff Theo was portrayed, yet you know by his friends that he is an awesome guy. There was development and growth for both characters and a very nicely resolved HEA. I am looking forward to spending more time with the secondary characters in this book in the forthcoming books in this series.

Really enjoyed it!

Received this Arc from Netgalley for an honest review.

I liked Ruggle's Search and Rescue series so it made sense to try out her new series. I was certainly rewarded for my curiosity. Jules and Theo are a sweet combination laced with pain and fear and a whole lot of family drama.

It's no spoiler to say that Jules kidnaps her siblings and runs away to protect them from abuse. How she is able to do this is interesting and puts her on a short list of "good" people who do "bad" things to protect others, especially in Romancelandia. I really liked her backbone and her ingenuity, even as I hated who she got help from. I liked that she stood up for what was right even as she understood she was going to get nowhere through the legal system. So to find herself falling for a local cop in their new home was quite the unwelcome jolt.

Theo is a raging mass of pain and anger and his volatility is duly noted by the rest of the K9 group and others on the police force. They treat him with the kind of careful words and actions that often drive grieving people round the bend. He has lost his K9 partner and his human partner and his guilt and pain are a rather toxic mix. It is exacerbated by the the fact that his Lieutenant wants him to bond with Viggy, his former partner's dog. Viggy is a Malinois (and serious kudos to Ruggle for that choice!) and is as confused and hurt as Theo.

Theo isn't the only one who is curious about newcomer Jules and someone dangerous seems to have taken an interest in her as well. There's always one! And here in this quite backwater, it's the local gun and explosives nut who is attracting the eyes of the law. But he is also attracting others, like Jules' creepy guy. Jules and Theo are on a collision course and when shots are fired at them, that collision becomes imminent. Viggy, for his part is enamored of Jules' family and is happiest when playing with the kids. It's a healing bond for both.

The suspense ratchets up, friendships are firmed up, a devastated Malinois begins to heal, Theo hides his head in the sand, and someone wants someone else to suffer. The final cataclysm is surprising and horribly sad.

I really liked the characterization in Run to Ground. It was often my biggest complaint in Ruggle's previous series so seeing it here and now shows me that she is honing her craft. Theo and Jules are excellently drawn characters. But on top of that, secondary characters are well done too. I also like that she continues to develop her antagonists.

As an aside, I got a kick out of seeing Steve (single father, firefighter from Simpson) show up here. I'm hoping that means the widower and father of two might be getting a story out of it. I'd love to see him find love again.

I really liked Run to Ground and am eager to try out the next in the series.

Run to Ground is book 1 of a new series by a favorite author of mine, Katie Ruggle. I LOVED her Colorado search and rescue series. This new series is about K9 cops! Katie Ruggle AND dogs? Heck ya!

Jules is on the run. She worked as an accountant for a criminal, then kidnapped her siblings to get them away from her step-monster. Theo is a cop whose partner passed away a few months prior. He is trying to not only deal with his own pain, but help retrain his partner's K9, who is not handling his owner's death well. When he meets Jules, who is waitressing at a local diner, he knows she isn't who she says she is. Jules is constantly terrified that she will be caught and Theo's attention makes her super nervous.

The story time hops a great deal. You get flashbacks of Jules just before, and during her flight from her previous life. Then, the story will snap to present day and give you a peek at Theo and Viggy, his K9 partner, and their struggles to move on after the death. Reading the behavior of Viggy literally made my heart hurt. This dog is so miserable! It was difficult for me to read because the dog was so sad. (I can't watch shows or movies where animals are hurt or killed. Killing people? Not a problem for me to watch. Killing animals? Nope, can't do it. I never got past that first scene in House of Cards...).

I struggled to get hooked into this book right away. Partly because of the sad dog that just made my heart hurt too much, and partly because I didn't really connect with either character. However, once Jules' siblings begin to bring Viggy out of his depression, things got better. Jules' siblings are often funny and brought a bit of levity that was much needed. But, then people started shooting at them, and it gets suspenseful! So, the first 1/2 of the book was really difficult for me because it was sad! Jules and her siblings lives are sad, Viggy is sad, Theo is sad. It was just sad! Once the action started, it helped the story move quicker and I wasn't as focused on the sheer sadness of everyone.

Run to Ground is the emotional story of an officer and his dog trying to recover from a loss, and a young woman on the run in order to save her siblings. Finding love wasn't in either of their plans, but you can't put a schedule on love!

Three and a half
Having thoroughly enjoyed this authors Search and Rescue series I really looked forward to getting my hands on this book. Still set in beautiful Colorado but this time it's the K-9 unit that the author tries to capture.
The story really begins with Jules a young woman who is desperate to get her younger siblings away from her stepmothers abusuve control. When I say desperate I don't use the word needlessly because Jules has been working for very shady characters indeed , the sort that get your pulse racing , your palms turning clammy and make you start to think about concrete boots! Yes she's at her wits end but help comes from the most unlikely source and it means Jules breaks the law and 'kidnaps' her brothers and sister!
Theo is in a bad place mentally . He's not quite got over the death of his canine partner but even more draining is the fact that his best friend took his own life. Theo exists in a hardened fog, just going through the motions really and the last thing he needs is the knowledge that he's letting down Viggy his new K-9 partner. So what will he do when a new waitress shows up who is obviously on the run and hiding something ? Has she been hurt, is she still in danger? Theo might not realise it but the hot , secretive waitress is about to wake up his emotions but it turns out that Jules really is in danger!
Theres quite a few flashbacks initially as this story begins which slightly irritated me as I wanted the plot to move along. That being said the characters here are very easy to like and there's a huge appeal to be had from Jules and her charming family. As if that wasn't enough of a cute factor the author also throws in fellow police officers who feel like Theo's family as they tease and generally wind him up. Then of course there's Viggy with his fears and sadness and he was just such a lovely touch.
This is fiction so most things are allowed but the big reveal at the end just didn't quite convince me. Plus I know Theo is a hero but what he does here didn't feel realistic. Oh and there's the little matter of just who helped Jules initially and how that arc will play out in future books. I really liked seeing this couple get their happy ending but unfortunately it's not my favourite book from this author . However as I've enjoyed her other books I will continue to read her stories but hope I don't have to suspend belief quite so much next time

4.5 stars - Katie Ruggle has done it again. I loved the characters, story-line, humor and suspense. Can't wait to read more in this series.

Jules is scarifying everything to save her brothers and sisters. Possibly even her freedom. Theo feels like he’s lost everything already. His K-9 partner died of cancer. Then his mentor and friend commits suicide leaving him with his mentors K-9 partner, Viggy, who’s just as broken as Theo. But when Jules rides into town both Theo and Viggy are both slowly brought back to life by Jules and her siblings.

Now I am a huge fan of Katie’s work and this story started out amazing for me. I was instantly drawn in by Jules and her situation. I couldn’t wait to turn another page so I could get more information. Theo, oh Theo, that man made me just wanna snuggle his grumpy butt till he felt better. Jules siblings were sweet and adorable and I would love for the series to continue onto where someday we get their stories. But I have to admit but the end I was a bit disappointed. I felt like it all wrapped up way to quick without enough explanation. We as readers never really fully got all the details of Jules situation as I would have liked and I do find it hard to believe that Theo would so easily accept Jules’ refusal to tell him more. I mean come on girlie the cop loves you, wouldn’t he be the perfect person to tell all your secrets to so that he can protect you even more?!?!?
I have hope though with those last few sentences of the book that we will be continue Jules story in the next book as well even if it is with a new H&H because really as always with Katie the book was amazing I just hope we get some more information and closure at some point.

This is one of those books that started out a little rough for me but the more I read, the more I got invested in the characters and their plight. By the end, I was hooked. It helps that there are 4 adorable children that you can't help but fall for and one K9 dog who needed a bit of healing.

Jules is risking everything for her 4 siblings and all she needs to do is keep a low profile. It's kind of laughable how she catches the attention of a cop her first day at work. Theo is immediately suspicious of Jules and knows she's hiding something. His instincts tells him that she is on the run but the more he's around her and her siblings, the less he cares.

You do have to suspend belief in a few places, but I liked these characters enough that I didn't really care that it wasn't realistic for Theo to ignore his cop instincts with Jules. It was heartwarming what Jules was doing for her brothers and sisters and I melted every time Theo interacted with these kids. The fact that he was grumpy and very standoffish made his tender care more sigh worthy.

This is a slow burn romance with a suspenseful plot. Some violence but not graphic. The kids suffered abuse and you learn enough to know why Jules steps up to help them. ARC provided by NetGalley.

Julie is on the run after kidnapping her three younger brothers and her younger sister from her abusive stepmother. They find themselves with new names and identity papers in Monroe, Colorado. Jules gets a job as a waitress in the local cafe. One of her first customers is K9 cop Theo Bosco who is dealing with the guilt he feels at the death of his partner and also dealing with his partner's dog Viggy who is going through a depression of his own.

They are immediately attracted to each other but it isn't really the right time for either of them. The last thing Jules needs is a cop looking into her business. And Theo is in a state of numbness that makes it hard for him to function let alone begin a relationship. But Viggy loves Jules' brothers and sisters and is a different dog around them. Theo also finds himself feeling again when he is around Jules and the kids.

But Monroe is not the quiet town Jules was hoping for. The first day she registers the kids for school there is a bomb threat and lockdown. When the lockdown is lifted, a shooter starts firing shots as Jules, Theo and fellow officer Hugh when they leave the building. Hugh is hit and so is Theo though his vest protected him. There is an investigation but no shooter if found. Meanwhile, Jules is dealing with a really creepy customer who has decided to come to the diner and sit in her section every day. She fears that he is a detective sent by her stepmother.

The action heats up and so does the relationship between Jules and Theo. This was an entertaining story. I liked Jules and her protectiveness in regard to her brothers and sister. I liked the kids who all had distinct personalities.

This book begins a series and I'm eager to see what happens next.

What the ever loving .....? This book left me guessing the whole time. I am left with more questions than answers. Now I have to read the next book to see what happens next. Ugh, please hurry.

Action-packed adorableness.

Seriously, the story moved so fast and was so packed with suspense and action that I barely realized I had read over half the book with Jules and Theo yet to even kiss. So much going on: mob boss, evil stepmother, rescued siblings, fake identities, run down house, gun-toting militia, suicide, stalker, school shooting, and the sweetest emo K-9 dog ever. I will admit that I didn't even need all that high octane drama; Katie Ruggle had me at hello with the hot, cranky cop. Theo gave good grump.

Jules and Theo silently crushing on each other was so sweet. My biggest complaint was the short shrift the author gave to their romance in favor of the action elements. I wanted to know more about why the kids had to flee Courtney, Don's death, Jules' involvement with the Espinas; not to mention the many unresolved plotlines. What will happen when Theo figures out Jules' secret? What will happen to the kids? What will happen to Viggy???!

Jules has kidnapped her brother and sisters, they were in an abusive situation and she had no choice. Now they have new names and are settling into a new home in Colorado, but still looking over their shoulders. Local cop Theodore "Theo" Bosco develops an interest in Jules. He knows something is going on with her tho, she is hiding something.

This is the first in a new series for this author. The book had both suspense and romance. Theo was a bit too dark and moody for me, although he did have his reasons. I just wish he had lightened up a bit. Also I had trouble with a police officer getting involved with someone he knows is hiding something and blindly accepting the fact she won't tell him what she is hiding. I would give this book 3 1/2 stars and I will read more books in the series. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Depression is difficult to tally, but depression takes the measurable form of one contemplating or commenting suicide. “Although suicide can’t be predicted or prevented knowing the warning signs can help you recognize when you or a loved one may be at risk” Depression and Suicide: Recognizing the Signs. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/depression/depre...

In Run To Ground, the 1st title in Katie Ruggle new series “Rocky Mountain K9 Unit” We see the after effects of depression/suicide.

Theodore lost his best friend, and partner. He too almost lost his will to live. Until the force assigned him a new partner. And when Jules life is jeopardy from a unknown person out to kill her, it would be up to Theo and Viggy to uncover the plot.

Run To Ground may carry a heavy message, but it was fairly light-hearted in the telling. The character grew on me after the first Chapter. I couldn’t turn the page fast enough to find out who the unknown person was and the reason for going after Jules.
Run To Ground may carry a heavy message, but it was fairly light-hearted in the telling. It was a compelling story that will have you anxiously waiting for the next installment. Especially with the huge cliffhanger at the end.

I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next book in the series. This is the first in the series and I loved the dogs in the books

Jumpy waitress Juliet Young first meets K9 Unit’s Theo Bosco at the breakfast bar, carrying the weight of her legal troubles on her shoulders as she sort of tries to make a new life for herself in Colorado. But clearly she is hiding something (and this falls on the wrong side of law enforcement), raising Theo's internal alarm and setting them on a course where they’re on opposing sides. Meanwhile, Theo is dealing with his own grief about his partner and dog, while having a hard time bonding with Viggy the Malinois, so we do witness his frustrations alongside Jules’s own problems.

Having enjoyed Katie Ruggle’s Search and Rescue series, this new K9 one looked as though it would be just as promising. But I couldn’t quite get engaged in ‘Run to Ground’ unfortunately; neither the characters nor the plot captured me from the very beginning. The constant flashbacks broke the narrative and the developing story somewhat, so I found myself disoriented from time to time this happened. In fact, I found myself more invested in Theo’s story than Jules’s however, wanting to know how his newfound partnership with Viggy was going to go but wasn’t too thrilled when there were still some secrets between Jules and Theo by the time the book ended. Still, I liked how Ruggle wrote about the struggles that law enforcement officers faced with their own K9 team and their partners, which made me still look forward to what would happen in later books.