This latest (last?) title in the Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series is weak. While the basic concept (new girl police officer meets handsone, nerdy, socially awkward mountain man) works, the execution does not. The character and relationship development felt Dick and Jane-ish and the plot handling was ham-handed. It relied too heavily on earlier titles in the series without explaining the back story at all. If this were my first Katie Ruggle book, it would have been my last. Her Mountain Rescue series totally sucked me in. Unfortunately, this series’ writing deteriorated in quality with each book. I look forward to her next series and hope it’s as good as her first.

Through the Fire is book four in Katie Ruggle’s Rocky Mountain K9 Unit Series. This is an amazing action packed series, with great characters, excellent chemistry and interesting storylines. I especially love how all the stories are linked and each new book in the series makes references to previous characters and plots.

Kit Jernigan, the newest member and only female to join the Rocky Mountain K9 Unit, is the heroine in the story. She has a strong take charge personality and prides herself on honesty and loyalty. From the start she has a hard time fitting in, especially with all the secrets floating around Monroe.

Wesley March, the rugged mountain man of a hero, lives deep in the forest and works as a local fire spotter. He is creative and inventive but has a shy and quirky personality that keeps him separate from others.

The connection between Wes and Kit when they met was instant and intense. Throughout the story they work to support each other and solve the mysterious fires happening in Monroe. But will they find the culprit before danger strikes at the very center of the K9 Unit? Read it to find out!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I wasn't aware it was part of a series before reading it, but I think it does well as a standalone. I really enjoyed Kit and Wes's characters, I loved their interactions and their attraction to each other. Wes was so sweet and dorky, I'd like one of him myself. It's a shame the cover doesn't match the description of Wes one iota, nor does it give a good depiction of the story.
The three other cops in the book behaved in a way I couldn't really fathom when it came to their lack of investigation into leads that Kit brought to them, but I still managed to enjoy the story regardless. There was one part that really bugged me, where some evidence that Wes had overheard and brought to Kit's attention was completely forgotten about when an event happened that should have made it all come together.
That being said, I still loved the book, especially Kit and Wes and Kit and Sam and of course Justice, the loveable bloodhound.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for a copy in return for an honest review.

So this was my first ever Katie Ruggle book, and boy was I excited. I had read so many great reviews of her books I couldn't wait to get reading. Those great reviews were on the first three books I think, not this one. Maybe it's because I didn't read the first three books that I didn't feel a kinship to all the characters but here are my impressions reading as a standalone.

Hugh, Otto, and Theo (the 3 Stooges) are the worst Police Officers ever. I don't know what happened in the first 3 books, but to just not investigate a potential suspect because "they know how it goes" and "they have been through it before" is just plain nuts. I seriously wanted to hurl, I mean hurl my kindle several times. I was so annoyed with the three of them.

The town on Monroe, again, haven't read the first 3 books. However, if my small town was blowing up, helicopters crashing, houses catching on fire, people dying, and I am having to eat out of a VFW, I am thinking it's time to go. Where do people work? How do they buy groceries? How does this town afford 5 police officers? It doesn't have anything left if it is a post apocalyptic wasteland. I just couldn't understand the city of Monroe at all. I would have pulled up chalks and bounced.

Now onto our H/h. Okay, Kit was pretty good. She tried to get Mo, Larry and Curly to listen to her...multiple times. Could have save a lot grief but NOPE, the 3 stooges new what was best. As for Wes....(sigh) I want my mountain man, to be a MOUNTAIN MAN.... not an insecure introverted nerd with a beard. Not my kind of mountain man. Just wasn't feeling it. I didn't feel the chemistry, I just didn't feel it.

Our villain, Alex/Elena was sooooo annoying too. Oh my goodness... I wanted to shoot her. Not because she was evil, but because she was just annoying. I just didn't feel this book at all. I was so disappointed because I had looked forward to my first Katie Ruggle book, and I was let down in the worst way. Again, maybe I needed the other books to put this in context, but with the 3 stooges, an insecure mountain man, the most annoying villain ever, a semi-good heroine, the only thing this book really had going for it was Justice, the dog. Take my review and make your determination whether to read or not, it's just my opinion...

Fantastic fast paced, action packed story that wraps up the Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit series nicely. After all the little town of Monroe has been through it's not easy for newcomer Kit Jernigan to connect with her new K-9 Unit co-workers or the people of the town itself. Trusting outsiders doesn't come easy anymore. When Kit and fire spotter Wesley March join forces to prove who's behind all the recent fires no one wants to listen to them but when Kit's life is threatened things get real - fast!

Fantastic writing and great characters make this an enjoyable read and one I definitely recommend.

I received a free advanced copy of this book from Netgalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

I did not read the previous 3 books, so like the main character, Kit Jernigan, I was clueless as to the apocalyptic events which had happened previously in the small town of Monroe, Montana. After 8 years of working in the Gold Mill, Wisconsin PD and K9 unit, she discovered that not only was her partner corrupt, but when she blew the whistle on him, she was the one that was ostracized. So, she was moving to little Monroe with her K9 partner, Justice, but instead of a peaceful little town, she finds a burnt out town and on her first day, a murder covered up by arson. Her fellow policemen are not only wary of her, but are hiding something. However on her first day she also meets shy, hunky, genius, idiosyncratic fire spotter, Wesley March. Using the skills she has honed as a policewoman, Kit has a suspect, but can she convince her fellow officers, before the murderer strikes again?

From the very first page, with a murder and stolen identity, this fast past book keeps the reader engaged. I had a hard time putting it down. The skillfully developed characters are riveting and the magnetism between Kit and Wes endearing. And there are dogs. The only cons are two inconsistencies: why would Wes who is a loner and socially inept, have condoms in the fire tower and why would a 8 year veteran police officer ever go anywhere without her service weapon? The story wouldn't work otherwise, but still doesn't make sense to me. Despite that, I highly recommend this very exciting suspenseful romance.

This is the first book I have read by Katie Ruggle, but it will not be the last. Thanks go to the publisher, via Net-Galley, for inviting me to read and review in advance of publication. My opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.

Through the Fire is an exciting romantic suspense with plenty of nail-biting suspenseful scenes. The pacing is good, and the romance is fulfilling. Ms. Ruggle’s writing flows smoothly, giving the reader enough description to still use their own imagination.

Kit’s character resonated with me because I too have experienced not fitting in, so I really identified with her. Her determination to prove herself impressed me. Her tenderness with the children and her faithful bloodhound in this tale touched me.

Wes is the silent, brooding hero with lots of depth. His willingness to step out of his comfort zone stole my heart. He is reserved and shy and his social interactions are awkward except with Kit, making him a character that is easy to fall in love with.

Let’s talk about romance. This couple is perfect for each other and adds greatly to the story. While their chemistry doesn’t burn up the pages, their meeting of minds is very appealing. I was glad they found their happy ending.

The villain in this piece is truly terrifying because her devious mind lends itself to horrific acts. Ms. Ruggle certainly knows how to create highly suspenseful, and at times, graphic scenes, making this novel a thriller.

If you enjoy a book with plenty of action, an interesting array of characters that you’ll want to get to know better, then you will love Through the Fire. I can’t wait to read more by this talented author. Happy reading!

Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit #4, I knew I shouldn't have started this book at night, at bedtime I got a sudden case of "Insomnia" and could not sleep. I even went as far as putting the book down but then the characters started whispering in my head telling me I was missing something so picked up the book and started reading again and around four o'clock in the morning I finished it and was finally able to fall asleep. Funny how that things work, huh? If you have read any of my previous review for this series you know how much I love this series and this author you also know I love the strong silent types and really smart ones too, Wesley March fits that bill to a T.

Kit is the newest member of the Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit and she has her bloodhound. It's her first day on the job and it already is starts off with a bang, or should I say a blazing inferno. Luckily the newest K-9 is trained in tracking people and Justice, Kit's bloodhound, is up to the task unfortunately Justice leads them straight to Jules' house. Jules has a new "Old Friend" visiting and everyone but Jules takes her at face value. Jules knows Justice wasn't wrong tracking the scent to that house, and later after another incident the same thing the bloodhound leads them straight to Jules house. It's bad enough that Kit doesn't feel like she fits in but she knows her co-workers aren't telling her everything and they don't trust her yet. So far the only one who really believes her is Wesley March. Wes is the Fire Watcher set just outside the city limits upon meeting Kit he feels a connection to her, and Wes is a loner he lives at the watchtower all year round, rarely makes it into town for supplies but after meeting Kit he finds any excuse to see her. Kit is quite taken with Wes as well.

The Peace never lasts for long in Monroe and soon the life Jules and the kids have built here starts to fall apart with the appearance of yet another stranger. Overall, this was a great conclusion to the series. Wes is so freakin' adorable I want one of my own. Justice and the other dogs make the book along with the kids. Katie Ruggle never ceases to amaze me with the crap she puts her characters through. The series is really one that should be read in order because it all ties in together but it's a great series.

Though the Fire, is Book 4 in the Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit Series, a HEA standalone action romance.
This is a well written action-packed love story. Kit, a K-9 Unit officer, and Wes, a hot, nerdy fire spotter find each other amidst fire, gun shots and a snow storm. I enjoyed the slow build of the romance between Kit and Wes along with action and intrigue of the crime they had to solve. The interesting supporting cast of characters were from the first 3 books of the series, I will have to read them.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Kit has just been transferred to a K9 unit in a small, remote mountain town. She knows that given everything this small town has been through in the last few months that it will probably take a bit to gain the trust of her partners and residents of Monroe. However, with a killer on the loose and no one listening to Kit’s instincts, she finds herself in a peculiar situation. Unable to get any of her fellow officers to take her seriously, she decides to do some digging of her own.

Even though this is the fourth book in the series, all the previous characters play a rather large role in this book. I loved getting to see the kids from the first book and the fact that they play a pretty big part in the story. Not to mention some demons from Jules’ past (first book) make an appearance as well as a common factor for all the books in the series. So, you really need to read these books in order otherwise you will more than likely feel left out.

I will admit that when I read the synopsis for this story, I interpreted it wrong. I thought this was going to be a romance between a female cop and a fire fighter. I was honestly a little disappointed at the prospect for some reason. Maybe because the common theme was that one of the characters was on the run from something and neither of these characters were. However, that was until I met Wes. Wes is this recluse mountain man who spends his days up in a tower looking for fires. He’s not a firefighter, but instead a forest service fire lookout. The town people kind of treat him like Sasquatch since he rarely comes into town and when he does, it’s so early in the morning that hardly anyone is awake. So, when he starts popping up in town to hang out with Kit, the townsfolk take notice and it becomes a big deal. Wes was so unlike anything I’d ever imagined. He’s not this cocky alpha. He’s this awkward, quiet, shy, genius who builds robots for fun and likes the solitude of his tower up in the mountains. Watching his interactions with Kit and then the rest of the gang by association was extremely adorable.

With that being said, the cover is a massive let down. I was already miffed when the cover showed a male and not a female. I get that there’s a part in the book when Wes and Justice go tracking together without Kit, however, Justice is Kit’s K9. Not to mention that Wes is supposed to be this huge, hairy, mountain man. Not only does the cover not have the correct character, but the description doesn’t even come close to fitting Wes. I just feel like this would have been the perfect opportunity to have a kick-ass female on the cover. It’s not too often that you read a story with a female as the police officer/fire fighter/military member, so it would have been really nice if the cover reflected that this story is actually Kit’s.

With my cover issues aside, I thought this was a great story. We know who the killer is right from the start since we get chapters in their POV. So, it was no surprise to the readers as to what’s going on and it makes it all the more nerve-wracking when you are a bystander to it all and can’t do anything, kinda like Kit was. No matter how many times she tried to talk to her partners and those around her about her suspicions, no one listened to her. Between the suspense, action, romance, and just getting to hang out with all the previous characters again, I really enjoyed my time reading this story.

Having read On The Chase, I was already familiar with the small country of Monroe and a part of all the bombings and explosions that had taken place there. Still, a bit over the top, but the habitants kind of grow on you.
This time we meet Kit Jerrigan, who is transferred from another part of the country to the 'sleepy' Monroe. Well, it is not so sleepy any more. But as an outsider, Kit is met with reluctance and distrust. Together with her K9 dog Justice, she tries to fit in, but the locals are making it very hard for her. Especially when fires are starting and Kit is suspecting Elena has something to do with this. As a tight knit community, they will not believe it will be someone from their county. The only ones who believe Kit has a point are the local firewatch Wes and Sam, the little brother of Jules.
Trying to find the culprit, Wes and Kit are met with strange accidents and flying bullets... Another explosive story from Katie Ruggle. Thanks for the ride! Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

I absolutely adored both Kit and Wes. They are so fun together in all of their awkward cuteness and even though things happen pretty quickly you can feel the connection between the two of them. Like all of the other couples in the series, they are a good match and have you rooting for them from the start.

Unfortunately there was a point just before the big climax where Ruggle lost me just a little. Kit had all of the information she needed to make a few connections about what was going on and none of it was ever mentioned, by her or by Ruggle. It was obvious but when it mattered Kit never even acknowledged the information. Which was extra disappointing because she’d been so on top of things up to that point.

It’s a minor complaint, though, in an otherwise fun and exciting story. There’s the danger and suspense that we’ve come to expect from this series, along with the right amount of camaraderie and romance to give you the feels to go with the thrills. And while we may know who the bad guy is from the first but I will admit that the why totally surprised me. (I was enjoying Wes & Kit too much to even want to guess :) )

Great book, suspenseful, mystery, thriller great cast of characters we revisit from previous books. Strong female lead. Great series

4 1/2 STARS!

An explosive ending! With a return to Monroe, Colorado, Katie Ruggle brings us another story in her Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series. If you've been reading this series, you will recognize most of the supporting cast from previous books. We see Otto, Hugh, Theo and all of their significant others join forces to protect the next secretive addition to Jules' house, but the new law in town is suspicious from the start. Will Kit be able to fit in with this existing team, or will her doubting nature make them hesitant to bring her into the fold? This storyline was exciting with danger flaring often. The ending was quite explosive and left us with a satisfying resolution. Really enjoyed it!

Kit Jernigan and her K9 partner Justice are new in town and not sure what to make of the ravaged town they drive into. It seems the town folk have had some issues of late, and she's not sure what exactly it is she's walking into. Her team seems to have a lot of secrets and don't seem willing to trust her with much. Will she be able to prove her worth before danger strikes?

Wesley March is a brilliant loner who keeps to himself with his inventions in the forest service fire observation tower he works in. He doesn't receive many guests and doesn't venture off of his mountain very often, but the one time he does, he runs across Kit arriving in town. He's intrigued by her, and that doesn't happen very often. He's socially awkward, but he knows there's something about her that is drawing him like a moth to a flame.

Have thoroughly enjoyed this series with its heroines and heroes each with their own struggles. Great characters,no two the same and the children are brilliant.

**3.5 Stars**

Caution: Do not start this book right before bed or you won't get enough sleep because you have to read it cover to cover. Speaking from personal experience.

As a long time Katie Ruggle fan, I was highly anticipating Through the Fire. For the most part, Ms. Ruggle delivered. Kit, a petite, half Korean police officer placed in a fish out of water situation is everything I needed in a heroine right now. Her fire (see what I did there?) and ability to trust her own instincts in the face of doubters and danger was inspiring. 

Are you ready to hear about Wes?? Let me just say: NERDY, RECLUSIVE, MOUNTAIN MAN HERO. Do you need to know anything else? Maybe that he's described (hilariously) as a hairy Rapunzel because he lives in a fire watch tower? Wes is adorable. His instant fascination and respect for Kit as both a woman and a police officer is a thing of beauty to read. Ms. Ruggle knows how to write a good beta hero.

The plot revolved around Kit moving into town and trying to find a murderer/arsonist with her adorable bloodhound Justice. The suspense plot was fast paced and satisfying with plenty of heartwarming moments to balance out the thrills.

I had trouble with the lack of romance in the book. I loved Kit so I didn't mind following her interactions with her fellow police officers and the crazy townspeople, but I enjoyed her sweet encounters with Wes much more and felt a little dissatisfied about the quantity of them. Wes was much more of a periphery character than a main one.

Through the Fire is the fourth book in Ms. Ruggle's Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series. I have read all of the previous books which is why I was shocked and kind of horrified with how the other members of the K9 unit (the previous books' heroes) were portrayed in this novel. They came across as bumbling, incompetent jerk faces in this novel. I understand Kit was new to their team, but constantly treating her as an adversary and preventing her from doing her job correctly for their own personal reasons was pushing my buttons in all the wrong ways. I'm glad I read Theo, Hugh, and Otto's books previously because after their characterization in this book, I don't think I would have gone back for their stories.

Overall, I really enjoyed this romantic thriller. It's a quick and satisfying read with enough twists to keep you on the edge of your seat. Kit is easy and fun to root for and Wes is my new book boyfriend crush. 

One last note: the cover of this book bugs me. All of the other books have the men of the K9 unit on the cover, Justice is Kit's dog, not Wes' and she's the member of the K9 unit. I would have loved to see her represented on the cover. I think it would have made much more sense for the story.

**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**

Book Info
Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages
Expected publication: August 28th 2018 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN 1492664588 (ISBN13: 9781492664581)
Edition Language English
Series Rocky Mountain K9 Unit #4
Other Editions (1)
Source:Netgalley EARC

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BOOK BLURB


Kit Jernigan despairs of ever fitting in with her new tight-knit K9 unit. They've been through too much to open their arms to a stranger―and as mysterious fires begin raging across Monroe, she can't convince them to trust her long enough to catch the woman she knows is responsible.
Wesley March, local fire spotter, knows Kit is right, and he's willing to help her prove it. But the more time they spend together, the closer they get...and the more danger they're in. A member of the K9 unit's inner circle is determined to get revenge―no matter who gets burned in the process.
This time, it's personal.

Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit Series:
Run to Ground (Book 1)
On the Chase (Book 2)
Survive the Night (Book 3)
Through the Fire (Book 4)

My Thoughts


What a way to start your new job with the first day almost totally miserable for Kit as her new team not only are wary of her but seem ready to shut her out pretty much from the get-go.

Starting over is never easy but when you have almost insurmountable roadblocks from the very people you are expected to trust with your life, as they should trust you with theirs, makes it even tougher.

Especially when outsider Kit clues in immediately on the only possible culprit committing the latest rash of crimes in Monroe.

As the story takes it's inevitable course Kit and her loyal tracking hound Justice soldier on, doing their jobs despite the continuing suspicion they are both faced with. In the end all the other law enforcement officers, it's newest criminal and the rest of the town finds that this young woman is not only good at what she does but is proven right when the last chips fall into place.

Like everyone else the romance between Kit and Wes was too overshadowed by the main storyline but what there was of it was very sweet and also very steaming hot when the pair finally had their moment.

This book is the culmination of another great Rocky Mountain series by an author whose imagination takes readers through many emotions and ever more tangled twists when she pens her romantic suspense.

For me it was an ending that held it's own in the stories but also quite nicely summed up the last storyline as well in a manner that was both satisfactory and yet left one still wanting more with the K9 unit characters and their significant others.

Soon to read the newest book, also a review copy, by author Katie Ruggle and looking forward to it immensely while still catching my breath after this one.

[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.

I didn't know this was part of a series when I first started reading it. The main female character and I were both completely in the dark as to why half of the town was destroyed. It was a fun fast read with a good mystery. However the supporting cast was very annoying with their secrets and suspicious looks towards the main female character. I might go back and read the first three books in which the supporting cast each had starring roles.

As much as I love strong alpha characters, there’s something so compelling about a vulnerable one. Katie Ruggle is no stranger to vulnerable men, with one of my favorite books of hers being Gone Too Deep (part of the Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue series). But whereas the hero in Gone was liberally dosed with a sweet naivete, there’s nothing naïve about the hero in her upcoming book, THROUGH THE FIRE, fourth in the Rocky Mountain K9 unit series.

Wesley March is a local fire spotter in Monroe, Colorado, where K9 police officer Kit Jernigan and her bloodhound, Justice, have just relocated after a situation in her last department that resulted in her blowing the whistle on her corrupt partner. And although she loves Justice, and he’s as loyal as a canine companion can be, Kit misses the camaraderie of a close-knit team. She has high hopes for Monroe.

Kit meets Wes the morning she’s hustling to offload her moving trailer, on the cusp of being late to work, when her truck gets stuck in the snowdrift flanking the driveway. Of course, his truck pulls up and stops behind her, waiting patiently to pass … and of course “he was the most beautiful person she’d ever seen.” That witch karma is always like that, huh?

But for all his beauty and brawn, Wes is sweet and shy, and kind of dorky. For the last seven years, he’s lived in the mountains, deep off the beaten path, in a small cabin with a tall fire watch tower. Separating himself from the rest of the community, he rarely treks into town to get gas and supplies. But in his little corner of the world, he’s a brilliant tinkerer and tech guru. He builds robots and automates simple tasks in the tower and cabin, like voice commands for opening and closing windows and starting the fireplace. He’s even got a robot cat with a camera eye that identifies visitors and fetches gaming controllers. And for all the things Wes excels at, Kit regards them in awe … because they’re the very things at which she bumbles.

One of the reasons Kit and Justice were able to transfer into Monroe is because “her new town was a devastated wreck.” Over the course of the first three K9 Unit books, murderers, bombers, fleeing women, and a dirty commanding officer did their best to do in the town. It’s no wonder her new colleagues Theo (from book #1, Run to Ground), Hugh (from #2, On the Chase) and Otto (from #3, Survive the Night) hold their cards close to their chests and treat her like an outsider. But it’s also no wonder when none of them bats an eyelash when she’s faced with an arson and possible murder on her first day. Sometimes, peace and tranquility’ll kill you.

Underneath Kit’s new search for an arsonist/murderer is the continued threat to Jules Jackson (from Run to Ground) and her siblings. The Jackson clan was placed at a safe house in Monroe by a PI named Mateo Espina, who also brought in Grace (On the Chase) and Sarah (Survive the Night). All of those characters, and the officers who love them, are at play in this busy story. I guess that’s the trade-off for life in a small mountain town: fewer people, beautiful vistas, zero privacy.

But back to Kit and Wes, and the sweet development of their relationship. Wes’ quiet nature makes him supremely puzzling to the community. Although he keeps to himself, it doesn’t stop him from being observant and charming, and intuitive. Being around Kit makes him feel alive, with an urgency to seek her out in town that pushes him to venture away from his comfortable observation tower. Kit’s colleagues jokingly refer to him as Rapunzel, and it bothers her that “everyone in town treated him like he was some wild, dangerous creature.” It’s because they don’t know or understand him. Yes, brilliance sets him aside, but his “dorkiness” and intelligence are what calls to Kit.

Theirs isn’t a combustible fusing of lips and bodies and hearts — rather, it’s a gradual spark with a sweet buildup that’s entirely believable. I love how Ruggle gives the reader glimpses into the psyche of both Kit and Wes, so we know what both are thinking and why. I also love how both the hero and the villain of this story are women. This is the perfect book to read as the summertime winds down, because it’s sweet and happy and positive, and simply makes you just feel good.

*Originally published with USA Today's Happy Ever After: https://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/2018/08/16/dolly-r-sickles-romantic-suspense-rec-through-the-fire-katie-ruggle/

This is the second time in recent memory I have the unpleasant duty to write a negative review of a book by an author who has consistently been awesome. I have been reading Katie Ruggle books since On His Watch which got me into her books. While I've had quibbles before, never have I felt so horrible about a book in all that time, until now.

So let's start with what I liked: Kit, Justice, and Wes. As long as the focus was on Kit and Wes and their relationship, things were better than ok. I loved their geeky brand of relationship building and I especially loved Wes' intelligence and his vulnerability. He was a fascinating character and I wished I got to know him better.

I liked Kit and Kit with Justice. I liked how she saw the world and I liked how she wasn't vanilla. Kit's a strong woman with a strong sense of ethics and I felt for her a great deal. She just made sense in a way that many of the other characters didn't. I wanted to know more about her too!

But then, there was everything else about the story. And I do mean everything else. Let's start with Alex/Elena. That's not a spoiler since the book opens with it. Alex is a horrible villain. You'll say: "But a villain is supposed to be horrible!" and I'll say: "There's horrible and then there is the caricature of villainy a la twisting that mustache and Alex is twisting the mustache." By the time we get to Alex's motivations, it's not a case of "too little, too late", it's straight up "WTF??!!". Frankly, this book world is far better off without her given what she has actually done and how wrong her brain actually is. I love well-drawn villains and since we spend so much time in her head, you'd think Alex would be well-drawn. She's not.

Let's move on, shall we? Yes, let's talk about Theo and Hugh and Otto. Because those three need to take their share of the blame for why I didn't like this book. When each of their women came to Monroe they got suspicious. They wanted to look into things. They were not let's leave this alone and they were not let's just treat her like a poor victim. That this time they do it feels more like a force. They can't do it to make the plot work, so they don't. And I get the whole "blow up Monroe and lose the captain because he's a scumbag thing" but I swear these guys stood around with their thumbs up their butts! Seriously! Someone just arrives in town (to my love's house) and there's an arson and a murder, you better believe I am going to look into things. Because, does Theo love Jules or not? After all that, does he not want her safe? And to freaking blame Kit and Justice and call into question their abilities is just garbage. Where are the men from the previous books? Definitely MIA here.

And then there's the plot. OMG! It dragged and it dragged and it dragged some more. Look, I get it. Survive the Night was just over the top insane with what happened in Monroe. You can't top it with Through the Fire. It's not possible. But this book is so far the opposite direction, it'll give you whiplash. This is one time when dramatic irony really did not help the story. By the time Alex makes her move, I was so beyond ready for it to be over. I mean, how willfully blind and clueless does everyone have to be? I needed something, some clue that people actually had brains. Unfortunately, it never came.

And the glossing over stuff! OMG! The glossing over; it burns us; it burns us! From the issues Kit had at her previous job to Courtney and her child abuse to the mess that is still Monroe to the lack of a police department to the absurd unmasking of Alex, everything of importance got glossed over! I mean, the big scene with Courtney was over so fast and with so little anything I wondered if I had read it at all. Talk about anti-climactic! Everything was anti-climactic. Not one important moment got the time and attention it deserved.

As the last book in an otherwise wonderful series, Through the Fire most definitely does not do what it needs to, which is end the series on a good note. Instead, it ends with a whimper at best. Poor decimated Monroe sits forlornly without a diner, without a police headquarters, without half the town, and apparently without any brains.

But, one bad book does not cancel out all the wonderful books I have read by Ruggle. I'm ready to read Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas and have been looking forward to it for some time. I've also branched out into Ruggle's other author persona, Katie Allen.