This is the final book in the Rock Mountain K9 Unit series and it wraps up the series story arc very nicely. It was refreshing to have Kit’s perspective as the only female officer in town. Don’t let that book cover fool you, that should be Kit next to the dog not Wes, since she is the officer in the unit. (The guy on the cover is handsome, but Wes was described as a huge mountain man with a lot of hair and I’m not seeing it at all on that cover!) Kit was smart, and her inner dialog made me like her even more. I also liked how she was attracted to Wes’s personality. It is obvious that he is borderline autistic or at least severely uncomfortable with person to person contact of any sorts. Katie Ruggle wrote his character as if that was totally normal and didn’t explain his peculiarities at all, which was really refreshing in an age where “diverse” characters are celebrated. She didn’t draw attention to it, it was just who he was.

Wes was completely charming! He was a hot mountain man with a brain. He was also willing to face his fears of being around people socially to be a part of Kit’s life. That is romance! My only critique is that she wrote him a little too well? I liked his personality with Kit, but because of his awkwardness the reader may have had to work a little harder to connect with him.

If I had to classify this book’s genre, I would classify it as romantic suspense or an action novel. There was a lot going on and the mystery definitely took center stage. However, I really liked Kit and Wes and was happy with the romance sub plot. This series started off flat but slowly built up steam and I liked Through the Fire the best of the four novels. You definitely must read the other books before reading this one since there is an overlying plot that runs through all four novels, sorry! Reading a Katie Ruggle book isn’t a hardship so even with the slow start I’d recommend reading this series. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest.

This is a great series. I wish it wasn't the last book in the series. This is Wes and Kit's story. They are quirky, loveable characters. You also get to catch up with some characters from the previous books. There is mystery, suspense, danger and a loveable dog named Justice. If you like Romantic Suspense, you will love this book.

Kit Jernigan is the new K9 officer in Monroe with her tracking dog Justice, the bloodhound. They just left their last home when Kit turned in her corrupt partner and things got uncomfortable. Looking for a fresh start, Monroe seemed like a quiet mountain town to settle in for her new job. She learns pretty quickly that Monroe isn't as quiet as she thinks.

Wesley March is the local fire spotter who rarely comes to town. He's a genius with math and electronics but lacks the social skills that make him comfortable around people. He rarely comes to town until he meets Kit, who seems to draw him out of his shell.

I loved Wes and Kit so much. I'm such a fan of quirky characters and I loved how Kit was so charmed by Wes. It breaks my heart a little when Wes struggled with reading her at times but Kit knew exactly how to set him at ease.

On top of such great main characters, I loved seeing all the characters from the previous books. We finally got to see a resolution to the unresolved issue from book one's characters. The only thing I wish was different was the cover of the book. The main character is police woman with a k9 dog so I think the cover should reflect that.

I really enjoyed this series and highly recommend it. It has a little bit of everything from action, suspense, and a bit of romcom. Add in dogs and children and I was just as charmed by these characters.

3.5 stars

I have really enjoyed this series.

And I enjoyed this book.

However, I felt like the suspense part overtook the romance aspect and we never really got to trul know the hero and heroine.

Certain story lines were finished, from previous books, although a touch rushed. And then we had new things introduced and left unanswered.

And I liked both the hero and heroine, but for me at times the hero was a touch too, almost child like. I am not sure if the author was writing him just as a shy recluse, or even some form of Autism/Aspergers crossed with some sort of mad inventor. But at times he was written as quite "young". And given he was a recluse, and written as he was, having to ring his sister to "interpret" if the heroine was giving off signals that she liked him, yet has a box of condoms just lying around the place.

I liked it, it was an easy read, but for me, certain things did not add up and it left me wishing it had just been more.

This is the fourth and last book (so sad !) for Katie Ruggle’s Rocky Mountain K9 unit. And it basically rounds up the overarching plot that started the whole series. But, it also intorduces us to two new charactets, Kit and Wes who are no less as adorable, unique and memorable as the previous books other couples. And of course, since this series is all about the dogs, we are also given Justice! A dorky bloodhound who is now part of the K9 unit as the first tracker. So Through the Fire has lots of actions and a mystery to be solved plus Ms. Ruggle has given a unique perspective for this one. Kit, being the newest member of the team has to adjust to her new squad which is not going to be easy since they seem to hiding something from her. This makes her uneasy since she left her previous post because she was treated as an outsider there. To now have it repeated in Monroe, Colorado doesn’t bode well. But it seems she has an unlikely ally in Wes, the resident fire tower watch who also happens to be the first person she meets. Wes has a sudden urge to keep seeing Kit. Since he’s always preferred his own company this makes him a little bit anxious but so eager to please her. These two make a really adorable couple. They’re both considered outsiders but its them not being completely part of the K9 inner circle that helps solve the crime. Because the overarching plot is resolved in this book, its imperative that the first book be read first, the second and third book can also add to understanding what is really going on. Suffice to say, Through the Fire has action, suspense and a wonderful character in Justice the bloodhound and an adorable romance between Kit and Wes.

A great addition to the series although it was different to the first three books I still wasn't completely satisfied. I loved the Hero but the heroine was annoying.

Loved the hero and heroine in this book. The plot however was all over the place. While I know this will be a popular title for several of my customers, I have trouble recommending it wholeheartedly.

Throug the Fire by Katie Ruggle is a suspenseful Romantic Suspense with twists and turns and a few surprises.  Is was my first time Katie Ruggle, but I hope to read more. I do feel "Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series", Book #4, should be read in order. While  it was not difficult to catch up, I think one book builds on the order.

This is the story of Wesley March, hot, local fire spotter and Kit Jernigan, local K-9 officer. Set in a small mountain town, Monroe. A new twist on an old plot, this time the female is the savior. Steady paced,  with action, Romance,  a murderer,  suspense, passion, a tracker bloodhound, and more. Unpredictable and unique. Although,  I did feel like the ending was missing something,  it was an enjoyable and satisfying read.  #NetGalley, #ThroughtheFire,#RomanticSuspense,#Sourceboobs

"I voluntarily received a complimentary copy, however,  these are my honest opinions. I was in no way required nor compensated to write a review."



Rating: 4

Heat rating: Mild

Reviewer: AprilR

This was my first time reading one of Katie Ruggle’s books and I would like to read more. I thought this book was a good, easy read that held my attention. I found this book easy to get into even though I didn’t read the first 3 books in this series; it was a good stand-alone. I wish Katie had wrote an epilogue so I could see what happens to be Kit and Wes in the future... Maybe the next book in the series will elaborate on these two characters. Overall, this was a great read!!

*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*

"Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review."

Loved this book very much. It had just the right amount of HOT, suspenseful romance and the storyline was great! I highly recommend all of Katie Ruggle's books!

I have read book 1 but not 2 or 3 yet. These are stand alone books so you can read them separately though you do miss a little of the back story by skipping books. There are a few spoilers to previous books but nothing to ruin the previous books. I plan on going back and reading books 2 and 3.
I love that this author writes real, strong women. They aren’t fake or virgins or weak. They have suffered but lived to tell the tale. They are real and could be me. This is an author that I will read all of the books she publishes.
Wes is adorkable, where can I get one? Cute, socially awkward, and sweet.
The world sucks you in and you’re in the little town watching the drama unfold. I love that this series has dog characters. Dogs are awesome. This book has a drooly, goofy bloodhound. My only compliant is that the love scene didn’t have the dog stick its cold, wet nose someplace inappropriate – pet owners know what I’m talking about.
I think there will be a 5th book, maybe not in this town but there’s another character and we need his story.

Kit and her K9 partner Justice are starting a new job in this small town and is looking forward to a new beginning. When she arrives, things are not like there were when she interviewed. Serious things have been happening in town, and she begins to suspect it has something to do with her co-workers significant others. Following a lead, she runs into the fire ranger Wes. He is intriguing to her and seems the most welcoming, especially when her co-workers discourage her from her line of investigation. What is going on in town? Will she be able to stay if her hunch is right about who is at the center of these murders? Plenty of twists and turns that has this author quickly becoming my go to for romantic suspense.

Kit Jernigan has just arrived to begin her new job with the Monroe Police department to find a bombed out town. She and her K9 tacking bloodhound Justice find themselves in the middle of all sorts of secrets and falling for the nerdy Forest Service fire spotter Wes March. Wes isn't very good with people and is barely known to the town but somehow the two of them just click.

I liked the suspense as an assassin has come to town to finally get her revenge. Kit is just about the only one who is suspicious of her since she is very good at playing the shy, victim card. I liked getting to see how characters from earlier books in this series were doing.

I liked Kit's relationship with her dog and her desire to fit in now that she is in a new town. I could understand why the other cops were secretive but wished they would have given her more of a chance. Having read the earlier books, I did know the secrets that the others were keeping.

I liked the romance. Wes was a great character. His combination of genius and social awkwardness made him an unusual romance hero.

This feels like the end of the series since most of the plot threads begun in earlier books were wrapped up in this one. Fans of romantic suspense will want to add this series to their reading plans.

I was both happy and sad to see the end of this series. I would have liked to see more of Wes and Kit together though. The majority of the book was about Kit and the previous books characters. But this did help to wrap up the series nicely.

This series is so good! I love how each book has flowed perfectly into the next. Kit and Wes were such interesting characters. They were so different from each other and that worked for them. I can only wonder if there will be another book in the series and if so where will it lead.

I have really enjoyed this series overall and thought this was a fun and interesting way to end it. I liked Kit and Wes a lot. They were both interesting characters, and they really fit each other. They each had their awkward moments, but they really fit each other. I loved Wes's inventions!

However, Kit and Wes's romance isn't the only thing happening here. This story also brings some closure to Jules's storyline and explains more about Mr. Espina. It didn't play out quite as I expected, but I was overall happy with the conclusion. The ending was nice, but I still found myself wanting more, like an epilogue farther in the future to catch up with all of the couples. I'm greedy like that :) Overall, this story and the series as a whole is a solid 4.5 stars!

*I received an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

When I received the ARC for “Through the Fire,” I was happy and sad at the same time. Happy because I will finally find out who is helping the heroines in the first three books escape from bad situations. Sad, because I know it is the final book in the series and I will be saying goodbye to vibrant characters that are lovable and memorable.

But, before I shed any tears, author Katie Ruggle first made me laugh and then fall in love with Kit Jernigan and Wesley March.

With three alpha males as heroes in the first three books, Ruggle did a gender swap and made the K-9 cop female. Kit Jernigan is not the usual cop nor is she the usual alpha female. She sounds so normal and quite frankly, so relatable that readers can easily identify with her. She has insecurities with her job and uncertainties on how she deals with a man she is romantically interested.

As for Wesley March, he is the run of the mill genius/socially awkward (tongue-in-cheek). Think Sheldon Cooper cooped up in the mountains without his wacky friends and only the birds and the forest for company.

Kit and Wesley’s romance is a story to itself. But, this is the fourth and final book of the Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit tetralogy, so the mysterious man who was just in the background from book 1 is finally revealed. He is evocative of Charlie, in “Charlie’s Angels.” We hear him, but we never see him, that is until now.

“Through the Fire” is a romantic thriller at its core. So, though Wes and Kit’s romance take center stage many times, it must share the limelight with the mystery and suspense aspect. And OMG, these moments should not be missed. Ruggle once again showed mastery of her craft as she wove all the characters into the story, introduced new ones while also keeping Wes and Kit as the hero and heroine. And don’t forget the dogs! All four of them did their part.

So, we arrive at the teary part. It is hard to say goodbye to the series. I got so invested with brooding Theo, funny Hugh, helpful Otto and now, genius Wes. Julie, Grace, Sarah and Kit are very strong women and I would like to know how they fare with their alpha males.


With congratulations to the author out of the way; I will now have to comment on the cover, which by the way, though beautifully executed, I find that it is not representative of the story. This comment is not for the author, but more for the cover designer and the editor who approved it.

The first three books have the K-9 Officer in the cover. Logically, it should be Kit on the cover. Why was Kit not on the cover? Is it because she’s female?

Perhaps, is it because, a hunk showing of his abs on the cover sells more books? That one I can understand. So, logically, it should be Wes on the cover. He had been described as a bearded guy. The model in the cover only has stubble of a beard. I needed to look closely to see it.

No matter how I look at it, there was really no logic for the male model they chose to be on the cover. Don’t get me wrong, he is good looking and should be on the cover, but not for this book, in my opinion.

That said, I’m still giving this book 5 STARS. “Through the Fire” is Rated M for Mature due to violence.

Through the Fire is the fourth book in the Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit series by Katie Ruggle. It is currently scheduled for release on August 7 2018. 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.

Through the Fire is a great romance, and I liked that the characters were a little different than those in previous books. Wes, or hero, is not the alpha male that I have come to expect. He is certainly brave and protective, but he has his own vulnerabilities and differences that make him stand out to me as my favorite guy in this series. Similarly, Kit stands out as a little different for our leading ladies from this series, and I love it. The banter and acceptance between our couple gave me the warm fuzzies from the very beginning, and the cuteness of their story only grew. I was frustrated right along side Kit when people did not accept her thoughts on what was happening, and adored how Sam and Wes reacted to her. I think this just might be my favorite in the series, and although it wraps up our police department's lives quite nicely, I am pretty excited that there is one more book coming for this series.

Through the Fire is a wonderful continuation to the story, and I have to admit that I am thrilled to see there is one more book coming to this series, scheduled for release in October.

Ok, so I'm just gonna be very honest here. Although I marked this a 4 star rating, I'm actually giving it a 3.5. It would have been a solid 4 if not for ONE MAJOR THING. What you ask? The COVER!!! What's wrong with the cover? Keep reading....

Kit has been a cop for about eight years. After blowing the whistle on a co-worker and having her friends turn on her, she's decided to move to a new town and start over. What she didn't know is that after she interviewed for her new job in Monroe, the town has gone through a few...changes. Starting a new job is hard enough. Fitting in as a half Asian newbie when there's drama on the first day is down right impossible.

Wes is the fire lookout for the City. He's also the man who no one really knows because he lives in his tower all year long, only going in to town in the early morning hours to pick up what he needs. Needless to say, he's not much of a people person. He's rugged, hairy, extremely smart and ridiculously shy. But once he meets Kit, there's just something about her that's making him step outside his comfort zone to learn more about her. Now if the town can just stop blowing up, burning down or having kidnap victims, he might get a date.

I really enjoyed this story line. I enjoyed the newbie coming in to town and trying to fit in, "earning" her keep. I even enjoyed reliving the "Jules" story (you have to read the first one). Here's where things started to irritate me. Look at the cover again. Do you see a rugged man with lots of hair? Do you see a half Asian girl with black hair? Nope. The only thing that's true to the story line is the bloodhound. Seriously. That's it. This is a MAJOR pet peeve of mine. The cover HAS to match the story or else I spend most of it wondering if I'm reading the right story or if someone else is going to be coming in to the story. It's very distracting. #sorrynotsorry

Now. Take away the cover. The cute innocence of Wes and Kit's newbie status were a perfect match. I honestly loved revisiting Jules and the kids. I fell deeper in love with Sam. I can happily say that the gadgets Wes creates has spurred some ideas of my own. At least ones I can buy (LOL). All in all, very cute story. I just wish the cover didn't "taint" my opinion as much as it did.

reviewed by Chris

I absolutely adored Kit and Wes, the stars of Through the Fire by Katie Ruggle. Seriously, these two shot straight into my list of favorite book couples. Their relationship was utterly charming and they mesh together perfectly. Katie Ruggle, you are a wonder!

Kit has been through hell with her former police department after she turned in her partner for corruption. This prompted her move to a small town in the mountains, where she hopes that the perceived sweetness of small town living will make her feel at home at the police department. The sweetness that she meets first is Wes, an adorkable fire spotter and inventor. They hit it off immediately and their scenes put a smile on my face every single time. I love them together.

Sadly, the sweetness doesn't carry over to her new police department. Instead, she falls victim to what I call "little woman" syndrome...you know, "The little woman doesn't know what she's talking about," or "the little woman should butt out of the man's business." Her partners are nice but don't want to listen to her experience nor her intuition. It was infuriating. The same holds true for their girlfriends/wives, but to be fair, Kit is sabotaged in those friendships by a wolf in sheep's clothing. A murderer is in their midst, and the only suspicious person is Kit and Wes. Almost every other person is gullible to the murderer's shy, helpless facade.

The book is excellent. I have not read the other books in this series, but was able to understand past references without issue. This only makes me want to read the prior stories, and hope like crazy that another book in the series is coming soon. I want to read more about Kit and Wes!