This book has everything.

To Hold and Protect is the third book in the K-9 defense series and I was so captivated from the beginning, I read well into the night to finish. This book has everything! An alpha hero with a traumatic past. A heroine, who is strong and intelligent as she is kind and compassionate, also with a past that haunts her. A wonderful, precocious child, a dog that’s easy to love, and a family who’s there to help and protect.

Parker is a firefighter and successful artist. He has a wonderful five-year-old daughter who means everything to him, and he is focused on her, his job, his art, and his family. He doesn’t need a woman, especially the new neighbor who drives a yellow VW Bug. Willow is a free spirit; she is a children’s book author and is fixing up her late uncle’s house to sell then live her dream life by the beach. The two immediately start off on the wrong foot. However, Everly, Parker’s daughter, really likes Willow and wants her to become her mommy. As an arsonist starts escalating around the small town of Marsville, the two become involved more than they could know.

I loved the suspense and intrigue of To Hold and Protect. It kept me on the edge of my seat as much as watching Parker and Willow find their way to each other. The banter back and forth between the three brothers was hilarious and heartwarming. The best was the relationship between Parker and his daughter. His love is so plain to see, and the way they craft their art together is touching. She truly is his world. Willow’s growing relationship with Everly is beautiful and sweet. I loved the townspeople and the quaint town itself. I live in a small town in the blue ridge mountains, and it felt like Ms. Owens was describing my home. I highly recommend this book and this series! I can’t wait to see what’s next. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

I definitely enjoyed this book! It was a nice easy read that’s perfect for a barely there stress factor just want to read something happy vibe. Small town romance, single dad and slight thriller romance all wrapped into one book.

Things I liked:
Everly was adorable and definitely brought the humor factor to this book and her obsession with pickles was hilarious.
I’m always a fan for dual POV.
The ending was super action packed and kept me entertained and a plot twist no one saw coming.

Things I didn’t like:
Small thing but the cover didn’t really match the descriptions of the main characters.
I know it was a main plot point to this story but why did Willow need to leave? If she was so happy there she just could’ve stayed? It didn’t t have to have so much stress around we can’t be together because I have to move.
I absolutely hate third act break ups but this one was short lived so it didn’t bother me as much as usual.

Overall I’d give this book a 3/5 stars

What a wonderful story. It was sweet at times, scary at times and laugh out loud funny at times (mostly Everly beinh Everly) That little girl was so cute. You can almost pcture her every time she does something cute. Big personality that one. The story featured her dad, Parker, and their new neighbor, Willow. He knew the minute he saw her that it would bring trouble. Most of it was good, but not all. There was a very crazy person starting fires around town and it took quite a bit of the book to figure out who was doing it and it almost cost two peoples lives.
I felt for the story of Parker and his two brothers being abandoned to an awful aunt, but they lived through it and became very good men.
I loved this story and highly recommend

I got this story from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Parker loves his daughter and lives a quiet life. When Willow moves in next door she throws him for a loop and threatens his secret from being divulged.

Willow and Parker start falling for each other pretty quickly but there is an arsonist in their midst who is focused on Parker. Will the arsonist keep Parker and Willow apart or will the threat keep them apart?

Great read!

This latest addition to the series finally gives the readers the story of Parker Church, the youngest of the Church brothers. When they were young, they were abandoned by their mother and raised by a woman who did not love them. Nowadays, they each have become exemplary men in their town.
Parker, the Fire Chief in Marsville, is also a well known painter. Something that few know about since fame is not the end all for him, but rather his sweet five year old daughter, his brothers and their significant others.
At the moment, he’s dealing with an arsonist that seems determined to destroy property in his town.
Willow Landry, a children’s book author, has been hurt in love more than once. When she inherits a house in Marsville, she decides to update and sell it, so she can move to a beach house.
When these two unlucky in love individuals meet, neither expected their lives would change forever. Even as much as they tried to deny the attraction and the feelings, fate seems to play a part in their lives.
What happens when the danger with the arsonist intensifies and affects them both? What happens when they both fear not being good enough to be loved?
The plot was engaging and the main characters well develop and enchanting. But the story was more than that. It was a story about family, new beginnings and being willing to take a chance in life and love.
Thus giving the readers another wonderful story by this talented author.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Carina Press. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Okay, this book was absolutely up my alley and truth be told I read it twice already because I absolutely loved it! The premise, the characters, the romance, the suspense; everything under the sun in this book really got to me. The plot started moving right away and had me completely hooked from chapter one.

You've got your single dad fire fighter trope, a woman who's just broken up with an ex and is now man free trope, arsonist after our male lead trope, and tons of steamy chemistry between the MMC and FMC which really led to this book being overall super fun to read and had me wanting more every time I flipped the page. I couldn't put this book down. Definitely one of the best books I've read that included the firefighter trope!

I'm obsessed with it, needlessly to say, it's probably a book I'll be reading multiple times once it's out!

Thank you NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

To Hold and Protect by Sandra Owens is book #3 in the K-9 Defenders series. I found this book to be a heart-pounding, exciting romantic suspense story. Not only was the suspense excellent but the romance was hot. Middle school book author Willow Landry has decided to forget guys and relationships for now after a bad breakup. Fire Chief Parker Church feels being a father is where he wants and needs to be for now. But when the two meet... Well this is a romance story with a Happily Ever After - eventually. I found Parker's young daughter Everly adorable and she adds much to the enjoyment of the story. This is a great addition to the series.

5+ Stars for To Hold and Protect by Sandra Owens.
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The third in Sandra Owens' K-9 Defenders trilogy is the best one! It's funny, enthralling, romantic, and suspenseful. This book centers on the youngest Church brother, Parker, the fire chief in a small North Carolina near Asheville, who is also a world-renowned artist.

The new next-door neighbor, Willow, plans to renovate her inherited house, then move out of town. She doesn't expect to fall in love with her handsome neighbor and his precocious little girl, Everly. The hilarious five-year-old loves pickles, talks loudly, and wants a Mommy.

Life gets interesting when an arsonist hits town, targeting structures to gain Parker's attention. Parker's two brothers, Tristan and Kade, jump in to help figure out who is setting fires in their town,

It's a beautiful conclusion to this series, but I'm hoping there's an unknown fourth brother somewhere so Sandra can write another book in this awesome series.

So we finally get to give the cutest little girl her HEA and a mommy.

Romance: 2/5
Chemistry: 3/5
Spice: 2/5
1st kiss: +-44% in
Foul language: 2/5
Humor: 2/5
Cry factor: 0/5
Drama: 1/5
Suspense: 3/5

How I felt:
- I thought there was a good balance of chemistry in this book, but it was milder than the first two. But still I didn't feel like it lacked, it was just enough.
- I can't get enough of that alien story, it get's me laughing every time and Parker tells it perfectly.
- I loved how Parker lets out his feelings in his paintings. The fact that he paints and paints and only sees what he painted in the end when he steps back, is amazing.
- I loved the relationship Willow had with Everly, she loved that little girl and was willing to protect her as fiercely as her own dad.
- I wish we had more of Ember. This was the book with less dog action. She had a great scene at the end of the book, but I still felt she was the dullest dog of the three, not much happens with Ember other than sniffing out the fire accelerant.
- I love how the author took us a bit into the mind of a fire arsonist - it's scary to think how they see a fire and why they love it so much.

Overall:
- This is not a clean romance. It is a romance suspense with intimate scenes.
- It was a fast paced read, with lots of fire scenes, but the author made them as light as possible, so it was easy to read. The suspense grows through out the book until we have our arsonist creating all havoc on the last scene.
- I would say this book could be read as a stand-a-lone, but seriously, you'll not want to miss the first two books.

Tropes:
- Single dad
- Artist dad
- Firefighter dad
- Children's author FMC
- Stalker
- Arsonist
- Protective K-9
- Cute daughter

I volunteered to ARC this book from NetGalley

To Hold and Protect (K-9 Defenders Book 3) by Sandra Owens
This is the third book in the series and the first book that I have read by Sandra, and I plan to go back and read the first two. This is Willow and Parker's story, his five-year-old pickle eating adorable daughter Everly is a big part of the story. There are also his two brothers and their fiancés, three dogs. There is angst, an arsonist, attraction, denial of feelings, danger, lust/love, laughs, tears, suspense, and steam to get us to a HEA.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Happy Ever After Steamy Easy-to-read Action-packed Entertaining Page-turner Tear-jerker Scary Romantic Unpredictable Wonderful Characters Informative Funny Great world building.

I'm a huge fan of the K-9 Defenders series and this latest installment is a great example of why. There was enough action and suspense to not only keep you hooked on what was happening and wondering what was going to happen next, but also enough twists and turns to keep you guessing! Plus, the chemistry between Parker and Willow was beautifully written. I was immediately invested in their individual stories and their love story.

Parker's little girl Everly was also such an incredible little character. I loved her relationship with her dad and I loved the relationship that bloomed between her and Willow as well. I honestly would have devoured this book just as quickly without there being suspense involved. But I wouldn't trade the story arc of the arsonist situation for anything either. It was done so well and had me on the edge of my seat.

I have been completely immersed in this series and this book may just be my favorite of all. I strongly recommend it for anyone who is a romantic suspense lover. You will not be disappointed! I was given an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
All Willow Landry needed was a fresh start and time to get her head together while remodeling her Uncles house. All Parker Church needed was a safe environment to raise his precocious daughter and work as a Firefighter and Artist. No one was prepared for a five year old Matchmaker looking for a mommy. I loved the relationship between Willow and Everly, she truly loved this girl and protected her as if she was her own. Great Romantic Suspense and a guaranteed HEA.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." eARC provided by NetGalley and Carina Press in exchange for honest review.

WOW!!! I’ve read all three books in this series, which have been amazing, but I have to say this one is my favorite. This book has its own story but also ties the three stories together. There are a few special characters that just make you want to laugh out loud, like a handsy little widow heehee. I love how the story between Parker and Willow unfolds and how their chemistry ignites the flames they can’t seem to contain any longer. Hot, hot, hot!!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! Great characters, funny, emotional, mysterious, whimsical, steamy, etc. Look forward to reading more from this author.

4.5 stars.
“To Hold and Protect”, by Sandra Owens (Carina Press), is such an enjoyable read, with wonderful, complex and vibrant characters, including a very precocious little girl.
As usual with Owens’ characters, the protagonists are at the same time honorable and playful, confident and kind with each other, smart and successful but never arrogant or vain, and these features make them utterly likeable and relatable.
The fact both Parker and Willow are artists – and little Everly, too – makes the story so unique and interesting, and I just loved the way the author explored this aspect and wrote about the creative process.
Parker’s obsession with Willow as a motive and a muse is so cool. As is Willow’s and Everly project.
Parker’s issues with women and falling in love are original, yet despite all the reservations he falls head over heels for Willow.
The love and protectiveness with his daughter are endearing, too.
I liked how the main characters embrace their chemistry, attraction and sexuality in such a natural and playful way.
They’re both vital people, successful in their jobs, yet show some vulnerability, making them approachable.
The family and couples’ relationships and interaction are great to watch, with all that authenticity and playfulness we became accustomed with the three brothers. They’re solid, dependable, and pragmatic, and also show a contagious “joie de vivre”.
The choices these people make are not completely altruistic but there’s always a sense of the other’s needs.
I liked how the author balances the suspense and romance, with some twists to keep you guessing.
This is a great series (K-9 Defenders), with wonderful stories and characters.

I couldn’t stop reading this book and read it in one sitting. Willow inherits a house and moves in next to the most adorable little girl Everly who is looking to matchmake her handsome firefighter father. The only problem is that Parker Church is not interested in entertaining the idea of love. Parker is content with his life and being a single father raising his daughter with the help of his brother’s. When a “wackadoodle” arsonists shows up in town setting their sights on him and Willow he has to solve the biggest case of his life. I love this book and read it as a standalone. I was able to follow along perfectly and I can’t wait to go back and read the books in the series that I missed! I love how humor was infused in with the serious moments along with how realistic these characters are. If you’re looking for a fire-fighter, k-9, girl next door, single father, daughter matchmaker, small town romance with suspense and HEA then you’ll want to one click this one!

The very best of the series! I was waiting for Parker's story and oh my goodness it was worth the wait!! Everly was darling and Willow made the perfect match for both of them. The epilogue wrapped things up perfectly and when you get there you will be so bummed you are at the end. Loved this story so much - 5+ stars from me!

One of favorite books! From the insanely hot hero to the precocious Everly - this book has it all! You hardly ever hear of a hot man who’s a combo firefighter and artist- this one’s got it! Throw in the mix of willow and an arsonist on the loose - and u have one incredible story!

Fantastic read! I loved this book and couldn't put it down. I've enjoyed the who series, but this book was a wonderful conclusion. I've waiting to learn Parker's story, and this didn't disappoint, His story was just as convoluted as I anticipated. When he meets Willow, he is lost and refuses to engage with her...however, the best, we all know what they say about plans....

Before long, Parker and Willow are smitten with each other, even while they both deny it to others and themselves. When an arsonist raises the stakes, things get even more complicated.

I loved this book and was sorry when it ended. I was totally immersed in Parker and Willow's world and felt invested in their story - wanting them to get a HEA ending.

This book is a must read for fans of the genre. It's so good that you really owe it to yourself to read the whole series. Just be warned that the epilogue has a delightful and whimsical ending that encompasses all of the characters. It made me smile and wanting more. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. The author is on my must read authors' list.

If you're looking for spice that doesn't overshadow the plot and storytelling, buy this book today! Sandra Owens has a way about weaving the spice into the plot. It doesn't feel overdone or overused . She envelops you in the story and keeps you on the edge of your seat as she sprinkles in angst and suspense and romance.

Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, A great who done it and even a great romance! The storyline was very interesting and had me glued to my Kindle! I will definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!