Intriguing!

Aradia is just a dog trainer and breeder to the world, but her birthright and duty is to train the Guardians who protect the world and keep it safe from demons. When Aradia turns up at Mercy’s door after Mercy has a vision, they are faced with the challenge of fighting the darkness threatening to break through one of the portals.

I really enjoyed this and found it most intriguing because it wasn’t a simple as it seems. There were many hidden threats and complexities, and additional risks Aradia and Mercy were taking on this adventure, as were the guardians. What I loved most was this didn’t stray from its genre and was true to delivering an adventure with the supernatural and paranormal themes the description suggests. There were a whole cast of vibrant characters that made the story, each of them unique and brining their own perspectives and approaches to making sure they kept everyone safe.

I completely intrigued by how normal and down to earth they all were, especially given they were dealing with demons and darkness that would make anyone else freak out. And Aradia and Mercy weren’t supernatural or tuned particularly to the supernatural themselves, they were just normal people, with normal values, and just important jobs or a sense that helped them be more aware. There was a lot of suspense building, which worked really well at keeping me on the edge of my seat wondering where the danger was lurking, so I really felt a part of the adventure they were on.

Such an exciting and intriguing story that really gripped me and made me anxious but in a way to learn more and hope they’d succeed in their duties.

Sheri Lewis Wohl’s *The Guardians* is a thrilling blend of supernatural suspense and heartfelt connection, set against the backdrop of Washington’s rugged beauty. Aradia Burke’s life as a top-tier dog trainer is a cover for her true purpose: preparing extraordinary K9 Guardians to defend the world against demons. Wohl expertly weaves Aradia’s secrets into her daily life, creating a compelling protagonist whose sense of duty is as inspiring as it is dangerous. The introduction of Mercy Burroughs, whose precognitive abilities add layers of tension, brings an intriguing human dimension to this supernatural tale.

The novel’s greatest strength lies in its depiction of the bond between humans and dogs. Wohl paints a vivid picture of the Anatolian shepherds, blending their physical prowess with almost mystical qualities. Clemons, one of the standout K9s, becomes as much a character as the human protagonists. The stakes are high, as the breach of a demonic portal threatens to unravel the fragile balance between good and evil, and the team’s fight to protect the world is both action-packed and emotionally gripping.

Wohl balances the fast-paced battle against the forces of darkness with poignant moments of trust, friendship, and courage. The relationship between Aradia and Mercy evolves naturally, adding a touch of romance to the story without overshadowing its central conflict. With its rich characters, atmospheric setting, and seamless blend of fantasy and reality, *The Guardians* is a must-read for fans of paranormal fiction who appreciate the enduring loyalty of a well-trained K9 companion.

A very enjoyable read. Great main characters that I enjoyed getting to know. If you love a good fantasy romance that includes demons then I definitely recommend this one.


Thank you Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for this ARC copy.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book

if you are into demons demon hunters and special dogs that can keep demons away then this is the book for you

Aradia Burke is the breeder of Anatolian shepherds.... they are very special dogs that some when they are born glow and have that little extra that helps with the fight against the demons

Mercy Burroughs is a healer a wiccan and with her special skills she is who you would want in your corner.....

the portal near where mercy lives is about to breach can the team come together to help keep it from happening.... but danger is all around from those that want the ultimate power.....

what a read.... really enjoyed getting to know the characters in this book they were amazing.... and those dogs....man i want one

Cant wait for the next book from this author

Aradia Burke is a skilled dog trainer and breeder of Anatolian shepherds. Her secret calling is to train special Guardian dogs that help protect the world from demons. She teams up with Mercy Burroughs, a precognitive and herbalist, who knows Demons are close to breaching the portal near them. I like the setting being the Pacific Northwest. For me the story started off slowly but by the middle the pace was full throttle. I don’t want to get detailed on the story for fear of spoilers. But if you enjoy fantasy romances that include demons, demon hunters, witches and more, this may be the book for you. (3.5 Stars)

Really good fantasy romance. This book had everything that I want in a story. There's romance, dogs, fantasy, and intrigue. This story was really gripping, and had me on the edge of my seat from the beginning. The main characters were well written and the romance was really sweet to. The plot was a really good one, and although I was sure everything would end well it kept me guessing until the very end. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family and I look forward to what's next from this author.

First and foremost, I am a long-time dog mama, who loves great stories about amazing dogs, whether they be working dogs or just beloved pets. So, coming across this book, it was the cover that initially captured my attention. Secondly, I am also a life-long, diehard fan of the fantasy/paranormal/supernatural genres. So, based on the book summary, this sounded like my kind of story.

From pretty much the start of the story, I could tell this wasn’t a typical type of fantasy/paranormal/supernatural story; it was definitely different and kind of a little odd. Aradia isn’t some kind of alien being from another world with supernatural powers, but rather just a regular human whose family has been raising “Guardians” for generations. The Guardians, who are dogs that possess the “shine”, which is some kind of light that allows them to be able to not only detect demons, but also protects themselves from the demons. Apparently, these are the real supernatural entities in this story.

Anyway, the book summary introduces the primary storyline with the MC, Aradia, and her Guardian dog, Tara, along with fellow handler, Tim, and his Guardian dog, Clemons, banding together to close up cracks in a portal and prevent any demons from getting through. Tara and Clemons have detected that a demon may have crossed over from a portal at the base of Mt St Helens in WA. Aradia and the team immediately converge on the area and it’s there where they all meet Mercy, a local herbalist, with an affinity to psychic visions, and her friend, Rufus, a member of the local Yakama Indian Nation possessed with an ability of a “seer”.

What the book summary doesn’t mention is that there is another person, August, who is also converging on the area. However, August is coming because he is hoping to break open the portal so that hordes of demons can enter. August wants to take control of and organize the demons, ultimately becoming their demon king. However, August has his own problems with trying to stay ahead of his ex-wife and his sister, who each have their own designs on becoming the demon queen. Most of the story revolves around the sealing of the cracks in the portal and making sure that the world is kept safe from demons as well as August’s effort to try and get demons to cross over. There is also a secondary storyline that is introduced as soon as Aradia and Tim meet Mercy and Rufus. I’m not going to say to much about that because it would be a spoiler, but it was a prominent storyline throughout the story.

The character development for Aradia and Mercy were well done, but I would have loved more on Tim, Rufus and August. I’m sure that was by design and later installments will delve deeper into the history of Aradia and her team. The pacing in the first half was kind of slow; the second half picked up and was steady to fast pace towards the end that got pretty scary and intense. If you can slog through the first half, the story does get better. Once again, the writing made this a different sort of paranormal/supernatural kind of story. I guess I’m just more into the typical fantasy/paranormal/supernatural type of story. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.4 that I will round down to a 3star review. I want to thank NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #BoldStrokesBooksInc #TheGuardians

ᴛʜᴇᴍᴇꜱ: ᴘᴀʀᴀɴᴏʀᴍᴀʟ. ᴜʀʙᴀɴ ꜰᴀɴᴛᴀꜱʏ. ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ. ᴀɴɪᴍᴀʟꜱ. ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅꜱ. ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ. ⁠
📖ᴀʀᴄ 🏳️‍🌈⁠

𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗬:⁠ ⁠
I have read Sheri's work before and I was really curious about this one. It was ok but I couldn't get into it really. The emotions were not that deep especially between the main characters, so I doubt that romance was the intention. The relation between the main characters and the guardian dogs didn't feel well explored as well. Now the bad guy, yes, he was something. The conviction he had for the dark crimes he committed was wild, like who grabs a priest? That was some unhinged stuff. ⁠
⁠
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙖 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙤 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬.

Aradia is a dog trainer. Especially she can recognize a dog to be a guardian. A guardian protects portals from demons set on destroying humans. There is a war coming as the demon king, as he likes to call himself plans to finally rule the darkness.
This book has everything guardian dogs, demon hunters, chanting witches casting spells to destroy the demons and of course the evil demons.

Even if demons aren’t your usual read you’ll enjoy this fast paced story.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Aradia has a unique training of breeder Anatolian shepherds dogs she trains them to be guardians to protect the world from demons. When Mercy has a vision of danger she and her are task along with guardians dogs to prevent demons from breaching a portal and threatening their community. I enjoy paranormal and supernatural elements it’s was fast paced and how the K9s interact with their humans both Arcadia and Mercy were likable they both flow easy with each other.

Aradia Burke’s unique vocation of training special Guardian dogs to protect the world from demons takes center stage in this thrilling supernatural adventure. The story, interwoven with elements of suspense and paranormal intrigue, offers readers a fresh and captivating experience, particularly for those looking for something outside the usual genres.

From the onset, the writing is exceptional, marked by vivid imagery and a palpable sense of urgency. As a continual reader of this author, I found myself once again drawn into the narrative, which brilliantly escalated tensions as Aradia, alongside psychic Mercy Burroughs, faces a looming threat. Their quest to stop demons from breaching a portal in Western Washington becomes an exhilarating experience, with the richly detailed setting immersing readers in the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

Aradia Burke is not just a skilled dog trainer; she embodies strength, resilience, and a deep connection with her Anatolian shepherds, who play an essential role in the unfolding drama. The intricate bond between humans and their canine counterparts runs deep throughout the story. I found the portrayal of these dogs as loyal guardians to be both heartwarming and thrilling, enhancing my emotional investment in the characters' journey. The way the dogs were integrated into the supernatural elements of the plot added a unique twist that kept my interest piqued.

The pacing of the book is commendable, as it maintains a relentless momentum that makes it hard to put down. Each chapter leaves you wanting more, a testament to the author's ability to create suspense while providing thoroughly researched details that ground the supernatural aspects in a believable context.

This novel was a delightful departure from my usual reading habits, yet it resonated with my love for dogs—especially stories that showcase their powerful roles as protectors. The author has a keen talent for weaving engaging characters with an imaginative plot that felt refreshingly original.

Overall, this book is an enchanting blend of adventure, loyalty, and a dash of the supernatural that lingers in the mind long after the last page is turned. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to explore more of this author's works in the future. If you are looking for a captivating read that combines dogs, adventure, and elements of the supernatural, look no further—this book checks all the boxes!

Aradia Burke's job is to train special Guardian dogs that protect the world from demons. When psychic Mercy Burroughs has a vision of impending danger, Aradia must team up with her and their K9s to prevent demons from breaching a portal and threatening their community in Western Washington. They must work together to stop it.

This book was a a different adventure into the supernatural and the writing in this book is fantastic as this was my first book by this author and most likely won't be my last.

The book is fast-paced and suspenseful which made it very enjoyable and the setting was well written and I felt like I was in the Pacific Northwest even though I've never been there.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Good fantasy romance from this author. Have also enjoyed the other of her books that I've read. I'm always happy to read a book that has dogs in it.
The story was quite gripping and although you were sure it would all end well there was still that sneaking suspicion, maybe not. Kept you going right to the end.

Aradia Burke is a highly skilled dog trainer and breeder of Anatolian shepherds, known for her work with both family pets and top tier working K9s. However, her true calling is to train special Guardian dogs that protect the world from demons. When pre-cognitive Mercy Burroughs has a vision of impending danger, Aradia must team up with her and their K9s to prevent demons from breaching a portal and threatening their community in Western Washington. They must work together to stop the impending darkness.
This book was a refreshing departure from my usual reading material. However, as my followers know, I simply cannot resist a book with a dog on the cover.

I have a deep love for dogs and thoroughly enjoy books that feature them prominently. In this particular book, the rare breed of dog serves as a guardian in a unique and intriguing way.

The writing in this book is top-notch, with dogs playing the role of loyal sidekicks to their human counterparts. The inclusion of paranormal and supernatural elements adds an extra layer of depth to the story, creating a captivating atmosphere.

The main character is both likable and skilled, making it easy to become invested in their journey. I appreciated how all the elements of the story came together seamlessly, especially the integral role that dogs played.

The book is fast-paced and meticulously researched, making for an engaging read. Having lived in the PNW for four years, I particularly enjoyed recognizing the places mentioned in the book, which helped me vividly imagine the scenes described.

This is my first time reading this author, and I am eagerly anticipating delving into more of their works in the future.

Thank you, Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.