ARC Review: Survive the Night by Katie Ruggle

Survive the Night
Author: Katie Ruggle
Series: Rocky Mountain K9 Unit (Book 3)
Publication: Sourcebooks Casablanca (February 6, 2018)

Description: He's always been a haven:
For the lost. The sick. The injured.
But when a hunted woman takes shelter in his arms, this gentle giant swears he'll do more than heal her battered spirit―he'll defend her with his life.

K9 Officer Otto Gunnersen always had a soft spot for anyone in need. As Monroe's very own Dr. Doolittle, he dedicates himself to rehabilitating the injured souls that cross his path―but for all his big heart, he's never been in love.

Until he meets Sarah Clifton's haunted eyes. Until he realizes he'll do anything to save her.

All Sarah wants is to escape a life caught between ambitious crime families, but there's no outrunning her past. Her power-mad brother would hunt her to the ends of the earth...but he'd never expect Sarah to fight back. With Otto and the whole of Monroe, Colorado by her side, Sarah's finally ready to face whatever comes her way.

It's time to take a stand.

My Thoughts: This was an exciting romantic suspense novel with possibly the most awkward main characters possible. K9 Officer Otto Gunnersen is great with orphaned animals but tongue-tied when around women. Sarah is a woman on the run from an abusive brother who wants to use her as a pawn and his entry into a rival crime family. They meet in Monroe, Colorado, where Sarah is living with two other runaways.

This is the third in the Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series. We get a chance to catch up with Theo and Jules and with Hugh and Grace. The men are all members of the Monroe police department. The women have all been sent there by the mysterious Mr. Espina.

It doesn't take long for Sarah's brother Aaron to catch up with her. He and her potential fiance Logan Jovanovic almost succeed in capturing her. However, Otto intervenes which leaves Aaron in jail waiting for the FBI to pick him up and Logan on the run. But the danger isn't over. Monroe is an isolated mountain town where three-quarters of the people leave for the winter. Now a blizzard is coming and Aaron has called in mercenaries in helicopters to find and capture or kill his sister. They begin by bombing the only two passes the allow access to the town and killing all the ways to communicate. They also bomb a number of the buildings including the law enforcement building and Otto's house.

The struggles Sarah goes through to rescue Otto's animals and find her way to the town were harrowing. Meanwhile, Otto is trying to connect with his fellow officers and make sure the remaining townspeople are safe.

The story is an emotional roller coaster which goes from the awkward romance to heart-pounding terror during Sarah's flight to town. This was an excellent story which stands alone well but would be enriched by reading the first two books in the series.

Favorite Quote:

Otto gave an uncomfortable half shrug, but Sara had stopped pretending not to stare at him. He was a Viking lumberjack cop who bottle-fed orphaned puppies? If he's spent years trying to think of the most effective punch to the ovaries, he couldn't have come up with a better plan. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.