Junkyard Dog

Junkyard Dog by Katja Desjarlais Hellhounds #1 In Greek mythology, Cerberus, often called the "hound of Hades", is a multi-headed dog that guards the gates of the Underworld to prevent the dead from leaving. What does this have to do with the book Junkyard Dog? Quite a bit actually although you don’t really realize this until a bit into the book. A dog is hit by a car...a BIG dog is hit and runs away. Shortly thereafter we realize that the dog is actually Alex and Alex is not ordinary shifter. Nope, he is sent by Hades from the Underworld to hunt down specific targets. He has two brothers that assist in the hunts and they make trips between earth and the underworld whenever their talents are needed. The three brothers are interesting. Orion-Ryan is the older brother to Alexandros-Alex and his twin brother Borealis-Bo. The brothers are quite different from one another with some preferring the Underworld to being above ground. We meet Hades and his wife Persephone and learn more about their relation to the brothers and their duties in the Underworld. We learn a lot about the brothers and the most about Alex. There is potential for more books in the series since there are two brothers unattached still. I am NOT sure if there are more hellhounds than the three, though. Alex meets Charlotte, a chuck ranger, when she is out looking for the injured dog that was hit in the first part of the book. She does meet him in the bar where he works as a bartender but also in his canine form. Their relationship is...interesting...and was fun to watch develop. Max, Charlotte’s work partner, is also interesting and wouldn’t it be a hoot if he ended up with someone from the Underworld ;) Anyway...this book has a bit of Greek Mythology, a romance, some hunting of a very bad guy and was a fun read all in all. One thing I found interesting is that the hellhounds do not immediately heal as many shapeshifters do in this type of book. Did I enjoy this book? Yes Would I read more books in this series? Probably Thank you to NetGalley and Tule Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review. 4 Stars

When there’s third sighting of a large dog in the Joshua Tree National Park, Park Ranger Charlotte interest is piqued and she sets out to find the beast. Alex returns to scene of the accident, scouring for prints he left behind when encounters Charlotte and the attraction is undeniable but he’s on a mission from Hades and can’t afford the distraction. This ‘Hellhounds' novel is a thrilling read that is has an original story line and a star-crossed romance. The characters are strong, bold and easily captivate readers from the very beginning and the chemistry between Charlotte and Alex sizzles with lots of heat but the relationship has a bit of an obstacle. Alex is has a secret and his time is limited. But the attraction is undeniable and that doesn’t stop Alex and Charlotte from engaging in a bit of ‘friends with benefits’ passion which is quite hot. This story is about a powerful love worth breaking the rules for. The author has created a fascinating and unique spin on a bit of Greek Mythology regarding Cerberus and the Underworld and surprising elements that adds flair and intrigue to the story. The plot is fast paced with lots of suspense and excitement building throughout the story with bodies and secrets piling up. Unexpected twists and surprises keeps readers on their toes and glued to the pages of this fascinating read.