Ethan

I knew going into this that the dogs would touch my heart, they have already been through so much. Their training is tough, and for those who have served in military they have also seen and suffered much just with that. Many have lost their training partners, been shipped home and virtually forgotten. Ending up with people who don't care about them or only in as what those dogs can do for them. Ethan cares, it shows in everything he does and how he treats them, also in how they respond to him. Cinn loves dogs as well so this is a match made in heaven, they just have to go through some pretty nasty stuff to get there. Suspenseful and action packed story that is equal parts human and dog, there is some violence and some tense moments to keep you on edge. Mostly this is about relationships, human and canine, trust and love as well as training and commands, it is a learning curve for all but so worth it all in the end. Loving this new series that is an extension of the previous ones, taking the security business along another route, still linking with Badger, Levi, Flynn and the others which is great. To see these all helping each other as needed and cropping up in all the various series means continuation of the original stories I fell in love with. This has a fast pace and an originality of plot that is interesting and a bit edgy, I loved getting lost in reading it and learning more about these dogs who help keep us all safe in their respective careers.

Let's hear it for the War Dogs! Our Titanium crew from SEALs of Steel are branching out, and this new venture starts with recruiting other vets to help track down a dozen War Dogs whose retirement situations may not be what they should be. Ethan is first up as he is assigned to find out what happened to Sentry. He first tracks another injured shepherd mix and rescues her, and takes her to the local vet where he meets Cinnamon, a fellow animal lover who spends her spare time rescuing dogs from war-torn areas overseas. Ethan has extensive training as a K9 handler and trainer, so he knows exactly how to reach the injured shepherd, as well as her fellow guard dogs at the drug lab that he tracked her from. Light on the romance but heavy on the action, this romantic suspense tale is filled with non-stop heart-pounding moments as Ethan and Cinn work to keep these dogs safe from those who view them only as weapons. As much as the goal is to settle the dogs into a good situation, we also see that Ethan likewise needs a new goal and purpose in life, one he finds with these dogs and with Cinn. It's a sweet romance that will warm the heart of any dog-lover. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

I got what I wished for! When I finished reading The Final Reveal, the last book in Dale Mayer’s SEALs of STEEL series, I just wasn’t ready to let go of the group. To my delight, Badger and the Titanium Corp remain alive and well...and focused on helping other wounded SEALs find satisfying productive work in post-military life. Hiring other SEALs to help in building/renovating houses for the seven newlywed couples seemed a good first step in creating a cadre of talented wounded warriors for the new company. Not knowing what type of work assignments Titanium Corp will be offered, their employees are skilled is multiple areas. Soon, Badger is approached by a commander who knows the group well and needs an assist in tracking down a dozen retired naval dogs whose whereabouts are currently unknown. As trained K9 Corp soldiers in their own right, these dogs deserve to live safe and productive lives, just like the members of Titanium Corp. In this, the first of the K9 series, Ethan Nebberly, an electrician by trade helping in the construction of Geir’s house, and who also has eight years of service as a K9 trainer in Afghanistan, is a perfect fit for the first assignment. A bit of a loner missing his K9 partner, Ethan is looking for his niche in a non-military future. The dog he is tasked to find was called Sentry. His handler was medically discharged a quadriplegic from contact with an IED, and Sentry was sent home with him to Houston TX. Sadly, Sentry’s owner was killed in a crash soon after returning home. The family did not know how to handle Sentry and, thinking he had behavioral problems, gave him to a dog trainer, who gave him to someone else, who passed him on to yet someone else. Hoping the dog was still in Texas, and able to count on help from Levi and Legendary Security (check out the Heroes for Hire series for info on Legendary Security, Levi, Stone, Gunner, and the others), Ethan was on his way. On his way to check in at Levi’s, Ethan saw a small shepherd dog, weak and bleeding, near the road. Also trying to catch the dog was Stone, who had been so-far unsuccessful. Ethan’s skill served them well, and they headed to Anna’s and Flynn’s place to get help for the dog. Veterinarian Cinn Michelson watched the broken dog and the broken man who brought her in. If you are a regular reader of Dale Mayer’s work, you can certainly guess that there is excitement and danger...and trust and love...ahead. You have to read to find out. I will add, though, that Ethan's respect, understanding, and love for Sentry, especially after the treatment she had received, had my eyes tearing up before the end of the second chapter.