Lock 'N' Load

Tee O'Fallon

May 2018 · Federal K-9 Book 1 · Sold by Entangled: Amara

About this ebook

Crack CIA analyst Trista Gold is a whiz with the computer, but not so much with people. She hides behind her job, analyzing Top Secret code and making recommendations on national security. She doesn’t need a man in her life. But she will, very soon...

CIA K-9 officer Sgt. Matt Connors suspects that beneath Trista’s uptight appearance, there’s a sexy woman itching to cut loose. But he doesn’t dare act on his attraction. He’s a loner and always will be. Keeping away from Trista is a must-do directive. Until he doesn’t have a choice...

During a routine assignment, Trista stumbles across a cryptic exchange. She doesn’t think much of it...until someone tries to murder her—twice. Both times, Matt had been there to save her. But now she has to hide. And her new bodyguard, Matt, and his K-9 are the only hope she has against the powerful forces that want her dead.

Each book in the Federal K-9 series is STANDALONE:
* Lock 'N' Load
* Armed 'N' Ready
* Dark 'N' Deadly
* Trap 'N' Trace
* Serve 'N' Protect
* Honor 'N' Duty
* Above 'N' Beyond

Ratings and reviews

What an exciting story! This book has everything I hope for in a romantic suspense tale. It has my all-time favorite pairing: a socially awkward, petite, nerdy genius meets her match in a huge, protective, possessive, fearlessly lethal lawman. And the action begins right from the first scene and never lets up until the triumphant HEA. Trista is a CIA analyst who is tracking a Russian spy. Just as Matt starts his new job as security at the CIA office, Trista is targeted for unknown reasons and it takes several attempts on her life before they figure out just who and where the threat is coming from. The big reveal is the why behind it all, which goes back to the heart-stopping prologue that seemed disconnected until that point. The relationship between Trista and Matt couldn't have been developed better. He's got his own emotional baggage that keeps him from allowing the relationship to flourish, and I loved the way she both supported him and called him on his issues at the same time. She is the epitome of "small but mighty" and I adored the way she stood up to him when it was necessary. Matt's overdeveloped sense of protectiveness had me swooning throughout the story and I adored the way Trista counted on his having her back even when she's seconds away from death. I loved the way Matt was backed up by his friends and fellow federal K9 agents, and the relationship between Trista and Sheba was an excellent reminder of how invaluable dogs can be. I've read a few other books in this stunning series and loved every one, but this one is probably my favorite. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys contemporary romances, especially ones with dogs and/or men in uniform.

Trista Gold is a CIA analyst and a wiz with computers. But not so much with people. When Trista runs upon a cryptic message, someone attacks her in a parking lot. Former military now CIA K-9 officer Matt Connors happens by and sees Trista being dragged off. He jumps out of his truck and saves her. Matt has noticed Trista each time she comes into the building. Matt is a loner with only his dog Sheba to keep him company. When Trista’s house catches on fire, Matt saves her barely in time. Her boss.

Along similar lines to the great K9 Rescue Series by D.D. Ayres but unfortunately not in the same league. Trista Gold is a mousy, computer analyst for the CIA, her speciality is a computer program that she designed which allows her to overhear conversations on the dark web and she has been tracking the movements and conversations of a Russian spy called Alexy Lukashin. She overhears an intriguing conversation in one chat room which talks about a mysterious 'someone' who is not what he seems, a reporter called Thomas George, and refers to a place called Iqaluit. Sergeant Matt Connors and his dog Sheba are a K-9 unit in CIA security. Trista is afraid of dogs and seeing Sheba throws her off balance and she falls over in the security line in front of Matt. Later that evening Matt is just in time to stop Trista being dragged into the woods by a man. Taking no chances, the CIA revokes Trista's clearance and puts her on administrative leave until they can determine whether the attack had anything to do with her work or Lukashin. As Trista's life is in danger she and Matt work together to try to piece together the meaning of the conversation that she overheard and why Lukashin wants her dead. I don't know whether I am exceptionally bad tempered recently or whether I am just in a string of books in which the characters have to tick every possible cliche but this was another one. Matt has issues dating back to his teenage years which mean he believes he can never be happy, or at least shouldn't be allowed to be happy. He must atone for the tragedy in his past and is building a centre for troubled teens where they will work alongside rescue dogs. Trista is a 30-ish virgin in frumpy clothes who suddenly becomes a goddess overnight after putting on a t-shirt and jeans. And of course as soon as she has sex she is suddenly a vixen in bed - yep, she's a sexual unicorn! For a virgin, her inherent sense of just how to drive his body crazy with need was beyond amazing. Trista's terror of dogs is miraculously cured by Matt in one afternoon, oh and he also buys her new clothes (after another attack on her means she can't leave the house) including a sexy green silk negligee - creepy or not? There's a 40 year old mystery to solve, a political situation to unravel (which of course both Matt and Trista instantly understand), psychotic Russians, incompetent FBI agents, kidnappings and multiple murders. And TBH, I still don't understand WHY Lukashin wanted Trista dead, he must have known that she had shared the transcript of the conversation with the CIA, after which killing her was pointless. This book could have done with less things going on. However, despite the 'kitchen sink' approach to plotting, this was an enjoyable CIA/FBI mystery which kept me reading on a long-haul flight. It is clearly intended to be a series featuring Matt's incredibly good-looking group of friends with their K-9 companions, each of whom works for a different law enforcement group. I will definitely read more in the series. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

About the author

Tee O’Fallon is the author of the K-9 Special Ops, Federal K-9, and NYPD Blue & Gold series. She spent twenty-three years as a federal agent conducting complex, long- and short-term criminal investigations, especially undercover operations, across many agencies at the federal level and multi-state investigations as a police investigator. It felt only natural to combine her hands-on experience in the field with her love of romantic suspense. She has lived in New York State most of her life with a five-year stop in Colorado. When not writing, she enjoys cooking, gardening, chocolate, lychee martinis, and kicking back with her Belgian sheepdogs, Loki and Kyrie.

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