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

after reading burn-out by the same author I guess my expectations went over the roof. this book was not bad per se but I just couldn't get the hero. there was something about him that was missing hence I don't think they will last. he got a virgin and he dumped her and then he didn't bother to pursue her and when she shows up for him all of a sudden he proposes. the other parts of the story were fine. but the romance was lacking. irrespective of his issues I don't think he treated her well

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.

For me this is a tough one to rate. This book has good and bad parts but overall it's not a bad read. The characters are interesting, there is plenty of suspense, and the story is intriguing. Bonus points for the hot guy with a great dog. The problem I had with the story was that is seemed to drag in places with a lot of nonsensical dialogue. Also I didn't feel the chemistry between Trisha and Matt. I found some parts of the story hard to believe as well. With all that said the suspense part of the story kept me interested even though the romance part of the story was lacking for me.

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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