Alaskan Mountain Search (K-9 Search and Rescue, 8)

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion. Bre finds out her niece Addy is missing and could be a victim of a serial killer. She knows she needs help from her old friend and K-9 search and rescue worker, Griffin but he broke her heart years back. She is not sure he will be willing after his last rescue attempt went bad. As they try to solve the case and find her niece, they can’t deny their feelings but Griffin still has doubts. Great caring and clean Christian Romance that I would recommend.

Alaskan Mountain Search by Sarah Varland is part of the K9 Search and Rescue series from Love Inspired Suspense. An Alaskan setting plus search and rescue K9s? I knew I had to read this book! Bre and Griffen are searching for Bre’s niece, while trying to keep Bre alive from a serial killer. Add in the tension between Bre and Griffen because of their past and the story has lots of suspense. I especially loved reading about the dogs. The author, through Griffen, explains how the dogs work, plus we get to see them in action. And, without giving spoilers, the ending is super sweet. If you enjoy search and rescue stories, give Alaskan Mountain Search a read! --- I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.

As with the rest of the Love Inspired brand by Harlequin, there is a strong belief system present in this book. It was a clean, chaste romance. When Bre and Griffin join forces to find Bre's missing niece, Abby, old feelings reignite, along with old doubts. Bre and Griffin had a past which ended abruptly and left Bre not understanding why. Bre also doesn't share the same faith in God that Abby and Griffin do, so she has some well-earned walls up around her heart. I enjoyed this book, it was well-written and fast-paced. It was interesting to learn how the tracking dogs worked and even how they differentiate between tracking one specific person, or all persons, or even have a different tell for cadavers. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

"Alaskan Mountain Search" is a Christian romantic suspense. Griffin blames himself for the death of a woman he was trying to save. He saw her right before a human-triggered avalanche buried her. He wasn't as careful as he should have been so is sure he caused the avalanche. He refuses to do a search and rescue again (or be there for his long-time friend Bre) because he's sure he'll mess up so badly that it's better to hurt others by withdrawing his help than by chancing failure. Bre's life has been full of people leaving her, so it's not surprising to her that Griffin abandoned her when she needed him. But the last family she has left, her niece, is missing and probably the victim of a serial killer. She pesters Griffin to help her until he agrees. As they work together, both come to realize just how insecure the other feels. Bre respects Griffin's knowledge of how to use K9s for searching while Griffin clearly respects Bre's knowledge and skill as a cop. So it seems like they ought to be a good match in terms of long friendship and mutual attraction and respect. It just saddens me that Bre isn't interested in any man except for the one who doesn't like to open up about what's bothering him and so leaves her baffled by why he keeps leaving her feeling abandoned. They do start working through these issues and improving their communication. It's: run from the killer, then work through their issues while forced to spend time together, repeat. Bre didn't believe in God because of all the brokenness she's seen in the world. Griffin tried to explain why he still believed in a good, powerful God despite living in a broken world. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable romantic suspense. I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.