Royal Reviews: Protection Detail by Shirlee McCoy

Title: Protection Detail
Miniseries: Capitol K-9 Unit
Author: Shirlee McCoy
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Love Inspired Suspense
Category: Inspirational
ISBN: 9780373446544
$5.99
Format I Read: Mass-Market Paperback
Source: MLM Media Relations
Rating: 4 Crowns

LAWMAN ON A MISSION

After a prominent senator's son is murdered, Capitol K-9 Unit captain Gavin McCord wants answers. The senator was a mentor to Gavin, and he'll stop at nothing to bring the killer to justice. With his team of elite K-9 cops and his loyal dog, Glory, at his side, Gavin discovers that a child at Cassie Danvers's nearby foster home may have witnessed the murder. He's drawn to the determined and beautiful woman, but she doesn't want him interviewing her traumatized charges. Yet trusting Gavin is the only way to stay one step ahead of the deadly gunman when Cassie becomes a target.

Capitol K-9 Unit: These lawmen solve the toughest cases with the help of their brave canine partners

This was my first time reading a book from Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense imprint and I have to say I really enjoyed Protection Detail.

When Cassie Danvers is attacked and a child’s blue mitten in found near a crime scene, Gavin McCord (Capitol K-9 Unit captain) believes that one of the children in Cassie’s foster home witnessed the murder of a senator’s son.

Like the children in her home, Cassie’s turbulent childhood has left her leery of cops although having been in foster care himself, Gavin knows what Cassie and her kids have been through and he’s willing to protect them at all costs.

I’m always intrigued with romantic suspense novels and Protection Detail had me at the edge of my seat as Cassie was being pursued by her attacker. The book opened and immediately captured my attention and then held it until the last chapter.

Cassie and Gavin were very interesting characters. Both had been in foster care so they both had an inkling of the struggle the other had gone through. Both were willing to fight to protect the children Cassie was caring for. Gavin was a bit hesitant to start a relationship with Cassie. He felt that he needed to put his career first and his relationships suffered because of it.

The chemistry and romance in this book was very light. As this was an inspirational romance, I knew the heat level was going to be nonexistent although a little more chemistry and attraction between the characters would have been a bit more fun to see. It almost felt as though the romance took a backseat to the suspense, but it worked.

This is the first book that I’ve read that dealt with a K-9 unit and it was a fresh take that made me enjoy this book all the more.

What annoyed me about this book was the fact that only one of the mysteries had a conclusion. I was hoping that it would be tied up with a nice little ending, but sadly there was a dangling thread left at the end and I will now have to read the rest of the Capitol K-9 Unit series to find out what happened.

Overall, the suspense aspect of Protection Detail was very intriguing but the romance was very light. I look forward to reading more from this series.