Scent of Danger

Sullivan K9 Search and Rescue #1

by Laura Scott

From New York Times Bestselling Author Laura Scott

Search and rescue and love…

Kidnapped in Wyoming!

DEA Agent Doug Bridges is angry to realize his stepsister has been kidnapped after her night shift at the hospital. He goes into full agent mode to investigate, but soon runs into dead ends. Winter in northern Wyoming is no joke and he needs help, fast. When he’s referred to the Sullivan K-9 Search and Rescue team, he convinces Maya Sullivan and her Siberian Husky Zion to help him find Emily.

The oldest of nine siblings, Maya knows Emily through her youngest sister Kendra and doesn’t hesitate to offer her K-9’s tracking skills. But two episodes of gunfire, followed by a personal attack against Maya leads to more questions. Was the attack against Maya connected to Emily’s kidnapping? As a blizzard threatens to blanket the city with a foot of snow, Maya and Doug are in a race against time. Will they find Emily and a second chance at love before it’s too late?Laura Scott’s Scent of Danger is an engaging mix of action, faith, heartfelt emotion, and sweet romance. When DEA agent Doug Bridges’ half-sister goes missing, he teams up with K-9 handler Maya Sullivan and her dog Zion. They’re thrown into a tense, fast-moving investigation through snowy Wyoming.

With strong family dynamics, a tight plot, and a powerful faith message, this book is not to be missed. Highly recommended for fans of inspirational romantic suspense!

-USA Today bestselling author Josie Riviera

Genres: Contemporary, Audiobook, Christian Fiction, Suspense, Romance, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

246 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2025

Reviews

[Kellie O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book days ago and still can't find the right words to describe it. It must be experienced.

When DEA agent Doug finds out that his stepsister, Emily, is missing after her night shift at the ER, things really start happening! He enlists the help of Maya and her K9 search and rescue dog, Zion, to help him find Emily. There's a blizzard on the way which hinders the search for Emily. They're racing against time to find her. Do they find her before time runs out? Read this action packed book to find out!!

I really enjoyed it and highly recommend this emotionally moving book to everyone!

Enjoy and Happy Reading 💫💫

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

DEA agent Doug and Maya of Sullivan Search and Rescue. Maya works with her husky dog, Zion, to solve a kidnapping. Doug’s half sister, Emily, is kidnapped early one morning outside the hospital where she works as an ER nurse.
Setting: Wyoming
First in a series. Maya is one of nine siblings who all live on a ranch in rural Wyoming.
Clean, light Christian, dragged a bit….

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never logged this one! Finally found a series with all the elements! Christian, romance, suspense and DOGS! Yessss!

[Sandra Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice story that kept my interest. I like the Christian aspects to the story. They were sprinkled some here and there, but not too much. It is a clean book. The search and rescue dog Zion is a remarkable animal with such skills. It was interesting just to see how they work with their human partner. The main characters are Doug and Maya (Maya is Zion's owner). They are searching for Doug's half-sister who is missing. To top it off, it is very cold and a snow storm comes through. Always a complication to deepen the conflict. I enjoyed the story and the characters.

[Amy Ramsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great start to a series

Loved the fast pace and sweet love story in this book! Can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

[Valri Western · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this story! It was frustrating for Doug, a federal DEA agent to realize his half-sister is kidnapped and he has to investigate it in Wyoming where he is out of his element, being from a large city himself where he usually has a lot of resources. He's in Wyoming on vacation to visit Emily, who is a nurse, but she's been kidnapped as she leaves the hospital. Fortunately, he is referred to the Sullivan K-9 search and rescue team and meets Maya with her K-9, Zion who will help him in his search for Emily.
I fell in love with Zion from the beginning. What an amazing dog! These K-9s are so fantastic! Doug doesn't know a lot about them, but he learns quickly that Zion is going to help him find his sister. Maya also intrigues him. Together as they search for clues in the wild Wyoming weather, they might be able to piece together what happened to Emily.
Doug was very headstrong, but I think this came from being a federal agent and used to being in charge plus his worry about his sister. I enjoyed Maya's character and how she always looked out for Zion plus was willing to help Doug in any way even though she'd just met him. Great story!

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Targeted?

Emily is taken, but is it Doug being targeted? Or is it coincidence? And are the shootings connected? Or are they actually targeting Maya? A very twisted web of greed, deceit, corruption and danger, Doug and Emily have no choice but to rely on Zion to keep them safe as they hunt for Emily. I love that they never give up, they make an unbeatable team and although Doug is the DEA Agent with more experience, he treats Maya as an equal and listens to her when it comes to local knowledge. He may spiral, but Maya is able to ground him in a way nobody has before and it is fantastic to see their shields drop as the trust and love between them grows. A great introduction to the series and the Sullivan family.

[Allyson Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great start to a new series involving a large sibling family who has their own search and rescue team. Maya, the oldest Sullivan sibling, partners up with DEA agent Doug Bridges when his half-sister Emily goes missing. This story has suspense, drug trafficking, a kidnapping, and twists and turns. I enjoyed that the setting takes place in Wyoming, and this story is wholesome and clean with faith elements in it. Readers will learn more about Maya's backstory and how she transitioned from being a cop to search and rescue. Looking forward to the next installment in this series.

[Hazel Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved It

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Mrs. Scott is one of my favorite Christian authors. Doug is in town visiting his sister, when she fail to meet him for coffee before he head back home. He know something was wrong. This story touches on kidnapping, attempted murder, murder, and love. Doug hope with the help of Maya and her dog Zion they will find his sister. Looking forward to meeting the rest of Maya's 8 siblings that make up Sullivan K9 Search and Rescue.

[Rosemarie Grainer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super intro to a new series featuring a secondary character from Milwaukee!

Doug is meeting his half sister Emily for breakfast before he leaves to go home, but she doesn't show up. So he enlists the help of K-9 search and rescue team Maya and Zion. Suddenly, bullets are flying and they are going all around the area in winter weather looking for her. Can they find her in time?

The pace is breakneck and the tone is intense with an action and character oriented storyline that has a few kisses only. The characters are vivid and engaging. The Christian ideals are woven into the story. This is a great opening to a new series. Doug is a character we met in the Finnegan First Responders series and the Code of Honor series, both set in Milwaukee. This is set in Wyoming, but there are references back to those series. The 2 series set in Milwaukee before these are SWAT Top Cops and then Callahan Confidential. If you liked this one, then these are the same with lots of action and super characters.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love wholesome suspense/action books so much. This is the first book in a series. I love the characters and always love when K-9s are in the mix. The story has lots of mystery as they search for a kidnapped relative and has a good amount of action. The story dragged a bit for me in the middle, but it is a very entertaining book with a happy ending! I look forward to the next book in this series!

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 It was ok but more a Christian romance than a mystery. Checked it out due to the K9 aspect and did enjoy the dog, but had issues with the two main characters. Doug as a DEI agent seemed all too willing to go off on somewhat illegal methods, and Macy an ex-cop protested, she usually went along. Granted that the mystery and deaths involved drugs and the kidnapping of Doug’s sister, but still…
Doubt I will go on with the series. Free ebook from the library.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read. I always enjoy this author's books, but I feel there was starting to be too much repetition and similarities in her last two series.

This series has a totally different setting - Wyoming - totally different people, and I love search and rescue books. Looking forward to more in this series.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great suspenseful adventure involving kidnapping, drug trafficking, murder and assault. Doug is a DEA agent who discovers his half sister Emily is missing. He finds Maya who runs Sullivan Search and Rescue, she and her K9 Zion work together to find Emily. Lots of twist and adventure in this first book of a new series.

[Tami Willard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of an interconnected series with overlapping characters and overlaps with other books.
His sister was supposed to meet him for breakfast. When she disappears he pulls out all of his training and asks her for help. Will they be able to figure out where his sister is in time? Between the flying bullets, sparks, and blizzard conditions things get dangerous fast.

[Jan Fore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sullivan K9 Search & Rescue #1

So pleased that Scott has started a new spin off of the Milwaukee series. Scent of Danger is a terrific first novel that gets readers involved in the Wyoming story. Looking forward to the next book due out in April. Enjoy this one!

[Patricia Overbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story. Laura Scott makes you feel like you are right there. Suspense, God & family values through out the story. Can not wait to read follow up ?? This book was downloaded to my Kindle.

[Barbara Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gotta love a dog book!!!!

Working dogs are amazing to read about. They are so smart! This story kept me turning page after page (ha! On my phone). Great start. Can’t wait to continue the series.

[Deepeabee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story - at first

I was really interested in this story and the beginning was action packed. However, the plot got stuck in a groove traipsing through snow and I lost interest until the last few chapters.

[Heather Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating 2.5 rounded up. Adequate storyline, but the hurried romance between Maya and Doug was just too much. I did appreciate reading a clean, Christian, no profanity, no graphic violence or sex, novel.

[Teresa Pollock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danger overcome

I have started a series with this one. I have ordered and preordered the rest. This books has it all; intrigue, suspense, kidnapping, murder, assault, k-9 tracking, finding, and protection. Also has faith, love, and the future. Cannot wait to start book 2.

[Lara]

just not for me.

[lynne grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura Scott is my favorite author!

This was an excellent story. I loved learning about search and rescue. The plot moved along at a good pace. Looking forward to the second book!

[Candy gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sullivan K9 Search

It is an awesome awesome book. I cannot wait to read book 2. There is suspense and hope for all.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good romantic suspense. Plenty of twists to keep it interesting and moving, and a heartwarming romance. And a K-9, always a feature I like!

[Pascale’s*ARC,Unwind,Read,Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. 3.5 stars. Not super exciting but clean and well written. Very tame.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason, I read the second book first. So I went back and read the first book. I enjoyed both books and can't wait to read the next one!

[elizabeth mc vey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic 1st book in this new series

Brilliant book wish I could find someone like Doug to marry 😂 look forward to reading the rest already preordered them xx

[jeanie c. riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

His sister was kidnapped!

He gets aide from Sullivan K9 Search and rescue! Will they find her? Why was she taken! This is book #1 of a Christian Romance series!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty cute. Light suspense. Some good Christian faith content, but pretty light, too. Doug is over-the-top, but Maya and Zion are the best. Looking forward to the rest of the series.