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True Heroes #1
Extreme Honor
Hot military heroes, the women who love them, and the dogs that always have their backs. EXTREME HONOR is the first book in a high adrenaline contemporary suspense series from Piper J. Drake.
HONOR, LOYALTY, LOVE
David Cruz is good at two things: war and training dogs. The ex-soldier's toughest case is Atlas, a Belgian Malinois whose handler died in combat. Nobody at Hope's Crossing Kennel can break through the animal's grief. That is, until dog whisperer Evelyn Jones walks into the facility . . . and into Atlas's heart. David hates to admit that the curvy blonde's mesmerizing effect isn't limited to canines. But when Lyn's work with Atlas puts her in danger, David will do anything to protect her.
Lyn realizes that David's own battle scars make him uniquely qualified for his job as a trainer. Tough as nails yet gentle when it counts, he's gotten closer to Atlas than anyone else-and he's willing to put his hard-wired suspicion aside to let her do the same. But someone desperate enough to kill doesn't want Lyn working with Atlas. Now only teamwork, trust, and courage can save two troubled hearts and the dog who loves them both . . .
HONOR, LOYALTY, LOVE
David Cruz is good at two things: war and training dogs. The ex-soldier's toughest case is Atlas, a Belgian Malinois whose handler died in combat. Nobody at Hope's Crossing Kennel can break through the animal's grief. That is, until dog whisperer Evelyn Jones walks into the facility . . . and into Atlas's heart. David hates to admit that the curvy blonde's mesmerizing effect isn't limited to canines. But when Lyn's work with Atlas puts her in danger, David will do anything to protect her.
Lyn realizes that David's own battle scars make him uniquely qualified for his job as a trainer. Tough as nails yet gentle when it counts, he's gotten closer to Atlas than anyone else-and he's willing to put his hard-wired suspicion aside to let her do the same. But someone desperate enough to kill doesn't want Lyn working with Atlas. Now only teamwork, trust, and courage can save two troubled hearts and the dog who loves them both . . .
303 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 26, 2016
361 people are currently reading
2046 people want to read
About the author
Piper J. Drake
32 books620 followersPiper J. Drake is a bestselling author of romantic suspense and edgy contemporary romance, a frequent flyer, and day job road warrior. She is often distracted by dogs, cupcakes, and random shenanigans.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
January 17, 2016
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Even though David is out of the service now, he is still military to his core and his work with military and police dogs in-training and rehabilitating showcase this. When one of his friends is killed overseas he makes sure he gets his dog, Atlas, and begins work to rehabilitate the traumatized dog. When a beautiful woman shows up claiming to have been hired to help with Atlas, David thinks back to a few mysterious messages Atlas' handler sent him and the odd instances starting to happen around the kennels and immediately is distrustful of her. Lyn knows dogs but humans have always been difficult for her but she won't back down to the alpha hunk trying to dictate how she does her job. David and Lyn work to help Atlas and fight the danger starting to circle them.
First in a new series, Extreme Honor has a hot cover that no doggie or muscle loving person can turn away from. The inside story, however, evoked less passionate feelings for me. The bases of the story with a military veteran and a harder edged woman working to help a traumatized dog, while uncovering military secrets, sounded exciting and steamy. Unfortunately, the story read very dry to me. There is no cute whimsy to the dog and interactions around him, which is completely fine, just don't go looking for a Shalvis comparable here. The writing style and character interactions were more clinical and while a lot is relayed in how to behave around a traumatized dog and how training with military dogs differs greatly from basic guard dogs, Lyn's interactions with Atlas were boiled down to her giving him long walks, belly rubs, and talking to him. This was obviously to showcase Atlas needing a softer touch and more heart but purposefully contrasting it with David's more technical approach had it falling into gender stereotypes and devalued Lyn's dog training skills, in my opinion.
Usually, the hero is the more walled off character but here, it is Lyn. Her step-father was military and she always felt the cold shoulder from him and felt like she was never good enough, giving her self-confidence issues. She is attracted to David right away but as they are working together in a professional capacity, she declines his first advances. David was the more flushed out character with his friends and life given a fuller outline. However, his character had a glaring inconsistency that I couldn't get past. He first accepts that Lyn wants to keep things professional but one or two days later he is grabbing her and kissing her, disregarding her feelings and certain she wants him as much as he wants her but yet, when Lyn wants to have sex, he refuses. One time it's because he feels she is too emotionally vulnerable and another, the timing isn't right. I completely understand his reasonings for saying no but with his personality composed as it was and as the story went on, it began to feel needlessly drawn out, until they seemingly out of nowhere give in. I can't say I ever truly felt the chemistry between this couple but that could be to me, personally, feeling the writing style as clinical.
The suspense story with murder, corruption, and hidden identities and how it tied all in with Atlas, David, and Lyn got very convoluted in the end. Random secondary characters popped in and out without much distinction and a secondary character's surprise turnabout was more head scratching than shocking. There are clearly some heroes waiting in the wings with David's friends at the kennel and maybe some future heroines working there, too. If you like a more straightforward and cool tone and want a military dog aspect in your romantic suspense, then maybe you wouldn't mind the author's writing style but for more passionate people, the cover is probably your stopping point.
Even though David is out of the service now, he is still military to his core and his work with military and police dogs in-training and rehabilitating showcase this. When one of his friends is killed overseas he makes sure he gets his dog, Atlas, and begins work to rehabilitate the traumatized dog. When a beautiful woman shows up claiming to have been hired to help with Atlas, David thinks back to a few mysterious messages Atlas' handler sent him and the odd instances starting to happen around the kennels and immediately is distrustful of her. Lyn knows dogs but humans have always been difficult for her but she won't back down to the alpha hunk trying to dictate how she does her job. David and Lyn work to help Atlas and fight the danger starting to circle them.
First in a new series, Extreme Honor has a hot cover that no doggie or muscle loving person can turn away from. The inside story, however, evoked less passionate feelings for me. The bases of the story with a military veteran and a harder edged woman working to help a traumatized dog, while uncovering military secrets, sounded exciting and steamy. Unfortunately, the story read very dry to me. There is no cute whimsy to the dog and interactions around him, which is completely fine, just don't go looking for a Shalvis comparable here. The writing style and character interactions were more clinical and while a lot is relayed in how to behave around a traumatized dog and how training with military dogs differs greatly from basic guard dogs, Lyn's interactions with Atlas were boiled down to her giving him long walks, belly rubs, and talking to him. This was obviously to showcase Atlas needing a softer touch and more heart but purposefully contrasting it with David's more technical approach had it falling into gender stereotypes and devalued Lyn's dog training skills, in my opinion.
Usually, the hero is the more walled off character but here, it is Lyn. Her step-father was military and she always felt the cold shoulder from him and felt like she was never good enough, giving her self-confidence issues. She is attracted to David right away but as they are working together in a professional capacity, she declines his first advances. David was the more flushed out character with his friends and life given a fuller outline. However, his character had a glaring inconsistency that I couldn't get past. He first accepts that Lyn wants to keep things professional but one or two days later he is grabbing her and kissing her, disregarding her feelings and certain she wants him as much as he wants her but yet, when Lyn wants to have sex, he refuses. One time it's because he feels she is too emotionally vulnerable and another, the timing isn't right. I completely understand his reasonings for saying no but with his personality composed as it was and as the story went on, it began to feel needlessly drawn out, until they seemingly out of nowhere give in. I can't say I ever truly felt the chemistry between this couple but that could be to me, personally, feeling the writing style as clinical.
The suspense story with murder, corruption, and hidden identities and how it tied all in with Atlas, David, and Lyn got very convoluted in the end. Random secondary characters popped in and out without much distinction and a secondary character's surprise turnabout was more head scratching than shocking. There are clearly some heroes waiting in the wings with David's friends at the kennel and maybe some future heroines working there, too. If you like a more straightforward and cool tone and want a military dog aspect in your romantic suspense, then maybe you wouldn't mind the author's writing style but for more passionate people, the cover is probably your stopping point.
August 31, 2020
I love dogs and romance hero’s so I was super excited to give this series and this author a try.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and found it engaging. The characters are developed well enough to root for and fall in love with. Of course, the dogs steal many of the scenes they are in.
I think my main pain point is that the book is too detailed in terms of military and dog training. The author either did a lot of research or has personal experience. Either is good but some of that detail would have been better used to develop characters and being a bit more emotion to the book.
I’ll be giving book two a whirl !
Overall, I enjoyed the book and found it engaging. The characters are developed well enough to root for and fall in love with. Of course, the dogs steal many of the scenes they are in.
I think my main pain point is that the book is too detailed in terms of military and dog training. The author either did a lot of research or has personal experience. Either is good but some of that detail would have been better used to develop characters and being a bit more emotion to the book.
I’ll be giving book two a whirl !
February 27, 2016
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Light and easy romantic suspense with fantastic main characters and a fierce and troubled pooch. I had a good time with Extreme Honor. It could be a little predictable where the suspense was concerned but was easy, entertaining and hit the spot as dog trainers Lyn and David gave their all to helping a military pup overcome the loss of his handler and the traumas of was the still haunt him mentally and physically.
---Alright, So, I really liked the characters. Lyn (other than her first day on the job) was easy to like, a hard worker, compassionate and an animal lover. And much the same with David. He's a good guy doing his best to survive being a civilian after years of being in the military. He's protective, sexy and there for his people and animals.
---I really liked them together, too. They were fairly easy. There was no huge drama between them, no games, etc. once they got past their first meet--she's basically a consultant dog trainer who was brought in to work on the dog's case without his knowing it (erms, yeah, the first meet was a spot ugly lol). Overall, they're straight forward and honest which was very refreshing. They had nice chemistry too and though sheet time was minimal it was nice.
---I loved the set up of military dogs in training (or recovery as the case may be for Atlas). It's not something I've seen done before and was an interesting focus getting to see what they did, the emotional trauma the dogs deal with from war and losing their handlers, etc. What it takes to get them battle ready or to deal with regular life.
---I did find that the suspense was pretty predictable. Not a bad thing exactly but it was more just watch it unfold while thinking omg you guys can't see this is going to happen?! There were attacks, a little investigating and piecing together of things. It wasn't too action packed despite a couple intense scenes.
----The other guys (the trainers he works with) totally caught my eye. I mean, seriously. 1...military men. Yum! 2. Guys that love animals. *pants* I'm ready for their stories now, please!
All in all, a nice easy start for a new series. It was a great set up for future reads and I'm definitely looking forward to more from Drake and seeing what she has to offer.
October 4, 2025
This is a well-written, fast paced, entertaining romantic suspense novel. It has a likable female protagonist, an engaging, former military male protagonist, a heroic canine, an unexpected twist, and a satisfying conclusion. I am looking forward to reading the other entries in this series with great anticipation. The audiobook is well-narrated by Daniel Thomas May and Kristin Kalbli.
September 18, 2020
I needed to read something fun after the dark fantasy I'd just finished. This book was a bonus novel that was included with Lethal Redemption. I love dogs and think they're incredible and I did enjoy the dog training aspect of this story. The romance was okay, but I was more intrigued by Atlas, the dog than the two main characters. :)
August 22, 2017
Blah. Meh. Blah.
Boring.
An easy read. But there's nothing engaging about this book. Romance = forced and really fake. There's no good backstory for the two MC's and their issues.
Side characters are glanced over. Easily forgettable. No personalities or knowledge of their life besides ex-navy. Which is unfortunate because I believe the next books are about them.
I honestly kept reading for the dog, Atlas. I needed to make sure boo recovered from his grief. Poor heartbroken baby.
Boring.
An easy read. But there's nothing engaging about this book. Romance = forced and really fake. There's no good backstory for the two MC's and their issues.
Side characters are glanced over. Easily forgettable. No personalities or knowledge of their life besides ex-navy. Which is unfortunate because I believe the next books are about them.
I honestly kept reading for the dog, Atlas. I needed to make sure boo recovered from his grief. Poor heartbroken baby.
February 9, 2016
I have been wanting to read Extreme Honor for months now, and to be completely honest I think I might have set my expectations just a little too high for this one. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad read, it just didn't quite hit the mark for me.
The story starts off with tension between David and Lyn right off the bat. She's been sent in to help him train Atlas, a dog that he's been working with at Hope’s Crossing Kennel where he works with a couple of his ex-military buddies, and he doesn't think she has what it takes. Of course he's surprised when Atlas reacts to Lyn, the first person he's reacted to since he arrived at the kennel, and agrees to let her help out, even if he is a little skeptical.
When Lyn is attacked in her hotel David steps in and offers Lyn a place to stay and that's when their relationship starts to pick up. Unfortunately that's also when it started to fall a little flat for me. After their first initial meeting I had a hard time feeling their connection and it never really caught on for me before they were declaring their love at the end.
I was hoping the suspense would make up for the lack of romance but unfortunately the suspense was even less intriguing than their relationship. Of course there's the underlying story of what happened to Atlas' original handler, why Lyn was attacked, and the question of whether or not Atlas will get back to his former glory and move on from Lyn and David... But I never found myself fully invested in any of it.
I think that if the romance, the suspense, and even the characters were fleshed out a little more it could have been a great read and everything I was hoping it would be... Unfortunately that's just not how it worked out in this instance. Am I interested enough to continue the series? Definitely! But I've lowered my expectations in the hopes that I won't be disappointed in the end.
*ARC kindly provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story starts off with tension between David and Lyn right off the bat. She's been sent in to help him train Atlas, a dog that he's been working with at Hope’s Crossing Kennel where he works with a couple of his ex-military buddies, and he doesn't think she has what it takes. Of course he's surprised when Atlas reacts to Lyn, the first person he's reacted to since he arrived at the kennel, and agrees to let her help out, even if he is a little skeptical.
When Lyn is attacked in her hotel David steps in and offers Lyn a place to stay and that's when their relationship starts to pick up. Unfortunately that's also when it started to fall a little flat for me. After their first initial meeting I had a hard time feeling their connection and it never really caught on for me before they were declaring their love at the end.
I was hoping the suspense would make up for the lack of romance but unfortunately the suspense was even less intriguing than their relationship. Of course there's the underlying story of what happened to Atlas' original handler, why Lyn was attacked, and the question of whether or not Atlas will get back to his former glory and move on from Lyn and David... But I never found myself fully invested in any of it.
I think that if the romance, the suspense, and even the characters were fleshed out a little more it could have been a great read and everything I was hoping it would be... Unfortunately that's just not how it worked out in this instance. Am I interested enough to continue the series? Definitely! But I've lowered my expectations in the hopes that I won't be disappointed in the end.
*ARC kindly provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2019
Atlas is a gorgeous Belgian Malinois whose handler died in combat. The outfit David Cruz works for, the Search and Protect Corporation, hired dog whisperer Evelyn Jones to try and rehabilitate Atlas. Suffering from grief, Atlas's suffering is concerning. Fortunately, one look at Lyn and Atlas all but melts. He becomes responsive and the timing is good, as he is an excellent protector, especially when he is at his best.
David has been through quite a lot, and maybe due to his former army training, he is exceptionally skilled as a trainer. He has unique qualities and this has helped him to draw very close to Atlas, so he works alongside Lyn. His work is heightened because almost immediately Lyn is in danger, and had been accosted. Being at the right place a the right time allowed David to save Lyn's life. There is inherent danger, however, for both Lyn and Atlas, and seemingly, it never lets up.
Extreme Honor is the first book in the True Heroes series. This book makes an excellent start to a promising series. I absolutely love books with dogs! This one is no exception. Atlas is definitely well-trained, and due to such training, extremely lethal. Watching his experiences made for a great read. I enjoyed the love story, of course, as well as the mystery as to why Lyn and Atlas were in danger.
David has been through quite a lot, and maybe due to his former army training, he is exceptionally skilled as a trainer. He has unique qualities and this has helped him to draw very close to Atlas, so he works alongside Lyn. His work is heightened because almost immediately Lyn is in danger, and had been accosted. Being at the right place a the right time allowed David to save Lyn's life. There is inherent danger, however, for both Lyn and Atlas, and seemingly, it never lets up.
Extreme Honor is the first book in the True Heroes series. This book makes an excellent start to a promising series. I absolutely love books with dogs! This one is no exception. Atlas is definitely well-trained, and due to such training, extremely lethal. Watching his experiences made for a great read. I enjoyed the love story, of course, as well as the mystery as to why Lyn and Atlas were in danger.
January 28, 2016
3.5 stars - ARC Review
I have enjoyed books about dogs in the romantic suspense genre in the past, and was hoping that this one had a good balance of suspense and charm. If done right, the animals will warm your heart. I was not disappointed. Extreme Honor is an entertaining read with a suspenseful storyline and lots of potential for more.
What I really enjoyed about this book is the interesting insights that the author has about various subjects that ring true to me. For example, I liked how the author is willing to articulate that not all Navy SEALS are heroic. They are human beings subject to the same weakness and temptations as the rest of us. Most may choose the right and moral choices, but not all:
Combat shaped soldiers in a variety of ways and as much as people wanted to think it was for the good, sometimes men got twisted. Or they already were and service had brought out the jagged edges in them. This man was not a shining example of a military hero by anyone’s definition.
On a lighter note, Lyn’s observation about hotels really resonates with me as a frequent business traveller: “She stayed in hotels all the time and they were most definitely not all made equal. In fact, even hotels in the same chain varied to a certain extent, depending on the location.” Truth. It’s not a big insight, but is highly appreciated from someone who stays at a lot of hotels. This “nod” increases my enjoyment of the story.
What starts off as a solid romantic suspense involving the trauma witnessed by a dog, develops into a riveting conspiracy theory about dishonest maneuvering happening during the war. The narrative is well-paced and makes some surprising twists and turns.
My biggest critique of the storyline is when Lyn makes a dubious choice to get in a car, despite the information she and David learned earlier about who is involved in a conspiracy. Worse, David, who is plagued by his intuition all day, allows her to leave. It seems out of line from the smart and cautious way they were working before that moment. I shake my head in confusion.
I also think that perhaps I would like more details on what makes Lyn a special dog whisperer. She obviously connects with Atlas, but there is not enough about her training style, especially in contrast to Dave’s. Learning about military dog training is heavily detailed and very interesting. It feels unbalanced.
However, other parts of the story surprised me in a good way. For the most part, I like the character development. The interaction between the two characters feels genuine based on their commonality as dog trainers whose styles complement each other. Moreover, I really enjoyed the ending. It is better than what I expected. The story is resolved well enough, but leaves room for more in the next book.
IN A NUTSHELL:
A new author, a new series, and a great start - I cannot wait to pick up the next installment.
I have enjoyed books about dogs in the romantic suspense genre in the past, and was hoping that this one had a good balance of suspense and charm. If done right, the animals will warm your heart. I was not disappointed. Extreme Honor is an entertaining read with a suspenseful storyline and lots of potential for more.
What I really enjoyed about this book is the interesting insights that the author has about various subjects that ring true to me. For example, I liked how the author is willing to articulate that not all Navy SEALS are heroic. They are human beings subject to the same weakness and temptations as the rest of us. Most may choose the right and moral choices, but not all:
Combat shaped soldiers in a variety of ways and as much as people wanted to think it was for the good, sometimes men got twisted. Or they already were and service had brought out the jagged edges in them. This man was not a shining example of a military hero by anyone’s definition.
On a lighter note, Lyn’s observation about hotels really resonates with me as a frequent business traveller: “She stayed in hotels all the time and they were most definitely not all made equal. In fact, even hotels in the same chain varied to a certain extent, depending on the location.” Truth. It’s not a big insight, but is highly appreciated from someone who stays at a lot of hotels. This “nod” increases my enjoyment of the story.
What starts off as a solid romantic suspense involving the trauma witnessed by a dog, develops into a riveting conspiracy theory about dishonest maneuvering happening during the war. The narrative is well-paced and makes some surprising twists and turns.
My biggest critique of the storyline is when Lyn makes a dubious choice to get in a car, despite the information she and David learned earlier about who is involved in a conspiracy. Worse, David, who is plagued by his intuition all day, allows her to leave. It seems out of line from the smart and cautious way they were working before that moment. I shake my head in confusion.
I also think that perhaps I would like more details on what makes Lyn a special dog whisperer. She obviously connects with Atlas, but there is not enough about her training style, especially in contrast to Dave’s. Learning about military dog training is heavily detailed and very interesting. It feels unbalanced.
However, other parts of the story surprised me in a good way. For the most part, I like the character development. The interaction between the two characters feels genuine based on their commonality as dog trainers whose styles complement each other. Moreover, I really enjoyed the ending. It is better than what I expected. The story is resolved well enough, but leaves room for more in the next book.
IN A NUTSHELL:
A new author, a new series, and a great start - I cannot wait to pick up the next installment.
July 20, 2020
I loved this book from the start and it made me get to the whole series at once. German Shephard dogs and Belgian Malinois, yes please. Then hot guys on top of that and a romance with Intrigue had me hooked from the start. The place is called Hope's Crossing Kennel.
This story is about David Cruz and Atlas. Atlas is grieving for his former handler until Evelyn Jones walks in and then Atlas falls for her and maybe David does as well.
#piperjdrake #trueheroes #forever
This story is about David Cruz and Atlas. Atlas is grieving for his former handler until Evelyn Jones walks in and then Atlas falls for her and maybe David does as well.
#piperjdrake #trueheroes #forever
January 13, 2020
***2.5 Stars***
This was okay, I guess.
The romance was meh, with not much chemistry between the MCs. I skimmed the sex scenes because I just wasn't feeling it between Lyn and David.
The suspense element felt formulaic.
While the overall premise was interesting, nothing about the story had any depth. Most of the characters felt very one dimensional.
Overall, this was pretty forgettable.
November 13, 2016
Release Launch, Review & Giveaway: EXTREME HONOR (True Heroes #1) by Piper J. Drake http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-3JY
Publication Date: January 26, 2016
Genre: Romantic Suspense/ Contemporary Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated: 5 Stars
Kindle | Amazon PBK | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
10 Print Copies of EXTREME HONOR by Piper J. Drake
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Publication Date: January 26, 2016
Genre: Romantic Suspense/ Contemporary Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated: 5 Stars
I am excited by this new series! David is one of several dog trainers that specialize in military and police dogs, especially those that have seen action. All of the men at the facility are x-military and along with being hyper vigilant, they are prepared for any contingency. Enter Evelyn, the now grown, connected military brat trying to make a name for herself, a wild tempest surrounding a dog in rehab and you have the makings of a fast paced fun story. I connected and liked everyone from the beginning, got drawn into their lives and kept glued to the pages. All in all a hot romance with nonstop action. Fun!
*Review copy provided Forever Romance in exchange for an honest review.
~*~*~*~
Kindle | Amazon PBK | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
And don’t miss the second book in the True Heroes series, ULTIMATE COURAGE, on sale July 26, 2016!
~*~*~*~
10 Print Copies of EXTREME HONOR by Piper J. Drake
a Rafflecopter giveaway
~*~*~*~
January 26, 2016
My Review:
This was a fun read. Atlas is a famous dog in that he got some publicity after his handler was killed in action. The truth about all that is much more complex, and now Atlas is in mourning, so he's back at his original kennels for some retraining with David.
Lyn is sent in by DOD to offer some training help to David, and this is where things were a little sketchy. David trains military dogs and is a former soldier. Lyn trains civilian dogs...it makes no sense for her to be brought into this situation. Now if the reverse were true, I could see it...it was just a minor plot glitch that just didn't quite work for me, no matter who Lyn's stepfather was...but again, that was really minor thing that kind of bugged me.
But what I did love about the book was the entire dog training process, the complex the guys own, and Atlas...gah, I love that dog and his bits of personality that slowly began to evolve and show through. When the story begins, the dog is depressed and doesn't respond to anyone, but he falls in love with Lyn and I loved that about him. I loved how he'd react whenever David got too close to her, and how the two alpha males reacted to one another when around her.
I loved that Atlas was hiding a secret even if his secret was awful...and heartbreaking. There was a decent amount of suspense and intrigue to the story line and I'll admit to being surprised when it all played out because I thought I had a pretty good handle on where it was going. I was wrong...and I love it when that happens.
And then there's the romance. This was pretty good. I liked David and Lyn, although there were times when their connection didn't feel as deep as I'd like. I also had issues with how much Lyn let her stepfather demean and demoralize her. I really thought she needed to stand up for herself more for me to respect her. In the end, they were fun characters to read and I did enjoy their romance overall.
This was a decent start to the series. Like I said, I loved the kennels and what the three guys are doing there. I look forward to reading more in the series, because I liked the setup that was established in this one.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This was a fun read. Atlas is a famous dog in that he got some publicity after his handler was killed in action. The truth about all that is much more complex, and now Atlas is in mourning, so he's back at his original kennels for some retraining with David.
Lyn is sent in by DOD to offer some training help to David, and this is where things were a little sketchy. David trains military dogs and is a former soldier. Lyn trains civilian dogs...it makes no sense for her to be brought into this situation. Now if the reverse were true, I could see it...it was just a minor plot glitch that just didn't quite work for me, no matter who Lyn's stepfather was...but again, that was really minor thing that kind of bugged me.
But what I did love about the book was the entire dog training process, the complex the guys own, and Atlas...gah, I love that dog and his bits of personality that slowly began to evolve and show through. When the story begins, the dog is depressed and doesn't respond to anyone, but he falls in love with Lyn and I loved that about him. I loved how he'd react whenever David got too close to her, and how the two alpha males reacted to one another when around her.
I loved that Atlas was hiding a secret even if his secret was awful...and heartbreaking. There was a decent amount of suspense and intrigue to the story line and I'll admit to being surprised when it all played out because I thought I had a pretty good handle on where it was going. I was wrong...and I love it when that happens.
And then there's the romance. This was pretty good. I liked David and Lyn, although there were times when their connection didn't feel as deep as I'd like. I also had issues with how much Lyn let her stepfather demean and demoralize her. I really thought she needed to stand up for herself more for me to respect her. In the end, they were fun characters to read and I did enjoy their romance overall.
This was a decent start to the series. Like I said, I loved the kennels and what the three guys are doing there. I look forward to reading more in the series, because I liked the setup that was established in this one.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
February 19, 2016
Former Soldier David Cruz may have left the military but he didn’t go far. He now helps our canine heroes rehabilitate. At the Hope’s Crossing Kennel David trains dogs in need of special help. His current trainee is Atlas, a Belgian Malinois who lost his partner in combat. Since Atlas arrived David has been unable to create a bond with the dog.
Evelyn Jones a successful dog whisperer has been sent in to help with Atlas. She’s a firecracker with the attitude to match. David may be put off by her attitude but he can’t deny she’s gorgeous. Lyn also manages to immediately connect with Atlas. It doesn’t take long for David to connect with Lyn as well.
Grief isn’t the only thing Atlas must overcome. Danger haunts the shadows waiting to strike out. Will David be able to protect Lyn and Atlas?
I LOVE Extreme Honor by Piper J. Drake. There are so many things about this book that I love I don’t know where to begin. I was enthralled right away with Atlas’ background. Drake created a wonderful connection between the reader and her characters in Extreme Honor. She also managed to develop top-notch suspense surrounding heroic Atlas and the danger lurking in their midst.
David definitely has the sensual, soldier with a heart of gold vibe oozing off the pages. He has plenty of internal scars of his own but I wouldn’t mind taking him home to meet the parents! I get such a kick out of his first meeting with Lyn. She’s giving him the alpha chick, “I’m not taking any sh*t” attitude, but he manages to play it cool and sexy. I knew then that these two where not going to have any trouble in the chemistry department.
Extreme Honor captures the heart with its endearing characters, steamy passion and fantastic plot! I was on the edge of my seat from page one until the thrilling end! I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in Piper J. Drake’s True Heroes series.
Reviewed by Miranda for Joyfully Reviewed
Link: bit.ly/1R7i6tN
Evelyn Jones a successful dog whisperer has been sent in to help with Atlas. She’s a firecracker with the attitude to match. David may be put off by her attitude but he can’t deny she’s gorgeous. Lyn also manages to immediately connect with Atlas. It doesn’t take long for David to connect with Lyn as well.
Grief isn’t the only thing Atlas must overcome. Danger haunts the shadows waiting to strike out. Will David be able to protect Lyn and Atlas?
I LOVE Extreme Honor by Piper J. Drake. There are so many things about this book that I love I don’t know where to begin. I was enthralled right away with Atlas’ background. Drake created a wonderful connection between the reader and her characters in Extreme Honor. She also managed to develop top-notch suspense surrounding heroic Atlas and the danger lurking in their midst.
David definitely has the sensual, soldier with a heart of gold vibe oozing off the pages. He has plenty of internal scars of his own but I wouldn’t mind taking him home to meet the parents! I get such a kick out of his first meeting with Lyn. She’s giving him the alpha chick, “I’m not taking any sh*t” attitude, but he manages to play it cool and sexy. I knew then that these two where not going to have any trouble in the chemistry department.
Extreme Honor captures the heart with its endearing characters, steamy passion and fantastic plot! I was on the edge of my seat from page one until the thrilling end! I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in Piper J. Drake’s True Heroes series.
Reviewed by Miranda for Joyfully Reviewed
Link: bit.ly/1R7i6tN
January 31, 2016
First off, let me say how much I loved the cover! The dog, Atlas, looking so adoringly at his trainer, just tugs at your heartstrings. Extreme Honor moves pretty well with an interesting story-line. I love dogs and I knew it could be a potential tissue-needed-type book, but it wasn't quite like that. At times I felt the story could have been made better than it actually came out.
I loved the premise of the book-military dog loses his handler by friendly fire. There are questions how that happened-thus the suspense side of the story. The dog is grieving and David Cruz is trying to help him with no luck. Dog whisperer, Evelyn Jones walks in and things instantly change. Atlas falls in love with her at first sight! I really liked her. She seemed uneasy about her abilities to help, but Atlas taking to her immediately strengthened her resolve to help him. I did like how the relationship evolved between her and David. Their dedication to finding out the truth of what happened to Atlas' handler puts them in danger. I liked the romantic suspense of it.
David was harder to get into. All alpha and tough, unfortunately he didn't connect to me. I felt his sincerity in helping Atlas and I did like that about him. He seemed to be in his own head-space a lot until Evelyn slowly drew him out.
The rub comes with some of the secondary characters. There seemed to be no real connection and they just popped up randomly. We really didn't know how they fit into the equation so there wasn't good flow.
All in all, Piper J. Drake wrote an endearing story. Would I recommend it? Yes. I am a dog lover. Atlas stole the show, and I loved him!
3.5 stars/3 flames
This book was gifted to me for the express purpose of an honest review. The rating and review are solely my opinion and in no way was I compensated
I loved the premise of the book-military dog loses his handler by friendly fire. There are questions how that happened-thus the suspense side of the story. The dog is grieving and David Cruz is trying to help him with no luck. Dog whisperer, Evelyn Jones walks in and things instantly change. Atlas falls in love with her at first sight! I really liked her. She seemed uneasy about her abilities to help, but Atlas taking to her immediately strengthened her resolve to help him. I did like how the relationship evolved between her and David. Their dedication to finding out the truth of what happened to Atlas' handler puts them in danger. I liked the romantic suspense of it.
David was harder to get into. All alpha and tough, unfortunately he didn't connect to me. I felt his sincerity in helping Atlas and I did like that about him. He seemed to be in his own head-space a lot until Evelyn slowly drew him out.
The rub comes with some of the secondary characters. There seemed to be no real connection and they just popped up randomly. We really didn't know how they fit into the equation so there wasn't good flow.
All in all, Piper J. Drake wrote an endearing story. Would I recommend it? Yes. I am a dog lover. Atlas stole the show, and I loved him!
3.5 stars/3 flames
This book was gifted to me for the express purpose of an honest review. The rating and review are solely my opinion and in no way was I compensated
March 20, 2018
Extreme Honor by Piper Drake
A contemporary romantic suspense with ex-military men and highly trained and lovable dogs. First in a series.
The hero plays the honorable card even though an immediate attraction makes restraint difficult for both. Once they succumb to passion, the devotion and emotional commitment to each other is fantastic and well written. It seemed to be an abrupt change from sexual attraction to an emotional one, but sex and highly stressed situations will probably do that.
I was surprised by one character near the end.
Bottom line, an engaging romantic suspense novel and an author I look forward to reading again.
A contemporary romantic suspense with ex-military men and highly trained and lovable dogs. First in a series.
The hero plays the honorable card even though an immediate attraction makes restraint difficult for both. Once they succumb to passion, the devotion and emotional commitment to each other is fantastic and well written. It seemed to be an abrupt change from sexual attraction to an emotional one, but sex and highly stressed situations will probably do that.
I was surprised by one character near the end.
Bottom line, an engaging romantic suspense novel and an author I look forward to reading again.
February 24, 2016
I liked that lyn just cared for the dog and the dog was loyal to her. she had issues but I didn't really see her getting over it.The book was mostly surrounded by the dog and his handler dying not much romance but it was still sweet at the end.
May 23, 2021
Extreme Honor
3.5 Stars
Despite the intriguing premise of rehabilitating a traumatized K9 whose handler died in combat, the romance, characterization and pacing fail to fully hit the mark.
Let's begin with the romance. David Cruz, a former rescue paratrooper and current k9 trainer, is set the task of retraining Atlas, a Belgian Malinois pining for his dead partner. To aid in his efforts, the military has assigned Evelyn Jones, an expert in canine psychology. The two humans rub each other the wrong way from the start due to their prejudices and misconceptions. Nevertheless, they agree to work together to help Atlas and eventually come to respect and care for each other. Unfortunately, this does not translate into any actual chemistry and the emotions are forced rather than natural.
In terms of character development, there is very little to speak of. Aside from some details about David's family, there is no information on his military background, how he became a K9 trainer or even why he is so invested in learning the truth about Atlas's handler. Likewise, Lyn's past is underdeveloped aside from her rocky relationship with her stepfather, which is hammered home over and over.
Finally, the plot is interesting although the pacing is slow in the middle, and some of the twists are obvious (very similar to events in Ambush by Barbara Nickless. While the action scenes are intense and the tension at the end is gripping, there are also several unexplained connections and numerous plot holes. That said, this is the first book in the series and the plot arc will apparently continue in the next installments, so details may still be forthcoming.
Overall, a solid beginning to the series, and dog lovers will fall for Atlas immediately. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for David and Lyn's romance. Hopefully, the next one will be better in this regard.
3.5 Stars
Despite the intriguing premise of rehabilitating a traumatized K9 whose handler died in combat, the romance, characterization and pacing fail to fully hit the mark.
Let's begin with the romance. David Cruz, a former rescue paratrooper and current k9 trainer, is set the task of retraining Atlas, a Belgian Malinois pining for his dead partner. To aid in his efforts, the military has assigned Evelyn Jones, an expert in canine psychology. The two humans rub each other the wrong way from the start due to their prejudices and misconceptions. Nevertheless, they agree to work together to help Atlas and eventually come to respect and care for each other. Unfortunately, this does not translate into any actual chemistry and the emotions are forced rather than natural.
In terms of character development, there is very little to speak of. Aside from some details about David's family, there is no information on his military background, how he became a K9 trainer or even why he is so invested in learning the truth about Atlas's handler. Likewise, Lyn's past is underdeveloped aside from her rocky relationship with her stepfather, which is hammered home over and over.
Finally, the plot is interesting although the pacing is slow in the middle, and some of the twists are obvious (very similar to events in Ambush by Barbara Nickless. While the action scenes are intense and the tension at the end is gripping, there are also several unexplained connections and numerous plot holes. That said, this is the first book in the series and the plot arc will apparently continue in the next installments, so details may still be forthcoming.
Overall, a solid beginning to the series, and dog lovers will fall for Atlas immediately. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for David and Lyn's romance. Hopefully, the next one will be better in this regard.
April 1, 2016
Very good book. It caught my interest from the beginning and I couldn't put it down until I was done. I really loved the setting of a place that trains and rehabilitates dogs. The romance between David and Lyn was great and the suspense was intriguing.
David and his friends started Hope's Crossing when each of them left the military. They love their work and it suits their post-war needs. David's biggest challenge right now is Atlas, a dog that he had trained. Atlas's handler had been a friend of David's and Calhoun's death has hit both David and Atlas hard. Atlas has lost interest in everything as he grieves his partner, until Lyn Jones arrives to work with him.
Lyn has made a career of helping dogs and owners. As a matter of fact, she prefers animals to people. When she read an article about Atlas, she was sure she could help him and did everything she could to get hired to work with him. Atlas walks right into her heart as soon as she meets him, increasing her determination to help him.
The initial meeting between David and Lyn was pretty rocky. David hadn't been told anything about an outsider coming to help with Atlas and isn't very happy about it. Lyn, having grown up with a military stepfather, feels that she has to establish herself immediately and comes across pretty bitchy. I liked that they overcame that first meeting quickly, once they both realized that Atlas's recovery is the important thing. I loved seeing them bond over their care for the dog. Also humming along between them is an intense attraction. David makes his interest known immediately, though Lyn starts out trying to keep things professional between them. I loved the way that David accepted it without pouting or trying to change her mind. He also didn't let it affect their working relationship. When Lyn was attacked, David's protectiveness kicked in. His rescue of her was exciting, but even better was his sensitivity to the aftermath. I loved his matter-of-fact support and understanding. It was fun to see how Lyn changed her mind about being with him, and her frustration when David refused to take advantage of her vulnerability. I loved seeing them grow closer as they worked with Atlas. I also loved Lyn's reaction to David's story about his family, a support that he had never experienced before. They ran into a rocky spot in their developing relationship at the end, but came through it well. I loved the respect and love they have for each other and how it showed in the way that Lyn stood up for her feelings at the end.
The suspense of the story was really good. From the beginning, David has suspected that there was more to his friend's death than was reported. When Lyn was attacked soon after arriving, and Atlas seems to be the motivating factor, David's suspicions increase. The evidence that he discovers raises more questions and puts him and Lyn in greater danger as they investigate what they have learned. There are several really intense confrontations that had me on the edge of my seat, wondering how they were going to get through them. The final confrontation was really exciting, with an interesting twist to it.
I loved the few glimpses of David's partners, Brandon and Alex. Both of them showed the same protectiveness and intensity as he did. I'm really looking forward to their stories. I also loved Atlas. His grief over the loss of his handler was obvious. I liked the little hint of interest he showed when Lyn appeared, and David's bit of jealousy over it. I also liked the fact that it wasn't an immediate healing, but a gradual process, which was much more realistic. I liked the bits of his personality that showed through, like when David was kissing Lyn. I also loved how he connected with Lyn and protected her.
David and his friends started Hope's Crossing when each of them left the military. They love their work and it suits their post-war needs. David's biggest challenge right now is Atlas, a dog that he had trained. Atlas's handler had been a friend of David's and Calhoun's death has hit both David and Atlas hard. Atlas has lost interest in everything as he grieves his partner, until Lyn Jones arrives to work with him.
Lyn has made a career of helping dogs and owners. As a matter of fact, she prefers animals to people. When she read an article about Atlas, she was sure she could help him and did everything she could to get hired to work with him. Atlas walks right into her heart as soon as she meets him, increasing her determination to help him.
The initial meeting between David and Lyn was pretty rocky. David hadn't been told anything about an outsider coming to help with Atlas and isn't very happy about it. Lyn, having grown up with a military stepfather, feels that she has to establish herself immediately and comes across pretty bitchy. I liked that they overcame that first meeting quickly, once they both realized that Atlas's recovery is the important thing. I loved seeing them bond over their care for the dog. Also humming along between them is an intense attraction. David makes his interest known immediately, though Lyn starts out trying to keep things professional between them. I loved the way that David accepted it without pouting or trying to change her mind. He also didn't let it affect their working relationship. When Lyn was attacked, David's protectiveness kicked in. His rescue of her was exciting, but even better was his sensitivity to the aftermath. I loved his matter-of-fact support and understanding. It was fun to see how Lyn changed her mind about being with him, and her frustration when David refused to take advantage of her vulnerability. I loved seeing them grow closer as they worked with Atlas. I also loved Lyn's reaction to David's story about his family, a support that he had never experienced before. They ran into a rocky spot in their developing relationship at the end, but came through it well. I loved the respect and love they have for each other and how it showed in the way that Lyn stood up for her feelings at the end.
The suspense of the story was really good. From the beginning, David has suspected that there was more to his friend's death than was reported. When Lyn was attacked soon after arriving, and Atlas seems to be the motivating factor, David's suspicions increase. The evidence that he discovers raises more questions and puts him and Lyn in greater danger as they investigate what they have learned. There are several really intense confrontations that had me on the edge of my seat, wondering how they were going to get through them. The final confrontation was really exciting, with an interesting twist to it.
I loved the few glimpses of David's partners, Brandon and Alex. Both of them showed the same protectiveness and intensity as he did. I'm really looking forward to their stories. I also loved Atlas. His grief over the loss of his handler was obvious. I liked the little hint of interest he showed when Lyn appeared, and David's bit of jealousy over it. I also liked the fact that it wasn't an immediate healing, but a gradual process, which was much more realistic. I liked the bits of his personality that showed through, like when David was kissing Lyn. I also loved how he connected with Lyn and protected her.
March 6, 2016
To be honest, I do not even like dogs. They are scary, they little ones always bark at me, trust me, I meet one in the street and it will bark at me and not the next person. The bigger ones do not but those are just scary on their own. Childhood being chased trauma.
Anyway, reading about dogs is another matter. I really liked Atlas, poor guy had PTSD after his handler had died in battle. And now David is trying to make Atlas feel like himself again. He was such good dog. I really liked the ending too.
And there is a romance too, but most important was Atlas' happiness. But fine let's talk romance too. Lynn comes to help David with Atlas. Sparks fly, but oh no! Someone seems to be after Lynn, why? It gets suspenseful and then everyone lives happily ever after.
I really should read more romantic suspense, it can be a nice change of pace. And books with animals are always special. I really felt for poor Atlas.
Good one.
Anyway, reading about dogs is another matter. I really liked Atlas, poor guy had PTSD after his handler had died in battle. And now David is trying to make Atlas feel like himself again. He was such good dog. I really liked the ending too.
And there is a romance too, but most important was Atlas' happiness. But fine let's talk romance too. Lynn comes to help David with Atlas. Sparks fly, but oh no! Someone seems to be after Lynn, why? It gets suspenseful and then everyone lives happily ever after.
I really should read more romantic suspense, it can be a nice change of pace. And books with animals are always special. I really felt for poor Atlas.
Good one.
November 12, 2015
Sometimes a man just needs to be honest, "he nodded and kissed her forehead. “We did. I really like us as a thing and I want us to last.” David was my type of man, sexy, strong, bossy and most of all an animal lover.
February 10, 2016
2.5 Stars.
January 1, 2020
* Bonus book included in Lethal Redemption.
Dog trainer, Lyn gets hired to help with the rehabilitation of a service dog who’s lost his handler while on active duty.
Normally working solo, Lyn has to work to co-train with David Cruz the military vet who helps run hope’s Crossings Kennels.
But Atlas isn’t your average service dog. Not when his handler’s death was under questionable circumstances and strange things start happening almost from day one of Lyn’s arrival.
This was a sweet action packed story that had two likable (if slightly stubborn) MCs and I loved Atlas. He was technically a side character but I loved seeing him come out of his shell and learning the behind the scenes of service dog training.
SAFETY INFO:
Dog trainer, Lyn gets hired to help with the rehabilitation of a service dog who’s lost his handler while on active duty.
Normally working solo, Lyn has to work to co-train with David Cruz the military vet who helps run hope’s Crossings Kennels.
But Atlas isn’t your average service dog. Not when his handler’s death was under questionable circumstances and strange things start happening almost from day one of Lyn’s arrival.
This was a sweet action packed story that had two likable (if slightly stubborn) MCs and I loved Atlas. He was technically a side character but I loved seeing him come out of his shell and learning the behind the scenes of service dog training.
SAFETY INFO:
March 10, 2019
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
3.5 hearts
Read It, Rate It and Record
A short review to update challenges
I go off on my little tangents sometimes, and the current tangent is K9 series. So I'm trying out the True Heroes series. I appreciate the military or law enforcement characters, the mystery or crime aspects and of course, the dogs. The genre tends to be mystery or romantic suspense.
In Extreme Honor, we have a ex-special forces guy running a training kennel with two ex-military friends. I enjoyed the world and the characters. I connected with the characters but felt the romance happened a little too fast. I think I needed more dialogue to develop them and their relationship.
The mystery plot was hampered by David and Lyn not talking to each other and not really using their resources fully to gather information. Still, it was interesting and exciting. I'm looking forward to more. Currently, book 5 is just being released.
Narration:
Both narrators were new to me. The male and female narrator alternated based on the point of view. Duet narration has the narrators interchanging within the chapter. It is not a common style but was very enjoyable. Their performances enhanced the listening experience. I was able to listen comfortably at 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:
https://soundcloud.com/hachetteaudio/...
3.5 hearts
Read It, Rate It and Record
A short review to update challenges
I go off on my little tangents sometimes, and the current tangent is K9 series. So I'm trying out the True Heroes series. I appreciate the military or law enforcement characters, the mystery or crime aspects and of course, the dogs. The genre tends to be mystery or romantic suspense.
In Extreme Honor, we have a ex-special forces guy running a training kennel with two ex-military friends. I enjoyed the world and the characters. I connected with the characters but felt the romance happened a little too fast. I think I needed more dialogue to develop them and their relationship.
The mystery plot was hampered by David and Lyn not talking to each other and not really using their resources fully to gather information. Still, it was interesting and exciting. I'm looking forward to more. Currently, book 5 is just being released.
Narration:
Both narrators were new to me. The male and female narrator alternated based on the point of view. Duet narration has the narrators interchanging within the chapter. It is not a common style but was very enjoyable. Their performances enhanced the listening experience. I was able to listen comfortably at 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:
https://soundcloud.com/hachetteaudio/...
January 14, 2016
Extreme Honor is a military romantic suspense that has a unique premise. It tackles the topic of Military K9 dogs, in fact this book is the first of a series (that can be read as a standalone) about three former military soldiers running a kennel that trains dogs for security and even rehabilitates them.
In Extreme Honor we meet David Cruz, formerly of the air force special unit who trains military K9s. He is currently in possession of Atlas, a very special dog whose lost his handler during deployment. Atlas is in need of some TLC but the military needs him to be in shape in order to be deployed again. Enter Ms. Evelyn Jones, sent in to help. She is well known in her field regarding dog behaviour and training. When Cruz and Lyn meet there are sparks, when Lyn and Atlas meet however the dog shows an interest he hasn't displayed in a long time. But Atlas carries secrets that needs to be uncovered and David needs to find out what his friend was killed for. And when everything is starting to make sense, Atlas life is in danger along with Lyn's.
Extreme Honor works so well in so many levels. First of the characters, although romantic suspense leads tend to be perfect aka they do well in everything, here Cruz and Lyn shows that despite their competency in their fields they aren't know it all. Lyn is great, she's attractive which is only highlighted at the beginning of the book, the rest of the time its her qualities that are remarked upon. She is smart, great with dogs but gets scared, suffers from anxiety attacks as the story progresses because of the situation she finds herself in but still tries to remain calm in some situations. In other words, she displays real behaviour. Cruz is the same, he may be ex-military but he displays the logical thinking needed in high risk situations. Clearly this characters are well developed and thought out.
The plot appears simple but again its obvious something deeper is at play which also leads to a confrontation that was unexpected. The real story here though is Atlas, the dog at the heart of it all. The plot and even the characters behaviour revolves around this special four pawed protagonist. And readers who are unfamiliar with military dogs will get a very good birds eye view on what goes into training this special soldiers.
Extreme Honor was just great to read, a veritable page turner that is well balanced in characterization, plot and romance. Looking forward to reading the next book.
*ARC provided thru NetGalley*
In Extreme Honor we meet David Cruz, formerly of the air force special unit who trains military K9s. He is currently in possession of Atlas, a very special dog whose lost his handler during deployment. Atlas is in need of some TLC but the military needs him to be in shape in order to be deployed again. Enter Ms. Evelyn Jones, sent in to help. She is well known in her field regarding dog behaviour and training. When Cruz and Lyn meet there are sparks, when Lyn and Atlas meet however the dog shows an interest he hasn't displayed in a long time. But Atlas carries secrets that needs to be uncovered and David needs to find out what his friend was killed for. And when everything is starting to make sense, Atlas life is in danger along with Lyn's.
Extreme Honor works so well in so many levels. First of the characters, although romantic suspense leads tend to be perfect aka they do well in everything, here Cruz and Lyn shows that despite their competency in their fields they aren't know it all. Lyn is great, she's attractive which is only highlighted at the beginning of the book, the rest of the time its her qualities that are remarked upon. She is smart, great with dogs but gets scared, suffers from anxiety attacks as the story progresses because of the situation she finds herself in but still tries to remain calm in some situations. In other words, she displays real behaviour. Cruz is the same, he may be ex-military but he displays the logical thinking needed in high risk situations. Clearly this characters are well developed and thought out.
The plot appears simple but again its obvious something deeper is at play which also leads to a confrontation that was unexpected. The real story here though is Atlas, the dog at the heart of it all. The plot and even the characters behaviour revolves around this special four pawed protagonist. And readers who are unfamiliar with military dogs will get a very good birds eye view on what goes into training this special soldiers.
Extreme Honor was just great to read, a veritable page turner that is well balanced in characterization, plot and romance. Looking forward to reading the next book.
*ARC provided thru NetGalley*
October 10, 2024
So I first tried the True Heroes series with book three, Absolute Trust and I soon learned that I needed to read this series in order, so I set down Absolute Trust and request from my library the first book Extreme Honor.
Extreme Honor is a light and easy romantic suspense read. I had an ok time reading. It was a little bland, but enjoyable enough. I did have some trouble getting into the story; because it’s slow to get going, but once you hit 60% things start to pick up.
The suspense was predictable and of course not completely resolved by the end. Some threads where left open to carry on into the next book. And, the romance did have some heat with a little tension, but I never felt that the couple connected.
My main issue with this one and where I had trouble was the dog training. Why? Well I’m a fan of D.D. Ayres K-9 Rescue series and that women knows her dog breeds and the training that goes into military dogs, police dogs, and well all the different types of work a dog can do. I didn’t feel that Piper J. Drake did much research on the different areas, that she didn’t understood dogs; let alone working dogs, and I never felt that her characters connected to the dogs they worked with. It was disappointing.
Extreme Honor was meh and enjoyable enough to read. I will say I’m intrigued to check out the next book Ultimate Courage just from the except that I read at the end of Extreme Honor.
Rated: 2.5/3 Stars
Extreme Honor is a light and easy romantic suspense read. I had an ok time reading. It was a little bland, but enjoyable enough. I did have some trouble getting into the story; because it’s slow to get going, but once you hit 60% things start to pick up.
The suspense was predictable and of course not completely resolved by the end. Some threads where left open to carry on into the next book. And, the romance did have some heat with a little tension, but I never felt that the couple connected.
My main issue with this one and where I had trouble was the dog training. Why? Well I’m a fan of D.D. Ayres K-9 Rescue series and that women knows her dog breeds and the training that goes into military dogs, police dogs, and well all the different types of work a dog can do. I didn’t feel that Piper J. Drake did much research on the different areas, that she didn’t understood dogs; let alone working dogs, and I never felt that her characters connected to the dogs they worked with. It was disappointing.
Extreme Honor was meh and enjoyable enough to read. I will say I’m intrigued to check out the next book Ultimate Courage just from the except that I read at the end of Extreme Honor.
Rated: 2.5/3 Stars
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May 31, 2025D.N.F.
I was SO looking forward to this book! The cover and synopsis more then captured my interested and I could not wait to dive in. Unfortunately, the pages in between could not live up to my expectations. I finally DNF'd the book at 70%. :( The premise of the story was fantastic but the delivery left much to be desired, and I believe that the author's writing style just didn't jive with my tastes (which happens). The plot itself moved very slowly and was written with a technical hand when I prefer a more impassioned one. I also felt that the suspense side of the story dragged. There was not enough, puzzle pieces I guess you could say, given to keep me trying to piece together while the rest of the story carried on. I often forgot about that element in between the rehabilitation of Atlas (our K9 hero) and the developing romance between Lyn and David (our heroine and hero.) I could't connect with the characters either, and the heroine for one, bounced around so much with her feelings and thoughts I had no clue where she stood half of the time. David on the other hand, I did enjoy more as a character but he had his inconsistencies as well. Especially when it came to Lyn. For the life of me, I couldn't get into their heads enough to relate to anything they did or keep my own head in the story. All in all, Extreme Honor just did not work for me and the entire story fell flat. That being said, if you dig military romances with detailed writing over anything whimsical, and don't mind a drawn-out love story, you might want to give this one a try yourself.
See a full review of this title at Reading Between the Wines Book Club!
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I was SO looking forward to this book! The cover and synopsis more then captured my interested and I could not wait to dive in. Unfortunately, the pages in between could not live up to my expectations. I finally DNF'd the book at 70%. :( The premise of the story was fantastic but the delivery left much to be desired, and I believe that the author's writing style just didn't jive with my tastes (which happens). The plot itself moved very slowly and was written with a technical hand when I prefer a more impassioned one. I also felt that the suspense side of the story dragged. There was not enough, puzzle pieces I guess you could say, given to keep me trying to piece together while the rest of the story carried on. I often forgot about that element in between the rehabilitation of Atlas (our K9 hero) and the developing romance between Lyn and David (our heroine and hero.) I could't connect with the characters either, and the heroine for one, bounced around so much with her feelings and thoughts I had no clue where she stood half of the time. David on the other hand, I did enjoy more as a character but he had his inconsistencies as well. Especially when it came to Lyn. For the life of me, I couldn't get into their heads enough to relate to anything they did or keep my own head in the story. All in all, Extreme Honor just did not work for me and the entire story fell flat. That being said, if you dig military romances with detailed writing over anything whimsical, and don't mind a drawn-out love story, you might want to give this one a try yourself.
See a full review of this title at Reading Between the Wines Book Club!
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February 21, 2017
2.75 stars rounded up
Military romance -- or romance with muscular guys on the cover like this one -- is never really my thing. I just don't go gaga over military men in romance *shrugs*. But David and Evelyn made it to Round 2 of The Swoonies 2017 over at Heroes & Heartbreakers blog, so I was curious about how swoon-worthy this couple was. Plus with the blurb, I was expecting a LOT of interaction with the dog.
Well, maybe it was combination of my not having "chemistry" with Drake's writing, the topic of conspiracy (yeah, never a fan of that either), as well as my initial disinterest with military romance, but I wasn't too impressed with this one.
First , Evelyn was said to be "best dog whisperer" but I found her didn't do a lot in terms of Atlas rehabilitation, except for doing a lot of fur rubbing. Atlas was the one reacted to her first and David gave more instructions as a trainer compared to Evelyn.
Second , for me the romance was dry and well, Evelyn didn't exactly came as a heroine I'd like to root for. I just felt distant towards her ... and while I should at least sympathize with Evelyn's situation with her step-father, I didn't. David was an okay hero, but he didn't stand out for me. And I believe I would forget about his characteristics in a week time *shrugs*
Third , like I said, I didn't like conspiracy. I prefer straightforward homicides and motives that I can understand rather than everything being kept secretly hush hush. So the revelation in the end about involvement left me cold rather than excited.
So I didn't find David and Evelyn as swoon worthy. I am rounding it up for Atlas, the dog with broken-heart. In conclusion, I am going to pass this series... it's not my thing and apparently the author can't convince me otherwise.
Military romance -- or romance with muscular guys on the cover like this one -- is never really my thing. I just don't go gaga over military men in romance *shrugs*. But David and Evelyn made it to Round 2 of The Swoonies 2017 over at Heroes & Heartbreakers blog, so I was curious about how swoon-worthy this couple was. Plus with the blurb, I was expecting a LOT of interaction with the dog.
Well, maybe it was combination of my not having "chemistry" with Drake's writing, the topic of conspiracy (yeah, never a fan of that either), as well as my initial disinterest with military romance, but I wasn't too impressed with this one.
First , Evelyn was said to be "best dog whisperer" but I found her didn't do a lot in terms of Atlas rehabilitation, except for doing a lot of fur rubbing. Atlas was the one reacted to her first and David gave more instructions as a trainer compared to Evelyn.
Second , for me the romance was dry and well, Evelyn didn't exactly came as a heroine I'd like to root for. I just felt distant towards her ... and while I should at least sympathize with Evelyn's situation with her step-father, I didn't. David was an okay hero, but he didn't stand out for me. And I believe I would forget about his characteristics in a week time *shrugs*
Third , like I said, I didn't like conspiracy. I prefer straightforward homicides and motives that I can understand rather than everything being kept secretly hush hush. So the revelation in the end about involvement left me cold rather than excited.
So I didn't find David and Evelyn as swoon worthy. I am rounding it up for Atlas, the dog with broken-heart. In conclusion, I am going to pass this series... it's not my thing and apparently the author can't convince me otherwise.
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February 16, 2016How could I resist a romantic suspense with that handsome dog and hot guy on the cover? Well, I couldn't. :D While the cover was eye-catching, the story was just okay. Much of the story was predictable and obvious though there were a few genuine twists and turns. The romance had some heat and there was a mix of both professional and personal tension. Where I had trouble with the story was the military aspects and the dog training. It appears that Drake did some research but at other times it's as if she pulled her info out of a cloud and threw it into the story. There was one glaring error that jumped up and smacked me in the face and there's no need for it; a quick Google search or asking someone who's served in a war or military action would have caught it. Our hero, who really should know better, refers to 'Accidental friendly fire'. A former soldier, he should know that's redundant since friendly fire by definition is accidental. Credibility lost.
The military dog training was a mix of facts and 'say what?' Maybe the latter was the author taking literary license but it came off as failure to research and get the facts right. Again, credibility lost.
The suspense was meh and not completely resolved by the end of the story. There were a few loose threads left to carry on into the other books in the series. And the romance, meh. While there was some heat, Drake relied a lot on cliches, and I never really felt the connection between the two of them. "Extreme Honor" was entertaining but I had to set aside credibility and suspend belief. That said, I was intrigued by the excerpt for book two at the back and may give that one a try. I'll know what to expect when I pick it up and maybe won't be so disappointed.
The military dog training was a mix of facts and 'say what?' Maybe the latter was the author taking literary license but it came off as failure to research and get the facts right. Again, credibility lost.
The suspense was meh and not completely resolved by the end of the story. There were a few loose threads left to carry on into the other books in the series. And the romance, meh. While there was some heat, Drake relied a lot on cliches, and I never really felt the connection between the two of them. "Extreme Honor" was entertaining but I had to set aside credibility and suspend belief. That said, I was intrigued by the excerpt for book two at the back and may give that one a try. I'll know what to expect when I pick it up and maybe won't be so disappointed.
January 28, 2016
This is a great start to a new series. Three ex military men are working together training dogs for the military, police and others - though a lot of the time it may be more like training humans to work with the dogs.
One of their dogs had witnesses his handler being killed in action and the dog, Atlas, is suffering what I’d imagine is the doggy equivalent of PTSD. It is only after meeting Evelyn (Lyn) Jones that Atlas stops just going through the motions of living and actually shows more awareness of what is going on around her. It is a good job he does, too as danger lurks, threatening both of their lives!
Someone seems determined to stop Lyn working with Atlas, with military heroes, secrets to be uncovered and hearts to be mended it is an action packed military story where you’re not quite sure where the line of command is being breeched and love slowly but surely develops. With a range of hot alpha military heroes and packed with suspense this is an intriguing page turner that has really whet my appetite to read more in this series!
Thanks to the author, publisher, Barclay Publicity and NetGalley, too, for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for this, an honest review.
One of their dogs had witnesses his handler being killed in action and the dog, Atlas, is suffering what I’d imagine is the doggy equivalent of PTSD. It is only after meeting Evelyn (Lyn) Jones that Atlas stops just going through the motions of living and actually shows more awareness of what is going on around her. It is a good job he does, too as danger lurks, threatening both of their lives!
Someone seems determined to stop Lyn working with Atlas, with military heroes, secrets to be uncovered and hearts to be mended it is an action packed military story where you’re not quite sure where the line of command is being breeched and love slowly but surely develops. With a range of hot alpha military heroes and packed with suspense this is an intriguing page turner that has really whet my appetite to read more in this series!
Thanks to the author, publisher, Barclay Publicity and NetGalley, too, for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for this, an honest review.
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