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WORK TITLE: Fan the Flames
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://katieruggle.com/
CITY: Dennison
STATE: MN
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Female.
EDUCATION:Graduate of Police Academy.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Author. Has worked as a police officer on a Crime Scene Team and as a baker.
AVOCATIONS:Riding, shooting, cross-country-skiing, traveling, running, scuba diving.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Katie Ruggle is an American author of romantic suspense novels. Her Search and Rescue series focuses on a variety of first responders who live and work in a remote area of the Colorado mountains. These responders face natural and human dangers and fall in love in the process. “When I wrote the Search and Rescue series, I was living in an off-grid house in Colorado,” Ruggle explained to Joyce Lamb in a Happy Ever After Web site interview. “As the wind howled outside, it was quite easy to write about frigid temperatures and various snowstorms. The isolation of the setting turns mundane tasks into suspenseful events. … Will it be days, weeks or even months until the roads around my property are cleared? Is today the day my very strange neighbor will snap? I loved living in the mountains, but it caused some extra work and worry. The setting did provide wonderful inspiration for my books, though!” Speaking with a contributor in the online Under the Covers, Ruggle remarked on her preparation and research for writing this series: “Most of my research for this series was done long before I started to write it. My jobs and education and hobbies all played a part in teaching me what I needed to know to build the Search and Rescue universe. About five years ago, I received my law enforcement degree while working for a police department. My favorite part of the job was collecting and analyzing forensic evidence (yes, I admit that I’m a total forensics nerd). A few years later, while doing volunteer work with a fire department in Colorado, I was certified in cold-water rescue.”
On His Watch and Hold Your Breath
Ruggle’s Search and Rescue series starts off with the novella, On His Watch, featuring Derek Warner, an ice rescue driver. He is faced with the task of finding two little girls who have gone missing on a field trip. He is joined in this endeavor by the girls’ teacher, Artemis Rey, Derek’s former love interest who he broke up with several years before because of his dangerous occupation. Now, as these two are thrown together, they race against time to find the girls and at the same time their former love is rekindled. A Book Gourmet Web site reviewer was unenthusiastic about this prequel to the series, noting: “I don’t really know what I expected from this new-to-me author and this new-to-me series, but I guess it was more than I got in this short story.” A KT Book Reviews Web site contributor found more to like, commenting: “I was engaged from start to finish and enough so that I really want to continue on with the series.”
The first full-length novel in the series, Hold Your Breath, finds Lou Sparks working as a new recruit on the Field County Rescue Dive Team, a far cry from what her Connecticut family expected of her. Her team leader, Callum Cook, is her opposite, but she is oddly attracted to him. When Callum unearths a headless corpse on one of the team’s training exercises, Lou and Callum are suddenly the target of deadly attacks by the killer, and fighting and working together, the two soon become lovers. Writing in Booklist, Mary K. Chelton felt that this novel is a “good read with romantic, not graphic, sex scenes, and thrilling diving sequences.” A Publishers Weekly reviewer similarly noted: “Romantic suspense fans will enjoy the unusual setting, and Ruggle’s ice-rescue certification adds an element of authenticity to the rescue descriptions.” RT Book Reviews Web site contributor Jacqui McGugins felt that the series is “off to a promising start” with this title.
Fan the Flames
The series continues with Fan the Flames, focusing on the hard-won romance between firefighter and motorcycle club member, Ian Walsh, and local gun store owner, Rory Sorenson. Ian has basically been raised by his club, but he still feels more loyalty to his colleagues at the fire station. He has loved shy Rory since they were kids, and would do anything to keep her from danger. But danger is exactly what she gets into with the dark side of her gun shop business: she also sells illegal, untraceable arms, mostly to Ian’s club members. A series of events including a charge of murder against Ian, an attempted robbery of Rory’s shop, and warring motorcycle gangs brings these two together and friendship soon turns to romance.
“Implausible though [Rory] seems, one roots for her to overcome her social ineptitude and catch a great guy, and she does,” noted Chelton in Booklist. A Publishers Weekly reviewer also commented on some implausible aspects of the plot, but went on to observe that the “soap opera aspects of the ongoing story will keep [readers] eager for more revelations about this small Colorado town.” Writing on the online RT Book Reviews Web site, McGugins similarly noted that “There is a lot of action taking place around this one small, fiery Colorado woman.”
Gone Too Deep and In Safe Hands
Gone Too Deep is the third series addition, and it features survivalist expert George Holloway who is shepherding city girl Ellie Price as they search for her missing father in the unforgiving Colorado outback. George is the silent type, and at first Ellie is put off by his independent air, but with violent meth dealers in the area and when killers begin stalking them, Ellie very much appreciates the strong, silent type of which George is a major example. A Publishers Weekly reviewer was unimpressed with Gone Too Deep, noting that Ruggle’s “romantic suspense series sags with this slow-moving third installment.” A Romance Junkies Web site contributor, on the other hand, praised this series addition, commenting: “The pacing is swift, the action fierce, and the romance a slow burn as the hero and heroine fight off hypothermia, drug dealers, and their differences while falling deeper for each other.”
In Safe Hands continues the action and romance in Colorado, with Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Jennings investigating a possible homicide involving another office. Chris is friends with Daisy Little, a woman who is afraid to go out in the world but views it now through her bedroom window. Daisy’s agoraphobia was brought on a number of years earlier when she witnessed the killing of her own mother. Now she reports to Chris that she has seen a deputy’s car across the street and a man putting what looked to be a body in the trunk. This report and Chris’s subsequent investigation could blow the local sheriff’s department apart with divided loyalties. “If you enjoy romantic suspense, I would recommend this book,” noted an online Harlequin Junkie contributor. “It has plenty of suspense mixed with a nice blend of romance and humor.” McGugins, again writing in the online RT Book Reviews, also had praise, commenting: “The action in this entry is pulse-pounding and non-stop.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, March 1, 2016, Mary K. Chelton, review of Hold Your Breath, p. 52; May 15, 2016, Mary K. Chelton, review of Fan the Flames, p. 29.
Publishers Weekly, February, 22, 2016, review of Hold Your Breath, p. 74; April 11, 2016, review of Fan the Flames, p. 44; June 6, 2016, review of Gone Too Deep, p. 67.
ONLINE
Book Gourmet, https://thebookgourmet.blogspot.com/ (March 21, 2017), review of On His Watch.
Buried Under Romance, http://www.buriedunderromance.com/ (October 17, 2016), review of In Safe Hands.
Happy Ever After, http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/ (April 5, 2016), author profile.
Harlequin Junkie, http://harlequinjunkie.com/ (December 24, 2015), review of On His Watch; (May 4, 2016), review of Fan the Flames; (August 9, 2016), review of Gone Too Deep; (October 6th, 2016), review of In Safe Hands.
Katie Ruggle Home Page, http://katieruggle.com (January 17, 2017).
KT Book Reviews, http://ktbookreviews.blogspot.com/ (March 21, 2017), review of On His Watch.
Obsessive Book Nerd, http://www.obsessivebooknerd.com/ (January 17, 2017), Lauren Helms, review of Gone Too Deep, Fan the Flames, Hold Your Breath, and In Safe Hands.
Red Hot Books, http://redhotbooks.com/ (June 6, 2016), review of Fan the Flames.
Romance Junkies, http://romancejunkies.com/ (January 17, 2017), reviews of Gone Too Deep and Fan the Flames.
RT Book Reviews, https://www.rtbookreviews.com/ (January 17, 2017), Jacqui McGugins, reviews of Hold Your Breath, In Safe Hands, Gone Too Deep, and Fan the Flames.
Smart Bitches Trashy Books, http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/ (May 12, 2016), review of Hold Your Breath.
Smexy Books, http://smexybooks.com/ (April 14, 2016), review of Hold Your Breath.
Under the Covers, http://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/ (August 11, 2016), author interview.*
About Katie
katie_ruggle_1A fan of the old adage “write what you know”, Katie Ruggle lived in an off-grid, solar- and wind-powered house in the Rocky Mountains until her family lured her back to Minnesota. When she’s not writing, Katie rides horses, shoots guns (not while riding, although that would be awesome), cross-country skis (badly) and travels to warm places where she can scuba dive. A graduate of the Police Academy, Katie received her ice-rescue certification and can attest that the reservoirs in the Colorado mountains really are that cold. A fan of anything that makes her feel like a bad-ass, she has trained in Krav Maga, boxing and gymnastics.
You can connect with Katie at KatieRuggle.com, www.facebook.com/katierugglebooks, or on Twitter @KatieRuggle
Katie Ruggle lives in an off-grid, solar- and wind-powered house in the Rocky Mountains. When she’s not writing (many books are necessary to pay for her unfortunate equine addiction), Katie rides horses, shoots guns (not while riding, although that would be awesome), reads (of course), does yoga, stares at her generator in hopes that it will fix itself, hikes, has slumber parties with her nieces, cross-country skis (badly), watches her dogs play real-life whack-a-mole with the ground squirrels, kicks her generator in hopes that that will fix it, and sits in a rocking chair on her front porch with a shotgun across her lap (well, not quite yet on the last one, but give her a few more years in the mountains). She’s probably not nearly as funny as she thinks she is.
A graduate of the Police Academy, Katie received her ice-rescue certification and can attest that the reservoirs in the Colorado mountains really are that cold. A fan of anything that makes her feel like a bad-ass, she has trained in Krav Maga, boxing and gymnastics, has lived in an off-grid, solar- and wind-powered house in the Rocky Mountains, rides horses, shoots guns, cross-country skis and travels to warm places to scuba dive. Connect with Katie at http://katieruggle.com/, https://www.facebook.com/katierugglebooks, or on Twitter @KatieRuggle
QUOTE:
When I wrote the Search and Rescue series, I was living in an off-grid house in Colorado. As the wind howled outside, it was quite easy to write about frigid temperatures and various snowstorms. The isolation of the setting turns mundane tasks into suspenseful events .... Will it be days, weeks or even months until the roads around my property are cleared? Is today the day my very strange neighbor will snap? I loved living in the mountains, but it caused some extra work and worry. The setting did provide wonderful inspiration for my books, though!
author interview
By: Joyce Lamb | April 5, 2016 12:00 am
Joyce: Welcome to HEA, Katie! Please tell us a bit about your new release, Hold Your Breath.
Katie: Hold Your Breath is the first book (well, the first full-length book — On His Watch, a prequel novella, came out in January) in my Search and Rescue series. This series features various first responders living in a wild and remote area of the Colorado mountains, where the weather’s cold, but the men are hot (sorry, but I couldn’t help myself J). In Hold Your Breath, Callum and Louise (Lou) make an unsettling (and headless) discovery during an ice rescue training exercise. Lou starts her own informal investigation into the murder, dragging a reluctantly smitten Callum along for the ride. As they dig deeper into the mystery, their search for answers turns deadly.
Joyce: What inspires your book ideas?
Katie: When I wrote the Search and Rescue series, I was living in an off-grid house in Colorado. As the wind howled outside, it was quite easy to write about frigid temperatures and various snowstorms. The isolation of the setting turns mundane tasks into suspenseful events — will I manage to get to the grocery store without sliding off the road? If my wind turbine and propane generator both break at the same time, will my solar panels provide enough electricity? Will it be days, weeks or even months until the roads around my property are cleared? Is today the day my very strange neighbor will snap? I loved living in the mountains, but it caused some extra work and worry. The setting did provide wonderful inspiration for my books, though!
The first responders I’ve known and worked with also inspired me to write the Search and Rescue series. I have a huge respect for cops, firefighters, those in the military — everyone who runs toward danger rather than away. Plus, the remoteness of the mountain setting makes emergency workers so much more critical.
Joyce: Is there anything interesting that’s happened to you while doing research for a book?
Katie: Although I didn’t know I was doing research at the time, my job with the police department helped enormously. As part of the Crime Scene Team, I collected and analyzed forensic evidence. My editor has a huge job keeping the forensic nerd in me contained. What I find “interesting” and “sort of awesome,” she (and the rest of the world) finds “gross” and “really, really gross.”
Joyce: Ha!
What distracts you the most when you’re trying to write?
Katie: Right now, I’m working the night shift at a bakery. Although I love baking for the masses (who knew there was a frustrated lunch lady inside of me?), the job forces me to cram all of my writing, editing and promo work into a short, post-work, pre-sleep window. For me, the biggest distraction is all the other general life stuff that needs to get done. This past fall, right after moving, I was editing like a madwoman. The moving boxes that didn’t contain critical items had to wait to be unpacked. The OCD side of me was going crazy, so I ended up shutting the final few boxes in a room and closing the door so I couldn’t see them until I finally (finally!) managed to get them unpacked.
Katie's Roadie, Wiley and Camille.
Katie’s Roadie, Wiley and Camille.
Joyce: Do you have a pet that hangs out with you while you’re working?
Katie: I have three dogs: two Australian Shepherds (Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote, known as Roadie and Wiley, respectively) and a Great Pyrenees/Anatolian Shepherd mix (Camille). I call my house the island of misfit dogs, since the Aussies don’t herd (I took them to lessons until one turned away from the sheep and followed a butterfly like the poster child for canine ADD) and the Pyrenees doesn’t guard (well, she does until she hears coyotes yipping in the distance. Then she runs into the house and hides in the bedroom). I do agility and basic obedience training with the Aussies. I’m just happy if Cam eventually sits when I ask (while I’m holding bacon).
Joyce: Do you write by the seat of your pants (pantser!) or do you carefully plot your stories (plotter!)?
Katie: I’m a total and complete pantser (Go Team Pantser!). This can get a bit tricky when it comes to sticking with book contract synopses, but my writing completely stalls out when I try to follow an outline. In all other parts of my life, I love lists and structure and having a preset plan (and backup plans), but not with the books. Sometimes I feel like my characters follow their own paths; I’m just along for the ride.
Joyce: What are three romance novels on your to-be-read list?
Katie: Gifted Thief by Helen Harper, Hearts of Blue by L.H. Cosway and the third book in Donna Augustine’s The Wilds series. Now I just need to make time to read.
What spare time looks like for Katie Ruggle.
What spare time looks like for Katie Ruggle.
Joyce: What do you do in your spare time?
Katie: Horses suck up most of my spare time (and money), plus I enjoy shooting (I’m not cut out for hunting, since I feel horrible when I accidently run over a ground squirrel, but I do kill a lot of paper targets at the range), cross-country skiing, hiking with the dogs, SCUBA diving (in warm water, preferably) and running. (OK, I wouldn’t say I enjoy running, but it’s a necessity. Did I mention that I work at a bakery?) I like learning new stuff, especially stuff that makes me feel like a badass, like Krav Maga and boxing.
Joyce: What are you working on now?
Katie: Between Search and Rescue edits, I’m writing the first book in a series about a police K9 unit. There are women on the run and hot cops and heroic dogs and killers galore, so it should be fun. Although I received my law enforcement degree and worked for a police department, I haven’t had much K9 training experience, so I’m doing research with the Rochester (Minnesota) Police Department, which has been awesome.
Joyce: Thanks, Katie!
About Hold Your Breath:
In the remote Rocky Mountains, lives depend on the Search & Rescue brotherhood. But in a place this far off the map, trust is hard to come by and secrets can be murder…
As the captain of Field County’s ice rescue dive team, Callum Cook is driven to perfection. But when he meets new diver Louise “Lou” Sparks, all that hard-won order is obliterated in an instant. Lou is a hurricane. A walking disaster. And with her, he’s never felt more alive…even if keeping her safe may just kill him.
Lou’s new to the Rockies, intent on escaping her controlling ex, and she’s determined to make it on her own terms…no matter how tempting Callum may be. But when a routine training exercise unearths a body, Lou and Callum find themselves thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse with a killer who will stop at nothing to silence Lou—and prove that not even her new Search and Rescue family can keep her safe forever.
QUOTE:
Most of my research for this series was done long before I started to write it. My jobs and education and hobbies all played a part in teaching me what I needed to know to build the Search and Rescue universe. About five years ago, I received my law enforcement degree while working for a police department. My favorite part of the job was collecting and analyzing forensic evidence (yes, I admit that I’m a total forensics nerd). A few years later, while doing volunteer work with a fire department in Colorado, I was certified in cold-water rescue.
author interview
Posted August 11, 2016 by Under the Covers Book Blog in Featured Authors, Interviews / 7 Comments
950 words
Hi Katie! So excited to have you at Under the Covers today! First off, let’s talk about your series as a whole. What is the Search and Rescue series about and where did you get in the inspiration for it?
Thank you! I’m so glad to be here. My Search and Rescue series revolves around a group of first responders who save lives and fall in love in the remote Colorado Rockies. Not only do they have to deal with natural dangers, such as blizzards and avalanches and moose, but there’s also a very human threat—the killer in their midst. Each book features a different couple who get their happy ending, but an overarching mystery links the stories together.
The setting was inspired by my real-life off-grid home in the Colorado Rockies. It was easy to write about the cold and wind and snow (and did I mention the cold?) when there was a blizzard howling outside. Character-wise, I wanted to feature first responders. After working with cops and volunteering with firefighters, I am completely in awe of their courage. They’re also a funny bunch.
How much research did you have to do for this series and in particular for this book?
Most of my research for this series was done long before I started to write it. My jobs and education and hobbies all played a part in teaching me what I needed to know to build the Search and Rescue universe. About five years ago, I received my law enforcement degree while working for a police department. My favorite part of the job was collecting and analyzing forensic evidence (yes, I admit that I’m a total forensics nerd). A few years later, while doing volunteer work with a fire department in Colorado, I was certified in cold-water rescue.
For Gone Too Deep, one of the things I had to research was cold-weather camping. I’m not a camper. Although I love doing all sorts of outside things—hiking, biking, fly fishing, target shooting, horseback riding, four-wheeling—when I’m done, all I want is a soft bed and indoor plumbing. The wilderness is wonderful, but civilization has its perks, too.
GONE TOO DEEP is book three in the series and it follows George and Ellie. What would you say is the key to finding that balance between Romance and Suspense for this one?
Of all the books in the Search and Rescue series, this was the easiest for me to balance romance with suspense, since the two elements build on each other. Because George and Ellie are hiking through the cold and snowy mountains together, struggling to survive, the stage is set perfectly for both exciting adventures and falling in love. Being in close proximity (ahem…sharing a sleeping bag) and relying on each other to stay safe stripped away the usual barriers to getting to know each other.
Humor and banter is a huge part of your books. How do you know when you lightened the mood and when to tighten up the tension in certain scenes? Do you ever struggle to find that perfect balance?
In real life, I tend to find something funny in almost every situation, which carries over into my books. My wonderful editor gets the credit for maintaining the balance between humor and tension. For example, in Gone Too Deep, the other Search and Rescue members tease George about keeping a blow-up doll under his bed (which he does not). Although she is almost positive that the doll didn’t exist, Ellie sneaks a peek under George’s bed—just to make sure. My editor had me cut that part, since it was right in the middle of fun, sexy times. There was something mentioned about a blow-up doll killing the mood? Also, in my fourth book, my editor asked me why I had two full chapters that didn’t advance the plot in any way.
“They’re funny,” was my response. Yeah, they got cut.
Now lets get personal! Since this is your first time here, tell us five things about yourself that others wouldn’t normally know.
I have six chickens, to which I am abnormally attached.
When I was little, I renamed myself Katie Ruggle Pittman. Pittman? No idea. Kids are weird.
The phrase, “C’mon! It’ll be fun!” is my Kryptonite, and it has led me into all sorts of dangerous/uncomfortable/fascinating/occasionally actually fun situations.
I can’t drink coffee. If I even have a little, I talk really fast (faster than normal, even) and it kind of feels like I’m having a heart attack.
I’m a complete pantser and have no clue where my books will end up when I start them.
What’s the last book you read that kept you up all night reading under the covers?
Cracked by Eliza Crewe. I loved the humor and the slightly skewed moral code of the anti-heroine.
If you were able to have a dinner party with your favorite fictional characters (aside from your own) who would you invite and where would it be?
Hmm…I think it would be a beach party, and I’d invite everyone on my e-reader (except for some of the scarier paranormal characters, since that could get ugly). All the book boyfriends at one party while shirtless? Yes, please.
What are you currently working on?
I’m in the middle of writing the second book of my Rocky Mountain K-9 series (out in 2017). There are women on the run, hot cops, heroic dogs, lots of explosions—what more could anyone ask for?
Thanks so much for spending time with us today and answering our questions!
Thank you for having me—this was fun!
QUOTE:
romantic suspense series sags with this slow-moving third installment
Gone Too Deep
Publishers Weekly.
263.23 (June 6, 2016): p67.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Gone Too Deep
Katie Ruggle. Sourcebooks Casablanca, $6.99 mass market (448p) ISBN 9781492628231
Ruggle's searchandrescue romantic suspense series sags with this slowmoving third installment (after Hold Your
Breath and Fan the Flames). City slicker Elbe Price comes to the Rocky Mountains to locate her father after he phones
to say he fears for his life. She's skeptical about the threat, given her father's history of delusions, but she hopes to help
him get the medical treatment he needs. When she arrives, he's nowhere to be found, so she begs for assistance from the
local searchandrescue team's most accomplished wilderness guide. George Holloway is a monosyllabic, hulking
character without much appeal; however, when killers begin pursuing Ellie, she finds his competence very attractive.
Plunged into a small Colorado town full of violent meth dealers and thwarted rapists, Ellie finds an inner strength that
helps her handle all challenges. The mystery of the headless corpse from the previous books is still unsolved, but
introducing George to his first kiss and much more keeps Ellie busy and will distract readers from an uneven plot.
(Aug.)
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
"Gone Too Deep." Publishers Weekly, 6 June 2016, p. 67. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA454730998&it=r&asid=61396e7624539b851063dfab9d8f7589.
Accessed 2 Feb. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A454730998
2/2/2017 General OneFile Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1486076315718 2/5
QUOTE:
Implausible though she seems, one roots for her to overcome her social ineptitude and catch a great guy, and she
does
Fan the Flames
Mary K. Chelton
Booklist.
112.18 (May 15, 2016): p29.
COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
Fan the Flames. By Katie Ruggle. June 2016.448p. Sourcebooks, paper, 56.99 (9781492628200).
The second in Ruggle's Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue series features a romance between Ian Walsh, so handsome
that his nickname is "Beauty," and Rory Sorenson, the shy, socially inept owner of the local gun shop. Ian has basically
been raised by his motorcycle club, but prefers his firedepartment colleagues. Rory was homeschooled by paranoid,
survivalist parents and lives in a bunker under her store. When Ian is accused of a murder he did not commit, Rory tries
to help him, running violently afoul of his club members. This is all complicated by several warring motorcycle gangs
seeking access to her inventory, and as she hides out from them with Ian, their friendship turns to romance. The ending
is almost too indefinite, setting the stage for the next in the series, but this is worth reading for Rory's characterization
alone. Implausible though she seems, one roots for her to overcome her social ineptitude and catch a great guy, and she
does! Mary K. Chelton
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
Chelton, Mary K. "Fan the Flames." Booklist, 15 May 2016, p. 29+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA453913602&it=r&asid=82365236a3ea0999fec23d8f12e3f143.
Accessed 2 Feb. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A453913602
2/2/2017 General OneFile Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1486076315718 3/5
QUOTE:
but the soap opera aspects of the ongoing story will keep them eager for more revelations about
this small Colorado town
Fan the Flames
Publishers Weekly.
263.15 (Apr. 11, 2016): p44.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Fan the Flames
Katie Ruggle. Sourcebooks Casablanca, $5.99 mass market (448p) ISBN 9781492628200
In the second of Ruggle's fastpaced romantic suspense series set in the Rocky Mountains, firefighter Ian Walsh (a
minor character in Hold Your Breath) is named a suspect in a murder previously discovered by a Search & Rescue
team. Rory Sorenson, the pretty but shy proprietor of the local gun shopwhere she sells both legal and illegal weapons
and is constantly fending off violent customers, with no one to help her or back her uphas cherished a crush on Ian for
years and is certain he is innocent. Having grown up without much family, Ian appreciates the brotherhood he found in
a motorcycle club, but when the more extreme members threaten Rory and her business, he recognizes the danger they
pose and takes Rory's side. Her bizarre, sheltered upbringing by her survivalist parents adds a tender element to their
developing romance. When Ian is arrested, Rory's indignation finally empowers her to step out from the shadows and
fight for a future with him. Ruggle delivers a longer and more developed story in this installment, full of surprisingly
violent characters as well as romance. Readers may cringe at the depiction of Rory's job, which makes selling firearms
look implausibly unsafe, and wonder how her offer to volunteer at the fire station somehow leads to her fighting a fire
without any training, but the soap opera aspects of the ongoing story will keep them eager for more revelations about
this small Colorado town. (June)
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
"Fan the Flames." Publishers Weekly, 11 Apr. 2016, p. 44. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA449662976&it=r&asid=c68793b7c8ad8a99ac862b9d57cb00b5.
Accessed 2 Feb. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A449662976
2/2/2017 General OneFile Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1486076315718 4/5
QUOTE:
this is a good read with romantic, not graphic, sex scenes, and thrilling diving
sequences
Hold Your Breath
Mary K. Chelton
Booklist.
112.13 (Mar. 1, 2016): p52.
COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
Hold Your Breath. By Katie Ruggle. Apr. 2016. 384p. Sourcebooks/Casablanca, paper, $5.99 (9781492628170).
Lou Sparks is a new recruit to the Field County Rescue Dive Team in Colorado, and an escapee from her Connecticut
family's expectations that she become a lawyer and marry her exboyfriend. She is also the seemingly wacky antithesis
of the very orderly diveteam leader, Callum, whom she considers a cross between a gladiator and a drill sergeant.
Despite being convinced that she drives him crazy, she is forced to accept his help during a series of attacks on her
property and person, and they wind up as lovers. The love story grows along with another mysterythe HDG (headless
dead guy) Lou knocks loose on one of their training dives. The setting and ensemble of characters are interesting, and
it's great fun to watch two such different people fall for each other despite quirks, like perfectly aligned bacon (Callum)
and hippopatterned flannel pajamas (Lou). With the promise of the HDG case returning in a subsequent book in
Ruggle's Search and Rescue series, this is a good read with romantic, not graphic, sex scenes, and thrilling diving
sequences.Mary K. Chelton
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
Chelton, Mary K. "Hold Your Breath." Booklist, 1 Mar. 2016, p. 52+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA447443606&it=r&asid=1f24a3c5f98648079e7289fbbe003eeb.
Accessed 2 Feb. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A447443606
2/2/2017 General OneFile Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1486076315718 5/5
QUOTE:
romantic suspense fans will
enjoy the unusual setting, and Ruggle's icerescue certification adds an element of authenticity to the rescue
descriptions
Hold Your Breath
Publishers Weekly.
263.8 (Feb. 22, 2016): p74.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Hold Your Breath
Katie Ruggle. Sourcebooks Casablanca, $5.99 mass market (352p) ISBN 9781492628170
Ruggle's energetic first Search and Rescue romance introduces an icerescue dive team in the Rocky Mountains. Louise
"Lou" Sparks escaped her calculating fiance and controlling mother back east and eagerly joined the SAR crew near
her new home in Colorado. Lou is ditzy and inexperienced but enthusiastic about her new responsibilities, even when
she discovers a dead body on a routine jump into a frozen reservoir. Determined to solve the mystery of this corpse
before the police do, Lou is suddenly dogged by a stalker, triggering the protective impulses of her stern team captain,
Callum Cook. He offers to help with the investigation. Their developing romance is punctuated by threats from a killer.
Puppylike Lou manages to soften dour Callum, and she rises to the occasion when her newly acquired rescue skills are
all that stand between Callum and death. The characters are not very well developed, but romantic suspense fans will
enjoy the unusual setting, and Ruggle's icerescue certification adds an element of authenticity to the rescue
descriptions. (Apr.)
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
"Hold Your Breath." Publishers Weekly, 22 Feb. 2016, p. 74. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA444400970&it=r&asid=6c0cc7a9f3d04221527f9856ce8d4739.
Accessed 2 Feb. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A444400970
REVIEW: Gone Too Deep by Katie Ruggle
Posted August 9th, 2016 by Sara @HarlequinJunkie in Blog, Review, Romantic Suspense / 8 comments
In Gone Too Deep by Katie Ruggle, search and rescue team member George Gone Too DeepHolloway is recruited by Ellie Price to guide her into the woods to her grandfather’s cabin, where she believes her mentally ill father is hiding. Ellie’s father believes someone is after him because he know who killed Willard Gray. Ellie doesn’t believe him, but when she and George are attacked out in the wilderness, she begins to wonder if maybe her father wasn’t so crazy after all.
Having read the previous books, I was curious as to how a book about George would work out. He’s anti-social, doesn’t attend any events unless he has to, and barely speaks. Most of his communication comes in the form of grunts and shrugs, so I wondered how a relationship with him would work out. Ellie was great because she was the complete opposite of George. She was outgoing and spunky. While George held onto his silence, she spoke enough for the both of them. She didn’t let his silence bother her; instead she took the time to recognize his different noises to interpret their meanings. Since George didn’t really talk, I didn’t feel the chemistry between the pair until more than halfway through the book, when George finally started opening up a bit more.
For those who have read the previous books, the storyline about the arsonist isn’t really covered, but it is briefly referred to. Williard Gray’s murder, however, once again is a focal point. Everyone in town is still trying to find out who killed him, and Ellie’s missing father is the key. The end of the book is left with a slight cliffhanger; it concludes the book nicely, but makes it clear that the murder and arson storyline is going to carryover into the next book. We finally get a hint of who may be responsible for the crimes, and I certainly was not expecting the person mentioned to be involved. It was a surprising twist that makes me eager to see what happens next.
This is the third full length-book in the series (there is also an introductory novella), and I highly recommend reading them in order. While the couples in each book are different, the arson and murder storylines cross over and build upon the story before it.
I recommend this book for people who like romantic suspense, or those who have read and enjoyed the previous books in the Search and Rescue series.
3.5 stars
QUOTE:
The pacing is swift, the action fierce, and the romance a slow burn as the hero and heroine fight off hypothermia, drug dealers, and their differences while falling deeper for each other.
GONE TOO DEEP
Gone Too Deep by Katie Ruggle
AUTHOR Katie Ruggle
RELEASE DATE August 2, 2016
PUBLISHER Sourcebooks
ISBN/ASIN 978-1492628231
OUR RATING
REVIEWED BY SJ
BUY THE BOOK
OUR REVIEW
I. Loved. This. Book! The third novel in the Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue series, GONE TOO DEEP can easily stand on its own. The mystery from the first book continues to play through this third novel, and the tension builds. This book is so far my favorite, mostly because I fell in love with the characters, and in particular, the hero, so hard!
In GONE TOO DEEP, Ellie Price gets a message from her mentally ill father,and unable to turn him away, despite many instances of trying to help the man, she goes in search of him in the cold, unforgiving Colorado mountains. While looking for information, she nearly slips on the ice and is stopped from falling by huge, quiet, George Holloway.
George has lived on his own for years. He doesn’t own a television and spends all his free time locked in his own world and building things. But he’s the best tracker and survival expert the Search and Rescue team has, so he’s the perfect man to help Ellie find her father.
What they find as they trek through the bitter cold are armed bad guys with an agenda all their own. Then there’s Ellie’s father, Baxter, who has secrets he’s hiding. And another Search and Rescue team member who doesn’t seem to have Ellie’s best intentions in mind.
The pacing is swift, the action fierce, and the romance a slow burn as the hero and heroine fight off hypothermia, drug dealers, and their differences while falling deeper for each other. The tension really worked, especially because Ellie and George deal with outside issues, and their romance unfolds realistically as they handle surviving first, loving second.
And I have to say, George might be one of my all-time favorite character. He’s powerful, big, and shy. A quiet man who doesn’t have much experience with women at all, but he feels strongly for Ellie. While his words may be sparse, his feeling are not, and as he grows to care for her, watching him mature into a full-fledged leading man was enchanting.
GONE TOO DEEP has it all–thrilling suspense, a heart-warming romance, and action-packed scenes that will leave you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next. And the ending… Ruggle gives a twist I hadn’t seen coming. And I sincerely hope it doesn’t mean what I think it means. Just thinking about it makes me crazed, because I need to know more! I cannot wait to read book four, IN SAFE HANDS, which releases in October.
A RECOMMENDED READ!
Review: Gone too Deep by Katie Ruggle
Posted by Lauren Helms
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.
Review: Gone too Deep by Katie RuggleGone too Deep by Katie Ruggle
Series: Search and Rescue #3
Series Rating: four-stars
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on August 2, 2016
Pages: 448
Format: eARC
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Romantic Suspense
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Buy on Amazon
four-stars
Content Warning: This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age.
In the remote Rocky Mountains, lives depend on the Search & Rescue brotherhood. But in a place this far off the map, trust is hard to come by and secrets can be murder...
George Holloway has spent his life alone, exploring the treacherous beauty of the Colorado Rockies. He's the best survival expert Search and Rescue has, which makes him the obvious choice to lead Ellie Price through deadly terrain to find her missing father. There's just one problem-Ellie's everything George isn't. She's a city girl, charming, gregarious, delicate, small. And when she looks up at him with those big, dark eyes, he swears he would tear the world apart to keep her safe.
With a killer on the loose, he may have no choice.
Ellie's determined to find her father no matter the cost. But as she and her gorgeous mountain of a guide fight their way through an unforgiving wilderness, they find themselves in the crosshairs of a dangerous man in search of revenge. And they are now his prey...
I’m happy to say that Gone Too Deep put me back on track in love with this suspenseful romance series. The first book was awesome, but the second almost derailed me. But number three was great.
I really enjoyed Goerge and Ellie’s story. It was a unique story and fun to read. I was worried I wasn’t going to love George, much like I didn’t love Rory in book two, but that wasn’t the case. Their story had more to do with the original cliffhanger than book two. And in turn, ended on a HUGE cliffhanger. One I saw coming but hoped would happen. I can’t wait for the fourth and final book.
Review: Fan the Flames by Katie Ruggle
Posted by Lauren Helms
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.
Review: Fan the Flames by Katie RuggleFan the Flames by Katie Ruggle
Series: Search and Rescue #2
Series Rating: four-stars
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on June 7th 2016
Pages: 356
Format: eARC
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Romantic Suspense
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Buy on Amazon
three-half-stars
Content Warning: This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age.
In the remote Rocky Mountains, lives depend on the Search & Rescue brotherhood. But in a place this far off the map, trust is hard to come by and secrets can be murder...
As a Motorcycle Club member and firefighter, Ian Walsh is used to riding the line between the good guys and the bad. He may owe the Club his life, but his heart rests with his fire station brothers...and with the girl he's loved since they were kids, Rory Sorenson. Ian would do anything for Rory. He'd die for her. Kill for her. Defend her to his last breath-and he may just have to.
Every con in the Rockies knows Rory is the go-to girl for less-than-legal firearms, and for the past few years, she's managed to keep the peace between dangerous factions by remaining strictly neutral. But when she defends herself against a brutal attack, Rory finds herself catapulted into the center of a Motorcycle Club war-with only Ian standing between her and a threat greater than either of them could have imagined.
Fan The Flames was kinda a rough book for me to review. It’s the second book in the series, and I have to admit that I was kinda, sorta, maybe bored with it for the first, eh, 50%. Which totally bummed me out because I absolutely loved the first book in the series, Hold Your Breath.
It took me forever to connect to Rory. I’m just not a fan of guns and that’s all Rory was into, so I really struggled to keep focus for the first 20% or so of the book. The potential relationship between Rory and Ian had my interest peaked though and the fact that I want to know who killed HDG. So I forged on.
The story got better, though, there was some action, and some developments in Rory and Ian’s relationship. I have to say, again, Rory was very hard to connect too. She wasn’t a big fan of…people and she didn’t have a lot of experience interacting with them. It was painful to read at times. BUT Ian made up for it.
Other than that, the action, supporting cast and general plot was enjoyable. I think maybe, I loved book one too much.
REVIEW: Fan the Flames by Katie Ruggle
Posted May 4th, 2016 by Sara @HarlequinJunkie in Blog, Contemporary Romance, Motorcycle Club, Review / 2 comments
In Fan the Flames by Katie Ruggle, firefighter and Motorcycle Club member Ian Walsh is Fan-The-Flames-Katie-Ruggletorn between his loyalty to the MC and his feelings for Rory Sorenson, the woman he has had feelings for since childhood. When members of the MC break into Rory’s firearms store, Ian needs to take a stand and pick a side. At the same time, he’s the main suspect in a murder he didn’t commit. With Rory by his side, he needs to confront all the things that are happening in his life.
While I enjoyed the story overall, I felt it moved a bit slowly at times. Part of it was because Ian really had to take his time convincing Rory to be in a relationship with him. Rory hadn’t had a normal childhood; her parents made her live in a bunker and wouldn’t allow her to have friends. As a result, she’s socially awkward. She doesn’t know how to take Ian and his advances. She doesn’t know how to handle the gift of friendship the other firefighters and rescue workers give to her. It was nice to see her eventually fight her way through her awkwardness and take an active role to help her new friends help Ian.
I liked how close most of the rescue workers were with each other and how quickly they welcomed Rory into their tight-knit family. Without her asking, they all showed up to help clean up her store after the break-in. When she needed to talk things out and couldn’t talk to Ian, they all leant her an ear and helped her figure out what to do.
I would have liked to have seen a little more closure when it came to Ian and his stepfather. One minute the stepfather is taking the side of the MC, then suddenly he’s defending the couple against the MC. While Rory had a talk with him, it didn’t seem like enough to have him changing sides so quickly.
This is the second book in the series, and I highly recommend reading them in order. The arsonist that first appeared in the introduction novella, On His Watch, is still striking the town. The story of the body found in book one, Hold Your Breath, is continued in this book as Ian is a suspect in the murder. As there was no resolution as to who the murder actually was, it looks like it’s going to continue over until the next book.
If you enjoy romantic suspense featuring a motorcycle riding firefighter and an unconventional heroine, then you should consider checking this out.
3.5 stars
JUNE 6, 2016
Review: Fan the Flames by Katie Ruggle
fan the flamesReviewed by Joanna
Rory runs a gun shop and lives in a secret underground bunker beneath it. Her parents, now deceased, were total whacks who home schooled her and trained her in how to shoot a gun and survive a zombie apocalypse before she could even walk. Now they’re gone, she sells guns to the local factions whilst keeping herself to herself.
Ian, a super-hot firefighter and a biker gang member, has liked Rory since they were kids, but it’s only recently they’ve been able to be friends. Her parents didn’t trust the world and kept her away from the sweet boy who once gave her a cupcake. Ian’s like for Rory is way bigger than he can tell her, as he knows she’ll run a mile if he comes on too strong. But he’d defend her to his last breath and sheesh, if I were her, I’d let him.
Rory is so cute; she’s tough and self-sufficient and can talk guns till the cows come home, but she’s also completely socially awkward and has no idea know how to handle Ian flirting with her. But then when someone starts sneaking around outside her property at night, he doesn’t hesitate in making her take his help.
And it’s a good thing he did, as the problems escalate with Rory and the gun shop being targeted by bad guys. Rory’s forced to move into Ian’s house for a couple of days – a place with windows, something she’s never lived with, having been brought up in a bunker. She’s freaked out; he’s reassuring and manly, and the little touches and looks between them are lovely. I love the whole ‘we can share a bed as friends’ trope.
In the background, there’s a continuing murder investigation going on around the dead headless guy Lou found in book one. It’s not strictly necessary for you to read the first book, as you can pick up enough here to be up to speed. But you should, as Callum and Lou are a great couple. Callum’s just as sexy and gentlemanly as Ian, and Lou’s a hoot, so I recommend you go check them out.
Ian becomes a suspect in the investigation which mixes things up a bit and tests his loyalties between his biker background and his legit paid job. Side note: the fire crew is as funny as anything – they call Ian ‘Beauty’ and made me laugh loads with their shenanigans. This is a humorous and light-hearted book.
The romance is steady with lots of tension, though little action, for ages. I didn’t mind this as Rory needed to come out of her shell, and it wouldn’t be realistic for her to want to jump into bed right away. When they kiss properly for the first time, it’s hotter than you sometimes get when an author throws people into a fast clinch. And when they finally get down to business, it’s not closed door, but it’s not too graphic either. It’s good. Enough said.
Overall, I liked this book, maybe slightly less than the first, but enough to want to read the next. The pace felt a little slow in the first half but that’s my only real criticism. I liked both the H&H, I was invested in their HEA and there was enough threat and drama to keep the pages turning.
If you love snowy little towns, cozy neighborhoods and slow ‘n’ sweet romances, this is for you.
Rating: B-
FAN THE FLAMES
Fan the Flames by Katie Ruggle
AUTHOR Katie Ruggle
RELEASE DATE June 7, 2016
PUBLISHER Sourcebooks
ISBN/ASIN 978-1492628200
OUR RATING
REVIEWED BY SJ
BUY THE BOOK
OUR REVIEW
In FAN THE FLAMES, author Katie Ruggle brings us a sexy firefighter with motorcycle club ties, a stubborn yet vulnerable heroine, and a mystery that deepens with complex layers as the heat between the protagonists builds. Ruggle had done it again with a thrill-ride to the end, and I was on the edge of my seat wondering who’s behind the murders, as well as waiting for the chemistry between the leads to explode.
The backdrop of the unforgiving cold of the Colorado mountains adds to the drama the Search and Rescue team (of which Ian, the hero, is a part) constantly live with. The setting itself is a character, and Ruggle does a fantastic job of making you feel the shivers, as if you’re actually there.
The mystery that started in HOLD YOUR BREATH, book one in the Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue series, continues here, but it’s not necessary to read the first book to understand the second. FAN THE FLAMES easily stands on its own.
The heroine, Rory, has been raised by survivalist parents, and her view on the world is different and unique. I loved that Rory runs a gun shop, and that she does some “questionable” business in the back room. She’s an atypical heroine who isn’t waiting to be saved but does her own rescuing.
Until Ian makes it plain she doesn’t need to do everything herself. Ian’s introduction in the first book in this series made me want to know more, and as I read about him, I was fascinated by his depth of character. His inclusion in the motorcycle gang made sense, and his layers of feeling really made him stand out as a hero–in addition to his killer good looks. Looks that intimidate the heroine, so more conflict was built into the relationship.
The hero and heroine took their time getting together, but the heat continued to build–hence the perfect titling of FAN THE FLAMES. As the romance blossoms, the mystery deepens. Who killed that man found in the icy water? Who is framing Ian for the deed? And what about the break-ins at Rory’s shop? Who’s behind it all?
This series just keeps getting better. It started with HOLD YOUR BREATH and continues with FAN THE FLAMES. Even more exciting, GONE TOO DEEP releases August 2. It’s a story I cannot wait to read!
For outstanding romantic suspense, strong characters, and a fabulous plot that keeps thickening, read Katie Ruggle’s FAN THE FLAMES and prepare to get burned by an amazing story.
Hold Your Breath by Katie Ruggle
by Elyse · May 12, 2016 at 3:00 am · View all 5 comments
Hold Your Breath by Katie Ruggle
SBTB Media Page
Hold Your Breath
by Katie Ruggle
APRIL 5, 2016 · SOURCEBOOKS CASABLANCA
Order →
B
GENRE: Romance, Romantic Suspense
THEME: Workplace
I was really excited when Hold Your Breath was released because it’s romantic suspense centered around a Rocky Mountain search and rescue team which is 100% my jam. The book was an interesting blend of suspense, action/adventure, and small town romance, and it’s very, very funny.
Louise “Lou” Sparks left behind her controlling family and unsatisfying job for a new life in rural Colorado. She’s a diver on the search and rescue team, meaning when someone falls through lake ice, she puts on a Gumby suit and pulls them out. She lives in a cabin that’s heated by a wood stove and powered by a solar generator. If you want to read a romance where the heroine is all about roughing it, then this is your book.
Lou is practicing cold water rescue with her team when she kicks something loose and a headless corpse floats up. Lou feels responsible for the man, who she nicknames HDG (headless dead guy), and starts looking into who he might be.
At the same time, a stalker appears to be menacing Lou. Her boss, Callum Cook, who is a stern, frowny-pants type of dude, is really worried for Lou and acts as her bodyguard. Callum is a big grouch who acts like he doesn’t have feels because he really REALLY likes Lou, but is really bad at communicating that fact. He’s pretty adorable. Lou is goofy and disorganized and very funny, and Callum is uptight and quiet and kind of disapproving but secretly amused, and they make a great pair as both detectives and potential lovers.
The book is also very funny. Take this scene, when the police show up because Lou’s stalker left honey smeared on her door:
“It fits better with the slashed tires MO.” Chris leaned in close to the door to examine the frozen rivulets. “It looks like honey.”
“It is honey,” Lou affirmed. “I tasted it.”
The deputy’s head whipped around. “Are you a toddler? Don’t be putting random shit in your mouth. Especially shit left by your stalker.”
With a sheepish shrug, Lou carefully didn’t look at Callum. “Fine. No more taste testing the evidence. It just seemed like the easiest way to identify it.”
“Nope. Bad idea. You can use all of your senses in an investigation except taste.”
So Lou and Callum work together to figure out who HDG is and who her stalker is and if they are related.
I think the thing that I struggled with the most was that they were running an amateur investigation right alongside the police who kinda know about it. One police officer is clearly inept and a jerk, but the others are fine. Still, I can’t see them being okay with two people from the search and rescue team trying to solve a murder. The fact that Lou and Callum make more headway than the cops also makes the cops seem pretty inept.
The other thing I didn’t like is that we didn’t get full resolution on HDG. His part of the mystery appears to be an arc that’s going to appear in the next books.
While the suspense and action were intense, I found the romance to be a little tame. Part of it was that we never get inside Callum’s head. The book is mostly 3rd person POV from Louise’s perspective. When you have a hero as taciturn and withdrawn as Callum, keeping his thoughts a mystery weakens the romance. Like the heroine, we have to guess at his feelings and desires, which reduces some of the sexual tension.
While Hold Your Breath isn’t perfect, it’s still a fast, funny read and a promising start to a new series.
Review: Hold Your Breath by Katie Ruggle
April 14, 2016 By Mandi Leave a Comment
25880375Hold Your Breath by Katie Ruggle (Search and Rescue #1)
Released: April 5, 2016
Romantic Suspense
Sourcebooks
Reviewed by Mandi
Lou is new to Colorado having moved from the east coast about seven months prior. She had to get away from her controlling parents and wanted to start a life of her own. This new life includes working as a barista during the day, and working on the Field County Ice Rescue Team whenever an emergency arises. Lou lives in a remote cabin, and has made some good friends on her rescue team. During a practice ice water dive one day, Lou kicks something while in the icy water. What bobs up a few seconds later is a dead body without head. Shaken, Lou thinks it’s pretty gross but also feels invested in finding out who this headless dead guy is.
Callum is Lou’s boss on the rescue team. He is gruff and intense, and pretty no-nonsense. If you can get him to smile maybe once a year, it’s a good year. Callum spends his days exasperated by the sarcastic and sometimes silly Lou, but deep down he is very fond of her – and she is fond of him. When Lou’s tires get slashed, she realizes she might have a stalker – and Callum steps in to make sure she stays safe.
The good news is that I really enjoyed Lou. She is funny – she made me giggle with her great sense of humor. Working on a dive team of primarily men, she can give it as good as she gets it. She is a very well written heroine and that makes me like this author a lot. While there are some serious things happening in this book, Lou gives us a bit of comic relief, without being too blase about a headless dead guy or HDG as she calls him.
Stalker plots are not necessarily my favorite story line, but this one was okay. We have brief pages of being in the stalker’s head – and his actions are pretty standard stalkerish…ramping up to major drama towards the end of the book. But it kept Lou on her toes and she took the threats pretty seriously.
The bad news is that the romance in this book isn’t that well done. I liked Lou and Callum together – they have good chemistry. Callum is so quiet and intense, that I couldn’t wait for Lou and him to have this explosive, pent-up sexual release. The problem is – when it finally happens (and it takes FOREVER) it was a let down. Heck, I didn’t even need a super dirty sex scene, but give me a good make out session without the phone ringing. Or something! Callum and Lou go from this fun, build-up of a romance to…basically, oh hey – so, are we dating now?
“We’ve gone on dates,” he protested, totally missing the point. “We went to Levi’s.”
“Fine. We’ve gone on one date.”
“Plus, we went to the bar together.”
“Uh, that was to talk to the coroner about a dead person.”
“Still counts.”
“Does not.”
“Does.”
“Whatever. Two dates then. So, we’re dating?”
“Yes.”
“Are we exclusive?”
“Yes.”
“Okay then.”
That’s pretty much how it goes. It cheats the reader out of a solid romance. Don’t give me a half-naked man on the cover (standing in ice water for goodness sakes!) and then a romance which is barely shown.
I really enjoyed this author’s voice – the story is fun. The characters are really engaging. I just needed more romance.
Grade: C+
Review: Hold Your Breath by Katie Ruggle
Posted by Lauren Helms
Review: Hold Your Breath by Katie RuggleHold Your Breath by Katie Ruggle
Series: Search and Rescue, #1
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on April 5th 2016
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Romantic Suspense
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Buy on Amazon
five-stars
In the remote Rocky Mountains, lives depend on the Search & Rescue brotherhood. But in a place this far off the map, trust is hard to come by and secrets can be murder...
As the captain of Field County's ice rescue dive team, Callum Cook is driven to perfection. But when he meets new diver Louise "Lou" Sparks, all that hard-won order is obliterated in an instant. Lou is a hurricane. A walking disaster. And with her, he's never felt more alive...even if keeping her safe may just kill him.
Lou's new to the Rockies, intent on escaping her controlling ex, and she's determined to make it on her own terms...no matter how tempting Callum may be. But when a routine training exercise unearths a body, Lou and Callum find themselves thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse with a killer who will stop at nothing to silence Lou-and prove that not even her new Search and Rescue family can keep her safe forever.
I was totally surprised by Hold Your Breath. I was expecting more suspense and less romance. To be honest, I wasn’t really in the mood for suspense, but I dug in anyway.
Dang. This book turned out to be much more than I expected.
It was…it was fun. Funny even.
Don’t get me wrong it was full of suspense. Lou has a stalker who’s getting violent, not to mention the HDG (Headless Dead Guy) she kicks up while participating in a Dive & Rescue training exercise. Despite that, Lou was funny. She kept me laughing throughout the story. Then out of nowhere we have this surly, sexy guy Callum and dang it, he’s funny too. They are a perfect match.
At first, when I started the book I honestly expected to have to push myself to get through it. But oh no, I loved it and didn’t want the book to end because I was enjoying it so much. I HAVE to read the next installment due to a cliffhanger! WHAT?!
QUOTE:
If you enjoy romantic suspense, I would recommend this book. It has plenty of suspense mixed with a nice blend of romance and humor
REVIEW: In Safe Hands by Katie Ruggle
Posted October 6th, 2016 by Sara @HarlequinJunkie in Blog, Contemporary Romance, HJ Recommends, Review / 6 comments
HJ_Recommends
In-Safe-HandsIn Safe Hands by Katie Ruggle is the fourth book in the Search and Rescue series. Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Jennings is friends with Daisy Little, a woman who has suffered from agoraphobia the past eight years, when her mother was murdered right before her eyes. Now she lives her life vicariously though Chris’s stories and from watching her neighbor’s from her window. When one night she sees a deputy’s vehicle across the street and a man stuffing what looks like a body into the trunk, she confides in Chris, who brings in his friends to help figure out what is going on.
If you read the previous book in the series, Gone Too Deep, you know who murdered Willard Gray already. Daisy, Chris, and his group of friends (all the couples from the previous three books), haven’t figured it out yet, and they try to figure out if what Daisy saw was somehow related to Willard’s murder. What they also need to figure out is if the murderer is also the arsonist, or if it’s someone else. I didn’t expect that to turn out the way it did, but I enjoyed it.
Chris was a great character. He was willing to believe Daisy when others would think she was crazy. When Daisy repeatedly implied she was crazy, he would always tell her she wasn’t. He was willing to put his job in jeopardy to investigate her claims of what was going on across the street.
I liked Daisy as well. You can’t help but feel bad for her, as she witnessed her mother’s murder. This left her terrified to leave the house. Even looking at sunlight through an open door causes her to panic and pass out. Her father can’t even stand to be around her, only stopping by their house to drop off groceries for her before taking off for another job site.
I loved how the Chris’s friends immediately embraced Daisy and pulled her into their group. Knowing about her agoraphobia, they had no issues converging on her house to spend time with her, not only figuring out what Daisy saw that night, but even working out in her gym as well. They provided some humor, especially the women.
Ian put a hand on the heavy bag to steady it while he sent a warning glare over his shoulder at Rory. “This is not the Old West, and our homestead is not under attack.”
“It’d be good practice for defending the house from zombies.” Since Rory was the queen of deadpan humor, Daisy wasn’t sure if she was serious or not.
“Can I practice shooting from the window, too?” Lou asked, exertion making her breathless. “I’ll bring my new gun. This’ll be so much fun.”
“We’ll only aim at the annoying neighbors,” Rory promised. That time, Daisy was sure she was kidding. Fairly sure.
Out of all the books in the series, this one was my favorite. I would recommend reading the previous books, including the introductory novella, prior to reading this one. That is because the arson and murder storylines run through each book, and they each build upon the prior book.
If you enjoy romantic suspense, I would recommend this book. It has plenty of suspense mixed with a nice blend of romance and humor. If you’ve read the previous books, you’ll definitely want to read this to find out how it all ends.
4 stars
Review: In Safe Hands by Katie Ruggle
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.
Review: In Safe Hands by Katie Ruggleby Katie Ruggle
Series: Search and Rescue #4
Series Rating: four-stars
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on October 4, 2016
Pages: 416
Format: eARC
Genres: Romance
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
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four-stars
Content Warning: This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age.
In the remote Rocky Mountains, lives depend on the Search & Rescue brotherhood. But in a place this far off the map, trust is hard to come by and secrets can be murder...
It's all come down to this...
Daisy Little has lived in agoraphobic terror for over eight years. Trapped within a prison of her own making, she watches time pass through her bedroom window. Daisy knows she'll never be a part of the world...until the day she becomes the sole witness of a terrible crime that may finally tear the Search and Rescue brotherhood apart for good.
In Safe Hands was a great ending to this Search and Rescue series. I loved Dasiy, even though she at times was a hot mess, she was an enjoyable character. I really liked her relationship with Chris. Even though it took a while for the two of them to jumpstart something physical, it was a great journey.
I loved how the other characters from the previous books played a strong part in Daisy’s story. She didn’t have any friends (besides Chris) so it was wonderful seeing this great cast of people add her into their group.
Overall, the book was engaging and did a nice job wrapping up this romantic suspense series. I’m gonna miss these characters.
ARC Review: In Safe Hands by Katie Ruggle
OCTOBER 17, 2016 BY ANNMARIE LEAVE A COMMENT
ARC Review: In Safe Hands by Katie RuggleIn Safe Hands (Search and Rescue, #4) by Katie Ruggle
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on October 4th 2016
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo
Goodreads
In the remote Rocky Mountains, lives depend on the Search & Rescue brotherhood. But in a place this far off the map, trust is hard to come by and secrets can be murder...
It's all come down to this...
Daisy Little has lived in agoraphobic terror for over eight years. Trapped within a prison of her own making, she watches time pass through her bedroom window. Daisy knows she'll never be a part of the world...until the day she becomes the sole witness of a terrible crime that may finally tear the Search and Rescue brotherhood apart for good.
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buriedreview
¬¬Reviewed by Amy¬¬
As I read the blurb for this book, I immediately thought of that old Audrey Hepburn movie, Wait Until Dark, where the blind woman is increasingly isolated from the outside world by her assailants. The thought of your fears confining you to your home and then those fears taking real form and making your home no longer a safe haven intrigued me. And like with that old Hepburn movie, I was on the edge of my seat reading In Safe Hands.
Daisy Little has spent the last 8 years, since her mother’s murder, sequestered in her home and afraid to leave it. She spends her days watching her neighbors from her bedroom window seat, knowing she’ll never be a part of that world because the world beyond her door is just too terrifying. Her only human contact is the occasional visit from her father and the visits of her best friend, Chris Jennings, a Field County Sheriff’s Deputy and the man who killed her mother’s assailant. Chris had been her only friend since she was 16 and her feelings for him had grown. But she never pushed the relationship, afraid he’d stop visiting if she made him feel awkward. Her sheltered world changes though when she witnesses a crime during one of her late night neighborhood viewings. After sharing her discovery with Chris, he brings in other search and rescue friends and their significant others (from previous books in the series) and they begin to analyze the info they’ve accumulated noticing these events in Simpson (fires, murders, missing people) all seem to be related and finally leading them to who they suspect is behind them. And through her contact with and the support of these new friends and her evolving relationship with Chris, Daisy starts to consider the possibility that she might be able to leave her haven and have a normal life. Unfortunately though, the very people they should be able to trust are actually the ones they should fear and Daisy’s home is no longer a haven, but a trap.
I was a bit apprehensive starting this book as this is a new to me author and, of course, a new to me series. Would I be lost coming in on the final book in the series? Though at first, I did feel a little clueless, I quickly caught on to the gist of the situation through the dialogue of Daisy and her “super sleuth” friends. I do regret though that I didn’t get in on the series from the beginning. Even though I now know how it ends, I plan to go back and read the earlier books as well. I would recommend you start at the beginning of the series as you will not want to miss one second of this riveting suspense. This story is a near perfect ratio of nail biting suspense to lovely, slow building romance. The characters are complex and their conflicts are real and believable. I look forward to reading the rest in this series and learning the stories behind the other characters.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book.
Amy
Rating: 5 butterflies
REVIEW: On His Watch by Katie Ruggle
Posted December 24th, 2015 by Sara @HarlequinJunkie in Blog, Contemporary Romance, Novella, Review, Romantic Suspense / 6 comments
On His Watch by Katie Ruggle is a prequel novella introducing readers to On His Watchcharacters from her new Search and Rescue Series. It focuses on Derek Warner, a member of the ice rescue diving team, and Artemis Rey, a teacher. The pair had previously had a relationship and are brought back together when a school field trip goes awry.
For a novella, it’s action packed. First one of children falls through the ice, prompting Derek to go in after him. Then two of the little girls disappear from the group, which causes a search in the surrounding woods. While searching, Derek and Artemis get caught in a snow storm, forcing them to take shelter in an abandoned cabin. It’s here they work through what happened to break them up, and where they decide to give their relationship another shot.
While I enjoyed the story, it felt like there were things that happened off the pages that we were expected to know. For example, there was talk about another arson. But what about the previous arsons? There wasn’t really any mention of them. Then there was the discovery of flammable materials at the cabin, but it never goes anywhere. It’ll probably be covered in the future books, but it seemed like it was just thrown into the story.
A lot of characters are introduced in this book. It’s not too much to take away from Artemis and Derek’s story, but enough to make me interested in what their stories will be.
On His Watch has some humorous moments, some suspenseful moments, and some romantic moments. If you enjoy these and are looking for a quick read, this novella may be for you.
3 stars
QUOTE:
I don't really know what I expected from this new-to-me author and this new-to-me series, but I guess it was more than I got in this short story.
Review: On His Watch by Katie Ruggle
NO COMMENTS
Title: On His Watch
Series: Search and Rescue
Author: Katie Ruggle
Read copy: eBook (Kindle)
Published: January 5, 2016
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
ASIN: B017HX13DU
In the remote Rocky Mountains, lives depend on the Search & Rescue brotherhood. But in a place this far off the map, trust is hard to come by and secrets can be murder...
Ice rescue diver Derek Warner never meant to be a hero. But when two little girls go missing, he's the first in line to bring them home—even if that means scouring the wilderness with the woman he once loved and lost, Artemis Rey.
Artemis has never stopped wanting Derek. Now, racing to find the girls before it's too late, minutes turn to hours. Night falls. Old flames rekindle. And a danger grows in the darkest wilderness that may be more than even the Search and Rescue brotherhood can hope to face...
My rating:
***eBook available for free on Amazon***
Four years ago, he let her go for her own good. Now, as they work together to find two missing girls, they both realize their feelings for one another are far from gone.
I don't really know what I expected from this new-to-me author and this new-to-me series, but I guess it was more than I got in this short story.
It was slow, mostly bogged down by the unresolved issues from the MCs past relationship, the characters weren't that interesting (him with a martyr complex and her with a slightly codependent mentality), for two people who were supposed to be searching for two missing little girls they were quick with going all grope-y and moan-y with each other on a derelict shack floor, and the one promising thing (the discovery of a possible arsonist hideout) amounted to nothing.
I guess I'll have to read the next book in the series, then.
QUOTE:
I was engaged from start to finish and enough so that I really want to continue on with the series.
On His Watch by Katie Ruggle
Series Spotlight: Search & Rescue by Katie Ruggle
This new romantic suspense series, by debut author Katie Ruggle, is set around a Search & Rescue brotherhood. The prequel novella, On His Watch is free and available now. Hold Your Breath, the first of the four books (available April 5th), is described as action packed, romantic, and utterly pulse pounding. Ruggle uses her background as a survivalist to weave a sexy story filled with suspense and emotion against the backdrop of the Rockies.
There is a special preorder campaign going on for Hold Your Breath, where you can receive a Search & Rescue book light and be entered in to win a fabulous gourmet winter reading gift basket from Le Chocolat! Click here for details on how to enter.
MORE ABOUT: ON HIS WATCH!
In the remote Rocky Mountains, lives depend on the Search & Rescue brotherhood. But in a place this far off the map, trust is hard to come by and secrets can be murder...
Ice rescue diver Derek Warner never meant to be a hero. But when two little girls go missing, he's the first in line to bring them home-even if that means scouring the wilderness with the woman he once loved and lost, Artemis Rey.
Artemis has never stopped wanting Derek. Now, racing to find the girls before it's too late, minutes turn to hours. Night falls. Old flames rekindle. And a danger grows in the darkest wilderness that may be more than even the Search and Rescue brotherhood can hope to face...
On His Watch is the pulse-pounding prequel to the riveting Search & Rescue series by Katie Ruggle.
REVIEW BY "K"
Pretty good prequel to this new romantic suspense series... as stated above this is currently a free download. :)
It's really hard to review novellas because they are so short but, I love the author's writing style and it gave me a good taste of the characters that I will be meeting in the rest of the series.
I liked the suspense level even though I think that there was a bit too much squeezed into this installment. This would have been more enjoyable if the number of incidents had been cut down a little. Despite that... I was engaged from start to finish and enough so that I really want to continue on with the series.
So, yeah... sign me up for more of these hunky police officers, firefighters and divers! :)
QUOTE:
off to a promising start
HOLD YOUR BREATH
Image of Hold Your Breath (Search and Rescue)
Author(s): Katie Ruggle
his initial entry into the Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue series is off to a promising start. The teams of first responders include law enforcement, fire department and an ice rescue dive team. The women in their lives are no shrinking violets either, if the heroine featured here is any indication.
Louise “Lou” Sparks moved to Colorado to escape her smothering ex and meddlesome family and take control of her life. She joins the dive team, under the command of Callum “Cal” Cook, and then proceeds to turn his orderly world on its ear. On a training exercise, Lou accidentally discovers a headless body and makes it her mission to identify the victim (also known as “HDG,” or Headless Dead Guy) and find the murderer. At the same time, Lou is the object of an increasingly violent stalker. As Cal makes her safety a priority, the two become more than work teammates. Lou’s stalker is determined, but she is resilient. Her family connections turn out to be more sinister than she knows, and she and Cal both face life-threatening attacks before all is said and done. (SOURCEBOOKS, Apr., 384 pp., $5.99)
Reviewed by:
Jacqui McGugins
QUOTE:
The action in this entry is pulse-pounding and non-stop.
IN SAFE HANDS
Image of In Safe Hands (Search and Rescue)
Author(s): Katie Ruggle
As this series draws to a close, the most fascinating of the heroines is introduced. Her story is both heartbreaking and uplifting, at the same time. She’s a sympathetic sweetheart who carries the reader along on her journey to emotional healing.
Daisy Little has been, literally, trapped in her own home since she witnessed her mother’s murder eight years ago. The deputy who stopped the murderer before he could kill Daisy has been her protector ever since. Chris Jennings has watched Daisy shut herself into her own home and will do anything to keep her safe. Daisy’s fears have kept her in her own agoraphobic world, but she acknowledges that she does need to let people in, if she ever wants to have a life with Chris. One night, she witnesses what looks like a body being taken out of the vacant house next door. When Chris begins to look into it, the ladies of Simpson Search & Rescue, make their way to Daisy’s home to brainstorm the other deaths in town. Lou, Rory and Ellie soon congregate (along with their men) in Daisy’s home and begin fitting the pieces of the puzzle together, starting with Lou’s HDG (headless dead guy). It’s all connected to the town’s first responders and the question becomes whether or not Daisy and Chris can survive the final confrontation. The action in this entry is pulse-pounding and non-stop. (SOURCEBOOKS, Oct., 416 pp, $7.99)
Reviewed by:
Jacqui McGugins
GONE TOO DEEP
Image of Gone Too Deep (Search and Rescue)
Author(s): Katie Ruggle
The plot for the latest Search and Rescue adventure is a bit slow because the hero barely speaks, making it challenging to get to know him. But the heroine is smitten enough to keep trying and she manages to break through and the reader gets insight into this truly sensitive man. Shock comes when the man behind the killings is identified, but only to the reader. Anticipation for the next reveal is growing.
Ellie Price is content in Chicago as a sales associate in a trendy boutique. When she receives a call out of the blue from her father, Baxter, Ellie is sucked back into her dad’s world of paranoia. He’s living near Simpson, Colo., and was a friend of the Headless Dead Guy (HDG). Baxter’s ramblings convince her to rush to Simpson to try to get her father the care he needs, but first she has to find him. Enter George Holloway, who specializes in deep woods rescue. As the two set out, they are followed by two characters who are also looking for Baxter. He has information on the real killer, so the race is on to save him. (SOURCEBOOKS, Aug., 448 pp., $6.99)
Reviewed by:
Jacqui McGugins
QUOTE:
there is a lot of action taking place around this one small, fiery Colorado woman.
FAN THE FLAMES
Image of Fan the Flames (Search and Rescue)
Author(s): Katie Ruggle
Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue returns with a new, reluctant member. She’s the local gun shop owner and was raised off the grid as a survivalist. She is also dodging danger from the local motorcycle club. Missing here is more detail about her parents to explain their strange behavior, but there is a lot of action taking place around this one small, fiery Colorado woman.
Rory Sorenson has managed her family’s gun shop since the death of her parents, with a side business of less-than-legal gun sales from her back room. Ian Walsh volunteers with the fire rescue team and has known Rory since she was a child. He’s also a member of the MC and, at times, acts as their “enforcer.” Rory sometimes supplies weapons to the club members, but she is selective about whom she does business with. No one really knows Rory well because her parents raised her away from society. They were convinced of an upcoming apocalypse, but Rory never bought that — hence her friendship with Ian. (SOURCEBOOKS, Jun., 448 pp., $6.99)
Reviewed by:
Jacqui McGugins