BOOK REVIEW- EXPLOSIVE FORCES

Danger is heating up…

When Carly Reese’s beloved fashion boutique catches fire, she sees her dreams go up in smoke. The good news is that Carly was saved from the flames by a barking dog nearby. She soon discovers the heroic pooch is a trained K-9 who’s guarding his unconscious partner …a gorgeous firefighter who ends up in Carly’s arms.

Noah Glover and his K-9 are a fearless duo, and Noah has clearly met his match with the brave, beautiful Carly. Soon they team up to track down the arsonist behind the blast – a psychotic criminal who’s intent on framing Noah. Meanwhile, the sparks between Noah and and Carly could ignite a five-alarm fire. Should they smother their feelings in the name of justice…or fan the flames of passion?   
AMAZON 4.5 STARS

A really good story.  Dramatic start.. and it isn't long before "evidence" begins to stack up against Noah.  He's up against a very clever enemy.  An enemy he didn't even know he had, someone who has had Noah in his sights for quite a while.  This book had a good story-line and great characters and that includes Harley, the dog.  

The "set up" against Noah was a good one and it continued in the book in a pretty good way.  How in the world is Noah going to get out of this alive and not in prison?  His enemy decides if  his plan to kill Noah didn't work at least he can destroy him and his reputation by sending him to prison.  All of this made the villain of the piece a really good adversary.  No light weight in any way. There are really good secondary people in the story too.  Carly's cousin Jarius was one who showed up from time to time and I enjoyed their relationship.   Carly all by herself was a hoot, what a great character.  Noah didn't have a chance of resisting her. 

There is one part where I am almost screaming at Carly, "don't do it, don't trust this person.  Get out."  I'm thinking don't be that person, for a smart woman don't do this stupid thing. 

It made me shake my head.  But when I calmed down, I realized it had to happen in order for the action to ratchet up to the next level.   This book had a lot of action and twists and turns and this did  move things faster to an explosive but satisfying ending.  

One of the things that really endeared this book to me, was the conversations between Carly and Noah.  I laughed more than once on the way they interacted.  They were even humorous during some of their foreplay.  I liked the writer's style and it felt like she did here homework when it came to fires and arson.  Later, I found out in her authors note that she did have a source of help in that area. 

I just have to share a couple of reasons why I also enjoyed this author's style of writing.  One of Noah's thoughts about Harley was "His furry companion might be a taste bud surrounded by fur.."  What a great description of his dog's always being on the hunt for food.  I also liked how one man was described as " a thirty-three year old man who ate like a teenager with a tapeworm."   Still makes me smile.  These phrases were good, I enjoyed them and they were sprinkled sparing throughout the story.  It didn't feel cheesy to me nor did it over-power the story.  

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.