Burning Justice (K-9 Special Ops) – ARC review

Burning Justice
by Tee O’Fallon
Release Date: August 22, 2023
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Book #2 in the K-9 Special Ops series
Number of Pages: 400
Source: ARC from NetGalley
Romantic Suspense
Ages 15 and up
CW: arson, sexual abuse, neglect, grief,
homelessness, misogyny, burn injuries
———————–
After narrowly surviving a childhood fire that killed two of his friends, ATF Special Agent Brett Tanner knows what it’s like to get too close to the flame. The trauma only spurs him and his K-9 partner to track down the arsonists targeting a Colorado town. This latest warehouse blaze looks suspicious as hell…and there’s a body. Now it’s murder.

Fiercely independent insurance investigator Gemma Scott has been burned enough times to know she doesn’t need anyone—especially a handsome agent with an agenda. Teaming up with the hardened and determined ATF agent means not just trusting her instincts…it also means trusting him.

Now they’re racing against an arsonist with a lethal agenda—one who’s willing to burn and kill to hide the evidence. But the killer is only part of a larger mystery. And the searing attraction between Gemma and Brett adds fuel to an already dangerously lethal fire. One that will smoke out a killer…along with Brett’s darkest secret.

---

This book starts strong. I was immediately invested in Brett and Gemma having a relationship. They start out as forming a partnership to catch a possible arsonist, Brett working for the ATF and Gemma working as an insurance investigator, so giving into their feelings isn’t exactly appropriate. Plus, Gemma has a huge chip on her shoulder due to the misogyny in her field and having to constantly work to prove her worth to those around her. Although they don’t give in to their desires and chemistry right away, there are plenty of heated gazes.

For Brett, the case they’re working on is personal. His drive is such that it has always gotten in the way of any relationship he’s attempted. Since both Gemma and Brett feel they aren’t made for a relationship, there’s a lot of push and pull throughout the story. This works well to keep things moving without stagnation. There are a few times I thought the book got a bit too into the ins and outs of the case; a bit of too much information.

Several people could be suspects so it kept me guessing right along with the characters. For me, this is a good thing. It kept me turning the pages once things got going. On top of that, I loved the little bit we saw of Gemma’s friends and family. She’s a bit of a lone wolf and never asks anyone for help, which means we don’t see much of them.

There’s one more friend from this trio of K-9 handlers who needs some happiness. I have a feeling his will be a grueling story, but I’m looking forward to reading it.

3.5 stars

**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**