True heroes will do anything to protect the women they love… As the newest recruit at Search and Protect, Raul has a lot to prove. Luckily, he’s got the best friend and partner a man could ask for: a highly trained, fiercely loyal German Shepherd Dog named Taz. Together, Raul and Taz make an unbeatable team. But their first mission in Hawaii really puts them to the test when an international … international kidnapping ring sets its sights on the bravest woman Raul’s ever met . . .
Mali knows her latest job has put one hell of a target on her back. And on this small island paradise, there’s nowhere to hide. With a service dog like Taz, Mali feels safe. Sharing close quarters with a smoldering muscle-for-hire like Raul, she feels something else – an unexpected wave of desire. Raul feels it too. But when the kidnappers make their move, he’s got to turn that slow-burning passion into hard-hitting action – and save the life of the woman he loves.
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TOTAL BRAVERY is the fourth instalment in Piper J. Drake’s contemporary, adult TRUE HEROES romantic suspense series. This is US Army veteran Raul Sa, and researcher Mali Siri’s story line. TOTAL BRAVERY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. We were first introduced to Raul in book three-ABSOLUTE TRUST.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Raul and Mali) TOTAL BRAVERY follows the building relationship between US Army veteran Raul Sa, and researcher Mali Siri. Hawaii was the perfect destination for Mali and her team of researchers to look into the human trafficking problem befalling the region but our heroine never expected to be caught-up as potential victims. With her team missing, and Mali on the run, our heroine contacts her sister Arin, US Army Sniper and a member of the Search and Protect Organization mercenary group stationed on the island of Oahu. Enter Raul Sa, newest member of the group along with his canine partner Taz, and the man with whom Mali will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance between Raul and Mali, as the members of the Search and Protect group set a plan into motion to rescue Mali’s team from a potential human trafficking ring.
A genius since a young age, Mali Siri has been bullied most of her life but had the benefit of her older sister’s protection throughout her earlier years into present day-a protection that also frightens our heroine in that she questions her sister’s darker side, and what it is she is truly capable of doing. Raul Sa is a bit of a loner whose first day with the Search and Protect Organization in Oahu found our hero going on a solo mission to rescue the woman with whom he would fall in love.
The relationship between Raul and Mali is one of immediate attraction but Raul knows that to get involved with a client, especially his best friend and fellow US Army veteran Arin’s younger sister, could mean immediate dismissal from the group he recently joined. Mali is a bit of a fragile butterfly; to some extent naïve and sheltered from who, what, how and why of her sister’s life, that pulls at the alpha in our story line hero. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.
TOTAL BRAVERY is a bit of a departure from the first three instalments and the Hope’s Crossing K9 group, in that the story introduces a new team of Special Ops mercenaries for hire, living and working in the Hawaiian Islands. We are introduced to Mali’s sister, and Raul’s best friend Arin Siri and her K9 King; communications specialist Pua; computer specialist Kai; founder of the Search and Protect mercenary group Zu and his dog Buck; kennel master Todd Miller and his wife Kalea; police officer Kokua; and Kenny, a man with his ear to the ground about the illegal goings on in the Hawaiian Islands.
TOTAL BRAVERY is a story of romance, suspense, betrayal and love. The premise is well-paced, intriguing and thrilling; the characters are colorful and energetic; the romance is captivating and sensual. TOTAL BRAVERY is an engaging and edgy story line.
Total Bravery is another installment in the True Heroes world but not really a continuation of the series. Raul is starting a new job in Hawaii and has just become partners with Taz, a German Shepherd Dog that was trained at Hope’s Crossing. That’s pretty much it for the crossover with the original stories 🙂 Well, that and the general feel of the story – sexy, smart, and bada** hero, a strong heroine in need of help, and a group of colleagues that are more than capable of helping out.
Mali is my kinda heroine – smart and level-headed. When things go bad for her, she doesn’t freak out, listens to those with more experience, and does her best to stay out of the way when she needs to. She may need help but she’s definitely no damsel in distress. Raul is the kind of ex-military hero you’d expect. He’s got the training but he’s also got the heart to do what he needs to do in any given situation. It’s not always the easy thing but he tries his best to make it the best one.
I feel like Piper does a pretty good job delving into a difficult situation here, addressing human trafficking. It’s an awful, heart-breaking, and so very real. Between Mali’s research and what they come across while trying to find her missing teammates, we get an idea of how easy and dangerous it can be. It’s not near as bad here as it is in real life but it gives you enough of a feel for it that your imagination can run wild.
I do kinda wish we’d gotten a little bit more about why Raul doesn’t feel worthy of being with Mali. It seemed like ti would become an issue, and he flirts around the edges of his reasoning, but then he gets over it. There are a few family issues between Mali and Arin that I think need a bit more exploration but I’m hoping that there will be ample time for that in a story starring Arin. Overall, though, Drake does a good job of tying up her threads in a complete and satisfying story. (Just like the Siri sister drama I’m anticipating more with the big bad from the story showing up in future books.)
A mix of intrigue, action, and smoldering romance, Total Bravery is well written, well paced, and just in general well done 🙂
*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***
romance, search-rescue, suspense, k9
Total Bravery is the 4th installment of the True Heroes Series. These books are stand alone and do not have to be read in order. This book has action, suspense, chemistry, a very serious plot and a HEA.
Raul Sa, is a new recruit at Search and Protect, he is teamed up with a German Shepherd Dog (GSD)named Taz. His best friend, Arin, is the reason he has come to Hawaii and the S & P program. Raul and Taz’s first day on the job starts off with a phone call from his BF’s sister needing help. Seems like some bad guys in suits are chasing her and trying to kidnap her and her team. Raul is immediately attracted to her and knows that his BF will kick his butt for touching her little sister.
Mali Siri, is a Professional Researcher she has come to Hawaii to do field work on Human Trafficking. This job has landed her as a target so she must hide but on this island, that’s nearly impossible so she tries to get help from her sister, but sis is on a mission, so she calls her sister’s BF. The muscle bound man makes her quiver with want but he also makes her feel safe.
Raul and Mali start the search for her teammates but can’t fight the wave of attraction between them. Things heat up, the danger gets more intense and they have to find a way to work together to save the lives of not only herself but her teammates as well. After the action is over, can he convince her to be his forever?
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Avid Reader –
M/F Thriller romance
Triggers: Human trafficking, kidnapping
I have not read any of the previous books in this series and never felt that I was lost or didn’t know who the characters were.
This is a fast-paced story where you are thrust in to the beginning and it never really lets you go. It starts with a call for help. Raul is just starting at his new job. With his K9 partner, Taz, by his side, he wants a fresh start. When he receives a distress call from his best friend’s sister, he drops everything to help her. He knew that getting out of the military and hooking up with this new group, he would have a chance to do better things than what he had seen and done in the military.
Mali is a spunky, nerdy, and beautiful researcher. She is on the island to conduct field research into the human trafficking issues that are so prevalent on the island. But when her fellow researchers and herself find themselves in the sights of someone with a personal stake in the game, she knows and follows her sister’s advice – call Arin and get low. Expecting her sister, she’s surprised when Raul answers. And even though she’s nervous about getting help from someone she doesn’t really know, the fact that her sister trusts him is enough for Mali.
This is a great thriller in that the group is constantly moving. The dogs are a huge part of the story and I love how they are incorporated. Mali and Raul have to navigate the danger first and their relationship second, all while trying to maintain her sister so that Arin won’t kick Raul’s butt. I loved how spunky both sisters were and how we were able to see their relationship develop as well.
I think I’ll have to go back and read the previous books and hope that more come out! I enjoyed this a lot and would like to read more of Drake.
Sarah –
This is the story of an exciting romance between a sociologist and an ex-military member of a private security company. When Mali’s research into human trafficking attracts the wrong kind of attention, she seeks protection from Raul, her sister’s new teammate.
Mali is a great female lead. She’s clever, fierce, and resourceful. At times, Raul’s protective instincts are a little bit over the top but they balance each other and work well together. I liked the complicated relationship between Mali and her sister.
Raul is a stereotypical alpha male military type. His relationship with his dog is humanising but he is private and guarded. I liked him but beyond the dog, there wasn’t much to separate him from every other ex-military romance hero.
This is a relatively low heat romance and the relationship between Mali and Raul works – but it is a little bit insta-love and more than a little bit predictable. I enjoyed the action more than the romance in this one.
Once readers accept the somewhat unlikely concept of a private paramilitary security company composed of highly trained dogs and their ex-military handlers, the rest of the story comes easily. I enjoyed the relationships between team members. The Hawaiian setting is gorgeous but possibly a little bit overplayed. I found the human trafficking storyline fascinating and the action scenes were exciting. There are hints that this is the first in a series and I’m already looking forward to the next books.
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Total Bravery (True Heroes #4) by Piper J. Drake to read and review.
I have been looking forward to Raul and Taz’s story, and the new setting in Hawaii was a great change-up! Both Raul and Taz are adjusting to being partners but have a good relationship so far, and now they both need to navigate a new team as well. Raul had a really bad experience on his last tour of duty that left him with some demons to work through, and he thinks he is a bad person because of it. His goal is to do as much good as possible in his new job in the private sector to try to offset the bad from his past with the hope it’ll somehow all balance out in the end.
When he receives a desperate call for help from his best friend and teammate Arin’s little sister Mali on his first day on the job, he and Taz jump into action. Mali is an academic, and her team of researchers has gotten themselves on the radar of some very bad people who use the islands to support their human trafficking trade.
I really liked Raul and Mali’s characters! Raul projects a calm demeanor as much as possible, but a quiet intensity burns beneath the surface that he lets out in limited supply- and oh my, does it ever have maximum impact! Mali is brilliant, petite, beautiful and a bit nerdy- this is a girl after my heart right here 🙂 She starts off a bit timid, but by the time all is said and done she has really broken out of her shell. She is prone to panic attacks, and her mind works differently than most, but Raul and Taz are a huge help in bringing her out of her head and into the present on more than one occasion. Mali also has a lot of issues with her older sister despite turning to Arin for help when she needs it most. Unfortunately Arin doesn’t always help the situation when she can’t get past seeing her kid sister rather than a grown woman who possesses the intelligence and strength to be able to deal with the straight-up truth rather than a sugar-coated or diluted version of it.
There were some great dynamics between the characters as Raul learned how to fit into the structure of his new team and we meet some new faces to the series. I absolutely adore the integration of the dogs too. I am a dog lover at heart, and Taz and the other canine team members have personalities all their own that make me smile. There is action and suspense as the search for Mali’s coworkers intensify, and the chemistry between Raul and Mali sizzles until it finally boils over. The threat of Arin kicking his butt for messing with her little sister hangs over them for a bit but in the end it all works out of course! All in all, Total Bravery was a great read that I couldn’t put down once I started it.
Raul and Taz finally get their story!
Raul has newly relocated to what many would term paradise, Hawaii. With his newly formed partnership with Taz, they are the new recruits at his friends firm, Search and Protect.
When he received a call from his friends sister saying she is in danger he doesn’t think twice about going to protect her. Arin would kill him if anything happened to Mali! But after years of hearing about Mali the egghead, the real life woman just about knocks him on his keister!
Mali knows that Arin has kept most of her accomplishments from her. But she feels she has to prove herself anyway. But doing post-doc work on human trafficking, not the safest topic to pick!!! But when her research group is targeted she reaches out to her big sister and ends up with the sexy Raul and his furry sidekick!
I loved that whilst trying to be a gentleman, a professional whilst keeping Mali safe, Raul can’t help being attracted to her. He’ll take this attraction at the pace Mali decrees. It really is quite funny how terrified he is of Arin, although well justified with her intense skill set! But Mali may be naïve when it comes to getting herself into danger but she is not about to let a fine specimen like Raul get away!
Great action packed, fast paced story with romance aplenty, but not at the sacrifice of a rip roaring story. Mali and Arin put the fun in dysfunctional! Well worth the read and I now have to browbeat my hubby into getting me my very own Taz!!!
I wasn’t expecting to move away from the team we went through the previous books with. This was a good book, just a bit different. I didn’t feel there was as much direct action as the previous ones had. I’ll continue the series. This is a steamy romance.
Total Bravery by Piper J. Drake is book 4 in the Total Bravery Series. This is the story of Raul and Mali. Mail is doing a research project studying human trafficking. When her team catches the notice of the wrong people but she able to get away. Then her sister’s friends come forward to help. This leads to meeting Raul who is smitten from the start. Raul is part of the Search and Protect division with his partner Taz, who is a German Shepard Dog. Mail has a immediate attraction too but there is a lot of danger they have to get through along with some reservations that Raul has about his past.
Exciting Read.
Total Bravery is my first Piper Drake book, but it definitely won’t be my last. Her smart heroine and Taz the dog caused me to fall in love with her world. I will definitely be back for more.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy provided by Forever.
Total Bravery is an intense little page-turner that will keep you on your toes from beginning to end! As soon as my eyes landed on the first page of this one the words drew me in, and had me instantly hooked. It’s action-packed plot, steamy romantic tidbits, and heart squeezing drama make it a can’t miss read. If you are a romantic suspense fan, you will love this one, it’s characters have a thrilling journey in store for you, and it’s well penned words are destined to leave you satisfied. Highly recommend!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased review.
I’m obsessed with this entire series!
Total Bravery was an enjoyable and easy read. I love sitting with my dogs – and my service dog, and reading romances that include dogs – especially working dogs (I haven’t found any that have service dogs yet though, just Working Dogs). In Total Bravery’s case, I hung out in the waiting room of my medical centre on a testing day in a hospital gown and pyjama bottoms in corner and read the book whilst waiting for a bevy of new tests. Blech. And I was entertained enough to not go into panic mode but still aware of everything going on around me. For me, that’s a plus when out and about. So yay, Total Bravery. If you’re looking for the next captivating read that makes you forget to take that casserole out of the oven, this won’t be it, but it will be entertaining and mildly spicy.
What I enjoyed most was Mali, she was a different female lead than you get in a lot of romances. She’s working in Hawai’i, interviewing sex workers and trying to get information for research purposes on sex trafficking. I also liked Raul’s absolute loyalty to his battle buddy, Arin, Mali’s sister. When Mali calls, looking for Arin’s help, he doesn’t think twice, he jumps in to help Mali even though he doesn’t know her. He just knows Mali is Arin’s sister and that means something to him. It’s a bit detrimental in the relationship building but as I’m a lot like Raul in the complete loyalty department, I love seeing it in books.
What I disliked. Well, that’s a spoiler. I can’t rant about what I don’t like without giving it away and there is frustration aplenty about it.
Overall, I’m giving Total Bravery 3 stars. It was a good book to keep me occupied but I didn’t fall in love with it. Thank you to the publisher for the review copy I received via NetGalley.
Good book that sucked me in right away. The first three books in the series took place in Pennsylvania, with the owners and trainers at Hope’s Crossing Kennels. This book follows one of their working dogs and his handler, Taz and Raul Sa (from Absolute Trust), to Hawaii and their work with Search and Protect. On his first day on the job, alone on the premises, he received a call from the sister of one of his teammates – she’s on the run from unknown men and needs help. Raul and Taz immediately set off to find her.
Mali is a researcher doing post-doctorate work and studying human trafficking. The team she is with has drawn the wrong kind of attention, and while she has evaded capture, the rest of the team has not. She’s on edge until her sister’s friend and teammate finds her and gets her to safety.
I loved the first meeting between Raul and Mali. The situation is tense because of the danger, but there is also no denying the punch of attraction that both of them feel. Mali is moved by Raul’s care and concern and notices how cute he is. Raul is equally drawn to her, but she’s his best friend’s little sister. I laughed out loud at that moment in the hotel room when he asked “Is there something I can do to get out of this situation without Arin wanting to kill me?” and “I’m doomed. Dead.” I loved Mali’s reaction even more. I loved the way that Mali almost instantly connected with both Raul and Taz, and they with her. Taz is just as protective of Mali as Raul is, and he and Mali have some pretty sweet moments together.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Raul and Mali. Raul is smitten almost immediately. Even if it means standing up to his good buddy Arin, he wants to see where it will go. The problem is, he’s got some pretty dark things in his past that also make him feel that he isn’t good for her, so he mentally flip-flops a little bit. Mali’s feelings have her totally confused. With everything that’s going on, as much as she wants them to, she’s not sure that she can trust them to last. I liked how their working together helped them get to know each other, and that the heat between them continued to build. I loved that Raul respected Mali’s intelligence and capabilities. He didn’t allow his protectiveness to stop him from listening to her opinions and suggestions or stop her from participating in the rescue operation. Though Mali is an eyewitness to the things that Raul is capable of when the situation calls for it, her feelings for him are not diminished by it. I liked that she could separate the professional Raul from the personal one. The ending was fantastic, as Raul gave Mali the space she needed to deal with everything that had happened. I liked how Mali was able to work through all her issues and see the truth. The fact that both of them had “go big” moments planned put them on equal footing for their future, with neither one having to give something up to be together.
The suspense of the story was really good and kept me hooked throughout the book. Mali and her research team were researching human trafficking on the Islands when they drew the interest of the wrong people. Mali was able to escape, thanks to remembered advice from her sister, which leaves her as the only team member free. Though badly shaken, she is determined to help her friends. Her return to the hotel, with Raul and Taz in tow, is tense and becomes more so with the messages she received. Mali’s stubborn insistence on following those instructions almost put her in the TSTL category, but her willingness to follow Raul’s lead made it better. The scene at the pineapple stand brought home how much danger was involved. Once they return to Search and Protect’s headquarters and fill in the rest of the team, things really begin to pop. I loved the teamwork and seeing how each member’s strengths were utilized. The rescue operation was intense and had me on the edge of my seat as I read my way through it. There were a couple of unexpected twists that increased the tension before it was all resolved.
The assorted relationships in the book were also fascinating. Raul and Taz’s assimilation into the new team was an important component. His reflections on past issues with other teams emphasized how important this new job was to him. I liked seeing how his interactions with each of those members reinforced his feeling of belonging. I loved the nurturing spirit of Kalea and her obvious happiness in taking care of everyone. Zu’s leadership and understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of each member had the respect of them all. I loved his conversation with Raul at the end, and the impact it had on Raul. I felt like the most important relationship, other than that between Mali and Raul, was the one between Arin and Mali. They had grown up with Arin being Mali’s protector, and now that they are grown Arin still sees Mali as that child. It takes a while for her to see Mali’s strength and independence. That protectiveness also comes out when she sees the sparks between Mali and Raul. I loved that she warned Mali that she could be hurt, but also that she could hurt Raul. The friendship between Arin and Raul is a close one, and they obviously know each other well. There were some realistically awkward moments among the three of them as they worked out the new dynamics.
I loved the dogs, especially Taz. I was rooting for him in the previous book and was thrilled when he found a partner in Raul. I loved how well they had already bonded by the time this book started. One of the things I liked best about him is that his personality is so much like Raul’s. It seemed that he fell for Mali as quickly as Raul did. I loved the scene in the bathroom when Raul first rescued Mali, and how Taz sensed her distress. The bit with the pineapple was absolutely adorable. Though Mali had never been an animal person, Taz drew her in just as quickly. I loved how he provided comfort in stressful times, and was there for the good times, too. I loved his part in Raul’s big moment. As always in these True Heroes books, I love learning about these working dogs and the people they are partnered with. It’s always fascinating.
Right off the bat if you are a dog lover you need to read this book. Taz the German Shepherd Dog (GSD) is the hero of this book. All dogs have personalities, but some are so much more.
Raul and Taz are starting their new job with the Search and Protection Organization. Eager to make a good impression, he’s about to start his duties, cleaning the kennels but gets interrupted by a phone call.
Mali is in Waikiki doing post-doc research of a nefarious sort. When men in black suits start pursing her and her team, she works her way toward the Search and Protection Organization where her sister works. Unfortunately everywhere she turns she sees them. Getting desperate she calls her sister Arin, but instead gets Raul.
Raul only knew of Mali from talks with Arin while they were deployed. Once he and Taz find her he knew he was in trouble. This was a gorgeous woman, not the child from Arin’s memories.
Plenty of suspense and action, family drama, new friendships and team bonding. I laughed, cried and sighed as this relationship develops under extreme circumstances.
Taz is awesome and his interactions with Mali while doing his job make me want another dog. He is smart, expressive and a joy to read about.
Only one thing bothered me in this book and that is they didn’t get information on those who were missing from the start. I would think they would have gotten descriptions and done background checks on them just to see if any had previous connections to the bad guys.
I love anything to do with service dogs, rescue dogs, military dogs and this series covers them all. I can’t wait to see who Piper writes into this series next!
Mali is in Hawaii doing research work when her team is taken. She runs and calls her sister but it goes to Raul. Raul is former military and is starting a new job at Search and Protect Company. He and his dog go and find her. He takes her back to the compound and they try to figure out who’s after her. When the team starts searching for her team, someone shoots at Mali. There is chemistry between Raul and Mali but he’s Mali’s sister’s best friend and is afraid of how she’ll react. But their feelings are too strong to not act on them. When they locate the missing team, it’s from a known human trafficker and go in to rescue them. What they find is much more than they expected. They get the researchers and call the authorities for the rest. Now that Mali knows how dangerous Raul can be, will she accept him for who he is or will it scare her off? Great story. Action, suspense and sex. A German Shepherd dog ( my favorite ) . Told in third person with both Mali and Raul’s pov. The sex is hot but only a couple of scenes. * Voluntarily read and reviewed this for Netgalley *