Real heroes aren’t born, they’re made K9 handler Arin Siri doesn’t like taking orders, and she works best when it’s just her and her dog King out in the field. But when she discovers a wounded soldier of fortune during a Search and Protect mission, she has no choice but to get him to safety. The last time she and the roguish, sexy Jason Landon tangled, they were on opposite sides of the … opposite sides of the conflict, but this time, he’s claiming to need her help.
When Jason wakes up in a hospital on Hawaii’s Big Island, he’s shocked to discover Arin guarding him. She’s the last person he expected to see, but she’s also the only person who can help him bring down a kidnapping ring. As they draw closer to danger-and to each other-they must race against the clock to discover who the kidnappers are working for, or risk becoming collateral damage themselves.
Arin is a tough, independent woman. She has ragged edges and really only feels comfortable around her partner, KO King. She takes her duties as K9 handler and sniper for her firm very seriously. now part of a human trafficking task force in Hawaii, she is coming against the dregs of society. She met a mercenary on their last job and let him go but she has been wracked with doubts over whether she did the right thing.
Jason knew there was something hinky with his last job but it paid well and he looked the other way. Well until a certain sniper took him to task. last time they were on opposite sides but Jason has cleaned up his act and is now undertaking his own investigation into his old clients.
Arin is no simpering wall flower. She will disembowel you with a spoon if you look at her wrong. But she does have a gooey centre, mostly filled by her sister and King, and to a lesser extent her team members. She does not need a man to complete her but she would love some companionship. She has doubts over her own worth and her ability to keep a promise to her sister.
Jason is a good guy who just got caught up with the money and let his morals slip slightly. His halo definitely needs a good polish! But he sees his own faults and wants to correct them. He is secure in himself in that he does not feel threatened by Arin’s type A personality. He knows when she is the person to lead and perfectly comfortable taking orders from her.
FIERCE JUSTICE is the fifth instalment in Piper J.Drake’s contemporary, adult TRUE HEROES romantic, military suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for the Search and Protect team, a Special Ops team of mercenaries for hire location in the Hawaiian Islands. This is K9 handler, and Search and Protect Agent Arin Siri, and independent mercenary Jason Landon’s story line. FIERCE JUSTICE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Arin and Jason) FIERCE JUSTICE follows the building relationship and professional partnership between K9 handler, and Search and Protect Agent Arin Siri, and independent mercenary Jason Landon. Arin Siri has no idea the injured man she found while on assignment is the same man she met, months earlier, while investigating a suspected human trafficking ring. Jason Landon’s previous encounter with our story line heroine changed the direction of Jason’s life. Working together to shut down the same ongoing trafficking ring, Jason and Arin will discover their mutual attraction and ease of working with one another. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Arin and Jason, and the potential fall-out as Jason’s time working with Arin comes with an expiry date.
Jason Landon had quickly flipped sides but finds himself targeted by the men with whom he used to work. Questioning his choice of missions, Jason offers his help to the Search and Protect Team in an effort to prove he is more than his last assignment. Arin Siri and her German shepherd King prefer to work alone but finding a familiar face in Jason Landon gave Arin another purpose going forward.
The relationship between Arin and Jason is slow to build as Arin struggles with issues of trust. Jason’s attraction to Arin is immediate but convincing Arin to take a chance is a battle Jason is willing to fight. The $ex scenes are passionate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are re-introduced to Erin’s sister Mali, and her boyfriend, fellow agent Raul; communications specialist Pua; founder of the Search and Protect mercenary group Zu and his dog Buck; and Kenny, a man with his ear to the ground about the illegal goings on in the Hawaiian Islands. The requisite evil has many faces.
FIERCE JUSTICE is a story of suspense, romance, trust and communication. The premise is fast paced, action packed and inviting; the characters are energetic and strong; the romance is captivating and intense. FIERCE JUSTICE continues to focus on the destructive nature of the human trafficking trade, and the people who struggle to take down everyone involved. FIERCE JUSTICE does not end on a HEA but a happily ever after-for now
I loved this book. The main character is a K9 handler on a search missing looking for victims of human trafficking. She gets help from an ex soldier and they have great chemistry together. I love that the dog is a German Shepherd. Plenty of action in this story. I look forward to reading more by this author.
I am glad I stuck with this series. It was fun to get a taste of EOD and a continuation of the human trafficking operation. I’m looking forward to the next story (I’m thinking it’s Zu). This is a steamy romance.
Great book
This book starts with a bang and doesn’t let up. I love how Drake incorporates the dogs into the storyline; it makes the characterization so much deeper. This one kept me engrossed from page one to page the end.
Good book. It starts a few months after the end of the previous book (Total Bravery). Though this one is connected to the last book, it can be read as a standalone as earlier events are seamlessly explained. Arin (Ah-rin) and her dog King are part of a team that continues to investigate human trafficking in Hawaii. She’s surprised to stumble across a former foe unconscious and bleeding and not very happy to have to abort her mission to get him to safety. But considering where she saw him last, he may have information vital to their investigation.
When Jason comes to, he’s surprised to find Arin standing guard in his hospital room. The last time he saw her, they were on opposites sides of a mission. But the things she told him made him question his actions and ticked off the wrong people. Now he’s on a quest to bring down a kidnapping ring and maybe make up for some of those past actions. It’s too much for one man alone to handle, and the Search and Protect team are the only ones who might be able to help him.
I liked the combination of personal and professional relationships between Arin and Jason. Neither one was able to forget the other after their last meeting, and Jason at least was happy to get to spend some time with Arin. She isn’t too sure that she can trust him, and the hoops she made him jump through at first both annoyed and amused him. Jason will do whatever he needs to to get their help in stopping the kidnapping ring. That it meshes well with their trafficking investigation is a bonus.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Arin and Jason. She is tough, independent, and sometimes abrasive, but she also has a vulnerable side that she hides well. Jason hasn’t always been too concerned about the morality of the jobs he took, but the last one made him take a closer look at himself. Determined to do better, Jason puts himself at Arin’s disposal. He is smart, thinks fast on his feet, and is very observant. I loved how well he understood Arin. He saw the vulnerability that she hid from everyone else, but he also appreciated her strength and capabilities. It was awesome to see that he could be protective without trying to hold her back. Arin was stunned to realize that Jason had gotten under her skin. His acceptance of her just as she was is something she’d never experienced before. Underneath it all was an explosive attraction that neither one could resist. As they grew closer physically and emotionally, each of them wondered what would become of what they had. The ending had a twist I didn’t see coming but was exactly right for them.
The suspense was terrific. The wariness between Arin and Jason at first added an extra layer of tension to the investigation. Their partnership in the first rescue went a long way toward resolving their trust issues. I was on the edge of my seat as they found the first set of victims, and Arin had to rely on Jason’s skills to prevent a tragedy. I liked their teamwork as their investigation led them to the identity of the new head of the trafficking ring. The actual takedown was a nailbiter as Jason went undercover to get the proof they needed. But it wasn’t quite over, as there was still another “shipment” that had to be found. The author’s descriptions of that rescue were so vivid that I felt as though I was there, from the sights and smells to the heart-pounding terror of the victims themselves. Once again Jason and Arin made an outstanding team and brought all to a satisfying conclusion. There was a neat bit at the end that looks like it may be the lead-in to the next book and I can’t wait to read it.
One of my favorite characters was Arin’s K9 partner, King. I loved the intensity of their bond. King was one of the few beings that Arin trusted unconditionally. I enjoyed her surprise at the way King took to Jason. This made it a little easier for her to start to trust Jason. There were a couple of good scenes between Jason and King. I especially liked the one where Jason took King out for a walk while Arin slept.
Another important part of the book was the continued repairing of the relationship between Arin and her sister Mali. There were several times when Mali irritated me with her attitude toward Arin. She really had a hard time accepting Arin the way she was. Her instructions to Arin for the reception made me think that she still didn’t respect her sister’s choices. It made me understand why Arin always felt so out-of-step with her own family. I was doubly glad that Jason was there to support her.
One of my all time favorite authors!!
This one is loaded with all the good things!
Smart, captivating writing and a sexy duo. What more could you ask for?
This is book 5 in the True Heroes series and it features Arin and Jason. Arin was a unique character because she knew her faults and embraced them freely. She even adjusted her life to better deal with her aggressive personality traits. She’s not a touchy-feely, “let’s share our secrets” kind of woman. I think that’s why Jason worked so well with her. He could read her from the start. The action and suspense unfolded at the perfect rate. With everything going on, I felt well-informed every point. The dogs were awesome and the action wouldn’t have been the same without them.
The end was not what I expected but it was perfection. I felt I knew her by that point and to see her behavior at that moment brought a tear to my eye. This book is fifth in the series but can be read as a standalone. FANTASTIC READ! I can’t wait to read more from this very talented author.
4 star
I was pulled right into this story. The story has laughs, secrets, pain, and heartbreak.
If you have not read the below I would recommend reading those books(s) first
Extreme Honor (True Heroes #1)
Ultimate Courage (True Heroes #2)
Absolute Trust (True Heroes #3)
Total Bravery (True Heroes #4)
This is Arin and Jason’s story. When Arin stumbles across Jason she remembers him from a previous case. She helps him and heals him, but can she trust him? As her team moves forward on a case, she senses danger coming but is it from Jason or just his team? Is she still on the side working with his team or is he just working with her team? She needs to protect her family and trusting Jason might be the only way. Can she trust him? Can he help with the case or will he be in the way and be more of a hinderance? Or in the end will she have to push him away and let him go?
I loved these characters and the side characters. I felt I was able to connect with the characters and the story was a great read.
I recommend this book.
I was about 6% into the book and I was already thinking, “dang, I like this woman”. ” I hope she keeps going on as strong as she starts out”. She does. She is ultra skilled and kick-butt and I really liked that a lot. She might not be good with words but she really did have heart. She is a complex woman. I also liked that there were glimpses into her Thai culture. Her name and its pronunciation I found interesting too. (pronounced ah-Rin)
Of course Jason doesn’t appear to be a slouch either. He has his areas of expertise but also comes to the conclusion that he needs to take a deeper look at his past choices. Especially after meeting Arin. He was unprepared for how much she intrigues him. Add to that the physical attraction and everything is ripe for an explosion. I liked his patience with Arin. He was respectful and didn’t push when he shouldn’t. But don’t get the idea that he is weak, he’s not.
Another main character is King and he definitely carries his weight too. I really enjoyed his part in the story.
This story was fast paced and at times had “hold your breath” moments. Definitely kept my interest. Of course, I was so into the M.C.’s that my interest was held by them and the team. I have to also say that the “Fierce” part of the title was right on. It was..Fierce.
I’m keeping my eye out for more books in this Series. I wonder if “Zu” gets his own story too? Hope so.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
4.5 stars
Arin has spent most of her life feeling like an outcast in her own family, so when the opportunity presented itself to join the military she jumped on it. Now as part of Search and Protect, she has a group of people she can relate to but she still feels like she has to work hard to connect with anyone. She is determined to find a way to reconnect with her sister Mali and keep her safe though, so she puts in the effort to keep every promise she makes to demonstrate that she is worthy of Mali’s trust.
When Arin first meets Jason, she sees a merc who most definitely does not meet the definition of trustworthy- but she can’t get him out of her head. When King finds him unconscious smack in the middle of their search grid on a mission, she is surprised and more than a little suspicious but she agrees to stick close to find out what he is up to.
Jason most definitely has not forgotten Arin since their first meeting which inspired him to make some changes in his line of work. His conscience doesn’t like anything about the last job his employers took on, so he quits and goes out on his own in the hopes he can do something to change the balance in karma’s eyes going forward. Arin is as prickly as anyone he has ever met, but somehow he manages to convince her that he isn’t lying about his motives.
Not many people see Arin clearly but Jason is one of the few who can read her and understand how to respond to what she isn’t saying. His interest in her is more than skin deep and she made quite the impression on him despite the brevity of their first encounter. He loves her intensity and the depth of her determination, but the future beyond the mission is one big unknown. Both are hesitant to voice their feelings for different reasons, so they just go with the flow and enjoy their undeniably combustible chemistry… but the time for decisions is on the horizon!
As always, Arin’s canine partner King makes a wonderful secondary character in the story. Fierce Justice is one of my favorite books in this series so far and I am looking forward to team leader Zu’s turn in the spotlight!
Fierce Justice
By Piper Drake
I came in late. You know…the last one to the party. I didn’t know anyone but that was okay. I mean sometimes it’s great to get to know new people without any pre-conceived notions. Being a newbie to Piper Drake, I wasn’t aware that Fierce Justice was book 5 in the True Heroes series. I wish I would have known. Not because I needed to read the other 4 to understand this book but because it was SOOO good, I felt like I missed out on everyone else’s story. But no matter, I will rectify my mistake later. Let’s get to the meat of this book.
Fierce Justice is the romance between Arin Siri and Jason Landon. To say their story was unique is putting it mildly. With a tumultuous past, it’s no surprise that these two have a rocky beginning. Jason is trying to make amends for a judgment error on his last mission. He trusted the wrong person and now his conscience is eating at him to make it right. Arin remembers Jason and from their last encounter, she knows there is no way she can trust him. That doesn’t mean she can’t use him to get information on the human trafficking ring she is trying to break up. What they both didn’t expect was the attraction and chemistry between them to be so strong. Can these two work through their differences and find love?
Fierce Justice was just my type of read. Action, suspense, and a slow-burning romance. With great characters and a fast-paced story Piper Drake takes the reader on an exploration into this fabulous world and holds on tight. Surprisingly the ending of Fierce Justice was not what I was expecting. Ms. Drake wraps up the story nicely but definitely leaves the reader questioning what happens next. Maybe that is what makes this book such a fabulous read.
True Heroes #5, Still in Hawaii with the Search and Protect team this time with Arin (ah-Rin) and Jason. Both characters were introduced in Total Bravery, it would be a safe bet to at least read Total Bravery for the wee bit of background for the characters and the previous storyline. It is connected but still a standalone it’s not imperative that you read it the characters talk about what happened in the last book so you are not left completely clueless.
The white slavery ring the Search and Protect team broke up in the last book isn’t entirely gone, they have a new boss who is cleaning house. Arin is part of the search and rescue team searching the big island for the people still missing. What she finds is the security guy from six months prior; when he realised what and who he was guarding let Arin and her team rescue the people. Jason Landon left that company after he realized that they have no moral or ethical boundaries. Feeling like he has to atone for his part has tracked down where some of the captives are being held unfortunately one of his former colleagues knocks him unconscious before he finds them and that is how Arin and her K-9, King, find him. Now Arin and Jason’s overall mission is the same, stop the new ring leader and save all the people they can. Between bombs, shootouts, and going undercover the adventure is pretty intense at times.
The attraction is there but neither of them know what to do with it, Arin isn’t sure if she should even trust him and she’s never had feelings like this for anyone; she doesn’t know how to handle the emotions. She always felt like the black sheep of the family and never felt like she fits in anywhere. Jason has never felt like this for anyone either, he is completely taken with Arin her strength, her beauty, her altruism. One meeting six months ago completely changed his life and now here he is working with her and he knows if he doesn’t tread lightly and let her take the lead he’ll scare her off.
Overall, I loved this book. The action was paced perfectly with the romance. The romance was a slow burn but with Arin’s personality it couldn’t have gone any other way without seeming out of character for her. I particularly loved the ending it wasn’t your typical HEA for Arin and Jason but it’s one that was perfect for them.
3 1/2 STARS!
Danger surrounds them as the latest in Piper J. Drake’s True Heroes series kicks off! A known consort of the bad guys is found injured, so does she trust him or not? Arin and her dog King have to make this decision and deal with the consequences. I found it hard to connect to this story. I didn’t mind the characters, it just felt like the action was a bit flat for my liking. I’ve enjoyed several of the books in the series, but this was sadly one of my least favorites.
Search and Protect team member Arin Siri works best when it’s just her and her K9 partner King. She’s all about getting things done as a team, but she doesn’t like taking any more orders than she has to, and her way works … amazingly well. When she stumbles across a wounded mercenary, she sets out to get him help … even though she’s not totally sure he’s trust worthy.
Jason Landon found himself in a mixed up situation when he discovered he was protecting the land of someone up to no good. He’s now facing hesitation on getting the good guys to trust him even though he wants to help put an end to this trafficking situation. When Arin decides to take a chance on trusting him, they find themselves fighting attraction as danger surrounds them.
Fierce Justice by Piper J. Drake is book 5 in True Heroes Series. This is the story of Jason Landon and Arin Siri. I haven’t yet read the previous books, so for me this was a standalone book.
Arin works K-9 for the Search and Protect team and has run ins with Jason before. Jason is a hired man for a mercenary group and he started to question that. Normally they are both on different sides of a case, changes when they both start working together to meet a mutual goal. What they are find that there is more to the other person then they thought…along with the attraction they have been dancing around. Exciting Read.
One of the things I really love about this series is the working dogs. So many people have no idea how very important they are.
In this book we get to know Arin and her dog King, as they and the rest of the team take on the issue of human trafficking. We open with the team looking for people who have been enslaved to work on a plantation that was once used for that purpose. They had taken down one kingpin but another was moving in. Arin finds an unconscious man that she recognizes from when they rescued her sister and her team of scientists from this location.
Jason Landon quit his job after realizing what the company he was working for was protecting. He didn’t want to be part of anything illegal. He had been left for dead on the property when Arin and King find him.
Jason and Arin become a team of sorts, even King likes him. There’s an attraction there as well but trust isn’t easy for Arin. Which makes it a difficult road for them.
An action-packed, suspenseful, emotional read with some heat.
I can’t wait to read the next book in this series
This is the 5th book in the True Heroes series and can absolutely be read as a stand alone although I recommend you at least read book 4 before you read this one so you can understand the events (and the relationships) that happen in this one better. This one is about Arin Siri and Jason Landon. Arin and Jason met in the last book when her team infiltrated and rescued the people being held by a slave ring. Jason’s team was the team that had been hired to protect the compound, not knowing exactly what they were protecting. That meeting changed Jason’s outlook on things and left him with a fascination for the woman who helped set those people free.
I was iffy on whether I would truly like Arin after how she was in the other books but especially after the last one. I was really hoping that she would grow on me and she definitely did! She has hidden depths that I truly didn’t see coming and it made me love this book! Jason may have started off as a “bad” guy but I can’t truly think of him that way because as soon as he knew what was going on, he stepped back. And while he may not have always listened to his conscience and done exactly the right thing every step of his life, he still steps up when it truly matters. They are perfect for each other and I loved every step in this book! The only thing I wish there had been? An epilogue. I’m not sure I absolutely loved the way it ended but it definitely makes sense for them. I just wish there had been an epilogue to show their lives together farther out. All in all though, definitely a great read!
This is the first book I have read by Piper Drake and I look forward to more. I love military, search and rescue and first responder type books, especially when they include animals and this one did not disappoint. I loved Arin’s S&R German Shepherd, King, as well as the slow burn romance that was introduced between Arin and Jason. I liked that the author took her time, showing their attraction to each other, yet drawing out the romance for a more realistic feel versus an insta-love/lust. It helped the characters and plot to be more rounded and believable under the circumstances and obstacles they both faced. Being on opposite sides in the past, him a mercenary for hire and her a K9 handler and contract sniper for a security firm, their paths cross on a current assignment and they have to put aside their differences and work together to save innocent lives. Fierce Justice was a good read with strong characters who were relatable and felt real and a suspenseful complex storyline with action and romance. I enjoyed this story and will be looking to read more in the series.
*I received an advanced copy from the publisher, via NetGalley and I am leaving my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.
Arin works for Search and Protect as a dog handler. She is investigating a human trafficking ring and runs into Jason. Jason works for a security company and didn’t realize he was protecting a human trafficker. When he finds out he leaves but can’t forget the people that was rescued and the beautiful woman he encountered. Arin is searching for more people and comes across Jason, knocked out and bleeding. He was there to try to find the ringleader and the hostages if there is any. She doesn’t completely trust him and keeps him by her side. After disarming an IED, he stays until the job is over. Will he be able to break down Arin‘ walls around her heart?
Good story. Action and sexy. A woman who works better along with her service dog. A man who doesn’t like the person he has become and wants to be better for Arin.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for NetGalley *