FBI Victim Specialist, Mckenna Parker sat in her office, lights off, hiding from the world. Okay, maybe not the entire world, but a parole hearing happening a few blocks away. The parole board would determine if the man who had abducted her should be released.

“Cassidy is going to be mad, isn’t she?” Mckenna asked her co-worker. He answered with a tilt of his head and slight whine. Mocha was a black Lab who had partnered with Mckenna as an FBI crisis canine. He was often able to get information out of victims better than any agent or even Mckenna herself. Mocha knew exactly what a person needed. A kiss on the cheek. Sitting on their lap. Or just being by their side. He was also a great listener.

“Let’s try to avoid Cassidy, okay?”

Mocha sighed and put his head back between his paws. Cassidy was Mckenna’s sister and an FBI agent. She’d been adamant about Mckenna attending the hearing. But Mckenna decided to let the parole board do their jobs. She’d faced her captor during the trial, read her victim impact statement and was ready to move on.

Closing her eyes, the memories of her kidnapping flashed through her mind like photographs. Waking up. Screaming. Realizing no one could hear her. Alone in an abandoned mountain cabin. The wind whistling through the trees. Managing to find a window, break it, and crawl out. Cutting herself on the jagged edges. Blood flowing down her side. Running. Waving down a good Samaritan. The hospital. Then the sheriff questioning her as if the whole ordeal was her fault.

Tears rolled down her face. Cassidy was right, this man shouldn’t be out. But Mckenna was tired. Fighting the system was exhausting. Mocha, sensing her panic, climbed onto her lap and licked Mckenna’s face. Wasn’t she supposed to be strong? The one who now helped others?

A figure stopped by her office, peering in, then opening the door. Oh great, it was him. What the hell was he doing?

“You okay?”

“Fine,” Mckenna said, trying to wipe tears away before he saw them. Her heart pounded. She didn’t know if it was from the kidnapping flashback or the good-looking agent standing in the door. Agent Evan Knox. No one liked him…except Mocha.

“You don’t look fine. Are you crying?”

Mocha’s tail wagged and he climbed down from Mckenna’s lap. Going over to Evan, he leaned up against the agent’s leg, peering up lovingly. Evan scratched Mocha behind the ears. The top of Evan’s shirt was unbuttoned and his sleeves rolled up revealing strong arms and a muscular chest. He was in good shape. No make that great shape. Stop it, Mckenna scolded herself, leaning forward and putting her elbows on her desk. “Tough day. That’s all.”

“I understand,” Evan said, taking a deep breath.

Mckenna had heard that he could be gruff and was difficult to work with. But right now, she sensed kindness and that he truly wanted to know if she was alright. Maybe he wasn’t so bad. His cell phone pinged and Evan glanced at it. Then his face tightened and eyes narrowed.

“Well, back to work.”

He left as suddenly as he’d appeared. Mckenna flopped back in her chair. Could this day get any more difficult? Why did the best looking agent have to be the most intimidating? What she wouldn’t give to know him better. As if he would ever be interested in her with all her baggage. But he’d asked if she was okay and had truly seemed concerned…that scared her more than the parole hearing.

Giveaway: Kathleen has generously offered to give away a signed paperback of COLORADO K-9 RESCUE. To enter, please leave a comment below. One entry per person and the giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only. Giveaway ends October 29, 2025. Good luck everyone!

COLORADO K-9 RESCUE
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release: September 2025
Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Purchase Link

A kidnapper’s twisted game is on.

And a trusty K-9 won’t let him succeed.

Years after being abducted, Mckenna Parker’s worst nightmare has come true—her kidnapper is out on parole. And he’s after her again. Now an FBI victim specialist, she and her crisis canine, Mocha, have been assigned to a case with FBI agent Evan Knox. Together they must find two local girls who disappeared. As passionate as Mckenna is about helping others, Evan is ambitious about his career. Both have sworn off love. But when Mckenna vanishes into the mountain wilderness, it’s Evan—with Mocha’s amazing help—who braves danger at all costs.

Meet the author
Award-winning author Kathleen Donnelly is a retired K-9 handler. She continues to enjoy crafting realism into her fictional stories from her dog-handling experience. Her love of the mountains came from growing up in Colorado and exploring the wilderness. Kathleen hosts the podcast, Sit. Stay. Read., a part of the Authors on the Air Global Network. She lives near the Colorado foothills with her husband and four-legged friends. Visit Kathleen’s website, kathleendonnelly.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter and find social media links.