Decoy Training by Caridad Piñeiro is a 2022 Harlequin Intrigue publication.

When Shane is injured in Afghanistan effectively ending his military career, he decides to leave California with his canine buddy- Decoy, and head to Idaho, where he hopes to enter Decoy into the K-9 training program.

As he begins the training program, he acquaints himself with the other trainers, taking special notice of the attractive Piper Lambert. But Piper is still getting over the loss of her husband, who was killed in Iraq.

Piper is attracted to Shane but tries to keep him at arm’s length. Meanwhile, Piper begins to suspect someone has been hanging around her home when she’s not around. Is it just her imagination- or something more sinister?

This is a basic -traditional-romantic suspense novel- nothing especially unique- if I’m being honest- but it is still a solid novel, especially if you like stories that feature dogs and military heroes.

The suspense elements aren’t super intense, as we know the motive early on- we just don’t know specifically who Piper's stalker is. The chemistry between Shane and Piper is a bit thin, as it seems that while there is a physical attraction, Piper still seems emotionally attached to her deceased husband. That said, the pacing is even, as is the flow of the story, and it did hold my interest. I also appreciated the lack of strong language, graphic violence, and explcit sex- which made this a much more enjoyable experience.

I was very pleased to see a few Harlequin Intrigue offerings in the Kindle Unlimited program and was also happy to run across Caridad Piñeiro again- an author I read occasionally back in the day. I liked the mature characters, and a hero who is intelligent and has a broad vocabulary within this genre- and of course the dogs!! Overall, though it was bit predictable, it’s a quick, easy enjoyable story, and was it nice to read a nice romantic suspense novel again.

3.5 stars ( )

Good book, but let me correct one thing right away. The blurb states that Shane is a former Marine. He is not. He was in the army. Piper's husband was a Marine. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, staying up until long past midnight to finish it.

The book opens as Shane and his dog, Decoy, are headed to Idaho to visit a friend. Shane feels a little lost now that he's been medically retired from the army, thanks to injuries he received on duty. If it hadn't been for Decoy, Shane likely would have died in the bombed-out building. Shane still has nightmares from that time, but Decoy is terrific support for him. During Shane's visit with his friend, Gonzo suggests that Shane and Decoy train for search and rescue and sends him to the Daniels Canine Academy. There he meets Piper, the woman who will do their training.

Piper is a widow. Her Marine husband was killed in Afghanistan four years earlier, and she still grieves for him. She moved to Idaho from California to start over and help her friend Emma with the DCA. She's not thrilled when she finds out she'll be training Shane. Too many military men remind her of her husband and how much she misses him. We also meet Chipper, the corgi/pit mix puppy that Piper adopts. On her walk home from work the day before Shane's arrival, Piper gets the creepy feeling that she's being watched.

I enjoyed the first meeting between Shane and Piper. He arrives early and sees Piper, Emma, and vet tech Tashya working with the puppies. He's immediately drawn to Piper, but her reaction to him isn't as warm, mainly because she is as attracted to him, and it makes her uncomfortable. She is determined to stick to training only and not let him get too close. His plans to join a SAR unit in Montana reinforce that desire. I enjoyed their training sessions. Shane and Piper quickly relax into their training partnership, which helps reduce the tension between them. It isn't long before the sparks between them grow stronger.

When Piper's feeling of being watched escalates into the knowledge that someone tried to break into her home, Shane's protective instincts kick in. And when her home is later entered and searched, Shane moves in to protect her. This also allows them to grow even closer. I liked how Piper gave Shane the understanding and compassion he needed to begin healing from his trauma. At the same time, Shane understands that everyone grieves at their own pace and gives Piper the space she needs. But as the danger intensifies, sooner or later, both realize that they need each other to move forward. I loved Shane's big moment at the end.

The suspense of the book was terrific. It started slowly, with Piper's feeling of being watched, then moved on to the evidence that someone had tried to get into her house. About this time, we get a peek into the mind of the person behind it all and learn what is driving him. We see his attacks escalate as he grows more desperate. Thanks to Shane's background, he can investigate his suspicions. I ached for Piper as she defended her husband against the implications while at the same time they were looking for the truth. The intensity ramps up as they identify a suspect, but he evades them. When the final confrontation comes, Piper is at the mercy of a desperate man. I liked seeing how, though everyone worked together to find her, it was Decoy who came up with the clue that saved the day. The ending was a nail-biter, and I was glued to the pages until it was over.

I loved the dogs in this book. Decoy is the perfect companion for Shane. They bonded overseas when Shane would feed Decoy, which led Decoy to find Shane when he was trapped. I was happy that Shane worked to get Decoy back to the States with him. It was sweet to see how Decoy would wake Shane up from his nightmares and give him comfort. Their bond was fantastic and will serve them well as a search-and-rescue team. I also adored Piper's puppy, Chipper. She was sweet and smart and a bundle of joy. It was fun to see her jump all over Decoy and watch him put up with it. It looked like Chipper learned a few things from Decoy also. I can't wait to get to know other dogs as the series continues. ( )