50 reviews for:

Tough Justice

Tee O'Fallon

4.04 AVERAGE

adventurous tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I enjoyed this one and the characters. Deck is a DEA agent and Thor is his K-9 partner. They are working on a case that is quickly becoming very deadly. OD's are growing and one hospital seems to be ground zero. Dr. Tori Sampson works at that hospital and while she has hang ups with and about the DEA, she wants to help the opioid crisis and ends up being pulled in by Deck. Deck pulls her in to help in a couple of ways and it does make a big difference. The more that they work together and start tracking things down, things get dangerous and there are multiple attempts at killing Deck and Tori is in the crossfire. I enjoyed watching these two have to overcome their differences and how they view things in order to work together for both the case and as things become personal. They are both drawn to each other and as they get to know the deeper side of things, they continue to get closer and build a deeper relationship. This story had some twists and turns throughout with the mystery of who is behind Grey Death and how everything is connected. I was engaged with both Tori, Deck, and Thor as well as Deck's best friends, the other 2 K-9 handlers. I am excited for the next one in the series. 
The narrator did a good job with the story and the characters and bringing it to life. She did a good job with the emotions and action.
emotional mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Great plot. Strong h, though at times a bit OTT. I will be reading more.

A fabulous series start!

I LOVED Deck and Tori's story--it's a great blend of suspense and romance, with fantastic human and canine characters that will have me counting the days until the next series book comes out. The author's actual experience as a federal agent really shows in her writing, and paired with the edge of your seat suspense and a really solid romance? This book was pretty much unputdownable!

The main problem that Tori and Deck are trying to solve--the new deadly designer drug that is causing a heartbreaking number of overdose deaths--feels all too real in today's world. Though I did suspect the bad guy a bit early on, Ms O'Fallon did her best to try and throw us off their scent with plenty of red herrings along the way (and *almost* had me second guessing my instincts, but not quite!) The initial distrust that Tori and Deck had for each other was believable, and I really liked that their breakup and reconciliation wasn't the fault of one or the other of them, but instead they worked together to find a way to their HEA through compromise and acceptance.

Now...when can we expect book 2? ;)

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

I am a sucker for romantic suspense and all things K9. In Tough Justice, our hero Adam “Deck” Decker and his dog, Thor. Deck is DEA, and when one of his own almost dies from exposure to a street drug known as Gray Death, it is Dr. Tori Sampson, who saves him. While she isn’t a fan of the DEA for personal reasons, she is concerned about the number of patients dying from this new drug. The two end up working together. Only the danger is closer than they think.

O’Fallon delivered a suspense storyline that provided foreshadowing and red herrings as she slowly built up the suspense. This war on drugs story with its deadly body counts felt like it was ripped from current headlines. The villain and their story were twisted and felt authentic.

This combined with the haters to lovers slow-building romance (until it burst into flames) made for an addictive listen. I loved the banter, the building of trust, and the undeniable chemistry.

Vanessa Daniels narrates and provided both the voice of Tori and Deck. She enhanced the tale from their chemistry to the growing danger. Her tone, vocal range and pacing were top-notch.

Fans of romantic suspense will want to grab their earbuds and enjoy this first in a new series. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

This action-packed blend of suspense and romance kept me hooked from start to finish. DEA K-9 agent Adam "Deck" Decker and ER doctor Tori Sampson must join forces to stop the spread of "Gray Death," a dangerous new opioid devastating Denver. Their initial animosity, rooted in personal trauma, adds tension to their partnership, but their shared determination and Deck's loyal canine partner, Thor, drive the gripping investigation. Tee O'Fallon's expertise in law enforcement shines through, adding authenticity to the fast-paced plot. With unexpected twists, heartfelt moments, and a touch of steamy romance, this book delivers a captivating read. A fantastic start to the K-9 Special Ops series—perfect for fans of romantic suspense.

the fmc really annoyed me in this one but i want to give this author another go at some point

Rating: 4.55/5

This is my last book for 2022, and it’s one I read as a judge for a Readers’ Choice Awards.

Deck is a DEA agent and along with his K-9 partner Thor investigate a lethal new drug cocktail (Gray Death). They pull in Tori, an ER doctor, to help with the investigation into the suppliers.

Lots of danger, romance (very steamy!), and an adorable dog…solid read. Only caveat? Deck’s occasional use of “baby”, “honey” for Tori…not a fan.
tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes