Simply Angela : Physical Forces by D.D. Ayres

Macayla Burkett is no ordinary private eye. She’s a pet detective, dedicated to tracking down missing dogs and cats. When two famous racing greyhounds disappear and turn up dead, Macayla finds herself in the midst of a much more serious case. And when the thieves target her and threaten her life, she realizes she’s in grave danger—until a ridiculously handsome stranger enters the picture …

Oliver Kelly may look like a male stripper, but his muscles aren’t just for show. The gorgeous Australian is co-owner of a K-9 Search and Rescue service dedicated to saving those in danger. When he and his K-9 partner, an Australian shepherd named Jackeroo, rescue the fiery detective from trouble, the sparks begin to fly. And when they join forces to stop a widespread case of animal theft, it unleashes a torrent of passion that’s impossible to tame…

Series: K-9 Rescue #6| Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks | Genre: Romantic Suspense | Source: Publisher | Rating: 3.5 Cups

This one was a bit different from what I normally read but it has a bit of everything and a sexy Aussie.

Here’s what’s going on. Macayla’s a pet detective who reunites missing pets with their owners. Normally, the only hazards of her job are scratches and bites. When she discovers that the two missing greyhounds she’s been searching for are dead, her job just got a lot more dangerous. Then Oliver Kelly enters her life. As co-owner of BARKS, a K-9 Search and Rescue unit, it’s his job to save people. So, when he discovers Macayla’s in trouble, he and his dog Jackeroo are determined to do what they can to help her, although, for once, Oliver’s feelings have nothing to do with his profession and more to do with Macayla.

I loved how they first met: He thought she was homeless, she thought he was a male stripper in town with the Thunder from Down Under male revue. It was quirky and funny and totally worked to get my attention.

So, Oliver was one sexy beast. He’s co-owner of a world renowned search and rescue outfit and he’s dedicated to his work. Up until he met Macayla, he was content with just a bit of casual sex but now it seems he found the one to make him want more. He’s definitely this alpha male type but it comes on cute rather than in-your-face annoying. Macayla was interesting. She’s dedicated to her job and cares about the animals she rescues. She’s a bit naïve but she has moxie. While she’s strong, there’s also this fragile side to her. And it takes her a while to figure out she can lean on Oliver.

The romance started out with chemistry and lust but actual development was a bit slow going as the two revealed their secrets and helped each other through them. I really enjoyed these two on the page together. They were a bit quirky, totally snarky, and so much fun.

There is a bit of mystery to this one and while I had my suspensions, I was never completely sure until the end. While the main mystery was tied up, a few threads were mentioned and never really addressed. It would have been nice to have had them closed as well.

While I enjoyed this one and found it different from what I normally read, a few things kept me from rating it higher. There wasn’t enough of Oliver in the book. Most of the book focused on Macayla, which gave the book an uneven feel. It felt like I was having Macayla overload, but it barely scratched Oliver’s surface. I would have also liked to have seen something from Oliver’s work, given that this is a Search and Rescue book.

There’s also this odd little sex scene. The set up was nice and steamy—they’re having sex in the ocean—and she’s worried that she’ll lose her panties, so he puts them on her head. So, while they’re getting down and dirty in the surf, all I can think about is the fact she’s wearing a pair of lacey panties on her head.

Overall, everything about this one was new-to-me: author, subject, and character’s professions. And I found that interesting. There were a few hiccups for me and it, occasionally, hit a few slow spots—did we really need the scene where she’s cleaning out a saltwater fish tank? But, for the most part, I enjoyed it and I’m itching to check out the books that came before this one.