Trusting the Badge by Dorothy Shaw

Posted June 10, 2021 in review Tags: 3 stars, dysfunctional family

Trusting the Badge by Dorothy F. Shaw
Pages: 201

Series: Arizona K9 #3
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Source: ARC, NetGalley

For members of a police K9 Unit, partnership is everything—in work and in love.

LOVE AT FIRST NIGHT . . .

Shuttled between her alcoholic parents and foster homes that separated her from beloved younger brother, Steven, it’s no wonder Tish Beck is a woman with trust issues. To avoid getting hurt—or hurting someone else—she’s kept her romantic life commitment-free, and that’s fine by her. Until she meets exasperatingly hot, funny, smart-ass K9 officer Jeffrey Pearl, and stupidly spends the night with him . . .

Currently single and content, Jeff’s always got his canine bestie, Rio, by his side, and loads of human friends. He enjoys the occasional close encounter, but hasn’t been tempted into anything serious. Until Tish. He’s inexplicably head over heels. Too bad she’s determined to keep him at arm’s length. But when Tish’s brother winds up in jail—again—Jeff’s glad to be the man Tish turns to for help. And with Steven back on the scene, she’ll need it. Soon Tish will have to open her eyes—and her heart—to love, and realize where, and with whom, her safety truly lies . . .

Trusting the Badge has several elements that appeal to me:

dog!!! Rio is great!
Heroine was raised with addict parents and now has an addict brother

Jeff is a very devoted hero. Once he sets his sights on Tish, he is determined. I like this in a hero, but something about Jeff and Tish didn’t click for me. I can’t put my finger on it, but sometimes his behavior rubbed me wrong. Even though Jeff is a cop, the story isn’t about that either. Its more of just a straight romance between Jeff and Tish, occurring while she tries to locate her brother. Jeff is kind of a smart ass, so there is some levity in the story that I appreciated.

The angst in the story comes from the stubbornness of the heroine in regards to the relationship. With good reason, she has trust issues. Jeff has a playboy past that doesn’t exactly scream “stable boyfriend”. She is fine with a casual relationship, but Jeff isn’t. Both characters struggle through this, but you can tell there are feelings there and Tish is afraid.

Trusting the Badge is a quick read for readers who enjoy a focus on relationship building, characters with tragic backstories, and some steamy moments.