Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
A police K9 handler believes he’s lucky when a romance starts with the local veterinarian, but then his canine partner is injured in the line of duty.
Sergeant Ray Lerner is a veteran sheriff’s department K9 handler. Damien Federov is the veterinarian caring for Harley, Ray’s canine partner. When taking a man as a lover, Ray’s always been confident. Around Damien, Ray becomes uncharacteristically shy and tongue-tied. When Damien begins their romance, Ray knows he’s lucky.
His obsession with a past tragedy blinds Ray to everything he has with Damien. When Harley is injured on duty, his life is in Damien’s hands. As Ray sits vigil, he has one final chance to allow Damien in all the way, or risk losing everything important, in a single night.
In A Gentle Kind of Strength Kendall McKenna once again demonstrates her knowledge and ability to bring a former soldier realistically to life on a page. This time its not a alternate universe of werewolves and marines but Ray Lerner, a dog handler in the Army and now a K9 police handler in San Diego. Although its not completely apparent here, if you have read her other series, The Tameness of the Wolf, her descriptions of battle and her understanding of the military on display in those stories give Ray Lerner a sense of depth and grit that comes through in the story. Its in the ring of isolation Ray has created around himself, one that only his canine partner, Harley, is allowed inside of, and its apparent in Ray’s obliviousness to the effect he has on those around him, a sort of closed off aloofness born of self protection. While the reader doesn’t yet pinpoint the source, we know it has to do with his past and the emotional scars he still carries from his tour as a soldier.
Another beautiful element here? Ray’s love of his job as a K-9 officer and his deep connection to his partner, Harley. That relationship is so strong and powerful, even when seen through stories being told about previous missions, the bond and love between man and dog is beautiful and believable. McKenna also has done her homework in the instructions and teamwork a K-9 officer and his partner are trained in and work through. Its exactly right that Harley should be front and center on the cover of the story. He shines here as a major moving character, one the reader commits to immediately and with love.
Damien Federov, Doctor D as his patients call him is also a believable character. I found him realistic as a vet, loved the camaraderie with the other officers and kept waiting for the magic to happen between Ray and Damien, for this book to start to click, the only missing element for me here.
Unfortunately, that never happened, for me at least. I never felt the spark between the characters, a spark I know McKenna can write. There was a realistic friendship, an authentic professionalism to Damien’s efforts as a vet, and several scenes that were raw and painful, but romantic and loving? Not really. And there are lots of sex scenes, still I just didn’t feel a “connection” between them. I just felt that the most believable relationship here was the one between Ray and Harley, not the romantic one between Ray and Damien. But so many of the other elements are so strong, so moving that it almost made me want to overlook the rest.
But then again maybe its me and other readers will find Ray and Damien work just perfectly together. For me I need that spark! Read it and decide for yourself.
Cover art by Jared Rackler is perfection. That is Harley in the middle. I couldn’t ask for more. Great job.
Sales Links: MLR Press | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | 
Book Details:
ebook, 182 pages
Published by MLR Press
ISBN139781608209958
other editions (1)
A Gentle Kind of Strength
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 