Lindsay Downs - A Collie Rescue & Interview!

Publisher: Astraea Press

ISBN:

My rating: 4/5



Former Army Sergeant Sandi Charleston, diagnosed with PTSD and homeless barely survives day to day. By a miracle of fate, she meets Taz, a uniquely special collie, who helps turn her life around. It's only through him she finds the courage to go head to head with her worst enemy-terrorists bent on mass destruction.

Bound by a special love to help and protect each other, side by side these two unlikely partners willingly march forward into battle. A fight to the death neither is sure can be won, but fighting as one, they will try.

Kidnapped and forced to reveal what she knows, Sandi realizes there is only one individual who can save her. It's not the government, but her new best buddy. Together they defeat the enemy proving once again that battle buddies come in all shapes and breeds. (www.astraeapress.com)


My thoughts

Dakota's slowly becoming part of my must-read routine, like Rex is to my must-watch TV program - Yet, there's no Dakota in this one ! Very disappointed :-)

Anyway, the good news is, that instead of four or five short stories, Lindsay Downs delivered one novel length story and it's just as fast paced as all of the previous ones. The story is interesting and believable. The dialogue feels real, and the friendship amongst the characters makes you want to be part of it!

Well done. I can't wait for the next one ... in hope Dakota will return ;-)


For all the Dakota fans out there, the beautiful Collie was kind enough to give me a spare 5 mins to answer some of my questions. Thanks Dakota!

Hey, Dakota ... I’ve missed you in this story! What happened?
Dakota: Sorry you missed me, I was back home at Fort Del Gue with Emily. We had a big case to work on and I couldn’t get away.

Will you be back in the next book?
Dakota: Yes I will, along with the gang: Jackie, Wallie, Sven, and Brett. Patches and Mary will also be in the book.

I like it that some of the proceeds will go to the Pet Fund ... are you able to tell us a bit about it?
Dakota: I asked my good friend Opal Campbell to answer this question.
Opal: www.thepetfund.com Basically what they do is take donations to help companion animals who are in need of veterinary care but their owners are having trouble paying for it.

Lindsay Downs - Emily Dahill CID 2

Publisher: Astraea Press

ISBN: 9781621350538

 

 

My rating: 4/5

 

 

Tears- Bullied at school, Mary Todd is just about to give up when Dakota and Emily come to her rescue.

Friends and Family- Dakota helps a she-wolf and her cubs while he continues to cause mis-chief with hilarious results.

Guardian- Against all odds Dakota works to protect Emily, from her boyfriend and herself.

The Loser- Emily and Dakota step into intrigue when a soldier can’...moreTears- Bullied at school, Mary Todd is just about to give up when Dakota and Emily come to her rescue.

Friends and Family- Dakota helps a she-wolf and her cubs while he continues to cause mis-chief with hilarious results.

Guardian- Against all odds Dakota works to protect Emily, from her boyfriend and herself.

The Loser- Emily and Dakota step into intrigue when a soldier can’t hit the target with any degree of consistency.

 

 

 

My thoughts

Lindsay Downs does not disappoint. Emily Dahill CID 2 is just as an enjoyable read as CID 1 was.

Downs offers four interesting short story, which will draw the reader in from the very start. Again, I find it a shame, that each story is so short - they all would be great as longer ones. But you will love the way Downs handles each issue with the appropriate amount of attention to detail, great characters and humour.

I'm sure you will like these stories just as much as I did!

Don't forget to check out the interview with CID's four-legged-hero Dakota here.

Interview with Emily Dahill's sidekick Dakota

A few weeks, my daughter had the opportunity to interview Dakota, the collie in the Emily Dahill series by Lindsay Downs. You can listen to the result here. It certainly was a different experience, but FUN :-)

ENJOY !

 

       

Lindsay Downs - A Body in the Attic

A Body in the Attic by Lindsay Downs

Publisher: Astraea Press

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Special Agent Emily Dahill, Dakota along with her team of technicians are sent to Master Sergeant Annabelle Carlyle’s Victorian style house for what they think is a simple break-in. What they find however, turns out to be even more ominous. A secret passageway leads to a mysterious gunshot. When the prime suspect is cleared they still have no clue who the shooter is, or why. Could the shooter be the same individual who took a shot at Dakota?

Add into the mix the FBI and their unexpected involvement in the case. Soon they learn the break-in had been a cover-up for a more nefarious crime. One that involves Emily’s nemesis, the brown-haired man, and millions of dollars being sent to terrorists. Will they solve the case before the money disappears forever and more bodies turn up? Not even the inestimable Dakota is sure. (www.astraeapress.com)

My thoughts

I was looking forward to this book for quite a while and Lindsay Downs did not disappoint. A page turner from the very beginning.

Inspector Rex step aside, here comes Dakota!

Private First Class Dennis Logan disappears and the CID is called to investigate, with the help of the collie Dakota. But at the same time Master Sergeant Annabelle Carlyle's house is broken in. Coincidence?

This is a fast paced story and interesting. Lindsay has her very own style to set a scene and includes chapters from the dog's point of view, which gives the story that special something. I can only recommend it.










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Lindsay Downs - A Dog gone Christmas

Publisher: Astraea Press

A Dog Gone Christmas by Lindsay Downs

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


When a call for paws goes out, five friends bring their collies without question to a friend’s house. They learn the collies are needed to help seven children with the grief of losing a parent in Iraq or Afghanistan. Now, with seven friends, four collie yearlings and their mother, they set out to help the children. Not far away, a mother hopefully leads her seven puppies to safety from a man intent on selling them for illicit purposes. By a miracle of fate, the two mother collies find each other right before the man sells the puppies. That Christmas morning will be one the children will remember all their lives as they are united with the puppies.


My thoughts

This is a lovely little story. Though a story set around Christmas the reader can enjoy it at any time.

It's about children who will have to spend Christmas with either just one or none of their parents ... and Emily and her friends, incl the collies Dakota, Kebi and their dog family are there to help.

I really enjoyed this quick read and I'm sure it'll touch many readers heart!


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Lindsay Downs - Emily Dahill CID Part One

Publisher: Astraea Press

ISBN: 978 - 1 - 936852-51-2

My rating: 4/5

Final Mission

After being seriously wounded in a copter crash in Iraq Sgt. Emily Dahill meets her new partner as she embarks on her new Army career as a CID agent. Who could this new partner be?

A Body in the Snow

Emily and her partner, Dakota, cross bullets with their most determined foe. Who will survive?

Right Place, Wrong Day

On leave to hang with friends Emily gets the surprise of her life.

Dog on Fishing

When it comes to knowing how to fish, and catch the big ones, never underestimate your partner. He might surprise you. (www.astraeapress.com)

My thoughts

When I "chit chatted" with Lindsay Downs via FB a few weeks back the author told me that she loosely used JAG and NCIS as an idea for the Emily Dahill stories. That was it for me I had to read the book.

I would have liked to give the book 5/5 but I honestly have to say reading through the stories felt like having a yummy cake in front of you, but you're only allowed to have a little piece. The stories (see above for the outline) were interesting, written with (IMHO) knowledge, humour and wit, yet I would have like to have more of it. More detail. More background. More who's who. More character development - I believe I would have enjoyed it even more.

Favourite Quote:
"You know Special Agent Emily Dahill, I've been detained by all sorts of police, military and civilian, but I swear this is the first time by someone wearing bright pink, floppy eared, bunny slippers."

I definitely recommend the Emily Cahill Stories to anyone .... the fast paced short stories can be read within an hour or two. Yet another very good reason: 100% of the proceeds from the this book go to Japan relief!