If The Devil Had A Dog by T.K. Lukas is a hair-raising suspense novel about a woman trying to escape from the dangerous grasp of her husband. After being married less than a year, Sidney McQueen was trying to get away from the "devil man" that she had married. Sidney had a Ph.D. in Psychology, which made her a good jury selection consultant. Her husband, Winston, was a powerful attorney and she met him while looking into a contract as a jury consultant for one of his cases. They had a whirlwind romance and were married within three months. It didn't take Sidney long to suspect that he was a dangerous man, and when he turned his violence on her, she concocted a plan of action. The next morning she followed through and called her lawyer, who advised her to disappear. The problem was Winston had eyes and ears everywhere. When Sidney thought she was safe, Winston showed up in her hotel room and raped her. Sidney barely escaped with the help of a young marine that she had just met that evening. Sidney is now on the run for her life from the "devil man," and the only man that has the ability to help her has a questionable past.

If The Devil Had A Dog by T.K. Lukas is a fast-paced suspense novel. Once I picked it up, I was glued to the book until I reached the final page. It was a fantastic ride, with ups and downs and twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. I was able to relate to the characters and went through their difficulties with them. I admired Sidney; she was a strong character and an extraordinary woman who didn't allow herself to give in to fear and become a victim. What an amazing ride! I recommend this book to anyone who loves a thrilling suspense story with a lot of action. This book had quite a bit of violence and sex scenes, and is only age appropriate for more mature readers.

If the Devil Had a Dog, an explosive psychological thriller by talented writer T.K. Lukas, is like a bottle of very good brandy – smooth going down and deceptively addictive – it’ll snare its readers and hold them captive until the very last page has been read.

Thirty-four-year-old Sidney McQueen is a successful psychologist, thanks to her innate ability to read people, but it seems that her talent has eluded her when it comes to picking husbands. With two failed marriages under her belt, Sidney realizes that her current eight-month marriage to the controlling and manipulative Winston, a very successful attorney with ties to the Mexican cartels, is the worst out of them all. Having retained a divorce lawyer and armed with her cousin for much-needed moral support, she arranges to meet Winston at a Fort Worth hotel and tells him that she’s divorcing him. Not surprisingly, he doesn’t take it well and angrily takes off – only to return later to the hotel where Sidney’s spending the night, armed with a gun and enough threats that make her truly fear for her life. She enlists the help of Trevor, an army vet she meets earlier in the evening, to help her escape from the hotel – only after Sidney’s taken some very incriminating photos of the files in Winston’s bag; the kind that have the power to destroy her husband, not to mention incriminate some very powerful and dangerous associates of his in the process. When her attorney sees her photos, he orders Sidney to temporarily disappear and Trevor knows exactly where to send her. A very frightened Sidney soon finds herself in the small town of Alpine, Texas – a world away from bustling, cosmopolitan Fort Worth – and on the doorstep of the enigmatic Markus Yeager, former Marine turned very dangerous CIA operative.

With a wonderful cast of supporting characters – both the two-legged kind and the four-legged variety – everything about If the Devil Had a Dog resonates. The plot is multi-layered with plenty of action and the writing is solid with engaging descriptions and quick-paced dialogue. Even the title of the book is different, but entirely apt once you begin reading. However, what really gives this book its teeth, if you will, are the two main protagonists themselves. Both Sidney and Markus are flawed and it’s these flaws which give them vulnerability and make them so appealing to readers. Of course, it’s these same character flaws which draw the two characters to each other and provide the undercurrent of sexual tension and mutual attraction for each other. It’s also the author’s innate ability to effortlessly expose, layer by layer, her characters’ vulnerabilities as well as her seemingly effortless ability to describe her settings that set If the Devil Had a Dog head and shoulders above other books, in this humble reviewer’s opinion. A highly recommended read!

If the Devil Had a Dog by T.K. Lukas is psychological thriller double dipped in a healthy dose of sex appeal. On the run from her abusive husband, Sidney McQueen falls straight into the arms of retired Marine and CIA operative Markus Yeager, who does his best not only to protect her, but to help her heal from her traumatic relationship with the devil himself.

As a psychological thriller, If the Devil Had a Dog is an amazing story, but it is also a smartly written tale about human nature and the mental and emotional costs of enduring tragedy. T.K. Lukas does an expert job of developing monsters that can be seen just as well as the monsters that lurk within anyone who has survived a traumatic event. Main characters Sidney and Markus are both smart, supportive people with big hearts. They are strong, but not arrogant. Their ability to work together to overcome the horrific challenges will keep you reading from cover to cover, and will convince you that it does not take a superhero but true friends to overcome evil.

Lukas' descriptions of life and events in Texas are spot on and effectively transport the reader into scenes. I particularly loved the description of the bull riding event. I could practically smell the dust, animals and stale beer. The action sequences were breathtaking, and I definitely want someone like Marcus on my side when the cow patties hit the fan. He is the type of man who earns the respect of everyone he meets.

If the Devil Had a Dog by T.K. Lukas is a compelling novel that revolves around Sidney McQueen, who flees from her abusive attorney husband who wants her back in his life at any cost. Being a powerful man, he is hellbent on finding her and making sure that she belongs to him. She realizes her degree in psychology is useless when it comes to choosing a husband. Markus, who is recovering from his own personal traumas, is wary of Sidney, but they are thrown together. Markus finds himself pulled back into a world where he does not belong and which he thought had left him.

The story is riveting and has many layers to it which will get readers hooked from the beginning to the end. All the characters are strongly portrayed and palpable, and the plot has many moments that abused women will relate to very well. The narration is detailed and descriptive, and a feeling of authenticity makes it easy for readers to connect with the characters and the story. The author's style of writing is simple and fluid, which gives a good pace and movement to the plot. There are a lot of twists, turns, and surprises as the story progresses, and the author also brings Texas to life with vivid descriptions. The story has romance, mystery, suspense, and thrills, and also tackles some serious issues like drugs, abuse, and others, which makes it a fascinating read.