🚓🚨 “Kidnapped in Texas” (Cowboy Protectors #1) (2023) 🚨🚓 – Book Review

 

MY REVIEW

 

Series: Cowboy Protectors (Book #1)

Paperback: 224 pages

Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense (January 24, 2023)

Language: English

ISBN: 1335587535

ISBN-13: 978-1335587534

⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

“A kidnapping case

 

reveals a secret that changes everything…

 

After witnessing an abduction, FBI agent Luke Harmon vows to return the teenage victim safely to her aunt, his ex, Abby Mitchell. But Abby has a secret—the girl is their daughter. To rescue his child from a human trafficking ring, he’ll partner with the woman who deceived him. But can he forgive the past before Abby becomes the next target…and his family is lost forever?”

 

Thank you in advance to the author, Virginia Vaughan, for providing a complimentary review copy through her launch team. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.

When I see a romantic-suspense book set in Texas, it is a “must-read” for me. Having been away from my home-state so long, it’s like being able to visit. Especially without the cost of travel, and the bad weather.

 

And, when it’s by a favorite author – such as Virginia Vaughan – that sweetens the incentive to read it.

 

Add in an exciting cover with a damaged car – I’m all in. This already looks to be an intense, exciting, seat-of-the-pants, thrill-ride in paper form kind of read.

 

Vaughan introduces us to characters that, I’m hoping, we’ll be getting to know over the course of the series:

🚓 Luke Harmon

📺 Abby Mitchell

🧒🏻 Kenzie

👦🏻 Dustin

🚓 Caleb

 

There were other “players” as well – Trent McDade and his family, Tiffany, Pete, among others. And, while this is a light read – it does contain some elements that might be rough for some readers. These are: human trafficking, child/teen trafficking, potential sex trafficking, child abduction.  

 

Right off, Vaughan hits the ground, screeching off in a cloud of dust; leaving readers to try to hold on for the ride.

 

Abby’s 14-year-old niece, Kenzie, has been kidnapped. And, as luck would have it, Luke Harmon is there. He ends up giving his ex-girlfriend, Abby, a ride to chase the kidnapper – who ends up getting away.

 

Vaughan quickly establishes that Harmon is under investigation because of an O-I-S (officer involved shooting) regarding a deceased agent and a bad guy. But, Luke isn’t going to step aside. However, his cousin Caleb is the police chief.

 

It is also clear that Luke and Abby have a history. He loved her since he was a teen. He’s still determined to get Kenzie back to her aunt. Information comes to light that Kenzie was going to meet with her biological father since Abby’s late sister and brother-in-law adopted her and her younger brother.

 

It’s also clear that Abby didn’t want to be a mom. Which then leads to the reveal – Kenzie is her daughter with Luke.

 

He’s of course shocked and feels the betrayal at the deepest level. And, it is difficult since Caleb was the one who informed Abby about the accident that claimed the life of her sister and brother-in-law.

 

Luke wants to care for Abby, but the betrayal leaves him with a severe resentment. Yet, he doesn’t have time to focus on it – he has to find Kenzie.

 

Evidence comes to light about a trafficking ring that Abby was investigating during her TV stint in Atlanta. She abandoned it when she became Kenzie and Dustin’s guardian.

 

Early on, Abby has an idea as to the players involved. Her instincts are on point. However, it leads to her being a target – one that needs to be eliminated. That leaves law enforcement scrambling to find Kenzie and protect Abby. But, Abby isn’t going to stop – despite the escalation of the threats and attacks.

 

And, it is clear who the players are, but there are some surprises that Vaughan ambushes readers with close to the end. There was one person I didn’t trust from their first introduction in the story (I wasn’t wrong either).

 

While it is the first book in the series, Vaughan wraps the story by the end without leaving too many story arcs open. That’s not to say there isn’t a problem.

 

Despite the author’s best intentions, there is a HUGE plot issue at the end of the book – a dead man standing trial. However, books such as this go back and forth between the editor and author several times. So, it is a wonder the blunder wasn’t caught. It isn’t as if the character has any lines though – only a mention.

 

It reads: “[Bad Guy] and his cohorts were awaiting trial” and could easily be modified to “[Bad Guy]’s cohorts were awaiting trial”. It isn’t too bad of a blunder, but it was interesting. (The error has been corrected in the eBook version).

 

That isn’t going to affect my opinion of the author or book too much. And, I definitely want to read the next books in the series. I also have her Covert Operatives series as well as her re-released Mistletoe Reunion Threat included in the 2-for-1 Peril at Christmas.

 

With that said – this was, as usual – a non-stop, action-packed, heart-pounding, suspenseful, and hard to put down kind of read. I usually read books of this size in 1-2 days, but since I had some stuff going on, that impacted it. It is in no way a reflection of the author or the story.

 

I did love Abby’s tenaciousness at the press conference urging Kenzie’s return. Vaughan did a great dual perspective there – appeal for the return and the “mama bear” speech of finding her niece and not giving up.

 

One problem I had was the name Dustin. While this isn’t the authors fault, during my note-taking … and when writing reviews … I always wrote Dusting. It’s one of those names that I often have issues with.

 

Speaking of the kid, I was wondering about his parents as well since it was hinted he was adopted. Perhaps the author will give us a glimpse down the road in other books. He was definitely a sweet kid and I can’t wait until we find out more about how everyone is fairing after this book.

 

While this is distributed by the faith themed Love Inspired line, there are some references to faith, but it is not preachy in tone.

 

Fans of the author won’t want to miss this read!

 

 

 

RATING:

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html;update https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Virginia Vaughan is a born and raised Mississippi girl. She is blessed to come from a large Southern family, and her fondest memories Blessed to come from a large, Southern family, her fondest memories include listening to stories recounted around the dinner table. She was a lover of books from a young age, devouring tales of romance, danger, and love. She soon started writing them herself. Connect with Virginia through her website www.virginiavaughanonline.com or through the publisher.

 

 

You can follow her on the following social media accounts:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ginvaughanbooks/

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virginiavaughanauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gin_vaughan

*This post contains affiliate links