Series: Amish Country Justice (Book 3)
KIDNAPPED IN AMISH COUNTRY
After catching a glimpse of something she wasn’t supposed to see days before Christmas, Irene Martello is run off the road and barely survives. More shocking is the backseat whimper of an Amish toddler stowaway and the familiar sight of their rescuer -- the man who’d let her down years earlier. Police chief Paul Kennedy fears Irene stumbled onto a kidnapping ring with two dangerous agendas: retrieving the girl and silencing the witness for good. Only Paul can keep them safe for the holidays. Guarding Irene means risking his heart -- and his secret -- but to save the child and the woman he never stopped loving, it’s a risk he has to take.
Good second chance romance combined with excellent suspense. The action began immediately as Irene accidentally stumbled into a child kidnapping ring. One of the kidnappers, determined to silence her, chases after her, shooting at her car and running her off the road. If not for the timely arrival of police chief Paul Kennedy, Irene would likely have died. Both of them were shocked to discover a little Amish girl in the backseat of Irene's car.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Paul and Irene. There is tension between them from the very beginning. Irene was Paul's high school girlfriend and is also the widow of one of his officers. He still cares for Irene but believes that he isn't good enough for her. He is determined to keep her safe, even as he struggles to keep his feelings in check. Irene is dismayed to realize that she still has feelings for Paul. It is difficult for her to trust him after the way he broke her heart. On top of that, getting involved with another cop, with the risk of loss to herself and her sons, is something she isn't willing to do. As they worked together to find the parents of the little girl, Paul and Irene had the chance to put the past behind them. I ached for Paul, who had continued to love Irene, but believed she could never forgive that which drove him away from her. I loved his protectiveness toward Irene and little Mary. He melted my heart with how sweet he was with Mary as well as Irene's sons. I liked seeing Irene get to know Paul as the man he has become. She still sees some of the boy she loved, and the man he has become appeals to her more every day. But when Paul is injured, Irene's fears come crashing back, and she pushes him away. I ached for her and wanted to shake her, all at the same time. I loved her big moment on Christmas Eve, as she finally put her past behind her and seized her chance at love. I loved seeing Paul go from despair to joy. The epilogue was a beautiful wrap-up.
The suspense of the story was fantastic. From Irene's first encounter with the bearded man to the final confrontation, the menace from the kidnappers leapt off the page. Each attempt on Irene's life increased the intensity until that final encounter. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for Paul to find Irene. I also loved the fact that Irene wasn't a passive victim but had a hand in her own rescue. I was also wholly invested in Paul and Irene's search for Mary's parents. Each lead had me holding my breath to see if that would be the one, and oh, the happy tears when they found the right one.
I also enjoyed catching up with characters from previous books. Irene's brother Jace and his wife Melanie were a big part of this story. There were also Dan and Maggie, Jess and Seth, and Miles and Rebecca. I look forward to seeing more of Paul and Irene in future books, as well as getting to know new couples.
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