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The Defenders #1
Nightwatch
Fire captain Mitch Andrews can't forget the three young children he saved from a fire. A suspicious fire that left them orphans. In the care of foster mother Jill Kirkpatrick, he knows the little ones will be loved. Even if the sweet, strong widow won't let Mitch close to her. But suddenly the kids—and Jill—are in terrible danger…and one of the children is missing. Mitch and Jill will risk everything to find the stolen girl and keep a makeshift family of five together forever.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
45 people are currently reading
392 people want to read
About the author
Valerie Hansen
180 books249 followersValerie Hansen is the pen name of Valerie Whisenand.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Although I have been a published author since the mid 1980s, I have been writing women's Christian fiction almost exclusively since 1999.
There is a longer, more detailed bio on my website so there's no need for me to repeat all that here. Right now, I write for all three Love Inspired lines, Romance, Suspense and Historical. I'm delighted to have been included that broadly and besides, it keeps me so busy that I stay out of trouble. Well, mostly.
You'll find me on the LI Historical blog as well as other LI features. If I try to do much more I won't have time to write my books!
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Although I have been a published author since the mid 1980s, I have been writing women's Christian fiction almost exclusively since 1999.
There is a longer, more detailed bio on my website so there's no need for me to repeat all that here. Right now, I write for all three Love Inspired lines, Romance, Suspense and Historical. I'm delighted to have been included that broadly and besides, it keeps me so busy that I stay out of trouble. Well, mostly.
You'll find me on the LI Historical blog as well as other LI features. If I try to do much more I won't have time to write my books!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 30, 2024
I felt like the whodunnit part was weaker than many of Hansen’s other books, but I liked Mitch and Jill a lot as characters, and the little boys were endearing. It wasn’t any surprise to me who the culprit was but it was an enjoyable story overall.
February 24, 2013
Nightwatch is not my first Valerie Hansen romance, nor my last!
I decided to read it since Nightwatch won the coveted American Christian Fiction Writers' CAROL Award in 2012.
Nightwatch is still available used and in ebook form. I think the story had the right amount of suspense to keep the plot moving along at a fast clip and the hero and heroine, a firefighter Mitch and a foster mom Jill respectively, were warm and believable characters.
The plot hinges on the mysterious fiery death of the parents of three children and then the kidnapping of the youngest, a little girl. Why were the parents killed and why was the little girl snatched from the crib at Jill's? Who wants what?
The story also portrays CASA, which means Court Appointed Special Advocate, volunteers who help children in difficult court situations. Altogether it was a well done, fast and heart-felt read. Highly recommended.
I decided to read it since Nightwatch won the coveted American Christian Fiction Writers' CAROL Award in 2012.
Nightwatch is still available used and in ebook form. I think the story had the right amount of suspense to keep the plot moving along at a fast clip and the hero and heroine, a firefighter Mitch and a foster mom Jill respectively, were warm and believable characters.
The plot hinges on the mysterious fiery death of the parents of three children and then the kidnapping of the youngest, a little girl. Why were the parents killed and why was the little girl snatched from the crib at Jill's? Who wants what?
The story also portrays CASA, which means Court Appointed Special Advocate, volunteers who help children in difficult court situations. Altogether it was a well done, fast and heart-felt read. Highly recommended.
August 7, 2015
I really liked this book. It was a very good clean love story. A handsome firefighting hero and a strong kind hearted Heroine. This is my first read by Valerie Hansen i would like to read a few more her.
September 25, 2011
This is the first book of Valeries that I have read but it won't be the last. It was a clean romance, mystery and suspence with a lot of heroes in it.
Mitch is a firefighter that takes on to much blame when he can't save everyone. Their was a loud explosion of a business and a house. They were able to save the three children but not the parents.
Jill is a foster parent. She was in foster care as a child. Her husband died in a accident right after moving to a farm in a new area. Mitch feels blame for not saving him. Mitch and Jill became friends because Mitch helped her out at the farm.
Someone set the bomb and murdered the parents, kidnapped the littlest child. Jill and Mitch are trying to protect the boys and get the baby back.
I really liked the characters, the children especially Tim 7 year old who was trying to protect and find his sister. So many wanted to help and protect the children. It is a book that I did not put down.
I was given this ebook in exchange of honest review.
Mitch is a firefighter that takes on to much blame when he can't save everyone. Their was a loud explosion of a business and a house. They were able to save the three children but not the parents.
Jill is a foster parent. She was in foster care as a child. Her husband died in a accident right after moving to a farm in a new area. Mitch feels blame for not saving him. Mitch and Jill became friends because Mitch helped her out at the farm.
Someone set the bomb and murdered the parents, kidnapped the littlest child. Jill and Mitch are trying to protect the boys and get the baby back.
I really liked the characters, the children especially Tim 7 year old who was trying to protect and find his sister. So many wanted to help and protect the children. It is a book that I did not put down.
I was given this ebook in exchange of honest review.
August 28, 2025
this is a page turning story about a fire that leaves 3 young children orphans and the jill who is taking care of them and the fire chief who is helping her . then someone take one of the kids and they are trying to find them and keep the others safe very good story
July 14, 2019
Good book.
I like strong women but when Jill turned dumb/stupid it really pissed me off.
I like strong women but when Jill turned dumb/stupid it really pissed me off.
February 4, 2025
Really great read
April 17, 2025
I enjoyed this new-to-me author and the tale she wove in Book 1 of the Defenders series. Intrigue, suspense and romance all rolled into one LIS novel that kept my attention.
July 4, 2013
This book is part of “The Defenders” series which involves protecting children from dangerous people. Set in the bucolic town of Serenity, Arkansas, the book begins with an explosion that takes the fire department hours to control as well as the lives of a local married couple, Rob and Ellen Pearson, who ran an export company.
Their children, Timmy (age 7), Paul (age 5), and Megan (age 18 months), are placed into the custody of Jill Kirkpatrick, a recently widowed woman who’s acted as a foster mother over the past few years. Her connection to the Serenity Fire Department is her good friend Mitch Andrews, who attends Serenity Chapel on Sundays and who befriended her following her late husband’s accident.
Jill and Mitch continually claim they’re good friends, but they behave like a married couple throughout the book. Jill’s custodianship is challenged by the children’s unhinged aunt Natalie. Guessing the villain of this very short novel isn’t hard; everyone will have it by the second chapter, tops. There’s little suspense to be found here.
What’s interesting about the book is that a local nurse, Samantha Rochard, is part of a national organization known as CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) that is based in Canton, Georgia.
Volunteers like Samantha are appointed by judges to watch over abused and/or neglected children to make sure they don’t get lost in the vast machinery that is the American legal system or languish in foster homes. There’s some detail about how the organization works in the book, and I appreciated the author doing her homework.
However, I did notice that at one point, Natalie (the unhinged aunt) bullies the nurses at the hospital where the children were taken for observation into letting her take them home. There is simply no way this would happen in real life. Security would have been called and Natalie would have been escorted off the premises. Hospitals have “codes” to alert others to unruly behavior whether from a patient or a visitor.
Then, Jill and Mitch storm Natalie’s house to find the children. Breaking and entering is still considered a crime, even in Serenity, so I doubt the realism of this scene as well. This isn’t the first stupid thing that Jill and Mitch do in the book, either. Megan is kidnapped from Jill’s care, and instead of waiting for the police, they both take off into the woods near Jill’s farmhouse with the other two kids (Timmy and Paul) in tow, along with Jill’s ranch dogs. Why? You know the kids are in mortal danger now; why risk being killed by whomever took Megan? This is so unbelievably stupid, especially for Mitch, as he clearly knows what a dangerous situation Jill and the kids are in.
The book is nicely paced and filled with action. Because we know the identity of the villain so early on, though, there’s not much suspense. It bored me after a while because I was tired of Mitch and Jill pretending they don’t like each other when they obviously do, and seeing them do all sorts of idiotic things in the name of protecting the children.
Their children, Timmy (age 7), Paul (age 5), and Megan (age 18 months), are placed into the custody of Jill Kirkpatrick, a recently widowed woman who’s acted as a foster mother over the past few years. Her connection to the Serenity Fire Department is her good friend Mitch Andrews, who attends Serenity Chapel on Sundays and who befriended her following her late husband’s accident.
Jill and Mitch continually claim they’re good friends, but they behave like a married couple throughout the book. Jill’s custodianship is challenged by the children’s unhinged aunt Natalie. Guessing the villain of this very short novel isn’t hard; everyone will have it by the second chapter, tops. There’s little suspense to be found here.
What’s interesting about the book is that a local nurse, Samantha Rochard, is part of a national organization known as CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) that is based in Canton, Georgia.
Volunteers like Samantha are appointed by judges to watch over abused and/or neglected children to make sure they don’t get lost in the vast machinery that is the American legal system or languish in foster homes. There’s some detail about how the organization works in the book, and I appreciated the author doing her homework.
However, I did notice that at one point, Natalie (the unhinged aunt) bullies the nurses at the hospital where the children were taken for observation into letting her take them home. There is simply no way this would happen in real life. Security would have been called and Natalie would have been escorted off the premises. Hospitals have “codes” to alert others to unruly behavior whether from a patient or a visitor.
Then, Jill and Mitch storm Natalie’s house to find the children. Breaking and entering is still considered a crime, even in Serenity, so I doubt the realism of this scene as well. This isn’t the first stupid thing that Jill and Mitch do in the book, either. Megan is kidnapped from Jill’s care, and instead of waiting for the police, they both take off into the woods near Jill’s farmhouse with the other two kids (Timmy and Paul) in tow, along with Jill’s ranch dogs. Why? You know the kids are in mortal danger now; why risk being killed by whomever took Megan? This is so unbelievably stupid, especially for Mitch, as he clearly knows what a dangerous situation Jill and the kids are in.
The book is nicely paced and filled with action. Because we know the identity of the villain so early on, though, there’s not much suspense. It bored me after a while because I was tired of Mitch and Jill pretending they don’t like each other when they obviously do, and seeing them do all sorts of idiotic things in the name of protecting the children.
March 23, 2012
originally appeared on:Bookshelf Confessions
This was actually the first book I read of Ms. Hansen’s, judging from this book, this won’t be the last.:)…
The romance is subtle, but it’s there, a clean romance, with lot of action, mysteries and suspense in it.
The book is truly inspired by God. In every lines, I felt God constantly knocking at their hearts. It’s a book of faith, and that anyone like Mitch should not let himself stray away from God. It’s not like we deserve the trials were facing, it’s a way of life to make it stronger.
A lot of insights are written in the book, how the characters fought for justice and peace, meanwhile searching themselves of their faiths.
I really liked the characters, especially the children and Tim, who was trying to be a big brother and protect everyone, it’s quite funny at the time when Mitch didn’t believe Tim and actually accuse him of someone just trying to vie for their attention. The kids are lovable. Jill and Mitch on the other hand, made me frustrated, I get it their good friends, but obviously they have a thing for each other, they’re just both afraid of doing something that would ruin it up…
Although I already guess who the villains are, there was a point when I somehow can’t believe the turn of events, especially the end part, so sudden… it left me asking, so that’s it?....
But when it comes to Jill, Mitch and the children’s fate.,,I totally agree with the author..:)
If you want to read something with lots of drama, farm, dogs, kids, a cute romance, then what are you waiting for.. this book might be the one for you!
This was actually the first book I read of Ms. Hansen’s, judging from this book, this won’t be the last.:)…
The romance is subtle, but it’s there, a clean romance, with lot of action, mysteries and suspense in it.
The book is truly inspired by God. In every lines, I felt God constantly knocking at their hearts. It’s a book of faith, and that anyone like Mitch should not let himself stray away from God. It’s not like we deserve the trials were facing, it’s a way of life to make it stronger.
A lot of insights are written in the book, how the characters fought for justice and peace, meanwhile searching themselves of their faiths.
I really liked the characters, especially the children and Tim, who was trying to be a big brother and protect everyone, it’s quite funny at the time when Mitch didn’t believe Tim and actually accuse him of someone just trying to vie for their attention. The kids are lovable. Jill and Mitch on the other hand, made me frustrated, I get it their good friends, but obviously they have a thing for each other, they’re just both afraid of doing something that would ruin it up…
Although I already guess who the villains are, there was a point when I somehow can’t believe the turn of events, especially the end part, so sudden… it left me asking, so that’s it?....
But when it comes to Jill, Mitch and the children’s fate.,,I totally agree with the author..:)
If you want to read something with lots of drama, farm, dogs, kids, a cute romance, then what are you waiting for.. this book might be the one for you!
November 29, 2016
Title: Nightwatch
Author: Valerie Hansen
Rating: ⭐️
To be perfectly honest, I read through 90% of this book today and it's safe to say that I didn't like it. The beginning chapters were exactly like Lemony Snicket's The Series of Unfortunate Events. The house caught on fire. Both parents died in the fire. Three (all) kids survived. Their first family member they were taken to turned out to be crazy. The baby gets kidnapped. Remind you of anything? Yeah, me too. The book seemed rushed and every page had a new but depressing problem. The main characters relationship was dumb. They promise each other they would always be friends and all of a sudden without no relationship whatsoever, BAM I WANT TO SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH YOU. Same. BAM MARRIAGE. The ending was entirely predictable and it also was rushed. You can't just throw together and ending, or for that matter an entire freaking book in thirty seconds and expect something good to come out of it. This book disgusts me.
#books #love #booklove #loveofbooks #reading #readinglove #loveofreading #yus #bookreview #nightwatch #valeriehansen
Author: Valerie Hansen
Rating: ⭐️
To be perfectly honest, I read through 90% of this book today and it's safe to say that I didn't like it. The beginning chapters were exactly like Lemony Snicket's The Series of Unfortunate Events. The house caught on fire. Both parents died in the fire. Three (all) kids survived. Their first family member they were taken to turned out to be crazy. The baby gets kidnapped. Remind you of anything? Yeah, me too. The book seemed rushed and every page had a new but depressing problem. The main characters relationship was dumb. They promise each other they would always be friends and all of a sudden without no relationship whatsoever, BAM I WANT TO SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH YOU. Same. BAM MARRIAGE. The ending was entirely predictable and it also was rushed. You can't just throw together and ending, or for that matter an entire freaking book in thirty seconds and expect something good to come out of it. This book disgusts me.
#books #love #booklove #loveofbooks #reading #readinglove #loveofreading #yus #bookreview #nightwatch #valeriehansen
October 5, 2011
This is the first book of Valeries that I have read but it won't be the last. It was a clean romance, mystery and suspence with a lot of heroes in it.
Mitch is a firefighter that takes on to much blame when he can't save everyone. Their was a loud explosion of a business and a house. They were able to save the three children but not the parents.
Jill is a foster parent. She was in foster care as a child. Her husband died in a accident right after moving to a farm in a new area. Mitch feels blame for not saving him. Mitch and Jill became friends because Mitch helped her out at the farm.
Someone set the bomb and murdered the parents, kidnapped the littlest child. Jill and Mitch are trying to protect the boys and get the baby back.
I really liked the characters, the children especially Tim 7 year old who was trying to protect and find his sister. So many wanted to help and protect the children. It is a book that I did not put down.
I was given this ebook in exchange for honest review.
Mitch is a firefighter that takes on to much blame when he can't save everyone. Their was a loud explosion of a business and a house. They were able to save the three children but not the parents.
Jill is a foster parent. She was in foster care as a child. Her husband died in a accident right after moving to a farm in a new area. Mitch feels blame for not saving him. Mitch and Jill became friends because Mitch helped her out at the farm.
Someone set the bomb and murdered the parents, kidnapped the littlest child. Jill and Mitch are trying to protect the boys and get the baby back.
I really liked the characters, the children especially Tim 7 year old who was trying to protect and find his sister. So many wanted to help and protect the children. It is a book that I did not put down.
I was given this ebook in exchange for honest review.
November 16, 2011
NIGHTWATCH is about people who believe in God. However, the characters behave in a very human manner when faced with adversity. Why me? What did I do to deserve this? Does God care? Some of the questions most of us ask when something catastrophic happens in our lives. Sometimes we fail to see God's hand in the worst of circumstances but that is when He is the most active. Mitch, the father figure in the story, recognizes that God may not act in the way Mitch would want even when an innocent child may be injured. There is a Father in Heaven who loves all of His children and will sustain through the most difficult of life's trails. Valerie Harper testifys throughout her book to a God who answers prayers and loves his children and is involved in the world today.
Thank you, Valerie.
Thank you, Valerie.
May 21, 2012
I'm not a real fan of romance fiction but this Christian mystery romance is a couple of steps above the normal romance story. The characters were interesting and well developed. The mystery established clues that kept me guessing till the conclusion. The Christian emphasis was excellent but not preachy. The addition of foster parenting and CASA ( Court Appointed Special Advocate---volunteers appointed by a judge to help abused, neglected, and needy kids) was an added interest.
A fire caused by a bomb made three children instant orphans,
and this was soon complicated by the kidnapping of one of the children. The foster mom and firefighter friend of the children find themselves set on a mission to find out WHY, and to try and help these children recover from everything with love.
Excellent first book in a continuing series!
A fire caused by a bomb made three children instant orphans,
and this was soon complicated by the kidnapping of one of the children. The foster mom and firefighter friend of the children find themselves set on a mission to find out WHY, and to try and help these children recover from everything with love.
Excellent first book in a continuing series!
Read
December 24, 2014Miniseries: The Defenders
"What a wonderful story, full of drama and suspense. It was a “can't put it down” book. I really liked all the characters, the children, especially 7-year-old Timmy who as the oldest did his best to protect his little brother and baby sister. The hero firefighter Mitch is such a caring man, .... Jill is is a foster parent, she knows how the children feel because she, too, was in foster care and jostled from one home to the next. But now the children's lives on the line and Mitch and Jill will risk everything to find the kidnapped 18-month year old girl,...." From a review posted by an Harlequin.com member. To read more go here.
"What a wonderful story, full of drama and suspense. It was a “can't put it down” book. I really liked all the characters, the children, especially 7-year-old Timmy who as the oldest did his best to protect his little brother and baby sister. The hero firefighter Mitch is such a caring man, .... Jill is is a foster parent, she knows how the children feel because she, too, was in foster care and jostled from one home to the next. But now the children's lives on the line and Mitch and Jill will risk everything to find the kidnapped 18-month year old girl,...." From a review posted by an Harlequin.com member. To read more go here.
November 1, 2011
This book overall had a good plot but I just couldn't get into it. As someone else mentioned the communication between the two, Mitch and Jill, seemed a little unbelievable because they supposedly knew each other so well, best friends and all.
This is my own fault for not knowing that this book is written with religious ties to it. I am not a religious person by any means so that is probably a lot of the reason I couldn't get into the book. Like I said the plot is good just didn't drag me in like so many other books have.
This is my own fault for not knowing that this book is written with religious ties to it. I am not a religious person by any means so that is probably a lot of the reason I couldn't get into the book. Like I said the plot is good just didn't drag me in like so many other books have.
January 23, 2016
Such a great book! Valerie Henson wrote a good book - it was both romantic (not one kiss on the lips is my only complaint) and suspenseful. The explosion that happens on the first page makes three kids parent-less Foster mother, Jill Kirkpatrick, takes in the three kids with her best friend by her side. Mitch Andrews is the one who saved the kids from a burning building. Then one of the children is kidnapped, making things worse.
This was very suspensful, even though I did figure out who it was from the very first chapter...
This was very suspensful, even though I did figure out who it was from the very first chapter...
Read
November 22, 2011This was an exciting, clean romance! I enjoyed Mitch and Jill. I was as worried as them for the safety of the kids. It was fun watching Mitch and Jill dance around each other as they realized they were falling in love. I did suspect the right person as the villain. I did doubt myself sometimes though. There were lots of twists and turns int he plot that I did not see coming! This was a really fun read. :)
January 5, 2013
A heartwarming story about love and family. Jill Kirkpatrick and Mitch Andrews have been friends since Jill's husband died in an accident. When a couple from their church is killed, Jill and Mitch team together to take care of the three orphaned children. When the youngest child is stolen, tensions rise and priorities change. A sweet story suitable for any age. You can see the ending coming a mile away, but it's still worth the read.
August 29, 2011
Far too "folksy," the ending was abrupt and more explained than depicted, and it was hard to believe two people who knew each other so well and were best friends had the communication difficulties depicted.
February 21, 2016
Excrellent!!!!!
Wow!! What a fast-paced, edge- of-your-seat adventure. An exciting story, centered on the goodness on the goodness of God, even when we tend to get ahead of Him. This was a fantastic read!!!!!
Wow!! What a fast-paced, edge- of-your-seat adventure. An exciting story, centered on the goodness on the goodness of God, even when we tend to get ahead of Him. This was a fantastic read!!!!!
July 13, 2016
The best part of this book was the fact that Mitch and Jill had a long-term friendship that blossomed into love. The worst part of this book was that it had too many cycles of Timmy running away. This made Jill look incompetent as a guardian, when that wasn't the point.
March 26, 2021
A Good Read
Story switched back and forth between characters without an obvious chapter break. Needed an indicator of author’s intent. Otherwise, the story was interesting and a very good read.
Story switched back and forth between characters without an obvious chapter break. Needed an indicator of author’s intent. Otherwise, the story was interesting and a very good read.
Read
December 24, 2014Miniseries: The Defenders
December 30, 2014
I enjoyed this book. It is heavily inspirational and romance, and just a bit of suspense. I would love to read anything Valerie might write if the proportions were reversed.
October 28, 2011
This book was AMAZING!!! it was so mysterious I couldn't stop reading!!!
November 2, 2011
Good suspense. Not too much in favor of the way the baby was portrayed.
June 19, 2015
page turning suspense
December 17, 2015
Very good! It was a different kind of LIS and I liked that! I liked how the main characters were friends :)
March 28, 2020
This book kept me on the edge of my seat. I thought it was well written. There was no sex involved in this suspense/romance novel which was nice. Still ended with a happy ending.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews