The Cop's Missing Child

Anniversary, Texas #1

by Karen Whiddon

Small-town cop Mac Riordan lost his wife in a car crash, but his infant son survived, only to later be kidnapped. Now, five years later, Mac locates him living in Anniversary, Texas, with beautiful Emily Gilley. The more he gets to know this mysterious mother of his son, the less he's convinced she's a coldhearted kidnapper. She might be a victim just as much as he is. So when Emily's under-the-radar lifestyle is suddenly discovered, Mac comes clean. The threats against her�against their child�escalate and Mac must risk it all to protect his son…and the woman who's brought him back to life.

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Harlequin

217 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Karen Whiddon spun fanciful tales for her younger brothers as early as the age of eleven. Growing up in the Catskill Mountains of New York, then the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, she found enough magic in the rugged peaks to keep her imagination fueled for years.

Now making her home in North Texas, she shares her life with her hero-like husband and three doting dogs. She writes paranormal tales for Harlequin Nocturne including the popular Pack series and romantic suspense stories for Harlequin Romantic Suspense.

She's also written Fae novels for Lovespell and a long time ago, she wrote five Precious Gem Romances for Kensington publishing. These she now owns again and has put them up for sale on Amazon.com among other places

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. After five years of searching for his kidnapped son, Mac has finally tracked him to Texas. He has moved to town with the intention of finding out more about the woman posing as the boy's mother. When he meets Emily, she doesn't seem like the type of person who would steal a child from a hospital. When she starts receiving threatening letters, and Ryan is nearly kidnapped, Mac steps in to help protect her. As things get worse, he finally confesses his suspicions to her, nearly ending the growing relationship between the two of them. I really liked both Emily and Mac. Mac gave up his job as a cop in New York to continue the search for his son. When he came to Anniversary, he set up his trucking business and tried to find a way to get to know Emily. When he did, his protective instincts kicked in because of the threats against her. He was torn because logic said she was probably involved in the kidnapping, but his gut was telling him she was innocent. He could also see what a good mother she was and how much Ryan loved her. He also found himself attracted to her, and picturing the three of them as a family. Emily has spent the last several years trying to outrun her past. Her late husband had been a criminal, and now someone from that past has found her and is threatening her son. She distrusts Mac at first, but when he starts working for the sheriff's department he is first to help her. As he works with her to find out who is stalking her and threatening her, an attraction starts to build. She sees how good Mac is with Ryan, and how hard he is working to help her. When she finds out that he has come to town believing that he is Ryan's true father, she is stunned and terrified that he will try to take Ryan away from her. When the threats against her and Ryan come to a head, he is there for her and makes her understand that he would never take Ryan away, that he only wants to be part of their lives. The exposure of the bad guy was a complete surprise to me.

[Soo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mini-Review:

2.7 Stars

I would have liked the story more if it didn't try to be clever and full of extra drama. The writing was okay, but I started to dislike the story as it progressed because it grew less plausible with every "exciting development" that happened.

I will say that the author used all of the pieces she threw on the board. However, any mark of enjoyment I had for the couple was overruled by the excessive drama and poor details about police procedures.

[Christine (KizzieReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. I made the mistake of reading a review and it gave something away, but it didn't take anything away from the book. However, knowing what I did know, I was still pleasantly surprised at the extra few twists at the end. They did leave one thing unanswered about the jewelry, but it was a very good and quick read.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was lots of potential here. Author can write. Suspense good. Decent story line.
But casual sex was jarring (kind of thrown in there) didn’t fit the character’s personalities and the the conversation between hero and heroine was quite off.
The end was too quick and tied up for the long drawn out
stalker bit.
I really thot this would be a 4 star :(
This is third book i read by her .. ultimately disappointing .. so don’t plan 2 read any more.
Good start to book but pacing and overblown drama and rushed ending killed it for me.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mac Riordan...expoliceman... shaky marriage, but seemed to be strengthened when she got pregnant; a car accident killed her but the infant taken by C-section; on day of funeral, the infant stolen from hospital... Mac has been seeking clues to locate his son; 5 years later, his partner locates Emily Gilley, with an adopted son the day after Mac's baby taken, and her dead husband a big mafia guy;

Emily Gilley... grew up in an orphanage, cut to world at 18, married at 20, very innocent of the world, husband is a mafia head guy (which she doesn't find out until after he is killed); she can't have children, adoption is 2 years plus, he brings her a baby by a private adoption; she's about to ask for divorce when he is killed, and she finds out about who he really is; she sells everything and tries to settle legal debts; but she starts to get threatening notes (you took what's mine, I will get it back); she moves to a small town in Texas;

Ryan Gilley... her 5 year old son; his father ends up to be Mac;

Renee Beauchamp...current police chief of the small Texas town;

Joe Stalling - ex-partner from Albany... he's feeding some information to Mac... it ends up that he fell in love with Mac's wife, they had an affair; Joe believes the baby is his; he's connected with Desiree - one of the mafia guy's mistresses; she (and he) want her diamonds back, and believe Emily has them...

Mac is suspicious of Emily, but quickly sees she is/was innocent of kidnapping; he set up a truck shipping company (and it's doing pretty good), and hires on part time with sheriff's office - assigned to Emily; and their attraction grows... and they fall in love...

[Elly · Rating 1 out of 5]

The way the kidnapping was handled by Mac just didnt fit the good cop feel the author wants to give off.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this story. Was a twisting story which was captivating. I felt for the characters and was pleased at the finale. A book worth the read.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good book.