When she sees a picture of a little girl who looks just like her younger self in a book about lost children, Heidi realizes she was born Hollis Richardson and that she’d been stolen from her mother. After thirty years apart, they’re finally reunited, but being kidnapped by her father has made Hollis lonely, forever changed, and wondering how she can ever forgive him for the time she’s lost with her mom.
Raleigh Leonard’s daughter was kidnapped when she was three years old. Now, over a year later, Raleigh is beginning to lose hope that she’ll ever see her again, but a detective, Dylan Easton, has agreed to help her find new leads and, hopefully, her daughter. To help her cope, Raleigh attends regular support group meetings for people like her, and that’s where she meets Hollis.
The timing couldn’t be worse for the two women, but they discover there’s something between them that’s worth pursuing, even when nothing else in their lives seems to be going right.
Nicole Pyland is a bestselling author of lesbian romance stand-alone novels and series like Chicago Series, Holiday Series, Royalty Series, Sports Series, and more. Since 2017, she’s published over 60 novels (not including her What Happened After shorts), and more books are on their way.
Nicole grew up in Indiana, studying English & Film and then getting a MS in Behavior Analysis and moving to California, working by day as a Head of Training at a startup. She lives with her wife and their opinionated cat, who spends his evenings helping her write stories by occupying half the chair.
Nicole Pyland brings out all the feels in this book, I was hooked from the beginning. Pyland writes such intuitive characters and matching them perfectly. I loved that we got to see characters from previous books in the series and get an update in their lives. Each character is well developed and has growth that meets the personality that we know. The secondary characters are seamlessly incorporated and adds to the story. There is angst until the couple gets together, then hardly any in the relationship, unless it comes from an outside entity. It shows the couple working together. Pyland is one of my favorite authors, I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Heartrending tale of kidnapped daughter and Mother of kidnapped daughter. Well constructed though pulled a bit in the middle. NP writes really well. Recommended.
When Hollis discovers that she is a child who has been kidnapped, her world is thrown into chaos. She hasn’t lived a tortured life, but there has always seemed to be something off. Now, back home with her mom, who is dying of cancer, she is trying desperately to fit a lifetime of memories into the limited time she has remaining with the parent she was snatched from.
Raleigh is a parent suffering through the ultimate loss. Her daughter has been taken, and a year has passed with no strong leads. She spends her days working to pay the bills and any extra time posting to Facebook, her website, and anywhere else that might be of some use. When she spots a newcomer at her support group, she can’t help but be curious.
Hollis and Raleigh build a relationship around their loses. It makes it confusing when it comes to what is real and what is imagined. When Hollis asks Raleigh on a date, it isn’t a concrete yes at first, but then Raleigh realises that she can’t live on what if’s for ever. Set in the world of The Fire, and The Disappeared, The Kidnapped is a story about finding oneself in a broken world. Love is only ever a step away, and, in this story, it is what makes healing that much easier.
Nicole Pyland writes with her usual finesse. She creates characters who come alive under her prose and who thrive throughout the story she has chosen to tell. The Kidnapped has the potential to be full of angst, and even though it is sure to pull a tear or five, it will also leave you warm and fuzzy as the romance wraps smoothly around the main character arc.
Probably my favorite book of Nicole’s that I have read!! The writing is amazing, the characters are relatable and their growth is also great! This had me moved to tears!!
The Fire Universe continues as Hollis discovers secrets about her past which leads her to meet Raleigh who is in the midst of the most trying time of her life. Character from the other books make appearances throughout this gripping story. There’s much to say, but it would spoil too much. What I know is that I could hardly put this one down, and I read it in record time. Pyland had me hooked by the characters and their story, and I laughed and cried throughout.
When Heidi Ramsey sees an unsolved crimes book at the library where she works, she realizes that all the memories she couldn’t place from her childhood were real and that she is really Hollis Richardson. Her father is arrested and extradited from Canada to the United States to face trial, and Hollis learns that her mother is still alive, though dying from stage four cancer. She moves to the US to spend whatever time her mother has left with her, to reconnect.
Raleigh Leonard lost her daughter, Eden, a year before to some unknown kidnapper. She’s struggled to hold her life together as she keeps hoping they’d find her daughter, but the police only come up with dead ends.
When Raleigh and Hollis meet at a support group for people like themselves, they quickly become friends. As Hollis finds temporary work for a true crime TV show, she meets Kenna Crawford (from the first book in this series) who then introduces herself and Raleigh to Detective Dylan Easton (from book two in the series) who offers to look into Eden’s case.
As Olivia, Hollis’ mom, is slowly dying from her cancer, and as Dylan begins finding clues that other investigators missed about Eden’s disappearance, Hollis and Raleigh are both falling for one another, yet consumed with guilt by their specific situations.
Nicole Pyland gives us a story with both heartbreak and joy, with loss yet delayed justice, and with everything that love can do to carry us through the worst of times.
I’m enjoying the entire Fire Universe series but this book just became one of my favorite Nicole Pyland books ever.
I was excited to see The Fire series continued! I was happy to see that the book contained angst but was able to not make it purely angst. For me it was a good mix.
I thought that Pyland was able to easily capture each character and both Hollis and Raleigh’s stories. While it’s natural to want Olivia (Hollis’s mom) to survive cancer, it wouldn’t have been realistic to the story or to Hollis’s journey and character development. With the way Hollis and Raleigh were written I could basically feel their pain (even though my mother is still alive and I am childless). I loved the suspense of what happened to Raleigh’s daughter, Eden. I had my own theories while reading and most of the time I was fully convinced Raleigh’s ex-wife was involved somehow. Even though my theory was completely wrong it was still fun to speculate.
My favorite thing was just how realistic it was. While I enjoy reading “fluffy” books, “realistic/angsty/not everything is sunshine and rainbows” books have always been my favorite. And Pyland was able to do all of those things.
Another thing I love about Pyland’s series’s are the appearances of past characters. I was satisfied that we got a conclusion to what happened to Ada’s brother. You don’t necessarily HAVE to read the first two books in the series but it is better getting to read more about characters who you already enjoyed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Interesting premise here: someone who was a kidnappee gets into a relationship with someone whose own child has been kidnapped. There was a fair bit of angst for Raleigh as she endures the start of a second year without her daughter and for Hollis as she works out who she is and returns to the mother who’s never lost hope in 30 years. But the ‘sting in the tale’ is that Hollis’ mother has Stage 4 breast cancer and they don’t have a lot of time left. The relationship between Hollis and Raleigh had a number of ups and downs which gave this a slightly disjointed feel. But the relationship Hollis redevelops with her own mother is lovingly brought to life and the end of that suitably emotional. You never really learn if she comes to terms with her father’s actions, but feel like she’s going to be OK in the long term, whether she comes to forgive him, or not. Characters from the first two stories in this series crop up again here. You can read this as a standalone, but I recommend the first two books as well. Why not read them first to get ‘fully set up’ for this?! N.B If you like this sort of story then check out ‘Vanishing Acts’ by Jodi Picoult which has some similar facets to this (but a number of differences too).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
What can I say about The Kidnapped? It was an emotional read, that’s for sure. You have the two MCs going through such tragic situations. First there is Hollis, who realises her father kidnapped her when she was younger, and her whole life has been a lie, including her name. Then you have Raleigh, who is going through something no parent ever wants to imagine happening, let alone actually go through it, and that is the kidnapping of her daughter.
The way the story wove through the grief, trauma and growth both characters go through in these trying times was so well written, I actually cried at some parts of the book. I appreciate how both Hollis and Raleigh were there for each other when they really needed it and were able to take control of situations when the other just wasn’t in the headspace to deal with things. As well, the connection that develops between the two MCs doesn’t feel forced, it feels organic and realistic.
It was nice to catch up with the characters from the other books in the Fire Universe and see how their lives are going. I would have to say this book has definitely made the top 5 list of my favourite Nicole Pyland books
I was so excited when I saw there was going to be another book from Nicole Pyland set in the Fire Universe and as with the majority of her books, this one did not disappoint!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Early in the book Hollis finds out her life is basically a lie after she discovers her father kidnapped her from her mother when she was just 5 years old. 30 years later she’s reunited with her mother and through a support group for people in situations like hers she meets Raleigh whose daughter was kidnapped a year ago.
What starts as two people who have been through hell supporting each other slowly turns to more. I loved how they were each able to be there for the other as Hollis was reunited with her mother and Raleigh continues to search for her missing daughter. They just showed up for each other in the most beautiful ways.
If you’re looking for a true crime/romance story….look no further! I couldn’t put it down! Thank you Nicole for the advance copy! You can now get your own copy now! 💛
The Kidnapped. What more can I say than it was a page turner of a story that I devoured and the characters are brilliant! Nothing felt fake or far fetched. You could tell Ms Pyland did lots of research to make her characters well rounded and seem to be based on real people. I was blown away by the absolutely heart breaking feelings that these characters possessed on the page. You could feel the complete heartbreak and the absolute joy that jumped off the page from these diverse characters. I loved the different vantage points that each character brought to the page regarding the word kidnapped, and what it meant to each of them. Our main character Hollis has the viewpoint of being kidnapped and how that changed her and her perceptions on growing up. Then we have Raleigh and her perceptions of having her child kidnapped. We see how such a word can affect lives. So, can Hollis once again gain control of her life and find happiness? You’ll just have to read Kidnapped and find out. I love how this tale came to a sweet end.
It involves a mom having her daughter missing for over a year, and the other who learns she had a mom who she was taken away from 30 years prior. The fact that one lost her daughter at the age of 4, and the other was taken by her dad at 4, is a nice little detail. A lot of tender, surprisingly sweet, moments throughout and the ending is a nice, happy ending after all of what Hollis and Raleigh had to go through to get to where they were at the end of this story. They have painful past and baggage they carry with them, but they still navigate a tricky romance because they know they have feelings for each other. Deep down, this is a story about two women, Hollis and Raleigh, who despite going through some serious trauma (which lets be real here, we all have our own traumas but we learn ways to deal) they still learn to trust, love, and commit a relationship to each other to have a better life going forward. And it is a happy, wholesome ending so you don't have to worry about any heartbreaks.
Pyland never ceases to amaze me with the stories she creates. The Kidnapped is another hit. With the way the characters always seem to be relatable, I couldn’t help but be completely taken by Hollis & Raleigh and the rest of the crew. I could never find a stopping point because I kept wanting to know what would happen next. Plus, you get to revisit old characters from the past books in the series. I will never understand how Pyland can add all the details from the previous stories and infuse them to the plot in the current book, but it’s amazing how she pulls it off. There are quite a few serious issues that Hollis and Raleigh had to go through but it didn’t weigh the story down. I loved how well situations were written and it made the story feel even more authentic. This book will certainly tug at your emotions! Bottom line, without giving out any spoilers, this is definitely a book you need to read!
A Heartwarming & Heartbreaking Story Of Loyal Love!
The Fire Universe Series has been such a success. Having just read Book 3, the heartstrings are being pulled in so many ways. Nicole Pyland can spin a tale. Taking it from Book 1 and now Book 3 and soon to be read Book 4 the final to the series. “The Kidnapped” has taken us back to Books 1&2 and we got to revisit with some of the couples from the previous stories. This book pulls the events that transpired in the other two and highlighted how those came to light again. Ending our questions. The storytelling in this series has been amazing. This book you got to meet Hollis & Raleigh. Brought together by circumstance. Their pairing was a lot about support and helping each other through tough times. A satisfying combination that worked even as their lives were suffering from major changes. Ready for the finale of this series in Book4.
I enjoyed the story, returning us to characters previously seen in the Fire series. The author is able to weave the old and new characters stories together seamlessly. While the kidnapped itself was an engaging, thoughtful story, the return of previous characters brought that extra something to take the story from good to excellent.
Some of my favorite writing is the interaction between the side characters. In the Kidnapped, we have the characters from the previous books as well as the Mom. All the interactions bring either humanity or humor to the characters.
As with all Pyland books, there is the opportunity to think about social issue issues, such as whether or not to seek treatment for a terminal illness and when is the right time to look for love after losing a child.
Looking forward to the fourth book in this series.
The Kidnapped is the 3rd book in the fire universe. It mentions the characters from the previous two books so I would recommend reading The Fire and The Disappeared before reading this one.
I loved this book! I think this is the most emotional book that I’ve read by her so far. I really felt all the pain and happiness that each character went through in this story (I don’t think I’ve cried as much in any of her other books - both happy and sad tears).
It’s another slow burn romance for Hollis and Raleigh which, given the circumstances of their meeting, made sense. The couple overcomes a fair number of tough obstacles and Pyland handles it perfectly.
It was also a nice touch to see the characters from the previous novels and catch up on their lives as well! All in all this is a book you should definitely read! Just make sure you have some tissues at the ready when you do.
This was an interesting story about two sides to trauma and kidnapping: one of the protagonists is now an adult and was kidnapped by her father as a child and spent her life on the run and the other is the mother of a four-year-old who was kidnapped recently. Given the heavier subject matter, I had expected a lot of deeper discussions about resentment against a parent who was selfish and took the child, thus depriving her of a stable life, friends, and even a mother who is now dying of cancer. On the other hand, we dip a little bit into the other main character's guilt for being in a relationship and happy for moments at a time while her child is still out there somewhere. Despite the lack of depth, this was an interesting story about women supporting other women in various ways to find missing people and how people can connect through their tragedies.
Be prepared to cry… this one really hit me personally with Hollis’ mom’s cancer and the final stages at the end, but I think it would really hit anyone hard. Add that with Rayleigh’s missing kid and you’ve got yourself a recipe for tears - in other words, don’t read at work or on the bus (my mistake). Overall I really liked the characters and the way they were able to be there for each other when they were both going through some intense situations. They did almost hold off on starting a relationship because of everything going on, but they ended up giving it a shot and the relationship was very cute :) Also shoutout to Olivia, she was such a great character too. She gave our girls the push they needed and it was really nice to see her interactions with them and her building relationship with Hollis.
(Spoilers) Do not read this book if you hate crying. This book took me on an emotional roller coaster. Don’t get be wrong, the book was well written. You will fall in love with ALL the characters. You’ll just be crying through half of it, just saying. Hollis who was kidnapped by her father at the age of five. She discovers this by seeing a picture of her young self on the cover of a book. She then meets Raleigh who is a mother whose three year old was kidnapped. The story encompasses a lot of loss but a lot is gained in the process. Nicole Pyland can weave quite a story that draws you in like no other, I had a hard time putting it down, well I had to when it made me cry though, but I picked it right back up, so worth the read.
In The Kidnapped, Nicole Pyland expertly creates a love story amidst the loss and grief that Heidi/Hollis Richardson and Raleigh Leonard endure.
Heidi has been constantly moving from town to town with her father since she was five years old. A chance occurrence at work has Heidi thinking all is not what it seems.
Raleigh’s daughter was abducted when she was three years old. Despite time passing, Raleigh never gives up hope of finding her.
As the story unfolds and the relationship between Heidi and Raleigh grows, you are taken through a myriad of emotions, some quite intense. Just a heads up, you might need some tissues! A page turner of a book that will linger in my thoughts for a while to come.
Strength is an understatement and a half. Hollis and Raleigh are exactly what the other one needs to battle through some of the worst things life can throw at you. Definitely shed a tear or two whilst reading and I couldn’t care less about their romantic connection honestly (as beautiful as is it). These two just need each other, period.
This was the first time we got some real updates on Ada, Dylan,Noah, Kenna, Ripley and Aaliyah (how freaking CUTE!!) and we even got a mini update on Oliver’s successes. I Was so glad to see all these names come together in the book and I can easily lose myself in this series.
The detective work/ leads wanted to see for Noah I got to see in full force for little Eden. Dylan better be a captain for book 4.
Pyland’s book are meant for women loving women. Not trying to trigger any biphobia hate, but I know when I read her works, they are meant for me and how I feel (it’s not fluid). One of the MCs is bisexual, but that wasn’t the basis of the book, which was refreshing (I had to say it, IYKYK)). This series has intrigue, grit, and passion (Oxford comma). Pyland is so good at what she does, she can make someone who doesn’t cry, cry. I wish I could boost her series (all of them), not just for her, but for people like me who don’t make to take nine hours out of their time to read a book and three of those hours being about men (my take here).
“Scars are part of us, like anything else. They’re not the whole thing, you know?”
“... you shouldn’t stop yourself from going after something you want – or, in this case, someone you want – because you’re worried you’re not enough. The key is finding the person who sees you as enough for them.” • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ •
This story is a nice follow up book for this series. It offers a similar concept as the first one but with other circumstances & situations, tying it into the series by linking in previous characters & introducing potential future ones.
I'm genuinely happy that others have enjoyed this and rated it so highly.
Despite the glowing reviews that had me excited to read this, I was so disappointed. While the story had potential, the writing style felt like a poorly done fanfiction, which ruined the book for me.
The narrative was bogged down by overly long paragraphs, short chapters, and dialogue that was often too on-the-nose. It became a chore to read, and despite my efforts to push through in the hope that it might improve, it unfortunately did not.
This was a really good book, it was intense, I choked up a few times and then I cried and then there was moments of joy. I can’t wait for the 4th book because this a really good author, and I hope it has these same characters somewhere in it because I want to know more of their story and if not I hope there is a finale book with short story’s of the characters lives from all four books. So to the author if you are reading this review please make a final story for them all
I've been waiting to read this book! I was really excited to know that Nicole was continuing with this series. The first 2 books were great so I knew not to expect anything less. The MC's are well written and who doesn't love a good story with a HEA. True crime is one of my favorite genres too. It was a page turner for me. I couldn't put it down. The Kidnapped has it all. Give this book a read and you won't be disappointed.
Im totally a fan of the Fire Universe Series and The Kidnapped is my favorite one of the 3. The story of Hollis and Raleigh will give you all the feels. They both are going through some big life events that is heartbreaking. The character development is written so well. It’s not forced it just comes together so nicely. I really enjoyed reading it. It made me cry but also so heartwarming. It was also a nice bonus to see some of the characters from the other books in this story as well.
This book definitely gives you the feels! A fantastic addition to the Fire Universe. Hollis has a lot to unpack after learning that she was stolen from her mother who is still alive. While getting to know her mother Hollis meets Raleigh who is trying to cope with her own daughter being kidnapped. I was immediately hooked and could not put down. I recommend reading the others first since there are some reoccurring characters. Can't wait for book 4.
I always said the Fire Universe is Pyland’s best work and The Kidnapped reinforces that. The writing is spot on, the story is gripping, tragic and romantic all in one. One more standout for me was that I was sure I figured out who did it, only to be wrong. I won’t give any spoilers but this is a must read book. Cried my eyes out so be aware.
Such an incredible story of loss and bringing people together again. Two women who had suffered so much meet at a therapy group and start to find comfort in each other. The story makes you laugh, cry, and just have a full array of emotions. Beautifully written, and loved seeing some old favorites from the prior two books.