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Cliffside Kidnapping: A Harlequin Intrigue Protector Suspense Romance

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Her parents are being held prisoner…

In a nefarious hacking plot.

Tech expert Sophie Whitaker and her brother arrive in Colorado to help the police and CBI Agent Ryder Hunt rescue their kidnapped parents. Sophie's parents are being held captive, forced to use their tech skills to infiltrate the police and CBI computers to destroy evidence. Ryder’s overprotectiveness irks Sophie, but she can’t deny the powerful attraction simmering between them. They grow close as a series of attempts on their lives amps up the stakes, but they can’t afford the distraction of falling in love. Can they?

From Harlequin Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.

Discover more action-packed stories in the Crooked Pass Security series. All books are stand-alone with uplifting endings but were published in the following

Book 1: Cliffside Kidnapping
Book 2: Defended by the Bodyguard

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published July 1, 2025

15 people are currently reading
25 people want to read

About the author

Caridad Piñeiro

184 books1,135 followers
Caridad Pineiro is a transplanted Long Island girl who has fallen in love with the Jersey Shore. When Caridad isn’t taking long strolls along the boardwalk, she’s also a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author with over a million romance novels sold worldwide. Caridad is passionate about writing and helping others explore and develop their skills as writers. She is a founding member of the Liberty States Fiction Writers and has presented workshops at the RT Book Club Convention, Romance Writers of America National Conference as well as various writing organizations throughout the country. You can connect with Caridad at www.caridad.com. You can also find Caridad on:

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5 stars
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15 (22%)
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22 (32%)
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7 (10%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
Profile Image for Madison Warner Fairbanks.
3,503 reviews498 followers
July 1, 2025
Cliffside Kidnapping by Caridad Pineiro
Crooked Pass Security series #1. Spin off from South Beach Security series. Romantic suspense. Can be read as a stand-alone but does include secondary characters from prior series.
White Hat hackers Sophie Whitaker and her brother travel to Colorado to try to track and find whoever kidnapped their parents. Also on the case is local CBI Agent Ryder Hunt. When Sophie gets an email from a hacker asking to meet her alone, Ryder has to protect and follow her. They have already experienced attempts on their lives. It’s not the time to be independent.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook narrated by Marisa Blake who does an excellent job with the performance, and the occasional Spanish passages. Emotions were clear and the suspense from the various scenes had me listening intently. I did listen to this at an increased speed to more closely match my reading along with a paperback copy.

Mercedes and Robert are a force unto themselves. They don’t sit around and wait for rescue.
Impressive.
Looking forward to the next book in this Colorado offshoot.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Harlequin Audio. I also purchased a paperback copy to keep.
Profile Image for Tina Loves To Read.
3,574 reviews1 follower
July 27, 2025
This is a Romantic Suspense, and this is the first book in the Crooked Pass Security series. I read this book by listening to the audiobook for this book, and I liked the narrator. I found this book to be ok, but I did not love it. The suspense or romance was ok, but I just wanted more. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
Profile Image for Ashley Yungbluth.
706 reviews7 followers
October 2, 2025
"Cliffside Kidnapping" by Caridad Pineiro was a great read. I enjoyed the suspense and thriller side of the book. I also loved how it had characters from the South Beach Security series mentioned in this book too. When Sophie and her twin, Robbie, parents go missing, they head to Colorado to help Ryder and his crew figure out who kidnapped them. I loved the scene where Sophie was telling Ryder about the sex of the hacker. I also liked the scene towards the end when they were at the casino. Caridad always does such a wonderful job when writing her stories, and I can't put them down and usually finish them in one or two days. This was a one day read for me because it had me hooked from page one.
Profile Image for Autumn Jordon.
Author 16 books153 followers
February 20, 2026
I enjoyed this true to HQ romance story. It was well written, fast paced, and filled with suspense and information on the cyber espionage world. The characters and their emotions were very realistic. I'm not a fan of HEA when characters only know each other for a short time, but that is the HQ format and I think this ending was fine for me.

Others mentioned it is a spin off from another series. That did not bother me. I finished it in two nights.

If you like category romances, you will love this one.
Profile Image for Hope.
397 reviews2 followers
June 17, 2025
Sophie Whitaker (of South Beach Security introduced in Lost in Little Havana) is a white hat hacker, like her NSA parents. But when her parents are kidnapped, she and her hacker brother may be the only ones who can save them with the help of CBI agent Ryder Hunt.

The book drops the listener right in the middle of the action and does not let up throughout. Sophie's mom is Cuban and some Spanish is sprinkled throughout. The hacking details sounded impressive and believable though a small complaint I have is the use of the word "smartphone"; at this point, they're just phones.

Readers who want more background on the characters should start with the South Beach Security series, but it's not vital to follow the story. There aren't a lot of twists as it's mostly a straightforward story with little frills in line with the Harlequin Intrigue line.

The narrator did a good job keeping me immersed in the story. Overall, I found it a quick, satisfactory listen.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the review copy.
3,591 reviews41 followers
June 8, 2025
This first story in the series takes the listeners to Colorado where Sophie Whitaker and her brother have arrived searching for their parents. It’s apparent that they have been kidnapped, and likely for their tech expertise. It seems the kidnappers want them to infiltrate the local police and CBI computers and destroy evidence.
The siblings are also tech experts and are assisting local law enforcement and the CBI (Colorado Bureau of Investigation). From the moment Sophie and CBI agent Ryder Hunt meet, their attraction is evident. But first, they must find the parents, the kidnappers and what are these criminals really trying to delete in the evidence files.
Will the parents survive the kidnapping? Will the kidnappers succeed in their goal or will the good guys catch them in time?
Though the plot was interesting, I never felt totally engaged in the plot nor the characters. For this listener, it was just ok.
That said, kudos to the narrator, Marisa Blake for bringing the story to life.
I was entrusted a copy of this audiobook by Netgalley and Harlequin Audio. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
Profile Image for Barbara Schultz.
4,247 reviews310 followers
July 6, 2025
Title: Cliffside Kidnapping
Series: Crooked Pass Security Book #1
Author: Caridad Pineiro
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Melissa Blake
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Audiobook Pub Date schedule for July 1, 2025
Rating 3 Stars
Pages: 224
Tech expert Sophie Whitaker and her brother Robbie arrive in Colorado to help the police and CBI Agent Ryder Hunt rescue their kidnapped parents.
Their parents are being held captive as their captors want access to their tech knowledge and infiltrate the police and CBI computers to destroy evidence. Agent Hunt tended to be overprotective. Yes! There is definitely chemistry between Sophie and Ryder Hunt, They grow close a but they cannot afford the distraction of falling in love.

This is book 1 in the series and Book #2 Defended by the Bodyguard will be out in July

Want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this audiobook.
Audiobook Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 1, 2025.
Profile Image for Mandy Webb.
289 reviews7 followers
July 2, 2025
This book was okay. Worth a read if you love a very fast-paced suspense thriller (I am a little hesitant to say thriller, more suspense)!
You know me, I love a quick book, but the timeline for this book was FAST!
Family dynamics are interwoven throughout the book. I can see the setup for another book.
Sophie and Robbie work with CBI Agent Ryder to try to find their kidnapped parents.
This is a dual POV.
The book has police procedural drama, romance, chaos, and some action.
I felt like the characters were somewhat developed, but I needed a bit more development. There wasn't much growth in the characters.
The plot was decently structured. There were places in the story that felt disorganized, but it would typically recover quickly. The pace was extremely fast.
I didn't love the ending, but again, I see where this is being set up as a series, so I understand the rationale for ending the way it did.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
Happy Reading!
Profile Image for Lisa Brooke Reads Books.
278 reviews17 followers
June 10, 2025
Cliffside Kidnapping had an intriguing premise, and there were definitely moments where I found myself caught up in the suspense. Caridad Piñeiro sets the scene well, and I appreciated the emotional undertones woven throughout the storyline. The pacing was solid for the most part, and the narrator did a good job conveying the urgency and tension.

That said, the plot felt a little formulaic at times, and I had trouble connecting deeply with the characters. I wanted more nuance, especially in the relationship dynamics, and found myself predicting a few of the key twists early on. The audiobook was enjoyable enough to finish, but I didn’t walk away feeling particularly moved or surprised.

Overall, it was a decent listen, nothing groundbreaking, but still a solid choice if you're in the mood for a light romantic suspense.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen early.
Profile Image for Magically Miranda.
309 reviews6 followers
June 12, 2025
You are dropped right into the action with this thriller book. I would have loved a bit more of a lead up/backstory with the characters. Since I was listening to this via audiobook I just felt like I had missed the beginning, but there just wasn't one.

I also believe this is in third POV, as that was how it was narrated and that is not my favorite to read or to listen too.

The storyline itself is good and keeps you engaged with what is happening when the FMC goes to Colorado to find her parents who have disappeared when they went out there to work on a case.

I received an advance review copy audio version. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio, for the opportunity to listen to this book. Marisa Blake did an amazing job narrating this audiobook
335 reviews21 followers
June 3, 2025
Okay romantic suspense novel. Some action but not a lot of twists and turns

Tech expert Sophie Whitaker and her brother arrive in Colorado to help the police and CBI Agent Ryder Hunt rescue their kidnapped parents. Sophie's parents are being held captive, forced to use their tech skills to infiltrate the police and CBI computers to destroy evidence. Ryder’s overprotectiveness irks Sophie, but she can’t deny the powerful attraction simmering between them. They grow close as a series of attempts on their lives amps up the stakes, but they can’t afford the distraction of falling in love. Can they?
4,270 reviews23 followers
November 10, 2025
This one surprised me in a good way! The mix of high-stakes hacking, family rescue, and slow-burn romance totally worked. Sophie’s a smart, strong lead, and I liked that she didn’t just sit around waiting to be saved. Ryder and his protective streak definitely kept things interesting, and they had great chemistry.
Lots of tension, a few twists, and a good narrator who really sold the danger and emotion. The pacing dragged a tiny bit in the middle, but overall I was hooked.
If you like your romantic suspense with tech thrills, action, and a bit of heat, this one’s a fun listen. 
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Harlequin Audio and am voluntarily leaving my review. 
Profile Image for Lacepaperlife .
824 reviews21 followers
June 2, 2025
Cliffside Kidnapping kicks off fast and doesn’t really slow down, which made it super easy to fly through. The romance gets going basically the second the two main characters meet, which isn’t usually my thing, but it somehow worked here. I liked the dual POVs and the constant forward motion, even if it all felt a little chaotic at times. The ending was a bit rushed, but I can see how it’s setting up the next book. Overall, not super deep but a solid, dramatic escape when you want action and heat.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars
Rated PG-13 for violence, mild language, and steamy tension.
Profile Image for Ashley winner.
206 reviews
June 23, 2025
This was just not for me, I was so bored and just didn’t care about the characters or the storyline sadly. It was a short read which I felt like it started out right in the action but then I just couldn’t really get into it. The narrator for the audio book was very good which is what let me get through what I could but I found myself not really paying attention or caring if I found out what happened. Really was not any suspense. There was a side story of romance but I didn’t find that to be too interesting either.
Profile Image for Donna.
4,148 reviews57 followers
July 7, 2025
Tech experts Sophie Whitaker and her brother are valuable employees of South Beach Security in Miami. They’ve been called to Colorado when their parents are kidnapped. Their mom and dad work for the NSA and have been kidnapped for their tech skills. Sophie needs to find her folks not be distracted by hot CBI Agent Ryder Hunt.
I loved learning more about Sophie and Robbie (the wonder twins) and watching her fall despite the intense conditions. Meeting their parents only showed where they got their skills and work ethic. I adored this exciting story filled with love and danger.
Profile Image for A. Raquel | 📚🎧.
67 reviews16 followers
June 11, 2025
Sophie and Robbie's parents were kidnapped in lieu of a case they were working on and so they are brought in to help in locating them. The detective on the case Ryder and Sophie have chemistry but want to focus on the case. The pacing of this story is pretty fast. The first night in town and their first meeting the two already start to explore what that feeling is, which might interest readers that are more inclined to the romance aspect of the story. It seems like there is a lot happening to progress the story forward, and it helps to have the multiple POVs to bring the story to a head. The ending did seem a bit rushed in my opinion, but I could also see the opening to where the second book of the series will be picking up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
350 reviews7 followers
June 16, 2025
Cliffside Kidnapping by Caridad Piñeiro, narrated by Marisa Blake. This is a Christian, mystery, Romantic suspense. Sophia and Robbie Whitaker meet and work with CBI Agent Ryder to find their parents who have been kidnapped while trying to help them with a case. I did find myself not listening at times but overall a good book. Releases July 1, 2025. Thank you to #NetGalley and #Marketing Audio for this Arc. This is my honest review.
Profile Image for Jayna.
1,287 reviews14 followers
June 28, 2025
I immediately felt lost upon starting this. Too many characters at once and you feel like you are missing a lot of backstory. Turns out this series is spun off of another.

It never recovered for me- I continually felt like there were too many characters and too much I didn't know. I never connected with the story.

Marisa Blake narrates the audiobook.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Catt.
55 reviews31 followers
July 10, 2025
A fast-paced mystery thriller that keeps you hooked from start to finish! This quick listen is packed with tension, humor, and clever twists. Tech expert Sophia and her brother team up with the police to track down their kidnapped parents—cue high-stakes drama and sibling banter. The audiobook narration is a standout, adding a fun, lively touch that makes it even more entertaining. Highly recommend doing the audiobook for the full experience!
1,776 reviews7 followers
June 18, 2025
A fast paced suspense that hits the ground running from the very first page. I enjoyed the family dynamic woven throughout the story. I'm excited to see what comes next in the series! I enjoyed the way the narrator brought the story to life.

I received an audio ARC through Netgalley and all opinions are my own.
491 reviews2 followers
March 2, 2026
Nice sequel to the Southside books. I’ve always enjoyed the characters of Sophie & Robbie so it was nice seeing Sophie getting her own HEA. Having Delilah in the book was cute but a bit of a distraction since she really didn’t have a role (and I’m a huge dog person). Enjoyable suspense. I’ll definitely read the next book.
Profile Image for Katasha Bailey .
47 reviews1 follower
June 17, 2025
First person narration

Narrator sounds like Miley Cyrus with over emphasis on the Spanish words

Quick read, decent story but the timeline feels incredibly rushed. The entire thing takes place over like 3 days and A LOT happens in those 3 days.

I recieved a copy of this audio from netgalley
Profile Image for Terry Hammoutene.
1,447 reviews12 followers
September 1, 2025
When the Whitaker's parents are kidnapped, their family goes to Colorado to help the local police find them. This story has a lot of suspense, and romance.

This was a good read. I read it quickly.
Profile Image for Amanda Podlesny.
Author 2 books5 followers
June 2, 2025
The book was okay. Easy to listen to and easy to follow but I was hoping for a plot twist or something exciting to happen but nothing really did.
3,384 reviews12 followers
July 5, 2025
Great read! I connected immediately to the characters and the only thing I'd change is to have Delilah play more of a role.
Profile Image for Mercedes.
99 reviews2 followers
June 25, 2025
I just couldn't get into this one. I didn't like the narrator and the story wasn't captivating enough for me to look past it.
Profile Image for TJ ❤️ books.
269 reviews
February 24, 2026
I thought this was a good book overall, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was missing pieces. I know it’s marketed as a standalone, yet it often felt like I was jumping into the story mid-stride. We’re told the family runs their own security firm, that they’re essentially white-hat hackers, and that there’s a whole lot of history there—but I never fully understood how the company came to be or how some of those dynamics developed.

Sophie is one of the main characters, but it didn’t feel like we really got to know her. We’re told she’s a hacker, but I kept wondering how that came about. Was it because she grew up around this family and their work? Is she just naturally gifted? Some context there would have gone a long way. She also has synesthesia, which is genuinely interesting and a cool detail—but it’s kind of dropped in, briefly explained as something that helps her, and then we just move on. It felt like a missed opportunity to deepen her character and make her perspective stand out more.

The action was solid and pretty much nonstop, but at times it felt like being dropped into the story two hours after it started and then left to piece things together on my own. Maybe more of this will be fleshed out in the next installment?

All in all, it was a decent and quick read, and I did enjoy the narration—it definitely helped keep things engaging.

I received this book as an ARC.
Profile Image for Christina Mages.
995 reviews7 followers
November 3, 2025
This was the first book I’ve read by this author. So many twists and turns. Sophie’s parents were kidnapped and her and their team of experts did everything they could to get her parents back. Such a great book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews

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