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Vanishing Point
She’s in desperate need of protection…
And trusts only one man.
Vi Reynolds is on the run. Terrified that her abusive ex-husband will find her and discover she’s had his baby, she’s hiding out in her hometown. But when she’s reunited with Thomas Hart, her high school sweetheart, Vi’s conflicted. Because despite the powerful longing they still feel for each other, Thomas is a cop like her ex, and she’s learned she can’t trust the police. But when the threats her ex has been sending her escalate, Vi must decide whether to run…or trust Thomas to protect her.
From Harlequin Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.
Discover more action-packed stories in the Bent County Protectors series. All books are stand-alone with uplifting endings but were published in the following
Book 1: Vanishing Point
Book 2: Killer on the Homestead
And trusts only one man.
Vi Reynolds is on the run. Terrified that her abusive ex-husband will find her and discover she’s had his baby, she’s hiding out in her hometown. But when she’s reunited with Thomas Hart, her high school sweetheart, Vi’s conflicted. Because despite the powerful longing they still feel for each other, Thomas is a cop like her ex, and she’s learned she can’t trust the police. But when the threats her ex has been sending her escalate, Vi must decide whether to run…or trust Thomas to protect her.
From Harlequin Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.
Discover more action-packed stories in the Bent County Protectors series. All books are stand-alone with uplifting endings but were published in the following
Book 1: Vanishing Point
Book 2: Killer on the Homestead
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 29, 2025
About the author
Nicole Helm
314 books504 followersNicole Helm is the national bestselling author of fast-paced romantic suspense for Harlequin Intrigue and down-to-earth contemporary romance. Her Intrigues routinely land on the Publishers Weekly Bestseller list, and she’s received starred PW reviews for her contemporary romances. She’s written over 75 books, known for their emotional depth and happily ever afters.
Nicole also writes with Megan Crane/Caitlin Crews as Hazel Beck writing the Witchlore series, which began with SMALL TOWN, BIG MAGIC in 2022.
In her spare time, Nicole loves losing herself in genealogy research, watching Cardinals baseball, and hiking with her family. She lives in Missouri with her husband and two sons.
You can contact her via email: Nicole@nicolehelm.com
You can sign up for Nicole’s monthly newsletter at http://eepurl.com/V973n
Nicole also writes with Megan Crane/Caitlin Crews as Hazel Beck writing the Witchlore series, which began with SMALL TOWN, BIG MAGIC in 2022.
In her spare time, Nicole loves losing herself in genealogy research, watching Cardinals baseball, and hiking with her family. She lives in Missouri with her husband and two sons.
You can contact her via email: Nicole@nicolehelm.com
You can sign up for Nicole’s monthly newsletter at http://eepurl.com/V973n
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 14, 2025
This book surprised me. It was a pleasant, fun and easy read. I don't normally read books of this genre. However, the book was given to me free as a promotion. So I read it anyway.
One oddity: The cover of the book shows a man and woman riding horseback. However, no where in the book does this ever occur. I'm surprised at the choice of cover art.
One oddity: The cover of the book shows a man and woman riding horseback. However, no where in the book does this ever occur. I'm surprised at the choice of cover art.
November 10, 2025
Got this book from hello fresh, and it’s like the mobile game episode. I’m a fan of trashy romance i guess
November 11, 2025
I didn't know what to expect as it came in my Hello Fresh. It was a good cozy mystery.
May 12, 2026
Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance
Vanishing Point begins the Bent County Protectors series with Vi and Thomas’ captivatingly intense romance. I was easily pulled into Vi’s frightening situation from the first pages; she’s on the run from her abusive ex-husband, who happens to be a police officer… a cop who easily got around his abuse of his wife when his entire precinct backed him, instead of helping an abuse victim. It’s frighteningly easy to understand why she doesn’t trust Thomas, also a cop, even though they were once high school sweethearts. She has every right to be terrified of her ex, because no matter the distance, the divorce papers, or her hiding… he’s not going to stop searching for her, and he has the official police career to hide his actions behind.
Thomas will do everything in his power to protect Vi and her infant daughter, Magnolia (Mags)… but at some point, she’s going to have to trust him and his friends to believe her, to watch over her, and help her through this. That is a huge hurdle for Vi to overcome. Trust once was easy, but now even trusting Thomas, and she does to a certain extent, is asking a lot from a terrified woman who has been beaten down by the man who was supposed to love and protect her… her ex-husband. Watching Vi slowly, ever so slowly, allowing Thomas and his friends into her space was such an emotional experience.
The villain is disgustingly vile, and got exactly what they deserved, IMO. If you’ve read any of Ms. Helm’s other series, the Carsons & the Delaneys world, particularly, then you just might recognize some familiar faces. I had fun running into old “book friends” again. If you haven’t, that’s not a problem for continuing this series, but it will capture your imagination for other series by this talented storyteller. Vi and Thomas’ story is well-written, emotional, with edge-of-the-seat danger around almost every turn. I loved watching their love unfold through patience, understanding, and finally, trust. I’m definitely looking forward to the rest of the series.
I own a Kindle Edition of this title.
Vanishing Point begins the Bent County Protectors series with Vi and Thomas’ captivatingly intense romance. I was easily pulled into Vi’s frightening situation from the first pages; she’s on the run from her abusive ex-husband, who happens to be a police officer… a cop who easily got around his abuse of his wife when his entire precinct backed him, instead of helping an abuse victim. It’s frighteningly easy to understand why she doesn’t trust Thomas, also a cop, even though they were once high school sweethearts. She has every right to be terrified of her ex, because no matter the distance, the divorce papers, or her hiding… he’s not going to stop searching for her, and he has the official police career to hide his actions behind.
Thomas will do everything in his power to protect Vi and her infant daughter, Magnolia (Mags)… but at some point, she’s going to have to trust him and his friends to believe her, to watch over her, and help her through this. That is a huge hurdle for Vi to overcome. Trust once was easy, but now even trusting Thomas, and she does to a certain extent, is asking a lot from a terrified woman who has been beaten down by the man who was supposed to love and protect her… her ex-husband. Watching Vi slowly, ever so slowly, allowing Thomas and his friends into her space was such an emotional experience.
The villain is disgustingly vile, and got exactly what they deserved, IMO. If you’ve read any of Ms. Helm’s other series, the Carsons & the Delaneys world, particularly, then you just might recognize some familiar faces. I had fun running into old “book friends” again. If you haven’t, that’s not a problem for continuing this series, but it will capture your imagination for other series by this talented storyteller. Vi and Thomas’ story is well-written, emotional, with edge-of-the-seat danger around almost every turn. I loved watching their love unfold through patience, understanding, and finally, trust. I’m definitely looking forward to the rest of the series.
I own a Kindle Edition of this title.
August 17, 2025
Vanishing Point by Nicole Helm is the first book in a series (planned for four books). It is a romance suspense novel featuring Thomas Hart and Vi Reynold. The novels take place in Bent County. Harlequin has labeled them as action packed with intrigue and romance. That is a great description.
Vi Reynolds left her small town and her constantly warring parents to go to college. Only to struggle and eventually drop out and marry. It was only after they married that Vi realized that her husband was an abuser whose violence kept escalating. Vi escapes and with help moves to a place where no one should know her, except her cousins who are helping her. She needs their help with the baby.
Thomas Hart is the chief of police in Bent County. He recognizes Vi one night as they used to date in high school. It is through a slow progression of information and time that he realizes she is in trouble and wants to help and then realizes he is in love with her and her daughter.
That’s when the ex rears his ugly head and starts threatening her all over again. There is also a weird character who says she is a postal inspector - sketchy. The novel did have intrigue with the ex husband. The novel did have actions - with people running all over the county. The novel had romance with Vi and Thomas. Vanishing Point by Nicole Helm came out in late July. The novel is a quick, fast paced read with action and romance.
Vi Reynolds left her small town and her constantly warring parents to go to college. Only to struggle and eventually drop out and marry. It was only after they married that Vi realized that her husband was an abuser whose violence kept escalating. Vi escapes and with help moves to a place where no one should know her, except her cousins who are helping her. She needs their help with the baby.
Thomas Hart is the chief of police in Bent County. He recognizes Vi one night as they used to date in high school. It is through a slow progression of information and time that he realizes she is in trouble and wants to help and then realizes he is in love with her and her daughter.
That’s when the ex rears his ugly head and starts threatening her all over again. There is also a weird character who says she is a postal inspector - sketchy. The novel did have intrigue with the ex husband. The novel did have actions - with people running all over the county. The novel had romance with Vi and Thomas. Vanishing Point by Nicole Helm came out in late July. The novel is a quick, fast paced read with action and romance.
August 6, 2025
I thought that since this was the first book in a series, that I would be safe from previous characters. But I was wrong. I had no idea who all of the characters were. There should have been a list at the beginning of the book with the couples' names and their books. But no, the reader has to muddle through.
I thought the questions asked by Dianne Kay were rather intrusive. The questions did not sound like what a postal inspector would ask. It seems that the detectives should have realized this. Why wasn't she researched? Instead Vi and Thomas answered her questions.
There were several unanswered questions. How did Eric find Vi? What happened to Eric? Did he live or die? All the reader knows was that he was fighting for his life. The epilogue was 3 months later, Eric's fate should have been known at that time.
I am not interested in the rest of the series, as I know all of those unknown characters will appear.
I thought the questions asked by Dianne Kay were rather intrusive. The questions did not sound like what a postal inspector would ask. It seems that the detectives should have realized this. Why wasn't she researched? Instead Vi and Thomas answered her questions.
There were several unanswered questions. How did Eric find Vi? What happened to Eric? Did he live or die? All the reader knows was that he was fighting for his life. The epilogue was 3 months later, Eric's fate should have been known at that time.
I am not interested in the rest of the series, as I know all of those unknown characters will appear.
November 25, 2025
Really enjoyed this book. The characters are well developed and the action is well paced. While this is book 1 in a series,you may want to consider it a spin off of several previous series. Reading the other series is not necessary but it does help you keep some of the characters straight. It doesn’t come with a warning but it probably should regarding domestic abuse.
January 22, 2026
Vi Reynolds has returned to Ben County, she is on the run from her former husband. He was a cop and loved to beat on her. When she runs into Thomas Hart her high school boyfriend the sparks start; but he is a detective and she doesn't trust easy these days. When her ex keeps send emails, calls and text she finally lets someone into help her.
March 4, 2026
Not a romance book. This is a drama about escaping an abuser with a little romance thrown in as an afterthought. More police detective work than anything. And, not a single character gets on a horse or even mentions a horse in this book. Very misleading.
Read
July 2, 2025Romantic Suspense, Police Procedural Mystery & Detective, Western Romance
Miniseries
Bent County Protectors (Book #1)
Miniseries
Bent County Protectors (Book #1)
Read
July 2, 2025Romantic Suspense, Police Procedural Mystery & Detective, Western Romance
Miniseries
Bent County Protectors (Book #1)
Miniseries
Bent County Protectors (Book #1)
July 29, 2025
Great read but the theme was horrifying. Vi did a great job though of standing up for herself when it counted most.
September 3, 2025
The Lost Love
You always or most always have a first love.
Sometimes a first love turns out to be evil.
The story of Thomas and Vi was heartbreaking and happy.
You always or most always have a first love.
Sometimes a first love turns out to be evil.
The story of Thomas and Vi was heartbreaking and happy.
April 7, 2026
Received in our Hello Fresh box- easy read. Better than i thought.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews