An Innocent Hostage: A Fake Marriage Suspense Romance

by Deborah Fletcher Mello

His daughter is being held hostage by a cult…

Can his ex, and a cult survivor, help?

FBI Agent Marcel Broussard knows recruiting PI Alexis Martin into his undercover cult rescue plan is risky. Their past is complicated, and she herself was the victim of the same cult in her youth—a group that’s currently trafficking babies. But saving his infant daughter depends on convincing the leader they’re married and fully indoctrinated. Soon, neither can deny their lingering feelings…even as their lives hang in the balance. Can Marcel trust the woman whose heart he broke to put aside the past and help him take down the evil in their midst?

From Harlequin Romantic Danger. Passion. Drama.

Feel the excitement in these uplifting romances, part of The Sorority Detectives

Book 1: Playing with Danger
Book 2: An Innocent Hostage

Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2025

About the author

For Deborah Fletcher Mello, writing is as necessary as breathing and she firmly believes that if she could not write she would cease to exist. Her first novel, TAKE ME TO HEART, earned her a 2004 Romance Slam Jam nomination for Best New Author. In 2005 she received Book of the Year and Favorite Heroine nominations for her novel THE RIGHT SIDE OF LOVE. In 2008, Deborah won the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award for Best Series Romance for her ninth novel, TAME A WILD STALLION.

A true renaissance woman, Deborah's many career paths have included working as a retail buyer and size model for a national women's clothing chain, a finance manager for a well-known beverage organization, a sales manager for an infamous candy company, a telecommunications administrator and corporate trainer for a hotel-owning company, an art gallery director for a world-renowned artist, and an administrative consultant for multiple organizations throughout the United States. Deborah is also a licensed real estate broker and general building contractor.

Born and raised in Connecticut, Deborah maintains base camp in North Carolina but considers home to be wherever the moment moves her.

Reviews

['The Book Queen' · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The suspense and a little bit of drama was just enough.

[Joyce M. H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many books by Deborah Fletcher Mello and have enjoyed them all tremendously. As usual she does an awesome job with her characters, romance, suspense and plot. An Innocent Hostage was an awesome and the just the right amount of everything. Agent Marcel and PI Alexis share a past. The two come together to infiltrate a baby trafficking cult that Alexis is very familiar with. The two pose as a married couple to rescue Marcel infant daughter. Their feelings from the past come into light making both Marcel and Alexis face their past while rescuing his infant daughter.

If you’re into romantic suspense “An Innocent Hostage” makes for a great read. Pick up your copy today and I surely hope you’ll enjoy it just as much as I did.

I am so loving that many authors are delving into the romantic suspense genre, and they are one of my favorite books of choice to read.

I received a copy of “An Innocent Hostage” via the author Deborah Fletcher Mello and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Vonetta Augustine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this story. It has the right amount of romantic, mystery and adventure. I love the Martin family especially Claudia and Josiah, the matriarch and patriarch of this interesting family. I love that Alexis and Marcel has a second chance at love. Not mention a beautiful baby girl named Sabine aka Bean. The interactions between her and Alexis was so special. Babies can tell kindred spirits and Alexis was her spirit mama.

This book also touched on blind faith and charismatic leaders and how it's easy for bad people to hide behind religion to get away with misdeeds. Belinda is a serial killer, the Prophet is a killer & possible pedophile, and Robert (the guy who attacked Alexis) is domestic abuser. In the end they paid for this "sins".

I'm looking forward to remaining stories (Celeste and Sophia).

[Kay Edmondson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow… I Didn’t See That Coming!

An Innocent Hostage is part of The Sorority Detectives series but can be read as a standalone. I am a fan of the author’s past works and I find myself in awe of this storyline. I myself look at it as a second chance romance suspense novel. The storyline is believable and the chemistry between Alexis and Marcel is hot! Some of the secondary characters have me wondering whether they would get their own novel. I’m hopeful. :-)
An Innocent Hostage is a page turner that will keep you spellbound. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment of “The Sorority Detectives series!

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Hmm, can't say this was too much fun. A lot of religion talk and not just because of the cult for a book outside the inspired line. The fun of a fake marriage was sort of not used at all, even he was gone a chunk of it when they were undercover. And his yelling at her? Absolutely not, throw the whole man out it's not her fault the cult woman took your daughter. A few small inconsistencies and out of place items as well.

[Harlequin Books]

Contemporary Romance, Multicultural & Interracial Romance, Romantic Suspense
Miniseries
The Sorority Detectives (Book #2)

[Sheri Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspense filled enjoyable read

[Jeanne]

Great story line

[Dorel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry I stopped reading this story 📖 at chapter 2 because I couldn't get into this story.

[Brenda Duel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe more like a 3.5. Good story and likable main characters. Did seem to all come together a little too easy and a little too neatly.