Peril on the Ranch

by Lynette Eason

They’ll shield her newest charge…
no matter what the cost.

When an infant is abandoned on her ranch, foster mother Isabelle Trent will do anything for the child—even put her own life on the line. She might not know who left the little girl, but it’s clear someone’s after her and will kill to reach their target. With Isabelle’s ranch hand, Brian “Mac” McGee, at her side, can she survive long enough to protect the baby?

From Love Inspired Courage. Danger. Faith.

Genres: Love Inspired, Romance, Christian Fiction, Suspense, Harlequin, Christian, Romantic Suspense

Audible Audio

First published June 1, 2021

About the author

Lynette Eason grew up in Greenville, SC. She graduated from the University of South Carolina, Columbia, and then obtained her masters in education from Converse College. Author of twenty inspirational romantic suspense books, she is also a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA). In 1996, Lynette married "the boy next door" and now she and her husband and their two children make their home in Simpsonville, South Carolina."

Series:
. Amazon Adventure
. High Stakes
. Women of Justice

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Romantic Suspense. This book is all about a foster mother, Isabelle trying to keep a baby that was put on her doorstep. This book is light on the romance and suspense, but there is action and a small mystery. This was a fun and quick read. There was a twist at the end that was really good, but it was not like a thriller twist. I loved all the characters in this book, and I love all the kids in this book.

I re-read this book by listening to the audiobook, and I really enjoyed the narrator. I bought the Kindle book for this book, but I got an arc audiobook for this book. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never read a Lynette Eason book I haven't loved and Peril on the Ranch is no exception. Somehow, in the midst of all the danger and treachery, the author manages to include a real sense of family and relationship building. And so much hope.

Mac has just arrived at Isabelle's ranch, having lived a nomad's existence as he grapples with grief and loss. Despite his best efforts to remain aloof, Isabelle and her foster kids get under his skin and when the ranch and the lives of those he's come to care about are threatened, well, look out villain, you don't stand a chance!

Eason has achieved a great balance between the developing romance and the suspense. Edgy enough to keep a reader on high alert, but with enough breathing spaces to allow love to blossom. And the kids! Melted my heart and kept me in stitches in the midst of it all.

Another pager-turning wonder from a much loved suspense author.

[DevotedToHope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peril on the Ranch begins with a baby left where she should be safest.

That is what makes this story feel so personal. Isabelle Trent’s ranch is not just land, work, and open space. It is a place of refuge. As a foster mother, Isabelle is already living a life that says vulnerable children matter. Then an infant is abandoned on her ranch, and the place meant to shelter the helpless becomes the place danger is trying to invade.

I loved that emotional center. A baby in danger changes the whole feeling of a suspense story. Every threat feels closer. Every decision feels more urgent. Isabelle does not know who left the little girl or why someone is willing to kill to reach her. She only knows this child has been placed in her care, and she is going to protect her.

That is the part of Isabelle I loved most. Her courage is fierce, but it is not loud. It shows up in the way she refuses to step away from the child who needs her. She is protective, compassionate, and brave in a way that feels deeply meaningful.

Mac is such a strong match for this story. I loved the steadiness he brings beside Isabelle. He does not erase her strength. He stands with her while the danger keeps pressing closer. Their connection grows in the middle of fear, which made the romance feel tender without softening the suspense.

This audiobook has that heart-beating-out-of-your-chest tension I enjoy. Lynette Eason keeps the danger close to home, and that made it even more gripping for me. The ranch should feel safe. The baby should be protected. Isabelle should not have to fight for both at once. Yet that is exactly what makes the story so compelling.

Sara Sheckells’ narration is wonderful. Her voice carries the suspense clearly, but she also gives warmth to the tender places in the story. That balance matters so much with this audiobook. The danger needs urgency, but the baby’s vulnerability and Isabelle’s protective love need gentleness. Sara Sheckells gives the story both, and I stayed completely invested while listening.

I also enjoyed the Christian faith content. Prayer, trust in God, and lived-out faith are what makes this story so meaningful to me. The faith thread belongs inside the fear, inside the choices, and inside the courage it takes to protect what God has placed in your hands.

This Christian romantic suspense has a tender center and a dangerous edge. A baby left in need of protection. A woman determined to shelter her. A ranch that becomes the battleground.

I received a digital ARC of this audiobook book from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and was not compensated in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and reflect my honest evaluation of the writing, content, and narration.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, a light suspense that was a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. The kids were cute and trying to figure out what was going on with Lilly kept me guessing. However, it’s not as great as Eason’s work normally is—there were some fairly large oversights, such as a hero whose personal appearance is literally never described.

[Melmo2610 · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable story. Isabelle and Mac are likable characters and the kids absolutely steal the story! The villain in this story is one of the coldest ones I have come across and trust me when I say that is saying something! A sweet romance.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a “Love Inspired Suspense”, featuring ex-police officer Brian “Mac” McGee who is travelling to be interviewed for a job on the ranch of widower and foster mother, Isabelle Trent. He hasn’t even had the chance to introduce himself when she warns him of a threatening intruder…..

Isabelle is doing her best to help raise some traumatised foster children when an unexpected extra baby is left on her porch. Someone is determined to snatch the baby and it will take her, the others on the ranch – including Mac – together with the local community, to help keep everyone safe . . . . and maybe help some hearts to heal as love finds a way.

If you enjoy heartwarming romances with superb child characters as well as suspense and danger, you’ll enjoy this story. It is a story where each main character has been grieving for their deceased spouse. After meeting each other, they are endeavouring to resist their mutual attraction, but the unfolding drama necessitates them working together but nothing is quite as straightforward as it seems – so be ready for some unexpected twists!

Thank you to Harlequin Book and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isabelle Trent is a loving and caring foster mother. When an infant is abandoned at her door, Isabelle doesn't hesitate to do whatever she can for the baby girl, even though before long Isabelle continually finds herself in danger. Who is apparently trying to abduct the child, and with little care for anyone around them?

Isabelle is not alone in her sudden battle. She has a new ranch hand, Brian "Mac" McGee, who proves time and again his protective nature and unyielding loyaty. It does not take Isabelle and Mac to realize that they are very much the same and that their new common goal can go much further for the both of them. Isabelle's unselfish nature and Mac's kind, if not altruistic nature, prove a perfect match.

I love how Isabelle and Mac met. Isabelle's ranch was in need of repair and she had put an ad for a handyman. Mac pretty much got the job right away when he comes to her in response to an ad and immediately runs off an intruder. While Mac does intend on helping Isabelle with the ranch, quite a bit of his attention is focused on keeping her and the children safe as danger seems to be looming at every turn.

I loved this story by Lynette Eason! The danger, twists and romance were a great mix in this story, and the inclusion of faith was the cherry on top.

Many thanks to Love Inspired Suspense and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Aleisha Hicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just, don't know how to review this book. Is it a 2 star, is it a 3? Idk, I rounded up for good measure. This is one of those reads that is probably comforting to some because it's simple. I must admit I was in a reading fog (or funk), so no wonder why I had a hard time feeling anything toward this book.

The story was easy to follow along and sometimes I did have outbursts of "what" and "what just happened?"... I think the book did what it was supposed to do.

[Sen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The large amount of high ratings is baffling to me. This book is bad, hilariously so.

There's essentially no first act. We are thrown straight into the action without any real character introduction. This makes the stakes low as the reader has yet to form a connection with any of the characters. A ton of named characters are introduced in the first chapter, and it would have been nice to have a first act that would have slowly sprinkled them in as they became relevant. There are also too many characters, several of which serve absolutely no purpose with the plot.

The pace moves at a breakneck speed jumping from event to event to event with no time to properly build up the romance and other character dynamics.

The plot is highly unrealistic as well with police/medical professionals/social workers not taking an incredibly dangerous situation seriously enough.

There are also several typos. One was in what was meant to be a very tense scene, which cracked me up.

[Katherine Hayward Pérez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mac has a troubled past and arrives at Isabelle's ranch. Will he settle in well or will he go back to being a nomad? With his aloof attitude, I wasn't sure what was going to happen. I was hoping he'd soften with time. Not to give too much away but the characters are well created and Katie and baby Lily are adorable. Will the presence of kids and the ranch setting be the change of scene and chance to move on in life that Mac needs?

Will he fall for Isabelle? Will she give in to loving Mac first or will they stay "just friends?" All the anticipation of what was going to happen kept me interested in the plot which was helped by the good writing style.

Lynette Eason is a new author to me and I would very much like to review more of her books.

Thanks to Lynette Eason and Harlequin for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

4 stars.

[Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lynette Eason's Peril on the Ranch is a great way to spend a lazy afternoon. The only problem with that is I kept finding myself sitting up and heading toward the edge of my seat with every bit of danger and tension. Thankfully, Lynette Eason blends the danger with some sweet family moments and an emotional love story. Mac and Isabelle have both seen their share of loss, and they along with the kids tug at the heartstrings. In a nutshell, what we have here is an engaging story that's suspenseful, emotional, and inspirational - as I said, a great way to spend an afternoon. The characters are so easy to root for and their story is one of family, faith, and love.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great mix of romance and suspense balanced with children that melt your heart, especially Katie. I just wanted to scoop that sweet child in my arms and protect her. I loved that the plot has a few twists that keep you engrossed even though I did figure it out. Isabelle and Mac are great characters that you are rooting for as each are recovering from deep loss. Great entertaining read.
I won a complimentary copy from a blog. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Peril on the Ranch" is a Christian romantic suspense. Isabelle and her husband ran a ranch (on land given to them) where they raised foster kids in a healing environment. He died, but she's still dedicated to raising the kids on the ranch. Mac lost his wife and baby in a car accident. In his grief, he left his job as a police officer and worked various jobs to save enough money to buy his own ranch. He's her new ranch hand, and he admires the way she cares for the kids. The kids help heal his heart. His response? To see if Isabelle would give up her ranch and foster kids to join him in his dream. Umm. Fellow, you like her for certain reasons and then want her to give those things up? Mac was a nice guy who protected Isabelle and the kids, but that nonsense just annoyed me. Happily, Isabelle had some insight into his issues and helped him get several of his relationships back on good ground (including with God).

The suspense came from several attempts by the abandoned baby's father to kidnap his child rather than try to legally claim the baby. He couldn't believe that his behavior was criminal. Someone else also had evil intentions toward Isabelle, though I can only conclude he was insane. His scheme made no sense and would have never gotten started, let alone succeeded, in real life. While Isabelle and the kids carried the story well and Mac ended up a good match for her after an epiphany, I found the suspense-ending so unbelievable that I was left feeling unimpressed. There was no sex or bad language.

The narrator of the audiobook did a good job of saying the text in a way consistent with the text (with surprise if surprised, etc.) and spoke in a way that kept my interest. It was easy to follow what was going on. However, the 'voice' for some of the less frequently speaking characters sometimes changed. For a little bit, most of the male characters had higher-pitched voices than the women and they acquired a nasal accent. That was a little confusing.

I received a free ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Reading Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The love of a foster parent doesn't go unnoticed. Isabelle was randomly left an infant baby on her front porch steps, which then led her into danger. However, Mac a ranch hand use to be in the former law enforcement and helps Isabelle navigate the dangers that she faces.

Lynette does it again. She brings the suspense and the I wonder who it was that did it. You think they knew who did it and in the end it's not the right guy. It's crazy how the one they caught admits to half of the crimes, but not the one that involves trying to kill Isabelle, and you would think they would listen to him, but nope. Therefore, Isabelle is in more danger.

I love how God is always in Lynette's books, and the other character helps the other one find Him. The transformation of relying on God in time of need is always an opportunity for me to see myself that God can be there for my hard times, yes even if the book is fictional. The character development for all characters are strong, Mac and Isabelle change in some ways throughout the book, so you don't have a character that stays the same and is boring.

I would highly recommend this book. I would always recommend any book by Lynette Eason.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Audio Publishing company and Lynette Eason for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

[Anna Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lynette Eason has written some very good books.
This is *NOWHERE* near one of them.

It begins with a baby left on the porch, and someone lingering in the bushes. Instead of thinking Miram-and-baby-Moses, Isabelle immediately (without even SEEING who it is) decides it's a scary stalker out to kill her and the baby, and calls the police.

And while it turns out Eason MAKES him a scary stalker (who is now around the house, trying to climb in the kitchen window), she also makes him a moron for NOT grabbing the baby from the unsuspecting woman to begin with - or before she hits the porch. ADDITIONALLY, Eason has him SHOW UP ON A MOTORCYCLE.

HOW IN HADES IS A GUY GONNA GET A BABY CARSEAT/CARRIER ON A MOTORCYCLE?!>!>!>!>!

Meanwhile, a guy showing up for an interview (for ranch foreman) chases around the house GRABS THE BADDY'S HOODIE TIGHTLY IN BOTH HANDS... and then loses his grip. LOSES. HIS. GRIP. On a hoodie that he could be choking the guy with - he came at him from behind, hello...!!!!

The whole thing was so absolutely S.T.O.O.P.I.D that I threw it at a wall. And now I'm moving on with my life, knowing happily that I didn't waste another mili-second on such horribly crafted DRIVEL. Because that's the only word for this garbage.

D. N. and F.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed listening to Peril on the Ranch. The peril occurs both on and off the ranch, but the use of the word peril is certainly apt.
Isabelle Trent is a foster mother who adds an infant to the three other children staying with her one pre-dawn morning.
Brian McGee known as Mac comes to the ranch applying for a job and arrives in time to cross paths with an intruder.
Katie is a five year old foster child staying with Isabelle. Katie enlivens everything with her presence.
The suspense of the story is well crafted and keeps the reader on their toes wondering what comes next. I didn’t suspect the culprit. There is more going on than first meets the eye.
The love that develops between Isabelle and Mac is believable and sweet.
Although, one must question if the true love affair might just be for a sweet and precocious five year old.
The narrator does a good job pulling the reader into the story and danger.
I was surprised to learn that the book was written in 2020. The audiobook has just been made in 2026.
I am glad I listened to the audiobook as it drew me more fully into the suspense than reading alone would have done. Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to read the book.

[Caitlyn Santi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story from one of my very favorite romantic suspense authors!
Isabelle is a fantastic heroine, I instantly liked her and was cheering her on through the whole book. Mac is an awesome, swoon-worthy hero! There’s just something about a protective hero who is great with kids, and is perfectly comfortable cradling a baby in his arms that never fails to melt my heart, and Mac is definitely one such hero!
I don’t know if Peril on the Ranch is going to be part of a series or not, but this story has a great cast of secondary characters (Creed, Regina, Cody Ray, Ms. Sybil, Ben, and a few others) whom I would love to see again in future stories!
I loved the small town setting of Timber Creek. I love how this author writes both small town and more urban settings with equal brilliance, making both types of setting come to life for the reader!
The suspense in this book was excellent, it kept me flipping pages as fast as possible because I had to know what would happen next!
I really enjoyed Peril on the Ranch, and highly recommend it!
I can’t wait to read Lynette Eason’s next book!

[Debb Hackett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peril on the Ranch is one of Lynette Eason’s shorter stories, writtne for Love Inspired Suspense.

The books starts with a jolt and then the threats keep coming. Isabelle Trent has dedicated her life to being a foster mom but even she was surprised when a baby was abandoned outside her farmhouse, right before a kidnapping attempt. Meanwhile Mac McGee wants to keep his head down and run Isabelle’s ranch after survinig a personal tragedy. Unfortunately, an ongoing threat to Isabelle and baby Lily mean his heart gets involved where he can’t afford it.

This story kept me hooked from chapter one. Lynette Eason has been at the top of her game for some time and stays there. The story kept me guessing, the action reeled me in and the children made me want to cuddle them all. I enjoyed how a small cast of characters all stood out and appreciated the way both the main character’s painful pasts were handled. If you like fast but emotionally intelligent stories then this is a no brainer.

I received an audiobook copy of Peril on the Ranch from the publisher via NetGalley, the views are all mine.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isabelle is a foster mom, and when a baby is left on her ranch she is determined to keep the litte life that she has been entrusted with safe. Brian "Mac" is an ex cop who has known a lot of loss in his life, when he comes to work on Isabelle's ranch, and he can't standby when a woman and children are at risk.

A fast paced read with a lot going on, engaging and hard to put down I liked Mac and Isabelle together, and they were a duo that was easy to cheer for the whole way through. Action-packed read, full of suspense with a couple who have an undeniable pull towards each other.

I admired Isabelle's strong faith, and her devotion to the children in her care. Great interaction and relationship building, I listened to the audio and it was excellently narrated, bringing great tension and pulling me in. Highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Kristina Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet romantic suspense on a ranch.

Okay, I love a good cowboy romance, but sometimes, I need something that I can listen to with children in the car! This book fits the bill! It is a clean romance with lots of heat and connection, just no spice. It is a Christian fiction in that the MCs reference their faith and lift prayers, but religion is not even a subplot of the story!

The female lead, Isabelle, is a young widow with three current foster children on her ranch when an infant is dropped off on her doorstep. But from the moment baby Lily arrives, Isabelle is hunted by a man on a motorcycle. Her new ranch hand, "Mac," shows up for an interview and winds up rescuing Isabelle from the first attempt on her life by the mysterious intruder.

The narrator does a very good job voicing the different characters, but I would have preferred dual narration. Lots of heart in this romantic suspense, but it was a bit predictable at times. Rated 3.5/5

[Allie]

Widowed foster mom, widower ex-cop turned ranch hand, lots of kids, and danger…

Isabelle hasn’t even hired Mac yet when he ends up saving her and her foster children from an unknown assailant. The ex-cop finds himself unable to resist staying to protect the widowed ranch owner or her houseful of foster kids.

The book has a good amount of action, moving the suspense plot along nicely. The romance side of the story felt a bit uneven to me though. They’d both lost spouses in the past, but Mac especially seemed to struggle with moving on.

This might be a personal preference, but the emotional aspects of the story weren’t as strong as I would have liked. Not just on the romance side, but even the fear fell flat to me at times.

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like when things don't match. Chapter 5. Goes to the barn to get tools for crib, turns around to talk to Isabelle cause he is concerned, she is not in the house went to a barn from kitchen door and talks to the little girl and she asks him about putting the crib together(I am assuming not the same barn because regardless what door I would have thought they seen each other and why didn't he just go out the kitchen door if it was closer to the barn???), finds her in a barn talks to her and then heads out to the fence(I am guessing to fix it). Far as I know the crib never gets put together. I never felt like the 2 made a connection.

[Clean Book Hoarders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peril on the Ranch

Isabelle is a single foster mom living on a ranch. She opens her door to find an infant with a note asking to love her. There is someone out to get the infant and Isabelle will do anything to protect the baby.

Mac is a former law enforcement officer and a new addition to the ranch with hurts from his past. Will Mac be able to heal enough to open his heart again?

I really enjoyed this audiobook and couldn’t put it down. I loved the faith elements and the suspense/twists. 5⭐️ read

Thank you Net Galley and Harlequin Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lynette Eason is a great writer so I knew going in I was in for a good read. (See what I did there - "good read.") Anyway - this story has everything I look for in a novel - good characters (Mac is troubled but a decent guy, and Isabelle has a giant heart and is a real sweetie.) The plot is fast moving and full of action and suspense. I figured out the villain early on but I continued to be interested in how the situation would be resolved. I love the way things progressed and couldn't put the book down until it was over. Highly recommend.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book with its gentle, heartwarming romance, and intense action and suspense. I was excited to be able to read this story and would read it again. It's a good book about the protection of the innocent and the healing of broken hearts. It's face paced and the story line is full of high stakes situations and near death chaos around every corner. It is like a Mystery 101 Hallmark Mystery movie except a book. It's a good book to read to get descriptive content and ideas. So fun! So thrilling!

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danger, Romance, Humor and Healing

Mac saves Isabelle before they are formally introduced. Isabelle has four abandoned children in her care that she willingly and unselfishly sacrifice to insure they are safe and loved. With threats to their safety, Mac becomes their savior and falls in love with Isabelle and the children. He is still grieving and tries to fight his growing love for them, but unsuccessfully. This book had danger, laughter, mystery and a lot of healing. This was a great read worthy of every minute spent on it and therapeutic.

[Trudy Cordle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Isabelle and Mac's story!! Mac applies for the position of ranch foreman for Isabelle's ranch, not intending to stay for long. Isabelle is so thankful God brought Mac into her life when he steps in and tries to catch an intruder. Mac is trying to come to terms with the grief he's carried for the last 18 months when he meets Isabelle and the children in her care. Katie breaks through his defenses first, and Isabelle isn't far behind. Will he realize he's found what he's been looking for before it's too late?

[Linda Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A WLL WRITTEN, CLEAM LOVE STORY WITH LOTS OF SUSPENSFUL TWISTS AND TURNS AS THEY TRY TO FIGURE WHO IS CAUSING ALL THE PROBLEMS ON THE RANCH OF A SWEET SINGLE WIDOW WITH FOSTER CHILDREN. ONE OF THE TROUBLEMAKERS IS THE FATHER OF A BABY WHO WAS LEFT ON THE DOOR -STEP A FEW DAYS EARLIER. WHEN HE IS ARRESTED THEY FIND THAT A MAN WHO WAS CONSIDERED A GOOD FRIEND, WANTED TO BUY HER LAND AND IN FACT HAD ALREADY SOLD IT WAS ALSO INVOLVED. THE LOVE STORY IS BETWEEN THE YOUNG WIDOW AND THE MAN SHE HAS JUST HIRED AS A HANDIMAN AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THIS IS A CLEAN STORY.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked both Isabelle and Mac as characters. Isabelle, especially, with her faith in God and understanding of others from her previous work as a therapist came across as a very kind, compassionate soul. Mac, though troubled, clearly was a protector at heart, one who just needed a bit of healing, and reminders of God's grace.
The suspense was good too, though not quite as strong as in Lynette Eason's other work. That said, I did have my suspicions confirmed about the twist, and it broke my heart.
3.5 stars

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love it when a bunch of good wholesome people get together and we have a happily ever after - it's not a spoiler, it's a Lynette Eason book, you know what to expect.

BUT it was definitely not the bad guy I expected! Good suspense with some gentle romance thrown in.

Isabelle and Mac make a solid team and an enviable romance, two healing hearts finding each other. Bringing broken families together, sigh.

Love narrator Sara Sheckells bringing our characters to life.

Thanks to NetGalley, Lynette Eason, and Harlequin Audio for the ALC!