Stolen Hope

Dragonfly Creek #1

by Zoe York

When a gorgeous city girl’s junkheap of a car breaks down near my family's ranch, I instantly want to protect her and her daughter.

I want her trust.

That’s hard for a woman on the run from a violent ex.

Hope may look like she’s never worn cowboy boots in her life, but she quickly becomes indispensable both to my family, and to me. She still insists she's leaving as soon as her car is fixed.

There's no way.

Deep down, I have to admit I don’t just want to offer the beautiful single mother safe refuge.

I also want her. Her body, her sweetness, her secrets.

And that’s not on the table.

Not this summer.

Not ever.

If I want to make the sweetest woman I’ve ever met feel safe, I might have to let her go, even though it tears me up inside to think of her never looking back to see just how much I need to claim her little family as mine, forever.

Genres: Westerns, Family

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2026

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Zoe York is a busy working mom of two young boys, wife to a very understanding soldier, and creator of modern, sexy, small town contemporary romances.

She lives in London, Ontario and is currently chugging Americanos, wiping sticky fingers, and dreaming of heroes in and out of uniform.

Reviews

[Samm Sciarratta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm working my way through the other Zoe York books (avid reader of Ainsley Booth) but I've been waiting for Zane since I met him in Garrett's book last Christmas & honestly, he did NOT disappoint! I loved how quickly they fell, the suspense, the fact he's a cowboy. I love his mama & his brothers and I cannot wait to see where the rest of the series takes me!

[Tima · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This story is dual POV, well written, and a slowburn, contemporary, small town/western romance between Zane, the male cowboy lead whose mother escaped domestic violence, and Hope, the female lead currently escaping domestic violence with her daughter. I enjoyed Zane’s compassion and determination to help Hope however she’d accept. I empathised with Hope’s fear and wariness. I enjoyed seeing her increasing confidence in Zane and his family’s sincerity. I enjoyed the appropriately slow building intimacy between Zane and Hope. I enjoyed the development of Zane’s relationship with Hope’s daughter, separate from her mother. I enjoyed the consequences provided to Hope’s abuser and wish real life was as tidy. I enjoyed the world-building and the introduction of Zane’s family and the town. I’m looking forward to future stories in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[AR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap this was SO much better than I was expecting. And no, I didn't expect it to be bad just not as completely real, high stakes and emotional as it was.

Hope is exactly what this story is full of. Our FMC is wonderful and incredibly well written. Her reactions, the emotional pain, encompasses a true survivor.

Zane (and his mustache) are everything someone like Hope needs. His patience and ability to truly understand are her and protect her are paramount. He and the Kincaid family are truly amazing. Every character is developed and so encompassing as a person. (Rip's story is gonna be rough. He'll, so is Cash's)

The tension between the two is deliciously palpable. It's freaking HOT and we'll paced within the story.

The setting is gorgeous, the plot, and writing, everything is just perfect. This is one I will be revisiting.

[Julia 248 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope & Love Found in Dragonfly Creek

Hope is a single mom running from an abusive ex, when she gets stranded in Dragonfly Creek and meets Zane Kincaid and his family. Hope and her young daughter take refuge at their ranch, where Zane lives & proves his cowboy values. It’s a slow burn with Hope dealing with her past trauma, while Zane can’t help feeling that she and her daughter not only belong in Dragonfly Creek but belong with him forever. I really enjoyed the dual POV.

This is the first book in the Dragonfly Creek series and is a standalone read. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.

Sexy 🔥
HEA ❤️
🐓 🐄 🥬

[Kelly Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

She just need to get her and her daughter away from the man that was quick with his fist and temper…she fell for his charm and that quickly turned to something dark. Isolated she planned her escape…just get far enough away and he wouldn’t be able to find them, what she didn’t plan for was her car breaking down on the side of the road…and she sure didn’t plan for a cowboy to stop and offer to help.
He wasn’t a hero but there was no way he could leave a woman and her child stranded on the side of the road,
That one day changed both of their lives…not just their lives but his entire family…a family that has seen their fair share of trauma.
Trauma✅
Angst✅
Drama✅
🐓🐓🐓
Smexy🔥
HEA❤️

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zane, oh wow. This story has me wishing I could find my own Canadian cowboy. The premise drew me in from the beginning, four sons taking care of their mom who worked so hard to take care of them as kids. The big ranch with greenhouses, and cows, and horses. Luna is a trip and steals many a scene. Yes, Hope is a decade younger than Zane but she is stronger than her years. I love the dual POVs, in this angsty tale we need it. The baddie doesn’t take up too much page space, thank goodness. The rest is just a fun, sexy, sweet, building forever, joy to read!

[Dar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is there anything better than a sweet-talking cowboy? I think not! Zane has been through a lot in life, and so has Hope. Parts of their trauma’s intersect, and that allows them to have an understanding of each other they might not otherwise feel. It takes time, it takes bravery, and it takes hope, but moment by moment, they get there. And once they get there, it is all the more special and beautiful because of the paths their lives took to get to those moments <3

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zane fell for Hope and her daughter right away, despite his best effort. Their love story was fantastic! He was so kind and tender and protective in all of the best ways. I'm super excited to have a new series from Zoe - she's an autobuy author for me. I'm looking forward to Cash, but REALLY want to get to know Ridge.

[DKW · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new start

Fleeing an abusive relationship with her daughter, a woman finds safety on a family ranch. Good characters and a nice start to the series. No cliffhanger and hea. Zoe York is a wonderful author.

[Emmalita · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve really enjoyed a lot of Zoe York’s books, but the timeline in this one has rubbed me the wrong way. A lot is made of how patient Zane is with Hope, but, um, one week in a very short period of time. Especially when you consider that Hope is fleeing a controlling and abusive relationship.

[Sharon]

Purchased in epub format from Barnes and Noble for my Nook.

[Rah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty fine. Looking forward to the next one.

[jlcreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75⭐️