Loving Baby

The Protectors of Riker County #4

by Tyler Anne Snell

This sexy tycoon has everything . . . so why is he searching for a baby?

To Chief Deputy Suzy Simmons, James Callahan is the sexy-as-hell millionaire from her past. But despite his megacharm and killer body, Suzy deeply distrusts him when he draws her into his investigation of a criminal’s murder. The dark-haired Air Force veteran is trying to untangle a mystery involving a baby in this small Alabama town he moved into a few years back.

The courageous beauty is determined to get answers, not come-ons. As they race against time, James and Suzy face unseen danger with their case—and hearts—heating up . . .

Genres: Romantic Suspense

237 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 11, 2018

About the author

Tyler Anne Snell spends her days plotting murders, creating mysteries, and weaving sexual tension, romance, and can't-live-without-you love throughout each. When she isn't writing romantic suspense she's reading urban fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and falling even more in love with Netflix.

Tyler lives in South Alabama with her same-named husband, their mini lions, and a burning desire to meet Kurt Russell.

Visit her: www.tylerannesnell.com

Reviews

[Paula Brandon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Deputy Chief Suzy Simmons is shot shortly after finding the dead body of Gardner Tood, aka the Alabama Boogeyman, who was a known gun for hire/assassin (it's never made quite clear). She is rescued by millionaire James Callahan, who just happens to be Gardner's estranged brother. Suzy doesn't trust James because she's suspicious of how he came into all his money (or something, it's never made quite clear). They are thrown together when a young criminal associate of a crime figure James sought information from arrives at a party with an address found by the crime figure. At the house, they are attacked by gunman. And so begins their quest to find out what Gardner knew/had that people are willing to kill for.

Eh, this one just didn't hit the right notes for a romantic thriller. Suzy and James are likable characters, as are all the secondary characters, and the villains are vicious. But the plot they're running around in lacks cohesion and is full of holes! I know these books are quickie category reads, and perhaps I'm overthinking when I read them, but I simply get too distracted when easily answered questions go unanswered, of if events and actions don't resemble normal-people-on-Earth actions! And that was in abundance here! The book jumps all over the place, admittedly with some good actions scenes, but it all feels quite disjointed. That was evident by a big info-dump and recap that comes at page 122 to explain everything that has gone down. Normally a recap will bug me, but here I appreciated it, because I admit I had gotten a bit lost!

Unfortunately, just when the book had clarified everything and I was fully briefed, everything simply went downhill.

Gardner was killed because he took off with the baby he had with Katrina. Katrina wants her baby back. She paid someone to kill Gardner. Huh? What? Doesn't that make it a bit difficult to find out where your baby is when you kill the person who took him??? The whole book is based on a character action that makes zero sense!

Gardner was apparently a well-known criminal, and James knows other criminal figures, but this Katrina woman, with a never-ending supply of henchman, has never been seen or heard about before? Possible, I guess, but in a book already stretching credibility, I wasn't buying it!

When then start getting told stuff instead of shown. I can often let this slide, but not when it's relating to major events! For example, henchman track down Suzy and Hank at her house. They apparently went in, guns blazing, but Suzy and Hank took them down. The reader is never on scene for it! We just cut to later at the police station, and it's all like, "Suzy and Hank were superheroes fighting off all those bad guys!" Really? We couldn't have been shown instead of told about it later? Similarly, in the climax, Suzy and Queso are captured by Katrina and her goons when they storm James' house, guns blazing, and APPARENTLY Suzy and Queso put up a big fight. Once again, never described. We simply cut to Suzy and Queso in Katrina's clutches.

This is simply flat-out lazy and I felt cheated!

The big thing is, how did Katrina and Grayton get out of custody for this final showdown? Suzy wonders this herself, but we're never given an answer. This is usually a sign that the writer has no idea themselves either. You'd think, after escaping custody and nabbing her baby like she had intended all along, Katrina would simply get the hell out of dodge and try her embezzling stunt long-distance, rather than dragging everybody out to a warehouse!

To add insult to injury, just when Katrina is about to kill everybody, in steps Sully to save the day. He's a minor character from the beginning of the book who has been presumed seriously injured or dead for most of the proceedings. How bloody convenient! I really hate it when we get cop-out save-the-day moments like that. It's like in the first Jurassic Park when Alan, Ellie and the kids really should have been gobbled up by those raptors but then T-Rex conveniently steps in to save the day, despite there being no foreshadowing of his arrival by thundering footsteps or quivering water, which had been signposts throughout the whole rest of the bloody movie. But anyway, I'm getting sidetracked.

Even the romance didn't really click. Suzy's initial distrust of James felt too manufactured (he saved her life for heaven's sake), and their approach to their mutual attraction just kind of felt like, "Meh, might as well have a crack at it." Maybe they were as distracted by the Swiss cheese plot as I was! I know I'm nitpicking at a category romance, but I've read a lot of them, and I've read some darn good ones! You can write a quickie romantic thriller that has likable characters, good romance and an interesting plot. I don't think it's too much to expect a plot to make sense! Or at least one that doesn't leave me scratching my head at all the things that didn't make sense.

Tyler Anne Snell is one of the better Intrigue writers, too, which is another reason this one disappoints. (And it's likely the requirement to pump out six books in quick succession took its toll, too!)

[Books and Spoons · Rating 5 out of 5]

An action-packed story filled with plot twists and turns that kept me on the edge through the tale. The author is not afraid to put the main characters into the line of fire, and there are no guarantees of the survival.
The Protectors of Riker County series has been an entertaining roll-a-coaster ride of a battle for justice, southern charm, deep emotions, and fierce passion. And I have to say, Loving Baby was the perfect crescendo to the mini-series. In my opinion, it was the best of the bundle, from the characters to the writing and the flow of the story. It was enjoyable to read and with clever tricks, the author made it easy to follow even though there was an abundance of characters and plenty of twirls in the venture.
Chief Deputy Suzy Simmons is a beautiful, smart, capable, and tough heroine. Even at the end of the recovery from the previous work-related wounds, she is at the top of her game. She is not afraid to face the dangers, to protect the innocents, and take charge when needed. I admired her and her spunk. She was not afraid to show her vulnerability as a mother, daughter, and a lover while able to vigorously investigate, protect, and fight for the truth and justice.
James Callahan is a hero with many layers and faces. He is the loving brother, fierce protector, potent fighter, a former military, now a millionaire, who has a heart of gold and kind mind, he is true to his word, and definitely not a person to be underestimated or walked over.
The attraction between Suzy and James was believable and the fact that it had been simmering for some time, made it more natural and true. There was no insta love, but a mature, developing, growing relationship between two equals, in a midst of chaos, turmoil, and life.
Even with the steady twists and wealth of characters, the author managed to keep all the lines straight and untangled. Just when I started to feel overwhelmed with the flooding information, there was a subtle and clever recap to pull it all together in the reader's mind.
I enjoyed the story immensely and recommend the series to all intrigue and romantic suspense fans who enjoy ferocious dangerous action, smart, edgy, and charming characters, and ardent romance
~ Five Spoons

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Good mix of romance and action.

[Elizabeth Mckernan · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was pretty good i enjoyed it

[Janie Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great action -- fantastic mid-length read!

[Frankie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Suzy (heroine) is a single mother of a 10 year old boy whom she had when she was 20 or so and is raising him with the help of her mother. She is also a deputy who upon investigating the death of a major criminal in a warehouse, is shot and saved by Hero (James).

Hero in turn is a former marine, billionaire, party guy and all around nice guy who raised his younger sister on his own after the death of his father. He also has an older brother who left the family years ago to become a hit man. Said brother was the one that h found dead in the warehouse that H now owns. No one knows that the dead man & H are related.While H & h join forces to investigate the death of his brother, they come across clues that he had a baby son who the H now wants to find & raise on his own since he is family and the only thing he has left of his brother.

As they search for clues, H constantly saves h and is in the most part the one that solves the "mystery" and that ticked me off because the h is suppose to be a deputy but was just plain clueless and helpless. (I hate stupid h's!).

As for mystery & suspense, it is very clear upfront who the bad guys are, what they want, etc. so that was disappointing too. However the worst part for me with this read was the main couple itself. The love story was slow, if you could even call it a love story. It was very lukewarm (at best) and at around 70% I was still bored and not feeling the characters or their potential love story. I ended up skimming and from what I could tell I missed nothing major by doing so. I never felt any attraction, connection or chemistry between them. Usually there is a slow burn or something but with this? NADA! There is one or two references by H that he found her attractive but it was mostly mentioned as an afterthought. I never felt that he thought her as anything special, much less as "the One". As for h, she kept wanting to jump his bones and insert herself in his life & home. It was h who always made the first move - be it their 2 kisses & 1 sex scene which was literally after 75% in the book!

I think early on the h was described as a Latina and there was a reference to her son of having "dark cheeks" so I assume he was black? That wasn't clear because Ms Snell didn't take the time to develop her characters.

As for the ending, another disappointment there too. H was too busy with his baby nephew & mourning his brother so it was h once again who broached the subject of having a relationship and it felt that she kept forcing herself on him and he was just too tired or didn't really care either way to say no. That's the feeling I was left finishing this book. So all in all, this was a forgettable & disappointing read for me!

Note: received free copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

[Lynn Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

One shocking discovery after another! Adversaries find themselves joining forces as they embark on the mystery that is turning up bodies left and right. The intrigue from the beginning catches our attention and though the plot is entrenched with a few undeveloped holes in the story, it is strong enough to keep us reading to find out the answers they've been looking for.

Chief Deputy Suzanne Simmons doesn't realize what she's walking into while out investigating one day. Her shocking findings lead to more questions than answers and bring danger to her side. While she appreciates the rescue she receives, she doesn't trust the man it comes from even a little bit.

Businessman James Callahan knows Suzy doesn't care for him, but when she happens to be in the right place at the right time to give him some input into the mystery surrounding him, he hopes she'll realize he's not the bad guy here. When their sleuthing turns up the fact that there's an innocent baby out there somewhere, they join forces to get to the bottom of what's going on and who's behind it ... but danger seems to always be just around the next corner, and they are going to have to stay on their toes to make it through this investigation!

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this book was pretty slow for a large amount of time, this book definitely improved towards the ending. By the time the reader is halfway though there are plenty of things going on with many twists and turns to keep things interesting. Thing is with as much twist and turns many of it seems a bit predictable. When it came to the relationship it seemed kinda forced there didn't seem much of a connection or anything. Overall it was just an okay book but I just wished there was more to it.

[Diane Waddington · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it love the Rikers County books going on to a new one NOW.

[charmaine White · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Please

Tyler Anne Snell really knows how to deliver the very best.Mystery,suspense,thrills and spills plus a whole lot of action.Throw in a good romance and you've got me.

[Emily Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really quick read, read it in just a couple hours. not a book I would normally pick up but I got it from a family members and love it and plan to read more of the author's books.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: The Protectors of Riker County

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: The Protectors of Riker County