To Protect His Children

Sundown Valley #1

by Linda Goodnight

He’ll do anything to make sure they’re cared for…from New York Times bestselling author Linda Goodnight.

He finally found a nanny…

but can he convince her to stay?

After a tragedy, rancher Wade Trudeau’s offer of a summer housekeeping position at Sundown Ranch is the perfect cure for former teacher Kyra Mason. Only Wade left out an important part of her job—looking after his triplets! Now Kyra’s falling for the three adorable toddlers, along with their love-shy cowboy dad. But when summer ends, can Kyra return to real life…knowing she’s left her heart behind?

From Harlequin Love Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

Sundown Valley

Book 1: To Protect His Children

Genres: Love Inspired, Romance, Christian Fiction, Westerns, Childrens

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published April 27, 2021

About the author

NY Times and USA Bestseller, Linda Goodnight writes novels of faith and family that point to hope through Christ. Her emotional stories have won the RITA , the Carol, the Reviewer’s Choice, and numerous other industry awards. Her two great passions are faith in Jesus and her large extended family. (And pie. she loves pie.)
Readers may connect with Linda through her website at www.lindagoodnight.com or on Facebook.

Reviews

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

This is a Clean Romance, and this is the first book in the Sundown Valley series. The main characters, Wade and Kyra are trying to overcome big things that happen in their past. I love reading about these two characters love story, and the triples made the story so much better. I really enjoy this book, and it was well-written. This was a short story that has great fun characters. I love books that has cowboys and ranches in it, and this has both with a bonus of three cute babies. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Love Inspired) or author (Linda Goodnight) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, this was such a sweet and wonderful beginning to a new series! I loved these main characters! Wade and Kyra were very likable and the romantic attraction that began to build between them as the story progressed was just perfect.

They both had things from their pasts that they were working through that affected their ability to move on in life. I loved the way Kyra cared for and loved on the triplets and Wade was an amazing father.

This was such an enjoyable story from start to finish and I am excited to see what the future stories with other characters will be about.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished this sweet read! This new to me author has done a wonderful job in bringing her characters to life.
In all honesty what drew me to this book was the cute cover. It was so adorable!
I enjoyed this sweet book and didn't want it to end.
A very relaxing read and I warn you it will go fast because it's soooooo good!
There's a few giggles in this story too
This book had the perfect blend of everything in it to make a good story and it was!
I will be looking for more by this author.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

[Susan Snodgrass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Linda Goodnight was a new to me author and I decided to take a chance with this book. I am very glad I did because I thoroughly enjoyed it. She has crafted wonderful characters that I felt connnected to right away. I do enjoy a good cowboy story and thus one ticked all the boxes. It also had a great spiritual thread. Recommended.

My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via Net Galley. I received no compensation and the opinion in this review is my own.

[Angeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was super cute and I read it in one day! To Protect His Children is a Love Inspired book by Linda Goodnight and it is the first book in her new series, Sundown Valley. Rancher Wade Trudeau needs a nanny for his triplets Abby, Ben, and Camden. Kyra Mason needs a change of scenery to help get in life on track.
I really liked the characters and the storyline. I am a sucker for books with kids and the triplets were so cute. I felt so bad for Wade and he had me from the beginning. Wade’s story drew me in and before I knew it, I was halfway down with the book. Wade was just trying his best to be the best dad he could to his triplets. I felt so bad for him, he was juggling parenthood with only his cousin to help him. He had been hurt and jaded by his wife and he did not trust easily. However he needs help and in comes Kyra Mason who may change everything.
Kyra seemed like a city girl, but it takes more than a little bit of dust to scare her off. I loved Krya from the beginning. She was kind and she immediately connected with Wade’s children. Kyra was strong and stubborn, but she was also considerate of others. She had experienced a terrible event in her life and she was still trying to pick up the pieces of her life. However, I loved her faith in God and how she leaned on Him for help.
Wade and Kyra were working a thin line as the lines between nanny and employer blurred. They cared for each other as friends, but as they watched out for the triplets they began to hope for more. I liked how Wade and Kyra’s relationship progressed, it didn't feel forced or sudden. They also did their best to get guidance and to trust God. But Kyra is only here for a little while, will they be able to work out their feelings before Kyra leaves?
I would definitely recommend To Protect His Children! This book was exactly what I needed! It had lovely characters and a compelling storyline. The triplets were super fun, and I really liked Wade's cousin, Bowie. I can’t wait to read the next books in the series!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

[Monica Gearhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the book but I wish they would’ve told us at the end who was lurking. i thought it was the older brother.

[Ranie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I really appreciate and love this story...it was well written with powerful messages, thru faith about friendship and forgiveness!

Our main characters, Wade and Kyra, and were designed with such intense and very detailed backgrounds, that was make me feel as if know them, on personal a level.

I enjoyed getting to know Kyra and was fully able to understand her reasoning for being afraid to be Special Need teacher again, (after one of her handicapped student was trapped in a wheelchair and killed during a tornado). While Wade was afraid of getting into a relationship because his wife, Sabrina, left him, after giving birth, to triplet, Abby, Benjamin, and Caden....

I highly recommend this book....

[Meghann Whistler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always excited when Linda Goodnight comes out with a new book. To Protect His Children has a fantastic heroine who is loving and kind despite a huge tragedy in her past. (Her backstory made me cry!)

I love it when a book leaves me feeling like this:

[Robin Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Linda Goodnight is one of my favorite Love Inspired authors, and this first book in her Sundown Valley series hit all the right notes. Now I need to find the rest of the series.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kyra Mason has survived a life-altering event. It's now time to get back in the game, get back to her favored career, teaching. Circumstances have left Kyra hesitant to return to the classroom. She travels to an area which has always brought her peace, the Kiamichi Mountains. After deciding to not enter the local school in Sundown Valley to apply for a job Kyra finds an ad for a job as a housekeeper. When she arrives at Sundown Valley Ranch she finds herself interviewed by rancher Wade Trudeaux. The job isn't really for a housekeeper. Wade needs a nanny for his fifteen-month-old triplets. The ABC's Abby, Benjamin and Caden capture Kyra's heart. Their father seems to be a honest, caring Christian so Kyra decides to accept the position for the summer. Wade is thankful for this as he would do anything for his three children. The nanny arrangement worked better than they expected. Kyra and Wade got to know each other well. Kyra couldn't resist falling for the three adorable toddlers and their father. I really liked traveling along on Kyra and Wade's trail to a HEA.

To Protect His Children by Linda Goodnight is the first book in her Sundown Valley series. This author has written a heartwarming, spiritual story. Both Kyra and Wade are devout Christians and have decided to trust God's plan for them. Kyra had a long recovery after the natural disaster she survived. Wade survived his ex-wife leaving him and their three beautiful children. Ms. Goodnight includes sweet loving scenes, delightful child antics and great advice from family in this story. I like how a conversation at the end of this storyline sets the scene for the next book in the series. I am really looking forward to it.

I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tender and sweet with bursts of humour. I'm thrilled to be in at the start of a brand new series by Linda Goodnight. I definitely won't be missing a single Sundown Valley novel 'cause I'm invested in this ranch and this town now after reading To Protect His Children.

And what is swoonier than a cowboy cuddling a baby? A cowboy cuddling three babies, that's what! Corralling triplet toddlers makes the 24/7 grind of ranch work look easy and Wade's desperate to find some reliable hired help of the nanny variety. But since three kids under two seems to be a deterrent, he kinda leaves that part of the job distraction off the ad. Oopsie. :-)

Enter the unsuspecting Kyra who is looking for anything but the triple threat bedlam Wade's offering. Loved the way these two bartered their way into an agreement. And it isn't long before they are dancing around the zing of attraction that can't help sizzling to life every time they are together. Phew! Is it hot in here or what?

As you might expect, the course of true love doesn't run straight as both hero and heroine are battling with issues that hamper pursuits of the romantical kind...or so they think. Digging into their back stories brought added depth to their romance and I was on tenterhooks until the happily-ever-after ending was achieved.

And now I'm happy dancing because there will be more Sundown Ranch novels in my future. And I absolutely love the glimpse the author has given us of what that might look like. Super excited to see if I'm right!

I have come to one startling conclusion after finishing this novel -- I seriously have not read enough Linda Goodnight! Must remedy that ASAP!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wade is a rancher in need of a housekeeper one small detail he left out that really meant needing someone to care for his triplets while he working. Kyra is a former teacher on some downtime and was going to take him up on the housekeeper job but never imagined working with children's but that's her issue to contend with as they make an agreement that it'll only be for the summer.

I enjoyed this book. It was pretty mild with the drama if that's what your looking for a few things here and there but nothing too dramatic. I did enjoy seeing that romance blooming between the two. Then there was that whole being a teacher but not wanting to be around children's was kinda confusing for me and clearly there was a secret that I just had to know and I was pretty surprised when it came to light. Overall this was a pretty sweet book very heavy on the religious aspect so if that's appealing you might be drawn to this book.

[Janice Sisemore · Rating 5 out of 5]

To protect his children

Wade has triplets that are very young. He need a nanny. Kyra shows up but doesn’t realize it is a nanny’s job at first. I love how kyra cared for the triplets so easy. I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to more in the series.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve long appreciated the Love Inspired line for its gentler pacing and emotional depth, especially when other romances start feeling too fast or too steamy. Linda Goodnight has been one of my favorites—her stories usually offer a comforting rhythm, grounded characters, and a sense of hope. To Protect His Children started out in that familiar space. Kyra and Wade’s slow-burn connection (one almost-kiss by page 160!) felt emotionally earned, and the triplets added warmth and charm.

But then came the moment that soured the experience: the ex-wife was written off as a materialistic shrew “without a maternal bone,” and the implication was that her lack of Christian faith explained it. That kind of framing felt reductive and unfair—not just to her character, but to readers who expect nuance. It disrupted the emotional resonance I’d come to expect from Goodnight’s work and made me question continuing the series.

I did appreciate the brief inclusion of two Native characters, though they only appeared once. That moment had potential, and I wish it had been explored more deeply.

I’m torn between 3 and 4 stars. I’m leaning toward 3—not out of spite, but because I value emotional integrity in storytelling. I’ll continue reading Love Inspired, and I may return to Goodnight’s other books, but this one left me disappointed.

[Yvonne Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This clean, Christian romance is the first in the new series Sundown Valley as well as the first book I read by this author. An author that I will definite continue to read.
The story centers around Wade Trudeau and Kyra Mason.
Wade is a rancher, and father of a set of 18 month old triplets. Their mother abandoned them and he will do everything in his power for them protect them and give them all his love. When the nanny leaves, Wade puts up ads and cards around town asking for a nanny.
Kyra Mason, a special ed teacher, has experience tragedy, heartbreak and after months in a hospital. She thought she was ready to interview for a job but when that wasn’t the case, she goes to the ranch for an interview.
Little did either know that from the moment she takes on the job for the summer, both their lives would change forever.
But Wade’s doubts about his feelings and a “city” girl, and Kyra’s doubts about Wade’s feelings might not end up with a HEA.
The plot was engaging, the main characters likable and complex, and the secondary characters ones that I hope get their own stories.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Harlequin Love Inspired. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Kerliza Foon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love a good book that has children in it. Abby, Ben and Caden sounded adorable and I would have loved to be their nanny. I enjoyed getting to know Wade and Kyra, however I wish there was more triplet interaction. Especially when I read about how Kyra felt about being there for their milestones. Wade had some character development but it always seemed to come at the expense of Kyra saying or doing something. There were very few instances in which he developed his character from coming to a realization himself and urging him to do something. Kyra's character mostly seemed like the catalyst character and although she has her own struggles that she overcomes, her character development is small and she is already a well defined character pretty early on in the book. I also loved the cousin Bowie and would love to read his story. If you like inspirational books with religious tones then this book is for you. A quick read and quite enjoyable for a day off.

[Dana Busenbark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who are Wade & Bowie? Where are they? What do they each do for a living? How do they know one another? Who is Kyra? What does she do for a living? What takes her to Wade's doorstep? Who are Abby, Benjamin, and Cayden? Why is Kyra looking for a job? What happened at her last one? When Keno shows up, for the second time in the book, Kyra is helping Wade. Once he leaves and Kyra is mad at Wade, he tells Bowie. THAT conversation is funny! Who is Sabrina? What does she have to do with this story? What hard choices do Kyra and wade have to make? What is ultimately the outcome? Read and see what happens with these two broken people.

RECEIVED THIS BOOK from Harlequin through Netgalley AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin' With M. Brennan.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming romance of family and finding second chances.

Kyra answers an add for a housekeeper, and is surprised to find one important detail missing...she is also expected to care for toddler triplets! Can Wade give love a second chance?

A charming read, with adorable children in this sweet small town romance. I liked how Kyra and Wade got to know each other through the everyday ordinary, and their shared faith. I also liked that Wade had a strong relationship with his brother, and that he does the best that he can for his kids.

Overall, a sweet, heartwarming read with great interaction and good relationship building, along characters that I could root for all the way through!


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

[Anna Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kyra has PTSD from being trapped with dying children in a tornado-ravaged school. She takes a nanny job at a ranch near the campground her family had always enjoyed when she was a child, in order to heal emotionally and try to overcome lingering trouble.

Wade has his hands full trying to run a ranch and single-parent triplets with no help. His oldest brother abandoned him, his youngest died in an accident he feels responsible for. His neighbor is sabotaging his ranch, his ex wants nothing to do with him or the babies, and finding help has been nigh to impossible.

When these two come together, it's... more than just sweet. It's fireworks. It's hope. And it's a LOT of adorable moments with sticky, pudgy little babies.

Definitely a fun read.

[Jeanette Revie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible and Moving

I have read a lot of Love Inspired books but I think to date that this is my favourite. The characters were written wonderfully, their story genuine. This story made me cry several times.

The scene where Kyra speaks to their violent neighbour in Jesus’ name was powerful. I’ve never read one of these books with such clearly written spiritual activity. I loved it. My heart sang with the characters when they chose trust over heartache.

I am a pastor’s daughter and a pastor’s wife. It makes me happy to know such books are being put out there en masse for more to read and maybe come to know Jesus too.

Thank you for writing this, Linda. I pray God mightily blesses you for your obedience. 😌

[Elaine Applebury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome back, Linda Goodnight! Oh how I’ve missed your books! “To Protect His Children,” is the first book in the “A Sundown Valley Romance” series, and what a start! “City girl,” Kyra Mason, a teacher suffering PSTD, arrives at Wade Trudeau’s ranch to inquire about a housekeeper’s job. She is met at the door by an unkept, desperate Wade, carrying a child that promptly dumps applesauce all over him while he is trying to conduct an interview. Kyra discovers that he doesn’t actually need a housekeeper, but a nanny, to triplets! This book had laughs, some serious moments, and adorable kids. I’m looking forward to the next book!

[Kathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's always best to begin a book series at the beginning. I've already read books 3 & 5, so this story clarified history and relationships for me.

From the back cover: "He finally found a nanny…but can he convince her to stay?

After a tragedy, rancher Wade Trudeau’s offer of a summer housekeeping position at Sundown Ranch is the perfect cure for former teacher Kyra Mason. Only Wade left out an important part of her job—looking after his triplets! Now Kyra’s falling for the three adorable toddlers, along with their love-shy cowboy dad. But when summer ends, can Kyra return to real life…knowing she’s left her heart behind?

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, never read this author. Romance both leads had tragedy in their pasts to over come with their strong faith in the Lord they get by with kindness and their faith.
Kyra went through a tornado and was buried in the school collapse rubble. Wade is left by his wife to raise triplets by himself while running his ranch. As Kyra fights her PTSD and tries to move forward again and Wade tries to keep the ranch going and raise 15 month old triplets he puts up ads for a Nanny that Kyra answers.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Love

Wade and his three children needed a Nanny very badly. The babies were 18 months old, Wade owned a beautiful ranch, his wife had divorced him and left the babies. Kyra is a special education teacher that has PTSD, recovering from a broken back and memories of a tornado that killed one of her students. Would these two find love. With God's help he would lead them.

[Charlene Hammonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Choices

This story was about a lady answering a add for a housekeeper. When she there on the ranch for the interview she was surprised a baby toddler came in the room. After telling the rancher she didn't know kids were involved. Then finding out there were two more. She didn't know what to do. I enjoyed and
recommend this book and story. You must read this story to find out the journey she will take.

[Debby Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a delightful read. I loved all the characters and Linda Goodnight really brought the Oklahoma setting to life. The characters were well developed and sympathetic and wrestled with real problems, which they overcame, of course. Add to the story, three adorable triplet babies with personalities of their own. I can hardly wait to read the next book in this series.

[Tommie Leydsman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and Believable

A touching and deeply spiritual story of two people who have suffered mentally , spiritually and emotionally,trying to find themselves with the help of God.Wade divorced , with three toddlers and Kyra, recovering from a critical injury and a broken heart, find the power of prayer and each other.

[Jean Hall]

I loved this clean romance, which is first in a series. Wade and Kyra both have had their problems, which they have to work to overcome. Kyra takes a job as nanny to Wade's 3 cute baby triplets and ends up falling in love with both the babies and Wade while Wade is falling in love with her. Sweet story.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a good Christian book. I’m not a fan of silhouette books and can’t stand the going back and forth normally. I read faith based books before going to sleep to fill my mind with good things. Sometimes light reading such as this or a good nonfiction. This was a good light read and had some great scripture references.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wade is left with triplets and a broken heart. Kyra is healing from a tornado, a broken-back, and a broken heart. When Wade needs a nanny, Kyra feels the hand of God telling her to take the position. They try it out for a 3 month period. A lot happens in that three month period. With God gently guiding this pair, despite their pasts, they fall in love. A great, gently romance.