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Covert Cowboy Soldiers #2
Small Town Vanishing
He had a knack for finding things…
Even if they wanted to stay lost.
Rancher Brody Thompson’s an expert at finding things, even in the wild and remote Wyoming landscape he’s just begun to call home. So when Kate Phillips asks for Brody’s help in solving her father’s decade-old disappearance, he’s intrigued. But then the former soldier is run off the road with the enigmatic Kate and it’s clear that there’s a steep price to pay for uncovering the truth…
Even if they wanted to stay lost.
Rancher Brody Thompson’s an expert at finding things, even in the wild and remote Wyoming landscape he’s just begun to call home. So when Kate Phillips asks for Brody’s help in solving her father’s decade-old disappearance, he’s intrigued. But then the former soldier is run off the road with the enigmatic Kate and it’s clear that there’s a steep price to pay for uncovering the truth…
251 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 13, 2022
78 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Helm
308 books498 followersNicole Helm is the national bestselling author of fast-paced romantic suspense for Harlequin Intrigue and down-to-earth contemporary romance. Her Intrigues routinely land on the Publishers Weekly Bestseller list, and she’s received starred PW reviews for her contemporary romances. She’s written over 75 books, known for their emotional depth and happily ever afters.
Nicole also writes with Megan Crane/Caitlin Crews as Hazel Beck writing the Witchlore series, which began with SMALL TOWN, BIG MAGIC in 2022.
In her spare time, Nicole loves losing herself in genealogy research, watching Cardinals baseball, and hiking with her family. She lives in Missouri with her husband and two sons.
You can contact her via email: Nicole@nicolehelm.com
You can sign up for Nicole’s monthly newsletter at http://eepurl.com/V973n
Nicole also writes with Megan Crane/Caitlin Crews as Hazel Beck writing the Witchlore series, which began with SMALL TOWN, BIG MAGIC in 2022.
In her spare time, Nicole loves losing herself in genealogy research, watching Cardinals baseball, and hiking with her family. She lives in Missouri with her husband and two sons.
You can contact her via email: Nicole@nicolehelm.com
You can sign up for Nicole’s monthly newsletter at http://eepurl.com/V973n
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 6, 2025
Ok book in a good series.
June 18, 2023
Loving Intrigues this year!
I will say this one was different. Not so much break neck pacing as I’ve read this far. A lot more mystery and slow burn. Kate’s father is presumed dead after a decade and at the same time as her teenage friend disappearance. Rumors all throughout their small town about the two missing have followed Kate and she became a loner for self preservation.
She works at a historical site in Wyoming (cool job for history buff like me) and has a whole dossier on her father’s cold case. Enter our hot military hero, Brody who helps Kate and they get snowed in together after being ran off the road.
From there readers are pulled into a crazy twisted story of Kate’s past all catching up with her. I really enjoyed both characters and Helm knows how to balance romance feels with mystery. I just wish this was a liiitle bit more exciting since I was able to put down frequently.
As a random side note the fmc plays the fiddle. Not something you see often and certainly not contemporary.
In all, I’m curious about the rest of the Cowboys because let’s face it, something about men in those hats work for me. 😂
I will say this one was different. Not so much break neck pacing as I’ve read this far. A lot more mystery and slow burn. Kate’s father is presumed dead after a decade and at the same time as her teenage friend disappearance. Rumors all throughout their small town about the two missing have followed Kate and she became a loner for self preservation.
She works at a historical site in Wyoming (cool job for history buff like me) and has a whole dossier on her father’s cold case. Enter our hot military hero, Brody who helps Kate and they get snowed in together after being ran off the road.
From there readers are pulled into a crazy twisted story of Kate’s past all catching up with her. I really enjoyed both characters and Helm knows how to balance romance feels with mystery. I just wish this was a liiitle bit more exciting since I was able to put down frequently.
As a random side note the fmc plays the fiddle. Not something you see often and certainly not contemporary.
In all, I’m curious about the rest of the Cowboys because let’s face it, something about men in those hats work for me. 😂
May 15, 2023
Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance
Small Town Vanishing continues the Covert Cowboy Soldiers series with a story that is both chilling and steamy in all the right places. Although I’ve only started this series, I’m already loving every moment that has taken an ousted group of military men bands them together as “brothers” and drops them onto a ranch to remake their civilian lives. The background of all the “brothers” is individually unique and the slight arc that is woven throughout the series which addresses just why this had to happen is intriguing beyond measure. The possibilities are endless, and I am enjoying learning just a bit more with each story.
Brody is an expert at finding things. It was, after all, his main profession while in the military. And one talent that he can find a use for in this new civilian life he’s been given. Although, perhaps he didn’t expect this particular “assignment” to lead him right into danger or to be rescuing the woman who would eventually spend a lifetime at his side. No, love wasn’t on either Brody’s or Kate’s radar… but then, when is it ever?
Kate’s life as she knew it ended the day her father disappeared… and one of the Hart sisters went missing as well. Their small town has always whispered about the timing of those disappearances – the teacher and the student gone at the same time. Yet for years, no one had answers only questions. Kate’s learned to keep her head down, avoid conversations about the past, and stay out of her mother’s way as much as possible. Now things are beginning to change with the discovery of one missing triplet… and the unease that Kate’s been feeling. She’ll ask Brody to help her find her father or at least what happened to him without realizing they are about to open a Pandora’s Box that can never be shut again… and putting both of their lives in very real danger.
Small Town Vanishing was a gripping, edge-of-your-seat, need-to-keep-reading-until-the-end kind of experience for me. I loved Brody and Kate together; they sizzled, they argued, and they worked as a couple falling in love while facing (or having to acknowledge) some very real danger surrounding them. The mystery is complex, and I certainly didn’t even glimpse at the eventual outcome. If you love a romance that both sizzles and puzzles you, if filtering through the clues to find that elusive thread that leads to answers, or if a couple that appears to be total opposites simply fit just right for each other and a love that can last a lifetime… then you’re going to want to pick this one up, soon. I had a blast – now on to the next story in this compelling series.
I own a Kindle edition of this title.
Small Town Vanishing continues the Covert Cowboy Soldiers series with a story that is both chilling and steamy in all the right places. Although I’ve only started this series, I’m already loving every moment that has taken an ousted group of military men bands them together as “brothers” and drops them onto a ranch to remake their civilian lives. The background of all the “brothers” is individually unique and the slight arc that is woven throughout the series which addresses just why this had to happen is intriguing beyond measure. The possibilities are endless, and I am enjoying learning just a bit more with each story.
Brody is an expert at finding things. It was, after all, his main profession while in the military. And one talent that he can find a use for in this new civilian life he’s been given. Although, perhaps he didn’t expect this particular “assignment” to lead him right into danger or to be rescuing the woman who would eventually spend a lifetime at his side. No, love wasn’t on either Brody’s or Kate’s radar… but then, when is it ever?
Kate’s life as she knew it ended the day her father disappeared… and one of the Hart sisters went missing as well. Their small town has always whispered about the timing of those disappearances – the teacher and the student gone at the same time. Yet for years, no one had answers only questions. Kate’s learned to keep her head down, avoid conversations about the past, and stay out of her mother’s way as much as possible. Now things are beginning to change with the discovery of one missing triplet… and the unease that Kate’s been feeling. She’ll ask Brody to help her find her father or at least what happened to him without realizing they are about to open a Pandora’s Box that can never be shut again… and putting both of their lives in very real danger.
Small Town Vanishing was a gripping, edge-of-your-seat, need-to-keep-reading-until-the-end kind of experience for me. I loved Brody and Kate together; they sizzled, they argued, and they worked as a couple falling in love while facing (or having to acknowledge) some very real danger surrounding them. The mystery is complex, and I certainly didn’t even glimpse at the eventual outcome. If you love a romance that both sizzles and puzzles you, if filtering through the clues to find that elusive thread that leads to answers, or if a couple that appears to be total opposites simply fit just right for each other and a love that can last a lifetime… then you’re going to want to pick this one up, soon. I had a blast – now on to the next story in this compelling series.
I own a Kindle edition of this title.
July 20, 2025
Book two of Covert Cowboys. These are quick reads about a small town in Wyoming that has more per capita crime and attempted murder than the Thompson brothers predicted when they bought the ranch to live someplace off the beaten path. In each story one of the brothers uses his particular skills to solve a mystery. While this is Harlequin, no PDA, just people breaking down their own walls as trust situations require.
October 29, 2022
Another great story by Nicole Helm about a daughter trying to find out about her father's disappearance. The more Kate found out the more mysterious it all was. Eventually she asked Brody to help her. In so doing not only did they fall in love but they unravelled the mystery surrounding her father's disappearance.
December 11, 2023
Kate Phillips has been searching for her father for 10 years, and while searching meets an ex soldier who is willing to help her in her search, until they have been threatened. Will they continue their search and find her father or will they let things go?
September 12, 2024
3.5
It dragged a bit for me in the middle when our couple got snowed in. The couple is a tad stereotypical for the genre. However, the mystery was compelling, and the ending paid off. I was surprised, but I enjoyed it.
It dragged a bit for me in the middle when our couple got snowed in. The couple is a tad stereotypical for the genre. However, the mystery was compelling, and the ending paid off. I was surprised, but I enjoyed it.
Read
October 1, 2022Romantic Suspense, Police Procedural Mystery & Detective, Western Romance
Miniseries
Covert Cowboy Soldiers (Book #2)
Miniseries
Covert Cowboy Soldiers (Book #2)
Read
October 1, 2022Romantic Suspense, Police Procedural Mystery & Detective, Western Romance
Miniseries
Covert Cowboy Soldiers (Book #2)
Miniseries
Covert Cowboy Soldiers (Book #2)
October 29, 2022
Liked the suspense but not the romance. It was too sudden.
November 2, 2022
Quick, easy read.
December 27, 2022
Another great read and also a new author to me. Will be looking for more of her books.
May 10, 2023
Another good read from Helm. I liked these character and the plot was interesting to say the least. Definitely kept my interest that I'll keep reading the series. In fact, looking forward to it.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews