I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Kidnapped in the Woods
by Deena Alexander
Published by Love Inspired Suspense on June 27, 2023
Setting: Eastern Long Island, New York
Genres: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
Pages: 224
Format: ebook, Kindle, Paperback
Source: Great Escapes Book Tours
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To solve a kidnapping case
they’ll become the hunted.Firefighter Pat Ryan is stunned when he hears gunfire and two strangers crash through his door. An anonymous tip led journalist Rachel Davenport to a ramshackle cabin, where she helped an abducted teen escape. With Pat and his K-9 rescue dog’s help, they go on the run with deadly kidnappers in pursuit. But with innocent lives at stake, Rachel and Pat must battle foes and fears to live through the night.
From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
Kidnapped in the Woods by Deena Alexander is a fast paced, suspense filled chase through a blizzard on Long Island.
Will Pat and Rachel save Shannon and Jane?
This story takes place in a couple of days. It moves fast and has all the hallmarks of a great read for me. There’s a dog, a touch of romance, self growth, good and bad people. Then there is the bond built on believing, trust, and healing for a few of the characters.
Rachel Davenport
Rachel is an investigative journalist. She is contacted by Shannon, a sixteen year old runaway whose friend needs immediate help. No cops! Rachel, with all her past baggage, runs right out to help Jane, a girl she has never met before.
Rachel’s character resonated with me. She is tenacious, a bit stubborn, courageous, and keeps her work. Rebecca, Rachel’s older sister, disappeared when they were teens, and it has caused Rachel to lose trust in almost everything, including her faith. Although, she seems to trust Pat and his friends now.
Pat Ryan
Pat is a IT tech by day and a fireman, paramedic, and search, and rescue guy whenever he can be. He was injured recently in a fire and has been recuperating when Rachel and Jane meet him. Pat immediately jumps in to assist the damsels in distress.
I like Pat. He is one of the good guys. For the most part, Pat doesn’t trust many people either. Well, except for his firehouse buddies. Pat is courageous, caring, and good at crisis management. Yet, he struggles with trust issues, ever since his mother left him with his abusive father when he was a teen. It is good to see him and Rachel learning to believe in each other throughout the adventure.
The Girls
Shannon has no family and has been living a terrible life. Jane is a runaway who left Indiana and ended up on Long Island, working for a crime boss. Both of the girls don’t trust adults. I can see why they wouldn’t, especially after seeing firsthand the drug and other things that the crime boss is into and how he deals with trouble. However, the two of them have a bond and look out for each other.
Five Stars
I love the way Ms. Alexander takes us through this life threatening chase, which allows all of our characters to learn to trust each other. Of course, their lives depend on it, so they really need to. However, it is more than that, as they see qualities in each other that they like and admire. They see a future they didn’t before.
My rating for Kidnapped in the Woods by Deena Alexander is five stars. If you like suspense with a bit of inspiration added in, this is the perfect book for you.
Excerpt
“Come on, Jane. We have to go.” She grabbed Jane beneath the arm and hauled her up to stand. “Now.”
Jane staggered but stayed on her feet as Rachel propelled her toward the door through the narrow gap she’d managed to open and out onto the deck. Hopefully, the cold air would help Jane regain her senses enough to run.
All they had to do was make it across the clearing and they could disappear into the heavily wooded Pine Barrens. Maybe. Flurries started to fall, fat white flakes drifting lazily to the ground. A deceptive start to the forecast storm that would soon grip Long Island in its bitter fury.
With a firm hold on Jane’s wrist, Rachel hurried across the deck and started through the stiff dead grass, ignoring the loud crunching sound each footstep made. The girl’s captors would be on them any minute. Stealth wouldn’t do them any good now. Only speed might save them.
Rachel started to run, prodding Jane to move faster, half dragging her by the arm.
A gust of wind carried the sounds of raised voices. A man shouted from inside the shack.
Jane stumbled.
They weren’t going to make it to the tree line, and there was nowhere to hide in the open clearing.
“Run straight for the woods. Go.” She shoved Jane forward. “Now.”
Dazed, Jane glanced over her shoulder toward the shack. Her eyes went wide, and tremors tore through her. Like a deer caught in headlights, she froze, vulnerable.
Six black-clad figures emerged from the shack with Ben in the lead.
The two men who’d been guarding Jane flanked him with their very large guns trained on Rachel and Jane.
Ben poked a finger against one man’s chest. “You were paid to watch her, not dump her in an unsecured shack so she could escape.”
“But we drugged her.” Keeping his weapon level, trained on Rachel, the man turned his head toward Ben. “She was out cold a minute ago.”
“Yeah, well, she’s not now, is she?” Ben pointed his weapon at the man’s chest and fired.
The man crumpled to the ground.
Rachel wheezed in a breath.
“Hey.” The other man started backing up, his gun still aimed at the women. “Hey, dude, I was just the—”
Ben’s second gunshot dropped the man midsentence. Ben gestured for one of the men to go back toward the front, then started forward with the remaining three. “We need the girl alive.”
Bile surged, burning the back of Rachel’s throat. He’d just killed two men. Two of his own men.
She turned to Jane, gripped her shoulders and stared into her unfocused eyes. She shook her once, hard. “You have to run.”
The girl nodded, her eyes seeming to clear a little, then turned and fled toward the woods.
Rachel yanked her weapon from the harness as she ran after Jane.
More shouts reached her. The men were almost on them. She was going to have to turn and fight.
A shot rang out.
Jane went down hard on her stomach, barely getting her hands under her in time to catch herself.
No, no, no! “Are you hurt?”
Jane didn’t answer.
Crouching beside her, Rachel searched desperately for an escape route.
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Until the next time,
About Deena Alexander
Deena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, where she met and married her high school sweetheart. She recently relocated to Florida with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Now she enjoys long walks in nature all year long, despite the occasional alligator or snake she sometimes encounters. Deena’s love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night, and she now works full-time as a writer and a freelance editor.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- Jenz 2023 ABC Soup RC
- Jenz 2023 Cloak and Dagger
- Jenz 2023 Goodreads RC
I liked the excerpt. The cover is great.
Thank you so much, Rita!
Thank you so much for such a wonderful review! I’m so happy you enjoyed the story! And thank you for sharing the release of Kidnapped in the Woods!