Taken at Christmas by Jodie Bailey

 

Taken at Christmas

Book Summary

Keeping a little girl safe

means trusting no one…

When ex-deputy Mia Galloway is assaulted and threatened at her town’s Christmas parade, she’s convinced her adopted daughter is also in danger. Mia is rescued just in time by investigator Hayden McGrath, her late husband’s best friend, who vows to protect Mia and Ruthie. And the stakes only get higher when Ruthie’s birth mother is found murdered. Someone desperately wants this child, and they’ll stop at nothing to get her. With time running out, uncovering the truth is Hayden and Mia’s only hope of saving an innocent child…

My Thoughts

Taken at Christmas by Jodie Bailey is the first book in the Trinity Investigative Team series.  I found Taken at Christmas to be an emotional and suspenseful story.  I thought the characters were realistic.  Mia is a strong woman, but her husband’s death took a heavy toll on her.  She has yet to recover and fears that something could happen to her daughter, Ruthie. Her fears are keeping her a prisoner.  Hayden was Keith’s (Mia’s husband) best friend, and he is a constant in Mia and Ruthie’s life.  You can tell that there is chemistry between Hayden and Mia, but it is something the pair are not acknowledging for varied reasons.  There is tension between Mia and Hayden, but there is affection as well. Mia needs to get better, but it is hard to do when you are fighting for your life and trying to keep your child safe.  Hayden struggles with feelings of guilt and grief over the death of his best friend.  There is suspense, mystery, and a touch of romance. Taken at Christmas is an inspiring and suspenseful story about facing your fears, having faith despite doubts, having courage, finding a way forward, and opening your heart to love. 

Taken at Christmas is available from Amazon*.  The next book in the Trinity Investigative Team series is Protecting the Orphan which will be out on April 1, 2025. If you follow Jodie Bailey on Amazon, they will send you an email when she has a new book released.  Thank you for dropping by today.  I will return on Tuesday, December 10 with Hunted on the Trail by Dana Mentink.  I am off to finish decorating our Christmas tree.  I am running behind this year.  Hurricane Milton destroyed our tree and I had to order a new one.  My mother wanted a tree identical to the tree we had owned.  I do not blame her because it was a beautiful tree.  Thankfully, I was able to find one (which made my mother very happy--she is seventy nine, so she deserves to be indulged). My mother just loves Christmas.  One year, we had fourteen trees throughout the house (and I had to put the lights on all of them).   I hope that you have a joyful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

Montana Abduction Rescue by Jodie Bailey

Montana Abduction Rescue

Book Summary

Kidnappers out for vengeance…

Can a K-9 team stop them?

Following the death of a crime boss he put behind bars, Ian Carpenter leaves witness protection—and runs right into an ambush. To escape assailants bent on revenge, he turns to his former handler, US marshal Meadow Ames, and her K-9 partner. But the stakes grow higher when Ian’s cousin is abducted. With threats closing in, can they rescue a kidnapped teen…and stop the criminals for good?

My Thoughts

Montana Abduction Rescue by Jodie Bailey starts off with a bang.   The story has action, suspense, mystery, faith, and a splash of romance.  I love that it is a fast-paced story (makes me want to keep reading).   I enjoyed getting to know Ian and Meadow as well as Meadow’s K-9 companion, Grace.  Grace is a clever dog (it is amazing what K-9 dogs are capable of). I had not heard of the Hungarian breed Vizsla before reading this book (which had me looking it up online).  There is one scene with Grace that had me laughing (I do not want to spoil it for you).  The romance was well done.  I like how it was blended with the suspense, but it did not overshadow it.  Faith was nicely incorporated into the story.  I did feel, though, that the ending was a tad rushed.  While Montana Abduction Rescue is the fifth book in the Mountain Country K-9 Unit series, it can be read as a standalone.  Montana Abduction Rescue is a suspenseful story with an alarming ambush, a clever canine, a kidnapped cousin, sinister criminals, and terrifying threats.

Montana Abduction Rescue is available from Amazon*.  The next book in the Mountain Country K9 Unit series is Trails of Threats by Jessica R. Patch which will be out on August 20.  Jodie Bailey has Taken at Christmas the first book in the Trinity Investigative Team releasing on November 26. 

Here are a some of the other books that came out today: There's No Murder Like Show Murder by M.S. Greene, Trouble is Brewing by Vicki Delany, Liars by Sarah Manguso, Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop by Emmeline Duncan (on Kindle Unlimited), Puzzle Me a Murder by Roz Noonan, Her Summer with the Brooding Vet by Scarlet Wilson, and A Very Woodsy Murder by Ellen Byron.  Thank you for joining me today.  Tomorrow I am sharing my thoughts on A Very Woodsy Murder by Ellen Byron.  It is the first A Golden Motel Mystery.  I am off to put away my outdoor Fourth of July decorations.  The afternoon rainstorms kept getting them wet (it also got them clean).  They are now dry, so I can roll them up and store them in the totes for storage.  The hard part will be stuffing them in our storage shed.  It is a little full at the moment.  I am waiting for cooler weather to organize it (it is just too hot to work out there).  I hope that you have a chill day!  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader. 

Undercover Colorado Conspiracy by Jodie Bailey

 Undercover Colorado Conspiracy

Book Summary

An undercover mission

turns into a fight for survival

To expose a crooked adoption agency, military investigators Thalia Renner and Phillip Campbell pose as a married couple at a mountain resort. But when they become the target of unknown enemies and deadly assaults, they wonder if their cover has been blown. As they investigate, they learn the truth is far more sinister…and the consequences could cost them their lives.

My Thoughts

Undercover Colorado Conspiracy by Jodie Bailey starts off with a bang, but then the pace slows down for a while.  I liked the conspiracy in the story.   There was a twist or two along the way.  The characters were likeable.  The Christian element was present.  The main theme was letting go and letting God take control.  Undercover Colorado Conspiracy had a good ending.  

Undercover Colorado Conspiracy is available from Amazon*.  Jodie Bailey has Mountain Abduction Rescue, which is the fifth book in the Mountain Country K-9 Unit series, coming out July 23.  You can find Jodie Bailey's other novels here.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I will return tomorrow to share my thoughts on A Smoking Bun by Ellie Alexander.  It is the latest A Bakeshop Mystery.  The Last Word by Gerri Lewis, Miracles at Promise Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard, and Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer J. Chow are a few of the books that were released today.  I hope that you have joyful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.