Review: Texas Prey by Barb Han
Texas Prey
Book One
224 Pages
Release Date: 08/15/2015 (PB); 09/01/2015 (E-book)
Publisher: Harlequin | Imprint: Intrigue
Genre: Romance | Series Romance | Romantic Suspense
Series: Mason Ridge
The hunted becomes the hunter as the past threatens a small Texas town once again…
Rancher Brody Fields stops cold when he receives a plea for help from Rebecca Hughes. The onetime love of his life, who was abducted along with her brother fifteen years ago, now believes the kidnapper has returned to tie up loose ends. Rebecca needs Brody’s help bringing the kidnapper or killer to justice.
For Brody, the job is risky, but the real danger is their unexpected Texas-sized attraction. As they uncover answers to difficult and deadly questions, Brody has a question of his own: Can he trust the woman who once shattered his heart?
*ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review *
Texas Prey is the first book in Barb Han’s new Mason Ridge series for Harlequin Intrigue and I have to say, I enjoyed it a lot. It’s well-written and from the moment it starts, readers are given a glimpse into what life must have been like for Rebecca Hughes following the abduction of her and her younger brother, Shane, fifteen years ago. To be the one who found freedom but not have closure, to always be looking over her shoulder, wondering who, wondering where, wondering why…what a horrible way to live, with fear so oppressing even a mundane trip to the grocery store brings about a frightening case of nerves.
This book tackled a worst nightmare scenario for me. To be so helpless but also so determined to find answers, to find hope, to find peace. That kind of fear and helplessness weighs on a person for sure, and makes them jump to conclusions they might not otherwise have jumped to. But unlike the Sheriff’s department, Brody Fields can’t write off Rebecca’s fears so easily. He knows the toll the kidnapping took on her, and if he can help her this time, he’ll do it gladly. Except how can he be certain what Rebecca fears and thinks is true when he’s dealing with a woman still tormented by the kidnapping in her past?
I liked this book. It was a good read, though parts of it did feel a bit rushed and felt like they needed a little more fleshing out or information added in. But once the story picked up in chapter four, things began to mesh pretty well.
I really liked Rebecca and hurt for all she went through and how she’d lived her life trapped in the aftermath of the past. I also liked Brody, and their whole group of friends who intrigued and fascinated me. Overall, Texas Prey proved a good read, and a good start to the Mason Ridge series. I’m looking forward to reading the next book.
USA TODAY Bestselling Author Barb Han has written eleven books for Harlequin Intrigue since her first sale in 2013. She lives in Texas-her true north-with her adventurous family, a spunky golden retriever/poodle mix, and too many books (if there is such a thing). She loves romance novels, thriller movies, and cooking. Her favorite hobbies include hiking, swimming and skiing.
Barb loves to chat with readers every day on her Facebook page.
