Kidnapped by Holly Bush @hollybushbooks.bsky.social #TheBrownsOfButchersHill #Kidnapped

the setup…
Phillip Brown is a floor manager at the Wiest Oyster Cannery in 1867 Baltimore. He and his sister live nearby with the uncle that raised them following the death of their parents. It’s frigidly cold outside on a November morning when he discovers a woman lying unconscious and nearly frozen on the front stoop. They work to nurse her back to health, still not knowing her identity or why she came to be at their home. One evening when he had to deliver important papers at his employer’s home, he shared the information about the woman to Wiest’s daughter Virginia who took more than a passing interest in the situation. Phillip had no idea the firestorm he set off that evening that would lead to danger for him, his family and Virginia.

the heart of the story…
Phillip has a reputation in his neighborhood of being a “fixer,” not the criminal sort but the go-to person to help out those in need. Virginia seems to have a similar nature despite her breeding, determined to help out the woman abandoned on the Brown’s doorstep. He’s all alpha male and she’s feisty, a combination that you know was fueling an attraction. I liked both of them though Virginia took some crazy risks in her attempt to prove her independence to Phillip and her father.

the bottom line…
This turned out to be a thriller of an historical mystery with threats around every corner after the discovery of that unconscious woman. Phillip is fearless but also highly skilled at his job and dealing with the unsavory. The romantic tension between him and Virginia was obvious despite the differences in their stations. It’s an exciting story I hadn’t anticipated, one I almost consumed in one sitting. Great start to the new series!

Book Info

• Release Date: May 20, 2025
• Series: The Browns of Butcher’s Hill
• Page Numbers: 214
• Publisher: Self

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(Thanks to the author for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)