Books & Spoons Review for WYOMING UNDERCOVER by Karen Whiddon

In need of redemption, a Wyoming rogue must free a woman from a deadly cult

Private investigator Jack Moreno lives and breathes for the riskiest missions. But not even his elite training can prepare him for his latest operation: going undercover to rescue a child from a cult. In the process, he meets Sophia Hannah, a young, vulnerable nurse, who is days away from a forced marriage to the cult leader.

Sophia doesn’t know life beyond the invisible walls around her—or that her searing attraction to a handsome stranger is built on lies. Desperate to escape her fate as the next wife to be used and discarded, she turns to Jack. But as they chase freedom, they’ll confront an even more dangerous threat: the truth

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This story has a unique set up for the plot, and I admire how it all played out, how it seemed like the author had really thought out the cult and its different lifestyle and how it would affect on them to hear news or learn new things from the outside. 
The tension rises through the story as the terrifying details about the life and habits of the leader are revealed. To realize that you have lived a lie and that your life is in danger by the ones who were supposed to be protecting you is devastating perception to the members of the cult.
Sophia Hannah is a nurse at the clinic. Until she finds out she has been chosen as the next wife of the leader, she seems to be living a relatively happy life at the compound. She has her friends, a job she enjoys and gets fulfillment in, she loves to take walks and spent time with farm animals providing nourishment to people of the cult. She is romantic at heart, has dreamed about her wedding, and the man she is going to marry and the life they are going to live while watching her friends to find their mates. It isn't until the news of her upcoming nuptials, that there is a seed of displeasure planted in her mind. 
Jack Moreno is PI who has to succeed with his missing child case to keep his small company going. He is a recovering drug addict, six months sober from his addiction to the prescription pain pills. The addiction cost him his loved ones, making him an ample victim to the cult, to be kidnapped by the second in command. 
As you can see, this is a very different start to the story. I have read some books with cults before but the members were always fighting to get free or trying to escape even before things went wrong. Also, that the hero is a drug addict and struggling is something you don't often see, especially in category romance.
The storyline is captivating. I was mesmerized by the cult lifestyle and by the events occurring. I was not so convinced about the romance between Jack and Sophia, yes, they obviously cared about each other, but was it brought on by the circumstances or was it genuinely something that would last? Why was Jack entering into a serious relationship during his first year in recovery? Was Sophia leaning on him to get help, because she was afraid, or was the attraction true base for a long-lasting relationship? Did Jack ever get back with his family and friends? There were several points brought up by the story that I didn't get answers to or wanted more convincing in some cases, and that' why my scoring is lower. I had to actually sit on this review and think about it because, at the end of the book that held my interest, kept me captivated, and was well written with a natural flow, I felt I needed it to settle down a bit before I could say what I thought and why. 
A great setup and storyline, but might have needed a longer format to play out all the components in a thoroughly satisfying manner. Check out for yourself and let me know what you think
~ Three Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

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Published December 5th 2017 by Harlequin Romantic Suspense
​EBook edition $4,49

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Karen Whiddon spun fanciful tales for her younger brothers as early as the age of eleven. Growing up in the Catskill Mountains of New York, then the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, she found enough magic in the rugged peaks to keep her imagination fueled for years. 

Now making her home in North Texas, she shares her life with her hero-like husband and three doting dogs. She writes paranormal tales for Harlequin Nocturne including the popular Pack series and romantic suspense stories for Harlequin Romantic Suspense.

She's also written Fae novels for Lovespell and a long time ago, she wrote five Precious Gem Romances for Kensington publishing. These she now owns again and has put them up for sale on Amazon.com among other places

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