A Father's Desperate Rescue

Man on a Mission #5

by Amelia Autin

The latest chapter in the Man on a Mission series spotlights a film star in his darkest drama yet. Widower Dirk DeWinter is a screen legend, but his favorite role is caring for his twin toddlers. So when his daughters are kidnapped while he's on location in Hong Kong, the desperate dad enlists the help of private investigator Mei-li Moore to track them down. But digging up secrets from Dirk's past unleashes something more potentand dangerousthan either of them ever expected. Mei-li knows Dirk is off-limits, both professionally and emotionally, yet she still can't help but fall for the doting father. As their mission threatens to unravel, will they risk their hearts and lives to save the twinsand each other?"

Genres: Romance, Category Romance, Harlequin, Romantic Suspense

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2016

About the author

Award-winning author Amelia Autin is an inveterate reader who can’t bear to put a good book down…or part with it. She’s a long-time member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), and served three years as its treasurer. Amelia lost the love of her life in 2021 to the ravages of ALS. She currently resides in quiet Vail, Arizona, where she can see the stars at night and has a “million dollar view” of the Rincon Mountains from her back yard.

Reviews

[Debbie Oxier · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's getting more and more difficult to write a review for this series. I think one book is my favorite then the next one comes out and I find something I like even better. With A Father's Desperate Rescue it was a given I'd like the hero. I'd been in love with him from the first time he was introduced and now he has twins. Then to add flame to the fire, the cover was revealed. My heart melted. I have to admit it's one of my favorite covers of all time. Even so, I was a bit hesitant to buy into the story. Not the plot, itself. I love intrigue and danger and what could be more heartwrenching than a baby being kidnapped. Oh, wait! Try two babies being kidnapped. I couldn't begin to imagine what it would be like to lose one child, but two at the same time?

No, what gave me pause was the heroine, Mei-li. I'm not a big fan of foreign settings or my heroes and heroines being of a different nationality. Weird, I know, but that's just a quirk of mine. And it doesn't mean I won't read a book like that but let's just say I might not get quite as excited about said book as I would some others. HOWEVER . . . Once I began reading about Mei-li, it didn't take long for me to be hooked. Not only was she beautiful, but confident, kind, compassionate, dedicated to her job which in this case was finding and returning Dirk's twins, but she also wasn't afraid to bend the rules a little to accomplish her goal. I liked the fact she did her best to protect Dirk from further heartache along the way but was still professional enough that when she thought he deserved to know the truth, she didn't hesitate to inform him of what was happening no matter what. I also liked how protective she was in regards to Dirk and his daughters, advising him to trust no one, not even those closest to him. Mei-li was very savvy job-wise and put her client's best interests first.

As for Dirk (sigh), what can I say. He was tormented with guilt, blaming himself for not better protecting his twins. He'd promised his late wife, Bree, he would always love them and take care of them. Now, he'd let her down along with his daughters. He also blames himself because it was his past that caused them to be placed in harm's way to begin with, having once been forced to kill a man in defense of Bree, who at the time was his girlfriend. Now the dead man's father was exacting his revenge. Dirk was a movie star so he led a high profile life to begin with but he never once considered this man would target his daughters in order to get justice for his own son.

One thing that drew me to Dirk was that fame and fortune hadn't gone to his head. He was very well grounded and though he could live a more lavish lifestyle, he kept a good head on his shoulders. He was in no way arrogant and had no problem trusting a woman, Mei-li, to deal with the kidnapping. Although he was anguished over what his daughters were going through, he kept his emotions in check in order to deal sensibly with the kidnappers. He did, however, allow himself to feel when it came to Mei-li. He'd been attracted to her the moment he laid eyes on her, something that took him by surprise as he hadn't come close to feeling desire for a woman like that since his wife's death two years ago. The fact Mei-li was a private investigator and ransom negotiator fails to put him off in the least. He trusts her implicitly from the get go.

This book was fast-paced and had all the elements you look for in a romantic suspense. I was a little concerned at first about how the romance would play out in the midst of the kidnapping but the author did an excellent job with that. Even though Dirk and Mei-li were attracted to one another and kisses were exchanged, at no time did their attraction interfere with the situation going on around them. You never got the feeling such actions were wrong in light of the plot. And again, the author delved into the very hearts of her characters to express exactly how they were feeling at this time. It's one of the things that makes her books stand out above a lot of others you read. I'm hoping this won't be the last we see of Dirk and Mei-li. I'd also love to find out more about those adorable little girls of his since they were mainly in the background of this story. I would definitely recommend this one.

*I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review*

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of the latest Man on a Mission story is certainly appropriate, as a man finds himself in a horrific situation when his very young daughters are kidnapped. Dirk DeWinter was met in a prior book in the miniseries, where his wife gave him two cherished children before she died. Though he is a famous actor, his family means much more to him than any stardom or wealth. So when the girls are in danger because of an event that took place years ago, being in a foreign country adds to his problems. The days following the abduction are a roller-coaster ride of rising fears and mental torment, expertly entwined with the mounting suspense of what the kidnappers will do next and the unexpected emotional connection between two people on a frantic mission. Amelia Autin only gets better with every book written, and A FATHER’S DESPERATE RESCUE surpassed my every expectation.

From the moment Dirk DeWinter spied Mei-li Moore in a jazz club in Hong Kong, he was intrigued by her looks and is shocked at how much he would actually like to talk with her. Not since the death of his beloved wife has he noticed another woman in a sexual way, but he feels the time is still not right for him to make any type of move. Dirk is a popular movie star and is in the city making an action film. Since it will take several months to complete, his twin daughters came with him. But when the little girls are taken by someone, he will do anything to have them safely returned.

When it turns out Mei-li is a private investigator plus hostage negotiator, Dirk thinks she is his best bet in getting his children back unharmed. An incident that previously happened in his life is once again causing him trouble, and he is afraid this time the outcome may be devastating. As Dirk and Mei-li try to find the best solution for getting his girls back, they begin to see the other differently than only that of hostage negotiator and client.

The way in which Hong Kong is so vividly described all throughout the story had me feeling as though the setting was well known to me. While I may not have ever been there, I could clearly visualize each location from the colorful details that were easy to picture in my mind. Amelia Autin definitely makes every scene come across as credible, where genuine facts had me believing all situations that arise could occur as portrayed. By knowing about the threat to the children from the very start, the whole book is a race against time to bring them back to their father. Mother Nature even causes a threat to make circumstances more challenging.

While the escalating suspense in the story is noteworthy, the romantic aspects are just as memorable. From the admirable behavior of Dirk and Mei-li to their exceedingly honest reactions, I found them to be a very believable couple. They have insightful conversations about the kidnapping plus their personal lives, and each new revelation drew me more into the storyline. The more I learned about Dirk and Mei-Li, the more I wanted them to have fulfilling future lives. Their relationship grows realistically and is packed with sincere feelings that had me experiencing their every thought and response right along with them. Hopefully, there will be many more Man on a Mission stories to come. A FATHER’S DESPERATE RESCUE is unforgettable romantic suspense, where developments are unforeseen and emotions are conflicted.

Copy received from author for Always Reviewing blog

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story caught me by surprise, I enjoyed Mrs. Autin description of Hong Kong. While I read this last year, the details may be fuzzy, but Mrs. Autin outstandingly wrote the struggle Dirk faced trying to raise his twin toddler daughters, while grieving for the wife and love of his life he lost a few years ago, but he‘s also trying to finish shooting his on location movie.


After trouble starts for him and his girls, he hires PI, Mei-li, she begins to dig into his past causing Dirk to have to face some of his problems|history. While it probably helped him grieve, it also allowed him to see Mei-li as someone more than just a private investigator | bodyguard.

[each characters history, is Just another reason I’m looking forward to rereading this series~it contains some of my favorite books|stories of all time]

Mei-Li is instantly attracted to Dirk, but he’s her client and she knows it would never work out. But as she begins to fall in love with Dirks twin girls and then having to locate them, she knows she’s going to have a broken heart before this was all over but she couldn’t find it in her to regret their time together.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. By the end of King's Ransom I really wanted to see Dirk, a secondary character, get his own story. He was the actor playing opposite the heroine, Juliana, and a very good friend to her. At the end of the book, his beloved wife died after giving birth to twin girls. His devastation was heartbreaking and I really wanted to see him happy again.

This book begins two years later. Dirk is in Hong Kong filming a new movie. His daughters have traveled with him, along with their nanny and bodyguards. He arrives back at their hotel suite to find the nanny and a bodyguard bound and gagged and the girls missing. It turned out that Mei-li Moore, daughter of his producer/director, is a private investigator and hostage negotiator and is called in to help Dirk find his girls.

I really liked Dirk. In both the previous book and this one, it was obvious that he was a good and honorable man. He had loved his wife and adored his daughters. He isn't the conceited jerk that so many actors are, but a very down-to-earth man. However, he is suffering from a boatload of guilty feelings. He blames himself for not protecting them better, especially when he discovers it's someone from his past trying to exact revenge. Many years before, Dirk had killed a man who had assaulted his girlfriend (later his wife). He also believes that his wife's death is punishment for what happened. For the most part, he is able to keep a level head while dealing with the kidnappers, though he does have the occasional lapse. I loved the way that he had complete confidence in Mei-li and her ability to find his girls.

Mei-li was fantastic. A beautiful woman, she is also intelligent and independent, and very good at what she does. I loved the way that she came in and took charge without being abrasive about it. It isn't too far into the story that we discover the very personal reason she became a hostage negotiator and private investigator. Having lost her fiance to a kidnapping and ransom gone wrong, she prides herself on doing whatever necessary to ensure a successful outcome. What she hasn't done is to move on from his death and open herself up to risking her heart again.

I loved the relationship that developed between Dirk and Mei-li. Though it was first and foremost a professional one, neither could deny the sparks that flew between them. One of my favorite things was that at no time did those sparks interfere with their goal, nor did they give in to them at inappropriate times. As they worked together to fulfill the kidnappers' demands, they also learned about each other, developing a trust that allowed them to share things they'd never told anyone else. Because of her own experiences, Mei-li was well aware of the pain Dirk was suffering, and I loved the way that she was determined to help him heal. It was even more moving because she had no idea if her feelings were returned, and knew that she could be setting herself up for heartbreak. Dirk had to allow himself to let go of his grief for his wife before he could contemplate a future with Mei-li. I loved his honesty when talking to Mei-li about those feelings. I especially loved his patience at the end, as he agreed to her conditions and her nervousness and vulnerability when those conditions were over. It was especially sweet to see how Dirk tries to think of every possible obstacle and find a way to overcome it.

The suspense of the story was great, starting from the very beginning. It opens from the bad guy's point of view, letting us know right away what his motivation was, as well as a glimpse of his intentions. From the moment the girls are taken, the action is almost constant. While Dirk and Mei-li are rarely in any physical danger, the mental and emotional turmoil is constant. They realize very quickly that there may be someone on the inside working against them, causing them to be able to completely trust only each other. There was enough doubt about each suspect that I never got a definite feel for who it was until the end, though there were a couple that I was pretty sure were innocent. I loved Mei-li's intensity and how it worked for them. Though there was some holding back on her part at the beginning, until she was certain of Dirk's commitment, once she was, their teamwork was outstanding. With each bit of information they uncovered, I could feel them getting closer to success, but it was still touch and go. I was intrigued by the assistance that Mei-li was receiving, and suspected the identity of that helper. As the deadline grew closer, the intensity increased. I loved the final confrontation and how satisfying it was to see Dirk and Mei-li be a part of it. I loved seeing all the bad guys get what was coming to them.

One of the greatest characters of the book was Hong Kong itself. The descriptions of the city, from the sights to the smells to the weather were so vivid that I felt as though I was there. The descriptions of the places where the ransom drops were made were so fascinating that I was compelled to look them up and see what they looked like, making the book even more realistic to me.

There were also two secondary characters that I really liked. Rafe, the bodyguard, who was also a retired Marine. He obviously loved the two little girls and his determination to help find them was awesome. I was also fascinated by what little I saw of Mei-li's brother Jason. I suspect that he has had a very interesting life and I would love to see him in his own book!

*copy received in exchanged for honest review.

[Kesha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The twist about who was guilty and who wasnt was nice.

[knots · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can I just say it is refreshing to see a heroine who has an unusual profession (hostage negotiater) good at her job and half-Asian to boot.The hero, a dreamy Hollywood star has secrets of his own.Which resulted in his twins being kidnapped.A good plot,the H & h have chemistry and what more do you want.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The hero of this story, Dirk DeWinter, first appeared in King's Ransom. I have enjoyed all books by this author, but that was my favorite. This book was excellent, but not as easy to read as some. I think that was partly the location, Hong Kong. I know nothing about the city. The author is very familiar with the city and the city was a big part of the story. Because it is so unfamiliar to me, it was harder to read than it would have been had the story been set somewhere else.

Dirk had been widowed in King's Ransom. I wondered who the author would select for him. This couldn't be a light hearted story. Dirk had loved deeply before. He wouldn't have been interested in anything less. Mei-le appears in his life when he's reeling from another major blow-- his precious daughters have been kidnapped.

The author skillfully brings their story to life with lots of tension and twists along the way. Even tho it was harder to read because of the location, Hong Kong played a major role in the story. Because Dirk was in an unfamiliar place, he had to rely on Mei-le in ways he wouldn't have done on his home turf.

I recommend this book. You won't be disappointed. Reading the previous book featuring Dirk would be helpful, but this book stands alone.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Placing young children in danger for the sake of a storyline is a risky move—or a gutsy one, take your choice. Here, the peril to the children arises from a man bent on vengeance who feels his son’s murderer was wrongfully acquitted.

The plotline is racked with tension as we hope that the twin girls will be retrieved. Of course, this is a romance and chances are excellent that they’ll come out of this alive. But the threat is admirably written and increases the undeniable attraction between the two romantic leads.

Both of them are nursing wounds brought on the deaths of loved ones. We’re made to believe that no one else has really matched up to the deceased significant others and that they’ve both remained physically as well as spiritually faithful. This is where the kidnapping really plays into the story. If both leads weren’t focused on getting the girls back, wouldn’t they dive into bed more quickly than they do? Wouldn’t that lead to a swift if unsatisfactory romantic bond?

Ms. Autin has managed to wind the elements of peril and ardor together so that each complements the other without cheapening either component. It makes for one heady, danger-filled story, with enticing leading characters as well as intriguing secondary types as well.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the reasons why I love Amelia Autin's Romantic Suspense novels is because the author never fails to add drama and suspense on the page and since these are my favorite components in a good novel I can attest that this book is no different! The latest addition to the Man on a Mission miniseries, A Father’s Desperate Rescue is a fresh and unique story. It is fast-paced and intense. The dialogue gives you an in-depth glimpse into the lives of the characters and Ms. Amelia did a wonderful job making the overall story realistic. I felt Dirk’s emotions…they were raw and believable. The heroine Mei-li surprised me, not because of her ethnicity but because she is one kick-ass woman. She added the danger-factor to Dirk’s filmy lifestyle. They were two polar opposites whose attraction exploded on the page. Loved it!

Highly Recommended
5 Stars

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Father's Desperate Rescue a Man On A Mission series by Amelia Autin. A very good romantic suspense book. Widower Dirk DeWinter is making a movie in Hong Kong. He takes his twin toddlers with him and the housekeeper and three bodyguards. One of the bodyguards becomes a bad guy to pay for his gambling debts. The twins are kidnapped. He hires private investigator Mei-Li Moore to help get his daughters back. Romance is in the air.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 solid stars
PG-13

**Read as a Judge for the 2017 HOLT Medallion Contest**

Solid book - good plot, interesting characters… comfortingly predictable. While the book stretches credulity a bit, it pulls you in right away and holds on tight until the end. I liked the “celebrity” part; it's easy to forget that they’re people, too, who try to live some of their lives off-camera and off-screen.

The Macao info about kidnappings and how they’re handled was fascinating. (Is it true?) Wow, what a profession to have!

But the cover... it's just too cheesy, despite the hero's slight resemblance to Chris H. I get it, but somehow this cover doesn't work for me.

[Jeniver Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the heroine. She was like Miss Marple from Agatha Christie.She was a brilliant woman that could solved the kidnapping problem. My complain that i want to read more about the heroine bonded with the hero's daughters

[SharonJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books in the Man on a Mission series. Your heart goes out to Dirk who is trying to raise his twin daughters alone after the death of his wife. He is working in Hong Kong when someone kidnaps his daughters. He enlists the help of a beautiful private investigator and then the sparks start to fly. I loved the exotic location and the way the author develops the relationship between Dirk and Mei-li.

[Harlequin Books]

"In a high-stakes situation that lasts for four days, Dirk and Mei-li search for his missing daughters. An intriguing plot filled with plenty of action will keep readers turning the pages" (4 stars @ RT Book Reviews).

Miniseries: Man on a Mission

[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is SO GOOD!!!!!!! I wasn't sure how it would work for Dirk being so in love with Bree to fall in love again but Ms Autin made it totally believable. Dirk’s and Mei-li’s personalities were SO well-written!!!! What an awesome book!!! I LOVED it!!

[Usedbook · Rating 5 out of 5]

really enjoyed, couldn't put down. the whole series has been amazing. i highly recommend,this series

[Coral · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars