Appropriately named with its play on words, “Miss Taken,” Kerri Nelson’s debut novella, is a story of mistaken identity and abduction, which makes a mockery of New Year’s resolutions when identical twins are not the same in character. Some sisterly conflict is brought out, as the heroine, Tabitha Stuart, discovers that being the 'fun' sister is not all it’s cut out to be. Kidnapped by a stranger named Steele, she finds herself falling for her captor, whose rough persona can’t hide the tenderness she evokes in him. Unfortunately, Steele is the right hand man of a dangerous crime lord, and Tabitha is his boss’s obsession. To reveal any feelings for her can lead to the unmasking of secrets that puts their lives in jeopardy. But Tabby must discover the mystery behind her abduction to save her life. Trouble escalates with the confusion; mistakes can be deadly.

I read this book in one sitting. Having forgotten the location of my car in a parking garage before, I could almost hear the echo of my own footsteps as Tabby vainly searched for her car in the empty parking garage at midnight, right before she was taken. Kerri Nelson writes a delightfully intriguing and romantically sexy story.

Julie Robinson