Kate Westfall thought she was done with her family’s secrets. Think again.
Finding Kate is the second in the Texas Hill County series by Pamela Humphrey. It immediately follows the first book, Finding Claire, which I highly recommend you read before diving into Finding Kate. Otherwise, Finding Kate won’t make much sense!
You can read my review of Finding Claire here.
Kate, after discovering the truth about her background and identity, including her real family, decides to move from Denver to Schatzenburg, Texas. In the first book, she met Alex Ramirez, a lonely widower, and they spent a lot of time together under dire circumstances. Alex and Kate developed feelings that were more than just the friendship-type, and at the beginning of this book, they are still sorting those feelings out.
The beginning of Finding Kate seems a bit slow. The reader feels like the dust has settled for Kate and Alex after how Finding Claire ended with such a bang, and now it’s just a matter of them figuring out their lives going forward. Kate moving to Texas to be closer to her father and Alex, in addition to moving into the home she inherited, is the focus at first. Alex comes with Kate to Denver to meet her friends and help her pack up her apartment. Putting things in boxes and harmless talk feel mundane after what they have just been through a few days ago, but that’s part of getting back to real life.
Kate’s neighbor, Keith, stops by and is surprised she is leaving. I detect jealousy in Keith, as he seems to like her and doesn’t care for Alex, who is hanging around the apartment. The neighbor feels out of place, but maybe he’s just a weirdo. Kate and Alex hit the road for Texas, and then things start to unravel when Jeff, the husband of Kate’s best friend (LeAnn), gets kidnapped, and it’s tied to Kate.
Poor Kate just can’t seem to get a break. In addition to this new kidnapper who wants something from her, Kate starts to feel like things have moved too quickly between her and Alex. She wonders if their attachment is simply the result of being forced together and going through stressful circumstances. Whenever Alex tries to physically get close to Kate, she pulls away, and the reader starts to get the sense that there’s something else in her past that’s haunting her.
No place is safe for Kate or Alex — neither his cabin nor her new house (dubbed “the castle”), as they gave Alex’s address as the forwarding address for Kate when she moved away, and Schatzenburg is a small town where everyone knows everyone’s business. The news of Kate’s family history has spread like wildfire in the small town, and everyone knows who she is, including someone who is following her and wants something from her.
Interwoven with the narrative are old letters written to Kate’s aunt Beth from a mysterious woman named “M.” M and “Sticks” (who we later find out is Scott Bentley, Kate’s uncle) are the parents of a little boy named “Scooter.” Sticks had an affair with M, and Scooter was the result. When Sticks disappeared from Scooter’s life, the young boy became pent up with resentment and anger.
How do these letters tie into Kate’s story? Who is following her? What do they want?
And can Kate move past whatever it is that’s bothering her, so she can be happy with Alex?
So many questions, and I know the answers…but that would be spoiling the book for you! Suffice it to say that as I got further into Finding Kate, I was definitely drawn into the story more and more, needing to know the resolution to these questions…and more!
The book has a satisfying ending and doesn’t leave any loose ends. I would recommend this book to lovers of romance and suspense.
Four out of five stars.
