Two unpleasant men prowl in the heat, planning an abduction. The woman they want has a baby, and they intend to replace her and the child's bodies with those of homeless people before blowing up the house. The intended kidnap victim, Erin, is not wealthy or in league with crime; she's a computer developer who has created nanobots for medical purposes. But somebody wants to put the invention to military use. Clay Griffin - one of his names - is the absent father of Erin's child, and he gets warning that she's in danger. He's about to go off on a mission for a security firm, but he chooses to put his life on the line to save Erin and his child.

UNDERCOVER TEXAS has a tough-talking start, but we get out of the point of view of the kidnappers and stick with Erin and Clay, much more sympathetic people. While the location isn't initially clear, we then see it's Florida. Erin studied her way through school and college, and loves computers. Clay was her first affair while on holiday and she's coping admirably with a teething baby and a technical job. Clay takes some chances with the girl's life and that of the baby, but the alternative is worse.

I liked that when an alligator endangers people, we see that she is protecting her eggs, just as Erin finds the strength to attack a man threatening her son. The tale has plenty of action and the nicely inconvenient issue of looking after a baby separates it from predictable thrillers. The setting moves to Texas in the latter half and author Robin Perini maintains the tension.

UNDERCOVER TEXAS is romantic suspense all the way, with a feisty, intelligent heroine and a bundle of joy. This will make an exciting summer read.