photo and info from goodreads.com
Chasing Amanda
By Melissa Foster
available in e-book
377 pages Published April 12th 2011 by Solstice Publishing
Source: E-ARC copy courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
Chasing Amanda by Melissa FosterGoodreads Book Synopsis
Nine years ago, Molly Tanner witnessed a young girl’s abduction in the busy city of Philadelphia, shifting her occasional clairvoyance into overdrive. Two days later, the girl’s body was found, and Molly’s life fell apart. Consumed by guilt for not acting upon her visions, and on the brink of losing her family, Molly escaped the torturous reminders in the city, fleeing to the safety of the close-knit rural community of Boyds, Maryland.
Molly’s life is back on track, her son has begun college, and she and her husband have finally rekindled their relationship. Their fresh start is shattered when a seven-year-old girl disappears from a local park near Molly’s home. Unable to turn her back on another child and troubled by memories of the past, Molly sets out to find her, jeopardizing the marriage she’d fought so hard to hold together. While unearthing clues and struggling to decipher her visions, Molly discovers another side of Boyds, where the residents--and the land itself--hold potentially lethal secrets, and exposes another side of her husband, one that threatens to tear them apart
My ThoughtsHow many of us have watched the Stepford Wives or read the book and wished we could live in such a picturesque and tranquil small town setting? Due to a tragedy that occurred nine years prior Molly Tanner gets to move to such a place in Maryland, however just like the fictional town of Stepford Connecticut Boyd's has buried secrets that are every bit as shocking to Molly as they are to long time residents.
Having read this stories description when asked to be a part of the fall blog tour for the author my first response was going to be a no to reading and reviewing Chasing Amanda as it sounded like something quite intense and a bit out of my comfort zone as I prefer fantasy over reality... I was pleasantly surprised, Molly captured my heart as soon as started reading... You could feel her anguish coming through the pages of the book, how could anyone ever live with themselves if they knew deep in their soul that they could help a child escape from a dangerous situation? It was inspiring to watch how Molly not only stood up to but actually defied her own husband to follow her heart, despite the fact it may cost her everything she holds dear, to try to help find little Tracey!
There is an entire cast of characters in this book that the reader learns a little more about with each turn of the page, there is however no difficulty at all in following what is going on as the story flows easily and before you even realize the time has passed the mysteries are revealed and the book is finished.
While it is true that the book put me through quite a bit emotionally living out the terrible memories that caused Molly and her family to move to Maryland in the first place and then watching the plot unfold with all it's many twists and turns that take you from despair to joy I realized after finishing that not only was Chasing Amanda something that I enjoyed over all but the story had a positive impact on me because it had a positive outcome.
I recommend this book to those of us who like to stretch our reading into areas
Although this book is in no way light and airy reading, the intense subject matter of child abduction is one that parents as well as people like myself with no children do not take lightly, it is a good solid read that will allow you to look deep inside and ask yourself if you have the fortitude and the courage to act on your strongest beliefs and help someone in need. The paranormal elements experienced by the characters added a bit of intrigue as well as drama and while I do not whole heartedly embrace Psychic Phenomena I did believe in Molly Tanner and her gift.
I have to disclose that this book was an ebook review copy submitted to me by the author for an honest review and that there is no other compensation from her or the publisher except for the review copy and my reading pleasure and enjoyment of the characters depicted in the story.Places to find author Melissa Foster
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