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Finding Emma #1
Finding Emma
Megan sees her daughter Emma everywhere. She's the little girl standing in the supermarket, the child waiting for the swings at the playground, the girl with ice cream dripping down her face. But it's never Emma.
Emma's been missing for two years.
Unable to handle the constant heartache of all the false sightings, Megan's husband threatens to walk away unless Megan can agree to accept Emma is gone. Megan's life and marriage is crumbling all around her and she realizes she may have to do the thing she dreads most: move on.
When Megan takes a photo of a little girl with an elderly couple at the town fair, she believes it to be her missing daughter. Unable to let go, she sets in motion a sequence of events that could destroy both families lives.
Proceeds from each book sold will be donated to Missing Children's Society of Canada - www.mscs.ca - an organization dedicated to reuniting families.
Emma's been missing for two years.
Unable to handle the constant heartache of all the false sightings, Megan's husband threatens to walk away unless Megan can agree to accept Emma is gone. Megan's life and marriage is crumbling all around her and she realizes she may have to do the thing she dreads most: move on.
When Megan takes a photo of a little girl with an elderly couple at the town fair, she believes it to be her missing daughter. Unable to let go, she sets in motion a sequence of events that could destroy both families lives.
Proceeds from each book sold will be donated to Missing Children's Society of Canada - www.mscs.ca - an organization dedicated to reuniting families.
265 pages, Paperback
First published March 14, 2012
1280 people are currently reading
6339 people want to read
About the author
Steena Holmes
56 books1,576 followersSteena Holmes is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with nearly 3 million copies of her titles sold worldwide, including The Patient, The Forgotten Ones, and Sister Under the Stairs.
Named in the Top 20 Women Author to Read by Good Housekeeping, she won the National Indie Excellence Award for her breakout novel Finding Emma and the USA Book News Award for The Word Game. Steena has been featured in various newspapers and magazines, websites such as Goodreads, BookBub, RedBook, Glamour, Coastal Living and Goodhousekeeping.
One of Steena's passions is to travel with her readers, so she created her Sweet Tours, where she shares her love for the sweet life with her readers, whether in Paris, Italy, or exploring Christmas Markets.
To learn more about her books and join her on the next Sweet Tour, visit her website at http://www.steenaholmes.com.
You can also find Steena on the web at:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/authorsteenaholmes
Facebook: SteenaHolmes.author
LIST OF HER NOVELS STARTING FROM MOST RECENT:
SHE TOOK MY BABY
THE GIRLS IN THE BASEMENT (follow up to The Sister Under the Stairs)
THE TWIN
ENGAGED TO A SERIAL KILLER
THE SISTER UNDER THE STAIRS
THE PATIENT
THE FORGOTTEN ONES
SAVING ABBY & ABBY'S JOURNEY
THE WORD GAME
Stillwater Bay Series:
Stillwater Shores
Stillwater Rising
Stillwater Tides
Stillwater Deep
The Memory Child & The Memory Journal
FINDING EMMA series:
Finding Emma
Dear Jack
Emma's Secret
Dottie's Memories
Megan's Hope
Named in the Top 20 Women Author to Read by Good Housekeeping, she won the National Indie Excellence Award for her breakout novel Finding Emma and the USA Book News Award for The Word Game. Steena has been featured in various newspapers and magazines, websites such as Goodreads, BookBub, RedBook, Glamour, Coastal Living and Goodhousekeeping.
One of Steena's passions is to travel with her readers, so she created her Sweet Tours, where she shares her love for the sweet life with her readers, whether in Paris, Italy, or exploring Christmas Markets.
To learn more about her books and join her on the next Sweet Tour, visit her website at http://www.steenaholmes.com.
You can also find Steena on the web at:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/authorsteenaholmes
Facebook: SteenaHolmes.author
LIST OF HER NOVELS STARTING FROM MOST RECENT:
SHE TOOK MY BABY
THE GIRLS IN THE BASEMENT (follow up to The Sister Under the Stairs)
THE TWIN
ENGAGED TO A SERIAL KILLER
THE SISTER UNDER THE STAIRS
THE PATIENT
THE FORGOTTEN ONES
SAVING ABBY & ABBY'S JOURNEY
THE WORD GAME
Stillwater Bay Series:
Stillwater Shores
Stillwater Rising
Stillwater Tides
Stillwater Deep
The Memory Child & The Memory Journal
FINDING EMMA series:
Finding Emma
Dear Jack
Emma's Secret
Dottie's Memories
Megan's Hope
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 733 reviews
July 26, 2015
Such a dreadful book, poorly written, no character development, massive plotholes, badly edited, really bad! The two main female characters are so unsympathetic - firstly there is the mother, Megan, whose daughter is kidnapped. Megan is very unlikeable and totally self absorbed and so melodramatic. She also is in the habit of falling asleep during the day with her 3 year old child outside of the house so big surprise that the child goes missing! I can't describe how much I hated this character, was so horrid. Secondly there is Dottie who is caring for her granddaughter. She is such a strange woman, so thoughtless and uncaring of what her granddaughter's needs are such as to have friends and venture outside the farm. And she really couldn't care less about her husband either who is so damn patient with her! I really wanted something bad to happen to her. Peter, Megan's husband, was difficult to get to know due to bad writing but he seemed ok, just very bland. Papa, Dottie's husband is quite lovely and he's the only one I gave two hoots about. It just annoyed me that he was so under his wife's thumb. There was no suspense in this story whatsoever, it was quite obvious what was going to happen almost immediately. Good premise for a story but such bad execution.
December 3, 2015
Three year old Emma was a delight – Megan and Bruce had a wonderful life with three beautiful daughters; Alexis was the eldest, Hannah the middle child and Emma their youngest. But the day Emma was kidnapped from their home was the day the life of the family changed forever.
Two years on and Megan’s family was fracturing. She looked on a daily basis for Emma; but in doing so she was neglecting her other family members. Hannah and Alexis were hurting – Bruce was trying to keep his family together. But he couldn’t do it; Megan needed to focus on her husband and girls who were still with her or she would lose them as well. Megan’s best friend was a constant source of comfort; but even she could see things needed to change.
Megan’s heartache and loss was overwhelming – she was also aware the people around her were important too. But could she move on; could she finally accept that it wasn’t likely they would see Emma again? Was this family destined to remain broken forever?
I absolutely loved Finding Emma by author Steena Holmes. A heartbreaking story of love and loss intermingled with a desperate hope; it is every parent’s worst nightmare of having a child taken. Suspenseful, gripping and emotional, Finding Emma is a wonderful read and one I have no hesitation in recommending highly. I’ll be onto the sequel, Emma’s Secret soon.
Two years on and Megan’s family was fracturing. She looked on a daily basis for Emma; but in doing so she was neglecting her other family members. Hannah and Alexis were hurting – Bruce was trying to keep his family together. But he couldn’t do it; Megan needed to focus on her husband and girls who were still with her or she would lose them as well. Megan’s best friend was a constant source of comfort; but even she could see things needed to change.
Megan’s heartache and loss was overwhelming – she was also aware the people around her were important too. But could she move on; could she finally accept that it wasn’t likely they would see Emma again? Was this family destined to remain broken forever?
I absolutely loved Finding Emma by author Steena Holmes. A heartbreaking story of love and loss intermingled with a desperate hope; it is every parent’s worst nightmare of having a child taken. Suspenseful, gripping and emotional, Finding Emma is a wonderful read and one I have no hesitation in recommending highly. I’ll be onto the sequel, Emma’s Secret soon.
March 23, 2012
Loved this book. It is the story of a Mother who child is there one moment and gone the next. You might think a woman who went through this would give up on life completely, but Megan can't. She has two other children and a husband to consider. This is truly a heart-wrenching story that will send you off to hug your own babies. It is an Amazon best seller and easy to understand why.
March 13, 2012
Finding Emma is a story that goes straight to the heart. Suspenseful and gripping, the reader experiences the full range of emotions as author Steena Holmes artfully guides us through an experience we all hope we never face.
Megan and Peter, the parents of three sweet daughters, begin the long journey into a parent's worst nightmare when three-year-old Emma suddenly disappears from her own home.
Through two years of searching, praying, and wishing, her loss consumes the family and no one more so than Megan. Frantically hoping for Emma's safe return, her mother experiences several false alarms. Her constant emotional focus on what happened to Emma takes precedence over everything and as time goes by her relationships with the rest of her family fall victim as well.
Sisters Alexis and Hannah, struggling to cope with their own feelings, sense the loss their mother is suffering and begin to question their place in her heart as time goes by. Peter feels his relationship with Megan is slipping as she unwittingly indicates it is not a priority. Every step of Megan's battle to find a balance in her life, which must always include the dream of Emma's return, touched me deeply.
Author Holmes has obviously researched her topics well. Finding Emma is so skillfully crafted it feels more like fact than fiction. Kudos also for donating proceeds from each sale to the Missing Children's Society of Canada.!
Megan and Peter, the parents of three sweet daughters, begin the long journey into a parent's worst nightmare when three-year-old Emma suddenly disappears from her own home.
Through two years of searching, praying, and wishing, her loss consumes the family and no one more so than Megan. Frantically hoping for Emma's safe return, her mother experiences several false alarms. Her constant emotional focus on what happened to Emma takes precedence over everything and as time goes by her relationships with the rest of her family fall victim as well.
Sisters Alexis and Hannah, struggling to cope with their own feelings, sense the loss their mother is suffering and begin to question their place in her heart as time goes by. Peter feels his relationship with Megan is slipping as she unwittingly indicates it is not a priority. Every step of Megan's battle to find a balance in her life, which must always include the dream of Emma's return, touched me deeply.
Author Holmes has obviously researched her topics well. Finding Emma is so skillfully crafted it feels more like fact than fiction. Kudos also for donating proceeds from each sale to the Missing Children's Society of Canada.!
July 4, 2013
Holy moly, this was some bad writing. I found it while poking around the selections in the kindle free lending library and it had tons of great reviews. Which really makes you wonder. This was self-published, and while the author thanks an editor in her acknowledgements, I suspect it was more managing editor type of help. There is no way that anyone with any editing skill whatsoever went through this manuscript, which uses the same phrases over and over again, and is jam-packed with nails-on-the-chalkboard grammatical errors.
September 13, 2017
It's somewhat of a gamble picking up a freebie in the Kindle library, sometimes that gamble pays off and other times it doesn't. Although this story had lots of favourable ratings, I wasn't impressed, although I did give it the benefit of the doubt.
The writing nor the storyline is absolutely terrible, it just happens to be very bland. There is little depth to the characters - my favourite being Papa, perhaps the only half interesting protagonist here - and what should have been a gripping missing child saga just didn't resonate with me. I can handle a degree of cheese in stories like this but at times the author relied too heavily on this method.
Emma herself, the missing toddler, is arguably more well spoken than many of the other characters. Many of the interactions between mother, father and her older siblings ranged from full on corniness to unbelievable.
I discovered this book is a first in a series of Emma and her family but I can say with some confidence this isn't a saga I will continue with.
The writing nor the storyline is absolutely terrible, it just happens to be very bland. There is little depth to the characters - my favourite being Papa, perhaps the only half interesting protagonist here - and what should have been a gripping missing child saga just didn't resonate with me. I can handle a degree of cheese in stories like this but at times the author relied too heavily on this method.
Emma herself, the missing toddler, is arguably more well spoken than many of the other characters. Many of the interactions between mother, father and her older siblings ranged from full on corniness to unbelievable.
I discovered this book is a first in a series of Emma and her family but I can say with some confidence this isn't a saga I will continue with.
August 29, 2018
This was a very empathetic read. Very moving. And any parents worst nightmare. Two years ago three year old Emma went missing from her home/yard. One minute she is with her family and the next gone. No trace or clues are found as to what happened. I cannot even begin to truly imagine what that must be like. Steena Holmes does an amazing good of showing us on possible scenario to watch play out. This is a very down to earth, putting yourself in someone else's shoes.
Megan, Emma's mother, looks into more safety plans for kids but cannot seem to move beyond the loss and is often in trouble for seeing her daughter in other kids and refuses to give up searching. Her husband wants to move on with their lives and possibly away from her. And what about their other two daughters? We get so many different personalities in the face of a tragedy and each one unique. Each will pull on those empathy strings we have attached to our hearts.
But this isn't just their story. We also get Jack and his family his happy, loving yet slightly broken family. What his story is I will not say, but it sure had me contemplating how this might end and what would the outcome have on each and every character. Jack's character is actually my favorite in all this. I wish I got a better feel for Emma though. I couldn't feel much for her one way or another. It was frustrating.
It is not a black and white story of someone how intentionally does wrong. It has all the feels in it for readers to enjoy. Yet not overwhelmingly so. It brushes us just enough to begin to understand. While one cannot begin to understand where someone who has lost a child is coming from, this book opens our eyes to a few possibilities. It has a very real feel to it all. The characters are rich and the story is emotionally charged.
Megan, Emma's mother, looks into more safety plans for kids but cannot seem to move beyond the loss and is often in trouble for seeing her daughter in other kids and refuses to give up searching. Her husband wants to move on with their lives and possibly away from her. And what about their other two daughters? We get so many different personalities in the face of a tragedy and each one unique. Each will pull on those empathy strings we have attached to our hearts.
But this isn't just their story. We also get Jack and his family his happy, loving yet slightly broken family. What his story is I will not say, but it sure had me contemplating how this might end and what would the outcome have on each and every character. Jack's character is actually my favorite in all this. I wish I got a better feel for Emma though. I couldn't feel much for her one way or another. It was frustrating.
It is not a black and white story of someone how intentionally does wrong. It has all the feels in it for readers to enjoy. Yet not overwhelmingly so. It brushes us just enough to begin to understand. While one cannot begin to understand where someone who has lost a child is coming from, this book opens our eyes to a few possibilities. It has a very real feel to it all. The characters are rich and the story is emotionally charged.
November 9, 2013
I had read the sequel first (Emma's Secret), and felt that to clear up some of the holes from that book I needed to read this one to get the full story. Honestly, not as good as Emma's Secret, and all of the same complaints only actually heightened as a reader. Grammatical errors throughout the text, odd breaks in chapters, lots of odd structures and even a lack of fluidity at times. There were also discrepancies between the two novels - one example was in Emma's Secret, Emma has a stuffed lion toy that she calls Tiger, but in this one it is a pink stuffed lion she calls Pinky. I also found certain sentence structure or descriptive redundancies to be irritating after a while - example: characters constantly biting their lips as an action for anticipation/anxiety/excitement/fear/concern/uneasiness (a description used way too many times!), or that the author would say things like "He had that look in his eyes. Again." those little one word sentences littered the writing and it just became irritating to the eye and was so unnecessary to the overall text. I just didn't feel that the author really explored the characters and the circumstance well enough. Overall I felt it lacked maturity, sincerity, and believability. Also one of the characters having dementia, while an interesting additive to the plot that makes the reader feel for the elderly couple, wasn't always realistic and made me question the author's research on the topic (coming from someone who studied gerontology at the graduate level and has worked in the field of dementia and adults with memory loss for a number of years).
The concept of the story is interesting, a child abducted from her home by an elderly woman experiencing dementia and the couple takes the child in as their granddaughter (Jack being under the impression that Emma was legitimately their granddaughter). Many abduction stories are infused with a lot of abuse, whereas this one is actually a very loving story of how this child bonds with this older couple. The other half of the story is based around the toll Emma's disappearance has had on her biological parents. However, I didn't think it was well executed and could have used several sizable edits before actually being printed.
Additionally, I think that it would have benefited the author to actually explore and expand more. Such as... the first chapter was the abduction viewed primarily from the mother's perspective, and then it skips over two years so chapter two is already after a ton of things happen that are only simply referred back to without much emotion. I would have liked to have "seen" those two years as a reader, instead of just having references back, as a way to better understand and strengthen the story, the characters, the pain, the love, the tension, the background, etc. I want a full experience as a reader, but I think that the author basically cheated the story by skipping over the two years of Emma's disappearance, and it resulted in a much weaker novel.
I was honestly disappointed with this read. I definitely wanted more as the concept of the story lends itself to much more than the author produced.
The concept of the story is interesting, a child abducted from her home by an elderly woman experiencing dementia and the couple takes the child in as their granddaughter (Jack being under the impression that Emma was legitimately their granddaughter). Many abduction stories are infused with a lot of abuse, whereas this one is actually a very loving story of how this child bonds with this older couple. The other half of the story is based around the toll Emma's disappearance has had on her biological parents. However, I didn't think it was well executed and could have used several sizable edits before actually being printed.
Additionally, I think that it would have benefited the author to actually explore and expand more. Such as... the first chapter was the abduction viewed primarily from the mother's perspective, and then it skips over two years so chapter two is already after a ton of things happen that are only simply referred back to without much emotion. I would have liked to have "seen" those two years as a reader, instead of just having references back, as a way to better understand and strengthen the story, the characters, the pain, the love, the tension, the background, etc. I want a full experience as a reader, but I think that the author basically cheated the story by skipping over the two years of Emma's disappearance, and it resulted in a much weaker novel.
I was honestly disappointed with this read. I definitely wanted more as the concept of the story lends itself to much more than the author produced.
November 10, 2012
A 3 to girl disappears, leaving her parents and 2 sisters in perpetual unrest two years afterward.
Elsewhere, two grandparents are raising their 5 yo granddaughter.
There's no mystery, the girls even have similar names, Emma and Emmie. The characters are likable, albeit one-dimnensional, the plot predictable, the writing marginal. The writing contained many cliches, confusing pronouns, and the most egregious grammar taboo, starting too many sentences with "it".
One of the minor characters was a 3 yo with Down syndrome. This character is poorly researched since kids with Downs don't meet developmental milestones at the same pace as their healthy peers. Other readers might not take issue with the accuracy of the character, I'm a stickler for that.
The story is a fine read. I never thought of not finishing the story. I didn't feel particularly satisfied when I finished. When I enjoy books, I always rereading them at at some point. I reread the best books as soon as I finish my first read. This is a story I will only read once.
Elsewhere, two grandparents are raising their 5 yo granddaughter.
There's no mystery, the girls even have similar names, Emma and Emmie. The characters are likable, albeit one-dimnensional, the plot predictable, the writing marginal. The writing contained many cliches, confusing pronouns, and the most egregious grammar taboo, starting too many sentences with "it".
One of the minor characters was a 3 yo with Down syndrome. This character is poorly researched since kids with Downs don't meet developmental milestones at the same pace as their healthy peers. Other readers might not take issue with the accuracy of the character, I'm a stickler for that.
The story is a fine read. I never thought of not finishing the story. I didn't feel particularly satisfied when I finished. When I enjoy books, I always rereading them at at some point. I reread the best books as soon as I finish my first read. This is a story I will only read once.
March 14, 2012
As a mother, this is your worst fear! To have your child disappear and have to continue living day to day. How would you do it? How would you go on if every time you turned around you thought you saw her?
This is what Megan suffers through. For years as her marriage and family crumble around her, she hangs on to the hope that Emma is out there.
Finding Emma is a heartbreaking story of a mother's journey of hope. I was captured by the emotion and depth of the characters from the beginning. And rooted for them all the way.
Ms. Holmes does such a good job developing these characters that I even found myself siding with the characters that you might not think you would... (I won't spoil it)
Excellent story! Recommended.
This is what Megan suffers through. For years as her marriage and family crumble around her, she hangs on to the hope that Emma is out there.
Finding Emma is a heartbreaking story of a mother's journey of hope. I was captured by the emotion and depth of the characters from the beginning. And rooted for them all the way.
Ms. Holmes does such a good job developing these characters that I even found myself siding with the characters that you might not think you would... (I won't spoil it)
Excellent story! Recommended.
September 12, 2014
Absolutely brilliant, well worth reading! I did a review on the forum
July 2, 2012
Ever since her youngest daughter was kidnapped, Megan's been falling apart. She tries to stay sane and normal for her husband and two other daughters, but it's not working. She keeps thinking she sees Emma, but she's always wrong. And then one day, she looks through pictures she took when they went to the fair and she sees Emma in the background.
Meanwhile, Emmie is a young girl who lives with her grandparents. She loves them both, but it's hard because her grandma is very overprotective. Emmie is barely allowed to leave the house, even with one of her grandparents.
The really cool thing is that the author is donating part of the proceeds of this book to The Missing Children's Society of Canada. I like when my entertainment goes to worthy causes (although since it was a review copy, that point is moot...but it's still something you should know about, since YOUR money can help).
This novel reminded me of The Deep End of the Ocean, which is also about a missing child. Unlike that one, however, this novel ended pretty abruptly. It has a good ending, but I would have liked to have known more about what happens after. It also could have benefitted from an editor (Emmie's pink tiger turns into a pink lion) and there were some things I didn't understand.
For example, Megan's husband wants to have a memorial service for Emma because it's the best thing for their family. But then he says that he doesn't want to stop looking for her. I didn't understand the point of the service if they weren't going to give up on the idea of her coming home.
But this is still an incredibly compelling story, and I identified with Megan immediately.
Meanwhile, Emmie is a young girl who lives with her grandparents. She loves them both, but it's hard because her grandma is very overprotective. Emmie is barely allowed to leave the house, even with one of her grandparents.
The really cool thing is that the author is donating part of the proceeds of this book to The Missing Children's Society of Canada. I like when my entertainment goes to worthy causes (although since it was a review copy, that point is moot...but it's still something you should know about, since YOUR money can help).
This novel reminded me of The Deep End of the Ocean, which is also about a missing child. Unlike that one, however, this novel ended pretty abruptly. It has a good ending, but I would have liked to have known more about what happens after. It also could have benefitted from an editor (Emmie's pink tiger turns into a pink lion) and there were some things I didn't understand.
For example, Megan's husband wants to have a memorial service for Emma because it's the best thing for their family. But then he says that he doesn't want to stop looking for her. I didn't understand the point of the service if they weren't going to give up on the idea of her coming home.
But this is still an incredibly compelling story, and I identified with Megan immediately.
January 21, 2025
A parent's worst nightmare is when they discover their child has gone missing. For Megan, it was a time when her world had been turned upside down when she couldn’t find her daughter, Emma. After doing a thorough search of the house and around the neighbourhood, Emma was nowhere to be seen.
As minutes turned into hours, Megan and her husband were beside themselves with worry. Then as days turned into weeks still with no sign of Emma and no clues as to where she was and of course the huge worry that someone might’ve taken her.
As weeks and months passed the strain of losing their daughter was putting a strain on the whole family and Megan’s marriage was so starting to fall apart. With two other daughters to care for, Megan did her best to get through each day, but she never gave up wondering where Emma was and if she would ever see her again.
Steena Holmes knows how to pull at the heartstrings of her readers. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. Highly recommended.
As minutes turned into hours, Megan and her husband were beside themselves with worry. Then as days turned into weeks still with no sign of Emma and no clues as to where she was and of course the huge worry that someone might’ve taken her.
As weeks and months passed the strain of losing their daughter was putting a strain on the whole family and Megan’s marriage was so starting to fall apart. With two other daughters to care for, Megan did her best to get through each day, but she never gave up wondering where Emma was and if she would ever see her again.
Steena Holmes knows how to pull at the heartstrings of her readers. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. Highly recommended.
March 9, 2012
I am a voracious reader, but it has been a long time since I picked up a novel that I was unable to put down. FINDING EMMA may be the most heart-wrenching and heart-warming book I have ever read. From the first page, the characters pulled me in and held me captive. Is there anything more heart breaking than losing a child? Emma’s family must struggle to go on after her disappearance, but it is tearing them apart. When Emma’s mother Megan believed she had found her daughter, I thought my heart would break.
This is a book I would highly recommend to anyone. Tense, emotional and realistic it will ring your emotions dry.
This is a book I would highly recommend to anyone. Tense, emotional and realistic it will ring your emotions dry.
October 20, 2023
This is a story of fiction, which can happen everyday in North America.
Megan's daughter Emma went missing while playing in the front yard, and how many times Megan tells herself, she should have been playing in the backyard.
Two years go by, no Emma. the family is always looking and searching. When the fair come to town, Megan and her husband and Emma's two older sisters, decide they needed a break and have some fun at the local fair.
Megan, camera ready spots a little girl with blond hair, with an older couple. She takes her picture. This event sets in motion to finding her daughter
Megan's daughter Emma went missing while playing in the front yard, and how many times Megan tells herself, she should have been playing in the backyard.
Two years go by, no Emma. the family is always looking and searching. When the fair come to town, Megan and her husband and Emma's two older sisters, decide they needed a break and have some fun at the local fair.
Megan, camera ready spots a little girl with blond hair, with an older couple. She takes her picture. This event sets in motion to finding her daughter
March 26, 2017
Oh my...Steena you break my heart then give me hope
August 13, 2012
This was a story that had me on the edge of my seat, because I had intense feelings for each of the characters. Megan and Peter have a lovely family with three children, the eldest is Hannah, the middle sister is Alexis, and the youngest is Emma.
The girls were enjoying a local carnival on Emma’s third birthday when she disappeared in the blink of an eye. This is where the story begins.
Megan’s determination to find her daughter turns in to what her husband considers an obsession. He feels that Megan needs to accept that their daughter is gone so that they can move forward as a couple and family with Hannah and Alexis.
But, Megan sees her daughter in every little girl, and it is beginning to cause trouble outside of the family. When Megan believes that she sees her daughter, she directly confronts each child. Until she sees that each child does not have her daughter’s eyes or dimples, her heart drops and she finds herself having to apologize, when all she wants to do is find her daughter.
Then the book opens up to the other side of the story. We are introduced to Grandma Dottie and Grandpa Jack who have lost their daughter, and now have little Emma in their house as their grand-daughter. Grandpa Jack is such a loving and doting Grandfather to Emma. When you read about their interactions you sense that she is just as happy as she would be if she was at home with Megan and Peter.
This is where the book took a turn for me, because I did not know what the outcome would be and hearing both sides of the story was a more compassionate way to see what can happen when a child disappears.
So many people are hurt. Megan and Peter are on the brink of divorce, Hannah blames herself for Emma’s disappearance, and Alexis feels invisible. Emma is constantly asking for her Mother.
The question is, when everyone’s prayers will be answered!
The girls were enjoying a local carnival on Emma’s third birthday when she disappeared in the blink of an eye. This is where the story begins.
Megan’s determination to find her daughter turns in to what her husband considers an obsession. He feels that Megan needs to accept that their daughter is gone so that they can move forward as a couple and family with Hannah and Alexis.
But, Megan sees her daughter in every little girl, and it is beginning to cause trouble outside of the family. When Megan believes that she sees her daughter, she directly confronts each child. Until she sees that each child does not have her daughter’s eyes or dimples, her heart drops and she finds herself having to apologize, when all she wants to do is find her daughter.
Then the book opens up to the other side of the story. We are introduced to Grandma Dottie and Grandpa Jack who have lost their daughter, and now have little Emma in their house as their grand-daughter. Grandpa Jack is such a loving and doting Grandfather to Emma. When you read about their interactions you sense that she is just as happy as she would be if she was at home with Megan and Peter.
This is where the book took a turn for me, because I did not know what the outcome would be and hearing both sides of the story was a more compassionate way to see what can happen when a child disappears.
So many people are hurt. Megan and Peter are on the brink of divorce, Hannah blames herself for Emma’s disappearance, and Alexis feels invisible. Emma is constantly asking for her Mother.
The question is, when everyone’s prayers will be answered!
March 2, 2015
4.5 stars
Wow, what a read! I was really enjoying myself and then I got to about 2/3 through and things started happening and all I could think about was how it would end. From that point onward it literally didn't stop the pace and my chest was hurting and my mind was focused on getting through the story ASAP. I read that last bit faster than my progress for a week or two before that!
I identified with the main character, and Mum, Megan and was with her with every crazy, possibly stupid, obsessive, depressive moment. I thought every other character was crazy for daring her to move on. I'd have never given up, either. I think some moments probably should have frustrated me, but maybe I'm just crazy. I connected with how she acted and reacted in the long wake after her daughter's disappearance.
However, some of the ways other important supporting characters acted didn't gel with me. I didn't ever connect with the way her husband acted toward's his daughter's disappearance, or the way the old woman, Dottie, acted in relation to her specific storyline (I can't explain further without giving stuff away). I found these two aspects slightly unbelievable, and at a few times frustrating. However, I loved Jack and through his lows my heart was aching for him. Lastly, I was underwhelmed that the core part of Jack and Dottie's storyline turned out exactly like I had guessed from the moment I was introduced to them.
Many parts of this book were 5+ star moments, and some (personally) undercooked bits irritated me. Overall this was a really excellent read. 4.5 stars. I really liked the ending on a whole, but am keen to dive right into the sequel novel, Emma's Secret for some unanswered questions.
Wow, what a read! I was really enjoying myself and then I got to about 2/3 through and things started happening and all I could think about was how it would end. From that point onward it literally didn't stop the pace and my chest was hurting and my mind was focused on getting through the story ASAP. I read that last bit faster than my progress for a week or two before that!
I identified with the main character, and Mum, Megan and was with her with every crazy, possibly stupid, obsessive, depressive moment. I thought every other character was crazy for daring her to move on. I'd have never given up, either. I think some moments probably should have frustrated me, but maybe I'm just crazy. I connected with how she acted and reacted in the long wake after her daughter's disappearance.
However, some of the ways other important supporting characters acted didn't gel with me. I didn't ever connect with the way her husband acted toward's his daughter's disappearance, or the way the old woman, Dottie, acted in relation to her specific storyline (I can't explain further without giving stuff away). I found these two aspects slightly unbelievable, and at a few times frustrating. However, I loved Jack and through his lows my heart was aching for him. Lastly, I was underwhelmed that the core part of Jack and Dottie's storyline turned out exactly like I had guessed from the moment I was introduced to them.
Many parts of this book were 5+ star moments, and some (personally) undercooked bits irritated me. Overall this was a really excellent read. 4.5 stars. I really liked the ending on a whole, but am keen to dive right into the sequel novel, Emma's Secret for some unanswered questions.
January 6, 2024
I've had this book on my Kindle for over a decade so decided it was time to read it, as it fits an ATY challenge prompt. The writing in this book is terrible. Characters are boring and unlikeable, repeated phrases, obvious attempts at misdirection. Yet I continued to read, even though I knew what was going to happen. I see there are sequels but I have zero desire to continue reading about these people.
September 17, 2022
3/5 ⭐️
Pretty good, kinda sad but we’ll worth the read!
Pretty good, kinda sad but we’ll worth the read!
August 6, 2014
I found this book frustrating. The novel begins as Megan's three year old daughter Emma goes missing one afternoon when she is playing outside of her house. Flash forward two years later and Megan and her family are still distraught (obviously). Megan and her husband Peter's marriage is in shambles, and Megan has never given up hope that one day Emma will come home.
And then we meet Jack and Dottie and their five year old granddaughter, Emmie.
SPOILERS AHEAD
It was obvious to me from the beginning that Emma and Emmie are the same person. Dottie is suffering from memory loss and dementia, while Jack struggles to care for Emmie and Dottie. He often makes mention of being tired or having body aches and pains. Under Dottie's watchful eye, Emmie is not allowed to interact with any other children (or anyone for that matter). Slowly, Dottie allows her to play with the new neighbors, who have a daughter Emmie's age. Though really it was clear that Dottie didn't want that to happen, and she was suffering from the symptoms of dementia when they are allowed to play.
Jack believes that Emmie is the daughter of their daughter Mary. Dottie brings Emmie to the house one day and Jack has no further questions.
CLEARLY, this is a crock of BS. Jack doesn't ask more questions when his wife who is suffering from dementia and memory loss randomly brings home a child? What?
Throughout the novel, we see Megan suffering. Her husband has given up hope of ever finding Emma and thinks his wife is a loon for still having hope. What a jerk! It's only been two years and he's acting like she's crazy because she still looks for Emma in the crowds. And Peter may or may not be having an affair with his co-worker. And Megan may or may not have had an affair with the detective assigned to work Emma's case. Peter gets annoyed when the detective brings by age updated sketches of what she would look like now. I'm not sure why Peter was so annoyed?
Plus, we are supposed to sympathize with the kidnappers. WHAT? This woman stole a child from her parents and actively worked to keep her away from the world where she may be recognized. In her moments of clarity, it was obvious that Dottie was still trying to hide her deception.
Megan and Emma are finally reunited after Megan snaps a photo at a carnival and recognizes Emma in the background. This was one of the few times Jack and Dottie took Emma out. Dottie won't even allow Emma to be introduced to Jack's friends. Even when Megan recognizes Emma in the photo, her husband still thinks she is imagining things. Even when the police officer working the case calls to ask them to come to Jack and Dottie's farmhouse (although he won't say exactly why? What?), Peter tells Megan it's probably just so Megan can move on and let go and realize they will never find Emma. WHAT A JERK!
Then we get some weird thoughts from the police detective who confirms what Peter said and it isn't normal operating procedure, but he wants Megan to see this isn't her daughter and to move on. Except it is her daughter. Emma is staying with the neighbors because Dottie has a stroke and was taken to the hospital.
So many things about this book annoyed me. The idiot neighbor who sees a flyer with Emma's picture under missing (the picture has been age updated). She thinks it looks a lot like Emma. Except her hair is different, and she's missing a tooth, so it must not be her. What? She finally thinks to say something as the officer who was questioning her about the little girl next door is leaving. At the carnival where Megan snaps the photo, she actually talks to a woman who is supposed to be Dottie? Who knows? The woman identifies herself as Josie, but Dottie and Jack are also there with Emma and this couple also has a little blond girl with them. If it actually is Dottie, it's even worse because she lies about her name. It would be way to coincidental for it be some other random older woman there with her granddaughter and husband.
At the very end the author has a note that begins, "did you fall in love with Jack and Dottie as much as I did?" NO! They were kidnappers! Dottie stole a child and Jack didn't ask any questions at all about a random child coming home one day with his wife who is likely going senile.
I didn't like this book at all. I know there are a few sequels, but I have no intention of reading more about kidnappers who I most definitely didn't fall in love with.
And then we meet Jack and Dottie and their five year old granddaughter, Emmie.
SPOILERS AHEAD
It was obvious to me from the beginning that Emma and Emmie are the same person. Dottie is suffering from memory loss and dementia, while Jack struggles to care for Emmie and Dottie. He often makes mention of being tired or having body aches and pains. Under Dottie's watchful eye, Emmie is not allowed to interact with any other children (or anyone for that matter). Slowly, Dottie allows her to play with the new neighbors, who have a daughter Emmie's age. Though really it was clear that Dottie didn't want that to happen, and she was suffering from the symptoms of dementia when they are allowed to play.
Jack believes that Emmie is the daughter of their daughter Mary. Dottie brings Emmie to the house one day and Jack has no further questions.
CLEARLY, this is a crock of BS. Jack doesn't ask more questions when his wife who is suffering from dementia and memory loss randomly brings home a child? What?
Throughout the novel, we see Megan suffering. Her husband has given up hope of ever finding Emma and thinks his wife is a loon for still having hope. What a jerk! It's only been two years and he's acting like she's crazy because she still looks for Emma in the crowds. And Peter may or may not be having an affair with his co-worker. And Megan may or may not have had an affair with the detective assigned to work Emma's case. Peter gets annoyed when the detective brings by age updated sketches of what she would look like now. I'm not sure why Peter was so annoyed?
Plus, we are supposed to sympathize with the kidnappers. WHAT? This woman stole a child from her parents and actively worked to keep her away from the world where she may be recognized. In her moments of clarity, it was obvious that Dottie was still trying to hide her deception.
Megan and Emma are finally reunited after Megan snaps a photo at a carnival and recognizes Emma in the background. This was one of the few times Jack and Dottie took Emma out. Dottie won't even allow Emma to be introduced to Jack's friends. Even when Megan recognizes Emma in the photo, her husband still thinks she is imagining things. Even when the police officer working the case calls to ask them to come to Jack and Dottie's farmhouse (although he won't say exactly why? What?), Peter tells Megan it's probably just so Megan can move on and let go and realize they will never find Emma. WHAT A JERK!
Then we get some weird thoughts from the police detective who confirms what Peter said and it isn't normal operating procedure, but he wants Megan to see this isn't her daughter and to move on. Except it is her daughter. Emma is staying with the neighbors because Dottie has a stroke and was taken to the hospital.
So many things about this book annoyed me. The idiot neighbor who sees a flyer with Emma's picture under missing (the picture has been age updated). She thinks it looks a lot like Emma. Except her hair is different, and she's missing a tooth, so it must not be her. What? She finally thinks to say something as the officer who was questioning her about the little girl next door is leaving. At the carnival where Megan snaps the photo, she actually talks to a woman who is supposed to be Dottie? Who knows? The woman identifies herself as Josie, but Dottie and Jack are also there with Emma and this couple also has a little blond girl with them. If it actually is Dottie, it's even worse because she lies about her name. It would be way to coincidental for it be some other random older woman there with her granddaughter and husband.
At the very end the author has a note that begins, "did you fall in love with Jack and Dottie as much as I did?" NO! They were kidnappers! Dottie stole a child and Jack didn't ask any questions at all about a random child coming home one day with his wife who is likely going senile.
I didn't like this book at all. I know there are a few sequels, but I have no intention of reading more about kidnappers who I most definitely didn't fall in love with.
June 22, 2017
So the book started out well enough. It kept my attention. Then about 70 pages in I just lost interest. I pretty much figured out the whole "secret" and my predictions for the ending were pretty spot on.
This book feels like the author wanted to write a book about a kidnapping, and so the next day she just throws together her entire novel into one large word document and clicked saved and said, "Yay. I finished my story. Now who wants to read it?" It just has that vibe. One dimensional characters, no thoughtful description, no emotional connection to the writing, the dialogue is very....mediocre....for lack of a better word.
My favorite characters were Megan's daughters because I felt bad for them the most! They lost their sister and then their mom who becomes obsessed with nothing else but finding her youngest daughter.
Decent, thought provoking premise....poorly executed.
This book feels like the author wanted to write a book about a kidnapping, and so the next day she just throws together her entire novel into one large word document and clicked saved and said, "Yay. I finished my story. Now who wants to read it?" It just has that vibe. One dimensional characters, no thoughtful description, no emotional connection to the writing, the dialogue is very....mediocre....for lack of a better word.
My favorite characters were Megan's daughters because I felt bad for them the most! They lost their sister and then their mom who becomes obsessed with nothing else but finding her youngest daughter.
Decent, thought provoking premise....poorly executed.
April 4, 2012
This story was every mother's nightmare. A mother of 3 daughters, turns her head for a moment and her 3 year old baby girl disappears. Of course, she is frantic. Her life has been changed. Her marriage is falling apart. Her other 2 daughters are feeling left out. And she can't give up on believing her daughter is still alive and will come home again.
After I finished the book, the author's comments said she was giving a large portion of her profits to the Missing Children's funds in our country. She also mentioned that there is a sequel which she will send upon request to those who comment on her book.
I can't wait for the 2nd part of the story.
After I finished the book, the author's comments said she was giving a large portion of her profits to the Missing Children's funds in our country. She also mentioned that there is a sequel which she will send upon request to those who comment on her book.
I can't wait for the 2nd part of the story.
March 19, 2013
Steena Holmes is quite the storyteller. She hits all the right notes with this poignant story about a family in crisis two years after their youngest daughter goes missing. Once I started, I had to keep reading and was not disappointed by the very emotional ending!
Having read Dear Jack, I already had an interesting insight to a couple of the key characters, but if you have the choice, read this first, and then Dear Jack.
Having read Dear Jack, I already had an interesting insight to a couple of the key characters, but if you have the choice, read this first, and then Dear Jack.
April 15, 2018
Finding Emma
This was an excellent book. How heart wrenching to know your child disappeared. This was a gripping reality of all the emotions they experienced and how the mother didn’t give up hope; how each family member dealt with the disappearance in their own way. This book is one everyone should read.
This was an excellent book. How heart wrenching to know your child disappeared. This was a gripping reality of all the emotions they experienced and how the mother didn’t give up hope; how each family member dealt with the disappearance in their own way. This book is one everyone should read.
August 8, 2012
This was an incredibly disappointing book. I actually had to keep checking to see how many pages were left. There's not a single likable character in this cheesy waste of my time, and the plot never truly climaxes. I was left unsatisfied beyond belief, but relieved when it was over.
April 7, 2012
An incredible book. I couldn't put it down, even when I had tears in my eyes.
June 1, 2013
Easily among the worst books I've ever read. How impressive though - to create a book about a child abduction that is not just boring, but downright tedious. Terrible writing.
October 30, 2013
Poor editing and unnecessary drama. I'm also disappointed by the ending & would like a little more information on some unexplained details.
June 13, 2015
Don't waste your time!
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