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Lost and Found #3
Liar!
Even though Luna and her brother Cullen seem like complete opposites, they're identical in two they'll never let injustice stand and they always have each other's back… Beloved storyteller Fern Michaels blends mystery, drama, and a touch of romance for the third in her #1 bestselling Lost & Found series, as the siblings set out to unravel a cold case connected to a mysterious armoire!
Luna Bodman always looks forward to a new shipment of furniture at the restoration shop. Her brother, Cullen, has a knack for finding discarded pieces with an intriguing history, and Luna likes to sit with each item to see if she can feel any kind of vibrations. Usually, Cullen does his thing while Luna does hers, but the arrival of an old armoire triggers a reaction in Luna that's impossible to ignore.
From the moment Luna wiggles inside the armoire and closes her eyes, she feels an overpowering and disturbing sensation. Emerging, she asks for a flashlight and discovers words scraped into the “Help me!” Hoping to uncover the piece's secrets, Luna contacts her good friend, U.S. Marshall Christopher Gaines, and the group sets out to trace the armoire's origins. The journey takes them to a military school in New England, and a mysterious, long-ago ransom case. The kidnappers were never found, but decades later, the answers may finally be within reach …
Luna Bodman always looks forward to a new shipment of furniture at the restoration shop. Her brother, Cullen, has a knack for finding discarded pieces with an intriguing history, and Luna likes to sit with each item to see if she can feel any kind of vibrations. Usually, Cullen does his thing while Luna does hers, but the arrival of an old armoire triggers a reaction in Luna that's impossible to ignore.
From the moment Luna wiggles inside the armoire and closes her eyes, she feels an overpowering and disturbing sensation. Emerging, she asks for a flashlight and discovers words scraped into the “Help me!” Hoping to uncover the piece's secrets, Luna contacts her good friend, U.S. Marshall Christopher Gaines, and the group sets out to trace the armoire's origins. The journey takes them to a military school in New England, and a mysterious, long-ago ransom case. The kidnappers were never found, but decades later, the answers may finally be within reach …
389 pages, Library Binding
First published August 22, 2023
1435 people are currently reading
2533 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
426 books6,526 followersFern Michaels isn’t a person. I’m not sure she’s an entity either since an entity is something with separate existence. Fern Michaels® is what I DO. Me, Mary Ruth Kuczkir. Growing up in Hastings, Pennsylvania, I was called Ruth. I became Mary when I entered the business world where first names were the order of the day. To this day, family and friends call me Dink, a name my father gave me when I was born because according to him I was ‘a dinky little thing’ weighing in at four and a half pounds. However, I answer to Fern since people are more comfortable with a name they can pronounce.
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
July 3, 2023
The storyline on this book is really good. However, I felt the first 100 pages on the history of these folks meeting went on to long. It could've been condensed.
But, overall, a pleasant and fun quick read.
But, overall, a pleasant and fun quick read.
July 26, 2023
This is an easy read and not hard to guess at mystery. It is the third in the Lost and Found series but can be read as a stand alone. The first third of the book, tells a kidnapping story, and gives family background for the family involved. Finally Luna Bodman and her brother Cullen come into the story. They refurbish furniture and solve mysteries. When they get an old armoire Luna finds the words “Help me” scratched into the wood. She brings in her friend US Marshall Christopher Gaines. He helps them track down the original owner.
I thought too much time is spent on the story set up. I kept waiting for Luna and Cullen to come on the scene. This is a very mild mystery. No one is menaced or threatened. I’m not sure I would have read it had it not been written by Fern Michaels. But I do like cozy mysteries. Thank you to Kensington Books and Zebra for the ARC via NetGalley. And I am leaving an honest review. (3.5 Stars)
I thought too much time is spent on the story set up. I kept waiting for Luna and Cullen to come on the scene. This is a very mild mystery. No one is menaced or threatened. I’m not sure I would have read it had it not been written by Fern Michaels. But I do like cozy mysteries. Thank you to Kensington Books and Zebra for the ARC via NetGalley. And I am leaving an honest review. (3.5 Stars)
June 11, 2023
Talk about pretentious and condescending. Did she really need to define a Butler’s pantry?!?! I don’t think I can read this author anymore. It’s way judgmental and too elitist with the constant brand name dropping. I’m not even sure why I bothered to finish it when I figured out what happened within the first 50 pages. Big disappointment.
July 12, 2023
No redeeming qualities in this just plain old bad, note to self stop reading Fern Michaels.
July 9, 2024
I really need to stop reading this series. I don’t like the writing style — I feel like the reader is given too much bland, page-filler information that doesn’t matter at all to the character development or overall plot. It makes the story drag out so much longer without feeling connected to anything that’s going on.
I’m hopping off this bandwagon…
I’m hopping off this bandwagon…
October 5, 2023
Great read, I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it
August 29, 2023
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. I liked the book, but I didn't love it. I expected more being a Fern Michael's book. Not up to par per her usual. It was a fun read with interesting characters. But I knew from the beginning who was involved in the kidnapping, no surprise to me and I was right. Lots of twists and turns. I loved Luna and Cullen the most. They were the best characters to me. Never a dull moment with these two. If you want a quick read to escape life for a bit, this book does the trick.
September 9, 2023
While I've liked this series so far, with the great characters of Luna, Cullen, Chi-Chi, Chris and Elle, this story was definitely different. The first 1/3 of the book had absolutely no mention of any of these characters, and made me wonder how this fell under this series. Once the "regulars" became part of the story, it got better, but really just a lackluster story, IMHO, with a very predictable ending. 4 out of 10.
April 2, 2025
I've been a big fan of Fern Michaels for a long time. Due to long term personal illnesses, I took a few years off and did very little reading/Goodreads. Picking up again, I thought of Fern Michaels, and eenie meenie miney mo, picked this one. No reason in particular.
The first section of the book, about JR's family and his parents sets the scene for the whole book. His parents are very wealthy, very comfortable, very much in love. They are very kind and good people that are very supportive to their neighborhood and fiends. This is where the story starts. They all have time together in the evening, and the next morning the son, JR is missing. They receive a phone call that he has been abducted and they want $1 million by a certain date and time and they will return their son. Well after two days of immense effort, Chad, the Dad, hires a car and driver and they go to 20 banks so he can take money out. They, Chad and Camille don't want to be traced for all their activity, and to put their son in danger.
Important additional characters are: Luna Broadman and her brother Cullen who run a restoration shop. This one day, Cullen who it seems, has a very gifted talent for finding pieces that might have special powers, or fantastic histories. They try to see if they can find what they call "vibrations" in a piece, or perhaps magic. In the store, comes an old armoire and Luna can't not notice that there are reactions in this armoire.
Chad and Camille work very hard to keep their employment going and keep in touch with kidnappers, and moving forward. They do report to FBI, and great care is taken in not revealing what's happening. From the moment Luna is able to get inside the armoire she feels an overpowering and bothersome sensation. At that point, she asks for a flashlight, and they find the words "HELP ME" engraved/scratched in the armoire. She has a good friend named Christopher Gaines, a US Marshall, and they head out to see if they can find any history of the armoire. This trip takes them to New England at a Military School, and a very questionable ransom case from 20 years prior, which we know from above. Fern Michaels does a great job of weaving all these threads together so that they make sense, the families and friends rebond together, with a happy ending. Don't want to spoil! Enjoy. Didn't know this was part of a series. This is #3 out of 4.
The first section of the book, about JR's family and his parents sets the scene for the whole book. His parents are very wealthy, very comfortable, very much in love. They are very kind and good people that are very supportive to their neighborhood and fiends. This is where the story starts. They all have time together in the evening, and the next morning the son, JR is missing. They receive a phone call that he has been abducted and they want $1 million by a certain date and time and they will return their son. Well after two days of immense effort, Chad, the Dad, hires a car and driver and they go to 20 banks so he can take money out. They, Chad and Camille don't want to be traced for all their activity, and to put their son in danger.
Important additional characters are: Luna Broadman and her brother Cullen who run a restoration shop. This one day, Cullen who it seems, has a very gifted talent for finding pieces that might have special powers, or fantastic histories. They try to see if they can find what they call "vibrations" in a piece, or perhaps magic. In the store, comes an old armoire and Luna can't not notice that there are reactions in this armoire.
Chad and Camille work very hard to keep their employment going and keep in touch with kidnappers, and moving forward. They do report to FBI, and great care is taken in not revealing what's happening. From the moment Luna is able to get inside the armoire she feels an overpowering and bothersome sensation. At that point, she asks for a flashlight, and they find the words "HELP ME" engraved/scratched in the armoire. She has a good friend named Christopher Gaines, a US Marshall, and they head out to see if they can find any history of the armoire. This trip takes them to New England at a Military School, and a very questionable ransom case from 20 years prior, which we know from above. Fern Michaels does a great job of weaving all these threads together so that they make sense, the families and friends rebond together, with a happy ending. Don't want to spoil! Enjoy. Didn't know this was part of a series. This is #3 out of 4.
August 7, 2023
This unfortunately not one of my favorite Fern Michaels book. At first when I started reading, I wondered if I had been reading the wrong book. It takes what feels like half the book to the actual book. And by that time, the mystery/twist was quite obvious. There were some redeeming parts, I enjoy Luna and Cullen, but they didn’t seem to shine here. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.
July 30, 2023
I love this series, but this one wasn't my favorite --- because it took way too long to get to Luna and Cullen!! And then spent precious pages retelling all that we already know about them.
It felt like too much effort was given to make this a "stand-alone" rather than rewarding readers who have waited for another visit with our Stillwell Center friends.
So, minus one star for too much Pierce family, not enough advancement of the Luna/Gaines & Cullen/Chi-Chi stories.
It felt like too much effort was given to make this a "stand-alone" rather than rewarding readers who have waited for another visit with our Stillwell Center friends.
So, minus one star for too much Pierce family, not enough advancement of the Luna/Gaines & Cullen/Chi-Chi stories.
July 15, 2023
I liked it,but didn’t like the way it was written it goes from the Pierce family &
all their problems then jumps to Luna, Collen & the rest of shop owners.
Then back to the Pierce family & the truth comes out on the ransom money.
I figured it out before the ending. Waited quite a while to get book only to be
disappointed, first book ever by her that I felt this way
all their problems then jumps to Luna, Collen & the rest of shop owners.
Then back to the Pierce family & the truth comes out on the ransom money.
I figured it out before the ending. Waited quite a while to get book only to be
disappointed, first book ever by her that I felt this way
July 1, 2023
Really liking stories about Cullen and Luna.
October 30, 2023
This story was just okay, no way near as strong as the prior two novels in the “Lost and Found, series. As many have commented the first third of this novel was too long and dragged with too much information. It was a pleasant enough book and easy to read, but not my cup of tea.
June 23, 2023
Liar by Fern Michaels
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Pace: 5/5
Overall Enjoyment: 5/5
Fern Michaels is the Queen of amazingly written books. This one is no exception. Third in the Lost and Found series, our characters are well developed, flawed, endearing and very likable. The story started out a tad slow for me but once it picked up, I was so engrossed and engaged that I just could not stop reading it. Michaels knows how to keep her readers questioning The Who and the why pretty much the whole time with little bread crumbs here and there.
Luna Bodman and her brother Cullen have been refurbishing furniture for some time with Luna sitting with the pieces and hoping to get a feel for it’s new look. Her brother has a knack for bringing in the pieces. One day though changed everything. An armoire was brought into the shop and Luna wanted to see more of it. As she climbed inside and started to close her eyes to understand the piece more she got a sensation that something was wrong. After getting a flashlight and looking inside she saw the words “Help me” inscribed into the wood. It is at this point that she contacted her US Marshall friend, Christopher Gaines to track the armoire to its original owner. The armoire has a long history of things like ransom, mystery, and a military school. What could all of this mean and will Luna be able to figure out who needs help?
Release date August 22 2023
Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Pace: 5/5
Overall Enjoyment: 5/5
Fern Michaels is the Queen of amazingly written books. This one is no exception. Third in the Lost and Found series, our characters are well developed, flawed, endearing and very likable. The story started out a tad slow for me but once it picked up, I was so engrossed and engaged that I just could not stop reading it. Michaels knows how to keep her readers questioning The Who and the why pretty much the whole time with little bread crumbs here and there.
Luna Bodman and her brother Cullen have been refurbishing furniture for some time with Luna sitting with the pieces and hoping to get a feel for it’s new look. Her brother has a knack for bringing in the pieces. One day though changed everything. An armoire was brought into the shop and Luna wanted to see more of it. As she climbed inside and started to close her eyes to understand the piece more she got a sensation that something was wrong. After getting a flashlight and looking inside she saw the words “Help me” inscribed into the wood. It is at this point that she contacted her US Marshall friend, Christopher Gaines to track the armoire to its original owner. The armoire has a long history of things like ransom, mystery, and a military school. What could all of this mean and will Luna be able to figure out who needs help?
Release date August 22 2023
Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 13, 2023
The story spans over a twenty-year period and is presented in three sections. Part one introduces the Pierce family, a wealthy family in the banking business. All seemed well in their posh lives until their eighteen-year-old son was kidnapped from his New England boarding school. Throughout this portion, I had a nagging feeling that something about the situation wasn’t quite right. In part two, a whole new set of characters was introduced. They were a quirky group of fun-loving artists who came together to form a multifaceted art complex. Luna, the character who most often had me in stitches, had psychic abilities that often got her into mischief. Her brother Cullen was often pulled into her many mysterious capers. In this case, a carved message was found in an antique armoire that Cullen had acquired. Luna had ‘some feelings’ about the armoire, thus leading them on a mission to find the answers. In the third portion of the book, parts one and two meld together and the mystery was solved. I thought too much time is spent on the story set up. I kept waiting for Luna and Cullen to come on the scene. This is a very mild mystery. No one is menaced or threatened.
June 16, 2023
To be honest, when I was 30% through “Liar,” I had to check to make certain I was reading the correct book. After all, this was supposed to be book 3 of the Lost and Found series and there was no sign of Luna et.al. The story was very predictable, so the purpose was not a “who dunnit” or even a “how dunnit”, but more of a “why dunnit”. But, it was really more a matter of “who cares” dunnit. The writing was easy enough, the characters engaging, but the story never really took off. Luna and Cullen, along with the series regular headed to New York to attend an art show. Nothing really happened to advance the relationships other than some silly exchanges. “liar” would be better as a short story to accompany the first two. I had higher hopes for this. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2023
A very fast read. This is one of these books where you find out so much about the characters in the book. I would say almost too much. It reminds me a of another series where you learn so much about the people and the actual mystery is just a side show for the book. I guess I’m supposed to like the book for the nice people in the book and how they all interact and help each other.
It isn’t a very complicated mystery of what the lie is. I guess I was looking for a little more complicated mystery on the lie
It isn’t a very complicated mystery of what the lie is. I guess I was looking for a little more complicated mystery on the lie
August 8, 2023
Luna often gets feelings from the antiques her brother Cullen acquires for restoration. When she finds the word help carved into the back of an antique armoire, Luna traces it to a New England military school and a twenty year old kidnapping.
Third in the series. Lots more narrative than action and an easy to guess mystery make this vintage Fern Michaels.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Third in the series. Lots more narrative than action and an easy to guess mystery make this vintage Fern Michaels.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2023
I so wanted this to be a great read. Unfortunately it was not. The premise was good, but there was just so much blather in the beginning, then finally getting to the characters I wanted to hear from. I'm kind of invested in this series, but not sure that I'll continue. I wanted more from Luna and Cullen.
Easy to figure out mystery and it was not awful...just not a great read for me.
Thanks to Kensington and Net Galley for the ARC. The review is my own.
Easy to figure out mystery and it was not awful...just not a great read for me.
Thanks to Kensington and Net Galley for the ARC. The review is my own.
June 28, 2023
A quick read. The first part provides the backstory for the second part, but it did throw me.
I wondered when Cullen and Luna’s parts would begin.
Both siblings’ relationships progress in a positive way.
I liked the different setting of New York City.
Thanks to Zebra Books for the early read.
I wondered when Cullen and Luna’s parts would begin.
Both siblings’ relationships progress in a positive way.
I liked the different setting of New York City.
Thanks to Zebra Books for the early read.
September 9, 2023
A little bit of mystery, a little bit of drama and a little bit of silly romance gave me another book to enjoy, overall. The sentences were a bit choppy; not really sure how to describe that since I'm not a language arts teacher.
January 19, 2024
It’s a kidnapping investigation mystery. NOT A THRILLER. Odd way to structure two unrelated kidnapping stories into one novel. Not what I expected. I like that Stillwell Center idea! The popularity must be in part be due to the romances? Should suit readers who enjoy Danielle Steele and others that write of unrealistic and romance plots. No literary prose to admire.
PART I:
LUNA BODMAN likes intriguing histories and her brother CULLEN likes antiques that need restoration. Cullen’s found an armoire with a history, as is his knack. She crawls inside it and sees “HELP” scratched into the wood. Luna’s friend U.S. Marshal CHRISTOPHER GAINES will trace the armoire’s origins that lead to a private school in New England and past kidnapping case where the kidnappers were never found.
1983:
CAMILE and LUNA met on an art tour and shared a love of art. Luna was Camille’s sympathetic ear after a humiliating heartbreak and Luna invited the “boys” to dine with them where Camille and Chad fell in love.
CHAD PIERCE and CAMILLE TINDALE met; married 1 yr after; only child they call J.R. It’s a good life except J.R. is “impossible” in school. J.R. turns 18 and doesn’t qualify for a top college. Chad, Sr. will make a large donation to whichever college will accept him.
2003 NYC:
CHAD JR. is KIDNAPPED, 18 years old at private high school. Their charmed life has come to a heart-breaking standstill. Chad decides to call his long-time friend LARRY WILLIS who has a private investigation and security firm and works for some of the top celebs in NY. Of course he does. Chad and Camille are exceptionally nice people, but raising a lazy over-indulged son. Their "charmed" life might be undone when J.R. marries someone even more entitled than he is, a real trust fund glamour girl obsessed with her youthful good looks. So far, it appears everyone is living "happily ever after" if biting their tongues.
(I had trouble buying into the flaws in how Chad gathered the ransom.)
Due to the title, I’m led to suspect J.R. is scamming his parents for the ransom money, one million dollars. It’s happened in real life. He has no thought to his parents angst during the kidnapping and all the love they have for him.
This consumes all of Part I of the book with no mention of antiques and armoire mystery, which is why I read it in the first place.
PART II
Present Day:
LUNA SAGE BODMAN has a gift for “reading people” and likes the paranormal. Her brother CULLEN is perfectly normal, yet they are very close siblings. In college he studies business and she studies paranormal psychology. When their parents wanted to retire, Cullen took over their antique business and incorporated his love of refurbishing antiques - having quit his business job which did serve him well in his new business. Luna put her talent to good use investigating potential parents for foster kids plus freelancing with US Marshall’s Service Missing Child Program. (I'm relieved she did not pursue a paranormal psychology career, although I would have been sufficiently curious about that practice and satisfied to learn something new to me.)
ELLE STILLWELL, former art prof established Stillwell Center where artists can create, display and sell their work. Luna & Cullen have space within and Luna’s design talents add to their business with her skills helping clients decorate their homes. She begins The Case of the Mysterious Old Armoire to find it was picked up in Western Massachusetts from Briarcliff Academy.
Camille invites Luna, et al, to her opening of Women At A Certain Something in Soho as her guest, all expenses paid. This is where talk of investigating the armoire will take place in Part III to solve our mystery/mysteries.
PART III: “PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER” is the self-explanatory tying together the two kidnapping cases.
EPILOGUE: romantic ending with everyone in love and redeemed of "sins"
PART I:
LUNA BODMAN likes intriguing histories and her brother CULLEN likes antiques that need restoration. Cullen’s found an armoire with a history, as is his knack. She crawls inside it and sees “HELP” scratched into the wood. Luna’s friend U.S. Marshal CHRISTOPHER GAINES will trace the armoire’s origins that lead to a private school in New England and past kidnapping case where the kidnappers were never found.
1983:
CAMILE and LUNA met on an art tour and shared a love of art. Luna was Camille’s sympathetic ear after a humiliating heartbreak and Luna invited the “boys” to dine with them where Camille and Chad fell in love.
CHAD PIERCE and CAMILLE TINDALE met; married 1 yr after; only child they call J.R. It’s a good life except J.R. is “impossible” in school. J.R. turns 18 and doesn’t qualify for a top college. Chad, Sr. will make a large donation to whichever college will accept him.
2003 NYC:
CHAD JR. is KIDNAPPED, 18 years old at private high school. Their charmed life has come to a heart-breaking standstill. Chad decides to call his long-time friend LARRY WILLIS who has a private investigation and security firm and works for some of the top celebs in NY. Of course he does. Chad and Camille are exceptionally nice people, but raising a lazy over-indulged son. Their "charmed" life might be undone when J.R. marries someone even more entitled than he is, a real trust fund glamour girl obsessed with her youthful good looks. So far, it appears everyone is living "happily ever after" if biting their tongues.
(I had trouble buying into the flaws in how Chad gathered the ransom.)
Due to the title, I’m led to suspect J.R. is scamming his parents for the ransom money, one million dollars. It’s happened in real life. He has no thought to his parents angst during the kidnapping and all the love they have for him.
This consumes all of Part I of the book with no mention of antiques and armoire mystery, which is why I read it in the first place.
PART II
Present Day:
LUNA SAGE BODMAN has a gift for “reading people” and likes the paranormal. Her brother CULLEN is perfectly normal, yet they are very close siblings. In college he studies business and she studies paranormal psychology. When their parents wanted to retire, Cullen took over their antique business and incorporated his love of refurbishing antiques - having quit his business job which did serve him well in his new business. Luna put her talent to good use investigating potential parents for foster kids plus freelancing with US Marshall’s Service Missing Child Program. (I'm relieved she did not pursue a paranormal psychology career, although I would have been sufficiently curious about that practice and satisfied to learn something new to me.)
ELLE STILLWELL, former art prof established Stillwell Center where artists can create, display and sell their work. Luna & Cullen have space within and Luna’s design talents add to their business with her skills helping clients decorate their homes. She begins The Case of the Mysterious Old Armoire to find it was picked up in Western Massachusetts from Briarcliff Academy.
Camille invites Luna, et al, to her opening of Women At A Certain Something in Soho as her guest, all expenses paid. This is where talk of investigating the armoire will take place in Part III to solve our mystery/mysteries.
PART III: “PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER” is the self-explanatory tying together the two kidnapping cases.
EPILOGUE: romantic ending with everyone in love and redeemed of "sins"
September 13, 2023
The book was written fast, with characters flat and smug – with “smirk” a common expression.
The plot tracks the life of Chad and Camille who are wealthy and entitled. Camille is wealthy, successful and kind; Chad, less confident, works for a bank and reaches ambition and integrity later in life. Their troubled son struggles at school, with parents holding him to little accountability.
The father takes control when their son, J.R., is kidnapped and requests help from a friend in surveillance, Larry, who notes, “We’re breaking the law because someone else is breaking the law, my friend.”
Larry arranges for monitoring of the family’s NYC home – absurdly enough, with a water truck parked nearby throughout the day and Chad questioning the driver. It soon becomes obvious that all involved, kidnappers and family, are amateurs.
The ransom is quietly paid. Chad and Camille contact the FBI afterward the son is retrieved, but he is quiet and the kidnappers are never caught. A doctor who sees J.R. has questions, reminding himself “that no one knows what goes on in other people’s lives. Sometimes even the participants have no idea. They’re mired in fear or denial. He hoped that wasn’t the case with the Pierce family.”
Years later, a brother and sister in rural North Carolina obtain antique furniture from a boarding school in New England, with a message carved inside requesting help. Luna sets out solve a kidnapping that all players do not want resolved.
Chad, Camille, the brother and sister, and J.R. all end up at a gallery opening in New York City – along with a blackmailer. “Sometimes the rich found plenty wasn’t enough …” one of characters notes. “It is easy to lose your perspective on the rest of the world if you weren’t exposed to something more than your own little bubble.”
A lie that results in real damage warp the liar’s life, the novel suggests, with only exposure can delivering relief.
September 12, 2023
I have reviewed several books from this author, each better than the last. However, this is the first one I’ve read of this series. I was hooked on the first page and I couldn’t put it down.
The story spans over a twenty-year period and is presented in three sections. Part one introduces the Pierce family, a wealthy family in the banking business. All seemed well in their posh lives until their eighteen-year-old son was kidnapped from his New England boarding school. Throughout this portion, I had a nagging feeling that something about the situation wasn’t quite right.
In part two, a whole new set of characters was introduced. They were a quirky group of fun-loving artists who came together to form a multifaceted art complex. Luna, the character who most often had me in stitches, had psychic abilities that often got her into mischief. Her brother Cullen was often pulled into her many mysterious capers. In this case, a carved message was found in an antique armoire that Cullen had acquired. Luna had ‘some feelings’ about the armoire, thus leading them on a mission to find the answers.
In the third portion of the book, parts one and two meld together and the mystery was solved.
The writing was suburb, the characters well developed, the story unique and held my attention from beginning to end. However, I expected a more climatic ending in which legal restitution was made by the guilty party. From another vantage point, it did show how sins of the past tend to catch up with us. The happy ending was that restitution was made between the guilty party and his family and life was as it should be.
Thank you to the author Fern Michaels, Kensington Publishing Group, and NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC. All thoughts and moments are entirely my own.
The story spans over a twenty-year period and is presented in three sections. Part one introduces the Pierce family, a wealthy family in the banking business. All seemed well in their posh lives until their eighteen-year-old son was kidnapped from his New England boarding school. Throughout this portion, I had a nagging feeling that something about the situation wasn’t quite right.
In part two, a whole new set of characters was introduced. They were a quirky group of fun-loving artists who came together to form a multifaceted art complex. Luna, the character who most often had me in stitches, had psychic abilities that often got her into mischief. Her brother Cullen was often pulled into her many mysterious capers. In this case, a carved message was found in an antique armoire that Cullen had acquired. Luna had ‘some feelings’ about the armoire, thus leading them on a mission to find the answers.
In the third portion of the book, parts one and two meld together and the mystery was solved.
The writing was suburb, the characters well developed, the story unique and held my attention from beginning to end. However, I expected a more climatic ending in which legal restitution was made by the guilty party. From another vantage point, it did show how sins of the past tend to catch up with us. The happy ending was that restitution was made between the guilty party and his family and life was as it should be.
Thank you to the author Fern Michaels, Kensington Publishing Group, and NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC. All thoughts and moments are entirely my own.
June 3, 2024
The first half of the book was about Chad Sr and Camille. How they met and their life up till the present. There was a small scandal I guess you could say within the family. As in Chad, Camille and their son J.R.
So the first half was a lot of detail about their lives.
Second half you get to Elle, Luna, Chris, Cullen and Chi-Chi
That being said you again get a lot of character background, which can get a little boring. If you haven't read the other 2 books prior to this one. The background is great to get.
So Cullen gets a delivery, Luna gets her feels about it. Camille is friends with Elle from way back when. They all travel to an event Camille is having in NYC. When Luna meets J.R gets her feelings as in her psychic abilities. Still not sure you would call them that though. Anyhow, after putting some clues together they take it all to Chris. Who you know by now is a US Marshal.
Chris does his civic duty and takes all his evidence to J.R, who by now is paying an old friend to keep his mouth shut. I mean you could tell J.R had a hand in what happened in the first half of the book. It was all there, just wasn't sure how he pulled it off.
The ending was good, Chad Sr and Camille didn't take things overboard when J.R told them the truth. So they all went their merry way. Now to read Proof!!
So the first half was a lot of detail about their lives.
Second half you get to Elle, Luna, Chris, Cullen and Chi-Chi
That being said you again get a lot of character background, which can get a little boring. If you haven't read the other 2 books prior to this one. The background is great to get.
So Cullen gets a delivery, Luna gets her feels about it. Camille is friends with Elle from way back when. They all travel to an event Camille is having in NYC. When Luna meets J.R gets her feelings as in her psychic abilities. Still not sure you would call them that though. Anyhow, after putting some clues together they take it all to Chris. Who you know by now is a US Marshal.
Chris does his civic duty and takes all his evidence to J.R, who by now is paying an old friend to keep his mouth shut. I mean you could tell J.R had a hand in what happened in the first half of the book. It was all there, just wasn't sure how he pulled it off.
The ending was good, Chad Sr and Camille didn't take things overboard when J.R told them the truth. So they all went their merry way. Now to read Proof!!
June 12, 2023
Fern Michaels has a way of turning a story to the least expecting and leaving the reader wondering why they didn’t see that from the beginning. The story begins with a boy meets girl out of his circle. Fall in love, storybook wedding and life begins. Fast forward to their middle age years, they are successful, happy and their only concern is their teenage son getting in trouble at school. He is soon placed at a boarding school and even he seems to be doing well until the phone call.
“Liar!” works as part of the Lost and Found series or as a standalone. Prior to reading, I did not know that it was part of a series. It explains the jump in the storyline to Luna and Cullen. The characters were developed but still standoffish like you are hearing about your cousin’s family drama. There are many twist and turns and it is apparent from the time the kidnapping is over that all is not right but who is liar.
Thank you NetGalley, Fern Michaels and Kingston Books Zebra for the ARC in exchange for my review.
“Liar!” works as part of the Lost and Found series or as a standalone. Prior to reading, I did not know that it was part of a series. It explains the jump in the storyline to Luna and Cullen. The characters were developed but still standoffish like you are hearing about your cousin’s family drama. There are many twist and turns and it is apparent from the time the kidnapping is over that all is not right but who is liar.
Thank you NetGalley, Fern Michaels and Kingston Books Zebra for the ARC in exchange for my review.
August 16, 2024
Liar is the third book in the series Lost and Found with the eccentric Luna Bodman, her brother Cullen Bodman, US Marshal Christopher Gaines, and several other characters. Cullen owns a furniture restoration shop while Luna owns the cafe next door to his shop and is also has that “second sense” or feeling and has that intuition to solve mysteries and see what others cannot.
Cullen receives a new shipment of furniture that includes an armoire that Luna is drawn to. On this inside she discovers the word “Help” engraved on the inside. Before you no it, Luna, Cullen, and her good fried US Marshall Christopher Gaines link the armoire to a kidnapping at a school
In Massachusetts from 20 years ago. Another great read with many characters from the previous two books, and keeps you on your toes until the end.
This was a fast and entertaining story and always kept me captivated. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. I received this book in a #GoodreadsGiveaway in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Kensington Publishing and Goodreads for giving me this opportunity.
Cullen receives a new shipment of furniture that includes an armoire that Luna is drawn to. On this inside she discovers the word “Help” engraved on the inside. Before you no it, Luna, Cullen, and her good fried US Marshall Christopher Gaines link the armoire to a kidnapping at a school
In Massachusetts from 20 years ago. Another great read with many characters from the previous two books, and keeps you on your toes until the end.
This was a fast and entertaining story and always kept me captivated. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. I received this book in a #GoodreadsGiveaway in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Kensington Publishing and Goodreads for giving me this opportunity.
November 6, 2025
An old armoire was delivered to Cullen Bodman’s shop for restoration. His sister Luna climbed inside to check it out and found the word HELP scratched into the side. This gets her psychic vibes stirring and she has to find out what happened.
The book started with a recap of the lives of Chad Pierce and his wife Camille. Although both were from wealthy families, they were humble and helped others. They failed with their son Chad Jr (known as JR). He was spoiled and assumed he could get whatever he wanted and usually did. How did he repay his parents? Flunked out of every school he attended.
His biggest mistake was scaring his parents to death by setting up a kidnapping plot and having them pay $1 million. This was used to pay a loan shark and to pay for more gambling in Monaco.
He mentally grew up and holds a responsible job. Luna’s friend is a US Marshal and goes to visit JR. He goes with him as he confesses to his parents. Too little too late for what he put his parents through.
The book started with a recap of the lives of Chad Pierce and his wife Camille. Although both were from wealthy families, they were humble and helped others. They failed with their son Chad Jr (known as JR). He was spoiled and assumed he could get whatever he wanted and usually did. How did he repay his parents? Flunked out of every school he attended.
His biggest mistake was scaring his parents to death by setting up a kidnapping plot and having them pay $1 million. This was used to pay a loan shark and to pay for more gambling in Monaco.
He mentally grew up and holds a responsible job. Luna’s friend is a US Marshal and goes to visit JR. He goes with him as he confesses to his parents. Too little too late for what he put his parents through.
July 28, 2023
I've been reading Fern Michaels since I began nearly 10 years ago.
Fern is from my neck of the woods and so I enjoyed seeing local areas mentioned however, in this case there wasn't a local connection nor a strong character connection.
I was hoping to fall in love with this brother/sister duo of Luna and older bro Cullen especially upon the setting with a armoire etched with intriguing detail.
However, as it played out we learned about the wealth status for the elite, the abduction, and the consequent damage control that played out.
Kidnapping usually stirs up the pot and this was no different but it didn't lead me to want to come along for the ride nor the steal.
Gambling debts, criminal activity, and ransom are some of the highlights but for me it fell flat in the end.
Thank you to Fern, the pub, Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.
Fern is from my neck of the woods and so I enjoyed seeing local areas mentioned however, in this case there wasn't a local connection nor a strong character connection.
I was hoping to fall in love with this brother/sister duo of Luna and older bro Cullen especially upon the setting with a armoire etched with intriguing detail.
However, as it played out we learned about the wealth status for the elite, the abduction, and the consequent damage control that played out.
Kidnapping usually stirs up the pot and this was no different but it didn't lead me to want to come along for the ride nor the steal.
Gambling debts, criminal activity, and ransom are some of the highlights but for me it fell flat in the end.
Thank you to Fern, the pub, Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.
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