Dear Jack

Finding Emma #1.5

by Steena Holmes

Dear Jack...the journal of a woman unwilling to let go.

Dottie is a woman with a heart full of emotions but unable to express them unless through her journals. When Jack goes off to war, Dottie is left behind having to be strong for their young daughter, Mary.

While Jack is away, she keeps a journal full of letters for Jack, for him to read when he comes home. Except, word comes that Jack has gone missing and leaves Dottie to fend for herself. She keeps hope that her husband is alive and will be coming home, until Jack's personal effects are returned to her by a member of Jack's unit.

When Doug, her husband's best friend, shares with her a letter Jack wrote for her in case he never came home her world falls apart and it's all she can do to hold herself together for Mary.

Were you one of the readers who wanted to know about the story behind Dottie and Doug? This is where you'll find out.

Please note this novella is only 10,000 words long and is meant as a companion to Finding Emma.

BONUS MATERIAL INCLUDED — Excerpt from Emma's Secret!

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Womens Fiction

52 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 12, 2012

About the author

Steena 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

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read using KU. Not worth buying. 2.5 stars. Nicely written but I felt it was completely unnecessary to the story. It didn't draw me closer to any of the characters. To me, this is more a drabble on the story. Something to find on an author's website. Not for 2.99 for a novella under 50 pages.

[David Highton · Rating 2 out of 5]

A slim novella in the form of a wife's journal while her husband is away at war, then missing presumed dead. It amplifies the back story of the elderly couple in Finding Emma alluded to in that book. Does not add much.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

We first meet Dottie and Jack in the book Finding Emma which was about the discovery that Emma wasn't their granddaughter and that she had been kidnapped by their daughter Megan. Kind of like "The Face on the Milk Carton" type story. Dear Jack takes us back decades ago when Jack went off to War leaving Dottie at home alone with their daughter Megan. In this book it is a quick read novella that contains letters after letters that Dottie has written to Jack expressing her heartfelt emotions, feelings and their everyday life of Dottie and Megan. Alongside the characters is Doug, her husband's best friend and when one day the letters stop - she believes the worst that he is dead and so of course, they start a new life Doug, Dottie and Megan. Then a cliched storyline that we have seen in numerous war movies, books etc - think Pearl Harbour -Jack returns home . Will it be soon enough though or will Dottie and Doug already said their "I Do's" ? Of course, if you have read Finding Emma before this book , then you know how it ends.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read "Finding Emma" as an inexpensive amazon offer and LOVED it... two of the characters in that book you end wanting to know a lot more about, and that begins to unfold in this book. So read this one second... it would not have been as meaningful if you didn't read Finding Emma first. And soon to come is Emma's Secret, which I'm also looking forward to.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

War is such an unfair part of life. It affects so many people in so many ways. I feel the book did portray a lot of lives and the outcome war has on those lives. You can't blame Dottie for her feelings at the end. Happiness for some, but a heartache for another.

[Angela Holtz · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Lilac Wolf and Stuff

This was a unique experience. It's a very quick read, only a short story. It's written like letters to Jack in journal form. He had given her the journal to write in everyday that he was away. We learn about life during that time, the women left behind...the men left behind. Jack's friend couldn't serve in the war, so he was one of the few men around and it fell to him to help the women with the chores their husbands usually took care of.

I don't want to say too much more, I don't want to give it away. I found it a very easy read. It moves faster than a regular story because it's only a woman's nightly journal writing. She has a daughter, and that finds its way in a lot, she has his best friend who has promised to take care of them while Jack is away, and she writes about the other women in their neighborhood.

Jack and Dottie are characters from the novel Finding Emma. This is a interesting look into their past, and it gives some dimension especially to Dottie and even some clues to Mary.

Do you need to read Finding Emma first? Nope, in fact I didn't even remember the connection until I wrote this review. It stands alone just find on it's own.

[Kelly Stokes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do not read this book unless you have read Finding Emma by Steena Homes first. It really wouldn't make a whole lot of sense if you just read this novella. Basically this is a short journal written by Dottie to her husband Jack while he was away at war and she was home caring for their daughter, Mary. It gives the reader more info on Dottie and Jack from when they were much younger and before they were involved in something much later in life (Finding Emma). It definitely tells me how much Dottie loved her husband Jack and just some more history between them. I think it would have been helpful if the dates in the journal were given. I am very much looking forward to Emma's Secret coming out in February, 2013!

[Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear Jack, make me cried... I mean Jack, make me cried.. Jack is so sweet, I don´t know why, but he is like a really grandpa.. But Dottie, she don´t like me, have something strange that don´t like me haha... Only her pain was so so so real and that make feel her pain...

[Sara Freitag · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this. I loved Jack and Dottie in Finding Emma. This just made me love them more!

[Caron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. I first read Finding Emma and the main characters in this story are in both books. They are both charming, the story moving, the characters pull you in!

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is novella to start ouff with. It is in between books 1 and 2. Dottie's point of view kind of. It is after Jack goes off to war and it is her letters to him. I really enjoyed this. It is very short. It was not perfect. But I enjoyed it. Dottie was not one of my favorite characters in the first book. But this story the way it is told we need to find out why she is the way she is. But I really enjoyed the characters. I enjoyed hearing about Mary when she was younger. It was just really intriguing to read this short little story.

[Beverly Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading this. It answered some of the questions from Finding Emma. You could feel the love these two characters had for each other. I can't wait to read the rest of the series. I hope to read more about Jack as he is someone I would like to know in real life.

[patricia doman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic.

All of the books in finding Emma and this one are just incredible . You just can't put them down . The story just grips you emotionally at your heart. A must read. Great from beginning to end.

[MissyTexas · Rating 3 out of 5]

one of the takeaways front the main books is that you don’t have a favorable opinion of Dottie, this gives you a little bit tip to her last. They book is a simple letter writing while Jack is missing for years and presumed dead. It was ok.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is part of the Finding Emma series. I found it insightful to be able to learn more about Dottie as she writes letters to her husband Jack in her diary. It helped me understand much more about how her life was shaped and changed from the courses of events in their lives. It was a great addition to the series. Thank you Steena!

[Charmeon Harker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved this book

I read other books in this series and enjoyed them and this one did not disappoint. I will read other books by this author.

[Jennifer Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice look into Dottie... makes you more endeared to the woman although I still think Josie with fire in my eyes.

[Joanne Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok

Did t like this one much, it was very short and almost repeating. I thought it was a full book

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable, but not unenjoyable.

[Beverley Crowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short

Nice follow up in the series but much too short, I would have preferred much more but will look forward to the next in the series

[Katherine Sheaves · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little insight into what happened between Doug and Dottie while Jack was at war. Not really necessary to read.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short but sweet, i wish there was more to this!

[MindyAnn Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was really good

[Stephani Sims · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but good book. On to book 3.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

J'ai aimé l'écriture, ainsi que le format épistolaire
C'était assez touchant

[Stephanie Waterhouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 47 page book and listed as book #2 in the Finding Emma series. [I'm reading it as the third in the series. Already read, Finding Emma and Emma's Secret: A Novel] The letters, from a journal written by Dorothy (Dottie) as given to her by Jack before he left to go into the military (war), are the main plot of the book. It gives us insight into her psyche and what might have led to her later kidnapping Emmie.

Although Dottie is the one who kidnaps Emma, I find myself liking her and her husband Jack very much. She has a kind spirit and willing to open her heart and home to others hurting because of war. Her strength is admirable. Their love for each other is wonderful to behold. I enjoyed this journal and my heart ached for her at times. After two years and not hearing from Jack, she refuses to give up on him and their love, although she'd willingly do what Jack asked of her before he left for war. The last page to the Journal was good to read.

I got more info into the character of Dottie from this journal then reading the other two books. Thanks for this. Yes, I would recommend this for others to read.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear Jack is the story of Dottie and Jack, two of the main characters in Finding Emma. Told in journal entries from Dottie to Jack over the period of two years, we finally get a glimpse into their past. Jack has just signed up for the war, leaving Dottie alone to take care of their young daughter, Mary. Although the story is rather short, I loved it. I found it a perfect addition to this series and a very necessary one.

Although Dottie isn't the most likable character in Finding Emma, I think this short back story will truly help readers connect with her and help them understand her actions. That, and it is rather heartbreaking. I honestly felt her pain as she struggled with the choices she had to make while Jack was away. Choices nobody should even have to consider.

Finding Emma is an incredible story and I couldn't be happier with how Dear Jack has turned out. I highly recommend picking up both of these stories, but be sure to start with Finding Emma so nothing is given away during Dear Jack.

[Stacey Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like many other readers of "Finding Emma", I read this book in order to find out background information on Dottie and Jack and of course Dottie's relationship with Doug (Jack's friend). SPOILER ALERT - I know now that Doug had asked Dottie to marry him when Jack was thought dead at war but I still don't know why Dottie ended up so angry at Doug once Jack returned home (apparently not dead!) had Doug known all along that Jack was still alive? Had Jack NOT asked Doug to look after Dottie in his absence? I really don't know and I thought the point of this book was to understand why! It also didn't make me like Dottie (I didn't like her from the get go in Finding Emma) and I still don't think she can justify taking Emma the way she did. I also would have liked more information on Dottie and Jack's own daughter Mary; what drove her away, what got her addicted to drugs? Etc. perhaps a new opening for another novel in the series?

[Susan Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella is a sequel to the wonderful book, Finding Emma. In Finding Emma, Emma has been taken from her family and is living with Dottie and Jack, who she thinks are her grandparents. Dear Jack tells the story of a hard time in the early days of Jack and Dottie's marriage. Jack has been sent to war, leaving Dottie and their daughter Mary behind. The story is told through a series of letters that Dottie writes to Jack in a journal. Her letters are so full of love, fear, and heartache as she tries to cope with the absence of her husband. It was so nice to have some insight into Dottie and Jack and the lives they lead before Emma entered their lives.

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seriously, why didn't the author just somehow include these letters in the "Finding Emma" book? I found it a bit of a waste to me. I did enjoy the letters from Dottie to Jack and thought they gave more perspective into the couple which was barely touched on in the original "Finding Emma" book. What I enjoyed most about the letters was that each letter portrayed a different emotion of how Dottie was dealing with Jack away in the service. Her feelings of anger, weakness, to acceptance, courage, and strength.