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And Then She Was Gone
Eleven-year-old Lauren O'Neil vanished one sunny afternoon as she walked home from school. Six years later, her parents Rachel and Dan still tirelessly scour their Oregon hometown and beyond, always believing Lauren will be found. Then one day, the call comes.Lauren has been rescued from a secluded farm mere miles away, and her abductor has confessed. Yet her return is nothing like Rachel imagined. Though the revelations about what Lauren endured are shocking, most heartbreaking of all is to see the bright-eyed, assertive daughter she knew transformed into a wary, polite stranger. Lauren's first instinct is to flee. For years she's been told her parents forgot her;now she doubts the pieces of her life can ever fit together again. But Rachel refuses to lose her a second time. Little by little they must relearn what it means to be a family, trusting that their bond is strong enough to guide them back to each other. Intensely moving and absorbing, this is an extraordinary story told with sensitivity and grace, and filled with the depth and breadth of a mother's love. Praise for Rosalind Noonan"Noonan has a knack for page-turners and doesn't disappoint." --Publishers Weekly on All She Ever Wanted "The author once again takes on an emotional topic with great sensitivity." --Booklist on The Daughter She Used to Be"Reminiscent of Jodi Picoult's kind of tale. . .it's a keeper!" --New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson on One September Morning
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
316 people are currently reading
2595 people want to read
About the author
Rosalind Noonan
36 books161 followersROSALIND NOONAN grew up in suburban Maryland and enjoyed being part of a large family. "With my four siblings, Saturday mornings were a blast," she says. "There was festival seating on the living room floor as we devoured cartoons and passed the Sugar Pops."
She caught the writing bug in second grade when she won first place in a poetry contest. "The prize was twenty dollars," she recalls. "That was big bucks for a second grader. I thought I was going to Disneyland." Wooed by the taste of fame and fortune, she kept writing.
After attending Wagner College in Staten Island, she remained in New York City where she worked as an editor for various book publishers. Noonan currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, a retired cop from the NYPD, and two children. Although she sometimes misses the rapid pulse of New York, she enjoys writing in the shade of towering two-hundred year old Douglas fir trees.
She caught the writing bug in second grade when she won first place in a poetry contest. "The prize was twenty dollars," she recalls. "That was big bucks for a second grader. I thought I was going to Disneyland." Wooed by the taste of fame and fortune, she kept writing.
After attending Wagner College in Staten Island, she remained in New York City where she worked as an editor for various book publishers. Noonan currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, a retired cop from the NYPD, and two children. Although she sometimes misses the rapid pulse of New York, she enjoys writing in the shade of towering two-hundred year old Douglas fir trees.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 284 reviews
January 8, 2014
I had some issues with this book. First of all there seemed to me to be little discrepancies: 1) p. 109 Kevin is the one that throws her cell phone into the woods .. Lauren says, "...and he threw my cell phone into the woods that first day when he pulled off the road." p. 226 Lauren says, "We stopped there for a bathroom break, and when Kevin wasn't looking I gave it a toss with all my might."
p. 267 Eleanor says she is Gabby's "cousin" and Lauren repeats it by saying, "That's not very nice, leaving her cousin behind." Rest of time in book she is Gabby's sister.
Third - Sierra did not act or talk like an 11 year old - more like 13 or 14.
I never liked the mother Rachel. No warm fuzzy feelings there. Just so much is missed in the dynamics of the family in jumping 6 years ahead, and then time warping it to resolve the issues.
Just "love" how Dan, Lauren's father, is worried that he is going to be 59 when Mac (his granddaughter) is in college. Um, and the problem??!! If Lauren had the baby after SHE had gone to college, then, gee, Dan would have been closer to 70. Yep, probably dead. Seriously!!?? I hardly think that was a dialogue worth having - absurd thoughts when people are in their 40's and having children.
Really, I just felt the whole book to be tedious. I have enjoyed all of her other books, so I am not really sure why this one is so bad. Don't make it your first Noonan book!
p. 267 Eleanor says she is Gabby's "cousin" and Lauren repeats it by saying, "That's not very nice, leaving her cousin behind." Rest of time in book she is Gabby's sister.
Third - Sierra did not act or talk like an 11 year old - more like 13 or 14.
I never liked the mother Rachel. No warm fuzzy feelings there. Just so much is missed in the dynamics of the family in jumping 6 years ahead, and then time warping it to resolve the issues.
Just "love" how Dan, Lauren's father, is worried that he is going to be 59 when Mac (his granddaughter) is in college. Um, and the problem??!! If Lauren had the baby after SHE had gone to college, then, gee, Dan would have been closer to 70. Yep, probably dead. Seriously!!?? I hardly think that was a dialogue worth having - absurd thoughts when people are in their 40's and having children.
Really, I just felt the whole book to be tedious. I have enjoyed all of her other books, so I am not really sure why this one is so bad. Don't make it your first Noonan book!
August 7, 2014
Badly Edited and Not Believable
Badly Edited and Not Believable
I expect more from an established author. At the very beginning of the novel the author is talking about Sierra on the bumper boats and uses the name Lauren instead! There are other such typographical and continuity errors throughout the book. I find it hard to believe that a child taken from her family at eleven and rescued at seventeen would seem to forget her parents and sister completely. And if they were unsure whether or not Lauren had actually given birth, wouldn't there have been a medical examination to determine that she had been pregnant?
Badly Edited and Not Believable
I expect more from an established author. At the very beginning of the novel the author is talking about Sierra on the bumper boats and uses the name Lauren instead! There are other such typographical and continuity errors throughout the book. I find it hard to believe that a child taken from her family at eleven and rescued at seventeen would seem to forget her parents and sister completely. And if they were unsure whether or not Lauren had actually given birth, wouldn't there have been a medical examination to determine that she had been pregnant?
Read
January 24, 2019I think most of us can identify with the raw, desperation of powerlessness; the experience of being struck bare; our frail impotence exposing our inability to take action. The abject humility of it. Like an tattered cotton pillowcase faded on the line, its worn fabric bleached by the sun and made transparent; a fade so gradual we are taken unaware when we see that its face, once splashed with color, has vanished into holes. Where once there was something, now, nothing.
In reading And Then She Was Gone by Rosalind Noonan, I expected to identify on some level with Dan and Rachel O'Neil, the parents of ten year old Lauren, who was abducted walking home from school one afternoon just before her birthday. The pain and confusion of losing a child must be unimaginable; the desperate search for answers that no one can give a torment beyond understanding. I get that. What took me by surprise int his thoughtful, well-written novel, is the heartbreak that follows when your lost lamb is returned home, reminding me that in life, there is no flag waving in the distance to signal us when an event has concluded, but in its stead, a processes, overlapping other experiences. without a measurable end.
Written in a style reminiscent of Jodi Picoult, And Then She Was Gone broaches a topic that most of would rather close our eyes to; the personal experience of child abduction, and worse, the trauma that replaces the happily-ever-after that we all unrealistically cling to.
In reading And Then She Was Gone by Rosalind Noonan, I expected to identify on some level with Dan and Rachel O'Neil, the parents of ten year old Lauren, who was abducted walking home from school one afternoon just before her birthday. The pain and confusion of losing a child must be unimaginable; the desperate search for answers that no one can give a torment beyond understanding. I get that. What took me by surprise int his thoughtful, well-written novel, is the heartbreak that follows when your lost lamb is returned home, reminding me that in life, there is no flag waving in the distance to signal us when an event has concluded, but in its stead, a processes, overlapping other experiences. without a measurable end.
Written in a style reminiscent of Jodi Picoult, And Then She Was Gone broaches a topic that most of would rather close our eyes to; the personal experience of child abduction, and worse, the trauma that replaces the happily-ever-after that we all unrealistically cling to.
March 16, 2014
Ms. Noonan had me for quite a while in this book. We've obviously read a lot of the same material about kidnappings and long-term captivity, psychology, Stockholm Syndrome etc., and I'm also a huge fan of equine therapy so that was a nice bonus for me. In the beginning she did a very creditable job of exploring Lauren and her family's mindsets, challenges, grief, panic etc. I thought that Rachel (in the earlier stages of the book) was particularly well drawn- I can't imagine the pain of having a child gone missing, let alone having that child return and want nothing to do with me. I also thought that Ms. Noonan did a very good job with setting- it's certainly not unbelievable that you only have to walk a few metres off of the beaten path to become pretty much invisible. It was also nice to see a social worker in a good light.
But I started losing interest as the book progressed.
But I started losing interest as the book progressed.
Read
October 10, 2014As I began reading, I just kept seeing similarities between Jaycee Dugard's book, A Stolen Life, and this book, that in a way I thought the idea of this book plagiarized, especially when it seemed as some of the things were pulled directly from Jaycee's book.
Also their were many other errors in the book that should have been caught by the editor.
Not the best book l have read nor the worst.
January 9, 2014
While there were a few parallels to the case of Jaycee dugard, this was a fantastic book that seemed almost like a true crime story. The emotions were so real, the events real and same with the whole storyline.
Lauren goes from being a normal 11 year old girl doing normal things like walking home from school alone, to her life being turned upside down and she is snatched by a man who makes her his little slave/puppet in a tiny house on farmland undetected by Kevin's aunt who lives on the property.
She is told her family has given up on her, is no longer looking for her and has moved away.
Her biggest joy, giving birth to a beautiful little girl who is her whole life, then dies and in her mourning, her life loses any kind of meaning except for her beautiful art. Then Kevin is arrested for am unrelated crime and her story is revealed.
Her family is eagerly awaiting her return home but Lauren needs a lot of adjusting home. She finds out that indeed her family never stopped looking for her and had events for her, releasing balloons with her message on them, one of which floated by her while in the compound.
She has missed six years of her life where she didn't go to school, or have friends. No parties, no boys, no school dances or graduations. Through the patience of her family, especially the younger sister she bonds with as well as a therapy regime with horses, she begins to heal and love her family again while realizing how bad Kevin really was.
I did Have a sneaky suspicion about the demise of Mackenzie and while some of the story did have a little of the too good to be true aspect, it was so well written. I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach throughout for what the family and especially Lauren had gone through. And to find out how far away Lauren really was in those six years and how so many people that could have helped her, didn't care enough to ask the questions was heartbreaking. So many times, there could have been a different direction taken but six years went by as she remained in the compound undetected.
Enjoyed this book so much, it's the first I have read by this author but definitely not the last.
Lauren goes from being a normal 11 year old girl doing normal things like walking home from school alone, to her life being turned upside down and she is snatched by a man who makes her his little slave/puppet in a tiny house on farmland undetected by Kevin's aunt who lives on the property.
She is told her family has given up on her, is no longer looking for her and has moved away.
Her biggest joy, giving birth to a beautiful little girl who is her whole life, then dies and in her mourning, her life loses any kind of meaning except for her beautiful art. Then Kevin is arrested for am unrelated crime and her story is revealed.
Her family is eagerly awaiting her return home but Lauren needs a lot of adjusting home. She finds out that indeed her family never stopped looking for her and had events for her, releasing balloons with her message on them, one of which floated by her while in the compound.
She has missed six years of her life where she didn't go to school, or have friends. No parties, no boys, no school dances or graduations. Through the patience of her family, especially the younger sister she bonds with as well as a therapy regime with horses, she begins to heal and love her family again while realizing how bad Kevin really was.
I did Have a sneaky suspicion about the demise of Mackenzie and while some of the story did have a little of the too good to be true aspect, it was so well written. I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach throughout for what the family and especially Lauren had gone through. And to find out how far away Lauren really was in those six years and how so many people that could have helped her, didn't care enough to ask the questions was heartbreaking. So many times, there could have been a different direction taken but six years went by as she remained in the compound undetected.
Enjoyed this book so much, it's the first I have read by this author but definitely not the last.
April 1, 2023
Grade: C+
Lauren is kidnapped walking home from school. Six years later, she's found. Lauren and her family have to adjust to the trauma she endured and find their way back to each other.
With shades of Jaycee Dugard and Michelle Knight AND THEN SHE WAS GONE is an overly optimistic look at family reunification after survivors return home. Rosalind Noonan put almost no conflict into this novel, everything seems impossible, then characters adjust to new challenges. Noonan does a good job giving characters realistic voices. While the plot had holes, had too many convenient coincidences and wrapped up much faster than would happen in real life, the story is interesting and I enjoyed Noonan's writing. Recovering from PTSD and the psychological damage Lauren endured, the social skills she magically had would take years, not months to accomplish. I can't get more specific about holes and conveniences because there is so little tension in this novel I don't want to kill that for you. My favorite characters were younger sister Sierra and social worker, Paula. My least favorite was Rachel, the mother.
AND THEN SHE WAS GONE is an easy read. Although the content of the kidnapping and abuse are heavy, Noonan never goes into much detail. A tepid recommendation for the right audience. I sent a friend the e-book, because she's into horses, if not for that aspect, I wouldn't have.
Lauren is kidnapped walking home from school. Six years later, she's found. Lauren and her family have to adjust to the trauma she endured and find their way back to each other.
With shades of Jaycee Dugard and Michelle Knight AND THEN SHE WAS GONE is an overly optimistic look at family reunification after survivors return home. Rosalind Noonan put almost no conflict into this novel, everything seems impossible, then characters adjust to new challenges. Noonan does a good job giving characters realistic voices. While the plot had holes, had too many convenient coincidences and wrapped up much faster than would happen in real life, the story is interesting and I enjoyed Noonan's writing. Recovering from PTSD and the psychological damage Lauren endured, the social skills she magically had would take years, not months to accomplish. I can't get more specific about holes and conveniences because there is so little tension in this novel I don't want to kill that for you. My favorite characters were younger sister Sierra and social worker, Paula. My least favorite was Rachel, the mother.
AND THEN SHE WAS GONE is an easy read. Although the content of the kidnapping and abuse are heavy, Noonan never goes into much detail. A tepid recommendation for the right audience. I sent a friend the e-book, because she's into horses, if not for that aspect, I wouldn't have.
March 13, 2018
I enjoyed the idea behind this book, but it doesn’t compare to similar authors (such as Jodi Picoult). I found that too much information was divulged early in the book leaving me little to wonder about for the rest. I also found that problems found their solutions too easily or too quickly. Definitely a good idea, just needed a bit more suspense.
October 2, 2024
oh boy...this book where do I begin
I think the most compelling portion of this book comes from its examination of the complex relationships formed between family, victim, perpetrator and even social worker from the violent upheaval of an adolescent girl from her home.
Although Noonan does research on real life victims and brings up intriguing dynamics that appear between what a person would infer one would do in such situations ie.just run away/call for help when given the opportunity vs actual human nature and its response to manipulation, abuse and induced dependency I think the rest of the book falls short from these ideas and that maturing is actually realizing the real victim is the one who read this book.
Noonan throughout the entire book has a tendency to clamp down on your hand and forcefully guide you through the story by over explaining all of the characters motivations, all of the subtext, any environmental clue ins and naturally removes any kind of critical thinking that could be derived from the scenes.
ALSO, the mom doing invasive investigating on her own hello???
Another gripe, I feel as if Lauren, the girl who is kidnapped for 6 years and then comes back to feelings of pure betrayal and mistrust to her own family for not being able to save her especially from a location so geographically close to her actual home, has the biggest mental breakdown when it comes to a fcken girl trying to kiss a boy she has a crush on DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THE ROMANCE SUBPLOTS.
Not only was the 'she happened to walk in on the scene with Jazz and Nora that looked damning but it was actually all a misunderstanding' thing was so cheesy, I literally had to do a double take when in one chapter Paula mentions Hank looks fine you know a little bearuccino type sh, to her sitting on his lap and kissing????? oh brother.
I do have a bit of a sentimentality though because this book was recommended by my mom and It deeply has ingrained the idea of a mothers overbearing-ness but also the suffering she in turn experiences herself so I let that idea redeem how white this book is :] .
I think the most compelling portion of this book comes from its examination of the complex relationships formed between family, victim, perpetrator and even social worker from the violent upheaval of an adolescent girl from her home.
Although Noonan does research on real life victims and brings up intriguing dynamics that appear between what a person would infer one would do in such situations ie.just run away/call for help when given the opportunity vs actual human nature and its response to manipulation, abuse and induced dependency I think the rest of the book falls short from these ideas and that maturing is actually realizing the real victim is the one who read this book.
Noonan throughout the entire book has a tendency to clamp down on your hand and forcefully guide you through the story by over explaining all of the characters motivations, all of the subtext, any environmental clue ins and naturally removes any kind of critical thinking that could be derived from the scenes.
ALSO, the mom doing invasive investigating on her own hello???
Another gripe, I feel as if Lauren, the girl who is kidnapped for 6 years and then comes back to feelings of pure betrayal and mistrust to her own family for not being able to save her especially from a location so geographically close to her actual home, has the biggest mental breakdown when it comes to a fcken girl trying to kiss a boy she has a crush on DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THE ROMANCE SUBPLOTS.
Not only was the 'she happened to walk in on the scene with Jazz and Nora that looked damning but it was actually all a misunderstanding' thing was so cheesy, I literally had to do a double take when in one chapter Paula mentions Hank looks fine you know a little bearuccino type sh, to her sitting on his lap and kissing????? oh brother.
I do have a bit of a sentimentality though because this book was recommended by my mom and It deeply has ingrained the idea of a mothers overbearing-ness but also the suffering she in turn experiences herself so I let that idea redeem how white this book is :] .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2020
In the beginning of the book, errors caused me to have to reread taking me out of the plot (specifically where a character was called by the wrong name in the narration). The victim’s story was different at times. I didn’t know if that was intentional to showcase what trauma does to memory or just poor writing.
I liked the perspective of writing what it would be like after your child returns, so I held on for quite a few more chapters, hoping I would become more engrossed, but I didn’t. I wanted to feel closer to the characters of the parents, their heartbreak, and while it was portrayed on the page, there was something about the mother’s character that caused me to disconnect. I know the author was trying to show how hard it was on her, too, but it didn’t work for me. Maybe it got better in the end chapters, but I’ll never know because I ended up returning the book to the library without finishing it.
I liked the perspective of writing what it would be like after your child returns, so I held on for quite a few more chapters, hoping I would become more engrossed, but I didn’t. I wanted to feel closer to the characters of the parents, their heartbreak, and while it was portrayed on the page, there was something about the mother’s character that caused me to disconnect. I know the author was trying to show how hard it was on her, too, but it didn’t work for me. Maybe it got better in the end chapters, but I’ll never know because I ended up returning the book to the library without finishing it.
July 30, 2019
Not a fan of this story at all, I didn't even finish the book. There was just no way to believe in this story line, how could a girl who was 11 when abducted just completely forget about her family in six years. I understand there's a whole psychological issue and that was addressed but it just never explained itself enough to fully vest in the mind set these characters were going through. I felt I had read this exact story before, I didn't feel this spin on this genre was unique enough to keep me interested.
March 10, 2023
This was a little predictable. A number of issues laid out early on in this tale had obvious answers/results. Part of me wondered if Lauren would really have so much resentment towards her parents but the only way I’d know for sure was to ask a kidnap survivor in the same circumstance. I also thought Sierra’s teenage angst came a little early at 13, but maybe circumstances blew all normality out of the window.
June 7, 2024
Nothing that hasn't been done 10,000 times and 9,994 of those were better than this.
April 17, 2025
Starts out ok, but not believable. Likely not to read this author again
February 19, 2024
This one was just OK for me…I found it a bit slow. The back-cover synopsis intrigued me, and when it was described as a “page-turner” and “reminiscent of Jodi Picoult”, I figured it would be a win.
Read A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard, instead!
Read A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard, instead!
May 14, 2015
There honestly wasn't a whole lot of "story", it was basically all based around Lauren coming home. It was fine, but slow. I'm glad it had a happy ending for all involved. Also, I don't know how many people know the story of Jaycee Dugard, but I recently re-read her memoir A Stolen Life, and this story rings very similar to hers. Kidnapped, raped, threatened, eventually somewhat assimilated into the public, forced to have children, eventually found, horse therapy, learning to live with family again etc. It was all very, very similar. Even down to the description of Lauren's first real interaction with the kidnapper, when he made her get in the shower, and shave, and then afterwards wouldn't let her wear any underwear. That same thing happened to Jaycee Dugard, as described in her book. It was really a comparison i couldn't stop making once I started reading this book.
March 29, 2016
The perfect book for anyone who wants to explore Jaycee Duggard's life but not feel super invasive about it, and/or for those who've seen all the crime shows and now want to see the aftermath of what happens once the victim is rescued and needs to acclimate to normal society.
I loved the bond between Paula and Sis/Lauren, how the younger sister was key to bridging her reunification with the family, and most especially the heavy focus on family equine therapy (even though nothing annoyed me more than the author describing how one of the horses was a "stallion." NO HE WASN'T. I promise you that he was not).
I loved the bond between Paula and Sis/Lauren, how the younger sister was key to bridging her reunification with the family, and most especially the heavy focus on family equine therapy (even though nothing annoyed me more than the author describing how one of the horses was a "stallion." NO HE WASN'T. I promise you that he was not).
January 11, 2014
Simply amazing.
I ordered this book on an off chance. Something I saw triggered me to buy it. Amazing.
Some of it did seem overly simplistic - and fake - but it was still a good book.
I am glad that it follows Lauren for a while - and unlike most books didn't focus on the actual life with the kidnapper very much - probably less than 25% of the book - but focused more on Lauren healing, and journey after she returned to her family.
A great book. Will look into more by this author for sure.
I ordered this book on an off chance. Something I saw triggered me to buy it. Amazing.
Some of it did seem overly simplistic - and fake - but it was still a good book.
I am glad that it follows Lauren for a while - and unlike most books didn't focus on the actual life with the kidnapper very much - probably less than 25% of the book - but focused more on Lauren healing, and journey after she returned to her family.
A great book. Will look into more by this author for sure.
July 8, 2015
Good Story, Sloppy Editing
I find myself resenting yet another book with a good storyline and reasonably believable characters that has sloppy editing to the point of distraction. Early on in.this novel I found myself confused about a plot line until I realized the error was again in the editing: an incorrect name and verb tense that misdirected the plot.
While I love to lose myself in a good novel, it is difficult to do so when grammar and editing are so distracting.
I find myself resenting yet another book with a good storyline and reasonably believable characters that has sloppy editing to the point of distraction. Early on in.this novel I found myself confused about a plot line until I realized the error was again in the editing: an incorrect name and verb tense that misdirected the plot.
While I love to lose myself in a good novel, it is difficult to do so when grammar and editing are so distracting.
October 13, 2014
I'm not sure why I read this book. I have read 3 other books by Noonan and found them to be very unbelievable. This story was no different. I liked the fact that it focused on the aftermath of the kidnapping instead of detailing the abuse. But Lauren's healing journey was more like a short trek to...all's back to normal. No more Noonan books for me.
March 28, 2014
This book was so good. I haven't read a whole book in one day in a long time. There were some things that the author got wrong. In one instance the abductor tossed her phone then later in the book she says she tossed it. There are others. All in all, a good story.
January 1, 2014
I WON THIS IN A GOOD READS GIVEAWAY AND I MUST SAY I LOVED THIS BOOK! I CAN'T WAIT TO READ MORE FROM THIS AUTHOR. IT'S A HORRIBLE THING TO HAPPEN TO A CHILD BUT THIS ONE TURNED OUT SO BEAUTIFUL. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
didn-t-finish
August 7, 2014I stopped reading after about 25 pages. The writing quality is just too low. It's full of info-dumps, and it isn't contributing any new insights into child abduction, which has been explored in numerous other novels. I expected something more unique.
September 29, 2015
Just won a copy of this book thru the Goodreads First Reads giveaways. So excited, will give a complete review once I receive the book and read it.
May 13, 2014
This book had a great plot and a beautifully told story. I think the author writes very well & attracts a wide audience.
Read this book if you like suspense, intrigue, & hope.
Read this book if you like suspense, intrigue, & hope.
May 20, 2015
Great story!
January 10, 2023
Not my cup of tea. The story was everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
October 6, 2020
AND THEN SHE WAS GONE by Rosalind Noonan is a story of a young rescued kidnapped victim, what happens next after being in captivity for 6 years. The then 11 year old girl, now a 17 year old young adult who has endured torture, abused mentally and physically in the hands of an child sex predator. What this novel offers, is not only the harrowing ordeal and trauma of an abused victim, her healing process and her close family's, but also a suspense twist where multiple characters actively took part in shapung the story, looking for the truth. Which is like a race against time mission.
The highlight, for me, in this whole journey is the unconditional maternal love. Proving that motherly instinct and emotion goes beyond any form of love. The kidnapping of a child alone is every parent's worst living nightmare that could ever happen and I swayed with that intense emotion listening to this audiobook. The novel is both heartbreaking and healing, of finding the strength to face/rise above your fears and never losing hope.
I loved the emotions that played my heartstrings listening to this audiobook.
How, in fact, an outstanding and seasoned Narrator/Voice Actor can carry a whole story up to the next level. It's every Author's dream to have their novels be told to by a narrator/voice actor who could portray their beloved characters. Distinctively bringing each of them, their personalities come to life. Instilling the emotions to the listeners with their voice acting skills and talent. And captivate listeners with their storytelling style and their articulate narration.
Having all that, its for us a worthwhile listening experience, pleasure and enjoyment. That is how I would describe the narration and voice acting in this audiobook. Erin Bennett's performance throughout the whole audiobook is beyond satisfaction. I actually didn't want it to end yet.
A ....MUST HAVE, MUST LISTEN 🎧📖
The highlight, for me, in this whole journey is the unconditional maternal love. Proving that motherly instinct and emotion goes beyond any form of love. The kidnapping of a child alone is every parent's worst living nightmare that could ever happen and I swayed with that intense emotion listening to this audiobook. The novel is both heartbreaking and healing, of finding the strength to face/rise above your fears and never losing hope.
I loved the emotions that played my heartstrings listening to this audiobook.
How, in fact, an outstanding and seasoned Narrator/Voice Actor can carry a whole story up to the next level. It's every Author's dream to have their novels be told to by a narrator/voice actor who could portray their beloved characters. Distinctively bringing each of them, their personalities come to life. Instilling the emotions to the listeners with their voice acting skills and talent. And captivate listeners with their storytelling style and their articulate narration.
Having all that, its for us a worthwhile listening experience, pleasure and enjoyment. That is how I would describe the narration and voice acting in this audiobook. Erin Bennett's performance throughout the whole audiobook is beyond satisfaction. I actually didn't want it to end yet.
A ....MUST HAVE, MUST LISTEN 🎧📖
March 2, 2019
Eleven-year old Lauren is quietly celebrating her win against her battle with her parents about allowing to walk home from school rather than staying at a day care with her eight-year old sister Sierra. She promised to go straight home but went to her neighbour's yard to sketch. While there, a man with a van pretending to be a delivery man abducted her after using a taser to immobilize Lauren. The abductor, Kevin, successfully hides her in a cabin in his aunt's farm. Since the aunt was on a wheelchair, she never visited Kevin in the cabin. So for six years Lauren was his captive, repeatedly raped for six years. At twelve she became pregnant and gave birth the Mackenzie who became sick. Kevin took her to the hospital and told her that she died so he left her body there since he could not pay the hospital bills. One day Kevin was caught in a robbery and divulged Lauren's location. The rest of the book goes through the reunification process that Lauren goes through with her family using equine therapy. Needless to say, within six or more weeks, a good ending for everyone except Kevin neatly ties up the novel.
There are discrepancies such as who threw Lauren's cellphone (Kevin or her?) and others. Also the storyline sounds eerily similar to another actual abduction case. The story sounded promising but the therapy seems to work its magic a little too soon. The number of times that the family interfered with he investigation is unimaginable. If you can ignore these points, the book is a fast read.
There are discrepancies such as who threw Lauren's cellphone (Kevin or her?) and others. Also the storyline sounds eerily similar to another actual abduction case. The story sounded promising but the therapy seems to work its magic a little too soon. The number of times that the family interfered with he investigation is unimaginable. If you can ignore these points, the book is a fast read.
November 5, 2017
First book by her, going to find more!
Eleven-year-old Lauren O'Neil vanished one sunny afternoon as she walked home from school. Six years later, her parents Rachel and Dan still tirelessly scour their Oregon hometown and beyond, always believing Lauren will be found. Then one day, the call comes.
Lauren has been rescued from a secluded farm mere miles away, and her abductor has confessed. Yet her return is nothing like Rachel imagined. Though the revelations about what Lauren endured are shocking, most heartbreaking of all is to see the bright-eyed, assertive daughter she knew transformed into a wary, polite stranger.
Lauren's first instinct is to flee. For years she's been told her parents forgot her; now she doubts the pieces of her life can ever fit together again. But Rachel refuses to lose her a second time. Little by little they must relearn what it means to be a family, trusting that their bond is strong enough to guide them back to each other.
Intensely moving and absorbing, this is an extraordinary story told with sensitivity and grace, and filled with the depth and breadth of a mother's love.
Praise for Rosalind Noonan
"Noonan has a knack for page-turners and doesn't disappoint." --Publishers Weekly on All She Ever Wanted
"The author once again takes on an emotional topic with great sensitivity." --Booklist on The Daughter She Used to Be
"Reminiscent of Jodi Picoult's kind of tale. . .it's a keeper!"
Eleven-year-old Lauren O'Neil vanished one sunny afternoon as she walked home from school. Six years later, her parents Rachel and Dan still tirelessly scour their Oregon hometown and beyond, always believing Lauren will be found. Then one day, the call comes.
Lauren has been rescued from a secluded farm mere miles away, and her abductor has confessed. Yet her return is nothing like Rachel imagined. Though the revelations about what Lauren endured are shocking, most heartbreaking of all is to see the bright-eyed, assertive daughter she knew transformed into a wary, polite stranger.
Lauren's first instinct is to flee. For years she's been told her parents forgot her; now she doubts the pieces of her life can ever fit together again. But Rachel refuses to lose her a second time. Little by little they must relearn what it means to be a family, trusting that their bond is strong enough to guide them back to each other.
Intensely moving and absorbing, this is an extraordinary story told with sensitivity and grace, and filled with the depth and breadth of a mother's love.
Praise for Rosalind Noonan
"Noonan has a knack for page-turners and doesn't disappoint." --Publishers Weekly on All She Ever Wanted
"The author once again takes on an emotional topic with great sensitivity." --Booklist on The Daughter She Used to Be
"Reminiscent of Jodi Picoult's kind of tale. . .it's a keeper!"
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