Megan Hamilton is boring. At least that's what her fiancé tells her right before he dumps her for another woman.
Still healing from the break-up, introverted Megan reluctantly agrees to join her mother on a luxurious cruise to Mexico to rebuild her shattered world.
Meeting the charming Nate Talbert and embarking on a whirlwind ship romance convinces Megan that her luck is finally changing. However, appearances can be deceiving, and the handsome stranger is hiding a terrible secret. Megan quickly discovers the truth is far more disturbing than she ever imagined when she's trapped in a terrifying world from which she might never break free.
What was supposed to be her perfect vacation is about to become her worst nightmare.
Christy Cooper-Burnett is an award-winning author based in southern California with a degree in Administration of Justice. She has one grown son who inspired her to write her award-winning debut novel, No Way Home.
She enjoys creating relatable stories and characters that encourage readers to imagine what they would do if thrown into the same unique situations as her strong female protagonists. Christy's novels have received numerous awards.
Christy comes from a long line of police officers and worked in crime prevention early in her career. When she’s not writing, she’s been known to binge watch series in a single weekend, throw dinner parties, and will travel anywhere at a moment’s notice as long as her rescue dog Beau can tag along.
You can learn more about Christy or contact her to subscribe to her mailing list for news, book deals, and upcoming events at https://www.christycooperburnettbooks...
I’m going to be honest, I was about to dnf this book when I was a bit past halfway because I though it was going to go in a xenophobic direction that I’ve seen way too many books and movies got towards too but I’m glad I reached the point of the great twist. That twist added a layer of intrigue and tension that elevated the story, and I also think it was written well into the story and didn’t feel forced nor too OTT.
This book is the definition of a quick, popcorn read. It’s fast-paced, dramatic, and engaging; the perfect companion for a cozy afternoon when you have nothing to do and just want to relax. The story felt very much like a Lifetime movie, and I mean that in the best way possible.
The writing itself is straightforward and easy to follow, which makes it accessible and keeps the pace moving. While the characters and plot might not be especially deep or complex, they’re compelling enough.
I am usually not drawn to this genre – but I love being surprised.
This book had everything – great characters, outstanding plot and a twist I hadn’t seen coming which kept me hanging on until the end. Without the prologue, I might not have been enthusiastic to finish the story. I didn’t particularly like Brian and his fiancé! But once the story took off, I couldn’t put it down. The writing was spectacular and I look forward to reading more of this author’s work.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The prologue starts with her abduction and then jumps back. The story here is a light hearted romance gone bad. Megan is dumped by her finance and her Mom persuades her to go on a cruise with her and her friend, sharing a cabin with her Mom.
Once they are on the cruise, things get interesting and you see a new side of Megan. I like that she (and her mother) never gave up. There are some major surprises but a happy ending.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily. I tore through this book at a rate of knots (pun intended). A 'forget' cruise gifted by her mum to Megan after a heartbreaking break-up turns out be something never to be forgotten.
The book is told from both Megan and her mother Michelle's perspective, adding so much emotion and desperation. The plot demonstrated the power of a mother's love and instinct to protect, at the same time delivering lessons about the terrible acts of trafficking. We see Megan discovering her own determination to survive and her transformation is totally believable.
This was a fast, enjoyable as well as educating story and is ideal for a bit of escapism.
One part of the ending did puzzle me a little but it didn't detract from my enjoyment.
I finished reading Missing and can practically promise with every fiber of my being that I'll never set foot on a cruise ship again! Cooper-Burnett’s novel brought the reality of human trafficking to light, and the fact that a person can be kidnapped so quickly and easily is terrifying.
I enjoyed this story about Megan recently devastated by her fiancé, Brian, breaking up with her, literally a couple of weeks before their intended wedding. Megan has always suffered from anxiety so when her mother, Michelle, insists that Megan accompany her, together with her mother's best friend, Rochelle, on a cruise she is reluctant not least because the intended cruise destination is Mexico, where Brian is due to tie the knot to the woman he met that prompted his break-up with Megan.
Cruise ships though luxurious are also known to have a significant number of people disappear. Is this what happens when Megan doesn't return to the cabin she shares with her mother after meeting the charming Nate on board?
I received an advance copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily. 4 stars
This book is about Megan, a woman who was recently dumped by her fiancé 3 months before the wedding, the reason: she's boring and fearful of everything. Sure, maybe Megan doesn't enjoy skydiving or whitewater raft, and she takes many precautions for everything she does, but that does not make her boring and fearful of everything… does it? After the breakup, Megan is convinced to go on a one-week cruise vacation with her mother and her mother's best friend, to forget about the breakup and try to move on. Unfortunately, no one expected that going to the "cruise to forget" would actually end up with Megan being kidnapped and about to be sold into sex trafficking. Now is up to Megan and her very protective mother to do something about that before she goes missing forever.
As soon as I read a description of the book, I knew it would be my type of book, and I was right. This book was catching from the start, and I couldn't wait to get to (what I thought would be) the most exciting part: Megan on the cruise, about to be kidnapped. I wanted to read it all as soon as possible, so no wonder I finished this book in less than a day!
The book, as I mentioned, captures you from the start, the chapters are short and the book plot doesn't drag out— it's quite fast-paced, which is what made my reading quite enjoyable—, there's dual POVs! And there are many plot twists, some I saw coming and some I didn't.
The other POV really caught me off guard and was a nice surprise!
I love how well Megan and her mother know each other, and how protective and caring they are for the other.
I will admit it, I'm not ashamed: I found the man who kidnapped Megan attractive from the start—which of course was the idea—, but him being the kidnapper made him even more attractive to me… and he might have been one of the reasons that made me want to read the book in the first place. But, he became less attractive to me towards the end, though I still enjoyed every time he was mentioned.
This book was quite a roller-coaster. I do think that the writing could be better, but hey, it did not stop me from enjoying this book! So, here I am… leaving this review voluntarily after receiving an advance review copy for free.
This was a nice surprise for me because I was on the edge of my seat from dusk until dawn, wondering how this suspenseful tale of a daughter and her mom, along with her mother’s best friend, on a cruise from the innards of idiocy and danger would work for me since it isn’t a typical genre I would read. The characters amazed me, especially the tenacious mother-daughter duo who persevered despite the horrors they faced. The plot was fascinating, and the characters believable, but how could the mother have been so stupid about her best friend’s criminal activities? How did the mother not question how her best friend could afford to take two cruises a month? But Christy Cooper-Burnett pulled off a sometimes-unbelievable tale with grand style and some spellbinding edge-of-your-seat thrills that kept me reading all night long. So put on the kettle, grab some snacks, and you will enjoy this book if you like suspense and one plot twist after another. Hookey yes. Infuriating characters, yes, but a book that was entertaining and well-written. Five stars, hands down. I want to thank Book Sirens, the author, and the publisher, for the opportunity to read this free ARC. This review is voluntary and mine alone.
Missing is a very quick read about a young woman on a cruise with her mother who gets abducted to be sold into sex trafficking. The narrators alternate between Megan and her mother, which helps provide different perspectives once Megan is abducted.
Overall, it was entertaining but there were several parts that were too convenient - overheard information, confessions, etc. I think the author could have imparted this info to both the reader and the characters in a less obvious way. Megan is also made to be a very anxious person but she doesn't come across as such for the majority of the book.
The conclusion is also a bit too pondering. I think the author could tighten it up a bit.
Missing sheds light on the international issue of sex trafficking, so hopefully it will educate more people. I personally didn't know the statistics for cruise line involvement.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The cruise was supposed to be a relaxing getaway from the recent stresses in her life, but turned into a nightmare for Megan when she was kidnapped by sex traffickers on the ship. Her mother is forced to organize the search and rescue on her own when an indifferent crew refuses to help find Megan. The story alternates between the viewpoints of the mother and daughter, highlighting the desperation each faces as time is running out. Mother and daughter are forced to break all the rules in order to survive in this fast paced thriller filled with themes of betrayal and redemption. If you’re looking to escape from the real world for a few hours, grab a copy of this novel.
I really liked the premise of this book and enjoyed the pacing of it. There were a couple of twists that I saw coming but I still enjoyed how they played out.
I personally felt like some of the ending could have been fleshed out a bit more as it was wrapped up quite quickly but only because I would have liked to have read more about some of the other characters involved.
For me, the very final few paragraphs, although light hearted and well intended, seemed a little out of place and potentially unnecessary.
Overall, I found it an easy read and captivating enough that I read it in one sitting.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily*
Megan is boring. Well that’s what her soon to be fiance tells her when he breaks up with her just weeks before their wedding. Broken, torn, and lost on how to move forward Megan’s mother and her long time best friend who are avid cruisers convince Megan to join them on their upcoming cruise to Mexico. Megan is super nervous about going and against her better judgement and voice in the back of her head telling her all of the things that could go wrong, she boards the ship to try and have fun. She knows she needs a reset on her life and what better way than to let everything go and meet new people. While at dinner she meets a handsome man and begins spending a great deal of time with him while on the boat, to the point that her mother is starting to worry that Megan is latching on due to the emotional hurt she went through with her break up. Reassuring her mother that she’s just having fun, Megan continues to spend time with this man. When Megan’s mom and her best friend get off the boat to do some shopping in Mexico and spend the whole day, she returns and Megan is missing. Nobody will help her after they dismiss her claims and try to make her believe that Megan simply fell overboard. Megan’s mom refuses to believe it and you will never guess who is behind her disappearance.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat. Megan and her mother, Michelle, are two incredibly tough women.
They go on a cruise together, along with Rochelle (mom’s friend), and things go unbelievably wrong. The story is told from Megan and Michelle’s viewpoint which added a lot of depth to the story. We got to see what they were both going through.
The characters were interesting, even the ones I didn’t like. I did guess that someone had a part in what happened before it was revealed.
Even though this is a work of fiction, it reinforced my decision to never go on a cruise. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The level of greed that fueled this operation was disgusting and made me heartsick. Greed has no conscience or morals. Greed begets more greed. These kinds of stories always leave me feeling empty. I felt less so because of the ending and resolution. Trafficking is such a far reaching crime that affects more than the victims. It has a ripple effect which is far reaching. I was happy the author included therapy at the end. It can help one move forward in life and process it all. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest opinion.
Just enough excitement to make you wanna keep reading. and gave HOPE to even some of us who are quiet and maybe a little boring that if things got dangerous, we could step up to the plate and shave ourselves, and we could overpower evil and bad guys if we had to. it gave me hope that even if you don’t carry a gun, you have a chance to escape danger. The book was an easy read and a fast read, and I love books with happy satisfying, complete endings.. thank you very much for such a fun book to read
Unfortunately, a couple of glaring shortcuts ruined the book for me. First when the mother just happened to overhear the whole villainous plot ... in minute detail. And again when the horrendous details were retold on the side of the street ... during the scary and stressful rescue. Both scenarios were so unrealistic ... it wrecked the story for me and made the ending fizzle instead of pop. Too bad cause with just a little more effort the story could have been really good.
This was a quick, enjoyable read. I would say it's light hearted, although there are some very serious, real-world issues involved. This is a beach/by the pool read as there are too many convenient events which wrap things up and with the main character growing in a positive way. The 'twist' was obvious - I knew it right away when the mother's friend was preoccupied with her phone. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I love a good cruise but this is absolutely one I wouldn't want to experience. Missing is easy to get into, the prologue starts with her abduction which immediately makes you wonder how and why. I don't want to give any spoilers but I was very surprised with the why and how deeply imbedded the situation was and especially the head honcho! Thank you BookSirens and Christy Cooper-Burnett for the opportunity to read this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.
This was a good, quick read. The storyline was interesting. I had never heard of, or thought about, human/sex trafficking on cruise lines. I would have liked more detail about that. I wasn't really a fan of Megan's mother in the beginning, but admired her tenacity later in the story. I feel that the story was wrapped up too neatly and easily. I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy from Book Sirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Megan is reported missing on a cruise and her Mom must unravel the mystery of what happened.
Whilst I enjoyed the plot of this book, I did struggle with some of the narrative. It felt as if the writer was telling the audience everything and the dialogue was at times, amateurish. I enjoyed the overall storyline, despite being obvious and the eventual conclusions.
This book was an easy read, covering some subjects that were very un appealing and tragic. A mother encourages her daughter to go on vacation with her, to go on a cruise to Mexico. The daughter has just broken up with her boyfriend or rather he just broke up with her and is going to marry someone else.So they go on a cruise together with the mother, the mother’s best friend and the daughter.
This was a fast read and it definitely falls into the category of popcorn thrillers. I saw this book recommended in a thriller book group. It was a lite thriller, that kept me engrossed, mostly because I’ve seen true-crime stories that revolved around this exact scenario, so I was intrigued. The villains, though? I clocked them immediately. Both of them. I asked myself ‘surely it isn’t this obvious? There must be a twist.’ But no, it really was that obvious from the beginning.
This captivating book delivers an exhilarating narrative filled with unexpected plot developments and surprising twists that keep readers thoroughly engaged from the first page to the last. The intricate storyline weaves complex characters and suspenseful moments, creating a compelling reading experience that challenges readers' expectations and maintains a high level of intrigue throughout the novel.
Fast paced, jaw dropping, family tragedy. I wouldn't call it a mystery or thriller but a book that has you question a few things and engages your mind. There was one relationship in the book that I would have loved more of a backstory. Details to understand the why.
Highly recommend
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really enjoyed this one! Definitely hooked me pretty quickly. I will say I figured out where it was going early on, but not to the extent it went. Not to give any spoilers, but it goes to show you may never truly know someone. Also love the strong female figures created in this - the good and the bad. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Imagine your worst nightmare coming true, when you’re just trying to relax on vacation! Cooper-Burnett creates the perfect scenario, but the players and actions involved are completely unexpected. The writing itself is detailed and the plot adventurous, I enjoyed this one and would recommend for a light mystery that keeps you involved. I received an arc from BookSirens for an honest review.
What didn't make this book plausible for me was how immature the main character was in this book. Sure, she finally became gutsy at the end, but in today's world the immature version would be eaten alive. I mainly skimmed through this book, because there was too much unnecessary detail.
I throughly enjoyed reading this book..the writer kept the reader pulled in to the story because it is relatable to reality people do disappear everyday into human trafficking the ending was perfect I most definitely recommend reading this am looking forward to read more writing of Christy Cooper-Burnett
I just finished Missing by Christy Cooper-Burnett, and I really loved the idea behind it! But I wasn't a fan of the writing style. I found the book pretty predictable, and it felt like the author over-explained a lot, which made it less enjoyable for me. The concept was great, but the execution didn’t really hit the mark.