Finding Jenna

by M.E. Tudor

Eighteen-year-old Jenna Matthews finds the dead body of a young woman in her father’s freezer. She knows she can’t trust the local authorities because her father is a sheriff’s deputy and friends with lots of local cops. The FBI seems the only reasonable choice. Jenna doesn’t know that the FBI is already watching her father and her discovery could be the key to an ongoing investigation.
Before the FBI can get someone to the Matthews house, Jenna’s father, Michael comes home after he suspects that Jenna knows about the body and beats her until she’s unconscious. William Defoe, the FBI agent, sent to check out the body, and who is also undercover as Matthew’s partner, stops Matthews from killing Jenna by knocking him out and taking Jenna out of the house.
Jenna decides she wants to go into the witness protection program as a man. She has always felt like she was meant to be a man, but her father would never allow her to explore that part of her personality.
Two years after Jenna becomes Elliot Cross, and has been living as a man, the FBI come to him and ask him to help them bring down the Cobra Cartel, the human trafficking ring Michael Matthews has been working for, and who they think is responsible for the dead girl Elliot saw in his father’s freezer so long ago.
Elliot agrees, but things get complicated when his former girlfriend, Cara starts working at the restaurant where he’s the chef. Elliot can't tell Cara who he is, even though he's dying to tell her the truth.
Things become even more intense when Michael Matthews shows up at the restaurant with the intention of kidnapping and killing Cara. Elliot will have to expose who he really is in order to save Cara’s life.

Kindle Edition

First published July 31, 2018

About the author

M.E. Tudor lives in south central Kentucky with her cute dog, Ruby and cat, Chesher. She has an Associates Degree and Bachelor's Degree from Western Kentucky University and works as a librarian. When not working or writing, M.E. loves to travel, camp and hike.

Reviews

[AnnMaree Of Oz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very interesting story with a unique premise.

Jenna (18) has to go into witness protection when her father almost kills her after she discovers a body in their freezer - her father is a major suspect in a crime ring and a cop himself with a real mean-streak and plenty of badguys both in and out of the force that cover for him and the abuse he inflicts on his wife and daughter - but the FBI was already watching him and trying to figure out how deep the corruption went, and to try and find the head of the organization.

Jenna was in love at the time with Cara, but Jenna always felt different and wanted to be more masculine than she was allowed. So when she gets into witness protection, she decides to do so as a man. Jenna becomes Elliott and he is so much happier that way, despite being alone and on guard for 2 years while the FBI puts together more pieces of the puzzle of the crime syndicate.

There's a tiny bit of convoluted ideas with the crime elements, and them having to wait around for years for the full picture to make itself known, and even then I found the resolution a bit 'meh'.

I did really enjoy the story of Elliot becoming who he was meant to be, and rediscovering Cara. I really felt for them, and Cara, when they rediscovered eachother but not as they had known one another.

It was particularly difficult for Cara who had defined herself as a lesbian and trying to come to terms with her 'Jenna' now presenting as male. I would have liked a bit more depth and time with this concept. I also would have loved more time for Elliot and Cara to be together before the sudden abrupt ending.

I really loved the premise, however I felt that both the crime element and the interpersonal relationship issue never fully got fleshed out as well as I had hoped. It's a very easy read, but despite the difference in story I feel like it is easily forgettable simply because it didn't go deep enough to really touch you. It all just skimmed the surface to quickly tell a story, and not make us connect on a deeper level. Hope that makes sense.

Having said that I do recommend people give it a read, it's shortish I think 3 and a bit hours? and on kindle unlimited, so give it a go!

[Amy Girard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

Finding Jenna is definitely different from other books I've read by this author. Although I've enjoyed all her books, this is the best in my opinion. It is very plot driven and not all about romance and steamy sex scenes. At the same time it is still very much a true love story. I won't lie, one of my favorite things about this book as well as some of Tudors other titles is the setting. It's set mainly in Western Kentucky, which is where I live. It's nice to read a book and be so familiar with all the places mentioned. I don't find that often in lesfic books. I also found it easy to relate to the characters and their lives. There are times in the story when some of the police procedures are flawed but it does not take away from the story. Oh and Kudos to Tudor for taking on the subject of transgender in a lesbian relationship. Very well written!

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one.

I am fan of Tudor's works and this is what I believe one of her better ones. This book has a little bit of domestic violence, a bit of hateful slurs, lots of drama, and a HEA. Its a bit different than her usual young adult lesfic as this one deals with transgender which i feel more amd more books are poping up about. I feel it was done well but will admit I am not as educated in that topic? Is that the right word to use. Regardless, it was well written and kept me wanting to know more. I think it would have worked better as a big reveal instead of knowing all along. Those who read this book should know what I mean. Its free on kU so if youve got time and need a read this one could be it

[XR · Rating 2 out of 5]

I quite liked the description of the book, the whole going into transition while under protection was pretty cool, and the story unfolding was entertaining.

I found myself rolling my eyes at the fact that the FBI got their only witness to Matthew's heinous crimes to do some work for them, placing him and everyone around him in danger with zero training. He trained himself but that's not exactly the same as going to Quantico... so it was a little funny.

Anyway... as I said the book was rather entertaining, and Elliot did find his way back to the love of his life, Cara, so that's all that mattered to me.

[susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in one day.

The characters are well developed with a storyline that flows from the pages and right into your heart. It had all the elements of a great love story. I couldn’t put this book down and ended up reading it in one sitting! I definitely recommend this book.

[Caroline Hislop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and couldn't put it down

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't need sleep. Or a job.

I had to remind myself that those are false statements because this book is THAT GOOD. I wanted to stay up all night reading. I wanted to neglect work duties for "just one more chapter."
I haven't read many books that focus on the 'T' part of the LGBTQ spectrum, so it was nice to read something a little different. I thought the author did a great job keeping pace. The story took place over a three year time span, but it didn't seem dragged out or glossed over.

I can't wait to check out some of the author's other books.

[Fatima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Herotic

I this book was so worth 5 stars. It shows the struggle that Jenna and Caroline Matthews had to deal with having an abusive and homophobic farther/husband. Im glad that Elliot and Cara found their way back to each other. Also very happy that Shawna and Terry found each other. All in all great read.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was an interesting read with an engaging plot, but i feel like it only skimmed the surface of things and left me feeling a little shallow. I was excited to read a story about a woman who transitions to be a man and the witness protection story line I thought was a creative way to do that. But it was all done without any time to develop the character. You were reading about the traumatic events this woman was going through and all of a sudden she was like, ‘oh yeah, I always wanted to be a guy so let’s do that’. This happened in other scenes too - guns had never been mentioned yet all of a sudden Elliott has like 4 of them and is an expert marksman, or all of a sudden he has a ton of tattoos.

It’s a quick read and as I mentioned the plot was engaging, I just think it could have gone a little deeper into Elliott as a character.

[Hope Freed · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story in which lesbian Jenna becomes trans-man Elliott rattles along apace. The plot largely revolves around Jenna going into witness protection and choosing to become Elliott, not just to evade her father hunting her, but also to embrace the person she always felt she was. Jenna’s transition is all a bit sudden with no build up which I doubt is the situation for many trans people. I imagine most agonise far more than Jenna seems to in this. However, I’m not a trans-man so can’t really judge how real the experience as portrayed by Jenna/Elliott was and is. It was decent enough for me. And the side story of Cara initially being horrified that her lost love is so different to her recollection but coming to terms, was rather sweet. It was all very readable and I raced through this in just a few hours!

[Margaritas Cherena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow

If you like or liked Miami Vice, Hawaii 50 and CSI, this book is for you. A page turner that I enjoyed very much.

Story written different than most of ME. Tudor books. Not really a love story as it goes more toward SUV. Great narrative and well written with well rounded characters.

[M.E. Tudor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has a really exciting story line.