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Due Date: A Shelby McDougall Mystery
Surrogate mother Shelby McDougall just fell for the biggest con of all: a scam that risks her life … and the lives of her unborn twins.
Twenty-three-year-old Shelby McDougall is facing a mountain of student debt and a memory she’d just as soon forget. An ad in Rolling Stone for a surrogate mother offers her a way to erase the loans and right her karmic place in the cosmos. Within a month, she’s signed a contract, relocated to Santa Cruz, California, and started fertility treatments.
But intended parents Jackson and Diane Entwistle have their own agenda — one that has nothing to do with diapers and lullabies. With her due date looming, and the clues piling up, Shelby must save herself and her twins.
As she uses her wits to survive, Shelby learns the real meaning of the word “family”.
Twenty-three-year-old Shelby McDougall is facing a mountain of student debt and a memory she’d just as soon forget. An ad in Rolling Stone for a surrogate mother offers her a way to erase the loans and right her karmic place in the cosmos. Within a month, she’s signed a contract, relocated to Santa Cruz, California, and started fertility treatments.
But intended parents Jackson and Diane Entwistle have their own agenda — one that has nothing to do with diapers and lullabies. With her due date looming, and the clues piling up, Shelby must save herself and her twins.
As she uses her wits to survive, Shelby learns the real meaning of the word “family”.
458 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 28, 2012
47 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Wood
4 books22 followersNancy Wood writes the Shelby McDougall Santa Cruz County, CA based suspense series, featuring a surrogate mom Shelby McDougall turned private investigator.
Though the books can be read as standalones, if you'd like to read them in order, start with Due Date, where Shelby signs on as a surrogate mom. In The Stork, she's in training to be a PI, and discovers what actually happened to her babies. In the third and final book of the series, The Found Child, Shelby's story comes full circle.
For a glimpse into Shelby's life, check out Treasure Hunt.
Though the books can be read as standalones, if you'd like to read them in order, start with Due Date, where Shelby signs on as a surrogate mom. In The Stork, she's in training to be a PI, and discovers what actually happened to her babies. In the third and final book of the series, The Found Child, Shelby's story comes full circle.
For a glimpse into Shelby's life, check out Treasure Hunt.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 27, 2016
Actual rating - 3.5
Shelby was a strong character, and I felt quite sorry for her for what she went through in this.
The first half of this was slow, but it still managed to keep my interest. The second half picked up the pace though, and I started to really enjoy it.
Overall, A decent read.
Shelby was a strong character, and I felt quite sorry for her for what she went through in this.
The first half of this was slow, but it still managed to keep my interest. The second half picked up the pace though, and I started to really enjoy it.
Overall, A decent read.
July 9, 2013
Don't you just love it when you read the opening pages of a book and you are instantly drawn in? You picture the characters in your mind. The action is so real you are transported into a movie in your head. You find yourself firing up the Kindle reader on your phone while waiting for an appointment to gobble up a couple more pages of a great mystery because you just have to know what happens next. That was me while enjoying Nancy Wood's mystery, Due Date.
Shelby McDougall is young, naive, and very pregnant with twins. She is also a surrogate mother for a yuppie couple yearning to be parents. Drowning is debt, she wants to help the rich couple--seems like a win-win situation. But, all is not what it seems, and Shelby and her unborn babies find themselves in the fight of their lives.
As I mentioned before, I could not put this book down. The descriptions and dialog created a movie in my brain as I read, which for me is the pinnacle of good writing. IT is no surprise to me this novel has been optioned for film/TV.
Do yourself a favor and get this book! I can't wait for the next Shelby McDougall mystery.
Disclaimer: Due Date, is published by my publisher, Solstice Publishing and I have appeared on the author's blog. That being said, I paid for my my copy of the book and this is an honest review.
Shelby McDougall is young, naive, and very pregnant with twins. She is also a surrogate mother for a yuppie couple yearning to be parents. Drowning is debt, she wants to help the rich couple--seems like a win-win situation. But, all is not what it seems, and Shelby and her unborn babies find themselves in the fight of their lives.
As I mentioned before, I could not put this book down. The descriptions and dialog created a movie in my brain as I read, which for me is the pinnacle of good writing. IT is no surprise to me this novel has been optioned for film/TV.
Do yourself a favor and get this book! I can't wait for the next Shelby McDougall mystery.
Disclaimer: Due Date, is published by my publisher, Solstice Publishing and I have appeared on the author's blog. That being said, I paid for my my copy of the book and this is an honest review.
March 13, 2013
Some members of Shelby McDougall’s family are pissed at her for becoming a surrogate mother, but Shelby’s not doing it just for the money. She’s hoping to atone for some sins in her past by helping a childless couple fulfill their dream. But there’s something a little off about this couple...
Nancy Woods does a great job of developing Shelby’s character and building the sense of tension as she begins to realize that things are not quite what they should be. The writing flows nicely, making this a pleasant read, and there’s an unexpected twist at the end.
This is an impressive debut novel and I look forward to reading more of Ms. Woods’ work.
Nancy Woods does a great job of developing Shelby’s character and building the sense of tension as she begins to realize that things are not quite what they should be. The writing flows nicely, making this a pleasant read, and there’s an unexpected twist at the end.
This is an impressive debut novel and I look forward to reading more of Ms. Woods’ work.
September 30, 2012
This book had so many twists and turns. So tightly written and so well thought out! Great read!! Kept me up at night and was the first thing I reached for this morning, even before my coffee! Can't wait for the next book!!
September 12, 2013
I enjoyed the book up until the very last page. It left me saying WTH. Argh !!!!
February 18, 2014
Noooo -- why did it end so abruptly! I was ready to give it 4 stars.
May 30, 2018
Nice long mystery
Final ending was a bit contrived, but the other 99% of the book more than made up for that. I would read another with the same "sleuth"
Final ending was a bit contrived, but the other 99% of the book more than made up for that. I would read another with the same "sleuth"
May 5, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. Nancy Wood is great at keeping you turning the page--with short, fast-paced chapters and little nuggets in each chapter that hint at dangers ahead.
May 13, 2014
I had expected more out of the book. More mystery. It was an interesting concept and could have been much more. For the most part, it felt like living the life of the main character (Shelby) and not much more. The mystery seemed more of a side story. The surrogacy and moral implications were a much bigger focus of the story.
I liked the twists that it had, but the ending was rather abrupt. I wanted to know what happened to Shelby afterwards and what happened to the babies. An epilogue to wrap everything up would have been nice.
The author noted that this was her first try at a mystery and I think it was pretty good for her first attempt.
I liked the twists that it had, but the ending was rather abrupt. I wanted to know what happened to Shelby afterwards and what happened to the babies. An epilogue to wrap everything up would have been nice.
The author noted that this was her first try at a mystery and I think it was pretty good for her first attempt.
March 31, 2022
The protagonist in this story is a young woman with college debts who becomes a surrogate mother to twins, a boy and a girl. Her contract will pay off her debts, and she feels good that she will be helping a childless couple to have a family. All is well until it isn't. The story becomes complicated and somewhat dark . . . the author had my attention and carried me along through a roller coaster of events and emotions all the way to the very unexpected ending.
I highly recommend this book.
I highly recommend this book.
July 30, 2012
I thought the book started off slowly but picked up very quickly. Once it did I found it hard to put down. When the protagonist felt tense I felt tense-that's how engrossed I got. It was filled with interesting characters and the plot was very timely. Overall I enjoyed the book.
October 5, 2015
Left me hanging and I want to read more about Shelby.Interesting read.Last few chapters was not what I was expecting.I really liked it.Please don't take another 5 years to let me read more about Shelby.
September 25, 2020
The first and perhaps only mystery I’ve read before Due Date is Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon—which, if you haven’t read it yet, should be the very next book on your reading list. In fact, I’ll wait until you’re done.
(Plays with nails while whistling the Sherlock Holmes theme song)
Finished? Great. Now you’ll have a better idea what I mean when I tell you that Due Date is nothing like it. And I don’t mean that in a bad way.
Where Hammett’s Sam Spade was as hard-boiled and impersonal as they come, author Nancy Wood paints Shelby McDougall as a real, warm, feeling young woman caught in the same financial pit that many college graduates are. When an opportunity comes along to not only help a couple who can’t conceive, but to unburden some of her college loans, she naturally jumps on it.
Such a decision is not without consequence, however—at least not in any decent book I can imagine. Shelby’s family doesn’t agree with having kids for someone else in exchange for money, putting them at such odds that she has no choice but to move in with the future parents.
That, of course, is when things go mind-blowingly awry.
Nancy Wood does a marvelous job of weaving a perplexing mystery in with deep, personal dilemmas, family conflict, social values, and a cast of interesting and diverse characters who will keep you guessing until the adrenaline-filled conclusion.
(Plays with nails while whistling the Sherlock Holmes theme song)
Finished? Great. Now you’ll have a better idea what I mean when I tell you that Due Date is nothing like it. And I don’t mean that in a bad way.
Where Hammett’s Sam Spade was as hard-boiled and impersonal as they come, author Nancy Wood paints Shelby McDougall as a real, warm, feeling young woman caught in the same financial pit that many college graduates are. When an opportunity comes along to not only help a couple who can’t conceive, but to unburden some of her college loans, she naturally jumps on it.
Such a decision is not without consequence, however—at least not in any decent book I can imagine. Shelby’s family doesn’t agree with having kids for someone else in exchange for money, putting them at such odds that she has no choice but to move in with the future parents.
That, of course, is when things go mind-blowingly awry.
Nancy Wood does a marvelous job of weaving a perplexing mystery in with deep, personal dilemmas, family conflict, social values, and a cast of interesting and diverse characters who will keep you guessing until the adrenaline-filled conclusion.
April 2, 2019
Shelby is pregnant with twins. And when the due date comes, she would be giving them away to the intended parents. Not many people would consider being a surrogate, but Shelby was facing a mountain of debt and the couple was willing to pay her. She thought she was helping a nice, loving couple. She never expected to fall for the one of the biggest cons of all.
A frightened woman, a major scam, and a looming due date.
This story certainly had a captivating premise. I was hoping to learn about Shelby’s financial struggles and how she came to be a surrogate. Instead, the book starts off with her already being pregnant and getting lost in the woods. It felt like I was kind of thrown in the mix there.
The writing is very heavy on description. You could tell that it was striving for a literary and reverent style with its emphatic focus on character emotions and pastel scenery. Although the words were lovely, I also thought that it was a tad too wordy. It just became very stifling. I wanted the story to move on, to keep going, but it just wasn’t moving fast enough for me.
A frightened woman, a major scam, and a looming due date.
This story certainly had a captivating premise. I was hoping to learn about Shelby’s financial struggles and how she came to be a surrogate. Instead, the book starts off with her already being pregnant and getting lost in the woods. It felt like I was kind of thrown in the mix there.
The writing is very heavy on description. You could tell that it was striving for a literary and reverent style with its emphatic focus on character emotions and pastel scenery. Although the words were lovely, I also thought that it was a tad too wordy. It just became very stifling. I wanted the story to move on, to keep going, but it just wasn’t moving fast enough for me.
May 25, 2020
Due Date is an entertaining mystery with an unusual twist. The novel's protagonist, Shelby, has decided to host a surrogate pregnancy for people she will soon wish that she'd never met. To the great disappointment of her parents, Shelby has already made some very poor but relatable life choices, so although the situation she finds herself in, now that she's pregnant, is bizarre and terrifying, the high-tension plot author Nancy Wood weaves immediately caught up me in a web of willing suspension-of-disbelief as pages quickly turned.
The California author's familiarity with the coastal redwood forest of Santa Cruz County provides a rich backdrop to her dark plot. And Wood's insight into the deeper psychological motivations of her characters elevates Due Date to a truly memorable and suspenseful read. I recommend Due Date to mystery fans, and look forward to reading The Stork, the next book in Wood's trilogy .
The California author's familiarity with the coastal redwood forest of Santa Cruz County provides a rich backdrop to her dark plot. And Wood's insight into the deeper psychological motivations of her characters elevates Due Date to a truly memorable and suspenseful read. I recommend Due Date to mystery fans, and look forward to reading The Stork, the next book in Wood's trilogy .
September 24, 2020
Shelby McDougall is a surrogate mother. Diane and Jackson Entwistle are paying her big bucks for her twins. When brother Dexter’s wife, Jessica, asks Shelby to leave their home because Jessica feels Shelby’s pregnancy will adversely affect her 3-year-old, Ashley, Shelby has no choice but to accept Diane’s offer to live in the guest house on their estate.
Once Shelby moves into her new home, author Nancy Wood lets loose in her exciting mystery, Due Date. The author does a marvelous job describing scenic Santa Cruz, California and the surrounding area as well as developing believable characters. Though I thought the plot development was slow at times, the wait for exciting and unexpected revelations during the course of Shelby’s pregnancy kept this reader riveted until the final climax as Shelby barely survives her due date.
Once Shelby moves into her new home, author Nancy Wood lets loose in her exciting mystery, Due Date. The author does a marvelous job describing scenic Santa Cruz, California and the surrounding area as well as developing believable characters. Though I thought the plot development was slow at times, the wait for exciting and unexpected revelations during the course of Shelby’s pregnancy kept this reader riveted until the final climax as Shelby barely survives her due date.
February 18, 2020
Picking up this book the first time, I expected to read for about an hour and come back to it later that night. I was wrong! As the plot kept twisting and the characters kept getting more intriguing, I found myself sitting on the couch engrossed in the story for the entire afternoon and evening! The main character Shelby is relatable, strong, and funny, the perfect combination to make an incredibly interesting and realistic heroine. I strongly recommend this book, and eagerly await the second installment. Thank you Nancy!
December 24, 2018
Great read
I loved this book from the first page. It constantly kept the reader guessing and was expertly written. I would love to read anymore written by this author.
I loved this book from the first page. It constantly kept the reader guessing and was expertly written. I would love to read anymore written by this author.
February 25, 2019
Good read
Great book with excellent plot line. Kept you guessing almost until the end. One of those that you really didn’t want to put down.
Great book with excellent plot line. Kept you guessing almost until the end. One of those that you really didn’t want to put down.
October 11, 2012
With her debut novel Nancy Wood firmly places herself in the Mystery and Thriller genres. The book grabbed my attention from the hit-you-with-a-right-punch opening, through plot twists that kept me glued to the pages.
Meet Shelby McDougall college graduate with tuition debt and with the hope of enrolling in graduate school she needed money. Searching for a way to solve her cash flow problems, Shelby comes across an ad looking for a surrogate mother to a childless couple. After answering the ad and meeting the couple; Jackson and Dianne Entwistle, and settling the details and undergoing fertility treatments, Shelby finds herself pregnant much to the chagrin of her straight-laced family.
Through events that left her shaken and without a home, the Entwistle’s move Shelby into their guest cottage for the duration of her pregnancy. During her stay Shelby begins noticing little things that don’t quite add up but is unwilling to believe the couple has ulterior motives until she finds herself in the middle of a fight for her life and her unborn babies.
Nancy Wood skillfully sets the scene for this thrilling mystery. Her characters ring true and alarmingly the plot could be based on true events. Her descriptions drew me into the story making me feel the fear and determination of her lead protagonist however she was frustratingly clueless. I did find some of the story repetitive and drawn out at times as Shelby is caught in the same predicament several times.
All in all Nancy Wood has written a winner with this solid read. I for one will be waiting for the release of her next book.
Disclaimer: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for the review.
Meet Shelby McDougall college graduate with tuition debt and with the hope of enrolling in graduate school she needed money. Searching for a way to solve her cash flow problems, Shelby comes across an ad looking for a surrogate mother to a childless couple. After answering the ad and meeting the couple; Jackson and Dianne Entwistle, and settling the details and undergoing fertility treatments, Shelby finds herself pregnant much to the chagrin of her straight-laced family.
Through events that left her shaken and without a home, the Entwistle’s move Shelby into their guest cottage for the duration of her pregnancy. During her stay Shelby begins noticing little things that don’t quite add up but is unwilling to believe the couple has ulterior motives until she finds herself in the middle of a fight for her life and her unborn babies.
Nancy Wood skillfully sets the scene for this thrilling mystery. Her characters ring true and alarmingly the plot could be based on true events. Her descriptions drew me into the story making me feel the fear and determination of her lead protagonist however she was frustratingly clueless. I did find some of the story repetitive and drawn out at times as Shelby is caught in the same predicament several times.
All in all Nancy Wood has written a winner with this solid read. I for one will be waiting for the release of her next book.
Disclaimer: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for the review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2013
This is a novel about a young woman who gets herself into a jam, finds what seems to be a quick and easy solution, and suffers the consequences when it turns out to be scam that puts her life at risk. The narrative is character-based, told from the point of view of the protagonist, Shelby, a twenty-four year old. Technically, it falls into the suspense category, but the polish of the writing and character development exceed the usual standards of that genre. The writing brought to mind Sue Grafton’s crime fiction. This novel has all the elements of a suspense tale. The character starts off blissfully ignorant, events raise her suspicions that something is amiss, she investigates, evidence is gathered, suspicion increases, a confrontation occurs, her life is imperiled, a crisis occurs, and . . . sorry, no spoilers allowed.
The novel also qualifies as a character study and, as such, rises above the suspense genre. The thoughtful reader will be inclined to ask questions about Shelby. For example: How did she get into this jam? What does it say about her judgment and maturity? What kind of bargain is it to trade your twins for a paycheck? How will she feel when they are born? When they are given away and gone? And so on. One is inclined to sympathize with her, but she has made a bargain that raises personal, ethical, and moral questions. Hence, the complexity.
The novel is structured in two parts. The first deals with the transition from blissful ignorance to the resolution. (She survives, in case you had any doubt.) The second deals with the aftermath. In it we find Shelby still in town, working at a job, getting involved tangentially in the continuing investigation of the adoption ring. It amounts to a second act, with another suspense trip and a few surprises.
The novel also qualifies as a character study and, as such, rises above the suspense genre. The thoughtful reader will be inclined to ask questions about Shelby. For example: How did she get into this jam? What does it say about her judgment and maturity? What kind of bargain is it to trade your twins for a paycheck? How will she feel when they are born? When they are given away and gone? And so on. One is inclined to sympathize with her, but she has made a bargain that raises personal, ethical, and moral questions. Hence, the complexity.
The novel is structured in two parts. The first deals with the transition from blissful ignorance to the resolution. (She survives, in case you had any doubt.) The second deals with the aftermath. In it we find Shelby still in town, working at a job, getting involved tangentially in the continuing investigation of the adoption ring. It amounts to a second act, with another suspense trip and a few surprises.
August 8, 2012
This book was action packed right from the start – the first page had a car crash which resulted in a forest fire and a hospital stay for Shelby! Upon leaving the hospital Shelby moves in to a cottage, on the large estate belonging to Jackson and Diane, to await the arrival of the babies that will be theirs when born. Once there Shelby quickly realises that things are not at all as they seem and she, as well as others, are in very real danger.
As Shelby begins to piece things together we come to find that she may be naive but she certainly has courage and quick thinking on her side when it matters. She also has the support of her brother Dexter who, although he doesn’t agree with her surrogacy, is there to help her solve the mystery of what’s happening right under her nose. As the story progresses we see Shelby mature and make decisions that are not just based on her best interests but the interests of others too.
Due Date is a fast paced, well thought out, and well written mystery. My heart was seriously beating fast at certain points and I had that strange taste of adrenaline in my mouth! That’s definitely the kind of reaction an author of a mystery wants from a reader!
Due Date also offered an intriguing look at the controversial and much debated subject of surrogacy and in some people’s opinions “selling a baby made to order”. I really enjoyed learning more about the subject and I think the idea to use it, along with the baby selling ring plotline, was genius!
I can’t wait to read more from Nancy Wood, hopefully soon.
*My ecopy of Due Date was provided free of charge by the author in exchange for a review. This has not influenced my review in any way.
As Shelby begins to piece things together we come to find that she may be naive but she certainly has courage and quick thinking on her side when it matters. She also has the support of her brother Dexter who, although he doesn’t agree with her surrogacy, is there to help her solve the mystery of what’s happening right under her nose. As the story progresses we see Shelby mature and make decisions that are not just based on her best interests but the interests of others too.
Due Date is a fast paced, well thought out, and well written mystery. My heart was seriously beating fast at certain points and I had that strange taste of adrenaline in my mouth! That’s definitely the kind of reaction an author of a mystery wants from a reader!
Due Date also offered an intriguing look at the controversial and much debated subject of surrogacy and in some people’s opinions “selling a baby made to order”. I really enjoyed learning more about the subject and I think the idea to use it, along with the baby selling ring plotline, was genius!
I can’t wait to read more from Nancy Wood, hopefully soon.
*My ecopy of Due Date was provided free of charge by the author in exchange for a review. This has not influenced my review in any way.
October 12, 2012
This is a first published novel from a talented writer who received very poor editorial support from her publisher. The premise -- a down-on-her-luck student undertakes to become a surrogate mother, only to discover that the parents are baby brokers -- is interesting and refreshing, and the prose is smooth. (I also think it's a hoot that for the past few days, my Spam Box has been full of ads for surrogate mothers.) The characters are strongly drawn, with solid dialog. Yet although the overall story arc has a decent shape, the book feels flabby. The tension takes too long to escalate (for example, it isn't until very late in the book that we learn why selling babies is a horrific thing instead of an illegal way of giving them to loving parents who don't qualify for traditional adoption), too many details and incidents are unconnected or connected in the wrong way, and the protagonist appears either inappropriately suspicious or equally inappropriately gullible. I don't see these as faults of the author, but of a failure of editing. Even seasoned writers need that second pair of eyes, that professional perspective on how to pull it all together, to make every piece pull its weight at the right time in the right way. All the elements of a really good suspense novel are present, and as it is, Due Date offers an entertaining story with many strengths, worth reading. It could have been much more, and I'm hoping that future novels from Nancy Wood will do justice to her considerable potential.
February 7, 2014
Being a surrogate goes against everything Shelby McDougal learned during her Catholic upbringing. Yet, she can't resist the urge to help a childless couple, and is soon pregnant with twins she will never have any contact with. Was this the right decision?
The moment I started Due Date, I felt as if I had jumped into a Mary Higgins Clark mystery. Nancy Wood immediately draws the reader into questioning Shelby's determination to give up the twins she carries to Diane and Jackson, a couple who appear to have lost their previous baby when the mother disappeared with it. Shelby won't let that happen a second time, despite disapproval from her own family.
Set in the Central California city of Santa Cruz, the surrounds lend as much to the ever increasing conflict as they do to the colorful background. This novel lends itself well to what goes on behind the scenes of surrogacy and the world of selling babies.
Wood more than returns the promise of an intriguing and suspenseful mystery in this book. Each page, each word draws the reader further and further into the action, makes them wonder if Shelby has made the right decision, and once she discovers the truth, again is coming to decisions that are completely wrong. The tension is always at a breaking point, causing you to turn the page as fast as you can to discover how things turn out. I highly recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys a great mystery!
The moment I started Due Date, I felt as if I had jumped into a Mary Higgins Clark mystery. Nancy Wood immediately draws the reader into questioning Shelby's determination to give up the twins she carries to Diane and Jackson, a couple who appear to have lost their previous baby when the mother disappeared with it. Shelby won't let that happen a second time, despite disapproval from her own family.
Set in the Central California city of Santa Cruz, the surrounds lend as much to the ever increasing conflict as they do to the colorful background. This novel lends itself well to what goes on behind the scenes of surrogacy and the world of selling babies.
Wood more than returns the promise of an intriguing and suspenseful mystery in this book. Each page, each word draws the reader further and further into the action, makes them wonder if Shelby has made the right decision, and once she discovers the truth, again is coming to decisions that are completely wrong. The tension is always at a breaking point, causing you to turn the page as fast as you can to discover how things turn out. I highly recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys a great mystery!
July 31, 2012
Things are not quite what they seem to be in Nancy Wood’s fast-paced, action-packed novel, “Due Date.” The story is full of surprises—characters, events and even settings are artificial facades that morph into terrifying, life threatening horrors for surrogate mother, Shelby McDougall.
From the opening car crash through the suspicious perfection of Shelby’s cottage to her agonizing, sometimes heartbreaking, discoveries the reader is kept on an emotional roller coaster of continual suspicion and suspense.
Wood paints excellent word pictures filled with vivid detailed descriptions of everything from settings and characters, pregnancy and childbirth to interior emotions and fears.
Each of her characters has a unique personality and voice. Her brother, Dexter and Jessica, her sister-in-law, are clearly mismatched. Diane and Jackson the perfect couple with the perfect home, don’t quite make the mark as future parents. Frankie, Shelby’s elusive love object, is a strong, handsome, protective dream man. Shelby is an almost impossible combination of naiveté, intelligence and courage, but is able to master the difficult hurdles in her life.
If you love excruciating suspense, “Due Date” is the novel for you.
From the opening car crash through the suspicious perfection of Shelby’s cottage to her agonizing, sometimes heartbreaking, discoveries the reader is kept on an emotional roller coaster of continual suspicion and suspense.
Wood paints excellent word pictures filled with vivid detailed descriptions of everything from settings and characters, pregnancy and childbirth to interior emotions and fears.
Each of her characters has a unique personality and voice. Her brother, Dexter and Jessica, her sister-in-law, are clearly mismatched. Diane and Jackson the perfect couple with the perfect home, don’t quite make the mark as future parents. Frankie, Shelby’s elusive love object, is a strong, handsome, protective dream man. Shelby is an almost impossible combination of naiveté, intelligence and courage, but is able to master the difficult hurdles in her life.
If you love excruciating suspense, “Due Date” is the novel for you.
January 7, 2014
The title of this novel had me waiting to see if I was in for a lot of details about morning sickness and water retention. It was a short wait. The opening paragraphs of the first chapter alleviated any such worries. What should have concerned me was whether the pregnant protagonist would survive some of her less-than-thought-out action-packed responses to dangerous predicaments and make it to full term.
This story involves a scam to have women deliver and give up their babies, supposedly to a loving mother. With this theme as a backdrop, Wood’s main character manages to get herself into several harrowing situations, often seemingly forgetting that she is in what was once referred to as “a delicate condition.” The suspense and intrigue were well-developed, holding my interest to the denouement. The author chose a Sue Grafton-style climax that appealed to me.
Along with a good story line, the novel presents a double-edged debate concerning the ethical and legal aspects of surrogacy and the accountability of all participating parties. The topic would be a good choice for a book club discussion.
My choice for a rating is 4.5 stars.
This story involves a scam to have women deliver and give up their babies, supposedly to a loving mother. With this theme as a backdrop, Wood’s main character manages to get herself into several harrowing situations, often seemingly forgetting that she is in what was once referred to as “a delicate condition.” The suspense and intrigue were well-developed, holding my interest to the denouement. The author chose a Sue Grafton-style climax that appealed to me.
Along with a good story line, the novel presents a double-edged debate concerning the ethical and legal aspects of surrogacy and the accountability of all participating parties. The topic would be a good choice for a book club discussion.
My choice for a rating is 4.5 stars.
October 1, 2013
Due Date was an enjoyable surprise. I’m not sure what I expected, but I was uneasy reading a mystery with a pregnant surrogate as the protagonist. I mean, how could a young woman carrying twins solve or even get involved in a puzzle? What kind of mystery could she encounter?
To draw us into the plot, author Nancy Wood tells the story from the first person. We quickly get to know and understand Shelby McDougall and her rationale for agreeing to become a surrogate mother. We meet supporting characters—villains and heroes—from her viewpoint and enter predicaments burdened by her pregnancy challenges.
Author Nancy Wood offers credible character development on which to build suspense. Without spoiling the plot, I can state that the pregnant Shelby does not hesitate to face dilemmas. I found her responses to dangerous situations plausible. I worked with her to solve the puzzle, and welcomed the plot twists and turns.
Suspense, a plausible amateur sleuth, and an intriguing plot combine to give us a unique and enticing mystery.
To draw us into the plot, author Nancy Wood tells the story from the first person. We quickly get to know and understand Shelby McDougall and her rationale for agreeing to become a surrogate mother. We meet supporting characters—villains and heroes—from her viewpoint and enter predicaments burdened by her pregnancy challenges.
Author Nancy Wood offers credible character development on which to build suspense. Without spoiling the plot, I can state that the pregnant Shelby does not hesitate to face dilemmas. I found her responses to dangerous situations plausible. I worked with her to solve the puzzle, and welcomed the plot twists and turns.
Suspense, a plausible amateur sleuth, and an intriguing plot combine to give us a unique and enticing mystery.
July 28, 2013
I can hardly believe that this is a first novel. The plot is mesmerising from the off. Shelby McDougall is attempting to salve her conscious after an abortion by becoming a surrogate mother for Diane and Jackson. When her controlling sister-in-law throws her out, Shelby is housed by Diane and Jackson in a cottage on their property. But the idyllic setting soon turns sinister and Diane and Jackson's foibles become obsessive and creepy.
Shelby is a likeable and engaging character. She genuinely feels that she is resetting the karma, by donating the twins to the childless couple.
Diane, however, is cold and controlling. Her character is ice-like, and behaviours which first are written off as nerves at becoming a mother develop into sociopathic.
Throughout the story there are little clues that things aren't what they seem. The author keeps ramping up the suspense in the story, and little idiosyncrasies with Diane become major flaws. The plot keeps twisting and turning through to the very end and will keep the reader guessing what will come next. Can't wait to read the next novel.
Shelby is a likeable and engaging character. She genuinely feels that she is resetting the karma, by donating the twins to the childless couple.
Diane, however, is cold and controlling. Her character is ice-like, and behaviours which first are written off as nerves at becoming a mother develop into sociopathic.
Throughout the story there are little clues that things aren't what they seem. The author keeps ramping up the suspense in the story, and little idiosyncrasies with Diane become major flaws. The plot keeps twisting and turning through to the very end and will keep the reader guessing what will come next. Can't wait to read the next novel.
July 30, 2012
Bought this because the author is local, and wanted to like it. As it turned out, I LOVED it. Read it on my Kindle, and last night one of the big plotlines was "solved" (or at least there was an apparent resolution), and I noticed I was only 67% through the book. WTF? I HAD to keep going...couldn't wait to find out where it was all going, and what was going to happen to Shelby. (who, by the way, became quite real to me as I read -- good characterization)
Nancy has captured a lot of Santa Cruz in this, and while this is a great story that could have taken place almost anywhere, as a local I enjoyed having some of the local places be part of the story, even with some name changes.
So, I only got 3 hours sleep because I was hooked. This is a fun read, with an interesting and rather unique plotline, and I am SO looking forward to the next in what I would think will become a series of Shelby McDougall books. (And Dexter really needs to dump Jessica :))
Nancy has captured a lot of Santa Cruz in this, and while this is a great story that could have taken place almost anywhere, as a local I enjoyed having some of the local places be part of the story, even with some name changes.
So, I only got 3 hours sleep because I was hooked. This is a fun read, with an interesting and rather unique plotline, and I am SO looking forward to the next in what I would think will become a series of Shelby McDougall books. (And Dexter really needs to dump Jessica :))
August 6, 2013
3.5 stars... not bad. This book tells the story of Shelby, a broke college girl who decides to answer an ad in Rolling Stone magazine to become a surrogate mother for a childless couple. Strange things start happening as Shelby, carrying the couple's twins, moves into a cottage on their remote estate.
What I liked: the story itself. It was different, and trying to figure out exactly what the strange "expectant" parents were up to had me reading, as well as trying to see if Shelby & her babies were going to make it out okay.
What I could have done without: all the "likes" and "as" descriptions... there were a lot of those! And the whole Frankie character and plotline... I thought the story stood on its own w/out him, and could have been creepier focusing on the couple who hired Shelby.
All in all, a decent read.
What I liked: the story itself. It was different, and trying to figure out exactly what the strange "expectant" parents were up to had me reading, as well as trying to see if Shelby & her babies were going to make it out okay.
What I could have done without: all the "likes" and "as" descriptions... there were a lot of those! And the whole Frankie character and plotline... I thought the story stood on its own w/out him, and could have been creepier focusing on the couple who hired Shelby.
All in all, a decent read.
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