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Lost and Found #1
Prodigal
Fifteen years ago Sammy Calloway disappeared on his way home from school. Now he’s back… or is he?
Boyd Maccabbee has spent his life second-guessing his actions on that fateful day. What if he’d done something differently? Maybe Sammy would have made it home safe and never become Cutters Gap’s most tragic famous son. Or would it have been Boyd who was never seen again? When the police find new evidence on the disappearance, Boyd hopes to finally get some answers.
The last thing Morgan Graves needs is to be dragged into some old case about a missing kid. He doesn’t know why police hit on his DNA, but he’s not Sammy Calloway. He thinks he’d remember being kidnapped.
He knows he’d remember firefighter Boyd.
Drawn into the complex web of suspicion, grief, and anger that has knit Cutters Gap together in the years since Sammy’s disappearance, Morgan struggles to hang on to himself when everyone already assumes they know him.
And somewhere, the truth about Sammy Calloway is waiting.
Boyd Maccabbee has spent his life second-guessing his actions on that fateful day. What if he’d done something differently? Maybe Sammy would have made it home safe and never become Cutters Gap’s most tragic famous son. Or would it have been Boyd who was never seen again? When the police find new evidence on the disappearance, Boyd hopes to finally get some answers.
The last thing Morgan Graves needs is to be dragged into some old case about a missing kid. He doesn’t know why police hit on his DNA, but he’s not Sammy Calloway. He thinks he’d remember being kidnapped.
He knows he’d remember firefighter Boyd.
Drawn into the complex web of suspicion, grief, and anger that has knit Cutters Gap together in the years since Sammy’s disappearance, Morgan struggles to hang on to himself when everyone already assumes they know him.
And somewhere, the truth about Sammy Calloway is waiting.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 11, 2020
69 people are currently reading
251 people want to read
About the author
T.A. Moore
45 books390 followersTA Moore is a Northern Irish writer of romantic suspense, urban fantasy, and contemporary romance novels. A childhood in a rural, seaside town fostered in her a suspicious nature, a love of mystery, and a streak of black humour a mile wide. As her grandmother always said, ‘she’d laugh at a bad thing that one’, mind you, that was the pot calling the kettle black. TA Moore studied History, Irish mythology, English at University, mostly because she has always loved a good story. She has worked as a journalist, a finance manager, and in the arts sectors before she finally gave in to a lifelong desire to write.
Coffee, Doc Marten boots, and good friends are the essential things in life. Spiders, mayo, and heels are to be avoided.
Website: www.nevertobetold.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TA.Moores
Twitter: @tammy_moore
Coffee, Doc Marten boots, and good friends are the essential things in life. Spiders, mayo, and heels are to be avoided.
Website: www.nevertobetold.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TA.Moores
Twitter: @tammy_moore
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
February 27, 2020
REVIEWED BY ULYSSES DIETZ
MEMBER OF THE PARANORMAL ROMANCE GUILD REVIEW TEAM
Boyd MacCabbee is a fireman and an EMT, and even though he’s only twenty-three (by my reckoning), he’s really good at it. The intensity of the work focuses his ADHD, and it’s only during down time that his innate restlessness gets him into trouble. Haunted by the disappearance of his best friend when they were both eight years old, Boyd lives under the shadow of being “the boy who got home.”
Morgan Graves, on the other hand, seems to be a born loser. His anger is so deep-seated that its only outlet is to fight, regardless of whether there’s an actual fight to be had. Tossed from home to home as a child, then into the foster system as an adolescent, he has never known unconditional love.
The tantalizing premise of this mystery-romance is that, during what has become a routine arrest processing for Morgan, his DNA pings a police file in a small former mining town in West Virginia.
Looks like Morgan Graves could be the boy who didn’t get home fifteen years ago.
TA Moore subtitles this Lost and Found, which I only hope means that there might be a follow-up to this book, since there are two major questions left unanswered in the poignant mystery that hangs over the town of Cutter’s Gap.
The m/m world loves difficult characters, and in this case the prize goes to Morgan. Boyd is endearing – battered and emotionally fragile as he is. Even though he’s a hero for what he does every day, he is also despised and viewed as a freak because of his best friend’s disappearance when they were little boys. Beset by scandal-mongers and self-dealing journalists, the mystery of Sammy Calloway’s disappearance has never been laid to rest in Cutter’s Gap. Sammy’s mother, Donna, his older brother Shay, and his best friend Boyd have carried the burden of his disappearance for most of a generation.
Morgan Graves is supposed to be the answer to their prayers, but this belligerent petty criminal seems a far cry from what they all want.
Moore builds a rich visual and emotional setting, with all the claustrophobia of small-town social mores and politics. Interestingly, being gay is not a problem in this part of West Virginia, even among firefighters. I confess I had a little trouble buying into that fantasy, but let it go, so I could enjoy the rough pas-de-deux that Boyd and Morgan dance around each other. Boyd is drawn to Morgan because of his looks, but also because the obvious bad boy appeals to a good boy who is so constantly put-upon by his community. It is easy to love Boyd, but Moore manages to make us care about Morgan, too – because his world is desperately sad. As the tangled plot is picked apart, we begin to understand what Morgan has experienced in his relatively short life, and we also understand things that he himself can’t quite grasp. All we can do is wonder – as Boyd wonders – what’s really happened to Morgan Graves.
Moore brings freshness to her genre, with intense characters and (mostly) plausible settings, even if she relies on various small-town-America tropes so beloved by so many novelists over the years. I’d love to see these guys again.
MEMBER OF THE PARANORMAL ROMANCE GUILD REVIEW TEAM
Boyd MacCabbee is a fireman and an EMT, and even though he’s only twenty-three (by my reckoning), he’s really good at it. The intensity of the work focuses his ADHD, and it’s only during down time that his innate restlessness gets him into trouble. Haunted by the disappearance of his best friend when they were both eight years old, Boyd lives under the shadow of being “the boy who got home.”
Morgan Graves, on the other hand, seems to be a born loser. His anger is so deep-seated that its only outlet is to fight, regardless of whether there’s an actual fight to be had. Tossed from home to home as a child, then into the foster system as an adolescent, he has never known unconditional love.
The tantalizing premise of this mystery-romance is that, during what has become a routine arrest processing for Morgan, his DNA pings a police file in a small former mining town in West Virginia.
Looks like Morgan Graves could be the boy who didn’t get home fifteen years ago.
TA Moore subtitles this Lost and Found, which I only hope means that there might be a follow-up to this book, since there are two major questions left unanswered in the poignant mystery that hangs over the town of Cutter’s Gap.
The m/m world loves difficult characters, and in this case the prize goes to Morgan. Boyd is endearing – battered and emotionally fragile as he is. Even though he’s a hero for what he does every day, he is also despised and viewed as a freak because of his best friend’s disappearance when they were little boys. Beset by scandal-mongers and self-dealing journalists, the mystery of Sammy Calloway’s disappearance has never been laid to rest in Cutter’s Gap. Sammy’s mother, Donna, his older brother Shay, and his best friend Boyd have carried the burden of his disappearance for most of a generation.
Morgan Graves is supposed to be the answer to their prayers, but this belligerent petty criminal seems a far cry from what they all want.
Moore builds a rich visual and emotional setting, with all the claustrophobia of small-town social mores and politics. Interestingly, being gay is not a problem in this part of West Virginia, even among firefighters. I confess I had a little trouble buying into that fantasy, but let it go, so I could enjoy the rough pas-de-deux that Boyd and Morgan dance around each other. Boyd is drawn to Morgan because of his looks, but also because the obvious bad boy appeals to a good boy who is so constantly put-upon by his community. It is easy to love Boyd, but Moore manages to make us care about Morgan, too – because his world is desperately sad. As the tangled plot is picked apart, we begin to understand what Morgan has experienced in his relatively short life, and we also understand things that he himself can’t quite grasp. All we can do is wonder – as Boyd wonders – what’s really happened to Morgan Graves.
Moore brings freshness to her genre, with intense characters and (mostly) plausible settings, even if she relies on various small-town-America tropes so beloved by so many novelists over the years. I’d love to see these guys again.
March 5, 2021
I’m giving up on this one: it's too dreary, Morgan’s had a rough life but he’s an asshole so far, jumping right into sex under the circumstances was weird/icky, the sex scenes were too long, and according to some reviews the mystery isn’t even wrapped up in this book. DNF @40%
February 12, 2020
Loved the first third, felt it dragged on in the middle, and then found the end oddly unsatisfying. 3.5
July 31, 2021
I have found from her “Digging Up Bones” series...which I loved... that this author comes up with great concepts and writes interesting stories with a bunch of fabulously hot characters. As with her Bones series, we try to figure out the clues to solve the mystery. Like exactly what happened 15 years ago...who Morgan really is... and what does everyone else in the town want and what lengths they will be willing to go to get it. It doesn’t seem to be the same style that Ms. Moore used for the Bones series but it certainly is as compelling and as capable of drawing you in and keep you reading. Can’t. wait to see where this series is headed.
February 17, 2020
I received an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 5 stars
I absolutely loved this book! I was hooked from the moment I read the summary, and boy it did not disappoint! This story follows Boyd and Morgan, the former a firefighter whose best friend went missing 15 years ago and the latter a thief/hustler whose DNA gets flagged as a match for said friend. Due to extenuating circumstances (and despite his better judgement), Morgan gets roped into coming to the scene of the crime, Cutter’s Gap, and is immediately thrust into a mess of grief, small-town-gossip, and a deep pool of suspicion. The immediate connection Morgan and Boyd share fuels the town's varying opinions on the truth. Still, the question remains: is Morgan really Sammy?
This book absolutely rocked my world. I fell in love with all of the characters, especially Morgan. I love myself a snarky, prickly lead. It was also really interesting seeing how everyone was affected by Sammy’s disappearance. Everything felt real; the emotions were deep and strong, and I found myself anxiously guessing with them. And speaking of guessing, the “is Morgan Sammy?” plot was done EXTREMELY well. I found myself constantly going back and forth, reading into every detail, trying to figure out the mystery before the end. I eventually had to give up and just accept the fact I wouldn’t know until there was a reveal, one way or the other. And let me tell you, that very rarely happens. It was an absolute pleasure not being able to figure out if Morgan was Sammy, and I absolutely loved the rollercoaster ride the book took me on! Not only was the plot amazing, but the chemistry between Morgan and Sammy was blazing. Both men have their own baggage, and seeing them grow together was a treat.
All in all, I absolutely recommend this book. I loved it from start to finish, inhaling it overnight (I was VERY sleep deprived in class the next morning, but it was so worth it). I can’t wait for the next in the series! Trust me, if you want a dark, gritty mystery with prickly but lovable characters, read this book. In fact, just read this book. You won’t be disappointed!
Rating: 5 stars
I absolutely loved this book! I was hooked from the moment I read the summary, and boy it did not disappoint! This story follows Boyd and Morgan, the former a firefighter whose best friend went missing 15 years ago and the latter a thief/hustler whose DNA gets flagged as a match for said friend. Due to extenuating circumstances (and despite his better judgement), Morgan gets roped into coming to the scene of the crime, Cutter’s Gap, and is immediately thrust into a mess of grief, small-town-gossip, and a deep pool of suspicion. The immediate connection Morgan and Boyd share fuels the town's varying opinions on the truth. Still, the question remains: is Morgan really Sammy?
This book absolutely rocked my world. I fell in love with all of the characters, especially Morgan. I love myself a snarky, prickly lead. It was also really interesting seeing how everyone was affected by Sammy’s disappearance. Everything felt real; the emotions were deep and strong, and I found myself anxiously guessing with them. And speaking of guessing, the “is Morgan Sammy?” plot was done EXTREMELY well. I found myself constantly going back and forth, reading into every detail, trying to figure out the mystery before the end. I eventually had to give up and just accept the fact I wouldn’t know until there was a reveal, one way or the other. And let me tell you, that very rarely happens. It was an absolute pleasure not being able to figure out if Morgan was Sammy, and I absolutely loved the rollercoaster ride the book took me on! Not only was the plot amazing, but the chemistry between Morgan and Sammy was blazing. Both men have their own baggage, and seeing them grow together was a treat.
All in all, I absolutely recommend this book. I loved it from start to finish, inhaling it overnight (I was VERY sleep deprived in class the next morning, but it was so worth it). I can’t wait for the next in the series! Trust me, if you want a dark, gritty mystery with prickly but lovable characters, read this book. In fact, just read this book. You won’t be disappointed!
February 23, 2020
2.5/5
An interesting concept with a lukewarm execution and an ending I didn't care for. The "mystery" was less of a mystery and felt more like denials to me.
As for the characters, Morgan is a dickhead (nothing new here) and Boyd is a doormat.
An interesting concept with a lukewarm execution and an ending I didn't care for. The "mystery" was less of a mystery and felt more like denials to me.
As for the characters, Morgan is a dickhead (nothing new here) and Boyd is a doormat.
February 11, 2020
This was one heck of a hard read. It’s really good, but it’s hard. And harsh. It’s shows the hard lives of people who go through traumatic experiences such as kidnappings, murder, etc. It’s not a pretty picture. It’s so well written but this book is going to bring out a lot of emotions in people when you read it. I was angry through a lot of it. I got why the victims acted like they did, but still.
When Sammy Calloway went missing, the town seemed to fall apart. And everyone seemed to be to blame for something. Boyd wondered what would have happened if he had done something different. Sammy’s family….well, I’m sure you can imagine what that spiral went like. It was bad. For 15 years, it’s been a love hate relationship with everyone, as far as Boyd is concerned. And now, evidence is showing the actual Sammy may be alive and is this man, Morgan, that Boyd is looking at. Boyd doesn’t see it. Morgan doesn’t believe it either. He thinks he’d remember being taken away. But all he remembers is the pure torture that his life has been. But he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place of his own making, and now has to go back to this town to see if he really is who everyone seems to want or not want him to be. And all he wants to do is run away.
I can’t get in to why this book upset me in a lot of ways, without giving it away. But needless to say, there were a lot of hateful words spouted a lot in this book and it seemed like after, once an apology was made, everything would be somewhat ok. Blame was placed where it shouldn’t have been and it was just harsh. I understand why. I understand the anger, the grief, the what ifs, and all that goes on. I can’t honestly imagine what goes through someone’s head when they’ve lost a child like that. I can’t imagine what everyone feels when that happens. I can guess. But know one really knows unless they’ve been through it. So when you see things from the outside, you see the unfairness and all, but you aren’t in their minds so you can’t really judge what they think or say. I tried not to. As a mom, I would probably be in the same frame of mind. I’d like to think I wouldn’t but you never know and I pray that no one has to know. But unfortunately, it happens. I felt for every character in this book. Every single one of them. Every one was affected in some way, shape or form. It’s a long reach. And for so many years.
This really is a good book. But it really is harsh. It’s not a pretty picture, and if you think something will trigger you, be careful. But it’s so good. The way the author weaved this story was great. But now I think I need something funny lol.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
When Sammy Calloway went missing, the town seemed to fall apart. And everyone seemed to be to blame for something. Boyd wondered what would have happened if he had done something different. Sammy’s family….well, I’m sure you can imagine what that spiral went like. It was bad. For 15 years, it’s been a love hate relationship with everyone, as far as Boyd is concerned. And now, evidence is showing the actual Sammy may be alive and is this man, Morgan, that Boyd is looking at. Boyd doesn’t see it. Morgan doesn’t believe it either. He thinks he’d remember being taken away. But all he remembers is the pure torture that his life has been. But he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place of his own making, and now has to go back to this town to see if he really is who everyone seems to want or not want him to be. And all he wants to do is run away.
I can’t get in to why this book upset me in a lot of ways, without giving it away. But needless to say, there were a lot of hateful words spouted a lot in this book and it seemed like after, once an apology was made, everything would be somewhat ok. Blame was placed where it shouldn’t have been and it was just harsh. I understand why. I understand the anger, the grief, the what ifs, and all that goes on. I can’t honestly imagine what goes through someone’s head when they’ve lost a child like that. I can’t imagine what everyone feels when that happens. I can guess. But know one really knows unless they’ve been through it. So when you see things from the outside, you see the unfairness and all, but you aren’t in their minds so you can’t really judge what they think or say. I tried not to. As a mom, I would probably be in the same frame of mind. I’d like to think I wouldn’t but you never know and I pray that no one has to know. But unfortunately, it happens. I felt for every character in this book. Every single one of them. Every one was affected in some way, shape or form. It’s a long reach. And for so many years.
This really is a good book. But it really is harsh. It’s not a pretty picture, and if you think something will trigger you, be careful. But it’s so good. The way the author weaved this story was great. But now I think I need something funny lol.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
February 10, 2020
3.5 Stars
Going in (after reading that blurb) I expected this wouldn’t be an easy on to read. PRODIGAL had that dark, gloomy atmosphere with troubled characters at the center of it. The pilot to TA Moore’s “Lost and Found” series, the plot revolved around the 15-year-old missing kid case in Cutter’s Gap - the tragedy that affected people who were left behind and left them hanging with uncertainty - and told alternately in third person from Boyd and Morgan’s POVs.
For Morgan Graves, a small time thief and hustler in Huntington, his life changed when his DNA was recorded on police database, matching that of the missing child in Cutter’s Gap. Boyd Maccabee lived his life feeling guilty for how he left things with Sammy - bombarded by what-ifs moments. It didn’t help that Sammy’s family - especially his mom - keep throwing that accusation his way; the boy who (still) lived. The exchange between them was particularly painful to read, the mean and nasty blow thrown to someone who didn’t fight back - not something I relished in my reading. Yet at the same time, I applauded Moore for the undercurrent tension and built-up such a mess of situation that felt upfront and present from all involved.
It wasn’t all gloom and doom on the pursuing of whether Morgan was the long lost Sammy Calloway though. There were some very scorching, smutty times between Boyd and Morgan. A clash of bad boy vs man in uniform in the true sense of the word. That said, I’m not sure I buy the speedy blossoming of love between our lead characters. True, the emotion and adrenaline were high throughout, but it screamed physical - or pure lust - and too-fast-too-soon to me.
And then there was the issue of unresolved mystery left hovering in this book. Granted, I guess that left the path open on how the sequel was going to go (and whether said mystery would be tied to whatever happened to little Sammy). But part of me felt itchy at this cliffhanging puzzle. I guess I have to wait for the next book to be published to find out what happen, huh.
Copy of this book is kindly given by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Going in (after reading that blurb) I expected this wouldn’t be an easy on to read. PRODIGAL had that dark, gloomy atmosphere with troubled characters at the center of it. The pilot to TA Moore’s “Lost and Found” series, the plot revolved around the 15-year-old missing kid case in Cutter’s Gap - the tragedy that affected people who were left behind and left them hanging with uncertainty - and told alternately in third person from Boyd and Morgan’s POVs.
For Morgan Graves, a small time thief and hustler in Huntington, his life changed when his DNA was recorded on police database, matching that of the missing child in Cutter’s Gap. Boyd Maccabee lived his life feeling guilty for how he left things with Sammy - bombarded by what-ifs moments. It didn’t help that Sammy’s family - especially his mom - keep throwing that accusation his way; the boy who (still) lived. The exchange between them was particularly painful to read, the mean and nasty blow thrown to someone who didn’t fight back - not something I relished in my reading. Yet at the same time, I applauded Moore for the undercurrent tension and built-up such a mess of situation that felt upfront and present from all involved.
It wasn’t all gloom and doom on the pursuing of whether Morgan was the long lost Sammy Calloway though. There were some very scorching, smutty times between Boyd and Morgan. A clash of bad boy vs man in uniform in the true sense of the word. That said, I’m not sure I buy the speedy blossoming of love between our lead characters. True, the emotion and adrenaline were high throughout, but it screamed physical - or pure lust - and too-fast-too-soon to me.
And then there was the issue of unresolved mystery left hovering in this book. Granted, I guess that left the path open on how the sequel was going to go (and whether said mystery would be tied to whatever happened to little Sammy). But part of me felt itchy at this cliffhanging puzzle. I guess I have to wait for the next book to be published to find out what happen, huh.
Copy of this book is kindly given by the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2020
So freaking good! When Sammy and Boyd were 8 yrs old, they got into a fight. Boyd's mother comes and picks him up leaving Sammy behind. His brother Shay was supposed to have picked him up, but Sammy is not there. Shay, who is a total douche, was a suspect. Fast forward 15 yrs later and there has been no word of Sammy's whereabouts. Boyd still misses his best friend and blames himself. Donna, Sammy's mother blames Boyd and is a rather nasty person. On the anniversary of Sammy's disappearance, she drinks herself into a stupor and Boyd comes to visit her and takes her verbal abuse. Boyd gets a call about someone who has been picked up and he needs to go to where he is being held. Morgan was picked up, based on a DNA hit, but the cop that picks him up is a complete dick and Morgan assaults him, so he gets arrested. Morgan is a snarky, troubled man who has no memory before a certain age. It appears that his DNA is a match to a degraded DNA sample from a sample taken of Sammy all those years ago. When the two meet, there is instant attraction, but Morgan is damaged and doesn't believe that he is the missing Sammy and also doesn't think that Boyd likes him for him but for the possibility of him being Sammy. What we then have is the mystery of who is Morgan and if he is Sammy what happened, who took him, where has he been all these years. I can’t wait for the next book in the series as I have to know what happen! A must read and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2020
There were many aspects of this novel I liked. I liked the look at the family left behind after a kidnapping (it broke my heart) I really liked Boyd. I liked the firefighting action. I liked the overall tone and pacing. What I didn’t like was the I love yous; this felt more like a HFN which isn’t bad in a series where the relationship builds - which with the mystery still unsolved I assume that’s what this is - I felt I love yous were premature. However I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.
February 12, 2020
Sammy Calloway disappeared 15 years ago, at the age of 8. Boyd his best friend has tried to help his mother Donna and brother Shay deal with the loss but nothing can take Sammy's place. Boyd has become good friends with Shay but Donna has always blamed Boyd for being the one who made it home.
Morgan Graves has had a hard life. He only remembers his life from age 8 forward and it's not pretty. Being moved from foster care to foster care and having to protect himself from physical and sexual abuse. He's been in and out of jail and is a con artist as well. He has to give a blood sample due to being accused of a crime and it comes back positive that he's Sammy Calloway.
Boyd and Morgan are instantly attracted to each other. Morgan prefers one night stands and Boyd wants something more permanent. Dealing with the "Is Morgan Sammy" and all the people in town who have an opinion is hard on both of them. This is a dark, sad and emotionally ugly story. Even when they get the results, there's no real solution. Morgan doesn't know anything and no one can turn back time. The story is all too familiar as we have kids stolen every day and some actually get found. This one has some cliffhangers: what's up with the arson cases that have recently crept up, does the town judge stop pushing for the erasure of all things Boyd/Sammy/Morgan, does Morgan get his criminal case squared away, does he stay with Boyd or does Boyd leave with him and does Donna stop being a hateful cow to Boyd. This last one was what really bothered me about this story. Sammy and Boyd get sent home from school because Sammy hits Boyd. Boyd's mother comes to get him and leaves Sammy waiting in front of the school for his brother Shay but instead of blaming Boyd's mother (the adult) for leaving an 8 year old alone, Donna blames an 8 year old because he made it home. This was hard to read and I never could understand that mentality. As this is advertised as book #1 I'm hoping there'll be answers in the following books. This is not a HEA. It's a HFN at best.
ARC received for an honest review.
Morgan Graves has had a hard life. He only remembers his life from age 8 forward and it's not pretty. Being moved from foster care to foster care and having to protect himself from physical and sexual abuse. He's been in and out of jail and is a con artist as well. He has to give a blood sample due to being accused of a crime and it comes back positive that he's Sammy Calloway.
Boyd and Morgan are instantly attracted to each other. Morgan prefers one night stands and Boyd wants something more permanent. Dealing with the "Is Morgan Sammy" and all the people in town who have an opinion is hard on both of them. This is a dark, sad and emotionally ugly story. Even when they get the results, there's no real solution. Morgan doesn't know anything and no one can turn back time. The story is all too familiar as we have kids stolen every day and some actually get found. This one has some cliffhangers: what's up with the arson cases that have recently crept up, does the town judge stop pushing for the erasure of all things Boyd/Sammy/Morgan, does Morgan get his criminal case squared away, does he stay with Boyd or does Boyd leave with him and does Donna stop being a hateful cow to Boyd. This last one was what really bothered me about this story. Sammy and Boyd get sent home from school because Sammy hits Boyd. Boyd's mother comes to get him and leaves Sammy waiting in front of the school for his brother Shay but instead of blaming Boyd's mother (the adult) for leaving an 8 year old alone, Donna blames an 8 year old because he made it home. This was hard to read and I never could understand that mentality. As this is advertised as book #1 I'm hoping there'll be answers in the following books. This is not a HEA. It's a HFN at best.
ARC received for an honest review.
April 22, 2020
DNF. I hate to say this about a T. A. Moore book, because normally her stories, while harsh at times, just carry me through. But this time I had a hard time with the situation and the characters. I couldn't bring myself to like them well enough to invest in them and everything was too difficult for them. Maybe it's me and the time we're all in right now and I can come back and enjoy this later. I gave it three stars because her skill is there. I really think the lack was in me.
May 1, 2020
https://www.la-bibliophilie-dalaine.f...
Boyd a perdu son meilleur ami Sammy et depuis il ne vit qu’à travers son souvenir. Mais un ADN, va remettre l’enquête sur Sammy sur le devant et lui fera croiser la route de Morgan 15 ans après.
Boyd souffre d’un TDAH, on le comprend assez rapidement même si je trouve que de ce côté l’auteur(e) n’a pas assez développé. On a quelques mots dessus puis ensuite de nombreuses attaques de tout le monde sur ce trouble. Il m’a réellement touché. C’est un jeune homme qui dès la disparition de son ami a vécu pour les autres et jamais pour lui. C’est clairement un très gentil garçon dont tout le monde profite. Mon âme rebelle a tellement voulu lui dire de partir, de répondre aux attaques. C’est un héros comme on en voit peu.
Morgan est un jeune homme abandonné. Il joue les durs, les rebelles avec ses coups fourrés et ses phrases sarcastiques mais c’est surtout un enfant perdu. Personne ne s’est jamais battu pour lui. Et quand cela pourrait changer, le fantôme d’un enfant le poursuit. Ce personnage est superbement étudié. On met du temps à comprendre le comportement de Morgan. Mais quand il se dévoile, c’est absolument sublime.
À eux deux, ils forment un duo remarquable. Ils arrivent à se comprendre assez rapidement et on ne souhaite qu’une seule chose : que chacun mettent ses doutes de côté pour montrer leurs sentiments.
La romance a totalement une place dans ce titre et arrive même assez rapidement dans notre lecture (ce qui est assez déstabilisant de prime abord) mais ce n’est pas pour moi l’atout de ce récit. Tout le long de ma lecture, j’étais happé comme dans un film thriller. C’est une des premières fois que j’ai cette sensation prenante alors que j’aime ce genre littéraire. C’est un défi brillamment réussi.
Ce n’est pas un coup de coeur, a de trop nombreux moments mon esprit divagué trop. Mais c’est limite. Un très bon moment de lecture qui nous tiens en haleine. La réelle réussite vient de la fin de ce livre. Elle m’a complètement déstabilisée. Est-ce que j’aimerais une suite ? D’un côté oui, d’un côté non. Je vous ai dit ce livre nous laisse perdu jusqu’à la fin.
Boyd a perdu son meilleur ami Sammy et depuis il ne vit qu’à travers son souvenir. Mais un ADN, va remettre l’enquête sur Sammy sur le devant et lui fera croiser la route de Morgan 15 ans après.
Boyd souffre d’un TDAH, on le comprend assez rapidement même si je trouve que de ce côté l’auteur(e) n’a pas assez développé. On a quelques mots dessus puis ensuite de nombreuses attaques de tout le monde sur ce trouble. Il m’a réellement touché. C’est un jeune homme qui dès la disparition de son ami a vécu pour les autres et jamais pour lui. C’est clairement un très gentil garçon dont tout le monde profite. Mon âme rebelle a tellement voulu lui dire de partir, de répondre aux attaques. C’est un héros comme on en voit peu.
Morgan est un jeune homme abandonné. Il joue les durs, les rebelles avec ses coups fourrés et ses phrases sarcastiques mais c’est surtout un enfant perdu. Personne ne s’est jamais battu pour lui. Et quand cela pourrait changer, le fantôme d’un enfant le poursuit. Ce personnage est superbement étudié. On met du temps à comprendre le comportement de Morgan. Mais quand il se dévoile, c’est absolument sublime.
À eux deux, ils forment un duo remarquable. Ils arrivent à se comprendre assez rapidement et on ne souhaite qu’une seule chose : que chacun mettent ses doutes de côté pour montrer leurs sentiments.
La romance a totalement une place dans ce titre et arrive même assez rapidement dans notre lecture (ce qui est assez déstabilisant de prime abord) mais ce n’est pas pour moi l’atout de ce récit. Tout le long de ma lecture, j’étais happé comme dans un film thriller. C’est une des premières fois que j’ai cette sensation prenante alors que j’aime ce genre littéraire. C’est un défi brillamment réussi.
Ce n’est pas un coup de coeur, a de trop nombreux moments mon esprit divagué trop. Mais c’est limite. Un très bon moment de lecture qui nous tiens en haleine. La réelle réussite vient de la fin de ce livre. Elle m’a complètement déstabilisée. Est-ce que j’aimerais une suite ? D’un côté oui, d’un côté non. Je vous ai dit ce livre nous laisse perdu jusqu’à la fin.
February 12, 2020
Stunning Series Start
WOW! What an incredible book! This is a dark tale of a kidnapping of a child, a guilt-ridden best friend who wasn’t taken, accusations that have followed the best friend into adulthood, and fifteen years later the staggering match of DNA from that lost little boy. But is he really?
From the start to the end I was absolutely riveted. This is not an easy tale to read. Boyd goes to his long lost best friend Sammy’s mother every year on the anniversary of the disappearance and lets her word vomit all her pain and anguish all over him for not being the one taken. So when word comes to Boyd that there is a maybe-Sammy based on a DNA match, he is bowled over.
Morgan doesn’t know who this missing Sammy kid is, but he knows it isn’t him. A thief and hustler, Morgan is all kinds of wrong, and I loved him from the moment he appeared on the page. He has a hardened heart, and he is always the one to walk away first, to diminish everything around him.
The plot was beautifully written, introducing the reader to a multitude of characters to set up a larger story arc. There are twists and turns and a few loop-the-loops, enough that you are always just a bit off center, never quite as sure as you think you should be about any given point in the story.
The chemistry is blazing. These two men take one look at the other and that’s all there is to it. Instant magnetization.
The character growth is almost too sneaky to notice through most of the book on Boyd’s part. For Morgan, just getting used to suburbia and dealing with people who aren’t looking to hustle him is an entirely new experience, so there is considerable growth throughout the whole.
Towards the end, I was so completely enamored of the pair that the word boyfriend, when uttered by Morgan unconsciously, made me instantly burst into tears. I am 100% on tenterhooks now awaiting the next installment. This is absolutely a 4.5 star book, and I’m rounding up for sites that don’t accept halves. If you haven’t checked out Moore’s books yet, what are you waiting for??? They just get better and better…every single one!
I voluntarily read an ARC copy of this book for Divine Magazine from Dreamspinner Press with hopes for but no obligation to provide a review.
**Same worded review will also appear on Divine Magazine, Dreamspinner Press, and Amazon.com.**
WOW! What an incredible book! This is a dark tale of a kidnapping of a child, a guilt-ridden best friend who wasn’t taken, accusations that have followed the best friend into adulthood, and fifteen years later the staggering match of DNA from that lost little boy. But is he really?
From the start to the end I was absolutely riveted. This is not an easy tale to read. Boyd goes to his long lost best friend Sammy’s mother every year on the anniversary of the disappearance and lets her word vomit all her pain and anguish all over him for not being the one taken. So when word comes to Boyd that there is a maybe-Sammy based on a DNA match, he is bowled over.
Morgan doesn’t know who this missing Sammy kid is, but he knows it isn’t him. A thief and hustler, Morgan is all kinds of wrong, and I loved him from the moment he appeared on the page. He has a hardened heart, and he is always the one to walk away first, to diminish everything around him.
The plot was beautifully written, introducing the reader to a multitude of characters to set up a larger story arc. There are twists and turns and a few loop-the-loops, enough that you are always just a bit off center, never quite as sure as you think you should be about any given point in the story.
The chemistry is blazing. These two men take one look at the other and that’s all there is to it. Instant magnetization.
The character growth is almost too sneaky to notice through most of the book on Boyd’s part. For Morgan, just getting used to suburbia and dealing with people who aren’t looking to hustle him is an entirely new experience, so there is considerable growth throughout the whole.
Towards the end, I was so completely enamored of the pair that the word boyfriend, when uttered by Morgan unconsciously, made me instantly burst into tears. I am 100% on tenterhooks now awaiting the next installment. This is absolutely a 4.5 star book, and I’m rounding up for sites that don’t accept halves. If you haven’t checked out Moore’s books yet, what are you waiting for??? They just get better and better…every single one!
I voluntarily read an ARC copy of this book for Divine Magazine from Dreamspinner Press with hopes for but no obligation to provide a review.
**Same worded review will also appear on Divine Magazine, Dreamspinner Press, and Amazon.com.**
February 16, 2021
J’ai beaucoup aimé ce livre, ce n’est pas un livre parfait loin de là mais quand même très agréable.
Sammy a disparu depuis des années, sa mère ne perd pas espoir mais sombre de plus en plus dans l’alcool, son frère a été accusé de sa disparition, mais tout ce qu’il veut c’est retrouver celui qui a tué son petit frère. Boyd son meilleur ami est juste perdu et essaye d’aider Donna (mère) et Shay (frère). Mais un jour Sammy va être retrouvé, il est bien vivant, mais Morgan ne pense pas être Sammy. Beaucoup pense que c’est un arnaqueur mais ça n’a pas empêché Boyd de le ramener en ville et de tomber amoureux.
Le gros point négatif du livre c’est la romance, l’alchimie sexuel et l’attirance mutuel fonctionne très bien mais pas du tout la romance, elle est trop rapide, les personnages ne se connaissent pas, ils prennent pas le temps de se découvrir qui sont déjà à moitié amoureux comme ils disent. Donc c’est dommage.
Par contre ce qui est parfaitement retranscrit c’est le problème qu’ont les personnages d’associé Morgan à Sammy. Entre ceux qui le voit encore comme l’enfant de 7 ans et l’homme rebelle gay d’aujourd’hui. C’est vraiment très bien fait.
Pour le mystère la résolution du crime faut attendre la suite est c’est vraiment très frustrant mais ça tient en haleine, on a pas encore trop l’enquête dans ce tome mais c’est très agréable d’essayer de faire des rapprochement.
J’ai vraiment hâte de lire la suite.
Sammy a disparu depuis des années, sa mère ne perd pas espoir mais sombre de plus en plus dans l’alcool, son frère a été accusé de sa disparition, mais tout ce qu’il veut c’est retrouver celui qui a tué son petit frère. Boyd son meilleur ami est juste perdu et essaye d’aider Donna (mère) et Shay (frère). Mais un jour Sammy va être retrouvé, il est bien vivant, mais Morgan ne pense pas être Sammy. Beaucoup pense que c’est un arnaqueur mais ça n’a pas empêché Boyd de le ramener en ville et de tomber amoureux.
Le gros point négatif du livre c’est la romance, l’alchimie sexuel et l’attirance mutuel fonctionne très bien mais pas du tout la romance, elle est trop rapide, les personnages ne se connaissent pas, ils prennent pas le temps de se découvrir qui sont déjà à moitié amoureux comme ils disent. Donc c’est dommage.
Par contre ce qui est parfaitement retranscrit c’est le problème qu’ont les personnages d’associé Morgan à Sammy. Entre ceux qui le voit encore comme l’enfant de 7 ans et l’homme rebelle gay d’aujourd’hui. C’est vraiment très bien fait.
Pour le mystère la résolution du crime faut attendre la suite est c’est vraiment très frustrant mais ça tient en haleine, on a pas encore trop l’enquête dans ce tome mais c’est très agréable d’essayer de faire des rapprochement.
J’ai vraiment hâte de lire la suite.
March 25, 2020
Yeah a hard pass from me. Pretty much everyone is damaged and broken or just an arsehole.
February 28, 2020
There were a lot of things I liked about this book but I struggled with so much negativity and a few of the things that happened didn't make sense to me. It's possible book 2 will clear up my questions but rating this book as a stand alone, I can only give it a 3.
January 16, 2022
Une dispute entre deux gamins de 8 ans, meilleurs amis... L'un part avec sa mère, venu le chercher à l'école. L'autre attend son frère, qui va venir le récupérer. Mais Sammy disparaît et Boyd ne reverra jamais son meilleur ami.
Quinze ans plus tard, Boyd vit toujours à Cutters Gap, dans l'ombre de son ami disparu. Il est pompier, vivant ainsi le rêve de gamins qu'avait Sammy. Il vit avec le poids de la culpabilité, que la mère de Sammy lui balance d'ailleurs dans la figure tous les ans, au moment du triste anniversaire de la disparition de l'enfant... Disparition jamais résolue d'ailleurs, malgré le défilé de pseudos médiums et faux témoins durant toutes ces années, venus jurer avoir des nouvelles en échange de quelques billets donnés par la mère éplorée. La police a soupçonné tout le monde d'ailleurs à l'époque, la mère, le frère aîné, le prof, ...
Et puis, les progrès de la génétique... et trois lettres magiques : ADN.
Morgan Graves, milieu de vingtaine, arnaqueur, frondeur, provocateur, avec un casier de délinquant juvénile aussi épais qu'un annuaire, se voit propulsé à Cutters Gap car son ADN matche avec ce gamin disparu 15 ans plus tôt. Absurde ! Il s'en rappellerait s'il avait été enlevé dans ce patelin des années plus tôt non ? C'est vrai que son enfance est une succession sans fin de parents d'accueil, de maltraitance, de bagarres, de coups, de violence mais bon... après tout, peut-être qu'il peut en tirer quelques billets. Et si ça permet de se faire oublier de ce flic qui veut le coffrer pour lui avoir éclaté le nez...
Entre Morgan et Boyd, l'attraction est immédiate. Boyd se laisse emporter par ce garçon sauvage, sexy, rebelle, sensuel, dangereux... son ancien meilleur ami ? Et Morgan est touché, pour la première fois de sa triste vie, par quelqu'un. Mais tout n'est pas aussi simple : avec le flic qui enquête toujours sur le cold case, le journaliste qui s'en met plein les poches sur l'affaire, les habitants qui en ont assez qu'on ne parle de la ville que pour cette disparition, le frère ainé qui veut à tout prix faire tomber un coupable, ... et ces incendies qui s'enchaînent.
J'ai déjà lu d'autres romans de T.A. Moore et j'aime bien les univers qu'elle propose, une ambiance, une galerie de forts personnages secondaires, un passif et des caractères plutôt tranchés et bien dessinés. J'ai plongé à fond dans l'histoire avec Morgan, le voyou au cœur barricadé derrière des murs fissurés et Boyd le gamin qui porte le poids du passé et de la culpabilité sur les épaules. L'histoire est plutôt bien menée, axée sur le manque, sur comment vivre après, vivre avec l'absence, sans savoir, sans avoir de réponses, en gardant l'espoir ou pas, avec la culpabilité et le remords de ne pas avoir...
Après, la fin du roman laisse beaucoup de questions et j'espère que la suite sera écrite (et traduite) pour nous donner les réponses à tout ces mystères, je suis vraiment un peu frustrée...
Quinze ans plus tard, Boyd vit toujours à Cutters Gap, dans l'ombre de son ami disparu. Il est pompier, vivant ainsi le rêve de gamins qu'avait Sammy. Il vit avec le poids de la culpabilité, que la mère de Sammy lui balance d'ailleurs dans la figure tous les ans, au moment du triste anniversaire de la disparition de l'enfant... Disparition jamais résolue d'ailleurs, malgré le défilé de pseudos médiums et faux témoins durant toutes ces années, venus jurer avoir des nouvelles en échange de quelques billets donnés par la mère éplorée. La police a soupçonné tout le monde d'ailleurs à l'époque, la mère, le frère aîné, le prof, ...
Et puis, les progrès de la génétique... et trois lettres magiques : ADN.
Morgan Graves, milieu de vingtaine, arnaqueur, frondeur, provocateur, avec un casier de délinquant juvénile aussi épais qu'un annuaire, se voit propulsé à Cutters Gap car son ADN matche avec ce gamin disparu 15 ans plus tôt. Absurde ! Il s'en rappellerait s'il avait été enlevé dans ce patelin des années plus tôt non ? C'est vrai que son enfance est une succession sans fin de parents d'accueil, de maltraitance, de bagarres, de coups, de violence mais bon... après tout, peut-être qu'il peut en tirer quelques billets. Et si ça permet de se faire oublier de ce flic qui veut le coffrer pour lui avoir éclaté le nez...
Entre Morgan et Boyd, l'attraction est immédiate. Boyd se laisse emporter par ce garçon sauvage, sexy, rebelle, sensuel, dangereux... son ancien meilleur ami ? Et Morgan est touché, pour la première fois de sa triste vie, par quelqu'un. Mais tout n'est pas aussi simple : avec le flic qui enquête toujours sur le cold case, le journaliste qui s'en met plein les poches sur l'affaire, les habitants qui en ont assez qu'on ne parle de la ville que pour cette disparition, le frère ainé qui veut à tout prix faire tomber un coupable, ... et ces incendies qui s'enchaînent.
J'ai déjà lu d'autres romans de T.A. Moore et j'aime bien les univers qu'elle propose, une ambiance, une galerie de forts personnages secondaires, un passif et des caractères plutôt tranchés et bien dessinés. J'ai plongé à fond dans l'histoire avec Morgan, le voyou au cœur barricadé derrière des murs fissurés et Boyd le gamin qui porte le poids du passé et de la culpabilité sur les épaules. L'histoire est plutôt bien menée, axée sur le manque, sur comment vivre après, vivre avec l'absence, sans savoir, sans avoir de réponses, en gardant l'espoir ou pas, avec la culpabilité et le remords de ne pas avoir...
Après, la fin du roman laisse beaucoup de questions et j'espère que la suite sera écrite (et traduite) pour nous donner les réponses à tout ces mystères, je suis vraiment un peu frustrée...
March 2, 2020
What if you are suddenly told you are someone else? Morgan is faced with this dilemma.
Tossed from foster home to foster home and a rap sheet a mile long, Morgan has always known who he is but all that changes. His DNA matches that of Sammy Calloway an eight year old who disappeared fifteen years ago. Morgan finds himself out on bail and being taken to a small town in West Virginia.
Time may have passed since Sammy's disappearance, but for some it has stood still. His mother has bouts of alcoholic binges and rages on Sammy's birthday, holidays, and the anniversary of his disappearance. She has always believed that Sammy is alive and waiting to be found. In her mind, he is frozen in time as blond eight year old.
Shay the older brother was the focus of the police investigation for a time. He thinks his brother is dead and wants town and his mother to move on. His mother has never really been able to be a mother to Shay. She has ranted, raved and ignored him.
Boyd is the best friend. He felt a guilt that was never his to bare. He was also eight when Sammy disappeared. He has spent the last fifteen years being Donna's whipping boy. Why did they take her son and not Boyd.
Morgan steps into this boiling pot of emotions. Is he Sammy? He states to all the he isn't Sammy. His life wasn't nothing to write home about and taught him to look out for himself because no one else will. Foster home after foster home proved that. A second DNA test using Shay and Morgan turns out to be inconclusive. They need to test his DNA against that of Sammy's mom.
Boyd has fallen in love with Morgan. He doesn't care if he is or isn't Sammy. Morgan, while planning his escape and getting what he can out of the deal, finally admits that he has fallen in love.
All heck breaks loose before they can do the final DNA test. This town suddenly isn't so quiet and how does it tie back to the disappearance of one small boy? What is the truth? If he is Sammy, what happened to him all those years ago? Why are so many people other than Sammy's family and his best friend Boyd so interested? Why do they want to keep the past buried? If Morgan is Sammy, why doesn't he have any memories of his mom, his brother, Boyd or the town?
This one will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat!
Tossed from foster home to foster home and a rap sheet a mile long, Morgan has always known who he is but all that changes. His DNA matches that of Sammy Calloway an eight year old who disappeared fifteen years ago. Morgan finds himself out on bail and being taken to a small town in West Virginia.
Time may have passed since Sammy's disappearance, but for some it has stood still. His mother has bouts of alcoholic binges and rages on Sammy's birthday, holidays, and the anniversary of his disappearance. She has always believed that Sammy is alive and waiting to be found. In her mind, he is frozen in time as blond eight year old.
Shay the older brother was the focus of the police investigation for a time. He thinks his brother is dead and wants town and his mother to move on. His mother has never really been able to be a mother to Shay. She has ranted, raved and ignored him.
Boyd is the best friend. He felt a guilt that was never his to bare. He was also eight when Sammy disappeared. He has spent the last fifteen years being Donna's whipping boy. Why did they take her son and not Boyd.
Morgan steps into this boiling pot of emotions. Is he Sammy? He states to all the he isn't Sammy. His life wasn't nothing to write home about and taught him to look out for himself because no one else will. Foster home after foster home proved that. A second DNA test using Shay and Morgan turns out to be inconclusive. They need to test his DNA against that of Sammy's mom.
Boyd has fallen in love with Morgan. He doesn't care if he is or isn't Sammy. Morgan, while planning his escape and getting what he can out of the deal, finally admits that he has fallen in love.
All heck breaks loose before they can do the final DNA test. This town suddenly isn't so quiet and how does it tie back to the disappearance of one small boy? What is the truth? If he is Sammy, what happened to him all those years ago? Why are so many people other than Sammy's family and his best friend Boyd so interested? Why do they want to keep the past buried? If Morgan is Sammy, why doesn't he have any memories of his mom, his brother, Boyd or the town?
This one will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat!
February 11, 2020
What happened to Sammy Calloway fifteen years ago?
Shay Calloway, Sammy’s brother was a suspect.
Donna Calloway, still grieves the loss of her son and holds out on what may be false hope.
After the botched up job of the police department, Captain Joe MacIntosh, want’s this long time tragedy solved.
Boyd Maccabee, Sammy’s best friend, is tangled in this web still feeling guilt for something he didn’t do.
In the small town of Cutters Gap, everyone has an opinion, a theory and a reason to bring an end to Sammy Calloway’s disappearance.
Morgan Graves is tough, snarky, smart and trouble. With inconclusive DNA, and the threat of jail time, he’s dragged into a twisted mystery. Everyone thinks they know him and believes he’s Sammy and some will do anything to get Morgan to put an end to the small town tragedy. The first time Boyd laid eyes on Morgan there’s a connection. Boyd, who also want’s this mystery to end, goes above and beyond to get Morgan back to the small town of “Cutters Gap” in hopes this is all put to rest.
I have no idea where TA Moore will take the “Lost and Found” series next but I’m all in. “Prodigal” was a page-turner, a twisted mystery with layers of questions, that kept me on edge to the very end. The connection between Boyd and Morgan is explosive and there’s no denying they fit together. At times I questioned myself, did I want Morgan to be Sammy or did I want Morgan to just be Morgan. It’s interesting to watch Morgan come up with his own conclusion to the disappearance, as he tries to stay one step ahead of everyone in the small town.
TA Moore, once again, does outstanding in delivering a suspenseful and tension filled story for the first installment of the “Lost and Found” series. From “Digging Up Bones”, “A Novel of Plenty, California”, “Blood and Bone” and many of her single novels the stories and characters are always fresh and new. I highly recommend this new series and can’t wait for the second installment.
Shay Calloway, Sammy’s brother was a suspect.
Donna Calloway, still grieves the loss of her son and holds out on what may be false hope.
After the botched up job of the police department, Captain Joe MacIntosh, want’s this long time tragedy solved.
Boyd Maccabee, Sammy’s best friend, is tangled in this web still feeling guilt for something he didn’t do.
In the small town of Cutters Gap, everyone has an opinion, a theory and a reason to bring an end to Sammy Calloway’s disappearance.
Morgan Graves is tough, snarky, smart and trouble. With inconclusive DNA, and the threat of jail time, he’s dragged into a twisted mystery. Everyone thinks they know him and believes he’s Sammy and some will do anything to get Morgan to put an end to the small town tragedy. The first time Boyd laid eyes on Morgan there’s a connection. Boyd, who also want’s this mystery to end, goes above and beyond to get Morgan back to the small town of “Cutters Gap” in hopes this is all put to rest.
I have no idea where TA Moore will take the “Lost and Found” series next but I’m all in. “Prodigal” was a page-turner, a twisted mystery with layers of questions, that kept me on edge to the very end. The connection between Boyd and Morgan is explosive and there’s no denying they fit together. At times I questioned myself, did I want Morgan to be Sammy or did I want Morgan to just be Morgan. It’s interesting to watch Morgan come up with his own conclusion to the disappearance, as he tries to stay one step ahead of everyone in the small town.
TA Moore, once again, does outstanding in delivering a suspenseful and tension filled story for the first installment of the “Lost and Found” series. From “Digging Up Bones”, “A Novel of Plenty, California”, “Blood and Bone” and many of her single novels the stories and characters are always fresh and new. I highly recommend this new series and can’t wait for the second installment.
February 17, 2020
4.5 stars
Everybody wants to find Sam Calloway, the eight years old boy who disappeared fifteen years ago… or do they?
The disappearance of Sam Calloway is a mystery which has destroyed the life of many people, not only his family but also his best friend Boyd Maccabbee. So when police call him to meet a young hustler who could be his missing best friend, he doesn’t know what to expect. But whatever it was, it is not the appealing mixture of cockiness and aggressivity that is Morgan Graves. It is very difficult to reconcile the idea of his childhood friend with the attractive young man, specially when the latter denies any knowledge of Sam… Maybe, going back to Cutter’s Gap will help Morgan to remember, or maybe not…
This was an intense story, dark and gritty at times, but also really entertaining. It had me hooked from the beginning. The main topic is not who took Sam, as it could be expected, but the repercussions the disappearance had in the whole town. It is not only the family who are broken. Many people are trapped in a web of suspicions and guilt, that clings to the village like a foul smell. The whispers and whodunits reach everybody. The perverted teacher, the corrupt judge, the jealous brother or even the unstable mother. The guilt chases relentlessly both the best friend who survived, and the cop who failed to recover the missing boy. The arrival of Morgan, and the chance of him being Sam, far from settling things down, seems to have the effect of a catalyst, bringing old devils back to town again...
I loved the main characters, Morgan and Boyd, their twisted but fierce relationship is fascinating. I do hope there is more to come. I feel there are lots of secrets hidden at Cutter’s Gap I will enjoy unravelling...
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Everybody wants to find Sam Calloway, the eight years old boy who disappeared fifteen years ago… or do they?
The disappearance of Sam Calloway is a mystery which has destroyed the life of many people, not only his family but also his best friend Boyd Maccabbee. So when police call him to meet a young hustler who could be his missing best friend, he doesn’t know what to expect. But whatever it was, it is not the appealing mixture of cockiness and aggressivity that is Morgan Graves. It is very difficult to reconcile the idea of his childhood friend with the attractive young man, specially when the latter denies any knowledge of Sam… Maybe, going back to Cutter’s Gap will help Morgan to remember, or maybe not…
This was an intense story, dark and gritty at times, but also really entertaining. It had me hooked from the beginning. The main topic is not who took Sam, as it could be expected, but the repercussions the disappearance had in the whole town. It is not only the family who are broken. Many people are trapped in a web of suspicions and guilt, that clings to the village like a foul smell. The whispers and whodunits reach everybody. The perverted teacher, the corrupt judge, the jealous brother or even the unstable mother. The guilt chases relentlessly both the best friend who survived, and the cop who failed to recover the missing boy. The arrival of Morgan, and the chance of him being Sam, far from settling things down, seems to have the effect of a catalyst, bringing old devils back to town again...
I loved the main characters, Morgan and Boyd, their twisted but fierce relationship is fascinating. I do hope there is more to come. I feel there are lots of secrets hidden at Cutter’s Gap I will enjoy unravelling...
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2020
This was a pleasant surprise from a new-to-me author. Not that the story was pleasant, far from it. Also pretty light on the romance and more on the 15-years-going mystery.
The way the story progressed was intriguing. Everything was more a creeping, slow burn than 'fire and blazes' although there was plenty of literal fire. I really liked all the characters. Not because they were easy-to-like pleasant or necessarily good people, but they felt real and had been dealt a rough hand and treated harshly by their town, and I wanted to know more even about the minor characters. Even the ones we're 'supposed' to dislike.
About the romance aspect – it was more lust to me – I felt there wasn't a lot of tangible build-up. It felt more about the circumstances and, judging by what we learn about the characters in question, sort of just 'going against the grain', than deep feelings. But at the same time, it also made sense? It didn't need to be more at this point. The mystery was so heavy, the character dynamics were complicated and the balance worked this way, if only it wasn't for the (to me) unnecessary and premature I-love-yous. The book ends with a barely-there HFN so I would've been very happy without the L words in this one. There's so much more to the entire story. And so much more to learn about the main characters as well. I guess Boyd is the one who's the 'least difficult' to like, yet there are many layers even to him I wanted to peel. Morgan is unsurprisingly a very tough egg to crack and I'm very much looking forward to the next book.
So I ended up giving this 4 stars because overall everything wrapped together in a pretty solid, intriguing package and there's so much potential for the next installment.
The way the story progressed was intriguing. Everything was more a creeping, slow burn than 'fire and blazes' although there was plenty of literal fire. I really liked all the characters. Not because they were easy-to-like pleasant or necessarily good people, but they felt real and had been dealt a rough hand and treated harshly by their town, and I wanted to know more even about the minor characters. Even the ones we're 'supposed' to dislike.
About the romance aspect – it was more lust to me – I felt there wasn't a lot of tangible build-up. It felt more about the circumstances and, judging by what we learn about the characters in question, sort of just 'going against the grain', than deep feelings. But at the same time, it also made sense? It didn't need to be more at this point. The mystery was so heavy, the character dynamics were complicated and the balance worked this way, if only it wasn't for the (to me) unnecessary and premature I-love-yous. The book ends with a barely-there HFN so I would've been very happy without the L words in this one. There's so much more to the entire story. And so much more to learn about the main characters as well. I guess Boyd is the one who's the 'least difficult' to like, yet there are many layers even to him I wanted to peel. Morgan is unsurprisingly a very tough egg to crack and I'm very much looking forward to the next book.
So I ended up giving this 4 stars because overall everything wrapped together in a pretty solid, intriguing package and there's so much potential for the next installment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2020
This is my first T.A. Moore book but won't be my last. I usually avoid books with missing children but made an exception because the premise was intriguing. Is Morgan Greaves the 15-year missing Sammy Calloway? He was a hot mess (as well as a mess that was hot) when he appears, especially juxtaposed to Boyd Maccabee, Sammy's now grown-up firefighter best friend, also hot but not quite as much of a mess. Morgan's childhood is hazy enough to make it possible that he's Sammy even if he doesn't believe it. Boyd is stuck being the friend that can't move on - even his career isn't really a choice. Throw in Sammy's damaged mother and brother and the media vultures that swoop in to keep the trauma of Sammy's disappearance raw and it made for a story that wound around in a tight compelling circle and I had trouble putting it down. The entire town was stuck on what had happened all those years ago but it the scarring seemed believable. I remember the Adam Walsh kidnapping and see how it influenced childraising from when I was young to the present.
There were false notes, though. I'm OK with lust at first sight but don't believe that any two men would have unprotected sex within days of meeting. If for nothing else, Morgan is street-smart and doesn’t appear to have a death wish. That it then became a relationship so quickly felt off as well – it was just too fast even though I ended up liking both of them.
I hope TA Moore is a quick writer because I want to see where these two damaged souls go and if there is real healing in the process.
I received an advance copy in return for my honest review.
There were false notes, though. I'm OK with lust at first sight but don't believe that any two men would have unprotected sex within days of meeting. If for nothing else, Morgan is street-smart and doesn’t appear to have a death wish. That it then became a relationship so quickly felt off as well – it was just too fast even though I ended up liking both of them.
I hope TA Moore is a quick writer because I want to see where these two damaged souls go and if there is real healing in the process.
I received an advance copy in return for my honest review.
February 19, 2020
An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review
Fifteen years ago Boyd Macabee left his best friend Sammy Calloway to find his own way home from school, but Sammy Calloway never made it home. Now there’s a man whose DNA matches Sammy’s, but he claims he’s not Sammy, he’s just a small time con artist named Morgan Graves. Boyd has grown up to be a firefighter/EMT, just the way he and Sammy had planned to be. When Morgan’s D.N.A. matches Sammy’s, Boyd feels a responsibility to get involved, and maybe get to the bottom of what happened to Sammy all those years ago, when Boyd left Sammy alone. Morgan is convinced he’s not Sammy, but pretending he is is a literal get out of jail free opportunity, so he takes it. When Boyd and Morgan meet, Morgan is immediately attracted, as is Boyd. But is Boyd’s attraction just a matter of thinking Morgan is Sammy? Despite the fact that it’s a bad idea, Morgan and Boyd hook up. Morgan keeps claiming he shouldn’t get attached to Boyd, and vice versa, because after this jig is up, Morgan is out of there. Is Morgan really Sammy? Is Boyd only in love with Morgan because of who he might be? Can Morgan convince himself to stay with Boyd, regardless of the outcome? Prodigal is a compelling read. The question of who Morgan is is a gripping mystery, and the romance is believable. I would recommend reading Prodigal. The characters show growth and plausible attraction. While not T.A. Moore’s best book, it was an enjoyable read.
Fifteen years ago Boyd Macabee left his best friend Sammy Calloway to find his own way home from school, but Sammy Calloway never made it home. Now there’s a man whose DNA matches Sammy’s, but he claims he’s not Sammy, he’s just a small time con artist named Morgan Graves. Boyd has grown up to be a firefighter/EMT, just the way he and Sammy had planned to be. When Morgan’s D.N.A. matches Sammy’s, Boyd feels a responsibility to get involved, and maybe get to the bottom of what happened to Sammy all those years ago, when Boyd left Sammy alone. Morgan is convinced he’s not Sammy, but pretending he is is a literal get out of jail free opportunity, so he takes it. When Boyd and Morgan meet, Morgan is immediately attracted, as is Boyd. But is Boyd’s attraction just a matter of thinking Morgan is Sammy? Despite the fact that it’s a bad idea, Morgan and Boyd hook up. Morgan keeps claiming he shouldn’t get attached to Boyd, and vice versa, because after this jig is up, Morgan is out of there. Is Morgan really Sammy? Is Boyd only in love with Morgan because of who he might be? Can Morgan convince himself to stay with Boyd, regardless of the outcome? Prodigal is a compelling read. The question of who Morgan is is a gripping mystery, and the romance is believable. I would recommend reading Prodigal. The characters show growth and plausible attraction. While not T.A. Moore’s best book, it was an enjoyable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2021
15 years ago, Sammy Calloway went missing from a small town.
Morgan Graves just pinged the radar for matching Sammy's DNA.
But, was the DNA sample corrupt?
Sammy's brother, Shay, has always been a lead suspect but he does not want this a-hole conman in his town, disrupting things.
Boyd was Sammy's best friend. Morgan or Sammy, he feels drawn to the other man.
Donna never lost hope that her son was alive, but faced with Morgan, she can't mesh the idea that he's not still 8 years old.
Mac just wants this case closed.
And someone wants this case dead and buried for good.
Great concept, solid story. Occasionally, it got a little wordy and too descriptive.
Sometimes, even when it's a good story, the simplest thing can throw a wrench into the overall enjoyment of the storytelling. In this case, it was the overuse of the word SOUR. Thirty times, it was used to describe a smell, taste, expression, feeling. It became off-putting after time.
Not necessarily what I'd call a Happily Ever After ending, but it implied they'd at least be HFN.
Trigger Warning:
While we are not informed on the hows or whys of Sammy's disappearance, Morgan does share minor details of past abuse from his various childhood foster homes.
There are some on-page scenes of drunk and disorderly conduct as well.
Morgan Graves just pinged the radar for matching Sammy's DNA.
But, was the DNA sample corrupt?
Sammy's brother, Shay, has always been a lead suspect but he does not want this a-hole conman in his town, disrupting things.
Boyd was Sammy's best friend. Morgan or Sammy, he feels drawn to the other man.
Donna never lost hope that her son was alive, but faced with Morgan, she can't mesh the idea that he's not still 8 years old.
Mac just wants this case closed.
And someone wants this case dead and buried for good.
Great concept, solid story. Occasionally, it got a little wordy and too descriptive.
Sometimes, even when it's a good story, the simplest thing can throw a wrench into the overall enjoyment of the storytelling. In this case, it was the overuse of the word SOUR. Thirty times, it was used to describe a smell, taste, expression, feeling. It became off-putting after time.
Not necessarily what I'd call a Happily Ever After ending, but it implied they'd at least be HFN.
Trigger Warning:
While we are not informed on the hows or whys of Sammy's disappearance, Morgan does share minor details of past abuse from his various childhood foster homes.
There are some on-page scenes of drunk and disorderly conduct as well.
February 12, 2020
WOW! That's all I have to say. Well, not really, but WOW!
This story is about a boy that went missing 15 years ago. The main character is the boy's best friend and GAH! Boyd made my heart hurt. He was 8 when all this happened and his heart never repaired. It was heartbreaking. Then enter an out of towner named Morgan Graves and he throws Boyd's life out of whack. Well, Morgan threw all of Cutters Gap out of whack. Morgan broke my heart and I hate the people that gave up on him. I hate the people that never asked questions.
Then we have the boy, Sammy's, family-brother and mother. Shay, the brother, I'm still not sure what to make of him. He was hard to get a read on. The mother though needs help. Serious help. I'm not sure I can forgive her for the words she said, to Boyd or Shay. Can I throat punch the mother of a missing child?
On top of all that we have a detective that's trying to save his name; or is he, a judge that needs a swift kick and a reporter that needs to rot.
I didn't want this is end. I wanted to read more. I can NOT wait for the next book. I see lots coming out of Cutters Gap and I'm excited about it.
I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story is about a boy that went missing 15 years ago. The main character is the boy's best friend and GAH! Boyd made my heart hurt. He was 8 when all this happened and his heart never repaired. It was heartbreaking. Then enter an out of towner named Morgan Graves and he throws Boyd's life out of whack. Well, Morgan threw all of Cutters Gap out of whack. Morgan broke my heart and I hate the people that gave up on him. I hate the people that never asked questions.
Then we have the boy, Sammy's, family-brother and mother. Shay, the brother, I'm still not sure what to make of him. He was hard to get a read on. The mother though needs help. Serious help. I'm not sure I can forgive her for the words she said, to Boyd or Shay. Can I throat punch the mother of a missing child?
On top of all that we have a detective that's trying to save his name; or is he, a judge that needs a swift kick and a reporter that needs to rot.
I didn't want this is end. I wanted to read more. I can NOT wait for the next book. I see lots coming out of Cutters Gap and I'm excited about it.
I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2020
This book blew my mind with the twists and turns. Eight-year-old Sammy Calloway disappeared fifteen years ago. The town of Cutters Gap has never recovered. His mother, brother, and best friend Boyd Maccabbee relive that horrible day every year on the anniversary of his disappearance. Now, fifteen years later DNA evidence shows Morgan Graves may be Sammy. But Morgan knows he’s not the missing boy and now he’s dragged to Cutters Gap and embroiled in the mystery. Morgan has bad memories of his childhood, but none of them have anything to do with Sammy, Cutters Gap, or Boyd Maccabbee.
Prodigal is so well-written and fascinating. One minute you think Morgan is not Sammy and the next you’re convinced he is. And then as the story develops you think maybe he’s not again, until you change your mind yet again. Prodigal had me on the edge of my seat and I loved it! This is book 1 of Lost and Found and readers do find out whether Morgan is Sammy or not, but are left with questions surrounding Sammy’s disappearance and the recent arsons that have Boyd and his fellow firefighters on their toes. I have my suspicions about who’s behind Sammy’s disappearance and the fires and I can’t wait to see if I’m right. I look forward to the next book.
Prodigal is so well-written and fascinating. One minute you think Morgan is not Sammy and the next you’re convinced he is. And then as the story develops you think maybe he’s not again, until you change your mind yet again. Prodigal had me on the edge of my seat and I loved it! This is book 1 of Lost and Found and readers do find out whether Morgan is Sammy or not, but are left with questions surrounding Sammy’s disappearance and the recent arsons that have Boyd and his fellow firefighters on their toes. I have my suspicions about who’s behind Sammy’s disappearance and the fires and I can’t wait to see if I’m right. I look forward to the next book.
February 9, 2020
This was a dark, heavy story with occasional lighter moments. It’s about a boy who disappeared fifteen years ago – and a man whose DNA matches. The man, Morgan, is a thief, petty criminal who’s been in and out of jail since he was fourteen. He has no memory of being kidnapped and no idea who this kid Sammy is supposed to be. Boyd was Sammy’s best friend. The two men quickly fall into lust that turns into love as they work through what has happened.
What I liked: the characters – they are well-developed, realistic, their emotions real and strong. The ending—a “happy for now” one—leaves some questions unanswered, but it works for this story. It’s not an easy story to read, but it is a good one.
What I didn’t like: as noted above, it’s not a traditional romance with a HEA ending. But… that being said, the ending does work well for the story. And it satisfies.
Recommendation: This is a good story, but be prepared for some darkness and characters who aren’t your standard romantic sweet pairs. If you like your romance a little grittier and darker, pick this one up.
Thanks to the publisher for providing this ARC.
What I liked: the characters – they are well-developed, realistic, their emotions real and strong. The ending—a “happy for now” one—leaves some questions unanswered, but it works for this story. It’s not an easy story to read, but it is a good one.
What I didn’t like: as noted above, it’s not a traditional romance with a HEA ending. But… that being said, the ending does work well for the story. And it satisfies.
Recommendation: This is a good story, but be prepared for some darkness and characters who aren’t your standard romantic sweet pairs. If you like your romance a little grittier and darker, pick this one up.
Thanks to the publisher for providing this ARC.
February 11, 2020
Another great book by T.A. Moore, she has a way of sucking you in books that once you start reading them you can’t put them down. The book is dark, a lot of anger, guilt, and some very intense moments that will have you wondering what happen from the beginning to the end. Sammie (Morgan) was kidnapped as a boy and has no memory of what happened to him before or after he was kidnapped. Boyd is his childhood friend from and he feels guilty because they left Sammie on his own when his mom picked him up. Sammie has a hard life: thief, criminal, prostitution and being in more trouble than he can count.
Even though it’s an intense book the two have a connection from the moment they meet. As you will see this not a traditional fall romance book it deals with emotions, lust, friendship, alcohol abuse, verbal and things get physical in this book. Overall, it’s a great book, well-written and the characters are likable and it makes the book more realistic. I love reading books from T.A. Moore because she keeps you guessing and wondering what will happen next.
Even though it’s an intense book the two have a connection from the moment they meet. As you will see this not a traditional fall romance book it deals with emotions, lust, friendship, alcohol abuse, verbal and things get physical in this book. Overall, it’s a great book, well-written and the characters are likable and it makes the book more realistic. I love reading books from T.A. Moore because she keeps you guessing and wondering what will happen next.
July 19, 2020
Um...okay.
Brody has lived in the shadows of his dead best friend Sammy. He is has been blamed by his best friends mother for living whilst her son was gone. Brody has done his best to live his life, he became a firefighter and has lived his life taking care of Sammy's family.
When a man named Morgan's DNA matches the DNA of his best friend, Brody's life came to a screaming halt and thus we go into the melodrama that is 'Prodigal'. This book is a soap opera and I think if you go into expecting this you'll probably enjoy it a lot more than I did. This is not the kind of plot or writing I expect of TA Moore. The two books I have read from this author were both 4* and 5* so this was really disappointing.
I did like Morgan and his bad boy attiutude and I LOVE Shay...so small favours.
Brody has lived in the shadows of his dead best friend Sammy. He is has been blamed by his best friends mother for living whilst her son was gone. Brody has done his best to live his life, he became a firefighter and has lived his life taking care of Sammy's family.
When a man named Morgan's DNA matches the DNA of his best friend, Brody's life came to a screaming halt and thus we go into the melodrama that is 'Prodigal'. This book is a soap opera and I think if you go into expecting this you'll probably enjoy it a lot more than I did. This is not the kind of plot or writing I expect of TA Moore. The two books I have read from this author were both 4* and 5* so this was really disappointing.
I did like Morgan and his bad boy attiutude and I LOVE Shay...so small favours.
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