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When Emily Went Missing: My Haunted Garden Book 1
From Amazon Bestselling Author Michael Weems, author of The Ghosts of Varner Creek, Border Crossings, and When Emily Went Missing:
"A gripping, ultimately endearing supernatural tale about an odd girl and an even odder garden. ...The result is entirely winning, a story that manages to be simultaneously dark and heartwarming." -Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"It was the flowers that killed the farmer's wife. I dreamed about it after getting shot in the head."
Ruth Gonzales introduces us to her strange world where a haunted flower garden is her best friend, she hears thoughts that are not her own, and she dreams the memories of the dead in the small town of Foxglove, Texas. Ruth has a rule. The Rule of the Dead is a simple one - Ruth doesn't tell anyone about the thoughts she hears or the memories of the dead she dreams. But when a classmate disappears and Ruth begins to dream of a world in oil paintings, she realizes she may be compelled to break The Rule to do what is right. Young adult to adult fiction. Book has mild profanity (no f-bombs, but a few cuss words are used sporadically). Book does contain some violence, particularly the first chapter. Reader discretion is advised. About the author: Michael Weems is an Amazon best selling author of The Ghosts of Varner Creek and Border Crossings. When Emily Went Missing is his third novel.
"A gripping, ultimately endearing supernatural tale about an odd girl and an even odder garden. ...The result is entirely winning, a story that manages to be simultaneously dark and heartwarming." -Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"It was the flowers that killed the farmer's wife. I dreamed about it after getting shot in the head."
Ruth Gonzales introduces us to her strange world where a haunted flower garden is her best friend, she hears thoughts that are not her own, and she dreams the memories of the dead in the small town of Foxglove, Texas. Ruth has a rule. The Rule of the Dead is a simple one - Ruth doesn't tell anyone about the thoughts she hears or the memories of the dead she dreams. But when a classmate disappears and Ruth begins to dream of a world in oil paintings, she realizes she may be compelled to break The Rule to do what is right. Young adult to adult fiction. Book has mild profanity (no f-bombs, but a few cuss words are used sporadically). Book does contain some violence, particularly the first chapter. Reader discretion is advised. About the author: Michael Weems is an Amazon best selling author of The Ghosts of Varner Creek and Border Crossings. When Emily Went Missing is his third novel.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 26, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 28, 2023
Full review of When Emily Went Missing
Thank you to author Michael Weems for providing me with a copy of When Emily Went Missing: My Haunted Garden Book 1 in exchange for this honest review.
When Emily Went Missing: My Haunted Garden Book 1 is a bit of a misleading title. One, this book isn't about Emily, it's about Ruth. Two, I suppose it could be the first book in a series about the garden but it has a full story and comes to a nice little conclusion. Way better than so many other books I've read this year where book 1 means an intro without any satisfaction.
I love a conclusion and because this book has the courtesy to give the reader a complete story I would definitely read a book 2 to see what it's about.
The novel does deal with a missing Emily but that's only one piece of the larger story. Our true protagonist is Ruth. Her story starts when she discovers her mother's affair. When the secret comes out and the mother vows to end the relationship the boyfriend does not take it well. He gets blind drunk and shoots mom, Ruth, and the family dog. Ruth is the only survivor.
The bullet just missed vital parts in her brain and surgery would be too dangerous so she's left with a bullet in her head and a few side effects.
Her dad, Pops, cannot stand to live in the home of the affair and blood stains so he moves them to an old cottage on the cemetery property and takes a new job there to cover rent. This cemetery has a mysteriously lush garden with a strange history. Seems this garden cannot be tamed or destroyed no matter who has tried.
Ruth discovers the truth of the garden through strange dreams. Dreams that allow her to receive memories of the dead. This gives her the power to help with solving the case of the missing Emily.
These memories also take up a bulk of the first half of the book with odd tangents and trivia. There are some interesting tidbits from a deceased man who was obsessed with Presidential history but they start to feel like fluff to up the page count.
Ignoring those parts we're left with a touching story about a girl who tries her best to help everyone while still fitting in despite the universe wanting her to stand out. It's similar to books like The Lovely Bones or If I Stay and if you liked either of those you'll certainly like this one. It's similar in theme but not derivative and has the bonus of not being really effing sad.
When Emily Went Missing has strong and developed characters that all feel true to their ages in ways that are often lost with adult authors. The dialogue is youthful without trying too hard to capture slang and sound cool.
This, combined with it being a proper book 1 that doesn't rely on some future release makes this novel really worth checking out.
4/5 flowers 💐💐💐💐
Thank you to author Michael Weems for providing me with a copy of When Emily Went Missing: My Haunted Garden Book 1 in exchange for this honest review.
When Emily Went Missing: My Haunted Garden Book 1 is a bit of a misleading title. One, this book isn't about Emily, it's about Ruth. Two, I suppose it could be the first book in a series about the garden but it has a full story and comes to a nice little conclusion. Way better than so many other books I've read this year where book 1 means an intro without any satisfaction.
I love a conclusion and because this book has the courtesy to give the reader a complete story I would definitely read a book 2 to see what it's about.
The novel does deal with a missing Emily but that's only one piece of the larger story. Our true protagonist is Ruth. Her story starts when she discovers her mother's affair. When the secret comes out and the mother vows to end the relationship the boyfriend does not take it well. He gets blind drunk and shoots mom, Ruth, and the family dog. Ruth is the only survivor.
The bullet just missed vital parts in her brain and surgery would be too dangerous so she's left with a bullet in her head and a few side effects.
Her dad, Pops, cannot stand to live in the home of the affair and blood stains so he moves them to an old cottage on the cemetery property and takes a new job there to cover rent. This cemetery has a mysteriously lush garden with a strange history. Seems this garden cannot be tamed or destroyed no matter who has tried.
Ruth discovers the truth of the garden through strange dreams. Dreams that allow her to receive memories of the dead. This gives her the power to help with solving the case of the missing Emily.
These memories also take up a bulk of the first half of the book with odd tangents and trivia. There are some interesting tidbits from a deceased man who was obsessed with Presidential history but they start to feel like fluff to up the page count.
Ignoring those parts we're left with a touching story about a girl who tries her best to help everyone while still fitting in despite the universe wanting her to stand out. It's similar to books like The Lovely Bones or If I Stay and if you liked either of those you'll certainly like this one. It's similar in theme but not derivative and has the bonus of not being really effing sad.
When Emily Went Missing has strong and developed characters that all feel true to their ages in ways that are often lost with adult authors. The dialogue is youthful without trying too hard to capture slang and sound cool.
This, combined with it being a proper book 1 that doesn't rely on some future release makes this novel really worth checking out.
4/5 flowers 💐💐💐💐
February 24, 2023
Certain books have certain "feels" or colors that they come in. Some are black or brown and "feel" claustrophobic. Some are yellow or pink and airy and "feel" light. Their colors and their "feel" motivate me to keep reading in many ways. So it was with When Emily Went Missing: My Haunted Garden Book 1 by Michael Weems. If I had to apply a color, it would be green. If I had to say what the "feel" was I would say "complicated."
The green is all about the garden that the main character has as "a friend." The word "complicated" is used in a good way. This speculative fiction story is one of those I would put in the literary fiction category. Ruth, injured in The Incident, is a strange girl growing up in the rather quaint but relatable, small town of Foxglove, Texas. After her injury, Ruth is able to hear and dream about the memories of the dead, which could in fact be a bit traumatic since she's living with her father in a graveyard.
The book moves at the perfect pace, not too fast and not too slow. With each chapter I found myself trying to unravel the mystery of her missing friend (the Emily in the title), and when it was revealed in the end, I was not disappointed. There are distinct themes within this book of coming-of-age, bullying, depression, and hope. It is the hope with which Weems leaves the reader and for that I am thankful.
When Emily Went Missing: My Haunted Garden Book 1 is one that I may return to again, and I really (sincerely) hope that Weems is working on Book 2. I would dive right back into Ruth's world in a heartbeat.
The green is all about the garden that the main character has as "a friend." The word "complicated" is used in a good way. This speculative fiction story is one of those I would put in the literary fiction category. Ruth, injured in The Incident, is a strange girl growing up in the rather quaint but relatable, small town of Foxglove, Texas. After her injury, Ruth is able to hear and dream about the memories of the dead, which could in fact be a bit traumatic since she's living with her father in a graveyard.
The book moves at the perfect pace, not too fast and not too slow. With each chapter I found myself trying to unravel the mystery of her missing friend (the Emily in the title), and when it was revealed in the end, I was not disappointed. There are distinct themes within this book of coming-of-age, bullying, depression, and hope. It is the hope with which Weems leaves the reader and for that I am thankful.
When Emily Went Missing: My Haunted Garden Book 1 is one that I may return to again, and I really (sincerely) hope that Weems is working on Book 2. I would dive right back into Ruth's world in a heartbeat.
June 3, 2023
“When Emily Went Missing: My Haunted Garden Book 1” introduces Ruth Gonzalez, a high school girl who is shot during “the Incident” that results in the murder of her mother and dog. The gunshot and trauma from the event leave Ruth with physical and emotional scars, but when she and her father move to a new place in Foxglove, Texas, she finds it may have also unlocked more.
Overall, I really liked this book. The premise is just different enough to be interesting while not completely out there. I loved that it included aspects of different genres and interests. I personally enjoy historical fiction and loved all the little factoids/conspiracy tidbits about the presidents. I am also a big fan of Van Gogh’s work and still felt as though I learned quite a bit of new little tidbits about the artists life in this story. I also happen to be a neuro-physical therapist in my daily life, so I felt a real connection to many of the emotional hurdles Ruth encountered after her trauma (and wished it was as simple as finding a magic flower). Find the full blog post at heatherlbarksdale.com
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
Overall, I really liked this book. The premise is just different enough to be interesting while not completely out there. I loved that it included aspects of different genres and interests. I personally enjoy historical fiction and loved all the little factoids/conspiracy tidbits about the presidents. I am also a big fan of Van Gogh’s work and still felt as though I learned quite a bit of new little tidbits about the artists life in this story. I also happen to be a neuro-physical therapist in my daily life, so I felt a real connection to many of the emotional hurdles Ruth encountered after her trauma (and wished it was as simple as finding a magic flower). Find the full blog post at heatherlbarksdale.com
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
August 8, 2021
Highly Recommend
Loved it! Great story, believable characters and very well written. Looking forward to more from this author! Check out The Ghosts of Varner Creek if you haven't already.
Loved it! Great story, believable characters and very well written. Looking forward to more from this author! Check out The Ghosts of Varner Creek if you haven't already.
May 16, 2021
Wonderful characters great story with the right mix of mysticism.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews