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Procedural Crime #1
Little Girl Gone
Nothing matters more to her
when a child's life is at stake.
Special agent Thea Lamb returns to her hometown to search for a child whose disappearance echoes a twenty-eight-year-old cold case—her twin sister's abduction. Working with her former partner, Jake Stillwell, Thea must overcome the pain, doubt and guilt that have tormented her for years and denied her a meaningful relationship. For both Thea and Jake, the job always came first…until now.
when a child's life is at stake.
Special agent Thea Lamb returns to her hometown to search for a child whose disappearance echoes a twenty-eight-year-old cold case—her twin sister's abduction. Working with her former partner, Jake Stillwell, Thea must overcome the pain, doubt and guilt that have tormented her for years and denied her a meaningful relationship. For both Thea and Jake, the job always came first…until now.
236 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 23, 2021
14 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Stevens
261 books2,229 followersAmanda Stevens is the award-winning author of over fifty novels, including the modern gothic series, The Graveyard Queen. Her books have been described as eerie and atmospheric, “a new take on the classic ghost story.” Born and raised in the rural south, she now resides in Houston, Texas, where she enjoys binge-watching, bike riding and the occasional Horror Night with friends.
The Graveyard Queen trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrCf_e...
http://twitter.com/AmandaStevensTX
http://facebook.com/amandastevensbooks
amandastevensbooks@gmail.com
The Graveyard Queen trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrCf_e...
http://twitter.com/AmandaStevensTX
http://facebook.com/amandastevensbooks
amandastevensbooks@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
February 7, 2022
FBI Special Agent Thea Lamb returns to her hometown of Black Creek, Florida after a long absence and five-year estrangement from her mother, Reggie. Unfortunately, her reason for returning is devastating. The four-year old daughter of a woman for whom Reggie was providing safe haven was abducted from her bed. What makes this even more remarkable is that 28 years ago, Thea’s twin sister was abducted from the same bedroom. She was also four years old. Thea is not coming there officially despite the fact that her specialty is cold cases involving missing children. Her former partner and boyfriend, FBI Special Agent Jake Stillwell is leading the investigation. They separated when he left Washington DC for the promotion in Tallahassee and this will be their first time seeing each other.
I am a devoted fan of the author’s Graveyard Queen series, which is a completely different genre and I was intrigued enough to experience her storytelling in romantic suspense. Her mastery in creating atmosphere sets her apart from most other writers and was spectacularly at play in this story. The setting was almost like another character, adding to the mystery and suspense with the eerie woods surrounding the house and the creepy caves deep within those forests. Thea and Jake were interesting characters, both having troubled childhoods in addition to their own past relationship. I liked how well they worked together, not letting their feelings for each other cloud their judgment or interfere with the case.
I finished the story in a day, finding it hard to put it down. There were a host of suspects and I kind of figured out some of it but definitely not all. While the mystery was solved regarding the child abduction, there are lots more threads still needing to be unraveled. I’ll definitely be continuing the series because this story was just the start of something wonderful. I’m hooked!
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Harlequin Intrigue for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
I am a devoted fan of the author’s Graveyard Queen series, which is a completely different genre and I was intrigued enough to experience her storytelling in romantic suspense. Her mastery in creating atmosphere sets her apart from most other writers and was spectacularly at play in this story. The setting was almost like another character, adding to the mystery and suspense with the eerie woods surrounding the house and the creepy caves deep within those forests. Thea and Jake were interesting characters, both having troubled childhoods in addition to their own past relationship. I liked how well they worked together, not letting their feelings for each other cloud their judgment or interfere with the case.
I finished the story in a day, finding it hard to put it down. There were a host of suspects and I kind of figured out some of it but definitely not all. While the mystery was solved regarding the child abduction, there are lots more threads still needing to be unraveled. I’ll definitely be continuing the series because this story was just the start of something wonderful. I’m hooked!
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Harlequin Intrigue for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
December 13, 2021
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
LITTLE GIRL GONE (Procedural Crime Book #1) by Amanda Stevens is the first romantic suspense book in the new Procedural Crime series from Harlequin Intrigue.
Cold Case Agent Thea Lamb who specializes in crimes against children and has returned to her hometown where a young girl has been abducted from her childhood home. She is there for answers from her mother who was letting mother and child live with her in the same home were Thea’s twin sister was abducted twenty-eight years ago.
Special Agent Jake Stillwell is called in to lead the FBI CARD (Child Abduction Rapid Deployment) team in search of the missing girl. Jake is determined to find this little girl as the hours pass. Thea is willing to help, but she cannot get involved due to her mother being tied to this case, too.
But Jake and Thea have been involved personally in the past and this case brings them back together to not only try to save a little girl, but maybe let them resolve the misunderstandings that let them walk away from each other in the past.
I enjoyed this romantic suspense and am looking forward to reading more books in this series. The present-day abduction suspense plot is completed in this book, but the cold case is still unsolved and will hopefully be resolved in future books in the series. The suspense plot does move at an uneven pace and at times I was able to put the book down. This may be due to all the information on the cold case and the number of people involved in both plotlines. The second chance romance between Thea and Jake is well written and believable with the dedication to their careers and their troubled backgrounds. There are sex scenes towards the end of the book that are explicit, but not gratuitous. Overall, this is a good start to this series.
I will be looking for more books in this Procedural Crimes series and this author.
LITTLE GIRL GONE (Procedural Crime Book #1) by Amanda Stevens is the first romantic suspense book in the new Procedural Crime series from Harlequin Intrigue.
Cold Case Agent Thea Lamb who specializes in crimes against children and has returned to her hometown where a young girl has been abducted from her childhood home. She is there for answers from her mother who was letting mother and child live with her in the same home were Thea’s twin sister was abducted twenty-eight years ago.
Special Agent Jake Stillwell is called in to lead the FBI CARD (Child Abduction Rapid Deployment) team in search of the missing girl. Jake is determined to find this little girl as the hours pass. Thea is willing to help, but she cannot get involved due to her mother being tied to this case, too.
But Jake and Thea have been involved personally in the past and this case brings them back together to not only try to save a little girl, but maybe let them resolve the misunderstandings that let them walk away from each other in the past.
I enjoyed this romantic suspense and am looking forward to reading more books in this series. The present-day abduction suspense plot is completed in this book, but the cold case is still unsolved and will hopefully be resolved in future books in the series. The suspense plot does move at an uneven pace and at times I was able to put the book down. This may be due to all the information on the cold case and the number of people involved in both plotlines. The second chance romance between Thea and Jake is well written and believable with the dedication to their careers and their troubled backgrounds. There are sex scenes towards the end of the book that are explicit, but not gratuitous. Overall, this is a good start to this series.
I will be looking for more books in this Procedural Crimes series and this author.
January 16, 2022
This is a Romantic Suspense, and this is the first book in the Procedural Crime series. I liked parts of this book a lot, but their was parts of this book that I found boring and slow moving. The ending of this book was my favorite part of this book. The characters I did not love, but they made me warm up to them by the end of the book. Most of the twists and turns in this book I saw coming. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin Intrigue) or author (Amanda Stevens) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
January 30, 2022
This is a Romantic Suspense, and this is the first book in the Procedural Crime series. I liked parts of this book a lot, but their was parts of this book that I found boring and slow moving. The ending of this book was my favorite part of this book. The characters I did not love, but they made me warm up to them by the end of the book. Most of the twists and turns in this book I saw coming. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin Intrigue) or author (Amanda Stevens) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
January 25, 2022
Thea Lamb is a Cold Case Agent who never leaves a stone unturned. Her most recent case involves the abduction of an infant, but it also mirrors a case she herself was involved in when she was a young child. It has been twenty-eight years since her sister was abducted and Thea feels that the past and the present are connected. Thea will be working alongside FBI Special Agent Jake Stillwell.
As things start to evolve, Thea has more than a personal connection to the case so due to conflict has to stand on the sidelines. More than that, Thea and Jake have a history so that ratchets up the drama and intrigue involved when it comes to finding the misssing infant. More than that, perhaps Thea will find closure as to what could have happened to her sister.
What an excellent start to a new series! Exciting from beginning to end, this book was a one-sitting read. I am really interested in the next book, John Doe Cold Case, available now.
Many thanks to Harlequin Intrigue and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
As things start to evolve, Thea has more than a personal connection to the case so due to conflict has to stand on the sidelines. More than that, Thea and Jake have a history so that ratchets up the drama and intrigue involved when it comes to finding the misssing infant. More than that, perhaps Thea will find closure as to what could have happened to her sister.
What an excellent start to a new series! Exciting from beginning to end, this book was a one-sitting read. I am really interested in the next book, John Doe Cold Case, available now.
Many thanks to Harlequin Intrigue and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
June 30, 2025
I did not like the ending of this book at all. I found this book to be a little dark and very slow moving.
November 18, 2021
Little Girl Gone was a riveting Intrigue by Amanda Stevens. However, if you're looking for romance, you aren't going to find it quickly in this first book. You know right away that Thea and Jake have a past, but as far as the current timeline, they're nothing more than colleagues. The book progresses to 92% before any romance hits the pages. It made sense once I figured out this was going to be a 'to be continued' type series but fair warning if you're looking for more than just an FBI procedural in this book.
All of that said, wow! I love a good police procedural and this one was a solid 5 star read that was done extremely well considering the limited word count. Jake and Thea had parallel stories as they investigated the kidnapping, which was interesting because they were both coming at it from different angles.
Thea has been in this position before. Her twin sister, Maya, was kidnapped from their bedroom when she was a child, and now, another little girl was taken from the same window. Her mother, Reggie, is once again accused of having something to do with the kidnapping, but Thea is sure that's not the case. Not because she's close to her mother, she's not, but simply because she's following the clues of the case.
Jake is an FBI agent worth his salt. His goal is to find missing children and bring them home, and he gives it his all every time. Even when that means he has to crawl into crevices inside caves looking for the evidence to break the case wide open. Even when his own life is on the line trying to save Kylie, the little girl gone.
I was never more pleased than to get to the end of this book and discover that Thea has discovered her roots again, and the knowledge that she made a mistake letting Jake go before. She's not going to make that mistake again, both with her family and with Jake. I can't wait for book 2 in this series so I can find out what did happen to Maya and if Jake and Thea are able to make a go of it. If you love a police procedural that is well-paced, snappy, and full of twists and turns, you can't go wrong with Little Girl Gone.
All of that said, wow! I love a good police procedural and this one was a solid 5 star read that was done extremely well considering the limited word count. Jake and Thea had parallel stories as they investigated the kidnapping, which was interesting because they were both coming at it from different angles.
Thea has been in this position before. Her twin sister, Maya, was kidnapped from their bedroom when she was a child, and now, another little girl was taken from the same window. Her mother, Reggie, is once again accused of having something to do with the kidnapping, but Thea is sure that's not the case. Not because she's close to her mother, she's not, but simply because she's following the clues of the case.
Jake is an FBI agent worth his salt. His goal is to find missing children and bring them home, and he gives it his all every time. Even when that means he has to crawl into crevices inside caves looking for the evidence to break the case wide open. Even when his own life is on the line trying to save Kylie, the little girl gone.
I was never more pleased than to get to the end of this book and discover that Thea has discovered her roots again, and the knowledge that she made a mistake letting Jake go before. She's not going to make that mistake again, both with her family and with Jake. I can't wait for book 2 in this series so I can find out what did happen to Maya and if Jake and Thea are able to make a go of it. If you love a police procedural that is well-paced, snappy, and full of twists and turns, you can't go wrong with Little Girl Gone.
December 31, 2021
The first book in the new series is a good blend of suspense and second chance romance. Thea is an FBI agent who works on cold cases involving children. As the story opens, she is headed back to her hometown in Florida to be with her estranged mother, who finds herself at the center of another missing child mystery. Twenty-eight years earlier, Thea's twin sister Maya disappeared from their bedroom without a trace. That disappearance undoubtedly influenced Thea's choice of a career. Now another child has disappeared from the same house and the same room. While she supports her mother, Reggie, Thea also questions what happened in both cases.
Jake heads the FBI unit CARD (Child Abduction Rapid Deployment) tasked with finding the missing Kylie. His awareness of the chances of success with each passing hour keeps his determination to succeed fueled. He will take whatever help is offered.
Thea and Jake have a history together. They were a couple while both worked for the FBI in DC until Jake received the promotion that sent him to Florida. A bit of pride and some lack of communication pulled them apart, but neither had forgotten the other. Both are dedicated to their careers, but their old feelings don't take long to resurface. I liked their realism, trying to keep things professional while working on the case and finding the time to reconnect. I loved the ending, as they realized that the blame for their split belonged to them both. I wasn't too surprised at the resolution.
The suspense of the story kept me hooked from beginning to end. The similarity of the abductions of Maya and Kylie was especially intriguing, considering the time difference between them. One common factor was Reggie, and Thea's memories stir up questions she wants answered. Meanwhile, Reggie's boyfriend from during that time was recently released from prison and appears to have a grudge against her. Add in a creepy neighbor, an odd doll shop owner, and some bones found in a cave, and there are plenty of suspects to go around. The final confrontation was a nail-biter. The motivation behind the kidnapping was heartbreaking, but I had little sympathy for the kidnapper. I loved seeing Thea's confidence in standing up to the kidnapper and seeing Jake come through as backup at just the right time. While one mystery was solved, there are still unanswered questions about Maya's disappearance. I'm looking forward to learning more and hopefully getting a good result.
The relationship between Thea and Reggie is also a big part of the book. The tension is palpable as Thea's memories make her question things about her mother. While I ached for Reggie, I also had questions about her past actions. Thea and Reggie's interactions have been strained for many years, starting after Maya's disappearance and worsening as the years went on. Reggie has changed her life since then, and those changes seem to improve their ability to talk to one another. Things have improved between them by the end of the book, though questions remain.
#netgalley
Jake heads the FBI unit CARD (Child Abduction Rapid Deployment) tasked with finding the missing Kylie. His awareness of the chances of success with each passing hour keeps his determination to succeed fueled. He will take whatever help is offered.
Thea and Jake have a history together. They were a couple while both worked for the FBI in DC until Jake received the promotion that sent him to Florida. A bit of pride and some lack of communication pulled them apart, but neither had forgotten the other. Both are dedicated to their careers, but their old feelings don't take long to resurface. I liked their realism, trying to keep things professional while working on the case and finding the time to reconnect. I loved the ending, as they realized that the blame for their split belonged to them both. I wasn't too surprised at the resolution.
The suspense of the story kept me hooked from beginning to end. The similarity of the abductions of Maya and Kylie was especially intriguing, considering the time difference between them. One common factor was Reggie, and Thea's memories stir up questions she wants answered. Meanwhile, Reggie's boyfriend from during that time was recently released from prison and appears to have a grudge against her. Add in a creepy neighbor, an odd doll shop owner, and some bones found in a cave, and there are plenty of suspects to go around. The final confrontation was a nail-biter. The motivation behind the kidnapping was heartbreaking, but I had little sympathy for the kidnapper. I loved seeing Thea's confidence in standing up to the kidnapper and seeing Jake come through as backup at just the right time. While one mystery was solved, there are still unanswered questions about Maya's disappearance. I'm looking forward to learning more and hopefully getting a good result.
The relationship between Thea and Reggie is also a big part of the book. The tension is palpable as Thea's memories make her question things about her mother. While I ached for Reggie, I also had questions about her past actions. Thea and Reggie's interactions have been strained for many years, starting after Maya's disappearance and worsening as the years went on. Reggie has changed her life since then, and those changes seem to improve their ability to talk to one another. Things have improved between them by the end of the book, though questions remain.
#netgalley
February 11, 2022
An FBI Special Agent dealing in cold cases is called back to her hometown when her mother is desperate after a second child disappears under some of the same eerie circumstances as twenty-eight years before when they lost Thea’s twin. Second chance romance and thrilling suspense from an already familiar author sounded just the thing.
After finishing up the last in a series from the author’s older series, I was almost gleeful when I came across this new release in a new series from her. Little Girl Gone is standalone in the modern day child disappearance and brings Thea back into contact with an estranged mother and her ex- partner at work and romance. She tries to put the past aside as they work to save this second missing child with the clock ticking since the disappearance from the same bedroom her twin sister Maya had 28 years before. Some of the same people are around Reggie, of course, and her newly released boyfriend from the time, a weirdo neighbor, Kylie’s abusive dad, and more, but also a set of bones turns up. Thea is on the trail and it is no longer cold and the danger is close.
There is the complication of Thea’s relationship with her mother, Reggie, and that was woven into the suspense particularly as Thea is starting to recall stuff from the older case now that the new case is being investigated and wants answers.
Thea and Jake had their careers get in their way when Jake took a promotion. They are professional, but uneasy at first. The spark is still there and they iron things out as they work with Jake’s team to find little Kylie. I enjoyed that the romance was in balance with the situation since a poor, scared child was out there missing and that had to be the priority, but there is still progress.
There were lagging moments, but for the most part- especially since the author really lavished the local scene with atmosphere, I enjoyed this one. It ended on a good note though there are unresolved bits about the older cold case that I imagine carries forward into the next book with a new case. Those who enjoy FBI romantic suspense settings and a thriller-tone should definitely try this one.
I rec'd an eARC through NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
After finishing up the last in a series from the author’s older series, I was almost gleeful when I came across this new release in a new series from her. Little Girl Gone is standalone in the modern day child disappearance and brings Thea back into contact with an estranged mother and her ex- partner at work and romance. She tries to put the past aside as they work to save this second missing child with the clock ticking since the disappearance from the same bedroom her twin sister Maya had 28 years before. Some of the same people are around Reggie, of course, and her newly released boyfriend from the time, a weirdo neighbor, Kylie’s abusive dad, and more, but also a set of bones turns up. Thea is on the trail and it is no longer cold and the danger is close.
There is the complication of Thea’s relationship with her mother, Reggie, and that was woven into the suspense particularly as Thea is starting to recall stuff from the older case now that the new case is being investigated and wants answers.
Thea and Jake had their careers get in their way when Jake took a promotion. They are professional, but uneasy at first. The spark is still there and they iron things out as they work with Jake’s team to find little Kylie. I enjoyed that the romance was in balance with the situation since a poor, scared child was out there missing and that had to be the priority, but there is still progress.
There were lagging moments, but for the most part- especially since the author really lavished the local scene with atmosphere, I enjoyed this one. It ended on a good note though there are unresolved bits about the older cold case that I imagine carries forward into the next book with a new case. Those who enjoy FBI romantic suspense settings and a thriller-tone should definitely try this one.
I rec'd an eARC through NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2021
This was an excellent romantic suspense title. FBI agent Thea Lamb returns to her home town to support her mother when a child is abducted from her home. This disappearance echoes the disappearance of Thea's twin when they were four years old. No trace of her sister Maya has ever been found. That disappearance is likely why Thea joined the FBI and specializes in child abductions. It also has a lot to do with why Thea and her mother are estranged.
FBI Agent Jake Stillwell and his team are assigned to the case of finding little Kylie Buchanan. Jake and Thea were once involved, but a promotion for Jake separated them. Neither was willing to ask the other anything that would keep them together, but that doesn't mean that they have forgotten each other.
This was a very atmospheric title. From the local scenery to the town, things are eerie. Both Thea and Jake have "feelings" that might be paranormal if either believed in that sort of thing. There are also a number of suspicious characters around including Kylie's abusive and sociopathic father, a creepy next door neighbor, and an old flame of Thea's mother who has recently been released from a tough Florida prison and is looking to even the score.
I enjoyed the mystery and really liked both Thea and Jake.
FBI Agent Jake Stillwell and his team are assigned to the case of finding little Kylie Buchanan. Jake and Thea were once involved, but a promotion for Jake separated them. Neither was willing to ask the other anything that would keep them together, but that doesn't mean that they have forgotten each other.
This was a very atmospheric title. From the local scenery to the town, things are eerie. Both Thea and Jake have "feelings" that might be paranormal if either believed in that sort of thing. There are also a number of suspicious characters around including Kylie's abusive and sociopathic father, a creepy next door neighbor, and an old flame of Thea's mother who has recently been released from a tough Florida prison and is looking to even the score.
I enjoyed the mystery and really liked both Thea and Jake.
December 9, 2021
Thea Lamb is a FBI Special Agent who works in Washington DC on child disappearance cold cases. She goes to her hometown of Black Creek, Florida after a little girl is kidnapped from her mother's house where her four-year-old sister Maya disappeared from twenty-eight years previously. Time is of the essence in these cases. Thea doesn't want another mother to suffer the loss of her child like she and her mother suffered when Maya disappeared. Can she help in this case?
Jake Stillwell's FBI CARD team (Child Abduction Rapid Deployment) was called in from Jacksonville, Florida when Kylie Buchanan disappeared and was presumed to be a kidnapping victim. Jake knew the circumstances were similar to what happened to his ex-girlfriend Thea Lamb's twin sister. Same house, the little girl snatched from the same bedroom through an open window. Jake wasn't surprised to find Thea in Florida wanting to help. He could just imagine the bad memories that this case would have revived in Thea's mind. His priority right now though is to find Kylie Buchanan.
Little Girl Gone by Amanda Stevens is the first book in her Procedural Crime series. This is a gritty, surprising second chance romance. I liked the two main characters, Thea Lamb and Jake Stillwell. They both overcame difficult childhoods. They both are very dedicated and willing to do whatever it takes. For the most part this book was a real page-turner with a couple slower spots. I think the storyline set up the overall arc of the mystery of the disappearance of Maya Lamb well while covering the investigation and search for the current missing child. I look forward to Ms. Stevens' next book in the series as I am hoping for more clues about the cold case.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
Jake Stillwell's FBI CARD team (Child Abduction Rapid Deployment) was called in from Jacksonville, Florida when Kylie Buchanan disappeared and was presumed to be a kidnapping victim. Jake knew the circumstances were similar to what happened to his ex-girlfriend Thea Lamb's twin sister. Same house, the little girl snatched from the same bedroom through an open window. Jake wasn't surprised to find Thea in Florida wanting to help. He could just imagine the bad memories that this case would have revived in Thea's mind. His priority right now though is to find Kylie Buchanan.
Little Girl Gone by Amanda Stevens is the first book in her Procedural Crime series. This is a gritty, surprising second chance romance. I liked the two main characters, Thea Lamb and Jake Stillwell. They both overcame difficult childhoods. They both are very dedicated and willing to do whatever it takes. For the most part this book was a real page-turner with a couple slower spots. I think the storyline set up the overall arc of the mystery of the disappearance of Maya Lamb well while covering the investigation and search for the current missing child. I look forward to Ms. Stevens' next book in the series as I am hoping for more clues about the cold case.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
January 8, 2022
Thea Lamb, an FBI agent, returns to her hometown in Florida to help in the search of a missing child. The case reminds her very much of her twin sister’s kidnapping which happened 28 years ago. She never saw her sister again. Thea Lamb is determined to not let that happen again. She won’t let another family suffer.
Thea is going through many emotions with this case, including having to work with her former partner, Jake Stillwell. Things didn’t end well between them since her sister’s kidnapping has always been on her mind even all these years later.
This book is filled with so many twists and turns. Every few pages I was guessing different culprits. Since this case involves a missing child, it brings out all kinds of emotions from Thea. I could really feel her pain especially with the lack of closure in her sister’s disappearance so many years ago. I really liked Thea and was cheering for her to be able to live her life again.
The main story is solved in the pages of this book, but there are still some unanswered questions about a cold case. There are more books to come in this series and I’m looking forward to reading them. I really liked the author’s writing style and the mystery kept me thinking until the end.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thea is going through many emotions with this case, including having to work with her former partner, Jake Stillwell. Things didn’t end well between them since her sister’s kidnapping has always been on her mind even all these years later.
This book is filled with so many twists and turns. Every few pages I was guessing different culprits. Since this case involves a missing child, it brings out all kinds of emotions from Thea. I could really feel her pain especially with the lack of closure in her sister’s disappearance so many years ago. I really liked Thea and was cheering for her to be able to live her life again.
The main story is solved in the pages of this book, but there are still some unanswered questions about a cold case. There are more books to come in this series and I’m looking forward to reading them. I really liked the author’s writing style and the mystery kept me thinking until the end.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
October 17, 2021
This was a new author to me and I am glad I took the chance on her work. Thea & Jake are great characters who you can route for and the suspense had me staying up late to finish.
February 18, 2022
I will read anything Amanda Stevens writes. This was a good story about a missing little girl who was stolen from the same woman at the same house where 27 years ago another little girl went missing. enjoy.
December 2, 2021
Solid Series Starter. Ok, so I use that same title a fair amount. But it applies so often! Here, Stevens focuses primarily on the investigation, as police procedurals tend to do, while establishing at least her primary leads fairly well, and giving readers reasons to want to continue to invest in them. Arguably one weakness is that this is a *very* slow burn, second chance kind of romance that may or may not meet the strictest "rules and regulations" of the genre in that regard. So for the absolute genre purists... read and decide for yourselves here. For the rest of us, this was a solid story all around, one that resolves its primary mystery while allowing enough to remain open that we'll want to come back to this world again - which is exactly what a Book 1 is supposed to do, so kudos there! Very much recommended.
November 27, 2021
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
Thea returns to her hometown to support her mother and to help with the investigation into a missing child. Her former partner and "friend with benefits", Jake is heading the investigation and Thea can't help realizing that her feelings for Jake are more than what she wanted them to be and it seems Jake may feel the same way. As the investigation into the missing girl continues it brings back memories of her twin sister who disappeared when they were young children, her body never found.
This was a creepy mystery that wraps up but has a sequel with some of the same characters (John Doe Cold Case by Amanda Stevens). I really enjoyed the mystery and its a quick read. I have enjoyed many of Amanda Stevens gothic romance mysteries. This is a nice easy read for the crazy holiday season.
Thea returns to her hometown to support her mother and to help with the investigation into a missing child. Her former partner and "friend with benefits", Jake is heading the investigation and Thea can't help realizing that her feelings for Jake are more than what she wanted them to be and it seems Jake may feel the same way. As the investigation into the missing girl continues it brings back memories of her twin sister who disappeared when they were young children, her body never found.
This was a creepy mystery that wraps up but has a sequel with some of the same characters (John Doe Cold Case by Amanda Stevens). I really enjoyed the mystery and its a quick read. I have enjoyed many of Amanda Stevens gothic romance mysteries. This is a nice easy read for the crazy holiday season.
December 1, 2021
Amanda Stevens is one of my favorite authors and I have been reading her books since her first book was published. I really enjoyed this book and did like the characters. Has to be a series as not all the mystery was solved. Will definitely be watching for the next book in this series
November 12, 2021
Little Girl Gone by Amanda Stephens was a thriller. This was my first book by this author. The story was a little dark with the main theme the abduction of a four year old little girl 28 years after the abduction of another little girl.
Thea lost her twin when they were four years old and they never found out what happened to her. This part of the story was very sad for Thea and her mother Regina. It is sad how the community treated them.
The current little girl also went missing from Reginas house. The FBI and police are trying to decide if it is the same criminal kidnapped both kids.
Thea’s old boy friend is wit the FBI and is working on the case. They also have to deal with their own issues.
I enjoyed the mystery but was disappointed that the author didn’t close up the lose ends. Not sure if they will happen in future books? There was a lot left settled.
Sexual content - 1 physical scene with no details.
Violence - a girl is kidnapped, memories of her sister being kidnapped.
Drug/alcohol - back story of her mom includes some drinking and drugs
Thea lost her twin when they were four years old and they never found out what happened to her. This part of the story was very sad for Thea and her mother Regina. It is sad how the community treated them.
The current little girl also went missing from Reginas house. The FBI and police are trying to decide if it is the same criminal kidnapped both kids.
Thea’s old boy friend is wit the FBI and is working on the case. They also have to deal with their own issues.
I enjoyed the mystery but was disappointed that the author didn’t close up the lose ends. Not sure if they will happen in future books? There was a lot left settled.
Sexual content - 1 physical scene with no details.
Violence - a girl is kidnapped, memories of her sister being kidnapped.
Drug/alcohol - back story of her mom includes some drinking and drugs
November 14, 2021
Little girl gone by Amanda Stevens.
Procedural crime book 1.
Another child had gone missing.
Twenty-eight years ago, the first child to go missing had been her twin sister, Maya.
A really really enjoyable read. Great story. I liked Thea and Reggie and Jake. I do hope there is more to come. 5*.
Procedural crime book 1.
Another child had gone missing.
Twenty-eight years ago, the first child to go missing had been her twin sister, Maya.
A really really enjoyable read. Great story. I liked Thea and Reggie and Jake. I do hope there is more to come. 5*.
November 21, 2021
When Thea Lamb returns to her hometown, her task is eerily similar to her twin sister's abduction 28 years earlier. She and her partner Jake Stillwell must work together.
What really happened?
Will things pass the professional boundary between Thea and Jake?
I was hooked by the title and the fact that the story involved twins. I choose many books with twins in them as I was a twin.
The writing was quick paced but I did find some parts of the book too slow and was struggling to remain interested.
I could identify with Thea's realistically portrayed personal reason for wanting to solve the crime, but other than that I found her and Jake hard to connect with.
Thanks to Amanda Stevens and Harlequin Intrigue for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
3 stars
What really happened?
Will things pass the professional boundary between Thea and Jake?
I was hooked by the title and the fact that the story involved twins. I choose many books with twins in them as I was a twin.
The writing was quick paced but I did find some parts of the book too slow and was struggling to remain interested.
I could identify with Thea's realistically portrayed personal reason for wanting to solve the crime, but other than that I found her and Jake hard to connect with.
Thanks to Amanda Stevens and Harlequin Intrigue for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
3 stars
October 22, 2021
Oh my goodness, this is one of the best books I’ve read this year. Absolutely loved every second of it, well maybe not the ending. But only because I need more of it. LOL.
Thea and Jake work so good together and I love how they interact together. I really hope this is the start of a series. The book was very well written and there was a lot of suspense and emotion.
Thea and Jake work so good together and I love how they interact together. I really hope this is the start of a series. The book was very well written and there was a lot of suspense and emotion.
February 2, 2022
4.5 Stars
Dark, intense and emotional, Amanda Stevens’ Little Girl Gone is a read in a single sitting tale guaranteed to keep readers guessing.
There is absolutely nothing that Special Agent Thea Lamb will not do to find a child that had gone missing – especially as this disappearance echoes a twenty-eight year old cold case: her twin sister’s abduction. Returning back to her hometown brings a whole host of painful memories for Thea – and the opportunity to work with her former partner, Jake Stillwell, with whom she has unfinished business…
Her twin sister’s disappearance has weighed heavily on Thea’s shoulders for twenty-eight years. Having spent a lifetime battling with guilt, sorrow and doubts, Thea had been unable to form a meaningful relationship. But could finding the answers to the questions that have plagued her for so long give her closure and the chance to lay old ghosts to rest and act upon her feelings for Jake?
Thea and Jake have sacrificed so much for their careers, but can they finally find the fulfillment in their personal lives that they’ve been craving? Or will disappointments and heartache continue to loom large in their future?
In Little Girl Gone, Amanda Stevens draws her readers into her story from the very beginning and keeps them on the edge of their seats and desperate to find out what is going to happen next until the final jaw-dropping twist.
With characters that leap off the pages, shocks and revelations aplenty and heartfelt and emotional romance, in Little Girl Gone, Amanda Stevens has delivered a top-notch romantic suspense tale readers will not want to miss.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Dark, intense and emotional, Amanda Stevens’ Little Girl Gone is a read in a single sitting tale guaranteed to keep readers guessing.
There is absolutely nothing that Special Agent Thea Lamb will not do to find a child that had gone missing – especially as this disappearance echoes a twenty-eight year old cold case: her twin sister’s abduction. Returning back to her hometown brings a whole host of painful memories for Thea – and the opportunity to work with her former partner, Jake Stillwell, with whom she has unfinished business…
Her twin sister’s disappearance has weighed heavily on Thea’s shoulders for twenty-eight years. Having spent a lifetime battling with guilt, sorrow and doubts, Thea had been unable to form a meaningful relationship. But could finding the answers to the questions that have plagued her for so long give her closure and the chance to lay old ghosts to rest and act upon her feelings for Jake?
Thea and Jake have sacrificed so much for their careers, but can they finally find the fulfillment in their personal lives that they’ve been craving? Or will disappointments and heartache continue to loom large in their future?
In Little Girl Gone, Amanda Stevens draws her readers into her story from the very beginning and keeps them on the edge of their seats and desperate to find out what is going to happen next until the final jaw-dropping twist.
With characters that leap off the pages, shocks and revelations aplenty and heartfelt and emotional romance, in Little Girl Gone, Amanda Stevens has delivered a top-notch romantic suspense tale readers will not want to miss.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 17, 2022
Nem preciso dizer que esse livro é bem do jeitinho que eu amo né? Investigação criminal, uma mocinha com um passado triste e um mocinho que percebe que fez besteira.
A agente especial do FBI, Thea Lamb, voltou para sua cidade natal depois que mais uma criança foi sequestrada da casa de sua mãe, Reggie. Há 28 anos, a irmã gêmea de Thea foi sequestrada do quarto das duas e segue desaparecida. Agora, esse novo sequestro traz a tona antigas feridas e faz Thea confrontar seu passado, pois o agente responsável pelo caso é seu ex- amante e parceiro Jake Stillwell. Agora eles vão ter uma segunda chance, no amor e no trabalho.
Eu amei a construção desse livro, mas preciso avisar que muitas pontas ficam soltas, pois esse é o primeiro volume de uma série. O segundo volume já foi lançado e o casal principal é outro. Achei que a autora foi muito feliz em resolver apenas o caso principal e deixar o resto para os próximos volumes.
Thea sofreu bastante depois que sua irmã foi sequestrada. A pequena cidade culpou sua mãe, que não conseguia olhar para Thea pois se lembrava da outra filha. Com uma infância solitária, ela levantou defesas emocionais que a impediram de mergulhar em qualquer tipo de relação. Ela se dedica ao seu trabalho e só. Agora a chama que queimava entre ela e Jake, está novamente acesa.
Jake, por sua vez, fará de tudo para tirar o olhar perdido que Thea exibe desde que chegou a cidade. Uma vez ele não pediu a ela que viesse junto com ele, mas agora não está mais disposto a perdê-la.
O mistério que gira em torno da garotinha desaparecida foi bem construído, pois são muitos suspeitos e nós ficamos no escuro até o final do livro. Já estou doida para ler o próximo
A agente especial do FBI, Thea Lamb, voltou para sua cidade natal depois que mais uma criança foi sequestrada da casa de sua mãe, Reggie. Há 28 anos, a irmã gêmea de Thea foi sequestrada do quarto das duas e segue desaparecida. Agora, esse novo sequestro traz a tona antigas feridas e faz Thea confrontar seu passado, pois o agente responsável pelo caso é seu ex- amante e parceiro Jake Stillwell. Agora eles vão ter uma segunda chance, no amor e no trabalho.
Eu amei a construção desse livro, mas preciso avisar que muitas pontas ficam soltas, pois esse é o primeiro volume de uma série. O segundo volume já foi lançado e o casal principal é outro. Achei que a autora foi muito feliz em resolver apenas o caso principal e deixar o resto para os próximos volumes.
Thea sofreu bastante depois que sua irmã foi sequestrada. A pequena cidade culpou sua mãe, que não conseguia olhar para Thea pois se lembrava da outra filha. Com uma infância solitária, ela levantou defesas emocionais que a impediram de mergulhar em qualquer tipo de relação. Ela se dedica ao seu trabalho e só. Agora a chama que queimava entre ela e Jake, está novamente acesa.
Jake, por sua vez, fará de tudo para tirar o olhar perdido que Thea exibe desde que chegou a cidade. Uma vez ele não pediu a ela que viesse junto com ele, mas agora não está mais disposto a perdê-la.
O mistério que gira em torno da garotinha desaparecida foi bem construído, pois são muitos suspeitos e nós ficamos no escuro até o final do livro. Já estou doida para ler o próximo
January 1, 2022
Special agent Thea Lamb is investigating a missing child case that eerily echoes the twenty-eight-year-old cold case of her twin sister's abduction. Working with her former partner Jake Stillwell, Thea must overcome the torment of the past to solve the present case, and maybe find a way to the future.
From the start, Thea's hometown is full of creepy characters. There is an attempt on her and her mother's life, a poisoning, and weird carvings featuring little girls meant to symbolize Thea and her twin Maya when they were four. Thea and Jake used to be a couple years before, and an attraction remains. It doesn't interfere with the case, however. Jake questions Thea about her memories and what she saw of the car accident that put her mother in the hospital and tries to get her impression of her hometown as it currently is. Though she isn't on the case herself, Thea questions others as if she is.
We do eventually learn the truth behind the current kidnapping, and Thea and Jake admit they still have feelings for each other. Their relationship status feels unfinished by the end of the book, making me hope there's another book featuring the two of them in the future. They work well together in an investigation sense, and I would love to see how their romantic relationship works in the long run.
From the start, Thea's hometown is full of creepy characters. There is an attempt on her and her mother's life, a poisoning, and weird carvings featuring little girls meant to symbolize Thea and her twin Maya when they were four. Thea and Jake used to be a couple years before, and an attraction remains. It doesn't interfere with the case, however. Jake questions Thea about her memories and what she saw of the car accident that put her mother in the hospital and tries to get her impression of her hometown as it currently is. Though she isn't on the case herself, Thea questions others as if she is.
We do eventually learn the truth behind the current kidnapping, and Thea and Jake admit they still have feelings for each other. Their relationship status feels unfinished by the end of the book, making me hope there's another book featuring the two of them in the future. They work well together in an investigation sense, and I would love to see how their romantic relationship works in the long run.
January 7, 2022
TW//CW abuse, child kidnapping, drug abuse, alcoholism, domestic abuse, violence
Missing child always a scary subject for me, but never thought that this book would be so creepy and dark, it's not a long book so I kinda surprised that even though it's a short book it packed quite a punch.
It started with a child whose disappearance echoes a twenty-eight-year-old cold case. So it brings Special agent Thea Lamb back to her hometown to help find that little girl and hopefully find answers to that old cold case. From the beginning the setting is so gloomy and scary, add secrets and old memories and creepy things show up here and there, and then add plenty horrible hair-rising creepy suspects, yup it was a pretty dark read. There's also second chance romance in this book between Thea and Jake, a welcoming breather from all those scary stuff, it brings a sweetness and warmness in this book.
So yeah, a great gripping mystery and suspense story, cute romance, loveable main characters, although I felt a bit dissapointed when I got unanswered questions (I didn't now that this is a series), I still like it a lot and I highly recommend this book for everyone who's looking for a good page-turner fast-paced suspense read.
Missing child always a scary subject for me, but never thought that this book would be so creepy and dark, it's not a long book so I kinda surprised that even though it's a short book it packed quite a punch.
It started with a child whose disappearance echoes a twenty-eight-year-old cold case. So it brings Special agent Thea Lamb back to her hometown to help find that little girl and hopefully find answers to that old cold case. From the beginning the setting is so gloomy and scary, add secrets and old memories and creepy things show up here and there, and then add plenty horrible hair-rising creepy suspects, yup it was a pretty dark read. There's also second chance romance in this book between Thea and Jake, a welcoming breather from all those scary stuff, it brings a sweetness and warmness in this book.
So yeah, a great gripping mystery and suspense story, cute romance, loveable main characters, although I felt a bit dissapointed when I got unanswered questions (I didn't now that this is a series), I still like it a lot and I highly recommend this book for everyone who's looking for a good page-turner fast-paced suspense read.
January 21, 2022
2.5
I love the premise of this story but unfortunately, it let me down a bit in execution. I was instantly hooked on the idea of two little girls going missing from the same bedroom almost three decades apart and Stevens did a great job balancing the two stories and keeping us guessing the whole way through. Thea and Jake had good chemistry and I enjoyed the second chance romance element they brought to the story. I also liked that they did a lot of their investigating solo so we got a lot of suspense and action that switched between the two of them. With that said, a couple of things that happened to them seemed over the top and too much time was spent on those elements. The ending of this book leaves a lot to be desired since there isn’t a resolution of all of the pieces to the puzzle but I feel a little better knowing that the second book in this series comes out next week. It follows different characters but I am hopefully that tendrils of this story will continue into that one.
*Thank you to Harlequin for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I love the premise of this story but unfortunately, it let me down a bit in execution. I was instantly hooked on the idea of two little girls going missing from the same bedroom almost three decades apart and Stevens did a great job balancing the two stories and keeping us guessing the whole way through. Thea and Jake had good chemistry and I enjoyed the second chance romance element they brought to the story. I also liked that they did a lot of their investigating solo so we got a lot of suspense and action that switched between the two of them. With that said, a couple of things that happened to them seemed over the top and too much time was spent on those elements. The ending of this book leaves a lot to be desired since there isn’t a resolution of all of the pieces to the puzzle but I feel a little better knowing that the second book in this series comes out next week. It follows different characters but I am hopefully that tendrils of this story will continue into that one.
*Thank you to Harlequin for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 1, 2022
Thea is a special agent working on a case that is oddly similar to her twins sister's disappearance abduction case. She'll be working with Jake to figure out more about this case that also seems to be bring up some hurt and memories of the past.
I love mystery books and this was a pretty great one. I really enjoyed following along as she tried to figure out who was behind this and retrieve the child before who knows what happen. I loved that there was enough mystery suspicion to keep the readers guessing and assuming who the person would be because when it came to her sister it was assumed to be her mother but was never proven and the person behind this was never caught and the case ran cold so now with this happening again theres suspicion all around. I loved seeing how more dangerous things were also turning as they were getting closer to figuring out who was behind this, it really kept me hooked. Overall great book I really enjoyed it.
I love mystery books and this was a pretty great one. I really enjoyed following along as she tried to figure out who was behind this and retrieve the child before who knows what happen. I loved that there was enough mystery suspicion to keep the readers guessing and assuming who the person would be because when it came to her sister it was assumed to be her mother but was never proven and the person behind this was never caught and the case ran cold so now with this happening again theres suspicion all around. I loved seeing how more dangerous things were also turning as they were getting closer to figuring out who was behind this, it really kept me hooked. Overall great book I really enjoyed it.
January 17, 2022
Amanda Stevens remains, as far as I'm concerned, the only writer who scares me as much as Stephen King. I have yet to recover from her "Graveyard Queen" series.
In this short Hamony Intrigue novel, too many questions remain unanswered for me to appreciate it, I still need to read the next one as well, hoping it's not a trilogy, to see how the whole twin issue will play out.
Amanda Stevens resta, per quanto mi riguarda, l'unica scrittrice che mi mette paura quanto Stephen King. Mi devo ancora riprendere dalla sua serie sulla restauratrice di cimiteri.
In questo breve romanzo Hamony Intrigue, troppe domande restano aperte perché io lo possa apprezzare, devo comunque leggere anche il prossimo, sperando che non si tratti di una trilogia, per vedere come andrá a finire tutta la questione delle gemelle.
In this short Hamony Intrigue novel, too many questions remain unanswered for me to appreciate it, I still need to read the next one as well, hoping it's not a trilogy, to see how the whole twin issue will play out.
Amanda Stevens resta, per quanto mi riguarda, l'unica scrittrice che mi mette paura quanto Stephen King. Mi devo ancora riprendere dalla sua serie sulla restauratrice di cimiteri.
In questo breve romanzo Hamony Intrigue, troppe domande restano aperte perché io lo possa apprezzare, devo comunque leggere anche il prossimo, sperando che non si tratti di una trilogia, per vedere come andrá a finire tutta la questione delle gemelle.
November 19, 2021
I can't even imagine Thea Lamb returning home, and having to relive her own nightmare. Another child has gone missing from her mother's home, again? From the same window?
Add to this equation Thea's ex boyfriend, FBI Agent Jake Stillwell, is working this crime.
While Thea relives the original crime, all the while searching for Kylie, and flashing back to Maya her twin.
We keep meeting suspects, and there are a lot of twists and turns, and some answers are forthcoming, was I surprised? Yes, but in the end, I was left with a lot of unanswered questions, and wondered if justice for all will ever be served.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin, and was not required to give a positive review.
Add to this equation Thea's ex boyfriend, FBI Agent Jake Stillwell, is working this crime.
While Thea relives the original crime, all the while searching for Kylie, and flashing back to Maya her twin.
We keep meeting suspects, and there are a lot of twists and turns, and some answers are forthcoming, was I surprised? Yes, but in the end, I was left with a lot of unanswered questions, and wondered if justice for all will ever be served.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin, and was not required to give a positive review.
July 27, 2022
This was an exciting book. If you enjoy a good police procedural, this will be a good book for you. Special Agent Thea Lamb suffered a devastating loss when she was a young girl. Someone abducted her twin sister right out of her bed. Everyone in the small town believes that Thea’s mother was responsible for her daughter’s disappearance. So, when another young girl disappears from Thea’s mom’s home the rumors start flying. Thea’s former partner Jake Stillwell is called in to assist in the case. They have to put their past differences aside to find this young child before it is too late. This was a very suspense filled book with some eerie scenes in it that gave me the creeps. This was a well written mystery with good character dynamics. I look forward to more books in this series.
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