My Review:

I was desperate to finish this motherhood mystery which explores good mom vs. bad mom…

This is not a typical missing child child story, it delivers a moral dilemma concerning motherhood and had me questioning what was right or wrong throughout the entire book. It was at times unsettling and the suspense had me holding my breath more than once! And yes! I needed to discuss this with someone.

I’ve read several domestic suspense books this year with a “motherhood” theme and this one stands out because I was so emotionally invested the characters and my heart was definitely stirred ( I actually wanted to pray for a few of the characters). This is a sign of first rate writing in my opinion. I kept asking myself, “Am I rooting for the right mother“? Definitely had my emotions in a tangled up knot!  Could a kidnapping save a life? What would others do? What should be done? Does a wrong ever equal a right?

The POV is told through the two mothers, Amy and Sarah.  I loved how the author gave each one a voice and allowed me as a reader to see and feel what they were experiencing.  We also get glimpses of the timeline through “before” “during” and “after” the actual kidnapping.  The book deals with weighty themes, but is also filled with light, heartfelt moments. The little girl, Emma was an absolute shining star.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, compelling story that may have you questioning every decision that is made, give this one a try.  I enjoyed this emotional road trip from the beginning to the unexpected final stop!

4.5 STARS!!

This was our first Book Bestie Approved Pick!  6 book blogger/reviewer reading buddies!

Check out more awesome blog reviews  here….

https://jennifertarheelreader.com/2018/08/21/not-her-daughter-by-rea-frey-bookreview-tarheelreader-reafrey_author-stmartinspress-bookbestieapproved-pubday

https://audiokilledthebookmark.com/?p=3049

https://phdiva.blog/?p=507

https://thebookcollective.net/

Kendall’s Review:

 

Not Her Daughter is an emotionally gripping tale that explores parenting, child abduction, love, and loss.

I really enjoyed Rea Frey’s writing style… she easily grips her readers with an emotional story that leaves you hanging on until the end!

Sarah is still heartbroken from her break up with former boyfriend Ethan. Sarah throws herself into her job to help ease the pain of the breakup. She travels frequently for her job and one day she sees a family with a little girl in the airport. Sarah quickly feels for Emma as she sees her mother Amy dragging and pulling her through the airport.

Amy on the other hand… is a mother that loses her patience very easily with her daughter Emma. Emma and Amy have a very strained relationship…. with Amy losing her temper very frequently.

One day… Emma disappears without a trace… and the story unfolds with a dark yet beautiful emotional voice from Rea.

I loved how the story alternated between Amy and Sarah’s POV with “before”, “during”, and “after” Emma’s disappearance/kidnapping.

This was a gripping thriller that I really enjoyed. There were some aspects that were a tad bit unbelievable especially at the end.

Characterization was strong in this novel. Rea did an amazing job portraying motherhood and the different struggles of being a mother from Amy’s point of view and Sarah’s.

The story flows beautifully and the characters are interwoven beautifully through the lens of her readers.

This is definitely an author to put on your radar and am looking forward to seeing what Rea comes out with next! 🙂

4 strong stars!

You can follow more of Kendall’s reviews on GR here….

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/42327848-kendall

Book Description:

Emma Grace Townsend. Five years old. Gray eyes. Brown hair. Missing since June.

Emma Townsend is lonely. Living with her cruel mother and clueless father, Emma retreats into her own world of quiet and solitude.

Sarah Walker. Successful entrepreneur. Broken-hearted. Abandoned by her mother. Kidnapper.
Sarah has never seen a girl so precious as the gray-eyed child in a crowded airport terminal–and when a second-chance encounter with Emma presents itself, Sarah takes her, far away from home. But if it’s to rescue a little girl from her damaging mother, is kidnapping wrong?

Amy Townsend. Unhappy wife. Unfit mother. Unsure she wants her daughter back.
Amy’s life is a string of disappointments, but her biggest issue is her inability to connect with her daughter. And now she’s gone without a trace.

As Sarah and Emma avoid the nationwide hunt, they form an unshakeable bond. But her real mother is at home, waiting for her to return–and the longer the search for Emma continues, Amy is forced to question if she really wants her back.

Emotionally powerful and wire-taut, Not Her Daughter raises the question of what it means to be a mother–and how far someone will go to keep a child safe.

Available Today!

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