Reviews

Abandoned by Allison Brennan

jennareadsthings's review against another edition

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3.0

Fun. Again, could have been edited a bit cleaner.

jonetta's review against another edition

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5.0

Investigative reporter Maxine (Max) Revere was abandoned by her mother when she was nine years old, left with her wealthy grandparents and only hearing from Martha each year by postcard on her birthday. The cards inexplicably stopped sixteen years ago and no one has heard from her since. However, Max recently learned that her car was found in Northampton County, Virginia, registered under an alias that ties back to the Revere family. Even though the car was discovered sixteen years ago and Max has long been certain her mother is dead, she believes answers lie in the town so she heads to Cape Haven to do what she does best…find the truth.

Max’s missing mother has been in the background of every story in this series so my expectations were high for this one and were far surpassed. Martha Revere was with Jimmy Truman when she abandoned Max with her family so it came as a surprise to learn his family was from Cape Haven. His brother Gabriel was co-owner of the resort where Max was staying and Jimmy’s been missing for almost as long as Martha. The investigation not only answered the question of what happened to Martha but also revealed many other secrets that were shocking and life changing.

While many questions were resolved in this story, the revelations just created more so I’m saddened that this is the final book in the series. There was a lot going on and the introduction of a new man in Max’s life made it even more compelling as I really liked him. I listened to the story and the narrator delivered another outstanding performance, her storytelling befitting great writing. It ended on a bittersweet note but one that bodes nicely for Max. I’m hoping to see her appear in future stories in the Lucy Kincaid connected series, at least to get updates. Even if she doesn’t, I’m left in a good place despite lingering questions.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

dmwade's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

ccopeland28's review against another edition

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4.0

I have not read the series, but I did read #4 [b:Shattered|31450644|Shattered (Max Revere, #4)|Allison Brennan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1479871779s/31450644.jpg|52153528] and I remembered Max Revere from that. Maxine Revere is definitely a character that stands out and I like her straight-shooting get-out-of-my-way attitude. I liked learning about her childhood and I am sure readers of the full series absolutely loved that glimpse into little Max's life. The cut-aways to Max's mother's life at some point became repetitive and/or predictable, but I still found the whole of it enjoyable. For Max's mother to be billed as a life-long a con-artist she sure wasn't impressing me with how it all ended.
SpoilerI felt like the two postcards sent to Max and Eve weren't enough and scrawling "Never sell this" (or whatever Martha wrote on the back of the painting) was the equivalent of "There's always money in the banana stand".

brittanysavoie13's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Love this series, so sad this is the last book, I need more!

bookdarling1987's review against another edition

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3.0

Abandoned A Novel by Allison Brennan is the 5th book in this series but the first book for me. While I have been reading this author since I was about fifteen years old I like many others had a hard time connecting with it. This for me was a fail because I didn’t know enough of the story to be able to move it forward. The mystery was there the grit was there my only issue was the romance felt a bit rushed and unfinished.

lisalondonauthor's review against another edition

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3.0

Check out my full review on my Lisa Latte Booktube Channel at https://youtu.be/I9LVNQ1OKZE?t=431

lisasiefert's review against another edition

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3.0

Check out my full review on my Lisa Latte Booktube Channel at https://youtu.be/I9LVNQ1OKZE?t=431

loribree83's review against another edition

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I just couldn't get excited about this one. Perhaps because I didn't read the first four?

lisabreads's review

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4.0

Thank you to Minotaur Books for a copy of Abandoned for an honest review. Abandoned is the 5th book in the Max Revere series though it can be read as a stand-alone. This was the first book in the series that I have read but it will not be my last! I enjoyed the character. She is strong and smart though a little unfocused on other people and their feelings. She is a cold case investigative reporter but this time she is looking into a personal issue, the disappearance of her mother 16 years ago. Some of the first quarter of the book was a bit repetitive because Max had to explain her interest in old police files, why she thinks her mother was there, her mother’s connections, etc repeatedly to many people while starting her investigations. It was necessary to establish her case to many since it was so old but for the reader, it was a bit repetitive. I got more into the book once everybody learned of the case and more and more details came into view and it got more complicated. I really like how it was done and can’t wait to get into more of Max Revere’s cases and get to know her character a little better! Abandoned will be available on August 14, 2018.