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mellabella's review against another edition
4.0
I could not put this book down.
I cannot imagine the devastation having your baby stolen would cause. I'm sure it's a feeling that cannot be put into words.
The fact that your baby was stolen by her father? A man that was controlling...
I loved Verity's character. She was so patient. I did feel there were times that she could have been a little more stern with Gemma. But after 17 years of missing her daughter, wondering if she was OK, hoping she was being treated well, I guess I could see why she would be jumpy at the thought of losing her again.
Gemma. Her evolution seemed so realistic. Not sappy or cheesy. The thoughts she had, when we read her pov seemed spot on for a girl who was raised by a criminal father. Who thought she knew who she was and what love was.
Ellen was atrocious.
These characters came alive for me.
I hadn't read anything else by this author. That is about to change.
I cannot imagine the devastation having your baby stolen would cause. I'm sure it's a feeling that cannot be put into words.
The fact that your baby was stolen by her father? A man that was controlling...
I loved Verity's character. She was so patient. I did feel there were times that she could have been a little more stern with Gemma. But after 17 years of missing her daughter, wondering if she was OK, hoping she was being treated well, I guess I could see why she would be jumpy at the thought of losing her again.
Gemma. Her evolution seemed so realistic. Not sappy or cheesy. The thoughts she had, when we read her pov seemed spot on for a girl who was raised by a criminal father. Who thought she knew who she was and what love was.
Ellen was atrocious.
These characters came alive for me.
I hadn't read anything else by this author. That is about to change.
jbarr5's review against another edition
4.0
Seashell Season by Holly Chamberlin
Have enjoyed other books by the author. This one starts out with Verity and she's staying at her friends house while she gets her life back in order after leaving her boyfriend Alan.
Her daughter Gemma is with her and Barbara will babysit while Verity works. One day she gets a call that Gemma is gone, Alan took her.
She gets on with her life after many years go by getting back into her artsy side and actually getting a job at the local college. The call she thought she'd get it's 17 years later and they have her daughter and will board you on a plane from AZ to ME.
She is beside herself as the town has backed her the whole 17 years with support. She has so many unanswered questions about how her daughter was raised. Alan is put in prison and he's lied to Gemma about everything he told her. Her mother is alive and so is her grandmother...
Alternating chapters on how each one is dealing with being reunited. Love the beach and the collecting of the seashells.
At times the book gets boring as it's over 400 pages long. There's a huge story behind the pages though and glad I was able to get through all of it. As it's boring there are also many twists and turns along the way, helping to tell the story of the two females as others come and go into their life's.
Q&A at the end and discussion questions.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review
Have enjoyed other books by the author. This one starts out with Verity and she's staying at her friends house while she gets her life back in order after leaving her boyfriend Alan.
Her daughter Gemma is with her and Barbara will babysit while Verity works. One day she gets a call that Gemma is gone, Alan took her.
She gets on with her life after many years go by getting back into her artsy side and actually getting a job at the local college. The call she thought she'd get it's 17 years later and they have her daughter and will board you on a plane from AZ to ME.
She is beside herself as the town has backed her the whole 17 years with support. She has so many unanswered questions about how her daughter was raised. Alan is put in prison and he's lied to Gemma about everything he told her. Her mother is alive and so is her grandmother...
Alternating chapters on how each one is dealing with being reunited. Love the beach and the collecting of the seashells.
At times the book gets boring as it's over 400 pages long. There's a huge story behind the pages though and glad I was able to get through all of it. As it's boring there are also many twists and turns along the way, helping to tell the story of the two females as others come and go into their life's.
Q&A at the end and discussion questions.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review
perrinmelaniphy's review against another edition
3.0
This book started so strong for me, I was sucked right in... but then, at over 400 pages it drew on a little too long.
karak's review against another edition
3.0
So much longer than it needed to be. A good, strong edit would have been great. I skimmed a lot of the middle, because it didn't add anything to the story.
Here's a hint- if your long lost teenage daughter shows up after being kidnapped by her biological father, you ALL need to get therapy.
Here's a hint- if your long lost teenage daughter shows up after being kidnapped by her biological father, you ALL need to get therapy.
readingactually's review against another edition
maddygutacker's review against another edition
4.0
such a emotional story, I loved the shorter chapters but I do wish the POV was labeled because they switch throughout the story.
Verity had her daughter taken from her when she was only months old by her ex husband. 17 years later she is found due to her dad being arrested, so she is sent back to verity's care. It's an emotional battle between the two, verity to win her daughters love, and Gemma to accept her mother and be open to a relationship with her. They go through their ups and downs, had old family come in and try to win Gemma's love and take her from Verity again, and just the battles of being a teenage girl in a new setting.
Verity had her daughter taken from her when she was only months old by her ex husband. 17 years later she is found due to her dad being arrested, so she is sent back to verity's care. It's an emotional battle between the two, verity to win her daughters love, and Gemma to accept her mother and be open to a relationship with her. They go through their ups and downs, had old family come in and try to win Gemma's love and take her from Verity again, and just the battles of being a teenage girl in a new setting.
simply_kelly05's review against another edition
3.0
As someone who has lived a mother-daughter reunion, (due to adoption), this premise intrigued me. Overall, I really enjoyed this story, and could relate to a lot. A decent summer read, with short chapters. But it was also very wordy, some parts just felt thrown in to add fluff.
nickieandremus's review against another edition
5.0
*** I received an advanced e-copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
When Gemma was just 2 months old, her father abducted her and successfully stayed hidden for the first 16 years of her life. Then Alan made a dumb mistake that sent him to jail and sent Gemma back to live with the mother she never knew. The story is told in alternating voices of the mother and the daughter as they try to move forward. Gemma has to come to the realization that everything about her life was a lie, and let go of the anger she has because of it. Verity has to make peace with the fact that her daughter does not like her or want to be with her, and although she would love nothing more than to throw her arms around her and hold her tight, she has to take a few steps back and approach everything with caution. The book is really thought-provoking and you felt invested in the characters and their lives. This is definitely a must read.
When Gemma was just 2 months old, her father abducted her and successfully stayed hidden for the first 16 years of her life. Then Alan made a dumb mistake that sent him to jail and sent Gemma back to live with the mother she never knew. The story is told in alternating voices of the mother and the daughter as they try to move forward. Gemma has to come to the realization that everything about her life was a lie, and let go of the anger she has because of it. Verity has to make peace with the fact that her daughter does not like her or want to be with her, and although she would love nothing more than to throw her arms around her and hold her tight, she has to take a few steps back and approach everything with caution. The book is really thought-provoking and you felt invested in the characters and their lives. This is definitely a must read.