Not Her Daughter

Emma Townsend. Five years old. Gray eyes, brown hair. Missing since June.  Emma 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. Kidnapper.  Sarah has never seen a girl so precious as the gray-eyed child in a crowded airport terminal. 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 whether 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 Emma is gone without a trace.

As Sarah and Emma avoid the nationwide hunt, they form an unshakeable bond. But what about Emma’s real mother, back at home?

The premise of this book instantly had me interested in reading it.  And once I began, I flew through it!  The pace was steady and never slowed down.  The book centers around 2 women, Sarah and Amy.  Sarah's character was strong and independent and I loved her for it.  It's so nice to see a successful woman portrayed in a thriller.  Amy, the mother, was frustrating, but I also had compassion for her.  I'm not making excuses for her, her actions were horrible, but motherhood was not for her.  That's part of the reason I enjoyed this book, the characters had complexities and I enjoyed watching them unfold, good or bad.  I rated this book a 3.5 stars, but rounded up to 4.  My problems were at times the story was just not believable.  I didn't think a person like Sarah would act or make the decisions that she did.  So while I enjoyed the book, I did have to suspend belief.  I was also not the biggest fan of the ending, but can't really say much more than that.  It definitely hooked me and kept me engaged the whole time.  I would definitely pick up another book written by Rea Frey.   

       * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *