Never Wave Goodbye by Doug Magee

Imagine you are putting your child into a camp van and they are whisked off to sleep-away camp for two weeks. The only problem is that you find out later that the van that picked up your precious child was not the one from the camp.
And so begins this first novel by Doug Magee. A former photo-journalist, screenwriter, film producer and director, Mr. Magee has written nonfiction and children’s books but this is his first novel.

Four children are kidnapped. The local police and FBI are called in to solve the mystery.
All four families are interrogated. Police look for links in all the usual places. As the story unfolds the families start to suspect each other.

Something happens to the kidnapper and the children are forced to forage on their own, deep in the Adirondacks.

The premise of the story was interesting enough. The writing mediocre. It seemed to drag on in the middle of the book.

Okay but if you have something more pressing, it can be put aside.

Ladybookbug!

Little Green by Loretta Stinson

To begin with let me say that as a rule, I love first-time authors. This title was no exception. The story is one many of us try to avoid and rightly so. It is about an abusive relationship.

The main character is Janie, a runaway, who has experienced a number of unsavory incidents in her efforts to survive. Ultimately she ends up with people who care and who exhibit great kindness. However in the interim she meets up with Paul whom she believes is the love of her life. She sees a glimmer of someone special underneath his drug induced exterior and clings to the hope that her love can change him.

This is a profound example of an abusive relationship, fraught with drugs, abandonment and lack of self-worth. It is not until the unthinkable happens that Janie realizes what she has submitted herself to and comes to her moment of truth.

Upon completing this book, I found myself grateful for my life and circumstances. Looking forward to more from this author.

Ladybookbug!