Tuesday, March 10, 2015

FINDING JAKE: A REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
FINDING JAKE
BY BRYAN REARDON
  
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A heart-wrenching yet ultimately uplifting story of psychological suspense in which a parent is forced to confront what he does—and does not—know about his teenage son, in the vein of Reconstructing Amelia, Defending Jacob, and We Need to Talk about Kevin.

While his successful wife goes off to her law office each day, Simon Connolly takes care of their kids, Jake and Laney. Now that they are in high school, the angst-ridden father should feel more relaxed, but he doesn’t. He’s seen the statistics, read the headlines. And now, his darkest fear is coming true. There has been a shooting at school.

Simon races to the rendezvous point, where he’s forced to wait. Do they know who did it? How many victims were there? Why did this happen? One by one, parents are led out of the room to reunite with their children. Their numbers dwindle, until Simon is alone.

As his worst nightmare unfolds, and Jake is the only child missing, Simon begins to obsess over the past, searching for answers, for hope, for the memory of the boy he raised, for mistakes he must have made, for the reason everything came to this. Where is Jake? What happened in those final moments? Is it possible he doesn’t really know his son? Or he knows him better than he thought?

Brilliantly paced, Finding Jake explores these questions in a tense and emotionally wrenching narrative. Harrowing and heartbreaking, surprisingly healing and redemptive, it is a story of faith and conviction, strength, courage, and love that will leave readers questioning their own lives, and those they think they know.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Bryan Reardon is a freelance writer specializing in medical communications. He co-wrote Ready, Set, Play with retired NFL player and ESPN analyst Mark Schlereth and Cruel Harvest. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Bryan worked for the State of Delaware for over a decade, starting in the Office of the Governor. He holds a BA in psychology from the University of Notre Dame and lives in West Chester, Pennsylvania, with his wife, kids, and rescue dog, Simon.

PRAISE FOR FINDING JAKE:

“FINDING JAKE is compelling psychological suspense -- but also so much more. A journey into the depths of a parent’s worst nightmare, it is at turns heartbreaking, surprising, devastating, hopeful... I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time to come.” —Alison Gaylin, USA Today bestselling author of STAY WITH ME on FINDING JAKE

“I devoured Finding Jake. The tension is almost unbearable in this thriller-cum-character study as layer after layer of a father’s soul are revealed as reflected in the character of his missing son. Utterly engrossing.” —Alice LaPlante, bestselling author of TURN OF MIND and CIRCLE OF WIVES on FINDING JAKE

Finding Jake is truly compelling. I read it in one sitting, tearing through the pages right to the unexpected ending - which stayed with me for days. —Paula Daly, author of KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE on FINDING JAKE

“A compelling read; disturbingly relevant in contemporary America. ” —Kirkus Reviews

“Reardon deftly builds suspense by setting his dual story lines on a collision course toward a shattering-and surprising-conclusion.” —Publishers Weekly on FINDING JAKE

MY THOUGHTS/REVIEW:
Bryan Reardon’s FINDING JAKE is the kind of book that immediately grabbed my attention when I read the preview. It made me think of NINETEEN MINUTES, one of my favorites from the amazing Jodi Picoult, and by the time I finished FINDING JAKE, I wasn’t disappointed. I loved that the story was told from the father’s point of view as it gave it a much different feel and emotional background. Through the well-written flashbacks, readers learn about Simon and Rachel. From how they fell in love, were married, and joyfully gave birth to Jake and younger sister Laney, to how Simon came to be the house husband; a stay-at-home dad. Because Simon describes his inner thoughts, it helped me to better understand how it effected his occasionally peculiar actions and, at other times, his achingly despondent personality and unpredictable emotions.  

Simon seems adjusted to his role although he does explain how hard it is for him to be a male in with all the mothers who seem to have such different parenting styles than Simon. It is only when there is a shooting at his children’s school that Simon faces much different emotions. With Laney safe, Simon is left to find Jake who is unaccounted for. As things progress, Jake also becomes a suspect in the shootings and Simon begins a frantic search for the son he is devoted to but now begins to question just how well he knew his boy. Could Jake have been part of this horror? Where had Simon gone wrong? Just where is Jake? Unlike most mothers in this situation, Simon has no support system and even Rachel grows farther away from Simon when she feels that he might think Jake is guilty.

The action escalates as the family is forced to leave their home while police search it, and on top of that, the family must now also deal with the media. I LOVED this book and could not stop reading it. I think that Simon’s different viewpoint is what made the narrative so compelling. I was totally engrossed in Reardon’s exceptionally talented work. I also think that because I really did not like Rachel, that it added to my enjoyment of the story as I found myself applauding Simon even more! With twists and turns that had me thinking one thing and then another, the conclusion was quite unexpected. If you like a thriller with heart, FINDING JAKE is a book you will want to pick up.

GIVEAWAY
 
 THANKS TO KATHERINE AND THE FOLKS AT
WILLIAM MORROW/HARPER COLLINS BOOKS
 I HAVE ONE COPY OF
FINDING JAKE, TO 
GIVE AWAY TO ONE LUCKY WINNER!
  
--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS IN COMMENT
--ALL ENTRIES/COMMENTS MUST BE

SEPARATE IN ORDER TO COUNT 
AS MORE THAN ONE ENTRY
HOW TO ENTER:
+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT FINDING JAKE THAT WOULD MAKE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK I CAN FOLLOW IN THE ENTRY

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE OTHER CURRENT GIVEAWAY YOU HAVE ENTERED ON MY BLOG. IF YOU ENTERED MORE THAN ONE, YOU CAN COMMENT ON EACH ON SEPARATELY AND GAIN MORE ENTRIES THAT WAY 

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU CAN COMMENT SEPARATELY AND EACH WILL COUNT AS AN ENTRY
GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
 6 PM, EST, MARCH 20
GOOD LUCK!

136 comments:

Steve Capell said...

My ... My ... My ... I am interested in how Amelia, Jacob, and Kevin fit together or maybe not fit together. Thanks for the opportunity.

Margie said...

Nice review,Karen. I also liked Nineteen Minutes, so I would like to read this one too. I like that it is from the father's point of view. Thanks for the giveaway.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

FB 1
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

FB 2
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

FB 3
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

FB 4
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

FB 5
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Email subscriber
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

FB fan
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

RSS reader
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Bloglovin follower
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Networked blogs follower
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

GFC follower
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Pamela Keener said...

Oh My Gosh your review has me hooked. Pick me lol
pk4290 at comcast dot net

rubynreba said...

This looks like a powerful book. Sounds very emotional and full of suspense.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Margie said...

Entered This Old Homicide
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

rubynreba said...

+5 Facebook
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Margie said...

Entered House of Robots
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

rubynreba said...

+5 Facebook
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

+5 facebook
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Margie said...

Entered Sweet Pickle
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

rubynreba said...

+5 Facebook
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

+5 Facebook
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Margie said...

Entered Dying for a Cupcake
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

rubynreba said...

email subscriber
pbclark(ag)netgins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

GFC Follower
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Margie said...

Entered How to Catch a Cat
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Murder Ties the Knot
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Entered First Date with Death
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Entered Walking on Trampolines
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Entered Girl on the Train
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Entered Ladle to the Grave
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Entered To Die
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Carol N Wong said...

Just reading your review and a little bit about the story, my heart goes out for his father. This happens so much these days. I don't think that even the idea existed when you and I were growing up. Yes, I definitely want to read this.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I tweeted: http://t.co/jagSkf2tw8


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered for "This Old Homocide".

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered for "Town in A Sweet Pickle".

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered for "Dying for a Cupcake".

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered for "How to Catch A Cat".

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered for "Murder Ties A Knot".

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered for :First Date With Death".

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered for "Walking On Trampolines".

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered for "The Girl on the Train".

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered for 'Ladle to the Grave".

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered for "Hope to Due".

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow with an e-mail subscription.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow with Facebook.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow with a RSS feed on my Yahoo page.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow with Google Friends Connect.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow with Networked Blogs
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot) com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow with Twitter.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow with Bloglovin’
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

+5 MARCH FB BONUS #1

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

+5 MARCH FB BONUS #2

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

+5 MARCH FB BONUS #3

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

+5 MARCH FB BONUS #4

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

+5 MARCH FB BONUS #5

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

traveler said...

Enthralling novel. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

Email subscriber. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Dying for a cupcake. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered This old Homicide. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered House of Robots. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered How to catch a cat. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Town in a sweet pickle. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Murder ties the knot. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered A First Date with Death. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Walking on trampolines. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered The Girl on the Train. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered ladle to grave. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Hope to Die. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

petite said...

I am hooked. Great review. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Follower. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Email subscriber. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered House of Robots. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered House of Homicide. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I entered Hope to die. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I entered Walking on trampolines. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I entered Dying for a cupcake. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered A Date with Death. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered How to catch a cat. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I entered Town in a sweet pickle. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered Murder ties the knot. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered The Girl on the train. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered ladle to the grave. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

Margie said...

Entered I Was Here
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Entered Horse
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Entered Sunshine
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

holdenj said...

School shootings should be something to worry about, no matter the age of the kid.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

Email subscriber
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

Entered Ladle to the Grave
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Linda Kish said...

I need to read this book. I just put it on my Amazon wish list. It sounds so intense. I raised a difficult child. It took all of my efforts as a single mom to make sure this was not him.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am an email subscriber

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am a bloglovin' follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

+5 March follower
1
lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

+5 March follower
2
lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

+5 March follower
3
lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

+5 March follower
4
lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

+5 March follower
5
lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered HOUSE OF ROBOTS

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered THIS OLD HOMICIDE

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered TOWN IN A SWEET PICKLE

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered DYING FOR A CUPCAKE

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered HOW TO CATCH A CAT

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered MURDER TIES THE KNOT

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered A FIRST DATE WITH DEATH

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered WALKING ON TRAMPOLINES

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered LADLE TO THE GRAVE

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered HOPE TO DIE

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered I WAS HERE

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered HORSE OF A DIFFERENT KILLER

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered MY SUNSHINE AWAY

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

This sounds like it's very emotional and intense to read. I enjoy those books and they keep my attention. I think it will also be interesting reading it through the father's viewpoint.
marybrandis@gmail.com

Unknown said...

https://twitter.com/houdinibuddy/status/576951999205404672
marybrandis@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Entered for This Old Homocide
marybrandis@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Entered for Town In A Sweet Pickle
marybrandis@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Entered for Dying For A Cupcake
marybrandis@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Entered for Murder Tied The Knot
marybrandis@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Entered for First Date With Death
marybrandis@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Entered for Walking On Trampolines
marybrandis@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Entered for Ladle To The Grave
marybrandis@gmail.com

Unknown said...

email subscriber
marybrandis@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Follow with Twitter
marybrandis@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Follow with Facebook
marybrandis@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Follow with GFC
marybrandis@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Follow with Networked Blogs
marybrandis@gmail.com

Unknown said...

+5 MARCH FACEBOOK #1
marybrandis@gmail.com

Unknown said...

+5 MARCH FACEBOOK #2
marybrandis@gmail.com

Unknown said...

+5 MARCH FACEBOOK #3
marybrandis@gmail.com

Unknown said...

+5 MARCH FACEBOOK #4
marybrandis@gmail.com

Unknown said...

+5 MARCH FACEBOOK #5
marybrandis@gmail.com

Margie said...

Entered Mrs. Jeffries
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

cyn209 said...

entered My Sunshine Away giveaway.......

cyn209 at juno dot com

Margie said...

Entered Assault
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Entered Suspendered
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

CLICK HERE TO
SEE MY POLICY