Taken Mass Market Paperback – August 1, 2017

I have read all of Dee Henderson's books. I was very disappointed with this book. Based on the summary provided before I purchased it for my Kindle, it intrigued me and I imagined conflicts and dramas, along with dramatic pain, suffering, endurance, survival. The book is based from the POV of the "protector". First thing that unsettled me. The story was not at all to what the summary described. There was no action, no 'edge of your seat' scenes. Just blah. I kept reading thinking, ok, something big is going to happen. Because I thought there was a build up occurring. But no, it dragged and dragged. As one reviewer stated, 100 pages way too long.I found the whole plot quite unbelievable in a lot of places. I find it incredibly hard to believe Shannon was so put together after eleven years of being held hostage, was hard to swallow. And I was completely confused as to what she was actually doing for the people who kidnapped who for those 11 years. I wanted more closure, and had too many questions throughout the book as I was reading. I don't believe there even was a physical description of Matthew or Shannon. I don't need graphic details of her 11 years, but give me something....anything that gives me a background of how she was involved, just more details! When she was sharing these big secrets, I felt was way melodramatic. And as she's telling the details to whomever, its like she's reading from a script. Where was she in these scenarios? What role was she forced to play in more details.Things I found unrealistic. How they handled her mother. How things were resolved so nice and neat in a pretty package. Everyone in the story was too perfect. Every person she met, she loved. They were all one big happy coupling. I was waiting for someone to come out of the shadows. Someone not to keep all these secrets, and then the plot deals with that. But no. Also, the chapter occurring in the art gallery? Seriously? Way too perfect, and unrealistic. One and done? No shopping around for other galleries? But it doesn't matter I guess, since that was really some silly chapter shoved in the book to add pages. I saw no point to it, accept to make me roll my eyes. And why not tell the reader about Shannon's father? What was that all about. Why even bring it up if there is no closure. Stupid. And once all the secrets were out, Shannon didn't have any protection, but was going around town with her new found besties? Unrealistic. And her inane memory, after being held for so many years was perfectly intact? She didn't even write down the locations, but drew upon them from memory? Unbelievable. Too perfectly solved.I realize that this author tends to write a more tame romance, leaving a lot to the reader's assumption. But wow, hard to see any romance between these two. Nada. I knew how it was going to happen at the end 25 pages into the story. But I was again, disappointed. As it did not answer a lot of plot questions. And the end was very blasé about the two main characters.Bottom line, this is labeled romantice suspense. I saw neither in this story. It wouldn't even make it on Lifetime. Way too boring, uneventful, too pat and cut and dry. And totally unrealistic to watch the playing out of what happens when someone who has gone missing 11 years, returns. I would think that if Jaycee Dugard read this, she would be appalled. Sliding back into a life with new friends you become close with overnight, and having a career in 10 minutes, and no repercussions that should be more gut wrenching?? Seriously disrespectful to those individuals who truly had to suffer such a tragedy in their lives. Clueless, totally clueless.

From the back cover blurb and the reputation of the author, I expected this book to be exciting and suspenseful. I was disappointed. The pace was extremely slow and there was no excitement at all. The only reason I kept reading was to see what would happen. And nothing did, at least not "on stage." All the excitement was behind the scenes. We never find out what happened to Shannon while she was in captivity, how exactly she got free, what was in her diaries, etc. All we get is the POV of the retired cop who tells us what Shannon is thinking, how she's going to act. what will happen long-term. There are no surprises and the story line is a bit unrealistic. Shannon shows no fear, just anxiety. She's extremely sure of herself, which I find strange from a victim. She does not fear retribution. And besides that, she takes her photos to an art dealer and finds out she is an instant millionaire. How believable is that? The book is at least 100 pages too long. The author could have eliminated all the descriptions of what and then they ate, which seemed to be all the time, and left out descriptions of setting. What happened to the conflict in the story? Everything goes so smoothly, it's boring and noneventful. I hate to give bad reviews, but I was extremy surprised by the lack of many elements of a good book in this one. We read it in our book club, and everyone felt the same way - waiting for something to happen and nothing did.

This is a story that I hope never did happen or never will. Massive kidnappings of children and some adults. Shannon is kidnapped and managed to remain alive under extreme mental pressures. She is allowed a camera although she is watched to what she films. She gets thousands of film. After escaping she has more than they knew she had. She contacts Matthew, a P.I. , who has had a daughter kidnapped ; but had been rescued. This is not just that; but the destruction of a crime family. Dee Henderson did not disappoint her readers. I have read a number of her Christian Suspense Novels, and this is like all the others, you cannot put it down until the end. I loved reading it so much.

Taken is my first Dee Henderson book to read. I've heard a lot of good things about her O'Malley series. Frankly, I was disappointed. It moved sooo slowly, with so much introspective verbiage tgat it took me five days to read it. I usually read one in 2 days at most. The story is completely from Matthew's perspective. We only know what Matthew tells us Shannon is thinking. We discover a fascinating bit about the marketing of photographs as art. Fascinating, but it does not drive the story anywhere. There was no real danger, and Shannon travels around without fear of being found by her kidnappers hoping to shut her up. She shops openly around her hometown of Chicago without a disguise. The writing was good, editing good, but not my favorite book. Henderson's fans should love it.

This is Dee Henderson at her best - it gripped me almost from the first page! The story moves quickly to begin with, making it a little difficult to remember which character is which but this doesn't detract from the wonderfully intricate plot. There were plenty of times that I just couldn't stop reading!! I was a little disappointed with the ending...unless there's another book to follow?!

One of the best Dee Henderson books I have read with a story that builds slowly but effectively as you move through it. Without revealing too much you live the return of a kidnap victim and understand the emotions and stress that involves. Could not put this down and would definitelyrecommend it.

Liked this book. However having read most if not all of Dee Henderson's other books, this one was a bit of a let down. The ending wasn't really an ending at all, left hanging and unsure what happened. Shannon's years in captivity weren't really explained, I was unsure who had held her at first, then not really knowing what happened to her during that time either, was a bit of a let down. However, I do enjoy Dee Henderson's style of writing, her attention to detail and I enjoyed reading of other characters in this book, who had been the main characters of some of her previous books.On the whole, glad I bought this book, would recommend it, and will certainly read more from Dee Henderson.

Too far fetched for me. A huge web of 'plot' melts way into nothing...with very little suspense. I'm afraid I just lost interest...and had to make myself finish it. (Although I really enjoyed the earlier books. )

Dee Henderson truly knows how to hook you from the start, and keep you there till the very end. I can't wait for the next book!