Have you ever finished a book in a series and immediately wanted to dive into the next one? That’s exactly what I did with Amanda G. Steven’s second and third books in the Haven Seekers series. I read the first book about a year ago. Then I saw the third book available for us reviewers and got approved. Boy, am I thankful I made the decision to read book two (Found and Lost) before delving into Take and Give.
First of all, if you have not read any of this series, while you won’t be completely lost if you pick these up out of order, you will definitely get more from them if you do read them in the order they were written. Each book is written from two people’s points of view, but a different two people in each book with others making appearances.
Found and Lost wowed me. For so many reasons (but more about that in a bit).
Upon learning of her best friend’s arrest and presumed death, Lee Vaughn continues to fight the system in her own way by providing medical treatment for Christians. With the help of eighteen-year-old Violet and a friend in the Constabulary, her practice is running well. Austin has searched for his girlfriend for four months with no forward progress. When his superior in the Constabulary tests him, Austin is shocked to learn that Marcus Brenner is alive….barely.
As circumstances bring Lee, Marcus, Violet, and Austin together and force them to flee Michigan, their relationships are tested. Violet no longer trusts Austin, Marcus’s illness hinders their ability to move quickly, and Lee’s control (something she values) is taken from her.
This. Book. I want to say so much about this book but don’t want to give details away. Let’s just say this. Getting to peek inside Lee’s head and see her thoughts and feelings was worth the journey to get here in the other two books. In book one (Seek and Hide) readers get to see Marcus and Lee together from Marcus’s perspective. Now, they get to examine the opposite side of the coin.
Each of the characters in this book is dealing with some kind of abuse. And each struggles to overcome those events in different ways. My heart hurt for these people at times. The personal and relational walls that are erected because of these experiences are elemental in the lives of these four people.
And best of all? Well, I am a fan of romance. There is more romantic development in this book. We’re not quite there yet, but I can see it on the horizon.
I cannot wait for book four!
***David C. Cook provided me with a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review. All opinions expressed are my own.