Author Amy Shojai to me, epitomizes the meaning of the word, Wordsmith . I recently was afforded the honor of reviewing her second book in the September Day Thriller-Mystery-Suspense series, titled Hide and Seek, (her first was Lost and Found, which I also was afforded the honor of reviewing, after my dog, Dakota won the: Name That Dog" contest to help Amy find a name for some of the furry characters in her book. More than 85 names were suggested with close to 800 votes!)
While the first book was excellent, Hide and Seek was SUPERB.
When reading Amy Shojai's mysteries, I never felt as if I was a passive observer, I felt as if I was thrust into the captivating and riveting story line. My heart pounded with anticipation, my stomach churned, I grasped at my blanket that I was wrapped in on my couch and nestled deeper into it, dark fingers of suspense and fear pulled me into the 240 plus pages of this nail-biter.
Overview (Courtesy of amyshojai.com)
A STALKER hides in plain sight.
A VICTIM faces her worst fear.
AND A DOG seeks the missing—and finds hope.
Eight years ago, animal behaviorist September Day escaped a sadistic captor who left her ashamed, terrified, and struggling with PTSD. She trusts no one—except her cat Macy and service dog Shadow.
Shadow also struggles with trust. A German Shepherd autism service dog who rescued his child partner only to lose his-boy forever, Shadow’s crippling fear of abandonment shakes his faith in humans.
They are each others’ only chance to survive the stalker’s vicious payback, but have only 24 hours to uncover the truth about Macy’s mysterious illness or pay the deadly consequences. When September learns to trust again, and a good-dog takes a chance on love, together they find hope in the midst of despair–and discover what family really means.
Author Amy Shojai is a certified animal behavior consultant and the award-winning author of 27 bestselling pet books. Her "pedigree", makes the thoughts and actions of the animals depicted in Hide and Seek, authentic and completely believable. It also provides a sensitivity and in-depth understanding of an animal's motivation, needs and feelings that others with less experience would be hard-pressed to convey.
From Hide and Seek: As with LOST AND FOUND that launched this dog viewpoint series, much of this book is based on science, especially dog and cat behavior and learning theory, and the benefits of service dogs. A vast number of veterinarians, behaviorists, consultants, trainers and pet-centric writers and rescue organizations offered their incredible resources and support to help make the pet-centric storyline as accurate as possible.
The human characters that Author Shojai has crafted come to life on the pages in a vibrant and often terrifying way. Each character is masterfully woven into the plot, with their own detailed sub-stories and histories, their purpose not always evident until details are revealed and the reader gasps in recognition of their relevance.
As Dr.Lorie Huston, the President of the Cat Writers Association states on the back cover, Hide and Seek is "recommended for anyone who likes a "bite-your-nails, hold-your-breath" kind of thriller.
For me, Hide and Seek was more than just a book, it was an experience. If I used stars for ratings, it would receive the highest number of stars that I could assign to it.
In addition to the information about Author Amy Shojai mentioned above, Amy is also the Puppies Expert at puppies.About.com, the cat behavior expert at cats.About.com, and has been featured as an expert in hundreds of print venues including The New York Times, Reader's Digest, and Family Circle, as well as national radio and television networks such as CNN, Animal Planet's DOGS 101 and CATS 101. Amy brings her unique pet-centric viewpoint to public appearances.
$11.99 Trade Paper, $4.99 Kindle
- Amy-Magic-Seren-Karma
In full disclosure: I was given a complimentary copy of Hide and Seek in exchange for my honest review which I was not compensated for. In an unprecedented move, I am featuring Hide and Seek on BOTH of my blogs today, because it's THAT GOOD.
