Loved it, as good as The Butterfly Garden. It is dark of course but the great relationships of the FBI agents adds enough laughs so the book as a whole isn't depressing. All the physical and sexual abuse means this certainly isn't for everyone, but it's a good mystery with great characters for those who can stomach the subject matter.

Great storyline with good strong characters. Very well written. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Couldn't get into this one. I absolutely loved The Butterfly Garden, which should have been a stand-alone, and thought The Roses of May was good but not great. But this one was just lacking something for me.

This book wasn’t terrible; it was decent but that feels like a disappointment considering my love for book 1 in this series and following my slight disappointment book 2 wasn’t as good as that. This book continued the slide downhill. Maybe they began to be churned out too quickly?

Each book had an agent they focused on, and now it’s Mercedes’ turn. It was good having her be more fleshed out than in the previous books, and she has more of a backstory and a personal connection to her work than the others on the team. How this book differs though is that there’s a stream of victims and you don’t really have time to settle in with any to really connect. It’s like the book is depending on the fact that you instantly feel sympathy for children suffering to allow it to skip over developing any of the children to something more than just a plot point, and I think it suffers for that. Also Inara and Victoria-Bliss as well as Priya from the previous book make appearances in this which feels like fan service. I don’t think their cameos ever add much to the stories so I would have preferred that each book be standalone with perhaps a brief update on how the girls are doing.

Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Dot Hutchison for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. :o)

A few years ago, I read The Butterfly Garden and was completely obsessed.   So, naturally when I found out that the book was to the first in a series, I was thrilled!!  I anxiously awaited the second book (Roses of May) and was a little underwhelmed.  However, I had high hopes for The Summer Children (the third book in the series).  

The novel follows Agent Mercedes Ramirez who has a horrid past and a need for survival.  When abused children begin to show up at her door stating that an angel killed their parents and brought them to Mercedes so she could keep them safe, she finds herself in the middle of an investigation to find a vigilante killer.  

My favourite part of The Butterfly Garden was the narrative style and the creepy events that took place in the garden; however, similar to Roses of May, I found that this one read more like a police procedural. Instead of being character driven, this one focused more on the police investigation and the officer’s relationships to the victims.   

I did like the general story but now that I have finished, I have to say, I am very conflicted!  I know that I will absolutely continue to read the books in the series but I will be doing so to chase the feeling that I had when I read The Butterfly Garden.

Thank you #NetGalley for a copy of #TheSummerChildren!

Overall I really enjoyed this book as well as the entire Collector’s trilogy. I read all three books in order but if you did decide to read them out of order you wouldn’t be confused (I hate when books within a series must be read in order to make sense!!). Out of all three, The Butterfly Garden, The Roses of May and The Summer Children this was probably a close 2nd to The Butterfly Garden. Both were extremely interesting, face-paced, suspenseful, and keep you wanting to read quicker/more to figure out what is going on!! Don’t get me wrong, The Roses of May was also a great book but not quite as fast-paced as the other two. I think Dot Hutchison did a great job of tying up the trilogy with The Summer Children and I look forward to reading more from her!

I don't even know where to start. Books about child abuse can kill me sometimes. I loved this story and the characters in it. I found myself rooting for the "angel" while also hating what was happening to Mercedes by having these children delivered to her. I would definitely recommend this book.

The only thing that bothered me with this book was that there was random sentences in Spanish and no translation for them on the same page somewhere. I know some Spanish and could make out some phrases but not all of them.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

This trilogy has had mixed reviews from the very first book, which I could just not understand! I was hooked by the first book and waited in anticipation for the 2nd and 3rd books. It was definitely worth the wait. The Summer Children is filled with suspense throughout, and keeps you guessing until the very end. I liked the fact that previous characters were mentioned in the book (the Butterflies) and their relationships with the FBI agents. A great read! I loved it!

First Thoughts:

I've always been fascinated with this series. From the first moment I finished "The Butterfly Garden" I was hooked on this series.If you haven't read the first two books in the series "The Butterfly Garden" and "The Roses of May" I caution you to read those two first. Though it isn't all that necessary to understand this story. Also this may have triggers for those that have been through abuse as a child! So stay steady! Other than that I really enjoyed this book and it didn't let me down.

Goodreads Summary:

This FBI agent has come to expect almost anything - just not this...

When Agent Mercedes Ramirez finds an abused young boy on her porch, covered in blood and clutching a teddy bear, she has no idea that this is just the beginning. He tells her a chilling tale: an angel killed his parents and then brought him here so Mercedes could keep him safe.

His parents weren't just murdered. It was a slaughter-- a rage kill like no one on the Crimes Against Children team had seen before. But they're going to see it again. An avenging angel is meting out savage justice and she's far from through.

One by one, more children arrive at Mercedes's door with the same horror story. Each one a traumatized survivor of and abusive home. Each one chafing at Mercedes's own scars from the past. And each one taking its toll on her life and career.

Now, as the investigation draws her deeper into the dark, Mercedes is beginning to fear that if this case doesn't destroy her, her memories might.

Plot:

This book started out slow, it took me a little bit to get into it. But once I was able to immerse myself in their world again it picked right up. It dealt with a lot of sensitive issues with both sexual and physical abuse. Not really graphic so it was okay in that sense. But it was definitely hard to read at times because of the content. These kids ranging in ages had to witness their parents killed in front of them...just the psychology of it was mind blowing. Definitely a book for psychology majors and fans. The ending was satisfying in one way but not in another. Not going to go into too much detail but the ending wasn't surprising and left me a little frustrated. The twists were good, it always popped up when you least expected it. It definitely tied in the first two books some but it was subtle. Anyways it was pretty good overall and definitely left the reader yearning for more. Though I do think there will be another book, definitely left an opening for one.

Romance:

There wasn't really much romance in this book. I mean the main character Mercedes's did have a relationship but it wasn't the main focus of the book. I think it was a wise choice not to make it a big deal because it would've made the book more chaotic. But her relationship and perhaps another one near the end gave the reader a comic relief. It let the reader take a break from the main conflict of the story and focus on something less serious.

Characters:

I thought Mercedes was a great and likable character. She was strong and weak at times making her a more reliable and realistic character. The other characters from the first two books were brought in at the right times and added and even more enjoyable experience. Some of the characters were really enjoyable to read along with while others were an added dread. Mercedes girlfriend especially was hard to enjoy, she just couldn't deal with what Mercedes had to do for her job even though she also worked for the FBI. But she did work in a desk job so their two worlds were totally different. And the children were hard to read about, they had such a horrific life and yet was made worse by being an orphan. Anyways definitely relateable characters that were put into the story when needed.

Transformation of Character:

Mercedes did some transforming in this book, though she stayed the same some too. It was like she had to overcome her past but at the same time had to keep some of her old self. Anyways it was fun to see her overcome her obstacles and see her become who she was meant to be but I think she still has some transforming to do. Whether she does, we might never know.

Description:

Like I mentioned above the scenes weren't all that gruesome, but the situation and how it was described made it seem so terrible. It made you feel and become a part of the story. I thought the author did a great job on describing the scenes and allowing the reader to understand the severity of what was happening. Also the way the world was described and built allowed the reader to really picture each scene.

Style:

This book was written in first person and in multiple POV'S. I think it could've perhaps been better if it was in third person because it would've given a wider expanse on seeing all that was happening but then we wouldn't have been able to connect with Mercedes and understand her view of the situation. So I'll just leave it at that. And the two pov's just left the author yearning for more view of the story. The writing itself is easy to read and get attached to. Very inspirational and fun to read.

Quote of the Book:

"There's an outer limit to how much you can heal. There comes a point where time just isn't a factor anymore: it's done as much as it can do."

Last Thoughts:

Loved this author's stories and writing and look forward to see what else she has in store for her readers! She definitely has a keen knack for writing and has an eye to detail and getting the reader to engage in the book. Whether it be sitting on the edge of my seat or sitting as cool as a cucumber. I definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves good writing and FBI inspired writing.

I have loved following All the characters in The Collector Trilogy! #DotHutchinson #TheSummerChildren was the final book!?! I received a copy through#NetGalley because I couldn't wait any longer! The suspense is amazing and this story of these women is something you have to read but beware, it stays with you long after you've finished reading them! I still can't get them out of my head,lol. Enjoy

Not great, if I'm honest. I've found the books in this series to get progressively worse, and it's a little disappointing. I think the first book should have been a standalone. Didn't like it.

I really liked this suspense/thriller I read the first in this series, but not the second before I read this one. I knew I had missed a few things, but overall it didn't affect the reading experience much. I still understood and really enjoyed the story and the characters.

This is the third book Dot Hutchison has in her series and the third book of her trilogy. I could read more if she really would continue. It is another kind of story but it is with children that are younger and of both sexes. It's about the team of FBI agents driven to find the culprit as quick as possible. Even though the agents are taken off the case because of conflicting action. Mercedes, Eddison, Sterling and their boss Vic were all involved originally in a case where children came from homes where the parents were killed and then the children were taken to Mercedes house after the parents were killed by the Angel. It goes into a lot a detail on all the agents how they came to be in the FBI. I liked her action and her references to her earlier books which were described and fit into this book with ease. She didn't over describe the earlier books but just gave you enough to understand how they fit in. I would say that the main character in this book was Mercedes and her life was drawn out the most, and you learn that her angel was Vic. Enough said, you will enjoy this book as I did with all of them and learn how they treat each other as family.

The Summer Children by Dot Hutchison is being called book three in the Collector series, but don't be fooled. It has little to nothing to do with the earlier two novels (which were pretty great by the way) and is very much a stand alone book. We return to the FBI team of the prior tales and with the appearance of some of the Butterfly girls, but The Summer Children is about FBI Special Agent Mercedes Ramirez.

"...I drop my purse, gun in hand with my finger stretched along the side of the trigger guard before I can put thought to it. In the bright glare of the porch light, a shadow sits on the bench swing. I inch forward past Siobhan, gun aimed down, until I can see more clearly through the rails. When my eyes finally adjust, I damn near drop the gun.
Madre de Dios, there is a child sitting on my porch, and it is covered in blood..."

Special Agent Mercedes Ramirez finds a young boy, clutching a teddy bear, covered in blood sitting on her front porch. The child tells her that he was brought to her home by an angel who told him he would be safe there. The child also tells Ramirez that the Angel killed his parents. But the parents weren't just killed, they were slaughtered with a rage Ramirez and the team haven't seen in a long time. What is soon evident is that the boy had been abused by his parents. The teddy bear he is clutching, is exactly like the teddy bears that the team gives out to abused children to comfort them. There is an avenging angel dispensing justice.

Mercedes has her own history as well. Abused by her father and with a family that turned their backs on her cries for help. Even now, so many years later, her family blames her for what happened and how they are viewed by the community. Now with a child on her doorstep, that world is coming back to her. Only, this is just the beginning and another child and another begin to find their way to her home. All of them, victims of abuse.

Someone is out there. Someone with access to private family records. Someone who is killing, with savage anger, the abusers of children. Someone who knows Mercedes Ramirez and knows what she does in the FBI. Someone who even knows where she lives.

"...Then the woman grabbed a blanket and wrapped the little girl in it, hugging her close but oh so gently. Her eyes were kind and sad, and she stroked the girl's hair and whispered that she was going to be okay, she was going to be okay. She was safe now. She gave the girl a teddy bear to hug and cry into, and stayed with her even as others crowded into the basement to take away Daddy and all his friends. Daddy was furious, yelling terrible things, but the woman just hugged the girl, and covered her ears so she didn't have to hear what her daddy said. The lady stayed with her in the ambulance, and in the hospital, and told her she was going to be okay.
Once upon a time, there was a little girl who was scared of angels.
Then she met one, and she wasn't afraid anymore...."

Dot Hutchison has created a deep and well thought out cast of characters in her novels and each one is capable of taking its own series and running with it. In the prior two tales, Ramirez was an integral part of the team but she was only that. A part of the team. Here she steps into her own and fills each page with angst and pain and betrayal. She also fills them with hope and drive and the desire to right the wrongs that have hurt her. She is the lone warrior, standing on the shores, trying desperately to hold back the waves of horror and pain. It costs her. Her unwillingness to compromise. It costs her family and lovers.

This novel does not shy away from the truth of child abuse. Physical or sexual. It does not shy away from the inability of government agencies to cope with the horrific amount of abuse that exists in this country. It may be for some readers, hard to digest. But that is what is needed. It should offend and revolt you. You should find it disgusting on a level that you didn't even know you had.

The murderer in this novel is someone we all know. It is in all of us. It is someone who has simply had enough.

The Summer Children is a terrific book that will leave a powerful mark on you. Be ready to hold it dear and hold it far away, with the same hand.

This was the conclusion of a trilogy and I have to say it wrapped things up perfectly. I am sorry to see the series end, but the author did an amazing job with it and it would take away from the story to keep writing books for this particular series. This particular book was well written and engrossing!

I have thoroughly enjoyed the previous 2 books in this series and so was incredibly excited to get The Summer Children through NetGallery.

Whilst it was good to catch up with the Characters, Vic, Eddison, Ramirez and of course the Butterfly Garden girls, I felt that the book was not up to the standard of the previous 2. I hate to say this but i found this book 'sickly sweet'. The constant talk of how wonderful the team were and how well they knew each other began to grate on me and at times I found it so completely over the top that i was starting to dislike them!

The storyline was excellent and when dealing with the serial killer and her reasons for killing i was hooked, however i found that within a page or two we were back to the over the top relationship of the characters.

I hate to say it but this was not a winner for me and it kills to write this as I'm use to Dot's books keeping me up all night, gripped and needing to know more.

The Summer Children (The Collector, #3)
by Dot Hutchison
14233569
Mary Beth *Traveling Sister*'s review Jul 06, 2018 · edit
really liked it


F.B.I Agent Mercedes Ramirez arrived at her home and finds a child on her front doorstep, covered in blood, holding a teddy bear. He tells her that an angel brought him to her, so that she can keep him safe. Agent Ramirez works for The Crimes Against Children. The angel murders parents that abuse their children, then drops them off at Mercedes door. Lots of children are being dropped off, one at a time. They are all traumatized.

This is the third book in The Collector Series. Out of the whole series, I loved The Butterfly Garden, the best. I also loved Roses of May, but I loved this one a lot better than that one. This series is very dark and graphic.

I was immediately drawn into the story and didn t want to let go until the very end. It is a very intense book and I was captivated. It is a very fast paced read and a page turner and thought it was very creative. It is dark and disturbing, with tough subject matter. Lots of emotions to this story with a great plot. I did find it a little predictable.

I felt like the author did a great job on the character development of her characters. She brings them to life. I loved the characters and felt that they were realistic. I love Mercedes, the best. I can't wait to read book 4.

I want to thank Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer and Dot Hutchison for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There's something about the way that Dot Hutchison writes such horrific things that allows me to read without being overwhelmed. None of these books deal with run of the mill badness, but this one in particular deals with the true evil that visits all too many children. She never downplays or shies away from it, but somehow she manages to write hope between even the bleakest lines; some people don't make it through awful things, but even then there's the reminder that others will. It's a delicate balance and a testament to her ability as a writer that these books deal with the worst in people without being about it - instead they're about all the people who face that darkness as victims or hunters and the good that they find in each other.

Having read the previous two books in the series and loving them both, I was excited to dive into this one. This book was sort of unfulfilling, however. It definitely kept my attention and kept me reading, but it felt like something was missing. Compared to the other two, not much happened in this book and it wrapped up quickly, a little too quickly. Not my favorite of the series, but it was okay.

The Summer Children is the third installment in The Collector series. You definitely should read the prior 2 books before reading this one.

I loved the storyline in this book. A guardian angel is "saving" children from their abuse at home and dropping them off at FBI agent Mercedes Ramirez's home where they are told they will be safe. The problem with the book was that there was too much personal drama in it. Do co-workers really have that many sleepovers together? And what is with all the spanish? I took spanish in high school but that wasn't enough to translate. It felt like I was out of the loop of an inside joke.

I was really disappointed with the 2nd book but all in all, it was a good ending to the series. It tied in the "Butterflies" and Priya nicely.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a copy of Dot Hutchison's "The Summer Children" in exchange of an honest review.