I have previously submitted feedback for Stolen by Tess Stimson as well as shared to Goodreads so I am unsure why this appears on my feedback list again.

"Stolen" by Tess Stimson is a suspenseful novel that explores the repercussions of a devastating theft, weaving a story of intrigue and consequences.

This is a new to me author and I have to say I am looking forward to reading more by this author! I loved this book

What did I just read!?! This book had my emotions - and my heart rate - all over the place! The way it was written was addicting - short chapters all ending in cliffhangers. Brilliant. It kept me wanting to read. I never wanted to stop. I can honestly say I never saw the ending coming - though I'm not totally sure if I love the ending or not. I also did not care for some of the minor elements that were added, that really weren't necessary for the story. I felt some of it was too political to be enjoyed. However, this book was more than addicting and I can't wait to read more by Tess Stimson!

Stolen by Tess Stimson

You would have thought she was safe. You are wrong. Alex’s daughter has been missing for over two years.

Fantastic book. I couldn’t put it down. Many characters, some evil, but most of them good. Well-written. I was very surprised by the ending. I recommend this book.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.

This may be tough to read as a mother of a young daughter like myself, but I read it much like the movie "Taken" with Liam Neeson. It was adventurous as such towards the middle of the story, but fell flat in the end for me. If you suspend your disbelief, I think you may be okay with how the book ended, but it's a bit far fetched. Not a bad read, but not one I would read again.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Harper360 and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

A thrilling, suspenseful, jaw dropping story you won’t want to put put down.

Stolen
By Tess Stimson
Pub Date: January 4, 2022
Avon

* Mystery * Suspense * Crime * Thriller
These are the things that drew me to this book. I loved this book and highly recommend it. Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC.
Alex knows her daughter would never wander off in a strange place. So when her three-year-old vanishes from an idyllic beach wedding, Alex immediately believes the worst.
The hunt for Lottie quickly becomes a worldwide search, but it’s not long before suspicion falls on her mother. Why wasn’t she watching Lottie?
Alex knows she’s not perfect, but she loves her child. And with all eyes on her, Alex fears they’ll never uncover the truth unless she takes matters into her own hands. Who took Lottie Martini? And will she ever come home?
5 stars

‘But Lottie is alive. My daughter is alive. She’s tenacious, determined, ferocious. She couldn’t be extinguished without creating a disturbance, a rent in the fabric of the world that I would feel.’

Alex’s three year-old daughter Lottie is kidnapped from a destination wedding in Florida, vanishing into thin air under the negligent eyes of the guests. Sympathy for grieving Alex turns to suspicion as the case progresses.

This story, told from the viewpoints of Alex, reporter Quinn, and a mysterious abductor, takes an unusual approach to the issue of child abduction. Though she loves her daughter dearly, Alex is no saint and struggles with the responsibilities of motherhood.

I thought the first third of the story, which deals with Lottie’s abduction, was the strongest part. We really feel Alex’s horror and desperation as the hours wear on with no sign of her daughter. The situation seems like an impossible one – how could a little girl go missing so tracelessly?

But once we get to the time-skip, the plot abruptly slows down. There are a couple of plot twists in this section, but they are delivered without much suspense so I was not wowed by them. I did like the discussion of Alex’s relationship with her family and her feelings of guilt, though, as I thought it was interesting to see how the impact of Lottie’s abduction radiated outward.

The ending was disappointing. Things clicked into place, but one aspect of the solution to the mystery is so far-fetched I had trouble swallowing it. I think the problem was that the mystery was so built up that it’s tough to get a satisfying conclusion.

As for Quinn – I’ve noticed reviews rarely mention her, and it’s with good reason. For an alcoholic disabled lesbian former war correspondent, she doesn’t make much impression or bring much to the table – she could have easily been cut from the story without much change to anything.

Overall, a decent thriller, but the final showdown drooped.

Stolen – Tess Stimson

This was the first novel I’ve read by this author, but it will not be my last!

Alex Martini is an attorney, and the mother of a very strong-willed little girl - in the opening chapter, you’ll learn all about the precocious Charlotte “Lottie” Martini as her mother shares some of her rebellious antics with the reader. A single mother after the death of her husband Luca in a bridge collapse, Alex and Lottie are on their way to Florida to attend the marriage of her best friend Marc and his bride-to-be Sian.

Despite Alex’s misgivings, Lottie behaves herself and the wedding goes off without a hitch. As Lottie and the other flower girls play with one another, Alex takes advantage of the break from parenting, and has a quick sexual encounter on the beach with a well-known tennis player. A few hours later, she realizes that the golden curled Lottie is nowhere to be found and sounds the alarm. Despite the entire wedding party and guests searching diligently, Lottie is nowhere to be found. As the press gets wind of the disappearance of the child, Alex’s life, both personal and professional, becomes tabloid fodder with everyone venturing opinions about the disappearance, preceding events & Alexa in general. As days go by, and all leads dry up, there remains not a trace of little Lottie.

Quinn is a young journalist who works as a news correspondent when she’s not binge drinking. Grossly disfigured after an IED explosion while reporting from Syria, Quinn knows she’ll never be a prime-time anchor, but still carries a burning desire to chase a good story – and Quinn becomes very interested in Lottie’s disappearance. But she goes too far when she practically accuses Alex of negligence on national television and is removed from covering the disappearance by her employer. But Quinn is unwilling to let this story go.

As weeks turn into months, Alex makes it her sole mission in life to discover what happened to Lottie. A video is anonymously sent to Alex with a shadowy figure carrying off a small child, a figure who seems strangely familiar – then a chance encounter between two passing trains has Alex sure she’s spotted Lottie and her kidnapper. Meanwhile, Quinn is doing her own research, digging through witness statements, photos, police reports and the like, looking for something – anything to help with the search.

What really happened to little Lottie…???

I initially was hesitant to read this because I always find stories about missing children haunting, in a way. (Remember Finders Keepers, by Fern Michaels – that one is still with me – and I had to have read it 10-15 years ago!) But read it I did, and transfixed I was by the disappearance, the storyline, the suspense, the whiplash provoking twists…this one kept me mesmerized as I, too searched for Lottie between each page. Told from Alex’s perspective, with a mother’s love and brutal honesty, this one will resonate long after the last page is turned.

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley & Harper 360 Publishing, in exchange for an objective review. Do you love to read?? Visit netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!

This was a bit of a let down for me. Topics that were over used and an ending that was too far fetched for me all led to just an underwhelming read.

Wow, wow, wow! Who is Tess Stimson and how have I never heard of her until now? This book was actually a little annoying in that I was so busy over Christmas and needed my sleep, but simply could not put this book down!

It has been some time since I've been so excited by a story, and found an author that I want to discover what else she has written. The first couple of chapters of Stolen I was intrigued, but not yet captivated. But just a few chapters in I realized I was on one of those roller coasters that starts out deceptively smoothly, you think you know the twists and turns ahead. But this story continually surprised me and pulled the rug out from my expectations. Twisty and smart. I pictured the author with an idea board on a wall with notes to keep up with all the plot twists, and that would be a big wall with a spider web of lines!

If you want an exciting read with a plot that keeps you guessing and a surprise ending then this is your book. I won't even attempt to explain the plot, other than to say it riffs off the well known and sad case of Madeleine McCann, the little girl that disappeared in Portugal many years ago. But from there it definitely goes in many different directions and no one is immune from the possibility of being a suspect.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Tess Stimson, and Harper 360 for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

Stolen by Tess Stimson is a thriller on every parent’s nightmare, an abducted child. This was originally published in August of ’21 with the paperback now coming in January. The story in Stolen is another that changes the point of view between characters in the book.

Alexa Martini is a single mother to her darling three year old daughter Lottie. Alexa has taken her daughter to the US to attend a wedding of a friend in Florida on the beach. Little Lottie is going to be participating in the ceremony, one of a few darling little flower girls.

The wedding goes off without a hitch along the beach and the participants and guests head back to the reception. Alexa watches as the girls follow along with the crowd as she continues to flirt with another guest. Time passes as Alexa goes to track down Lottie and can’t seem to find her with the police being called in.

Stolen by Tess Stimson was the type of book that I had a hard time stopping turning the pages needing to know just what had really happened to the little girl. The story felt like something on the news at this day and time with victim blaming (Alexa’s parenting) and then race (the little white girl making the news) which is exactly what happens these days. There were twists and turns and red herrings galore that made it even more compelling but of course reading as much as I do I did see the end coming but it was still a really fun ride to get there.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Single mom Alex is attending a wedding in Florida. Her daughter Lottie is a flower girl. Lottie later disappears during the reception. Was Lottie kidnapped or did she wander off.
The story unfolds little by little as time passes from days to weeks to months and years of Lottie being missing.
Lots of suspicion of numerous people and their reasons for possibly taking Lottie. Quite of few twists and turns along the way as well. There were a few thing I found confusing but overall a sold book.

Thanks to netgalley and Harper 360 for the arc

Thank you Netgalley & Harper 360/Avon for an eARC of Stolen in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

This is my first read of Tess Stimson's, and while I'm looking forward to diving into her other books I just didn't love this one as much as I was hoping to. The ending felt repetitive at times and, without giving anything away, I was confused about some chapters and pieces of the writing being repeated. That being said, the writing is fantastic and this book has short chapters and so many twists.

I was so excited for this book but I was reading the Netgalley reviews while I waited for it to download and there was one person who gave away every single detail of the ending in their very negative review. I still read it because all of the other reviews were outstanding and the book was definitely
Up to par! Loved it but fair warning to anyone on Netgalley, don’t keep scrolling through the reviews or you will ruin it for yourself!

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of Stolen by Tess Stimson from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and opinions. WOW, WOW, WOW! This book takes you on a wild ride from the first page and keeps you reading late until the night as you will not want to put it down! Do yourself a favor and pick this up ASAP - I promise you won't regret missing a few hours of sleep!

This book was awesome!! Tess always keeps you on your toes but this time I was totally surprised.

Every Mom has the nightmare that she will lose her child in the store, they will wander off when we aren't looking. But even if you are not a Mom you will be drawn into this story and feel the turmoil in Alex's heart.

When Alex's daughter is stolen, she dedicates her entire being to searching for her daughter. But every time she feels she is close then a twist of fate disappoints her.

The plot in Stolen is filled with twists, turns, and surprises. I was amazed at the author's ingenuity in this story. I was totally surprised at the end!

Y’all, I’m going to need Botox after reading this book because I had my brow raised or furrowed the entire time! I had so many theories about who took little Lottie but none of them wanted to stick! I love the brutally raw honesty of her mother, Alex. There are so many things written in this book that just gut punched me. I loved the couple of pages in the second half of this book where I honestly said out loud, very slowly, “Waaaait a minute….” And then BAM!!! My jaw dropped wide open! Beautifully executed by Tess Stimson! I never in a million years expected the end because the twists just kept slamming me again and again! Perfectly written! I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it! Then go back and read her last book, One in Three! It was so freaking good, too!!!

This book had me at page 1. What a fabulous thriller! Alex is a widowed mother to Lottie, two, who is an extremely difficult toddler. Alex doesn't hide that she is not cut out to be a mother, nor that Lottie is really kind of a burden to her. But they love each other. On a trip to Alex's best friend's wedding in Florida, Lottie disappears...later determined to be kidnapped on the beach by a strange man. There are SO many twists and turns in this story that I thought I had figured it out several ties but I never did until the very end. The characters are so real and totally unforgettable. Alex is sarcastic, witty and smart and also really funny and honest in her observations. The reporter she meets during the investigation, Quinn is also such a well written, interesting character. I loved them both on so many levels along with all the other characters who all have something to hide. This is an amazing thriller that is really impossible to figure out and I absolutely loved it!! I will definitely look for more from this author! Do NOT miss this book!