Really honest story, which was a tough, emotional read. Really well written, and you can feel all the journey this family went on as it leaps off the page.

This book had the potential to be an eye-opener to use a personal experience to teach parents about the potential dangers of social media. Unfortunately, much of the book was used to speak negatively about Islam.

This book was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for a review. Don't want to give a thing away. Read this book. Now!! SO great! You won't be able to put it down! Loved! I'd give it 10 stars if I could!!

What a compelling book! I couldn't stop reading this story as it alternates between her father's version of the story and the daughter's version of the story. Part cautionary tale, part thrilling true story, this is a book that will put fear into parents and highlight the real dangers lurking on the internet.

Almost Gone is the story of Mackenzie Baldwin and how she almost abandoned her Christian upbringing and married a smooth talking convincing Muslin man. Thankfully her parents found out in time and were able to bring her back to the faith. It was not easy since she was so thoroughly convinced that the Muslin faith was the correct faith. This Christian family came close to losing their precious daughter to a false religion.

This book should serve as a warning to all Christian parents to pray without ceasing for the soul of the children entrusted to them by God.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this book to read and review.

This should be a book about teenagers and social media, internet safety, and the dangers that can come with meeting people online. But it wasn't. I get it, this is a Christian book and faith is very important to the family. I'm a Christian so it didn't bother me that the book had religious tones but their faith and their daughter's conversion to another religion took too much of the time. The book paints the Muslim man on the other side of the world as this man who is intent on doing violent and harmful things to their daughter when really it seems that the guy was just looking to get American citizenship. Which happens every day by people of ALL religions. Yes he scammed their daughter and there is a very important lesson here but it feels like they just skim over that part of it in favour of promoting their religion over another.

This book would have been much stronger if more time had been given to the twenty-five days in which they were working with the FBI to stop their daughter from going overseas. There were a few situations in which they are mentioned as being resolved but don't talk much about the resolution (what made the mosque secretary work with them when their description of their meeting with them made it seem like he didn't care for example.) A better balance between the father's and the daughter's voice would have also strengthened the book.

If there was an option for zero stars, that's what I would have given this book, but it's not a choice... so one star it is.

I feel the need to point out, before really delving into my review of this book, two things. One, I am a Christian. Two, I am not a parent.

ALMOST GONE is the story of Christian extremists John and Stephanie Baldwin attempting to imprison their adult child, Mackenzie, under the guise of "saving her" because she met someone online and converted religions to be with him.

Please, don't misunderstand. I know they were doing what they felt was best. My issues arose when they refused to learn ANYTHING about a religion John spent the entire book bashing. He also spent much time talking about how Kosovo was a hub of human trafficking. Mr. Baldwin, did you know that according to Google, there is more per capita human trafficking in your fine state of Texas than there is in Kosovo? Just wanted to point that out.

Mackenzie is right, in the beginning of the story... she doesn't know where she'd be if she'd continued down the path she was on. I'm not saying there was no risk...our federal tax dollars that went into two FBI agents becoming a fixture in the story did find some details that made it look like Aadam wanted a green card. But because the story never played out, all one can do is speculate.

Forcing your 18 year old to accept only the religion you raised her in is sickening. Hiding her passport so she can't leave you is imprisoning. And putting a tracking device in her vehicle without her knowledge is stalking. But I'm glad you can sleep at night because you did all these things to keep her right with Jesus.

Almost Gone: Twenty Five Days and One Chance To Save Our Daughter by John and Mackenzie Baldwin is the riveting true story of an 18 year old Christian girl who was targeted online by a charming young Muslim man from Kosovo, and her father who worked with the FBI on saving her from disappearing forever.
Alternately told from the viewpoint of both father and daughter, Almost Gone follows the drastic change in Mackenzie over a short period of time. Lies and deceit lead to her parents becoming perplexed and alarmed.
It is with unconditional love for their daughter, unshakable faith and the assistance of friends, family and the FBI that saved this story from becoming a tragedy.
An eye opening must read for not only parents but teenagers as well!

Thank you to NetGalley and Howard Books for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Almost Gone was a gripping story that is a must read for teenagers, young adults, and parents. Having the father and the daughter tell their side as the story unraveled was smart and helpful as a reader and parent. I was on the edge of my seat yelling at the characters to do something and to look at her phone more.

The story really affected me for weeks after I finished reading the book because it was in my stomping ground. The novel was a wake-up call for me as well because I have two strong and independent children of my own and anyone can be sucked into a scary world very quickly. It proved that we all need to be aware of what our children are doing on the internet and on their phones all of the time.

I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.

I read this very quick and very inspiring book one afternoon while my husband and teenage son were in the room. As I read I shared the story and what was happening with Mack and her family. It proved a source of very good conversation and a teaching moment that was so valuable. I appreciate the Baldwin family for having the courage to share their story and I know there are others out there like me who will benefit from the conversations this book will begin.

I recommend this book to all parents and to their teenagers. It was an eye opening and thought provoking look at the dangers of the internet and one I’m glad I read.

I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thoughts Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.

Parents (John and Stephanie) saved daughter (Mackenzie) after she was targeted by a dishonorable Muslim man.

When 17 year old Mackenzie first met Aadam on a social media site, she had no idea what she was getting herself into. Could he really be as evil as her parents, and the FBI, said he was? Just because he lived in Kosovo, the capital of sex trafficking, did that automatically make him a suspicious character? How was Aadam able to manipulate headstrong, independent Mackenzie so quickly and so deeply? Are there signs to look out for in your own children that would make them fall for a similar scenario?

I was fascinated by this true story co-written by Mackenzie, the daughter who was "brainwashed" by a young Muslim man and her father, John, who helped save her before she was "Almost Gone" from their family forever. Hopefully, by sharing their story, others can learn from Mackenzie's mistakes.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! All opinions are my own.

Great book. Highly recommend. Fabulous story, great book club pick. Really liked it

I don’t normally read non-fiction books unless it’s for work or continuing education but this book made me want to change my ways. The story of the Baldwins was so very timely given the Internet heavy world we live in. Internet predators are just waiting to take advantage of people who don’t know any better. I really appreciated that Mackenzie’s parents persevered even when they thought all hope was lost. They used tough love even though it was hard and they stuck to their guns. I’m so glad this book has a positive outcome. I thought the section at the end written by the psychologist was an excellent resource for parents or others who might be experiencing something similar.

I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own."

Have you ever read a book that you knew was really important? A book that could save lives? “Almost Gone” is a compelling true story, a must-read cautionary book for parents and teenagers. I was shocked to learn there are over 20.9 million sex trafficking victims globally. This story hits close to home.

Mackenzie Baldwin and her father, John describe what happened within their Christian family after Mack innocently met Aadam through a social media site while over at a friend’s house. For months, Mack continued secretly corresponding with Aadam while he slowly attempted to persuade her to go to Kosovo (a country known for trafficking) to become his bride. The strong willed and independent teen became withdrawn from her family and isolated from her friends, aloof, a loner. Mack’s attitude toward her religion, her relationships, and priorities shifted. The Baldwins knew something was happening with their daughter but were at a loss to know what had happened.

Mack was prepared to leave her family, friends and life as she knew it to move to Kosovo and if friends had not come forward, if her parents had not been so vigilante, had the FBI not come to her house 3 days before she was to leave, this story might have had a much different ending.

I received an advance review copy of this book from Great Thoughts Ninjas. All opinions are my own.

This book really hit home for me. As a teacher I am constantly lecturing my students about internet safety and the fact that, sadly, we live in a world where anyone can be anyone online.

This book proves that this situation, befriending and believing a false identity, can happen to absolutely anyone—even a good Christian girl in a church going family. No one is exempt from tragedy.

You can feel the heartbreak and raw emotion from both the father and the daughter involved. If nothing else, this book will reinforce the fact that you just never know who you’re talking to online. It would be a great topic of discussion for young adults.

Many thanks for the chance to read this as a part of the Great Thoughts’ Ninja Review team.

Just to put this out there, I am not a religious person at all. Every time I saw a passage or a religion mentioned, I went into skim mode.

That being said, I thought this memoir was really good. It shows exactly what family (including chosen family) will go through to save one of their own from harm. The way that her friends endangered their friendship to come forward and let people know what was going on is inspiring.

Thanks to the family for sharing their story!

~I received an arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinions. Great Thoughts’ Great Readers Ninja~

Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.

Mack is the daughter of a very close knit Christian family from Texas. She becomes involved with a young man over a social network site who is from Kosova. She quickly falls in love with him and gets drawn into a relationship with him. Mack starts to draw away from her parents and younger brothers and starts to study Islam. Her parents are very involved with their Church and are horrified by this. Mack soon under the influence of her boyfriend converts to Islam and has a whole life her family know nothing about.

This book is told in alternating POV's between Mack and her father John. John is obviously an extremely involved parent as is his wife. The desperation he felt is apparent as he details how they found out that their beloved daughter had made plans to travel to Kosovo to get married.

Mack's chapters are a little more detached until she finally comes to terms with the fact she has been manipulated and could actually be in grave danger.

I am not a religious person and this book goes into great detail about the family and their relationship with God. What kept me interested was the reality of how easy it is to groom an obviously smart but vulnerable person. We read about it every day and it is is terrifying how close this girl came to being a statistic.

I cannot imagine going through what the Baldwin family went through and commend them for sharing their story of daughter Mackenzie's secret plan to fly to Kosovo to marry Aadam, a young man from that country whom she met on an online dating chat room and became very attached to. I liked the way the story was told in the viewpoints of the father, John, and by Mackenzie. One can feel the anguish the parents were going through in trying to keep Mackenzie from leaving, and we can see from Mackenzie's telling of her story how a young girl can easily be manipulated. Online chatting with strangers is a very scary thing and this true story is one that should be read by anyone with a teenage daughter.

I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Almost Gone

Twenty-Five Days and One Chance to Save Our Daughter

by John Baldwin; Mackenzie Baldwin

Howard Books

Biographies & Memoirs

Pub Date 14 Nov 2017

I am reviewing a copy of Almost Gone through Howard Books and Netgalley:

The Baldwin family came within days of loosing there seventeen year old daughter Mackenzie forever. A very strong mind, and intelligent young lady she was nevertheless seduced by a man half a world away in Kosovo. Thankfully her parents caught wind of what was happening so she did not leave on that June day in 2014. The FBI was in her living room one day so instead of headed to the airport she was headed back to her parents house.

A year before that day in the living room Mackenzie asked her Dad John if it was okay if she brought a Koran. A question that took him aback explaining that she wanted to compare it to the Bible. Reluctantly her Father agreed seeing it as an opportunity to understand her Faith better.

Despite the fact that her parents warned her about the danger of chat rooms, and monitored her social media accounts, one day Mackenzie and her friend decided to try a site called Omegle out, this was where she would meet Aadam, soon they would connect on Facebook as well. Mackenzie believing he was from New York. She would later learn that was a lie he was infact from Kosovo! They would soon begin video chatting through Skype as well.

By August of 2013 the start of her senior year Mackenzie was no longer hanging out with her old friends. And her discussions with her Father began shifting towards the Islamic point of view. Ultimately she outright rejected Christianity. Both her Mother Stephanie and her Father John tried to talk to her but to no avail. She just pulled farther and farther away from her family.

The more she talked to Aadam, the farther she withdrew from the people she loved. Before long she was committed to worshipping at a Mosque despite the fact that she felt uncomfortable. It made Aadam Happy so she did it.

It was a family friend named Scot who made John aware that Mackenzie was planning to go to Kosovo to marry Aadam. The FBI learns about her fraudulently get another passport, and warns her of the dangers that she could have met.

It was not that John and Stephanie feared their daughter would become Muslim, they feared worse that she could be trafficked even killed.

Thankfully Mackenzie Baldwin did not make that trip, and completely cut off ties with Aadam , she is a college student with a double major now, Psycholgy and Child Development And works at Petsmart.

Five out of five stars.

Happy Reading!

Excellent book that EVERY parent should read before they let their kids go on-line and then make your kids who think they know everything read it! Written from the perspective of the father and daughter, this insightful, heart-breaking and honest look at what happens when naive kids (even at age 17) are allowed to venture out on the internet without adult supervision.