Miscreants three! Kira, Jude , and Free are almost 18 and skilled at K-9 search and rescue. When they end up looking for a list girl, family secrets come out. ARC from NetGalley.

The Lovely and the Lost features an interesting group of characters and an interesting mystery. I really loved all the dogs, they're all so precious! The plot was pretty interesting with a lot of hidden secrets and mysteries. I appreciated that it didn't follow a typical plotline and was somewhat surprised by the ending.

Even though I was a bit surprised by the ending, I was a little disappointed by it. The pacing was also a bit inconsistent and I found the middle portion of the book to be a tag stagnant. I also wish I got to learn more about some of the other characters in the story.

In conclusion, The Lovely and the Lost is a fun mystery filled with interesting characters and the best dogs!

An interesting YA suspense while it wasn't my favorite I liked the fact that the writing and tension kept me turning the pages.

Kira Bennett is found living in the woods. She can remember nothing but surviving in those woods. One day she is found by Cady Bennett and one her search-and-rescue dogs and Kira is taken in by Cady's family. She does not do well with human interaction, but has come to love the Bennett family business, which is search-and-rescue--and she's really good at it. When she is asked to help find a missing child, information that Kira did not remember comes to light and changes everything she knows--not always for the better. I really loved this story. It was emotional and heart-wrenching, while offering hope and intrigue. A really good book!

Ooo, I liked this, especially Kira's repressed memories and her PTSD, but the end felt really wide open. I hope there's a sequel.

Literally, you just had to tell me that this book was about dogs and I would have picked it up to read. Add in the fact I adore this author, and this story launched up to NEED TO READ. It is also a positive in the book's favor that this is a mystery and I am always down for a good mystery. My only negative is that I didn't get to it sooner, pushing it off until I had time to savor it- which is completely unreasonable because I will never have extra time.

This will be a short review since this was more a book to experience than for me to wax on poetically about, but anticipate a fast paced twisty mystery set in the great outdoors that place place over just a few days time, dangerous situations, lots of family drama and hard truths, as well as the best sibling/friendship bound I have read about in a long time. While most YA books are romantic relationship centered, this was about the bound between siblings by choice and I adored every interaction. I really need more Kira/Jude?Free banter in my life. Also, can I just point out how wonderful that it was never in question that Kira was Cady's daughter- everyone, including Kira, just accepted it as fact and moved on. It was the best (sniff, sniff).

I highly recommend this story for anyone who likes found families, high stakes stressful situations, complicated secrets, hard truths and the amazingness of search and rescue dogs. This is a standalone which wrapped up perfectly, but I would love to go on another mission with Kira and company again.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

The Lovely and the Lost is the first novel I read by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Considering she published almost 30 novels in genres I usually read, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, and Young Adult, that is surprising.

In it, we are introduced to the Bennett family. Cady, the mother, is one of the best search and rescuers who also trains search and rescue dogs. Her son is Jude and her adopted daughter, Kira, was found by Cady in the woods many years ago. Rounding out the family is Phoebe, who prefers to be called Free, the 3rd in the teen's close-knit trio. The story focuses on a search and rescue and gives some detail on how to tray search and rescue dogs. All of the teens work with the dogs and are training to be search and rescuers.

The Young Adult novel is well thought out and well-written. The characters are flawed, show their limitations, their strengths, and feel real. While it would be enjoyable for all readers of YA, I feel middle school students would enjoy it the most.

I will definitely read one of Jennifer Lynn Barnes's series. As of 6/17/19, Goodreads lists 7 series.

I really liked the premise of this book but it didn't gel as well as it should have. I would have liked more of a backstory on Kira as the connection was lost and why she turned so feral after only a short period of time and I would have liked to know more about the background of most of the characters, they were a little flat. The book was good though and kept my interest.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Lovely and the Lost

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 3/5

Publication Date: May 7, 2019

Genre: YA Mystery

Recommended Age: 15+ (missing children, being lost in the woods, language, slight gore)

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 328

Amazon Link

Synopsis: Kira Bennett’s earliest memories are of living alone and wild in the woods. She has no idea how long she was on her own or what she had to do to survive, but she remembers the moment that Cady Bennett and one of her search-and-rescue dogs found her perfectly. Adopted into the Bennett family, Kira still struggles with human interaction years later, but she excels at the family business: search-and-rescue. Along with Cady’s son, Jude, and their neighbor, Free, Kira works alongside Cady to train the world’s most elite search-and-rescue dogs. Someday, all three teenagers hope to put their skills to use, finding the lost and bringing them home.

But when Cady’s estranged father, the enigmatic Bales Bennett, tracks his daughter down and asks for her help in locating a missing child—one of several visitors who has disappeared in the Sierra Glades National Park in the past twelve months—the teens find themselves on the frontlines sooner than they could have ever expected. As the search through 750,000 acres of unbridled wilderness intensifies, Kira becomes obsessed with finding the missing child. She knows all too well what it’s like to be lost in the wilderness, fighting for survival, alone.

But this case isn’t simple. There is more afoot than a single, missing girl, and Kira’s memories threaten to overwhelm her at every turn. As the danger mounts and long-held family secrets come to light, Kira is forced to question everything she thought she knew about her adopted family, her true nature, and her past.

Review: Overall, I liked this story. The characters were compelling, the dogs were OMG SO CUTE, and the writing was well done. I felt like the book was evenly paced and the book had a great story. I’ve always been interested in children who get lost and are found years later (I’m a weirdo I know). I felt like the book hit all the high points for me.

However, I didn’t feel invested in any of the characters or the book at all. The book felt flat, even though everything was pretty good.

Verdict: It was good, but didn’t hit that special spot in my soul.

Kira was adopted by a woman who who raises and trains search and rescue dogs. Kira was found alone in the woods and you spend a lot of time wanting to know more about her story, as does Kira herself. Kira, Jude her adopted brother, and the next door neighbor, Free all know how to train dogs and carry out search and rescues.
Kira doesn't trust people easily but she is learning. When another little girl goes missing Kira decides to help even though the person who is asking for help complicates everything.
My only criticism of the book is that I do feel the ending was pretty fast.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title.

This was a little different than I expected and just didn't live up to what I had hoped it would be. Sadly I found myself skimming through much of the book.

What made me pick this book up:
Jenn told me to.

What did I like about the cover:
What a gorgeous cover. The colors are beautiful and I love the trees/mountains/clouds.

What made me read this book:
Every month Jenn and I are going to challenge each other to read certain books. This was what she challenged me to read this book.

What did I like the most:
Okay so let me just say that I was totally like "I don't think I like Jennifer Lynn Barnes, wah wah blah blah". So Jenn was like well just try it.
So I did.
And I texted her about 3/4 of the way through and said "You were right, I was wrong". Because I FELL IN LOVE with this book y'all. I did NOT want to stop reading it. I wanted to curl up in this book and let it read it to me ALL NIGHT LONG.

Okay, deep breaths.

What did I like about? The dogs! I loved reading about the relationships with the dogs and their handlers. I loved seeing what they can do, and how their training was being used. I feel like JLB did a lot of research on not only dog training, but also search and rescue.

Which brings me into another thing I loved. This book was written so well. I felt like it correctly portrayed PTSD and anxiety. I feel like it did well in the fact that it would help others *like myself* who have severe PTSD in showing that we aren't alone. That she understands that it's real and it sucks and we can live with it and learn to cope and get better.
This book had an amazing pace. It was never slow and boring, but it wasn't always BAM BAM BAM GO GO GO so that I was feeling like I was in a whirlwind like I've felt with some other books. It was just perfectly paced.
I definitely felt like it was realistic and not so far fetched that it felt like fiction.

I loved all of the characters. Kira had something traumatic happen to her, but she doesn't allow that to keep her from living her life or from helping others. She uses what she went through to give her strength.
And her brother, Jude. Oh my lord, Jude. I was in love. He was sweet and goofy and funny and sweet and I need him in my life.
I loved Cady. I loved Bales. I loved everyone.

The mystery was amazing. The tension was legit. It was all so good.

This book gave me so many emotions. So. Many. Emotions. Guys. Guys. Seriously.

What didn't I like:
There wasn't really anything I didn't like. I do wish we got to see more of her childhood and her living out in the wild, and I wish it kind of went more into what she went through and how she was found.

I also cried. And I hate crying. And I cried A LOT in this book.

Would I read the rest of the series/more from this author?
YES

Jenn was right, I was wrong. I needed this book in my life.

The Lovely and the Lost by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a fantastic YA thriller that will appeal to anyone of any age.

The lovely and the Lost was not my favorite Jennifer Lynn Barnes book. i loved the family dynamic but this was a lot darker than I realized. My heart truly broke for Kira. This is a heavy plot so you need to be in the right frame of mind for it. happy reading!

Two and a half stars: A book with lots of promise but it falters with unfinished story lines and a chaotic plot. Needs more focus!

When a little girl goes missing in the Sierra Glades National Park, Kira Bennett is determined that she and her dog will be the ones to find her. Kira knows a thing or two about being lost in the wilderness. When Kira was a young girl, she spent weeks alone in the wood until she was rescued by Katie and her rescue dog. Years later, Kira is a teenager, adopted by Katie. Kira has learned to cope with her past by training rescue dogs. Kira struggles with human interaction, and snippets of memory, but her steadfast determination to lead her dog to rescued others keeps her going. Unfortunately, when Kira and her teammates begin searching for the little girl, things take many complicated turns. Will they find the young girl alive?
What I Liked:
*The Lovely and the Lost is a book that hooked me with the suspense of a missing girl in the mountains. I loved the rescued dogs, the search and learning more about Kira and her mysterious past.
*The rescue dogs were the highlight of the story. I loved learning about how the dogs trained, and how the dogs performed during a search and rescued. I absolutely adored the dogs. Best part of the book hands down!
*Kira was an interesting character. My heart immediately went out to her once I learned about her terrifying and troubling past. I wanted desperately for her to find her path and prove her worth as a search and rescue handler. As the story progressed, more and more revelations come forth about Kira’s past. She was one tough girl!
*The suspenseful story line involving the little girl kept me engaged with this one. I wanted desperately to learn the fate of the missing girl.
And The Not So Much:
*I got to the end and I was left completely confused. The explanations were strange, and I didn’t feel like the story came together. It ended up being a chaotic mess. There was too much going on, too many things left unfinished. Finally, I didn’t buy into the explanations that were provided. I was wondering what the heck I just read?? I hope the author is planning on a sequel because this one seemed unfinished.
*There are several sub plots introduced such as the fate of several missing people. I kept reading thinking I would find out what happened to these other missing people along with the little girl, but I was sorely disappointed. I don’t know what the point of adding in these story lines if they were not going to be finished. Totally frustrating.
*I struggled with the motives of many of the characters. I didn’t think their actions fit with their motives. It was all confusing.
*Finally did you really need to have one of the characters die?? It was totally unnecessary other than to make the reader sad.
The Lost and the Lovely was book that started out strong. I was sucked in by the suspenseful story line involving a young girl missing in the woods. I loved the rescue dogs and the search. Unfortunately, the plot was a hot mess. There were several story lines that were left hanging, and the explanations that were provided left me unsatisfied. I was left completely confused, wondering if there was more to come?? As it stands, this was a flop.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

In Jennifer Lynn Barnes' style, this is a story populated with fascinating characters and scenarios. Kira is a trauma survivor who has been adopted by a strong single mom and a lovable adopted brother, Jude. Kira's feral past is relived when she has the opportunity to join Cady, Jude, and best friend, Free, along with their Search and Rescue (SAR) trained dogs to find a little girl who has been lost in the woods. While my feelings are mixed about the believability of Kira as a character and her SAR dog in training, Saskia, I can't help but enjoy the mystery. This is a title that I feel comfortable recommending to mystery lovers grades 7 - 12.

4 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Disney Book Group for providing me with an eARC of this title for review. All opinions are my own.

I am almost embarrassed to say that I have never read a book by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Although in my defense I had been planning to read “The Naturals” due to peer pressure from the kids in my building who absolutely love that series. However, I never got around to it and this was my introduction to her writing and style. And I must say, I was completely enthralled in this book from the very beginning. I truly enjoyed the characters in this story but as a complete dog lover, I was somewhat captivated by the search and rescue dogs. Not to mention, it was an interesting aspect and added something that you wouldn’t typically find in this type of YA story.

This is a great mix of and a mystery and adventure story. Therefore, I believe it would be good for anyone who likes either genre. Those unlike me, who have already fallen in love with her books will NOT be disappointed in her latest installment. I think it is time that I start reading all of her books because this one was just simply good.

Highly recommend.

What a great adventure/thriller read! I couldn’t put this book down. I enjoyed the characters (especially Jude), the dogs and their unique personalities, and the search and rescue missions. I would go out on a limb and say this is my favorite Barnes title so far, but she has impressed me with her versatility. I will definitely be recommending this one to my students!

I wanted to love this book, and there is a lot to love here: the mystery of why Kira was in the woods, the rescue dogs, etc. But I couldn't really get into the story - the romance felt forced, and I didn't feel that Kira's behavior was realistic? Surviving weeks alone in the woods seemed unlikely to me, plus her "backstory"--it just didn't jive for me.

That said, I did love the premise and the secondary characters were great, especially Kira's brother.

Kira Bennett’s earliest memories are of living alone and wild in the woods. She has no idea how long she was on her own or what she had to do to survive, but she remembers the moment that Cady Bennett and one of her search-and-rescue dogs found her perfectly. Adopted into the Bennett family, Kira still struggles with human interaction years later, but she excels at the family business: search-and-rescue. Along with Cady’s son, Jude, and their neighbor, Free, Kira works alongside Cady to train the world’s most elite search-and-rescue dogs. Someday, all three teenagers hope to put their skills to use, finding the lost and bringing them home.

But when Cady’s estranged father, the enigmatic Bales Bennett, tracks his daughter down and asks for her help in locating a missing child—one of several visitors who has disappeared in the Sierra Glades National Park in the past twelve months—the teens find themselves on the frontlines sooner than they could have ever expected. As the search through 750,000 acres of unbridled wilderness intensifies, Kira becomes obsessed with finding the missing child. She knows all too well what it’s like to be lost in the wilderness, fighting for survival, alone.

But this case isn’t simple. There is more afoot than a single, missing girl, and Kira’s memories threaten to overwhelm her at every turn. As the danger mounts and long-held family secrets come to light, Kira is forced to question everything she thought she knew about her adopted family, her true nature, and her past.

My thoughts
Rating: 5
This was the first time I've ever read this author but I've been waiting to give her a try and I'm so glad I went with this one, wow what a story ( just wish it was a series because I would pick it up in a heart beat and read it). It had me hooked from the story , and I just had to keep reading , I loved how you got to see bits of pieces of Lisa's past and her love for the dogs especially for Sliver and her dog , and her love for her family, and find characters to fall in love with as well as characters to hate . With that said I want to thank Netgalley for letting me read and review it exchange for my honest opinion.