One night Sharon spots a young child in her neighbor’s window, but she knows the Flemings don’t have any children that age. Who could that little girl be? Determined to discover the truth, Sharon and the young woman who lives with her begin their own amateur investigation.

This might be the fluffiest dark story in existence.

It’s been a while since I saw a book through that I ended up hating. Although I knew I wasn’t in love with this early on, I did initially find the plot compelling and I was eager to comprehend how the dots connected. Unfortunately (for me!), the author showed her hand shortly after I hit the 50% mark on this audiobook. Once there was nothing left to figure out, the weight of my annoyance increased. While there are many things I disliked about the story, I’ll try to focus on my biggest issues for this review.

The Moonlight Child contained some really heavy situations, such as a character who seemed to have NPD, child abuse, and sexual assault. All of this was presented with such a light tone, laced with warm platitudes that didn’t sit right with me. When I read a book that tackles subject matter that I know to be deeply disturbing and it presents it all in such a lighthearted way, it is difficult for me to chew on. While the author may have wanted to create an ultimately uplifting story, I think it’s insensitive to use traumatic content and develop it all into Pollyanna conclusions. I don’t find comfort in that. It feels… invalidating. It feels like a deep misunderstanding of the issues at play.

I was also baffled by the absurdity of the dialogue. I don’t know how all human beings interact with each other, but I find it very difficult to believe most individuals would communicate in the way that the characters of this story communicated. They all felt like caricatures, especially the villain, and it was hard to take any of them seriously.

I have to tell you this: I am a crier. If you share a sad story with me, I will likely cry. If you share a joyful story, well, that might make me cry, too. If it’s touching in any way, you’re gonna see tears. I don’t even have to like you for this to happen. My tear ducts are broken. So, despite my hostile dislike of this book, I teared up at the end of this. And ya know what? THAT MADE ME EVEN MADDER!!!

I don’t know what the author’s background is and I don’t want to make assumptions. I will just say that it felt like she’d had very limited (if any) exposure to the dark topics she tackled and no real understanding of how they should look on paper.

I know every author puts their heart into their books and I make great effort to find redeeming qualities or simply not finish the ones that I cannot constructively review. I take no pleasure in telling you how much I hated this, but to tell you otherwise would be untrue.

I am immensely grateful to Dreamscape Media for my audio review copy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Reading Between the Wines book review #114/115 for 2021:
Rating: 3 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book 🎧: The Moonlight Child
Author: Karen McQuestion
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
RELEASED on October 28, 2021!!!

Sipping thoughts: I loved the characters Sharon and Niki. The dynamic between those two made the book pop. They banded together to try and find out who the child in the window was and if she was safe. I enjoyed getting to know the background of the little girl and what happened to her. I just wish something a little bit major had happened at the end, like a twist or something. I liked the writing style of McQuestion and would read more of her books.

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @DreamscapeAudio for an advanced copy of @TheMoonlightChild.
#TheMoonlightChild #DreamscapeAudio #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers

I really enjoyed this book. The narrator did a wonderful job and I think the book was really well written. At first, I didn’t understand how the missing girl from the beginning of the book would tie into the rest of the story but it was so bittersweet to find out how they were linked. I liked how these two girls that had no one found these wonderful, supportive lives, that are full of hope and promise for the future.

The Moonlight Child is such a unique book.
It weaves together three different storylines from three different households, and while it is primarily a suspenseful thriller, it's such a touching story about the families we make for ourselves.
I think for those primarily looking for thrills it's still enjoyable and will deliver, but if you like something with a little more substance and heart, this book isn't one to miss.
I listened to the audiobook of The Moonlight Child and enjoyed the narration, I definitely recommend it for this story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Domestic thriller readers will love The Moonlight Child by Karen McQuestion -- I know I did! I enjoyed the audibook version of this title, which features an excellent performance by Stacey Glemboski.

The Moonlight Child tells three interwoven stories -- from the book's description, we know how two of the households are related. Sharon feels suspicious when she notices a young child washing dishes late at night at her neighbors house. And what is suspicious is, the Fleming's do not have a young child...

The other story we wait with suspense to see how it aligns.

I found this book engaging, a page-turner and filled with fantastic characters. Even the ones you hate, you love to hate them.

That is why I rated this 4-stars instead of 5...

**Spoiler**
I was waiting for more of a payout regarding Suzette at the end. It kills me that we didn't get to hear her thoughts on getting caught! I was dying to hear who she was blaming, what she was thinking and so forth and felt really cheated that we did not get that.

Thank you SO much to Karen McQuestion and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook for my honest review.
#themoonlightchild #netgalley

3.5⭐
Something strange is going on at the Flemings' house. The neighbors Sharon and Niki have been seeing a little girl at night, but the Flemings said they only have a son.

That sounds creepy and mysterious. My expectation was perhaps overboard going in. This isn't a horror nor a thriller. I guess you can classify it as a mystery, which was revealed pretty early on and there wasn't any surprising element after that. I did enjoy the characters, and story as it is, but wish for a little more oomph.

This is my first book by Karen McQuestion and I hope to read more from her. The performance by Stacey Glemboski was very good and I really enjoyed this audiobook.

Thank you Karen McQuestion and Netgalley for a copy of this audiobook.

Three individual stories converge as characters begin to merge into each others lives.
One young lady has aged out of foster care, but needs a first chance in a caring home.
One little girl is living in a home and tending to the needs of Ma'am and the family.
Finally, one young lady is missing, leaving her mother and father without answers or closure....
Slowly these stories unravel, yet weave themselves together. I felt the information to follow the story was presented in a kind and concise manner, without overly long dialog. There is one narcissistic sociopath that became one of the most hated characters I've encountered in a book. That ends well too. :)
I listened to this as an audiobook, nicely narrated by Stacey Glemboski.
Thank you to NetGalley, Karen McQuestion, and the publisher for the advanced listening copy. My opinions are my own.

This book was a page turner from beginning to end. Things are not what they seem and will have you guessing until the end. Two ladies notice a little girl in a house that does not have a child. They call social services. But they do nothing. So they decide to investigate on their own. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t find it predictable as soon claimed. It was quite obvious from the description of the book that a little girl was secreted away in a house next door. There aren’t many reasons for denying the presence of a child so it was also obvious that she was gained by some illegal means.
The mystery wasn’t in how or even why this child was there but would Sharon and Nikki outwit Mrs. Freeman and uncover the truth and who was this child and why was no one looking for her. The dynamic between Sharon and Nikki was worth reading all on its own. The only thing I would have liked is more of a backstory on Nikki and maybe this book is a continuation of another but I don’t know. I wouldn’t really classify this as suspense or a cozy mystery but maybe somewhere in between.
The narrator did a great job with all characters and differentiate their voices. I found her easy to listen to.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced audiobook copy

I really loved this book! I listened to it in one day.

Little Girl Lost

Gripping, emotional and full of suspense this story pulls you in and won't let you go until the final page. It is the story of a little girl lost to the world. What makes it so scary is that it very possible could and maybe has happened to someone in real life. We may never know.

Late at night an older lady , Sharon, spots something strange at the house next door during a lunar eclipse. She sees a little girl in the window washing dishes in the middle of the night. The only problem is the Flemings do not have a little girl.

When she discusses it with Niki a former foster child living with her they both agree it is suspicious. After their call to child services merits nothing they decide to investigate.

The characters are great, set just right for each part of the story. My favorite characters of course are Mia and Griswold. I also liked the character of Jacob the teenage boy that lived at the house next door where the Flemings lived.

Could a child be kept a secret without being seen and what compulsion would drive someone to do such a thing? Is there really a child or is it just Sharon's imagination? Read along as the story evolves and the questions are answered.

I enjoyed reading this book and the parts each character played. The narrator did a great job on the Audio Book and I would recommend it.

Thanks to Karen McQuestion, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a complimentary copy of the audio book to go along with my purchased copy of the eBook to allow me to write my honest review

The Moonlight Child
Karen McQuestion
Sharon Lemke was observing a lunar eclipse when she noticed something strange. She could see through the kitchen window in her neighbor’s house, a small child was washing dishes. It was late at night and the child looked as if she was standing on a chair. She couldn’t help but wonder why a child that young was doing dishes. She pulled out her phone and snaped a few pictures. Sharon was concerned, something strange was going on in that house but she wasn’t sure what to do.
Sharon’s daughter, Amy is an attorney and works with CASA (Court Appointed Child Advocate.) Amy asked her mother to allow Niki, an eighteen-year-old former foster child to come live with her. Niki was a sweet girl that had a rough time. When Sharon shared her concerns with Niki, the two of them began to investigate.
Mia was about six years old. She is appreciative of any kind word. She found a spot behind the sofa that is just the right size for her tiny body; she hopes Mam doesn’t find out about it. She doesn’t like it when Mam gets mad. She loves Jakob. Mia doesn’t quite fit in with the family; she’s innocent and does what she’s told, all she wants to do is please Mam.
The Moonlight Child is an emotional read. I loved little Mia. It was a pleasure watching Niki and Sharon form a relationship. They were good for each other. I liked Jakob. I didn’t like either of Jakob’s parents.
This book touched my heart. Author Karen McQuestion found the idea for this book from an article in a newspaper. “By all appearances they were like everyone else, but unbeknownst to relatives, friends, and neighbors, they had a shocking secret, one that led them to being charged with federal crimes, and eventually going to prison.”

A cleverly executed idea with a wonderful cast of characters. The story line of a girl hidden in a house working tirelessly on household chores at the direction of an evil replacement mother is not in and of itself novel (Cinderella). But that did not dampen my interest in this book.

The characters truly made the book. They all had unique back stories that made them more interesting and complex. Their stories started out separately, but the author weaved them together, bringing them closer in an honest, unhurried way. Nothing felt forced. It all just moved along at a nice pace and ended in a way that felt good, but was realistic.

I truly enjoyed this book.

First off, thanks NetGalley for this audiobook of The Moonlight Child!

Okay, I really liked this book! I work in the mental health field with kids, and I have to say that this book was spot on! I loved how accurately the characters were written and how they responded to their various traumas all while it still being a thriller with very fast paced moments. The characters felt very well thought out, there were so many moments where their development shone through, and everything just meshed together SO well! I also ALWAYS appreciate when authors hype therapy in a book lol so that was also icing on the cake.

The only reason this one didn't get 5/5 stars for me was that I could see a lot of the plot points coming. I didn't ever feel a jar dropping moment were there was a twist that caught me completely off guard, and I missed that just a little bit. However, again, I do work in mental health SO it could just be that I know too much to be caught off guard by this story lol. Overall it was a great read!

Lastly, I really loved the narrator! I love audiobooks so much, and I can't stand it when narrators don't hit the mark. This narrator did a phenomenal job of making me feel the characters personalities and know who was talking when they spoke.

Listening to this at night was a mistake! I’m such a chicken. It didn’t matter though, this was to good to wait to finish in the morning in the daylight. The characters were so realistic and I was super invested in them and the story. 100% would recommend to anyone to read or listen.

I was thoroughly entertained, reading The Moonlight Child. This is the perfect book for fans of the Mystery/Thriller genre that don't like their stories to be too crazy, bloody, horrifying or profane. It's a well-written story by Karen McQuestion with identifiable (and likable) characters. The mystery here is pretty straight forward- not a psychological thriller, and not overly dark. The heart of the book focuses on relationships and connections without getting too deep. Niki is a great character, but I was most taken with Mia and her brother. I started out liking Sharon, but then she pretty much fades in to a supporting role in the story, where she can easily (sadly) be forgotten.

The audiobook edition, narrated by Stacey Glemboski is well /performed/produced.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Omg this book was a complete gem. I started it in the morning and finished it later in the evening. I couldn't stop myself. This story has man elements. It touches the subject of kidnapping, abuse, but most of all mixed families. What do I mean by that. Well let me tell you. This book explains that not all families are blood and that when you do find people who act like family, hug and hold them because when someone loves unconditionaly... that is family! Sometimes blood is so toxic that to only heal from it is too leave them behind. I loved this book and the ending is great! I definitely reccomend this book

Thank you Net Galley for an audio ARC of The Moonlight Child by Karen McQuestion. This was an emotional ride. Both author and narrator did an exceptional job. I loved it!

I definitely didn’t see how the stories tied together until almost the end. Each character is well written. The story is heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time.

There is one question that doesn’t get answered that’s still bugging me and I don’t like how one character isn’t really given a conclusion but it none of this takes away from the story.

My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for a copy of this audio.

I had difficulty connecting to this. The story of Sharon and Niki was pretty clear and how it connected to the Mia and neighbors story, but I would have liked a bit more of the Mia background to understand how she was saved? It's like she was just there. Then the story with the other missing girl just thrown in? It just lost me and I was on the fence. I can't recommend. This was advertised as a mystery/thriller but I didn't feel it.