The Search for Shannon [Hardcover]

Vicki L. Allen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2000

Set in southern Mississippi, Alabama and southeast Georgia, "The Search for Shannon" is the story of four women, brought together by the birth and subsequent adoption of one child.

Andie: the elusive blonde who fled her hometown with a deeply hidden secret, only to return twenty years later to right the wrongs and reveal the truth.

Dana: Andie's daughter, raised by her father, but hungers only for her mother's love.

Diane: the pampered heiress who can have anything except the one thing she longs for most.

And Zoe: the golden child, torn between two families and the question of her heritage.

Editorial Reviews

Review

" The Search for Shannon is about the true meaning of family..." -- Pensacola News Journal

"..Stand up & cheer for an author who pours so much into her stories and creates such a gem..." -- April Wilkerson, Shawnee News Star

"Hard to Put Down" -- Press Argus-Courier

"The Search For Shannon is a thoroughly engaging and satisfying novel from beginning to end." -- Midwest Book Review

About the Author

A Birmingham, Alabama native, Vicki Allen spent most of her childhood in central Louisiana before relocating to Oklahoma where she lived for 19 years until returning to her beloved Louisiana.

Her works include "For Molly," a popular southern coming of age story, "The Search for Shannon," fiction finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award and The Return, the fan-driven sequel to For Molly. She is currently working on a fourth novel, tentatively titled "The Other Brother," featuring characters from "For Molly" and "The Return," a fifth and sixth book in the same series, as well as an additional stand-alone novel.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Magnolia Publishing Co (December 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967488052
• ISBN-13: 978-0967488059
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,262,342 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Vicki Allen

Novelist Vicki Allen's writing career began and--almost ended--as a 15-year-old teenager. Her first novel, For Molly--was started in high school, tossed into a closet to hibernate, rediscovered and finished as an adult--took 20 years to complete. In contrast, Allen's fourth novel, Drink One to Me, Christian Bennett, was completed in only five months and 29 days, a personal best for the author.

"Drink One to Me, Christian Bennett came to me in a huge, inspirational wave on while I was sitting in my car, waiting for my husband: Storyline, characters, dialogue--everything. Boom! It was incredible. I went home and immediately began to write. Within two sleep-deprived weeks, I had written 150 pages." --Vicki Allen

Known for her ability to create poignant stories that speak to southern sentimentalities, Christian Bennett is a bit of a deviation from Allen's previous works.

"Christian Bennett is different and I'm very excited about that. It is my personal favorite, and in my opinion, the best I've written to date. --Vicki Allen

Hailing from the Heart of Dixie, this Birmingham, AL native lived briefly in Virginia before settling in Central Louisiana at age eleven. She graduated from Pineville High School, studied journalism at Northeast Louisiana University and relocated to Oklahoma City, where she graduated from The University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy.

In addition to being a prolific novelist, Allen is also a co-owner and practicing pharmacist at Sentry Drug & Grill in Alexandria, La. A little slice of "Mainstreet Americana," Sentry -- housed in a historic downtown building -- is a nostalgic drugstore with a full-service breakfast and lunch counter.

QUICK FACTS: Vicki Allen

Author
For Molly, a Southern coming-of-age story (1999)
The Search for Shannon, a story of adoption (2000)
The Return, Mystery/Suspense sequel to For Molly (2002)
Drink One To Me, Christian Bennett (2009)
Upcoming works: The Other Brother, Evie, and Remy in the For Molly series,and an untitled follow-up to Drink One to me, Christian Bennett.


Awards
Fiction Finalist for the prestigious Oklahoma Book Award, The Search for Shannon (2001)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thoroughly engaging and satisfying novel, March 19, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Search for Shannon (Hardcover)

The Search For Shannon is set in Mississippi and southeast Georgia. Author Vicki Allen presents a gripping novel about four disparate women brought together by the birth and the subsequent adoption of a child. There is Andie, an elusive blonde who fled her Texas hometown with a deeply hidden secret, only to return twenty years later to right wrongs and reveal the truth. Dana is Andie's daughter, raised by her father and hungering for her mother's love. Diane is a pampered southern belle who could have anything she wants -- except for the one thing she longs for most. Zoe is the golden child, torn between two families and the question of her heritage. The Search For Shannon is a thoroughly engaging and satisfying novel from beginning to end.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Looking for Shannon, January 24, 2002

By 

Kimberly Bartlett (Mobile, Al United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Search for Shannon (Hardcover)

This book is one of the best reads in a long time. Vicki Allen is truly a great author. Her description of the South , people and places ,in this book ,are to the detail. She makes a true Southerner ,like myself ,appreciate our way of living and for one who wants to learn and read more about the South and it's way of life ,a great book to read! I hope that Vicki Allen continues to write and am looking forward to reading more from her.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hooray! If This is "Escapsim fiction", Send Me More!, July 12, 2004

By 

Chris Aiken (South Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Search for Shannon (Hardcover)

The Search for Shannon is the story of four strong southern women (Andie, Diane, Dana & Zoe) whose lives become intertwined through the birth and adoption of one baby girl. It is poignant, often humorous, guided by colorful characters and lively dialogue. I particularly enjoyed Lois Carson, the matriarch who keeps everyone in line. She is a hoot!

I saw another review describing this book as ridiculous and "escapism fiction" because of its "happy ending." Well, if this is escapism fiction, send me more. That's my kind of fiction. I get a big enough dose of reality watching the evening news.

If you're looking for an uplifting story about heritage, tradition and family, look no further. This is the book for you!