Customer Reviews

The Search for Shannon

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

'The Search for Shannon' is a wonderful story of love lost and found again for a group of friends, family and lovers. I simply could not put it down from the moment I began reading! The way Ms. Allen dove into each character's thoughts and background made you feel as if he/she was a personal friend. When you finishing reading it, you want to pick up the phone and tell all of your friends and family how much you love and appreciate them. 'The Search for Shannon' is a "feel good" book that is a MUST to read!

I don't usually do reviews but I have to disagree with the previous one written about The Search for Shannon. I know from reading an article about the author that this book was not based on media hype. She wrote it after meeting her own birth mother and created the characters based on the real emotions of a real birth mother, adoptive mother and adoptive child.

Regardless, looking at it from a fictional perspective and not as a nonfiction reference on adoption and adoptive families, The Search for Shannon is incredibly well-written with vivid characters and clever dialogue, and reflects the true meaning of family, blood-related or otherwise without being sappy, overly sentimental or humorless.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Search for Shannon and recommend it highly!!

THE SEARCH FOR SHANNON by Vicki Allen

March 12, 2005

A novel that could have been better, but still had enough of a compelling story to keep the reader interested, is THE SEARCH FOR SHANNON by Vicki Allen. It is the story of two families whose lives are shaped by the birth and subsequent adoption of a baby girl.

The book reads like two separate books at one point. It's the story of Andie, who gives away her baby at birth, not telling the father that she had been pregnant. Andie moved away as soon as she learned about her pregnancy, not wanting to ruin her boyfriend Cole's life with an unwanted baby. Twenty years later, she is returning home for a high school reunion, where she eventually tells her story to Cole and Tammy, who was her best friend.

Her story is told from the day her baby is taken, to her marriage to Freddie La Rue and the birth of their two children Dana and Jerry. Then comes the story of Dana, and how she resents living in the shadow of this older sibling, "Shannon", thinking her mother only cares about the missing baby, and not about her own husband or children.

The biggest part of the novel is the story of the Carsons, a very wealthy family that spans several generations of ambitious men and controlling women. This story leads to Zoe, who is adopted by Diane and Jay.

While the story itself was interesting, the way this book was structured did not help to make this book a readable story. Separating out the two families as if they were different novels made the read frustrating at times. What kept this reader going was the story of Zoe. Her story alone could have been it's own book, while the story of Andie and Dana could have been saved for another one. I'm giving this book 3 stars since there were characters that I felt were worth reading about, but the overall story was not well written and could have been better. With that said, anyone looking for a realistic view of adoption will not find it here. It made for a good story, but was not 100% believable.

I had high hopes for this novel, but unfortunately found it "echoed" a lot of the media hype of the adoptee reunion where all ends "happily ever after." From learning about many of the bad adoptee reunions out there, I would say this is ridiculous pap for those who like "romance fiction." I mean, how many bmoms actually (many years later) "marry" the bdads? Very, very few.

Only read this is you like "escapsim fiction."