Title: If…Lost or Found
Author: Jackie Mae
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 72
Genre: New Adult/Contemporary Romance/Paranormal

Traveling abroad, Sabrina’s grand adventure is about to change. Needing to go home and rectify the wrongs that are hovering ever constant around her, she finds herself thrust into a whole new set of truths she must confront. What if she had chosen differently? What if she had followed her parents’ guidance? Acceptance, freedom, being a worldly woman, had all seemed so important. Now, however, her path will lead her into the unknown. On her own, she must confront her fears head-on. When she meets “dream man,” she dares to hope, but life has its own plan. Is she strong enough for what destiny has in store for her? What will the cost be this time?

For More Information

• If…Lost or Found is available at Amazon.
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My Review

I received a free ecopy of this book for an honest review.

This isn’t the easiest review to write because the first half of the book was slow and I was thankful it wasn’t very long. The second half, however, kept my interest so well that I didn’t put the book down until I was done.

Sabrina is a different kind of person and some of that is because of how her life has unfolded but she also seems to be a little “off.” After taking a few years to party overseas, she comes home and settles down, going to school working and living alone. She doesn’t really have close friends or family since her parents died.

Once “dream man” comes into the story it gets more interesting. Is he truly as perfect for her as she thinks? If not, will she find out in time?

 

 

 Excerpt

“If,” could mean different things to different people. If—I were a better person. If—I were rich, thinner, or prettier. If—I were black, white, Asian, male or female, shorter or taller. If—I had been born to a different set of parents. If—I had more friends. If—I had a better job. If. That one little word can take you places or make you crazy…

“I used to. Now I live on the other side of town,” he stated.

Why? “Why do you drive out of your way, just to come here? There must be a dozen places you could eat at that are closer.”

“None of those places have you.”

She felt like a sinkhole had just swallowed her up and she found it hard to breathe. “Me?”

“Yes. You.”

Sabrina might have acted differently, if she hadn’t known. But, she did know, and that made all the difference…

Sabrina worked the third shift Friday and Saturday nights at Mike’s Dine-In Café & Carryout. She also worked part-time at R&P Insurance Company Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8 to 2, all while finishing up her degree in Meteorology. She would be getting her B.S. Although she knew she would eventually need her Master’s to secure a good paying job, she figured getting a lower paying job in Meteorology would be infinitely higher in pay than either of her present jobs, and more than both jobs combined.

She was in her last semester. It had been quite the struggle. She remembered vividly all the details from the last four years. She often wondered what would have been different if she had stayed home and went to school. Would things have been different if she had heeded her parent’s wishes? All those lectures from Mom and Dad haunted her. They had practically begged her to go to college right after graduation. They had even offered to pay for it, because they all knew her grades were not good enough to secure a scholarship. It wasn’t that she was a bad student; she just had ‘learning deficiencies,’ as mom put it, that her teachers didn’t understand. Try as she might, she couldn’t conform to the rest of her classes’ learning techniques.

Her parents had told her to apply for financial aid, that, if needed, they would pay her way. But there was a big, bold, world out there waiting for one Sabrina A. Jeffries and she had wanted more. It would be thrilling. No more little town that didn’t understand her needs. The mere idea that she would be making her own decisions, living as she designed, making her own mark on humanity, was compelling. It was as if the world had been waiting for her to grow into her own—waiting for her to fulfill her destiny. For this group of people, called her hometown, she bitterly thought they disparaged her spirit. There was no doubt in her mind, she was meant for a grand adventure.

She rationalized the notion of taking one year off to ‘live and learn,’ to really find herself, to explore all the possibilities that life had to offer, and then she would come home and start school, as was expected of her. No amount of ‘talking to’ or censure would dissuade her.

She had promised her parents no more than one year. But one year had led to two, then three, then four. Four long years had gone by in a flash and she found herself missing both her parents and hometown. She was now a woman; a learned and experienced woman of the world. She had traveled extensively throughout Europe.

Her very first stop was in the beautiful country of the Netherlands. She lived there for about the first six months. Those six months, really five months, twelve days, and about seven and a half hours, had been a real eye opener. It had been the first place in a long line of places she landed without much of a plan or care.

Sitting at a little outdoor café beside the rail station in Rotterdam, Holland, Sabrina was busy sifting through her purse for a map. Looking for lodging, she was already having second thoughts about her rash plan to find a place to stay when she saw a place she liked.

A good-looking, tall, dark man with wavy hair interrupted her thoughts when he sat down at the table. This was a suave, super cool, good looking man, and he was looking at her, smiling. He wore a leather jacket with the lapels turned up and tight dark pants. His shoulder length jet-black hair and green shaded eyes made him the best eye candy she’d seen in a good long while. No one in her hometown looked like this. No one. Looking at him resulted in an electrification of the senses. Heat had been rising right there in the middle of the town square; it was a new and thrilling experience for Sabrina.

About the Author

Jackie Mae is an award-winning author. She writes in several genres including new adult, women’s fiction, contemporary romance, paranormal, mystery/thriller/suspense, science fiction, and juvenile fiction for the middle grade.

In the “If…” series, what-ifs will be taken to a whole new level. What if you knew your future? What if you could change your destiny? What if you couldn’t? Faced with choices, what would you do?

In addition to the “If…” series, she also writes a series called, THE DARKEST SERIES, which chronicles women who struggle with their new found psychic abilities while trying to stop an invasion.

Jackie Mae’s children’s chapter book series, A Taylor and Alan Adventure, is co-authored with her young granddaughter, Alison Taylor. In the Taylor and Alan Adventures, where faction meets fiction, you will meet Taylor and Alan a sister/brother duo, who are called on to help the good wizards of the land. Artfully weaving rich history into the story, it instills the concept of being mindful and respectful of the environment while appropriately thrilling the young audience. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Caitlin Dunbar Nature Center to help support Girl Scouts. This juvenile fiction series for the middle grade is sure to please readers.

Jackie also finds time to volunteer within her community. “Giving back is a big part of who I am.” When she is not volunteering she is writing, gardening, or spending time with her grandchildren.

Her latest book is the New Adult/contemporary romance/paranormal, If…Lost or Found.

For More Information

• Connect with Jackie on Facebook and Twitter.