Gone (Deadly Secrets Book 2)

Gone is book two in the Deadly Secrets series, but I fully believe it can be read as a standalone book. Alec is a very realistic, flawed character. His current & previous relationship with Raegan felt very genuine to me; nothing was forced or unbelievable. Raegan is a very strong person herself and I love her independence. As people know, something things are just meant to be together and Alec & Raegan are meant to be together. They have issues to deal with and resolve, but they are much better with each other than without.

I really enjoyed the first book of this new series but book 2 - W.O.W.!! Ms. Naughton hit it out of the park with this one. She gave us a very honest and believable plot that, for me, moved at the right pace. I hated to put it down and tried to wait patiently until the time until I could pick it up and read again.

I have read several books my Ms. Naughton and have enjoyed all of them. Her writing just keeps getting better and better.

Gone is the second book in Elisabeth Naughton's Deadly Secrets series but can easily be read as a stand alone. This romantic suspense book deals with a tragic plot, characters with plenty of flaws but that are ultimately likable and willing to keep fighting and growing and a suspense story with plenty of twists and turns.

Alec and Reagan are the main characters of this book and they are dealing with a horrific experience of dealing with their daughter's abduction. Their daughter was abducted three years prior to the beginning of this book and that abduction led to their divorce. The sense of tragedy grips the reader from the first page and doesn't let go. Both Alec and Reagan are still dealing with the repercussions of the abduction. Alec is alcoholic and turned to drinking when his daughter was taken while he was with her at the park. He blames himself and that along with other issues from his past has led him to a destructive place in his life. Reagan has tried to move forward and believes that her daughter is still alive. When the couple is reunited at the hospital when another little girl who was abducted is found alive they end up working together to try to get to the bottom of a series of child abductions.

This book definitely pulls on your heartstrings and although the topic is a tough one to read about the author did a great job of making sure the reader understood and sympathized with the challenges, guilt and bad decisions of the main characters as they dealt with their horror, guilt, fear, sorrow and loss. Alec is a deeply flawed character who turned away from and hurt is ex-wife at a time when she needed him most but his behavior was human and I found his character fascinating. Reagan was the stronger of the two and not quite as well developed. As the two work together they begin to find their way back to each other and begin to heal.

The mystery took a few twists and turns along the way although the villain is obvious throughout most of the book. I found this book heartbreaking and dark and although it ultimately showed courage and healing I can't see myself wanting to read it again.

A copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion.

Three years ago Alec McClane's one-year-old daughter was abducted from their local park and never seen again. Drowning in guilt and despair, Alec turns to the one thing that has gotten him through most of the nightmares of his life...alcohol. In doing so though, he closes out those that love him the most, including his wife Raegan. When a four-year-old girl is found in a park much like the one Emma disappeared in, Alec is forced to confront his demons head-on if he wants to help keep this tragedy from happening to any other parent, and if he ever hopes to reconcile with the love of his life. What Alec and Raegan uncover is bigger then anything they could have imagined though, and threatens not only their new-found love, but their very lives...

Fans of Cynthia Eden are sure to find themselves captivated with Naughton's newest romantic suspense offering! Fast-paced and thrilling, Gone is a second chance romance with a dark underside of loss and addiction. With a dynamic dialogue and engaging characters you'll find yourself transported to the front lines of a desperate search for answers and acceptance. Alec and Raegan never stopped loving each other, despite their separation and divorce, and their passion is palpable. With the tragedy of more children being taken, and a possible pattern, it gives Alec and Raegan an opportunity to finally acknowledge where they went wrong in their relationship, admit their faults, and explore the devotion that they still share for one another.

The story of child abduction was heartbreaking, maybe even more so as a parent myself. I couldn't help but emphathize with Alec and Raegan. I would literally be destroyed if one of my children were to disappear without a clue. These two characters are stronger then I, to keep going as they did and eventually find their way back to each other. The plot moved at a steady pace with plenty of twists to keep me guessing and several bad guys to dislike!

Readers can jump right into Gone, without reading Repressed prior. There is only a familial connection between characters, though those characters do play supportive roles in this story. However, both stories are wonderful so I suggest reading them together! Repressed is currently just 99 cents on the store. The bottom-line is; Gone, is a must-read for mystery and suspense readers who can appreciate a good dose of romance woven into the story. Pick up your copy today!

*Received for honest review.

Elizabeth Naughton’s, Gone: Deadly Secrets Book #2 is the second novel in her Deadly Secrets series from this amazing author. For those familiar with her other series, the Eternal Guardians and the Aegis Series (which are personal favourites of mine), this a departure from those genres, and just like the first novel in the series (Repressed) every bit captivating and intriguing until the very end.

Three years ago, Alec and Raegan endured every parent’s worst nightmare when their one-year-old daughter was abducted from a park while in Alec’s care. This devastation and Alec’s guilt of not finding their daughter ends the couple’s marriage. Fast forward three years and a four-year-old girl matching their daughter’s description is found wondering a local park. Regrettably, this little girl is not their lost daughter, but this sparks unresolved circumstances and feelings between Alec and Raegan as they attempt to uncover the truth of their daughter’s disappearance and rekindle the spark that they once had.

I found this to be a more dark and edgy mystery/suspense/thriller even compared to her first novel in this series and understandably so with the storyline involved. The storyline was gripping, thought-provoking and at times heartbreaking and yet hopeful. As usual the characters are fully developed and complex making the reader ponder ‘what would I do in that situation’ which is every parents nightmare and recovering from such devastation. The relationship between Alec and Raegan is dynamic, gripping and intense. I also enjoyed the way Elisabeth weaves the secondary characters into the story line that help accentuate the plot.

This is a fabulous continuation to this series and can be read as a stand alone, but I would recommend reading the first installment from this author. Due to the subject matter, it is not always an easy read, but one that is well worth diving into. It does not disappoint!

Note: I would like to note that I received an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not, in any way, affect my opinion of the book.

Montlake Romance and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Gone. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Three years ago, Alec and Raegan were forced to endure a parent's worse nightmare. With Alec's back turned for only a second to help another child, their one year old daughter Emma was snatched. Alec's father, John Gilbert, had a reason to want revenge, as Alec's testimony sent his dad to prison. When another girl is found in the same place that Emma went missing, will the police be able to gather enough evidence to reopen Emma's case? Will Alec and his now ex-wife be able to put together the pieces of their shattered hearts?

Gone was a little too straightforward to be a real mystery, but this romantic suspense did hit some high points for me. The author does a good job of characterization, giving the book a sense of realism. The story is one that many parents will be able to relate to, as the scenario is one of a parent's worse nightmares. Although the ending was too predictable, the novel had a good pace and smooth flow. Readers who like romantic suspense will like Gone and I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

I had mixed feelings about this book. Firstly, I had a hard time getting into this book, I found it really slow to begin with and then all of a sudden the last 20% of the story zoomed by in a flash. My next issue was with the main characters Reagan and Alec, it was difficult to connect with them. I struggled to like them as I felt they both seemed to give in so easily to the fact their daughter had been missing for 3 years. That in the time she had beeen missing they didn't seem to have been doing much to look for her. And when they do come together to search again, the majority of their time seemed focused on their relationship and feelings for each other rather than finding clues as to what happened to their daughter. This especially annoyed me as they were both journalists!
I've read other books by Elizabeth Naughton and have enjoyed them but this book was just an OK read for me. **ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Gone is the 2nd book in the Deadly Secrets series but can be read as a stand-alone. I did not read the first book in the series and I do not feel like I am missing out on anything.

Alec McClane and Raegan Devereaux lived every parent’s worst nightmare: their one-year-old daughter, Emma, was abducted from a park when Alec turned his back for just a moment. Consumed with guilt, Alec turned to the bottle instead of being there for his wife for support. Raegan believes Emma is still alive but Alec suspects his vengeful father is behind the disappearance and his daughter is dead. Three years later, a four-year-old girl matching Emma’s profile is found wandering a local park. Alec and Raegan are heartbroken to discover she’s not their daughter. Now divorced and sober, Alec and Raegan team up together to look at other missing kids cases. The love they have for each other is still there but will Alec's guilt push Raeagan away and put him over the edge again?

I loved this book. It was filled with heartbreak, suspense, romance, and hope. This book pulls at your heartstring. Having your child abducted when you turn your back for one second is every parent's worst nightmare. The guilt and the not knowing will destroy you. You feel the emotional turmoil that both Alex and Raegan endured. This book was well written with great character development. I look forward to reading the first book, Repressed.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Montlake Romance for supplying a copy of Elisabeth Naughton's "Gone" in exchange for an honest review.

Genre: Romance - Mystery, Second-Chance, Kidnapping
Stand-Alone: Yes
Part of a Series: Yes - Book 2 of the Deadly Secrets Series Characters from Book 1 show up but it's not necessary to read book 1 in order to enjoy book 2
POV: Multiple but mostly Alec and Deavon
Steam level: Warm at times
5/5

This book is even better than the first book. I like mysteries that keep me guessing and this one did that quite well. i had no idea who the top dog bad guy puppeteer was, the links between these kids, or what happened to them when taken. Since this book deals with kidnapping, it could have been an extremely tough read but it was okay. Not too emotional but just enough to keep you interested, invested and caring. Just as I could feel myself drifting something else would happen that would draw me right back in to the story. At one point I remember thinking "this book is f****d up" and going right back in to read more.

Naughton does an excellent job showing how different families react after tragedies strike. It seems realistic with blame, other children, and couple's relationships. Naughton also does a great job exploring class and how their voices are heard (or not heard). And, of course, addiction, since Alec is a recovering alcoholic. Naughton depicts his recovery and struggle very well - especially dealing with the triggers around him (his father, his missing daughter, his relationship with his ex)

If you like mysteries or romantic suspense that is gritty then this is the book for you.

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for free from the author/publisher via netgalley and am voluntarily giving an honest review.

Gone is the second book in Elisabeth Naughton’s Deadly Secrets series. Although I did not read the first book, Repressed, I did not feel like I was missing anything. Gone describes how two parents/journalists attempt to move on with their lives after their daughter goes missing from a park several years prior. The emotional turmoil that Alec McClane and Reagan Devereaux endured eventually ruined their marriage and sent Alec into a drunken stupor. To add insult to injury, Alec was sure that his estranged father John Gilbert had something to do with Emma’s disappearance.

As is generally the case, Alec and Reagan are occasionally called in to identify a missing girl that fits the description of their daughter. This time, their encounter appears to set off a chain of events that sets them on a path to possibly find their daughter after all of these years. More importantly, Alec and Reagan get an opportunity to be honest with each other and possibly rekindle the romance and love that neither of them truly wanted to let go of in the first place. Their journalistic powers allow them to notice that there may be some connections between the rash of missing children that has occurred in town over the past few years and their daughter. As they put more and more pieces together, Alec is certain that John Gilbert is a large piece of the puzzle. As they get closer to the truth, Alec and Reagan find themselves in harm’s way more often than not.

Without giving too much away, I will say that Gone was an emotional roller coaster. It was painful to watch all of the parents deal with the fact that they may never see their children again. Alec was always one step closer to hiding inside a bottle of alcohol. And Reagan was constantly having her heart tugged in all directions as she struggled with trying to hold back her feelings for Alec. It was impossible not to hope that they had a happy ending that included them locating their missing daughter. I applauded their persistence and the fact that they refused to deny their love for each other again. I intend to go back and read the first book in this series as well as any books to follow. Gone was an excellent Romantic Suspense.

**Received a copy from Montlake and voluntarily reviewed.**

Alec blames himself for his daughter's abduction three years ago. A year old at the time, Emma was toddling around a playground when Alec got distracted by another child who needed help. He turns his back for not even a minute, and she's gone. His guilt destroyed his marriage to Raegan and nearly destroyed him as well.

Emma has never been found but is presumed to be dead by everyone except Raegan. She is desperate to believe that her daughter is alive, so when she believes she has found a pattern of sorts involving abductions of other children, she wants to act on it.

Throughout this tightly-wound thriller, Elisabeth Naughton makes it clear that Alec and Raegan still love each other, three years after their divorce. She also makes it clear that they need each other, both to continue healing over Emma's abduction and to investigate disappearances of other children. All the while, Raegan's cautious hope that Emma is still alive lingers over them.

When reading a mystery, I tend to wonder why the police can't figure out what the non-cops can. Alec is a photographer and Raegan a news reporter; they are able to suss out the who's, whys, and hows quicker than the po-po. Naughton doesn't make cops the bad guys, as sometimes happens in books, which is a relief. But they are secondary to Alec and Raegan, who shoulder the burden of this whodunit. And Alec, let's just say, can't really shoulder many more burdens.

Naughton slowly reveals Alec and Raegan's struggles and challenges, just as she lets you see how much they need to be together, both to find these missing children and because they are, trite as it sounds, stronger together. Naughton also weaves together the layers of mysteries: who took Emma? Who is taking these other children? What happened to the children? And is Emma still alive?

There are nail-biting moments, and there are a few moments of levity. Naughton also delivers moments of passion and romance, balancing the tense suspense with the quieter and sweeter.

I enjoyed this book. You likely won't be able to figure out whodunit, nor will you likely figure out why. You will be right there with Alec and Raegan, learning as you go.

_____________________
Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Gone, Deadly Secrets - Book 2,  Elisabeth Naughton

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:   Romance, General fiction (adult)

I’ve enjoyed several of Elisabeth’s novels now and Gone was an interesting and absorbing read.
It’s a mix of romance and suspense, with each balancing the other perfectly. The romance angle – well, I always love that and Alec and Raegan were perfect together – was believable and the suspense part of the story added to the romance to make for an interesting read.

Sadly abduction is all too real for many parents, and crises like this cause a rift in the most devoted of couples. Everyone copes differently and sometimes that means they simply fall apart and no longer need each other. That’s kind of what happened with Alec and Raegan. Raegan doesn’t blame Alec, it could just as easily have happened when she was looking after their daughter Emma, but Alec can’t let go of the guilt and blames himself.

Three years on, the couple are brought together. They divorced but neither have moved on, can’t let go of the other. While they were apart they coped, but now when they meet it stirs up old feelings. They can’t admit it though, Alec is still full of guilt and Raegan is still very hurt that he let her go, didn’t lean on her but grew away.

It turns out this latest girl isn’t Emma, but reporter Raegan is charged with looking into this and the past abductions by her boss.
She’s always believed Emma is alive but had no real links to work on. Now there’s something concrete, and she’s full if zest to research and hopefully trace Emma. Alec though has shut his mind, he blames his father and is convinced he killed her.
Things happen, they fall into working closely and the pull on them is still there, that old fierce attraction.
Alec had descended into alcohol to cope after Emma’s disappearance, but he’s not drinking now, has been teetotal for some time, and as part of his reparations needs to apologise to Raegan. This proves the time to do it, and he agrees to help her research, still convinced that Emma is dead, but seeing that Raegan needs some closure. He’s also concerned that she’s in danger from his vicious father who’s due for release from prison. To his surprise though they find connections between the cases, and links that bring them both into danger.

Its a story that felt so real, I loved the interviews with other parents of abducted children, they were interesting, and I enjoyed how the links were slowly revealed, all the clues laid out letting me work my own way to a conclusion.
Of course I had the advantage of other points of view, of knowing a bit more than they did. Still, as I worked out who was behind events I was shocked, and its a story that really could happen, could be real and for me that makes a novel far more readable.

Its a story that flows well, that lays out clues and ties up ends neatly, that felt real, with characters I could empathises with in some cases, hate in others. I need all that in a novel. The suspense angle was enough to keep me reading, but not so much that I switched off, and allied to the romance made for a story I really enjoyed.

Stars: Four and a half, an absorbing, realistic romantic suspense.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

I received a free copy and voluntarily reviewed it.

Gone is another gripping romantic suspense by Elisabeth Naughton. This is the second book in her “Deadly Secrets” series. However, even though the first book is an intriguing and riveting suspense novel, it is not necessary to have read that book to enjoy this one. Each book can stand alone, although I would highly suggest that you eventually read the first book, Repressed.

Gone is a gut-wrenching romantic suspense about a couple who face one of the worst ordeals that could happen to any parent. Three years ago, Alec turned his back on their one year old daughter, Emma, at a park and, sadly, she was abducted.

Although, Reagan, Alec’s wife, never blames him, Alec is never able to forgive himself. Another problem is that Alec believes Emma is dead and will never be found. On the other hand, Reagan refuses to give up and always believes that Emma will be returned to them. These two differences cause their marriage to fall apart.

In the beginning of this novel, a young girl has been brought into the hospital, and the police notify Alec and Reagan to see if it is Emma. They are both upset that it is not. In spite of that, Reagan maintains her belief that Emma is alive, and begs Alec to help her investigate. Since they obviously both still love each other and Alec worries about Reagan’s physically safety and mental health, he agrees to help her. But, because Alec believes that he doesn’t deserve Reagan, he warns her that he will never remarry.

This novel has so many twists and turns, I could never figure out what was going to happen next. In fact, not only was I unable to figure out who kidnapped Emma, I wasn’t even sure if they would ever find Emma, or, if they do find her, would she be dead or alive.

I love both Reagan and Alec. Reagan never gives up on finding Emma alive. She also refuses to give up on their marriage in spite of Alec’s stubborn insistence that he would never come back. Another thing I love about Reagan is that she never blames Alec for her daughter’s abduction. She believes that every parent has done the same thing at least once. Reagan is a very strong woman

Even though I love Alec, he is definitely not perfect. He blames himself for Emma’s abduction and deals with it by abusing alcohol. He leaves the marriage immediately and forces Reagan to deal with her loss alone. He also, stubbornly, refuses to return to Reagan even though he is madly in love with him.

However, in spite of that, he worries about Reagan and is very protective of her. The only reason he stays away from her is because he feels she is better off without him. In fact, if this were not a romance, I would have a hard time trying to figure out if they actually do get together at the end.

Fortunately, these two very realistic characters, is spite of being involved in a very emotional, suspenseful and highly complex plot, finally admit their deep love and need for each other and become a couple.

I highly recommend this fantastically written novel.

When their child had gone missing three years ago, Alec McClane and Raegan Devereaux parted ways and took matters in their own respective hands differently. While Alec's faith faltered and wavered, Raegan didn't lose faith and still held on to that tiny hope that their daughter Emma was still out there, alive.

After three excruciating years, another girl was found in the park where their daughter was taken, and Alec's biological father John Gilbert was about to be freed from prison. Alec knew his evil father was involved in his daughter's abduction, all he needed was to prove it.

As the case developed and progressed, the estranged couple found themselves cooped up under one roof during a snowstorm. Alec's and Raegan's feelings seemed to blossom again, but both were still haunted by their divorce.

With Alec and Raegan's situation, everything was pretty messed up in the beginning, until they thought they finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel, only to get to the detour and realized, there's still another tunnel they needed to unearth. Deadly secrets abound this novel indeed!

First thing that always come to my mind when I see a new book from Elisabeth Naughton?

<em>"If it's from Elisabeth Naughton, it must be great!"</em>

And this latest offering from the Deadly Secrets series is another accomplishment! Gone was well-written, action-packed and teemed with scenes only Naughton can deliver. Issues about alcoholism, abduction, syndicate and revenge were discussed heavily in this book and it was all intense. Had to keep my eyes from shutting down, what with all the mystery and suspense in this book.

Elisabeth Naughton weaves stories that are compelling and thrilling and definitely unpredictable. Just when you thought you've already know the story after a few chapters, you'd be shocked once you get to the succeeding pages and you realized there's still more. And the twists and turns will blow you away. This is definitely a must-read!

An edgy, chilling, romantic suspense that is a must read! I enjoyed the first book of the Deadly Secrets series, but this one is so much more. It had the perfect blend of intrigue, suspense, mystery, passion, and romance, which created a fantastic story. I was pulled in right from the start, and it kept me on the edge of my seat till the very end. This is a book that you won't want to miss! 

Alec and Reagan have been through an unimaginable hell, a parents worst nightmare, since their child was kidnapped 3 years ago. They each choose to believe different outcomes, because it was the only way they could survive and stay somewhat sane. Because of this, and other things, they ended up in divorce shortly after the kidnapping, but neither of them are happy, nor have they stopped loving one another. 

When they see one another for the first time in a while, they can't seem to forget about the other. Reagan has been looking into other child abductions, hoping that it will lead her to their daughter, but what she finds is a whole lot more. Finally getting Alec to agree to help, they start investigating, and are shocked at what they uncover. However, others are determined to make them stop their investigation, no matter the cost. 

What will they discover, and will it lead them to the truth about what happened to their daughter? Did Alec's real father have something to do with her abduction, like Alec has always believed? Will Alec be able to keep them both safe while they look for answers of what happened to those children? And will Alec and Reagan get their hearts broken again, or will they finally get the HEA they both deserve? You'll have to read it to find out! 

I strongly recommend this book, series, and great author. 

I received an arc from the publisher via NetGalley. I voluntarily reviewed this book.

The second book in her series, GONE is packed full of emotion, heartbreak, love and hope.

When Alec and Raegan McClane's one year old daughter Emma was abducted three years ago, their world and their marriage fell apart. Deep down she knows that Emma is most likely dead, but that doesn't keep Raegan from keeping hope alive that she will one day find her daughter. Alec, however, has been a shell of a man since, not quite living and never stopped loving Raegan. When a child that has been missing is found, they come back together to see if it is Emma. Even though it turns out that it wasn't Emma, investigative reporter Raegan somehow convinces Alec to help her work through some leads to find a connection in all the child abductions.

Working together as they delve through the evidence and leads, Alec and Raegan come to the realization that their love has never died, it was only put on hold. In a sequence of events, they are able to piece together clues that leads them on a path that will give them answers once and for all.

Ms. Naughton is a brilliant writer that is able to pull out all the emotions from this reader! I immediately felt for Alec and Raegan. Losing a child can be at once devastating and heart-wrenching, but not knowing what actually happened to her is unimaginable. Ms. Naughton writes the perfect pitch between agony and suspense while keeping the thread of hope alive in her characters. There are several key secondary characters that propel the storyline that tie neatly together. Let's not forget the sizzle of the romance either! This book is a perfect blend of suspense and romance that will not leave you disappointed. Be prepared to spend some time with this book because you won't want to put it down!

Gone is a story about Alec and Reagan. Their daughter was abducted 3 years ago when she was 1 years old while Alec was watching her. The story follows how Alec and Reagan are 3 years after the abduction and how they rekindle their relationship in the hopes and search for their daughter, Emma.
I had a hard time getting totally into this story. Maybe it was because of the subject of child abduction, child trafficking or possible child murder that gave me such a hard time getting into it. I did like how the main characters, Alec and Reagan interacted and did get into quite a few parts of the story.
Unfortunately the story just wasn't for me. I usually love everything that Elisabeth Naughton writes and hate to not write a great review but I can't. I give it an overall score of 3 stars. The writing was still good although I did not care for the subject matter.

Gone is a riveting romantic suspense novel.
Alec and Raegan were a happily married couple until the unthinkable happened; their little girl, Emma, was abducted. Alec tore himself up with guilt. This was all his fault. He turned his back for a minute, and Emma was gone. He had an idea, though, who had kidnaped her; he just couldn’t prove it. His father told him that he would pay one day for testifying against him, and Alec knew that day had come.

Instead of drawing closer to support one another, Alec and Raegan pulled apart. Alec couldn’t stand seeing Raegan in pain, so Alec pushed her away, and drank himself into oblivion. Raegan swallowed her grief and went to work every day. She never; however, gave up the hope of finding her daughter.

Three years had passed before Alec and Raegan were brought together again. This time Alec was determined to make amends to Raegan, stay sober, and help find their little girl. But, the deeper they searched, the more nervous the mastermind behind several abductions, became. John Gilbert didn’t care, though; he could handle the heat. What he couldn’t handle, however, was passing up an opportunity to torture his son and his cute little ex-wife Raegan. No, he wasn’t done with them yet. Not by a long shot.

Be prepared to have your heart pulled through a gamut of emotions. Although the pages of this book are filled with raw emotion, there are also inspirational messages of hope sprinkled throughout the novel. Gone is a well-written story, with an intriguing plot, fully developed characters, and realistic dialogue.

Thank you Montlake Romance, and NetGalley, for my advanced review copy.

A mother who never gave up on her missing daughter. A father whose demons caught up with him. Three years after their daughter's disappearance, an unseemly break in the case renewed their research where they discovered just the tip of the iceberg. But their digging is not without danger and they soon discover some truths don't want to be uncovered.
This author writes books of epic proportions, giving each story a complete world of its own. She always has her readers on the edge of their seats, never stopping for want of what's in the next chapter.

This was the first book I've listened to narrated by Amy Landon. She did an excellent job of bringing out the emotions in each scene and the unique characteristics of the key players.

With a second book in this powerful series of uncovered secrets, Elisabeth Naughton brings us the heartbreaking story of a kidnapped child and the fallout for the parents afterward. It's sad, it's powerful and it's intense. Great characters and story line!

Alec McClane and Raegan Devereaux were living the happy family life until tragedy took it all away from them over 3 years ago. Their one year old daughter went missing from the park, never to be found and Alec's guilt ate him alive and made him end their marriage, abandoning Raegan just when she needed him most.

More than three long years have passed, and they've existed separately, with each still secretly yearning for the other. When the FBI calls each of them notifying them a 4 year old matching their daughters description has been found, they each rush to the scene, only to be heartbroken again when they discover it's not her.

Forced to have contact again after all of these years makes a lot of feelings rise to the surface again. When Raegan stops to look at the details of the little girl that was found, she sees some eerie similarities to other missing children cases. Alec agrees to help her look into it to try to get some closure, but he's still sure that his evil biological father was behind Emma disappearing, and is sure he killed her just to spite him. Will they find the answers they are searching for?

Gone does not disappoint as the second installment of the Deadly Secrets series. From the very beginning I was completely drawn in. After having read Repressed, I couldn't wait to get my hands on Alec's story and in many respects enjoyed this story maybe even more than Repressed. Wait... did I just say that? Yes, I did and here are some reasons why.

Alec and Raegan's story picks up three years after their daughter Emma was abducted. This is a captivating story on how events can shape and mold our lives. How we have a choice in how we deal with great loss. It's a story about second chances, about over coming all the bad things that can happen in life, and about hope. Alec and Raegan's last three years have not been pretty, their story is raw and real and has been defined by their loss. This is a story of secrets, suspense, and mystery as the couple works together to find the truth, and a love lost to guilt and grief. In the end, I fell in love with their story, it truly is worth the read.

Last but not least, I received a complimentary copy of Gone from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Elisabeth Naughton and Netgalley for this opportunity to read such a gripping and captivating tale. Gone can be read on its own but I highly recommend starting the series at the beginning with Repressed.

Elisabeth Naughton's newest book, Gone, in her newest series, Deadly Secrets, is a must read. I've long been a fan of her Eternal Guardian books, but I must begrudgingly concede that this series is every bit as good.

I love that she has chosen to write about a family unit, the first book featuring Ethan McClane and now Gone featuring brother Alec McClane. Alec is a rough, tough guy, who battles his inner feelings and must find a way to be rescued himself before he can rescue his own loved ones.

There are many villains in this book, both major and minor, as there are in real life, which helps to make Gone so gripping. There are also many heroes who do their part along the way, each day, trying to make the world better, or at least more sane.

As always, Ms Naughton's characters are fully fleshed and well developed which I think is her true talent. Her storyline for Gone will reach into you and gnaw at you. As with book one in the Deadly Secrets series, once I started Gone, I could not put it down and read deep into the night to finish it in one sitting.

Elisabeth Naughton is one of my favorite authors and Gone one of my favorite books by her. The book stands alone well so you do not have to have read the previous book in the series to enjoy Gone. Please give it a try and you'll be pleased.

Rated – 4.5 Stars

Elisabeth Naughton write consistently good stories. Gone is yet another exemplary book. I’d call it more of a crime drama than a romance though the relationship between Raegan and Alec is certainly a huge part of the story. No two parents should have to experience what these two have – the loss of a child. The worst part is because Emma was taken, they have no way of knowing if she’s alive. To deal with their grief, they’ve chosen different scenarios to believe causing a huge rift in their marriage and ultimately a divorce. An all too common and unfortunate result. Every facet of the McClane’s relationship and lives is perfectly written and completely realistic.

The suspense elements are equally well written and culminate in a heart-stopping scene. The book also kept me guessing until the end with more than one unexpected twist!

It wasn’t an easy road but I was so happy to see Alec and Raegan work on restoring their relationship. I really like them and wanted their happiness.

I found Naughton originally through her paranormal romances but regardless of the genre, you’re guaranteed an excellent read.

This is Book 2 in the "Deadly Secrets" Series and I really enjoyed it! I was hooked since the very first page and I couldn't put it down!

When a four year old girl is found wandering in a park, the authorities are alerted and Alec and Raegan rush to the hospital hoping that the child who was found is their missing daughter. But she isn't. Of course they are devastated. Sometimes couples going through such a lot of pain become stronger as a couple...In this case, they cannot cope with the pain and they divorce....

Raegan doesn't stop hoping that Emma will return some day. Alec thinks the opposite. He feels their daughter is dead and he starts drinking heavily. He blames himself for Emma's disappearance. Now he managed to stay sober but the struggle is daily...

When they meet again at the hospital,everything comes back to the surface and they will try to find answers to Emma's and other childs' disappearances.

This was a very interesting read! And I really enjoyed it!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley

I really had problems rating this book. Maybe it was me, but it felt nothing like reading a thriller. Not the first 10 chapter into the story. The focus was more on the relationship between Reagan and Alec. And it was page upon page about, how they still love each other and that they still wanted each other. Too much drama about them and too little information and progress on Emma. I wanted to know more about Emma and what had happened the day she got taken. At this point I wanted to give 2 stars, it was an okay read. Then things started to change and the last 6 chapter were so well written, that it was hard to stop reading. Finally, there was the suspense I'd waited for. And in the end everything fell into place. Happy end. Believable? Well....maybe not. But still, I liked the ending. And after finishing the whole book I think, 4 stars are an fair rating and if I would have thought about it more of a romance book instead of thriller, it would have got a higher rating.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley and Montlake Romance!

Alec and Raegan are living a parent's worst nightmare. When their toddler is taken from a playground on Alec's watch the sheer guilt and grief send them spinning out of orbit. Unable to overcome what he feels are his shortcomings, Alec pushes everyone as far away from him as he can. He's sure his father is the one responsible for what happened to his daughter and he can't afford for his vengeance to touch any of the people he loves.

But when a four-year-old girl resembling his Emma is found, hopes rise once more. And this time Raegan is determined not to allow him to push her away. As she digs deeper into the bevy of child kidnappings a distinct pattern appears. The only case that doesn't match is Emma's. Alec and Raegan are the only ones who understand what the loss of these children means to their parents. But the ones behind the missing children are ruthless and have power that far is reaching. And they both must be prepared to risk everything to uncover the truth.

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from NetGalley for voluntary review consideration.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy of Gone by Elisabeth Naughton that I read and reviewed.
This book was off the charts excellent. I loved Gone the second book in the Deadly Secrets series from the first page.
This book centered around the disappearance of Emma, a one year old little girl, and how her parents Alec and Reagan are dealing with life three years later when they are now divorced but still believe their little girl is out there. This book takes you on their journey as they look into cases that could be related to Emma's and into Alec having to deal with his father who he believes was behind her abduction.
If you love emotional books that suck you in and pull at your heart this is a book for you. As a reader you start cheering for Alec and Reagan to work things and overcome all their problems and somehow beat all the statistics and find Emma alive so they can have another chance at their family. This is an excellent book you can't put down until you know exactly what happens.
I am giving Gone five out of five stars.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book, provided through NetGalley.

A child abduction, and a family torn apart in the aftermath. A story of parents’ worst nightmare. Alec and Raegan lost their daughter three years ago, and Alec’s guilt drove him to destructive behaviour and end the marriage. Raegan, driven to find their daughter, started to collect information about abduction in their area and suspected a more sinister plot behind the abductions. Both of them were thrown together in search of an answer, and found they still love and need each other more than ever.

This really is a good book. As a parent myself this book was heart wrenching, and shadowed under dark cloud in almost the entire book, at least for me. Despite the topic, this book is one of those books that you should not miss. The story flew smoothly, very emotional, suspenseful and kept you turn the pages. However, if child abduction triggered strong emotion out of you, proceed carefully.

Gone is the second book in the Deadly Secrets series by Elisabeth Naughton. I haven't read the first book in the series but I'm sure that will be remedied soon.

Gone is an amazing story full of raw emotion from the beginning to the end. The story of Alec and Raegan whose 1 year old daughter is abducted from a park when Alec turned his back for just a minute, and their struggles to find her as they also search for the themselves and the way back to each other. I'm really not sure what else to say about it except WOW!! Just WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't put it down. It was one of those books you lose sleep over... just one more page, just one more chapter.

I've only read one other book by Ms. Naughton and it had the same impact on me. I think I should be making a shopping trip through Ms. Naughton's back list very soon.

Thanks to the author, Montlake Romance and NetGalley for an ARC of this outstanding story in exchange for an honest review.

Alec and Raegan lost their one year old daughter three years ago, the loss was too much and brought an end to their marriage. An anonymous call about a missing child found near the area where Emma went missing will bring Alec and Reagan together once again. Both are well versed in the art of investigating and this missing child will spur them to investigate other similar missing child cases. What they find could kill them or bring them the answers about their daughter that they’ve been looking for.

Gone by Elisabeth Naughton was a thrilling read. I had trouble putting this one down and so will you. The story has a few twists and turns that you just don’t see coming. This was my first read of Naughtons and I’m hooked. I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
I give Gone 4 stars and would pair it with Jim Beam and Coke.

With their daughter's abduction, Alec and Raegan's life and marriage fell apart. Raegan held on to the hope her daughter was still alive and threw herself into her career as a newswoman. Alec, consumed by guilt, began drinking heavily and continued his journalism work all the while believing his scumbag, drug dealing dad is behind the abduction. As an unknown child is found, the hospital visit brings Alec and Raegan back together. Their love and lust burns just as strong. Raegan's investigation into a string of children's abductions throws the couple into danger as they struggle to uncover the truth. Fast-paced and action packed, the story pulls at the heart strings and ends with a well satisfying HEA that I would recommend for anyone who loves a good romantic suspense. My review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

Gone by Elisabeth Naughton
Deadly Secrets 2

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ “OMG!!! This book is so freaking good I can't read fast enough!” At one point this statement kept circling my mind, as I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next! All the characters were great! I really enjoyed the love between Alec and Raegan. These two had some serious life-changing issues to deal with and to see it prevail through all of that, was wonderful.

I quite enjoyed the first book in this series, however I loved this one more! The romance was heartfelt, the suspense well written and the conclusion was great. Naughton still stands as a favourite author of mine!

* I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review *

~Paragraphs and Petticoats~

I received this book from Netgalley in return for my honest opinion. Thank you Netgalley & Elizabeth Naughton
What an emotional rollercoaster.. Best book I've read thus far.

Amazing and you won't regret reading it, I couldn't put it down.

This book is about a little girl's parents whos daughter gets kidnapped while being with her father at a park. Other children have been kidnapped from the same park and Emma's parents try to figure out who kidnapped the other kids and find love again along the way. It's a fun read and youll be trying to figure out how these kids could just disappear... Highly recommend!!

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The story line was good but there were somethings that were not that great. The sex was unnecessary. The last time ir was mentioned was perfect. She let you know it happened but you didn't have to hear it or skip pages. Also the time/distance for the male of the story to be the hero, how'd he get there that fast. It just didn't work but. You could enjoy the book.

GONE, the 2nd book in Deadly Secret Series., by Elizabeth Naughton.
Story jumps in with Alex and Reagan, at the hospital, a girl has been found. But it isn't Emma, their girl that was kidnapped 3 1/2 years ago.
Alex believes that John Gilbert is involved in it. Yet, Reagan, has discovered the link to something even more sinister. The kidnapping tore them apart. Feelings and hope still connect them. An emotionally book , of dealing when your child is abducted. Good reading and another winner for Elizabeth Naughton. Given ARC by Net Galley for my voluntary review and my honest opinion I have given.

Although this book is part of the series, I really felt like you didn't have to read the first book to enjoy it. I know they say that a lot in descriptions, but this one is completely true.
The characters in this book were excellent and very well developed. The author really took extraordinary effort to make sure she showed the challenges of both addiction and their missing child on both characters.
Overall this was an excellent book that I found compelling while including a good deal of hot romance.

Loved this book! Alec and Raegan lived every parents worst nightmare. As well as drawing me right in from the very first, the characters are so real - I felt their pain and hope and despair and struggle to simply go forward. First suspense that I have ever read where I really wanted to turn to the end of the book to see what and who happened (I didn't) - could not put the book down!
Second book I have read by Elisabeth Naughton and she has definitely become my 2017 "new author" to catch up on her romantic suspense books.

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review
Wow! I was gripped from the very first page. This romantic suspense novel has it all. Mystery, action, heartbreak, love, passion and lust. At the heart of this story is the abduction of young children - a difficult subject. This book is written so well, with so much emotion that I CNPID. The characters are excellent and so very realistic. The pace is rapid and the intensity maintained throughout. Probably one of my top reads for 2016. Highly recommended.

Their child went missing and their marriage destroyed ,Raegan still believes her daughter is still alive always searching. Alec and Raegan come together when a little girl is found matching her description years later. This sets off a search of abductions as they work to find answers to the past and set the course for their future. This book will keep the reader turning the pages to find the answers with these characters.

Ebook from Netgalley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own.

Naughton has penned a romantic suspense that grips you from the first page and does not let go until the end.

The characters in this boom are well developed and the plot is well conceived. The writing is engaging and the dialogue is natural. The mystery grips you in the way only a true thriller can. You will spend the whole book trying to figure this line out for yourself.

I highly recommend this book to fans of the romantic suspense genre.

I loved reading Gone, whenever I put the book down it kept calling to me to finish it,
I enjoyed the story line as well as all the characters. This book was full of suspense and some parts had me on the edge of my seat. I didn't realise that this book forms part of a series but I read it as a standalone as it can be read as such.
I loved the happy ending and look forward to reading more of Elisabet Naughton in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake Romance for the cop

Love the mcClane stories. After the disappearance of their daughter Emma, Alec is broken and walks away from Raegan. These two reunite with the possibility of their daughter being found. Together they over come obstacles and reignite their love with the purpose of helping each other as well as the parents find their children.

5 stars is not enough for this emotionally charged, suspenseful, well written book. A parent's worse nightmare, the abduction of a child. The endless search has broken these characters. 3 years later new evidence suggests their only child could still be alive. All the anger, grief, guilt, and hope exudes from Alec and Raegan. The writing puts you directly into the mind and heart of these characters. This has instantly become one of my favorites.

well done suspense thriller with a really sad and serious back drop. This is a page turner- thoroughly plot driven. I think it would have benefited from a consistency check/copy edit but on the whole, it's a good read. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC- this is the sort of book you'd especially like for travel or for a lazy afternoon. It's not relaxing (too much tension in the story) but it's very entertaining.

Nothing is more horrible than a missing child. As I got older and had a family, I tried to stay away from watching and reading about the scary things that happen in this world. This story is about family and how to continue on when something horrible happens. It is also a drama and a suspenseful story. Sexual situations because it is life.

Really loved this book. It was very fast paced and I couldn't put it down. Loved Alec and Reagan and was very involved in their story and what happened after they divorced. You could feel their pain and their love. Their search for their missing daughter was sometimes hard to read but it kept me glued to the story. I had to know what happened. It was very touching. Would definitely recommend.

4.5 stars--GONE is the second installment in Elisabeth Naughton’s DEADLY SECRETS romantic suspense series. This is divorced couple Alec and Raegan McClane’s story line. GONE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Dr. Ethan McClane and his fiancé Samantha (Repressed #1) play secondary and supporting roles.

Told from several third person perspectives including Alec and Raegan McClane GONE focuses on the search for the truth. Raegan has never given up hope that their now four year old daughter Emma is alive. Three years earlier Alex and Raegan’s then one year old daughter was abducted and in the ensuing time our couple’s marriage and relationship was destroyed. Fast forward to present day wherein Alec’s biological father begins to play a deviously, sick mind game with our story line couple that pushes Alec and Raegan to reopen the investigation into their missing daughter, and the whereabouts of several other missing children. What ensues is the hunt for Alec’s father, and the discovery that their daughter was targeted from the very start.

GONE is a heartbreaking, emotional and profound story line about loss, betrayal, revenge, and fear. A parent’s worst nightmare and the ensuing guilt that leads to the destruction of their marriage; two broken people who have never stopped loving one another; who will rekindle their relationship as the truth is finally revealed.

Elisabeth Naughton writes from the heart; a tangible, suspense filled, and intense story of loss and hope. The premise is complex and exciting; the characters struggle to live in the moment; the romance is a second chance love story. GONE is a romantic tale of betrayal, intrigue and suspense; of recovery and a happily ever after.

Elisabeth Naughton has done it again! Loved this fast pace page turner with its many twists. Reagan is one tough cookie with spunk and tenacity who will stop at nothing to get her family back. I found the first person view of Alec and his addiction issues very thought provoking and found myself cheering him on. My only con is having to wait for the next one in the series.

omg talk about pulling on the heart strings. as a mom myself this would be every parents nightmare and unfortunately it happens more than people realize. I couldn't image what Alec and Reagan went through and I would never wish that on anyone. so many layers and intrigue. this book definitely had me hooked until the end.

I love how this author makes all her characters seem true to life. She is very descriptive in their feelings towards each other and themselves. I think this author has done a fantastic job in making you feel as well as see what the loss of a child would do to a marriage.

A well written story about a horrible truth. It was nice to see that the good guys succeeded in the end. I like the fact that the sex scenes were kept to a minimum. If this writer's style continues in this fashion I may have found a new top of my list author to read.

Just finished reading Gone and Repression the first book in this series. I loved both of these books. I don't want to give away the plots, but I'll simply say you will have a hard time putting them down. Many twists and turns and heartwarming love story. Awesome books