The Lovely and the Lost

As a child, Kira was found abandoned in the woods, half-starved and struggling to survive. Even years after being adopted by Cady Bennett, she still has trouble in social situations, though has adapted well to working for Cady’s SAR (Search and Rescue) business. Jude, Cady’s son, and Free, the neighbor girl, both help Kira adjust, but when a situation arises requiring their SAR dogs to find a missing girl, Kira starts suffering flashbacks from her time lost in the woods. Time is running out, and 775,000 acres is a lot of land to cover if the dogs lose the scent. She knows her experience will help her find the lost girl, if only the adults in charge will let her help.

This story by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is similar to her Naturals<.em> series in its focus on complicated relationships and abilities based on personality and developed and strengthened through experience. The pace of the action makes it a page-turner, and it goes by too fast. Readers will be disappointed that this is a stand-alone, for Kira is a likable character and the dynamics of the group is entertaining enough to offset the seriousness of the situation.