Don't Let Me Go: A Novel (Random House Reader's Circle) Paperback – July 2, 2013

While "Din't Let Me Go" is the sequel to "No Child of Mine," it is also a novel which could be read as a stand alone. (Although both books are absolutely wonderful and truly worth the read....)I read this one with great care in order to take in a the details and minutiae of the many aspects of this book. And it was still totally catching and attention holding from the first page!! Heartbreaking, heartwarming, full of family dynamics, love, hope, despair, friendship, and legalize, "Don't Let Me Go," is easily the best book I have read in 2014.The characters and relationships, personal and familial and other dynamics, are so well developed that you truly are able to relate to each and every one of them and the situations in which they are a part of.The addition and stronger role of Anthony in this novel adds such an additional dynamic that is wonderful in all the roles he plays. Being able to see the effect of Chloe and Charlotte when they are separated and how they both struggle during the separation is so well written and contrasted so well against the dynamic of their homecoming and dynamic when they are together. The role of Tracy throughout the novel also add a great deal to the role of the child protective social worker, as well as how others relate to Chloe and truly adds to the character of Chloe as well as her effect on others.I have tried to summarize this book as best as possible, but am not finding the best words to relate how wonderful and moving it is and how one truly will miss out by passing up the chance to read this novel. So if you read nothing else this year, "Don't Let Me Go," is the book to read.As an aside to the author, while most areas were concluded with this novel, it would be great to have a novella that picks up in 5 yrs time and catches us up on their life in New Zealand, the new addition to the family as well as the new house an businesses, etc and how Charlotte's relationship with her mother works out, how Chloe is doing i. Her new school now that she is older, and with a new sibling, etc.

Loved the second part of this trilogy. Susan Lewis did an amazing job putting the story together. I loved every minute of it even the frustrating parts knowing how the law works and not always for the best interest of the children. Great story telling. Couldn’t put the book down. Looking forward to reading book 3.

This book needs to come with a few tissues but it is worth it. A social worker rescues a little girl from a home where the father just killed the mother, was cleaning his computer of pornography and photos that included him abusing bis 3 year old daughter. She saw him working on the computer and saw some of the photos and headed back to the house where she found bis wife dead from being stabbed. She ran up the stairs and heard a noise in the closet a d the door was locked. After finding the key on the floor she opened it, grabbed the child and raced out of the house. She bad go go back in the house go get the girl's stuffed bear and gain fled. She drove to her home and the child was soon safely tucked in bed.She called the police to go see what happened at the home. Police came to see her to tell her the child was missing. She never told them she was hiding up stairs. In a couple of months she took the child and flew to her mother's in New Zealand where they started a New and happier life. A happier life until a jealous woman called the police and Charlotte was arrested and was taken back to England for trial. Chloe was whisked away and taken to England and put in the system, all the time wanting to be with her mummy, Charlotte. In the meantime Charlotte was in jail and was unable to find out where Chloe was or if she was well. This is a story of strong love, of family and the problems of social services, ND of the faith of little girl and her new mummy a d all the black 2nd left in the details. It was a story I could not put down. Good read.

What a wild ride! The extended ups and downs of this book kept me reading long into the night. I loved the New Zealand setting with the enthralling scenes of nature and the culture the. When the camp and foggy scenery of England is juxtaposed the meaning of the book is underscored. The characterization is wonderful: Child became as real to me as if she were next door and the gentle, loving spirit of Charlotte and her mother, Anna, along with the affable Anthony, and the rest of the U.S. Family made for an awesome community. But, the sensitive handling of the qualities of the plot--sexual abuse of children, violence, revenge, and adoption was troubling but real. The portrayal of social workers in their often thank!was jobs was the thread that held the plot together. For a very real slice of life and the way that law and love can coexist you must read this book.

It was hard to put this book down. It was well-written and I loved the characters. So many people who came from seriously flawed backgrounds and overcoming them. It’s a testament to the love mothers have for their daughters. And also speaks to the flawed Social Services system, sometimes through overworked Social Workers but also through government entities that undervalue what they do, and cut their funding, and also through carers that only care about the money and not the children under their care. But there are the good ones, the caring ones, out there and hopefully that’s where those poor little ones go.

I gave the book a four as I didn’t Think it was as good as her books usually are. By that I mean it was more of a romance book. Then her well written books. Although there were definitely twists to the plot.

This is a good book with a heart breaking story of child abuse. The protagonist makes a choice that seems like the right moral choice given the circumstances however the outcome causes many problems. I liked the writing style although at times the story seemed contrived and implausible. Still, it is a good expose of the British social work and legal systems. It was hard to put the book down.

Book two in the No Child of Mine trilogy and this was everything a middle book should be. It held its own in terms of plot, the characters developed and gained more depth from book one and there was no filler. I wish more middle books were like this in trilogies.There's nothing I can really say about this as it would be full of spoilers for the first book but this is a real rollarcoaster on your emotions.Trigger warnings all over this trilogy for child abuse, some parts of this are not easy to read.

I have had this sitting on my shelf for a few months, waiting to find time to read such a big book. But, what a story and don't be afraid of the length as you'll finish it in no time. It's such a demanding story. I hadn't been aware that the first part was set in New Zealand, and having been to this particular part of the world and with friends still there, it was all the more interesting. The gist of the book contains a lot of legal processes all the more interesting though. There were many OOOhs and AAAhs when the story took a twist and turn. I couldn't believe there would be a happy ending, and Susan Lewis keeps you guessing all the time. I love her books and can't wait to read another one. She paints such good characters.

This book had me on tenterhooks right till the very end. Absolutely loved this book along with book one and now can’t wait to read book 3. Thankyou Susan for your beautiful story that has kept me gripped to the end.

Two stars because something drove me to actually finish this, despite the annoying repetitve, saccharine style of the author. Her over-use of starting sentences with "Loving...." drove me to distraction. The way the author revealed information seemed really clunky to me; it could have been done more subtly. It was a little too contrived (Chloe sitting unknowingly by Charlotte's family's gravestones towards the end? Oh come on!)What irked me the most was the portrayal of the foster families as all useless, cruel, layabouts only in it for the money. It was just stupid and unrealistic...much like a lot of the book actually.I didn't really like any of the characters and felt some started to be developed then were just dropped.Also, bit weird, but anyone else notice how very near the end of the book Hamish is referred to as Rick's "friend" not partner? That annoyed me too!

This book was amazing. Felt like you were actually part of a story which seemed so real. Got to know each individual. Great read