The very wealthy and very sheltered Preston Meadows lives his life protected from even the hint of harm. His world is safe and secure until someone kidnaps his sister, Katie. Against his parents� wishes, Preston sets out on his own to find her. Preston works hard to blend in with the “regular� people roaming the streets of Dallas � but the real world is zany, insane, full of danger and ruthless criminals. Preston soon begins to learn more about himself and finds he has a knack for foiling certain crimes. In his adventures, during his search for his sister, he makes friends with some of the strangest people he could ever imagine. Along the way, Preston falls in love, comes face-to-face with a self-described Drug Lord, and discovers a side of himself he never knew existed, especially after the Drug Lord kidnaps his girlfriend.
When Preston Meadows� sister Katie is kidnapped by a drug lord, Delgado, Preston leaves the comfort of his lavish lifestyle and heads to the streets in search for her.
Finding Katie is a story about a young man who has had a privileged life thanks to his wealthy parents and who acts selflessly to bring his kidnapped sister home. He must adapt to new surroundings, living as a common citizen in order to prevent drawing attention to himself. Along the way, Preston finds himself, the man he can be, accepting it with open arms and leaves his old self behind.
The character development was wonderful as I truly admire the person Preston becomes throughout Finding Katie; he is caring of others, selfless, and courageous. Another element that I personally enjoyed was Preston's journey to finding his sister Katie. He made new friends and enemies along the way, and John J. Smith sprinkled in a little dab of romance in the mix.
I was definitely looking forward to read Finding Katie since I have previously read Delayed Flight by the same author, and once again I was not disappointed! John J. Smith is a wonderful author who incorporates a great balance of humor and romance into each of his novels.
I recommend Finding Katie to anyone who has read Delayed Flight, this is definitely another piece by John J. Smith you won't want to miss!
The very wealthy and very sheltered Preston Meadows lives his life protected from even the hint of harm. His world is safe and secure until someone kidnaps his sister, Katie. Against his parents� wishes, Preston sets out on his own to find her. Preston works hard to blend in with the “regular� people roaming the streets of Dallas � but the real world is zany, insane, full of danger and ruthless criminals. Preston soon begins to learn more about himself and finds he has a knack for foiling certain crimes. In his adventures, during his search for his sister, he makes friends with some of the strangest people he could ever imagine. Along the way, Preston falls in love, comes face-to-face with a self-described Drug Lord, and discovers a side of himself he never knew existed, especially after the Drug Lord kidnaps his girlfriend.
My Thoughts
The synopsis for the story in no way prepares one for the rich reading experience that is between the pages of this book. A story that is the sum total of its parts but whose main attraction is young Preston Meadows, a rich sheltered spoiled brat at the beginning who comes into his own hard won persona by the end of the book. A man any parent could be proud to call their son!
Never have I come across a character like Preston Meadows, both smart and naive, savvy yet unaware, enthusiastic and totally unpredictable this young man will win your heart and mind just like he did mine!
Sheltered since birth by his wealthy parents Preston has only one real friend, his older sister Katie. When he finds out that she has been kidnapped he makes up his mind to find her and bring her home. Armed with only a no-limit charge card, a few articles of clothing, a stun gun and no knowledge of what he faces Preston leaves home vowing not to come back without Katie.
Turns out that finding his sister involves becoming an "ordinary" citizen, blending in and acting just like the myriad others who inhabit the downtrodden neighborhood where it is reputed that Katie can be found.
Preston soon discovers that his existence before has in no way prepared him for a life on the street but at the same time he also finds a well of strength and inner courage that he never knew he had. This is a book that took me by surprise with it's eccentric characters, the eclectic range of emotions that the reader experiences along with Preston and most of all the insight into human nature that the author showcases as the story progresses.
The different sides of Preston Meadows come to light as he grows and changes as the story progresses. This book tells a story that is very unique, one that is hard to put into words without spoiling it for others but once you meet Preston you will understand what I mean.
Preston's story is about a young man who sets out to rescue his sister and along the way saves himself in the process.
A joy to read from beginning to end, I highly recommend picking up a copy of "Finding Katie" because it is a read that has appeal to both men and women of all ages and backgrounds!
[Ecopy of the book provided by author in exchange for an honest review.]
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I don't normally read mystery type books but I really liked this one. The author did a great job at writing a detailed story. I find that most male authors are detailed in their writing compared to female authors. When I started reading about Preston I had assumed at first that he was just a child. I think he was meant to be written that way, because he lives such a sheltered life he seems almost child-like in some ways. He seems to only connect with his sister Katie. When she is kidnapped he decides to set out and find her on his own.In doing so he meets up with a band of characters. All are people you would never assume a rich white boy would ever be friends with. In becoming friends with them he not only changes their lives but his own. Preston also has a secret. A secret that helps him to read people very well. It is one that his father uses to his advantage and Preston is fed up with it and realizes that he is once he is out on his own. John did an awesome job with this story. It had me thinking, laughing and crying. Some of the things Preston said were too funny. Like periwinkle. I thought it was a item of clothing. I know that it is a color. Come to find out it is a body part. I have heard it called a lot of things but never a periwinkle.
What I Loved:
Everyone from the shelter that Preston stayed at. Sistah, Harry and even Too Loose. They were like his new family, the family he wished he had.
Camel. Yes I liked him even though he gave Preston a hard time. He was oblivious to how goofy he was. The part with him and Petey the dog. Hilarious. I laughed so hard. It took me a while to regain composure so I could finish reading it. I won't tell you what happened. You need to get the book to find out.
Mrs. Meadows, Preston's mom. At first I didn't like her. I found her stuck up and super snobby. Then change my opinion when she came and helped Preston out. She acted like a real mom. Plus she gave him two super buff, deadly bodyguards who were ready to kill for him, just say the word. Great gift mom.
What I Didn't Love
Mr Meadows, Preston's dad. He is more willing to save a dollar than his own child. When the ransom for Katie was ordered he refused to pay. That is your child. You should be willing to pay any amount for them. He won't be getting any Father Of The Year awards anytime soon.
The who done it was a little cliche'. I was hoping for more of a "OMG I can't believe that's who did it" moments. I won't complain because I still loved the book.
Overall Thoughts
What can I say? I loved this book. I was taken by surprise by how good it was. I am used to reading about vampires or the occasional romance. Not mysteries. If this story is anything like John's other works I will be adding him to my favorite author list. I highly recommend it. Great job.
Reading the Blurb I must say I wasn't sure what to expect, Yes I was interested as I enjoy novels written by John Smith but after reading Finding Katie I was indeed a happy camper !! I found myself giggling at many a scenes , even in the dire circumstances of this story, John found room to add in the humour. I don't think Ive giggled so much in a story as much as I did in this !!
Finding Katie is more of a Mystery with Elements of the Paranormal world - filled with romance as well.
Heartfelt moments where present, I must say John Smith did a fantastic job of blending romance, action, humour and all aspects in this story giving us readers that happy medium where nothing is missing or left out .. Just content once the last page has been turned !
Preston Meadows, is rich and has led a sheltered life, for more reasons than one, he has a gift, that his dad likes to keep hidden from the world till the moment suits him. Being given all that he needs in life, never realizing the poverty and the heart break outside the confines of his own lavish life., Preston ventures outside his bubble into the real world, of violence, drugs, and chaotic individuals .
Preston goes undercover as ** someone ** less fortunate to find his Kidnapped sister Katie, On his journey he makes one of discovery, the person he was and the person he can be. - To move forward live his own life and to also find his sister in the mean time. He meets some unsavoury people along the way, makes wonderful friendships, and also makes many enemies. He sees the world - from many people 's views along the way, moment where his heart wants to break just at the thought of what they have been through.. Of course Preston being the kind hearted soul he is helps in every way possible. Even mopping the floors lol !!
I enjoyed Preston's character - he was strong willed and caring - and even took it upon himself to care for a dog that was very unsavoury lol.. I found his chatter quiet amusing he just didn't blend in with the street lingo . This alone got him in trouble lol..
Alot of wonderful characters were created in this story - all with depth , definition and huge personalities ! I'm sure many of them will make you cringe, giggle and even smirk !
John Smith has written an exceptionally well balanced novel with great character development and emotion, and is a book that I'm sure any reader with a sense of humour will enjoy . Well blended story - filled with a smooth flowing storyline encased with banter, humour, romance and the meaning of true friendship, love, family and caring for others no so fortunate.
Overall, I give this 4 1/2 stars !! I will certainly be reading more of John Smith's future novels !
I wasnt entirely sure what type of book I was going to be reading when I started. It sounded like a mystery with humor element from what I had read before. And it definitely had the humor element, and a touch of mystery. But really it was about Preston and what its like for him to live in his sheltered family life and how he really grows and learns what is important and what life in about while on a search for his missing sister.
Preston is an incredibly smart man who still lives in his parent basement and works for his father helping him to make millions. The closest person to him is his sister Katie who goes missing one day while trying to help someone out in a dangerous part of town. Preston is not able to stand back while the police and private investigators try to find Katie and insists on looking for her himself. This is a huge step outside of his comfort zone and he is not at all prepared to face life and survive in the real world. Luckily he does have his fathers credit card, this does help him adjust into a different lifestyle even though he cant admit he is the one purchasing the items he buys to help out his new found acquaintances. Throughout the book you really get to see Preston grow and find out who he is and it makes you glad that his sister went missing, because without it he never would have become the person he is meant to be.
While I did like the story there were a couple flaws. One is that the story is about finding Katie. But its really finding Preston. Katie goes missing at the beginning. But it seems like once Preston leaves home he concentrates more on the new people he meets and finding Katie becomes more of a background quest. He doesnt forget it, it just seems like he doesnt make it such a priority. The other things that I noticed is that while the writing is good and the story flows great. It could use another pass by a good editor, then it would be a much better work.
I would read another book by this writer. His main characters were well developed and you could really see the progression. And the story flowed smoothly which made it much easier and more pleasant to read.
Preston Meadows is a quirky, sheltered, genius of a little boy in a man’s body. He is funny. He is kind. He is caring. And, he is generous. He can also hear what people are thinking. Preston is like Lucille Ball and Dick Van Dyke rolled into one character. All he wishes to do is find his sister, Katie, who has been abducted by the badass drug Lord, Delgado. What he finds is his true self. He meets the most unsavory characters and they fall like dominos behind him as he foils one bad plot after another. The more Preston tries to do accomplish good deeds, the more havoc he reeks in the neighborhood. And, one more thing, Preston LOVES his stun gun.
His vocabulary, or should I say Preston’s proper speech and the way it set him apart from the average man on the street is endearing. It is comical to travel along with Preston as he learns the “street lingo� and tries his best to fit in with hookers, transvestites, addicts, and the poor in the shelter where he has found a home. I’m still wondering if he ever figured out why everyone kept threatening to “pop yo ass�.
John J. Smith has written a book like no other book I have ever read (and I have read many.) It was enchanting, and I laughed from the first page to the last. Finding Katie had action, drama, comedy, and romance; yet it was also enchanting. While I loved every bit of this book, the comedy will stay with me for a long time (possibly, because I channel Lucy and could picture myself in some of Preston’s scrapes.)
John J. Smith managed to capture the personalities and eccentricities of the rich as well as the poor, and everyone in between. The book is rich with characters who have names as large as their personalities; Sistah Goldenhair, Maxine PoopsAlot of BarksAlot, Fonzie Dale, Ms. Garza, Sandia, Low Down DD, Too Loose, Petey, and Camel.
As you close the book on the laughter, the tears, the good works, and the chase, it’s hard to believe that you have only spent a week in the life of Preston Meadows. Even though the book comes to a well-written conclusion, Finding Katie leaves you wanting to spend more time with Preston. I definitely recommend adding this book to your stash.
I had no idea what to expect from this book. I read it simply because it was by the Dark Red Press author I had yet to read. I had read Smith's story in 4pocalypse and it was my favorite, so I decided to check out this book. I can say that it was nothing like the previous novella I had read but I was pleasantly surprised by what I found.
I’m not sure what you call this book. Maybe a mystery/romance with some paranormal elements thrown in. It centers on Preston, an extremely intelligent yet extremely sheltered young man. When his sister is kidnapped, he takes it upon himself to find her. This cleverly written mystery is as much about Preston’s journey in becoming a man as it is about finding his sister Katie. Along the way he meets a colorful cast of characters who eventually become his new family. He learns to be a man, to live on his own, and what it feels like to fall in love. All of this together was one of the most satisfying journeys I have read in a while.
One of the reasons I picked up this book is that I love Smith’s writing style. His word choices and the way he puts sentences together is just brilliant. He has a gift for characterization and these are some of the most memorable and endearing characters I have read. The mystery itself is pretty clever but what really struck me about the writing was the humor. I think I was smiling throughout the entire story which evolved into outright laughter in many parts. That is not to say there are not some dark spots in the book as this is at times a very dark story. But between some over the top characters and Preston’s hilarious inner monologue, the story managers to stay upbeat, bright, and very satisfying.
I’m glad that I didn’t know anything about the story before because I might not have read it. I can say that I enjoyed it very much and am glad I did. This is a story I think I could recommend to most people and I will definitely be reading more from this author.
From the blurb, I was almost 100% sure I'd love this book. To be honest, the first few chapters had me wondering if I even wanted to finish it. But, I had previously read another book, Delayed Flight, by this author, and loved it, so I kept reading. And if I'd have put it down without finishing it, I'd have cheated myself out of a really good book. It was so good that I read it in one sitting.
I started the book when I got into bed, thinking I'd read a while and go to sleep. But that didn't happen because I couldn't put it down. The story of rich, pampered Preston getting down and dirty with the criminals and living at a homeless shelter was more than interesting, and the people he met at the shelter were written so well that I could "see" them in all their fashion faux pas and character quirks.
I didn't expect the book to be funny, but it was hilarious!! Quite a few times I woke my hubby up with uncontrollable laughter. I don't ever remember laughing this much while reading a book!!
The only thing bad a can say about the book was that I thought Preston didn't seem all that much in a hurry to find his sister. But if he had, the book wouldn't have been what is, which is one of my favorite read in quite a few years!
Finding Katie is a unique and well written book. Preston has lived an extremely sheltered and privileged life. He is a pretty much a loner with no real friends, except his sister Katie. When he finds out that his sister has been kidnapped, he decides to leave his safe world and try to find her. His journey takes him to a world that is completely foreign to him. For a guy who is a virgin both literally and in the ways of the "real" world, he does pretty well for himself.
I liked Preston. He is courageous and really smart. I think the thing about this story that appealed to me the most is what Preston discovers about himself. By his having to go search for his sister, he finds his true self along the way. He also finds out that sometimes true family isn't the one that you are born into. Finding Katie is filled with many interesting and colorful characters. There are also some real laugh out loud moments. I definitely recommend taking this journey along with Preston.
This was just a fun, exciting read from the very beginning.
Full disclosure: I know John personally. now that that's out of the way...
If you enjoy romantic, adventure mystery thrillers then you have to check this novel out. The characters are fantastic! Some of the misadventure that Preston (the protagonist) has during his search for his missing sister are just not to be believed. Hilarious and touching.
What starts off as a mystery (with some elements of the paranormal thrown in for good measure) turns into a true adventure thriller. I'm not even going to delve any more into the tale itself except to say if there is not at least two characters that you connect with and laugh with and feel with, then I'd be terribly surprised.
Well written and set at a superb pace, I have to say I enjoyed the heck out of this book from page one to the last.
This is an interesting and well written mystery. Preston Meadows sets out to find his kidnapped sister Katie. Quite a task for someone who has led such a sheltered life. The humour in this book comes from Preston's adventures in the "real" world.
This is the first novel of John J. Smith's that I have read. It is an amusing read that is a great way to while away a rainy weekend. It is the fascinating characters that Preston encounters that gives this books it's soul. It is also a story about growth. We see Preston change and grow as he explores the real world in search of his sister initially and then of course himself.
You can pick up this book on Amazon for $2.99 for your Kindle. Give it a shot. You'll enjoy it.