Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst

Started: 7/13/06
Finished: 7/15/06
Year: 2006
Genre: Fiction
Grade: B+
Reason for reading: review for MyShelf
Blurb (from book jacket): "Laura is awakened in the middle of the night by her teenage daughter, Cassie, who has barely spoken a word to her in months. Following Cassie up to her attic room, Laura learns her daughter's shocking secret.
"Abby's wedding day was one of the happinest of her life, when the shame of her past fell away and she could finally make a fresh sart. But lately she has been consumed by doubts. Can she really stay in this marriage?
"In the glory days of her celebrity, Juliet could barely get out of a limo without flashbulbs going off in her face. Now she's lucky to get the lead role in an infomercial. By Hollywood hasn't seen the last of Juliet Jansen.
"What do these people have in common?
"They have all been seleced to compete on Lost and Found, the daring new reality show. In teams of two, they will race across the globe-from Egypt to Japan, from Sweden to England-to battle for a million-dollar prize. They must decipher encrypted clues, recover mysterious artifacts, and outwit their opponents to stay in play.
"But the rigors of competition are not the only challenges. Will Laura be able to heal her fractured relationship with Cassie before she loses her altogether? Will Justin and Abby be able to spread their message of faith, or will their love pale in the limelight? Will Juliet betray her only friend to make her dreams of superstardom come true? And can any of the players keep their most painful secrets hidden even as the show's creative scheme to revel them to the world?
"What started as a lark turns deadly serious as the number of players is whittled down, temptations beckon, and the bonds between partners strain and unravel. The question now is not only who will capture the final prize, but at what cost."
Opinion: As a fan of reality shows, I really enjoyed reading this book. However it was very much like reading The Amazing Race in a book. For a more complete review, check out MyShelf next month.