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Nancy Wood
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Due Date: A Shelby McDougall Mystery (The Shelby McDougall Mysteries) Kindle Edition

by Nancy Wood (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 211 ratings
Surrogate mother Shelby McDougall just fell for the biggest con of all: a scam that risks her life … and the lives of her unborn twins.

Twenty-three-year-old Shelby McDougall is facing a mountain of student debt and a memory she’d just as soon forget. An ad in Rolling Stone for a surrogate mother offers her a way to erase the loans and right her karmic place in the cosmos. Within a month, she’s signed a contract, relocated to Santa Cruz, California, and started fertility treatments.

But intended parents Jackson and Diane Entwistle have their own agenda — one that has nothing to do with diapers and lullabies. With her due date looming, and the clues piling up, Shelby must save herself and her twins.

As she uses her wits to survive, Shelby learns the real meaning of the word “family”.
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  1. Part of series
    The Shelby McDougall Mysteries
  2. Print length
    458 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    March 1, 2019
  5. File size
    893 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nancy Wood grew up in various locations on the East Coast and now calls Central California home. Recently retired, she spent 35 years as a technical writer, translating engineer-speak into words and sentences. She likens it to translating ancient Greek - when you're not too familiar with the Greek part.Since retiring, she and her husband have been traveling the world. So far, they've visited France, Spain, England, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Belgium, the Netherlands, India, and Vietnam. They are not anywhere close to done and have many more trips planned.Nancy is also a passionate photographer, focusing on macro photography. She can be found at Nancy Wood Books (https: //nancywoodbooks.com).

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07NWCLM62
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Paper Angel Press (March 1, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 1, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 893 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 458 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1478181672
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 211 ratings

About the author

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Nancy Wood

Nancy Wood

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Nancy Wood writes the Shelby McDougall Santa Cruz County, CA based suspense series, featuring a surrogate mom Shelby McDougall turned private investigator.

Though the books can be read as standalones, if you'd like to read them in order, start with Due Date, where Shelby signs on as a surrogate mom. In The Stork, she discovers what actually happened to her babies, and in the third and final book of the series, The Found Child, Shelby's story comes full circle.

Check out Treasure Hunt for a glimpse into Shelby's life.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
211 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the book's intriguing plot with unexpected twists at the end, and find it a great summer read with well-developed characters, particularly noting the believable female protagonist. The writing is well-crafted with good characterization, and customers appreciate how it starts out extremely strong and holds their interest throughout. The book is rich in imagery, with one customer specifically mentioning the marvelous job describing scenic Santa Cruz.

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58 customers mention "Plot twists"49 positive9 negative

Customers enjoy the plot twists of the book, describing it as a gut-wrenching thriller with many surprises and unexpected revelations that keep readers engaged until the end.

"...Nancy has captured a lot of Santa Cruz in this, and while this is a great story that could have taken place almost anywhere, as a local I enjoyed..." Read more

"...does a great job of developing Shelby's character and building the sense of tension as she begins to realize that things are not quite what they..." Read more

"...This is an excellent thriller with rich characterization. I defy you to put it down...." Read more

"Hmmm...the story was okay but in parts it was predictable...." Read more

52 customers mention "Readability"45 positive7 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a great and entertaining summer read.

"...So, I only got 3 hours sleep because I was hooked. This is a fun read, with an interesting and rather unique plotline, and I am SO looking forward..." Read more

"...The writing flows nicely, making this a pleasant read, and there's an unexpected twist at the end...." Read more

"...This novel lends itself well to what goes on behind the scenes of surrogacy and the world of selling babies...." Read more

"I enjoyed this book. It was exciting, unpredictable with great characterization...." Read more

22 customers mention "Writing quality"22 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its great details and good characterization, with one customer highlighting the engaging dialogue that brings the story to life.

"...who, by the way, became quite real to me as I read -- good characterization)..." Read more

"...The writing flows nicely, making this a pleasant read, and there's an unexpected twist at the end...." Read more

"...Woods' writing is taut and eloquent, in the Raymond Chandler mode. Here are some examples; "..." Read more

"I enjoyed this book. It was exciting, unpredictable with great characterization...." Read more

16 customers mention "Character development"13 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the well-developed characters in the book, particularly noting the believable female protagonist, with one review highlighting the unique personality and voice of the heroine.

"...Nancy Woods does a great job of developing Shelby's character and building the sense of tension as she begins to realize that things are not quite..." Read more

"...sorry, no spoilers allowed. The novel also qualifies as a character study and, as such, rises above the suspense genre...." Read more

"...dilemmas, family conflict, social values, and a cast of interesting and diverse characters who will keep you guessing until the adrenaline-filled..." Read more

"...Each of her characters has a unique personality and voice. Her brother, Dexter and Jessica, her sister-in-law, are clearly mismatched...." Read more

10 customers mention "Pacing"7 positive3 negative

Customers praise the book's pacing, noting it starts extremely strong and holds their interest from beginning to end, with one customer mentioning it kept them up all night.

"...The lead character, Shelby McDougall, is a strong, resourceful, and compassionate woman who wants to help a childless couple create a family - even..." Read more

"...This books starts out extremely strong and then fizzles out...." Read more

"...was different & the main character, Shelby, engaging, if a bit frustratingly pig-headed...." Read more

"This is the first time I have read a book on this subject. It was well thought out...." Read more

9 customers mention "Visual quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the visual elements of the book, noting its rich imagery, with one customer particularly praising its vivid descriptions of Santa Cruz.

"...lend as much to the ever increasing conflict as they do to the colorful background...." Read more

"...Wood paints excellent word pictures filled with vivid detailed descriptions of everything from settings and characters, pregnancy and childbirth to..." Read more

"...The author does a marvelous job describing scenic Santa Cruz, California and the surrounding area as well as developing believable characters...." Read more

"...They're very subtle. Even after you think the story is over and the bad guy is put away, it's only just beginning...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Littoral Librarian
    5.0 out of 5 stars Kept me up all night!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Bought this because the author is local, and wanted to like it. As it turned out, I LOVED it. Read it on my Kindle, and last night one of the big plotlines was "solved" (or at least there was an apparent resolution), and I noticed I was only 67% through the book. WTF? I HAD to keep going...couldn't wait to find out where it was all going, and what was going to happen to Shelby. (who, by the way, became quite real to me as I read -- good characterization)

    Nancy has captured a lot of Santa Cruz in this, and while this is a great story that could have taken place almost anywhere, as a local I enjoyed having some of the local places be part of the story, even with some name changes.

    So, I only got 3 hours sleep because I was hooked. This is a fun read, with an interesting and rather unique plotline, and I am SO looking forward to the next in what I would think will become a series of Shelby McDougall books. (And Dexter really needs to dump Jessica :))
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Kass
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great Character Development
    Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Some members of Shelby McDougall's family are pissed at her for becoming a surrogate mother, but Shelby's not doing it just for the money. She's hoping to atone for some sins in her past by helping a childless couple fulfill their dream. But there's something a little off about this couple...

    Nancy Woods does a great job of developing Shelby's character and building the sense of tension as she begins to realize that things are not quite what they should be. The writing flows nicely, making this a pleasant read, and there's an unexpected twist at the end.

    This is an impressive debut novel and I look forward to reading more of Ms. Woods' work.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • L
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Kickoff to the Series
    Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Due Date introduces us to Shelby McDougall before she became a private eye. We meet her as a wide-eyed, naive, would-be grad student in art history. At age 23 she's pregnant with twins and acting as a surrogate mother for a weathy Santa Cruz couple.

    True to form, Nancy Wood takes us on a light-speed ride through the underworld of conception. Shelby may be gullible, but she is far from timid as she confronts some very dangerous criminals head on, burgeoning belly and all.

    Woods' writing is taut and eloquent, in the Raymond Chandler mode. Here are some examples;
    "Her leg was bent under her, tucked as if she were a long-legged heron who’d folded up her leg in a tidy package.; No graduate school would possibly accept me. I was tainted goods. I came with baggage. Boxcars of it.; The distant moon, almost directly overhead, lit the open meadow. The grass moved in the wind, as if alive. Ishivered, feeling exposed, like I had no clothes on. Nothing separated me from all that empty space."

    This is an excellent thriller with rich characterization. I defy you to put it down. But make sure you have ample covers to pull up to your chin for safety when you read this!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Bookworm
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not a bad read but it won't be going on my favorites ...
    Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Hmmm...the story was okay but in parts it was predictable. I thought the characters were missing some depth and a little more of a back story would have been helpful for the supporting cast. Shelby was a bit of a bird brain and irritating at times; maybe because I can't relate to a 23-year-old​ being so gullible. Not a bad read but it won't be going on my favorites list.
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  • Kathleen C. Sprayberry
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Being a surrogate goes against everything Shelby McDougal learned during her Catholic upbringing. Yet, she can't resist the urge to help a childless couple, and is soon pregnant with twins she will never have any contact with. Was this the right decision?
    The moment I started Due Date, I felt as if I had jumped into a Mary Higgins Clark mystery. Nancy Wood immediately draws the reader into questioning Shelby's determination to give up the twins she carries to Diane and Jackson, a couple who appear to have lost their previous baby when the mother disappeared with it. Shelby won't let that happen a second time, despite disapproval from her own family.
    Set in the Central California city of Santa Cruz, the surrounds lend as much to the ever increasing conflict as they do to the colorful background. This novel lends itself well to what goes on behind the scenes of surrogacy and the world of selling babies.
    Wood more than returns the promise of an intriguing and suspenseful mystery in this book. Each page, each word draws the reader further and further into the action, makes them wonder if Shelby has made the right decision, and once she discovers the truth, again is coming to decisions that are completely wrong. The tension is always at a breaking point, causing you to turn the page as fast as you can to discover how things turn out. I highly recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys a great mystery!
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Kathy Alvis Patterson
    4.0 out of 5 stars A serious mistake
    Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this book. It was exciting, unpredictable with great characterization. What made me really sad was a scene involving an image of the crucified Christ on the wall at the hospital. Shelby wanted to cover it up, thinking Jesus would only have condemnation for her. Jesus in reality would have been filled with love for her, and the love of Jesus would have filled her life with the joy it was missing.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Fieldcene
    5.0 out of 5 stars This novel is perfect in the way it entertains.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 21, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    From the very first word, I found this novel a pleasure to read. Filled with wonderful language and word-pictures, tension fills every page as a young woman comes to realize what she's gotten herself into. I love the way the author involves the reader in each minute detail. This put me right into each situation with the main character. For instance, when she searches through her purse, we see exactly what she finds: gum wrappers, used movie tickets, wadded up tissues, balls of hair from her brush, bits of broken shells she'd collected ... Wonderful writing. I rarely give five stars, but this novel is perfect in the way it entertains, grips the reader with apprehension, and holds their interest to the conclusion.
    Report
  • Carol Drinkwater
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 3, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Loved this book, a real page turner. A bit slow and drawn out in some parts but overall a thoroughly good read, well worth the money when I downloaded it, it was only 77p.

    Well done Nancy Wood on your debut novel.
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  • sonia hooper
    5.0 out of 5 stars brilliant from start to finish.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 28, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Exciting and thrilling from start to finish, just couldn't put this one down, well done to author nancy wood on her first novel can't wait for another one.
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  • Jennacakes
    3.0 out of 5 stars Fairly gripping
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 19, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This is no literary masterpiece, but certainly one of the better reads I've stumbled across in my hunt for cheap but worthwhile kindle books. Characters are very near to being three dimensional and the storyline took on an unexpected new direction just when I thought the book was over.
    Worth an easy, and somewhat gripping read.
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  • D. Glover
    5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting from Start to Finish
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 26, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Since it's already been done, I won't go into detail about the storyline itself. I just want to add my praises for a very well thought-out very well-written book. It grabs your attention immediately and keeps it throughout the book. If this is the first book by this author, I have to say I'm very very impressed (and being a writer myself, quite jealous) with her talent. I will be on the lookout for other books by this author. I paid 77p for this book on Kindle. What a bargain!!! Nancy Wood - a name to look for!
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