Hadley and Grace by Suzanne Redfearn
Stacey Irving • September 20, 2020
Hadley and Grace by Suzanne Redfearn
Hadley and Grace by Suzanne Redfearn
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Ever since reading In an Instant, I have been chomping at the bit to get my mitts on this book! I was as giddy as a schoolgirl when I got my copy! My anticipation was at an all time high… Let me tell you, this book did not disappoint!! I couldn’t put the book down. My husband had to pry my kindle out of my hand to go to bed….. He is lucky I didn’t bite his hand...
Two women, three kids….. What was the connection…. This was the musing of the FBI agent tasked with tracking Hadley and Grace down. I think it literally paints the start to the kaleidoscope of questions I kept asking myself!
Hadley and Grace are two of the most unlikeliest people to be thrown together and hunted down by the FBI. They both have the same idea at the time and end up blowing an FBI case against Hadley’s husband Frank and end up going on the run together!
Hadley is fleeing her abusive husband with her daughter Matty and Nephew, under the guise of returning her nephew to her sister to buy herself some time. Hadley, who is so gentle and kind but totally clueless about who her husband truly is. Grace, who was just about to get fired by Hadley’s husband and decides that after her own husband has yet again blown their money on gambling, that she needs an exit strategy that will keep both her and her one year old son Miles financially secure. Cue the start of the zaniest ride of your life.
I absolutely fell in love with both these women. I found myself identifying and connecting with them both, obviously for different reasons. I especially enjoyed watching Hadley as she broke away from her bubble of naivety and started to find herself. Pulling strength and resilience out her shattered psyche and bringing about some extraordinary brilliance from what seems so hopeless at times. Some of the predicaments they get themselves into, had my heart just pulsing with a fire I thought had long since died in myself. It really made me realize that no situation is ever as dire as it once seemed.
Grace with her tough exterior and heart of gold, made me smile so often my cheeks began to ache. Everything she overcame in her life and the fact she could have parted ways with Hadley at any point and been better off for it, yet still she stayed with her knowing she was putting herself in harm's way. Still she felt a sisterly kinship with a woman who could not be more different from herself. These two mamabears taking a hazardous trip across state lines to protect their kids really endeared me to them both. I’m a roaring mamabear too so I can appreciate everything they did to protect their kids. It really hit every point for me. The excitement and heart pounding to the emotional crushing of their spirits was just a slither of the action waiting for you. I literally laughed and cried. Felt such anger at the injustices of their situation, yet fearful of the outcome if they were apprehended! Even after FBI agent Mark and Hadley’s connection, I never felt confident that they could get caught, be heard and treated fairly. I was actually pretty disgusted at the prejudice Grace was hit with because of her past when really Hadley was the naughty one here.
Skipper was by far my favourite character. I wanted to reach into the pages and pull this delightful boy into my arms and find out what nickname he would have given me. I dare you not to fall in love with his resilience and beautiful outlook of our savage world.
For me, this book ticks all the things that make a book worth reading again. I really enjoyed getting both of their points of view consistently throughout the book. I think that was pure writing genius! I usually don’t enjoy multiple POVs in a book but this was absolutely the right call.
If you are looking for a book that encompasses fierce loyalty, adventure, passion, sacrifice and loss but will make your heart sing in ways you never knew existed then this really should be your next read. Family isn’t always blood tied. Sometimes it’s forged when unlikely people come together for a shared destiny of self discovery into an unknown future and finding love in the strangest of places.
Another 5 star smash hit for this incredibly talented author. Suzanne Redfearn knocks it right out of the park.
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Book Review - Fiction - ARC - Ebook- Dark comedy - Cozy Mystery - Anti hero I just finished I’m Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home by Fergus Craig and here are my musings. Carol is so glad to be leaving her tiny prison cell and take her place in a retirement home. Her serial killer life is in her rearview mirror…. What she doesn’t expect is for the place to be full of ex cops…. And when a police commissioner drops dead and people realize who she is… things get even more awkward… She knows she didn’t do it and now she has to prove she didn’t do it… without killing anyone. I just read the Thursday murder club so this book is right up my alley! I love the older sleuths and the fact that Carol is actually a criminal… Just really set this book into a new league. It was such a clever book! The pacing was slower and I think that’s ok for a book like this. It was well written and I was rooting for Carol the whole time. I enjoyed the dark comedy aspects of the book too. I really was charmed by the book and I highly recommend it if you like fun seniors who like to be arm chair detectives!! 4 stars Thank you to @berkleypub and @netgalley for my gifted copy QOTD do you think it would be fun to live in a retirement home? #bookish #booklover #bookinfluencer #booktok #readingallday #lionessofliteracy #bookishblog
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Book review - Fiction - ALC Audiobook - Dark comedy thriller - unreliable narrator A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage by M.K. Oliver ⭐ Star Rating: 4 This book felt like…fast paced, unhinged drama filled ride I was hooked… after a few chapters. The book took a little to get going but my oh my it launched! Did I care about the characters ? I was invested for sure. Laila went from likeable to unlikeable a lot and it was fun. She made a lot of decisions that don’t make sense to normal people but to sociopaths.. oh yes haha Tropes included: unreliable narrator, sociopath in suburbia, stepford wives, blackmail, incompetent husband, morally grey Narration star rating and feelings.. 4 stars well narrated! The story had a couple of laggy moments but honestly the pacing was on the slower side but it worked for the comedy. It was really well written. This book made me feel: 100% unhinged! Honestly I loved every second of Lalla’s journey. This book might make you lose sleep! Perfect for readers who love… Dexter, Finlay Donovan.. 🚫 Not for readers who dislike… books with no romance 😈 Petty Complaint… I would have liked a bit more carnage haha All in all superb! Thank you to @netgalley for my gifted copy. Qotd what do you need from a book review to keep checking that reviewers other reviews? #booktok #bookcontent #bookcommunity #happyreader #bookalorian 4d
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