With Love From The Inside

Grace Bradshaw knows the exact minute she will die.

On death row for murdering her infant son, her last breath will be taken on February 15 at 12:01 a.m. Eleven years, five months, and twenty-seven days separate her from the last time she heard her precious daughter’s voice and the final moment she’d heard anyone call her Mom. Out of appeals, she can focus on only one thing—reconnecting with her daughter and making sure she knows the truth.

Secrets lurk behind Sophie Logan’s big house and even bigger bank account. Every day when she kisses her husband good-bye, she worries her fabricated life is about to come crumbling down. No one knows the unforgivable things her mother did to tear her family apart—not her husband, who is a prominent plastic surgeon, or her “synthetic” friends who live in her upscale neighborhood.

Grace’s looming execution date forces Sophie to revisit the traumatic events that haunted her childhood. When she returns to her hometown, she discovers new evidence about her baby brother William’s death seventeen years ago—proof that might set her mother free but shatter her marriage forever.

Sophie must quickly decide if her mother is the monster the prosecutor made her out to be or the loving mother she remembers—the one who painted her toenails glittery pink and plastered Post-it notes with inspiring quotes (“100 percent failure rate if you don’t try”) all over Sophie’s bathroom mirror—before their time runs out.

I love mother/daughter relationships - thankfully I have happy/healthy ones as a daughter and as a mother. The ones that are told in books-  ugly, heartbreaking, non-existent, competitive and even good intrigue me.  This one had a separation, unknown truths and un-acknowledgement, but was still there for both Grace and Sophie. This is their story more than a story about what Grace has been convicted of, although it does have a profound impact on the story. It was easy to care for these characters and I was very invested in the outcome. A stellar debut novel that would make for a great book club selection.

* Thank to Penguin Group via NetGalley for this review copy*

Mistress Firebrand

British Occupied Manhattan, 1777. With her witty comedies, American actress Jennifer Leighton has been packing the John Street Theater, but she longs to escape the provincial circuit for the glamour of the London stage. When the playwright General John Burgoyne visits the city, fresh from a recent success on the Continent, she seizes the opportunity to court his patronage. But her plan is foiled by British intelligence officer Severin Devere.

Severin’s mission is to keep the pleasure-loving general focused on the war effort…and away from pretty young actresses. But the tables are turned when Severin himself can’t resist Jennifer Leighton…

Months later, Jenny has abandoned her dreams of stage glory and begun writing seditious plays for the Rebels under the pen name “Cornelia,” ridiculing “Gentleman Johnny” Burgoyne and his army—and undermining the crown’s campaign to take Albany. By the time Severin meets up with Jenny once again, she is on a British hanging list, and Severin is ordered to find her—and deliver her to certain death. Soon, the two are launched on a desperate journey through the wilderness, toward a future shaped by the revolution—and their passion for each other…

Third book in the Renegades of the Revolution series that features women figuring out a way to live, work and survive during the American Revolution. Jennifer is determined to keep her dream alive and figures out a way to do it. Severin is intrigued by her and wants to protect her from the General. He knows her plan will get her nowhere, and does end up rescuing her when the plans go bad. Once Jennifer learns her Aunt Frances secrets, her plans change. Severin is sent to prison and Jennifer will do what it takes to rescue him.   They both become involved in intrigue, adventure, high-stake dangers, but are determined to find their way back to each other. Severin's background made him more of an intriguing character for me and it was easy to root for him.  Loved the historical detail and learned something new.  I hope there will be more books in this series. 

This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Penguin/NetGalley and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

Night Watch

Forty-eight hours after Alexandra Cooper arrives in France to visit her boyfriend and famed restaurateur, Luc Rouget, her vacation in paradise is cut short when a young woman from the village is found murdered. The only evidence discovered on the body is one of Luc’s matchboxes promoting his new restaurant in Manhattan. But before the investigation begins, Alex is summoned back to New York to handle a high profile case.

Mohammed Gil-Darsin, the distinguished and wealthy Head of the World Economic Bureau, has been arrested and accused of attacking a maid in his hotel. As the world watches in fascination to see how the scandal will unfold, Alex finds her attention torn between preparing the alleged victim to testify and a murder case with ties too close to home.

When a second body is found with Luc’s matchbox—this time in Brooklyn—Alex begins to fear that the two cases may not be as unrelated as she thought, and that uncovering the sordid secrets of the city’s most wealthy and powerful could cost her and her loved ones everything they hold dear.

One of the things I find so interesting about this series is how the author works the history of New York in the novels. You can tell how much she loves her City. Alex does not get to enjoy her vacation before she is called back to NY on a case.  It was no surprise that the murder in France would somehow be connected to another one that happens in New York. Mercer and Mike, her friends and co-workers are also a reason why I love this series.  They are a great trio of characters and enhance the enjoyment of reading the novel.  We are left wondering where Alexandra and Luc's relationship will go from here.  I look forward to book #15!

Author:  Linda Fairsein
Published: July 2012
Pages: 416
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Source:  NetGalley/Penguin Group/Dutton
Finished: 9/19/12



This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Penguin Group and NetGalley and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

Little Night

Clare Burke’s life took a devastating turn when she tried to protect her sister, Anne, from an abusive and controlling husband and ended up serving prison time for assault. The verdict largely hinged on Anne’s defense of her spouse—all lies—and the sisters have been estranged ever since. Nearly twenty years later, Clare is living a quiet life in Manhattan as an urban birder and nature blogger, when her niece, Grit, turns up on her doorstep.

The two long for a relationship with each other, but they’ll have to dig deep into their family’s difficult past in order to build one. Together they face the wounds inflicted by Anne and find in their new connection a place of healing. When Clare begins to suspect her sister might be in New York, she and her niece hold out hope for a long-awaited reunion with her.

Books like this motivate me to keep trying to find a book club that fits. It is one of those books that offers so much to talk about. I was hesitant about the subject matter of domestic abuse - the author handles it very honestly but not too graphically. Family dynamics are at the heart of this novel with characters that draw you right in to their lives. This is a emotional, difficult, thought provoking read.

Author: Luanne Rice
Published: June 2012
Pages: 336
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source: NetGalley
Finished: 9/15/11



This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from  Penguin Group and NetGalley and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.