Oh boy, this was fun! The build up was well written and I couldn't put this down wanting to know what was going to happen.

Because You're Mine, hit every mark on my thriller, and suspense must have needs list. This book grabbed me from the beginning. There were multiple times when I thought I had this story figured out…But I WAS WRONG! And I loved being wrong because as it turned out, the twist was even more devious than I thought. This is the first book by Rea Frey that I have read. I see her as an up and coming author that should not be missed, and I look forward to reading more of her work.

This book is told from the three perspectives of the main characters, Lee, Grace, and Noah. Also, Ms. Frey gives us glimpses of these character's past secrets and lies that are perfectly interspersed throughout the book, giving the reader just enough mystery to keep us on edge.

Lee is a single mom to Mason, who is very intelligent, on the spectrum, seven-year-old. Noah is Mason's occupational therapist and homeschool tutor. Grace is Lee's best friend who is divorced and also has a son Mason's age. Over time Lee, Grace, Carol, and Alice become good friends. They all feel sorry for Lee as she struggles with being the single mom of an autistic child, so they suggest a getaway weekend. This is when the book takes off, so hold on tight, because it becomes a wild ride of secrets, lies, deceit, and at times, pure ugliness. I feel that I can't say anything more about the plot because there are so many twists and turns and unexpected events that it would ruin the read.

I enjoyed the writing style of Ms. Frey; the way she developed and intertwined each character into the story, gradually giving out small details and hints as to the genuine nature of these three characters. I found Mason to be an engaging and lovable character giving this sometimes dark tale some balance. Be prepared for some wicked twists that you will not see coming (I didn't).

Sometimes the title of a book doesn't seem to fit, and at the start of this book, I felt that way. By the end of the book, as I was shaking my head trying to figure out what I just read, I actually said to my self, Lori, you were wrong again. Because You're Mine is the perfect title. I also wanted to mention that there are some adult themes in this book that may be disturbing to some readers. I am one of those readers who always read the authors' note and also the acknowledgments. In this particular book, I highly recommend you read the section, a Note to Readers. This gave me an insightful look into how poignant this book was for Ms. Frey. I highly recommend this book for all lovers of the thriller-suspense genre.

***I kindly received this galley by way of NetGalley/publisher/author. I was not contacted, asked, or required to leave a review. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. I have voluntarily read this book, and this review is my honest opinion .***

3.5 stars
A steadily paced book with lots of questions that require answers.

Lee, a single mother, has never left her son Mason in someone else’s care. But when her best friend Grace convinces her she needs a small break from motherhood with a group of friends to recharge her batteries, Lee gives in. Surely a long weekend away won’t hurt. Forty-eight hours later, someone is dead and it seems all those left behind have secrets.

This story will have you thinking you’re going down one path, when BAM!, you’re off down another. All secrets are revealed in the twist at the end. It was fantastic and I never saw it coming! The twist answers the questions brought forth in the story, but after the big reveal the story just ended and didn’t feel finished. It simply stopped. That’s why this story get 3.5 stars rather than 4. I needed an epilogue, just one more chapter to completely satisfy.

Looking for a twisty, suspenseful novel? Then grab a copy of Because You’re Mine. Just wait until that title makes sense :)

Kudos to Rea Frey for a shocking ending that literally made my jaw drop! I really enjoyed how the author laid this book out, alternating between the viewpoints of Lee, Grace, and Noah as well as alternating between the current time period and past events that are applicable to the current events. The result is a puzzle that slowly comes together as you progress through the book (which made the ending all the more spectacular for me because it is not at all what I was expecting...).

This was the first book I've read by Rea Frey - after my experience with this one, I will definitely look forward to reading more of her books in the future!

Thank you to St.Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

Part of my time is spent as a writer, but every single word of it is nonfiction. I read the made-up stuff - in particular the mystery/thriller genre - for pleasure; it really does amaze me how anyone's mind can even conjure up such complex characters and intricate plots that don't really exist, much less pull them all together in coherent and entertaining fashion. And when it comes to all that, boy, this one's a doozy.

Well, okay, it's a teeny bit far-fetched, mostly when it comes to how so many characters with such screwed-up lives could possibly have found each other. But that feeling quickly went by the boards as I got caught up in all the twists and turns of the story. In fact, I read the whole thing in just a few hours - that's how wrapped I got in what was going on.

In the prologue, an unidentified woman is trying to hike to the top of a mountain in the dark (yeah, I know, anybody who would do that pretty much deserves what she gets, but hang with me here). She makes a wrong turn, then a misstep, and then takes a fatal tumble. Next up is a week prior to her death, when readers meet fast friends Grace, Lee, Alice and Carol, who get together after school at least one day a week in Nashville. Lee, a hairdresser, has a young son named Mason who is on the spectrum; to help, her friend Grace introduced her to occupational therapist Noah.

Not a lot more is said about Alice and Carol, except that they want the foursome to go on a long getaway weekend at a mountain resort. Lee wants (actually, she's desperate) to go, but Mason isn't an easy child to hand off to someone else. But he does love Noah, so Lee reluctantly asks if he'll stay with her son. He agrees, and the trip is on.

Chapters shift from the perspectives of Grace, Lee and Noah - all of whom clearly have "secrets" they've been trying to hide (well, Grace has one she plans to share with Lee once the right opportunity arises, which she hopes will be during their getaway). Little by little, readers get glimpses of all three characters to learn what brought them to this point - memories that gradual merging with the present and - you guessed it - that woman who fell off the mountain.

More details? Sorry, no can do; from this point on, you'll just have to read it for yourself - and I hope you will. Thoroughly enjoyable - many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Single mother Lee has the daily routine down to a science: shower in six minutes. Cut food into perfect squares. Never leave her on-the-spectrum son Mason in someone else’s care. She’ll do anything-anything—to keep his carefully constructed world from falling apart. Do anything to keep him safe.

But when her best friend Grace convinces her she needs a small break from motherhood to re-charge her batteries, Lee gives in to a weekend trip. Surely a long weekend away from home won’t hurt?

Noah, Mason’s handsome, bright, charismatic tutor—the first man in ages Lee’s even noticed—is more than happy to stay with him.

Forty-eight hours later, someone is dead.

But not all is as it seems. Noah may be more than who he claims to be. Grace has a secret—one that will destroy Lee. Lee has secrets of her own that she will do anything to keep hidden. And what will happen to Mason, as the dominoes begin to fall and the past comes to light?

Perhaps it’s no mystery someone is gone after all…



My Thoughts: What began as a story about friendship and the world of single parenting would morph into a suspense thriller with so many layers of deceit that it would take rapidly turning those pages to find out more. As we delve further into Because You’re Mine we learn snippets of those long-held secrets, but we won’t realize the extent of them until the very end.

What is the story behinds Mason’s paternity? What happened to each woman’s family members that would change the course of their lives? How did Noah fit into each of their lives, past and present?

Each revelation begins to offer a peek of those lives in the past, as well as the present, but it would only be in the final pages that we truly understand the depths of the duplicity. 5 stars.

***My e-ARC came from the publisher via NetGalley.

I went back and forth with Because You're Mine by Rea Frey. At times I was really enjoying the story and at others bored, just wanting it finished. Now that I've finished the book I'm tempted to go back and read with the knowledge of what was coming. I was given an early copy to review.

OH MY GOODNESS!! That ending! 😱⁣
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This was one of the best domestic thrillers I’ve read in awhile. I thought I had this story figured out but I was wrong...so, so wrong. ⁣
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This is a book to go into blind so I’ll leave it at this- READ THIS BOOK! Bored? Stick with it. Think you have it all figured out? Think again. ⁣
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This story is an emotional rollercoaster and one compulsive read. As I finished the last page I whispered “Holy sh*t” and immediately wanted to read it again. ⁣
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Because You’re Mine gets the full five stars. A fantastic read and one not to miss! Thank you @stmartinspress for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.⁣

3.5 stars

Whew-there is a lot going on here.
It all comes together with an ending that I wish I hadn’t seen coming, because it’s a nice twist. Unfortunately there was just too much predictability leading up to it, that the reveal fell short for me,

Still a solid mystery that kept me turning the pages!

ARC provided by NetGalley

I'm not really sure what to think of this book... overall, I gave it 3.5 stars (rounding up to 4). For the first two-thirds of the book I thought I knew exactly what was happening and had already knew some of the "twists." However, later in the book I started questioning everything. I don't even know what to say about the ending without giving away spoilers, so I'll just say I was surprised but not satisfied.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

“The truth will set you free. But lies are what keep you safe.”

Lee has learned how to best handle her on-the-spectrum son Mason. She has their routine down and need leaves him with anyone else. But when Lee’s friends decide to take a girls trip, Lee gets talked into joining by her best friend Grace, and Noah, her sons teacher that Lee has a huge crush on. Unfortunately, one person doesn’t make it through the weekend alive. Everyone has their secrets, and nobody is willing to fess up to them.

Holy goodness this book! I totally thought I had everything figured out, and I kind of did, but also not really. The first quarter of the book moved a bit slow for me, but after that I flew through it and couldn’t put it down! I don’t want to give too much away, so all I’ll say is, everything is not as it seems. There is so many lies, so much drama, so much love, and so much hate in this book. I absolutely loved it!

Thank you to @netgalley and St Martins Griffin for allowing me to read and review this book in advance.

I was lucky enough to receive a hard copy galley from the author as well as an ebook from netgalley. So first off, THANK YOU!
I loved Frey’s Not Her Daughter and when I heard of a new book coming out I HAD TO HAVE IT!
Like her other novel it grabbed my attention immediately and I finished it in a day. There isn’t much to say without giving it away but I’m a fan. A HUGE fan of Rea Frey and will read anything she publishes.

It's interesting that BECAUSE YOU"RE MINE is categorized as women's fiction--with a cover to match--because I'd say it falls between women's fiction and thriller/suspense. I went into this one expecting a warm, kind-hearted family drama. Don't get me wrong, that does exist within the pages of the book. However, there's also a strong thriller/suspense element. I was definitely not expecting this. Thankfully Frey is very adept at conveying her characters' innermost thoughts and secrets. These secrets, as the story progresses, unravel at an entertaining pace. Stay for the end - you'll think you have it figured out, but you might be surprised!

This is a small town story told in 3 POVs in past and present with diary entries interspersed.

Lee, Grace and Noah are our three narrators with Lee being the main one for the first half and Grace taking over more in the second half. The story, at first reads like women's fiction. A tale of a single woman, Lee with a child on the spectrum (Mason, who actually holds his own and has quite a big part in the whole plot of the story) and how she balances life. She has Grace as a best friend and Noah who assists her in helping with Mason and his everyday activities. We see how life is difficult for her, but she also seems to be hiding from herself and hiding secrets from those she cares about. But in a small town, lies and secrets are sure to be revealed.

At first, I was confused with all the characters and trying to keep everyone straight. It took a bit to finally put them all together and see whose voice was whose. It didn't take away from the story, but I found myself going back and forth to chapter headings to see "where we were". I finally got to a good speed and understanding and the storyline moved in a way that seemed plausible.

The story builds up showing how each character's past has made them who they are today. But we keep getting someone's voice in the diaries, in the italics. Who could it be?

The turn around is when Lee, Grace and the girls go for a weekend trip, leaving Mason alone with Noah. This is where everything goes up in smoke and we are now waist deep in a suspense and needing to figure out the mystery of the story. Is it as clean cut as we see on the page, or is there more to each character and who is telling the truth and where does everyone's loyalty lie?

Rea Frey started a story that seemed like a simple women's fiction and turned it into a mystery/suspense that had the small town feels wrapped into lies and secrets and made it work. I liked how I thought I knew exactly where it was going and then gave me a piece of the past that made me question what the truth was. I don't think the entire story was perfect, but I liked the way it was paced for the most part. It seemed to slow down during some parts, but it was also giving me the clues I needed to come to the conclusion. The end seemed a little too quickly wrapped up and dropped that one last bomb, but it had me convinced of one thing and totally threw the last thing in for a bit of surprise. That's what makes for a good suspense.

Overall, a well written story that had a few things lagging, but everything came together in the end for a successful small town mystery that had me intrigued through the majority of the story.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

Very interesting title for a very different, but good read. When you see the title, you are going to think it’s going to be a romance, but it is far from that.

We meet Grace and Lee. Both are single and both have sons the same age. Lee appears to have more baggage than Grace, but they both are overwhelmed.

Both of them seem to be hiding something.

Then we add in Lee’s son’s teacher Noah who also has a secret.

All three characters are connected through Mason, and the connection goes deep. Everything appears to be good for once for the most part until Lee goes on a weekend trip with her girlfriends, and one of the girls turns up dead.

Many subtle hints are given in every chapter about what's going on but nothing is revealed, but there is an undertone of menace throughout.

BECAUSE YOU'RE MINE is filled with characters with secrets and characters with private burdens. It also deals with friendship issues, decisions, grief, and drug and alcohol use.

BECAUSE YOU'RE MINE will appeal to those readers who enjoy subtle suggestions of what is going on with the characters and readers who would like to get to know the characters better because you really aren’t sure what’s making them tick or who is telling the truth.

The book actually was depressing at times, but you will want to continue reading to see what happens to the characters and what the real truths are.

The ending will have you saying “what?” 4/5

This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Because You’re Mine is not a light read by any means although I read most of it in one day since it was so captivating.. This novel was well written and well crafted but contained several very dark themes.. I would recommend it as long as the reader is prepared to deal with the disturbing subject matter.

Loved this book! I was so sure I had everything all figured out, but then WHAM! The ending was not even something that ever crossed my mind! Brilliant! Gripping! I couldn't put it down!

This book is so twisty! I found myself wondering the whole time when the next piece of the puzzle would be revealed, and truthfully, I didn’t see many plot twists coming!

I don’t want to leave any spoilers, but if you’re into psychological suspense and mysteries, this book is for you!

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, I’m giving this book 4 stars!

4/5 Stars.

Thank you, to Netgalley for this e-arc.

That was good! I thought that I had it all figured out, and that maybe Rea Frey just wasn't good at twists....was I wrong!

<Spoiler> I can't believe that it was Shirley's sister (Grace) that befriends Lee- kills her, and has Noah fall in love with her. I honestly didn't see that coming. </spoiler>

I recommend this to Adult and up.

Everyone has deep hidden secrets and when you think you have them all figured out half way through, NOPE!

A twisted and suspenseful story. Glad I got to read it!