really enjoyed this book. It was a little far-fetched but once it roped me in, I overlooked that, although it is the reason for 4 rather than 5 stars. This book is about two women who are thrown together through necessity. The choices they make, the laws they break are humorous. Their need for each other’s help slowly turns to friendship and familial bonds are formed. Have fun reading! I did. Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I will start by saying that one of Suzanne Redfearn’s other books, In An Instant, was my favorite read of the entire year in 2020, so I headed into Hadley and Grace with some pretty high hopes. What I also can say is that the books are NOTHING alike: not in tone, not in pace, not in subject matter. NO overlap. If you hadn’t told me it was the same author, I might not would have guessed it, and I mean that in a good way. What an accomplishment to be able to swap voices so completely; I found that so very impressive.
In her newest book, we have two main female characters: Hadley is an abused wife that finally has a means to escape from her husband, but it’s going to involve some a plan that involves finding and stealing an unknown amount of money. She also has 2 kids she’ll be taking with her: a daughter, Mattie, and her nephew, Skipper.
Grace is a young new mom who also sees a chance to run away. She’s been running from her past for a long time, in fact, and had pretty much managed to escape it when her world breaks loose: her husband has gambled away every penny they had.
When Hadley and Grace have a chance encounter, it quickly becomes clear that the person they have in common is Frank: Hadley’s husband, and Grace’s boss. When Hadley and Grace realize the connection and that Frank is a big part of the reason both are on the run, they team up and a modern-day Thelma & Louise vibe ensues. It’s not long before they’re being chased by the FBI, specifically an agent named Mark, who is also leaving parts of his past behind.
Hadley and Grace’s getaway unfolds in a fast-paced cat + mouse game of very close calls, some quick thinking on the fly, and through it all, you get to see that both Hadley and Grace are more complicated than you’d guess. There are definitely some points where you have to suspend belief a bit: there’s a pretty far-fetched situation that unfolds between Mark and Hadley that ended up being a little too over the top to be believable (and honestly felt laughable to me), and that scene is a really good example of what I felt was a reach into implausibility that could have instead been a really smart twist. Same for how bumbling the FBI agents were; it just felt doubtful that Hadley and Grace could keep evading so many people when everyone in the world was watching their story play out on TV and in the newspapers. Another thing I thought In An Instant did better was I felt like I really CARED about those characters; Redfearn really made me FEEL something for the characters in that story and I had physiological responses when reading that book. Despite what I felt like was the EFFORT to make me feel the same way about Grace, Hadley, Mattie, and Skipper, it didn’t elicit the same emotional investment that In An Instant did for me.
Those are small quibbles, but since In An Instant was my absolute favorite book last year, I went into this read knowing I’d probably end up comparing the two, and indeed, I did. This was still a really entertaining, fast-paced read that I enjoyed very much. Thank you to #LakeUnionPublishing and #NetGalley for the copy of #HadleyandGrace .

Hadley and Grace is fun novel that also deals with deeper issues. Domestic abuse, gambling, adoption, murder. Hadley is a middle aged women who is struggling through a suffocating marriage and doesn’t know how to stand up to her abusive husband. Grace is a withdrawn character who has had a traumatic and tragic childhood. She’s happily married with a baby until her husband gambles away all their money. Through an unexpected twist, the two women find themselves caught up in a crime that is too much for either of them to comprehend. ⠀
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I loved the characters in this novel. Each one of them had their own part to play and it just added to the fun but gripping plot. Sometimes this book felt way too unrealistic but it’s a novel, so I’ll let it go. The ending was too good to be true but sometimes you have to love happy endings!

What a pair! These women0 Hadley and Grace- meet while, let's admit it, committing a crime and become friends on the run. It's fun, it's funny, and it's a fast read.

Great Book. I can't believe this is a Kindle Unlimited book!

I loved this book from the start, It is unique and the story itself is written well. Quick read, Easy to follow. I also loved the fact that this story included someone with special needs. The world has a stigma over special needs individuals and by including them in stories, I feel like the world could develop a different aspect about special needs.

Meet Grace. Grace's husband has deployed to Afghanistan, Leaving Grace to take care of their very young child alone. Grace is working as a secretary for a man who is less than nice. We she lands a deal for her company, Grace thinks this could be her way out of the financial problems that her gambling husband had gotten them into before he left, to only find out her jerk of a boss had other plans that giving her the commission he promised her. However, When grace draws the line and decides to leave her husband but wants what is rightfully hers, She unexpectedly meets someone.

Meet Hadley. Hadley is the all american suburban mother. Nice appearance, happy go lucky personality and seemly the all around A+ family who has even taken in her sisters special needs child. But when Hadley as had enough of the secret abuse at home from her husband, She has made up her mind to take what she thinks is hers and leaves him.

This story then unfolds into a lasting friendship that is remarkable! With more secrets than meets the eye, dark pasts and bright futures. Will the girls make it out on their own?

I absolutely could not put this book down. With a little friendship, lots of secrets and a little mystery, this is an all around great choice to read!

4 Thelma and Louise Road Trip Stars

Two women skip town with kids in tow – what could possibly go wrong? Hadley is a gorgeous woman married to a scoundrel who is quick with his fists. She has raised her sister’s son with special needs for years but now her sister wants him back. Hadley hits the road with Skipper and her daughter Mattie to meet up with her sister.

Grace has made a new life for herself, but she’s finding it hard to be a single parent to her four-month-old, especially when he’s struggling with colic. Her husband is in Afghanistan, so she’s figuring this out somehow. She’s got a good job, but senses things are about to change when she’s cheated out of her commission on a deal.

By a strange coincidence, the women team up, and all sorts of crazy situations plague them on the road and soon they are fleeing for their lives. They form a strange alliance and friendship, working together to escape their circumstances. Grace is street savvy and knows how to stay one step ahead of the authorities.

This book was a great escape from life, and I enjoyed the trip with Hadley and Grace. It certainly did not end up the way I had predicted, but I’m happy with the ending. I really enjoyed the time they spent in Colorado, Coors Field and baseball player references.

EXCERPT: Five minutes later, they are on their way. (Hadley) glances at Mattie beside her and Skipper behind her, unable to believe it, stunned that it is happening. For fifteen years, she's been searching for a way out, and now, just like that, she is doing it, driving away with the kids. Her heart pounds with adrenaline and a small sense of pride.

'We're not going back?' Mattie says, startling Hadley from her thoughts.

'You packed your mom's apron,' she says to Hadley's surprised expression.

Hadley swallows hard, wondering if her last minute decision to shove the keepsake in her bag will tip Frank off as well. The apron is hand embroidered with daisies and stained in a dozen places; her mother wore it almost every day of Hadley's childhood, and it is one of the few things of her mom's she has left.

'Don't worry,' Mattie says, reading Hadley's fear. 'Dad never goes in the kitchen drawers.' And all the pride Hadley felt the moment before deflates, knowing how much she has failed her daughter all these years.

ABOUT 'HADLEY AND GRACE': Needing to escape her abusive marriage, Hadley flees with her two kids, knowing it might be her only chance. A woman who can’t even kill a spider, Hadley soon finds herself pushed to the limits as she fights to protect her family.

Grace, new mother of baby Miles, desperately wants to put her rough past behind her for good, but she finds it impossible when her path crosses with Hadley’s, and her quest for a new start quickly spirals out of control and turns into a terrifying flight for survival.

Stronger together than apart, the two find their fates inextricably entwined, and as the danger closes in, each must decide how much she is willing to risk for the other.

MY THOUGHTS: I started off by not liking this story or its characters very much: A shallow, beautiful, abused wife and her husband's secretary, a single mum with a criminal record who has left her compulsive gambler husband. What's to like? As it turns out, there's a lot to like about this book. Once Hadley and Grace have robbed Frank and are on the run, we get the real measure of these two women and the children they have in tow.

From a fairly average start, Hadley and Grace explodes into an implausible but thoroughly entertaining romp involving the FBI, a kidnapping or two, occasional gunfire and several car chases. This is a read that will have you holding your breath one minute, then bursting into laughter the next, and reinforces my theory that the best friends are found in the oddest of places.

Hadley and Grace has been compared to Thelma and Louise, but I enjoyed this a whole lot more. A fun read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.4

#HadleyandGrace #NetGalley
#crime #thriller #humour #contemporaryfiction #familydrama

'Today is not forever. It's just today.'

'You brought your baby to a robbery?'
'You wore stilettos to a robbery?' (Abridged)

'The first three letters in diet are a warning.'

THE AUTHOR: Suzanne Redfearn is the award-winning author of four novels: Hush Little Baby, No Ordinary Life, In an Instant, and Hadley & Grace. In addition to being an author, she’s also an architect specializing in residential and commercial design. She lives in Laguna Beach, California, where she and her husband own two restaurants.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Hadley and Grace for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

This story of two women running from things in their lives reminds me of Thelma and Louise. This was such a great character driven read.

4.25 stars What a ride! Hadley & Grace by Suzanne Redfearn had me rooting for these accidental criminals forced into an unforgettable road trip when things go from bad to worse, lives are changed forever, and friendships are born from necessity.

Hadley & Grace is my first novel by Redfearn, although I own her previous novel, In an Instant, which I'm even more exited to read now. Redfearn has created characters in Hadley and Grace that are strong, vibrant, and moldable--growing and learning from their experiences, which is refreshing and exciting.

I was thrilled when the author invited me to read an early copy of this novel on Instagram. (Yay for positive social media experiences!) I have a thing for road trips, so anytime I come across a book that features one, I'm instantly intrigued. Not to mention the idea of a modern-day Thelma & Louis--but with kids in tow! I was hooked by the synopsis. And I'm happy to say, Redfearn delivers! I never found myself doubting the plot--even though some aspects might be considered a stretch. I was so wrapped up in the characters and action, all other logical considerations went out the window. And while this story is mostly about mothers and friendship, it also includes some very well-written romance, which makes this hopeless romantic very happy.

I have to mention the kids. Sometimes in books you feel like kids are only added to round out the main characters, but not here. The kids in this book feel fully-formed and essential to the story. And the relationship between the kids and the women is so real, written with honesty and love. My heart broke and soared for these kids.

I could definitely see this one as a movie. You might think it's already been done, but not like this. I think it's time we had an updated version! The only thing I would change--more diversity. I really wanted some people of color in this great cast of characters. So happy I picked this one up, and I can't wait to read more from the author.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for the advanced reader's copy.

Hadley needs to leave her abusive marriage to the very controlling Frank Torelli, her family isn't safe and she’s planned her escape. Her teenager daughter Mattie has just started testing her boundaries, this worries Hadley and she also looks after her nephew Skipper and he has special needs.
Grace Herrick works for Frank as his assistant, her husband Jimmy’s a soldier, he’s away serving in Afghanistan and they have a four month old baby Miles. Grace is a stressed new mother, Miles has colic and she’s literally running on empty. She’s worked really hard on a deal for months and Frank cheats her out of her commission. This makes her mad, what is she going to do, she's broke, hungry and Miles doesn't stop crying?

Both women find themselves at Frank’s business one Friday night, they bump into each other and they desperately need money and Frank must have some stashed somewhere? Due to a series of unexpected events things quickly escalate, in the tradition of Thelma and Louise we now have Hadley and Grace two women on the run and with three children. They begin a mad dash across America with Frank’s money, they had no idea it was obtained by him illegally and trying to stay one step ahead of the FBI, police and the media.

Hadley, Grace, Mattie, Skipper and little Miles become really close, when it looks like they will be caught, Hadley and Grace do everything they can to protect their new family unit and outsmart everyone. Hadley and Grace is a feel good story, I adored the characters, except Frank of course and I didn’t want them to get caught and I really didn’t want Grace to get into trouble. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, a story full of adventure and four stars from me.

Hadley and Grace are two moms on the run from their lives - with the kids and a whole lot of dirty money in tow.

This book was such an awesome surprise! A fast paced, modern Thelma and Louise style chase - I seriously couldn’t stop flipping the pages to find out what happened next!

What I loved:
💰The pace - there were no dull moments! Sooo much fun!
💰The strong female characters!!
💰The funny banter between Hadley and Grace (opposites attract works in friendships as well!)
💰The kids. Oh my heart. All three of these kids were just the sweetest.

Was it a tad unrealistic? Probably. But so is every great action book/movie and I loved it. There was one plot point that just broke my HEA loving heart. But man, was this book exactly what I needed!! Highly recommend!

Thank you Lake Union publishing for the #gifted ebook in exchange for my honest review!

TW: domestic abuse, gambling addiction, death of a loved one.

This was such a fun story, filled with unexpected friendship, growth, and heartbreak. While Thelma and Louise will always be untouchable, I enjoyed Redfrearn's take on this classic. Readers will be able to relate to both Hadley and Grace in different ways, making this a fast-paced read. Hadley's determination to protect her children from their abusive father is heroic. Grace's goal of starting a new, fresh life for her and her son is understandable. The humor mixed in with the thrilling adventure is especially entertaining. As with her other books, Redfearn's writing is fluid and seamless. I'd love to see this one made into a movie!

This is a modern day Thelma and Louise.
Two women's paths cross and a comedy of errors sees their paths become entwined as they each try to run away from their problems with their children in tow.
This book is extremely well written with great characters and an interesting storyline.
I would recommend this book to others.

I liked the characters especially Mattie but not the plot. Well actually it wasn’t so much I didn’t really like it but more it was too modern day Thelma and Louise for me. I also think and hope the FBI have more professionalism than this books seems to give them credit for.

This is a beautiful love story set in Scotland during the first world war. Lily is a spoiled rich girl living in New York and always looking for a good time. Her parents main goal is for her to find the proper rich man for her to marry. When she refuses to settle down, her parents send her to England to live with an aunt. They feel that living her life outside of NYC will help her appreciate her current life and when she returns she'll be ready to marry a rich man and become part of society. When the war starts, she and her cousin decide that they must help so they take nursing classes. Bertie is very serious about nursing but Lily is mostly doing it for the adventure. They both get assigned to a castle in Scotland that has opened their doors to help care for the wounded men. Alec is the laird of the manor and has spent his entire life to preserving his home of Kinclavoch Castlebut he appears to be fighting a losing battle as he sells off bits and pieces of the estate to pay the bills. Once Lily and Bertie arrive at the castle, one of their first warnings from the matron of nursing was to never go into the private family part of the castle. Of course, Lily gets lost the first day and ends up in the private family area and meets Alec. It is dislike at first glance. He is dour and serious and she is frivolous and happy and there is immediate dislike between them. The more they get to know each other, the more their feelings for each other begin to grow. There is a mystery at the castle and they get thrown together to try to find the culprit and the more time they spend together, the more they understand each other as they begin to fall in love.

The characters are much more than they appear to be at first glance. Lily appears to be a rich American without thought for others but she ends up being a wonderful caregiver who helps the wounded both physically and mentally. Alec appears to be a nasty person who is only worried about his castle but he ends up being a man who cares deeply about his family and his heritage along with his strong interest in helping the wounded from the war.

What else can you ask for in a story -- it has scenic Scotland, a beautiful and caring woman and a handsome and misunderstood man. It was a perfect book to read on a cold winter weekend and day dream about living in a castle.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley to review. Thank you for the opportunity.
A great story that I feel would translate well to becoming a film. There is a lot of drama and action, some of just on the edge of being unbelievable. The writing is very good and a nice range of characters. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a madcap adventure and an escape from reality.
A great read.

It’s been a long time since I’ve watched Thelma and Louise but I don’t remember being gaga over it. Hadley and Grace is much more than an adventure novel with a run from the cops; it’s about finding where you belong.

Hadley and Grace are about to run away from their lives for very different reasons but then due to some extenuating circumstances they end up joining together even though neither of them is happy about. What ends up happening is something neither of them expected but it is what they both need.

The characters are awesome especially the kids who end up being more flexible than you would have thought and resilient.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Suzanne Redfearn - 5 stars and a must read!

Hadley is desperate to escape her abusive marriage to Frank. When an opportunity arises, she takes Mattie and Skipper and heads out, with a stop first at her husband's business for some cash. Meanwhile, Grace, an employee of Frank's, is desperate to escape her own past. With baby Miles, she heads to her workplace to get what's due her. When they two meet, a wild ride begins for this unexpected grouping as they seek freedom.

Thelma and Louise move over - a story with so much heart and fabulous characters, Hadley and Grace will have you cheering, laughing, crying and hopeful, many times all at once. This is a fun, fast-paced story of two women who will do whatever they need to in order to protect their family. You will love these strong women who have to learn to trust each other in order to survive. With the exception of Frank, you will fall in love with these characters - especially Skipper, whose character is based on a real person, Skipper Carrillo. This is a must read!

Hadley & Grace is a fantastic escape (pun somewhat intended!) for whatever problems you need to run away from. That's what the unlikely duo, thrown-together by timing or fate, Hadley and Grace are trying to do - escape from husbands and lives that they no longer find tenable.

Outwardly, as different in appearance and background as they could possibly be, they discover during their unplanned time together that they have much in common; strength, guts, courage, and the hope that they can give their three children a better life than they've had so far. They also soon realize that they need each other to make it happen.

Their journey and their run-ins with the men chasing them, the press following them, and America rooting for them will have readers experiencing all of the emotions felt by the women. Their trip is full of adventure, heartache, exhilaration, fear, hope, and determination. Somewhere while fleeing across the roads of America, they realize that family and love can come to you in the most surprising ways.

This is a wonderful read and one that won't be easy to forget. It's impossible not to root for Hadley and Grace, and to give thanks to Redfearn for writing such an extraordinary book. Sure to be a book-club favorite and a best-seller, this book deserves all the kudos heading its way.

My thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for permitting me to read an ARC of the novel which is to be published on 2/1/2021. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I so enjoyed this book. I definitely understand the references to Thelma and Louise but felt like this was so much more. The relationships that developed here were so real and based on such genuine feeling. And the children were written with such care and love. I definitely have a smile on my face as I write this review and will hold these characters near - it was a pleasure to spend time with them in the pages of this book. I loved their story.

I recommend this book to lovers of character driven books, so well written that you feel you know them, quirks and all. This is a good one.