Cover Image: Moment in Time

Moment in Time

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I like that Moment In Time is more of a mystery where In An Instant was more of a survival story. Eight years have passed and I loved seeing what these amazing characters were up to. This can definitely be read as a stand-alone though. I really liked the story, but I needed some more clarity at the end. I love that Suzanne Redfearn uses real experiences to write great books and I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next!

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After reading 'In an Instant' by @suzanneredfearn last year I was happy to see my request for her newest novel to be approved by Netgalley.

I loved 'In an Instant' and was ecstatic when I learned that the author has brought together the same characters of Chloe and Mo but with an addition of a shared acquaintance or friend Hazel. Hazel has been drugged, assaulted and raped and has very little memory of it. But when the man is found beaten in the same place where the friend was found, he claims one of the others did it.

The main plot of the book centres around the difficult topic of sexual assault and it's ramifications on the victims and their loved ones. The author once again lays emphasis on the choices we make under difficult circumstances and the consequences of those decisions that lead the way for how things shape up not only for us as people, but also what others think of us.

The characters were all likeable and relatable and I was truly immersed in the story. I liked the friendships in this book and how these friends seemed like they would do anything for each other.

I very much appreciate the author's compelling afterword and her explanation of how the story came to be. Heartbreaking and a profound read. I do recommend reading 'In an instant' before this one.

"๐‘บ๐’๐’Ž๐’†๐’•๐’Š๐’Ž๐’†๐’” ๐’Š๐’ ๐’๐’–๐’“ ๐’…๐’‚๐’“๐’Œ๐’†๐’”๐’• ๐’Ž๐’๐’Ž๐’†๐’๐’•๐’” ๐’˜๐’† ๐’๐’†๐’†๐’… ๐’”๐’๐’Ž๐’†๐’๐’๐’† ๐’†๐’๐’”๐’† ๐’•๐’ ๐’”๐’‰๐’Š๐’๐’† ๐’‚ ๐’๐’Š๐’ˆ๐’‰๐’•."

Thank you @netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

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This is my third book by this author. She writes books that pull at your heartstrings and make you stop and think. If you read, IN AN INSTANT, you may remember two of the main characters in this book. Mo and Chloe. Best friends who survived a tragedy years earlier.

Three young women's lives will never be the same after one night in which two are celebrating. Mo has done something that is pretty awesome and wants to celebrate. Chloe can't so Hazel goes. Hazel's life is changed forever. She's introduced to a man who hurts her in the worse way. Then of course Mo thinks it's her fault.

This book deals in date rape and HGB, date rape drug. It's not explicit but you know what happened and what is possibly going on. When the man is hospitalized one of the three is blamed and the story takes off. It's a fight to the end as to who did what and why. Hazel has reason. Mo is blamed. Chloe is only trying to help. Each has their own baggage and secrets. Each loves the others with all they have. Neither would ever consider ratting out the others. Strap in for a ride you won't soon forget.

This book gets pretty intense in places but again not explicit. The mystery of who did it and the mystery of why someone accuses another will have you wondering. The love between one and her sweetheart is so sweet. Another finds love after being done so dirty. There is even a dog in this one that you will fall in love with. Her name is Ruby. Ruby is a hero in many ways but one particular way will have you holding your breath.

This is such a good and very touching story. A tough one but well written. At the end you will want to read the Author's Note. It is not to be missed. Date rape is real. This part was hard. It hit me in the heart and soul. It's a shame that it still happens and more than ever it seems. There has to be something that can be done. Stop blaming the victims for one thing. Pass laws for another. Do something to help victims emotionally at no charge and no shame. Just do it!

Thank you #NetGalley, #SuzanneRedfearn, #LakeUnionPublishing for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

5/5 stars and a must read. A touching one too. Be prepared. Have tissues.

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3.75 โญ๏ธ

Great story. Great characters. Great narration. I just can't put my finger on why it's not a five star. It just didn't wow me like the last book. But still a great story!

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Another good book by Redfearn. I enjoyed revisiting these characters but was frustrated that they are continuing to make difficult choices that don't seem to take a lot of reflection on the past. Overall a good read, but not as good as her first.

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This is a sweet book about a serious subject, rape and revenge and justice and what makes a hero/heroine. The sweetness comes from the friendship between the main characters and the men they love or are starting to love. The sweetness took away from the real impact of the rape and feeling suicidal, which was unfortunate that it lost the power it could have had

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Moment in Time revisits characters from In an Instant but I wouldnโ€™t say itโ€™s a sequel necessarily. Chloe and Mo are different people and in a different point in their lives which includes some definite ups n downs. Mo is on the cusp of launching a game changing news app/website while Chloe is still trying to get back on track after her life fell apart. Then, a friend of theirs is date raped and it flips everyone sideways.

The backbone of this story are the friendships between Mo, Chloe and Hazel. How they will sacrifice themselves for each other to protect one another.

I love Ms. Redfernโ€™s books and this one is no different.

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Although the story takes place eight years after In an Instant's catastrophic crash, Moment in Time can stand on its own.

You are quickly thrown into the horrific experience Hazel must cope with and then become an onlooker as her roommates, Mo and Chloe, try to find her before she does something she'll regret. Trying to piece together Hazel's intentions along with location, Mo and Chloe struggle with their own choices and the impact these choices have on others.

This was a definite page turner that had some twists I did not see coming. I enjoyed the moments of levity that other characters, especially Ruby, brought to the story which made a difficult topic easier to digest. Suzanne Redfearn developed the characters as very believable young adults finding their way in this world. Sexual assault is a tragedy to all involved and I commend the author for showing victims they are not alone. More importantly, it is not their fault.

As with In an Instant, there were many quotes that stuck out while reading Moment in Time, but in order to not reveal spoilers, I will only share one: "True evidence of one's humanity is when giving comes at a cost."

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

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Let me start by saying this is my first Suzanne Redfearn book, so I didn't have the benefit of knowing the characters' backstories. I was only thrown off balance a couple of times, once not understanding how Chloe knew Kyle and why he was so upset with her.

This book deals with a very difficult subject: date rape. I feel like the author handled it well, but unfortunately I felt that the policeman was stereotyped back to the 1950's, and so was Chloe's actions towards him. Those things from either person wouldn't fly these days.

I found it unusual that while Mo (Maureen) is a successful businesswoman, doing interviews on CNN with Jake Tapper, that she still has a roommate. I guess since Hazel is central to the story she had to fit in somewhere, or maybe it was just the characters ages.

All in all, I would definitely read more books by this author.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

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3.75 rounded up!

Possibly confusing and rambling review aheadโ€ฆ While I typically advise readers to go into a novel blindly, I wonโ€™t be doing that this time! Moment in Time by Suzanne Redfearn is a fast-paced novel about three friends caught in a tragic turn of events, who must unravel the truth with help from new and old friends in an unfair world.

Iโ€™d read and enjoyed Suzanne Redfearnโ€™s previous book Hadley and Grace, so when the author invited me to read her latest novel Moment in Time, I was excited to pick it up. Before I began reading, I skimmed the synopsis but didnโ€™t read any early reviews, which is typical for me when Iโ€™m reading a book by an author I know. However, two of the main characters from Moment in Timeโ€”Mo and Chloeโ€”also appear in Suzanne Redfearnโ€™s previous novel In an Instant, a book I own but havenโ€™t read yet. And while it wasnโ€™t necessary to read the previous book, the events and outcome of In an Instant are revealed in Moment in Time, leaving me thoroughly and completely spoiled. Oops.

Thankfully my mind is like a sieve, so if I wait long enough, Iโ€™ll probably forget. For instance, two side characters from her novel Hadley and Grace, which I DID read, also appear in Moment in Time but I had no memory of them.

The author does mention the connection in her acknowledgements at the end of the book, as well as explaining how she came up with the idea for Moment in Time, a very moving story.

SO being clueless, as I was reading, I could sense there was more to this story, to their pasts, and the author reveals bits and pieces as you read. But I kept expecting the traumatic events from In an Instant (without knowing it was from another book) to lead to some surprise twist in Moment in Time. And while there were twists in the novel, none that connected the two stories.

I want to review Moment in Time on its own merits, but all the above may make it challenging. Iโ€™ll give it my best shot.

I was riveted by the story of Mo, Chloe, and Hazel, three roommates in San Fransisco. And we jump right into the action, which is exciting, but also didnโ€™t give me much time to keep Mo and Chloe straight, the characters who provide our two points of view for the book. I kept confusing them in the beginning. (If youโ€™ve read In an Instant, you probably wonโ€™t have that problem.)

When Hazel disappears after being sexually assaulted and her attacker ends up beaten almost to death a day later, Mo and Chloe find themselves in the middle of the mayhem, desperate to find Hazel and deliver justice.

I didnโ€™t want to put this book down, frustrated at times by Moโ€™s and Chloeโ€™s decisions, but eager to see how events played out. Some of those bad decisions included an injured stray dog Chloe has rescued, who often stole the scenes.

Thereโ€™s also a side romanceโ€”which Redfearn is always good atโ€”that I adored, giving the tense story some levity and hope.

I feel like if other readers have read In an Instant or at least go into this one knowing the connection, they wonโ€™t have the same difficulties I did. So while this one had me a bit confused at times, I was enthralled, quickly turning pages to reach the satisfying ending.

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Suzanne is an auto-buy author for me ever since I read In an Instant in 2020. I recommend that book to everyone. It is just that good. I had no idea that Moment in Time picked up two characters from In an Instant and followed them 8 years later. The book features Chloe and Mo, now in their mid-20s and sharing an apartment in San Franscisco with friend Hazel. Hazel is super smart and socially awkward. Her friends see her leave with a guy they know at a bar and do not go after her. They think that Hazel made a connection. What they don't know is that she was roofied. When she returns home, she is withdrawn and disappears a few days later. Mo and Chloe will do anything to find Hazel and try to help her. The book tackles sexual assault and its aftermath in a serious, realistic way.

This is a solid story that I enjoyed. I loved the cameos from Kyle and Ann, Chloe's mom. However, this is not In an Instant -- so if you are looking for a book that beats that one, this is not that book. (In an Instant was just that good.) I would say read both of them close together in time for the best reading experience.

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I read In an Instant last year and the story stuck with me for a long time....one of my favorite reads. I am so excited to be able to pick up with the characters eight years later. I really enjoyed this book and will make sure that all of my patrons can read the sequel to In an Instant.

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Another fantastic novel by Suzanne Redfearn. The author did a great job of dealing with delicate subjects like sexual assault, drugs and mental health issues. She portrayed the roommates/friends as very close.

The only thing I had an issue with were all the different characters, especially the ones from her previous novels. I had to try to think back to those books to remember who they were and what they were about.
(Its been a couple of years since I've read In An Instant, and I've read numerous other books since then )

All in all, this was a great book and I would highly recommend it.

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I read In An Instant a few years ago and it has stayed with me, itโ€™s the number 1 book I will recommend to anyone who asks. So when I saw the Suzanne was writing another book to follow up on that book I knew I had to read it.

Moment In Time tells the story of Chloe and Mo eight years after the dreadful accident that changes their lives.

I loved how Chloe got a whole new personality in the second book and is now more likable. I donโ€™t want to say a lot and give away to much. But this book is very deep and emotional and definitely worth a read. I do suggest reading In An Instant first if you plan to read both just because Moment In Time does reference people and events that occurred but you wouldnโ€™t be to confused if you choose to just read this one.

TW: Rape. Drugs. Assault.

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So what you need to know upfront -that I didn't know until reading the author's note at the end- is that this book includes characters from several of the author's previous books. Including the main characters. The stories aren't really hinging on one another, but this book assumes you know a lot from the previous books. I felt like I was missing obvious information the whole time.
That said, Moment in Time is a strong, relevant story with likable, Millennial characters dealing with frightening circumstance in a typical Millennial way. Social media and distrust of authority feature heavily, as does instant romance and woman-power. A fast read useful for light entertainment.

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Suzanne Redfearn fans will enjoy catching up with familiar characters from previous books in her latest powerful and emotionally charged novel, MOMENT IN TIME.

If you read In an Instant you will enjoy catching up with Mo and Chloe โ€”Kyle, Eric, and Chloe's Mom, Ann, as well as characters from her previous novels, Hunter and Fitz from Hadley & Grace and Paul and Hawk from Hush Little Baby.

The author deals with the crimes of sexual assault with raw honesty and sensitivity, to emotional healing, revenge, rage, shame, depression, secrets, and guilt.

How far would you go to protect someone you love?

As the author portrays, we recall the accident eight years ago, which has a ripple effect on Mo and Chloe's lives. Does time heal most wounds, and do grief and regret grow lighter with time?

From innocent victims, date rape, GHB, mind-numbing amnesia, and drugs to a quest for justice for women. Some of these guys are serial predators disguised in sheep's clothing, and the scary part, most of the time the women know their predators.

I appreciated the Author's Note and her inspiration for the novel giving a voice to all women and teens out there and the devastating traumas that can develop from these injustices. The ending is heartwarming as the broken characters climb out of the wreckage.

Before reading this one as a standalone, I would recommend the previous books mentioned. MOMENT IN TIME is a gripping and heartrending coming-of-age story and the strong bonds of friendship.

A special thank you to the author, Lake Union, and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy.

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My Rating: ๐ŸŒŸ๐ŸŒŸ๐ŸŒŸ๐ŸŒŸ
Pub Date: 08 March 2022

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Eight years ago Mo, Chloe and Kyle were involved in a horrific accident. Mo and Kyle have been dating ever since and Chloe still struggles with the outcome of the accident and the loss of her brother and sister. When Mo and Chloeโ€™s roommate is date raped, they each try to help in their own way. When Hazel is uncommunicative and later is missing they go on a road trip to find her, hopefully before itโ€™s too late. As accusations and evidence mount up, the truth needs to be revealed before it causes any more issues, but each is protecting the other and no one wants to speak the whole truth. An eye opening look into the escalating problem with date rape and the difficulties that surround proving a crime has been committed. So nice to see characters from Redfearnโ€™s previous books and catch up with their lives.

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Moment in Time by Suzanne Redfearn, is the sequel to In an Instant. I have read both outstanding books. They can be read in order or as a standalone. I enjoyed the first book more, but Moment in Time is a worthy read. Reading both books in order is icing on the cake!

Moment in Time picks up 8 years since a devastating accident altered the lives of Chloe and Mo. Both girls are now grown and share an apartment in San Francisco with their good friend Hazel. Hazel goes through a devastating ordeal when a roofie is slipped into her drink and she is raped. Mo and Chloe support Hazel's recovery, but soon after Hazel disappears. Mo and Chloe will stop at nothing to find Hazel. But will it be enough?

Moment in Time will be published March 8, 2022.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for the honor of reviewing this wonderful story of friendship. Suzanne Redfearn is one of my favorite authors. I highly recommend all her books.

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Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Suzanne Redfeam. I got this book as a "Read Now" on NetGalley and I have to say I am so glad. I really enjoyed the read and it was nice to get the opportunity to read it early. Very touching topics in this book but things should be discussed to let people know that they are real and other people have the same issues as well. Easy to read and it will keep you reading if you like hard hitting books.

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3.5 Stars. Eight years after a life-changing, tragic accident, twenty-six-year-old Chloe and twenty-four-year-old Mo, along with their roommate Hazel, are figuring out life together in San Francisco. One devastating evening, Hazel is sexually assaulted, and flees town. After her rapist is found drugged and beaten, Chloe and Mo become more concerned by Hazelโ€™s disappearance, and set out to track her down.

I was so excited that this novel features Suzanne Redfearnโ€™s past characters, Chloe Miller and Mo Kaminski, the older sister and best friend respectively of Finn from her book โ€œIn An Instantโ€. Despite the eight year time jump, I felt like the characters lacked maturity and made very poor decisions, which was a bit frustrating at times. I really appreciated the attention the novels draws to the societal issue of drug-induced {and non-drug induced} rape and sexual assault, and the lifelong trauma and mental health issues these victims endure. Be sure to read the Authorโ€™s Note at the end where Redfearn explains how she came to write this story.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for my gifted e-ARC!

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