Saving Grace by Jane Green

Grace Chapman has an enviable set-up, living comfortably with her husband, bestselling author Ted, in a picture-perfect farmhouse on the Hudson River in New York state. Then Ted advertises for a new assistant, and Beth walks into their lives. Organized, passionate and eager to learn, Beth quickly makes herself indispensable to Ted and his family. But Grace soon begins to feel sidelined in her home - and her marriage - by this ambitious younger woman. Is Grace just paranoid, as her husband tells her, or is there more to Beth than there first appears?

I have read every one of Jane Green's books and I am a big fan who is often recommending her books even her earlier ones, I mean come on everyone needs to have read Jemima J! So I have eagerly been awaiting a new release from this wonderful author.

Grace and her husband Ted who is a best selling author need an extra pair of hands to help Ted with his work and after putting out an advertisement they had no joy until a chance meeting introduces them to Beth who not only helps Ted in his work role but also organises their entire lives, this little angel has been sent to help them.

Grace soon feels uneasy about Beth sometimes something's can seem to be too good to be true.

I have found this review extremely hard to write because I am completely torn in two with this book because I didn't enjoy the first half but I found the second half of the book gripping. I found the first half of the book was very slow pace and the storyline just wasn't pulling me in, I kept picking it up and putting it down unsure if to carry on and it was only because I love this authors books that I carried on and I am so pleased I did because the second half of the book was so much better and had me turning the pages waiting to see what on earth was going to happen next. 

The plot was very intriguing once it got going and it was great to see a deeper slightly darker style to the authors writing there was a hint of a psychological thriller to it. I found myself just wanting Grace to walk away from her relationship to Tom right from the beginning she seemed like a very loving, kind and thoughtful woman who deserved so much more than the way she was being treated by her husband and in my eyes as the book progresses he just digs himself into a deeper hole rather than warming to him or feeling sorry for him he was a nasty man so his character was developed well. I couldn't understand Grace's thought process towards the end of the book regarding her life and marriage I just wanted to throttle her!

This isn't one of my favourites by this author and believe me I really wanted to love this book but I just think the first half was just too drawn out for my liking but it is still worth a read to see the change in the authors writing in the second part of the book. I still have complete faith in this authors books and I will still be eager to pick up her next release.

Tempting Fate by Jane Green

When Gabby first met Elliott she knew he was the man for her. In twenty years of marriage she has never doubted her love for him - even when he refused to give her the one thing she still wants most of all. But now their two daughters are growing up Gabby feels that time and her youth are slipping away. For the first time in her life she is restless. And then she meets Matt . . . Intoxicated by the way this young, handsome and successful man makes her feel, Gabby is momentarily blind to what she stands to lose on this dangerous path. And in one reckless moment she destroys all that she holds dear. Consumed by regret, Gabby does everything she can to repair the home she has broken. But are some betrayals too great to forgive?

I always look forward to a new Jane Green book and she is back in true form with Tempting Fate which is a fantastic read and really doesn’t disappoint.

Gabby loves her husband Elliott even after all these years but when her head is turned by another man she feels as though she is missing out on something and could that something be passion, or the way that a younger man makes her feel sexy and youthful and exciting? In one night Gabby’s safe and loving world comes crashing down around her because of one awful mistake that she regrets.  Can she put right her wrongs or has too much hurt been caused?

I literally couldn’t put this book down, I stayed up until early hours of the morning to see how this book ends. It is a very thought provoking read and I found I had conflicting emotions whilst reading this. One thing I can never usually sympathise with is adultery so I had part of me screaming at Gabby for what she had done and thinking there is no way I am going to warm to this character and yet the other part of me loved her and really sympathised with her character.

The storyline was a little predictable at the beginning but it was still an interesting story so this didn’t bother me at all, then as the book moved on I wasn’t sure what the outcome was going to be and this is what kept me hooked.

I loved each and every one of the characters in this book other than Gabby’s best friend Claire, I don’t want to elaborate on why but when you read this book you will understand why she disappointed me as a character as well as a friend. There are many characters in this book but they were all developed so well so I never found that I got confused with who was who. Elliott was such a little darling and I loved him and although the majority of the book is told from Gabbys point of view there were a few chapters that were told from Elliott’s point of view and he made my heart melt.

A compelling read that had me hooked from start to finish. 

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The Accidental Husband by Jane Green

Maggie and Sylvie are perfect strangers: two very different women, living very different lives on opposite coasts. But they share more in common than they could ever imagine. Both women have beautiful children on the verge of flying the nest, the home they worked hard to build and always longed for, and a handsome and devoted husband they can't believe belongs to them. 

Both women think their lives are seamlessly secure, but they couldn't be more wrong . . .

For each is about to discover a secret that will shake their world to the very core, throwing into doubt everything they ever thought they knew, and bringing Maggie and Sylvie together in the most unexpected way.

Jane Green was one of the first authors I read when my passion for reading began. Jemima J and Straight Talking were favourites of mine. I haven’t read any of her more recent books so I was looking forward to reading The Accidental Husband to see if her new books still live up to her old ones.

Sylvia is struggling having her husband continuously away with work and her mother who is very demanding and negative, now to top things off she is beginning to worry about her daughter Eve.

On the other side of the coast Maggie is living the life of Luxury, she isn't around much for her children but when her daughter delivers some devastating news her life begins to crumble down around her.

This book was nothing but trouble! As I put my dinner in the oven and began to make a start on this book I was instantly hooked and the chapters are short so you keep thinking oh just one more but of course that lead to another and another until before I knew it dinner was burnt! Then to top it off I couldn't put the book down so stayed up until 1.30am to finish it and then slept through my alarm so was late for work! So is this book worth reading? Well I think you have your answer!

Sylvia’s character in particular has been developed very well she is a devoted and caring daughter, mother and wife. My heart went out to her with the problems that lay heavily on her shoulders. The situation regarding her daughter Eve was also very well written being told from both sides of the story from how both Eve and Sylvia felt about the situation. This really is a very delicate subject but it was covered very well.

I didn't like Maggie’s character when we first met her but towards the last half of the book her character came round full circle in the end and she also became a joy to read.

There were a couple of emotional moments in this book that had the heartstrings being pulled and had me hoping I would never find myself in the same situation.The main storyline was rather predictable and ever so far fetched but it is the way the family’s dealt with the situation which made this book so readable.

This book is definitely up there with my favourites by this author. If you are looking for something fast paced that will have you engrossed from start to finish give this one a go.

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