Hadley & Grace

Required Mention Of Thelma And Louise Meets Fast And Furious. Redfearn blatantly admits that she set out to do a “modern” retelling of Thelma and Louise and to honor a guy she met at her restaurant. Here, she did both exceedingly well. (Well, I never knew the real Skipper, but the fictionalized version of him is a great character.) But where so many reviewers focus on the Thelma and Louise aspect or the kid aspect, allow this childfree dude to bring in another aspect no other review I've seen has: This book is also exceedingly similar to the Fast and Furious franchise, with its emphasis on the family you create and doing the right thing by them while running from law enforcement agents who may or may not understand what is really going on - or care. Yes, Hadley and Grace could be seen as the Thelma and Louise that Redfearn blatantly set out to emulate. But they can also be seen as Dom and Brian, just trying to make bad situations right. Great light adventure story and a great way to begin a new year. Very much recommended.

Hadley and Grace by Suzanne Redfearn
Ever since reading In an Instant, I have been chomping at the bit to get my mitts on this book! I was as giddy as a schoolgirl when I got my copy! My anticipation was at an all time high... Let me tell you, this book did not disappoint!! I couldn't put the book down. My husband had to pry my kindle out of my hand to go to bed..... He is lucky I didn't bite his hand...
Two women, three kids..... What was the connection.... This was the musing of the FBI agent tasked with tracking Hadley and Grace down. I think it literally paints the start to the kaleidoscope of questions I kept asking myself!
Hadley and Grace are two of the most unlikeliest people to be thrown together and hunted down by the FBI. They both have the same idea at the time and end up blowing an FBI case against Hadley's husband Frank and end up going on the run together!
Hadley is fleeing her abusive husband with her daughter Matty and Nephew, under the guise of returning her nephew to her sister to buy herself some time. Hadley, who is so gentle and kind but totally clueless about who her husband truly is. Grace, who was just about to get fired by Hadley's husband and decides that after her own husband has yet again blown their money on gambling, that she needs an exit strategy that will keep both her and her one year old son Miles financially secure. Cue the start of the zaniest ride of your life.
I absolutely fell in love with both these women. I found myself identifying and connecting with them both, obviously for different reasons. I especially enjoyed watching Hadley as she broke away from her bubble of naivety and started to find herself. Pulling strength and resilience out her shattered psyche and bringing about some extraordinary brilliance from what seems so hopeless at times. Some of the predicaments they get themselves into, had my heart just pulsing with a fire I thought had long since died in myself. It really made me realize that no situation is ever as dire as it once seemed.
Grace with her tough exterior and heart of gold, made me smile so often my cheeks began to ache. Everything she overcame in her life and the fact she could have parted ways with Hadley at any point and been better off for it, yet still she stayed with her knowing she was putting herself in harm's way. Still she felt a sisterly kinship with a woman who could not be more different from herself. These two mamabears taking a hazardous trip across state lines to protect their kids really endeared me to them both. I'm a roaring mamabear too so I can appreciate everything they did to protect their kids. It really hit every point for me. The excitement and heart pounding to the emotional crushing of their spirits was just a slither of the action waiting for you. I literally laughed and cried. Felt such anger at the injustices of their situation, yet fearful of the outcome if they were apprehended! Even after FBI agent Mark and Hadley's connection, I never felt confident that they could get caught, be heard and treated fairly. I was actually pretty disgusted at the prejudice Grace was hit with because of her past when really Hadley was the naughty one here.
Skipper was by far my favourite character. I wanted to reach into the pages and pull this delightful boy into my arms and find out what nickname he would have given me. I dare you not to fall in love with his resilience and beautiful outlook of our savage world.
For me, this book ticks all the things that make a book worth reading again. I really enjoyed getting both of their points of view consistently throughout the book. I think that was pure writing genius! I usually don't enjoy multiple POVs in a book but this was absolutely the right call.
If you are looking for a book that encompasses fierce loyalty, adventure, passion, sacrifice and loss but will make your heart sing in ways you never knew existed then this really should be your next read. Family isn't always blood tied. Sometimes it's forged when unlikely people come together for a shared destiny of self discovery into an unknown future and finding love in the strangest of places.
Another 5 star smash hit for this incredibly talented author. Suzanne Redfearn knocks it right out of the park.
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