Saving Grace by Jane Green

Synopsis

A perfect stranger wants her perfect life. Grace Chapman has the perfect life, 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 side-lined 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 first thought?

Review

I've mentioned before on my blog that Spellbound By Jane Green was one of the first adult books I read and helped get me hooked onto my favourite genre. Jane has become one of my favourite authors and I have loved every book of hers that I've read.

This book is quite alot darker than I've found Jane's previous books which I loved. It starts at a nice easy pace, but as soon as Beth enters Grace and Ted's house it really gets into action and the tension builds. What I found particularly great in this book was that despite me really liking Grace and wanting to trust her point of view as I could see where she was coming from, at times it had me second guessing myself and maybe it was Grace being paranoid. 

I think the way Jane wrote the part of the book where Grace was seeing the doctor was outstanding and I could really empathise with what Grace was going through, especially given her family history. 

The book has some time spent in the UK as well as the US. One part had me especially excited, Grace visits her friend/surrogate mother and they mention going shopping in Sherborne. SHERBORNE. May not sound exciting to you, but I live very close to Sherborne, and this is the first time I've actually seen anywhere in my area mentioned in a book. I know simple things right, but that's what living in a relatively rural area does to me. It makes me nerd out at the mere mention of a small town I know. You think I'm crazy? You don't want to see my reaction to seeing the above sign on the film 'Four Weddings & a Funeral' merely hours after finishing this book :)

Anyway I digress...

When Grace is in Dorset you really feel that for once she's at 'home', it suits her personality to a tea. Helped by Lydia and Patrick.

All the characters were well written, they each filled their role in the plot. I really disliked Ted and his temper, especially when he mentions walking on eggshells around Grace. Pot meet Kettle! Just...Argh! 

This book is another hit for Jane. A gripping plot with the great characterisation that you come to expect from Jane's novels. 

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Published by: Pan Macmillan
Gratefully received from the Publisher for review.