Saving Grace - Jane Green - Review AND Giveaway

I've been reading Jane Green for a number of years now. I would have classify her earlier works as  'chick lit'. But as the years have passed, Green's protagonists have gotten a little older and she has tackled more serious topics. But one thing has not changed - Green's ability to write a great, entertaining story.

Here latest ( #16) book - Saving Grace - releases today from St. Martin's Press.

From the outside looking in, Grace and Ted have it all - Ted is a successful novelist, Grace is the ultimate hostess and works with charities, they have a beautiful home and a loving marriage. But, from the inside, the view isn't so great.

"After almost twenty-five years of marriage the only thing that Grace is ever able to predict is the unpredictability of her husband's moods. He can throw his keys at the wall in a rage, then reappear twenty minutes later with a sunny smile, as if nothing had happened, as if Grace hadn't spent the prior twenty minutes quaking with nerves."

When Ted's long time assistant leaves, Grace tries to do even more, but can't keep up. When Beth, a seemingly perfect applicant asks about the position, Grace is more than happy to hire her immediately. She's exactly what they need. But....maybe she's a bit too perfect.....at first it's just little things.....

Oh yes, you know what's coming don't you? Yep, that woman wants Grace's life. And the only person who sees it is Grace. Or is she imagining things?

Woven within this insidious unraveling of a tale are the very real issues of spousal abuse, mental illness and recovery, a look at pharmaceuticals and a woman's desperate journey to try and reclaim herself and her life. And it wouldn't be a Jane Green book without some romance also interwoven.

Saving Grace (cute pun on the title) was a good read for me. I really liked Grace. But just like those scary movies, I found myself mentally shouting " No, she's (Beth) too good to be true!" and "Leave the jerk!" Beth was a deliciously drawn antagonist - and yes, I was shouting at her too. And Ted.

Grace also works as a caterer, and many of her recipes are included at the end of chapters. Green herself also loves to cook - her descriptions of food and cooking demonstrate that through the book.

Saving Grace was a page turner of a read - full of suspense, yet some real food for thought as well. Read an excerpt of Saving Grace. You can keep up with Jane Green on her website, on Facebook as well as on Twitter.

Sound like a book you'd like to read? Well, I have a copy to giveaway to one randomly chosen reader. Simply leave a comment to be entered, open to US and Canada, no PO boxes please. One entry per person. Ends January 11/15.