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Stolen Grace: Part One
For fans of Jodi Picoult and Lisa Scottoline comes Stolen Grace from USA TODAY bestselling author Arianne Richmonde - an emotionally-charged suspense novel about the terrifying consequences of a mother's split-second decision. A brilliant balancing act of human drama and psychological thriller, Stolen Grace is the gut-wreching story of a family caught in a web of deceit.
"Stolen Grace is a literary gem. Not since Emma Donoghue's novel Room have I felt so close to a fictional child"--- Smart Books Reviews
"Emotional, evocative and richly atmospheric - Stolen Grace is a novel that will touch your heart. A must read for any mother"-- Hot off The Press
"Arianne Richmonde's powerful story of love, loss, redemption, and against-all-odds triumph will leave you . . . breathless." -- The Literary Lovers
What it means to be a parent, what it takes to save your family.
A marriage on the rocks.
Their little daughter caught in between.
And a woman who will stop at nothing.
Sylvia and Tommy Garland and their five-year-old daughter Grace have moved from the bright lights of New York City to the peaceful wilderness of the Wyoming countryside. But with the recession on their heels, Tommy leaves for LA for a job interview, and Ruth, a friend of Sylvia's comes to stay.
In an unexpected turn of events, a family tragedy forces Sylvia to leave Ruth in charge of little Grace for just one day. A decision that will tear their lives apart.
Stolen Grace is a roller coaster of emotions with twists and turns, a tale of lies and deception, of redemption and forgiveness.
And ultimately, a story about love.
"Stolen Grace is a literary gem. Not since Emma Donoghue's novel Room have I felt so close to a fictional child"--- Smart Books Reviews
"Emotional, evocative and richly atmospheric - Stolen Grace is a novel that will touch your heart. A must read for any mother"-- Hot off The Press
"Arianne Richmonde's powerful story of love, loss, redemption, and against-all-odds triumph will leave you . . . breathless." -- The Literary Lovers
What it means to be a parent, what it takes to save your family.
A marriage on the rocks.
Their little daughter caught in between.
And a woman who will stop at nothing.
Sylvia and Tommy Garland and their five-year-old daughter Grace have moved from the bright lights of New York City to the peaceful wilderness of the Wyoming countryside. But with the recession on their heels, Tommy leaves for LA for a job interview, and Ruth, a friend of Sylvia's comes to stay.
In an unexpected turn of events, a family tragedy forces Sylvia to leave Ruth in charge of little Grace for just one day. A decision that will tear their lives apart.
Stolen Grace is a roller coaster of emotions with twists and turns, a tale of lies and deception, of redemption and forgiveness.
And ultimately, a story about love.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2014
527 people are currently reading
1616 people want to read
About the author
Arianne Richmonde
29 books940 followersARIANNE RICHMONDE is the USA TODAY bestselling author of the psychological thrillers, THE WIFE'S HOUSE and THE NEWLYWEDS (published by Bookouture, Hachette UK), and suspense and romance.
Her Pearl series has sold more than half a million copies worldwide. Her stories are always character-driven and full of unexpected twists and turns.
Apart from writing about the passions and fragilities of human nature, she loves to spend time with her husband and their animals, including a femme fatale Husky with one blue eye and one golden eye. Arianne's a chocaholic and sometimes sneaks off to sunny, exotic locations, all in the name of research.
For updates on new releases, sales and giveaways please sign up for her Newsletter by going to: https://bit.ly/2ZoRQVx (copy and paste to your browser). Or join her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAriann... or send her an email ariannerichmonde@gmail.com - she loves hearing from readers and will always reply.
Her Pearl series has sold more than half a million copies worldwide. Her stories are always character-driven and full of unexpected twists and turns.
Apart from writing about the passions and fragilities of human nature, she loves to spend time with her husband and their animals, including a femme fatale Husky with one blue eye and one golden eye. Arianne's a chocaholic and sometimes sneaks off to sunny, exotic locations, all in the name of research.
For updates on new releases, sales and giveaways please sign up for her Newsletter by going to: https://bit.ly/2ZoRQVx (copy and paste to your browser). Or join her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAriann... or send her an email ariannerichmonde@gmail.com - she loves hearing from readers and will always reply.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
February 11, 2015
OMG! This was my favorite read of 2014 and part one is FREE. Just go to www.ariannerichmonde.com and click on Stolen Grace to take you too Amazon. Don't miss out on a chance to snatch this one up. I HIGHLY recommend it!
Story Rating ~ 5 Stars
Writing Style ~ 5 Stars
Hero Rating ~ 4 Stars
Heroine Rating ~ 4 Stars
The Rating for Grace ~ 5 PRICELESS STARS!
Villain Rating ~ 5 Stars
Romance Rating ~ 4 Stars
Heat Level ~ 3.75 Stars
Ending ~ 5 Stars
Overall Rating ~ 5 Stars
I had a feeling this book was going to be different from most of the romances I have read to date. I have to say that Arianne Richmonde out did herself with this one, it totally...BLEW ME AWAY!
First off, the story line grabbed me from the start and kept me GLUED to the pages until the very end. SO many things happened during the course of this read, and it only got more interesting with each turn of the page.
Second is the author's writing style. Arianne Richmonde has a way with words that I have seldom come across in my reads. Every descriptive word entered held meaning to the story. I could really envision places, smells, feelings and so many other things. If I could describe her writing style I would say it was eloquent and flows seamlessly
The characters, OH MY! LOVED THEM ALL! Ok, I gave the hero, Tommy, and the heroine, Sylvia, each 4 stars, but that was because they made some big mistakes. But, let me make myself clear here, they were FABULOUS nonetheless. Grace, their adopted little girl for me WINS the BEST child character that I have ever had the pleasure of reading about. I LOVED HER TO PIECES!! As a matter of fact, she was priceless, and no amount of stars given would be good enough. Now for the villain, what a piece of work she was. Some of the things she said and did were so horrific! I have no idea where Arianne came up with the things she had this villain doing and saying. There were also a few secondary good and evil characters too, and they were every bit as good as the main characters adding a LOT to the overall story line. PHENOMENAL is the word I’d use to describe EVERY CHARACTER!
This book is NOT an erotic read, but it did have some good heat to it and there were a couple of very sensual love scenes. There was just the right amount of sex, any more and it would have taken away from the story line.
There was a VERY happy ending plus an epilogue, YAY!
My overall thoughts of Stolen Grace; this book really WOWED ME! Arianne Richmonde took me on a reading journey like no other I’ve ever been on before. I’m SO HONORED that Arianne gifted me this book to read and review. If you don’t mind a dark story that involves a child, but in the end makes you feel like the sun was shining through, then I HIGHLY recommend you read Stolen Grace.
*A copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Story Rating ~ 5 Stars
Writing Style ~ 5 Stars
Hero Rating ~ 4 Stars
Heroine Rating ~ 4 Stars
The Rating for Grace ~ 5 PRICELESS STARS!
Villain Rating ~ 5 Stars
Romance Rating ~ 4 Stars
Heat Level ~ 3.75 Stars
Ending ~ 5 Stars
Overall Rating ~ 5 Stars
I had a feeling this book was going to be different from most of the romances I have read to date. I have to say that Arianne Richmonde out did herself with this one, it totally...BLEW ME AWAY!
First off, the story line grabbed me from the start and kept me GLUED to the pages until the very end. SO many things happened during the course of this read, and it only got more interesting with each turn of the page.
Second is the author's writing style. Arianne Richmonde has a way with words that I have seldom come across in my reads. Every descriptive word entered held meaning to the story. I could really envision places, smells, feelings and so many other things. If I could describe her writing style I would say it was eloquent and flows seamlessly
The characters, OH MY! LOVED THEM ALL! Ok, I gave the hero, Tommy, and the heroine, Sylvia, each 4 stars, but that was because they made some big mistakes. But, let me make myself clear here, they were FABULOUS nonetheless. Grace, their adopted little girl for me WINS the BEST child character that I have ever had the pleasure of reading about. I LOVED HER TO PIECES!! As a matter of fact, she was priceless, and no amount of stars given would be good enough. Now for the villain, what a piece of work she was. Some of the things she said and did were so horrific! I have no idea where Arianne came up with the things she had this villain doing and saying. There were also a few secondary good and evil characters too, and they were every bit as good as the main characters adding a LOT to the overall story line. PHENOMENAL is the word I’d use to describe EVERY CHARACTER!
This book is NOT an erotic read, but it did have some good heat to it and there were a couple of very sensual love scenes. There was just the right amount of sex, any more and it would have taken away from the story line.
There was a VERY happy ending plus an epilogue, YAY!
My overall thoughts of Stolen Grace; this book really WOWED ME! Arianne Richmonde took me on a reading journey like no other I’ve ever been on before. I’m SO HONORED that Arianne gifted me this book to read and review. If you don’t mind a dark story that involves a child, but in the end makes you feel like the sun was shining through, then I HIGHLY recommend you read Stolen Grace.
*A copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
November 11, 2014
I can’t tell you what Stolen Grace is about. (No spoilers here). What I can tell you is that it’s not like anything I’ve ever read from Arianne Richmonde before. I can also tell you that Stolen Grace will make your heart pound and your breath catch. And, I can tell you that Stolen Grace will challenge you to look at and think about things in ways you may have never even considered in the past.
Stolen Grace goes far beyond a love story. Although, make no mistake, at the very center, in its very essence, Stolen Grace IS, unequivocally, a love story above all else. Author Arianne Richmond takes the reader on a journey of exploration – about the deepest questions of existence, the adventure of life at its highest and at it’s very lowest. It will challenge you to consider your own ethos – about love, hate, trust, forgiveness, perseverance, and hope.
I couldn’t put it down, and am aching not only to re-read it, but to instigate reading it with a group or book club where I can challenge others to deliberate their own life tenets through the engaging storyline, shocking plot turns, and surprising conclusion.
This is a story of romance coupled with the search to define one’s own purpose.
Five exhilarating, thought-provoking and courageous stars!
Stolen Grace goes far beyond a love story. Although, make no mistake, at the very center, in its very essence, Stolen Grace IS, unequivocally, a love story above all else. Author Arianne Richmond takes the reader on a journey of exploration – about the deepest questions of existence, the adventure of life at its highest and at it’s very lowest. It will challenge you to consider your own ethos – about love, hate, trust, forgiveness, perseverance, and hope.
I couldn’t put it down, and am aching not only to re-read it, but to instigate reading it with a group or book club where I can challenge others to deliberate their own life tenets through the engaging storyline, shocking plot turns, and surprising conclusion.
This is a story of romance coupled with the search to define one’s own purpose.
Five exhilarating, thought-provoking and courageous stars!
April 9, 2017
I could barely get through it. The writing feels SO forced, the character descriptions are heavy-handed and pushed into the text even though it doesn't fit, and the constant bitterness is overwhelming. I never DNF a book but this one came sorely close.
April 7, 2015
Interesting plot: A child is abducted and the story is told from 3 POV, Sylvia (the mom), Tommy (the husband) and Grace, their 5 years old adopted daughter.
But I didn't like too many things:
I'm no expert on 5 year olds, but Grace seemed at times too wity for her age.
I had to skip a lot of paragraphs that didn't add to the story, many of they were repetitive or just plain descriptions, which I'm no fond of.
I hated the author's portrait of South America and Central America. I'm from Peru and YES, our countries are third-world countries, but she only focused on the poverty and made us all seem kind of... primitive. I won't babble, because is too much I could say about this -_-.
And last but not least, WTH with the sex scenes? They were ot of the blue, being SO explicit. We are reading about parents looking for their missing daughter, come on!
But I didn't like too many things:
I'm no expert on 5 year olds, but Grace seemed at times too wity for her age.
I had to skip a lot of paragraphs that didn't add to the story, many of they were repetitive or just plain descriptions, which I'm no fond of.
I hated the author's portrait of South America and Central America. I'm from Peru and YES, our countries are third-world countries, but she only focused on the poverty and made us all seem kind of... primitive. I won't babble, because is too much I could say about this -_-.
And last but not least, WTH with the sex scenes? They were ot of the blue, being SO explicit. We are reading about parents looking for their missing daughter, come on!
January 29, 2014
As a true fangirl of Arianne Richmonde, I can HONESTLY say without doubt that this is her writing in its finest!! I have religiously kept up with her Pearl Trilogy and then her two follow up novels, Pearl and Belle Pearl BUT... Stolen Grace, in all due respect, blows all of those earlier works away!!
I think it was very “ballsy” for an author to write in a three person perspective but primarily when it switched to five year old Grace’s POV in an adult romance. How very ingenious and intuitive!! I very much applaud Arianne’s intelligence for effortlessly portraying that!
The story itself is so sensitive, heart gripping, and dynamic that you can’t help but immerse yourself into it. It not only covers a marriage on the rocks but also: race, poverty, war, hate, deception, religion, forgiveness, perseverance, and also four types of love (romantic love, a parents’ love for their child, unconditional love, and love for oneself).
A very dramatic, spell binding, and out of the box success for Ms. Richmonde!! I LOVED every minute of it!!
*ARC was given by author via Book Enthusiast Promotions for the blog tour in exchange for an honest review.*
March 15, 2014
A marriage on the rocks.
Their little daughter caught in between.
And a woman who will stop at nothing.
Sylvia and Tommy Garland and their five-year-old daughter Grace have moved from the bright lights of New York City to the peaceful wilderness of the Wyoming countryside. But with the recession on their heels, Tommy leaves for LA for a job interview, and Ruth, an old friend of Sylvia's comes to stay.
In an unexpected turn of events, a family tragedy forces Sylvia to leave Ruth in charge of little Grace for just one day.
A decision that will tear their lives apart.
Stolen Grace is a roller coaster of emotions with twists and turns, a tale of lies and deception, of redemption and forgiveness.
And ultimately, a story about love.
Their little daughter caught in between.
And a woman who will stop at nothing.
Sylvia and Tommy Garland and their five-year-old daughter Grace have moved from the bright lights of New York City to the peaceful wilderness of the Wyoming countryside. But with the recession on their heels, Tommy leaves for LA for a job interview, and Ruth, an old friend of Sylvia's comes to stay.
In an unexpected turn of events, a family tragedy forces Sylvia to leave Ruth in charge of little Grace for just one day.
A decision that will tear their lives apart.
Stolen Grace is a roller coaster of emotions with twists and turns, a tale of lies and deception, of redemption and forgiveness.
And ultimately, a story about love.
December 31, 2014
I can see how many would really enjoy this book. The story idea is great and the writing is just fine, but I could not get into it. Full disclaimer: I only read an average of 2 or 3 sentences per page for the second half of this book. (And, no, I don't feel like I missed much.)
Maybe it was just bad timing on my part - my being distracted with other things, but I couldn't bring myself to care about the characters. The dialog did not ring true to me at all. It is marketed as a suspense novel but it never felt suspenseful to me. I guessed how things would turn out and just felt impatient to get to the point!
The story is told from the perspectives of two parents and their 5 year old. The 5 year old's part was my least favorite because 1) her thoughts and dialog didn't sound like a 5 year old to me. (Not that I'm an expert on 5 year olds.) and 2) It seemed her characters thoughts and actions were used more to describe the under belly of the culture/area where she was located. I felt the author was on a mission to educate readers about poverty in some areas, rather than a mission to entertain us with a suspense novel.
The relationship between the parents is strained from the beginning of the story due to something the husband has done and the wife's feelings felt reasonable to me initially, but as the story unfolded, the subsequent attitude and actions of his wife seemed out of proportion in response to her perceived slights by the husband, immature and downright bizarre given the supposed urgency of the situation. I felt annoyed with her, not at all sympathetic.
Maybe it was just bad timing on my part - my being distracted with other things, but I couldn't bring myself to care about the characters. The dialog did not ring true to me at all. It is marketed as a suspense novel but it never felt suspenseful to me. I guessed how things would turn out and just felt impatient to get to the point!
The story is told from the perspectives of two parents and their 5 year old. The 5 year old's part was my least favorite because 1) her thoughts and dialog didn't sound like a 5 year old to me. (Not that I'm an expert on 5 year olds.) and 2) It seemed her characters thoughts and actions were used more to describe the under belly of the culture/area where she was located. I felt the author was on a mission to educate readers about poverty in some areas, rather than a mission to entertain us with a suspense novel.
The relationship between the parents is strained from the beginning of the story due to something the husband has done and the wife's feelings felt reasonable to me initially, but as the story unfolded, the subsequent attitude and actions of his wife seemed out of proportion in response to her perceived slights by the husband, immature and downright bizarre given the supposed urgency of the situation. I felt annoyed with her, not at all sympathetic.
September 7, 2016
Frightening, suspenseful concept that gets bogged down by boring minutia and unbelievable dialogue. See the full review on The Suburban Eclectic Review.
June 14, 2014
Painfully slow
Painfully slow
there are very few books that I give up on, but I put this down on page 188 after struggling to get that far. Boring!
Painfully slow
there are very few books that I give up on, but I put this down on page 188 after struggling to get that far. Boring!
February 12, 2015
This is difficult because I normally have an unwritten rule that as an author, I should unconditionally support other authors. In this case, that was simply not in the cards. I have never read anything by Arianne Richmonde before, and she may be considered a good writer by many. For me, It did not show up in Stolen Grace. I struggled to finish it because it was so bland so very often.
I will often overlook editing issues, but not if they are thrown in my face as they were in Stolen Grace. For example, there is a huge difference between Charles Bronson and Charles Manson when Richmonde meant to use Manson. What threw me over the edge was when, as just one more part of a series where the author just can't figure out where to stop, she ends Stolen Grace with this, "and he felt himself getting hard." Spare me.
I will often overlook editing issues, but not if they are thrown in my face as they were in Stolen Grace. For example, there is a huge difference between Charles Bronson and Charles Manson when Richmonde meant to use Manson. What threw me over the edge was when, as just one more part of a series where the author just can't figure out where to stop, she ends Stolen Grace with this, "and he felt himself getting hard." Spare me.
March 22, 2015
I so wanted to like this book and in parts I did. But, I just didn't like Sylvia, one of the main characters and that took away from my enjoyment of the book. To me she was self absorbed and whinny. Her reaction and actions following the kidnapping of Grace were odd at best. As a mom myself I can't imagine being focused and absorbed with worry as to if my spouse still felt great passion for me while my child was MISSING!!!!!! Focus on finding your child and then worry if your husband still finds you hot. Grace was adorable and I really liked her chapters. I wish there had been more chapters about Grace and less about Sylvia. The other characters were good and I found myself cheering for them against Sylvia.... There were other parts of the book that also irritated me beyond belief but I can't go into detail without providing spoilers.
May 13, 2014
It was as if two people wrote this book- the one that wrote the bulk, in simplistic, almost innocent tone, and the other, who wrote these elaborate and graphic sex scenes that came out of nowhere. The explicit erotica was totally unexpected, and distracting as well- probably since I read the book thinking it was a suspense/mystery about a child abduction. And to set those scenes next to the ones from the 5 year old's point of view- awkward.
February 17, 2014
Oh what a web of lies we weave...great read! Very different...review to come.
**FULL REVIEW**
“Sylvia used to feel so graceful, so elegant, but now it was as if that grace had been stolen from her, snatched from inside her like the Devil taking someone’s soul.”
Life isn’t what it used to be for Sylvia and Tommy. Sure they still loved one another but the communication has gone out the window…and mistrust has taken place of what used to be passion and all-consuming need. Neither want to admit that things aren’t working; Sylvia is punishing Tommy for a probability (untrue as it is) and Tommy is resentful of his wife shutting down and freezing him out.
“She wondered if he sensed that she still had faith, that he still made her stomach flip-flop. She knew she was repelling him—frost on a winter lawn. Yet she needed him, wanted him close. Her head was telling her that the only reason she desired him was because they were a family, but even if Grace wasn’t there, the truth was that Sylvia was still in love with Tommy. Painfully in love. But there was that niggling feeling inside that one day, he would just get up and leave her for good. The only thing keeping him here for the moment, she feared, was his love for Grace.”
But can a child really keep two people together when everything else screams they should be apart? Or should they?
With the rough patch that their marriage seems to be going through, the fact that neither one has a good job to sustain the lifestyle they have chosen (which is crazy in itself), and that isolation and resentment grows with each passing winter; their little girl seems to be the only glue holding them together. Grace, their saving grace…
Until tragedy strikes, plans are changed, secrets are uncovered, and trust is given freely to someone whom Sylvia thought was a true friend...life changes in the most drastic of ways.
Gone.
Tommy and Sylvia’s reason for living has just disappeared…and so has this “friend” along with all of the money left to their family.
“One split-second decision could ruin your life and the life of the person you made that decision for. Grace. LeRoy…Both victims of one fatal choice.”
Talk about a ROLLERCOASTER of emotions!! I don’t know if I did this book justice with my review but I just have to say, it was a hard book to read and even harder to put down. As a parent, one of my biggest fears is exactly what happened in this book…like keeps me up at night, with anxiety over the “what-ifs”. I felt everything that Sylvia and Tommy were going through. EVERYTHING. And because I’m an emotional reader, of course I cried. More than once. For a multitude of reasons. And as I continued to turn the pages, I became more engrossed…wanting to know how one situation blended with the other…where it all ties together…and ultimately if everything was going to be okay. I can’t tell you the answers, you just have to read it, but I will say that Arianne Richmonde has done a superb job of taking a situation that no one thinks “can happen to them” and making it very real…thank you for that. I hugged my kids just a little tighter after finishing this book and am truly grateful that I have not suffered what so many parents have gone through…
**4 Saving Grace Stars**
**FULL REVIEW**
“Sylvia used to feel so graceful, so elegant, but now it was as if that grace had been stolen from her, snatched from inside her like the Devil taking someone’s soul.”
Life isn’t what it used to be for Sylvia and Tommy. Sure they still loved one another but the communication has gone out the window…and mistrust has taken place of what used to be passion and all-consuming need. Neither want to admit that things aren’t working; Sylvia is punishing Tommy for a probability (untrue as it is) and Tommy is resentful of his wife shutting down and freezing him out.
“She wondered if he sensed that she still had faith, that he still made her stomach flip-flop. She knew she was repelling him—frost on a winter lawn. Yet she needed him, wanted him close. Her head was telling her that the only reason she desired him was because they were a family, but even if Grace wasn’t there, the truth was that Sylvia was still in love with Tommy. Painfully in love. But there was that niggling feeling inside that one day, he would just get up and leave her for good. The only thing keeping him here for the moment, she feared, was his love for Grace.”
But can a child really keep two people together when everything else screams they should be apart? Or should they?
With the rough patch that their marriage seems to be going through, the fact that neither one has a good job to sustain the lifestyle they have chosen (which is crazy in itself), and that isolation and resentment grows with each passing winter; their little girl seems to be the only glue holding them together. Grace, their saving grace…
Until tragedy strikes, plans are changed, secrets are uncovered, and trust is given freely to someone whom Sylvia thought was a true friend...life changes in the most drastic of ways.
Gone.
Tommy and Sylvia’s reason for living has just disappeared…and so has this “friend” along with all of the money left to their family.
“One split-second decision could ruin your life and the life of the person you made that decision for. Grace. LeRoy…Both victims of one fatal choice.”
Talk about a ROLLERCOASTER of emotions!! I don’t know if I did this book justice with my review but I just have to say, it was a hard book to read and even harder to put down. As a parent, one of my biggest fears is exactly what happened in this book…like keeps me up at night, with anxiety over the “what-ifs”. I felt everything that Sylvia and Tommy were going through. EVERYTHING. And because I’m an emotional reader, of course I cried. More than once. For a multitude of reasons. And as I continued to turn the pages, I became more engrossed…wanting to know how one situation blended with the other…where it all ties together…and ultimately if everything was going to be okay. I can’t tell you the answers, you just have to read it, but I will say that Arianne Richmonde has done a superb job of taking a situation that no one thinks “can happen to them” and making it very real…thank you for that. I hugged my kids just a little tighter after finishing this book and am truly grateful that I have not suffered what so many parents have gone through…
**4 Saving Grace Stars**
September 11, 2016
4.5 stars. At first I thought this was about the strained marriage between Sylvia and Tommy and how having their adopted daughter kidnapped affected it, more of a romance with some suspense. It is more of a suspense story.
Sylvia and Tommy's marriage was troubled that allowed for Tommy's lapse in leaving Grace with Ruth. Ruth reveals her true nature and decides to kidnap their adopted daughter. Then the story went to another continent. I felt as if I were at the new locations with the descriptions. The fear I felt was growing for Grace's safety, but the changes that she was already making internally absorbed and scared me, but kept me reading.
Grace played a pivotal role and was an intelligent little girl with teddies and her daddy's pen. She was trying to survive a very scary situation. It was terrific to get Grace's POV and 'see' from her child's eyes and 'hear' her child's thoughts along with her humorous and sometimes revealing mispronunciations. My heart went out to her. The situation kept getting worse, and the chase was on with both Tommy and Sylvia hunting Ruth and trying to find Grace.
Sometimes you lose the what you took for granted, and if you're lucky, you get a second chance to treat it with the respect and love it deserves. Sylvia and Tommy are running out of time... Will they find Grace? Will they I'd have liked a bit more on Sylvia and Tommy's personal relationship, since it starts out with their rocky marriage. But there were so many things that I enjoyed that that's a minor issue. The ending was satisfying with a bit of an unexpected twist.
I'd recommend it if you are looking for a suspenseful story of a family dealing with a kidnapping.
Sylvia and Tommy's marriage was troubled that allowed for Tommy's lapse in leaving Grace with Ruth. Ruth reveals her true nature and decides to kidnap their adopted daughter. Then the story went to another continent. I felt as if I were at the new locations with the descriptions. The fear I felt was growing for Grace's safety, but the changes that she was already making internally absorbed and scared me, but kept me reading.
Grace played a pivotal role and was an intelligent little girl with teddies and her daddy's pen. She was trying to survive a very scary situation. It was terrific to get Grace's POV and 'see' from her child's eyes and 'hear' her child's thoughts along with her humorous and sometimes revealing mispronunciations. My heart went out to her. The situation kept getting worse, and the chase was on with both Tommy and Sylvia hunting Ruth and trying to find Grace.
Sometimes you lose the what you took for granted, and if you're lucky, you get a second chance to treat it with the respect and love it deserves. Sylvia and Tommy are running out of time... Will they find Grace? Will they I'd have liked a bit more on Sylvia and Tommy's personal relationship, since it starts out with their rocky marriage. But there were so many things that I enjoyed that that's a minor issue. The ending was satisfying with a bit of an unexpected twist.
I'd recommend it if you are looking for a suspenseful story of a family dealing with a kidnapping.
April 2, 2014
I was lucky enough to receive a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
Betrayal, misunderstandings, mistrust, hurt, anguish, and above all LOVE... these are all at the center of this new story by Arianne Richmonde. Unlike anything she's written before, though no less amazing, this is a story that will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions.
This is a story about love, love between a man and a woman having issues in their marriage, but who put those issues aside to work together and get their child. Above all, to me this is a story about love, but that of a parent for its child. The ordeal that both Tommy and Sylvia endure for the safety of their "Grace" is gut-wrenching. I was devastated right along with them.
One thing that I absolutely loved was the way Arianne wrote this in a three person POV, that of Tommy, Sylvia, and five year old Grace. I loved reading about things in the eyes of such a smart and amazing little girl and see how she viewed everything that happened around her, from the situation with her parents and then ultimately, the situations she found herself in. I laughed, I cried, and felt every emotion in between.
Arianne Richmonde has done a tremendous job with this story. It will keep you on the edge of your seat and you will not be able to wait to find out what happens at every turn.
Saying I Loved it would be an understatement.
Betrayal, misunderstandings, mistrust, hurt, anguish, and above all LOVE... these are all at the center of this new story by Arianne Richmonde. Unlike anything she's written before, though no less amazing, this is a story that will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions.
This is a story about love, love between a man and a woman having issues in their marriage, but who put those issues aside to work together and get their child. Above all, to me this is a story about love, but that of a parent for its child. The ordeal that both Tommy and Sylvia endure for the safety of their "Grace" is gut-wrenching. I was devastated right along with them.
One thing that I absolutely loved was the way Arianne wrote this in a three person POV, that of Tommy, Sylvia, and five year old Grace. I loved reading about things in the eyes of such a smart and amazing little girl and see how she viewed everything that happened around her, from the situation with her parents and then ultimately, the situations she found herself in. I laughed, I cried, and felt every emotion in between.
Arianne Richmonde has done a tremendous job with this story. It will keep you on the edge of your seat and you will not be able to wait to find out what happens at every turn.
Saying I Loved it would be an understatement.
February 7, 2014
I am recommending this book. period. :) No really, I recommend it. It is so far off of what others are doing that I am really happy that I found it. I love thriller, mystery, and NA. Add all those together and you have yourself Stolen Grace. Really. Read it.
This showcases a marriage at a weak point, and then is thrown into a tailspin. U really don't even realize it at first but then you reach the end and this event caused these characters to grow so much. To a wife that will not harbor things inside and just throw it out there (shit or get off the pot), to a man that learns to truly appreciate his wife (she used to wear skirts now she wears uggs. blah- man cast aside for motherhood complex) . I think that obviously, there is a lot more going on in the story, we get Grace's POV. and a great plot to follow. But for me, the character growth is what really struck a cord. Great.
This showcases a marriage at a weak point, and then is thrown into a tailspin. U really don't even realize it at first but then you reach the end and this event caused these characters to grow so much. To a wife that will not harbor things inside and just throw it out there (shit or get off the pot), to a man that learns to truly appreciate his wife (she used to wear skirts now she wears uggs. blah- man cast aside for motherhood complex) . I think that obviously, there is a lot more going on in the story, we get Grace's POV. and a great plot to follow. But for me, the character growth is what really struck a cord. Great.
May 6, 2014
This is not a romance as in usual Arianne style. This is a story about working on a marriage and trust issues all the while dealing with your only child being kidnapped. It is written in multiple Pov's. I did find myself skimming the bits that were not directly linked to the story itself. I also thought that for a 5/6 year old Grace was very wise beyond her years. Sometimes things she said I found hard to accept especially as I have a child the same age. (Full review to come)
February 14, 2014
The blurb was so much better than the actual story. There is no great defeat by the end and where was the "romance" between the wife & husband that was sated in the blurb?
August 15, 2016
*I was given an ARC Stolen Grace for an honest review.
Stolen Grace is a very different book from Arianne Richmonde’s Pearl series. Since I really enjoy Arianne’s writing and I love to read books outside of my typical reading genre for my blog, I decided to give one a shot. Stolen Grace is NOT a romance novel. This is a book about a marriage that has become complacent and a family that is rocked by the unthinkable. Arianne challenges the reader to think about what you would do if the unthinkable happened to your family and if you had the support system to overcome.
Arianne Richmonde is great at dissecting the nuances of relationships. The things that creep through a woman’s mind when she is unhappy in a marriage, the insecurities of a husband who may or may not stray from his wife, and the thoughts of an extraordinary child who is so perceptive to everything going on around her. These are the three voices of Sylvia, Tommy, and Grace Garland. I love that we get into the heads of the three main characters of the book. Arianne does a great job of voicing Sylvia, Tommy, and especially Grace. I found I looked forward to Grace’s chapters. Grace’s insight is fascinating. I also thought Arianne’s description of Sylvia and Tommy’s crumbling marriage is very keen.
Stolen Grace is jammed packed full of suspense and mystery. Figuring out the enigma that is Ruth, you have to think back at the clues to figure out who and what she is really up to. Sylvia’s world is rocked by another family tragedy after another and she unearths secrets from her parent’s past, secrets that help keep her going when she is in the throws of tragedy. Tommy’s past is brought forward as he struggles to bring his family back together. And Grace’s youthful tenacity and strength are tested when she is forced to endure things no person should experience. Arianne does a wonderful job weaving these three POV together, creating nail biting suspense.
As much as I enjoyed Stolen Grace, I did have a few issues with the story. I found some of the banter between Grace and her cousin Melinda distracting. I think these conversations were misplaced considering the situation Sylvia was in. I also found myself skipping through some of non-relevant conversations because I wanted to get back to the central story line. I wanted a bit more closure with Sylvia, Tommy, and Grace’s future. I want to know more about where they end up after this family crisis.
I think Arianne Richmonde made a good debut at writing mystery/suspense/women’s fiction genre. My mind was challenged trying to figure out what would happen next. I enjoyed her insight into the struggling marriage and ultimate redemption of two people who genuinely love each other. I think with some tweaking here and there, this book would be a five star read for me. I give Stolen Grace 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Stolen Grace is a very different book from Arianne Richmonde’s Pearl series. Since I really enjoy Arianne’s writing and I love to read books outside of my typical reading genre for my blog, I decided to give one a shot. Stolen Grace is NOT a romance novel. This is a book about a marriage that has become complacent and a family that is rocked by the unthinkable. Arianne challenges the reader to think about what you would do if the unthinkable happened to your family and if you had the support system to overcome.
Arianne Richmonde is great at dissecting the nuances of relationships. The things that creep through a woman’s mind when she is unhappy in a marriage, the insecurities of a husband who may or may not stray from his wife, and the thoughts of an extraordinary child who is so perceptive to everything going on around her. These are the three voices of Sylvia, Tommy, and Grace Garland. I love that we get into the heads of the three main characters of the book. Arianne does a great job of voicing Sylvia, Tommy, and especially Grace. I found I looked forward to Grace’s chapters. Grace’s insight is fascinating. I also thought Arianne’s description of Sylvia and Tommy’s crumbling marriage is very keen.
Stolen Grace is jammed packed full of suspense and mystery. Figuring out the enigma that is Ruth, you have to think back at the clues to figure out who and what she is really up to. Sylvia’s world is rocked by another family tragedy after another and she unearths secrets from her parent’s past, secrets that help keep her going when she is in the throws of tragedy. Tommy’s past is brought forward as he struggles to bring his family back together. And Grace’s youthful tenacity and strength are tested when she is forced to endure things no person should experience. Arianne does a wonderful job weaving these three POV together, creating nail biting suspense.
As much as I enjoyed Stolen Grace, I did have a few issues with the story. I found some of the banter between Grace and her cousin Melinda distracting. I think these conversations were misplaced considering the situation Sylvia was in. I also found myself skipping through some of non-relevant conversations because I wanted to get back to the central story line. I wanted a bit more closure with Sylvia, Tommy, and Grace’s future. I want to know more about where they end up after this family crisis.
I think Arianne Richmonde made a good debut at writing mystery/suspense/women’s fiction genre. My mind was challenged trying to figure out what would happen next. I enjoyed her insight into the struggling marriage and ultimate redemption of two people who genuinely love each other. I think with some tweaking here and there, this book would be a five star read for me. I give Stolen Grace 3.5 out of 5 stars.
January 4, 2015
I have read Arianne's other books in her Pearl trilogy as well as Pearl.
I read the synopsis of this one. I wanted to know what it was about although the title can give you an idea of what it is going to be about.
This story is told in three perspectives. Tommy the husband, Grace the little girl and Sylvia the mother.
That I didn't have an issue with at all. I actually liked being able to see things in all three perspectives. It was well written. I think I was worried at first when I saw that. But it was written well. I thought.
Now...I did feel like even though the parents were looking for Grace I just didn't FEEL like they were freaking out the way parents would. Hell the way I would if my daughter were missing.
There are other things that go on and for the most part it was a good story. I wanted to love it more though. I think that things fell into place a little too easy. I know with thriller/suspense you don't want it too long, but at the same time want to draw in the reader and give a good story. I think that more wrong turns could have been put in there.
There were some things that didn't make sense to me and I do hope that she does another book and make it a duo or a series or just a novella but I felt like it just ended. The Epilouge confused me. That is what I am talking about more than anything.
It also says it's a love story in the synopsis and I didn't really get that. I got the lies, deception, redemtipn and forgiveness, but a love story? There might have been a VERY light underlay of a love story, but it is so small in the wholeness of the book I don't think that should be there. Because I had a lot of different ideas of how the book would go thinking it was a love story. And none happened because ultimately it is not a love story.
I read the synopsis of this one. I wanted to know what it was about although the title can give you an idea of what it is going to be about.
This story is told in three perspectives. Tommy the husband, Grace the little girl and Sylvia the mother.
That I didn't have an issue with at all. I actually liked being able to see things in all three perspectives. It was well written. I think I was worried at first when I saw that. But it was written well. I thought.
Now...I did feel like even though the parents were looking for Grace I just didn't FEEL like they were freaking out the way parents would. Hell the way I would if my daughter were missing.
There are other things that go on and for the most part it was a good story. I wanted to love it more though. I think that things fell into place a little too easy. I know with thriller/suspense you don't want it too long, but at the same time want to draw in the reader and give a good story. I think that more wrong turns could have been put in there.
There were some things that didn't make sense to me and I do hope that she does another book and make it a duo or a series or just a novella but I felt like it just ended. The Epilouge confused me. That is what I am talking about more than anything.
It also says it's a love story in the synopsis and I didn't really get that. I got the lies, deception, redemtipn and forgiveness, but a love story? There might have been a VERY light underlay of a love story, but it is so small in the wholeness of the book I don't think that should be there. Because I had a lot of different ideas of how the book would go thinking it was a love story. And none happened because ultimately it is not a love story.
February 5, 2014
This story is very different than a book that I would typically review. This is exactly why I wanted to review Stolen Grace. To say I was in a state of burn out would be an understatement….feeling like I was reading the same story over and over on repeat again. Would I want to read stories like this every day? No…not because it wasn’t amazing, it was good, but it was also gut-wrenching. Arianne made me feel so many emotions, and I found myself aching and sobbing for this wounded couple and sharing their grief. 4 stars.
I’m not going to go into the story too much. You know from the description Grace, their child gets taken. Unfortunately, at the time all this happens Sylvia and Tommy are having issues in their marriage. Even with all the betrayal, hurt, and misunderstanding swirling around the relationship, Tommy and Sylvia have to put all this aside and work together as a team to fight to get their child back and ultimately find love again.
Arianne has created a story like nothing I’ve read. A story about grief, love, redemption….about how a parent will do anything for the love of their child. If your looking for something different than the typical romance reads out there today, something that will keep you on the edge of you seat and make you feel, give this one a try!
*Reviewed by Brandi
I’m not going to go into the story too much. You know from the description Grace, their child gets taken. Unfortunately, at the time all this happens Sylvia and Tommy are having issues in their marriage. Even with all the betrayal, hurt, and misunderstanding swirling around the relationship, Tommy and Sylvia have to put all this aside and work together as a team to fight to get their child back and ultimately find love again.
Arianne has created a story like nothing I’ve read. A story about grief, love, redemption….about how a parent will do anything for the love of their child. If your looking for something different than the typical romance reads out there today, something that will keep you on the edge of you seat and make you feel, give this one a try!
*Reviewed by Brandi
May 11, 2015
Another incomplete book want to be!
This is truly a shame. This part of a book was so well written and clever no one with this level of talent should feel the need to hook readers into buying the next installment of a part of another book to find the conclusion to the first part of the book. Why are writers repeating this format!
I am simply going to write the conclusion of the story in my mind. A happy ending for the kidnapped child, a happy reunion with the family based on the cleverness and determination of mother and father. As for the vile kidnapper, well I'm concluding she deserves death. A woman who would steal from someone who befriends you and takes you into their home should die an untimely death. When that monster repays their kindness by stealing their child, identity, their inheritance when you know their parent has died, deserves a horrific death. So something ugly in South America suites me. Done.
This is truly a shame. This part of a book was so well written and clever no one with this level of talent should feel the need to hook readers into buying the next installment of a part of another book to find the conclusion to the first part of the book. Why are writers repeating this format!
I am simply going to write the conclusion of the story in my mind. A happy ending for the kidnapped child, a happy reunion with the family based on the cleverness and determination of mother and father. As for the vile kidnapper, well I'm concluding she deserves death. A woman who would steal from someone who befriends you and takes you into their home should die an untimely death. When that monster repays their kindness by stealing their child, identity, their inheritance when you know their parent has died, deserves a horrific death. So something ugly in South America suites me. Done.
March 30, 2014
This is a very intense story by Arianne and completely different to what we usually expect from our illustrious author. Exceptionally well written as you would expect, it follows the story of a family whose life is about to be torn apart.
February 4, 2014
It was one of the best books ever.. I have read it twice now because it was that good.
January 5, 2016
The book was great but a little predictable. I was hoping it would have ended differently but really enjoyed it over all!
September 24, 2020
NOTE: This is Part 1. To read the next section, you must purchase the entire book. Sylvia, Tommy and their adopted daughter, Grace, live in Wyoming having moved from NYC. Their marriage is on shaky ground. While Tommy travels for business, Sylvia has a friend visit that she met and friended online. When Sylvia's dad passes away in Michigan, with Tommy away, the friend offers to watch Grace until his return the next day. Thus begins the nightmare of every parent!
June 10, 2021
A very clever plot with three points of view. Two adults and a 5 yr old child. The child, Grace, was kidnapped by a friend after both parents were called away. The twists and turns that followed together with the emotionally charged partnership of the parents slowly unravelling made the child seem grown-up and sophisticated. An incredible read that held the reader page-turning for a happy reunion of a dysfunctional family
August 1, 2022
Just okay
Read this book in fits and starts. It did not hold my interest to keep reading. For me just too much drama on part of Sylvia who saw Jimmy as untrustworthy and unfaithful to her . This rhetoric went on and on with so much about her insecurities. The story line was great though by this author, as always. So much I skipped over with parts that could not hold my interest which I won't mention as could be spoilers. Sorry, just two stars.
Read this book in fits and starts. It did not hold my interest to keep reading. For me just too much drama on part of Sylvia who saw Jimmy as untrustworthy and unfaithful to her . This rhetoric went on and on with so much about her insecurities. The story line was great though by this author, as always. So much I skipped over with parts that could not hold my interest which I won't mention as could be spoilers. Sorry, just two stars.
December 29, 2023
Not for me
I found this really hard reading and even skipped chapters (namely the Tommy territorial army chapters), the plot is unbelievable and, being a mom of three girls, I couldn’t relate to Grace’s “intelligence” as a five year old but then at times her stark childish naivety, unfortunately it just didn’t marry up.
I found this really hard reading and even skipped chapters (namely the Tommy territorial army chapters), the plot is unbelievable and, being a mom of three girls, I couldn’t relate to Grace’s “intelligence” as a five year old but then at times her stark childish naivety, unfortunately it just didn’t marry up.
January 15, 2020
I enjoyed this book. The "villain" was at times a bit unbelievable and the mother was written to be a bit naive, but overall enjoyed the story and it pulls in you where you don't want to put it down, waiting to see what's going to happen next.
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