For All She Knows

Potomac Point #3

by Jamie Beck

Two mothers face the consequences of their choices in a gripping novel about friendship, family, and forgiveness by Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author Jamie Beck.

Grace first met Mimi when she blew into their sons’ toddler playgroup like a warm bay breeze that loosened Grace’s tight spaces. Despite differing approaches to life and parenting, the fast friends raised their kids together while cementing a sisterlike bond that neither believed could be broken. But when a string of ill-fated decisions results in a teen party with a tragic outcome for Grace’s son, the friendship is ripped apart and an already-splintered community explodes.

Accusations are leveled, litigation ensues, and the people of Potomac Point take sides, all of which threatens Mimi’s business and her current custody agreement. Her sole salvation is a young cop who just might be her second chance at love. That fact only antagonizes Grace, whose marriage is crumbling beneath the weight of blame and the echo of past mistakes.

With their lives unraveling, the former friends stand to lose everything they love unless they learn to forgive—both themselves and each other.

Genres: Audiobook, Fiction, Chick Lit, Ebooks, Womens Fiction, Contemporary, Romance

394 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 30, 2021

About the author

Jamie Beck is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of 18 novels, which have been translated into multiple languages and have sold more than three million copies worldwide. She is a two-time Booksellers' Best Award finalist, a Women’s Fiction Writers Association STAR award finalist, a National Readers' Choice Award winner, and critics at Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist have respectively called her work "smart," "uplifting," and "entertaining." In addition to writing novels, she enjoys dancing around the kitchen while cooking and hitting the slopes in Vermont and Utah. Above all, she is a grateful wife and mother to a very patient, supportive family.

Fans can learn more about her on the web (www.jamiebeck.com). She also loves interacting with everyone on Facebook (www.facebook.com/JamieBeckBooks) and Instagram (@writerjamiebeck).

My newsletter subscribers get monthly fun tips, a chance to win a reader gift box, and other exclusive content. Sign up now! https://bit.ly/JBeckNewsletter. For updates on discounts and new releases, follow me on BookBub at http://bit.ly/2GBcLM3. NO SPAM--EVER.

Reviews

["Avonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

FOR ALL SHE KNOWS (Potomac Point Book #3) by Jamie Beck is an emotional and powerful Women’s fiction story which while an addition to the Potomac Point series, it stands on its own.

Two mothers who are best friends with very different lives. A tragic accident will change everything as both are tested by one moment in time.

This story had me feeling so many different strong emotions and they often changed while reading all sides offered by all the characters. Grace’s rigid and unbending emotional handling of the accident and Mimi’s attempt to help Grace and her family in so many ways while also trying to change from being a more lenient parent kept me turning the pages. I did not want to choose who was right or wrong in their parenting styles because I have had to make parenting decisions myself that could go either way. This book does not just focus on the two best friends, but all the members of the families involved, with even the small community takes sides and plays a part.

One incident that is so life-altering and Ms. Beck’s writing guides you through the journey of everyone involved so smartly and realistically. This journey will take you through love, friendship, parenthood, forgiveness and hope.

I highly recommend this book!

[Jamie Beck]

Dear Reader,

Thank you for picking up For All She Knows, a story that is very dear to my heart as a mother of teens who are navigating the high school and college social scenes. During the time between my legal career and my writing career, I volunteered at a local public health non-profit that focused on children and parenting. I learned a lot about the prevalence of teen alcohol use, as well as the dangers to brain development and risks for future addiction that can spring from early alcohol abuse. In recent years, the stories of alcohol-related deaths on college campuses, as well as injuries at parent-sponsored teen parties, have also weighed on me.

In writing this tale, my goal was not to cast judgment on anyone’s parenting style, but rather to start a conversation about how and why we make certain choices, and whom and what we might want to consider when doing so. Most of all, I hope that Grace’s and Mimi’s journeys of discovery—with each other and within themselves—will resonate with you.

It is also important to note that this book was written prior to the pandemic. During the editing process, we decided not to address COVID-19 in the context of this story because there were still too many uncertainties about what the world (and science) would look like by the time the story was released. We appreciate your acceptance of our omission in this case. As I write this note, I am very hopeful that we might all soon be able to safely move about and gather in groups again.

Happy reading!

[Vanessa Menezes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite differing approaches to life and parenting, the Grace and Mimi are best friends, and have raised their kids together while cementing a sisterlike bond that neither believed could be broken.

But when a string of ill-fated decisions results in a teen party with a tragic outcome for Grace’s son, the friendship is ripped apart and an already-splintered community explodes.

Accusations are leveled, litigation ensues, and the people of Potomac Point take sides, all of which threatens Mimi’s business and her current custody agreement. Her sole salvation is a young cop who just might be her second chance at love. That fact only antagonizes Grace, whose marriage is crumbling beneath the weight of blame and the echo of past mistakes.

With their lives unraveling, the former friends stand to lose everything they love unless they learn to forgive—both themselves and each other.

Fortunately, I read the author’s note before starting the book, because it helped me to keep an open mind while reading and I also truly agree with what she mentioned.

This is beautiful story of two friends and their families. I loved both the main characters, Grace and Mimi. They were so well written and realistic, that they both were likeable despite their flaws.

I am so glad the book is narrated through the viewpoints of both Grace and Mimi, so that we could understand both the sides of the story. I felt so many different emotions while reading, and there were times when I found myself getting judgmental. But then, I realized that there isn’t really a right or wrong way in parenting.

Overall, I feel book is simply amazing and it takes you on a journey of discovering forgiveness and love!

Thank You NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for this ARC!

[Barbara O'Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterful story of friendship, parenthood, and family. Jamie Beck has written an engrossing and heartwrenching story of what happens when two friends stand on either side of a teen accident with long-reaching consequences. Thoughtful, unflinching, wise, it was a book I couldn't put down.

[LianaReads blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a mother, this book felt a bit like a wake up call. Because with everything that happens around us lately , we may not pay close attention to our loved ones and without wanting, we can hurt them even with the smallest gesture, or we might as well , overlook things that shouldn't be overlooked.
A novel about friendship and families, about parenthood and decisions that can change someone's life in a second.
A single mother trying to be back in the game with her life, a night when her son is having a party that shouldn't be happening, a devastating event in the life of his best friend and accusations brought when less expected. Two families life changed and a friendship that can't stand a chance in front of it.
It was interesting and compelling to see how everything will wrap up at the end and i think it's a must read domestic suspense.

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerful story about love, friendship, faith, and forgiveness.

I had such mixed emotions reading this book. I think all of the characters are flawed in one way or another and their lives will be forever changed due to an unforeseen event. This event has the power to change lives, rip apart friendships, and potentially break up marriages. 

While I do not have any children, this book was hard for me to read. I can only imagine how I would feel if I were in Grace or Mimi's shoes. Grace has some baggage from her childhood that has caused her to be rigid and unbending when it comes to the accident. There were many times I wanted to shake her and ask her why she was torpedoing everything in her life. I think she was the most frustrating character for me. At the same time, I can understand her side of things and her emotions, mostly guilt, about not keeping her son safe. But can we ever truly keep someone from harm?

Mimi has her own issues as a single mother dealing with an ex that doesn't seem to care much for his son except when it might benefit him. Mimi has a heart of gold and it is no wonder she and Grace were fast friends. But this accident puts their friendship to the test and it will come down to whether Grace can move forward or not. But the incident is not without consequences for Mimi as well and it has her rethinking her views on raising her son. 

There are some strong supporting characters including Grace's husband Sam, Grace and Sam's son Carter, and Mimi's son Rowan. I didn't really like Grace's daughter, Kim. I know she is only 10 but she seemed spoiled and entitled for someone that young. 

The book also delves into small-town politics in the respect that people tend to take sides in an issue or situation without knowing all of the facts or because they are short-sighted and perhaps don't want to admit to their own shortcomings.

Overall, this was a fantastic book and brought forth so many emotions, and had me thinking about how I would handle certain situations. We give the book 5 paws up.

[... Lost Bookland... · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although as you can see from my list of read books, I mostly enjoy romantic titles, books about extraordinary love, brave knights and ladies in distress.... but I chose this book quite by accident, I read it and weeks later I was still disturbed by the truths that they are so vividly captured, not to mention disturbed and scared as a mother of two toddlers..... Such subtle messages, intertwined through the pages that make you think, to try to re-evaluate your life from another angle...
This title is definitely an escape from my preferences and a work that should definitely be a useful read for all parents. Two women with different approaches to their parenting responsibilities become best friends, raising their children together, against all the odds. It seems that the bond between them is too strong to be destroyed, but one unfortunate event and all predictions break down, all habits and rules change and everything is shattered...
The accusations culminate, the small town takes sides and is divided, Mimi's business and overall situation are in jeopardy ... the only salvation seems to be the young policeman, who offers her salvation and the opportunity for new love ..... at the same time as the world of her best friend is collapsing and falls under her feet ... Is there a solution on the horizon? Maybe forgiveness is a cure for all pain and wounds? But is there a place for that in their hearts?
The story is told from the perspective of both friends, and although I could not relate to either, I managed to understand them to some extent. The writing style is quite descriptive but too sterile for my taste. It must also be noted there was a stagnation in several parts and somehow a lack of emotionality, especially in the parts of sadness and reckless finger-pointing.
Anyway, an interesting read, which will make you think and look at your decisions in a slightly different way.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the friendship between Grace and Mimi because it's not perfect. What they do and what happens between them makes you wonder what you'd do if you were in a similar situation. Jamie Beck fans and book clubs will thoroughly enjoy this one.

[Susan Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

For All She Knows is an emotional book about how lives and relationships can change in one moment. The story digs deep into the hearts and souls of its characters as it explores motherhood, marriage, friendship, guilt and blame. Each of the characters have so many layers, haunted by their past as they try not to repeat the mistakes that led to tragedy and hardships; yet needing to find a way to move beyond that in order to secure love and harmony in their families. Grace is an intense, complicated woman, and my heart ached for her even when I wanted to wake her up to all she was on the brink of losing—I was completely and utterly invested in her story. I loved Sam, Grace’s husband, and her best friend Mimi, too, but it was Grace’s voice, her story that resonated with me the most. Jamie Beck is so adept at telling difficult stories with honesty and heart, making her characters work hard at learning what’s important with wisdom and aha moments that allow them to heal.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across Jaime Beck a couple of years ago on NetGalley. She is a terrific author. The latest addition to Potomac Point series is an e ordinal read. A friendship, marriage, and social standing are threatened because of one night. I think Beck captures the tone and mood of each character very well. All the dialogue, reactions, and emotions were authentic. I was totally immersed in the story and finished the book in just a couple of,hours. Both Mimi and Grace take stock in some hard truths about their lives and shortcomings. Even better, it’s set in 2021 and Covid doesn’t exist in the book. Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for the early copy.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow what an emotional read this one was. It was also compelling and thought provoking, especially as a parent who is scared shitless as my kids approach their teenaged years.

From the synopsis: Grace first met Mimi when she blew into their sons’ toddler playgroup like a warm bay breeze that loosened Grace’s tight spaces. Despite differing approaches to life and parenting, the fast friends raised their kids together while cementing a sisterlike bond that neither believed could be broken. But when a string of ill-fated decisions results in a teen party with a tragic outcome for Grace’s son, the friendship is ripped apart and an already-splintered community explodes.

At its heart this book explores how seemingly simple choices can have life altering consequences and it does so through the viewpoints of two mothers who both deeply care about their children and each other. It was one of those books that makes you wonder what you would do if you were in each characters shoes and I spent a lot of time contemplating various scenarios and outcomes. This would be a great pick for a book club as there’s so much to discuss, and I think some really interesting conversations could spring from a discussion about this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel conflicted about this review, and again wish Goodreads allowed half stars, as I ultimately would give For All She Knows 2.5 stars, but am ultimately rounding down because I can't convince myself that it's truly a good book. On the one hand, this was a page-turner about a parental nightmare that feels nightmarish precisely because I can easily imagine it happening to any parent with a teen. On the other hand, the book stalled a few times in terms of momentum, and I had a few issues with the writing style.

Here is the premise: Grace and Mimi have been best friends since their boys were toddlers, and even though as teenagers the boys grew apart, Grace and Mimi remained as close as sisters, despite their grossly different parenting styles. All that changes when Grace’s son is permanently injured at a teen party in Mimi’s house. Suddenly, fingers are pointed and family dynamics implode. Who is to blame for this accident, if it is indeed even an accident? With so much anger and grief and guilt flying around, how can any relationship (between friends, spouses, parents/kids) survive?

Beck crafts a compelling story out of this. But… the dialogue felt wooden, and every single conversation seemed to go something like this: “I’m sorry about XYZ, but I’m feeling so ABC because of 123, and I just can’t do 456 anymore!” Everything is articulate, grammatical, and free of expletives, but… idk, do people really talk like this, especially in times of crisis? Or is Potomac Point just the most reasonable upper middle-class community I’ve every stumbled upon?

Beck tends to have an expository way of writing (unsurprisingly, she has a legal background), and as a result the novel felt repetitive, and the characters washed out. I also think the novel is about 100 pages too long. Overall, this book is best described as a can’t-look-away Lifetime movie – perhaps not quite made for the big screen, but still compulsively (grudgingly?) watchable.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Social Examination While Telling Solid Story. I gotta admit, when I first heard about this story featuring "a teen party with a tragic outcome", I was a bit scared that Beck was about to go preachy. More than a bit, if I'm being perfectly honest. But I've come to truly appreciate her strength as a storyteller, and I knew that no matter how preachy she may have gotten, it was going to be a truly excellent story that allowed her to do it.

And yall: She didn't get preachy. At all. Instead, what we get is a truly balanced, truly nuanced look at how even local politics and tragedies can tear even decades long confidante level friendships to shreds. What we get is two very realistic approaches to parenting - I've seen both even within my own family. What we get is two mothers fighting for their sons who happen to be on opposite sides of both the local political issue and the tragedy. And we see in depth the love and devotion each mother has to her son - and what each is willing to do to try to help.

Beck's older books - romances - were still excellent stories, even if constrained by that particular genre's (some would argue obsessive and insane) rules. Now unconstrained by those rules and able to tell exactly the story she wants to tell in exactly the way she wants to tell it, this already strong storyteller shows that she is truly a master of her craft. Very much recommended.

[Barb · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. Basically the story is about two best friends raising their teenage sons. Mimi is very lax with the rules and allows her 15 year old and his friends drink alcohol in her house because she feels they are going to do it anyway so might as well let them drink at her house. Grace and her husband are more strict with Carter. When Carter attends a party at Mimi's house with her son, Rowan, tragedy hits. The characters in this book were so annoying that I could not wait for it to end. Grace was so concerned about blaming everyone else that she only spent an hour a day at the rehab with her son. Her daughter, Kim, felt so neglected. I actually thought of her as like 5 years old instead of 10. Grace had a sister who died from either alcohol or drug usage which is mentioned several times in the book but not the details of what actually happened. All Mimi cared about was what everyone thought about what she was doing. Both of the characters were so annoying to me.

[Sue Ouellet-Cofsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't really sure what to expect with this one although I've enjoyed the previous Potomac Point stories, I started and stopped a few times. However, once I was in the right headspace, I couldn't stop reading this story. Through most of the story, I had a really difficult time liking Grace. I know there are reasons and many of those reasons are really quite valid, but her inability to see past her own pain to others who were equally in pain was hard for me. My mind and spirit went back to my childhood and my inability to reconcile issues in my past with my Mom and how that may have affected me as an adult. Only then was I able to face the fact that I would have been just like her and perhaps I was able to have more empathy for her. Mimi in my mind was an amazing character who just had my spirit from the beginning. While painful, this story happens all the time. Families are torn apart by the smallest of decisions that become earthshattering realities and not all can make it through. Does Grace have the ability to forgive her best friend? Her husband? A community at large?

[Serenechaosnyc · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning of this book drew me in immediately and overall, this story was powerful. I think mothers will especially relate to the story- as a mother, I often question whether a move I have made on behalf of my children is correct. There are always regrets and while the situation covered in this book is especially trying, I do think that it is relatable. Grace and Mimi are friends. They disagree on a key issue affecting their community and that community is being torn apart, making their kids also taking sides. Grace’s son gets hurt during a party that Mimi’s son hosted and it tears Grace and Mimi’s relationship apart. It affects many relationships and the question is whether people can move on. It is a well written, though provoking story that did feel a little slow in certain areas but did have strong characters and a very interesting premise. I enjoyed this book overall! Thanks to NetGalley for the wonderful read.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

For All She Knows by Jamie Beck is the third book in the Potomac Falls series. Each book can be read as a standalone. For All She Knows is an emotional novel. Grace’s son is severely injured, and she wants to make sure the people responsible pay for their crimes. Grace’s actions divide a town, a friendship, and a family. I thought For All She Knows contained good writing with steady pacing. We get to see how a tragic incident can change lives in an instant. Issues from the past rule how Grace raises her children. She wants to make sure that her children have a safe and happy childhood. Mimi is a mother who is laxer with the rules (opposite of Grace). These two women are best friends until a school budget issues and then Carter’s injuries divide them. For All She Knows deals with forgiveness, guilt, and blame. We see how the past affects decisions made today. The story alternates point-of-view between Mimi and Grace. This allows us to see both sides of the issues. Emotions pour from the pages. Anger, fear, love, caring, hurt, and loss are some of the feelings. There is a significant amount of internal dialogue as Grace and Mimi think over the various issues. I also tired of the repetitiveness. The instant resolution at the end felt off. It just happened to quickly. However, I did like that the characters learned from their mistakes. I was surprised by Mimi’s thoughts toward underage drinking. I cannot imagine allowing a teenager access to my liquor cabinet (or not locking it) or leaving beer unattended in the fridge. Teenagers and alcohol are a bad mix. Jamie Beck tackled some difficult subjects in For All She Knows. Fans of this author will enjoy this poignant tale.

[AnneKR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two friends, Grace and Mimi, are best friends but couldn't be more different. Grace is married to a great guy, organized, involved with school, and protective of her kids. Mimi is a single mom, carefree, runs her own hair salon, and has a loose hold on her teen son. Despite going head to head with the school budget over how and where to spend the money, they can put aside their differences and silently support each other. Everything changes the night Grace allows her son to go to Mimi's house for a party being thrown by her son. A horrific accident occurs and the town is now divided.

This is the first book I've read from this author and it was a great read. Very emotional for a parent as well as a friend to imagine being in Grace or Mimi's position. Both are angry, hurt, and feeling lost with the tremendous amount of guilt from their actions that night. The one person they truly need is the one they feel the most disconnect from at the moment - each other. Both Grace and Mimi are not bad people and as parents we always hold ourselves accountable for our children's actions. How will they be able to repair their friendship when it feels all hope is lost? I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you Netgalley and Montlake for the opportunity to read this book.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review
3.5 stars.
A sometimes poignant tale of parenthood, love and marriage, and friendship, “For All She Knows”, by Jamie Beck (Montlake), shows a family going through heart-wrenching events and how it impacts its elements and their community.
The story is told from two friends’ perspectives and although none of them felt very relatable for me, I thought their feelings and experiences were depicted in a realistic way. I found some of the male characters more compelling: Carter, even perfect Sam; and Rodri could be such a wonderful character but he’s not developed enough).
The author did a god job with the research about Carter’s injury and the legal aspects of the accident, or problems like teen drinking and bullying.
I found the resolution between Grace and her mother (“A lifetime of misunderstandings, of never saying the real things, undone in less than an hour.”) a bit too quick and unrealistic and the first assuming all the blame seemed simplistic.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, but there were some parts better than others and some dimensions of the two friends’ characterization and actions annoyed me a bit.

[Kera’s Always Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a riveting story about the divisions created after a teenage party goes wrong.

Best friends Mimi and Grace don't always see eye to eye, but they are always there for one another. They have vastly different parenting styles and home lives, but they always manage to find common ground. But when a teenage party ends in a major injury they find themselves divided and don't know if their friendship will survive this.

In Grace's household, they have structure and systems in place to keep everything running smoothly. She has a great marriage and ten year old daughter and a fifteen year old son. She is active in their community and pretty much respected by everyone.

Mimi is a single mother who takes a much more laid back approach to parenting her own fifteen year old son, Rowan. But it has always worked well for her. She and her son have a good relationship and she allows him certain freedoms that other parents may find controversial.

While Carter and Rowan were friends growing up, they have grown apart in their teen years due to different interests and friend groups. When Carter is invited to Rowan's house for a small gathering of he and his fellow jock friends, Grace is reluctant to allow him to go, knowing that Mimi allows her son to drink in the house. She ultimately relents, but never could have imagined that this gathering would turn into an actual party and that her son would get hurt.

Now, police are involved, Carter is dealing with an injury that could alter his life completely, and Grace and Mimi's friendship is in a place it may never come back from. This book shows what happens when even the simplest of choices can make a huge impact. This party that got out of hand creates ripples through the community and everyone is taking a side.

I thought this was incredibly intriguing. I could see and empathize with multiple view points in this situation. IT was a terrible situation that leave so many people shaken. It was really interesting to see how friendships, relationships and acquaintances alike were affected through the course of this book. It was like a domino effect that was changing and morphing things as it went down through.

This definitely gave me some things to think about in the realm of blame, bullying and the "boys will be boys" way of thinking. Truly an enjoyable book that left me realizing - we all tell ourselves this stuff would never happen to me or my family... but, the realization that we are ALL susceptible to tragedies and things that we never expect - really hit me while reading this.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotional story that all mothers should read. A teenage party that turns for the worse that affects so many lives. This story explores Grace, who is a mother, wife and friend that now needs to rebuild her life and learn forgiveness. My heart went out to her, but at the end had relief that she could open her heart once again. Sam, her husband trying to hold all together through out the ordeal. A man in shining amour. Mimi, her best friend prior to the incident, trying to rebuild the friendship.

This story has so many layers, hits so many emotions that I had a hard time putting down. So many issues that we all face in our children's lives. I highly recommend this well written story.

[Tishara Corcoran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome Continuation of Potomac Point

For All She Knows by Jamie Beck book 3 of her Potomac Point novels. On sale March 30th, 2021.
4 out of 5 rating!! I got this arc from the author herself, because she is awesome!!

Two family's that's have been intertwined for a decade, hit a roadblock, when a house party leaves one kid with some life altering consequences.

Will this one mistake rip these family's apart, or will they overcame, and forgive themselves and each other.

I related alot with Mimi, our views on house parties,
were the same, but the story did show me what one mistake could cost a family/community.

Grace kinda got on my nerves, and am glad the story called out her behavior.As a mother I hope am not in the position, but if I were I would hope I could handle it more like Sam.

Also just to throw it out there am from Maryland and I love hearing about place I know in real life.

For me the 1st Potomac Point book is the best out of the 3.

[Mandi Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW, this story spoke to me! I have kids entering high school this and this topic of teenage drinking worries me the most! I most related to Grace, I understood her and her reasoning from the get-go. Grace liked control, not letting her kids go into a situation that could potentially end badly or result in them making bad decisions. When she relinquished that control and something did go horribly wrong, she went in protection mode and took everything personal. Grace was looking for sides, she needed her husband and friends to be on her side even when they didn’t agree. Grace needed someone to blame and she needed justice in a bitter fight that could tear apart her marriage, her family, her friendships and the town. I was so happy Grace saw through the pain and the tragedy and realized what was important before it was too late and irreparable damage was done to her relationships and those of her children.
The author did a fantastic job writing this story and taking me on a journey with the characters! I couldn’t imagine being in their shoes and it’s a topic that should be discussed more often. I highly recommend!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two mothers, two best friends, and one fatal night that changes their lives, their families, friends and the community they live in.

Jamie Beck gives us a highly emotional story about how life can change in a blink when a decision is made and the consequences have put a child in the hospital. Grace and Mimi have been best friends since their boys were just toddlers in a play group and they families lived in each other lives. This fatal night puts that friendship in jeopardy as blame they try to figure out who is really to blame for this tragedy. There are accusations are made, and people take sides, lawyers are hired and each day Grace feels her live unraveling when she feels those close to her are not taking her side. She can’t turn to her best friend Mimi, because she is part of all of these feelings.

And while Mimi is trying to help, she has her own worries as her ex is trying to change their custody agreement with their son, and she does not know who is a friend or foe, one person she never expected to come into her life, was the young police officer who just give her a new chance to find the love she always wanted to find.

Mini and Grace must try hard to forgive and build a new friendship. Grace must try to find her way back to her husband and her children. But how can they where there is so much hurt and blame.

I could not put this book down once I started to read it, and it grabbed me because it brought back a tragedy in my own family that tore a family and friends apart. It was like reliving in a time in my life that still today has not mended and what happens stays with the people involved their whole lives. Jamie and Grace must try hard to forgive and build a new friendship. Jamie Beck does an excellent job of navigating through this tragedy to get to the heart of all the hurt and blame, to heal and find their way back to their hearts and friendship. It’s a powerfully emotional book that will not regret reading.
Thank you to Montlake and Netgalley for giving me the chance to review this powerful story.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! Where do I start???
Have you ever just read a book that isn’t part of your go-to genre and be absolutely blown away by the way it effects you?

I am an avid (if not rabid) reader of Jamie Beck’s books, but I tend to go for the light hearted romance stories that all pretty much follow the same pattern. Well, that is NOT what this book is. This story has so much emotion with highs and lows and even lower lows. It has definitely made a mark on my heart. I actually found myself crying in bed the other night, not while reading, but while thinking about the situation the FICTIONAL characters were in.

Jamie - you created a world that I could see playing out in front of me and with having a son the same age as Carter and Rowan, you had me hooked! I will never forget the characters I met in this story - that’s definitely a major milestone for me because I usually can’t remember their names long enough to write my review. I’ve even found myself talking about this book to my teaching assistants and relating the events to some that have been in the news lately.

My life has always centered around people with disabilities so the fear and angst Grace, Sam, Carter, Mimi and evening Kim were going through were so real to me!

Thank you Jamie Beck - you’ve “moved” me!

[ROBIN RUIZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“ This night would change the course of so many lives, including our own .”

Welcome back to Potomac point.

This book deals with the choices we make and how we parent our children. No one way is right or wrong but Grace and Mimi are struggling with not only their friendship but the choices they make to parent their own children, choices that are shaped by their own childhood.
When tragedy strikes this town is divided and we get to experience the fallout and the opinions from all angles even the social media influences, actions have consequences right ? And hindsight is a great thing to have.

This is the story that will stay with you, that will challenge your mind and heart and your parameters for forgiveness.
Jamie Beck really poured her heart and soul into these pages and it is a story that needs to be read

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not care for this one. I read it solely because it was apart of the Potomac Point series - a series I would say I half-heartedly enjoy anyways. This one however, has been the worst of the 3. I didn’t care for any of the characters. I didn’t find any of them like-able, except for maybe Grace’s husband, Sam. Everyone else seemed either stereotypical or overdramatic. There was no real climax, the “turning points” were expected and it left me wishing I’d spent my drives and garden time listening to anything else. The Audible version is almost unlistenable...The voices of the actresses really grated on my nerves. I couldn’t tell which one I couldn’t stand more. Looking for a slow, repetitive, boring book? Only then would I recommend this one.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Toxic Relationships

I wanted to like this book because the plot seemed really solid. Unfortunately, of the three main characters, only Grace came across well. Sam, Grace's husband, doesn't listen and actively downplays her trauma over their son's accident. And Mimi, her best friend and partially the cause for Grace's issues, is shallow at best and demanding at worst.

This book takes place over the course of a few months. Sam and Mimi make Grace seem unreasonable for not snapping back when so much has changed in that span. Her grief is less important than not rocking the boat. And the ending felt trite, very disconnected.

It was a struggle to give it 2 stars. Those are pretty much for Grace alone.

[Ashley Dillon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Exhausting read

I enjoyed the begining and last few pages, however by the middle until almost the end I could not stand the main character Grace, with her constant whining and victim response to every interaction. Every uplifting sentence was followed by a negative. It was not a feel good book. It was an exhausting read.

[Susan Vlastelica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a fan of this book. Finished it only because I wanted to know how the outcome of the issues the characters were dealing with. It was impossible to like, or have empathy for “Grace”.