Because You're Mine by Rea Frey

An “insidious, suspenseful tale” (J.T. Ellison) with a “shocker of an ending you won’t see coming” (Michele Campbell), Because You're Mine by Rea Frey, the author who “brings to mind Jodi Picoult” (Booklist) and “will appeal to readers of Green Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen” (Sally Hepworth) is a novel about how the truth will set you free.

But it’s the lies that keep you safe.

Single mother Lee has the daily routine down to a science: shower in six minutes. Cut food into perfect squares. Never leave her on-the-spectrum son Mason in someone else’s care. She’ll do anything—anything—to keep his carefully constructed world from falling apart. Do anything to keep him safe.

But when her best friend Grace convinces her she needs a small break from motherhood to recharge her batteries, Lee gives in to a weekend trip. Surely a long weekend away from home won’t hurt?

Noah, Mason’s handsome, bright, charismatic tutor—the first man in ages Lee’s even noticed—is more than happy to stay with him.

Forty-eight hours later, someone is dead.

But not all is as it seems. Noah may be more than who he claims to be. Grace has a secret—one that will destroy Lee. Lee has secrets of her own that she will do anything to keep hidden.
As the dominoes begin to fall and the past comes to light, perhaps it's no mystery someone is gone after all…

Because You're Mine is a breathtaking novel of domestic drama and suspense.

Prepare to stay up all night.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars
M/F Thriller

Lee is the mother to Mason. Mason has some form of autism, but we are not quite sure how severe. He is able to function day-to-day but cannot attend a formal school. Then, in walks Noah. He is a tutor who specializes in kids on the spectrum.

Lee owns her own business but has a checkered past. While she tries to find a good balance between her life as a mom, life as a business owner, and a friend, she finds that she's often struggling.

Her best friend Grace is also someone who has a past. However, she wants her friend Lee to find happiness. But the secret that Grace has is one she fears will change her friendship forever.

This is a story about finding out what is behind everyone else's facade. I enjoyed the twists and turns. I did find some of the parts fairly predictable but enjoyed the story regardless. I think my biggest negative for the story was the ending. It felt unfinished and very abrupt.

Rea Frey is an award-winning author of several nonfiction books. She lives in Nashville with her husband and daughter. Not Her Daughter is her debut novel.

Connect with Rea

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Because You're Mine by Rea Frey to read and review.

Not Her Daughter by Rea Frey

Gripping, emotional, and wire-taut, Not Her Daughter raises the question of what it means to be a mother—and how far someone will go to keep a child safe.

Emma Townsend. Five years old. Gray eyes, brown hair. Missing since June.

Emma is lonely. Living with her cruel mother and clueless father, Emma retreats into her own world of quiet and solitude.

Sarah Walker. Successful entrepreneur. Broken-hearted. Kidnapper.

Sarah has never seen a girl so precious as the gray-eyed child in a crowded airport terminal. When a second-chance encounter with Emma presents itself, Sarah takes her—far away from home. But if it’s to rescue a little girl from her damaging mother, is kidnapping wrong?

Amy Townsend. Unhappy wife. Unfit mother. Unsure whether she wants her daughter back.

Amy’s life is a string of disappointments, but her biggest issue is her inability to connect with her daughter. And now Emma is gone without a trace.

As Sarah and Emma avoid the nationwide hunt, they form an unshakeable bond. But what about Emma’s real mother, back at home?

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Also Available on Audiobook

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆
To be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about this book. I completely understand where Sarah is coming from, to see a child that's being verbally and emotionally abused and want to do something to help the child.

What Sarah did though, is not the way to handle the situation. Granted, CPS (child protective services) might not have thought the behavior of the child's mother rose to the level of neglect or child abuse in their eyes, but it would have given the father a chance to remedy the situation.

Sarah's actions affect more than just Emma (the child) but also the child's parents – BOTH of her parents. Yes, her mother is neglectful and oftentimes mentally and physically abusive and her father is apathetic. Given the chance and knowing that someone was looking at his family, I believe the father would have taken both children and made a better life for them.

As it stands, you have a mother who never wanted to be a parent and father who is grieving for his daughter while Sarah raises Emma. It seems the author attempted to do the right thing by having Sarah contact the mother, but did anyone think about the father?

Rea Frey is an award-winning author of several nonfiction books. She lives in Nashville with her husband and daughter. Not Her Daughter is her debut novel.

Connect with Rea

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~ Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Not Her Daughter by Rea Frey to read and review.