Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen

 

My thoughts

Let me say that this is a book anyone who loves a good thriller should read. It's got so many emotions. So much going on. It even has you holding your breath in many places and trying to guess what exactly is going on. 

A story about a mother and daughter. Their journey. One's survival. One's future. One's past. How it all can come crashing down. How life is possibly rebuilt and carried on.

This is a story of the aftermath of a young girls life after she's already endured so much pain. How her love for one man breaks her. Sends her on a life journey that could save her life. And the life of her unborn child. 

After horrific abuse from her mother and being molested by the high school coach and her best friend making her life almost unbearable Ruth turns to her new friend James. James makes her feel loved and protected. He knows exactly what to say. He knows exactly what to do. But when they take things too far. When it costs a life. When Ruth sees that things just might not be so rosy. What will happen. The night of the murder Ruth is suppose to meet James and they will run away together. But Ruth makes different plans. She has to go but alone. She no longer trusts James to not hurt her.

Twenty five years have passed since Catherine left her hometown. She has a daughter, Catherine, to think about. She's kept her safe for twenty four years but things are changing. Catherine is now a nurse and plans to move. She has a job waiting that is perfect for her. But there are reasons she does not need to be there. Reasons her mother will not share.

Ruth has so many secrets. As does Catherine. Are things as they seem? Can they really trust each other completely. What big secrets is Ruth hiding from Catherine. What secrets are Catherine hiding from Ruth. Secrets that could cost them both dearly.

This book is so good. It's a thriller that literally has you holding your breath. Things going on that make you wonder. Make you have more questions. All those questions are answered. Every single one. At first I didn't like Ruth. I thought what she did to Catherine was horrible. But after reading more I understood. She's a mother would would do anything to keep her daughter safe. I do mean anything. Even lie! Sometimes you have to do things you wish you didn't. Ruth was strong and weak at the same time. Strong in that she pulled herself out of bad situations at such a young age to make a life for herself and then for her daughter. Weak in that she had to lie to her daughter to do it. But sometimes a mother's love knows no bounds. Sometimes a mother will do whatever it takes to keep that child safe.

Thank you #NetGalley, #SarahPekkanen, #StMartinsPress, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this one.

Five huge stars. From the very start to the very last word this book had me hooked. And it made me cry in places too....

Synopsis

Catherine Sterling thinks she knows her mother. Ruth Sterling is quiet, hardworking, and lives for her daughter. All her life, it's been just the two of them against the world. But now, Catherine is ready to spread her wings, move from home, and begin a new career. And Ruth Sterling will do anything to prevent that from happening.

Ruth Sterling thinks she knows her daughter. Catherine would never rebel, would never question anything about her mother's past or background. But when Ruth's desperate quest to keep her daughter by her side begins to reveal cracks in Ruth's carefully-constructed world, both mother and daughter begin a dance of deception.

No one can know Ruth's history. There is a reason why Ruth kept them moving every few years, and why she was ready--in a moment's notice--to be gone in the night.

But danger is closing in. Is it coming from the outside, from Ruth's past? Is Ruth reaching a breaking point? Or is the danger coming from the darkness that may live in Catherine, herself?