Monday, March 31, 2014

House of Glass ~ Sophie LIttlefield (earc) review

House of Glass
Harlequin MIRA
February 25, 2014
304 pages
add to Goodreads/buy from Book Depo/or Amazon


Bestselling author Sophie Littlefield delivers a riveting, ripped-from-the-headlines story about a family put to the ultimate test when two men take them hostage inside their home.

Jen Glass has worked hard to achieve the ideal life: a successful career, a beautiful home in an affluent suburb of Minneapolis, a seemingly perfect family. But inside the Glass house, everything is spinning out of Jen's control. Her marriage to her husband, Ted, is on the brink of collapse; her fifteen-year-old daughter grows more distant each day; and her five-year-old son barely speaks a word. Jen is on the verge of breaking, but nothing could have prepared her for what is to come.

On an evening that was supposed to be like any other, two men force their way into the Glasses' home, but what begins as a common robbery takes an even more terrifying turn. Held hostage in the basement for more than forty-eight hours, Jen and Ted must put aside their differences if they have any hope of survival. They will stop at nothing to keep their family safe—even if it means risking their own lives. A taut and emotional tale of a family brought together by extraordinary forces, House of Glass is a harrowing exploration of the lengths a mother will go to protect her children, and the power of tragedy to teach us what truly matters.

It's a night that's supposed to be like any other. Jen Glass, her husband Ted, their fifteen-year-old daughter Jen and four year-old son, Teddy, are home and about to start cooking dinner when it happens. Two armed men enter their house, their goal unknown.

It quickly becomes clear that this is not the usual home invasion robbery. While the family is held in the basement for an increasingly extended time, unsure of what the men upstairs want, they drawn closer together.

The mystery of why the men are in the Glass house and what they hope to accomplish, is not the only unknown in House of Glass. Jen is someone who wants everything to be perfect, or to, at least, look perfect from the outside. The life she's made for herself is much different than where she began - somewhere gone but not really forgotten. Despite Jen's attempts, it's clear from the start that her husband, Ted, is keeping something from her. Whether it's what Jen suspects or something else, entirely, is not yet known.

As much as she wants to uncover the truth, taking care of their children: four-year-old Teddy who doesn't speak to strangers and fifteen-year-old Livvy who's become increasingly distant from Jen, takes priority.

With the family's safety constantly in question and each with their own struggles, House of Glass is a page turner that will keep readers guessing.

Much of the story centers around Jen Glass, her concern over appearances and the future of her family. While Jen's past and her current concerns definitely add to the story and the plot's progression, there was something about her I didn't quite like. Given the situation, any of the characters being cool, calm and collected, wouldn't have worked. However, Jen was too dramatic and anxious for me. Her family was always on her mind, but at times she felt almost selfish.

Livvy, Ted and Teddy each have something about them or their lives that adds a layer to the tale. Adding to the mystery of 'why,' 'who' and 'what,' they keep things from being obvious, even when you're sure they're wrong, nothing is ever obvious.

I still really enjoyed House of Glass. With scenes showing the family's bond, secrets revealed and moments of unbelievable tension, you'll find yourself feeling for the family and hoping for the safety.


Rating: 7/10



thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the egalley for review

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