Angela Pisel's poignant debut explores the complex relationship between a mother and a daughter, their quest to discover the truth, and whether or not love can prevail--even from behind bars.
Grace Bradshaw knows the exact minute she will die. On death row for murdering her infant son, her last breath will be taken on February 15 at 12:01 a.m. Eleven years, five months, and twenty-seven days separate her from the last time she heard her precious daughter's voice and the final moment she'd heard anyone call her mom. Out of appeals, she can focus on only one thing--reconnecting with her daughter and making sure she knows the truth.
Secrets lurk behind Sophie Logan's big house and even bigger bank account. Every day when she kisses her husband goodbye, she worries her fabricated life is about to come crumbling down. No one knows the unforgivable things her mother did to tear her family apart--not her husband who is a prominent plastic surgeon or her "synthetic" friends who live in her upscale neighborhood.
Grace's looming execution date forces Sophie to revisit the traumatic events that haunted her childhood. When she returns to her hometown, she discovers new evidence about her baby brother William's death seventeen years ago--proof that might set her mother free but shatter her own marriage forever.
Sophie must quickly decide if her mother is the monster the prosecutor made her out to be or the loving mother she remembers--the one who painted her toenails glittery pink and plastered Post-it Notes with inspiring quotes (100 percent failure rate if you don't try) all over Sophie's bathroom mirror--before their time runs out.
About the Author :
Angela Pisel, a therapist and life coach, has taken a special interest in mentoring women throughout various transitions in their lives. She decided to write her first novel after her obsession with television trials led her to research women on death row. She didn't find what she thought she would, and how people end up where they do continues to mesmerize her. She volunteers with Forgiven Ministry, an organization in North Carolina that seeks to break the cycle of recidivism by promoting healthy relationships between children and their incarcerated parent.
Carol Monda is an Earphones Award-winning narrator and accomplished voice-over artist. She is also an award-winning actor known for her work in Out of Season, After You Left, and The Gentlemen.
Andi Arndt is a professional voice actor, the winner of a 2017 Audie Award for Best Romance, and winner of two Earphones Awards.
Review :
"With Love from the Inside is a page-turning tale of redemption, forgiveness, and the unending bonds of love. Pisel has written a gripping and emotional novel that is ultimately a love letter between mothers and daughters that will you have rooting for both until the last page."
-- "Elizabeth L. Silver, author of The Execution of Noa P. Singleton"
"A gripping page-turner wrought with conflict, mystery, and life or death stakes. Angela Pisel ushers readers down the bleak corridors of death row, while simultaneously weaving a stunning tale of love and hope and faith. I fell in love with this tragic mother-daughter love story, a heart-wrenching illustration of the strength of the mother-daughter bond, the resiliency of the human spirit, and the power of forgiveness. Bittersweet and emotionally charged, With Love from the Inside is a perfect choice for book clubs...A book that lingers long after the last page is read."
-- "Lori Nelson Spielman, author of The Life List"
"Beautifully rendered and gripping...Pisel is a novelist to watch, and this debut will stay with me for a very long time."
-- "David R. Dow, author of The Autobiography of an Execution"
"Briskly paced...The ticking clock propels the narrative, told in alternating chapters by Grace herself and by a narrator who relates all of Sophie's experiences and thoughts...An admirable debut."
-- "Kirkus Reviews"
"Like nothing else I've read this year, With Love from the Inside chronicles a mother awaiting her execution on death row for ostensibly killing her infant son. The writing in this novel is so strong and its message of forgiveness so powerful that it brought me to tears."
-- "Elin Hilderbrand, New York Times bestselling author"
"Pisel delves into the heart-wrenching subject of a prisoner on death row with compassion. Both Grace and Sophie are detailed, realistic characters whose flaws are balanced by their capacity to seek the truth...The author weaves humor into the story in the perfect places to keep things from getting too heavy. Grace's journal allows the reader to stay involved and invested in the tale. Pull out the tissues and be prepared for tears--both of sadness and joy."
-- "RT Book Reviews (41/2 stars, Top Pick!)"
"Powerful, provocative, and written with a rare grace. This novel will steal your breath--and your heart."
-- "Sarah Pekkanen, New York Times bestselling author"
