With Love from the Inside

By: Angela Pisel

Narrated by: Carol Monda, Andi Arndt

Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's Summary

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 27 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 good-bye, 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 17 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.

©2016 Angela Pisel (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Wonderful story

What a great book! Grace's struggles to connect with her daughter were so moving and her compassion to her fellow inmates was a lesson to us all. Thanks to the author for demonstrating humanity at its best and worst in the same story.

Powerful story.

This book was difficult to turn off. The author created two very strong yet vulnerable women. With every turn of the page there was an unexpected twist or slight turn in the plot that left you wanting to hear more!
Heart wrenching and joyous, nerve wracking and yet satisfying. Highly recommended.

One of my absolute favorites!

I never, ever take the time to write reviews. This is hands down one of the best books I have listened to on here--& I listen to books non stop. I searched the author but didn't find any other works :(. Loved it! Had me feeling every emotion & I even teared up, rare for me.

Strains Credulity

There were so many flaws in the plot (Grace would unlikely to have been sentenced to death, Thomas would not have magically become the perfect husband, William's death was never clearly explained and more) that the book seemed silly. As an opponent of the death penalty, I was disappointed in an exploitative story that verged on sappy and foolish.

Surprisingly amazing

I was honestly not expecting much from this book, however this book was amazing! I found myself wanting to hear more from Sophie and her situation at home. I also found myself crying A LOT but I cry easily, as a mother I found myself having compassion for Grace and the unimaginable pain she must have felt. I highly recommend this book. Heartfelt and beautifully written

Great story about a mothers undying love

This book reminded me of my mother. Not that my mother was ever in this situation, but the fact that I had a mother that loved me no matter how I treated her and she was kind to those that did not treat her kindly. This is a wonderful story of a mother accused of killing one of her children. Her husband always believed in her, but her teenage daughter had doubts, and eventually made the decision that her mother was guilty. This decision affected the daughter's life even as an adult. As her mother's execution date approaches, the daughter has to make some difficult decisions. Have a box of tissues when you read this one.

Worth your time

Spoiler alert ! I was expecting this to be your typical happy ending story and while I was sad when the ending came I think it was more realistic than I had anticipated. Well written, good character development and thought provoking. The readers were excellent and the story rang true on so many levels.

I loved this book

This book touched my heart. I didn't want to put it down and i didn't want it to end.

Heartbreaking but Real

This book is about a mother on death row accused of killing her infant son. It tells the story of her daughter, now an adult, finally coming to terms with it. Sometimes you just have to make the best of the situation and not focus on things you can not control. This book could have been a story of someone's life. It was easy to listen to, kept my interest and was not predictable. No bad language. I highly recommend it.

A mother's love is the ultimate miracle drug

Would you listen to With Love from the Inside again? Why?

No, but strictly because I'm a once read always remembered type girl, however, I would strongly recommend it to everyone especially my friends who are mothers.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes and no. I had a dreadful feeling the entire duration of the book that it was not going to end in the rainbows and unicorns ending I had secretly hoped for, but the ending of the book is real, raw, gritty and heart breaking.

Have you listened to any of Carol Monda and Andi Arndt ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I do not believe that I have

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely. After the first couple chapters, I was completely hooked. It was interesting how the author wove all the pieces together.

Any additional comments?

Solid 4.5 stars! Very enjoyable read. My only qualm would be the author really didn't finish up what happened with the doctor and his court case. Like what happened? You can't leave me hanging like that.