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The Cahills #1
If She Only Knew
SHE WOKE UP WITH A NEW FACE...
Not only has Marla Cahill survived a deadly car accident, but her beautiful features have been restored through plastic surgery. She should be grateful. Instead, she's consumed by confusion . . . and panic. For the people gathered at her bedside — her family — are strangers. And so is the woman whose haunted eyes stare back from the mirror . . .
SHE WOKE UP WITH NO MEMORIES...
Secluded at the magnificent Cahill mansion, Marla waits for something to trigger recognition. Yet the only thing she's left with is the unshakable feeling that she is not who everyone says she is, and that something is very, very wrong . . .
...AND SHE WOKE UP TO MURDER
Determined to piece together the truth of her identity, she finds herself drawn to her brother-in-law, Nick — a man who seems both to want and despise her. And as her fractured mind slowly clears, Marla begins to have flashes of another life . . . of cruel betrayals and deadly secrets. Marla's life isn't just different — it's in danger, controlled by a twisted killer who's waiting for the right moment to strike . . . the moment Marla remembers...
Not only has Marla Cahill survived a deadly car accident, but her beautiful features have been restored through plastic surgery. She should be grateful. Instead, she's consumed by confusion . . . and panic. For the people gathered at her bedside — her family — are strangers. And so is the woman whose haunted eyes stare back from the mirror . . .
SHE WOKE UP WITH NO MEMORIES...
Secluded at the magnificent Cahill mansion, Marla waits for something to trigger recognition. Yet the only thing she's left with is the unshakable feeling that she is not who everyone says she is, and that something is very, very wrong . . .
...AND SHE WOKE UP TO MURDER
Determined to piece together the truth of her identity, she finds herself drawn to her brother-in-law, Nick — a man who seems both to want and despise her. And as her fractured mind slowly clears, Marla begins to have flashes of another life . . . of cruel betrayals and deadly secrets. Marla's life isn't just different — it's in danger, controlled by a twisted killer who's waiting for the right moment to strike . . . the moment Marla remembers...
435 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2000
7,145 people are currently reading
18.5k people want to read
About the author
Lisa Jackson
264 books9,067 followersLisa Jackson is the number-one New York Times bestselling author of over ninety-five novels, including the Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya Series, the Pescoli and Alvarez Series, the Savannah series, and numerous stand alone novels. She also is the co-author of One Last Breath, Last Girl Standing, and the Colony Series, written with her sister and bestselling author Nancy Bush, as well as the collaborative novels Sinister and Ominous, written with Nancy Bush and Rosalind Noonan. There are over thirty million copies of her novels in print and her writing has been translated into twenty languages.
Before she became a nationally bestselling author, she was a mother struggling to keep food on the table by writing novels, hoping against hope that someone would pay her for them. Today, neck deep in murder, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
With dozens of bestsellers to her name, Lisa Jackson is a master of taking readers to the edge of sanity—and back—in novels that buzz with dangerous secrets and deadly passions. She continues to be fascinated by the minds and motives of both her killers and their pursuers—the personal, the professional, and the downright twisted. As she builds the puzzle of relationships, actions, clues, lies, and personal histories that haunt her protagonists, she must also confront the fear and terror faced by her victims and the harsh and enduring truth that, in the real world, terror and madness touch far too many lives and families.
Visit http://www.LisaJackson.com where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
Before she became a nationally bestselling author, she was a mother struggling to keep food on the table by writing novels, hoping against hope that someone would pay her for them. Today, neck deep in murder, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
With dozens of bestsellers to her name, Lisa Jackson is a master of taking readers to the edge of sanity—and back—in novels that buzz with dangerous secrets and deadly passions. She continues to be fascinated by the minds and motives of both her killers and their pursuers—the personal, the professional, and the downright twisted. As she builds the puzzle of relationships, actions, clues, lies, and personal histories that haunt her protagonists, she must also confront the fear and terror faced by her victims and the harsh and enduring truth that, in the real world, terror and madness touch far too many lives and families.
Visit http://www.LisaJackson.com where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 933 reviews
March 5, 2016
One and a half stars.
How would you feel if you woke up after an accident that nearly took your life to find yourself stripped of memories? The premise of this novel is just that. When she wakes from a coma those around her, which apparently include her family stress she is Marla Cahill. But is she? The woman has doubts since she has no recollections of any of them. To her they are strangers. The first chapter I almost decided I wasn’t going to read this book as I didn’t like the tone or language of the person who had caused the accident. But then the premise of a person who could not even remember her family got me in, so I kept reading.
I liked the way the doubts inside her were explored and the hints given of memories that didn’t tally with what her family told her. But if she wasn’t Marla Cahill, who did not sound like she had been such a good person, then who was she?
There were a couple of inconsistencies that troubled me. One was when she opened the door to her daughter Cissy’s room. ‘It was empty, the lights turned out, tidier than she’d ever seen it.’ My immediate thought was, if she had no memory how could she remember it was tidier than usual?
The early part of the book intrigued me as it explored whether she was Marla or not. But the second half became farfetched and unenjoyable. It was filled with crude language, sex scenes I skimmed and the character of the woman who may or may not be Marla changed dramatically. I really only kept reading to see how it ended. This is my second book by this author and the same problems from the first read were evident here. While it is apparent from the number of books she has published that others like them, I have decided this author is not for me. I was sorry in the end I had wasted my time finishing it and should have stuck with my initial reaction.
How would you feel if you woke up after an accident that nearly took your life to find yourself stripped of memories? The premise of this novel is just that. When she wakes from a coma those around her, which apparently include her family stress she is Marla Cahill. But is she? The woman has doubts since she has no recollections of any of them. To her they are strangers. The first chapter I almost decided I wasn’t going to read this book as I didn’t like the tone or language of the person who had caused the accident. But then the premise of a person who could not even remember her family got me in, so I kept reading.
I liked the way the doubts inside her were explored and the hints given of memories that didn’t tally with what her family told her. But if she wasn’t Marla Cahill, who did not sound like she had been such a good person, then who was she?
There were a couple of inconsistencies that troubled me. One was when she opened the door to her daughter Cissy’s room. ‘It was empty, the lights turned out, tidier than she’d ever seen it.’ My immediate thought was, if she had no memory how could she remember it was tidier than usual?
The early part of the book intrigued me as it explored whether she was Marla or not. But the second half became farfetched and unenjoyable. It was filled with crude language, sex scenes I skimmed and the character of the woman who may or may not be Marla changed dramatically. I really only kept reading to see how it ended. This is my second book by this author and the same problems from the first read were evident here. While it is apparent from the number of books she has published that others like them, I have decided this author is not for me. I was sorry in the end I had wasted my time finishing it and should have stuck with my initial reaction.
May 18, 2024
Action packed thriller! Wealthy Marla Cahill is in a coma in the hospital after a serious car crash that claimed the life of her friend, Pam. When Marla awakens from the coma, she has amnesia.
Marla can’t remember any of her family members and sometimes she wonders if she’s really Marla.
Great book with many twists!
Marla can’t remember any of her family members and sometimes she wonders if she’s really Marla.
Great book with many twists!
January 6, 2012
This must be one of those "gender line" things, like Harlequin Romance novels, and Lifetime Network original movies that only a woman could like. That is the only way I can come up with that this book has such a high rating. If you took one of those "Lifetime Original Movies" and attempted to turn it into a novel... it would look something like this.
Soft porn like the "harlequin" made some parts of the story too long, too drawn out and had absolutely no effect on the actual story... at all. None. Completely and utterly pointless. I am not a prude, and the language and scenes did not "bother" me as it would some people. It just needs to have a reason to exist in the story, but these didn't. And yet other more critical parts, including the whole ending were so short and stunted they appear to have just been tacked on to finish the book.
Red Herrings were so poorly done that there was little guessing involved. If you couldn't figure this out by the time you were half way through, you weren't really paying attention. This certainly didn't live up to its billing as a "mystery" at all.
Overall, it was an unsatisfying book, and while I see some potential, I will think twice about reading Lisa Jackson again.
Soft porn like the "harlequin" made some parts of the story too long, too drawn out and had absolutely no effect on the actual story... at all. None. Completely and utterly pointless. I am not a prude, and the language and scenes did not "bother" me as it would some people. It just needs to have a reason to exist in the story, but these didn't. And yet other more critical parts, including the whole ending were so short and stunted they appear to have just been tacked on to finish the book.
Red Herrings were so poorly done that there was little guessing involved. If you couldn't figure this out by the time you were half way through, you weren't really paying attention. This certainly didn't live up to its billing as a "mystery" at all.
Overall, it was an unsatisfying book, and while I see some potential, I will think twice about reading Lisa Jackson again.
June 26, 2011
I am only giving this 2 stars because to me it was the longest out drawn book with several characters back and forth about the same thing. She repeats herself so much I was questioning myself as to whether I had read it twice or not. The storyline and plot are excellent and would have made for a great read had she not provided so many unnecessary details. We are at the end of this and she brings back Kylie's childhood experience with a boy at school when she is 8 or 9 only to not relate the experience with the present. I just felt like she wasted a lot of pages on nothing. As for the romance— if that's her idea of romance she really need to read some real romance novels and start over. Only one scene and it wasn't that great. Don't know if I want to read anything else by this author. Maybe we will see.
February 28, 2015
if I had only known
I was disappointed with this book..took too long to develop..I ended up skimming through a lot if it and managed to finish.. But it really wasn't worth my time.
I was disappointed with this book..took too long to develop..I ended up skimming through a lot if it and managed to finish.. But it really wasn't worth my time.
April 1, 2015
Very disappointed. Cliché plot. Inconsistent character behavior (a huge pet peeve). Constant internal back and forth dialogue. Needlessly wordy. 368 pages and I hated it by page 101. Why do I torture myself like that? Its sad, too, bc this author has a lot of books in a genre I really like. Sigh.
August 22, 2015
This book would have benefited from having at least 100 pages chopped out.
August 3, 2018
I have read mixed reviews on this book but I liked it. Twists and turns trying to figure out who is who. I plan on reading the next one Almost Dead.
March 23, 2012
I was not thrilled by this book. The plot is dry and predictable, the action slow, and the characters are incredibly one dimensional. The story starts with a woman walking up in a hospital with no knowledge of who she is or how she got there. She learns that her name is Marla Cahill, married, mother of two, and survivor of a horrible car accident. Her husband takes her home, a mansion upon a hill in San Francisco where generations of rich Cahill, her husband's family, have grown up. From the moment she arrives she feels out of place. As Marla struggles to regain her memory and find out who she is, the dirty secrets of the family start presenting themselves. Blah blah blah. Not my taste and even the sexual tension between Marla and the brother-in-law Nick couldn't save it for me. However, if you like a nice, normal, romantic-mystery, it's not a bad read.
March 6, 2014
Didn't like the book very much. Not my cup of tea. I find American women authors are predictable (except for Karin Slaughter and Laura Lippman). I wouldn't have bothered pursuing the book but wanted to see how she wrapped it up. Too much sex (predictable) which I find unnecessary. I like the British authors and most recently I've been reading Swedish and Norwegian, as well as Scottish and Irish authors. I prefer those; however, to each his own. Just not for me and I wouldn't read another one of her books.
November 10, 2017
I found myself without my Kindle or phone at the car service center so I walked to the nearest drugstore and purchased a book to read. Three hours later I realized I had chosen poorly. This read like a Harlequin Romance meets bad Lifetime Television. I finished it though - because I can't not. Poor character development and lots of unnecessary dialogue back and forth.
April 27, 2016
IF SHE ONLY KNEW
This is a very strange story, a bit on the unbelievable side. There was a lot of suspense, but very little romance. I thought the book could have been a lot shorter, the last couple of chapters were pretty good.
This is a very strange story, a bit on the unbelievable side. There was a lot of suspense, but very little romance. I thought the book could have been a lot shorter, the last couple of chapters were pretty good.
February 1, 2012
Meh..... not the best Lisa Jackson book I have ever read. A reads a bit like a bad Lifetime movie.
February 19, 2025
3.25⭐
Kurcze po przeczytaniu opisu spodziewałam się czegoś lepszego. Dla mnie książka miała za dużo zbędnych opisów i się ciągneła. Mimo wszystko fabuła mi się podobała ale nie wiem co sądze o zakończeniu. Ale + za wątek romantyczny
Kurcze po przeczytaniu opisu spodziewałam się czegoś lepszego. Dla mnie książka miała za dużo zbędnych opisów i się ciągneła. Mimo wszystko fabuła mi się podobała ale nie wiem co sądze o zakończeniu. Ale + za wątek romantyczny
March 24, 2023
This book was a, could not put down & of course PAGE TURNER! It keep me thinking and on my toes of what could of happened to Marla. It gave me dark/eerie vibes & can we just talk about Nick ugh I got the hots for him. TY, to my friend Johanna for the rec! 4.5 ⭐️
October 1, 2020
I honestly don't understand why this book has such good reviews. For me, it became a chore to read. I paid for it so I wanted to finish it, but man oh man I had to force myself. I think the biggest issue was that it was so descriptive, often describing the same things multiple times for no reason (we get it, Nick's lips were really thin and the mother's hair was apricot). There could have easily been at least a hundred pages less to this if the excess descriptions were cut out and then maybe I would have enjoyed it more. Even though the twist at the ending was something I didn't guess, by the time I got to it I was so tired I just wanted to get it over with. 400 pages was just too much for how little progression we got every 100 pages.
Also, and this is just me, but I thought it was SO weird how often the author used the word "helluva". I mean...no one uses that word. Only for chip dip! This author had like every character say it and it was used in the narrations. I'M SORRY WHO SAYS HELLUVA?
Also, and this is just me, but I thought it was SO weird how often the author used the word "helluva". I mean...no one uses that word. Only for chip dip! This author had like every character say it and it was used in the narrations. I'M SORRY WHO SAYS HELLUVA?
October 3, 2017
This book was pretty trippy. Lots of family politics going on that made the book quite boring at times. That's why my rating is in the middle. Aside from that, I liked Marla as the MC. She struggled to figure out who she was but never gave up, and that ending was mind boggling. I really had no clue who the mastermind was. All I'll say is that they are one demented family lol.
February 22, 2018
What boring book with the most uncrearive writing style. Didn't even bother finishing this book. I read 100 pages, nothing had really happened storywise, I didn't click with any of the characters. Won't touch any other Lisa Jackson book after this disaster, that's for sure.
February 22, 2015
Not really my type of book. The mystery was pretty good but I don't need the long-drawn-out descriptive sex scenes.
June 20, 2024
Lisa Jackson to jedna z nielicznych zagranicznych autorek thrillerów psychologicznych, po której powieści sięgam z przyjemnością. Autorka niejednokrotnie udowodniła, że ma talent do pisania thrillerów trzymających w napięciu, pełnych intryg i mrocznych tajemnic.
W północnej Kalifornii dochodzi do wypadku samochodowego, w wyniku którego ginie jedna z kobiet, a druga zapada w śpiączkę. Kiedy przebywająca w szpitalu kobieta odzyskuje przytomność, okazuje się, że straciła pamięć, a jej twarz została zrekonstruowana. Bliscy zapewniają ją, że nazywa się Maria Cahill, jednak kobieta czuje się wśród nich obco i ma wrażenie, że tak naprawdę nie zna nikogo. Dochodząc do siebie w odizolowanej rezydencji, Marla czeka na moment, który sprawi, że coś sobie przypomni, jednak jedynym, czego jest pewna, to to, że nie jest osobą, za którą wszyscy ją uważają. Kobieta stara się robić wszystko, by odzyskać pamięć, gdyż ma nieodparte wrażenie, że czyha na nią niebezpieczeństwo.
Biorąc do ręki książkę Lisy Jackson, wiem, że czas, jaki spędzę na lekturze, nie będzie stracony. Tak też było i tym razem. Historia, którą stworzyła Jackcon wciągnęła mnie od pierwszych stron, a liczne tajemnice i sekrety tylko potęgowały moją ciekawość i chęć odkrycia prawdy. Autorka zręcznie manipuluje czytelnikiem, wodzi nas za nos, podrzuca różne tropy, odkrywając przy tym kolejne sekrety, co sprawia, że lista pytań, na które chcemy poznać odpowiedź, rośnie w zastraszającym tempie.
„Gdyby tylko wiedziała” to dość dynamiczny i pełen zaskakujących zwrotów akcji thriller, który trzymał mnie w nieustającym napięciu. Jackson miała świetny pomysł na fabułę i myślę, że w pełni to wykorzystała. Stworzyła historię pełną intryg, manipulacji i kłamstw, wykreowała ciekawych bohaterów. Styl, jakim posługuje się Jackson, jest lekki i przyjemny, co sprawia, że pomimo trudnej tematyki, książkę czyta się błyskawicznie. Tym razem autorka dużą część historii poświęciła amnezji, ukazując nam osobę zagubioną i zmagająca się z utratą pamięci.
Kolejny raz jestem usatysfakcjonowana powieścią Lisy Jackson i Was również zachęcam do lektury.
W północnej Kalifornii dochodzi do wypadku samochodowego, w wyniku którego ginie jedna z kobiet, a druga zapada w śpiączkę. Kiedy przebywająca w szpitalu kobieta odzyskuje przytomność, okazuje się, że straciła pamięć, a jej twarz została zrekonstruowana. Bliscy zapewniają ją, że nazywa się Maria Cahill, jednak kobieta czuje się wśród nich obco i ma wrażenie, że tak naprawdę nie zna nikogo. Dochodząc do siebie w odizolowanej rezydencji, Marla czeka na moment, który sprawi, że coś sobie przypomni, jednak jedynym, czego jest pewna, to to, że nie jest osobą, za którą wszyscy ją uważają. Kobieta stara się robić wszystko, by odzyskać pamięć, gdyż ma nieodparte wrażenie, że czyha na nią niebezpieczeństwo.
Biorąc do ręki książkę Lisy Jackson, wiem, że czas, jaki spędzę na lekturze, nie będzie stracony. Tak też było i tym razem. Historia, którą stworzyła Jackcon wciągnęła mnie od pierwszych stron, a liczne tajemnice i sekrety tylko potęgowały moją ciekawość i chęć odkrycia prawdy. Autorka zręcznie manipuluje czytelnikiem, wodzi nas za nos, podrzuca różne tropy, odkrywając przy tym kolejne sekrety, co sprawia, że lista pytań, na które chcemy poznać odpowiedź, rośnie w zastraszającym tempie.
„Gdyby tylko wiedziała” to dość dynamiczny i pełen zaskakujących zwrotów akcji thriller, który trzymał mnie w nieustającym napięciu. Jackson miała świetny pomysł na fabułę i myślę, że w pełni to wykorzystała. Stworzyła historię pełną intryg, manipulacji i kłamstw, wykreowała ciekawych bohaterów. Styl, jakim posługuje się Jackson, jest lekki i przyjemny, co sprawia, że pomimo trudnej tematyki, książkę czyta się błyskawicznie. Tym razem autorka dużą część historii poświęciła amnezji, ukazując nam osobę zagubioną i zmagająca się z utratą pamięci.
Kolejny raz jestem usatysfakcjonowana powieścią Lisy Jackson i Was również zachęcam do lektury.
October 28, 2022
a whole roller-coaster 🧎🏼♀️🧎🏼♀️
April 20, 2020
Marla wakes up in a hospital, unable to remember anything or anyone. You know “Marla” isn’t going to actually be Marla because then there wouldn’t be a book. She doesn’t remember her husband and kids but she feels an attraction to her brother in law, Nick. Marla and a woman named Pam were in a wreck, which is why she’s in the hospital. We also know someone caused the accident on purpose. The day of the wreck was the day Marla got out of the hospital from giving birth. But she can’t remember if she actually gave birth or not. Which, I’m pretty sure she’d be able to tell.
SPOILER: “Marla” is really her half sister, Kiley. Their rich but crazy father was leaving his money to his male heir, but he didn’t have one, and Marla couldn’t have kids, so she and her husband Alex propositioned Kiley, who was never accepted as being part of the family and never had money. But then Kiley didn’t want to give away her baby and told Alex and Marla she wasn’t going to go through with the plan and I don’t know, somehow she has the baby and the day she got out of the hospital she was with Pam who was a lawyer that specialized in child custody cases and Marla’s cousin Monty jumped out in front of the car so they’d wreck and at one point Marla was sleeping with her cousin Monty, which she admits in front of Alex and really there was NO reason to have her ever sleep with her cousin so I’m not sure why that was added to the plot other than fo an Ew factor. And when Kiley woke up and had amnesia they were like, score! We’ll just tell her she is Marla! And they had the doctor in on the whole thing.
BUT, once they found out Kiley lived, they didn’t know she was going to wake up with no memory, so why did they set everything up with the doctor to have all the nurses and all the hospital papers and everything have Marla’s name? Because wouldn’t Kiley wake up and just say, hey, I’m not Marla, and Marla and Alex want to take my baby? And then the doctor and Marla and Alex would be in trouble for falsifying all the records to have Marla’s name?
And WHY and HOW did Kiley/“Marla” never think “Hmm, I was discharged from the hospital and this woman I barely know is the one who picked me up while my husband was already home with my newborn son. Why didn’t my husband pick me up? And why didn’t I have my son with me?”
Also, there’s a red herring that’s thrown in about Pam’s daughter that was completely unnecessary and confusing.
And of course Kiley and Nick fall in looooooove and have sexxxxxx even though she’s totally postpartum AND has just had reconstructive surgery, but she’s good to go. Her body heals remarkably fast. Which, now that I think about to, might be she wasn’t sure whether she’d just had a baby or not.
SPOILER: “Marla” is really her half sister, Kiley. Their rich but crazy father was leaving his money to his male heir, but he didn’t have one, and Marla couldn’t have kids, so she and her husband Alex propositioned Kiley, who was never accepted as being part of the family and never had money. But then Kiley didn’t want to give away her baby and told Alex and Marla she wasn’t going to go through with the plan and I don’t know, somehow she has the baby and the day she got out of the hospital she was with Pam who was a lawyer that specialized in child custody cases and Marla’s cousin Monty jumped out in front of the car so they’d wreck and at one point Marla was sleeping with her cousin Monty, which she admits in front of Alex and really there was NO reason to have her ever sleep with her cousin so I’m not sure why that was added to the plot other than fo an Ew factor. And when Kiley woke up and had amnesia they were like, score! We’ll just tell her she is Marla! And they had the doctor in on the whole thing.
BUT, once they found out Kiley lived, they didn’t know she was going to wake up with no memory, so why did they set everything up with the doctor to have all the nurses and all the hospital papers and everything have Marla’s name? Because wouldn’t Kiley wake up and just say, hey, I’m not Marla, and Marla and Alex want to take my baby? And then the doctor and Marla and Alex would be in trouble for falsifying all the records to have Marla’s name?
And WHY and HOW did Kiley/“Marla” never think “Hmm, I was discharged from the hospital and this woman I barely know is the one who picked me up while my husband was already home with my newborn son. Why didn’t my husband pick me up? And why didn’t I have my son with me?”
Also, there’s a red herring that’s thrown in about Pam’s daughter that was completely unnecessary and confusing.
And of course Kiley and Nick fall in looooooove and have sexxxxxx even though she’s totally postpartum AND has just had reconstructive surgery, but she’s good to go. Her body heals remarkably fast. Which, now that I think about to, might be she wasn’t sure whether she’d just had a baby or not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2018
This was recommended to me as a good mystery/thriller. Although there was a mystery involved, I feel they should have warned readers that this is more of a romance novel and not a good one at that. The first clue to that came when it seemed the author had a need to mention "engorged" organs every 40 pages or so. It was hard for me to believe that a woman who had just had a baby and been through a horrific accident and was dealing with an enormous amout of pain, not to mention having her mouth wired shut, would be feeling amorous, let alone wanting to rip the shirt off of a total stranger. I understand the popularity of these books. I just didn't realize that is what was being recommended to me as I personally do not care for them.
April 9, 2020
I received an ARC of “If She Only Knew” by: Lisa Jackson for my honest review. This is the first book I’ve read by this author. My rating is FIVE STARS!
I had no idea when I started this book there is a second book, “Almost Dead” and a third book to be released July, 2020, “You Betrayed Me”. I’m looking forward to reading both of these books about a wealthy family, The Cahills in San Francisco.
The characters are very believable. I wasn’t sure who I could trust from the first chapter until the final chapter!
I definitely recommend this Book!
I had no idea when I started this book there is a second book, “Almost Dead” and a third book to be released July, 2020, “You Betrayed Me”. I’m looking forward to reading both of these books about a wealthy family, The Cahills in San Francisco.
The characters are very believable. I wasn’t sure who I could trust from the first chapter until the final chapter!
I definitely recommend this Book!
June 18, 2017
It's like reading a soap opera, where somebody's been murdered and you know the twist ties back into the family somehow. I gave it a 2 instead of a 1, only because I give a 1 to books I choose not to finish. It was a gift given to me at Christmas. Not interested in reading anymore of her books.
May 10, 2020
Good read!
This book was a page turner. I had no idea where the plot was taking me. It had an unsuspecting ending.
This book was a page turner. I had no idea where the plot was taking me. It had an unsuspecting ending.
June 26, 2022
Lisa Jackson never disappoints!!
October 28, 2022
My rating is 3.5 star.
This was a psychological thriller by Lisa Jackson. I read through several reviews and I came to the conclusion that Amazon reviews were the most accurate. This is between a 2 and 3.5.
I had trouble getting into it at first. In fact it took me me putting it down 3 times before I picked it back up to actually read it. It then took me almost half way or a little more for me to be hooked. Definitely a little slow in the beginning.
One reviewer said it was meh and another person said had potential but lost momentum. That I agree with. I think the premise was good. It was a good story but....it just wasn't perfect. It had the potential but fell flat. To me, it had the good mystery but the way Marla was portrayed, I couldn't stand to hear more. And then between the investigation and 'Marlas' memory..it all was just too convenient. Everything was tied into a bow. Took the fun out of reading. I also hated the fact there was this lust and romance thing between these two characters that just didn't make sense. For one, this person had amnesia but yet she felt this sex urge toward that male. Although she couldn't remember who he was LOL. Seriously 😒. Out of all the characters I think Nick was the best. Period. But the sex angle just didn't belong. It really needed to be cut out. Reminded me of a Mary Burton novel. And this was supposed to be a different Author. 🙄
I read the Authors note and Jackson admitted she had trouble writing the book and sad to say, it was noticed. I think she did her best but this was not a great thriller.
This is my honest and humble opinion.
Would I recommend? No.
Will I read another Jackson novel? Eh maybe. Not sure.
This was a psychological thriller by Lisa Jackson. I read through several reviews and I came to the conclusion that Amazon reviews were the most accurate. This is between a 2 and 3.5.
I had trouble getting into it at first. In fact it took me me putting it down 3 times before I picked it back up to actually read it. It then took me almost half way or a little more for me to be hooked. Definitely a little slow in the beginning.
One reviewer said it was meh and another person said had potential but lost momentum. That I agree with. I think the premise was good. It was a good story but....it just wasn't perfect. It had the potential but fell flat. To me, it had the good mystery but the way Marla was portrayed, I couldn't stand to hear more. And then between the investigation and 'Marlas' memory..it all was just too convenient. Everything was tied into a bow. Took the fun out of reading. I also hated the fact there was this lust and romance thing between these two characters that just didn't make sense. For one, this person had amnesia but yet she felt this sex urge toward that male. Although she couldn't remember who he was LOL. Seriously 😒. Out of all the characters I think Nick was the best. Period. But the sex angle just didn't belong. It really needed to be cut out. Reminded me of a Mary Burton novel. And this was supposed to be a different Author. 🙄
I read the Authors note and Jackson admitted she had trouble writing the book and sad to say, it was noticed. I think she did her best but this was not a great thriller.
This is my honest and humble opinion.
Would I recommend? No.
Will I read another Jackson novel? Eh maybe. Not sure.
April 26, 2024
I really, really didn't like this at all. For one, there never should've been a romance subplot. It was terrible! A subplot should add to the story, not distract.
Okay, first off, Nick only seems to think of Marla in a sexual way. And that's fine, whatever, some people only have sexual chemistry and don't want a relationship. But...they were in a relationship. And supposedly, he is still in love with her? Okaaay.... #pleasedonotbetheloveinterest
So, I questioned the implication right off the bat that the woman who woke up from a coma wasn't Marla. Nothing seemed to fit. She remembers giving birth to her baby, which is kind of a big deal, but remembers a mother who isn't Victoria Amhurst. She feels like she knows Nick, but doesn't feel any connection to Alex or Cissy, her older daughter. She remembers Conrad Amhurst, her father, but not in the way everyone describes their relationship. Her blood type matches Marla, but her personality is all wrong. Like, there is so much back and forth, it's almost too much. It made sense, but also didn't.
Now, a red herring should not be obvious. Anyone who reads suspense/mystery/thriller genres knows this, right? We all know this? So why did the author want Pam Delacroix, Marla's friend in the accident, to look so much like her? Her character was literally a red herring, serving pretty tangentially to the story, especially since she died in the accident meant for Marla, but it was so freaking obvious. Pam could've still been relevant without so heavily hinting at some sort of switcharoo that was but also wasn't.
Okay, when I hit somewhere around the 60% mark, that was when I started wishing the author hadn't tried to make this a romance. See, I suspect that she cannot differentiate between sexual attraction and romantic. (I am asexual, trust me, there is a HUGE and very relevant difference). But either Jackson doesn't know or doesn't care. For instance, Alex suggests that Marla sleep in his bed - they usually sleep separately - because she didn't feel safe, having suspected there was an intruder in the house. But she panics, because all she can think about is him touching her. She doesn't want to be close to him, let alone have sex with him. Despite him saying nothing about sex. Hell, he doesn't want to touch you, either! That was obvious! But she spirals, thinking she cannot even bring herself to cuddle with him, and I was just facepalming by then. Honey, sleep is just sleep, even if there is another person in the bed with you. Relax.
POV kept switching mid-chapter, almost always in scenes with Nick and Marla. That's annoying at the best of times, but when you keep doing it, I just get confused. I never know who is thinking what! Oh, and by now, Marla thinks she is falling love with Nick. With whom she has had all of like, four conversations with, and none of them particularly conducive to catching feelings?
And then we get this great line from Nick's thoughts, "...thrust into the deepest, most feminine part of her." Bad line aside, he literally just reduced this woman to her vagina. Hell, if that's not love, I don't know what is!
I cannot wait for this book to be done. I barely even care to know the truth, that's how badly Jackson was losing me. I mean, we get more back-and-forth with Nick and Marla, where they can't sleep and share a drink and almost fall into bed together. And when Marla is alone and freaking out about being unfaithful, she thinks, "I almost made love to Nick!" Dude, at this point I can't tell if anyone knows what love is, if lust is just essentially the same thing to them all, or what. And do these two love each other?? Did they ever? Considering how Marla treated him in the past.... But maybe she just resents her marriage that much.
Oh, but it gets better. Want me to tell you about the line of thought in which Marla decides she is most definitely in love with Nick, and now she knows what it feels like to be star-crossed lovers? No, no you do not. Especially not when I add the context of their past, which Nick finally reveals to her. You know, their past in which she strung him along, then started sleeping with his brother, then pitted them against each other for funsies, and then finally married Alex because she wanted the security of a ring and his money? Right, yeah, sounds like true love to me!
And then, they finally sleep together. They give in to this overpowering lust, er, love, and do the deed, and I totally skipped that shit. But after wasting time instead of escaping the house like they planned, they finally get dressed and go looking for this Kylie Paris that Marla thinks will have answers. Guess what? They get there, get into the apartment of Paris, and all of her memories come flooding back. Well, whaddaya know? She IS Paris, not Marla. And Nick looks like an even bigger buffoon than before, because he never doubted she was Marla. Swore he could feel it, could see it in her eyes, could feel their old connection when he touched her. Hell, he didn't notice anything different when they 'made love'. Granted, it's been 15 years, but him and his intuition felt like it was yesterday. Personally, I think he should fire his intuition. You just slept with a woman you've never been with before, still thought she was your ex, AND still think you love that crazy bitch.
Blah, blah, Nick gets shot, the attempted murderer is revealed (oh, wait, I guessed that guy ages ago), and he kidnaps Paris. He insists Nick is dead after shooting him, Paris thinks he is dead, the detectives get there and call an ambulance and discuss how he is totally not gonna make it...and dammit, I get it! He's dead! Only, he doesn't die, obviously. Jackson sure loves her cute little misdirections. I felt like she wrote this with a little 'tee-hee!' at every plot twist. Aaaand...despite everything, Nick and Paris are madly in love, even though he didn't know her and couldn't tell she wasn't Marla, and even though she didn't know her and is also kind of a horrible person. And even if she was Marla, that woman was fucking psycho, and Nick would be insane to still be in love with her. So either it's the most confused sort of insta-love I have ever read, or everyone is simply insane. I'm leaning toward the latter....
But everyone lives happily ever after. I don't know how, since Cissy just lost both her parents, people are dead, and the survivors are clinically insane, but I think I'm supposed to read that ending as HEA. Somehow....
Okay, first off, Nick only seems to think of Marla in a sexual way. And that's fine, whatever, some people only have sexual chemistry and don't want a relationship. But...they were in a relationship. And supposedly, he is still in love with her? Okaaay.... #pleasedonotbetheloveinterest
So, I questioned the implication right off the bat that the woman who woke up from a coma wasn't Marla. Nothing seemed to fit. She remembers giving birth to her baby, which is kind of a big deal, but remembers a mother who isn't Victoria Amhurst. She feels like she knows Nick, but doesn't feel any connection to Alex or Cissy, her older daughter. She remembers Conrad Amhurst, her father, but not in the way everyone describes their relationship. Her blood type matches Marla, but her personality is all wrong. Like, there is so much back and forth, it's almost too much. It made sense, but also didn't.
Now, a red herring should not be obvious. Anyone who reads suspense/mystery/thriller genres knows this, right? We all know this? So why did the author want Pam Delacroix, Marla's friend in the accident, to look so much like her? Her character was literally a red herring, serving pretty tangentially to the story, especially since she died in the accident meant for Marla, but it was so freaking obvious. Pam could've still been relevant without so heavily hinting at some sort of switcharoo that was but also wasn't.
Okay, when I hit somewhere around the 60% mark, that was when I started wishing the author hadn't tried to make this a romance. See, I suspect that she cannot differentiate between sexual attraction and romantic. (I am asexual, trust me, there is a HUGE and very relevant difference). But either Jackson doesn't know or doesn't care. For instance, Alex suggests that Marla sleep in his bed - they usually sleep separately - because she didn't feel safe, having suspected there was an intruder in the house. But she panics, because all she can think about is him touching her. She doesn't want to be close to him, let alone have sex with him. Despite him saying nothing about sex. Hell, he doesn't want to touch you, either! That was obvious! But she spirals, thinking she cannot even bring herself to cuddle with him, and I was just facepalming by then. Honey, sleep is just sleep, even if there is another person in the bed with you. Relax.
POV kept switching mid-chapter, almost always in scenes with Nick and Marla. That's annoying at the best of times, but when you keep doing it, I just get confused. I never know who is thinking what! Oh, and by now, Marla thinks she is falling love with Nick. With whom she has had all of like, four conversations with, and none of them particularly conducive to catching feelings?
And then we get this great line from Nick's thoughts, "...thrust into the deepest, most feminine part of her." Bad line aside, he literally just reduced this woman to her vagina. Hell, if that's not love, I don't know what is!
I cannot wait for this book to be done. I barely even care to know the truth, that's how badly Jackson was losing me. I mean, we get more back-and-forth with Nick and Marla, where they can't sleep and share a drink and almost fall into bed together. And when Marla is alone and freaking out about being unfaithful, she thinks, "I almost made love to Nick!" Dude, at this point I can't tell if anyone knows what love is, if lust is just essentially the same thing to them all, or what. And do these two love each other?? Did they ever? Considering how Marla treated him in the past.... But maybe she just resents her marriage that much.
Oh, but it gets better. Want me to tell you about the line of thought in which Marla decides she is most definitely in love with Nick, and now she knows what it feels like to be star-crossed lovers? No, no you do not. Especially not when I add the context of their past, which Nick finally reveals to her. You know, their past in which she strung him along, then started sleeping with his brother, then pitted them against each other for funsies, and then finally married Alex because she wanted the security of a ring and his money? Right, yeah, sounds like true love to me!
And then, they finally sleep together. They give in to this overpowering lust, er, love, and do the deed, and I totally skipped that shit. But after wasting time instead of escaping the house like they planned, they finally get dressed and go looking for this Kylie Paris that Marla thinks will have answers. Guess what? They get there, get into the apartment of Paris, and all of her memories come flooding back. Well, whaddaya know? She IS Paris, not Marla. And Nick looks like an even bigger buffoon than before, because he never doubted she was Marla. Swore he could feel it, could see it in her eyes, could feel their old connection when he touched her. Hell, he didn't notice anything different when they 'made love'. Granted, it's been 15 years, but him and his intuition felt like it was yesterday. Personally, I think he should fire his intuition. You just slept with a woman you've never been with before, still thought she was your ex, AND still think you love that crazy bitch.
Blah, blah, Nick gets shot, the attempted murderer is revealed (oh, wait, I guessed that guy ages ago), and he kidnaps Paris. He insists Nick is dead after shooting him, Paris thinks he is dead, the detectives get there and call an ambulance and discuss how he is totally not gonna make it...and dammit, I get it! He's dead! Only, he doesn't die, obviously. Jackson sure loves her cute little misdirections. I felt like she wrote this with a little 'tee-hee!' at every plot twist. Aaaand...despite everything, Nick and Paris are madly in love, even though he didn't know her and couldn't tell she wasn't Marla, and even though she didn't know her and is also kind of a horrible person. And even if she was Marla, that woman was fucking psycho, and Nick would be insane to still be in love with her. So either it's the most confused sort of insta-love I have ever read, or everyone is simply insane. I'm leaning toward the latter....
But everyone lives happily ever after. I don't know how, since Cissy just lost both her parents, people are dead, and the survivors are clinically insane, but I think I'm supposed to read that ending as HEA. Somehow....
October 16, 2018
This is my first Lisa Jackson novel. It's theme included amnesia, which for some reason I love. A good story and kept you guessing about who the amnesia person really was. Pretty good, I will read another one of her books I am sure.
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