3,5 Stars

I expected this book to have more thriller elements. It is more about a woman comes to terms with the fact that her husband died in a car accident in Hawaii with his mistress.

I could criticize many thinks. The characters for example. I did not like Jacks, she is weak and obviously needs always somebody to take care of her. Her annoying and dominant sister. The dead macho husband James. Mousy Dylan. The pace is quite slow. There is also a love story (I don’t like chit-lit) and twist you can see coming from afar. But somehow and to my own astonishment, I enjoyed reading it. It is well written and easy to read. Maybe it was a mixture of me sitting relaxed in the sun and be reminded how I used to read love stories when I was a teenager. I don’t know. This book just flows and does not invite you to think too much about its story. It is just an easy summer read. You don’t really have to read it but it does not hurt you if you do. I could go deeper into its flaws but I think I just don’t. It was a nice and uncomplicated read.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to previw The Good Widow. A woman opens the door to two policeman that say her husband has been killed in a car accident in Maui - First she wonders, why was he in Maui, and then the police say he was not alone, he was with another woman.
Jacqueline, "Jacks", had a comfortable life - not perfect, but she was happy. Now her world is shattered and she does not think she can move on.
That's until a man comes to her door and says he too was affected by this car accident as he is the fiance of the woman who was with Jacks. husband. The two decide to go to Maui and retrace the fated lovers steps so they can get closure.
This book goes back and forth from Jacks' POV and the mistress, Dylan's, POV in a before and after the accident scenerio.
This is well written and will keep you guessing till the very end. I really liked this book and read it in two days. Great for the beach....Recommend.

4,5 stars



"We all have secrets. Some of them are just bigger than others."


What a ride!

It was a brilliant constructed book, exactly how I like them. A psychological drama that turns into a psychological thriller toward the end. Of course, I felt from the very beginning that SOMETHING would HAPPEN, and I swear, I wanted so badly to jump to the last page and read about the last twist or whatever. And I normally don’t do such things. I felt literally the twitching in my fingertips to hit “Go to” END on my kindle and read the last chapter. But I didn’t. I just read the whole night through, and it doesn’t happen to me too often recently, so... it is obvious, I pretty much enjoyed this novel.

I do not totally approve the choice the authors made in closing (view spoiler), but I do not deny the fact that EXACTLY this turn with a WOW/WTF effect made the whole novel even more interesting.

If you like character driven stories, don’t miss this one.

Highly recommended!

Mixed feelings on this one...to say the least!
Jacks Morales hears a knock on her door - her life is about to change forever.
"Five minutes ago, I wasn't a widow"
The police have come with the sad news that her husband James died in a tragic accident while in Maui. But wait just a minute, wasn't he supposed to be In Kansas on business? And, he wasn't alone!? Woops.
Plans are made with the other woman's fiancé Nick, to fly to Maui and retrace the steps of their cheating, loved ones. All the way to the scene of the crash, supposedly for closure....WHAT?? Granted, people grieve in different ways. I get that. As an RN I see it every day. But to go back to the scene of the crime, so to speak. I had a hard time comprehending that. Why? What could possibly be gained from this? As a wife I would want no part of it. If anything, I would want to distance myself completely from that pain and betrayal. Again, I know everyone handles things differently...but seriously?! That just seems weird and sadistic!
So you wonder why I continued reading. Curiosity, plain and simple! I just had to see where this was going. I was so charged up emotionally I couldn't just drop it. Sure, there were some great twists, and there was more to the story than just this singular quest. The writing was easy to follow as it showed different points of view from both women before and after the crash. I finished it rather quickly, and yes, I‘m glad I stayed with it till the end.
Most people really enjoyed this one so if you were planning on reading this one don't let me sway you. I am definitely in the minority on this one. 3*
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing,. Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

To be posted on Goodreads under Kaceey June 15-16, 2017

I've been waiting for this book and was not disappointed. Highly recommend!

This was a fast paced, yet predictable read for me. I knew there was a twist coming and pretty much could figure it out at what part is happened and what the end was going to be. Despite that, I was still interested in reading to see how it all played out. Interesting story that I was able to breeze through in about a day.

This book is the perfect mix of suspense and women's fiction!

Jacks receives devastating news that her husband James has died in a car accident. The only thing is he was in Maui when he was supposed to of been in Kansas on a business trip. This results in a lot of questions like what was he doing in Maui. Shortly after this Jacks receives a visit from Nick who was the fiancé of Dylan who was in Maui with James. He wants her to come to Maui with him and try to figure out exactly what they were doing in Maui. Does Jacks really know James as well as she thought or did he keep a separate life?

This was a great book but a little slow at times. Just when you thought you knew what would happen and how this would end there was a twist that had you thinking what would happen next. I'm definitely going to read more from these authors in the future.

The blurbs were right on this one. There is suspense. Unfortunately, it is 80% of the way into this book. Along the way, Jacks and Nick trace back their lives and review what really happened and why their respective others cheated on them. A L.O.N.G. drawn out process that eventually led to the highly advertised suspense.

I think that the book was well written, however, I was looking for more of a suspense book, not a book looking for feeling involving being cheated on and how I would feel if it happened to me. The suspense part was very, very good and very creepy.

The feelings part was also very good, just not what I expected.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Wow. Wow. Wow. I really enjoyed this read. The sharp writing, humor and wit drew me in from the beginning. But. The. Ending. The ending-- where things usually taper off-- is where the suspense built and the revelations had me glued to the page. What a way to end a good story, making it jaw-dropping good. I can't wait for more from these authors.
Some great quotes.
"...once you find out there are so many lies sitting right below the surface of your relationships, you want to know them all."
"The men you never think would stray--they are always the ones with the most to hide."
"Sometimes you just have to trust your gut. If you spend your whole life scared to make the wrong choice, how is that really living?"
"...we could all be better. Better husbands, better wives, better sons and daughters. But the people who love us, the ones who truly care, they accept us, even if we aren't perfect."

I liked a lot about this book. Like many books in this genre, it was an easy read with an easy-to-follow story, likable characters, and a twisty ending. In general, nothing too special but still pleasant.

Jacks and her sister Beth are both great characters. I've only read one other book by these authors, but I've found their character development to be great in both books. It's definitely the strongest characteristic in this book. The pacing was a bit more patchy, with some slow spots, some spots that were exciting but far too quick, and an ending that came out of nowhere.

The book ended on a very random note, in my opinion, and didn't really feel like we had come to the end of the story. This lack of a satisfying ending was by far my biggest problem with the book. It all felt so rushed and there wasn't enough of a denouement for me to feel like I knew what was going to happen to Jacks after the last pages. I'm sure this ending will be fine for many people, but I don't like to have so many things left unanswered. It's why I am a big fan of epilogues. But I am not many people, just one, and I really enjoyed this book, all things considered. I've already added the other books by these authors to my to read list.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Jacqueline “Jacks” Morales is a fourth grade teacher who is married to James. James spends a great deal of his time on the job away from home. Their relationship is a difficult one at best – stormy and unpredictable.

One day two police officers show up at her door. They came to tell her that her husband has died in a car crash – in Maui. He was supposed to be in Kansas; at least that’s where he told Jacks he was going. Jacks further finds out that he was not alone. He was with a twenty-six year-old woman named Dylan.

Days later a man shows up on her doorstep claiming to be Dylan’s fiancée. He asks Jacks to go to Maui with him to ascertain what happened. While Jacks is reluctant, she begins to see that she might gain some measure of closure.

When Nick and Jacks land in Maui they begin to plan out to follow in James and Dylan’s footsteps. They interview bartenders and others who had contact with the couple. Jacks is astounded at some of the tours on which they went. She was under the impression that James would never have gone on them with her.

Throughout the initial stages of the trip, Jacks is a real mess. She is frightened and acting more than a little unstable. She is unsure of herself. Nick is there to support her all the way. They learn that Dylan was pregnant. Jacks unburdens herself about the lies she told James. When the inevitable happens, it seems to me to be a foregone conclusion.

Hats off to Jacks’ loyal sister Beth.

As Jacks and Nick’s relationship deepens, the world turns on its axis. Reality sets in.

This is a well written and plotted novel. It is mostly women’s fictions, but turns suspenseful toward the end. I wouldn’t label it a thriller. This is my first Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke novel, but it won’t be my last. I enjoyed it quite a bit. I especially liked the relationship between Jacks and Beth. The other characters were likeable – until you got to know them. There were both surprises and disappointments at how differing characters behaved in the novel.

I want to thank Netgalley and Lake Union Books for forwarding to me a copy of this good book to read.

Although this book has good writing and was a quick read it was very easy to see where this book was headed early on in the story. I has a very hard time believing that Jacks would get involved in any kind of relationship right after her husband dies in an "accident". I like alot more suspense in the books I read. This book was just ok.

90% chick lit, 10% suspense. This is the best way that I can think of to describe The Good Widow

When Jack’s husband of years dies in a freak car accident in Maui, she is shocked. Her husband James is supposed to be on a business trip in Kansas. Jacks soon learns that James was in Maui with his mistress, Dylan. Jacks realizes that she never really knew her husband of eight years.When Dylan’s fiancée, Nick, shows up at her door asking her to go to Maui with him to find more out about Dylan and James' relationship, Jacks against her better judgment, agrees to go along, hoping that the trip will help her heal.

Told through Jacks and Dylan’s alternating POV’s that switch from “before” and “after”, little tidbits are revealed about Jacks and James’s marriage, as well as Dylan and Nick’s relationship. This seems like it is going to be a story of a woman slowly finding herself after her husband’s death until the twist at the end (which unfortunately I saw from a mile away).

I found The Good Widow to be SLOW moving; I was waiting and waiting for something to happen. I also had a hard time rooting for clueless Jacks.

I didn’t love this one, but I am in the minority—The Good Widow is receiving a lot of rave reviews. It’s a quick and easy read, and if you are looking for a good summer book to get lost in, The Good Widow just might do the trick.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I love stories with a twist. Let me qualify that statement - I love stories with a twist that have carefully laid the framework. I didn't feel that the framework was laid for this one. It just popped out of nowhere with nothing to back it. I guessed what was going to happen, not because there had been clues, but because I just guessed the most outrageous thing that could happen. The writing was good, the characters well drawn and the premise was great. It was what drew me to the book to begin with. I would recommend to readers who like surprises, but who don't have to have the whys of everything.

The Good Widow is mixture of drama and suspense. As I saw another reviewer state, 90% chick lit and 10% suspense, I completely agree. Jacks husband James dies in an accident in Maui. Why was he in Maui? She soon discovers he was having an affair with a girl named Dylan as Dylan also died in the accident. Dylan's fiancé Nick visits Jacks at her house wanting them to find answers together as to why their significant others were having an affair.

The "remember whens" between them became a bit too much for me and bogged down the story. There is a lot of talk and remembering details of their past relationships. The suspense doesn't come until closer to the end of the book. However, this was a fast, well written and easy read that I still enjoyed and I give it 4 stars. If you want a little escape and don't mind a book absent of tons of twists and suspense, this will be an enjoyable read for you. A huge thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Shape Shifters.

Mythical creatures who possess the ability to transform themselves at will.

Hmm.........But it seems we have the human type here amongst us. They weave in and out presenting themselves in a far different light with far different intentions. Words spoken eye to eye tinged with the sting of lies.

That unexpected knock at the door never seems to be good news. It isn't. Not for Jacqueline "Jacks" Morales that day. Two police officers spill out the words that will change her life forever. Jacks' husband, James, has been killed in a vehicle accident in Maui. Funny thing.........James was suppose to be on a business trip in Kansas. Corn fields to tropical forests seems a bit of a stretch. And he wasn't alone in that jazzy Jeep.

Same door, but a different knock this time. Nick Ford introduces himself. James' fellow passenger that day was an attractive blonde by the name of Dylan Matthews. Nick and Dylan were close. Very close, indeed, since they were engaged to be married. Shape Shifters, once again, assume a transformation here. Dylan and James turn out to be a hot item. Shock permeates through Jacks and Nick like a wet finger touching a spot of sizzling hot voltage.

Nick convinces Jacks that they should travel to Maui for themselves to bring much needed closure. Perhaps experiencing the same trip and viewing that winding road will help them both to leave their pain forever in the spot where it happened and not in their familiar home base.

Following the trail of the shifting, both Jacks and Nick find bartenders and venue managers who give them snippets of information in regard to their own encounters with Dylan and James. What transpires here is eye-opening. Do we ever truly know these shifters who have taken up long residence in our lives?

I must confess that I was uncertain at first about this one. I like my mystery/thrillers with a heavier cut of beef. Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke present a well thought out storyline here, but the explanations and fill-ins with excessive insets of "remember when" seemed to bog down the storyline a bit. Some were admittedly necessary and some a tad much. I know that The Good Widow will be a popular book because of the ease of the writing style and the titillating subject matter. Believe me, this one will hold your attention and you'll finish it in one gulp like a Maui Mai Tai.

I received a copy of The Good Widow through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke for the opportunity.

The Good Widow introduces teacher and wife, Jacks (Jacqueline) as she is notified of an accident that has claimed the life of her husband James. The first problem, that accident was in Hawaii rather than in Kansas where James had told her he was going on business. The next problem comes when she is informed that her husband was not alone in the rented Jeep when he had his accident. Another big problem is when a man named Nick appears at Jacks door introducing himself as Dylan’s fiance – the same Dylan that died in the accident with James.

I’m trying to imagine anything worse than two police officers appearing at my door informing me that my husband is dead. However, to learn that he was also having an affair and his mistress died along with him, that would basically rock any person to their core. Granted, James and Jacks’ marriage wasn’t perfect, but no one wants to learn all of these horrible secrets about their spouse while mourning their death. Nick tracks Jacks down and shares his own heartache and confusion about his fiance being with James in Hawaii in the first place, much less dying in an accident. Jacks initially sends him away but eventually agrees to accompany James to Hawaii to find out about the lovers’ vacation and try to determine how serious their affair had been.

A prominent character in The Good Widow is Jacks’ sister Beth. Honestly, I wasn’t really a big fan of hers. Not having a sister it may just be that I don’t understand the whole “sisterly bond” thing, but I felt like she was way overbearing. Beth had not liked James when he was alive and her distrust and dislike seemed to carry over to Nick once she learned about him and what he and Jacks planned to do. I think she meant well in everything she said and did, but something about her just bothered me.

Speaking of characters, the authors’ characterization in this novel was fabulous. Jacks, Nick, Beth, James, and Dylan were all so well developed that I could easily see their faces or hear their voices while reading about them. My impression regarding all of the characters changed several times well reading, just proving how intricately the authors’ peeled back layer after layer until each character was honestly exposed – some in good ways, some not so good.

Considering the blurb lays it all out there regarding James and Dylan having an affair and then dying in an accident together, I was pleasantly shocked at the surprises as the plot developed. Obviously, there will be twists here and there but rarely was there more than a page or two to go by without something new coming out about someone or some incident. I cannot express the depths of my love for suspense/thriller/mystery novels that truly shock me, and The Good Widow is one of the best I have ever read. I was completely floored as the conclusion to this novel neared, never expecting the events and information that were revealed.

For lovers of this genre, The Good Widow is an absolute must read that you will not be able to put down. I cannot recommend this enough and commend the co-authors for creating such a fabulous, suspenseful novel.

*Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

Another great book to read on the beach or bring along on vacation. This is a good one. Very entertaining and suspenseful. I devoured it in one sitting, it's a nice quick read that will keep you hooked from the beginning.

Jacqueline ("Jacks" to almost everyone) has just received devastating news. Her husband has died far from home. He had a car accident on a well-known dangerous road in Hawaii. Wait... wasn't he supposed to be in Kansas?

Turns out he wasn't on the boring business trip he told his wife about. He was on vacation... and Jacks soon learns that he wasn't alone. There was a (younger, blonder) woman in the car with him. Jacks and her husband had their issues, but she always trusted him. She never thought he would cheat. She was never one of those wives who would check phones and itineraries... should she have been? Would he still be alive?

Stunned and confused about mourning a husband who was apparently betraying her, she's at a loss. It isn't long before a young man shows up at her door with an interesting idea. The woman her husband was with was his fiance... and he's as confused as she is. He wants to travel to Hawaii to retrace every step they took those last few days and find answers. It sounds crazy, but Jacks is still intrigued. Much to the dismay of her concerned sister, she jets off to Hawaii to look for some kind of closure. Will she get it?

Some suspense and light romance, some mystery. I did predict quite a few plot points before they happened, which is what keeps this book from earning five stars from me. I still really enjoyed it and would recommend it. Even with all the crazy situations she's in, Jacks remains likeable and relatable. You might even end up feeling a little for the incredibly naive Dylan, the mistress. The book includes some chapters from before the tragedy, interspersed with the present. It's done well, and interesting to learn how they all got to the point of secrets and betrayal leading to death.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing, thank you! My opinion is honest and unbiased.

Jacks Morales thought her marriage was sound, not great, but okay. The two cops showed up at her door and informed her that her husband, who was supposed to be on a business trip had been killed in a car accident in Hawaii, and he had a passenger. Jacks is not alone in her grief, her husband’s paramour left behind a confused and hurt fiancee. Searching for answers, Jacks and Nick team up to discover the truth about the people they loved and lost….and whim, it seems, they knew nothing about at all. This is a twisted, roller coaster ride of a thriller that kept me reading late into the night