This book was all I hoped for and more. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Loved the writing, loved the characters and loved the story.

Melinda Leigh always gets it right! The suspense, the characters. I'm always intrigued the complex stories she weaves.

I am still relatively new to the thriller genre, I like to dip my toe in every now and then, however, in this book Melinda Leigh has tempted me to belly flop right in. Say You’re Sorry captivated me from page one as you witness the murder first hand, after that, it wasn’t a want, it was a need; I needed to keep reading and find out the full story.

Morgan Dane is our main character, she’s been widowed for two years and has 3 adorable small children, who she parents with the help of her father. Now, she has decided it’s time for her to go back to work as a prosecutor. But, just as she’s about to start her baby sitter is horrifically murdered and her neighbour is accused of the slaying. Morgan doesn’t buy it. So with the help of her private investigator and former high school boyfriend, she decides to take up his defence.

This book is so easy to get into, Morgan is such an identifiable figure, a single mother trying to do the best for her children and now juggling a stressful job. A stressful job where she isn’t sure she’s doing the right thing. And then there’s Lance the PI assisting her with the case and a guy with some pressures of his own. The murder case itself, although interesting to follow, as soon as the murderer popped up I figured it out correctly but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the ride to get there.

It was Morgan and her relationship with people, her blossoming romance with Lance, her devotion to her family, her dedication to helping Nick – the young man accused of murder – that kept me glued to the book. I can’t wait to read more in this series and I will definitely be looking up some more Melinda Leigh.

So look, I haven't read anything by Melinda Leigh before and I was lucky enough to score a copy from Net Galley. Awesome, right?

Except, it's kinda not.

I'm sorry. I really wanted to like this. But I just couldn't.

For me, it was just too OTT. Everyone's just carrying so much baggage it's a wonder they ever set foot out the front door. We have Morgan, who's a widow with three kids, but she has her grandfather and a former drug addict now acting as a live in nanny to help raise her kids. Then we have the former cop, now PI, who has a mentally ill mother yet every encounter we have with said mother she seems to be "having a good day".

And what's without even getting into the storyline. Teenage girl is raped and murdered. Yet the police and DA are completely incompetent at investigating said crime. Add in another missing girl.

Oh, and countless of potential suspects, some of which add absolutely nothing to the storyline (the Barones? What was the point of them?).

So yeah. Sorry. I just can't.

Complex, real characters and an interesting plot with just enough twists and turns make Say You're Sorry a very satisfying read. It is the first book I've read by Ms. Leigh, but definitely not the last.

Melinda Leigh has done it again!

Say You're Sorry gives us the first book in the series introducing Morgan Dane, a Lawyer and single mum and Lance, a Private Investigator friend of hers who work together to find the real culprit when a young girl is brutally murdered.

The police have made an arrest but Morgan is determined to prove they have the wrong person despite the whole community turning against her.

I have already read a few other books by this author so already knew the high quality I could expect and certainly wasn't disappointed with this one. With brilliant insight into the characters and a well crafted storyline, I highly recommend this book to other readers.

OMG< this book really had me captivated from the first page....twists you won't expect, but after the fact make perfect sense....BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well done, Melinda. Well done!

I had NO idea who did it! I was wrong all the way to the end! LOL This was such a well done story, I truly am in love with Morgan Dane. She is one bad little mama. Talk about an underdog coming out on top. I loved the balance of chaos and reflections that were in this story. You literally have to keep turning the pages, or listening to the book. I was hooked, as usual, from the first pages.

This story has many layers, like an onion. Just when you think you know what is, or has happened Melinda throws an acorn under your feet and you trip into something new. Which, I for one absolutely love! Morgan is tasked in saving her neighbor's kid from being convicted of a crime he didn't commit. (Or so they think. It's all a big pile of who done it, and why'd they do it.) With the help of Sharpe Investigations Morgan starts to unfold the layers of the story. What is the truth, and what is lies starts to get blurry...and just when you think something is settled, the case is done for... BAM!

Things get intense and I swear my eyes bugged a few times. Why? Cause I had it all wrong!!!! LOL That is what reading a Melinda Leigh book does to you. Its fantastic to say the least!

Unfortunately, after trying this title 2 times to make sure it wasn't my mood, I have decided to DNF this title. For some reason, I was never able to engage with this at all, the characters and the storyline felt flat and it was hard to stay interested in the events.

I appreciate the opportunity.

Thanks,
laura

I have wanted to read a Melinda Leigh book for a long time, but my library doesn't have any. I was excited to be given a copy of this book by NetGalley.

In this book, attorney Morgan Dane returns to Scarlet Falls. Shortly after her return, Morgan's babysitter, Tessa, is brutally murdered, and Morgan's neighbor and Tessa's boyfriend, Nick, is arrested for the murder. Morgan gives up a new position in the DA's office to defend Nick.

I was unfortunately not impressed with the book. I just couldn't connect with or really care about the characters. I can't really determine exactly what the problem was, but there was something missing. I love Wendy Corsi Staub, Lisa Jackson, Kevin O'Brien, and Linwood Barclay and usually find that their novels grab me right from the start and draw me in. I didn't experience that with Melinda Leigh's book. The pace was sluggish from the beginning but eventually accelerated a bit about halfway through the story.

Was the book terrible? No, I have read far worse books. Would I read another Melinda Leigh book? Probably. Say You're Sorry was ok, but it just wasn't great. If my library gets any Melinda Leigh books, I would try at least one more, but I wouldn't buy one at this point.

A very good start to a new series. This is a fast paced read with a great cast of characters and a good plot. Looking forward to more who dun its from Dane and Kruger!

This is a new series starting Morgan Dane. Normally I know who did it, at the beginning, so this had me questioning it. Morgan returns to her hometown after losing her husband, only to arrive when her younger sister is murdered and her neighbor is charged. His family hires her, and town was not happy. How could she represent him? She did not believe he did it. There was so many things that would surprise you. She joins Sharpe investigations, and then the interesting stuff, really comes out... I do not give spoilers, so just read it.

A really good book. Fast paced and gripping from the start. I really liked the characters and would definitely read more books by this author.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

Solid mystery and the great start to a new series. The relationship between Morgan and Lance is sweet and Lance may be my new favorite Hero. I mean what woman can possibly resist a man who loves his mother with all her problems, loves her kids and plays the piano and sings to her? I'll add in blond, buff and hot, but, really isn't that just overkill?

Morgan Dane lost her warrior husband to an IED in Iraq two years ago. She is a widow with three little girls to raise, a grandfather to help care for them and a young woman living with them who has serious medical issues. She has a full plate and now feels the need to return to work as an assistant district attorney to help battle the malaise that seems to have settled over her life like a cloud. Her occasional babysitter, Tessa, goes missing and Morgan calls her old high school flame and former Scarlet Lake Police Officer, Lance Kruger, to help her find Tessa. They find her dead at a high school hangout spot at the lake. At first the evidence points to Morgan's neighbor, Nick. How can a young man who reads stories to her little girls and plays chess with her grandfather possibly have done this?

Morgan's answer is: He didn't. As Morgan begins to peal away the layers of the case against Nick, she uncovers a rush to judgment with serious political overtones that has put a lot of people in danger. She also discovers that she and Lance have the potential to become something other than friends and work associates.

Melinda Leigh is one of my favourite authors and this book does not disappoint. If you like romantic suspense novels you'll like this.

There is not a single thing that was wrong with this book, it grabbed my interest from the very beginning with an interesting storyline, great characters, action, and romance. Highly recommend! I am looking forward to the next book in this series!

Former Prosecutor Morgan Dane and her three young daughters have returned to her hometown of Scarlet Falls, following the death of her husband while serving our country in Iraq.

Now that she's near family and old friends, and with the promise of working with the District Attorney, she feels she's finally ready to put her grief aside and start her life again.

All goes well until her teenage babysitter is found murdered. The accused is her neighbor's son, Nick, who is just a few years older than the sitter. Nick was a frequent visitor in Morgan's home, entertaining her daughters, playing chess or checkers with her father. Nick's father begs for help for him and Morgan agrees. Deep down, Morgan just cannot accept that Nick could murder anyone.

Her decision turns her neighbors and friends against her and she loses the lucrative job before she even begins putting together a defense for Nick. Needing an investigator, she turns to her friend Lane Kruger, an ex-cop turned private eye. Morgan and Lance are going to have to battle the community, the cops, the DA.

As they systematically interview and question the girl's friends and family, they learn that just about every teenager in town knows something they aren't sharing. Meanwhile more evidence is stacking up against Nick.

Never a dull moment in this book! I really enjoyed how law enforcement worked with a private eye... just a touch of distrust on both sides, especially as the police looked in one direction only and never considered anyone else a suspect. There's an attraction between Morgan and Lance, she's a bit hesitant, he's determined not to scare her away.

There's a little bit of everything here .... a sadistic killer, a young murder victim who argued with her grandparents the very last time they saw her, a young man accused of a brutal crime, who only wants to continue helping his father with a landscaping business, a friend of the victim who seems to be in hiding... but from what?

Many thanks to the author / Montlake Romance / Netgalley for the digital copy of this romantic suspense. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

I would like to thank Melinda Leigh, Montlake Romance and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this book for my honest review!
Review By Stephanie
I am a huge fan of Melinda Leigh so I was excited to see a book one on netgalley! I love when authors I love start a new series!!
Morgan is a mother who is raising her three girls after her husband was killed in the line of duty. He was killed two years ago but she still finds herself missing him and unable to move on. Then Morgan and the girls move to Scarlet Falls to be with her grandfather.
One night Morgan gets a phone call from her babysitters grandparents saying that she is missing. Morgan reaches out to Lance; her high school sweetheart whom is currently working as a PI. Sadly Morgan and Lance find her bead body.

Morgan agrees to represent her neighbor Nick when he is accused of killing his girlfriend. She enlists Lance to help her with this case……

This book was amazing!!! I favorite part was TOTALLY NOT figuring out who the killer was! I had some ideas but was I wrong and I love that. I cannot wait to see more of a romantic life for Morgan in the next book!

Say Your Sorry is a promising start to a new series by Melinda Leigh. Morgan Dane is a widower raising three young daughters. I was pulled into the story right from the start. Engaging characters with a mystery that kept me guessing. I'm looking forward to get to know these characters more.

*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars
M/F Suspense, Mystery (hint of romance)
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

I really thought this was a great story. Tessa is the girl next door – everyone thinks she's a wonderful young lady who can do no wrong. Nick is the boy next door and people cannot believe he would commit such a heinous crime.

Morgan is just getting back on her feet. She lost her husband to an IED and she is having a difficult time joining the real world again. But, with the help of her father and a woman she took in, she's able to care for her three girls and try to get her career back.

Morgan is living in a very small community, so everyone knows everyone. It makes her taking on Nick's case to prove his innocence that much harder. The community immediately takes Tessa's side. But facts don't lie and when the truth begins to unravel, everyone is shocked and dismayed at what they find.

Lance is very much a behind-the-scenes character in that you really only get to see him develop feelings for Morgan a little at time and he's so shy about it, it feels like it takes forever. Lance wants justice done, no matter what the outcome.

I was disappointed that we didn't get any insight in to the community after the result. I felt that because it was so tight and we were given their immediate reactions throughout, that it was a piece missing for me. However, overall, well done in the mystery part. I can't wait to see what happens in the subsequent stories.