Natalie and Zack have been married for five years. One morning Zack tells Natalie that he is really Devon Walton and that he's wanted for murder. He then tries to rush them out of the house after receiving an alarming phone call. They leave; yet Natalie is so angry (and confused) with Zack, she heads to work instead of "running away" with her husband. On the way to work, Natalie's vehicle is crashed into by a van - placing Natalie into a "locked-in" coma.

Since Natalie can only hear what is going on around her, she knows who visits, how they feel and can tell the visitors' state of mind through their voice patterns. Yes, Natalie has forgotten all that has happened since going to bed the previous evening. Her husband visits daily - she knows he loves her and doesn't want her to die but she feels some sort of fear in his voice. Her dad is a daily visitor, also - he exhibits love for Natalie, as well. Natalie also has constant visits from her friends Chick and Justine.

Natalie receives a messed up Barbie doll brought in to her by someone not yet identified and also a package with a decapitated bird during her hospital stay.

Natalie does come out of her coma but is in poor physical and mental shape. She needs rehabilitation for a long time and makes friends during that time. However slow her progress is, she finally is discharged but unable to do the work as a CPA for her own company. And that is not all Natalie has lost. Not by a longshot! Additionally, Natalie begins to remember, yet slowly, more and more of the morning of the accident until one day she remembers the entire morning.

THEN to her husband; "Why did you lie about your name and life?"
" Why did you kill a man?

And this is where the truth begins to evolve. And does it ever!!!

Must read!

Many Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an interesting read!

Decent weekend read thriller. Natalie is in an "accident" and realizes her husband might not be who he says. To me, there was a big plot issue/gap with the Milky Way Maverick Girls (Natalie and her two best friends from childhood). The stories that helped develop each character were great but the no spoilers issue made the book a little less enjoyable because I kept thinking about it.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. 3.5 stars.

I received an ARC copy from Netgalley. Cathy Lamb created an excellent cast of characters in The Man She Married. The story about Natalie and what happens during and after she’s in a coma is in depth, compelling and at times funny. Cathy Lamb balances the seriousness and suspense of the situation with humor while we the reader figure out the lies that swirl around her husband. What an enjoyable and fast read!

1st time reading this author & I was swept away with her writing. I could not put the book down. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel & certainly will read more of Cathy Lamb’s books. Kudos to her!

I read this book because it sounded like a fantastic story. I feel like something was lost in the delivery and it missed what could have been an amazing book.

Cathy Lamb writes the most incredible characters! Natalie is on her way and has a terrible car accident. She is in a coma. As her husband, her 2 best friends, and her parents visit, she can hear everything that is said. She is just trapped in her coma. Natalie knows her husband is hiding something from her and as Natalie is attacked in the hospital, she tries hard to remember the morning of the accident. Natalie awakens and is so determined to get her life back. Can Natalie and Zack save their marriage with all the secrets Zack is hiding? Can Natalie figure out what Zack is hiding and get her life back? I loved this book as it has mystery, true friendship, and such a loving bond with her dad. Natalie, Justine, and Chick have been friends since they were children. They call themselves the Moonshine and Milky Way Maverick Girls. I wish these girls were my friends! They have the very best fun and are always there for each other. This book with its amazing characters will stay with me forever. Cathy Lamb is a must read author for me. I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corporation. All opinions are my own.

In June, I saw that Cathy Lamb had a new book coming in October
I was excited to be chosen to read an ARC in September.
I have read and loved all of her books

As you open this book, the first sentence is, "He had lied."
Husband of 5 years had lied, "I dragged in a breath. It was breathe or pass out
Because of the man I married."

Then an incident which forces her into a coma.
In a coma coffin - dead and not dead living in a body, body is not living.
She hears everything around her, but she is still unable to remember the
morning of the accident.

Now awake she needs to readjust to her life
changes arise, new problems arise.

This one kept me reading even as I worked, I had to carry it with me.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of The Man She Married.

This is my first book by the author.

This was a little slow to start, but I’m glad I stuck with it.

I look forward to reading more by the author.

This book. Oh my gosh...it was rough. I NEVER decide half way through to stop reading a book but I just COULD NOT. I read to about 57% and then finally skipped ahead to the end for a spoiler. The first part of the book the main charcter is in a coma....that was painful. The same thing is basically said over and over with a lot of rambling. Then she goes into a rehab center and starts to get better. You read about her struggle and what her friends are doing everyday while she makes necklaces. Every other page you will be immersed in some old story from her childhood that really has no relevance or just a random story really haha. I would skip this one for sure.

Thank you Netgalley for this advanced copy.

I read this book in one sitting. Started at 9am and finished it around 3pm. I keep forgetting about Cathy Lamb's books.

I don't know if it's I'm a sucker for coma thrillers but this book was so well written. Pick it up!!!

Cathy Lamb is an author I consistently go back to because her books are so darn good. Her latest, The Man She Married, is no exception. Lamb baits the hook with tasty morsels of mystery, and expertly reels the reader in to the mystery that is Natalie and Zack’s marriage. The reader will fall in love with Lamb’s eccentric characters and be intrigued by a storyline that will leave them guessing. Lamb also delicately and accurately details the condition of traumatic brain injury like a pro! This book is not to be missed!

Another fantastic book by Cathy Lamb!! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This author was so well recommended to me that I just HAD to see her writing style for myself. This book was wonderful! I was intrigued from the very beginning and hated every time I had to stop to do "household things". I would always pick it right back up after finishing. If you need a new author to try and you haven't come across Cathy Lamb before until now, please do so and you will NOT be disappointed!! Thank you for the chance to be able to read an advanced copy of this amazing book.

There is always something very special about Cathy Lamb's books, and her new book, The Man She Married, is no exception. Cathy has this amazing talent to write the most interesting characters you will ever read....they are loving, complicated, quirky, original, and, in this book, they are not at all what they seem to be on the outside. Cathy Lamb also has the ability to make me laugh out loud, so many times, with witty dialogue and situations that are funny.....even when the story is serious, even tragic, and tugging on your heartstrings. I'm going to share with you one of the funniest parts of the book...I could read it again and again, and laugh each time. While Natalie is trapped in a coma, one of her visitors is Rosie, the mother of her best friend. Here is Rosie's prayer for Natalie:
“I pray to the good Lord for you every day, Natalie,” Rosie says, a sob catching in her throat. “You are the daughter of my own sweet heart. I will pray for you right now, in fact, the Lord’s Prayer. Are you ready, dear? Our father who is an artist in heaven. Howell be thy name. His kingdom comes, his kingdom goes. On Earth you are to find your own heaven. Give us our daily bread and wine. Not too much wine. And lead us not in to temptation and deliver us from evil men. Amen.” She sighs. “Mary, mother of Jesus, get your feminist, woman-empowered self into this hospital and fix my Natalie, I’m tellin’ you. If you need help, grab Mother Teresa or grab a woman saint. Heck, grab all of the women saints, Mary, mother of Jesus, but do not grab my great-aunt Milly, as she was clearly the devil’s assistant here on Earth. Women unite! Thank you, Jesus.” * *

I received an E-ARC from NetGalley. This is not the first book I have read by Cathy Lamb, but I think it is my favorite. I related to every single character, and I love how the story came together. I highly recommend this one. I could not put it down.

I love Cathy Lamb's book and this is one of her best. I loved the characters, the plot, the location - I loved it all. It made me laugh and it made me cry and it taught me how life could be after brain damage and how difficult it is to recover.

Natalie is in love with her husband when she finds out that he is keeping a major secret from her. As she drives to work that morning, she is in a tragic car accident and ends up in a coma. The doctors don't think that she'll recover but her husband and father never leave her side. She can hear everything that is said while she is in her coma but is unable to respond. During this part of the book, we learn about her history, her best friends and her marriage to her husband. Once she wakes up, she goes into rehab with other people with brain damage where we meet a whole array of people with brain injuries. Natalie still can't remember what Zack's secret is but she knows there is a problem. Will she ever remember and will it affect her life with Zack?

If you like books with great characters, an intriguing plot, a few laughs and a lot of love - this is the book for you!

Thanks to net galley for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I love Cathy Lamb's book and this is one of her best. I loved the characters, the plot, the location - I loved it all. It made me laugh and it made me cry and it taught me how life could be after brain damage and how difficult it is to recover.

Natalie is in love with her husband when she finds out that he is keeping a major secret from her. As she drives to work that morning, she is in a tragic car accident and ends up in a coma. The doctors don't think that she'll recover but her husband and father never leave her side. She can hear everything that is said while she is in her coma but is unable to respond. During this part of the book, we learn about her history, her best friends and her marriage to her husband. Once she wakes up, she goes into rehab with other people with brain damage where we meet a whole array of people with brain injuries. Natalie still can't remember what Zack's secret is but she knows there is a problem. Will she ever remember and will it affect her life with Zack?

If you like books with great characters, an intriguing plot, a few laughs and a lot of love - this is the book for you!

Thanks to net galley for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved the first half of this book! Told from the perspective of the heroine who can hear everything happening around her while she is in a coma! Descriptive and perceptive! Unfortunately, when the main character woke up, I enjoyed the book much less. I loved hearing about the relationship between the heroine and her mother. It was well developed and written. The heroines relationship with her husband however (the main plot of the book) was disappointing. She seems to go from strong, self reliant women to naive and clueless which was aggravating. I would have much preferred for her to maintain her strength and resilience as much with her husband. She would have been a better character for it, and it would have made the plot more interesting. The book wraps up in a neat and tidy ending which is always uplifting.

When you step inside a Cathy Lamb book you can hear the river running, see the stars above you and smell the wildflowers... you are transported into the story ! This amazing author has the ability to make you laugh and cry at the same time ! This is not the first book of hers I have read, nor will it be the last !
This is the story of Natalie and Zack and how well we know those we love and the things they hide to just survive !
Natalie discovers her husband is lying to her when she is in a car accident ( not an accident at all) ! Natalie suffers a Traumatic Brain Injury and we get to travel on her path to recovery and discovery !
This is such an incredible story of love, loss and resilience and I cannot recommend this book enough !

This is to all the Moonshine and Milky Way Maverick girls ( read the book) May we all have forever friends like these!

Now , I must go pack my bags as I am moving to Lake Joseph , so I can live with my new book girls !!

I was a bit skeptical when I realized this story involved someone in a coma. It seems as if that was a popular theme this year ( yet the authors would be unaware while writing!). I should have known Cathy Lamb would have a delicious spin. I loved the juxtaposition of time frames which gave me needed info to really appreciate Natalie’s relationships and situation. I especially enjoyed her relationship with Grandma Dixie. It gave me hope and comfort. Each of these characters was very well developed and were integral parts to the story. I laughed, I cried, I felt betrayed, and I rejoiced. Lots of life lessons here. I love it when I feel like I can be a better person from something I’ve learned in a story like this. This book will stay with me for quite awhile. #netgalley #cathylamb #kensingtonbooks
#themanshemarried