I read this book in one day because I could not put it down! Tessa has been married to Ethan for 20 years, but she finds out he is having an affair with a younger woman, Lindsey. What entails once the secret is out is both shocking and exciting. I don't want to give away too much, because there are several twists and turns as the drama unfolds. Suffice it to say that I highly recommend this book to those who like quick and exciting reads. Thanks to netgalley.com and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in return for an honest review.

This book was amazing! Held my interest from the first page to the last. I've never read anything quite like that. A very unusual twist to adultery, with excellent writing and dialogue, you will LOVE this story. Ten stars to this author. Some authors can write. And others really WRITE! Unbelievable!

Imagine having to prepare for a hurricane that may have devastating consequences, and discovering at the same time that your husband is cheating on you. Tess, Cole's main character, doesn't take this betrayal lightly. With her husband out of town, her rage and humilliation give way to thoughts of revenge, ways of getting even. With the intention of proving to her husband's 'other woman' that she is not to be trifled with, Tess lures Lindsay over to her house, while the threat of the hurricane is looming, trapping them in the same house to have it out...for better or for worse.
Cole gave a new meaning to the phrase, "don't get mad, get even." With alternating points of view between Lindsay and Tess, "Mine" is a thrilling read with an unexpected ending that will pose the question: what if you could make your darkest revenge fantasy a reality?

The plot of this book is excellent. A successful, beautiful wife finds that her beloved husband husband has been having an affair, so she tricks the other woman into coming to her home during a hurricane. Five stars for sure. But, I just didn't like the writing. This was not a long book to begin with, but I found the writing weak enough and the flashbacks to the girlfriend's story boring enough that I skimmed several parts. Three stars is generous for the writing.

This would make an excellent movie.

WOWWWWW what a novel! This was one of my favorite novels this year so far. I mean the suspense, thrills and everything else that Courtney Cole put into this book was excellent! Seriously read this book, you won't regret it.

Stumbling upon her husband’s ipad, Tessa is thrown into her worst nightmare. Actually, it’s not her worst nightmare, because she never thought this was something she’d have to deal with…. another woman. Not only does she discover nude pictures of another, much younger woman, but that her husband is in a relationship with this woman. As Tessa sits home alone weather a category four hurricane, which has her husband unable to get home, she takes matters into her own hands in luring the young woman, Lindsey, to her home. What happens between these two women sheds light on both of their situations and shows them exactly what type of man they both love and what type of women they learn they are.
I have yet to read a Courtney Cole book that I haven’t liked and this one is no different. I think this might be my favorite. This book is raw, gritty, heartbreak and it pulls no punches. It’s told from the POV of both Tessa and Lindsey so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I thought maybe both women would discover that they were being blindsided by what they learned about Ethan, but Lindsey, portrayed as the “homewrecker”, the “slut” …she’s definitely “the other woman”, much to her dismay.
Each woman has their moments when they realize they can knock the other down a few pegs and they don’t hesitate to take jabs.
I think Tessa’s initial struggle was accepting that her marriage wasn’t perfect and that she might have been blind to things were going on around her, that her husband was so totally devoted to her that he would never thing of doing such a thing without being provoked. Of course, Lindsey doesn’t hesitate to squash that thought.
“Ethan loves me,” she announces, and my heart is steel again. “Did he tell you that?” She’s silent again. “You found out who I am and how much money we have, and you went after him, didn’t you?” I ask. I clench the foot rail of the bed hard. The acrid scent of urine is heavy in the air, and I want to bury my nose in my shirt. I’ll have to burn this mattress. “That’s not true,” she says, willing to at least say that much. “I had no idea at first. I didn’t even know he was married.” “So you say.” I’m dubious. “But Ethan wouldn’t just do this. Not without being tempted. I know him. I’ve known him for so long.” “Clearly you don’t know him well enough,” she points out, and the rage threatens to overtake me again, because she’s right. I didn’t see this coming.


Tessa also struggles with accepting that what Ethan had/has with Lindsey isn’t just a fling. They are in an actual relationship; that Ethan sought this woman out, he’s shared things from their personal life with her. He’s even talked about their children with Lindsey and once again, Lindsey doesn’t hesitate to inform Tessa where she failed as a wife to Ethan.
“I know about Colt. How you’re so focused on him, then the other kids, and then your business . . . that there’s nothing left for Ethan at the end of every day. Marriage shouldn’t be like that, Tessa. You failed him.” My heart seems to stop. Ethan discussed Colton with this girl? My precious, beautiful Colt? With her? I look at her, trying desperately to hide my confusion and pain. But she sees it right away, and her eyes light up. “Oh, you didn’t know?” She pauses, and I’m stunned speechless. “He told me everything. I’m his confidante, everything you stopped being to him, Tessa. If you think about it, everything that has happened is your fault. You stopped being a wife.”

In some cases, like this you try to see where the “other woman” may have been manipulated into the situation. Although Ethan initially lied to her, it’s clear that Lindsey knew exactly what she was doing. There are so many things that make her unlikeable but I think the main thing was her obsession with Tessa and all she had.

I’ve become obsessed with Tessa Taylor. Ethan and I have only been together for two weeks, but I have to know what it is about her Ethan is attracted to. What is it that made him want to marry her? This became a competition from the moment I learned he was married, and I have to know my competition in order to win. I want him, and he wants me. I can feel it. I can see it.
It’s clear Lindsey wants everything Tessa has and will do whatever it takes to get it. From stalking Tessa, making appointments at her hair salon with her stylist, to shopping in the same grocery store,
I trail her down the cereal aisle and pretend to examine the options while she looks at oatmeal. “Have you ever tried this one?” I ask her, gesturing to a box. She glances at me, and her eyes are kind. “No, I can’t say I have. It looks good, though.” She’s wearing a gray pencil skirt with a black bow around the waist, like she’s a gift to someone. Her blouse is white and looks like silk. Her roots are showing ever so slightly. “I love your hair color,” I tell her conversationally, putting the cereal in my cart. “Who do you use?” “Oh, thank you!” she answers with a smile. “Her name is Julie. I have her card in here somewhere. . . .” She digs in her purse for a minute, then with a triumphant crow, she finds it and hands it to me. “She’s great. Such a character. You’ll love her.”

There were times when I really wanted to feel bad for Lindsey but just when I would give her a little sympathy; she’d do or say something that made me want to choke her. Even going so far as to strategically place herself in situations where she was the presences of Tessa’s and Ethan’s children! Being a mother herself, you would think kids would be off limits, but not this chick. I won’t even get started on how she was screwing up her on kid. At one point I thought…well, her hurts in the right place trying to provide for her kid…but nope. Mass manipulator.



“Every time you saw my husband, you made sure everything was perfect, that you said the right things, did the right things. All the while, I was going about life as normal. I was on the phone with our son in my yoga pants and running errands without makeup and being too tired for sex. That wasn’t a fair fight. I fucking hate you.”
Tessa had no clue how accurate that statement was. Lindsey was so freaking manipulative. Every bit of info she received she used to her advantage.
“I wonder what her husband is like.” I ask casually. Julie shrugs and hums as she checks my hair. She snips another piece. “I think her husband is the kind of guy who likes to know he’s taking care of something,” she finally says. “But then, I think all men are like that to some degree. It’s in their DNA. They want to save the damsel, to be the warrior. You know. Men.” I smile conspiratorially and agree. Men. She has given me a thought. He likes to be the savior. Tessa is self-sufficient. She doesn’t need him. But I do. She finishes the haircut, shows me myself in the mirror, and gives me a hug. “Thank you for coming in today,” she tells me. I nod and hand her a ten-dollar bill. She has been helpful, without even knowing it. I look at Tessa’s Instagram in the car. I’ve gotten to the point where I can’t go even a couple of hours without checking it. She’s updated her story. My pulse pounds. “Date night!” she posted twenty minutes ago. “Should I wear this with Strawberry Love lipstick, or this with Lolita Red?” She posted two pictures. One is the outfit I’d seen her wearing at the store, and one is a little black dress. Her followers are weighing in with their opinions. Most are choosing the black dress with the Lolita Red lip. Like hell. I text Ethan. Come over tonight? I put my phone between my legs and take a photo of my lacy black underwear. I send it.
Not pinning any roses on Ethan but she played him like a violin.
“I have to tell you something,” he says quietly. I wait. “I feel really guilty,” he says now, and my heart hammers. This won’t do. I reach out a hand, laying it on his arm. “Don’t,” I say softly. “With your son and that stress and your wife’s job, it’s an unusual circumstance, and if no one ever finds out, no one will get hurt.” He stares at me again, and a muscle twitches in his jaw. He’s thinking about it. “I like to think I’m an honorable man,” he says finally. “This isn’t . . . honorable.” “Are you going to treat me with respect?” I ask bluntly. He nods. “Of course.” “Then it’s honorable.” He shakes his head. “I meant I’m breaking a vow to my wife. I’ve never done that.” I pretend to think on that. “Honestly, Ethan, she’s sort of broken a vow to you already. She was supposed to protect your marriage, nurture it. And she’s allowed something else to come before you. I understand that her son and her job are important to her, but she needs to learn to balance everything. She can’t let her son’s issues or her work affect your marriage. That’s not fair.” “It doesn’t feel fair,” he agrees. “It’s not easy on her either. She chews Xanax like candy, and her mind is constantly spinning.” “Not your fault,” I point out again, but my brain has already assimilated that information, and I’m flattered that he’s told me. She’s in trouble. And he’s here with me.



In the end it was Lindsey who was dealt the biggest blow by this situation. Don’t get me wrong, there were some occasions when I wanted to shake Tessa and say….” Seriously?!” but Lindsey took the cake.
There were moments of clarity for both women that made them realize the man they loved wasn’t at all who they thought. I’ll admit that Tessa’s actions in confronting Lindsey initially had me thinking she wasn’t too stable but I can kind of see what got her there. There is only a brief reprieve for Lindsey but by the time it comes, it’s almost too little, too late.

This was most definitely a hard to put down book. The characters were real people, the emotions were real. Tessa’s the anger and Lindsey’s desperation practically jumped of the pages of the book. Everyone always says what they would do or what they wouldn’t put up with but this book gives you a little pause and makes you think “Is it really that easy?”

Lindsey and Tessa, two very different women. Lindsey is young going to college to earn her nursing degree. Tessa is older, but has started her own company and is a strong businesswoman.
The thing they do have in common is Ethan. Ethan is Tessa's husband. His mistress is lindsey.
In the dark of a category 4 storm both women will come together and fight for what is rightfully hers.
Weapons are drawn, blood flows. Who will be the winner?
Intriguing, twisted and fabulous!!

Book Court - Where I'm the Judge and Jury

CHARGE: To explore the efforts of an affair on a marriage.

FACTS: Tessa had it all – a successful handsome and loving husband, three great kids, and a multi-million dollar beauty industry she created. Did she take her life for granted? Lindsey is a young beautiful single mother working as a secretary to support herself through nursing school. Her son is being raised by her mother in another state as Lindsey tries to make a better life. Tess and Lindsey’s lives collide in a beautiful beachfront house as a powerful hurricane bears down. The effects of this meeting will change them both forever.

VERDICT: Guilty, as charged. A fast read that leaves you wanting more.

#Mine #NetGalley

4.5 stars. This book is told from alternating points-of-view - Tessa (the wife) and Lindsey (the mistress). When Tessa discovers that her husband has cheated on her, the nightmare begins... for both women. I truly felt for both women, their story is the story of so many relationships gone wrong. It's sad and terrifying, and makes you wonder if any man out there is truly honest. In my own experience, the answer is no, but fortunately we can learn from our experience.

I loved the drama of these women - individually and when they are brought together. I would have given it 5 stars, but I didn't like the ending. An over-the-top thrill ride that kept me reading this train wreck until the end!

Heartbreaking but so so good. You really can't blame Tessa for her reaction to finding out she was being cheated on, by her husband, with a young dumb-dumb. Seeing the lengths that Lindsey decided to go to, in order to take what wasn't hers had me so fired up! I did enjoy Tessa speaking up to let Ethan know she was on the call. I do wish I could've been a part of a face to face conversation, with those two.

This book was intense! It's a fast paced read told from two different points of view. Some parts were implausible but it definitely makes for an interesting story. This makes me want to look for other books by Courtney Cole.

Thank you to Gallery Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to Courtney Cole and Simon & Schuster for allowing me early access to read and review Mine.

When I first saw the cover, I truly wasn't sure if this was a book that I would like to read, however once I started the book I couldn't stop reading it, and I never once put it down. This book kept me up way past my normal bedtime, and I still keep thinking about the roles that Tessa and Lindsey both played in the book.

Without giving away much information, the things that Tessa did and learned, and the way Courtney Cole resonated the emotions throughout the book, truly were emotions that you felt and understood why Tessa did what she did. I liked how the book ended, as it makes you think of the what if's and what really happens, and it reminds me of the way a movie ends when there will be a sequel (hint, hint).

By reading this book, I will now be requesting to read any other books by Courtney Cole and will keep her on my list of favorite authors.

Tessa thought her and her husband were about to embark on a much needed little getaway, but then her husband calls last minute to change their plans, just as a hurricane is hitting outdoors. With the storm brewing, their children already away for the weekend, she begins to poke around the house a bit and runs across her husbands iPad, and a little secret he has been keeping from her. One that she never saw coming, one that leaves her reeling and wanting a little revenge, and a whole lot of answers! Her husband has a mistress and she is about to put a plan in motion that could change everything...

With a storm raging outside, these two women are thrust together to weather an deeply emotional storm of sorts indoors, and things quickly get out of control!

Mine is a dramatic little page-turner that is riddled with unexpected twists and turns that will leave your head spinning. The moment I cracked the cover on this one I felt an addiction settle over me, one that lead me on a little late night reading marathon. I was so engrossed with the words on the pages that I momentarily forgot about the world around me, and wound up devouring it in one sitting!! This one will push your personal boundaries, make you question everything you read, and have you teetering on the edge of your seat the whole way through! If you like domestic suspense novels then this one will be right up your alley, it's perfectly crafted words will unravel your emotions, steal the breath from your lungs, and leave you saying WOW!! Highly recommend!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

This was a super fast read and it was definitely hard to put down. I was very caught up in the story and what went down between Linsey and Ethan, and Tessa finding out about it. It also really made me think and question how I would react in this situation. Let me say, I sincerely hope I wouldn’t put up with any of the crap these women did. A lot of things kind of had me like “SERIOUSLY?! WHY ARE YOU DEALING WITH THIS TOOL?”

I do, however, feel that it did feel a little “lifetime movie” like. There was something lacking for me overall. Some of the scenes between Tessa and Lindsey just felt silly at times. I don’t know how to explain it, but I found my self rolling my eyes several times at their interactions.

I also wish that that there had been chapters for Ethan. I feel like a lot was missing due to that, and I really wanted a showdown at the end between just him and Tessa. The ending was open ended and I would have just like to have seen in wrapped up.

Overall, I enjoyed this one, and would recommend it!

WOW, just WOW! What a page turner!! The different perspectives of the characters really made me think. I wanted to hate Lindsey and even Tessa for a while, but in the end I couldn't. It's amazing when powerful women really wield their power!

One of the most enticing elements of this book is the Author's review on Goodreads. She very directly lets her audience, followers and pretty much the world know that this book has a closer to home inspiration. Her own life. If the synopsis didn't convince you that it was a must read, well that review of hers should do the trick. And after completing the story, I am dying to know how much of this story is fiction and how much is based on real life. Because let me tell you, it was a pretty wild ride.

Cole provides the readers with alternating chapters of the wife (Tessa) and the mistress (Lindsey). This really is a satisfying view and approach, you dive right into the meat while slowly getting the back story. This worked out well for the novel. Next thing I loved was the setting, it really took the book to the next level. You have two women weathering out a major hurricane which brings forth its own challenges outside of this twisted triangle.

Aside from the settings and POV, the characters were reasonable, scandalous and at times temporarily insane. Tessa is the housewife who never saw this coming. One day she was getting ready for a weekend away with the "greatest" man. And the next minute, she is Jack Nicholson in The Shining type crazy. She is literally the epitome of Oxygen's Snapped. And it is actually pretty great. Lindsey on the other hand is everything you would expect for a young mistress: dumb, gullible, a damaged girl grown into an insecure woman. One woman is fire and the other is ice. But when meeting head on, the reaction is explosive.

Overall, I went into this book looking for a twisted little thrill. And I was quite pleased with the result. I love picking up a book and just having fun while reading it. Furthermore, I love the teasing of believing that some portions of the novel could be more than just a book full of fiction. My imagination can run wild and I love that Cole played into that with her honesty.

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the read!

Tessa is the wife. Lindsey is the mistress. Ethan is the husband they share. Tessa, at the start of a hurricane where she is home alone, has just learned of the situation. She texts Lindsey with Ethan’s iPad and tells her to come to their home as he was there alone. Lindsey comes. I won’t go any further into the narrative because of spoilers, but each chapter deals with one of the women and her vision of all that happened. In the conclusion, they are together and fireworks fly. Thanks to Net Galley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC for an honest review.

Lies, betrayal, drama, and heartbreak are all masterfully woven into this psychological thriller that has the wife confronting the mistress in the middle of a major hurricane. It’s a fast read as I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. Is it realistic? I’d say half of it is a no, but it sure was entertaining to read. Tess does what every betrayed wife usually fantasizes to do. Mine is an interesting, fast-paced book that is told from both women’s POV (the wife and the mistress). The dual perspectives on the affair really makes the story and I liked how each were portrayed. The emotion was real, raw, and sometimes frightening.
Reviewed by Comfy Chair Books/Lisa Reigel (March 23, 2019)

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

Other reviewers have written extensively about the plot and even the ending. I will not duplicate their efforts here, but I heartily agree with the reviewer who wrote that the ending seemed rushed and the necessary final confrontation scene between the wronged wife and her cheating husband was missing.

I am not personally fond of cheating husband/wronged wife/entitled and unrepentant other woman plots, and I am not fond of crude language. Having said that, this book was a quick and easy read, and the frequent (every chapter) changes of first person point of view were not at all difficult to follow. As I understand it, the story was based on real events in the author's life, and as such had no real surprises or plot twists. The book was billed as a mystery/thriller but did not live up to my expectations for that genre.

This book was...interesting. An eye opener. A lesson learned for all parties involved for sure. I wish there was more. More from all parties involved. There was resolution but i felt as if it all ended to...happy almost.