It’s always a challenge to love a book with an unlikable main character...but somehow this book achieves it! For anyone who loved the movie Sliding Doors, this book delivers on the same premise with divergent paths that each carry their own twists and turns. Since reading this book, I’ve gone back and rediscovered several gems written by the dynamic writing duo of Lisa and Liz.

Another winner from Lisa and Liz! This is a fast paced psychological thriller, with a sliding doors scenario. Best to go in without knowing too much!

I really enjoyed the unique twist on the alternating time lines format. We actually get to see two different, parallel story lines for Lila, based on her life choices. This was a thought provoking look at how our decisions and choices affect the entire course of our life. A heavy topic that was nicely balanced with a suspenseful story line and some surprise twists. A quick page turner to add to your summer reading list! This one is out 7/23/19. Many thanks to the authors and NetGalley for my advanced copy.

I love these authors and have read everything by them. The Two Lilas did not disappoint! The first few chapters were confusing until I figured it out. I love how both paths converged on the same outcome and one has to figure out which path was the real one. I am still not sure which was reality which is probably why the write it this way. Can’t wait for their next story!!!

Holy cow what a book!! I stayed up past midnight last night to finish and I regret NOTHING! This book grabs you from the beginning and won't let go! Lila Bennett is not a nice person. She is a defense lawyer and she uses anyone and everyone she can. Her life breaks into 2 pieces, one where she is kidnapped and one where she escapes the kidnapper. As she is trying to figure out who the kidnapper is, we the reader are taken on a journey of Lila's life. Can Lila figure out which of the many people she has wronged has kidnapped her before it is too late? Ultimately this is a story of choices and consequences and I absolutely loved it! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

Interesting spin on the suspense genre but lost steam halfway through. The ending was a bit of a let down.

Definitely a 5 star read! This has everything a psychological suspense needs, to be great; drama, deceit, revenge, frightening, and you don’t have an idea who the perpetrator of this diabolical scenario is.
Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke are known for strong characters and they did it again here. Most are difficult to like, as is Lila Bennett, a vicious, successful defense lawyer, who “takes no prisoners”. As her personal and professional life come to a crossroad, something needs to change in order for her to save herself. Hence she is thrust in alternative situations. In one she is the victim of a kidnapping, her kidnapper vowing to force her to make amends to everyone she has hurt. And the other, is an unknown and is intent on destroying her.
Lila recognizes the terrible person she has become, as she seeks to change, but will she survive to apologize to her husband, her friends and clients.
My thanks to #LakeUnionPublishing #NetGalley the the authors for the Arc in return for my personal review. I loved this intense, suspenseful novel!

I love Fenton and Steinke. Their books are so smooth and you can eat them in one setting. This one kept me going. At first I was a little confused but I needed to know whaat was going on. Thanks Netgalley for the advanced copy.

An amazing novel! The characters are well-drawn and truly pull at your heart strings. I couldn't put the book down till I reached the final chapter. Highly recommended.

“The Two Lila Bennetts” is the latest novel by authors, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke. If you are looking for a roller coaster of a novel with plenty of unexpected twists and turns, you need to read this book. The novel follows Lila Bennett on two very distinct paths, one in which she is kidnapped, and one in which she is not. This dual narrative approach is quite effective because neither pathway necessarily leads Lila in the direction you might expect her to go. Clues from one narrative hint at what might be happening to Lila in her alternative reality.

Lila Bennett, a criminal attorney, is not the most likable person. She is frustrated because her husband, a brilliant writer, cannot motivate himself to write a follow up to his debut novel. Lila is having an affair with her best friend’s husband, Sam, who is also managing partner at her law firm. She recently got a man acquitted who may have killed his wife and his wife’s sister informs Lila about karma. The evening of the acquittal, Lila can either make the choice to go home to her husband or have drinks with her lover. But in this novel, she can do both, and the reader is privy to what happens to Lila as a result of both of those choices.

I would love to know more about the writing process of Liza Fenton and Lisa Steinke. Did one writer draft one narrative while the other wrote the second? How did the writers keep track of what information was revealed in one narrative versus in the second one? Regardless, the writing is compelling, vivid, and thought provoking because we all make bad choices that often result in consequences that we then have to face.
I'd like to thank NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the authors for for providing me an advanced copy of this novel. “The Two Lila Bennetts” will be published on July 23, 2019.

A story with a "Sliding Doors" theme- remember the movie with Gwyneth Paltrow?! The authors said it's one of their favorites, and the inspiration for The Two Lila Bennetts. Lila Bennett has made some bad choices, but haven't we all? Is it too late to change her ways? A successful criminal attorney, some say Lila will do anything to clear her clients' names. But deep down, Lila wants to help people and still thinks of cases that she wishes she handled better. Her story is told in alternating chapters, both featuring Lila; we learn about two paths her life could go down depending on the life choices she made.
A quick, page turning read, the alternating story lines will keep you reading fast till the very end. I couldn't wait to see what happened to Lila, and was shocked at the reveal. Really makes you think of how choices can affect so many different people for years to come. A great, thrilling thrilling read from Lisa and Liz!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced readers copy for my honest review!

I could not put this book down! Similar in nature to the Sliding Doors movie where there are two options for Lila's life to go - I was glued to see how each life turned out based on her choices.
While Lila definitely had some quirks and dislikable characteristics, I was riveted to see what happened on each of the 2 paths she took. One involved being kidnapped and the other is titled "Free" and she goes about her daily life. Great read! Wild ride!

I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I absolutely LOVED and ADORED this book! I could NOT put it down and I read it in a day!! A day!! I finished it in bed last night as I could NOT put it down!! Definitely, the BEACH read of the summer!

Anyway, the best way to describe this book is to compare it to the movies SLIDING DOORS or RUN LOLA RUN (as an aside, both are GREAT movies). If you know the movie references and enjoyed the premises of the movies, then you will love this book as I did. Even if you didn't like the movies or have no idea what I am talking about, you will love the book!!

I loved the character development, the creativity of the story, the rapid twists & turns of the storyline, that the story was based in Los Angeles (my hometown), and all of the current cultural references.

DEFINITE recommend! Enjoy this book - you will NOT be disappointed!!

Lila Bennett has been kidnapped and is being held hostage by someone who forces her to face what she's done and is about to trap her in a concrete cell. In an alternate life, however, Lila is a seasoned criminal defense attorney whose life is on the line. Can she figure it all out before it's too late? This novel is full of suspense and mystery that will keep you glued to the edge of your seat!

Thank you very much to Lake Union Publishing, NetGalley and the authors, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, for an early read of this book, for an honest review.

This book shows us that our choices in life, leads to the path we take each and every day. This book, goes back and forth between 2 totally different lives of the same person, and while that might sound confusing, it's so very well written that it's very easy to follow and read.

The book is a thrilling read of new beginnings, regret and is extremely unpredictable. This was a Thriller from the first word, and I can't wait to ready more from these 2 authors. Well done ladies!!!

It has been a long time since I've read a book this suspenseful! The two narratives are both so carefully crafted and so well done that I could not wait to see what would happen next. I liked how the character of Lila was flawed; this made her seem very real to me. And I especially loved how she was starting to turn her life around and become a better person. The "Sliding Doors" aspect of the plot makes for a riveting page turner. My only quibble was that I didn't think the character of Ethan (Lila's husband) was quite as fleshed out as he could have been. But that might have just been me and my failure as a reader. It certainly did not impact my enjoyment of the story. I've read all of Liz and Lisa's other books and in my opinion THE TWO LILA BENNETTS is their best yet! The story is simply fantastic and so entertaining. I didn't see the ending coming, but I loved it and the way they pulled it off.

Wow! What a powerful book. Lisa's development through each chapter was compelling and so.relatable. How many of us wish for a second chance? Loved this from beginning to end.

This is the first book I've read by Liz & Lisa but I definitely have to read more. They have been friends for over 30 years & that is already amazing but they also coauthored beautifully together. I loved how this story was about the choices we make and the different outcomes that result from it. I am already a cautious decision maker in my life & this book is a great example of why I am. I loved how the story flip-flopped with alternating plots that unfolded. It kept the story interesting & very engaging. It also reminded me of the choose your own adventure books I loved so much growing up. I loved the shoutout in the acknowledgments..."to all the book bloggers and bookstagrammers who work tirelessly to promote novels, "thank you" doesn't even begin to cover it. You are such a force of nature with a mission : to encourage people to read, something so desperately needed in our world. Please know that we see and appreciate all your tireless work." That was the nicest thing to say. Thank you Liz and Lisa for that. That means so much! I truly LOVE reading & reviewing books. Also, thank you for all of your hard work & dedication to a life-long friendship & writing great books together!

4* Regret Stars

I get very excited when I see that Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke have collaborated once again to write a thrilling read! The Two Lila Bennetts did not disappoint.

This is a dual story of the life of Lila Bennett who is a ruthless Defense Attorney and about the very bad choices she has made in her life. Not only has she hurt herself but also those close and around her. After wining a high profile case Lila is presented with two options in her life to either head home to her waiting husband or go out with her Boss Sam with whom she is having an affair with to celebrate. Her destiny is then spilt into two paths one where she is held captive and one where she is free. In both of these timelines secrets and lies are exposed and Lila is forced to address her past mistakes.

This was a very interesting read and kept me engaged until the last page was read with a twist or two along the way.

Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for my early copy to read and review.

I was given an advanced copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interestingly written book. It really was almost like read two stories in parallel. The choices we make determines the path we take and the consequences of those decisions.