This book was excellent. My favorite read as of late. So many different parts and things to think about. I could not put it down and stayed up way too late finishing it.

Sandra Brown never disappoints! I love a good psychological thriller, but the best part of Brown’s writing style is that she includes a little romance too.

The premise of the book was quite mind-blowing, with a triangle of men fighting over the welfare of the same woman, all for different reasons.

Sneaky, suspenseful, surprising, with some love thrown in. Add Brown’s latest work to your Fall TBR list!

I have always enjoyed reading any novel by Sandra Brown and this book was no exception. I did find that this book ventured more into the chick lit category than any of her other books. It was a little of a thriller, a mystery and a romance in the story and one knew pretty much how it was going to turn out. You just didn’t know what path it was going to take to get to the end. The characters were well defined so much so that you could picture just how they looked. There’s the handsome ex-football champ, the cute little DA, the grouchy ex-football coach, and the spoiled rich kid with his side kicks. A great, easy read.

Retired hotshot Super Bowl MVP is the legally appointed person with the authority to pull the plug on comatose ex-wife who he hasn’t seen in four years. She is the victim of a sex orgy which resulted in the conviction of a terrible human being who strangled her. He is set free after two years because of a reduced charge and the shenanigans of his wealthy father. Who should enter the scene but a prosecuting D.A. who, of course, is also a beautiful woman. She tries to convince SuperBowl MVP that were he to pull the plug, she could reopen the bad guy’s case and charge him with murder. He, on the other hand, doesn’t want to hurt the victim’s father who insists that said plug not be pulled. Of course, beautiful woman and handsome football hero fall in love while avoiding mayhem at the hands of Mr. Bad Guy who wants them not to pull said plug.

Sorry guys. This review is as bad as the book. I apologize. Suffice it to say, this is not my favorite Sandra Brown offering. If you want a mediocre read to fill time, go for it. Otherwise, give it a pass.

Good story, likable characters, a definite page-turner. The ego and pathos blended well together. Recommend.

This story centers around an interesting collection of characters. We have Zach, former NFL star and Suoer Bowl MVP, Kate the attorney, Eban who is a rich entitled jerk, and Rebecca who suffered at Eban’s hands to name a few. I was instantly hooked by the unique premise, fast pace, and unforeseen twists and turns. Terrific read!

Zach Bridger is a former Super Bowl MVP player but now wants to avoid all limelight. He had been briefly married to Rebecca Pratt at one time. She was always wanting to be with the elite so she hung out at all the big clubs. She was into drugs and sex with whomever and many.
On the fateful night she was with Eban Clarke and his two buddies and they put her into a comatose state. Eban is a rich spoiled brat and he ends up in prison the other two are on probation. He gets out early and that is when the trouble begins! Sid is Eban’s Dad and he sees no wrong in Eban but his attorney and very close friend Upton is telling him different.
Rebecca had left a POA in Zach’s name so unfortunately he was the one to make the decisions about her life.
Kate Lennon is a state prosecutor and she wants Eban back in prison where he deserves to be. Talk about a tough little cookie!
This book was very emotional at times and some harrowing scenes but an absolute great read.

I received this ARC from Netgalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Review of Digital Galley Edition

Zach Bridger believed that the volatile ending of his marriage to Rebecca Pratt spelled the end of any relationship between the two of them. But an assault has left her on life support . . . and Zach holds her medical power of attorney. Now it’s up to him to decide whether to leave her on life support or to “pull the plug” and let her die.

Zach’s relationship with Rebecca’s parents bring a new complication to the matter; eventually, he leaves the decisions with them.

When Rebecca’s attacker, Eban Clarke, receives an early release from prison, Kathryn Cartwright Lennon, a state prosecutor, comes into the case and Zach soon learns that the man will face no charges . . . unless Rebecca dies.

But Eban, son of a wealthy Atlanta family, has plans of his own.

=========

In this roller coaster of a tale, suspense, interesting, believable characters, and a twisty plot all work together to keep readers on the edge of their seats, turning pages as rapidly as possible. As expected, there’s intrigue, romance, suspense, and unexpected plot twists.

Justice, ethics, and privilege all play a part in the unfolding story; readers will find it to be as thought-provoking as it is breathtakingly melodramatic.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley
#Overkill #NetGalley

I thought this book was a fast paced book that hooked me in within a few chapters. I have read this author in the past and equate her writing to light with a twist of mystery.

I enjoyed the plot but can say I really didn’t resonate with any of the characters. I truly did not like the spoiled brat son.

Overall I would recommend this book if your looking for something to keep you interested and light.

This was my first Sandra Brown book. More of a bodice-ripper than I thriller I would say. There is clear sexual tension that is finally realized between Zach, the ex-football player, and Kate, the prosecutor. To start out, Zach is facing some unique challenges. He receives a call that his ex-wife is on life support after a violent attack, and he must decide whether to pull the plug or not. He can't do it and leaves the decision to the parents. A few years later, her accused attacker, Eban is released from prison. It's not too clear if he's the actual culprit, but Kate is determined to find out. There's a unique twist her that makes for a heart retching decision. If Rebecca is pulled off life support and dies, Eban will go away for murder. If not, well who knows. There are lots of legal and moral impacts to Zach's decision and the characters are so well written you are invested in the story and want to know their fates, A surprise twist at the end was also unexpected! Highly recommended!

Sandra Brown is a force to be reckoned with, always delivering top-notch suspense thrillers that make you quickly turn the page.

From page one I was excited for this novel: as a huge sports fan and lawyer, having the main characters being a prior Super Bowl MVP and a state prosecutor – I was hooked! Overkill follows the fallout of what happens from one crazy – drug filled – night with Eban, Theo and Cal, which leaves the gorgeous ex-wife of former football star Zach Bridger, Rebecca, in a vegetative state. Four years later Eban is released from prison and prosecutor Kate is determined to have him return there – but for that to happen, Rebecca would need all life sustaining measures to end, which is in the hands of Zach.

I did enjoy the character development (if not the characters themselves) and the inter-play between them and loved Kate’s feistiness as a go-get-them female attorney seeking justice at all costs. I also think Brown discussed some serious underlying issues that need to be discussed more such as privacy rights and crime against another person’s body.

Brown knows how to craft a tale, but I thought most of the characters names were a little out there – Upton, Eban, Bing, Sid etc. Reading “Uncle Up” made me laugh instead of taking seriously the mystery that was unfolding. In addition, I understood that the characters had money but for the relatively short period of time that this novel took place in – I feel like there was multiple trips from New Orleans to Atlanta and the mountains of North Carolina – and that much quick travel didn’t seem plausible as it was all laid out.

Between Eban, Rebecca’s father and the local Officer Morris, there was a tone of bitterness (think spoiled brat syndrome and entitlement) that I don’t remember a lot of Brown’s books having. For a mystery/thriller novel, there was a huge undercurrent of sex too (which I didn’t mind, just found strange!). Lastly, dabbling some with probate and guardianship law – I feel like four years is a long time for someone to be kept on life support without a guardian ad litem appointed or more court involvement. . . what if Zach couldn’t afford to pay for the facility for years on end? It would have been more believable with a shorter time frame, but I understand how that wouldn’t fit with the rest of the story and Eban’s prison term.

This book had a lot of potential, but I felt like near the end I was simply reading it to finish it instead of to see what would happen. I give this book 3.2 stars (which is probably the lowest I have ever rated a Brown book before). It was good and had a good storyline, but unfortunately, I’m comparing it to previous novels of Brown that were simply amazing.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC; all opinions are my own!

Sandra Brown always delivers and never more so than with Overkill. Along with a riveting mystery, she tackles a difficult ethical dilemma.

This is an excellent thriller with twists that kept me engrossed throughout the story. The characters are brilliantly written and have you instantly involved in their lives. The story leads you down a road of twists, turns, and suspense. The writing was impeccable and every chapter worked to lead you through the deceit and lies to find the truth. The pacing was tense until the very end. There is a happy ending but Zach and Kate have to work hard to get it. An intense but wonderful read.

Zack Bridger is a former Super Bowl MVP and receives a call telling him that his ex-wife, Rebecca, is on life support and he has her medical power of attorney. They have not been close after she ruined his reputation with her drugs and wild behavior. Rebecca’s dad resents Zack, believing Rebecca’s behavior is all his fault.
Eban is the son of a wealthy family, and his father raised a spoiled, selfish young man. Eban is the one who is responsible for a wild party where Rebecca nearly died. Money and a powerful attorney get Eban released early from prison and Kate Lennon, a state prosecutor, hopes to put him back in. As Zack struggles with what to do with Rebecca and Kate wrestles with how to deal with Eban, their time together sparks feelings.
This book is great. The characters of Zack and Kate are very well developed and their relationship blossoms even with all the turmoil. There are many secondary characters that contribute to the love, devotion, and suspense. Eban plans on getting rid of Zack and Kate and the work he puts into their demise offers a thrilling ride. I could hardly put it down. I appreciate receiving a copy of the book from netGalley in return for an honest review.

When you see Sandra Brown’s name on the cover you know you’re in for a wild ride. One that includes great characters, twisted plots, and, of course, sex. OVERKILL does all that and more. Ex-NFL superstar Zach Bridger, drummed out of the NFL and fired from his sportscaster job due to his alcohol problem, now lives in relative isolation on a remote North Carolina mountain. But his past clings to him. His ex-wife Rebecca, who became the prototypical party girl after their divorce, now lies in a coma in Louisiana. Her condition, a permanent vegetative state with no chance of recovery, is the result of a night of group sex involving asphyxia, and she has lingered in this state for years. Now, her main attacker, Eban Clarke, is set to leave prison on early release and state prosecutor Kate Lennon approaches Zach with a plan. If Rebecca finally succumbs to her injuries, she can charge Clarke with murder. But the clock is ticking as Clarke is rich, entitled, and just might flee the country before Kate can bring him to account. The problem? Zach holds the medical power of attorney for Rebecca and it is only he who can authorize removing life support. Though Zach legally holds this power, he has abdicated the final decision to Rebecca’s father Doug Pratt, saying he will not go against her father’s wishes. Pratt detests Zach and blames him for his daughter’s wild life. He also holds strong religious beliefs about someone other than God terminating anyone’s life, particularly his daughter’s. Eban Clarke leaves nothing to chance, including the two friends who were with him that fateful night when Rebecca was damaged beyond repair. What follows is a cat and mouse game that builds to a crescendo of fear and violence. Sandra Brown never lets you down.

DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series

Overkill is a suspense story that will keep you turning the pages to see what will happen next. The characters are well developed and the plot will keep you reading till the end.

Imagine having your life support in the hand of your ex-husband. This book sets that stage, so the pages turn quickly. A great read for these hot summer days!

Zach Bridger, a washed up football player, is the medical proxy for his ex-wife, who is languishing in a nursing home, on life support. The man responsible for the sex and drugs-incident that put her in this state has just been released from prison. Kate Lennon, a prosecutor, wants Zach to pull the plug so the perpetrator can be tried for murder. His ex-father-in-law wants his daughter kept alive at all costs.

As improbable as all that sounds, this is a Sandra Brown novel. So you know there will be sex, the main characters will face danger and fall in love, and the bad guys will be brought to justice. If you’re looking for the next great literary masterpiece, you’ll be disappointed in this book. But if you want a light read to take to the beach, this book is for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Former NFL star Zach Bridgers has spent the last 4 years hiding in his North Carolina mountain retreat—ever since his ex-wife Rebecca was put into a coma after a wild party and the media had a field day speculating about her antics. Zach still holds the medical power of attorney for her and when a beautiful district attorney from Atlanta comes snooping around, Zach learns that Rebecca’s assailant from the party has been released from prison early. The only way for him to be put back in prison is for Zach to take her off life support. But Zach and the DA are set up to look like they’re romantically involved and Rebecca’s case becomes an Internet sensation.

There’s lots of thoughtful information about life support decisions in the story, but it doesn’t slow the action. As always, Sandra Brown is a master of suspense, romance, and adding that final twist.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever thought about how you would feel if the decision to end life-saving measures for another human fell to you? What an intriguing concept/plot for a story. Sandra Brown expertly exposes the mental torment and emotional roller coaster that comes with that decision.

The protagonist, Zach Bridger, a quarterback and Super Bowl MVP, learns that he is the medical power of attorney for his ex-wife of five years who is in a vegetative state. Foundering with the decision and folding under public scrutiny, he defers to her parents for the decision and approves continued life supportive measures. Four years later, the man responsible for her condition receives early prison release. For the man to receive a conviction of murder, Zach's ex-wife must die. What follows is a story full of twists and turns that deftly weave themes of justice, ethics, privilege, humility, grief, religion, and more.

This book was a solid five-star read for me. The characters were well-developed, the story perfectly paced, and just the right amounts of suspense, tragedy, and romance.

Thank you NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Sandra Brown for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.