In these two books you can really see Lisa Jackson’s emerging greatness for thrillers and mysteries. I almost feel like I have read the first book before but can’t say for certain either way these are two really great books and although written in either the early 90s or late 80s for those of us who are there and loved reading then will love these books. Then again you would probably love them anyway they’re really great and although I like the last one best I can still honestly say both were really good. Like always she has lovable characters in character she love the heat and always has dialogue you want to keep breathing and a story that keeps you turning the pages. I have loved Lisa Jackson for a long time and look so forward to her new books but if she’s going to be re-publishing old ones I am down for that as well. I received this book from NetGalley and Kensington books but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

GETTING EVEN by Lisa Jackson
This is a compilation of 2 previously released books, Yesterday's Lies and Zachary's Law, both have plenty of revenge, romantic suspense, and chemistry.
Yesterday's Lies features Tory Wilson and Trask McFaddan who were in love and planning a future 5 years previously. When a trial over a horse swindle ends with Trask and Tory pitted against each other.
Zachary's Lies features Lauren Regis and Zachary Winters. Lauren meets Zachary when she hires him to find her children that were kidnapped by her ex husband. I really enjoyed the relationship between the 2 of them. This is a 4 star book.

2 older Lisa Jackson books into one –
I picked up this book as thriller/mystery but I would it classified more as a romantic suspense, which is not my reading kind of thing.
Yesterday Lies – 5 years ago, Tory Wilson’s dad was send to prison for horse swindling and murder of the insurance investigator, where he died of cancer, he did not speak during this trial – in Tory’s mind the one who send him there was US Senator Trask McFadden also her lover at the time. Trask receives an letter saying that there is one more person out there.
The plot line and investigation is interesting, I could do without some of the more intimate details.

Zachary’s Law – Lauren Regis is looking for her kids. Her ex husband kidnapped them and she has been looking for them ever since. Her last resort is the unconventional attorney Zachary Winters, who comes with his own emotional luggage. Again, to much intimate details for my liking

EXCERPT: Five years she had waited for the feel of him, denying her most secret dreams and now the pain of those long empty nights alone was about to be rewarded. The scent of him was strong in her nostrils and the sound of his breathing filled her ears.

ABOUT 'GETTING EVEN': "Trask McFadden is back." Those are words that Tory has been waiting to hear, half in dread, half with longing. It's been five years since Trask landed her father behind bars for horse swindling, using things she'd told him in confidence. Her father died there, but now Trask insists he has information that could help prove who was really responsible for the crime, not to mention his own brother's death. Trask needs her help. But he won't get it, not after destroying her family, her ranch, and the love they shared.

Lauren Regis's ex-husband has kidnapped her children. There's nothing she won't do to get them back, including hiring Zachary Winters. The unconventional attorney has made a name for himself by locating people--especially those who don't want to be found. But he's got a darker reputation too, and there are rumors swirling about the fate of his ex-wife. How much is Lauren willing to trust him--or to lose?

MY THOUGHTS: Oh, cringe, on so many levels. Where do I start?

I started reading this with heightened expectations, but . . .
there was far too much dialogue, far too many 'steamy' scenes. The characters were all pretty predictable. And there was one scene in Yesterday's Lies where I felt really uncomfortable and confused. Why would Lisa Jackson write a scene where the lady quite clearly says 'No', and the male character persists in trying to talk her into having sex with him. When I finished the book I discovered that the two stories contained in this book were written in the 1980s.

So, in retrospect, the attitudes and actions of the characters are probably pretty accurate for the era in which it was written and set.

I probably would have enjoyed this in the 80s. But in the intervening forty years, my tastes have changed, and lust-filled dramas just don't do it for me anymore. And, to be perfectly honest, it seemed like the lust to mystery ratio in these stories were way out of balance.

Had there been more mystery, less lust - I can't even dignify it by calling it romance - and more rounded characters, I would have enjoyed this much more. But then, I may just be old and jaded.

⭐⭐.5

#GettingEven #NetGalley

I: @readlisajackson @kensingtonbooks

T: @readlisajackson @KensingtonBooks

#crime #familydrama #mystery #romanticsuspense #thriller

THE AUTHOR: Before she became a nationally bestselling author, Lisa Jackson was a mother struggling to keep food on the table by writing novels, hoping against hope that someone would pay her for them. Today, neck deep in murder, her books appear on The New York Times, the USA Today, and the Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.

With over thirty bestsellers to her name, Lisa Jackson is a master of taking readers to the edge of sanity – and back – in novels that buzz with dangerous secrets and deadly passions. She continues to be fascinated by the minds and motives of both her killers and their pursuers—the personal, the professional and downright twisted. As she builds the puzzle of relationships, actions, clues, lies and personal histories that haunt her protagonists, she must also confront the fear and terror faced by her victims, and the harsh and enduring truth that, in the real world, terror and madness touch far too many lives and families. Before she became a nationally bestselling author, Lisa Jackson was a mother struggling to keep food on the table by writing novels, hoping against hope that someone would pay her for them. Today, neck deep in murder, her books appear on The New York Times, the USA Today, and the Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Kensington Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Getting Even by Lisa Jackson for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

This is a compilation of two previously released books together in one story. A synopsis of both is below:

Yesterday's Lies: Trask is back in Sinclair, Oregon. Five years ago he testified against Tory's father for horse swindling, using information given in confidence by Tory. Now he's asking for help...This story was suspenseful and well written, a wonderful second chance romance!

Zachary's Law: Lauren seeks out Zachary for help finding her children who were taken by her former husband. Zachary has had heartaches of his own that he is dealing wtih, but the two of them bond. This story was very gripping and I devoured it.

Getting Even by Lisa Jackson combines two of her earlier romantic suspense novels into this newly released book. The novels have common themes of revenge, suspense, romance, and some action as well.

Yesterday’s Lies is set in Sinclair, Oregon and features Tory Wilson and Trask McFadden. Tory and Trask were in love, but five years ago Trask tore Tory’s world apart when his testimony landed her father in prison for horse swindling using information Tory had told him in confidence. On top of that, her father died in prison. Now Trask is asking for her help.

Tory is determined, prideful, feels guilty, and is working hard to get the family ranch profitable. Trask has become a U.S. senator, regrets his actions hurt Tory, but did what he felt he had to do. Both characters go through attitude and outlook changes as the story progresses.

The plot is relatively straightforward with a few twists here and there. While it was a little predictable, there’s also danger, heartache, and action with enough suspense to keep me engaged. The world-building was well-done allowing readers to be transported to the ranch.
Overall, the book was engrossing and fast-paced, featuring a second chance romance with plenty of danger along the way. Themes include greed, family, trust, misplaced trust, guilt, romance, destroyed dreams, fear, and much more.

Zachary’s Law features Lauren Regis and Zachary Winters and is set mainly in Portland, Oregon. Lauren’s ex-husband kidnapped her two children slightly over a year ago. Since then, the police, a private detective, and two lawyers have been unable to help her find them. One of the attorneys and a co-worker recommended she contact Zachary. He’s an unconventional attorney with a darker reputation. Lauren is desperate and asks him to help her.

Lauren is tormented by the loss of her children and desperate to find them. Zachary is still suffering from the death of his wife and his business partner. They change and grow slightly as the story unfolds.

The storyline was heart-wrenching at times. There was a lot more than the investigation going on in this novel. It was heavier on the romance and Lauren’s work than I expected. I felt the ending was resolved a little too easily. However, Lauren’s situation grabbed my attention and the story kept my interest. Themes include kidnapping, desperation, love, alcoholism, attraction, conflicts of interest, and trust.

Overall, this was an intense story with likeable characters that kept me turning the pages. Those who enjoy romantic suspense books may want to check out this novel.

Kensington Books – Zebra and Lisa Jackson provided a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently expected to be February 21, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

I have been reading Lisa Jackson since I was a child. Not a single one of her books has ever disappointed, including this one! This is 2 of her older books put into one with a new cover and both of these stores are 5 ⭐️! If you’re a fan of Lisa this is a must read.

This was actually two books in one, and I liked the second story much more. The first one was too predictable. I always am attracted to tales about missing children, and there were two of them in the second half of the book. The ex-husband had kidnapped them, and the mom had frantically searched for them for over a year, even hiring attorneys and private eyes. She will not give up. These are HER children, and she missed them terribly.

Have reviewed on GoodReads and will soon add Amazon and BookBub.

Getting Even is the re release of two of Lisa Jackson's book both having the theme of revenge.

I love a good revenge story and Getting Even does not disappoint.

The first story is Yesterday's Lies and the second is Zachary's Law. I don't remember reading either before so I enjoyed both equally.

It was certainly interesting to go back to Lisa's earlier works and see how she has developed over time.

Highly recommended to add to your Lisa Jackson collection which I will certainly do when available tor purchase.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books, Zebra for the privilege to read and review Getting Even.

Two romantic suspense stories written in 1986 and re-published in one new volume. Even tho they are older stories I enjoyed them and thought the suspense of each story was enough to hold my attention. The first, Yesterday’s Lies opens old wounds from five years earlier and brings to the surface feelings of betrayal and a love that won’t die. The second, Zachery’s Law is about a desperate woman trying to find her two children who were kidnapped by her ex husband more than a year ago. After finally finding a lawyer who will actually help her, she also finds love again that she never thought possible after the hurt and betrayal she has suffered.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

I liked both of these stories. There is some getting even in each story. Trask and Tory have a history and some of it isn't good. They were in love and then Trask betrayed Tory and she may still love him, but she can't forget what he did. When he comes back five years later and starts stirring things up again, she wants no part of it, but she can't seem to stop herself from helping him.
Zach is a great lawyer, but he has put so many things on the back burner after a tragedy. He seems to be existing. When a beautiful woman barges into his office and asks for help finding her children, he can't help but join the world again. Lauren has been hunting for her children for over a year and no one seems to be able to help her except Zack. He is the best but even he feels that she may never find her children. He wants to do whatever he can to find them for her. When Lauren's job is in jeopardy because of her association with Zack, she will not give up and she will not give up Zack. Can they find the children?

Getting Even: Two Thrilling Novels of Suspense by Lisa Jackson is a recommended collection (if you enjoy romance novels) of two previously published romantic suspense stories from 1986.

Yesterday’s Lies and Zachary’s Law are both romantic suspense novels that share revenge as a plot element. I enjoy suspense but don't read romance novels. I have enjoyed several of Jackson's more recent suspense novels, so to be honest, the romance aspect, a central theme, bores me. However, if you enjoy novels focused more on romance with light suspense in the plot, this collection of two novels might be more up your alley. I read them because I have very much enjoyed more recent novels by Lisa Jackson. These two earlier novels most definitely showcase Jackson's growth as a novelist.

In Yesterday’s Lies Tory learns that Trask is back in town and wants to see her. Trask used her five years earlier to put her now deceased father behind bars and she is not interested in anything he has to say. Trask talks to her anyway and wants Tory to help him further investigate the incident that landed her father in prison because he has learned that they may have been others involved.

Zachary’s Law features Zachary Winters, an unconventional attorney with a dark reputation who locates people. Lauren Regis hires him to find her ex-husband who has kidnapped her two children as he won't share custody.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Kensington via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, Edelweiss, and Amazon.

Getting Even
by Lisa Jackson
Pub Date: 21 Feb 2023

My Review:

Getting Even is from two previously published novels from the 80's. "Yesterday"s Lies" I wasn't able to finish. I just couldn't get into the story.

"Zachary's Law" was a little better if you didn't mind all of the typing errors.

In conclusion, I try not to give a book a low rating but in this case each story I gave 1 star which is giving the book a total of 2 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an eARC, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

It is super important to note that this is not a new book this is two previously published novels that both follow the theme of revenge. They were published in the 80’s and if I had realized this I wouldn’t have picked this book up. I’ve learned that nothing with a romantic slant written in the 80’s holds up for me. I want to separate the two stories as I review as my feelings were definitely different for them both (although neither really did it for me). Yesterday’s Lies was one of the hardest books to read I’ve had in a while. It was so full of misogynistic bull that I was so frustrated I couldn’t get through it. The “hero” or love interest betrayed the heroine 5 years prior and sent her father t prison. He comes back and she repeatedly says things like get out of my life and he says no you’re going to listen or no I know you still love me. She literally tries to kick him off her property and he still acts like he knows better and ignores her. Consent is a cool thing and lack of consent is a huge turn off for me. This book I’d give 1 star unfortunately. I wanted to throttle both the main characters and didn’t care about the mystery at all. The second book Zachary’s Law was a little better but not by much. The main character had her children stolen by her ex (which btw is a felony, a federal offense in this particular case. Maybe in the 80’s he wouldn’t have been prosecuted but taking your children against a court order is a crime. Period. That mother is desperate to get her children back and hires an attorney to try to help her. From the start he is weird and asks multiple times if she’s sure she doesn’t still love him. Then he judges her for getting into a relationship with a previous attorney. And then he hits on her and tells her he’s in love in like 3 days. It lacked believability and the ending pissed me off quite a lot. This story I gave 2.5 stars. Overall I’m going with 2 for the rating of the whole collection. I like some of this author’s more recent books, my best advice is to start with those. Some things don’t stand the test of time.

Getting Even by Lisa Jackson
This book is two books in one YESTERDAY'S LIES - Trask and Tory' story, and ZACHARY'S LAW - Zachary and Lauren's story. Both are full of angst, heartache, danger, deceit, death, hate and love, interesting sub characters, some laughs, lots of tears, and some steam all getting us to a HEA. I enjoyed the stories - but only gave the book 3 stars because of so many typos.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Unpredictable Action-packed Happily Ever After Romantic Tragic Twisted Tear-jerker Scary age-turner Steamy Witty.

3.25/5 stars! I really like this author's work, so I was excited to read this book. It was an added bonus to realize there were two books in one with this story. I enjoyed "Yesterday's Lies" but found "Zachary's Law" to fall flat. It wasn't the author's best work. However, because I really loved half of this book, and have read many other successful tales by this author, I think it was just a case of one portion of this book being a major miss.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Fans of Jackson will be pleased to see this packaging and reissue of two of her older titles. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's the perfect book to take on vacation.

Oh my god!! This book was so good!! I love Lisa Jackson’s books. But this one was wow!! I had no problem staying interested in it. I couldn’t put this book down. I was definitely impressed with the story. I will definitely be buying this book for my home library and reading this again!! Loved it!!!

I enjoyed being able to read two short books that were fast paced and entertaining. I enjoyed the first one more as Tory has her life torn apart when her ex boyfriend now Senator comes to town. He is seeking the truth about who murdered his brother and who was involved in horse swindle. Tory always claimed her father was innocent even though he was convicted and sent to prison for the crime. After that the Lazy W reputation was ruined and the ranch has been struggling to stay afloat. Someone is sending notes and threatening her and Neva.

Second chance at love and suspense make this an enjoyable page turner.

There's 2 stories in this book. I'm going to write the review combined because I couldn't get into either story. I wanted to like this book so badly. However, it stressed me out. In both stories I wanted to throttle at least 1 main character. I don't know if it's because I couldn't relate to either story or if it was something else. I usually love Lisa Jackson's books, but this one didn't do it for me. In the first story with Tory and Trask, I couldn't see why she would fall for it again. With Lauren and Zachary, the second story, there's no way in the world I would sit back and do what she did. Maybe it's just me and others will have a different reaction. I will say that I still love Lisa Jackson and will look forward to her next book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Lisa Jackson for the opportunity to read this ARC.