As someone who was diagnosed with heart disease at age 33, the premise of a heart transplant patient falling in love with her donor's husband was intriguing to me. However, I feel like it fell short a little bit. I found the female main character hard to relate to and not super likeable. In all honesty, none of the characters were very relatable for me. I felt more like I was watching a lifetime movie, than reading a psychological thriller. I do have to give the author credit though. The amount of suspects will keep you guessing until the very end and I definitely didn't get it right. I chose the obvious suspects but I wasn't even close. The story line was a good idea and the writer is obviously talented as the book is definitely well written, but this is a story that won't stick with me. Towards the end I was ready for it to be over because it just didn't hold my attention well enough. This was the first book I've read by this author so I do plan to give her other works a try but for me, this one was just okay.

As an avid thriller reader, I love a good twist. The twists in this book were outrageous, but didn’t really make much sense to me. Also, none of the characters were likable. I did love this author’s “The Family Plot” much better.

Imagine receiving a second chance at life, literally! After the tragic death of Daphne, Rosie finds herself with a new heart and an obsession that spirals dangerously out of control: Daphne’s husband. You can feel Rosie’s desperation for love and connection, and it pulls you right into her whirlwind of emotions.

This twisty tale is packed with unreliable characters who take you on a wild ride through their unhinged actions. What I absolutely loved was how Megan Collins cleverly weaves in emails, interviews, and texts, adding layers to the storytelling that keep you guessing.

Cross My Heart is a true page-turner! With its unique premise and fast pace, I found myself glued to the pages, desperate to uncover the next shocking twist. I couldn’t put it down until I knew how it all ended!

If you’re in the mood for a gripping read that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this is the book for you!

Cross My Heart is an excellent thriller. It starts with a fantastic concept, which Megan Collins executes flawlessly: Our heroine, Rosie Lachlan, reaches out to the widower of her heart donor through an anonymous web site called DonorConnect – but little does he know, she has already parsed his identity and developed an ever-so-slight obsession with him. His name is Morgan Thorne, and he’s a famous writer. And as the book’s tagline says, Rosie has his dead wife’s heart – but she wants Morgan’s, and she’ll stop at nothing to get it.

Oh, Rosie. Rosie, Rosie, Rosie. It’s been quite a while since I had such a good time being inside a character’s head. Rosie is just…well, she can be A LOT at times. Collins’ character work with Rosie is absolute perfection, striding the finest of lines between a woman you can relate to and sympathize with, and a woman who is becoming unhinged in her quest for romance. All Rosie wants is to be in love, to find her person – and she’ll do whatever is necessary to get her happy ending. The book is written from her first-person point-of-view, so it’s fascinating to read how Rosie justifies her actions and then to see how they are perceived by the people who care about her. And we also get Morgan’s perspective through his emails, which adds a chilling, unsettling undercurrent to the story. It was hard to figure out who to believe at times, which kept me completely riveted.

Cross My Heart is tightly-plotted and written with urgent suspense, and although I figured out a few of the twists, I was still surprised at the overall direction of the story. Collins is effortlessly weaving between a couple of different genres here, and it made for a propulsive reading experience. And a purely fun one, all the way through. Thank you to Atria Books for the complimentary reading opportunity.

This is a fast paced twisty little number! Add in an unreliable narrator with bubblegum pink hair and a love of Danish pastries and you’re in for an unpredictable ride. She’s kind of a female Joe from You. I will for sure check out more from this author. Overall recommend!

THIS BOOK. The idea is fantastic and so eerie, I couldn’t wait to start reading. I was completed sucked in from the very first page and I was racing through it to see where it could possibly go. Everything about this book held my interest.

This book was right up my alley. I love a good unrealistic narrator…is she crazy? What’s the line between love and obsession type of thrillers. This was so good and had me saying wtf up into the last line. I honestly can say a thriller will get 5 stars if I can’t guess the “killer”. Yea now i need to look up this author’s previous works.

This book was....something. Do you like unreliable narrators and characters that you scream "YOU IDIOT!!!" at in your head constantly? Do you love stories about falling in love and not quite knowing where the line is between passion and obsession? Well, then this one is for you.

Is Rosie a little nutso....or does someone just want everyone (Rosie herself) to think so? My feelings about this book are so mixed. All the characters were pretty awful...yet I could not put this book down and HAD to know how it ended. It's a quick, wild ride and I absolutely recommend it.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a fun read - I thought it kind of lost some steam at the end, which I found a bit disjointed and all over the place, but it was an entertaining read overall.

Bonus points for the reference to the turkey scene from Family Fortunes, which is one of my favorite bloopers too.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Although I enjoyed the Family Plot more, this one gave its own exciting dose of unhinged. All of the characters ran through my mind as the killer at some point while reading. Some several times and I’m happy to say, I only figured it out in the last few chapters. This one will keep you flipping pages if for nothing more than a fresh take on a repeated trope. Solid read.

A heart transplant patient, Rosie, becomes obsessed with her donors husband. Rosie wants nothing more than to find the one, and after receiving the heart of a man’s wife, how could he not be the one for her? While Rosie begins messaging this man she starts to wonder if he is really a good guy or if he could have something to have done with his wife’s death. Definitely an edge of the seat domestic thriller! I was sucked in from the very first page. Truly enjoyed from the first page to the last and highly recommend!

Very unique concept. Working in transplant medicine, it kinda creeped me out at times, but was still entertaining and enjoyable. The twists were interesting and believable.

3.5 rounded down

This was so twisty it kept me guessing until the end. I truly love the premise - a woman gets a heart transplant and starts reaching out to her donor’s husband on an app. What begins with an innocent exchange soon becomes a small crush that leads to an obsession over his wife’s death and what truly transpired during then.

I thought the first to middle part was truly bingeable and I just couldn’t wait to find out how it ends but as the twists unfold one by one it kind of loses steam for me. I did love the unreliable narrator aspect of it and really helped with swaying the reader the other way. I also loved the romance aspect that was sprinkled in with the mystery.

All in all this was truly enjoyable and definitely something I would recommend for someone who likes Verity or Tell Me Lies.

Such an interesting premise! A heart transplant recipient connects with the husband of her donor and forms a connection. What a page turner. I could not put it down. The twist was very unexpected.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Megan Collins delivers a gripping, darkly fascinating story in Cross My Heart, blending psychological intrigue with the eerie intersection of love and obsession. Rosie’s complex emotions and questionable decisions make her an unforgettable, if unsettling, protagonist. The novel expertly balances its suspenseful mystery with a haunting exploration of identity and the ties between body and soul. Every twist feels both inevitable and shocking, pulling you deeper into Rosie’s tangled web. This is a thriller that leaves you questioning every character’s motives—and your own heart.

This was wow. Weird and sad and creepy. I love the twists. At first I didn't get it because I am not a girly girl so I was like "okay, so dresses?" But that's not the whole book so it's fine.

This gripping psychological thriller delves into obsession, identity, and the complexities of human connection. The story centers on Rosie Lachlan, a heart transplant recipient who becomes fixated on Morgan Thorne, the widower of her donor. Believing their shared connection through the heart signifies a destined relationship, Rosie initiates contact with Morgan through an anonymous platform called DonorConnect. As their interactions deepen, Rosie begins to question the circumstances surrounding Morgan’s wife’s death, leading her into a web of suspense and unexpected revelations.

I thought I had it all figured out until the hallway mark and then bam! A great plot twist hit me! I enjoyed the intricate plot twists, and fast-paced storytelling. The blend of suspense and emotional depth, makes it stand out from typical thrillers.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a little hard for me. I was excited to read it! But it started to get a little confusing halfway through. Also, halfway through, I felt like I should be nearing the end of the book, only to realize on my kindle that I was only 53% done. So that made the rest difficult to finish. We did get all the answers in the end, it was a little predictable. Overall, not my favorite read.

A tense, emotionally gripping thriller with family secrets that hit hard. The writing is layered with suspense and heartbreak, making it hard to put down. Perfect for fans of domestic thrillers with depth.

Megan Collins, a favorite author among many, returns following Thicker Than Water and The Family Plot with her most gripping novel yet, CROSS MY HEART.

In this heart-stopping tale, a heart transplant patient becomes dangerously obsessed with her donor’s husband, leading to a deadly game of cat and mouse filled with unexpected twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Audiobook...

An update to my review: After reading the book and enjoying it immensely, I purchased the audiobook narrated by a favorite narrator, the mega-talented Gail Shalan and Chris Andrew Ciull. With passion and intensity, Gail was the perfect Rosie, paired with Chris, who excelled as Morgan, making this a highly entertaining performance. I highly recommend the audiobook.

INTERVIEW: Check out my upcoming Feb (blog/newsletter) Q&A with Gail Shalan, the first in my #AudioElevatorSeries, where we go behind the mic, audio, and the narrator for exclusives of CROSS MY HEART and her three other Jan audiobooks as well as upcoming projects.

About...

Meet Rosie Lachlan, who has pink hair and is a true romantic. The wearer of Rosie-colored glasses when it comes to LOvE.

She works in her parents' bridal salon (Just Say Yes) and dreams of a happily ever after, even after her fiancée dumped her. She keeps her wedding dress as a reminder of her broken heart and one day in the future.

She has a good heart and is a true romantic. But things never work out in the guy department. She is over the top and takes things to the extreme, which drives them away instead. Rosie had cardiomyopathy and needed a heart transplant. She receives one from a famous author, Morgan Thorne's wife. Daphne died in a bathroom accident. She hates to think someone had to die for her to live.

She begins messaging Morgan through DonorConnect, to learn more about her (and then him). Then she becomes obsessed, thinking since she has his wife's heart, they are meant to be together and have a connection...to the tune of OBSESSION.

Is he her soulmate or a killer?

They begin corresponding, and as she digs deeper into his past marriage, she discovers rumors about him. Was Morgan involved in his wife's death?

Is she seeing things as they are for how she wants them to be? Is she viewing the world through Rosie-colored glasses like her friend Nina suspects? Had she been wrong about all the men in her life? She looks for the best in people.

Rosie wants more than anything to be loved. But does she take it too far? Has she missed what is right in front of her? Is there someone else? Does she love so deeply that it makes her blind?

Then, there is a mystery to solve... Murder, revenge, passion, obsession. How far would you go for LOVE?

My thoughts...

Megan, CROSS MY HEART is a masterpiece that will leave readers in awe of your talent. The unexpected twists and turns, the Taylor Swift playlist, and the Friends references will keep you guessing and thoroughly entertained. You won't want to miss the wild ride Megan takes you on!

A twisted tale of secrets, suspense, and unexpected twists! What is not to love?

With her endearing quirks and unwavering romanticism, Rosie is a character you'll root for. Her journey, especially after receiving a heart that once belonged to someone else, is compelling. The mystery surrounding Daphne's death adds an intriguing layer to the story, leaving you with more questions and a sense of connection to Rosie's emotional journey.

From unique storytelling, beautiful poetry, skillful misdirection, superb characterization, lyrical prose, suspense, jaw-dropping twists, quirkiness, razor-sharp wit, romantic suspense, emotionally charged topics, gaslighting, manipulation, murder, revenge, obsession, stalker vibes, and more than a thriller—it is thought-provoking, witty, compelling, psychologically rich and a road to self-discovery and survival.

And yes, a clever, unpredictable, original who, how, and whydunit! I enjoyed the satisfying ending and appreciated the author's note and the additional reading resources.

First, let me say that I am a huge Megan Collins long-time fan. I have read all five of her books and have featured her three times on my #AuthorElevatorSeries, a series where I interview and promote talented authors and connect with readers. She is also hilarious on social media. Yes, we do have the same last name even though, unfortunately, we are not related. I would love a famous author in the family - perhaps a niece or daughter to adopt. Plus, we also share a love of golden retrievers. Just saying... if she is open to adoption by one of her fans, plus I adore her tiny collections. And I love her books. No stalking. 💜

Recs...

CROSS MY HEART is for avid fans of the author and readers who enjoy Colleen Hoover, Jo Jo Moyes, Mary Kubica, Mary Burton, Jennifer Hillier, Freida McFadden, Kaira Rouda, and the TV series Tell Me Lies. Think a modern-day You've Got Mail meets Seven Pounds and The Girl on the Train with a twist.

Thanks a million to Atria Books for an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: Jan 14, 2024
Jan 2024 Must-Read Books
Jan Newsletter