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She Loves Me Not
SHE LOVES ME...SHE LOVES ME NOT
Life goes on. That's what young widow Rose Larabee tells herself each day as she has to be both mother and father to her two young children, a task that leaves little time for new romance. That's why she's surprised to find the simple, homemade valentine in her mailbox, a paper heart with no signature. It could be a sweet reminder, but for Rose, the red heart has special significance...a link to a secret she shares with two other women...a secret that has just gotten one of them brutally murdered.
I WANT HER...I WANT HER DEAD
Now, as the phone rings in the night, playing a song that sends chills down Rose's spine, and more heart-shaped gifts arrive mysteriously, the young mother is determined to protect her family from a threat she cannot see but knows is out there...watching. And as another woman is killed, it becomes clear that each valentine is not the gift of a secret admirer but a warning from a twisted madman who's getting closer to the very heart of her deepest fears...
Life goes on. That's what young widow Rose Larabee tells herself each day as she has to be both mother and father to her two young children, a task that leaves little time for new romance. That's why she's surprised to find the simple, homemade valentine in her mailbox, a paper heart with no signature. It could be a sweet reminder, but for Rose, the red heart has special significance...a link to a secret she shares with two other women...a secret that has just gotten one of them brutally murdered.
I WANT HER...I WANT HER DEAD
Now, as the phone rings in the night, playing a song that sends chills down Rose's spine, and more heart-shaped gifts arrive mysteriously, the young mother is determined to protect her family from a threat she cannot see but knows is out there...watching. And as another woman is killed, it becomes clear that each valentine is not the gift of a secret admirer but a warning from a twisted madman who's getting closer to the very heart of her deepest fears...
409 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
91 people are currently reading
681 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Corsi Staub
81 books1,899 followersNew York Times bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub is the award-winning author of more than ninety novels, best known for the single title psychological suspense novels she writes under her own name. Those books and the women’s fiction written under the pseudonym Wendy Markham have also appeared on the USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookscan bestseller lists.
Her current standalone suspense novel, THE OTHER FAMILY, is about a picture-perfect family that that moves into a picture-perfect house. But not everything is as it seems, and the page-turner concludes “with a wallop of a twist,” according to #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben.
Her critically acclaimed Lily Dale traditional mystery series centers around a widowed single mom—and skeptic—who moves to a town populated by spiritualists who talk to the dead. Titles include NINE LIVES; SOMETHING BURIED, SOMETHING BLUE; DEAD OF WINTER; and PROSE AND CONS, with a fifth book under contract.
Wendy has written five suspense trilogies for HarperCollins/William Morrow. The most recent, The Foundlings (LITTLE GIRL LOST, DEAD SILENCE, and THE BUTCHER’S DAUGHTER), spans fifty years in the life of a woman left as a newborn in a Harlem church, now an investigative genealogist helping others uncover their biological roots while still searching for her own.
Written as Wendy Markham, Wendy’s novel HELLO, IT’S ME was a recent Hallmark television movie starring Kellie Martin. Her short story “Cat Got Your Tongue” appeared in R.L. Stine’s MWA middle grade anthology SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN and her short story “The Elephant in the Room” is included in the Anthony Award-nominated inaugural anthology SHATTERING GLASS.
A three-time finalist for the Simon and Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award, she’s won an RWA Rita Award, an RT Award for Career Achievement in Suspense, the 2007 RWA-NYC Golden Apple Award for Lifetime Achievement, and five WLA Washington Irving Prizes for Fiction.
She previously published a dozen adult suspense novels with Kensington Books and the critically-acclaimed young adult paranormal series “Lily Dale” (Walker/Bloomsbury). Earlier in her career, she published a broad range of genres under her own name and pseudonyms, and was a co-author/ghostwriter for several celebrities.
Raised in Dunkirk, NY, Wendy graduated from SUNY Fredonia and launched a publishing career in New York City. She was Associate Editor at Silhouette Books before selling her first novel in 1992. Married with two sons, she lives in the NYC suburbs. An active supporter of the American Cancer Society, she was a featured speaker at Northern Westchester’s 2015 Relay for Life and 2012 National Spokesperson for the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation. She has fostered for various animal rescue organizations.
Her current standalone suspense novel, THE OTHER FAMILY, is about a picture-perfect family that that moves into a picture-perfect house. But not everything is as it seems, and the page-turner concludes “with a wallop of a twist,” according to #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben.
Her critically acclaimed Lily Dale traditional mystery series centers around a widowed single mom—and skeptic—who moves to a town populated by spiritualists who talk to the dead. Titles include NINE LIVES; SOMETHING BURIED, SOMETHING BLUE; DEAD OF WINTER; and PROSE AND CONS, with a fifth book under contract.
Wendy has written five suspense trilogies for HarperCollins/William Morrow. The most recent, The Foundlings (LITTLE GIRL LOST, DEAD SILENCE, and THE BUTCHER’S DAUGHTER), spans fifty years in the life of a woman left as a newborn in a Harlem church, now an investigative genealogist helping others uncover their biological roots while still searching for her own.
Written as Wendy Markham, Wendy’s novel HELLO, IT’S ME was a recent Hallmark television movie starring Kellie Martin. Her short story “Cat Got Your Tongue” appeared in R.L. Stine’s MWA middle grade anthology SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN and her short story “The Elephant in the Room” is included in the Anthony Award-nominated inaugural anthology SHATTERING GLASS.
A three-time finalist for the Simon and Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award, she’s won an RWA Rita Award, an RT Award for Career Achievement in Suspense, the 2007 RWA-NYC Golden Apple Award for Lifetime Achievement, and five WLA Washington Irving Prizes for Fiction.
She previously published a dozen adult suspense novels with Kensington Books and the critically-acclaimed young adult paranormal series “Lily Dale” (Walker/Bloomsbury). Earlier in her career, she published a broad range of genres under her own name and pseudonyms, and was a co-author/ghostwriter for several celebrities.
Raised in Dunkirk, NY, Wendy graduated from SUNY Fredonia and launched a publishing career in New York City. She was Associate Editor at Silhouette Books before selling her first novel in 1992. Married with two sons, she lives in the NYC suburbs. An active supporter of the American Cancer Society, she was a featured speaker at Northern Westchester’s 2015 Relay for Life and 2012 National Spokesperson for the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation. She has fostered for various animal rescue organizations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
April 13, 2014
The writing style was pleasing, the story line had potential. The characters ruined the effect, however. Weak, whiny "I need a man!, Why doesn't my man love me enough? When is a man going to rescue me?" females. Very annoying voice for the 3 year old--does the author really think 3 yr olds speak this way? Took me a painful 5 wks to get through this short book. By the time I got to the end, I didn't even care whodunnit. Crossing this author off my list.
October 16, 2016
Rarely do I not finish a book but just can not get into this.
January 14, 2019
Bad. Bad, bad, bad.
January 22, 2022
This book is absolutely amazing. There are so many suspects and it is written so skillfully that it keeps you guessing right to the reveal. Love it!
August 7, 2013
3.5/5 Wendy Corsi Staub is a new to me author, but definitely not a new author - she has close to eighty books to her credit!
She Loves Me Not has been recently released as an audio book.
Rose Larrabee is a widowed mother of two. She's working hard to keep things together, both financially, physically and emotionally. When someone leaves a heart shaped box of candy on her car seat, she figures she has a secret admirer. But when someone repeatedly calls in the middle of the night, she starts to get worried. And when the 'attention' escalates, she gets downright terrified.
I chose to listen to this book. The reader was Allyson Ryan. Her portrayal of Rose was good, capturing the innocent, bewildered woman in peril tone of the character very well. Rose has two small children and I thought she did a great job of coming up with a believable and distinct child's voice. (Although I must admit, I tired of hearing Leo after awhile) Accents for various characters were authentic and easily distinguished who was speaking. I did find the voice for the female neighbour we're not quite sure of, to be quite annoying though - it was whiny and somewhat petulant. But in all fairness, it suited the character.
I always find listening to a book much different than reading - I think I take away different experiences from the two formats. In She Loves Me Not, we are privy to much of the various player's inner thoughts - maybe a few too many. Staub does mix in action in the last half of the book and populates her plot with plenty of suspects - enough to keep the reader guessing. Although, I have to admit to feeling cheated over the final whodunit.
Staub seems to have perfected the woman in peril with a touch of romance, mystery and suspense for good measure formula. And I would say she excels at it. Although this isn't my favourite type of read, it was an entertaining listen for the ride back and forth to work. This author would definitely appeal to fans of Mary Higgins Clark.
She Loves Me Not has been recently released as an audio book.
Rose Larrabee is a widowed mother of two. She's working hard to keep things together, both financially, physically and emotionally. When someone leaves a heart shaped box of candy on her car seat, she figures she has a secret admirer. But when someone repeatedly calls in the middle of the night, she starts to get worried. And when the 'attention' escalates, she gets downright terrified.
I chose to listen to this book. The reader was Allyson Ryan. Her portrayal of Rose was good, capturing the innocent, bewildered woman in peril tone of the character very well. Rose has two small children and I thought she did a great job of coming up with a believable and distinct child's voice. (Although I must admit, I tired of hearing Leo after awhile) Accents for various characters were authentic and easily distinguished who was speaking. I did find the voice for the female neighbour we're not quite sure of, to be quite annoying though - it was whiny and somewhat petulant. But in all fairness, it suited the character.
I always find listening to a book much different than reading - I think I take away different experiences from the two formats. In She Loves Me Not, we are privy to much of the various player's inner thoughts - maybe a few too many. Staub does mix in action in the last half of the book and populates her plot with plenty of suspects - enough to keep the reader guessing. Although, I have to admit to feeling cheated over the final whodunit.
Staub seems to have perfected the woman in peril with a touch of romance, mystery and suspense for good measure formula. And I would say she excels at it. Although this isn't my favourite type of read, it was an entertaining listen for the ride back and forth to work. This author would definitely appeal to fans of Mary Higgins Clark.
January 18, 2014
What a story! I was left right up to the end wondering who exactly the culprit was even though we'd had a name for him. It was incredible how the story went through so many twists and turns and left me wondering what was going to happen next.
This novel is definitely a page-turner and had my heart racing near the end as the mystery began to unravel. I really felt that the novel ended on the right foot and the ending wasn't too abrupt. Lastly, I love the way this novel is written and I feel it can easily be compared to other great authors' work in this genre. I am definitely looking forward to reading another novel by this author!
This novel is definitely a page-turner and had my heart racing near the end as the mystery began to unravel. I really felt that the novel ended on the right foot and the ending wasn't too abrupt. Lastly, I love the way this novel is written and I feel it can easily be compared to other great authors' work in this genre. I am definitely looking forward to reading another novel by this author!
December 9, 2017
Despite the awful men in this book I did enjoy the story and the twists and turns it takes you on. Frustrating at times? Yes! Did I want to slap at least 2 if the male characters? Yes! But it keep me well engaged to the end. Low side of 4star.
August 7, 2022
Round up to 4.5 stars.
September 13, 2023
It was way better than "the other family". Between the two, if someone wants a rec, I would reccommend this one. Way more realistic dialogues, and realistic, human relationship issues, good job 👌🏻
This story was pleasant to ride through, what was not pleasant, though, was an audiobook narrator for this book. So there's a bizarre accent or something that she is trying to imitate, fake British or dialect of some sort or... I just can't figure out what the hell that is.😀
Like, there are two children of main character here and the way she voices the youngest one is kinda:
"I uant(=want) bweakfast(=breakfast)/I uan(=want) chocowate chip cookie fow(=for) bwekfast"
And except the main character Rose, who is voiced completely normally, others are voiced like that kid, i don't know why:
"Petaa(=Peter), whew(=where) ar(=are) ya?"
"Thear's(there's) nothin we kan dzo(=do) about id"
"Petaar(=Peter)"
So... yea, I don't know what is up to that narrator
This story was pleasant to ride through, what was not pleasant, though, was an audiobook narrator for this book. So there's a bizarre accent or something that she is trying to imitate, fake British or dialect of some sort or... I just can't figure out what the hell that is.😀
Like, there are two children of main character here and the way she voices the youngest one is kinda:
"I uant(=want) bweakfast(=breakfast)/I uan(=want) chocowate chip cookie fow(=for) bwekfast"
And except the main character Rose, who is voiced completely normally, others are voiced like that kid, i don't know why:
"Petaa(=Peter), whew(=where) ar(=are) ya?"
"Thear's(there's) nothin we kan dzo(=do) about id"
"Petaar(=Peter)"
So... yea, I don't know what is up to that narrator
September 2, 2018
I enjoyed this book. I love this writer and think that others have given this one a bad rap. It not as heart pounding as some of her others or twisty. The bad guy when they come is not earth shattering but still shocking. Good solid read!
April 10, 2009
This kept me turning pages late into the night! I thought for sure I had the killer pegged but oh, I was sooo wrong!!
From back cover:
"Life goes on. That's what young widow Rose Larrabee tells herself each day as she has to be both mother and father to her two young children, a task that leaves little time for new romance. That's why she's surprised to find the simple, homemade valentine in her mailbox, a paper heart with no signature. It could be a sweet reminder, but for Rose, the red heart has special significance...a link to a secret she shares with two other women...a secret that has just gotten one of them brutally murdered.
Now, as the phone rings in the night, playing a song that sends chills down Rose's spine, and more heart-shaped gifts arrive mysteriously, the young mother is determined to protect her family from a threat she cannot see but knows is out there...watching. And as another woman is killed, it becomes clear that each valentine is not the gift of a secret admirer but a warning from a twisted madman who's getting closer to the very heart of her deepest fears...".
From back cover:
"Life goes on. That's what young widow Rose Larrabee tells herself each day as she has to be both mother and father to her two young children, a task that leaves little time for new romance. That's why she's surprised to find the simple, homemade valentine in her mailbox, a paper heart with no signature. It could be a sweet reminder, but for Rose, the red heart has special significance...a link to a secret she shares with two other women...a secret that has just gotten one of them brutally murdered.
Now, as the phone rings in the night, playing a song that sends chills down Rose's spine, and more heart-shaped gifts arrive mysteriously, the young mother is determined to protect her family from a threat she cannot see but knows is out there...watching. And as another woman is killed, it becomes clear that each valentine is not the gift of a secret admirer but a warning from a twisted madman who's getting closer to the very heart of her deepest fears...".
June 12, 2015
This is my 3rd Wendy Corsi Staub book and my favorite so far. "She Loves Me Not" is suspenseful and keeps you guessing through most of the book. Ms. Staub does a great job of going back and forth between scenes and characters and builds up enough suspicion that the killer could be any one of many characters. She keeps that suspense going through the entire book until the killer is revealed (though I'm proud to say I did figure it out). The characters are all well-developed which makes you care about what happens to them. The plot is smartly designed and well thought out. Once I started this book, I had to finish it. Creepy, suspenseful and psychologically thrilling, this book is a winner. I can't wait to read all of Wendy Corsi Staub's books.
August 6, 2019
I borrowed this from my library as an audiobook. Perhaps it was the format, but it was difficult to follow so many characters who didn't seem to have much in common. It was confusing and there were so many sub plots that it was hard to know which was the most significant. I think that maybe I would have enjoyed the ebook a bit more.
August 1, 2014
I just wanted to finish it
I just wanted to finish it
it was an ok read. I thought I would have figured the killer but was unable to. Again, I just wanted to finish it.
I just wanted to finish it
it was an ok read. I thought I would have figured the killer but was unable to. Again, I just wanted to finish it.
April 13, 2022
This author is the best at the who done it. Everyone was my suspect and even when I started narrowing it down, I still wasn't sure. Now looking back I laugh at myself for some of my suspects, but I think the author may have been steering it in those directions.
May 28, 2018
I have too many questions......
January 27, 2019
Unlikeable characters that are charicature-like and a story that whipsaws from one improbable scene to another. I didn't find anything to like about this book.
June 26, 2022
So many characters. So much character development. Never knew who was the "one" until the very end and not at all who I would have guessed.
April 18, 2023
I have never been so happy to be stressed out before.
I loved this book.
I loved this book.
August 16, 2024
A young, widowed mother of two receives an unsigned Valentine, and thinks nothing of it. But when more mysterious items start showing up, and she starts receiving phone calls in the middle of the night playing a haunting tune, Rose realizes that her "admirer" might not be friendly at all! In fact, she begins to suspect that the person frightening her may indeed be someone she knows and trusts, someone who knows all too much about her past.
A great, suspensful read-I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good scare and is willing to sleep with the lights on!
A great, suspensful read-I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good scare and is willing to sleep with the lights on!
July 21, 2019
Er will nicht ihre Liebe, sondern ihr Leben!
Die Witwe Rose gibt sich große Mühe ihre beiden Kinder allein großzuziehen.
Sie hat keine Zeit für eine neue Liebe.
Dann erhält sie geheimnisvolle Geschenke - von einem heimlichen Verehrer?
Doch sie bekommt es mit der Angst zu tun, als die Aufmerksamkeiten immer seltsamer werden...
Die Witwe Rose gibt sich große Mühe ihre beiden Kinder allein großzuziehen.
Sie hat keine Zeit für eine neue Liebe.
Dann erhält sie geheimnisvolle Geschenke - von einem heimlichen Verehrer?
Doch sie bekommt es mit der Angst zu tun, als die Aufmerksamkeiten immer seltsamer werden...
August 22, 2024
I really enjoyed this book, it had me second guessing who the killer was all the time and I like that in a book, however, I did not like how the commentary was written for Leo trying to come across as “baby talk” it was irritating and unnecessary, let the reader imagine how the little boy talks on their own. Over all I enjoyed reading this book.
May 14, 2017
Always fun to read books written in the pre-smartphone era and wonder how the plot points would have changed. Book was OK. Decent attempt at casting doubt over many potential suspects but the women were rather weak and long suffering
November 13, 2017
Very interesting, lots of possibilities of who was the bad guy. I listened to the audio-book and therefore could not read the end early and was very eager to find out the conclusion. Kept me guessing and was a good thriller.
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February 10, 2020I enjoyed reading She Loves Me Not by Wendy Corsi Staub. I wanted to keep reading. It most definitely kept me interested. I was surprised who ended up being the killer. Will definitely read another book from this author.
November 15, 2020
This book meets my expectation of having a fun murder mystery thriller. It did its job and I didn't guess the twist correctly. That being said, it's just okay. I won't be desperately hunting more books by this author.
February 4, 2023
I liked the story line & I had a guess on who the murderer was the kid Leo got on my nerves. One minute he could speak correctly & then the next one he’s mispronounced his L’s. It became annoying to read.
October 7, 2025
Super mystery
Author really keeps the reader guessing, no Telegraphing the ending in this mystery. It may take a while to get into this story, but when you hit the sweet spot, you will not put this book down.
Author really keeps the reader guessing, no Telegraphing the ending in this mystery. It may take a while to get into this story, but when you hit the sweet spot, you will not put this book down.
April 2, 2018
I really liked this book, had suspense, romance, family, and death. I decided on who the killer was, but had to change my mind several times about who it was. I will read more by this author.
September 19, 2018
I liked this book. Good Storyline. The beginning was good but it took a long time to get to the point. Still enjoyed it even if I skipped some pages to get to the end.
Good
Good
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews