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Overkill
Former Super Bowl MVP quarterback Zach Bridger hasn’t seen his ex-wife, Rebecca Pratt, for some time—not since their volatile marriage imploded—so he’s shocked to receive a life-altering call about her. Rebecca has been placed on life support after a violent assault, and he—despite their divorce—has medical power-of-attorney. Zach is asked to make an impossible choice: keep her on life support or take her off of it. Buckling under the weight of the responsibility and the glare of public scrutiny, Zach ultimately walks away, letting Rebecca's parents have the final say.
Four years later, Rebecca's attacker, Eban—the scion of a wealthy family in Atlanta—gets an early release from prison. The ludicrous miscarriage of justice reeks of favoritism, and Kate Lennon, a brilliant state prosecutor, is determined to put him back behind bars. Rebecca’s parents have kept her alive all these years, but if her condition were to change—if she were to die—Eban could be retried on a new charge: murder.
It isn’t lost on Zach that in order for Eban to be charged with Rebecca’s murder, Zach must actually be the one to kill her. He rejects Kate’s legal standpoint but can’t resist their ill-timed attraction to each other. Eban, having realized the jeopardy he’s in, plots to make certain that neither Zach nor Kate lives to see the death of Rebecca—and the end of his freedom.
Four years later, Rebecca's attacker, Eban—the scion of a wealthy family in Atlanta—gets an early release from prison. The ludicrous miscarriage of justice reeks of favoritism, and Kate Lennon, a brilliant state prosecutor, is determined to put him back behind bars. Rebecca’s parents have kept her alive all these years, but if her condition were to change—if she were to die—Eban could be retried on a new charge: murder.
It isn’t lost on Zach that in order for Eban to be charged with Rebecca’s murder, Zach must actually be the one to kill her. He rejects Kate’s legal standpoint but can’t resist their ill-timed attraction to each other. Eban, having realized the jeopardy he’s in, plots to make certain that neither Zach nor Kate lives to see the death of Rebecca—and the end of his freedom.
Hardcover
First published August 22, 2022
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About the author
Sandra Brown
351 books19.2k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Sandra Brown is the author of more than sixty New York Times bestsellers, including STING (2016), FRICTION (2015), MEAN STREAK (2014), DEADLINE(2013), & LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL (2011).
Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into over thirty languages.
In 2009 Brown detoured from romantic suspense to write, Rainwater, a much acclaimed, powerfully moving historical fiction story about honor and sacrifice during the Great Depression.
Brown was given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University. She was named Thriller Master for 2008, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer’s Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Sandra Brown is the author of more than sixty New York Times bestsellers, including STING (2016), FRICTION (2015), MEAN STREAK (2014), DEADLINE(2013), & LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL (2011).
Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into over thirty languages.
In 2009 Brown detoured from romantic suspense to write, Rainwater, a much acclaimed, powerfully moving historical fiction story about honor and sacrifice during the Great Depression.
Brown was given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University. She was named Thriller Master for 2008, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer’s Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,899 reviews
July 17, 2022
Thank you Grand Central Publishing for the physical ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
2.5 rounded up to a 3
SYNOPSIS
When Eban Clarke gets out of jail on good behaviour, former Superbowl MVP Zach Bridger is forced to make a seemingly impossible decision: pull the plug on his comatose ex-wife so Eban can be retired on murder, or let an abuser go free.
MY OPINION
The book didn't bother me but it didn't impress me. Literally nothing happened lmao. This is my first book by Sandra Brown and I didn't realize the romance element would be so prevalent. Most of the "action", if you could call it that, was about the sexual tension between grumpy Zach and Kate the prosecutor. The "thriller" component was mostly just rehashing the scenario again and again and again and ... you get it... until the final act. The only thrills that occurred were in Zach's pants every time Kate was in his line of sight. He was RELENTLESSLY horny.
Be warned if you are spice-averse, there is a solid amount of spicy writing. I mean the book ends with a literal orgasm. I'm not joking. He cream-pies her and then thinks "I'm saved." The end. So yeah. I'm not a regular spice reader (tbh I avoid it like the plague and I don't expect it in thriller/mysteries) but I learned plenty of new sexual innuendos for certain body parts such as: her sensitivity, cleft (*vomit*), thick column, that pleasure point, the soft giving femininity (*projectile vomit*) etc...
The characters were caricatures. Eban (WTF kind of name is this LOL looks like a typo) was the ultimate spoiled, forever-frat boy. Zach was the typical strong, silent, and sporty type you wouldn't be surprised to see shirtless wearing a cowboy hat on the cover of a harlequin romance novel at your local grocery store. And Kate was the delicate, determined, do-gooder lawyer who calls her father "daddy" like every southern belle should. No one had any depth, but it suited the vibe of the book so whatever.
I'm always a little thrown when characters have such robust and old-fashioned vocabulary that is a stark contrast to their personality. I admit my vocab is very limited to bangerlicious, banger, and other variants of said word, but I doubt small-town southern men in their early 30s are using folderol on the reg.
Anyways. Was my rating generous? Perhaps. But this book is clearly written for a lazy sunday when you wanna set your brain on auto-pilot or you wanna bring something to the beach that allows you to have one eye on your kid who for some unknown reason LOVES to eat sand. Yeet your disbelief out the window, sit back, and mindlessly wander through this Nicholas Sparks esque book.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: mindless read, didn't annoy tf outta me, learned some new words, straightforward premise
Cons: too much spice for me, literally ended with raw dog orgasm, repetitive at times, thrills/suspense equivalent to a tea cup ride at Disney
2.5 rounded up to a 3
SYNOPSIS
When Eban Clarke gets out of jail on good behaviour, former Superbowl MVP Zach Bridger is forced to make a seemingly impossible decision: pull the plug on his comatose ex-wife so Eban can be retired on murder, or let an abuser go free.
MY OPINION
The book didn't bother me but it didn't impress me. Literally nothing happened lmao. This is my first book by Sandra Brown and I didn't realize the romance element would be so prevalent. Most of the "action", if you could call it that, was about the sexual tension between grumpy Zach and Kate the prosecutor. The "thriller" component was mostly just rehashing the scenario again and again and again and ... you get it... until the final act. The only thrills that occurred were in Zach's pants every time Kate was in his line of sight. He was RELENTLESSLY horny.
Be warned if you are spice-averse, there is a solid amount of spicy writing. I mean the book ends with a literal orgasm. I'm not joking. He cream-pies her and then thinks "I'm saved." The end. So yeah. I'm not a regular spice reader (tbh I avoid it like the plague and I don't expect it in thriller/mysteries) but I learned plenty of new sexual innuendos for certain body parts such as: her sensitivity, cleft (*vomit*), thick column, that pleasure point, the soft giving femininity (*projectile vomit*) etc...
The characters were caricatures. Eban (WTF kind of name is this LOL looks like a typo) was the ultimate spoiled, forever-frat boy. Zach was the typical strong, silent, and sporty type you wouldn't be surprised to see shirtless wearing a cowboy hat on the cover of a harlequin romance novel at your local grocery store. And Kate was the delicate, determined, do-gooder lawyer who calls her father "daddy" like every southern belle should. No one had any depth, but it suited the vibe of the book so whatever.
I'm always a little thrown when characters have such robust and old-fashioned vocabulary that is a stark contrast to their personality. I admit my vocab is very limited to bangerlicious, banger, and other variants of said word, but I doubt small-town southern men in their early 30s are using folderol on the reg.
Anyways. Was my rating generous? Perhaps. But this book is clearly written for a lazy sunday when you wanna set your brain on auto-pilot or you wanna bring something to the beach that allows you to have one eye on your kid who for some unknown reason LOVES to eat sand. Yeet your disbelief out the window, sit back, and mindlessly wander through this Nicholas Sparks esque book.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: mindless read, didn't annoy tf outta me, learned some new words, straightforward premise
Cons: too much spice for me, literally ended with raw dog orgasm, repetitive at times, thrills/suspense equivalent to a tea cup ride at Disney
September 5, 2022
Sometimes I choose a book by the cover, sometimes by the narrator. In this case, it was both.
Zach Bridger is a former Super Bowl MVP quarterback. His life is turned upside down when his party-lovin' ex-wife, Rebecca was left in a vegetative state after a wild night of orgy gone wrong. She leaves him with the medical power of attorney despite their divorce. It's up the Zach whether to pull the plug. He's highly scrutinized by her family and the media.
Kate Lennon is a state prosecutor who wants to put the bad guy back behind bars after his early release (money talks). Unfortunately, the only way is to charge him with murder but it's up to Zach...
This is my third book by Sandra Brown and tbh I don't remember her novels being this steamy?? I'm not even sure how Zach and Kate's attraction began. It just seems to blossom out of nowhere. For a 400+ page book, I think Overkill lacks in both romance and suspense. The premise is very interesting and it might be 4 stars if it were 100 pages shorter. There was so much filler that I probably would DNF if it weren't for Kyf Brewer's dreamy voice.
Zach Bridger is a former Super Bowl MVP quarterback. His life is turned upside down when his party-lovin' ex-wife, Rebecca was left in a vegetative state after a wild night of orgy gone wrong. She leaves him with the medical power of attorney despite their divorce. It's up the Zach whether to pull the plug. He's highly scrutinized by her family and the media.
Kate Lennon is a state prosecutor who wants to put the bad guy back behind bars after his early release (money talks). Unfortunately, the only way is to charge him with murder but it's up to Zach...
This is my third book by Sandra Brown and tbh I don't remember her novels being this steamy?? I'm not even sure how Zach and Kate's attraction began. It just seems to blossom out of nowhere. For a 400+ page book, I think Overkill lacks in both romance and suspense. The premise is very interesting and it might be 4 stars if it were 100 pages shorter. There was so much filler that I probably would DNF if it weren't for Kyf Brewer's dreamy voice.
September 16, 2022
I have read many books by Sandra Brown and I've enjoyed them.
I was so happy when I got approved for the Hachette Audio version of Overkill. Lately, audiobooks are easier to do because of my commute to work. I will say that the narration by Kyf Brewer was spot on. His performance had the right tone to keep me invested.
The book begins with a party and a woman deciding to go to a bedroom with three men. The next day, everyone is talking about her, Rebecca Pratt, and her ex-husband, famous pro football player Zach Bridger. But not because of what she did but because Rebecca ends up in the hospital brain dead and Zach is the one responsible to make the choice for her care as her power of attorney.
Fast forward four years and prosecutor Kate Lennon comes looking for Zach. The man responsible for hurting Rebecca is being released and it's once again up to Zach to do something about it.
Sandra Brown does great romantic suspense. You get invested with her characters and you root for the couple to end up together. Also, the evil ones are always very evil which makes it easy to hate them.
Although I liked both Kate and Zach, their romance fell a little flat. Don't get me wrong there was quite a bit of steam but I felt their characters could have been developed a bit more.
Overall, I liked it and will read her next book without thinking it twice.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
I was so happy when I got approved for the Hachette Audio version of Overkill. Lately, audiobooks are easier to do because of my commute to work. I will say that the narration by Kyf Brewer was spot on. His performance had the right tone to keep me invested.
The book begins with a party and a woman deciding to go to a bedroom with three men. The next day, everyone is talking about her, Rebecca Pratt, and her ex-husband, famous pro football player Zach Bridger. But not because of what she did but because Rebecca ends up in the hospital brain dead and Zach is the one responsible to make the choice for her care as her power of attorney.
Fast forward four years and prosecutor Kate Lennon comes looking for Zach. The man responsible for hurting Rebecca is being released and it's once again up to Zach to do something about it.
Sandra Brown does great romantic suspense. You get invested with her characters and you root for the couple to end up together. Also, the evil ones are always very evil which makes it easy to hate them.
Although I liked both Kate and Zach, their romance fell a little flat. Don't get me wrong there was quite a bit of steam but I felt their characters could have been developed a bit more.
Overall, I liked it and will read her next book without thinking it twice.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
August 12, 2022
Blue waves, a sandy beach, a cooling breeze and a new Sandra Brown book to read. It just doesn't get any better than this for my August staycation. And, a 5-Star book it is. Sandra Brown is a fantastic author. In "Overkill" she weaves compelling narrative about some very timely issues, wonderful characters, suspense and romance into one of the most thought provoking and chilling books she has ever written.
For four years Zach Bridger has been hiding on his mountain in North Carolina after his spectacular fall from the lofty heights as the MVP Superbowl quarterback. It wasn't at all a pretty fall either. It started when his ex-wife, Rebecca, was placed on life support in a persistent vegetative state and he was still named as her Agent for the Medical Power of Attorney. The press had a field day with the animosity of her parents, who wanted to keep her alive. and their hate of Zach for how her daughter had ended up the way she did. Then there were his drunken binges that were on full display to a national TV audience. Zach has finally found a measure of peace until a fisty states attorney turns up on his doorstep with some very unwelcome news.
Kate Lennon knew Zack was a tough case, a hermit almost, but she really needed his cooperation, and she wasn't going to leave without it. The man who put Rebecca in her vegetative state, wealthy, privileged Eban Clarke, has been released from prison early and Kate was on a mission to send him back for a long, long time. At first Kate couldn't understand why Zack wrestled with the decision. Terminating life support would open the way for a murder case to be made against Eban. But Zack just couldn't do that to her father, even though the guy hated him so thoroughly.
A free Eban Clarke would likely not be a good thing for the world and with Zack the only thing standing between him and a return ticket to prison, it was likely not a good thing for Zack and Kate either. Zack had a difficult decision to make and his wish for justice for Rebecca would only happen with her death, but Zach was loath to make that final decision until death was staring him in the face too.
My thanks to Grand Central, Publisher, and Sandra Brown, author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
For four years Zach Bridger has been hiding on his mountain in North Carolina after his spectacular fall from the lofty heights as the MVP Superbowl quarterback. It wasn't at all a pretty fall either. It started when his ex-wife, Rebecca, was placed on life support in a persistent vegetative state and he was still named as her Agent for the Medical Power of Attorney. The press had a field day with the animosity of her parents, who wanted to keep her alive. and their hate of Zach for how her daughter had ended up the way she did. Then there were his drunken binges that were on full display to a national TV audience. Zach has finally found a measure of peace until a fisty states attorney turns up on his doorstep with some very unwelcome news.
Kate Lennon knew Zack was a tough case, a hermit almost, but she really needed his cooperation, and she wasn't going to leave without it. The man who put Rebecca in her vegetative state, wealthy, privileged Eban Clarke, has been released from prison early and Kate was on a mission to send him back for a long, long time. At first Kate couldn't understand why Zack wrestled with the decision. Terminating life support would open the way for a murder case to be made against Eban. But Zack just couldn't do that to her father, even though the guy hated him so thoroughly.
A free Eban Clarke would likely not be a good thing for the world and with Zack the only thing standing between him and a return ticket to prison, it was likely not a good thing for Zack and Kate either. Zack had a difficult decision to make and his wish for justice for Rebecca would only happen with her death, but Zach was loath to make that final decision until death was staring him in the face too.
My thanks to Grand Central, Publisher, and Sandra Brown, author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
August 27, 2022
3.5 rounded up. My first Sandra Brown novel. Difficult desicions to be made by former footballer, Zach. With a little romance, a good plot, characters that pop we get a really good book that flows well. The ending was rather predictable and was hoping for a big bang (not withstanding the smut "bang"). A good listen with a good narrater.
Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio for this audiobook ARC.
Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio for this audiobook ARC.
September 3, 2022
Overkill by Sandra Brown
Thriller and a bit romantic suspense.
Zack and Rebecca had a bitter divorce but he finds himself with the decision of life and death by a power of attorney that is still in effect. Zack let’s her parents make the decision.Now that her attacker is out of prison, and her vegetative state is deteriorating, the prosecutor asks Zack to again get involved. Can he make the ultimate decision to end Rebecca’s life to put the guy back in prison?
It’s an impossible decision. Plus threats make this suspenseful as the original story starts to fall apart. Breathtaking and electrifying. With a touch of sad.
4.5
Thriller and a bit romantic suspense.
Zack and Rebecca had a bitter divorce but he finds himself with the decision of life and death by a power of attorney that is still in effect. Zack let’s her parents make the decision.Now that her attacker is out of prison, and her vegetative state is deteriorating, the prosecutor asks Zack to again get involved. Can he make the ultimate decision to end Rebecca’s life to put the guy back in prison?
It’s an impossible decision. Plus threats make this suspenseful as the original story starts to fall apart. Breathtaking and electrifying. With a touch of sad.
4.5
August 27, 2022
4.5 STARS.
A compelling read that had me gripped from the beginning. Edgy and tense, at times - elements that I like to read about in a SB book and which I felt were lacking in her last couple of contemporary books.
It features, Zach Bridger, a former NFL quarterback - of course he is tall, dark and handsome (yes, with a 'happy trail'). A typical Brown hero - loyal, successful, wealthy, smart.
Kate Lennon is an up and coming State prosecutor ... beautiful, smart, determined. They made a good couple ❤️
Some delicate issues are tackled in the book and they are well done, in my opinion - always two sides to every story, I guess 🤷♀️
The bad guy is a creep, with no redeeming features - comes from a wealthy family and feels he is entitled to anything he wants, even to the detriment of others ... she writes these preppy Southern 'boys' really well - you honestly want to kill them - nasty piece of work he was and, of course, if he was 'going down', so were his 'friends'.
It still doesn't hit the high notes of her classic earlier works - you know them Chill Factor, Mean Streak, Sting etc., etc., etc., but, overall, a good, solid read and I look forward to next year and her next release. 😍
The kindle edition wasn't available so I ended up ordering the Hardcover 📕- I received the LARGE PRINT edition - I rebel against reading 'large print' - not sure why - I increase the font size on my kindle when I want so why do I feel that the larger print is for an "older generation, with declining eyesight" - maybe I do fit into that category but I just don't want to admit it 🤔🤨🫣... I ended up getting the Audible. No complaints with the narrator and I am a fussy audible listener. 🎧
A compelling read that had me gripped from the beginning. Edgy and tense, at times - elements that I like to read about in a SB book and which I felt were lacking in her last couple of contemporary books.
It features, Zach Bridger, a former NFL quarterback - of course he is tall, dark and handsome (yes, with a 'happy trail'). A typical Brown hero - loyal, successful, wealthy, smart.
She'd figured him for a jerk, but, with the exception of their first couple of hostile meetings, he'd turned out to be gentlemanly. He was good company.
Kate Lennon is an up and coming State prosecutor ... beautiful, smart, determined. They made a good couple ❤️
Some delicate issues are tackled in the book and they are well done, in my opinion - always two sides to every story, I guess 🤷♀️
The bad guy is a creep, with no redeeming features - comes from a wealthy family and feels he is entitled to anything he wants, even to the detriment of others ... she writes these preppy Southern 'boys' really well - you honestly want to kill them - nasty piece of work he was and, of course, if he was 'going down', so were his 'friends'.
"Sometimes I drink white."
The fog lifted, leaving only tendrils that looked like wraiths moving through the forest ...
It still doesn't hit the high notes of her classic earlier works - you know them Chill Factor, Mean Streak, Sting etc., etc., etc., but, overall, a good, solid read and I look forward to next year and her next release. 😍
The kindle edition wasn't available so I ended up ordering the Hardcover 📕- I received the LARGE PRINT edition - I rebel against reading 'large print' - not sure why - I increase the font size on my kindle when I want so why do I feel that the larger print is for an "older generation, with declining eyesight" - maybe I do fit into that category but I just don't want to admit it 🤔🤨🫣... I ended up getting the Audible. No complaints with the narrator and I am a fussy audible listener. 🎧
August 4, 2022
Although I had never read a Sandra Brown novel, I had very high hopes for this one going in. Equal parts romance and suspense, with subtle ‘Fracture’ vibes, it seemed like a guarantee that I would love it. A few pages in, I realized this was not the case.
Although I didn’t completely dislike it, and was able to fly right though it, I don’t think this was the book for me. The characters felt very one dimensional and flat. I struggled to connect to any of them and ultimately did not care what the final outcome was. Everything felt very superficial and inauthentic.
I liked the overall premise of the story, but I feel like the author could have done more with it. During most of the book, there seemed to be a lot of plot happening while simultaneously nothing seemed to be happening. I would have loved to have more scenes featuring Rebecca, and the use of flashbacks would have added a depth to this story that was missing. There is so much surrounding the event that occurs that is never flushed out.
This is a story that will appeal to some. While it was not a favorite for me, If you are a fan of this author and her writing style, I would suggest giving this one a try.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Novel Suspects for a physical ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Although I didn’t completely dislike it, and was able to fly right though it, I don’t think this was the book for me. The characters felt very one dimensional and flat. I struggled to connect to any of them and ultimately did not care what the final outcome was. Everything felt very superficial and inauthentic.
I liked the overall premise of the story, but I feel like the author could have done more with it. During most of the book, there seemed to be a lot of plot happening while simultaneously nothing seemed to be happening. I would have loved to have more scenes featuring Rebecca, and the use of flashbacks would have added a depth to this story that was missing. There is so much surrounding the event that occurs that is never flushed out.
This is a story that will appeal to some. While it was not a favorite for me, If you are a fan of this author and her writing style, I would suggest giving this one a try.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Novel Suspects for a physical ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 16, 2022
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I really enjoyed this book! I have been a fan of Sandra Brown’s writing for a very long time. I haven’t come close to reading all of her work but I have enjoyed every book that I have had the chance to read. I read to be entertained and Sandra Brown never fails to deliver on that count. When I picked up this newest book, I was hooked immediately and hated it whenever I was forced to put it down.
Zach Bridger is a former NFL quarterback. His ex-wife, Rebecca, was left in a vegetative state after a run-in with 3 men led by a man named Eban. Kate is a prosecutor who would like to see Eban face charges that match the severity of his crime. Zach and Kate end up working together to try to get to the bottom of things but matters get complicated very quickly. There was plenty of action and quite a few surprises in this story which kept me glued to the pages.
I liked the characters in this story right away. I thought that Zach and Kate made a great pair and I really liked watching them get to know each other over the course of this story. I thought that their relationship felt really authentic and the chemistry between them was very well done. I thought that the secondary characters were also very well done and I even liked getting to see things from the villain’s point of view.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. I found this to be a very entertaining and exciting story that left me wondering what I would do if I were in the character’s situation. I hope to read more of this talented author’s work very soon.
I received a review copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing.
Initial Thoughts
This was very entertaining! I have been a fan of Sandra Brown's work for a very long so I went into this book with some pretty high expectations. I was not disappointed. I liked the characters right away and found the book's premise to be both thought-provoking and exciting. There was plenty of action and enough romance to keep me glued to the pages.
I really enjoyed this book! I have been a fan of Sandra Brown’s writing for a very long time. I haven’t come close to reading all of her work but I have enjoyed every book that I have had the chance to read. I read to be entertained and Sandra Brown never fails to deliver on that count. When I picked up this newest book, I was hooked immediately and hated it whenever I was forced to put it down.
Zach Bridger is a former NFL quarterback. His ex-wife, Rebecca, was left in a vegetative state after a run-in with 3 men led by a man named Eban. Kate is a prosecutor who would like to see Eban face charges that match the severity of his crime. Zach and Kate end up working together to try to get to the bottom of things but matters get complicated very quickly. There was plenty of action and quite a few surprises in this story which kept me glued to the pages.
I liked the characters in this story right away. I thought that Zach and Kate made a great pair and I really liked watching them get to know each other over the course of this story. I thought that their relationship felt really authentic and the chemistry between them was very well done. I thought that the secondary characters were also very well done and I even liked getting to see things from the villain’s point of view.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. I found this to be a very entertaining and exciting story that left me wondering what I would do if I were in the character’s situation. I hope to read more of this talented author’s work very soon.
I received a review copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing.
Initial Thoughts
This was very entertaining! I have been a fan of Sandra Brown's work for a very long so I went into this book with some pretty high expectations. I was not disappointed. I liked the characters right away and found the book's premise to be both thought-provoking and exciting. There was plenty of action and enough romance to keep me glued to the pages.
November 21, 2022
Almost four stars.
I have been a Sandra Brown reader for the last 20 years. There was a time when I devoured everything from her that I could find at the library, prior of ebooks, and I still love picking up her books many years later.
But I must admit that some books grab me more than others.
Overkill was a solid book, I just made the mistake of putting it down one afternoon, and in a blink of an eye it was weeks later and I just wasn't feeling it anymore.
But that is not the books fault, rather my own, because I'm going through one of the worst book funks I ever experienced. And sadly, even great books suffer during that time.
So, if you enjoy romantic suspense novels, if you enjoy drama free plots, mature characters, and some really great storytelling, don't wait to pick up her books.
___________________________________
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.
I have been a Sandra Brown reader for the last 20 years. There was a time when I devoured everything from her that I could find at the library, prior of ebooks, and I still love picking up her books many years later.
But I must admit that some books grab me more than others.
Overkill was a solid book, I just made the mistake of putting it down one afternoon, and in a blink of an eye it was weeks later and I just wasn't feeling it anymore.
But that is not the books fault, rather my own, because I'm going through one of the worst book funks I ever experienced. And sadly, even great books suffer during that time.
So, if you enjoy romantic suspense novels, if you enjoy drama free plots, mature characters, and some really great storytelling, don't wait to pick up her books.
___________________________________
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.
October 10, 2022
3.25⭐
Featuring ~ multiple 3rd person POV, romantic suspense, former football player, assault, rape, brain damage, life support
Since it is categorized as a romantic suspense there is quite a bit of steamage in this thriller.
Narrated by Kyf Brewer for 10 hours and 10 minutes, easy to follow at 2.5x As usual he did a lovely job. I am used to listening to him narrate for David Baldacci's Amos Decker and Will Robie series.
*Short Libby library loan review with some highlights for a very popular author for now*
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Featuring ~ multiple 3rd person POV, romantic suspense, former football player, assault, rape, brain damage, life support
Since it is categorized as a romantic suspense there is quite a bit of steamage in this thriller.
Narrated by Kyf Brewer for 10 hours and 10 minutes, easy to follow at 2.5x As usual he did a lovely job. I am used to listening to him narrate for David Baldacci's Amos Decker and Will Robie series.
*Short Libby library loan review with some highlights for a very popular author for now*
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August 16, 2022
Buckhead. Atlanta. I know the area and love when a book takes place in a location I am familiar with. And football? Are you ready for some football, because I am.
Zach was an MVP Super Bowl quarterback, emphasis on was. He had been booted from a sport he loved and he had no one to blame but himself. Rebecca was a party girl. Again, emphasis on was. He hadn’t seen Rebecca since their divorce.
Zach made a quick exit from the Cayman Islands to her hospital room. He felt her need to control his life, when he was told that he had power of attorney over her medical decisions if there was ever a time she couldn’t make the decision for herself. I can’t imagine having to make that call. I guess I would ask myself, ” What would ? want?”
State Prosecutor Kate Lennon arrives at his secluded cabin to let him know that the man responsible for Rebecca’s vegetative state is being released from prison. She wants to put him back where she thinks he belongs, but she needs his help to do it.
Richy Rich Eban, the man who, along with his three friends, had nearly killed her. He had served two years for what he had done to her. It ticked me off when I read two years (way to tick me off, Sandra), then I almost saw red when I ‘saw’ what his father gave him as a get out of jail ‘gift’. Despicable people and it is his father’s fault for the way he is, though Eban made his own choices, and continues to do so after his release.
I would be so angry….Who do they think they are? Eban, is he a sociopath? Psychopath? Or just a rich ‘kid’ that feels entitled, because he never had to be accountable for his actions. I say through the BOOK at them all. I would feel the same if it was a poor person that had committed the act. I love when I see them knocked down and watch them plead for mercy.
I love books like Overkill by Sandra Brown. The characters came across as authentic, faulty, arrogant. I was empathetic with Zach, not wanting to be the one to make the decision. Would I have been more angry than he was? You bet. But, then I wonder if it was because she was his ex and they had no connection any more. It is so real. I feel the vulnerability. I even discussed with Mr Wonderful about getting video cameras for the house right after finishing it. LOL
Very well done, Sandra. I read it in one day. I love romantic suspense and Overkill hit all the buttons. AND I loved the epilogue, a little something extra is always appreciated.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Overkill by Sandra Brown.
Zach was an MVP Super Bowl quarterback, emphasis on was. He had been booted from a sport he loved and he had no one to blame but himself. Rebecca was a party girl. Again, emphasis on was. He hadn’t seen Rebecca since their divorce.
Zach made a quick exit from the Cayman Islands to her hospital room. He felt her need to control his life, when he was told that he had power of attorney over her medical decisions if there was ever a time she couldn’t make the decision for herself. I can’t imagine having to make that call. I guess I would ask myself, ” What would ? want?”
State Prosecutor Kate Lennon arrives at his secluded cabin to let him know that the man responsible for Rebecca’s vegetative state is being released from prison. She wants to put him back where she thinks he belongs, but she needs his help to do it.
Richy Rich Eban, the man who, along with his three friends, had nearly killed her. He had served two years for what he had done to her. It ticked me off when I read two years (way to tick me off, Sandra), then I almost saw red when I ‘saw’ what his father gave him as a get out of jail ‘gift’. Despicable people and it is his father’s fault for the way he is, though Eban made his own choices, and continues to do so after his release.
I would be so angry….Who do they think they are? Eban, is he a sociopath? Psychopath? Or just a rich ‘kid’ that feels entitled, because he never had to be accountable for his actions. I say through the BOOK at them all. I would feel the same if it was a poor person that had committed the act. I love when I see them knocked down and watch them plead for mercy.
I love books like Overkill by Sandra Brown. The characters came across as authentic, faulty, arrogant. I was empathetic with Zach, not wanting to be the one to make the decision. Would I have been more angry than he was? You bet. But, then I wonder if it was because she was his ex and they had no connection any more. It is so real. I feel the vulnerability. I even discussed with Mr Wonderful about getting video cameras for the house right after finishing it. LOL
Very well done, Sandra. I read it in one day. I love romantic suspense and Overkill hit all the buttons. AND I loved the epilogue, a little something extra is always appreciated.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Overkill by Sandra Brown.
August 7, 2022
Title: Overkill
Author: Sandra Brown
Genre: Suspense
Pub Day: Aug 16, 2022
•Rating•
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
I recommend this book!
•Review•
This was my first Sandra Brown book and it did not disappoint! The story flowed very well. Characters were dimensional and imperfect. The plot kept my attention and the pages turning! A really great summer read.
•Similar Recommended Reads•
The Perfect Couple
A Normal Family
Anonymous Girl
Author: Sandra Brown
Genre: Suspense
Pub Day: Aug 16, 2022
•Rating•
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
I recommend this book!
•Review•
This was my first Sandra Brown book and it did not disappoint! The story flowed very well. Characters were dimensional and imperfect. The plot kept my attention and the pages turning! A really great summer read.
•Similar Recommended Reads•
The Perfect Couple
A Normal Family
Anonymous Girl
April 4, 2023
While I did enjoy reading this, I also felt like I was in a constant state of anticipation or expectation for “more”. A 3.5-star rating, but I so much wanted to be overwhelmed by this book written by my favourite author.
The Romance was…nice. Not too much. Not too little. Bit too fast happening. Sexy. He’s a good man underneath the weight of his issues. A decent empathetic man. She’s a good match and they’ll be good together.
The suspense wasn’t as thrilling as I’d expected, so I’m underwhelmed and a bit sad because I found the main premise to be EXTREMELY well carried out, but the rest fell short.
Still, I adore her use of the English language, the football analogies, their banter.
I won’t read it again, but I will recommend it to those who enjoy reading about the legal, moral and emotional aspects of Power of Attorneys, a gorgeous, tormented hero, a well-rounded heroine and an exceptionally well created villain.
I ticked off ✔ from her notes below, what I felt Ms. Brown achieved.
These are the reasons why this should've been a 5-star read for me.
Not the 3.5 stars I give it.
📕
A NOTE FROM SANDRA
One of the most upsetting consequences of the Covid pandemic was families having to make the impossible decision of whether or not to take a loved one off life support. Life-sustaining apparatus can extend one’s life, but also prolong the suffering. Conceptually, then, taking a preemptive step could be considered a mercy.
But in actuality, saying “when” and calling a halt to life-protracting measures is a torment like none other for the person vested with the responsibility. It’s a choice that no one should ever have to face.
The inevitable question was: If the decision was mine alone to make, what would I do?
With that question came the idea for OVERKILL, because a situation such as that is rife with conflict. It brings into question one’s stance on unconditional love and loyalty, morality, spirituality, legality, and just plain humanity.
Wait! Isn’t that what a good story also does?
At that point, I began playing the “what if” game.
What if my protagonist suddenly and without warning gets a call informing him that someone’s life hangs in the balance, and HE’s the one who must decide whether or not to – crudely put – pull the plug?
What’s worse, what if the individual rendered “brain dead” isn’t a loved one, but an ex-wife, for whom he feels nothing but scorn? An ex-wife who, out of spite and unbeknownst to him, had added a provision to her Medical Power of Attorney that overrode the automatic revocation upon their divorce.
Even worse, what if this protagonist is a mega-celebrity who can’t possibly keep this soul-wrenching decision private, but must make it in a global arena under the glare of a white-hot spotlight?
✔ Meet Zach Bridger, NFL record-breaking quarterback, Super Bowl MVP, and media favorite. His brief but tumultuous marriage to red carpet diva Rebecca Pratt was chronicled in the tabloids right up through their scorched-earth divorce.
✔ Which is why when Zach is notified that Rebecca’s condition is described as “unresponsive,” he’s appalled to learn that he’s the one legally appointed to determine her fate, and it seems that everyone in the world has a deeply rooted, unswerving opinion on what course he should take.
I’m giving nothing away here. Readers will learn all of the above in the first several pages. But Zach’s predicament is far from over.
✔ The story opens four years after Rebecca’s catastrophe. The fallout from it cost Zach his “mind game” and derailed his NFL career. He now lives embittered and reclusive, desiring nothing except privacy and distance from the nightmarish experience.
✔ Enter Kate Lennon, a smart, savvy, state prosecutor who isn’t afraid of tackling tricky cases. Kate’s current target is Eban Clarke, the millionaire playboy who orchestrated the disaster that ruined Zach’s life and left Rebecca in a persistent vegetative state. Kate is seeking Zach’s help to bring Eban to justice. Zach would like nothing better than to see Eban put away for good.
But in order for that to happen, Zach will once again be required to contend with deciding Rebecca’s fate.
✔ My challenge as a writer was to weave Zach and Kate’s soul-searing moral dilemma into a novel of suspense. Beyond the struggle with their consciences, they needed a flesh-and-blood foe.
Hello, Eban Clarke.
✔ Eban is a handsome, suave, glib, wealthy, sexually deviant sociopath. He oozes charm and menace in equal portions. Beyond being creepy and despicable, he’s also sly and dangerous.
✔ While Zach grapples with his inner turmoil regarding Rebecca, and Kate navigates the intricate legalities necessary to bring Eban to trial, both are fighting their unethical but oh-so electric and irresistible attraction to each other.
And Eban? He’s busily plotting his escape from the judicial snare they’re laying for him. Because, in order for him to remain free, Rebecca must stay alive. It’s Zach and Kate who must die.
The resulting showdown had even me gasping.
Considering the steam factor between Zach and Kate, and a shocking twist of an ending, OVERKILL has my fingerprints all over it. I want this story to keep you on the edge of your seat, evoke both pathos and passion, and leave you asking yourself: What would I do?
The Romance was…nice. Not too much. Not too little. Bit too fast happening. Sexy. He’s a good man underneath the weight of his issues. A decent empathetic man. She’s a good match and they’ll be good together.
The suspense wasn’t as thrilling as I’d expected, so I’m underwhelmed and a bit sad because I found the main premise to be EXTREMELY well carried out, but the rest fell short.
Still, I adore her use of the English language, the football analogies, their banter.
I won’t read it again, but I will recommend it to those who enjoy reading about the legal, moral and emotional aspects of Power of Attorneys, a gorgeous, tormented hero, a well-rounded heroine and an exceptionally well created villain.
I ticked off ✔ from her notes below, what I felt Ms. Brown achieved.
These are the reasons why this should've been a 5-star read for me.
Not the 3.5 stars I give it.
📕
A NOTE FROM SANDRA
One of the most upsetting consequences of the Covid pandemic was families having to make the impossible decision of whether or not to take a loved one off life support. Life-sustaining apparatus can extend one’s life, but also prolong the suffering. Conceptually, then, taking a preemptive step could be considered a mercy.
But in actuality, saying “when” and calling a halt to life-protracting measures is a torment like none other for the person vested with the responsibility. It’s a choice that no one should ever have to face.
The inevitable question was: If the decision was mine alone to make, what would I do?
With that question came the idea for OVERKILL, because a situation such as that is rife with conflict. It brings into question one’s stance on unconditional love and loyalty, morality, spirituality, legality, and just plain humanity.
Wait! Isn’t that what a good story also does?
At that point, I began playing the “what if” game.
What if my protagonist suddenly and without warning gets a call informing him that someone’s life hangs in the balance, and HE’s the one who must decide whether or not to – crudely put – pull the plug?
What’s worse, what if the individual rendered “brain dead” isn’t a loved one, but an ex-wife, for whom he feels nothing but scorn? An ex-wife who, out of spite and unbeknownst to him, had added a provision to her Medical Power of Attorney that overrode the automatic revocation upon their divorce.
Even worse, what if this protagonist is a mega-celebrity who can’t possibly keep this soul-wrenching decision private, but must make it in a global arena under the glare of a white-hot spotlight?
✔ Meet Zach Bridger, NFL record-breaking quarterback, Super Bowl MVP, and media favorite. His brief but tumultuous marriage to red carpet diva Rebecca Pratt was chronicled in the tabloids right up through their scorched-earth divorce.
✔ Which is why when Zach is notified that Rebecca’s condition is described as “unresponsive,” he’s appalled to learn that he’s the one legally appointed to determine her fate, and it seems that everyone in the world has a deeply rooted, unswerving opinion on what course he should take.
I’m giving nothing away here. Readers will learn all of the above in the first several pages. But Zach’s predicament is far from over.
✔ The story opens four years after Rebecca’s catastrophe. The fallout from it cost Zach his “mind game” and derailed his NFL career. He now lives embittered and reclusive, desiring nothing except privacy and distance from the nightmarish experience.
✔ Enter Kate Lennon, a smart, savvy, state prosecutor who isn’t afraid of tackling tricky cases. Kate’s current target is Eban Clarke, the millionaire playboy who orchestrated the disaster that ruined Zach’s life and left Rebecca in a persistent vegetative state. Kate is seeking Zach’s help to bring Eban to justice. Zach would like nothing better than to see Eban put away for good.
But in order for that to happen, Zach will once again be required to contend with deciding Rebecca’s fate.
✔ My challenge as a writer was to weave Zach and Kate’s soul-searing moral dilemma into a novel of suspense. Beyond the struggle with their consciences, they needed a flesh-and-blood foe.
Hello, Eban Clarke.
✔ Eban is a handsome, suave, glib, wealthy, sexually deviant sociopath. He oozes charm and menace in equal portions. Beyond being creepy and despicable, he’s also sly and dangerous.
✔ While Zach grapples with his inner turmoil regarding Rebecca, and Kate navigates the intricate legalities necessary to bring Eban to trial, both are fighting their unethical but oh-so electric and irresistible attraction to each other.
And Eban? He’s busily plotting his escape from the judicial snare they’re laying for him. Because, in order for him to remain free, Rebecca must stay alive. It’s Zach and Kate who must die.
The resulting showdown had even me gasping.
Considering the steam factor between Zach and Kate, and a shocking twist of an ending, OVERKILL has my fingerprints all over it. I want this story to keep you on the edge of your seat, evoke both pathos and passion, and leave you asking yourself: What would I do?
August 20, 2022
Sandra Brown is an author that I used to read regularly but haven't picked up for a while. I have to say that I don't remember them being so steamy! There is alot or romance/sex in this book and I don't usually read these types of books. I would classify this more of a romantic suspense than a mystery/thriller.
That being said, I did enjoy it. I listened to the audiobook thanks to Hachette Audio and Netgalley. It was a family and legal drama of a high profile, former footballer, Zach Bridger. He has been divorced from his ex-wife, Rebecca Pratt for 5 years. But when she ends up on life support in hospital, he find that she still has home named as her medical advisor, and it is up to him when the machine gets turned off. Unable to make the decision, he passed that responsibility onto her parents. 4 years later, her attacker is released on early release from prison. Rebecca is still on life support. Prosecutor, Kate Lennon tracks Zach down to discuss the situation and the fact that the attacker has gotten away with what he did. Will Zach run the life support off and have Eban charged with murder? Sparks fly between Kate and Zach from the very beginning.
That being said, I did enjoy it. I listened to the audiobook thanks to Hachette Audio and Netgalley. It was a family and legal drama of a high profile, former footballer, Zach Bridger. He has been divorced from his ex-wife, Rebecca Pratt for 5 years. But when she ends up on life support in hospital, he find that she still has home named as her medical advisor, and it is up to him when the machine gets turned off. Unable to make the decision, he passed that responsibility onto her parents. 4 years later, her attacker is released on early release from prison. Rebecca is still on life support. Prosecutor, Kate Lennon tracks Zach down to discuss the situation and the fact that the attacker has gotten away with what he did. Will Zach run the life support off and have Eban charged with murder? Sparks fly between Kate and Zach from the very beginning.
August 17, 2022
To the outside world Zach is a washed-up star NFL player, but he’s happy to live out of the spotlight. He was a star quarterback and MVP until he married Rebecca, a glitzy party girl. The marriage was a train wreck and short-lived, but unfortunately her partying ways ended tragically, and Zach was left as medical conservator when she was declared unresponsive and in a vegetative state. Zach felt he was in no position to take her off life support after her parent bitterly contested his rights since he wasn’t her husband at the time.
Four years later Prosecutor Kate Lennon shows up at his door when Rebecca’s convicted attacker, Eban Clarke, has been released early and she needs a way to put him away for good. The only way to do that is with new charges, like murder if Rebecca is taken off life support. Zach wants nothing to do with the whole situation.
Eban Clarke is a rich, spoiled, no-good, sociopath without a speck of remorse for all he’s done. When he hears Kate and Zach may be cooking up a way to send him to prison again, he sets his own plans in motion. This guy was a piece of work and his POV filled me with dread!
Of course, there’s a romance, ill-advised because of the circumstances, but the heat between Zach and Kate was hard to ignore. Stolen moments of passion are interspersed in between looking for a way to put Eban away for good, and trying to stay alive. Never a dull moment!
I’m always sucked right in from the first page, as I was with Overkill, clamoring for more with her cliffhanger-like chapter endings. Overkill was fast-paced, full of action and rounded out with a steamy romance. Zach was Ms. Brown’s kind of standard hero, a man’s man, and a little bit of an asshole at the beginning, and I loved him! Kate was a likable heroine, smart with a passion for justice, which I understood once getting to know her background.
Sandra Brown is one of my all-time favorite mystery/romantic suspense writers! I eagerly look forward to her new releases, but I’ve gone back and read and enjoyed a lot of her back list, too. Highly recommended!
A copy was kindly provided by Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Four years later Prosecutor Kate Lennon shows up at his door when Rebecca’s convicted attacker, Eban Clarke, has been released early and she needs a way to put him away for good. The only way to do that is with new charges, like murder if Rebecca is taken off life support. Zach wants nothing to do with the whole situation.
Eban Clarke is a rich, spoiled, no-good, sociopath without a speck of remorse for all he’s done. When he hears Kate and Zach may be cooking up a way to send him to prison again, he sets his own plans in motion. This guy was a piece of work and his POV filled me with dread!
Of course, there’s a romance, ill-advised because of the circumstances, but the heat between Zach and Kate was hard to ignore. Stolen moments of passion are interspersed in between looking for a way to put Eban away for good, and trying to stay alive. Never a dull moment!
I’m always sucked right in from the first page, as I was with Overkill, clamoring for more with her cliffhanger-like chapter endings. Overkill was fast-paced, full of action and rounded out with a steamy romance. Zach was Ms. Brown’s kind of standard hero, a man’s man, and a little bit of an asshole at the beginning, and I loved him! Kate was a likable heroine, smart with a passion for justice, which I understood once getting to know her background.
Sandra Brown is one of my all-time favorite mystery/romantic suspense writers! I eagerly look forward to her new releases, but I’ve gone back and read and enjoyed a lot of her back list, too. Highly recommended!
A copy was kindly provided by Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2022
Updated
Where is Sandra Brown and what have they done with her? This book is not written with the same style as her previous ones. It causes me to wonder if she has employed a ghost writer aka in James Patterson fashion. Sandra Brown usually writes excellent mystery thrillers. This was an outlier for sure. Disappointing.
Cons:
> Characters are flat, two dimensional. I felt no connection with any of them. The dialogue is not authentic to the characters.
> Romance- steamy, off color romance at that. The sexual innuendoes are unnecessary and offensive. EXTREMELY offensive.
> Not a thriller. No pow 💥 or 💥 pizazz. AT ALL.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC of Overkill.
The premise sounded promising but there were problems that caused the promise of a good thriller to peter out.
Where is Sandra Brown and what have they done with her? This book is not written with the same style as her previous ones. It causes me to wonder if she has employed a ghost writer aka in James Patterson fashion. Sandra Brown usually writes excellent mystery thrillers. This was an outlier for sure. Disappointing.
Cons:
> Characters are flat, two dimensional. I felt no connection with any of them. The dialogue is not authentic to the characters.
> Romance- steamy, off color romance at that. The sexual innuendoes are unnecessary and offensive. EXTREMELY offensive.
> Not a thriller. No pow 💥 or 💥 pizazz. AT ALL.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC of Overkill.
The premise sounded promising but there were problems that caused the promise of a good thriller to peter out.
June 2, 2022
It wouldn’t be summer without the arrival of a new Sandra Brown book. Overkill arrives just in time for the August heat wave. A perfect way to spend the last vestiges of summer. Wrapped in mystery, murder, and the mayhem that only the incomparable Sandra Brown can produce. Overkill had me 100% addicted from the start. With her ability for great prose and the way she weaves a story it’s nothing short of wonderful. Pre-order it today if you haven’t already.
~Tanja
*Thank you to @GrandCentralPub @novelsuspects @HachetteUS for sharing this title with me. #GrandCentralPub #novelsuspects #HachetteUS #novelsuspectsinsider #SandraBrown #Overkill #CrimeThrillers #SuspenseThrillers #ContemporaryRomance
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~Tanja
*Thank you to @GrandCentralPub @novelsuspects @HachetteUS for sharing this title with me. #GrandCentralPub #novelsuspects #HachetteUS #novelsuspectsinsider #SandraBrown #Overkill #CrimeThrillers #SuspenseThrillers #ContemporaryRomance
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December 17, 2022
2 Stars
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The overall premise and the blurb that sucked me in.
The Not-So-Good: The ex's dad's drama with the H. I thought it all was pretty eye roll inducing. I get that it was probably included to help with making the impression of the H better after him starting off as kind of a jerk, but really?! If you read this -- you'll know what I'm talking about.
The Bad: The romance. There were glimpses where I thought "oh, this might be where it gets better" (like when he was confessing to his old coach that she was different) -- but nope! It was lackluster just like their overall characters. It fell super flat for me. I also was literally cringing at the sex scenes and how Ms. Brown worded things. Ex: "The imperative prods seeking entrance. When he found her, she was open and giving and glazed with want. Intent and possessive, he penetrated, grafting himself to her completely." Like, what? This was published in 2022?! Totally off-putting to me and I would've rather had fade-to-black tbh.
Overall: I struggled with this one. After such an interesting blurb, I'm really disappointed! Very cool premise because it makes you think about what you would do in a similar situation, but I felt as though it was very poorly executed.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Kate and Zach's story. Ex-superstar quarterback Zach's life changed the night that his ex wife's sex games put her in a coma and he was the person to decide if she stays on life support or not. Years after he left it to her family to make the decisions, he is approached by Kate to help with her legal case against the man who put his ex that way. The man has been released from prison but in order to put him back, Kate needs to be able to try him as a murderer -- after Zach decides to stop the life sustaining care and his ex dies. There are some secrets revealed, some mild sexy times, and some suspenseful scenes...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing mainly on Kate and Zach, but some parts were focused on side characters too.
Overall Pace of Story: Alright. There were times that felt slow but I never skimmed.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings
H (Hero) rating: 3 stars. Zach. He was just alright. Grumpy at first then misunderstood.
h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Kate. I thought she was just okay too.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Low. They have some mild tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Kind of. It was actually kind of cringy at times in how it was worded, definitely not sexy!
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends in an alright place but with what I would call a HFN ending
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The overall premise and the blurb that sucked me in.
The Not-So-Good: The ex's dad's drama with the H. I thought it all was pretty eye roll inducing. I get that it was probably included to help with making the impression of the H better after him starting off as kind of a jerk, but really?! If you read this -- you'll know what I'm talking about.
The Bad: The romance. There were glimpses where I thought "oh, this might be where it gets better" (like when he was confessing to his old coach that she was different) -- but nope! It was lackluster just like their overall characters. It fell super flat for me. I also was literally cringing at the sex scenes and how Ms. Brown worded things. Ex: "The imperative prods seeking entrance. When he found her, she was open and giving and glazed with want. Intent and possessive, he penetrated, grafting himself to her completely." Like, what? This was published in 2022?! Totally off-putting to me and I would've rather had fade-to-black tbh.
Overall: I struggled with this one. After such an interesting blurb, I'm really disappointed! Very cool premise because it makes you think about what you would do in a similar situation, but I felt as though it was very poorly executed.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Kate and Zach's story. Ex-superstar quarterback Zach's life changed the night that his ex wife's sex games put her in a coma and he was the person to decide if she stays on life support or not. Years after he left it to her family to make the decisions, he is approached by Kate to help with her legal case against the man who put his ex that way. The man has been released from prison but in order to put him back, Kate needs to be able to try him as a murderer -- after Zach decides to stop the life sustaining care and his ex dies. There are some secrets revealed, some mild sexy times, and some suspenseful scenes...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing mainly on Kate and Zach, but some parts were focused on side characters too.
Overall Pace of Story: Alright. There were times that felt slow but I never skimmed.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings
H (Hero) rating: 3 stars. Zach. He was just alright. Grumpy at first then misunderstood.
h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Kate. I thought she was just okay too.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Low. They have some mild tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Kind of. It was actually kind of cringy at times in how it was worded, definitely not sexy!
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends in an alright place but with what I would call a HFN ending
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
September 6, 2022
Solid read. I feel like I can always count on Sandra Brown.
I like sports so this one really appealed to me.
It kept me engaged, entertained, etc.
I liked the main characters.
4 Stars because while it didn't blow me away, I definitely liked it. And after my string of DNFs...I'll take it.
I like sports so this one really appealed to me.
It kept me engaged, entertained, etc.
I liked the main characters.
4 Stars because while it didn't blow me away, I definitely liked it. And after my string of DNFs...I'll take it.
September 14, 2022
I’ve been reading Sandra Brown since the 90’s. Today I remembered every reason I enjoy her fictional stories. Brown can write romantic suspense with flair. She has a breadth of vocabulary so few new authors possess. She has a knack for making the reader care about her characters, even when you shouldn’t. She touches your core and makes you think about serious subjects.
You’ll need to suspend some belief, but this is a reliable story.
Duly note she was a romance writer, First. Expect sexy passages. If it’s not for you, just gloss over them and feel the glow. Lol. 😊
You’ll need to suspend some belief, but this is a reliable story.
Duly note she was a romance writer, First. Expect sexy passages. If it’s not for you, just gloss over them and feel the glow. Lol. 😊
December 9, 2022
Thought I was getting a thriller based on the author. Instead I got a cheesy romance. Still finished it.
And I quote ”And then his mouth was on her, sipping her.” Sipping, really? Good grief.
And I quote ”And then his mouth was on her, sipping her.” Sipping, really? Good grief.
September 11, 2022
I guess almost everyone who follows me knows how much I love books by Sandra Brown. she is one author whose stories I wouldn’t mind revisiting occasionally whenever feeling low and out. But Overkill, the latest release by the author would probably not get added to that re-read list. Her first few publications had intense romance and a bit of angst to complete the HEA but of late all her books were heavy on the suspense angle and the romance is a part of the unfolding drama that revolves around the main characters. Overkill is kind of going back to her original releases where the focus is on the” romance and the simmering sexual tension” between the protagonists and the suspense if I could call it, offering nothing extraordinary.
Don’t get me wrong, Overkill is, of course, gonna be the top bestseller coz she definitely knows to weave a story and capture the reader’s attention, and I was not disappointed at all but having had 5 star reads from her for the past 5 years or so, this one is a solid 4star read, exciting but not enthralling.
The central theme of the story as in the author’s words is the disturbing scenario wherein you are asked to play GOD, and it is not just about pulling the plug of a ventilator, Sandra Brown takes it a notch higher where Zach Bridger has to decide to starve his ex-wife to death. Imagine the kind of guilt and what ifs that are probably going to haunt you until ur last breath and that theme of the story was arresting and thought-provoking. The forbidden romance between him and the state prosecutor Kate Lennon is again, as her customary standards sizzling and the only part of the story that failed to give oodles of adrenaline usually expected from her is the “suspense”. The antagonist Eban is the rich spoiled caricature and lacks any twists that get the reader to sit up and say “oh my god”.
Overkill is a fast-paced and entertaining read, but if you have been a long-time follower of her works like me, this is not one of those that is gonna keep you on a high for days after reading her books.
This review is published in my blog Rain'n'Books, ##Goodreads, ##Amazon India, ##Book Bub, ##Medium.com, ##Facebook, ##Twitter.
Don’t get me wrong, Overkill is, of course, gonna be the top bestseller coz she definitely knows to weave a story and capture the reader’s attention, and I was not disappointed at all but having had 5 star reads from her for the past 5 years or so, this one is a solid 4star read, exciting but not enthralling.
The central theme of the story as in the author’s words is the disturbing scenario wherein you are asked to play GOD, and it is not just about pulling the plug of a ventilator, Sandra Brown takes it a notch higher where Zach Bridger has to decide to starve his ex-wife to death. Imagine the kind of guilt and what ifs that are probably going to haunt you until ur last breath and that theme of the story was arresting and thought-provoking. The forbidden romance between him and the state prosecutor Kate Lennon is again, as her customary standards sizzling and the only part of the story that failed to give oodles of adrenaline usually expected from her is the “suspense”. The antagonist Eban is the rich spoiled caricature and lacks any twists that get the reader to sit up and say “oh my god”.
Overkill is a fast-paced and entertaining read, but if you have been a long-time follower of her works like me, this is not one of those that is gonna keep you on a high for days after reading her books.
This review is published in my blog Rain'n'Books, ##Goodreads, ##Amazon India, ##Book Bub, ##Medium.com, ##Facebook, ##Twitter.
August 11, 2022
Overkill by Sandra Brown has Zach Bridger, a former MVP quarterback, forced to make a difficult decision. His ex-wife, Rebecca Pratt has been in a coma after a night of overindulgence and abuse with bad boy, Eban Clarke and two of his friends. Rebecca left all medical decisions to Zach. Four years have passed since Rebecca became incapacitated and Eban is out of jail early for good behavior (and some arm twisting from his father’s lawyer). Kate Lennon, a state prosecutor, is determined to put Eban away for a long time. She can only charge Eban with murder after Rebecca has died. Kate visits Zach to see if he is willing to remove life support. Zach acquiesced to Rebecca’s parents four years ago. The Pratt’s put Rebecca in a long-term care facility where she is being kept alive by machines. Zach will need to decide what action to take while Eban works to keep his freedom. The blurb for Overkill made it sound like an exciting book. After reading Overkill, I have to wonder if the person who wrote the blurb read the book. The romance element overrode everything else. There is sexual tension between Zach and Kate. If you like stories that are steamy (this book is one step away from erotica), then you will enjoy Overkill. I found there to be a significant amount of foul language, sexual innuendoes, and intimate relations (consensual and not). I do not like reading about sexual assault. The ending goes with the rest of the book, but I found it a turn off. There is a distinct lack of action (except for what was happening in Zach’s pants). The story rehashed whether or not Zach should take Rebecca off life support. I understood the dilemma, but I did not need it to be repeated ad nauseum. The characters lacked development. I found the characters to be exaggerated. Eban Clarke is the spoiled rich frat boy who has no intention of growing up and behaving properly. Zach is the strong, sporty guy who broods and is rude. Kate is an eager, petite lawyer who wants to get justice (she is the type that men like Zach want to protect). I wanted suspense and action (there is some near the end). I thought Overkill was way too long (416 pages). You can skip chapters and not miss a thing. Overkill wraps up with a tidy yet steamy ending. As you can tell, Overkill was not my type of book. If in doubt, download a sample to judge for yourself. Overkill is a lackluster tale with the evil Eban, a persistent prosecutor, the robust quarterback, the devout dad, and a coma conundrum.
September 28, 2022
Audio.
Be aware:
-Crude, Vulgar, Crass language.
-Very descriptive sex scenes (many). XXX
-rape
-drugs/alcohol.
Good storyline with a lot of sexual encounter descriptions and unnecessary filler. Could “x” out a lot of “xxx” and have a better story.
2nd book for me ofSandra Brown. 2nd experience with this.
Be aware:
-Crude, Vulgar, Crass language.
-Very descriptive sex scenes (many). XXX
-rape
-drugs/alcohol.
Good storyline with a lot of sexual encounter descriptions and unnecessary filler. Could “x” out a lot of “xxx” and have a better story.
2nd book for me ofSandra Brown. 2nd experience with this.
August 29, 2022
4.5 stars.
I love it!
Probably will write the review, later! 😘
❤️❤️❤️
I love it!
Probably will write the review, later! 😘
❤️❤️❤️
August 17, 2022
BOOK BLURB:
Former Super Bowl MVP quarterback Zach Bridger hasn’t seen his ex-wife, Rebecca Pratt, for some time—not since their volatile marriage imploded—so he’s shocked to receive a life-altering call about her. Rebecca has been placed on life support after a violent assault, and he—despite their divorce—has medical power-of-attorney. Zach is asked to make an impossible choice: keep her on life support or take her off of it. Buckling under the weight of the responsibility and the glare of public scrutiny, Zach ultimately walks away, letting Rebecca's parents have the final say.
Four years later, Rebecca's attacker, Eban—the scion of a wealthy family in Atlanta—gets an early release from prison. The ludicrous miscarriage of justice reeks of favoritism, and Kate Lennon, a brilliant state prosecutor, is determined to put him back behind bars. Rebecca’s parents have kept her alive all these years, but if her condition were to change—if she were to die—Eban could be retried on a new charge: murder.
It isn’t lost on Zach that in order for Eban to be charged with Rebecca’s murder, Zach must actually be the one to kill her. He rejects Kate’s legal standpoint but can’t resist their ill-timed attraction to each other. Eban, having realized the jeopardy he’s in, plots to make certain that neither Zach nor Kate lives to see the death of Rebecca—and the end of his freedom.
MY REVIEW: -- 4.5 Stars
Overkill chills and thrills in equal measure. And is both a satisfying and heartbreaking romantic suspense mix. The blurb more than adequately sets out the premise for Brown’s latest book. So don’t expect any giveaways or plotting details. I stand by my no spoiler practice.
Sandra Brown sticks to the facts. Readers will find no rambling tangents or a lot of unnecessary fluff. You can always depend on her writing to be straightforward, clear and easy to follow.
The range and diversity in the cast of characters from good to bad always strengthens a storyline. I really detested the bad guys and absolutely loved the good ones. There was no in-between for me. I have little patience or understanding for uppity better-than-you attitudes or practices. But they play a major role in making this story come alive and emphasize the differences in lifestyles and the way the world operates.
I really enjoyed the pairing of Zach Bridger, a former professional football quarterback and Super Bowl MVP and Kate Lennon, an Assistant District Attorney. Their chemistry sparked and sizzled from the start, and I enjoyed the progression. It was neither not enough or too much – just even-tempered and realistic under the circumstances. Though neither of their by-gone days were really fleshed-out, there’s certainly enough to support the events of the present-day happenings – and that was good enough for me.
The intensity and fast pacing are sustained throughout with the life or death “decision” always in the forefront. I found the legal issues associated with the Medical Power of Attorney to be quite interesting, well-explored and presented without prejudice.
A totally unputdownable thriller, this book had me in its grips from the very first page until that last jaw-dropping gut-punch in the end. And then to offset that punch, Brown makes sure to leave readers in an orgasmic state of mind. (LOL!)
July 23, 2022
This was a perfect summer read!
I loved the way this pulled me into the deep emotional issue Zack faced deciding whether or not to continue life support in a situation he should have never been put in. While this is filled with lots of drama from the “villain” as well as another problem Zack was facing, for me it was truly about The Decision. So many variables at play in making that ultimate decision. I couldn’t help but put myself in his place and found myself going from one frame of mind to another. Despite his relationship with his ex, it would be a decision wrought with pretty much every emotion known to man.
I loved watching Zack and Kate come together and fall in love despite the rocky path they were traveling. Zack had enough alpha in him to make my heart smile although I admit, I would have loved to have seen more. I’m used to heroines that are lawyers being a bit too tough and go get ‘em, but Kate was not. She was dedicated to her job and determined to do what needed to be done but did not trample on anyone along the way.
This was fast paced and not really a mystery other than I never knew what the bad guy was going to do next. And what he did was quite a surprise. This was not the type of story to keep me on the edge of my seat although when I got to the “surprise by the villain” part, I was certainly doing so. However, it was a smooth read I found extremely enjoyable.
Multi POV
Safe
Triggers
Steam
I loved the way this pulled me into the deep emotional issue Zack faced deciding whether or not to continue life support in a situation he should have never been put in. While this is filled with lots of drama from the “villain” as well as another problem Zack was facing, for me it was truly about The Decision. So many variables at play in making that ultimate decision. I couldn’t help but put myself in his place and found myself going from one frame of mind to another. Despite his relationship with his ex, it would be a decision wrought with pretty much every emotion known to man.
I loved watching Zack and Kate come together and fall in love despite the rocky path they were traveling. Zack had enough alpha in him to make my heart smile although I admit, I would have loved to have seen more. I’m used to heroines that are lawyers being a bit too tough and go get ‘em, but Kate was not. She was dedicated to her job and determined to do what needed to be done but did not trample on anyone along the way.
This was fast paced and not really a mystery other than I never knew what the bad guy was going to do next. And what he did was quite a surprise. This was not the type of story to keep me on the edge of my seat although when I got to the “surprise by the villain” part, I was certainly doing so. However, it was a smooth read I found extremely enjoyable.
Multi POV
Safe
Triggers
Steam
August 15, 2022
Tight, ominous, and action-packed!
Overkill is a suspenseful, twisty tale that features the handsome, troubled former NFL quarterback, Jack Bridger who, after learning that the narcissistic predator who left his ex-wife in a vegetative state after a night of dangerous sex play has been released from prison after only four years due to good behaviour, joins together with the feisty state prosecutor Kate Lennon to do whatever it takes, even finally take Rebecca off life support, to put her attacker behind bars for good.
The writing is brisk and intense. The characters are persistent, driven, and multilayered. And the plot is an eerie, riveting tale full of twists, turns, violence, desire, attraction, deception, danger, romance, and murder.
Overall, Overkill is a menacing, alluring, edgy tale by Brown that has all the elements I’ve come to know and love in her romantic suspense novels, including a fierce heroine, a sexy hero, and a fast-paced, highly entertaining storyline that I can happily say I devoured in one sitting.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Overkill is a suspenseful, twisty tale that features the handsome, troubled former NFL quarterback, Jack Bridger who, after learning that the narcissistic predator who left his ex-wife in a vegetative state after a night of dangerous sex play has been released from prison after only four years due to good behaviour, joins together with the feisty state prosecutor Kate Lennon to do whatever it takes, even finally take Rebecca off life support, to put her attacker behind bars for good.
The writing is brisk and intense. The characters are persistent, driven, and multilayered. And the plot is an eerie, riveting tale full of twists, turns, violence, desire, attraction, deception, danger, romance, and murder.
Overall, Overkill is a menacing, alluring, edgy tale by Brown that has all the elements I’ve come to know and love in her romantic suspense novels, including a fierce heroine, a sexy hero, and a fast-paced, highly entertaining storyline that I can happily say I devoured in one sitting.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2022
Retired Pro Quarterback Faces Fourth-Down-and-Two
This wasn't my favorite Sandra Brown, but like all of her books, it was entertaining. I did enjoy the hero's history as a Super-Bowl-winning quarterback and the heroine's toughness as a prosecuting attorney.
It took me a while to get into the story. Maybe it was the uber-gruffness of the audiobook narrator's portrayal of Zach (almost sounding like a neanderthal), or the storyline around his ex-wife being on life support after a sexual encounter gone wrong. Eban, the perpetrator of the sexual assault, is a despicable well-drawn character who exemplifies what could go wrong with permissive parenting.
Zach had some funny lines, and his college coach / mentor was quite lovable.
This wasn't my favorite Sandra Brown, but like all of her books, it was entertaining. I did enjoy the hero's history as a Super-Bowl-winning quarterback and the heroine's toughness as a prosecuting attorney.
It took me a while to get into the story. Maybe it was the uber-gruffness of the audiobook narrator's portrayal of Zach (almost sounding like a neanderthal), or the storyline around his ex-wife being on life support after a sexual encounter gone wrong. Eban, the perpetrator of the sexual assault, is a despicable well-drawn character who exemplifies what could go wrong with permissive parenting.
Zach had some funny lines, and his college coach / mentor was quite lovable.
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