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She Died Then Showed Me
READERS' FAVORITE "5-STAR SEAL"
INDIEREADER "SKILLFULLY TOLD TALE"
KIRKUS "PAINTERLY PROSE"
REEDSY DISCOVERY "PREPARE TO GET ENTHRALLED"
“It was a page-turner, and the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. The descriptions of New Mexico were so vivid that I could visualize them. The characters were intriguing and dynamic. I could relate to them, and they could be anyone I know. My favorite character was Peyton. I could relate to her struggle with her demons.”
—Readers’ Favorite
“Reine’s painterly prose evokes her characters’ creative endeavors as well as the gorgeous New Mexican landscape.” —Kirkus Reviews
"Peyton's struggle with her own inner demons is one that can resonate universally, regardless of class or position on the social ladder. And the vivid images Reine paints of the Southwestern landscape and its environs create a three-dimensional backdrop for a skillfully told tale." —IndieReader
"Be prepared to get enthralled by incredible, vivid imagery of scenic beauty, detailed and lively descriptions of characters... relish the writing and not get entangled in the mystery alone." — Reedsy Discovery
In a realm of family secrets and lost letters, love paints the truest portrait. Reminiscent of Rosamunde Pilcher’s The Shell Seekers and Isabelle Allende’s The House of Spirits, Peyton Chase fights to save her family’s heritage, confront the mysteries of her troubled past, face her deepest fears, and reframe her legacy.
Overshadowed by her mother's prodigious talent as a renowned artist, Peyton wrestles with her own insecurities. Filled with self-doubt, she secretly pursues her passion for painting while yearning to break free from the shadows.
After her father’s passing, Peyton is rocked by his secret dealings to sell her late mother’s paintings. She’s determined to stop her family’s estate from falling apart, but only if she can decipher the enigmatic clues hidden in her late mother's masterpieces. But truth always comes at a price. In unearthing her family's legacy, will Peyton find the confidence to paint her own path with resolve, courage, and wit?
Amid the labyrinth of mysteries and sibling rivalries, a captivating new man, a cowboy turned Navy SEAL captain, sets her soul ablaze. While a former lover who possesses the key to her financial troubles reignites a dormant ember, but at what cost to her authentic self?
As Peyton's journey evolves into a confrontation with personal demons and her family's hidden truths, the revelations lead the heiress on a voyage of compassionate insights into family dynamics and the odyssey of self-love.
Each book in The Pioneer Ranch Saga can be read as a stand-alone or as part of the larger series.
INDIEREADER "SKILLFULLY TOLD TALE"
KIRKUS "PAINTERLY PROSE"
REEDSY DISCOVERY "PREPARE TO GET ENTHRALLED"
“It was a page-turner, and the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. The descriptions of New Mexico were so vivid that I could visualize them. The characters were intriguing and dynamic. I could relate to them, and they could be anyone I know. My favorite character was Peyton. I could relate to her struggle with her demons.”
—Readers’ Favorite
“Reine’s painterly prose evokes her characters’ creative endeavors as well as the gorgeous New Mexican landscape.” —Kirkus Reviews
"Peyton's struggle with her own inner demons is one that can resonate universally, regardless of class or position on the social ladder. And the vivid images Reine paints of the Southwestern landscape and its environs create a three-dimensional backdrop for a skillfully told tale." —IndieReader
"Be prepared to get enthralled by incredible, vivid imagery of scenic beauty, detailed and lively descriptions of characters... relish the writing and not get entangled in the mystery alone." — Reedsy Discovery
In a realm of family secrets and lost letters, love paints the truest portrait. Reminiscent of Rosamunde Pilcher’s The Shell Seekers and Isabelle Allende’s The House of Spirits, Peyton Chase fights to save her family’s heritage, confront the mysteries of her troubled past, face her deepest fears, and reframe her legacy.
Overshadowed by her mother's prodigious talent as a renowned artist, Peyton wrestles with her own insecurities. Filled with self-doubt, she secretly pursues her passion for painting while yearning to break free from the shadows.
After her father’s passing, Peyton is rocked by his secret dealings to sell her late mother’s paintings. She’s determined to stop her family’s estate from falling apart, but only if she can decipher the enigmatic clues hidden in her late mother's masterpieces. But truth always comes at a price. In unearthing her family's legacy, will Peyton find the confidence to paint her own path with resolve, courage, and wit?
Amid the labyrinth of mysteries and sibling rivalries, a captivating new man, a cowboy turned Navy SEAL captain, sets her soul ablaze. While a former lover who possesses the key to her financial troubles reignites a dormant ember, but at what cost to her authentic self?
As Peyton's journey evolves into a confrontation with personal demons and her family's hidden truths, the revelations lead the heiress on a voyage of compassionate insights into family dynamics and the odyssey of self-love.
Each book in The Pioneer Ranch Saga can be read as a stand-alone or as part of the larger series.
- GenresContemporary
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 22, 2023
29 people are currently reading
2990 people want to read
About the author
Samar Reine
4 books17 followersSamar Reine’s literary style focuses on character-driven family dramas that delve deeply into complex psychological aspects. The author’s narratives feature richly detailed inner and outer worlds, blending elements of mystery and magical realism. Themes such as overcoming challenges, awakening to new perspectives, redemption, and self-discovery are central to her work, with a subtle infusion of romance to add depth and emotion. Reine uses a nuanced exploration of human relationships and personal growth, often set against intriguing and stunning emotional and physical landscapes.
An acclaimed economics professor, whose books have earned Readers' Favorite 5-star seals and BookLife’s Editor's pick, Reine was raised on the Mediterranean coastline, a stone’s throw away from where Jesus turned water into wine.
English is Reine’s third language. She started teaching economics in higher education at twenty-three.
Reine’s worldview was profoundly influenced by her education under Jesuit and Marist French priests during a period of civil war. This experience forever transformed her understanding of love, resilience, overcoming, compassion, and healing, instilling in her a unique perspective on these fundamental aspects of life.
During her formative years, Samar Reine won every cultural competition she entered, which eventually led to her passion for writing novels.
She's been an intrepid traveler since the age of seventeen, venturing out alone, and is a devoted lover of nature and animals.
Reine believes in meraki, a transcendental existence for a meaningful life.
For a life painted vermilion mountains, oceans of sky, and the call of the wild, she lives with her family between the mountains of the Southwest and the Pacific coast.
For additional information on the author or watch book trailers, visit her website and subscribe to her newsletter at https://samarreine.com
An acclaimed economics professor, whose books have earned Readers' Favorite 5-star seals and BookLife’s Editor's pick, Reine was raised on the Mediterranean coastline, a stone’s throw away from where Jesus turned water into wine.
English is Reine’s third language. She started teaching economics in higher education at twenty-three.
Reine’s worldview was profoundly influenced by her education under Jesuit and Marist French priests during a period of civil war. This experience forever transformed her understanding of love, resilience, overcoming, compassion, and healing, instilling in her a unique perspective on these fundamental aspects of life.
During her formative years, Samar Reine won every cultural competition she entered, which eventually led to her passion for writing novels.
She's been an intrepid traveler since the age of seventeen, venturing out alone, and is a devoted lover of nature and animals.
Reine believes in meraki, a transcendental existence for a meaningful life.
For a life painted vermilion mountains, oceans of sky, and the call of the wild, she lives with her family between the mountains of the Southwest and the Pacific coast.
For additional information on the author or watch book trailers, visit her website and subscribe to her newsletter at https://samarreine.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 8, 2023
This book is brilliant. One of the best I’ve read in recent years.
The heroine of the story, Payton, is relatable and very likable. She faces an instrumental amount of problems and heartache, which would bring anyone to their knees, but she is able to face them with the help of a handful of friends who turn out to be closer than family to her.
This story is about realization of self-worth after years of self-doubt while holding onto a self-inflicted false sense of guilt.
The story is spiritual, uplifting and healing. The characters are authentic and familiar, and the author’s descriptive writing transports the reader right into the middle of the story. Samar Reine is a superb writer!
I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a story with a heart! I loved it!!!
The heroine of the story, Payton, is relatable and very likable. She faces an instrumental amount of problems and heartache, which would bring anyone to their knees, but she is able to face them with the help of a handful of friends who turn out to be closer than family to her.
This story is about realization of self-worth after years of self-doubt while holding onto a self-inflicted false sense of guilt.
The story is spiritual, uplifting and healing. The characters are authentic and familiar, and the author’s descriptive writing transports the reader right into the middle of the story. Samar Reine is a superb writer!
I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a story with a heart! I loved it!!!
September 28, 2023
She Died Then Showed Me is a heart-stoppingly good book. At first, Peyton Chase seems to have the perfect life, aside from just losing her dad. As I read though, I found how deceptive appearances are. Her father's death brings the possiblity - some say probability - of having to sell the ranch that her family has owned for generations, forcing Peyton to dig into the secrets her father kept. Peyton has a full plate of problems: a half-sister who hates her, her father's debts and a former lover trying to rekindle the love affair she walked away from years ago. In exploring ways to pay off the mortgage on the ranch, Peyton encounters Blake Adler, who both attracts and angers her.
Peyton is forced to examine her childhood memories to understand the secrets her parents kept. She has to examine her life, to determine what is really important, what she values most, and who she really wants to be.
Samar Reine is a new author for me and will be someone whose books I will seek out. The characters are well developed and relatable, even the secondary characters. The writing made me feel as if I knew the desert in New Mexico, a place I've never seen. The heroine Peyton has made poor decisions in the past and is determined to do the right thing, not the easiest thing, with the problems she is facing after her father's death. That determination results in very difficult decisions for Peyton, forcing her to make the best choice possible from several bad alternatives. Adler, the hero, is not perfect but he is perfect for Peyton, accepting her as she is. There is a surprise twist at the end that I didn't see coming which really added to my enjoyment of the story.
I highly recommend She Died Then Showed Me. I read the book in one sitting because I was pulled right into the story. It was worth the lost sleep.
Peyton is forced to examine her childhood memories to understand the secrets her parents kept. She has to examine her life, to determine what is really important, what she values most, and who she really wants to be.
Samar Reine is a new author for me and will be someone whose books I will seek out. The characters are well developed and relatable, even the secondary characters. The writing made me feel as if I knew the desert in New Mexico, a place I've never seen. The heroine Peyton has made poor decisions in the past and is determined to do the right thing, not the easiest thing, with the problems she is facing after her father's death. That determination results in very difficult decisions for Peyton, forcing her to make the best choice possible from several bad alternatives. Adler, the hero, is not perfect but he is perfect for Peyton, accepting her as she is. There is a surprise twist at the end that I didn't see coming which really added to my enjoyment of the story.
I highly recommend She Died Then Showed Me. I read the book in one sitting because I was pulled right into the story. It was worth the lost sleep.
September 29, 2023
This is a thoughtful story about generational conflicts, grief, mental health, and secrets that can fracture families.
It took some time for me to connect with the main character Peyton. She comes from old money and her ex-boyfriend was not a great guy. However, the author was excellent at showing Peyton's strengths at the right times, and I ended up loving her character by the end of the story.
I liked how naturally the relationships between Peyton and her new love interest developed, as well as her relationship with the ranch workers and her friends. It did feel at times that I would want to see more of Peyton's inner thoughts instead of the feelings being revealed in the dialogue, but that is just my preference.
The descriptions of New Mexico landscapes were beautifully written, and I loved the inclusion of Navajo lore. As someone coming from a Northern European country, it was fascinating to live on a ranch in New Mexico for a little while, and it urged me to learn more about this state and its art history.
Thank you very much, NetGalley, for the chance to read this ARC!
October 10, 2023
Peyton loses her beloved father, making her an orphan as her mother had died years before. She is shocked to find that her family farm's future in under threat due to her father's seemingly bad management. Peyton needs to take stock and reassess her future to ensure that the farm and it's inhabitants both two and four legged stay put.
Growing up with a lauded painter for a mother whose moods dominated the household, Peyton has hidden her own artistic talents. Now can she finally share her talent with the world and make a new future for herself and her chosen family?
A story of survival, horses and love triangles
Growing up with a lauded painter for a mother whose moods dominated the household, Peyton has hidden her own artistic talents. Now can she finally share her talent with the world and make a new future for herself and her chosen family?
A story of survival, horses and love triangles
November 17, 2023
Very interesting story. The characters are so real to me. Our main female has to show maturity as she gets out of a long term relationship even though she feels she is still in love. A family dynamic. A famous mother, very rich people and how they handle their lives. A good example of how to bring some peach to a family that hates each other. A realist love story.
December 24, 2025
3.5 stars. I really liked the descriptive writing, especially of the landscapes and paintings. However, I felt the dialogue between characters was forced and fake sounding for the majority of the story.
July 6, 2023
A very satisfying book. I don't usually read sagas, but this one hooked me. The characters are diverse, fascinating and engaging. Lots of psychology and emotions, surprising, fun, and uplifting.
January 29, 2024
Excellent story but so bogged down with romance decisions I almost wanted to stop reading. I forged on and the story again picked up.
October 15, 2024
A little slow to start but really enjoyed
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews