When too many hard knocks leave her shattered, can a ghostly remnant of the past anchor this tenacious woman as she transcends misfortune?
1970’s, Idaho. Laney Hagen is used to seeing her dreams die. Raised in a broken family, the once-spirited young woman has felt rudderless since her parents’ divorce. Courage and devotion drive her struggle to prevail. When success is within reach and she can reunite with her childhood sweetheart, a devastating accident puts her in a coma.
Stunned when she awakens in a spiritual borderland, Laney accepts an angel’s offer to live life as it could have been. But though the outward trappings of happiness and success abound in this alternate reality, she’s plagued by intense visions and inexplicable yearnings.
Can she find a path home to the person she longs to become?
In this compelling blend of mysticism and real-world conflict, Gail McGuire presents a cocktail of thought-provoking questions shaken with twisty suspense. And as she deftly explores the concepts of parallel realities, out-of-body experiences, and uncanny knowledge, readers will be swept up in the emotional enigma of how to choose between one’s own destinies.
What If I Told You is an immersive psychological thriller. If you like haunting intrigue, touches of the supernatural, and love’s triumph over evil, then you’ll adore Gail McGuire’s captivating page-turner.
Gail McGuire doubted she would ever write a book. She had been an intrepid tomboy, a free-spirited young adult, had outstanding children who produced superb grandchildren, and achieved a successful career in Information Management. A psychic, her friends, and children told her she would write a book. And so, she tried. Now she is the author of four books: a childhood memoir, two novels of supernatural suspense, and a historical fiction novel. Gail was born and raised in Southeast Idaho and has lived in Seattle, WA, Las Vegas, NV, and Santa Fe, NM. Gail currently resides in Las Vegas with her family. Visit gmfreedombooks.com
What if I told You by Gail Maguire is an excellent supernatural/science-fiction thriller. Involved in an accident and with her life hanging in the balance, Laney slips into a parallel universe where her name is Helane and her life is so much better (at least on the surface) as her life as Laney. But the two universes bleed into each other and as Helane’s world begins to fall apart, she realises she needs to get back to her real life. This book kept me reading into the early hours. It was that good.
What an amazing, immersive story this was. The story grabbed me from the first page. Beautifully written in an engaging style. We meet Laney in her youth having fun with her friends. When tragedy strikes her life turns down a different path.
Lying comatose in hospital, Laney has dreams of herself in a parallel universe. Another her leading a different life with her childhood sweetheart, Shane, and their young daughter. The dreams haunt her, and she yearns to be a part of that reality with Shane, as her present predicament becomes intolerable.
Engineered from the beginning, Ed resolved to marry Laney. But little did Laney know that she had not only entered a relationship with her husband but his unscrupulous, yet wealthy family as well. Principles, honour and courage are put to the test in this fast-paced thriller. Compelling to the last page. Hugely enjoyable, a tense story of love and the value of true friendships.
I got this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Laney was gone. Gone for time unknown.
I really love how well this book is written. There were many twists and turns in this book. This book definitely deserves 4.5 STARS. The full book concept, how it shows different dimensions of a person and how it impacts on that person's lifestyle, status and even the name.😯
All she could do was love them both while, piece by piece, things fell apart.
One thing that made this dotty more interesting is the characters. They had great character development and was overall very well described in detail. I could literally imagine the exact image of the character. The book was kinda slow paced at the start which made me feel a little uninterested in the story 😔, I decided to give it a chance and VOILA! THIS BOOK GOT A SOLID 4.5 FROM ME .🙃 (Which I rounded to FIVE, hehe😝)
Things were about to turn their way at last.
A romantic novel with two different dimensions, a gripping thriller read. If you think this book is for you read, and give it a try. Thank you Gail McGuire for this amazing book. I hope to read more great books like this one from you.😁
“What if I told you the life you desire is also yours?”
Engrossing supernatural read! What If I Told You by Gail McGuire tells the story of Laney Hagen. Her life hasn’t been great. With divorced parents and a worthless relationship, she’s excited to let loose and have a fun weekend with her friends. When Laney is in an accident that leaves her in a coma, she is offered the chance to live her life following a different path. Will it lead her to a better life, or will danger meet her along the way in this parallel universe? This an intriguing well-written story with great characters and the right amount of supernatural suspense to have you turning the page. A thoroughly enjoyable read! Loved it!
Beautiful Supernatural Story - Trying to escape from an abusive relationship, Laney spends time in the desert with friends riding Sand Rails. But then disaster strikes and an accident lands her in hospital in a coma. Here her guardian angel comes along and gives her a choice to live her life another way and we find a different Laney in a parallel universe. In this life Laney or Helane as she likes to be called now seems to have it all but she soon finds herself in a dangerous relationship again and her personal and professional life is in danger of imploding. She’s also having visions of another life, another love. Will this love help find her way back home before it’s too late? This is a beautiful told story about love, hope and the choices you make in life whether for good or bad. The writing is well paced and the rhythm keeps you wanting to turn page after page. I look forward to reading more from this author.
This is a novel that blurs the genre lines. It’s part thriller, part supernatural suspense, part mystery and intrigue, and full-on white-collar crime. Whatever genre you place it in, I assure you that you will love the story and the characters, and the plot evolves nicely to keep you entertained throughout and entices you to turn page after page. Author Gail McGuire has a winning novel and beautifully tells a story that will captivate you as you read about main character Laney and her struggles to provide for herself and young daughter but then marry into a rich and powerful family. She’s faced with choosing to be a pawn at the bidding of that family or to follow her deep-seated moral code. Reflections into a parallel life can provide some answers to her dilemma but that will come with a price. I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it as an excellent read.
"What If I Told You" by Gail McGuire is a psychological thriller that blends real-world conflicts with eerie mysticism. The novel has received praise for its captivating and immersive storytelling, appealing to fans of supernatural suspense and love's triumph over evil. McGuire's writing style has been described as both haunting and engaging, making it a recommended read for those who enjoy a mix of intrigue and supernatural elements.
This is a very different and interesting story. I can see that this story would be a difficult one to write well, but McGuire did an awesome job. It was a hard book to put down. Can’t wait to read more of her work.
I’ve read this author before and was so looking forward to this. And I wasn’t disappointed. It’s a beautiful story that asks readers to explore the fragile line between fate and choice.
Set in 1970s Idaho, (this author’s forte), the novel is intimate and otherworldly, with a girl whose struggle feels grounded as she drifts through an eerie spiritual landscape. Laney’s story is emotionally resonant with the quiet ache of what might have been, making it powerful.
The book balances mystical elements with emotional realism. The alternate life Laney experiences makes her face uncomfortable truths. The psychological tension has a narrative that asks questions. This is a book for readers who crave more than escapism and a lovely ending.
What if I told you was such an intense and thought-provoking read. It reminded me of a quote about "The String Theory." if you are meant to he with someone, then it will happen, just not when you think it will! This story has everything, love, loss, tragedy, and more. It is 1970 in Idaho, Laney is struggling, her parents are divorced, and all she wants is a family of her own to love and cherish. Her childhood sweetheart is once again in her grasp until a tragic accident puts her in an induced coma. Laney's friend Max contacts Shane, and he takes a flight to be with her, not knowing whether she will recover and instantly regretting past mistakes... I loved this book. It was beautifully written, and all the characters were well thought out. A great read.
Gail McGuire’s novel, “ What if I Told You” is a unique literary masterpiece. The author mixes the paranormal and real life beautifully and I could not put the book down. She has a unique way of writing that pulled me in from the first page. I was mesmerized by the journey of Laney Hagen. Her second chance was important to me and blending the paranormal with reality creates a psychological thriller romance that is unlike anything I’ve read before. The cast of characters are three dimensional and that is what makes or breaks a book for me. The author made them relatable - and you care about them. The induced coma was brilliant and kudos to the author for using that as a catalyst for the plot. Gail McGuire truly captures the imagination and pulls the reader in and you will never think about dreams the same way again. Highly recommend.
What If I Told You delves into the age-old question: What if? Many of us have wondered what life would be like if we had taken another path. Laney gets firsthand knowledge of this when her guardian angel asks her: What if I told you that the life you desire is always yours?
This book is well written with good, relatable characters. You want to fight for Laney and cheer her on as she lives life in two different realities. Maxine is the best friend we all need and the book is a reminder that there are strangers willing to protect you and get you out of harms way.
The book is also a wonderful reminder that money isn’t everything and if you have a strong family foundation, you are beyond rich. It felt good that when Laney had to make a very hard decision, her family jumped in to help, they did not shame or judge her. They helped with love and open arms.
The author did an excellent job balancing the conscious and the subconscious. Was it a dream, was it a coma, was any of it real? Only Laney will know.
What If i Told You is a story that examines the parallel realities of our main character Laney as she comes to the realization that her choices are what determine her happiness and the level of fulfilment that those decisions have provided.
The thing I love about this book is the underlying question of what if I did something different? How would that affect me and my loved ones? The author does a beautiful job in portraying that so-called alternate choice and, in doing so, provided me with a great reading experience. I would definitely recommend!
A lovely, wild, supernatural read. Lots going on in this novel. Set in the 1970s in Idaho, an accident triggers a series of events that take us into the crux of the story. Some nicely drawn characters throughout. You sympathise with the MC, Laney/Helene and what is happening to her with Ed, who is very much on the opposite end of the spectrum. There’s romance and mystery, all blended together with the supernatural, to make for an engaging read. Very enjoyable from start to finish.
"When too many hard knocks leave her shattered, can a ghostly remnant of the past anchor this tenacious woman as she transcends misfortune? 1970’s, Idaho. Laney Hagen is used to seeing her dreams die. Raised in a broken family, the once-spirited young woman has felt rudderless since her parents’ divorce. Courage and devotion drive her struggle to prevail. When success is within reach and she can reunite with her childhood sweetheart, a devastating accident puts her in a coma. Stunned when she awakens in a spiritual borderland, Laney accepts an angel’s offer to live life as it could have been. But though the outward trappings of happiness and success abound in this alternate reality, she’s plagued by intense visions and inexplicable yearnings. Can she find a path home to the person she longs to become? In this compelling blend of mysticism and real-world conflict, Gail McGuire presents a cocktail of thought-provoking questions shaken with twisty suspense. And as she deftly explores the concepts of parallel realities, out-of-body experiences, and uncanny knowledge, readers will be swept up in the emotional enigma of how to choose between one’s own destinies." Does Laney figure out her destiny? What happens to Laney with the angels offer? Will have to read the book to find out. Love the characters, the storyline, lots of twist, the ending is not what i expected, I give this book 4 stars.
I thoroughly enjoyed this well-paced metaphysical story. The suspense elements give it a page-turning quality that balances nicely with the more reflective sections that ponder the mystery of existence. At heart, this book is about the consequences of different life choices and is a reminder that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Amongst a host of extremely well-drawn characters, the standouts for me were Laney’s loyal and resourceful best friend, Maxine, the brutal Ed Brayford and his monstrous mother, Ann, whose Machiavellian villainy is chillingly portrayed. Shane, the linchpin of Laney/Helane’s parallel lives is sympathetically depicted and Laney herself makes a courageous MC, who must learn and fight for what she truly values the hard way. Those who have read the author’s biography of her formative years, ‘Raised on Freedom’, will detect its echoes in the descriptions of Laney’s childhood, anchoring the story in ‘lived experience’, which grounds the mystical elements in universal truth. The tense and nail-biting drama combined with the MCs spiritual journey and an ultimately life-affirming message makes this book a triumph.
Gail's novel draws the reader in from the beginning. There were great cliffhangers to keep the reader engaged from chapter to chapter. The characters are very relatable. I love the combination of Helane/ Laney's entities. They kept me on the edge of my seat, never knowing what would happen next. · Reading about Shane’s losing his battle buddies breaks my heart, As a Veteran myself, I can imagine his pain and sorrow. I’m glad he had Laney to “talk” to, even though he was careful as to how much he shared. Your way of having Max talk about PTSD makes it relatable and real. My favorite character is Maxine, in all of her constructions. · She is a strong female character, great instincts, trusts her gut, wonderful friend, puts herself in danger for those she cares about, isn’t led around-forms her own decisive opinion. My kinda gal. · While this isn’t my favorite genre, I did enjoy reading the story. It had a unique perspective and made the reader think. Things aren’t always as they seem. There were emotional areas and action packed ones too. Would definitely read again!
This book was fabulous. A totally original plot, and it’s very cleverly written. When Laney is involved in an accident that leaves her in a coma, she experiences something strange and cosmic.
Have you ever been at a crossroads in your life and wondered how things would play out if you chose a different path? Well, that is kind of what happens with Laney. Her angel allows her to see the life she could have had. But is it a life she would want?
This story touches on supernatural elements, but those come second to the story of unwavering love, and the story of manipulation by rich and greedy monsters. The whole thing was gripping throughout, and I can honestly say I’ve never read a book quite like it.
Laney’s journey is beautifully intense, raw, reverent, and unflinching. She doesn't just escape her abuser; she peels herself away from the version of herself that trauma carved, and that unraveling is as painful as it is poignant. The metaphysical elements, particularly the use of parallel realities and the guardian angel’s haunting question, are not just intriguing; they’re soul-deep. They echo the internal split so many survivors feel: the war between who we were, who we had to become, and who we might yet choose to be. If I had a nitpick, it’s that sometimes the pacing slows during the heavier introspective parts. Just enough to pull me out now and then, but not enough to dull the impact.
This is a paranormal love story that is set in two alternate universes. We follow the story of Laney Hagen and her struggles through her young life. When a devastating accident occurs, she is faced with a peculiar proposition. When she chooses, we see her life veer off in a completely different direction. It’s everything she could have ever wished for. Or is it? Be careful what you wish for because maybe all you need is right in front of you. You only need to be able to see it. It is a lovely, heart-warming, and beautifully written book combining questions about your life choices, spiritualism, love, and second chances.
What an amazing book this is. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to get to the final outcome. When Laney is badly injured in an accident, she is put into an induced coma to aid her recovery. Whilst in the coma, she's drawn into a parallel universe where she exists inside an unhappy marriage with a hideous man. But there is another life she longs for with her childhood sweetheart, Shane, who she yearns to be reunited with. This book is beautifully written, with a storyline that will draw you in more and more as you read on. Very highly recommended! Fantastic storytelling!!
When Laney Hagen is involved in an accident that lands her in a coma, her guardin angel offers her the opportunity to live a different life in a parallel universe. With well developed characters and great supporting characters, I found myself fully immersed in this story. I really enjoyed this read, Gail Mcguire is a new author to me and I hope to read more in the future. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a believable story of real world issues blended with a touch of otherworldly intrigue.
We follow Laney, who after some chapters, has an accident and is stuck in a coma. The story then jumps back to the past with Laney ‘dreaming’ of her childhood and reliving her life with Shane—and then Shane turns up at the hospital…
Will she, won’t she come out of her coma? You need to get the book to find out.
Laney, when in a coma after being involved in a tragic accident is drawn into a parallel universe. Existing in a troubled marriage, she longs for her alternate life with Shane. Beautifully written and with a host of likable and unsavoury characters. A blend of the supernatural, romance and mystery, I enjoyed this immensely. I so look forward to reading more from this talented author.
An excellent example of psychological thriller / supernatural suspense as we follow one woman’s journey in alternate universes. There is so much more to this story with an amazing ending to the tale. Really enjoyed it and am looking forward to diving into book 2.
'WHAT IF I TOLD YOU' is so engaging from the start. The characters are so well drawn and I want a friend like Maxine. The MC goes through some big trials and tribulations. The story is told in a parallel, supernatural way, very thought provoking; a love lost and a marriage that is way not what it's suppose to be. No spoilers here, you need to read this page turner that got more and more tense, this book will have you engaged right until the finale. A wonderful, well written story, I will certainly be reading more by Gail McGuire.