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Cross My Heart
10 hours
She has his dead wife’s heart; the one she wants is his. The author of The Family Plot brings her signature prose to a twisty novel about a heart transplant patient who becomes romantically obsessed with her donor’s husband.
Rosie Lachlan wants nothing more than to find The One.
A year after she was dumped in her wedding dress, she’s working at her parents’ bridal salon, anxious for a happy ending that can’t come soon enough. After receiving a life-saving heart transplant, Rosie knows her health is precious and precarious. She suspects her heart donor is Daphne Thorne, the wife of local celebrity author Morgan Thorne, who she begins messaging via an anonymous service called DonorConnect, ostensibly to learn more about Daphne. But Rosie has a secret: She’s convinced that now that she has his wife’s heart, she and Morgan are meant to be together.
As she and Morgan correspond, the pretense of avoiding personal details soon disappears, even if Rosie’s keeping some cards close to her chest. But as she digs deeper into Morgan’s previous marriage, she discovers disturbing rumors about the man she’s falling for. Could Morgan have had something to do with his late wife’s death? And can Rosie’s heart sustain another break—or is she next?
She has his dead wife’s heart; the one she wants is his. The author of The Family Plot brings her signature prose to a twisty novel about a heart transplant patient who becomes romantically obsessed with her donor’s husband.
Rosie Lachlan wants nothing more than to find The One.
A year after she was dumped in her wedding dress, she’s working at her parents’ bridal salon, anxious for a happy ending that can’t come soon enough. After receiving a life-saving heart transplant, Rosie knows her health is precious and precarious. She suspects her heart donor is Daphne Thorne, the wife of local celebrity author Morgan Thorne, who she begins messaging via an anonymous service called DonorConnect, ostensibly to learn more about Daphne. But Rosie has a secret: She’s convinced that now that she has his wife’s heart, she and Morgan are meant to be together.
As she and Morgan correspond, the pretense of avoiding personal details soon disappears, even if Rosie’s keeping some cards close to her chest. But as she digs deeper into Morgan’s previous marriage, she discovers disturbing rumors about the man she’s falling for. Could Morgan have had something to do with his late wife’s death? And can Rosie’s heart sustain another break—or is she next?
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First published January 14, 2025
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About the author
Megan Collins
5 books1,819 followersMegan Collins is the author of CROSS MY HEART, THE FAMILY PLOT, THE WINTER SISTER, and more. She teaches creative writing and is the managing editor of 3Elements Review. She lives in Connecticut, where she obsesses over dogs, miniatures, and cake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,621 reviews
January 29, 2025
I don't think I've read a domestic thriller this fun since Gone Girl. And I'll tell you why.
Domestic thrillers are hard to write. Usually, there's only two relevant characters, the guy and the gal. One of them did it (whatever "it" is). Is it him? Is it her? Or is it some crazy combination of them both? And once you've read a few, you kind of have the genre figured out and it starts to feel rather repetitive. So it's rare for a story that utilizes this technique to grab me. And this one did.
We have the gal, Rosie, who is desperate to find her soulmate, so desperate in fact that she's coming across as a little bit unhinged. When her bum heart is replaced by the heart of a dead woman, she sees the opportunity to make all her dreams come true. Now enters the guy. For wouldn't it just be fate if she could capture the love of the man whose dead wife's heart now beats in her chest? It sure would, as long as he is the dream man she thinks he is.
I was sucked in from the very first page. Every moment felt essential and interesting, there to entertain me and keep me guessing. Just when I think I've got it figured out, another revelation had me gasping and reconfiguring the puzzle pieces in my head.
But this is a book of two halves, for what starts out as a domestic thriller doesn't remain that way. About halfway through, it morphs into the most interesting of mysteries. Not only did the twist there take me by surprise, but so did the slight genre shift. It feels like a gutsy move, to start a book as one kind of thriller and end it on a different one.
None of the characters were truly likable, yet they were all intriguing. I cared about them and I wanted to know more even though they were all shades of crazy. You know, there's a fine line between kooky characters you want more of versus those you just don't care about. And this book got it exactly right.
I mean, could the events in this book actually happen in real life? Um, I sure hope not. Do you need to suspend all disbelief to read this? Yeah, absolutely. But if you can, I guarantee you'll be in for a very good time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
Domestic thrillers are hard to write. Usually, there's only two relevant characters, the guy and the gal. One of them did it (whatever "it" is). Is it him? Is it her? Or is it some crazy combination of them both? And once you've read a few, you kind of have the genre figured out and it starts to feel rather repetitive. So it's rare for a story that utilizes this technique to grab me. And this one did.
We have the gal, Rosie, who is desperate to find her soulmate, so desperate in fact that she's coming across as a little bit unhinged. When her bum heart is replaced by the heart of a dead woman, she sees the opportunity to make all her dreams come true. Now enters the guy. For wouldn't it just be fate if she could capture the love of the man whose dead wife's heart now beats in her chest? It sure would, as long as he is the dream man she thinks he is.
I was sucked in from the very first page. Every moment felt essential and interesting, there to entertain me and keep me guessing. Just when I think I've got it figured out, another revelation had me gasping and reconfiguring the puzzle pieces in my head.
But this is a book of two halves, for what starts out as a domestic thriller doesn't remain that way. About halfway through, it morphs into the most interesting of mysteries. Not only did the twist there take me by surprise, but so did the slight genre shift. It feels like a gutsy move, to start a book as one kind of thriller and end it on a different one.
None of the characters were truly likable, yet they were all intriguing. I cared about them and I wanted to know more even though they were all shades of crazy. You know, there's a fine line between kooky characters you want more of versus those you just don't care about. And this book got it exactly right.
I mean, could the events in this book actually happen in real life? Um, I sure hope not. Do you need to suspend all disbelief to read this? Yeah, absolutely. But if you can, I guarantee you'll be in for a very good time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
January 16, 2025
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ "𝓗𝓮𝓻 𝓯𝓪𝓬𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓼𝓸𝓯𝓽 𝓫𝓮𝓽𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓶𝔂 𝓹𝓪𝓵𝓶𝓼, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓪𝓼 𝔀𝓮 𝓭𝓮𝓮𝓹𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓴𝓲𝓼𝓼, 𝓘 𝓯𝓮𝓵𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓯𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓳𝓪𝔀𝓫𝓸𝓷𝓮, 𝓻𝓮𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓫𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓼𝓸𝓯𝓽 𝓼𝓴𝓲𝓷 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪 𝓼𝓴𝓾𝓵𝓵 𝓼𝓸 𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓲𝓵𝔂 𝓬𝓻𝓾𝓼𝓱𝓮𝓭." ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆
Thank you to Maudee Genao over at Atria for bringing this little gem to my attention. I heard the Swifties are gonna love this one 😉
Idk if I was supposed to find dark humor in this, or if I'm just a psychopath lol but I adored the FMC especially and found all of her 'techniques' super entertaining.
₊⊹⁀➴ Rosie, our FMC, a transplant recipient, receives a brand-new heart and becomes intrigued by its previous owner. Through DonorConnect, a website that facilitates communication between transplant recipients and their donors, Rosie discovers that she is emailing with a renowned author named Morgan.
The heart belonged to his late wife, Daphne. As Rosie and Morgan exchange emails, she develops a profound connection and believes that fate has brought them together. However, her love for Morgan is tested when rumors emerge about his wife’s death, raising suspicions about the true circumstances surrounding Daphne’s passing.
This was so good. I honestly had no idea where this was going - for the entire book lol. I was basically just there for the ride and it was a fun one.
The writing was spectacular! The author's prose was smart and punchy. It'll keep you on your toes. Some of the events are a little bit much lol, but I didn't have an issue suspending my disbelief here and there for the enjoyment.
The pacing was great. I did hit a little bit of a lull at about 3/4 of the way through.. but it resolved quickly.
I'd definitely recommend this book if you enjoy thrillers with unexpected twists and a great cast of female characters. Chef's kiss! 👩🍳💋
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Stalking, murder mystery, romance. 😍
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Expected Release Date - 01/14/25
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
✨ Many thanks to Atria Books for gifting me with an advanced digital copy via NetGalley, all thoughts are my own. ✨
Thank you to Maudee Genao over at Atria for bringing this little gem to my attention. I heard the Swifties are gonna love this one 😉
Idk if I was supposed to find dark humor in this, or if I'm just a psychopath lol but I adored the FMC especially and found all of her 'techniques' super entertaining.
₊⊹⁀➴ Rosie, our FMC, a transplant recipient, receives a brand-new heart and becomes intrigued by its previous owner. Through DonorConnect, a website that facilitates communication between transplant recipients and their donors, Rosie discovers that she is emailing with a renowned author named Morgan.
The heart belonged to his late wife, Daphne. As Rosie and Morgan exchange emails, she develops a profound connection and believes that fate has brought them together. However, her love for Morgan is tested when rumors emerge about his wife’s death, raising suspicions about the true circumstances surrounding Daphne’s passing.
This was so good. I honestly had no idea where this was going - for the entire book lol. I was basically just there for the ride and it was a fun one.
The writing was spectacular! The author's prose was smart and punchy. It'll keep you on your toes. Some of the events are a little bit much lol, but I didn't have an issue suspending my disbelief here and there for the enjoyment.
The pacing was great. I did hit a little bit of a lull at about 3/4 of the way through.. but it resolved quickly.
I'd definitely recommend this book if you enjoy thrillers with unexpected twists and a great cast of female characters. Chef's kiss! 👩🍳💋
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Stalking, murder mystery, romance. 😍
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Expected Release Date - 01/14/25
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
✨ Many thanks to Atria Books for gifting me with an advanced digital copy via NetGalley, all thoughts are my own. ✨
April 5, 2025
This is my second book by this author and I think it’s my favorite! I really like her writing style and the premise of this was just too good!! I was partially right about the twist BUT the journey to get there was absolutely wild in the best way 😅
January 18, 2025
AUDIBLE: 10 hours at 1.0x or 6 hours 40 minutes at 1.5x
“She has his dead wife’s heart; the one she wants is his” -great tag line from the Publisher!
Look closely 👀 at the great Cover Art too!
Rosie Lachlan is a heart transplant patient who becomes romantically obsessed with her donor’s husband, popular author, Morgan Thorne, after she begins messaging him via an anonymous service called DonorConnect, hoping to learn more about her donor, Daphne.
But was that her true motive?
Rosie’s secret: She’s convinced that now that she has his wife’s heart, she and Morgan are meant to be together. And, once Rosie becomes convinced of something, she tends to get a little obsessive… (okay, a LOT obsessive)
But disturbing rumors about the man she’s falling for online, have her questioning if he may have had something to do with his late wife’s death-even as her “ROSIE COLORED GLASSES” tell her otherwise…
The story is told in two parts, with Part One focusing on their email exchanges and Part 2 focusing on what comes after they mutually decide that they no longer want to remain anonymous.
After reading many RAVE reviews for the author’s last book, “The Family Plot” and giving it an outlier review of TWO stars-I passed on an ARC of this one. But, one review in particular (Here’s looking at you, Melissa, always behind!)convinced me to give the author a second try-so I grabbed an Audible copy on publication day-and I am glad that I did!
This time, the prose had many HIGHLIGHT WORTHY PASSAGES, the slightly unhinged protagonist was quite likable, the twist UNEXPECTED, and the story was highly entertaining!
And, BONUS! The Audible begins with the author, Megan Collins, assuring us that there are TWO pets in the book and neither comes to any harm! All books should offer this assurance or a TW regarding pets! I LOVED THAT! ❤️
A FUN 🎧 Listen! Both book and Audiobook are available NOW!
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of this title!
“She has his dead wife’s heart; the one she wants is his” -great tag line from the Publisher!
Look closely 👀 at the great Cover Art too!
Rosie Lachlan is a heart transplant patient who becomes romantically obsessed with her donor’s husband, popular author, Morgan Thorne, after she begins messaging him via an anonymous service called DonorConnect, hoping to learn more about her donor, Daphne.
But was that her true motive?
Rosie’s secret: She’s convinced that now that she has his wife’s heart, she and Morgan are meant to be together. And, once Rosie becomes convinced of something, she tends to get a little obsessive… (okay, a LOT obsessive)
But disturbing rumors about the man she’s falling for online, have her questioning if he may have had something to do with his late wife’s death-even as her “ROSIE COLORED GLASSES” tell her otherwise…
The story is told in two parts, with Part One focusing on their email exchanges and Part 2 focusing on what comes after they mutually decide that they no longer want to remain anonymous.
After reading many RAVE reviews for the author’s last book, “The Family Plot” and giving it an outlier review of TWO stars-I passed on an ARC of this one. But, one review in particular (Here’s looking at you, Melissa, always behind!)convinced me to give the author a second try-so I grabbed an Audible copy on publication day-and I am glad that I did!
This time, the prose had many HIGHLIGHT WORTHY PASSAGES, the slightly unhinged protagonist was quite likable, the twist UNEXPECTED, and the story was highly entertaining!
And, BONUS! The Audible begins with the author, Megan Collins, assuring us that there are TWO pets in the book and neither comes to any harm! All books should offer this assurance or a TW regarding pets! I LOVED THAT! ❤️
A FUN 🎧 Listen! Both book and Audiobook are available NOW!
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of this title!
September 13, 2024
DonorConnect should NOT be an online dating service!
Tell that to Rosie Lachlan, she has recently had a life-saving heart transplant and a breakup where she was dumped in her wedding dress! 😮 Her new life, new me attitude has been side tracked and she struggles to take off her rose colored glasses.
Rosie feels a connection to her heart donor and wants to know more about the woman who lost her life, but saved hers. She starts researching on the DonorConnect site and goes down a rabbit hole that leads her to more than she bargained for. The 🩷wants what the 🩷wants!!
Although I guessed a major twist (ugh), I still enjoyed the story. One shocking twist had me changing course and wanting to give Rosie a call! I don't want to say anymore because of spoiler territory!
Thanks to EW for my ARC. This one comes out on January 14, 2025
Tell that to Rosie Lachlan, she has recently had a life-saving heart transplant and a breakup where she was dumped in her wedding dress! 😮 Her new life, new me attitude has been side tracked and she struggles to take off her rose colored glasses.
Rosie feels a connection to her heart donor and wants to know more about the woman who lost her life, but saved hers. She starts researching on the DonorConnect site and goes down a rabbit hole that leads her to more than she bargained for. The 🩷wants what the 🩷wants!!
Although I guessed a major twist (ugh), I still enjoyed the story. One shocking twist had me changing course and wanting to give Rosie a call! I don't want to say anymore because of spoiler territory!
Thanks to EW for my ARC. This one comes out on January 14, 2025
October 11, 2024
Do you love with your head…or your heart?❤️
Let me introduce you to Rosie. She works in her parent's bridal store and lives in the studio apartment above their garage. Two things to know about her…her hair is pink and most importantly, she loves to love. Sometimes maybe a bit too much. But how can you fault someone who loves with all their heart?
Speaking of hearts, Rosie recently received a new one in the form of a heart transplant. The book begins as she corresponds through the donor site with the donor’s family. In this case it’s Morgan, the husband (widower) of Daphne - the wife that died after a tragic accident. Who’s donated heart now lives in Rosie.
With each email they exchange Rosie’s attraction is growing. As we know, Rosie has been known to take her attractions too far. Is she going down that same road once again? Leaving us to wonder if it’s Rosie that’s crushing on Morgan or is it her (Daphne's) heart?
Wow! The first half of the book had my head spinning! Loved it!
The second half had a bit of a different feel as everything came together. Somewhat less thriller and more thought provoking drama. But truly, I enjoyed this part just as much. I really got to know and understand Rosie’s character. And I can say…I absolutely loved Rosie! Flaws and all. The only thing she wants in life is to be loved. Isn’t that we all want? Just to be loved?
This was my fourth read by this author. All her previous books fell a bit short for me, (3 stars) so I nearly passed this one up. But glad I decided to try one more time. This is by far my favorite! And I hope it will be a favorite of yours too! It deserves all the stars! Well done Megan Collins!🙌🏼
Thank you to Atria Books via Edelweiss
Let me introduce you to Rosie. She works in her parent's bridal store and lives in the studio apartment above their garage. Two things to know about her…her hair is pink and most importantly, she loves to love. Sometimes maybe a bit too much. But how can you fault someone who loves with all their heart?
Speaking of hearts, Rosie recently received a new one in the form of a heart transplant. The book begins as she corresponds through the donor site with the donor’s family. In this case it’s Morgan, the husband (widower) of Daphne - the wife that died after a tragic accident. Who’s donated heart now lives in Rosie.
With each email they exchange Rosie’s attraction is growing. As we know, Rosie has been known to take her attractions too far. Is she going down that same road once again? Leaving us to wonder if it’s Rosie that’s crushing on Morgan or is it her (Daphne's) heart?
Wow! The first half of the book had my head spinning! Loved it!
The second half had a bit of a different feel as everything came together. Somewhat less thriller and more thought provoking drama. But truly, I enjoyed this part just as much. I really got to know and understand Rosie’s character. And I can say…I absolutely loved Rosie! Flaws and all. The only thing she wants in life is to be loved. Isn’t that we all want? Just to be loved?
This was my fourth read by this author. All her previous books fell a bit short for me, (3 stars) so I nearly passed this one up. But glad I decided to try one more time. This is by far my favorite! And I hope it will be a favorite of yours too! It deserves all the stars! Well done Megan Collins!🙌🏼
Thank you to Atria Books via Edelweiss
January 15, 2025
Well, Taylor Swift's "Look What You Made Me Do" played in my head as background music while I was reading this book. It's a gripping tale of female obsession, passionate love, and getting too attached until it bleeds! It's bleak, disturbing, and batshit crazy to imagine how far one would go for reaching happily ever after and how a distorted perspective makes people see things in different versions. Everybody has their own version of truth that leaves no space for reality.
I honestly got drawn in from the first page, guessed some of the twists but mostly missed the important ones that made my jaw hit the floor. The riveting pacing, the increasing escalation of pressure, breathless climax, and well-developed conclusion made me enjoy my reading. I never dare to say no to any book about human's pure obsessions, which highly deserves five stars and has guaranteed its place as one of my favorite novels by the author.
Here's a quick recap: Meet Rosie Lachlan, who suffers from cardiomyopathy, is urgently added to the list for a heart transplant, and luckily gets one belonging to famous author Morgan Thorne's wife, Daphne Thorne, who died in a bathroom accident at a young age.
What can we say about Rosie except that she had a heart transplant operation and is healing perfectly? Well, she's working at the family business, a bridal shop, selling brides their dream gowns as she still keeps her own gown as a ghost of her past relationship that ended on bad terms with a broken heart.
Rosie is kind and good-hearted, looking at things through her own version of Rosie-tinted glasses, as her overprotective best friend Nina mentions. But another thing about Rosie is that when she loves someone, she can be extreme, molding herself into the significant other's needs, copying his hobbies and things he likes to do. Each time she exaggerates her actions, men just disappear from her life. Just like what happened with her fiancé, she finds herself with blood pouring from her hands outside his home.
Now she's emailing with famous thriller author Morgan Thorne, the same man whose wife died in an accident and whom some fans suspect might be the killer. The same woman whose heart was transplanted to Rosie and saved her life. Now Rosie thinks they are connected in some way. She anonymously sends emails to him through DonorConnect Communications, and he answers back with full optimism and enthusiasm she didn't expect. They seem connected not only in words but in minds as well, making Rosie think he might be the one! But what if Rosie is playing with fire, and the man she thinks is her soulmate might be a killer or a more dangerous person than she can trust?
As she starts to dig deeper into Daphne and Morgan's relationship and keeps connecting with Morgan, she realizes she's seeing things in front of her in different ways, and she might be in more trouble, even becoming a murder suspect.
I'm stopping here not to give too much away. This book contains many great spoilers, and the fabulous ending makes you let out a good, long villainous laugh! I truly enjoyed it and highly recommend it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this riveting, smart mystery's digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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I honestly got drawn in from the first page, guessed some of the twists but mostly missed the important ones that made my jaw hit the floor. The riveting pacing, the increasing escalation of pressure, breathless climax, and well-developed conclusion made me enjoy my reading. I never dare to say no to any book about human's pure obsessions, which highly deserves five stars and has guaranteed its place as one of my favorite novels by the author.
Here's a quick recap: Meet Rosie Lachlan, who suffers from cardiomyopathy, is urgently added to the list for a heart transplant, and luckily gets one belonging to famous author Morgan Thorne's wife, Daphne Thorne, who died in a bathroom accident at a young age.
What can we say about Rosie except that she had a heart transplant operation and is healing perfectly? Well, she's working at the family business, a bridal shop, selling brides their dream gowns as she still keeps her own gown as a ghost of her past relationship that ended on bad terms with a broken heart.
Rosie is kind and good-hearted, looking at things through her own version of Rosie-tinted glasses, as her overprotective best friend Nina mentions. But another thing about Rosie is that when she loves someone, she can be extreme, molding herself into the significant other's needs, copying his hobbies and things he likes to do. Each time she exaggerates her actions, men just disappear from her life. Just like what happened with her fiancé, she finds herself with blood pouring from her hands outside his home.
Now she's emailing with famous thriller author Morgan Thorne, the same man whose wife died in an accident and whom some fans suspect might be the killer. The same woman whose heart was transplanted to Rosie and saved her life. Now Rosie thinks they are connected in some way. She anonymously sends emails to him through DonorConnect Communications, and he answers back with full optimism and enthusiasm she didn't expect. They seem connected not only in words but in minds as well, making Rosie think he might be the one! But what if Rosie is playing with fire, and the man she thinks is her soulmate might be a killer or a more dangerous person than she can trust?
As she starts to dig deeper into Daphne and Morgan's relationship and keeps connecting with Morgan, she realizes she's seeing things in front of her in different ways, and she might be in more trouble, even becoming a murder suspect.
I'm stopping here not to give too much away. This book contains many great spoilers, and the fabulous ending makes you let out a good, long villainous laugh! I truly enjoyed it and highly recommend it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this riveting, smart mystery's digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
twitter<
January 23, 2025
Rosie Lachlan wants nothing more than to find The One.
A year after she was dumped in her wedding dress, she’s working at her parents’ bridal salon, anxious for a happy ending that can’t come soon enough. After receiving a life-saving heart transplant, Rosie knows her health is precious and precarious. She suspects her heart donor is Daphne Thorne, the wife of local celebrity author Morgan Thorne, who she begins messaging via an anonymous service called DonorConnect, ostensibly to learn more about Daphne. But Rosie has a secret: She’s convinced that now that she has his wife’s heart, she and Morgan are meant to be together.
As she and Morgan correspond, the pretense of avoiding personal details soon disappears, even if Rosie’s keeping some cards close to her chest. But as she digs deeper into Morgan’s previous marriage, she discovers disturbing rumors about the man she’s falling for. Could Morgan have had something to do with his late wife’s death? And can Rosie’s heart sustain another break—or is she next?
This one had everything that I love in a psychological thriller. It was a big surprise! I was OBSESSED and captivated by the story. This one is truly mind-blowing! It was Amazing!
This is a twisty read! One of the twists had my jaw dropped to the floor. This book was CRAZY!
When I first started reading the book, I noticed that there were email messages and text messages throughout the book, which is not my cup of tea and I was worried. But these messages were so good and interesting and I ended up loving them.
My favorite character was Rosie. I just loved her. All she wants is to find the one. She wants to be loved. She had a heart transplant. She has pink hair and I can't wait for you to meet Rosie.
I was flipping the pages fast. I couldn't put this book down. It was a page turner. This was an unpredictable read.
OMG! OMG! That ending!! I didn't see it coming.
I want to thank Netgalley and Atria Books for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A year after she was dumped in her wedding dress, she’s working at her parents’ bridal salon, anxious for a happy ending that can’t come soon enough. After receiving a life-saving heart transplant, Rosie knows her health is precious and precarious. She suspects her heart donor is Daphne Thorne, the wife of local celebrity author Morgan Thorne, who she begins messaging via an anonymous service called DonorConnect, ostensibly to learn more about Daphne. But Rosie has a secret: She’s convinced that now that she has his wife’s heart, she and Morgan are meant to be together.
As she and Morgan correspond, the pretense of avoiding personal details soon disappears, even if Rosie’s keeping some cards close to her chest. But as she digs deeper into Morgan’s previous marriage, she discovers disturbing rumors about the man she’s falling for. Could Morgan have had something to do with his late wife’s death? And can Rosie’s heart sustain another break—or is she next?
This one had everything that I love in a psychological thriller. It was a big surprise! I was OBSESSED and captivated by the story. This one is truly mind-blowing! It was Amazing!
This is a twisty read! One of the twists had my jaw dropped to the floor. This book was CRAZY!
When I first started reading the book, I noticed that there were email messages and text messages throughout the book, which is not my cup of tea and I was worried. But these messages were so good and interesting and I ended up loving them.
My favorite character was Rosie. I just loved her. All she wants is to find the one. She wants to be loved. She had a heart transplant. She has pink hair and I can't wait for you to meet Rosie.
I was flipping the pages fast. I couldn't put this book down. It was a page turner. This was an unpredictable read.
OMG! OMG! That ending!! I didn't see it coming.
I want to thank Netgalley and Atria Books for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 30, 2025
I don’t know how Megan Collins does it, but yet again she’s blown me away. Right from the attention-grabbing start of Cross My Heart, the escalating pace easily pulled me in deep. Told through a mixed media format that including dual POVs, the deftly plotted storyline held one heck of a mind-blowing twist that quite literally had me uttering “Wait, what?!” as my jaw hit the floor. You know the kind where you don’t see even an iota of a glimmer of a hint? Well, this was one of those. From there, my reading speed rapidly increased until I had to restrain myself from skimming as I raced through the adrenaline-pumping climax right up until the soul-satisfying conclusion that left one heck of a smile on my face.
The characters were just as dazzling as the stunner of a plot, but Rosie easily took center stage as the best of the best. From her “Rosie-colored glasses” to her expertly crafted character arc, her behavior made me want to shake her but good while also understanding her just the littlest bit. After all, how many of us haven’t been guilty of borrowing those glasses—especially when it comes to love and hope for the future? I’ve surely looked over a shocking red flag or two in the past. Through Rosie’s behavior, Collins created a persona that felt both realistic and over-the-top in a true-to-life way. It also didn’t hurt that all of the supporting characters bowled me over as well.
There was only one piece to this psychological thriller that could have been expanded just a bit. You see, I would’ve loved to meet Morgan in the flesh, so to speak. While he had a definite purpose, a last chapter filling in the answers to my few outstanding questions would have been the cherry on top. That’s not to say that not having his unadulterated perspective took away from this novel. Oh no. It was deftly spun perfection beneath one gorgeous cover.
All in all, Ms. Collins has most definitely done it again. With a well-developed plot, an original narrative style, and a deliciously unhinged protagonist, I was utterly hypnotized from beginning to end. And thanks to a dynamite premise that left me second-guessing everything after that first huge, breathtaking reveal, my brain was left playing catch up on a whirlwind ride of never-ending suspense. So if it’s not already obvious, I highly recommend this mind-bending, poignant, unpredictable novel. Crazy with a capital C, you won’t be able to put this book down as you race to discover the who, what, how, and why in this masterful whodunnit. Or whydunnit? Or howdunnit? Or just maybe a bit of all of the above. Rating of 5 stars.
Thank you to Megan Collins, Atria Books, and NetGalley for my complimentary physical and digital copies. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 14, 2025
Trigger warning: breaking and entering, knife violence, strangulation, gun violence, mention of: heart transplant, stalking
The characters were just as dazzling as the stunner of a plot, but Rosie easily took center stage as the best of the best. From her “Rosie-colored glasses” to her expertly crafted character arc, her behavior made me want to shake her but good while also understanding her just the littlest bit. After all, how many of us haven’t been guilty of borrowing those glasses—especially when it comes to love and hope for the future? I’ve surely looked over a shocking red flag or two in the past. Through Rosie’s behavior, Collins created a persona that felt both realistic and over-the-top in a true-to-life way. It also didn’t hurt that all of the supporting characters bowled me over as well.
There was only one piece to this psychological thriller that could have been expanded just a bit. You see, I would’ve loved to meet Morgan in the flesh, so to speak. While he had a definite purpose, a last chapter filling in the answers to my few outstanding questions would have been the cherry on top. That’s not to say that not having his unadulterated perspective took away from this novel. Oh no. It was deftly spun perfection beneath one gorgeous cover.
All in all, Ms. Collins has most definitely done it again. With a well-developed plot, an original narrative style, and a deliciously unhinged protagonist, I was utterly hypnotized from beginning to end. And thanks to a dynamite premise that left me second-guessing everything after that first huge, breathtaking reveal, my brain was left playing catch up on a whirlwind ride of never-ending suspense. So if it’s not already obvious, I highly recommend this mind-bending, poignant, unpredictable novel. Crazy with a capital C, you won’t be able to put this book down as you race to discover the who, what, how, and why in this masterful whodunnit. Or whydunnit? Or howdunnit? Or just maybe a bit of all of the above. Rating of 5 stars.
Thank you to Megan Collins, Atria Books, and NetGalley for my complimentary physical and digital copies. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 14, 2025
Trigger warning: breaking and entering, knife violence, strangulation, gun violence, mention of: heart transplant, stalking
February 1, 2025
THE THINGS WE DO FOR ‘LOVE’ 😭😭
Cross my heart is a twisty tale about a heart transplant patient who becomes obsessed with her donor’s husband.
Rosie is unlucky in love, and it doesn’t make it any better that she works at her parents’ bridal salon being surrounded by women on a daily who are so love in with their significant other. After receiving a life saving heart transplant, Rosie begins messaging via an anonymous service called Donor Connect and starts communicating with her donor’s (Daphne) husband. Quickly Rosie believes she and Morgan are meant to be together. But when rumors start swirling that Morgan potentially had something to do with Daphne’s death, will Rosie believe the rumors or is setting herself up for another heartbreak.
Cross my heart had me hooked from the word GO. I love a bit of mixed media in my books, and it makes me feel even more personally connected to the story. Its hard to review the book without giving away spoilers but I will say that I was side eyeing Rosie, Morgan and all the other side characters in this novel. Personally, I found all of them unlikeable and Rosie read off to me as someone quite delulu and very childish. I found myself cursing her out over some stupid decisions she would make.
My disdain for long chapters in books would have me describing this book as quite ‘humpy’. I was intrigued about what would happen next, but all the fillers and unnecessary dialogue and the chapters being so damn long, would have me closing the book quicker than I would have liked. Had the chapters being shorter and the pacing quicker I would have ate this book up in one sitting.
The story is told in two parts, and I would say that Part 2 held my interest the longest and was my most favourite. Some of the twist was unexpected and not what I predicted, and I loved it! Others I sensed from a mile off. The ending for me was anticlimactic and just MEH. I think romance book lovers who are delving into thrillers will really enjoy this book and if you are Taylor Swift FAN then boy you will be giggling at the MANY references.
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ Unhinged Characters
➽ The mixed media
➽ Entertaining
➽ The twists
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ Long chapters
➽ Constant Taylor Swift references
➽ Quite disjointed at times
➽ Suspension of disbelief highly needed
The obsession, delulu, stalker, YOU vibes were blended in nicely and my most enjoyable part of the story. I just wished all the other unnecessary faff wasn’t included so I could rate it much higher.
3.5 ⭐
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
"She has his dead wife’s heart; the one she wants is his"😮
I feel like this is going to be the Thriller Book of 2025
Sounds tantalizingly dangerous!
Lets gooooooo! 😍💜💜💜
Cross my heart is a twisty tale about a heart transplant patient who becomes obsessed with her donor’s husband.
Rosie is unlucky in love, and it doesn’t make it any better that she works at her parents’ bridal salon being surrounded by women on a daily who are so love in with their significant other. After receiving a life saving heart transplant, Rosie begins messaging via an anonymous service called Donor Connect and starts communicating with her donor’s (Daphne) husband. Quickly Rosie believes she and Morgan are meant to be together. But when rumors start swirling that Morgan potentially had something to do with Daphne’s death, will Rosie believe the rumors or is setting herself up for another heartbreak.
Cross my heart had me hooked from the word GO. I love a bit of mixed media in my books, and it makes me feel even more personally connected to the story. Its hard to review the book without giving away spoilers but I will say that I was side eyeing Rosie, Morgan and all the other side characters in this novel. Personally, I found all of them unlikeable and Rosie read off to me as someone quite delulu and very childish. I found myself cursing her out over some stupid decisions she would make.
My disdain for long chapters in books would have me describing this book as quite ‘humpy’. I was intrigued about what would happen next, but all the fillers and unnecessary dialogue and the chapters being so damn long, would have me closing the book quicker than I would have liked. Had the chapters being shorter and the pacing quicker I would have ate this book up in one sitting.
The story is told in two parts, and I would say that Part 2 held my interest the longest and was my most favourite. Some of the twist was unexpected and not what I predicted, and I loved it! Others I sensed from a mile off. The ending for me was anticlimactic and just MEH. I think romance book lovers who are delving into thrillers will really enjoy this book and if you are Taylor Swift FAN then boy you will be giggling at the MANY references.
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ Unhinged Characters
➽ The mixed media
➽ Entertaining
➽ The twists
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ Long chapters
➽ Constant Taylor Swift references
➽ Quite disjointed at times
➽ Suspension of disbelief highly needed
The obsession, delulu, stalker, YOU vibes were blended in nicely and my most enjoyable part of the story. I just wished all the other unnecessary faff wasn’t included so I could rate it much higher.
3.5 ⭐
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
"She has his dead wife’s heart; the one she wants is his"😮
I feel like this is going to be the Thriller Book of 2025
Sounds tantalizingly dangerous!
Lets gooooooo! 😍💜💜💜
February 25, 2025
Blog | Instagram
Rating: 4 stars
With its clever execution and captivating prose, 'Cross My Heart' was entertaining from start to finish.
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Like most popcorn thrillers, the first half of this book introduces key characters and sets the scene for the mayhem to come. Instead of feeling tedious, the gradual unfolding of crucial backstories and information drew me in, along with Megan Collins' lush prose and vibrant imagery. The second half of the story is marked by a major plot twist that brilliantly heightened the suspense and made me reevaluate everything I had read up to that moment. Further plot developments then lead to a tense, unpredictable climax and satisfying ending.
"words are how we heal our wounds."
I enjoyed the storyline and execution so much that I easily overlooked the awkward choices made by the main character, Rosie, due to her desperate yearning for love and marriage. Still, her character served to highlight deeper themes surrounding organ transplants, loneliness, and misogyny—particularly the labelling of women as "crazy." This not only added layers of depth to the story but also allowed for Rosie's heartwarming character development, which contributed to the satisfying ending.
Besides Rosie, Morgan is the only other character who receives substantial attention and depth. Though I ended up disliking his character, I loved how his perspective was mainly conveyed through witty email exchanges that brought a creative flair to the story. Similarly, most of the characters in this book weren't particularly likeable, but all had intriguing roles and ties to Rosie or Morgan that made them memorable.
"it's easier, sometimes, to be miserable in love than it is to be alone."
Narrators Gail Sharon and Chris Andrew delivered natural and nuanced performances that made the audiobook even more immersive. Both skillfully used vocal pacing and inflexion changes to capture the essence of each character and elevate the thrilling, character-driven story.
You can also find more of my thoughts and discussion questions on my blog!
Rating: 4 stars
With its clever execution and captivating prose, 'Cross My Heart' was entertaining from start to finish.
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Like most popcorn thrillers, the first half of this book introduces key characters and sets the scene for the mayhem to come. Instead of feeling tedious, the gradual unfolding of crucial backstories and information drew me in, along with Megan Collins' lush prose and vibrant imagery. The second half of the story is marked by a major plot twist that brilliantly heightened the suspense and made me reevaluate everything I had read up to that moment. Further plot developments then lead to a tense, unpredictable climax and satisfying ending.
"words are how we heal our wounds."
I enjoyed the storyline and execution so much that I easily overlooked the awkward choices made by the main character, Rosie, due to her desperate yearning for love and marriage. Still, her character served to highlight deeper themes surrounding organ transplants, loneliness, and misogyny—particularly the labelling of women as "crazy." This not only added layers of depth to the story but also allowed for Rosie's heartwarming character development, which contributed to the satisfying ending.
Besides Rosie, Morgan is the only other character who receives substantial attention and depth. Though I ended up disliking his character, I loved how his perspective was mainly conveyed through witty email exchanges that brought a creative flair to the story. Similarly, most of the characters in this book weren't particularly likeable, but all had intriguing roles and ties to Rosie or Morgan that made them memorable.
"it's easier, sometimes, to be miserable in love than it is to be alone."
Narrators Gail Sharon and Chris Andrew delivered natural and nuanced performances that made the audiobook even more immersive. Both skillfully used vocal pacing and inflexion changes to capture the essence of each character and elevate the thrilling, character-driven story.
You can also find more of my thoughts and discussion questions on my blog!
December 15, 2024
The Sisters are rambling once again and this time it’s about CROSS MY HEART by MEGAN COLLINS.
There’s nothing quite like diving into a book with its fresh narrative style that keeps you on edge, guessing and second-guessing everything. A story that twists, turns, and leaves you questioning what’s real. Megan Collins delivers just that!!
My Take: Obsessive, Twisty, and Mind-blowing Suspense!
Holy Shooty Balls—this book was a complete mind-bender, in the best possible way! From the very first page, I was hooked. It was like being pulled into a whirlwind of suspense, with my brain constantly racing to figure out what was going on. The unique storytelling format—emails, texts, voicemails—was such a clever choice, adding such an intriguing and immersive layer to the experience. Instead of feeling like separate pieces of information, it all clicked together perfectly in the end.
And then there’s the twist. Oh my gosh, that twist. I honestly don’t think I’ve been so shocked by a single revelation in a long time. It completely turned everything I thought I knew upside down. I was left there, just staring at the page, going, “Wait, what?!” It was one of those twists that leaves you with your mouth hanging open, rethinking everything you just read. It was perfectly executed—just when you thought you had the story figured out, it flips the script in the most brilliant way.
But it’s not just about the twist—it’s the emotional depth and the layers of complexity that make the whole thing so engaging. There are these raw, honest moments tucked in between all the twists and turns, and I found myself completely invested in the characters. It was like a constant tug-of-war between suspense and heart, and somehow, it all worked so seamlessly.
The concept itself was fresh and original, and you can just tell the author had an absolute blast mapping out this crazy, unpredictable plot. It’s one of those books that makes you marvel at how the pieces all come together in the end.
If you’re a thriller fan who lives for that gut-punch of a twist that changes everything, then this book is an absolute must-read. You won’t see it coming, and you won’t forget it. I was lucky enough to get a copy from the publisher through Edelweiss, and let me tell you—this was one heck of a ride.
Brenda’s Take: Twists, Questions, Drama
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Sisters' Final Thoughts: A Thrilling, Unpredictable Journey
The sisters agree this book is a well-crafted, unique rollercoaster ride, full of unexpected twists and turns that keep you hooked from start to finish. Both of us were completely captivated by the unpredictable thrills, though we had differing opinions on the format and what stood out the most. Despite our differences, we both agree this is an unforgettable, wild ride that’s definitely worth the read.
There’s nothing quite like diving into a book with its fresh narrative style that keeps you on edge, guessing and second-guessing everything. A story that twists, turns, and leaves you questioning what’s real. Megan Collins delivers just that!!
My Take: Obsessive, Twisty, and Mind-blowing Suspense!
Holy Shooty Balls—this book was a complete mind-bender, in the best possible way! From the very first page, I was hooked. It was like being pulled into a whirlwind of suspense, with my brain constantly racing to figure out what was going on. The unique storytelling format—emails, texts, voicemails—was such a clever choice, adding such an intriguing and immersive layer to the experience. Instead of feeling like separate pieces of information, it all clicked together perfectly in the end.
And then there’s the twist. Oh my gosh, that twist. I honestly don’t think I’ve been so shocked by a single revelation in a long time. It completely turned everything I thought I knew upside down. I was left there, just staring at the page, going, “Wait, what?!” It was one of those twists that leaves you with your mouth hanging open, rethinking everything you just read. It was perfectly executed—just when you thought you had the story figured out, it flips the script in the most brilliant way.
But it’s not just about the twist—it’s the emotional depth and the layers of complexity that make the whole thing so engaging. There are these raw, honest moments tucked in between all the twists and turns, and I found myself completely invested in the characters. It was like a constant tug-of-war between suspense and heart, and somehow, it all worked so seamlessly.
The concept itself was fresh and original, and you can just tell the author had an absolute blast mapping out this crazy, unpredictable plot. It’s one of those books that makes you marvel at how the pieces all come together in the end.
If you’re a thriller fan who lives for that gut-punch of a twist that changes everything, then this book is an absolute must-read. You won’t see it coming, and you won’t forget it. I was lucky enough to get a copy from the publisher through Edelweiss, and let me tell you—this was one heck of a ride.
Brenda’s Take: Twists, Questions, Drama
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Sisters' Final Thoughts: A Thrilling, Unpredictable Journey
The sisters agree this book is a well-crafted, unique rollercoaster ride, full of unexpected twists and turns that keep you hooked from start to finish. Both of us were completely captivated by the unpredictable thrills, though we had differing opinions on the format and what stood out the most. Despite our differences, we both agree this is an unforgettable, wild ride that’s definitely worth the read.
September 21, 2024
OMG!!! This book!!!! It’s official… I have read my first 2025 book!! 🥳 I absolutely COULD NOT WAIT!! I was a lucky girl and won @megancollinswriter giveaway!! 🥳 I absolutely love 💕 her books…and guess what?? It might just be my favorite yet!! Thank you @megancollinswriter @atriabooks 🥰🥰🥰 Pub day is 1/14/25! 🥳 A big five stars!! 🔥
Our girl Rosie has been having a rough year. Her fiancée 💍dumped her… 😩…and she had to have a heart transplant. 😳 Lucky for her she is on the mend ❤️🩹 and working to live her best life.
When Rosie starts chatting with a guy online… he just might be the one…. 😉… Nevermind that he is the husband of the donor of her new heart. ❤️ WAIT… WHAT?! 😳
I seriously couldn’t put this down!! Why?? This has such creepy stalker vibes… so twisted… Obsession…and MURDER… 😳..Trust me… it was a wild ride… everyone is a suspect… The suspense kept ramping up in this game of cat and mouse…. That ending!! 😳🤯 I loved it! 👏 OH..and there might be some Taylor Swift too. 😉
Our girl Rosie has been having a rough year. Her fiancée 💍dumped her… 😩…and she had to have a heart transplant. 😳 Lucky for her she is on the mend ❤️🩹 and working to live her best life.
When Rosie starts chatting with a guy online… he just might be the one…. 😉… Nevermind that he is the husband of the donor of her new heart. ❤️ WAIT… WHAT?! 😳
I seriously couldn’t put this down!! Why?? This has such creepy stalker vibes… so twisted… Obsession…and MURDER… 😳..Trust me… it was a wild ride… everyone is a suspect… The suspense kept ramping up in this game of cat and mouse…. That ending!! 😳🤯 I loved it! 👏 OH..and there might be some Taylor Swift too. 😉
July 24, 2025
**4.5-stars**
Holy Hades, Cross My Heart was an absolutely insane, jaw-dropping, eyebrow-lifting, wilddddddd ride!!!
This was wickedly-entertaining. I couldn't put it down. IMO, this is a true Psychological Thriller. My head was spinning so fast, I'm surprised I didn't lift off.
In this story we meet Rosie Lachlan, who received a heart transplant from a donor who had unexpectedly passed away after a tragic accident.
Through an online platform that anonymously connects donor's families with recipients, Rosie virtually-befriends her donor's widower, Morgan. Morgan Thorne happens to be a well-known local author, who Rosie quickly becomes smitten with.
A string of heartbreaks, of the romantic variety, haven't soured Rosie on the idea of finding The One. It would be ironic if her actual broken heart led her to true love, but that's definitely what she starts imagining as correspondence with Morgan heats up.
As Rosie digs further into Morgan's life, and learns more about his wife, there are rumors and accusations she can't ignore. Perhaps he isn't her innocent dream guy after all.
Admittedly, I wasn't crazy about The Family Plot by this author, and was hesitant to try anything else from her. After seeing this one everywhere however, I had to check it out for myself, and man-oh-man, am I glad I did!
Even though the MC, Rosie, drove me so batty that I wanted to shake her, I can't help but doff my cap to Collins, because damn, was she well-written.
Honestly, reading this feels like having the rug ripped out from under you. I did think it was dragging a bit at the end, but that final scene put the sinister grin on my face I always love to have at the conclusion of this type of story.
I had so, so, so many guesses, so many theories over the course of this book. It was completely intriguing. It felt very cat-and-mouse, but it was unclear who was the cat and who was the mouse. I loved that.
You do get Morgan's perspective, in addition to Rosie's, and they both felt equally unsettling. There were many times that I was uncomfortable by what was happening, but I couldn't look away. Flies on the wall were cringing.
These two are OTT in the most unhinged ways and I was eating it up. My popcorn was popped and my ass was in the seat for the duration.
I absolutely recommend this one to people who enjoy dark, twisty Thrillers. If you like reading books where you suspect everyone, including yourself, you def need to pick this up.
Thank you so very much to the publisher, Atria Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'll 100% be picking up more from Megan Collins!
Holy Hades, Cross My Heart was an absolutely insane, jaw-dropping, eyebrow-lifting, wilddddddd ride!!!
This was wickedly-entertaining. I couldn't put it down. IMO, this is a true Psychological Thriller. My head was spinning so fast, I'm surprised I didn't lift off.
In this story we meet Rosie Lachlan, who received a heart transplant from a donor who had unexpectedly passed away after a tragic accident.
Through an online platform that anonymously connects donor's families with recipients, Rosie virtually-befriends her donor's widower, Morgan. Morgan Thorne happens to be a well-known local author, who Rosie quickly becomes smitten with.
A string of heartbreaks, of the romantic variety, haven't soured Rosie on the idea of finding The One. It would be ironic if her actual broken heart led her to true love, but that's definitely what she starts imagining as correspondence with Morgan heats up.
As Rosie digs further into Morgan's life, and learns more about his wife, there are rumors and accusations she can't ignore. Perhaps he isn't her innocent dream guy after all.
Admittedly, I wasn't crazy about The Family Plot by this author, and was hesitant to try anything else from her. After seeing this one everywhere however, I had to check it out for myself, and man-oh-man, am I glad I did!
Even though the MC, Rosie, drove me so batty that I wanted to shake her, I can't help but doff my cap to Collins, because damn, was she well-written.
Honestly, reading this feels like having the rug ripped out from under you. I did think it was dragging a bit at the end, but that final scene put the sinister grin on my face I always love to have at the conclusion of this type of story.
I had so, so, so many guesses, so many theories over the course of this book. It was completely intriguing. It felt very cat-and-mouse, but it was unclear who was the cat and who was the mouse. I loved that.
You do get Morgan's perspective, in addition to Rosie's, and they both felt equally unsettling. There were many times that I was uncomfortable by what was happening, but I couldn't look away. Flies on the wall were cringing.
These two are OTT in the most unhinged ways and I was eating it up. My popcorn was popped and my ass was in the seat for the duration.
I absolutely recommend this one to people who enjoy dark, twisty Thrillers. If you like reading books where you suspect everyone, including yourself, you def need to pick this up.
Thank you so very much to the publisher, Atria Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'll 100% be picking up more from Megan Collins!
January 11, 2025
you want to talk about bingeworthy?!!! i couldn’t put this one down! finished in under 24 hours—if you need a book to kick your reading slump or grab you right away, this is it 👏🏼
i personally love psychological thrillers so this was a delight for me. mix that with a few unreliable narrators and you’re in for an interesting mystery that keeps you guessing. it kind of gave me Lisa Jewell and Alice Feeney vibes!
if you like TELL ME LIES or VERITY where it’s more of a romantic suspense vs hardcore thriller, you’ll like this one.
the premise was so good too—a woman gets a heart transplant and then messages anonymously with her donor’s husband on an app. she begins to fall for him, but hears through friends that his past is suspect… and maybe his wife’s death wasn’t an accident like everyone was told to believe 👀
i thought i had the twist figured out but got it wrong and that’s always good for me as a hardcore thriller reader ;) i can’t say enough how FUN and quick this book was.
i’ve read her other work—THE FAMILY PLOT—and liked it a lot but that leans more horror/thriller. this is deff more mainstream and again has the romantic suspense that i think will appeal to a lot of readers.
its out next week! and the cover is STUNNING! pick it up and thank me later 💖🔪
thanks to Atria for my gifted early copy!
i personally love psychological thrillers so this was a delight for me. mix that with a few unreliable narrators and you’re in for an interesting mystery that keeps you guessing. it kind of gave me Lisa Jewell and Alice Feeney vibes!
if you like TELL ME LIES or VERITY where it’s more of a romantic suspense vs hardcore thriller, you’ll like this one.
the premise was so good too—a woman gets a heart transplant and then messages anonymously with her donor’s husband on an app. she begins to fall for him, but hears through friends that his past is suspect… and maybe his wife’s death wasn’t an accident like everyone was told to believe 👀
i thought i had the twist figured out but got it wrong and that’s always good for me as a hardcore thriller reader ;) i can’t say enough how FUN and quick this book was.
i’ve read her other work—THE FAMILY PLOT—and liked it a lot but that leans more horror/thriller. this is deff more mainstream and again has the romantic suspense that i think will appeal to a lot of readers.
its out next week! and the cover is STUNNING! pick it up and thank me later 💖🔪
thanks to Atria for my gifted early copy!
October 13, 2024
Rosie, Rosie, Rosie.... It's been a tough year. She was dumped while wearing her wedding dress. YIKES! But she did receive a lifesaving heart transplant so that was something to be immensely grateful for. It's natural to wonder about the donor, who wouldn't? Rosie believes that the doner was the wife of a famous author who she begins messaging on DonorConnect . Obsession is the name of the game in Cross My Heart! She has his wife's heart, now she wants him!
Obsessed much?
This book kept me on my toes. There are quite a few characters and as I got to know more about them, I began to scratch my head. Hmmmm....who can be trusted in this book?? Who is reliable? What is going to happen next? I had no idea where Megan Collins was going to take me on this wild ride, but I kept on my rose-tinted glasses and enjoyed the twist filled ride.
Megan Collins excels at writing unreliable and interesting characters. She also kept me on my toes and engaged and I Cross My Heart, this was a riveting book. I found it to be well thought out, creatively told, wonderfully written, and intense!
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Obsessed much?
This book kept me on my toes. There are quite a few characters and as I got to know more about them, I began to scratch my head. Hmmmm....who can be trusted in this book?? Who is reliable? What is going to happen next? I had no idea where Megan Collins was going to take me on this wild ride, but I kept on my rose-tinted glasses and enjoyed the twist filled ride.
Megan Collins excels at writing unreliable and interesting characters. She also kept me on my toes and engaged and I Cross My Heart, this was a riveting book. I found it to be well thought out, creatively told, wonderfully written, and intense!
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
September 28, 2024
This was my second read by Megan Collins, and it definitely won’t be my last! I previously read “The Family Plot” by this author, and I really enjoyed that book too. So moving forward- I plan on reading everything else on the author’s backlist because I really enjoy her writing. Now, did this book have the perfect storyline and characters? Unfortunately no. But was this book highly entertaining? Yes it was!! And that’s why I enjoyed this book so much.
In this story we have Rosie who receives a life-saving heart transplant. Rosie later learns her heart was from local celebrity author, Morgan Thorne’s wife, Daphne. She then begins to message Morgan on the anonymous service DonorConnect, so they can learn more about each other. I mean if she has his wife’s heart, he’ll probably love her heart too?
While messaging each other through DonorConnect, Rosie and Morgan start to learn a lot about each other (and I will admit that I did love reading the emails to and from each other). Rosie may have even started to become a little obsessed with Morgan, wanting to know everything about him and his deceased wife. And that’s when things may have started to get a little crazy in the book. We are introduced to friends of theirs throughout the pages, and some may not be as innocent as they seem… Also, did Morgan’s wife die mysteriously?
I will say that Rosie’s character was a little much at times, but she did grow on me and I will certainly miss her! I will also say that the first half/part of this book seemed better than the second half/part. I felt like it started to go in a different direction than what it started with, and for that I had to drop a star. In the meantime, I recommend this book to all my thriller friends who are interested in learning about heart transplants, broken hearts, foolish hearts, and savage hearts. ❤️🩹💔❣️❤️🔥
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for an ARC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date is: January 14, 2025.
In this story we have Rosie who receives a life-saving heart transplant. Rosie later learns her heart was from local celebrity author, Morgan Thorne’s wife, Daphne. She then begins to message Morgan on the anonymous service DonorConnect, so they can learn more about each other. I mean if she has his wife’s heart, he’ll probably love her heart too?
While messaging each other through DonorConnect, Rosie and Morgan start to learn a lot about each other (and I will admit that I did love reading the emails to and from each other). Rosie may have even started to become a little obsessed with Morgan, wanting to know everything about him and his deceased wife. And that’s when things may have started to get a little crazy in the book. We are introduced to friends of theirs throughout the pages, and some may not be as innocent as they seem… Also, did Morgan’s wife die mysteriously?
I will say that Rosie’s character was a little much at times, but she did grow on me and I will certainly miss her! I will also say that the first half/part of this book seemed better than the second half/part. I felt like it started to go in a different direction than what it started with, and for that I had to drop a star. In the meantime, I recommend this book to all my thriller friends who are interested in learning about heart transplants, broken hearts, foolish hearts, and savage hearts. ❤️🩹💔❣️❤️🔥
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for an ARC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date is: January 14, 2025.
March 18, 2025
3 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A heart transplant patient who becomes obsessed with her donor’s husband? I absolutely had to read this! My gosh, the premise of this book sounded so interesting and unique to me. Unfortunately, my desire to read quickly turned into “this is not what I expected“ - and not in a great way.
This is a slow paced thriller with chapters so long that I found myself losing interest in what I was reading. Although the second half did pick up a bit, I just never really found myself super invested in the story.
It’s mostly mixed media in the first half of the book. This can be hit or miss for me. This was a miss due to the repetitive disclaimer at the beginning of every single email chapter. It just felt like page filler to me - totally unnecessary. The ending was blah. The constant Taylor Swift references in this book had me ready to pull my hair out. I am NOT a Taylor Swift fan. Don’t come at me! 😂
I always love unhinged, obsessive characters, so this saved it a little bit for me. Some of the twists were predictable, but I still enjoyed them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my advanced copy to read and review.
A heart transplant patient who becomes obsessed with her donor’s husband? I absolutely had to read this! My gosh, the premise of this book sounded so interesting and unique to me. Unfortunately, my desire to read quickly turned into “this is not what I expected“ - and not in a great way.
This is a slow paced thriller with chapters so long that I found myself losing interest in what I was reading. Although the second half did pick up a bit, I just never really found myself super invested in the story.
It’s mostly mixed media in the first half of the book. This can be hit or miss for me. This was a miss due to the repetitive disclaimer at the beginning of every single email chapter. It just felt like page filler to me - totally unnecessary. The ending was blah. The constant Taylor Swift references in this book had me ready to pull my hair out. I am NOT a Taylor Swift fan. Don’t come at me! 😂
I always love unhinged, obsessive characters, so this saved it a little bit for me. Some of the twists were predictable, but I still enjoyed them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my advanced copy to read and review.
February 15, 2025
3.5 stars (which is not a bad rating!)
Rosie has a health crisis that leads to a heart transplant. She is naturally curious about the donor and begins an anonymous communication with the donor’s husband via the DonorConnect program.
She soon becomes obsessed with him, which is nothing new for her. As we get to know her past, it’s clear she’s a bit unhinged with the idea of love and needs some serious therapy. Yet a part of her is sympathetic, which made for interesting character development.
As she “researches” (I.e. stalks) her donor’s husband, she finds he’s a well-known thriller author, and suspicions swirl that he may have had something to do with his wife’s death.
Such a fun, unique premise and protagonist.
Told through multiple POV, text messages, and e-mails, it was a fun format. As the story unfolds it’s clear not all is as it should be, which led to fun speculations with my reading buddy, Marialyce.
At around 50% there was a gasp out loud twisty moment that I didn’t see coming, and turned everything I thought I knew upside down. This story from here is a wild ride with some turns that at the end gave me whiplash. I wasn’t a fan of the ending, it was a bit too OTT. It was too much, just like Rosie herself. Up till then this was a solid 4 star read. The last paragraph though was perfect.
A fun read and for readers who love OTT endings and have no problem suspending disbelief, it’s a winner.
* I received a digital copy via Edelweiss. All opinions are my own
Rosie has a health crisis that leads to a heart transplant. She is naturally curious about the donor and begins an anonymous communication with the donor’s husband via the DonorConnect program.
She soon becomes obsessed with him, which is nothing new for her. As we get to know her past, it’s clear she’s a bit unhinged with the idea of love and needs some serious therapy. Yet a part of her is sympathetic, which made for interesting character development.
As she “researches” (I.e. stalks) her donor’s husband, she finds he’s a well-known thriller author, and suspicions swirl that he may have had something to do with his wife’s death.
Such a fun, unique premise and protagonist.
Told through multiple POV, text messages, and e-mails, it was a fun format. As the story unfolds it’s clear not all is as it should be, which led to fun speculations with my reading buddy, Marialyce.
At around 50% there was a gasp out loud twisty moment that I didn’t see coming, and turned everything I thought I knew upside down. This story from here is a wild ride with some turns that at the end gave me whiplash. I wasn’t a fan of the ending, it was a bit too OTT. It was too much, just like Rosie herself. Up till then this was a solid 4 star read. The last paragraph though was perfect.
A fun read and for readers who love OTT endings and have no problem suspending disbelief, it’s a winner.
* I received a digital copy via Edelweiss. All opinions are my own
February 3, 2025
“I'm so obsessed with him but he avoids me like the plague
I cry a lot but I am so productive, it's an art
You know you're good when you can even do it
With a broken heart” - Taylor Swift
This is my second book review in two weeks that begins with a Taylor Swift lyrics. She really has taken over everything…even my book reviews!
Swift seems to have also been the inspiration behind Megan Collin’s latest domestic suspense thriller.
Pink haired Rosie just got dumped in the most horrible way by her boyfriend Brad, and she is recovering by listening to Taylor Swift songs. But when the pain in her heart is determined to be due to a medical issue, she becomes the young recipient of a heart transplant.
So, what’s a girl recovering from a heart transplant and bad break up to do but contact the famous writer/widow of her heart donor. She forms a connection with Morgan through their anonymous correspondence on the donor website. But when she learns that he may have been responsible for his wife’s death, she begins to investigate.
Then he is murdered by a woman with pink hair. Who killed Morgan?
I’m quickly learning that when a book is over-hyped, I usually find myself disappointed. I wish I could have listened to the audiobook through Rosie colored glasses (this phrase is used ad-nauseum in the book), but unfortunately it didn’t wow me. I really didn’t care for Gail Shalan’s narration because the voice she used for the male characters sounded odd, forced, and inauthentic. Chris Andrew Ciulla does an admirable job, but his voice only appears in the first half of the book.
Cross My Heart is a popcorn thriller…not my favorite genre, as they tend to include OTT twists that are difficult to believe. While it does include some intriguing twists, I had no problem uncovering the murderer very early on. While this book is better than The Family Plot, it still didn’t win me over.
3.5/5 stars rounded down
I cry a lot but I am so productive, it's an art
You know you're good when you can even do it
With a broken heart” - Taylor Swift
This is my second book review in two weeks that begins with a Taylor Swift lyrics. She really has taken over everything…even my book reviews!
Swift seems to have also been the inspiration behind Megan Collin’s latest domestic suspense thriller.
Pink haired Rosie just got dumped in the most horrible way by her boyfriend Brad, and she is recovering by listening to Taylor Swift songs. But when the pain in her heart is determined to be due to a medical issue, she becomes the young recipient of a heart transplant.
So, what’s a girl recovering from a heart transplant and bad break up to do but contact the famous writer/widow of her heart donor. She forms a connection with Morgan through their anonymous correspondence on the donor website. But when she learns that he may have been responsible for his wife’s death, she begins to investigate.
Then he is murdered by a woman with pink hair. Who killed Morgan?
I’m quickly learning that when a book is over-hyped, I usually find myself disappointed. I wish I could have listened to the audiobook through Rosie colored glasses (this phrase is used ad-nauseum in the book), but unfortunately it didn’t wow me. I really didn’t care for Gail Shalan’s narration because the voice she used for the male characters sounded odd, forced, and inauthentic. Chris Andrew Ciulla does an admirable job, but his voice only appears in the first half of the book.
Cross My Heart is a popcorn thriller…not my favorite genre, as they tend to include OTT twists that are difficult to believe. While it does include some intriguing twists, I had no problem uncovering the murderer very early on. While this book is better than The Family Plot, it still didn’t win me over.
3.5/5 stars rounded down
January 13, 2025
4/5 stars for this twisty popcorn thriller!! I absolutely tore through CROSS MY HEART and would highly recommend it for fans of unreliable characters + lighter suspense novels where everyone’s a suspect and everyone has something to hide. There aren’t too many totally “good”/ easy-to-like characters here (just about everyone makes some highly questionable decisions in this book) but that kind of story is always right up my alley, and I loved how unreliable all these characters were. The ending of the book was surprising and satisfying. If you love books by Amber Garza, J.T. Ellison, or Sandie Jones, you’ll love this one!
December 23, 2024
Megan Collins is one of those authors who I can always count on for an entertaining thriller, and Cross My Heart is no exception!
Cross My Heart is a tale of obsession, twists, and thrills. Our main character Rosie gives a new and original perspective to the story. Even though Rose makes several cringy decisions, her unlikeability makes the story more interesting.
This book kept me quickly turning the pages and unable to put it down. I did figure out the who but I enjoyed reading along to discover the why. Without giving anything away I will say that the first half and the second half are very different and there is a major twist at the halfway mark.
Cross My Heart is the fourth book I've read by Megan and I can't wait to see what she comes out with next.
Cross My Heart by Megan Collins will be available on January 14. Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
Cross My Heart is a tale of obsession, twists, and thrills. Our main character Rosie gives a new and original perspective to the story. Even though Rose makes several cringy decisions, her unlikeability makes the story more interesting.
This book kept me quickly turning the pages and unable to put it down. I did figure out the who but I enjoyed reading along to discover the why. Without giving anything away I will say that the first half and the second half are very different and there is a major twist at the halfway mark.
Cross My Heart is the fourth book I've read by Megan and I can't wait to see what she comes out with next.
Cross My Heart by Megan Collins will be available on January 14. Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
October 1, 2024
2.5 ⭐️ (Rounded down to 2). I know I’m in the minority with this one but ughhh, I just didn’t like it. I literally hated every single character, especially the main character Rosie. The story itself actually starts off pretty good, then begins to drag midway through and the end…it was a just a big unrealistic mess. I guess you could say there were some twists here and there. I will also give props to the author for the fact that even though I hated the characters and found it to be unrealistic, I was still curious to see what would happen. I hate to say it but I don’t think Megan Collins books are for me. While I enjoyed The Family Plot (gave it 4 stars). I hated Thicker Than Water (gave it 1 star). Sadly this will probably be the last book of hers that I read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2025
What a fun thriller! Megan Collins always keeps her readers on their toes, and Cross My Heart was no different. It was twisty, clever, and unpredictable. At the same time, it was emotional. After a slower start, this one really ramped up and did not let go. I struggled to put it down.
The storyline was well done. A heart transplant recipient connects with the husband of her donor and forms a connection. She soon starts to wonder if there is more to his wife’s death than the story out there.
Rosie was loveable and frustrating at the same time. I wanted to shake some sense into her so many times. She really does make some bad decisions.
Thanks so much to Simon and Schuster, Atria, for my advanced copy of this book to read. Out on January 14th.
The storyline was well done. A heart transplant recipient connects with the husband of her donor and forms a connection. She soon starts to wonder if there is more to his wife’s death than the story out there.
Rosie was loveable and frustrating at the same time. I wanted to shake some sense into her so many times. She really does make some bad decisions.
Thanks so much to Simon and Schuster, Atria, for my advanced copy of this book to read. Out on January 14th.
March 15, 2025
**Many thanks to Atria and Megan Collins for an ARC provided via Edelweiss! in exchange for an honest review!**
"One year ago today, your wife saved my life. And it breaks my heart that, in order for me to live, she first had to die."
When Rosie Lachlan sends this email through DonorConnect, a secure portal that doesn't reveal any identifying information to either party, she's not sure what she is hoping to hear in reply. It's been a long and trying year: aside from the aforementioned life-saving heart transplant, Rosie experienced metaphorical heartbreak too, when her fiance dumped her while she was WEARING her wedding dress. Determined to bury her trauma and channel her energy, she feels that focusing on other brides while she waits for Mr. Right is the right course of action...and working in a bridal shop, she wants to help make other brides' dreams a reality while she impatiently waits for her OWN Happily Ever After.
As much as she tries to focus on her work, maintaining her health, and moving on from her devastating heartbreak, though, she has a bit of a fascination with her heart donor's husband...a fascination that borders on unhealthy. She can't stop picturing who he might be, what he was like...and she has a hunch that he might be hunky author Morgan Thorne. She believes Morgan's wife Daphne provided her heart, and with this interesting 'opening line' she sends her email through DonorConnect.
What she doesn't expect, though, is a response...and a bit of a flirtation begins as the two banter back and forth and learn about one another. But as Rosie slowly becomes more and more enchanted by the man she believes Morgan might be, she also discovers that the reason his wife's heart was available in the first place was a tragic fall down the stairs...a fall that happened while Morgan was home. An accident that seems a BIT suspicious, to say the least...and leaves Rosie questioning whether she should continue this mysterious 'courtship' of sorts...or get away while there's still time. When the opportunity comes up for these two to MEET, the stakes are higher...but Rosie's obsession has reached a fever pitch. Will she ignore the warning signs and plunge ahead to 'take' another heart? Or will she walk right into a carefully laid trap...when she is RIGHT at her most vulnerable, with nobody left to truly protect her...OR her heart?
I keep saying it, and there is part of me that feels like Megan Collins HAS a five star book in her...and it seems as though, for many readers, this was IT.
So why then did I feel so frustrated, so disconnected, and so uninspired reading what is ostensibly her most clever and unique premise to date?
I'll put it this way - this book is FULL of Taylor Swift references, which is probably to the delight of SO many other readers. But while I respect Taylor Swift as an artist, I've just never really gotten INTO her music the way her most ardent fans have, no matter how hard I try. I can appreciate it and how much others enjoy it, but while she seems like a great person and is clearly talented...there's just something missing that I can't put my finger on...and that same niggling feeling just WOULDN'T go away while I read Cross My Heart.
There probably are some reasons I CAN suss out as to why this Collins read didn't capture my attention the way I'd hoped. For one, despite short chapters (which I ALWAYS appreciate in a thriller) after a bit of a whirlwind start, the pace felt all over the place for me. At times, it felt like there was so much going on it was hard to catch my breath...and other times getting caught in Rosie's mental loops just felt draining, like reading lovesick pages from a teenager's journal. This is a woman who certainly acted more like a girl, and I always struggle with a protagonist who fits this description. Rosie came off less crazy and obsessive and more like a sort of flippant teen with an inappropriate crush. She also apparently thinks she's a bull, because every red flag means GO...and after a while, I sincerely just wanted her parents or her friends to sort of smack her in the forehead and give her a much-needed reality check.
This book is also mixed media, which can be a frustrating format for me...and the 'emails' in this one dragged on and on, sort of like those alumni newsletters you get sucked into initially and start tuning out halfway through. Each of the emails also has the LONG disclaimer from DonorConnect about anonymity etc...it just felt like more wasted page space. There was a lack of intensity in the relationship that would have kept me more invested as a reader and a one sided feel (despite some evidence to the contrary)...and too much ELSE going on for the plot to feel clear.
Part of the reason for all of this extra 'noise' were all of the side characters and the tangles they added to an already complicated plot.For the twists to work, you not only need to keep track of all of these extraneous people, you need to feel some sort of investment in them too...despite the fact that they don't protect Rosie from herself. (Yes, this IS a tall order...but still!) Unfortunately for me, I not only struggled to find them interesting, but kept forgetting why they were relevant...aside from ONE individual who was VERY clearly suspicious to me from jump street...and I just kept crossing my fingers, hoping I was wrong.
....
😔
Unfortunately, I was NOT wrong...and there's nothing that kills my thriller buzz faster than correctly guessing the final twist midway through and having to grit my teeth and wait for it to play out. Capped off with a bit of a cheesy ending...well, let's just say there's a good reason Cheez Whiz is not the world's most popular condiment.
And as much as Collins is never afraid to take a chance, expand her horizons, and explore the unexplored, I found I COULD relate to one Swift song by the time I finished this one...I just wanted to shake it off.
3.5 stars
"One year ago today, your wife saved my life. And it breaks my heart that, in order for me to live, she first had to die."
When Rosie Lachlan sends this email through DonorConnect, a secure portal that doesn't reveal any identifying information to either party, she's not sure what she is hoping to hear in reply. It's been a long and trying year: aside from the aforementioned life-saving heart transplant, Rosie experienced metaphorical heartbreak too, when her fiance dumped her while she was WEARING her wedding dress. Determined to bury her trauma and channel her energy, she feels that focusing on other brides while she waits for Mr. Right is the right course of action...and working in a bridal shop, she wants to help make other brides' dreams a reality while she impatiently waits for her OWN Happily Ever After.
As much as she tries to focus on her work, maintaining her health, and moving on from her devastating heartbreak, though, she has a bit of a fascination with her heart donor's husband...a fascination that borders on unhealthy. She can't stop picturing who he might be, what he was like...and she has a hunch that he might be hunky author Morgan Thorne. She believes Morgan's wife Daphne provided her heart, and with this interesting 'opening line' she sends her email through DonorConnect.
What she doesn't expect, though, is a response...and a bit of a flirtation begins as the two banter back and forth and learn about one another. But as Rosie slowly becomes more and more enchanted by the man she believes Morgan might be, she also discovers that the reason his wife's heart was available in the first place was a tragic fall down the stairs...a fall that happened while Morgan was home. An accident that seems a BIT suspicious, to say the least...and leaves Rosie questioning whether she should continue this mysterious 'courtship' of sorts...or get away while there's still time. When the opportunity comes up for these two to MEET, the stakes are higher...but Rosie's obsession has reached a fever pitch. Will she ignore the warning signs and plunge ahead to 'take' another heart? Or will she walk right into a carefully laid trap...when she is RIGHT at her most vulnerable, with nobody left to truly protect her...OR her heart?
I keep saying it, and there is part of me that feels like Megan Collins HAS a five star book in her...and it seems as though, for many readers, this was IT.
So why then did I feel so frustrated, so disconnected, and so uninspired reading what is ostensibly her most clever and unique premise to date?
I'll put it this way - this book is FULL of Taylor Swift references, which is probably to the delight of SO many other readers. But while I respect Taylor Swift as an artist, I've just never really gotten INTO her music the way her most ardent fans have, no matter how hard I try. I can appreciate it and how much others enjoy it, but while she seems like a great person and is clearly talented...there's just something missing that I can't put my finger on...and that same niggling feeling just WOULDN'T go away while I read Cross My Heart.
There probably are some reasons I CAN suss out as to why this Collins read didn't capture my attention the way I'd hoped. For one, despite short chapters (which I ALWAYS appreciate in a thriller) after a bit of a whirlwind start, the pace felt all over the place for me. At times, it felt like there was so much going on it was hard to catch my breath...and other times getting caught in Rosie's mental loops just felt draining, like reading lovesick pages from a teenager's journal. This is a woman who certainly acted more like a girl, and I always struggle with a protagonist who fits this description. Rosie came off less crazy and obsessive and more like a sort of flippant teen with an inappropriate crush. She also apparently thinks she's a bull, because every red flag means GO...and after a while, I sincerely just wanted her parents or her friends to sort of smack her in the forehead and give her a much-needed reality check.
This book is also mixed media, which can be a frustrating format for me...and the 'emails' in this one dragged on and on, sort of like those alumni newsletters you get sucked into initially and start tuning out halfway through. Each of the emails also has the LONG disclaimer from DonorConnect about anonymity etc...it just felt like more wasted page space. There was a lack of intensity in the relationship that would have kept me more invested as a reader and a one sided feel (despite some evidence to the contrary)...and too much ELSE going on for the plot to feel clear.
Part of the reason for all of this extra 'noise' were all of the side characters and the tangles they added to an already complicated plot.For the twists to work, you not only need to keep track of all of these extraneous people, you need to feel some sort of investment in them too...despite the fact that they don't protect Rosie from herself. (Yes, this IS a tall order...but still!) Unfortunately for me, I not only struggled to find them interesting, but kept forgetting why they were relevant...aside from ONE individual who was VERY clearly suspicious to me from jump street...and I just kept crossing my fingers, hoping I was wrong.
....
😔
Unfortunately, I was NOT wrong...and there's nothing that kills my thriller buzz faster than correctly guessing the final twist midway through and having to grit my teeth and wait for it to play out. Capped off with a bit of a cheesy ending...well, let's just say there's a good reason Cheez Whiz is not the world's most popular condiment.
And as much as Collins is never afraid to take a chance, expand her horizons, and explore the unexplored, I found I COULD relate to one Swift song by the time I finished this one...I just wanted to shake it off.
3.5 stars
January 10, 2025
Rosie Lachlan, a heart transplant recipient, becomes obsessed with her donor’s husband, but soon begins to suspect his wife’s death may not have been an accident.
This is my first book by Megan Collins, but I can say for sure, it will not be my last. A wild ride from start to finish, with vivid and intriguing characters and a really fun format, I could not put this book down. My favorite part - the midway mark when Collins turns everything on its head.
🎧 I read this one mostly on audio and wqs pulled in immediately by the duel narration of Gail Shalan and Chris Andrew Ciulla. While the audio is fantastic, either format works well.
Read if you like:
▪️psychological thrillers
▪️epistolary format
▪️dual timelines
▪️cat and mouse
▪️twisty books
Thank you Atria and Simon Audio for the gifted copies.
📆Pubs: Jan 14th
This is my first book by Megan Collins, but I can say for sure, it will not be my last. A wild ride from start to finish, with vivid and intriguing characters and a really fun format, I could not put this book down. My favorite part - the midway mark when Collins turns everything on its head.
🎧 I read this one mostly on audio and wqs pulled in immediately by the duel narration of Gail Shalan and Chris Andrew Ciulla. While the audio is fantastic, either format works well.
Read if you like:
▪️psychological thrillers
▪️epistolary format
▪️dual timelines
▪️cat and mouse
▪️twisty books
Thank you Atria and Simon Audio for the gifted copies.
📆Pubs: Jan 14th
January 13, 2025
This was such a fun read!
I haven't encountered a mystery/thriller quite like this in some time, and it was a refreshing alternative to the other books I've been tackling recently. The fast pacing kept me hooked from start to finish. I found the main character and her story fascinating, and I appreciated the variety of plot twists and turns—each reveal added an exciting layer to the story, making it an overall enjoyable experience.
I figured out "whodunnit" before the big reveal, but I wouldn't deduct any stars for that. The journey towards the conclusion was well-crafted, and knowing the outcome didn't diminish my enjoyment of the buildup. The author's talent for creating suspense and intrigue shone through, making this a book I'd definitely recommend adding to your TBR. 😊🖤
Thank you so much, Atria Books, for sending me this ARC!!!! It is much appreciated.
The publication date is January 14, 2025. Go get this book!
And as always, all thoughts are my own. ✨
I haven't encountered a mystery/thriller quite like this in some time, and it was a refreshing alternative to the other books I've been tackling recently. The fast pacing kept me hooked from start to finish. I found the main character and her story fascinating, and I appreciated the variety of plot twists and turns—each reveal added an exciting layer to the story, making it an overall enjoyable experience.
I figured out "whodunnit" before the big reveal, but I wouldn't deduct any stars for that. The journey towards the conclusion was well-crafted, and knowing the outcome didn't diminish my enjoyment of the buildup. The author's talent for creating suspense and intrigue shone through, making this a book I'd definitely recommend adding to your TBR. 😊🖤
Thank you so much, Atria Books, for sending me this ARC!!!! It is much appreciated.
The publication date is January 14, 2025. Go get this book!
And as always, all thoughts are my own. ✨
February 15, 2025
With a great start and middle, this book went down crazy street with a pound of Swiss cheese tucked neatly int its pages. Was I disappointed....yep big time!!!
Rosie, the recipient of a new heart, wants nothing but to be married surrounded by oodles of lace, an adoring man, and all the hoopla that accompanies that. She is intensely interested in the man who donated his wife's heart, so she connects to an organization, DonorConnect and finds the husband, author Morgan Thorne. They start emailing one another and Rosie feels that there is a chance Morgan is her man. I mean she has his wife's heart so there is that. However, there is a catch, as Morgan just might be the person who murdered his wife!
Enter in the fray are pink haired characters, a best friend and some newly acquired ones too. Rose is definitely weird, and her friends are a tad on the crazy side, but is Morgan her new heart throb a killer?
Clever premise, followed by some compelling reading but then ending out there in never never land.
Jan and I were gobsmacked by the story and frustrated by the ending. Can't win 'em all!
Rosie, the recipient of a new heart, wants nothing but to be married surrounded by oodles of lace, an adoring man, and all the hoopla that accompanies that. She is intensely interested in the man who donated his wife's heart, so she connects to an organization, DonorConnect and finds the husband, author Morgan Thorne. They start emailing one another and Rosie feels that there is a chance Morgan is her man. I mean she has his wife's heart so there is that. However, there is a catch, as Morgan just might be the person who murdered his wife!
Enter in the fray are pink haired characters, a best friend and some newly acquired ones too. Rose is definitely weird, and her friends are a tad on the crazy side, but is Morgan her new heart throb a killer?
Clever premise, followed by some compelling reading but then ending out there in never never land.
Jan and I were gobsmacked by the story and frustrated by the ending. Can't win 'em all!
November 18, 2024
Heart transplants that come with a whole lot more. Cross My Heart written by Megan Collins brings a suspenseful story with twists and confusion, perhaps too many. A woman with pink hair and an obsessive personality has a heart transplant after a break-up. Slowly we learn all the things she did prior to getting sick and it shows she needed help to cope better with the curve balls being thrown at you each day. Fast-forward to learning her heart came from the wife of a famous author, and she died under somewhat strange circumstances. Collins brought in so much drama with double identity and hidden agendas, it became hard to follow when two characters, in some ways, had the same name. Readers can keep track of it, but you still want to know what's really happening. So I found myself both loving and not loving the plot. Otherwise it was a good read, just not clear/clean enough to match the author's prior caliber. Will continue to read more from her tho.
January 25, 2025
CROSS MY HEART by Author Megan Collins is a riveting suspense thriller with a unique plotline that's rendered through a mixed media format via dual points of view from two highly unreliable narrators. The escalating tension and insane pace put readers on notice early on to prepare for a wild ride with serious creepy vibes spreading throughout the pages. Find some alone time before starting this one because you won't see daylight again until you read the final shocking page.
Rosie Lachlan knows all about the pain of rejection, having been dumped by her fiancé as she stood in her wedding gown preparing to walk down the aisle. Former boyfriends have called Rosie possessive, obsessive, too extreme . . . and maybe she has gone a bit overboard in past relationships; however, this is the new, improved Rosie - the one with a brand new heart and a second chance at life and love. Rosie spends her days working in her parents' bridal shop, dreaming of the day she'll find The One and her nights learning everything she can about the woman whose heart now beats in her chest. After some digging, Rosie is certain she has the heart of writer Morgan Thorne's deceased wife, Daphne, who died in a tragic accident at home. She admires Morgan's work and can't resist reaching out to him anonymously through Donor Connect. Much to her delight, he responds enthusiastically with questions of his own. As communication between the pair increases in the coming weeks, Rosie becomes convinced that fate brought them together. He’s the reason she received his wife's heart . . . so she could also win his. Despite ugly rumors blaming him for his wife's death and warnings from her best friend to beware, Rosie's certain she's found her true love, so she throws caution to the wind and quickly becomes obsessed with learning everything she can about the man and his dead wife. What if some things she learns raise red flags? Surely there's a reasonable explanation, right? Or are her "Rosie-colored glasses" blinding her to the truth?
Author Megan Collins expertly maneuvers characters and readers through a darkly twisted plot line that gave this reader goosebumps from the start. It's nigh on impossible to decern who to believe in this crazy narrative, and I found myself second guessing everything I thought I knew. Chapter by chapter, the pace escalates with the perception of imminent danger setting a dire tone. Whiplash set in from changing my mind so many times about who the real nut case is as the shocking twists kept setting pages on fire. The characters are well-developed and sell their role with authenticity. The question is: Who's the psychotic nut job? Rosie? Afterall, there's nothing wrong with fixating on a potential new boyfriend or viewing the world through rose-colored glasses, is there? Or Morgan? A great guy who suffered a terrible loss . . . or a master of disguise at hiding his true self? You be the judge!
CROSS MY HEART is a stunning, well-crafted psychological thriller with a creative, highly engaging plot line and characters that deliver. It's a disturbing thriller that'll leave you second guessing everything you read numerous times while trying to fit all the pieces of the puzzle together to uncover the truth. An unreliable, unpredictable protagonist, insanely tangled plot line, and maddening pace make this whodunnit the one you don't want to miss! How far would you go for love? Highly recommended to fans of intense psychological thrillers you cannot put down!
Many thanks to Publisher Atria Books for a complimentary arc of this title that released on Jan. 14, 2025. This review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is now available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
Rosie Lachlan knows all about the pain of rejection, having been dumped by her fiancé as she stood in her wedding gown preparing to walk down the aisle. Former boyfriends have called Rosie possessive, obsessive, too extreme . . . and maybe she has gone a bit overboard in past relationships; however, this is the new, improved Rosie - the one with a brand new heart and a second chance at life and love. Rosie spends her days working in her parents' bridal shop, dreaming of the day she'll find The One and her nights learning everything she can about the woman whose heart now beats in her chest. After some digging, Rosie is certain she has the heart of writer Morgan Thorne's deceased wife, Daphne, who died in a tragic accident at home. She admires Morgan's work and can't resist reaching out to him anonymously through Donor Connect. Much to her delight, he responds enthusiastically with questions of his own. As communication between the pair increases in the coming weeks, Rosie becomes convinced that fate brought them together. He’s the reason she received his wife's heart . . . so she could also win his. Despite ugly rumors blaming him for his wife's death and warnings from her best friend to beware, Rosie's certain she's found her true love, so she throws caution to the wind and quickly becomes obsessed with learning everything she can about the man and his dead wife. What if some things she learns raise red flags? Surely there's a reasonable explanation, right? Or are her "Rosie-colored glasses" blinding her to the truth?
Author Megan Collins expertly maneuvers characters and readers through a darkly twisted plot line that gave this reader goosebumps from the start. It's nigh on impossible to decern who to believe in this crazy narrative, and I found myself second guessing everything I thought I knew. Chapter by chapter, the pace escalates with the perception of imminent danger setting a dire tone. Whiplash set in from changing my mind so many times about who the real nut case is as the shocking twists kept setting pages on fire. The characters are well-developed and sell their role with authenticity. The question is: Who's the psychotic nut job? Rosie? Afterall, there's nothing wrong with fixating on a potential new boyfriend or viewing the world through rose-colored glasses, is there? Or Morgan? A great guy who suffered a terrible loss . . . or a master of disguise at hiding his true self? You be the judge!
CROSS MY HEART is a stunning, well-crafted psychological thriller with a creative, highly engaging plot line and characters that deliver. It's a disturbing thriller that'll leave you second guessing everything you read numerous times while trying to fit all the pieces of the puzzle together to uncover the truth. An unreliable, unpredictable protagonist, insanely tangled plot line, and maddening pace make this whodunnit the one you don't want to miss! How far would you go for love? Highly recommended to fans of intense psychological thrillers you cannot put down!
Many thanks to Publisher Atria Books for a complimentary arc of this title that released on Jan. 14, 2025. This review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is now available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
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