If She Only Knew [Paperback]

Lisa Jackson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2000

SHE WOKE UP WITH A NEW FACE . . .

Not only has Marla Cahill survived a deadly car accident, but her beautiful features have been restored through plastic surgery. She should be grateful. Instead, she's consumed by confusion . . . and panic. For the people gathered at her bedside — her family — are strangers. And so is the woman whose haunted eyes stare back from the mirror . . .

SHE WOKE UP WITH NO MEMORIES . . .

Secluded at the magnificent Cahill mansion, Marla waits for something to trigger recognition. Yet the only thing she's left with is the unshakable feeling that she is not who everyone says she is, and that something is very, very wrong . . .

. . . AND SHE WOKE UP TO MURDER

Determined to piece together the truth of her identity, she finds herself drawn to her brother-in-law, Nick — a man who seems both to want and despise her. And as her fractured mind slowly clears, Marla begins to have flashes of another life . . . of cruel betrayals and deadly secrets. Marla's life isn't just different — it's in danger, controlled by a twisted killer who's waiting for the right moment to strike . . . the moment Marla remembers . . .

Editorial Reviews

Review

A spellbinding blockbuster of a mystery . . . a heart-stopping whodunit with as many twists and turns as the streets in San Francisco. Don't miss it! -- Old Book Barn Gazette

Excellent . . . I could not stop reading. -- A Novel Place, Osseo, MN

IF SHE ONLY KNEW is superb! Lisa Jackson has outdone herself with this latest suspense story of wealth, greed and murder. Highly recommended. -- Reader to Reader Reviews

Lisa Jackson is the best exciting new name in romantic suspense. IF SHE ONLY KNEW needs to be read with all the lights on. -- BookCrazy Reviews

Lisa Jackson knows how to build the suspense from the first chapter to the end. Look out, Tami Hoag and Iris Johansen — here comes Lisa Jackson! -- Waldenbooks, Greendale, WI

Product Details

• Paperback: 447 pages
• Publisher: Zebra (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821767089
• ISBN-13: 978-0821767085
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,178,208 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

#1 NYT and USA TODAY bestselling author Lisa Jackson started writing after her sister read an article in TIME Magazine in 1981 about how young mothers were making money writing romance novels. Both Lisa and her sister, Nancy Bush, began their writing careers right then, and lo, these many years later Lisa has published seventy-five plus novels and has no plans to slow down anytime soon.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If You Only Knew How Great This Book Is?, October 16, 2000

By 

E. Alvis "book in hand" (Reedley, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: If She Only Knew (Paperback)

If you like romance and mystery, then go get this book now. I have read everything Lisa Jackson has written and this is my favorite. When Marla wakes up in the hospital after a car accident,(or was it) she has to rely on the man that says he is her husband, although she does not remember him.Her memory has been wiped away, but she knows enough to know that something is wrong and that she is in danger for her life. She puts all her trust into her husbands renegade brother and together they set out to find out who is trying to kill her. Before you read the last few pages, you will have suspected everyone.If you have never read a book by Lisa, this is a good place to start.

36 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Reason Why You Read Suspense/Romance Books!!!, May 6, 2002

By 

Kristi Ahlers (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: If She Only Knew (Paperback)

This is a page turner from the word go!!! Just when you think you have the mystery all figured out something else happens that blows that all to heck!

Marla Cahill wakes up from being in a horrible car accident. The fact of the matter is she is lucky to be alive. The person who was traveling with her died. Her mouth is wired shut and she does not remember who she is or who the people that call themselves family are. She does not feel safe and thinks that Alex who is her husband is not what he says he is and does not trust him. How could it be possible that they are husband and wife? She feels nothing for him.

Nick Cahill is the black sheep of the family. He has turned his back on his wealthy San Francisco family and now lives in Oregon with his dog "Tough Guy" doing what he can to live down his past. You see before Marla had married his brother they had been lovers and he never fully got over her. Alex come up to Oregon and asked Nick to come home to help. He explains that Marla has been in a horrible accident and has been asking for him. Or has she and why would Alex want Nick to come home to her?

Marla is released from the hospital and tries to deal with her confussion and her feelings for Nick. She has nothing to link her to her past. Her purse is even missing with ID that shows her old face. Her cloths are all to big for her, and she does not remember people that claim to be her friends and does not understand why her husband does not want these people to come and visit. And then there is the problem with her feelings towards Nick. How can she be so attracted to him and not his brother Alex? Why is her daughter Cissy so upset with her? Why does she remember the birth of James who is only a few weeks old but not that of her daughter? Why does Alex and Marla not even share a bedroom and why is she literaly locked our of that room? What is he trying to hide? And did she really hear someone in her room late at night telling her to die or was that just a dream?

This is one of my favorite books by this talented author. The twists and turns in this book are great. You are not going to be de-railed by more then necessary love scenes and those that are in the story are indeed wonderful. The mystery of who is Marla will keep you reading and turning the pages. The Cahill family is a huge mystery and it is fun to read to read about. You won't be disapointed by this book. It's a perfect example of why you want to read a suspense romance book!

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars If I Only Knew, October 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: If She Only Knew (Paperback)

Marla Cahill wakes from a coma, having survived a deadly car accident. The woman passenger in the car has been killed and soon the driver of the on-coming truck is dead too. Marla has amnesia and can't remember (or trust!) any of the people around her, a wealthy, disfunctional San Francisco family. Seems like a good premise? I wish I had known that that this book which uses truly classic romantic suspense plot devices as its groundwork would turn out to to be so unsatisfying. There is no one to sympathize with in this story. At first you hope that what Marla finds out about her behavior before the accident will mean that she's not actually Marla. By the end, you almost wish she was. The hero is her brother in law (he calls him self the "outlaw" since he's the requisite black sheep), Nick. He spends most of the book complaining that he's been dragged back into the family dynamics again. Marla's husband is clearly up to something, but it's so obvious he's not a good guy, you scarcely care. Throw in a traditional "apricot-haired", disapproving matriarch, an illegitimate child or two, a large fortune tied up in a draconian will and you've basically got the main milestones. Unfortunately, dialogue was stilted and the hints and red herrings dropped with the subtlety of bricks and the (unsatisfying) ending was telegraphed way too soon. I'm sure the author can do better!