The Lying Game #6: Seven Minutes in Heaven

Written by Sara Shepard

Narrated by Cassandra Morris

From Sara Shepard, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Pretty Little Liars series, comes the nail-biting, shocking conclusion to The Lying Game.

Sutton Mercer had the perfect life, great friends, and a gorgeous boyfriend—until she was murdered. Then the killer forced Sutton's long-lost twin sister, Emma, to pretend to be her. Emma has been living Sutton's life for weeks now, frantically trying to figure out who killed her sister and why.

But when Sutton's body is discovered, Emma suddenly becomes the number-one suspect in her twin's murder. Now she needs to find the killer before she ends up behind bars—or worse.

In this stunning finale to the beloved series The Lying Game, Emma finally solves her sister's murder—but the killer will do anything to make sure that the truth dies with her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Jul 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9780062205384

Sara Shepard

Sara Shepard is the author of two New York Times bestselling series, Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game, as well as the series The Perfectionists. She graduated from New York University and has an MFA from Brooklyn College.

Reviews for The Lying Game #6

[bookworm2bookworm · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have to admit that I've not read many books from this author. I liked her Pleasures series and I also read couple of books from her Fairy Tales series, and loved one more than the other. So, after reading this story and loving every minute of it, I've decided to plow through EJ's backlist, working my way down from this book. My local used bookstore was very happy with my purchase this past weekend :)

In the first book of the Desperate Duchesses series we meet a bastard son of the hero of that book, Teddy. He was given to the hero to raise and his father actually does something unthinkable for that time. He choses to acknowledge him and raise him in his own household, under the same roof he'd be bringing his own legitimate children. Fast forward two or so decades, and we now meet once more Little Teddy, known to all now as "Ward" and who's inherited two half siblings that are in a dire need of a governess, and Ward himself is in a dire need of making a good match because keeping those children depends on it.

There's so much to love about this story, from our hero who is as unconventional as our heroine, but for some reason, the two kids in this story have stolen my heart. They were precautious, smart and utterly adorable.

As for the heroine, Eugenia, I was very impressed with her strength and wit. As Regency heroines go, she was one of the best I've read in a long time. I loved the fact that her feelings for her dead husband were complex even though he's been dead for seven years. I literally had tears in my eyes as she finally lets go of Andrew.

And then there was Ward. This man was such an intriguing and interesting character. He had inner strength and exuded confidence from the moment he showed up on the page. I fell in love with him immediately! The love he had for his brother and sister was palpable. Yes, he had some faults. But he wasn't stubborn and that was the key, because as soon as he figured out his mistakes, he was ready to admit to them and ask for forgiveness.

Seriously, this book rocks! You can't miss it.

Melanie for b2b

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher

[wendyk_40 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow! I have to say that I love Eloisa James and have yet to be disappointed by a book. This one is no different. Seven Minutes in Heaven is Ward and Eugenia's romance and what a romance it is. Fans of historical romance that will make you laugh, sigh, cry, rant at the hero and cheer them on need to read this one. If you are new to Eloisa James you won't be lost but will be eager to read more. Another great story from a master storyteller.

[cats57_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If you are looking for a historical love story that doesn't feature a virginal miss that needs extreme coaxing, wooing and gentle kisses to drop her proverbial drawers -then you will love this book.I loved the story line -it reminded a bit of one of Amanda Quick's books - A widow (who is actually a peeress) owns a Governess agency -a wrong side of the blanket gentleman with a step-brother and sister to raise, needs a governess - hilarity (well at least amusement) ensues, several governesses take to the road, heat builds between Ms Snowe (owner) and Mr. Reeve (Gentleman of dubious lineage) and let me tell you the heat is intense when you hit the 50% mark and I loved the allusion's to Fifty Shades of Grey.Mistakes are made, feeling hurt but of course, all will be well in the end.I forgot how much I loved most of Ms James writing and after reading this I think I will be re-reading her earlier works and buying some of later books to add to my library!*ARC supplied by publisher.

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

While Eugenia Snowe is a widow and born to the higher echelon of society and now she runs a Governess placement agency that is quite popular with society, she is somewhat restless. So when Edward "Ward" Reeve presses her into service to help him with his siblings who have had an eccentric upbringing and whose strict grandmother wants to bring them up.He really needed to listen to people.

[n.w.moors-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Eugenia Snowe has the best registry for governesses in England and Ward Reeve desperately needs a governess for his newly discovered half-brother and sister. This leads to all sorts of charming complications and romance for the widowed Eugenia and illegitimate Ward. The children are wonderful, eccentric, but not over the top and add a lot to the story.I read a lot of Regency romance, but for some reason, I have not read much Eloisa James which is something I must correct. This is an endearing story, and I like both lead characters very much. The author developed their characters slowly but deeply so that the reader had a good understanding of what they were like by the time their romance reached its culmination. I will definitely get some more of her books to read.

[majesdane-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A satisfying conclusion to the series.

[allygggggg · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I didn't like the confusion between Emma and Sutton! It's mean! One doesn't have a life!

[y2ash · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"We Mercer girls are all alike. We're bitches you don't want to mess with."
- Laurel Mercer, in all of her bad ass-ness

I knew it!
I knew it!
I freaking knew It!

WARNING: This review will be chock full of spoilers. So please do not read if you haven't it yet.

Seven Minutes in Heaven is the final book in The Lying Game Series. Boy, is it final. There is no room left for interpretation. While dealing with the "accidental" death of Nisha, Sutton's body is discovered at the bottom of Sabino Canyon. Of course, everyone thinks it's Emma Paxton but the truth comes out and Emma is public enemy number one. With everyone but Ethan against her, Emma tries to find out the truth behind Sutton's murder once and for all.

Seven Minutes in Heaven was good. Damn good. Shepard answered every question that the series has brought up. Everything came to a head and it was exciting and sad. I knew that Ethan was a killer and my theory wasn't that far off. I didn't expect that Ethan was a psychopath. The way that everything was laid out: why he killed Sutton, how he killed her was excellent.

When both he and Sutton were struggling on top of the canyon and she fell. He looked horrified. I thought to myself: they better not make it an accident as if he didn't mean to kill her. Then you see that Sutton's still alive, she's just badly injured. I really thought that Shepard was just going to have Ethan leave her there. That would have been cold but not the most logical and murderous thing to do. Shepard has shown Ethan Landry as calculating; always one step ahead.

However, when Ethan met Sutton at the bottom, they exchanged angry words, and he bought that rock crashing on her head, I was like whoa. Poor Sutton. Poor Emma! It's after that scene that Emma finds out what Nisha wanted to tell her so badly about Ethan: he's a psychopath and a murderer and Sutton wasn't the first person he had killed.

Ahhh! This is how I feel about this book! It was that good. I'll have to commend Sara Shepard. She gave me the most satisfying ending and it made sense! The best part: it didn't come out of nowhere! I had suspected Ethan since book three. That's what a good mystery does: throws up a bunch of red herrings but they don't really derail you from whom you know is guilty: Ethan. Man, I really enjoyed Ethan too.

Although, the Who Killed Sutton was the bulk of the mystery, family seemed to be the heart. After everything she's been through, Emma will finally get the family she desperately wanted as herself. The Mercers are willing to try and work their way to forgiveness but it'll take time. One thing I really loved and will love Shepard forever for is that Thayer and Emma did NOT get together in the end. Thank God! It wouldn't make any sense and it would be weird and icky. Thayer's heart belongs to Sutton and eventually he will move on...just not with Emma.

The ending of Seven Minutes in Heaven is with the Mercers quietly celebrating Christmas with Emma as Sutton moves on. It is when she sees that happiness that she moves on herself, dissolving into energy, and disappearing. Seven Minutes in Heaven was great. If fans of the series are looking for a resolution, they don't have to be happy with it, they got one. A damn good one.

SIDE NOTE: For fans of The Lying Game, I suggest you read the novellas only available as ebooks: The First Lie and True Lies. They do help when you're reading the series.

[beckygandee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

“This book was the best one of the series, we finally get to find out who killed Sutton and Nisha. I was definitely surprised! The Mercer's finally get to know Emma as herself and give Sutton the proper burial she deserves. I felt so much for them, it was definitely a tragedy but at the same time, they get to meet Emma. The ending was just so beautiful, I almost shed a tear. I really, really loved this whole series, I looked forward to every new book that was released. I'm glad that we finally get to know who did it, but I'm sad to end the series too!”

[shellypya · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fitting conclusion to the series, even if the murderer was predictable. Emma's almost run out of suspects, but when Sutton's body is discovered she becomes suspect number one. Shunned by her family, Emma races to figure out who the killer is before the killer gets her.