She Died Then Showed Me is a heart-stoppingly good book. At first, Peyton Chase seems to have the perfect life, aside from just losing her dad. As I read though, I found how deceptive appearances are. Her father's death brings the possiblity - some say probability - of having to sell the ranch that her family has owned for generations, forcing Peyton to dig into the secrets her father kept. Peyton has a full plate of problems: a half-sister who hates her, her father's debts and a former lover trying to rekindle the love affair she walked away from years ago. In exploring ways to pay off the mortgage on the ranch, Peyton encounters Blake Adler, who both attracts and angers her. Peyton is forced to examine her childhood memories to understand the secrets her parents kept. She has to examine her life, to determine what is really important, what she values most, and who she really wants to be. Samar Reine is a new author for me and will be someone whose books I will seek out. The characters are well developed and relatable, even the secondary characters. The writing made me feel as if I knew the desert in New Mexico, a place I've never seen. The heroine Peyton has made poor decisions in the past and is determined to do the right thing, not the easiest thing, with the problems she is facing after her father's death. That determination results in very difficult decisions for Peyton, forcing her to make the best choice possible from several bad alternatives. Adler, the hero, is not perfect but he is perfect for Peyton, accepting her as she is. There is a surprise twist at the end that I didn't see coming which really added to my enjoyment of the story. I highly recommend She Died Then Showed Me. I read the book in one sitting because I was pulled right into the story. It was worth the lost sleep.