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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
I didn't want to stop this book. Everybody Lies has just the right balance of love and suspense, steaminess and tenderness, dirty talk and violence.
This is my second Melanie Smith and I must be honest - not my usual genre. Ahem. I bought it because the premise sounded great, and because Mel is a really supportive Indie author and I wanted to show some love back. But OMG, it blew my socks off. Fortunately I’m a big fan (and long-time user in my less inhibited moments) of the F-word, as Ms Smith doesn’t hold back. On anything. AT ALL. Safe to say, if you’re after a hot, steamy read, I can absolutely, without doubt, definitely recommend. Not least because it has a great plot too. And some well developed characters (if you know what I mean). And lots of, you know, good bits. ;)
Everybody Lies! If that isn’t a loaded gun. This book was way more than what I expected when I began reading it, and it definitely gave more with each turn of the page. Everybody lies. “It’s a necessary coping mechanism. That’s easy for me to forget with the constant voice in my head reminding me of every little transgression, like it’s something unnatural, wrong, and harmful. And sometimes it is. But sometimes, it’s just what we need to do to protect ourselves.” - Frankie
Could you imagine being Frankie, knowing every lie that someone told? Then Julian comes along and she can’t tell left, right, up or down when it comes to him. He’s not lying to her, but there’s something he’s not telling her. As much as his fleeing ways annoy her, and the fact she can’t discern what he’s hiding, these two are hot as Hades! She’s forbidden, but he has to have a taste, but if she knew who he was...would she still desire him? The kicker is, Julian isn’t the only one hiding something from her, and the ones who know her best are the ones hiding the biggest, baddest secrets and lies. S/N: Nils needs an HEA. He seems like a really good guy. Also, Emma...
Could you imagine being Frankie, knowing every lie that someone told? Then Julian comes along and she can’t tell left, right, up or down when it comes to him. He’s not lying to her, but there’s something he’s not telling her. As much as his fleeing ways annoy her, and the fact she can’t discern what he’s hiding, these two are hot as Hades! She’s forbidden, but he has to have a taste, but if she knew who he was...would she still desire him? The kicker is, Julian isn’t the only one hiding something from her, and the ones who know her best are the ones hiding the biggest, baddest secrets and lies. S/N: Nils needs an HEA. He seems like a really good guy. Also, Emma...
The chemistry between the Frankie and Julian was electric! I enjoyed their scenes together, from their banter to their dirty talk. The characters both had to overcome some obstacles, Frankie with her gift and Julian with his secret. I really liked both of them being vulnerable with each other. Frankie had an interesting life, being able to tell when people are lying, so she put up walls. Julian didn't have a good start to life and fell in with a questionable crowd, so he hasn't always made the best of choices.
I quite liked the suspense element and the twist in the story. Though, the beginning of the story was a little slow in comparison to the latter half. It did feel a little disjointed because the mystery in the beginning doesn't connect with the latter half mystery.
Anyway, it's still an enjoyable book with plenty of steamy times and an interesting suspense element.
I liked the narrator; he did a good job voicing the characters, especially Julian! His trying to do a female voice for Frankie was a solid attempt, but a little weird to listen to at times, but I liked the effort he put forth!!
I quite liked the suspense element and the twist in the story. Though, the beginning of the story was a little slow in comparison to the latter half. It did feel a little disjointed because the mystery in the beginning doesn't connect with the latter half mystery.
Anyway, it's still an enjoyable book with plenty of steamy times and an interesting suspense element.
I liked the narrator; he did a good job voicing the characters, especially Julian! His trying to do a female voice for Frankie was a solid attempt, but a little weird to listen to at times, but I liked the effort he put forth!!
You can find this review for Everybody Lies on my blog, Heart's Content!
A large thank you and shout out to Voracious Readers Only for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
First of all, from the very first chapter, I immediately took to Francesca. Her struggle with relationships--especially romantic ones--was very relatable and frankly very realistic given that she could tell if people were lying. She constantly searches for a lie and is always expectant of it and there hasn't ever been a single relationship that has lasted for her. But Frankie doesn't care about her personal life as much as she does her professional one; she's got her club that she manages and runs on her own with squeaky clean means. She's also got a lovely close friend that helps her colour her hair as quirkily as she wishes. Her relationship with her mother, however, has always been difficult, but she has a great relationship with her baby brother and grandmother which makes her happy enough.
Enter: Julian. I wasn't too impressed by him from the first scene but I think it was because he was weird and fumble-y and hadn't really left an impression, but perhaps that was the point (because that was unusual for him and he was always in control given his work). But as we read, I really did start to appreciate Julian more. He truly did fall in love with Frankie and this love gave him the strength to do the one thing that he never had the courage to do all his life, and if that's not love what is? Julian is forced to hide and stay away from Frankie at many points of this book and the way that Frankie handles this is what made it well done (and it also helps that we get to see Julian's POV during them as well).
The secondary characters in this book, Frankie's family and another secret someone were in the background until suddenly everything starts to fall apart and slowly fall into place. I will admit, I never saw it coming: the surprise or that ending. Frankie's mother is literally incapable of any emotion or communication and it's so frustrating and sometimes you want to shake her up! Which is why I greatly appreciated Frankie's ability to remain unruffled by her mother. Frankie's grandmother and baby brother were the real salve to the wound. They were family as one would expect someone to be. They really did soften the edges that Frankie's mother created.
That ending but, oh good freaking God. It was both what increased and decreased my rating. That ending reveal was fantastic along with one or two other twists in the middle that I hadn't expected, and I was very impressed and it really did make sense. However, the way in which the emotions of the protagonist was handled...it just felt off. The way everyone was blasé and... I don't know. Just okay with everything.
But other than that, the book was a surprisingly quick read, with twists, messy relationships and decades old lies and truths that are both uncovered. I'm hovering between a three and a three point five star rating, so perhaps... a 3.25?
Happy reading!
A large thank you and shout out to Voracious Readers Only for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
First of all, from the very first chapter, I immediately took to Francesca. Her struggle with relationships--especially romantic ones--was very relatable and frankly very realistic given that she could tell if people were lying. She constantly searches for a lie and is always expectant of it and there hasn't ever been a single relationship that has lasted for her. But Frankie doesn't care about her personal life as much as she does her professional one; she's got her club that she manages and runs on her own with squeaky clean means. She's also got a lovely close friend that helps her colour her hair as quirkily as she wishes. Her relationship with her mother, however, has always been difficult, but she has a great relationship with her baby brother and grandmother which makes her happy enough.
Enter: Julian. I wasn't too impressed by him from the first scene but I think it was because he was weird and fumble-y and hadn't really left an impression, but perhaps that was the point (because that was unusual for him and he was always in control given his work). But as we read, I really did start to appreciate Julian more. He truly did fall in love with Frankie and this love gave him the strength to do the one thing that he never had the courage to do all his life, and if that's not love what is? Julian is forced to hide and stay away from Frankie at many points of this book and the way that Frankie handles this is what made it well done (and it also helps that we get to see Julian's POV during them as well).
The secondary characters in this book, Frankie's family and another secret someone were in the background until suddenly everything starts to fall apart and slowly fall into place. I will admit, I never saw it coming: the surprise or that ending. Frankie's mother is literally incapable of any emotion or communication and it's so frustrating and sometimes you want to shake her up! Which is why I greatly appreciated Frankie's ability to remain unruffled by her mother. Frankie's grandmother and baby brother were the real salve to the wound. They were family as one would expect someone to be. They really did soften the edges that Frankie's mother created.
That ending but, oh good freaking God. It was both what increased and decreased my rating. That ending reveal was fantastic along with one or two other twists in the middle that I hadn't expected, and I was very impressed and it really did make sense. However, the way in which the emotions of the protagonist was handled...it just felt off. The way everyone was blasé and... I don't know. Just okay with everything.
But other than that, the book was a surprisingly quick read, with twists, messy relationships and decades old lies and truths that are both uncovered. I'm hovering between a three and a three point five star rating, so perhaps... a 3.25?
Happy reading!
I didn't really enjoy this. The idea is a good one, but I found the characters to be unlikable.
Thanks to Wicked Dreams Publishing & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Wicked Dreams Publishing & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Everybody Lies! If that isn’t a loaded gun. This book was way more than what I expected when I began reading it, and it definitely gave more with each turn of the page. Everybody lies. “It’s a necessary coping mechanism. That’s easy for me to forget with the constant voice in my head reminding me of every little transgression, like it’s something unnatural, wrong, and harmful. And sometimes it is. But sometimes, it’s just what we need to do to protect ourselves.” - Frankie
Could you imagine being Frankie, knowing every lie that someone told? Then Julian comes along and she can’t tell left, right, up or down when it comes to him. He’s not lying to her, but there’s something he’s not telling her. As much as his fleeing ways annoy her, and the fact she can’t discern what he’s hiding, these two are hot as Hades! She’s forbidden, but he has to have a taste, but if she knew who he was...would she still desire him? The kicker is, Julian isn’t the only one hiding something from her, and the ones who know her best are the ones hiding the biggest, baddest secrets and lies. S/N: Nils needs an HEA. He seems like a really good guy. Also, Emma...
Could you imagine being Frankie, knowing every lie that someone told? Then Julian comes along and she can’t tell left, right, up or down when it comes to him. He’s not lying to her, but there’s something he’s not telling her. As much as his fleeing ways annoy her, and the fact she can’t discern what he’s hiding, these two are hot as Hades! She’s forbidden, but he has to have a taste, but if she knew who he was...would she still desire him? The kicker is, Julian isn’t the only one hiding something from her, and the ones who know her best are the ones hiding the biggest, baddest secrets and lies. S/N: Nils needs an HEA. He seems like a really good guy. Also, Emma...
Going in to this I wasnt really sure what to expect.
Having a heroine that could detect lies could go a million different ways but I did not see any of it coming.
I can't say much without ruining the twists and turns in the story but Frankie and Julian are EVERYTHING! Their chemistry, tension and personalities were huge but not over the top.
This is the first book I have read by Melanie Smith and I absolutely love it. It was so well written and engaging. I will definitely read more.
*I recieved this novel for free in exchange for an honest review by way of Voracious Readers Only *
Having a heroine that could detect lies could go a million different ways but I did not see any of it coming.
I can't say much without ruining the twists and turns in the story but Frankie and Julian are EVERYTHING! Their chemistry, tension and personalities were huge but not over the top.
This is the first book I have read by Melanie Smith and I absolutely love it. It was so well written and engaging. I will definitely read more.
*I recieved this novel for free in exchange for an honest review by way of Voracious Readers Only *
Overall enjoyed, but definitely felt a little more like smut with some plot in the periphery than a fully formed story with smut included. Not a bad thing, just I prefer more plot or at least more of a balance.
The ending felt like it was wrapped up in bow - a little too clean to have any semblance of realism. I get why, but it just felt too easy.
My biggest disappointment though was how little we got on Frankie's ability. That could have gone into a lot more detail. Where did it come from? What are the loopholes in it that Frankie referred to?
The ending felt like it was wrapped up in bow - a little too clean to have any semblance of realism. I get why, but it just felt too easy.
My biggest disappointment though was how little we got on Frankie's ability. That could have gone into a lot more detail. Where did it come from? What are the loopholes in it that Frankie referred to?
Exciting and intriguing
Melanie A Smith has done it again! This was a fun read, exciting, sexy, and a unique angle. Can't wait to see more from this author!
Melanie A Smith has done it again! This was a fun read, exciting, sexy, and a unique angle. Can't wait to see more from this author!