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Synopsis
Truth: From over a thousand miles away, I watched on the screen of my phone as two men murdered my wife. And I was helpless to save her.
Consumed by hate and rage, I spent four years running from my memories.
Until a shattered woman gave me a reason to stop.
Cora lived in a nightmare, but through sheer force of will, she’d turned it into something beautiful. She had a smile that could pierce the darkest soul. And with one glance, she shredded mine.
Lie: I was only there for a fresh start.
Lie: I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
Lie: There was nothing I could do to save her, either.
But that’s the thing about lies—you never know who to believe.
Review
“One in. One out.”
5 heart-stopping stars!
OMG, Aly Martinez! What a book! I had no idea what to expect, yet it was nothing like what I was expecting, and it was everything I wanted it to be! It’s intense, fun, heartbreaking, raw, gritty, emotional and romantic, and OMG I freaking loved it!
You really want to go into this book without knowing too much about the story, because the best part is watching it all unfold, so I’m going to try and keep this review vague.
Cora’s life has been nothing but loss and struggle. She lives at the mercy of a brutal crime family, managing an apartment building full of working girls, offering safety, protection and somebody to care for them. She is the absolute definition of a survivor, and the more I read about her story and all that she has done to get through it all, the more I absolutely love her!
Penn is a man whose world fell apart when he watched his wife being killed while he was over a thousand miles away. It’s been years, but he is no longer the same man, now damaged, broken and consumed by his guilt, anger and memories over that fateful night.
When Penn takes a job doing maintenance at Cora’s building, their two lives clash together, and from the spine-tingling chemistry that is evident at their first glance, you just know that something epic is about to happen.
She smiled.
And not like that ridiculous fake one she was wearing when she opened the door …
This smile was different.
It was the kind of smile that could have shredded the darkest soul.
And I knew – because it was the exact moment I felt the first slice through mine.
Cora wants Penn immediately. He is not only gorgeous, but he is mysterious and broody, and the kind of man that you need to know more about. He has demons, and they are dark, but to Penn, Cora is a light that he never expected, and though he tries to keep this distance, he is helpless to stop the feelings brewing between them.
“I am begging you. Drop this bullshit with me. Because, God’s honest truth, I don’t know that I’m strong enough to do it for both of us.”
I blinked at him, hating that I was so transparent but downright gleeful because… “You feel it too?”
He scoffed, those heavy, blue eyes coming back to mine. “I’ve known you two days and I’m drowning in it, Cora. So, yeah. It’s safe to say I feel it.”
OMG, the feels! Brimming with want, need, and sizzling sexual tension, I reveled in every moment of these two finding and exploring each other. Until, helpless to stop it, they slowly begin to open up to each other, and the love story that follows is sweet and emotional with a wonderful sense of fun, and surprising to them both.
In my world, where pain, filth, and fear were a way of life, why waste the possibility of finally feeling something incredible?
“Say the word, Cora, and I’ll kiss you breathless.”
But their lives are far from easy and both of them have secrets, and they walk a delicate balancing act of wanting to share themselves with the person they are falling for, while also protecting them, and their loved ones, at all costs. And when the truth brings nothing but pain, sometimes lies can be the only option.
Nothing in the world had ever disappointed me, broken me, or destroyed me quite like hope.
God, I was so sucked into this book! I had so many questions while reading, and my head was brimming with theories and possibilities. The complexities of the storyline are revealed slowly throughout the book in a way that makes each disclosure a revelation that adds further depth to the story, while also keeping me desperate to know more. It’s so well-developed, and cleverly written, making us feel everything as it all unfolds. And in the middle of it all is this beautiful, captivating love story that absolutely melted my heart as these two amazing characters found something incredible together, not knowing that they are about to change each other’s whole worlds.
His hand slipped higher up my back until his whole palm was warming my skin – and scrambling my thoughts. “It’s gonna be okay, Cora. From here on out, I swear on my life, you’re gonna be okay.”
So once again, Aly Martinez has taken me on a rollercoaster ride of feels through an incredible story. These characters and their stories will rip your heart out, but the darkly desolate world she creates for us is brightened by moments of fun and lightheartedness, and a beautifully developing romance that is easy and natural with a strong emotional connection at its centre. It’s a real mix of dark and light, of sweet, fun moments, and devastation and heartache, that is perfectly balanced to create a fascinating and enthralling read.
But this is only part 1 of the story and OMG, how am I supposed to go on after that cliffy? That ending is a heartstopper. I need more, and I need it now, thank God book 2 is coming soon!
5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Truth Duet
The Truth About Lies (#1)
Review
Buy: Amazon
The Truth About Us (#2)
Review
Buy: Amazon
The Ways We Lied (Spin-off) (Drew’s story)
Coming soon
About the Author
Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in South Carolina with her four young children.
Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys cheap wine, mystery leggings, and baked feta. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person.
She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a super-sized tumbler of wine by her side.
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