Title: Beautiful Lies Author: Heather Bentley
Series: Standalone
Release date: July 20, 2016
(Sub)genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 246
Buy: Amazon US ~ Amazon UK
Rating:
From the couture clothes, private jets and homes around the globe, I have the best of everything. But looks can be deceiving, and in my family, deception is an art form. So, I bide my time and count the days until I’m free.
Heiress Christina Harcourt lives a life surrounded by the finest this world has to offer. Unfortunately, what she wants most can’t be bought. After losing her mother in a heinous crime, she tries her best to live the life she knows her mother would want for her. But through her family’s hurtful ways, Christina learns the only way to do that, is to leave this life far behind. Everything is going as planned, until she meets him.
Sexy, carefree CJ Whitford is a hard-working, blue collar guy who can’t get the guarded brunette out of his head. So, he takes a chance and rearranges his life to go after the girl he’s falling for. He quickly discovers that Christina’s secrets are as big as her heart. A heart so fragile that all it will take to destroy it is one more lie…his.
One of the things I love about reading is discovering new authors. Not just authors I haven’t read before, but also authors who’ve just published their first book. Heather Bentley is such an author. Beautiful Lies is her debut book, and I was pleasantly surprised by the characters and the author’s writing style.
“My life is not my own. A total façade. From what to wear, what to eat, what to dream, every day I’m told what to do, what is acceptable. For all of the indulgence that surrounds me, I feel none of it. I am surrounded by … by stuff. Not by love.”
Christina is a sweet, caring woman born into a life of privilege. But while she has all the luxury money can buy, she doesn’t have what she craves most; a normal family life with loving parents. Christina’s mother died when she was young, leaving her with her cold father and cruel grandmother. The fact that she the heiress of the Harcourt family is something Christina isn’t proud of; she has learned the hard way it brings out the worst in people. When she meets CJ during an evening out with a friend Christina is charmed right away, but she keeps pushing him away, too afraid he will hurt her as well.
“What are you smiling about?” he asks, with a smile to match my own. “I didn’t realize I was smiling.” I catch myself and immediately stop. “Don’t stop on my account. Your smile, it’s … stunning.” I look away. I’m not used to compliments, especially from gorgeous strangers I’m in close proximity to.”
The moment they meet, Christina is very attracted to CJ. When he finds out who she truly is, he doesn’t react the way she thought he would, and CJ and Christina form a friendship, slowly leading to something more. There are a few bumps, but the couple can’t stay away from each other. From the moment CJ gets to know the real Christina, she doesn’t hold back and tells him everything, doesn’t want any secrets between them. CJ on the other hand isn’t so open and tries to keep parts of his life hidden for Christina. And holding back such information for an already damaged Christina is very, very wrong.
As already said, Beautiful Lies is the author’s debut book. I really like the author’s writing style, and the way she lets Christina act; realistic. There is some drama and a bit of angst, but it’s not over-the-top. The pace of the book is a bit fast at times, but it didn’t bother me. Beautiful Lies is written from Christina’s perspective, therefor you don’t get a peek in CJ’s mind. I wish the author had written some chapters in his POV, because some of his actions where absolutely not okay; an insight into his mind would have given me a better understanding of his choices.
“The kiss is warm and deep, a reacquaintance kiss that says so many things. I’m sorry. I missed you. I love you. But more than anything it says that together, we are solid and strong, with a courage and tenacity that is all us.”
I’ve enjoyed reading Beautiful Lies, and I will definitely read future books by this author (maybe a story about Alex and Anna?). I give this story 4 stars.
~~ Beautiful Lies was provided in exchange for an honest review ~~
Leave a Reply