REVIEW: ALL THE PRETTY LIES by M. LEIGHTON

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense
Publisher: M. Leighton
Publication Date: 11/12/13
Format: eARC
Pages: 370
Source: Received from author for review
Rating: 5 stars

“Live, no regrets”

Her…
Sloane Locke has led a sheltered life. However, with a history like hers, she can understand why her brothers and her father want so much to protect her. She has gone along with it for twenty long years, but those days are over. For the girl who never makes promises, Sloane has made a pact with herself that things will change on her twenty-first birthday. So when the clock strikes midnight, Sloane strikes out to spread her wings and break a few rules.

Him…
In addition to inking skin, Hemi Spencer possesses many talents. Controlling himself has never been one of them. It’s never had to be. He’s lived a life of indulgence for as long as he can remember. Right up until tragedy struck. Now, he’s nothing but controlled. He’s a man on a mission, one who will let nothing and no one stand in his way.

Them…
Nothing in their lives could’ve prepared Sloane and Hemi for what they’d find in each other—distraction and obsession, love and possession. But the one thing they can’t find is a future. Neither one has been totally honest. And they’ll soon learn that the devil is in the details. In the details and in the lies.
How far will two people go to live in the now when the now is all they’ve got?

 

 
"So tell me. Tell me all the pretty lies."

I was lucky to receive an early copy of All the Pretty Lies. So early, in fact, that I didn't have a blurb or even a cover to go on. I honestly did not have much of a clue as to what this story was about, but as a fan of M. Leighton's books, I was okay with that. As it was, I went into this story with no expectations, other than those based on previous books by Leighton. But if I did have expectations, they would have been greatly exceeded.

 

All the Pretty Lies is a bit of a difficult book to review, or discuss, without spoilers. What I can say is, there's a woman, Sloane, and a man, Hemi, and when fate brings the two together, it also sets them on a course of secrets and lies, betrayal and danger, and ultimately, love. In the story, we are given the point-of-view of both characters, and I love having dual perspective. Hemi is a tattoo artist, and Sloane is a bit of an innocent young woman. Now, before you begin to think "cliché" - and admittedly, I might, too - I can happily say that I did not find either character to be that at all. I'm not exactly sure how to explain why I didn't feel that way. I think it might be these aspects are part of the story, but not what All the Pretty Lies is about.

 

As much as this is a love story, All the Pretty Lies also revolves around secrets and a mystery involving Hemi's family and Sloane's family. Leighton does not lay all of their secrets and motivations out on the table, and I love that about this story. It gave the story an added element of suspense, and kept me on the hook, waiting with so much anticipation. I had my guesses about what was happening, and as it turns out, I was not wrong. I think that Leighton did a very thorough hob of creating a tense and well-developed mystery.

Oh, and a nice little tidbit. While All the Pretty Lies is hot. Like, H-A-W-T. Bone-meltingly hot.

 

All the Pretty Lies does heavily feature the beginning of a relationship, but also revolves around family, revenge, and redemption. I truly enjoyed each moment I spent reading it, did not want it to end. Happily, the series will continue with All the Pretty Poses.

 

 

Favorite Quotes:

 
  "I know I'll hate myself for this tomorrow, but I have to have a taste of you, Sloane. I can't deny myself for one more minute. Let me show you what I was thinking when I saw you lying up there. Let me show you what it feels like when a man stops fighting." His words drift away as his face draws closer to mine. I feel his breath, warm and moist, on my lips. "Let me show you what it feels like when your wish comes true."   ~eARC, 43%


  "With every butterfly I created, I'd get closer and closer to these," he says, gently cupping my breasts, "and I'd think to myself that I couldn't do it one more time. Not one more, or I'd explode."   ~eARC, 44%


  Sloane's lips part and I set the citrus slice between them until I feel her clamp down to hold it in place. Wrapping my arm around her waist, I pull her in close to me as I reach for my shot. As I lower my head to lick every grain of salt from her skin, she melts into me, threading her fingers into my hair. I turn my face to the side and down the fiery liquid then bite into the lemon wedge Sloane's holding between her teeth. I suck all the juice from it then take it from her and drive my tongue between her lips to tangle with hers in a kiss that sets my blood on fire.   ~eARC, 64%

 

 

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About the author

M. Leighton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Wild Ones and The Bad Boys romance trilogies. She is a native of Ohio, relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she lets her mind wander to romantic settings with sexy Southern guys much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.


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