Everyone knew Alicia
Harrison’s marriage to Ilya Stern wouldn’t last. They’d grown up on a
remote stretch of Quarry Street, where there were two houses, two sets
of siblings, and eventually, a tangled mess of betrayal, longing, and
loss. Tragedy catapulted Allie and Ilya together, but divorce—even as
neighbors—has been relatively uncomplicated.
Then Ilya’s brother, Nikolai, comes home for their grandmother’s last days. He’s the guy who teased and fought with Allie, infuriated her, then fled town without a good-bye. Now Niko makes her feel something else entirely—a rush of connection and pure desire that she’s been trying to quench since one secret kiss years ago. Niko’s not sticking around. She’s not going to leave. And after all that’s happened between their families, this can’t be anything more than brief pleasure and a bad idea.
But the lies we tell ourselves can’t compete with the truths our hearts refuse to let go…
It's been three years and change since I read my very first Megan Hart book. It was one of those books that made me go: I must read more by this author! Much more! Now, many Hart books later, I can say those novels I read way back then are my favorite. All the Lies We Tell
isn't like the other books by Ms. Hart I've read, but reading it felt
like I was reading one of those earlier ones. It reminded me why I fell
in love with her work in the first place. For this reason I kept smiling
while I was reading it even though the story wasn't exactly a happy
one. Weird? Maybe.
Like I said, I found this novel different
from all those other books by Ms. Hart I've read. I'm aware she's a
prolific author writing in several genres, but for the most part, I've
stuck to her romance novels. All the Lies We Tell has romance,
but it's also a story about two families and the ways their lives were
connected over many years. The book has multiple POVs which was
something new for me in the author's work. Plus, there was mystery
surrounding a death of a family member. Mystery which will be unveiled
in the second book, I assume. So, to me this is something of a romance
mixed with family drama with a dash of mystery.
The story is told
from the perspective of a few characters, but the main couple here is
Alicia and Nikolai. They had brief romantic past which ended when Niko
left town. As it would happen Alicia ended up marrying his brother Ilya.
Their marriage is another thing of the past. Speaking of the past, Ilya
used to be in love with Alicia's sister. Oh, yes, Megan Hart has cooked
up some pretty complicated drama which would get even more complicated
when Niko finally returns from his journey, and old feelings of
attraction, hurt, resentment, and love come to surface. However, even as
old flames were reignited and Alicia and Niko were older, more mature
people, they kept secrets from each other, and doubted each other making
their relationship even more difficult than it had to be, but it sure
made for an interesting read.
What I've come to realize over
years of reading is that I love it when the story is told in both the
present and the past, and this book had that. Besides Alicia and Niko
and their relationship, the present is about Ilya, and his relationship
with Alicia, and Niko, and it's about Ilya and Niko's family that has
loads of drama on their own. The past covered some significant moments
in all of their history which helped to get a clearer picture about
these characters and the ties that bind them. I'd rather not get more
specific than this. Some things are better left to be read by oneself.
All in all, All the Lies We Tell was a book which reminded me why I'm a fan of Megan Hart's storytelling.
Book two All the Secrets We Keep
will be available only little over one month after this one, and I'm
excited to read how the story of these two families from Quarry Road will
be concluded.
***ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***
Until next time, happy reading!
XOXO,
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