An irresistible connection, a desire that won’t let go…When aspiring antiques dealer Eleanor Cole is handed the chance of a lifetime to work for the Hunt Corporation, the renowned antiques dealers, she doesn’t think twice. Only to discover she’ll be working up close and personal with the notorious and insanely irresistible Becker Hunt. He is a man famous for getting what he wants, and Becker … and Becker wants Eleanor.
But as Becker pulls her deeper into his world, she discovers there’s more to him than meets the eye.
And falling for Becker goes from being foolish to dangerous…
more
Artful Lies is Jodi back to her roots! Don’t get me wrong I have enjoyed her last few novels but they have held a softer edge to them. I love Jodi for her feisty heroine’s and the Alpha men that fall at their feet, and Artful Lies gave me just that!
Eleanor is new to London, a lover of Art and Antiques she is job hunting and trying to navigate the city and not being all too successful at either. When a job interview for an unnamed employer lands in her lap she soon learns it’s the job of a lifetime. Becker Hunt is a notorious Art and Antiquities dealer, he has hired Eleanor to be his new assistant and gets more than her bargained for.
Eleanor is another fantastic JEM heroine, she is feisty, intelligent, driven and she stands by what she believes in with her strong moral compass. Eleanor is a compassionate woman, she has a big heart and this leaves her vulnerable, despite her protestations. I loved her fire, her focus and her clumsiness is endearing.
Becker, oh Becker. Jodi has crafted another brilliant Alpha hero here, he is aloof, intelligent, hard to read almost coming off cold and uncaring but when Eleanor is concerned he is comes alive. He is calculated, passionate and possessive when it comes to his business and his women too.
The chemistry between the Hero and heroine is electric, Becker knows just how to push Eleanor’s buttons and I adored how he teased her, and seeing Eleanor soon learn how to play Becker at his own game was great to read. As the book progresses we learn that Becker has some emotional hang ups and an obsession with a family legacy & legend that comes into play in a big way the further into the story you get. This for me brought in the mystery to the story, and in turn picked up the pace of the novel, which for me dipped a little around the halfway mark.
The last 30% of the book was gripping and I couldn’t put it down, so thoroughly wrapped up in Becker and Eleanor that I was totally sideswiped by the plot twist at the end that set up the cliffhanger perfectly. If you are a fan of This Man series and One Night series then you are going to love Artful Lies! Now the wait begins for book two……
Jodi Ellen Malpas captured my attention with her debut novel, This Man. That series was one of the first ones that I read in the post-Fifty Shades days when I was just starting to explore romantic fiction. To this day, that series is one of the ones I read in those early days that I credit with being responsible for creating the romance reader I am today. I’m not alone in that either. That series made a huge impression on readers, and even now, several years after its release, I’m not the only one who still lists both the This Man series and its hero, Jesse Ward, as top favorites. With each new release, Malpas has continued to blow her readers away with her grandly romantic storytelling and heart-pounding love stories.
Artful Lies kicks off a new duet from Malpas, and I was drawn into the story right away. Crackling sexual chemistry and an intriguing suspenseful arc, Artful Lies had a Thomas Crown Affair meets Indiana Jones vibe that grabbed my attention just as much as Eleanor and Becker’s budding romance did. Becker Hunt, an uber-wealthy Brit and renowned art dealer, has got some baggage, and his preferred method of dealing with it is by keeping his heart and emotions closed off and cycling through women like a painter does brushes. Eleanor Cole dreams of a career in the art world. She longs to immerse herself in the history and magic of the pieces she’s only studied about so far. The daughter of a local antiquities dealer in her small, rural hometown on the English countryside, she’s a bit naïve and innocent when she arrives in London to pursue her dream job.
Artful Lies had it all: deep, dark secrets, cloak-and-dagger style intrigue and a steamy, banter-filled, enemies-to-lovers romance. I was on the edge of my seat, tapping my Kindle furiously, as one surprise after another popped up on these pages. Malpas definitely left me hungry for more, and I’m eager for the second book in the Hunt Duology, Wicked Truths, due out in November. Artful Lies by Jodi Ellen Malpas gets 4.5 smooches from me!
~Danielle Palumbo, Red Cheeks Reads
4.9 Stars
Eleanor.
She just arrived in London.
After years of taking care of her late father’s little antique shop in the country she finally wants to work in the real world of arts and antiques.
The first job interview did not go well. Thanks to this horrible – but oh-so-hot – cab-thief!
Let’s hope the second interview will be better.
It’s her dream job. Working in the most beautiful place with the most amazing pieces.
Becker.
He’s her new boss. And the cab thief.
The insta attraction between them is insane!
But Eleanor wants to concentrate on the job. It’s her big dream.
Plus she’s also had it with guys for a while!
And Becker …. he’s not ready for anything serious either.
But the heart (and body) wants what the heart (and body) wants!
LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN …
WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH ELEANOR & BECKER?
WILL WE GET A HAPPILY EVER AFTER?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT
Adorable!
I loved reading this!
I loved the whole setting. London. The scary dark alley to get to the shop. The beauty inside of it. I just wanted to say FML – I’m taking over Eleanor’s life! I have no idea about art and antiques, but I SO want to work at Hunt’s! LOL!
Eleanor and Becker. Adorable how they flirt and argue and fight.
I just adored them and all the others too. I loved this story. I was right there in this story with them all.
Just Beautiful. Sexy. Funny. Mysterious. Exciting. Dangerous. Sad. Heartbreaking.
Amazing book! I could write so much more – but I won’t – I already said enough. You just need to know that I loved it and that you should buy it too!
I can’t wait to see how it will all end in WICKED TRUTHS! Hurry November!!!
I also wouldn’t mind if this book would show up on Netflix one day soon!
ARTFUL LIES was such a beautiful & funny & adorable & sparky & sexy & antique-y love story! I just loved it! Run to your nearest amazon for your own Becker – this one is MINE!
Tiny little thing that bothered me a bit. Becker – as amazing as he is…. he was a tiny little bit too … immature?? for my tastes. Just a bit. It was a bit too exaggerated how he dealt or not dealt with things. Even after everything he’s been through. Still. He was a bit too much in some ways. But I still adored him and everything about this book!
4.9 Stars only because I don’t much like a series/duet where I have to wait SO long for book #2!
Dammit, I need to book two ASAP! I mean right now because holy crap what a way to go! I was taken through a journey of history and extravagance and BECKER-FREAKING- HUNT, and I never want it to end! I freaking loved it!!!
The chemistry of the book, between the couple was explosive. I loved Becker’s arrogant charm, and I adored Eleanor’s quick-wit. They both made a cute and sexy couple. And trust me, Becker’s absolutely filthy!
I loved the mystery of the novel. The why’s and what’s of it all. It captivated me and left me with a few questions that I hope will be answered in the next book.
The plot of the novel was new to me. I learned a bot about antiquities and the history of them through this novel. So not only is this book, steamy and romantic and gripping, it’s also educational. It definitely intrigued me.
And man, the ANGST! It was blazing! The tension throughout could be sliced with a knife. The build-up between Becker and Eleanor and other angsts in the story could literally be felt through the pages. I was addicted instantly.
And there were a few special characters in the book that I fell in love with too, especially Winston. I need to get me a Winston.
And that cliff-hanger… DAMN! What a way to keep me on edge, lady! I never guessed it, and I need it to keep going. I’ve just finished it, and IT’S DRIVING ME CRAZY! I’m addicted. I need my next fix, and soon!
Filthy. Angsty. Brooding and Sexy. And I’m just describing Becker Hunt! Artful Lies is an incredible read that will help you escape from the drama that is life. It’s full of energy that will most definitely keep you reading. I’m just sad I have to wait for the next book. November come soon please!!
Most definitely recommended!
Cant wait to get time to read the next one.
I liked this book and it’s great as is all of J.E.M. books but I just feel all her books following this man and one night series are not as good as them but still good reads just not great like those two
But this one is my least favorite this far in her books but still a good book especially compared to other books in this genre I like to read
Spoilers** I am a fan of Jodi’s and have been since I read This Man and although I loved the series I have to admit even in that series there was far too much filler which seemed evident the author was fillin to make a novel into a trilogy. How many times, Ava and Jessie had the same argument is just too many to count and here we are again. This couple fought the same argument over and over and over. It became repetitious and frustrating. The story bogged down and was slow and although there was several times the author could have taken the potential at hand and written a new dramatic twist, she continuously relied on the same fight. I could predict the outcome as it was almost identical to the last bit of drama. The plot started to become a bit comical when Becker’s grandad does a complete about face in book 2, and after keeping a secret from Becker most of his life, after losing both his son and DIL, but then actually aids him in fooling Eleanor, you know Becker’s partner who threatened to leave him and he promised to stop and then left without even telling her. Left her totally vulnerable at the hotel in Rome oand unable to protect herself. The plot stopped making sense in the 2nd book. The story almost stopped altogether as we seemed to get the same sex episode over and over and why on earth would a man, who is apparently desperately in love need to hit so hard it causes pain for days after? It’s beyond me. I was very disappointed. Somehow, even with all the nonsense I still liked this couple and rooted for them. I think I will stick to Jodi’s single novels and forgo the duets and trilogies as they have been un, repetitive and slow. I think this story would have been better in dual POV’s and the author just seemed to lose her way when parts of the story became far too unbelievable. At this price I do t like finding editing errors and I found too many in book 1. As well, the wedding chapter said 3 years had gone by but then Becker said the wedding was a year late because they found out Eleanor was pregnant but if only a year since they realized she was pregnant and yet their child is not only born but walking down the aisle? And he wanted to marry in Rome – so the time frame was off. I expected more from this author.
Love Eleanor and Becker!!! Now on my list of fav couples. Jodi has done it again! You just get swept up in the story and look forward to the next chapter 🙂
Take two combustible individuals, throw them together to fight it out, and then see what happens. In Artful Lies there are a lot of fireworks.
Eleanor Cole is from a small village and finally makes the break to move to London, hoping to find a career in antiquities. What she doesn’t expect is running into a gorgeous, obnoxious man three times in two days. He leaves her fuming each time. And then suddenly she is hired to work at the Hunt Corporation, one of the most prestigious dealers in antiques, only to find the man she will be working for is the same very annoying man she encountered that morning, and twice the day before.
Becker Hunt is brilliant at his family’s business of buying and selling antiques, fine art, and other expensive treasures. He is so good-looking women throw themselves at him, but he is also a womanizer, obnoxious, and heavily flawed. Eleanor reacts by snarking and annoying him, Cole reacts by pushing Eleanor’s buttons. But underneath their dislike for each other is an undeniable attraction.
I liked seeing Eleanor fighting herself, knowing what she should say and do, but letting her fiery temperament lead her astray. It hurt to see Becker with his walls built up around his emotions. I can’t wait to see how they work it out in Wicked Truths, the next book in this duology.
Hello Mr. Hunt…..
Becker Hunt is a new brand alpha male by Jodi Malpas. I’m a huge fan of her since I read “This Man” and “One Night” series.
I enjoyed the first book of “Hunt Duet”.
As always Jodi created a wonderful story but I would love to read more action in this book. I’m not talking about sex but she could explore more the chemistry they shared. Along the book I felt I was reading the same thing.
Becker is a smart, gorgeous, sexy, arrogant and hot guy that loves to collect and sell art. He is definitely a successful man in the art business and women. Until he met Eleanor.
Eleanor is a girl who dreams to work with art rather than selling antiques in her little town. In her dreams she never thought she would work for the big “Hunt Enterprise”.
I loved the way these two met and the chemistry they shared. I hope the second book “Wicked Truths” makes this duet fabulous.
Eleanor and Becker have a unique story in a world of antique art. Becker is a dealer, and runs the family business, and when he sees something beautiful and will go to any length to make it his. This includes Eleanor. There’s mystery, intrigue, and as always with a Jodi book, hot scenes that will make your blood boil and your face warm! Just when you think you have these two figured out, you will turn another page and find out more secrets. Great read!
I knew that Artful Lies was the first book in a duet so I deliberately held off reading it until the second book was released and I’m so glad I did as that was one hell of a cliffhanger to end on. Really though I feel that this book was just setting the scene so to speak for the main event – namely the second book. There is a lot of detail in Artful Lies especially about the art world. Becker is a strange character – one minute he wants the heroine, Eleanor, the next he’s pushing her away. He’s got an almost childlike quality to him. I did love the character of Eleanor. Becker might be her boss but she’s not afraid to give as good as she gets but for me the star of this book has to the bulldog, Winston. Now on to Wicked Truths to find out if Becker finds his treasure….
Omg! Jodi has done it again. I have had this book since it’s release but couldn’t bring myself to read it knowing Wicked Truths would be out in November. It’s such a brilliant story. It had me fully invested from the first page. The story being set in the world of art and antiques is so good, which I didn’t expect to be honest. The story is full of intrigue, passion, banter, and hot sex with smart sassy heroine and a hot as hell jealous possessive alpha. This is a book that needs to be read, if you loved Jesse Ward then I’m sure you’ll love Becker Hunt with all his weird and wonderful ways.
Noooooooo!!!! I did not pay attention to the duology part of this book. As I got 90% in and the book continued to build I kept thinking there was going to be a whopper of an ending. Well let me say there was a whopper of a cliff hanger!! I NEEEEED book two now!
Ahhhh, Becker. You devious bastard. You drew me in and made me fall for you sexy, flirtatious, charming arse only to destroy me. Utterly destroyed. The title says it all. Artful Lies.
Eleanor is passionate about the treasures in The Haven and the history behind it all. Immune she said. I won’t fall in love she said. Being hurt by Becker was inevitable but staying away was impossible. She knew he would hurt her but never did she imagine how deeply he would cut her.
Wicked Truths cannot come soon enough!
Oh what a great book!
I’m so glad to have read this book, ‘cause it is definitely a story that you don’t wanna miss (at least you shouldn’t!). @jodi_ellen_malpas nailed it big time with Artful Lies.
Becker is a FINE character, who grows in us like a weed. OMG, what a man! Besides being gorgeous, he’s so smart, funny and charismatic, that it’s almost impossible not to fall in love with him.
The best part of this book for me, though, was Eleanor. I simply LOVE her! Not often does a female character stand her ground, does what she believes is best for her and even lets herself be taken by her feelings by choice, regardless of the consequences. She is true to herself and always has that in mind. Being a clumsy and sort of impulsive gives her all the ingredients for being an AWESOME character. So fun!
Another thing that it’s worth mentioning is that the story brings historical elements – since Becker owns a rare collection of valuable antiques –, with some mystery and secrets to be unveiled, which makes the plot even more interesting.
The cliffhanger is SO UNEXPECTED and I’ll be surely counting the days till November, when the sequel is gonna be released.
Five star read!
This was an amazing story that I really enjoyed and lost sleep for. This was my first read of Jodi Ellen Malpas and was not disappointed. This was a suggestion from GR friend Bruingal and kuddos for this suggestion. Now this book starts with Eleanor Cole deciding to more to the big city of London without a job, she is in love with antiques & the Art world and hope to find something in the field of what she loves. Now on her way to her first interview as a personal assistant to an Art Curator which was the perfect job for Eleanor because she is in love with all things in the art & antiques world. Eleanor is saved by a strange man that prevented her from falling on her face. As she was admiring his beauty & awesome smell he steals her cab. Needless to say she was late to that interview and was dismissed from the building. Not knowing what she was going to do now, especially in a new city with no job she continues to search. That is when she runs into cab thief again, he’s arrogant, beautiful, irresistible, manwhore and now she finds out she must work with him because he is her new boss.
Becker Hunt always gets what he wants and now he wants Eleanor Cole. Becker family is famous and notorious in the antiques & art world. Eleanor gets the job of her dreams with The Hunt Corporation and now must work closely with Becker Hunt her new boss. There is one problem Becker & Eleanor has a connection out of this world just with one touch, which they are trying to resist in order to work in a professional manner. But once Becker sets his manwhore ways on someone he is hard to resist, even though he is now Eleanor’s boss. Becker love for all things Art will always be his first love and he will stop at nothing to get to what he wants, even if that means destroying Eleanor in the process. Great read a page-turner and is definitely worth losing all the sleep you will not get.
Then he pushes the door and it slowly opens, and there he is. Mr. Mercurial.
Disheveled but gorgeous.
Angry but gorgeous.
Dangerous but gorgeous.”
Eleanor finally left her small town behind and moved to London in search of the chance of a lifetime. Passionate about antiquity, she always dreamed of working in a more glamorous place with real priceless relics, a place very different from her father’s store, which, however, looks like a junk store. When her boyfriend cheats on her with her best friend, the chance to leave everything that suffocates her finally appears. And she decides to start over.
But life in the big city is not what she expected. Desperately needing a job, she misses an interview thanks to the handsome man who saves her from a fall, but who steals her cab. And if the day was already bad, colliding again with this mysterious man, who now steals her scarf, is what was needed to make her furious.
But fate decides to give her a new opportunity. A chance to work in a somewhat secretive, eccentric and mysterious place. But hidden behind a whole scene worthy of spy books, this new location is none other than The Heaven, the most famous and exclusive antiquary in existence, controlled by the powerful Hunt family. And if the lady who works there or the patriarch who hires her are kind people, the same cannot be said of Becker Hunt, the playboy and mysterious heir to that empire. The same handsome man who stole her cab and scarf.
Even with all the warnings, resisting him will be impossible. But in the midst of so many antiques, so much luxury, secrets lurk in the shadows of this particular paradise and deciphering Becker will be impossible, as well as understanding his mood swings and enigmatic signs.
When a danger presents itself, Eleanor will not understand the reason for what is happening. But perhaps all the warnings she received to stay away from Becker, in the end, make sense.
Intriguing, sensual, well written and capable of capturing the reader, the story of these two is a roller coaster of emotions and unraveling all mysteries becomes a pleasant activity.
First part of a duology, the book ends in a cliffhanger, which will make the reader yearn for answers as soon as possible.
Jodi Ellen Malpas gets it right again. The book is very good.
When aspiring antiques dealer Eleanor Cole is handed the chance of a lifetime to work for the Hunt Corporation, the renowned antiques dealers, she doesn’t think twice. Only to discover she’ll be working up close and personal with the notorious and insanely irresistible Becker Hunt. This book was amazing, it did take a while to get into it as it seemed drawn out and slow but once it got into it the chemistry and comical banter between the characters was addictive. The story line was interesting and engaging with lots of yummy hot sex also left me with a cliff hanger although I did guess early on what the out come will be. All over this is a must read.
There are a few authors that I will read blindly. No need to read the synopsis because you ALWAYS get a book that you love and JEM is one of those authors. Only one problem…I didn’t know this was a duology so as I approached 75-80% I started to panic…there was no way she could wrap us this book that quick. I went to Goodreads and boom…DUOLOGY.
So here I am in love with these characters, loving this alpha male and heroine who I love because she pushes his buttons and the laughs and giggles it gave me were freaking amazing! There is this angst and JEM put in a little bit of mystery into this story. There is so much more to be learned about Becker, Eleanor, and his treasures…
There is some serious angst and back and forth between these two – reminiscent of JEM’s This Man series. I love this alpha male and spunky heroine and even with a hell of a cliffy – I really enjoyed this book. The anticipation of the next book is high and I CAN’T WAIT to see how JEM gets her Becker and Elenor out of this.
Becker Hunt, the alpha who is not into commitments until he meets Eleanor. He seems to love her company every time she’s around.
She drives him crazy.
Eleanor arrives in London broken hearted. She looking to a new start in the Art World, then she meets Becker Hunt. Eleanor gets a job working for Becker and she starts to fall in love with his world.
“Artful Lies“ is a must read, but beware you’ll be left wanting more. Eleanor’ and Becker’s story will be continued in “Wicked Truth”.