“A sizzling, chemistry-filled enemies-to-lovers romance, which is both crackaliciously addictive and angst-central. I couldn’t get enough of Nash and Em. One of my favorite books of the year.” – L.J. Shen, USA Today Bestselling AuthorFrom USA Today bestselling author Parker S. Huntington comes an enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance full of revenge and a dash of fate.“She could enjoy her pretty, … fate.
“She could enjoy her pretty, perfect world a little longer. Soon enough, everything she owned would be mine.”
I had a plan to escape the friend zone.
Step one: sneak into Reed’s room.
Step two: sleep with him.
But when the lights turned on, it wasn’t familiar blue eyes I saw.
These were dark, angry, and full of demons.
And they belonged to Reed’s much older brother.
Four years later, Nash Prescott is no longer the help’s angry son.
I’m no longer the town’s prized princess.
At twenty-two, I’m broke, in need of a job.
At thirty-two, he’s a billionaire, in need of revenge.
Who cares if my family ruined his?
Who cares if he looks at me with pure loathing?
Who cares if every task he assigns me is designed to torture?
I need the money.
Simple as that.
I’ll suffer his cruelty in silence, knowing there’s one thing he wants more than revenge…
Me.
Note: Devious Lies is a 145,000-word standalone in the Cruel Crown series. If you love banter and angst, this book is for you! Welcome to Eastridge. Enter if you dare.
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“If you know what’s best for you, you’d take your vanilla a$$ to the elevator and go to work like a good girl. If you stay, you will never recover.”
Nash started out doing his best to take care of everyone around him, but when the worst thing he thought possible happened he gave up on helping the one person who might need him the most.
This book is a dirty, HOT reminder of what can happen when you don’t have all the necessary information. Watching Nash and Emery hate each other through more than 100k words broke me down and made my heart hurt, but in the end everyone got exactly what they deserved. I’d give it 7’s if I could. I absolutely adore Parker S. Huntington’s writing, and I can’t wait to see what she gives us next.
This was a little hard to get into, but the chemistry and passion did it for me and I read it in one sitting!
My Spoiler-Free Review
Format Read: Unabridged Audiobook (Audible)
Narrated by: Sebastian York & Desireé Ketchum
Length: 15 hrs and 46 mins
Release date: 12-15-19
Writing Style: Dual POVs
Publisher: PSH Publishing House
Ratings:
Story- 3 stars!
I love stories with flashbacks or that cover a long history in the characters’ journeys both separately and / or together, but I found the time changes a little harder to follow than normal. Fortunately, this one didn’t turn into a silly love triangle as I feared it might. It was a misguided revenge turned into love story done well. The secret app texting relationship was probably my favorite aspect of this story.
Performance ratings for Sebastian York (aka Nash Prescott) & Desireé Ketchum (aka Emery Winthrop) – 5 stars each!
These two narrators made a nice narrating duo.
Overall – 4 stars!
I think the story would have been even better if there had been more of Nash’s POV in the earlier chapters to move the story along faster. Although it had a slow start for me, it was a good story overall with great audio performances by both narrators.
No idea if this will be the last book I’ll read in 2019, but if it is, I’m happy I ended it with a book I loved.
Devious Lies got me with its blurb. I love the enemies to lovers trope and I love the revenge trope, and I was anxious of whether or not it would be executed the way I usually like. When I started reading, I felt disappointed, because the character looked shallow and I didn’t like how dialogue and scenes were written, but I decided to endure, because I hate to DNF books and I wanted to give it a chance. After starting the third chapter, I finally got hooked on the story and couldn’t let it go and what made me want to drop it in the first place, got way better. I had to read it gradually and not in one sitting because I had things to do, but this way I could enjoy the story even more, and the book was long so I had a lot of stuff to read. Unlike others, the author decided not to split the story in half and make it a duet, and I’m grateful for this. I think that it would have worked as a duet as well, but by reading it as a standalone you can see how the story escalates and how the gaps and mysteries are solved one by one, step after step, until the happy ending. I assure you, you need to move past chapter 3 to get deeper inside the story and to fully enjoy it. I know that the first two chapters may seem like the same old boring story, but you need to reach the present to appreciate it more.
The story of Emery and Nash is one we’ve seen before (I especially watch some similar stories in K-drama, because that’s an overused plot) but it has enjoyable elements that make you want to give it a try. I said you need to get to the present to appreciate the story, because the story spans about 8-10 years of their lives. It starts when Emery is 15 and Nash 25, and it shows you how they knew each other and what happened that makes them behave in a certain way in the present, where she is 22 and he is 32. Fyi, he is older than her but don’t believe their relationship jumps on the sexual side too soon. The build up and the confrontation between Emery and Nash is mostly emotional and they bicker a lot. Sex is important but unlike many other authors, Huntington didn’t make them sleep with each other all the time. On the other hand, this book doesn’t have many sexy scenes (I think there are three in total, if I recall correctly), because like I said, they had other issues to solve and this story could be put into the “slow burn” category because things happen gradually. For that, I immensely thank the author, because I hate stories where the characters kiss and have sex too much or too soon. Slow burn makes the journey more real.
Emery and Nash’s story is almost 10 years in the making. They couldn’t fall for each other in the past because not only Emery was in love with Reed, Nash’s younger brother who was the same age as Emery, but because she was 15 at the beginning of the story and Nash could have gone to jail had he made a move on her (age of consent in North Carolina – where the story is set – is 16). So they needed to wait for the right moment. This book plays a lot of words because Emery loves to find new ones in the dictionary and print them on t-shirts, and it especially speculates about whether or not fate and destiny exist or it’s all coincidence when something happens.
Nash and Emery know each other because his family works for hers. She is the daughter of a rich businessman, but she isn’t the classic wealthy girl. While her mother tries to make her more similar to her day after day, Emery is a normal girl and she doesn’t care about wealth and doesn’t have prejudices about people who are not rich, if you think Reed, Nash’s brother, and the son of the help, is her best friend and is the guy she likes in the beginning. Nash is bad news. He rarely is home because he does things outside of the Winthrop estate, and most of the time he’s seen at his parents’ house, he has a bruised face or something that screams that he may have done illegal activities. One night, when Emery is still 15, Nash overhears her father talking to another man about the risk that the people who invested in their business could lose all of their money if the SEC catches hints of their fraud. It takes a couple of years for this to really happen, and this devastating event brings us to the present.
Emery is not rich anymore. You’d think because her father’s business failed because they discovered embezzlement and all those crimes usually connected with business fraud, but nope. Despite losing their business, her parents are still rich and can live a good life, but she decided to distance herself from them. She doesn’t want anything to do anymore with her dad because she feels betrayed he did such thing and caused many people to be desperate because they lost their money. But she’s also putting enough miles from her mother because she hates her guts and doesn’t want to turn into her and marry a guy she’d choose just because. Emery wants to be independent, but life is hard, and she is in a dire situation, so she asks for Reed’s help. At least their friendship is still there, and his help lands her an internship as a designer of interns at a hotel owned none other than Nash Prescott, who is now a billionaire. And she hates his guts after what happened between them a couple of years before, but she needs to survive, so she accepts.
After four years since the beginning of the first chapter, Nash is rich. He admits it was insider trading that got him the money, but it’s for a good cause. He wants not only to help those in need who have lost everything because of the so called “Winthrop Scandal”, but he also wants to make Emery’s parents pay for their sins. He wants vengeance, and since he’s convinced Emery knew about the fraud as well but never came forward to his family to warn them of the risks, he wants to get revenge on her as well. He finds it too enraging but at the same time thrilling that she’s one of the interns that will decorate his hotel, and this may be the occasion to make her pay.
This is really a little of the plot, because many things happen and Emery and Nash have so much to give. I loved their banter and their philosophical questions. I enjoyed their relationship even tho in the beginning they are too evil to each other, but that’s the interesting thing that makes you want to turn the pages and keep reading. You will want to know what will happen next, and the relationship between Emery and Nash is very angsty.
Let’s hope the following book (that I guess will be about Reed or Delilah) will come out soon.
Parker S. Huntington, you got a new fan. And thank you.
I was totally captivated by this steamy, enemies to lovers romance! This is an emotional, and sizzling romance that will take your breath away! Emery grew up privileged in a wealthy home. But her mother cared more about appearance and status than her own daughter, fueling Emery’s strength, and stubborness. Her best friend, Reed, and his older brother, Nash, happened to be there for her one night when something awful happened to her. It was the first time she felt something for Nash. But he was older and scarier, so she always kept her distance. Nash was the surly, but sexy son of the ‘help’. He didn’t like how everyone treated his family and was determined to prove himself to the pompous residents of Eastridge. When greed causes the downfall of Emery’s family’s company, and several people die, Nash vows to get revenge. Emery is ashamed of what happened, and is determined to pay her own way through college. She desperately needs a job and ends up working for Nash as an intern. Nash thinks he can find out how to get to her father, and be able to punish her at the same time. But the more he pushes this little tigress, the more she fights back. They soon discover that neither is who they thought they were, and that’s when the sparks really ignite between them. I loved how Huntington expertly told this story, with all it’s twists and turns, giving us time to discover who Nash and Emery really are, and allowing us to fall for them as they fell for each other. Emery really is a kickass heroine, and Nash is a ruthless and sexy hero with a heart of gold.
The narration by Sebastian York, and Desireé Ketchum was fabulous! They are so perfect as Nash and Emery, as they not only build the tension of the story, but the fiery attraction between Nash and Emery as well. Their banter was brilliant, and they conveyed the depth and complexity of all their emotions beautifully. I always love their work and was completely lost in their moving performance and in Huntington’s amazing and beautiful story!
I appreciated this book for its intricate plot and great vocabulary, though I would have loved a faster pace. It’s definitely worth reading!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A scrumptious read but man am I stuffed; pleasurably so!
Loved the layout and esthetics of the book. I took almost a full page of notes BEFORE starting into the novel proper. *
This is a mega long story, so, be sure to set aside a large length of time in order to devour this scrumptious read. Well written unique story that moves along easily. An excellent depiction of greed, intrigue, romance, sabatoge, loyalty, integrity, familial machinations, with the players clearly outlined. Characterizations were realistic and believable because Ms. Huntington allowed us to view a character, flaws and all. It is well worth taking the time to immerse yourself into the murky world that Ms. Huntington details so vividly. Such a thorough job was done, on every component of the story, that a reader walks away replete. Very much recommended reading!
PS
This reader is so glad Ms. Huntingdon wrote this type of novel versus another mafia themed story, as I would not have had the pleasure of “meeting her acquaintance” via her “Devious Lies” novel. I hope to meet up with her in the not too distant future.
PPS
I also loved the fact that Ms. Huntington bundled all her story within one novel, versus breaking up the continuity of the story into four or five separate novels. Thank you for this.
*
Excerpt of the esthetics and the extra detailing Ms. Huntington brought to her novel:
“Fate whispers to the warrior,
‘You cannot withstand the storm,’
and the warrior whispers back,
‘I am the storm.’ — Unknown
Tacenda / ta-‘chen-da
– Things that are not to be spoken about or made public.
– Things that are best left unsaid.
Origin Latin participle, ‘taceo’ – ‘I am silent’.
Taceo also the verb for ‘I am still or at rest’.
Taceo reminds us that silence isn’t a sign of weakness.
It is a sign of rest, of certainty, of contentment.
Silence is the best response to people who don’t deserve your words.”
These sections were informative , interesting and remind me a bit about Linguistics.
Devious Lies was SO MUCH MORE then I ever expected it to be! I thought I was going into another Age Gap/Bully Romance but it was EVERYTHING and then more. It was everything I needed wrapped up in the most beautiful and highlight-able quotes that I’ve been reading over and over again since I read the last page of this incredibly emotive story. I am experiencing the mother of all book hangovers after this unique book!
Devious Lies was a book that spanned over 5 years of secret moments, missed opportunities and repairable heartache. I was so incredibly overwhelmed by these characters and this story line, I lived it and breathed it and could not bring myself to put it down. If you have plans while you’re reading this book, cancel them. Cancel everything including sleep because once you start reading you will find it absolutely unfathomable to have to put this book down.
Emery was one of my most favourite characters I’ve ever read. She was an inherently good and selfless person, almost at a detriment to herself. She believed in paying amends for crimes and continued to pay amends for crimes that were not hers. She was intelligent, brave, cunning when she needed to be and just good.
Nash believed in penance and lived and breathed it. This all stemmed from the guilt that he carried through his life for actions he had and had not taken. No one is harder on him than Nash himself. He’s tortured by decision and indecision, bossy, inappropriate, brave, secretive and always puts those he loves first.
Emery and Nash’s characters were intertwined from the very beginnings of Devious Lies and in so many more ways then you originally understand in the book. They are connected on a much deeper level then you originally anticipate. There relationship bring’s out the best and worst in each of them while also helping them to heal and grow and become there best versions of themselves. Together Nash and Emery could own the world and burn it to the ground if they so wanted but both these characters only want to help all of those less fortunate then themselves.
One of the things I absolutely loved about Devious Lies was the power that Parker S Huntington put into words. Emery had magic words that she mouthed, uttered out loud and even printed on T Shirts whenever she felt the need to express how she really felt. It was such an important and unique part of this story. Most of the words i had never heard of but were so perfect for the situation in the book they were used in.
Devious Lies consumed me, I was completely enamored with these characters. The story line had me guessing at every turn and moved at the most perfect pace along with the character development of Emery and Nash. These characters stole my heart and I truly loved reading this incredible story and Parker S Huntington’s style of writing. Devious Lies was one my most favourite reads for 2019. There really aren’t enough words to describe how perfect this book was except to say READ THIS BOOK. READ IT NOW!
I don’t even know where to begin on this.
I’ve dipped my toe into Parker’s world of poetic, captivating and all consuming words for the first time.
This was definitely a slow burn romance and probably one of my longest reads but it captured my attention til the very end.
I absolutely loved Nash!! He was an asshole, cruel and cold but beneath it all he had a heart of gold and was so giving. The kind things he did just made me fell for him and he was a bit of a sentimental soul at heart.
Emery is completelely selfless and prideful (even if she suffers) she definitely doesn’t back down from a challenge. Though she came from a privilege background she was never spoilt or snobby and is quite a spitfire.
This story was packed with sizzling steamy scenes, twist and turns, deception, secrets and I was completely blindsided by certain events.
This certainly won’t be my last book from Parker.
3.5 stars
“I was a bad man. Sisyphus. With blood on my hands. Penance in my future. Tick. Tock.”
Devious Lies was my first book by Parker S. Huntington and I must say I really enjoyed this one. I had no idea what to expect and as everyone was already raving about this book and the plot sounds right up my alley and really intriguing, I had to jump on the opportunity to discover a new to me author.
“Nash was the sky moments before a storm. Daunting. Dark. Beautiful.”
The writing style won me over right away. I love the descriptive way, how the characters think, act, talk and interact. And the characters are easy to love even when you shouldn’t. The story in itself is conclusive but a little predictable. But intriguing, nevertheless.
What I loved most about this book is, that the chemistry between the characters brings this book to live like no other. It makes you smile, it makes your heart beat faster and it makes you want to pull all your hair.
“Falling in love with you is like diving blindly into a book, not knowing it’s destined to be my favorite.”
My biggest problem with this book was that too many parts felt way too stretched. The book could have been a lot shorter without loosing its appeal while foregoing certain scenes that weren’t essential (IMO) to the story and felt like gap fillers.
“I love her wild and reckless and fierce. I love her mine.”
Devious Lies is an enthralling and steamy enemies to lovers, bully romance that will keep your mind spinning.
If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would.
This book is absolute perfection! Amazing!
I can’t begin to think or imagine the research that went into writing this book, the different words and it’s meanings. I can’t imagine these are just in someone vocabulary. I didn’t know if these words were even real words until I looked one of them up to verify and it was a real word. It’s written in a different way, but such a great way!
I can’t begin to understand the formatting of the chapters and it’s number sequence. I stopped try ing to figure it out as it didn’t take away from the story.
Loved their love story! What a great ride!!
This book totally slayed me. I loved Nash and Emery. This book was a slow-burn but still moved at a fast pace that kept me flipping pages as fast as I could. Parker S. Huntington is a master story-teller. I will definitely be recommending it to everyone!
Nash and Emery have a past that needs addressing, a present that is torturous and vengeful and a future that is unknown. Nash and Emery are two totally different people in every way but social status is the biggest divider. Nash is the guy from the wrong side of the tracks sort speak and Emery is the wealthy princess. Time passes by and things change drastically as the social scales tip the other way. Nash, even though he is a successful and powerful business man now, seeks revenge on Emery’s family. What better way then to take it out on Emery when she comes to him in need of a job. This book comes with a well written story between two unlikely people to find love. There is an age gap between Nash and Emery but this the smallest hurdle that they need to jump. As the lies unfold and their attraction grows, can they find their HEA? Enjoy this great read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
If you looked up the word addictive in dictionary there would a picture of the cover of Devious Lies next to it! Holy, guacamole Parker S. Huntington! Crackalicous is right! I couldn’t put this book down if I tried!
What I loved:
– Nash. Oh my god that man is perfection. He. Is. Perfect. I want to crawl into that story and step him away form Emery. There’s nothing I didn’t love about him. Not one thing.
– Addictive af storyline. It was romance heroin and I was hooked from the prologue.
– I loved hating Virgina. She could choke on a hot dog and I wouldn’t even pat her back.
– NASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m not giving a thing away. Not one thing. Just that this book should come with warning: HIGHLY ADDICTIVE AND LOSS OF SLEEP IMMINENT! I suggest the highly audiobook because North Carolina accents and Sebastian York talking about Sebastian York will rock your world!
FIVE AMAZING STARS!
Every time I read a book by Parker Huntington, I love it just a little better than the last one. I crave a new book boyfriend. Nash is the perfect boyfriend by the end of the book, well, actually well before the end. And in the beginning I loved him too. He was rough on the exterior, but had a good heart and was fiercely loyal to his family, which extended to Emery. He saw her as his brother Reed never did. Then they had a night of passion that was a case of mistaken identities. Awkward after that.
Emery’s parents may have been the richest around, but her father cared about all the people in the town and loved Emery dearly. He was close to Reed and Nash’s parents and considered them extended family. Virginia, Emery’s mother, was so another story. She was mean, conniving, cruel, and self-centered. She only cared about herself. When everything went down on that fateful day, everyone lost. Nash was never the same and he had revenge burning in his blood.
Reed gets Emery a job at Nash’s hotel without his knowledge. She falls right into his plan but he got more than he bargained for. He also had no idea how much she actually needed the job. Emery and Nash were so magnetic! I was drawn to them like a moth to a light! I relished their barbs and battle of wills. I knew Emery would win! She is my Super Hero! She is the epitome of all that is good! I love this girl! And my heart broke for her over and over! All she went thru, and all that jerk face Nash put her thru! But she took it and and dished it right back to him on a silver platter! That’s my girl!
There were several surprising reveals, one I suspected, and one I had no clue! But that’s Parker for you. Keeps you guessing! I hated this book to end, but the epilogue, so good. I want Reed’s story, him and Blair confused me. And Delilah’s, her’s sounds quite juicy!
This is definitely more than 10 stars but I can’t give it that. So I’ll have to settle for FIVE EXTRA AMAZING STARS!!!
This story is the first book in the Cruel Crown Series. OMG! 145,000 words/15 hrs and 46 mins, and no dull moment. This is an enemies-to-lovers, and slow-burn romance, very well written. The story is hilarious, sweet, emotional, sexy, captivating, intriguing, and beautiful. Some scenes are absolutely hilarious! The characters are wonderful. Nash is a handsome, sexy alpha man, seeking for revenge. Emery is an absolutely beautiful woman, selfless, feisty, strong, and independent. I love how their relationship evolves, after some twists and turns. The ending is beautiful. I loved seeing again Asher and Lucy from Asher Black. Desireé Ketchum and Sebastian York did a wonderful job with the narration. I love their voices together. Sebastien York is perfect as Nash. Desireé Ketchum is definitively one of my favorite narrators. I love her voice! She is perfect as Emery. Parker S. Huntington is an amazing author. Her writing is genius, and refreshing. She never disappoints. Never. Looking forward to read more books from her! If you haven’t read this story or the Five Syndicates Series, give you a favor and do it! Just do it! You won’t regret it.
Devious Lies was SOOOOOO AMAZING!
I FLOVED this best friend’s brother/enemies-to-lover romance. Parker S. Huntington delivered a novel that I absolutely could not put down. The story was SEXXXY and kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The chemistry she expertly entwined between Nash and Emery was nothing short of spectacular. I’ve long wanted to include Parker into my blog schedule, but there have always been hang-ups in doing so—making this my first story by the author! And what an epically fantastic way to pop my PSH cherry! {Que Dramatic Sigh}
I could not have asked for a more entertaining read then Devious Lies! The story was perfectly paced and I loved the ease with which Parker drew me into the story, it was so utterly simple to get lost in the story and not put it down til I was finished…even though that meant I was exhausted the next day. As an introduction to her work, I can tell you that I am thoroughly kicking myself for not reading her work sooner. Parker writes with skill and beauty and turned out one of my favorite reads this year. Don’t hesitate to pick up Devious Lies!!!
Emery and Nash are explosive together. Nash is older and has one thing on his mind revenge. Emery is not in a good place when she reconnects with Nash. Will he be so focused on revenge that he doesn’t see her. Great characters and storyline. Highly recommended.
Parker took a gamble – a huge gamble – and HIT IT BIG! This is not your run of the mill romance built on insta-love or insta-hate. She has mastered the art of the slow burn 1000%. This romance is built on lies, hate and betrayal – enemies to lovers at its best!
I’m completely addicted to Emery and Nash. I want the actual paperback – I want to dirty it up, highlight and dog ear it (yes, I know, it’s wrong to abuse a book that way, but MY GOD! – This is a story you will want to read over and over again!!) I want the book like Emery uses her magic words, to hold it and cherish and carry it with me everywhere. There is something about this book that is to a degree home for me and I don’t want to lose it – maybe I’m part Emery with her baltering and part Nash with his actions and being stingy with the truth. I want to wrap myself in all the words.
Fate, Destiny, Moira – whatever you call it, all happens for a reason. Emery and Nash are proof that things are mapped out and we don’t even know it.
Parker has this honest way of writing, that no matter what she writes, it’s rich in words and character. You do not want to pass this up! Highly recommend! 5 out of 5 stars
I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK!!
I first read about Emery and Nash in a novella from the Spring Fling anthology, and I fell in love with them then. I fell in love with them all over again in this beautiful full-length story about them.
They were so compelling together and their chemistry was sizzling hot! I absolutely loved the twisty plot, the hot scenes, and Emery’s ‘magic words’ (which had me Googling constantly!)
“Girls like Emery Winthrop were the finish line, the goal you worked for, the place you strived to reach, the smile you saw when you closed your eyes.”
Emery is such a good person with a good heart. She’s stubborn, tenacious, and clever. I enjoyed her resourcefulness and her fire.
“Nash was Nash. All had to do was breathe, and people tripped over their feet to please him. He possessed a presence money couldn’t buy.”
Oh my gosh! Nash Prescott is seriously sexy! He was super alpha but underneath his tough veneer was a heart that had so much love and devotion to bestow on the lucky few. I loved how he couldn’t pry Emery from under his skin. I loved how she made him question everything. I loved how she completely melted him.
“He was a storm, chaotic and volatile. But I never ran from storms. I chased them.”
Gah! I’m mad for this book. Just absolutely adored it and I’m certain that this is my final Top Read of 2019. <3