Her Dream Didn’t Include Falling in Love
Lily has a dream, a dream of a big house without lies, a place of refuge for runaway girls. She knows what it’s like to grow up feeling unloved, and she now fills every space in her tiny apartment with endangered teens. They don’t have everything they need, but together they have enough.
Or so she thinks—until she meets Jameson and glimpses the … Jameson and glimpses the mysterious something between them that just might mean real love.
Jameson, who works as a teen counselor, believes the only way Lily can really help the girls is by certifying as a foster parent and going through the system. But becoming legitimate may mean losing some of the girls to the families who threw them away, and Lily hasn’t worked hard to save the teens only to abandon them now.
It seems Jameson will be one more entry on the very long list of things Lily has given up for the girls. What other choice is there when she is all they have?
When two of the teens’ fathers come looking for them, and another one’s mother plans to put her daughter in danger, Lily’s life spins out of control. They need a new home—and fast. A safe place. A house without lies.
Editorial note: House Without Lies is a clean, contemporary romance with a satisfying ending (no cliffhanger). There are currently two sequels that tell the stories of other characters connected with Lily’s House: Tell Me No Lies and Your Eyes Don’t Lie. Another novel and several novellas are in the works.
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I loved this story, and will continue with the series.
I enjoyed this book and it made me think about people in a different way.
Things aren’t always as they appear and everyone has a story.
With House without Lies we get a glimpse into the extraordinarily life of a foster parent. Lily has dreams of a big house with many rooms so she can help runaway girls. Believing that to be her life, she’s surprise to learn that Mario aka Jameson has similar ambitions. The multiple storylines involving the girls Lily is helping detail the fear and need for love they crave. Ms Branton offers a heartwarming story while sharing the runaways’ perils.
What a wonderful book with a wonderful story. I recommend it highly.
When I’ve overloaded myself with murders and crime, these are the books I turn to.
I would give it 3 1/2 stars but since that’s not an option, I rounded up. It’s a good story with another perspective on runaways/foster care. The characters are decent.
A very special line about rich people throwing money at the problem of child abuse and letting other ‘little ‘ people take care of the childen. Rich people don’t want to get their ‘hands dirty ‘. Teachers report but there’s never enough child & family service staff. Bea in this role is the greatest wish any mandated reporter would have. This should be on every teacher’s, school social worker’s, principal’s, school board member’s and district superintendent ‘s reading list. SOMETIMES FICTION IS STRONGER THAN STATISTICAL GARBAGE nonfiction. Sorry about the all caps, but as a retired teacher (45 years) I get it.
Wonderful story! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
This book was so unbelievable! The idea of a 22-year-old being a foster mother to teenagers was ludicrous. It was very poorly written, and it was unbelievable to think that someone so young and uneducated could do what she did. No government agency would allow a 22-year-old to foster teens. Seriously, how unrealistic to have her in a 1 bedroom apartment with 5 teenagers living together! I can’t believe I wasted my time with this trash!
I liked that the problems that Social Services workers have are brought out, Altho in the story, all works out for the best, in reality, there’s a shortage and an overload for case workers, which means too many children may get put back into a bad situation–or sometimes foster parents aren’t able to be monitored closely enough. Frankly, I really enjoy reading stories that are free of foul language and explicit sex. They simply aren’t realistic of the majority of women’s lives.
LOVED LOVED LOVED
This was a great read about a person who I wish there were more like. She takes in kids and ends up having to look for a new house. She gives up everything for these kids and its heartwarming to read about even if it is fiction. Really pulls your heartstrings.
Good story about helping abused teens.
Nice read.
The world needs more Lily’s. She is a remarkable, compassionate lady.
Such an amazing story. Leaves your wanting to know what happens next.
Liked this book – highlights an all too common story of child abuse and those who try to help.
Very well written. You can picture what is going on with the way it is written. It will keep you on your toes.
I loved how the characters has spmo much heart. AlwYs trying to save those girls. Great book.
Was a Great Book. So true to the core. I didn’t want to put it down. Excilant writing.