A picture-perfect small town holds a dark and dirty secret in this suspenseful mystery novel by USA Today bestselling author Jeana E. Mann. Stella Valentine has traveled the world as a free-lance photographer, but there is only one place she calls home. After a decade on the road, an unexpected inheritance brings her back to Corbett, Indiana, where her life took an ominous turn. The last person … an ominous turn.
The last person Stella expects to see in Corbett is Owen Henry. Convicted murder. Liar. Sexy as sin. He’s out on parole and part of the crew hired to renovate her house. Sparks fly between them from the minute he knocks on her door.
As Stella and Owen endure a reunion complicated by painful secrets and mistrust, it becomes obvious that one of them lied about what happened on the night of the murder. Their relationship heats up while they untangle the events that changed their futures forever.
Someone in their small town killed Owen’s brother. No one can be trusted. Not even the person she loves the most.
**Formerly published as Monster Love.
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This book was so good. One night changes everything one bad decision makes a life time of regret and hurt feelings. One big misunderstanding changes so many peoples lives.
This second chance love story was just so good it was hard to put down. I loved the idea of it and I loved it.
The past isn’t always what it seems. This shows that you can find the truth and move on. Happiness can be possible.
This was a new to me author and I really enjoyed this book. It was well written with realistic characters. I liked both Owen and Stella. Filled with secrets, suspense, and steam you’ll have the biggest book hangover when you’re done. A great read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Lies We Tell by Jeana E. Mann is a standalone story about second chances at love with someone least expected. We meet Owen and Stella when they first see each other again for the first time in 18 years. A tragedy has happened in their past, we know that much, but the details are slowly fed throughout the story. Stella has her current relationship with Michael. A troubled relationship with her sister. And is working on having the home that was left to her renovated and made livable. Owen was locked up for a serious crime and is harassed by local law enforcement every opportunity they have. Stella tries to deny what is reawakening between her and Owen, but it is pointless. Their chemistry and their anguish is palpable. As the past and the present slowly meet, secrets are revealed and answers about the past are finally given . Well-written and well-paced, as a new fan of Jeana E. Mann I really enjoyed this book. Enjoy!
A new author to me. I did enjoy the read but I found it was a bit too tame for me. This story is about Owen. We are lead to believe he’s basically a monster but the story was told differently. Owen is actually a good man who confesses to murdering his brother to save his girlfriend, Stella. We soon realize that maybe he didn’t do it. A little heartbreaking to see that he spent eighteen years in prison for this. Once out, he and Stella meet again. – they start back up where they left off. It turns out that perhaps Stella and/or her sister are to blame not Owen. I found it unbelievable that Owen would not be bitter and angry. It didn’t feel right to me. I felt the story would have been more enjoyable if emotions were darker given the subject.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Kudos Jeana, on another wonderfully well written book.
Stella and Owen will leave you with all the feels!
These two characters are the epitome of true love.
Stella and Owen were the “odd couple” for sure. Stella, a foster kid with a definite penchant for keeping out of the spotlight and Owen, the big guy on campus, popular and king of the football field. Each with a sibling that they have to “watch over” and keep out of trouble.
Fast forward eighteen years, and feel the connection Stella and Owen still have..even after all this time, a current boyfriend, and a prison sentence.
In Lies We Tell, the author devastates you and then fills you right back up with hope, with true love, with that happily ever after.
Well written, fabulous story line, wonderful characterization.
4.5 Stars
Finally a guy who is hot and not a jerk Owen I mean he confessed to a crim he didn’t commit who dose that. Stella her and her sister had a real bad childhood someone well they end up dead she did it but Owen takes the fall and 18 years later they will have a chance to confront there past and move on with each other such a sweet romance with just the write amount of steam I could have given this a 5 but the ending went to fast not enough lead up.
I was allowed to read and advance copy of this book via Booksprout and this is my honest review.
This is a well written second chance love story about two people who were destined to be together. Owen and Stella are two flawed characters that are perfect for each other and have gone through so much in their lives. I really enjoyed their story and getting to know their pasts. The story is great, the characters are believable and the ending is perfect.
A second chance romance that’s filled with suspense and angst and a dramatic twist. I read through trying to figure out where the story was going, but this author just barely hinted of how it might turn out. And I was definitely surprised and intrigued by it all.
Stella grew up being the outsider who had to step up and take on responsibilities at a young age. A big sister and somewhat of a mother figure for her younger sister, Lanie. She meets Owen and she can finally see the possibilities of a better future. But not all things turn out the way we hope.
Owen is an amazing guy, gorgeous, sweet, hardworking, and smart. Stella is his kryptonite. He sees things in her that she doesn’t see in herself. He’d do anything for her and anything turns out to be a lot more than that word could ever mean.
My first read by this author and it’s fantastic! This book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. Well written and an ultimate page- turner!
A fantastic second chance at love story! From the start of the story, it’s pretty clear that there’s still feelings between Owen and Stella, given her reaction to seeing him again for the first time in almost 2 decades. And his reaction is just as visceral, and now that they’re back in the same orbit, all those feelings come roaring back to the surface, and the more time they’re in the same proximity, the more secrets begin to come to light. Ms. Mann did a great job highlighting their feelings and emotions, their interactions that weren’t easy to deal with at the start and the slowly changing and evolving emotions about whether or not they’re willing to take a chance on love again.
Owen and Stella meet and fall for each other in high school. She is a foster kid, along with her younger sister, biding her time till she can start her own life. Owen is the quarterback with a scholarship and a no-good younger brother, Chris. When Chris is murdered, Owen takes the blame and Stella is transferred to another family. Eighteen years later, Stella returns to town not realizing Owen is living there again. With a love that never went away and feelings that can’t be denied, Stella and Owen come together again, but the past is still haunting them.
I have mixed feelings about this story. I liked Owen and Stella ~ present day, that they re-connect and she wants to make things right for him. Both are good characters that are relatable. Why they cannot resist each other and haven’t really moved on makes sense. I would have liked to see a little more development between them as teens and their interaction with Chris.
Overall, this is an enjoyable second chance romance with a bit of suspense as a backdrop.
Another great story from this author! I read it in one sitting because it was that good!
Stella and Owen are torn apart and after many years, is there a shot and an opportunity in turning everything back around? What was once lies, can the truths be revealed and settled? This was a good read, it will bring the past up, the present to be debated and fingers crossed, the future to look forward to. Enjoy!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
One lie turned Stella’s world upside down and it dug its claws into her life, altered her future, and clouded her past. Stella thought that she was over Owen and she finally moved on with her career. But all of that changes when Owen Henry walks back into my life. He’s out on parole, standing on my front porch, looking sexier than ever. Stella wants to hate him for what he’s done, but all Stella can think about is how great his lips felt on mine the last time we kissed. Can these two put the past behind them and move forward and will they get a second chance or will there past be to much to overcome.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Lies We Tell is an excellent emotional second chance to love. Owen and Stella are great characters. Owen is a handsome character, selfless, caring and protective. Stella is a beautiful and strong character, caring and supportive. Their past is tragic, and heartbreaking. They share a strong chemistry. The supporting characters are intriguing. The story has mystery, lies, secrets, suspense, and twists and turns. The back and forth past to present is well done and easy to follow. The mystery unfolds at a great pace. I enjoyed it.
Oh God!!, this one is so sweet and sad, but no matter what you’ll fall for him and for the story, love how @Jeana.e.mann writes and how I feel like a part of it, I really loved this one. The main characters have the perfect balance and the other complements the story just fine. Also I didn’t see that one coming love that turn, so go grab this one and give it a chance.
stella and Owen were neighbors years ago, there relationship had alots of twist and turns . years ago Owen’s brother was murdered and Owen confessed and went to jail. Stella left town and 17 years she comes back her father her step father left her a house and she is now renovate the house. one day she opens the door and sees Owen. . After awhile the truth comes out along with the truth of their love for each other. This is a good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a great second chance read with all the feels, coupled with a hefty dose of suspense and whodunnit thrown in!!
Stella and Owen met when they were teenagers, Stella and her sister being with new foster parents, Owen noticing her immediately, being different from the other girls with her dress sense and nose piercing. Stella is always there looking out for her younger sister, trying to protect her from getting into trouble, which she is determined to do, especially with Owen’s brother Chris, a bad boy with an attitude.
One night changes everything, one lie changes their whole lives.
18 years later and Stella is moving back to her hometown after being left the house by her foster parents in their will. It needs doing up and she has a whole construction crew in, but is unprepared to see Owen as a member of the crew!
Owen is no longer a boy she knows, but grown into a man, and an ex convict after being in prison. She has never forgotten about him after having such a bad family life growing up, she turned her hobby into a successful career and has become a famous photographer. Her attraction to Owen is stronger than ever, the connection ever present, even if she doesn’t want it to be.
Owen is not the boy she knew, he has lied to protect her and to give her a life that she deserves, and has never stopped loving her throughout. Seeing her again has sparked his feelings and emotions, but with how badly he is treated in their small town and with his conviction he knows he has to stay away from her, but finding the willpower to do that is another thing.
A fab read, intense,full of emotions, angst, suspense and hot passion! This will have you turning those pages and keep you guessing right until the end while the puzzle pieces drop in place. I loved their connection and how strong a person Owen was to have gone through what he did for the love of his life. Well worth the read!
„Lies We Tell” was my first book written by Jeana E. Mann. I read this book, because I really like to meet a new authors. Now I know that I must read next book written by this author, because „Lies We Tell” doesn’t have only pretty cover. This story is awesome too.
Stella is a foster kid. She met Owen and with the time they fall in love each other. Both of them had a really tough childhood, so they caught the touch on the first meeting. But life always has the suprises for us and their paths went in two different ways. 18 years later, when Stella has her life straight, Owen meets her again. And nothing can be like always, because the real feeling woke up.
Again.
„Lies We Tell” is a truly second-chance romance. I am bought with this idea about read present and past. We can see how the friendship between Owen and Stella evolved and when everything crashed. Also we can see how Owen is fighting for Stella attention and her feelings.
We have here a lots of twists and a lot of true when our heroes are talking about their lives. Jeana E. Mann wrote a really good book. We are in this story after three chapters and we can’t exit this world until the end.
I highly recommend this book!
What a read! Heartbreaking and sweet rolled into one terrific storyline. Jeana E. Mann introduces us to Stella and Owen who met by chance outside the principal’s office in high school. There are rollercoaster ride we’re taken on takes twists turns that make it a second chance romance with a HUGE mystery filled with lies, insecurities, and doubts. I wasn’t impressed with the cover, to be honest, and thought it would be a fluff book but because I’m a big Jeana E. Mann fan, I bought it anyway. Boy, was I surprised.
I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.
I enjoyed this second chance at love romance, I thought it was interesting with a fast-paced intriguing storyline. I really liked both Owen and Stella, they each have their flaws and problems overcome but the attraction and chemistry they had from school days is still there.