You’d think with a guardian who’s a ghost, she’d see everything coming. But nope, that’s not how it works. That’s not how any of this works. Private investigator Lexie Smith has a mostly perfect—okay, satisfying life. A successful, if not super lucrative business with her best friend. A wonderful, loving companion named Bear—sure, he’s a little furry and he drools, but nobody’s perfect. A house … little furry and he drools, but nobody’s perfect. A house on the beach and a wisecracking supernatural “intern” named Vinnie, who knows everything there is to know about crime and her nonexistent love life. Things are good, even if the cases are somewhat tame, until a dangerous assignment forces her to turn to the last man she can trust: Rafe Barandas, local police detective and the man who broke her heart years before.
After a decade in New York, Rafe has returned to his small hometown, burned out on big-city politics and crime. He’s looking forward to the quiet life, until he’s thrown together with Lexie (and, unknown to him, her phantom familiar) to solve what starts out as a simple B&E but quickly escalates. Leaving Lexie the first time was a huge mistake. Now that he’s got another chance, he’s determined not to blow it, so long as the job doesn’t get in the way.
As Lexie and Rafe get closer to solving one case, old hurts come back to haunt them and a new threat emerges. Can they put past lies and mistrust behind them long enough to thwart a cunning foe who seems to know every step they take and will stop at nothing, even murder? Or will one of them pay the ultimate price before they take their second shot at love?
“Gail Chianese explodes onto the paranormal romantic mystery scene with a slow-burn, second-chance romance that readers of the genre are sure to love!” –Elicia Hyder, bestselling author of The Soul Summoner series
“In Tell Me Lies, the characters are fresh, the plot is complex, and the readers will definitely savor the piquantly sweet sex scenes. But it’s the side-splittingly hilarious banter that is the frothy icing on this multi-layered whodunit.” —Josie Brown, author, The Housewife Assassin’s Handbook series
more
The wise cracking atoning wise guy ghost totally makes this book. Vinnie takes an already entertaining romance/mystery and elevates it to a totally new level. You’ll smile all the way through this one.
This book began with me laughing so hard and out loud, I needed to dab my eyes with a tissue. I was immediately a fan of this author. The friendship of Lexie and Kat is one of the best parts of the book. Vinnie, the otherworldly intern, is by far, my fave character. Vinnie is the sole person who works the truth. He states things that are 100% true. He may not say it so that it is clearly understood but his statements should be taken at face value. When Vinnie says someone is a scumbag…he is a scumbag…and that means stop dating him.
The title talks about lies and lies are the currency of this realm. If you are a fan of Jersey Shore or Kardashians or Robin Leach’s Lifestyle of the Rich and Shameless, then this book is for you. If you had any question as to whether or not the 1% are so unlike normal people, read this book. There is nothing positive to say about any of the rich people in this book. I was disgusted by the whole group of them. That Rafe and Lex never had a fully honest discussion about what happened when they were 18 was disappointing.
The big bad in the book reminded me of a combination of Professor Moriarty and The Terminator. Faster, smarter, deadlier, unstoppable. If you like a bad guy who is almost undefeatable, then this book is for you. I prefer my female PIs to be able to defend themselves. I asked my wife her thoughts and she is totally over the defenseless waifs who need to be rescued. This is 2020, a female PI should know how to box, know karate, or carry a small but deadly weapon.
The action in this book is nonstop. The intrigue and mystery carry the reader on and on. I was dreaming about this book by the second day of reading it. Lexie, Kat, and Vinnie are a formidable combo and the Jersey shore may never be the same.
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I’d review it.
My Rating: 5 stars
Tell Me Lies (Camden Point Mystery #1 ) by the author Gail Chianese
I love how the author had a blend of romance and suspense in the book. And love how Lexie has a ghost for a guardian. When she works together with Rafe to yet solve another mystery. This book was so easy to read and once you start to read the book you just couldn’t put it down. If felt like when reading the book you were right in the storyline of the book. I would definitely recommend this book. For more information about the author check out her Facebook page and newsletter.
I really enjoyed this slow burn, second chance romance. The characters are likable and relatable, even Vinnie the ghost. Consider the mystery component and you got yourself a page-turner.
Lexie, Kat and Vinnie are delightful fun. Lexie is a loose cannon but Kat can work around her antics and Vinnie can usually keep one or the other of the girls on the alert. Throw in Rafe (a romantic interest) and Bear, Lexie’s faithful fur baby and this was a joy to read. Will keep an eye out for a next book.
I absolutely loved this funny, quirky P.I. mystery story. It doesn’t matter what you’re looking for in your next read, the chances are good you’ll find it here. There’s a great second-time-around romance story, a whole lot of family drama, a girls, together forever BFF story and a police drama and a mystery that’s just a little too dark to quite qualify as “cozy”.
The interplay between Lexie and her best friend turned business partner Kat is sweet, often funny and completely genuine and the tension between Lexie and Rafe, the high school sweetheart she never quite got over is the kind of love to read and dream of having. It’s romantic, sometimes humorous and always hot enough to warm up even New England in February.
The story is fast paced enough to please the action-adventure fan and the mystery is subtle and well plotted, consistently heading off in another direction just as you think you’ve got it all figured out.
Gail Chianese was a new author to me when I picked up this book, but she’d definitely been added to my TBR authors’ list because this was exactly the kind of read I want more of.
Tell Me Lies by Gail Chianese, book one in her Camden Point series is a great blend of paranormal romance and suspense. I love that Lexie has a ghost for a guardian and when she works together with Rafe to solve yet another mystery, their chemistry sizzles as the suspense builds in both their case and their relationship. They have been given a second chance at love, but there are a number of obstacles that interfere with their relationship. I laughed out loud several times and cannot wait for more about Lex, Kat, Vinny and Rafe!! I enjoy Ms. Chianese’s writing, handling of the suspense, and humor. I highly recommend Tell Me Lies to other readers and look forward to the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
4.5
Cute and fun
This is my first book by Gail Chianese.
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Second chance
Part of a series: Camden Point Mystery
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue
I look forward to reading Kat’s story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC.
Haven’t read it yet, but I’m sure it’s a page-turner because I know that’s what this author writes!
When I first heard about this story, I couldn’t wait to read it. I’m happy to report that it did not disappoint. This is such a fun, fulfilling romance with great characters (Rafe & Lexie = hawt) wrapped in an entertaining mystery. For me, hands down, I loved Vinnie, the atoning, former wise-guy ghost. I can’t wait to see him and Lexie’s bestie, Kat, again in the next book. Do check this out, it’s a nice blend of romance, mystery, and paranormal.
What a whirlwind of a mystery!! When Lexie and her best friend and business partner are on a stakeout, they get more than the bargain for. They’ve been hired to get the images on a cheating husband, but they witness a break in on the house next door that happens to be owned by friends of Lexie’s parents. They snap a few shots of the bandits fleeing, but can’t see who they are between the distance, masks, and darkness that surrounds them.
Now the problem is though that Lexie is being forced to work with her first love. The man who shredded her heart when she caught him sleeping with another girl on Lexie’s birthday. Rafe left not too long after that night and is finally back in town 10 years later. He’s thought of Lexie often during that time, but with the warning from her father still ringing in his ears, he just looks at her from afar. He’s not been back long, and hasn’t run into her yet, but it’s a small town and he knows they eventually will. You see, Rafe is the newest detective on the small town’s police force, which means he’s the only detective. When the report comes in about the break in, and that it was witnessed by Lexie and Kat, he knows they’ll be near each other now.
Lexie and Kat have been best friends practically since birth. The women not only share their birthday, but they share a ghostly protector. Vinnie was a mobster that was killed the day the girls were born and has been with them ever since. No one but the girls can see or talk to him, and he’s a secret weapon. He can go places and hear things the girls can’t. A big help to their private investigator business. He’s also on the case when the women are hired by the victims of the burglary to find their missing jewels. There is more questions than answers, and it’s a wild tangle of legal and illegal dealings that the victims are involved in. Then danger gets too close to the women, a car accident, shooting, a break in at both their business and Lexie’s home leave the women injured and shaken. Solving the mystery surrounding the break in becomes a matter of life and death for Lexie, Kat, and Rafe.
Add in the rekindling romance of Lexie and Rafe and you have a very good read. I devoured this book, needing to see why the burglars actually broke in. Then you add in two broken engagements in this story as well, and you’ve got a humdinger of a novel. I’m hoping that the author continues with this and makes it a series, if she does, I’m all in. I really need to know what happens with Kat, and does she get her own HEA. Also, I want to know more about Vinnie!!
*I received an ARC of this story and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Tell Me Lies is a Camden Point Mystery. This is the first book I have read from the author and I hope to read more books in this series.
I loved this book with a mix of the paranormal and romantic suspense. The characters are well depicted, likable, and realistic. The storyline captured my attention from the first and kept it throughout with a phantom guardian, humour, friendship, mystery, suspense, and romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Gail spins a tale that is a great blend of paranormal romance and suspense. I love that Lexie has a ghost for a guardian and when she works together with Rafe to solve yet another mystery, their chemistry flares as the suspense slowly builds in both their case and their relationship. They have another chance at love with each other, but a lot comes out that stalls their relationship.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It was pretty good. It had romance suspense and great characters. The ghost is cool too. Hope too see more by this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Rafe had loved Lexie since the fifth grade. At 28, the son of a fisherman took a lecture from her dad to heart and threw away everything with the school slut
Is it really true, once a cheater, always a cheater? Or can a former 18 year old idiot turned detective get a second chance with the gal he has always loved? Is it worth it for her to take the risk?
Dirty deeds among friends and neighbors, and really ill behaved fiancé dudes and inappropriate partners
Funny, touching friendships, paranormal and romantic adventures
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.