Starting over after my father’s sudden death was bad enough, but the four boys who rule Alstone College, my new university, are determined to make my life even more difficult. One in particular. Caiden Cavendish.My nightmare. My shadow. My stepbrother.My dad’s death was an accident… Lie.My life isn’t in danger… Lie.The Four won’t bring mayhem to my life… Lie.I don’t want Caiden Cavendish… … don’t want Caiden Cavendish… Lie.
Lies.
Lies.
Lies.
Eeny, meeny, miny, mo.
The Four are coming for you, Snow.
Note: This book is not a standalone, and may contain triggers for some readers.
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A Thrilling Step-Siblings College Enemies-to-lovers Romantic Suspense With Mysteries, Comrades & Friendships, Trust, Growing feelings, Initiatives, Dangers & a Gripping Cliffhanger.
This had been on my TBR after Reading ‘Trick me Twice’ & I enjoyed finally reading this story! (It was fun to See Cass & Lena Which I met in TMT!) DEVOURED it in 6hrs.
[It’s Dual POV but we get more from Winter’s, Though the times we do get Caiden’s PoV had me thoughtful..]
Winter has newly transferred to the Alstone University as a 2nd year Student. To grow closer to her estranged mom &.. Investigate her as the prime suspect in her dad’s death. Winter’s a kickass FMC, She’s Sweet, Smart, Sassy & Goes toe-to-toe when needed. Perfect combo. Not to mention, her dad’s an astrophysicist, like omg, I myself love the subject!
Caiden is a 2nd year student in Alstone University, The Bad boy, Part of ‘the four’ who like Rule the college. Winter’s mom had married C’s rich dad & is Toxic to Caiden & His Bro Weston, They hate her. The 4 also Suspects that she’s doing something illegal. Caiden was assholish & Untrustful to her at Start, but Later we can see that he Feels deeply, so much so that he never truly let’s anyone in other than his Boys.
Winter comes to college & Gladly makes friends with her roomie Kinslee (Liked her!). Later, At a Welcome party of sorts Winter see ‘the 4’ for 1st time (She hadn’t met her Stepbrothers before..)
>> Caiden, the Sexy Asshole. Zayde, Quiet & Dangerous. Cassius, The Friendly Flirt. Weston (Who’s younger than the above 3 by 1year), Sweet Tech genius.
Caiden hated her at sight, mostly as she looks so much like her mom & he suspects they might be working together. So he deploys the boys to Be with her all the time (normal bully stuff ).
Cass becomes her friend almost immediately, she’s just so lovable. Soon, with Weston too, more in a Siblings way. But Caiden..Oof, the Sexual tension b/w Winter & him was off-the-charts from the 1st glance. And Zayde’s just plain scary, though he cracks some smiles throughout the story too!
I loved that there Wasn’t any “Make her life hell” kind of Stuff as Cass & Wes weren’t on board & Winter has experienced so much the past year (Her dad’s death in a fire).
~I love the nicknames! Caiden calls Winter ‘Snowflake’ WHILE She sarcastically calls him King or your Highness!
There’s Awkward Family Meets, Budding Friendships, Car vandalisms, Fun payback, Rich party, United front, Winter+Caid’s Sexy Kiss… By Cass, she finds what the boys suspected. She knew it was Talk time. So they did & They accepted her! Caiden’s still an asshole, can’t help himself , but more sympathetic. From now on, the 5 worked together for clues against her mom.
But there’s Serious push & Pull from Caiden to her. Here the Friends, especially Cass, was such a big help! (*Snicker* That kiss he was talking about in TMT!).
~Jealousy, Playing it dirty, Caid+Winter Sexy times *Hot*, Push & Pull, The Annual games *Omg, Fun!*, Mine, Hotel investigations, Swoony moments, Mommy truths, Growing feelings, Car Repairs, Important News, Emotional Talks, Out in School..
She wants him, lying was futile BUT Caiden was telling a lie to himself & everyone that he doesn’t want her. But soon he breaks & makes her mine. Seeing him opening up to her & being PDA is so swoony!
But their Quest for truth is going on & the more we find about her mom, the more I hate her!
And, The last few scenes had me on edge. Everything was going well, until it wasn’t. James is a Prick, Winter+Caid’s Relationship is in Jeopardy (I’m kinda angry at Caiden here), She found a major clue & investigating it alone at night was a recipe for trouble, Will The boys get to her in time? Cue Cliffhanger!
Omg, I’m so excited to read the next book.
**This Book’s 1yr anniversary just went by! Review copy given for a Honest Review.**
Okay, so I have been wanting to read this story ever since it released.
It did NOT disappoint.
It was full of steam, angst, betrayal and lies.
To start with, I didn’t like Caiden or Z much – though Weston and Cass had me inquisitive.
Winter came across as a strong female character and I knew she would keep everyone on their toes.
The chemistry between Winter and Caiden was apparent from the very beginning and as the story progressed I found myself thawing to him.
I can not stress enough that you need to be prepared for a shock because the end creeps up on you before you know it and it ends WITH A CLIFFHANGER.
Anyway, it is totally worth a gander – I highly recommend it.
MY NEXT ADDICTION OF HIGH SCHOOL BULLY ROMANCE
The Lies We Tell is my first book by Becca Steele, and honestly I was lucky to chance upon it. The story intrigues me right from the beginning and Becca really does a great job bringing out all the characters. Her writing is excellent and there are plenty of humour in the book which makes reading it a walk in the park. 🙂
The story is very well written and fast paced with bits and pieces of the mysteries uncovered, enticing the readers to turn the pages faster in the hope to find out more. Who is really behind Winter’s father’s death and what has her mother got to do with anything? As suspense builds up in the story, I can’t help but find myself falling deeper into the fictional world that Becca has created.
“You’re blowing hot and cold all the fucking time, Cade. You’re messing with my head, and I can’t deal with it anymore.”
Caiden, our book hero, is a little questionable in this book. He definitely seems alpha and possessive but his actions toward the heroine were a little ambiguous at certain points. I sense that he has the potential to become the over-the-top possessive (maybe to a point of psychotic) hero that I crave in a book but that really depends on what the author has planned out for him in the next two books.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Sorry, what the fuck did you just say?” His eyes narrowed.
“I said. Yes. Your. Highness.” I enunciated each word clearly. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cassius collapse back on the sofa, laughing.
Winter, a.k.a. Snowflake, is an awesome, badass heroine! Not only is she brave enough to approach her estranged mother in order find out the truth of her father’s death, she does not cower when challenged by The Four. She stood her ground and is determined to uncover the truth even when she feels all alone in the matter. I think I feel for her and I am rooting for her to find out the truth and hopefully her happily-ever-after!
“Get the fuck away from me, right now. We fucked—that doesn’t give you the right to touch me. You’re the last person I want near me.”
Caiden initially hated Winter as she is the daughter of the woman he depised most in the world, who happened to be his step-mother. He is suspicious of her, thinking she might be in cahoots with her mother but he soon found out that he couldn’t be more wrong. Despite his dislike for her, Caiden finds himself highly attracted to her from the start and that frustrates him more, as he has a hard time struggling his head against his heart. Could their hate turn to intense passion and love? I’ll definitely pray for it to happen!! 🙂
Caiden’s arms slid around me, into the pockets of my hoodie, and I leaned back against him.
“I see you.”
The romance between the hero and heroine builds up slowly but gradually as the story flows, which brings depth to their romance and the growing suspense piqued my curiosity and pulled me deeper into this series. As the first book in the “The Four” series, it ends with a cliffhanger that totally left me wanting book two like RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW! 🙁
The side characters (the remaining three of The Four) are also brought to life in the book and I definitely hope they each have a book of their own! <3
Honestly, after reading the "Royal Elite Series" by Rina Kent, I was convinced I wouldn't find another high school bully romance anywhere near as good, but how wrong I was! "The Lies We Tell" is as good as it gets and I am totally looking forward to the trilogy and what Becca has in store for us!
RATING (OUT OF 5):
• Overall: 4.5
• Storyline: 4.5
• Writing: 5
• Hero: 4
• Heroine: 4.5
• Steam: 4
• Angst: 1 (very low)
*CONTAIN SPOILERS FROM HEREON*
SAFETY:
• Hero: Caiden Cavendish, leader of The Four and super arsehole to heroine in the beginning as he suspects Winter is plotting something sinister with her mother. As the story unfolds, he slowly get to know and understand Winter and finally his stubbornness to admit his love for her finally gave way. His possessiveness of Winter becomes a charm for me!
• Heroine: Winter Huntington, after losing her father, she is vulnerable yet strong enough to pick herself up to investigate his death. I must say this is the type of heroine I like in a book. She is also not afraid to stand up for herself when The Four bullied her. Her resilience and determination to get to the truth is very appealing.
• Safe sex: Yes, use of condom.
• OM/OW drama: No
• Sexual acts with OM/OW: Yes, Winter has a one-night stand with James Granville and she was kissed and touched by Cassius and Zayde before getting officially together with Caiden.
• Virgin: No
• Possible Triggers: Mention of animal abuse
• Push/Pull: Yes, Hero pushed heroine away initially due to his stubbornness and hatred for heroine's mother.
• Ending: Cliffhanger
• POV: Dual POV
This is an honest review because I love this series and cannot wait for Book Two! 🙂
So I was very excited to start this series. It came highly recommended by a friend. I was not disappointed at all. The story easily drew me in and the characters did not want to let me go. This is a first for me by this author. I am fairly excited for the rest of this series is this book is any indication.
The characters always surprise me. I love hanging out with The Four. I really never knew what a couple of them would do. Winter is a wonderful young woman. She has strength in her that surprises me of someone her age.
This is an amazing story that has the element of suspense in it. I am completely enthralled and can’t wait to start the next one. I did listen to this on audio. The narration is extremely well done and I loved listening to it. I just wish Gregory Salinas had a bigger part.
Winter is on a mission to find the truth. She moved and started a new school where the elite instantly disliked her. The four include her new stepbrothers that are making her life a nightmare.
Caiden has a love and hate reaction to Winter. It’s a back and forth dance that makes him mean and hateful to her, and at the same time, he’s protective and possessive with her. I loved the interaction between them.
No matter how much they fight the attraction, they can’t escape each other. Winter and Caiden connect deeply on the way they’ve both experienced loss. Winter brings light and joy back into his life, and he is open, honest, and adorably sweet once he lets her in.
Caiden has difficulty connecting his feelings, and let go of his hatred is hard. The emotions and reactions from all the characters show us how different we react to trauma and how it changes who we are. The love and connection with his brothers kept him sane. However, Winter made him open up and feel again.
I love how badass and passionate Winter is. She didn’t let anything stand in her way. I love her spirit and fearlessness. She fought and stood up for herself and those she loves. I love how protective of them she is.
AUDIO REVIEW
BOOK –
AUDIO –
It my first book by Becca Steele and I do not regret reading it one bit. I loved it from start to finish, I loved the dynamic of the four and I think Weston and Caiden are my favourite based on first book but that totally could change.
I knew something was going to happen at the end and I love her nickname he given her!
I think her mam totally need taking down and I hope that happens in future and i can’t wait to get into the next book.
This book is emotional, and sweet and all the things a good romance book should be. I really enjoyed it!
This. Was. Everything!
I loved the hate-dynamic here, and for once, it lasted the entire book. Even once the main characters hooked up, which I don’t see very often. The mystery of not knowing what’s going on, for either side. The steam and chemistry. Just…every bit was perfect. I don’t even mind that there’s a cliffy. Can’t wait to see what happens next!
The Lies We Tell is the first book in Becca Steele’s series The Four, which is an enemies to lovers college bully romance.
Possessive, controlling and suspicious are just a few words to describe Caiden Cavendish. Whereas Winter Huntington is confused, frustrated and just wants to unlock the secrets of her father’s mysterious death. When she comes face to face with her stepbrothers for the first time, there’s hostility and hatred rolling off Caiden that’s fully directed towards Winter. Along with an instant attraction that’s clearly going to cause all kinds of trouble. But the hostility and secrets don’t just end with Caiden, but include all of “the Four” – Zayde, Cassius and youngest Cavendish, Weston.
The first encounter with Winter and Caiden reinforces the enemies to lovers trope of this book. There’s also an intensity that’s written so well with the descriptiveness throughout the story that you can’t help but glare at the page in disdain as you read Winter’s POV. The chapters are written from both Winter and Caiden’s so you do start to understand Caiden later on.
The story is filled with heat, secrets, hatred, emotion and more and lovers of this trope will definitely enjoy this story.
I’m a sucker for bad boys!
Quite an enjoyable read. I loved certain aspects of it, and while this genre has been overdone a million times, this book still had a uniqueness to it. There were times I felt the story was rushed making certain scenes and situations feel unauthentic and forced. But other than that, it was genuinely enjoyable. I especially loved the banter and the relationship between the Four and Winter, specifically Cade and Winter.
I am drawn to this genre.
Dark romance just makes my mind massage the words, my heart, beat faster, my palms, sweat! And, the characters are with me for weeks after I’ve finished spending time with them!
Winter, The Four…holy, moly!!!
I devoured this story and cannot wait to delve into #2!!!
I have some new obsessions and they are known as The Four. The Lies We Tell is the first book in a new series by Becca Steele and it is so damn good!! This bully romance has it all. The token sexy bad boys, the girl they love to hate, sexy stepbrothers, mystery, angst, drama and possibly even a murder. How can you go wrong with all that? Simple, you just can’t and Becca Steele killed it with the start of this series! I loved this book so much, even with the huge freakin’ cliffhanger we were left with! Tons of angst, drama and suspense! I loved this book and can’t wait to see what happens next!
This was a really fast paced, gritty, suspenseful bully romance with quite a few twists and turns to be had. This is the first in a trilogy so you need to prepare accordingly. I really feel hard for one of the side characters (what it do, Zayde) but the main focus of this story was Caiden and his new stepsister Winter. For Caiden it’s on sight. He can’t stand her, but Winter is intrigued. Because who wouldn’t be. But she needs answers. And so do the Four. So an unlikely alliance forms which of course leads to feelings. Good and bad. I think I’m going to enjoy the rest of this series a lot.
This was a new to me author and one I’ll definitely be reading more from (as in the next book asap!). I had heard many greatthings about her writing and now I completely understand why.
The characters and plot will run you through a gamut of emotions, at times I didn’t know whether I wanted to slap or hug them.
Cannot wait to see what happens next.
This story was everything I expected it would be. It was angsty, angry and tender, filled with drama and sex, rich kids and mean streaks.
“Could he feel it, too? This unwanted, magnetic pull between us?”
Caiden Cavendish is a moody, possessive alphahole and Winter Huntington is determined and won’t be cowed. However, in spite of the enmity emanating from Caiden, the thick chemistry between is difficult to ignore. They were on fire together! I loved Winter’s dynamic with each of The Four, as well as Caiden’s gradual breaking down of his defences to let her into his life. This story was full of intrigue and there’s a distinct element of danger. There were darker moments, as well as lighter moments of humour. I can’t wait to find out more in book 2.
Wow….The Lies We Tell was so very intense, hot, and full of surprises. Kinslee, Cassius, Weston, Zayde, and Caiden are full of secrets and suspicious of each other. Well, the “Four”, as Cassius, Weston, Zayde, and Caiden are known as is suspicious of Winter and vice versus. But all of them were suspicious of Winter’s Mom. The “Four” and Winter are now step-siblings and they all hated Winter’s Mom who is a very cold and unfeeling woman. Winter and Caiden were attracted to each other but was determined to ignore it at least until they found out what the other were doing or knew what was happening. Winter wanted to find out who killed her father and Caiden wanted proof that Winter’s Mom was a gold digger and what hold she had over there father. I won’t go into and more detail as I am skating very close to writing a spoiler into my review. Let’s just say that Winter and the “Four” had more in common than they thought. The Lies We Tell is super interesting and makes readers want more and keeps you guessing. In view of the cliffhanger at the end of the Lies We Tell I can’t wait for The Secrets We Hide, book to in the Four series. From the very first page till the last you will be kept entertained and enthralled waiting to see what happens between the Four and Winter and more specifically Caiden and Winter. I confess that I read and listened to The Lies We Tell. I listened when I wasn’t able to read and when I could I would read. Have to love Kindle and Audible and the way you have the option of reading or listening to a book. The narrators were the perfect voices for the four and Winter. The narrators definitely kept you want to keep listening to their voices. Becca Steele is an outstanding writer and is quickly becoming an author I want to keep on reading her stories. This was the first book I read from Becca Steele and it won’t be the last and I can already tell she is a talented writer who keeps readers wanting more. Enjoy reading all about the Four and Winter.
Can we say devoured?!?!? I completely am in love with this book and everything it has to offer. It is a bully romance but not one of those ones where you REALLY want to hate on the guy. It is
one of those ones that you can feel the reasoning behind Caiden’s attitude towards Winter. Add in the rest of the boys and all hell breaks loose.
The one thing I lived for the most was how much of a fighter Winter is. She gives as good as she gets, doesn’t back down and needs the answers. There are so many layers of intensity, intrigue and suspense twisted into this story while the sizzle just burns off of Caiden and Winter.
Overall, this book has so much to offer that you just get wrapped up into the story and when this one ends you are like NOOOO MOOOORE! Thankfully, I can just dive right in because the next two books are available and I need to binge! I have just found a new author with Becca Steele that I completely adore and need to read ALL her words!
I loved this book. Book one in The Four series by Becca Steele, The Lies We Tell was a fantastic college stepbrother/ enemies-to-lovers taboo story with twists and turns you don’t see coming.
For Winter, it’s always been just her and her father since her mom left when she was 5 years old. When an accident takes his life, Winter has no choice but to live with her mother. But reuniting with her mother was never on the agenda. No, she’s there for answers and she won’t let anyone interfere with her mission, not even her stepbrothers.
Caiden has never been a fan of his stepmother, and now that her daughter is in the picture, he plans to learn as much as he can about her so he can use her to get rid of his stepmother, but after seeing the animosity between them, he concludes that Winter hates her mother just as much as he does. Not only that, the more he’s around Winter, the more he wants her.
Wow, this story was so juicy and full of drama that it had me captivated throughout. It’s not the typical taboo stepbrother story. No,it’s so much more and I loved it every part of it. Now I can’t wait to see what comes next in the series
The Lies We Tell by Becca Steele is the first book in The Four series. This is a bully, young adult romance and centers around Winter Huntington and Caiden Cavendish. Winter has transferred to Alstone College, a university that focuses on business after the death of her father, an astrophysicist. Winter suspects that her mother may have a hand in her father’s death, so she has come to town to solve this mystery. It just so happens that Winter’s mother is married to Caiden’s father, and because Caiden hates Winter’s mom Christine, this hate also automatically transfers to Winter as well (although Winter hardly has a relationship with her own mother).
Caiden, his brother Weston, along with their friends Cassius and Zayde are known as The Four. Their three families combined are incredibly wealthy and own many parts of the town, and everyone defers and fears them for the power they wield. The men are all incredibly good looking, have multiple tattoos (and matching ones because of their affiliation to each other and their secret society), and are in line to their respective family business. They are also smart and well connected. When Winter first comes to town the boys do not trust her and make her life difficult, following her, isolating her, making her feel uncomfortable and unwanted. There is a push and pull with Caiden and Winter, as they try to fight their attraction for each other. They both suffer from the loss of a beloved parent, and they are both trying to figure out the mysteries of their deaths.
I loved the secondary characters in this story, especially Cassius and Weston. Though they may seem cold in the beginning, they are playful, caring, and a lot more open minded than Caiden seems at times due to his trust issues. I like that the men are so loyal to each other, but also to Winter since she truly has no one. While there is romance here, there is also mystery and suspense, and I can’t wait to see Caiden and Winter reveal the truths about their parents’ death and what other mischief is going on in the town.
When Winters dad dies she’s determined to find the answers to the questions she has surrounding it which send her to the last place she wants to be, with her mom, but that brings her in the hairs of Caiden her step brother and things don’t go swimmingly lol. He hates her and it sets the stage for this bully romance. Can’t wait to start the next one