Filthy Beautiful Lies: Volume 1

3.5 stars — I totally thought from the premise of the book that this one would be more erotica-ish. But it wasn’t really. Sure, it was an unconventional romance, but I wouldn’t say the steam was any higher than other adult romances. I was intrigued by the book, but I wasn’t wholly sucked in. I enjoyed the chemistry between Sophie and Colton, but I also grew frustrated knowing that a willful misunderstanding was about to occur…it was heavily foreshadowed. So just over halfway through, I started to become curious and looked at some reviews…only to learn that it’s not a series of standalones…or not quite anyways. Sophie and Colton’s story completes in book 2. Which is fine, though I wish I’d known beforehand, b/c I might have chosen a different book to read. By the time I got to the end, I was torn. The next book was a bit more than I wanted to spend, and while I was morbidly curious how it would end, I wasn’t sure if I was full price curious, you know? And after reading some reviews for the next book, I’ve decided not to continue…I just don’t think I’m invested enough to read another full book with these two. Both characters had good qualities and surprised me in good ways, but I also just didn’t feel invested in either of them. It’s a weird set of feelings, you know? I believed that Sophie had altruistic qualities wrt her sister, and I appreciated that she also understood that it was nice to have a break from that serious situation. But she also had a very strange attitude considering the nature of her relationship with Colton…she was suspicious, and demanding, and…it was just odd. Meanwhile Colton talks about all these odd sexual proclivities, and quite frankly I kept waiting. And I’m not always big when authors hint at some secret, but drags it out for the book. I’m not saying it’s wrong, it’s just not my personal preference. So we’re told over and over again that Colton has some dark secret, and while I did guess after awhile, I was kind of confused about how it fit with what Colton was thinking at the beginning. Then there’s the two of them together, and the way the relationship developed. I don’t know if I quite understood the feelings they developed, and the quickness of it. It’s a strange situation, and I guess I just didn’t always buy how that went. But hooboy, the steamy scenes were AMAZING. Even if it didn’t go where I expected, there was definitely great physical chemistry. So yeah…*sigh* I enjoyed myself, I just wasn’t as compelled as I was expecting. *shrugs* Ah well.

Sophie And Colton’s story had me hooked from the very beginning. Sophie is a young lady who is determined to help her twin sister since she is very sick. After trying to find jobs that would pay enough, she decides to look into being a stripper. The owner of the club has something else in mind when he finds out how innocent she is and tells her she can make plenty of money if she sells at an auction. Since she needs the money really bad, she goes through with this and this is where she meets Colton. Colton is a man that has secrets and isn’t looking for love. When he goes to the auction, he wasn’t wanting a virgin, but that’s what he ends up with. As the story goes, he finds himself being more patient and caring for Sophie and she is falling for him as well. What will happen when his secret is revealed? Will Sophie stay with him or leave? I loved this book! It’s not what you think it’s going to be which all about sex and submission. The storyline is about a man who is bitter and jaded from a previous relationship and a woman who works her way into his heart. Sophie is sweet and kind and just wants to get closer to Colton as she falls harder for him each day. Yes, there is plenty of steam between the two of them but I loved the way Colton finds himself changing as his love grows. I also purchased the audio version and Ava Erickson is new to me but I was very impressed. She did a good job of bringing the book to life for me since I like to read and listen at the same time.

4.5 Stars This is book one in the Filthy Beautiful Lies series and it features Colton Drake and Sophie Evans. Their connection was instantaneous! He owns her for the next six months. Sophie knows he’s keeping secrets but maybe she hasn’t earned the right to ask him about them yet. As these two get closer by the day…BAM! PLOT TWIST! I was so into the story and when it ended so abruptly, on a cliffhanger, I was left with my mouth hanging open. I NEED to read the next book NOW! This book has a fantastic story line with totally relatable characters.