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bibliophile90's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
It was a solid 4 star read until the end. Third-act breakups are one of my book pet peeves, especially if it is caused by a misunderstanding (which I am assuming. We'll see if I am right in the next book).
It was a solid 4 star read until the end. Third-act breakups are one of my book pet peeves, especially if it is caused by a misunderstanding (which I am assuming. We'll see if I am right in the next book).
foreverburningred's review against another edition
4.0
So far, Pepper Winters has been a huge hit for me. I was kind of torn between 3 & 4 stars for this one. There wasn't as much depth as i'd hoped. The romance was there, but I didn't feel it like I had hoped to. I AM interested in where it goes from here though. I'm a sucker for alpha males and assholes sooo... 4 stars it is.
annica_reads_books's review against another edition
4.0
Crown of Lies is the first part of the Truth and Lies Duet by Pepper Winters. Winters classifies this book as "angst romance," and I would agree. There are some dark elements to it, but it is not nearly as dark as some of her other books, and I agree with her rating.
I really enjoyed this! Crown of Lies gives me some "Aladdin retelling" vibes, with some differences of course. I felt like a couple of plot points were a little predictable, but I still really enjoyed the book, and of course - Pepper Winters beautiful signature writing style.
I really enjoyed this! Crown of Lies gives me some "Aladdin retelling" vibes, with some differences of course. I felt like a couple of plot points were a little predictable, but I still really enjoyed the book, and of course - Pepper Winters beautiful signature writing style.
shellysbookcorner's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 Stars
Pepper Winters has done it again with this book!!
Noelle aka Elle has been groomed to take over the family's business ever since she was a little girl. Sadly this leaves her with no social life and no friends except a cat named Sage. One night she goes out and she meets Nameless. He helped her out during a bad situation. After that night she never sees him again. Three years goes by and enter Penn.
What can I say about Penn? He's hot, successful, mysterious, alpha, broody and possessive. Penn is full of secrets and I honestly don't know what his intentions are when it comes to Elle. As the book progresses we see another side to him. Once this happens I’m even more confused. I mean he has to be the boy from three years ago! He can't be a wolf in sheep's clothing! I won't allow it!!
Penn and Elle both get to each other and make the other person feel things they don't want to. Their chemistry was hot and the sex scenes are even hotter! Penn is such a dirty talker and I love it!! I also enjoyed the push and pull between the characters.
“Thieves can become saints. Saints can become thieves. Most of us deserve a second chance.”
Can we talk about who Penn really is? What are his motives?? There are so many twist and turns that you don't know what to think. I racked my brain trying to figure out who Penn could be! Is he Nameless? Or is he one of the Baseball Cap Alley thugs? I know I'm not making sense but once you read you will understand my ramblings. I loved this book because I had no idea who he was and my thoughts were racing. I have so many theories and can't wait to see which one is correct. And don't get me started on that ending. Just when we think we have it all figured out..Boom!!! Winters sure knows how to keep guessing and on the edge of your seat while reading. Is it 2/28 yet??
*an arc was given for an honest review*
For more reviews check me out at: http://www.shellysbookcorner.com
Pepper Winters has done it again with this book!!
Noelle aka Elle has been groomed to take over the family's business ever since she was a little girl. Sadly this leaves her with no social life and no friends except a cat named Sage. One night she goes out and she meets Nameless. He helped her out during a bad situation. After that night she never sees him again. Three years goes by and enter Penn.
What can I say about Penn? He's hot, successful, mysterious, alpha, broody and possessive. Penn is full of secrets and I honestly don't know what his intentions are when it comes to Elle. As the book progresses we see another side to him. Once this happens I’m even more confused. I mean he has to be the boy from three years ago! He can't be a wolf in sheep's clothing! I won't allow it!!
Penn and Elle both get to each other and make the other person feel things they don't want to. Their chemistry was hot and the sex scenes are even hotter! Penn is such a dirty talker and I love it!! I also enjoyed the push and pull between the characters.
“Thieves can become saints. Saints can become thieves. Most of us deserve a second chance.”
Can we talk about who Penn really is? What are his motives?? There are so many twist and turns that you don't know what to think. I racked my brain trying to figure out who Penn could be! Is he Nameless? Or is he one of the Baseball Cap Alley thugs? I know I'm not making sense but once you read you will understand my ramblings. I loved this book because I had no idea who he was and my thoughts were racing. I have so many theories and can't wait to see which one is correct. And don't get me started on that ending. Just when we think we have it all figured out..Boom!!! Winters sure knows how to keep guessing and on the edge of your seat while reading. Is it 2/28 yet??
*an arc was given for an honest review*
For more reviews check me out at: http://www.shellysbookcorner.com
geo_ix's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars.
I didn’t mind this, but I was expecting something... darker? Maybe it was just me, but I didn’t really see it as dark. My main issue that brought the rating down was how juvenile the heroine seemed throughout. She owns a million dollar company but runs around NY alone at night? And then does it again years later after what happened the first time? Where is your head at?
As for the ‘twist’ ending it was done in a way that I don’t know how anyone can buy it? It was a major jump to conclusion that didn’t even make any sense at all, and for someone who owns such a successful company I don’t know how she’s so... dumb? Does she even do much for the company besides decide if something is worth it? She’s never left the company, never travels etc, how? Wouldn’t they be expanding to other states/countries? It just came across like she was pretending to be the boss while her dads working it all in the background lol. I dunno, a lot of things were a little too convenient for me in terms of those things, HOWEVER, the erotic content? Yeah that saved the book honestly. Their push and pull interested me enough to finish the duet, but I definitely can’t say at this point that I love this or I’d rave about/rec to everyone.
Anyway, it was straight down the middle for me, I didn’t hate or love it. A bit better than ok but less than me liking it.
I didn’t mind this, but I was expecting something... darker? Maybe it was just me, but I didn’t really see it as dark. My main issue that brought the rating down was how juvenile the heroine seemed throughout. She owns a million dollar company but runs around NY alone at night? And then does it again years later after what happened the first time? Where is your head at?
As for the ‘twist’ ending it was done in a way that I don’t know how anyone can buy it? It was a major jump to conclusion that didn’t even make any sense at all, and for someone who owns such a successful company I don’t know how she’s so... dumb? Does she even do much for the company besides decide if something is worth it? She’s never left the company, never travels etc, how? Wouldn’t they be expanding to other states/countries? It just came across like she was pretending to be the boss while her dads working it all in the background lol. I dunno, a lot of things were a little too convenient for me in terms of those things, HOWEVER, the erotic content? Yeah that saved the book honestly. Their push and pull interested me enough to finish the duet, but I definitely can’t say at this point that I love this or I’d rave about/rec to everyone.
Anyway, it was straight down the middle for me, I didn’t hate or love it. A bit better than ok but less than me liking it.
cherryredsreads's review against another edition
5.0
Pepper Winters has done it again!
O M G!!!!
WOW!!!
Such a gripping story filled with tons of dark, twisted emotions that had my cherries exploding in excitement.
There are no words to describe this story without giving it away.
Just go grab this book and fall into the world of Elle & Penn.
It's a world that will seduce you, frustrate you, lie to you, consume you & awaken your sexual desires for wanting to be part of Penn's world as Elle discovers.
And yes, the ending will leave you breathless and wanting more...
which Pepper will deliver in the next installment!
Go One click because you want to be part of the lies that crown this book to come to life off the pages!
**ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review***
5 Cherries Popped
O M G!!!!
WOW!!!
Such a gripping story filled with tons of dark, twisted emotions that had my cherries exploding in excitement.
There are no words to describe this story without giving it away.
Just go grab this book and fall into the world of Elle & Penn.
It's a world that will seduce you, frustrate you, lie to you, consume you & awaken your sexual desires for wanting to be part of Penn's world as Elle discovers.
And yes, the ending will leave you breathless and wanting more...
which Pepper will deliver in the next installment!
Go One click because you want to be part of the lies that crown this book to come to life off the pages!
**ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review***
5 Cherries Popped
michellesantiago's review against another edition
5.0
I need book 2 now! Full review to come.
Full Review (originally posted on Undeniably Book Nerdy):
Ever since I heard of Crown of Lies, I've wanted to pick it up. Not only because I've been wanting to read a novel by Pepper Winters (she comes highly recommended from my fellow-smut loving friends), but because the synopsis really caught my attention.
And, yup, it was soooo fuckin' good. I needed Throne of Truth yesterday!
The story is told entirely in Noelle "Elle" Charlston's first-person POV. She was the sole heiress of Belle Elle (a chain department store like Macys), and from when she was a young girl she's always known that one day she'll take over the reigns from her father. By the time she graduated high school, Belle Elle was her whole life. But, on the night of her nineteenth birthday, feeling reckless and wanting to feel like a normal girl for once, she left Belle Elle to explore the city. What started as a night of wonder and new experiences ended in a nightmare when she found herself cornered in a dark alley with two thugs. All seemed hopeless when a mysterious man appeared and rescued her just in time. She ended up spending a magical night with him, until the police caught up with them. Elle ended up back with her father, while the mysterious man was taken away in handcuffs.
Fast forward three years later, and Elle had tried to push that nightmarish night with the thugs from her mind, but she also couldn't forget about that mysterious man she called Nameless who saved her. She tried to find him again, but couldn't find a trace of him. Meanwhile, her father had recently met a man named Penn Everett, who set his sights on Elle. Penn is the opposite of the mysterious man of Elle's past that she admit she had fallen for despite their brief time together. But, Penn's dogged pursuit of Elle, her father's easy acceptance of their relationship, and Elle's reluctant attraction to him, didn't erase the fact that there was something slightly off about Penn. Could he possibly be connected to the events that happened three years ago in that dark alley? What secrets was he hiding? And why does he look so familiar...?
Like I mentioned, I've been wanting to pick up Ms. Winters's books for a while but they've always been described as "very dark" which I equated to "sinister" and "BDSM", which was just not my cup of tea. I was happy to find that while there were dark moments and scenes, it was NOT the creepy, sexually overt ropes and dungeons type of dark.
I absolutely loved Elle. She's smart, capable, and even though she was surrounded by men, she held her own and acted like the capable businesswoman who runs a multi-dollar department store was supposed to be. She did not take Penn's alpha bullshit lying down, and every demand he made, she asserted herself right back. I really liked watching her character grow throughout the novel.
As for the men, Nameless was only there for a little while and we didn't really learn much about him and Penn, like Elle, I wasn't quite sure what to make of him. There were flashes of good that shown through, but he's keeping a lot of secrets. I couldn't quite swoon over him because there's the potential that he's not who I think he was despite my theories about who he may really be. I am DYING to know all the answers about Penn and Nameless though, because they're most definitely connected.
I was engaged throughout my reading of Crown of Lies. I love that it's set in New York City. I love the high tension and the mystery throughout the story that kept me glued to the pages, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. And I love Elle's character. She was definitely the best part--I love her mix of powerful CEO, and vulnerability without being a doormat. My only gripe with her was why didn't she take some self-defense classes?
And for the steam factor, this one was HOT, like, turn your AC up high hot, but there was nothing out of the ordinary if you read a lot of sexy, steamy romance.
Yes, it ends in an awful cliffhanger, but Throne of Truth comes out in about three weeks so the wait isn't that long (although still excruciating, because after that ending, I am dying to get my hands on the Throne of Truth). I highly recommend Crown of Lies (however, if you have triggers for sexual assault, you'll want to skip this one), for a darker-themed and twistier kind of romance read.
Full Review (originally posted on Undeniably Book Nerdy):
Ever since I heard of Crown of Lies, I've wanted to pick it up. Not only because I've been wanting to read a novel by Pepper Winters (she comes highly recommended from my fellow-smut loving friends), but because the synopsis really caught my attention.
And, yup, it was soooo fuckin' good. I needed Throne of Truth yesterday!
The story is told entirely in Noelle "Elle" Charlston's first-person POV. She was the sole heiress of Belle Elle (a chain department store like Macys), and from when she was a young girl she's always known that one day she'll take over the reigns from her father. By the time she graduated high school, Belle Elle was her whole life. But, on the night of her nineteenth birthday, feeling reckless and wanting to feel like a normal girl for once, she left Belle Elle to explore the city. What started as a night of wonder and new experiences ended in a nightmare when she found herself cornered in a dark alley with two thugs. All seemed hopeless when a mysterious man appeared and rescued her just in time. She ended up spending a magical night with him, until the police caught up with them. Elle ended up back with her father, while the mysterious man was taken away in handcuffs.
Fast forward three years later, and Elle had tried to push that nightmarish night with the thugs from her mind, but she also couldn't forget about that mysterious man she called Nameless who saved her. She tried to find him again, but couldn't find a trace of him. Meanwhile, her father had recently met a man named Penn Everett, who set his sights on Elle. Penn is the opposite of the mysterious man of Elle's past that she admit she had fallen for despite their brief time together. But, Penn's dogged pursuit of Elle, her father's easy acceptance of their relationship, and Elle's reluctant attraction to him, didn't erase the fact that there was something slightly off about Penn. Could he possibly be connected to the events that happened three years ago in that dark alley? What secrets was he hiding? And why does he look so familiar...?
Like I mentioned, I've been wanting to pick up Ms. Winters's books for a while but they've always been described as "very dark" which I equated to "sinister" and "BDSM", which was just not my cup of tea. I was happy to find that while there were dark moments and scenes, it was NOT the creepy, sexually overt ropes and dungeons type of dark.
I absolutely loved Elle. She's smart, capable, and even though she was surrounded by men, she held her own and acted like the capable businesswoman who runs a multi-dollar department store was supposed to be. She did not take Penn's alpha bullshit lying down, and every demand he made, she asserted herself right back. I really liked watching her character grow throughout the novel.
As for the men, Nameless was only there for a little while and we didn't really learn much about him and Penn, like Elle, I wasn't quite sure what to make of him. There were flashes of good that shown through, but he's keeping a lot of secrets. I couldn't quite swoon over him because there's the potential that he's not who I think he was despite my theories about who he may really be. I am DYING to know all the answers about Penn and Nameless though, because they're most definitely connected.
I was engaged throughout my reading of Crown of Lies. I love that it's set in New York City. I love the high tension and the mystery throughout the story that kept me glued to the pages, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. And I love Elle's character. She was definitely the best part--I love her mix of powerful CEO, and vulnerability without being a doormat. My only gripe with her was why didn't she take some self-defense classes?
And for the steam factor, this one was HOT, like, turn your AC up high hot, but there was nothing out of the ordinary if you read a lot of sexy, steamy romance.
Yes, it ends in an awful cliffhanger, but Throne of Truth comes out in about three weeks so the wait isn't that long (although still excruciating, because after that ending, I am dying to get my hands on the Throne of Truth). I highly recommend Crown of Lies (however, if you have triggers for sexual assault, you'll want to skip this one), for a darker-themed and twistier kind of romance read.
kodom251999's review against another edition
5.0
Omg!!! That was such a good book! I can't wait for the next one. This author has a way of keeping you on edge and holding your breath as you read each word... wow
kursed_reads's review against another edition
5.0
My heart is thumping and my hands are shaking as I open up Throne. WTF Pepper?!?!? ❤️