Review Tour and Giveaway: All the Pretty Lies: M. Leighton

by - Monday, November 18, 2013

All the Pretty Lies
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“Live, no regrets”

Her…
Sloane Locke has led a sheltered life.  However, with a history like hers, she can understand why her brothers and her father want so much to protect her.  She has gone along with it for twenty long years, but those days are over.  For the girl who never makes promises, Sloane has made a pact with herself that things will change on her twenty-first birthday.  So when the clock strikes midnight, Sloane strikes out to spread her wings and break a few rules.

Him…
In addition to inking skin, Hemi Spencer possesses many talents. Controlling himself has never been one of them.  It’s never had to be.  He’s lived a life of indulgence for as long as he can remember.  Right up until tragedy struck.  Now, he’s nothing but controlled. He’s a man on a mission, one who will let nothing and no one stand in his way. 

Them…
Nothing in their lives could’ve prepared Sloane and Hemi for what they’d find in each other—distraction and obsession, love and possession.  But the one thing they can’t find is a future.  Neither one has been totally honest.  And they’ll soon learn that the devil is in the details.  In the details and in the lies.

How far will two people go to live in the now when the now is all they’ve got?


Sloane has just turned twenty-one and is working on spreading her wings to get out from under the thumb of her controlling protective cop brothers and Dad. First step is a tattoo. Hemi is a twenty-eight year old tattoo artist trying to stay out of trouble while also trying to deal with his past. They have an immediate attraction, but Hemi knows he needs to resist. They dance around it. But the more they are near each other, the harder it is.


I feel as though there’s a tug of war going on. Between us as well as within us. I’m the sheltered girl trying to break free and really live for the first time in her life. I’m striving to put fear and reservation and hesitation aside in favor of seizing the moment.

But not Hemi.

I get the feeling that he’s lived that way for a long time, that he seized all of life’s moments until something happened to make him stop. Stop and take notice. And slow down. And  distance himself.


I loved tough, moody, mysterious, protective Hemi. He tried so hard to be the good guy and do the right thing. He felt he did not deserve her. He did not need the extra problems in his life either. He had secrets that made it all even more complicated, and  it was a battle between what he wanted and what was best. he could be a jerk, but he could also be sweet. And the more we got to know him, we got to see more of his caring and vulnerable side.

Sloane was sassy, spunky, and sweet. She was just trying to experience life and find herself. She wanted her family and others to see she was growing up. She hated being held back. She was trying to challenge herself and push boundaries. She would not make promises she could not  keep. And she had her own secrets.

"I don't want promises, most of the time, promises are just pretty lies, they're words designed to make others feel better. But in the end, they're still just lies, disappointing lies...So don't worry about making me promises. I'd rather have your truth."


And Hemi was the perfect man to help her gain new experiences. I liked that it was not insta-love. Yeah  it was insta-lust, rejection, tons of sexual tension, but then there was actually a build up of friendship, appreciation, and feelings. 

I want to be with her, I want to watch her eyes open first thing in the morning, I don't want just to have her, I want to possess her, I want to make her mine, to mark her so deeply that she could never be anyone else's.

They were opposites in many ways. Experienced vs. Inexperienced, Controlled vs. out of control. Their age, their family background, and where they were in the scheme of their lives. But they also shared a passion for art and each other.  Their chemistry was intense. Their feelings continued to build as their stories slowly unfolded. 

There were obstacles...plenty of them. And it all became a convoluted mess of lies, secrets, omissions, danger, and intrigue. There were various back stories that built slowly through the book adding mystery and keeping it interesting. There were many layers to the characters and plot twists. It was told in both points of view and the story flowed flawlessly. There were mistakes made. It was tense, surprising, heartbreaking, sweet, intriguing, swoonworthy, and emotional. It had romance, intensity, suspense, steam, revenge, and mystery. And it all came together to be an engaging read that I could not put down. I think this one edged out  Down to You as my favorite M. Leighton read. 

I was completely invested in Hemi and Sloane. And even though this is the start of a series, their story felt complete. I  enjoyed the side characters and I would love to see more with her brothers especially Sig and Steven. And her friend Sarah was freakin' hilarious. I am also intrigued by his brother Reese. Since Sloan has three brothers and Hemi  has two brothers, there are lots to choose from. I can't wait to see who the next book All the Pretty Poses will be about. 

Thanks to M. Leighton for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Michelle Leighton Blog | Facebook | Twitter Goodreads

M. Leighton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Wild Ones and The Bad Boys romance trilogies. She is a native of Ohio, relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she lets her mind wander to romantic settings with sexy Southern guys much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.  




Giveaway:
 A set of signed copies of M. Leighton's The Bad Boy Series, The Wild Ones Series, The Madly Collection, The Blood Like Poison Collection, and Fragile for 1 winner. This is a US/Canada only giveaway.

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