House of Lies features a sweet, clean romance, but the most genuine emotion is evoked in the relationship between Lily, the main character, and the troubled young girls she cares for. This emotion underscores Lily's borderline quixotic quest to save and protect her young charges. Lily's personality is just nuanced enough to prevent the story from descending into sentimentalism, however. Instead, it depicts warmth, without being maudlin; and hope without being idealistic. Add a refreshing shot of suspense to this mixture, and House of Lies is an entertaining and inspiring read.
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Sweet read.

This was a beautifully crafted novel. The story gives a glimpse into one woman's fight to help a group of runaway girls while falling in love with an amazingly supportive guy. Just a happy story all around.

Worth a read for those looking for a sweet afternoon.

Reader Rated for ages 14 for mild mentions of abuse and substance use. ( )

I received my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a SUCKER for the bleeding heart romances - like absolute sucker, and this story delivers! Lily didn't have the most loving of childhood relationships with her parents. In fact, the closest thing to a motherly bond that she had was with her sister Tessa who was only two years her senior. You see from the start that Lily isn't bitter because of her past, she's strong - courageous and determined - and she dreams of helping others. She takes in strays, but instead of stray cats she takes in stray people - teenage girls who have been abused and mistreated, living on the streets and in need of a little love and a safe place to stay. Lily seems to have just accepted that she doesn't have time for love, until Mario Jameson Perez shows up and guess what... HE HAS A HEART AS BIG AS HERS!

I loved that Jameson (or Mario, whatever you want to call him) became a support, a champion. He wasn't fighting her battles for her, but he was there to help her fight them. He became devoted to her and her cause (that he already worked with troubled teens was a big plus!!!!) and her girls in just the right amount of time. Nothing felt too rushed, it all seemed just right even though not that much time had passed between the day they met and the day they married. Whirlwind and once in a lifetime. I'm a sucker for it... COMPLETE SUCKER!

I resented every moment I had to put this down, in fact I have already bought and jumped into the next book in the series which is Tessa's love story. The pace felt right, the almost fairy tale tropes felt right, this story just feels right! If you're looking for a fun little read, pick this one up. It's hopeful and heartwarming and everything that you'd imagine it to be. ( )