Are you a fan of Ally’s Carter YA mystery series or Veronica Mars? Let me introduce you to Eleanor Ames!
Chasing Truth |
Hiding Lies |
At Holden Prep, the rich and powerful rule the school—and they’ll do just about anything to keep their dirty little secrets hidden. When former con artist Eleanor Ames’ homecoming date commits suicide, she’s positive there’s something more going on. The more questions she asks, though, the more she crosses paths with Miles Beckett. He’s sexy, mysterious, arrogant…and he’s asking all the same questions. Eleanor might not trust him—she doesn’t even like him—but they can’t keep their hands off of each other. Fighting the infuriating attraction is almost as hard as ignoring the fact that Miles isn’t telling her the truth…and that there’s a good chance he thinks she’s the killer.
|
At Holden Prep, dirty little secrets always have a way of coming to the surface. Eleanor Ames has never been what she seems. Average high school student on the outside, but reformed con artist trying to break free of her past on the inside. When Eleanor receives startling news about someone from her previous criminal life, plans for a new operation coinciding with her school’s upcoming field trip quickly consume her. But operations rarely go according to plan. And this is one her irresistible teen FBI agent boyfriend, Miles, would never approve of. Now, more than just Ellie’s reputation is at stake. If she fails, it could be her life.
|
Entangled Teen September 27, 2016 Buy Links: |
Entangled Teen April 17, 2018 Buy Links: |
SASCHA DARLINGTON’S REVIEW 
In Chasing Truth we are introduced to Eleanor Ames who attends Holden Prep, but isn’t like the other extravagantly rich students. Having just escaped from her family’s life of con, she lives with her sister, Harper, and Harper’s Secret Service boyfriend, Aidan. The only friend she’d made at Holden, Simon, her date for the prom, just killed himself after the dance, a fact that Eleanor is still trying to fathom.
Enter Miles, the man next door, who Eleanor meets after a naked woman in his apartment tosses clothes into the pool. Coincidentally, Eleanor discovers that he is also attending Holden, and he’s just about as black and white as any person could be. No gray areas for him, and Eleanor is all about the gray areas.
I enjoyed Eleanor. She’s snarky, like Veronica Mars, but also has a good bit of introspection. Her “superpower” is that she can always tell when someone is lying. Miles was kind of bland and milquetoasty for my taste.
Chasing Truth was a bit on the long side, but so much was going on, so many mysteries being woven together and surprises that I didn’t mind the length too much. It was a fun ride with an exciting climax.
—
Hiding Lies started off so slowly and with so little interest for me that I felt immediately disappointed. I have loved every single one of Julie Cross’ books I’ve read so far but the first chapters dragged with Eleanor and Miles. I wasn’t that enamored with Miles (let’s just say that if you were a fan of Veronica Mars, you’ll understand what I mean when I say that he’s more of a Stosh than a Logan) in the first book, his personality is like watching paint dry.
However, by the third chapter, things begin to happen and from then on, I could hardly set the book aside.
Dominic, whom we met in Chasing Truth plays very prominently in Hiding Lies, and while I would like to tell you more about his character, I’m afraid it would be a spoiler for the first book. Let it suffice to say that he’s a fun new sidekick for Eleanor, with an unfortunate habit of popping up when it would be in his best interests not to.
Eleanor’s snark is alive and well. We also get to meet her father and are introduced to truths from his side.
All in all, despite those first couple of lumbering scenes, Hiding Lies is a fun read, sometimes exciting read, especially for you fans of Ally Carter’s YA mystery novels.
I received ARCs in exchange for honest reviews.
rating:
4 butterflies and a ladybug out of 5 butterflies!
4 out of 5 butterflies!
-EXCERPT-
from Hiding Lies
My feet have been dangling. I start to lift them up, attempting to conceal myself. But I’m not fast enough. Warm fingers wrap around my ankle.
“Got you,” the guy says. “How long have you been up there spying on me?”
“Spying? On you?” I shake my head. “Don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m waiting for someone. He’ll be here any second.”
The hot guy takes the binoculars and looks them over, analyzing the zoom-in and recording switches hidden on the underside. “Fancy. Not exactly for recreational use.”
That’s because they’re Aidan’s. My sister’s boyfriend. Up until two weeks ago, when he was forced to resign, Aidan was a Secret Service agent. He used all kinds of spy gear in his former job—like these high-tech night-vision binoculars.
I hop down from the tree, assessing the intruder, searching for body language that says friend or enemy, even though I already know the answer. No harm in having a little extra practice. Role-play is definitely a skill of mine, but it’s also a muscle that must be worked regularly. “Just so you know, I am trained in self-defense. Wouldn’t try anything if I were you.”
“Yeah?” He lifts an eyebrow. “That’s good because this place is sketchy as hell.”
We both glance around the deserted warehouse building beside us, the vandalized lumberyard nearby, and the questionable items strewn across the walkway leading to the giant warehouse door—condom wrappers, broken beer bottles, cigarette butts.
“You’re right, it’s sketchy,” I say. “I better take off before something bad happens.”
“Wait…” Hot Guy reaches for me, his fingers curling around my waist. He tugs me until my back rests against the tree and we’re hidden from anyone on the street. “Tell me about this other guy you’re waiting on.”
I stare up at him, taking in the cocky smirk, perfectly messy dark hair, and blue eyes that hold dozens of secrets. “What other guy?”
He grins, showing off two perfect dimples to go with the rest of his perfects. “Good answer.”
Then, before I can refocus on the role I’ve been playing, he leans down and kisses me. It’s only been a week but feels like a month. Maybe longer. His cheeks are cold, but his lips are warm and tender. I bring him closer and closer until his slinged arm is lodged between us.
“Miles,” I mumble against his lips.
“Uh-huh.”
“Miles,” I repeat, too caught up in this kiss to celebrate the slip he just made. “That’s his name. The guy I’m waiting on.”
“Miles. Sounds like an asshole. Forget him.” He pulls away just enough to see my face. His good hand rests against my cheek. He looks like he’s about to dive into kissing me again but hesitates. “It’s really cold out here.”
“And sketchy,” I add. “Why would you pick a place like this? You can’t coast forever on the whole mysterious-hot-guy persona. So if that’s your plan, I’d rather meet at the Y or Planet Fitness like a normal person.”
He rolls his eyes. “Yes, that’s my goal in life. Devote all my time to training to be a spy so I can impress girls.”
About Julie Cross:
Julie Cross is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author of New Adult and Young Adult fiction, including the Tempest series, a young adult science fiction trilogy which includes Tempest, Vortex, Timestorm (St. Martin’s Press). She’s also the author of Letters to Nowhere series, Whatever Life Throws at You, Third Degree, Halfway Perfect, Chasing Truth, Off the Ice and many more to come! Julie Cross was a longtime resident of central Illinois but has recently moved her entire family across the country to continue her academic studies at Stanford University.
Author Links:
Author Website: http://juliecrossbooks.com/
Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/juliecross1980
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FansOfJulieCross/
Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3429117.Julie_Cross
GIVEAWAY!!
Paperback copy of Chasing Truth (US)
One thought on “Reviews of Chasing Truth and Hiding Lies, Excerpt, and Giveaway!”