First, though, I have the last of the December books, Starr Ambrose's Lie to Me (Pocket). Eleanor Coggins is on a mission: to find evidence that Banner Westfield killed his wife, who happened to be her best friend. Her ill-advised plan has her sneaking into the Westfield home during a party to do some snooping, a plan which gets her caught by Jack Payton, Banner's half-brother, who's also investigating Banner. When the pair of them are caught by Jack and Banner's mother, Jack tells the woman they're engaged. He persuades Ellie that this ruse will get her access to the information she needs, while also helping him with his own digging and in gaining custody of the daughter he only recently discovered he has. But the kiss he planted on her to convince his mother of their relationship shouldn't be a distraction to either of them, right? Except neither of them can stop thinking about it. When Jack's mother invites Ellie to move into her house rather than stay in Jack's, they can't refuse; it would set a bad example for his daughter, plus with Ellie in the Westfield house, it'll be much easier to dig through Banner's computer files. As they make some interesting discoveries in their investigation, their relationship also gets more complicated. I quite enjoyed Ellie and Jack's story (though, after all the build-up to their first round of lovemaking, the act itself was a tad disappointing). Ellie knows the danger she's put herself in, as well as the others now involved, and she knows her stay here will be only temporary, but she can't help making friends of Jack's daughter and the pal who comes to help them out. Jack shouldn't have enough time to focus on a relationship, but with Ellie's unexpected arrival, he can't help wishing for one with her. If you're paying attention as you read, you'll figure a few things out along the way, but that didn't spoil the reading of this one for me at all. The story is engaging, and Ellie and Jack are so much fun to fall in love with! My biggest disappointment now is knowing we have to wait a year for Ms. Ambrose's next book. This one has earned four of Cupid's five arrows. It's a fabulous debut!
Until next time, happy reading!
