Member Reviews
Sexy, sweet, emotional and so much fun. I devoured Accidental Lies in two days. You don’t want to miss this poignant, heartwarming, sexy and sweet romance. Happy reading!!
So. Many. Lies. The couple in this book start out as a fun, no strings attached fling while on vacation but quickly find themselves caught in a web of lies (both accidental and otherwise) when they decide to pursue a real relationship. The story follows Emily, a widow who hasn’t been able to move past her husband’s death. Her brother sets up a vacation to Hawaii in an effort to help her heal and move on, during which she meets Drew. Their attraction is instant and they decide to have a vacation fling where they spend several steamy nights in bed and get to know each other during the day - though they agree not to share any details about their everyday lives. This catches up with them once the vacation is over and they start something real - all those little lies of omission start to pile up and turn into downright deception.
Dana Mason’s writing is so easy to read, the pages fly by. I liked both of these characters and felt the connection. They’ve both had heartache in the past and understand each other better than most would. Drew is a great guy whose situation is a turnoff to most women, and it’s understandable why he’s hesitant to share at first. That being said... the lies really do overtake this book. While our couple get to know each other to a certain extent, there are some major things that they hold back on revealing. I’m not going to say it’s a purely physical relationship, but they both had things they really didn’t want to share with the other - leading to some assumptions on both their parts. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved the first book in this series and while this one wasn’t a home run for me, it’s still a solid story.
I'm a sucker for the vacation fling trope and one set in Maui is a treat!! Accidental Lies is a fun, Hawaiian romp! Loved it!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for ARC. All opinions are my own.
It was the blurb that got me intrigued: two people stranded in Maui (oh, what a hardship), having fun together with one rule: no information about home. No ex-husbands, no children and no jobs mentioned. Emily has been sent to Maui by her brother to have a vacation after four years of grieving for losing her husband. And her best friend Rebecca (Beck) convinces her to have a vacation fling to reset her system once and for all. Because her husband would have wanted her to move on with her life.
So, when she is rescued by a stranger, when she locks herself out of her hotelroom, she agrees on his proposal to hang out without the background information. Drew has been a widower for six years and although he has dated several women, they always walk (or even run) away when he tells them about his son and daughter. Therefore, he would like to have a vacation fling for once, with someone who doesn't know he is also a father.
The days fly by and since the rule also included exchanging addresses or phone numbers, Drew gets a little desperate. Because he really likes Emily and maybe, just maybe, she will not run away from his kids. But Emily is adamant they will not meet after Maui. So, when he secretly slips an envelope in her suitcase with his contactinfo, will she contact him or not? Or maybe faith has a total different plan. Find out for yourself in this wonderful, funny and heartbreaking story about second chances at love, loss and family. Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.
The perfect accompaniment to the hottest day of the year was reading this sizzling romance.
The chemistry between Emily and drew was so clear and believable, and just so hot.
Written from both Drew and Emily's perspective in alternating chapters, you were really able to get to know both of them incredibly well.
We learnt very early on that they were both widowed, and other personal circumstances, but after they meet in Maui, and agree on a no real life rule, they are many lies of omission.
As much as I loved the hot and heavy sections in Hawaii, as we see how they meet, and off the chart the attraction clearly is, I also loved their deeper emotions, and it was after their week in paradise that the book really kicks up a gear.
I hadn't read the author's previous book, so wasn't sure what to expect, so was pleasantly surprised to see a good deal of story in the book, I could connect to both main characters, and found myself willing them to a positive conclusion despite all the misunderstandings.
Getting to know Emily and Drew's friends and families was also incredibly fun, and there were a few OMG - AHA moments as a reader you realise how things will connect and unravel a good chapter or so before the characters!
A thoroughly enjoyable, hot and steamy way to spend an afternoon, a pure pleasure to read.
Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,
3.5 Stars
This was a good contemporary romance; I wouldn’t say it was spectacular or unputdownable, but it was a light and easy read. As the description suggests, it starts with the main characters meeting while on vacation and agreeing to a “no personal details fling”. What could go wrong?
I liked the couple, Drew and Emily, and it was definitely clear how their pasts had shaped who they are today. It felt like they had a ton of chemistry while on vacation, but I do think it fizzled a little when that ended.
A problem I had was the middle third of the book. The first third was their vacation and the last third was working out their relationship (I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say they see each other after the holiday). But the middle third just felt slow and instead of building will-they-won’t-they suspense, it felt like it dragged and I just ended up skimming some of those chapters.
To sum it up, it’s a good contemporary romance with likeable characters. The description compares the book to some of my absolute favourite authors which is why I read it in the first place. But I think that led me to having too high expectations.
ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was a quick read that had some substance to it. I really felt for Emily and Drew. They absolutely deserve to be together but the angst (my god) they had to go through to get to that point where they can be together with and HEA. They have amazing chemistry and I honestly don't think I've every routed for two people to be together more than I did with Emily and Drew. I wanted them to have their HEA. I highly recommend this book! You won't be able to put it down.
"I received an advanced copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review."
This book was excellent! Totally kept my attention and I wanted to find out what would become of the main characters. Highly reccomended.
"Accidental Lies" started out really well; it had a lot of potential. Two people dealing with the loss of their respective spouses find a second chance when they meet on a vacation. With these two very sympathetic characters and an engaging premise, I was expecting to really like this book. But then it became contrived for no apparent reason other than piling on extra angst to the story. I understand not wanting to share your tragic life story with a vacation fling, but as events evolve, people usually evolve with them. It was these unnatural decisions that took me out of the fantasy of the book, erasing the magic of feeling for these characters, and exposing the author behind the curtain trying to steer the story where it would not naturally go.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Accidental Lies by Dana Mason. This is the first book I've read by this author and I look forward to reading more by her. The second book in the Accidental Love series. I still was able to enjoy the book even though it was part of a series. Likable characters, some spicy content, great dialogue.
Title: Accidental Lies
Author: Dana Mason
Length: 295 pages
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: August 7, 2019
Genre: Romance, Fiction, Drama, Relationships
My rating: 4/5
Summary:
The story is a love story of Emily and Drew who meet while on a vacation and keep their lives a secret and a lie that Drew tells about himself accidently which creates complications in their lives later.
My Take:
I would like to thank the publisher Bookouture and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book to read and review.
I wanted a light read and hence went in for this one and proved to be the right choice. The book is an absolute light read with not much melodrama. You can forget your life while engrossing in this romantic saga.
The story is a fast paced book and never drags at any place. It’s written from the perspectives of the main protagonists Emily and Drew’s in first person. The required depth in their characterisation is present. You simply fall in love with the character of Drew. The character of Drew can only be found in the books like these. The complications in their relationship are portrayed nicely.
The book makes one realise how important a role communication plays in everybody’s lives. Gaps in communication can create havoc in any relationship. The book has lots of intimate scenes, considering it’s a romantic story was required. The pace of the book never falters at any place.
After reading author’s note I realised that this is the second book in accidental series. The first one being Accidental Groom which is the story of Emily’s brother Mac. M sure I’ll pick that book when I feel like indulging in some light reading.
An apt book if you are feeling a bit low and need a smile on your face. I loved this one.
Book Title: Accidental Lies (Accidental Love #2)
Author: Dana Mason
Pub Date: August 7, 2019
***ARC was provided to me by Net Galley and the Publisher for a fair and honest review***
Overall rating: 3.5 Vacation fling that turns into something more.
Heroine (Emily Tucker): 3.5/5 Emily is a lawyer who lost her husband in an accident 4 years ago. She threw herself into her work and has forgotten how to let go and move on with her life.
Hero (Drew Whitney): 3.5/5 Drew is a widower and single father to two young children. He owns his own contracting business.
Plot: 4/5 Emily’s brother forces her on vacation in an attempt to help her move on after losing her husband four years ago. She quickly meets Drew and the pair start a pact not to share details from their real life and have a vacation fling that ends when one leaves. For Emily it means living in the moment, something she rarely does in her life outside of Maui. For Drew it means getting to cut loose and not worry about the constraints that come with being a full time single parent.
Personal Review: The characters all feel very real and live complex lives. Mason doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of people’s real lives, and is unafraid to let her characters feel loss and deal with it on each page.
I loved the whole time the pair were in Maui, but the story lost me a bit when we got back to California. I just couldn’t understand why either would keep up the lies, or half truths with the person they claim to love and want to start a serious relationship with. I think it wasted precious page space that Emily could have been getting to know Drew’s family, something she apparently does off page. I wanted to see her interact with the kids and take on a motherly role with them.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley!
Accidental Lies is steamy for sure. It's romantic. Characters are well-developed & easy to like. I'd label this as a perfect summer read!
Fast paced, steamy, well written and deliciously romantic. I enjoyed this book a lot, my first existence reading this author's work and I'll definitely be seeking out more. The characters were very refreshing and the storyline made for the perfect summer read!
Accidental Lies
(Accidental Love #2)
by Dana Mason
Kindle Edition, 295 pages
Expected publication: August 7th 2019 by Bookouture
Goodreads synopsis:
It was only meant to be a vacation fling…
Three blissful weeks on the beautiful island of Maui are exactly what I need… Hula dancers, Mai Tais with cocktail umbrellas, and golden beaches – what more could I want?
Then I see her, and I realize she’s exactly what I want.
She was locked outside of her hotel room, all buttoned-up in a suit definitely not appropriate for a vacation, and wearing a fierce take-no-shit stance. But I couldn’t help noticing the pain behind her eyes…
Four Mai Tais later, the chemistry between us is hotter than the Hawaiian sun, and we decide to spend the rest of our vacation unwinding, undressing, and getting to know each other a little better…
We have just two rules:
1) No talking about our lives outside Maui.
2) This is just a vacation fling.
That means I can’t tell her about the heartbreak that haunts me, and the secret I have back home. It means I can’t ask her about the sorrow in her eyes, and why she has such a wall up – a wall I’m determined to bring crashing down.
When the sun sets on our trip, can I say goodbye to this gorgeous blue-eyed beauty? Or am I going to be tempted to break the rules?
And if I do decide to be a rule-breaker, will she even want me when she finds out who I really am?
This is a full-length, standalone romance with some hot-under-the-collar action, no cheating and a guaranteed HEA. For fans of R.S Grey, Whitney G. and Vi Keeland, Accidental Lies features a hot AF alpha and a sizzling will-they-wont-they love story that will have you totally addicted!
***
5 Stars
This is the second book in the Accidental Love series by Dana Mason.
Basic premise: Emily’s brother, Mac, forces her to take a week vacation in Maui. While she is there they suggest she should have a casual fling with no strings attached. She meets Drew and the two hit it off famously. He is already nearing the end of his three week annual vacation and when he goes, home neither knows how to contact the other. They are each lost in their own way once they are without the other. But surprisingly, they meet a week after Emily returns to Sacramento as Drew comes in as the contractor to fix the Victorian home they are using as an office space.
When both are back on somewhat solid ground, Emily quickly realizes she is pregnant. And the drama only increases from there. Add into the mix that Drew has two kids he didn’t tell her about and the fallout is going to be catastrophic.
I spent this whole book yelling at the characters to just freaking talk to each other. There was a gaggle of misunderstandings littered throughout this book. They wanted to remain somewhat anonymous which is why they had the rules: It is only a fling. And no talking about their lives back home. This, of course, throws them into so much hot water I am surprised they both didn’t get scalded.
Reader warning: You might get a bit of emotional stress reading this book since you tend to become uber invested in their relationship. Be prepared to start rooting for them to become a couple at the end. I know I did. I wanted this to work out. I was a cheerleader. The author did have me worried a number of times as to whether that would happen or not. But that is what authors do, they torment us. The make us read faster and harder.
I was completely absorbed in this book and was a bit sad when I had to let it go at the end. There is a first book in this series which features Emily’s brother Mackenzie and his wife. I knew when I finished this, I had to web surf my way on Amazon to purchase that title. I am hooked. This is a new author for me and I was not disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
I loved the first book in this series, but I struggled with this one. Primarily, I think I just never really connected with either of these characters. I found myself skimming parts of it to get to the end because I was genuinely interested in finding out what would happen (so that's saying something), but then when all the misunderstandings begin to pile high at the end, I became so frustrated with both characters that I decided neither one of them deserved to be forgiven for how they behaved. I didn't like either character at that point and wasn't even excited about them working things out (which they do, but that part seemed rushed and ingenuine). The epilogue is really cute and made me smile, so I at least finished with a good feeling.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review.
#AccidentalLies by Dana Mason is the story of Emily and Drew. Both have known heart-ache and loss, both are trying to make their way in life. When they meet accidentally at a resort in Hawaii, they decide not to talk about their jobs, friends and family, but to live in the moment. This "rule" they've put into play leads to a lie of omission that could mean the end of their budding relationship.
Mason has crafted characters that are so human and real that a reader can't help but want the best for them.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Many thanks to the publisher #Bookouture and #NetGalley!
I love a rule breaker!! What a surprise though they both had. After some time not revealing anything, to the ups and downs and until finally it all comes together. When 3 became 5. Loved this book totally.
Absolutely loved every minute of this book! You are hooked from the first page. The main character is so lovable that you can’t help but sympathise with her. I’m so pleased that there was a happy ending and that it all came together in the end.
2 1/2 Star Review.....
While this book is titled Accidental Lies, lies by omission are not accidental and there were far too many of those to ignore. I totally get the concept of wanting to have a summer fling and keep the intricacies of their private lives, private; but we all know that lies lead to mistrust and that causes complications that are often hard to overcome or explain. I found Emily to be annoying at times, and the lies about children as roommates, and then Emily describing a relationship as “ending badly” when her husband had actually died, that was my undoing. Unfortunately, this story had far too many frustrating aspects to make it a good romantic read.