I didn't think any MMC could top Lachlan but FINN BARLOW. I love a jealous and obsessed MMC. This book really had the perfect plot to spice ratio. There is also a mystery aspect and I was on the edge of my seat. The twist shocked me!!!

About the narration:
The audiobook is narrated by Stephen Dexter and Janina Granda. They both are new to me as narrators but they were perfect for Finn and Josslyn.

Read if you love:
- hockey romance
- found family
- romantic suspense
- boy obsessed
- dual POV
- best friend's brother
- touch her and

This is a dark romance so please check TWs before reading and don't forget to take care of yourself ❤️

A great audiobook! Loved the stories and loved the narrators 🫶🏼 I have been wanting to read this for a hot minute so when I saw the audiobook for it I was so excited… an overall great read

i really enjoyed this one! after reading until i get you i was so excited for this one! these two had such a strong connection and i loved them together! loved the slow burn and the spice was amazing! the narrators made it so easy to get lost in the story and i highly recommend!

I throughly enjoyed this audiobook! The narrators are great, the story is so well written, the characters are interesting, the spice is spicin’ and there’s plenty of mystery and suspense.

Thank you for the ALC for my honest review.

I really enjoyed When We Lied by Claire Contreras. The story features a morally grey hero who is also a professional hockey player, which was an intriguing combination for me. I’ll definitely need to go back and read the first book in the series!

Finn is the classic broody, alpha-hole type in the best morally grey way, while the female lead is a sweet sunshine that everyone wants to bask in. I loved the development of their relationship. What starts as a one-time hookup evolves into a deeper connection over time, spiced with early attraction but enriched by the journey they share. Their bonding over investigating Finn's sister's mysterious circumstances serves as the perfect catalyst for their relationship.

My only minor issue with the book is that it felt a bit longer than necessary at times. There were a few moments where I just wanted them to resolve things quicker, but that’s probably just my impatience.

The twist was well-executed! I didn’t see it coming until shortly before it was revealed, which added to the suspense and enjoyment.

The audiobook narration was fantastic, particularly Janine Granda’s performance. She truly embodied the characters and brought them to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape for the ALC!

4.5 ⭐️ 3/5 🌶️
I was excited to get to listen to this audiobook! I absolutely loved this book, it just was a little on the slow side in the beginning but it picked up around 40%. The narrators were Stephen Dextor & Janina Granda. They did such an amazing job bringing this book to life. The plot, suspense and romance were all equally balanced. Josslyn (Joss) & Finneas (Finn) relationship had so much love and angst.

Joss is a basketball player and an influencer and Finn is a hockey player. Finn is a major grump and Joss is a rare of sunshine. Can you believe Finn really believed that so much he bought her sunflowers a few times. He is literally obsessed with her, but in such a caring way. There was so many twist at the end I was not excepting and i literally jumped off the couch it took me at that much surprise! I crave for suspense in a book and this does it perfectly!

I highly recommend this book, just make sure you read the trigger warnings.

Tropes:
-hockey (MMC) & basketball (FMC)
-grumpy sunshine
-boy obsessed
-suspense
-possessive MMC
-touch her & die
-no third act breakup

I loved this story, it's a mix of darker romance and lots of mystery. Both Josslyn and Finn tried so hard to deny what was between them while still trying to figure out what happened to Mallory. Josslyn has the purest heart and wants to take care of everyone even if it does hurt her. She was terrified Finn would do just that. Finn on the other hand is grumpy and wants to just get information out of Josslyn. Atleast at first... The change in Finn throughout this story is amazing. He changed into a completely different person. They end up being exactly what each other need.

The narration is one of the best I've heard. Both of Stephen Dexter and Janine Granda made these characters come to life. Their voices pulled me in from the first sentence. These two should always narrate together!

Tropes:
- Hockey Romance
- Found Family
- Basketball Player FMC
- Possessive MMC
- Touch Her and Die
- Romantic Suspense
- No 3rd Act Break-up

Posted to Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram.

Tropes:
Sports romance (NHL MMC + college basketball FMC)
Best friends brother
Mystery / suspense
No third act breakup
Touch her and 💀

4⭐️
3🌶️

The MMC is a hockey player and grumpy, loved that. I loved that the FMC played sports too AND was great at it! This book is not a slow burn, things got real open door from the very begining. There was no third breakup act but still some tension. I enjoyed the writing style. I really enjoyed the mystery behind it and the plot twists. However, in my opinion the chemistry between the two MCs was lacking. I didn't feel the swoon or love until after all the drama unfolded.

this was SO GOOD! This was actually my first Claire Contreras book. Now I need to go back and read the first one! I loved the suspense and mystery in the book. Finn was literally OBSESSED with Josslyn and so possessive I loved it.

The banter, right from the starting got me hooked into this book. I absolutely love the FMC in this one, she was so sassy and amazing.
The romance was hawwtt, oh my god. I loved each bit of it🤌🤌 literally every single thing. This was my first read from the author's work, now I will be definitely looking forward to read the other works too.

The audiobook for When We Lied by Claire Contreras was enjoyable with stellar narrators, a tantalizing romance, and a suspenseful atmosphere. However, I think the book suffered from numerous inconsistencies in various plot points and information the characters had.

• spicy hockey romance & romantic suspense
• pro hockey player x college basketball player
• she was his sisters friend
• I got an early listener copy of the audio
• narrated by Stephen Dexter and Janine Granda
• ebook in kindle unlimited
• Latina heroine
• TW in book, but most notably the story has prominent themes of grief, loss of a sibling/friend, and suicide of a side character (historical, off page) and speculation of sui€ide of a secondary character (no graphic depictions)

Josslyn Santos and Finn Barlowe are at a party when their eyes meet from across the room and their fates become entwined for the first time. What starts as a chance meeting between the two because his sister is also her friend turns into a mystery that haunts them both when, years later, the death of his sister under questionable circumstances leaves them both bereft and searching for the truth. Josslyn doesn’t remember much but Finn is sure she’s hiding something.

Finn quickly realizes she isnt hiding anything nefarious and the tension between them explodes. The spicy scenes in this book are top-tier hot and while Stephen Dexters does a decent woman’s voice, Janine Granda’s man voice is ridiculously good, especially during those scenes.

Their romance was fantastic and kept me fully engaged with their push and pull dynamic, especially with how hard and quickly Finn fell. The mystery was okay but I did predict things fairly early on but I thought my prediction would be wrong.

My biggest gripe is that the story felt disjointed and contradicted itself. Normally I can overlook that but there were numerous instances, some vital to the plot, and it pulled me out of the story repeatedly. It made the external plot/twists feel underdeveloped in what is otherwise an excellent romance.

4⭐, 3🌶️

So when I listened to book one, I was in the smaller group that didnt have the greatest review of the book, but I gave this series another chance because again, the reviews for this book were POPPING! And thankfully I really enjoyed this book! Finn and Joss were so much, and it was very entertaining. the spice was good, and I enjoyed how the characters from book one were intertwined. While I liked the first 65% of the book, the last 35%?! I think I liked the mystery behind the sister more than the romance plot 😅 Very exciting! Overall a good book that Im glad I listened to!

Romantic Suspense
Sports Romance
Second Chance Romance (One Night Stand)
Mental Health Representation
FMC: College Basketball Player; Social Media Influencer; Sunshine
MMC: Morally Grey ; Pro Hockey Player; Grumpy; Hero Obsessed

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for an ALC of When We Lied by Claire Contreras, narrated by Stephen Dexter and Janine Granda. This is my honest and unpaid review!

I’m respectfully going to DNF this audio because I find it confusing to follow the narration. The story has been great so far, but I’m several hours in and it’s the narration is not getting better enough to keep my attention. I appreciate getting the chance to review.

✨ Spoilers ✨

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞/𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫:

When We Lied - Claire Contreras

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:

- Finn
- Josslyn

𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:

" 'Are you here because you're on your jealous caveman bull*?'

'I'm here because I'm on my Josslyn bull*."

"You're my fuc*ing fantasy, my dream girl. Do you really think I'd be stupid enough to hurt you like that."

"I love you more, my Josie, my love, my heart, my sun, my everything."

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:

Audio review:

Man did these narrators make me melt. Finns voice was smooth like butter and Jocelyn was pure magic. They read this so perfectly. I felt so connected to the characters because of them. I didn't feel the need to speed them up or slow them down it was perfect. I definitely need more.

Review:

Man, men written by Claire Contreras are always unhinged and with so many red flags but in the best way. Finn was obsessed from the start without even knowing it. Josslyn was so sweet, and perfect and bada$$. I loved the buildup of this story it was amazing. The plot was perfect in everyway and had me wondering what was going to happen next. It had spice, suspense and some swoonworthy moments. I thought "Until I Get You" was it but no this tops my charts. I can't wait to read more by this author.

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:

• Hockey romance
• Dark romance
• Possessive MMC
• Both athletic 🔥
• Found family
• Touch her and 👋🏻

𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞:

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

“Hockey was my first love for a long time, but nothing compares to what I feel for her.”

When We Lied was a gripping, emotional and suspenseful read that kept me on the edge of my seat. The slow-burn, push and pull relationship of Josslyn and Finn’s was full of longing and yearning and a soul-deep connection that couldn’t not be denied.

“No one has ever made me feel the way she does when she looks at me.”

I loved Josslyn’s heart and how she cared for everyone even when they betrayed her. Her gentle soul led her to experience heartbreak, but it also made her stronger in the end. It took her awhile to trust her bond with Finn, but once she did, I loved how confident and happy it made her.

“She accepts me for who I am and doesn’t hold my mistakes against me.”

The change in Finn throughout the story was staggering. A man who started out by only ever having one night with a woman quickly became obsessed with Josslyn. She made him feel for the first time in his life and his possessive protectiveness was over the top, but I absolutely loved it. She was the first person who put him first and cared for him unconditionally.

“There’s no universe in which I exist without her.”

Stephen Dexter and Janine Granda narrated the audio and I think they made me fall even more in love with this story than I did while reading it. Every emotion was conveyed in their voices and I was completed immersed in Josslyn and Finn’s journey while listening to these two talented narrators.

“You’ve always been an outlier. No one else exists when you’re around.”

The pull between Josslyn and Finn was present from their very first encounter and it never lessened although both did their best to deny its existence. I loved watching them dance around what they felt for each other and then when they finally gave in, their connection was almost tangible. The suspenseful element in this story was masterfully done and I will admit that I was completely surprised by the ending. I didn’t see it coming. Full of revenge, betrayal, sizzling chemistry, and an all-consuming love, When We Lied was a epic story that will give you all the feels while keeping you glued to the page.

I enjoyed this audiobook. I love the spiciness, the characters, and enjoyed the plot. I would say it is a mixed bag between romance, erotic, and thriller, but it works! The book does talk about how the main characters play sports, but it doesn't seem to play a big roll until later in the book. Just seems odd that the characters' respective sport seems to define part of their personality but most of the scenes take place outside of practice or games. Also, at the 70% mark it there were some events occurring (don't want to give away spoilers), and I thought the book was ending. I was confused why I was only 70% through. The following events were totally worth it though. I think this book totally worth the read, although could be trigger for some with content regarding sex clubs, violence, suicide, stalking etc.

Great mix of romantic suspense with super kinky steam.

I think Claire truly excels in romantic suspense novels. She does the perfect mix of mystery and slowly feeding us clues until the whole puzzle is put together.
Then two hotties denying attraction yet finding solace in each other.
Great story.

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐖𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐃
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

🎧 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝗮 #NETGALLEY
⏳ 𝟭𝟯𝗛 𝟰𝟳𝗠
🎙️ 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 & 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗿

⛸️𝚂𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚜 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
🏀𝙷𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚢 𝙿𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚎𝚛 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚘
⛸️𝙱𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚎𝚝𝚋𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝙿𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚎𝚛 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚎
🏀𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚌 𝚂𝚞𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎
⛸️𝙾𝚗𝚎 𝙽𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍

❝ ꜰɪɴɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴊᴏꜱꜱʟʏɴ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀ ꜱᴛᴇᴀᴍʏ ᴇɴᴄᴏᴜɴᴛᴇʀ ᴀ ꜰᴇᴡ ʏᴇᴀʀꜱ ᴀɢᴏ ᴀᴛ ᴀ ꜱᴇx ᴄʟᴜʙ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ ᴏᴡɴᴇᴅ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ɢᴏ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ꜱᴇᴘᴀʀᴀᴛᴇ ᴡᴀʏ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ, ꜰɪɴɴ ʜᴀꜱ ᴀ ꜱᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ ᴀɢᴇɴᴅᴀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴏᴇꜱɴ’ᴛ ɪɴᴠᴏʟᴠᴇ ʜᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀ ᴍʏꜱᴛᴇʀʏ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ʜɪꜱ ꜱɪꜱᴛᴇʀ’ꜱ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴀɴᴅ ᴊᴏꜱꜱʟʏ ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ɪᴛ…❝

Ok, I went into this book completely blind, no blurb, NO NOTHING, and I have to say I was surprised by the kind of story I get. Finn is feeling guilty ever since his sister, Mallory, was found dead in a fire and he suspects there must be something more going on behind her death. Oh dear, SOMETHING INDEED.

What I love about this book is mostly their relationship, Finn was torn between his guilt in finding his sister’s cause of death and his attraction to Josslyn. Jossly was with Mallory on the night of the accident, however, she claimed she didn’t remember anything when Finn insisted he could prove otherwise. But no matter how much he denies his feelings, he can’t help his desire to calm her.

I was enjoying this book just fine, the smut was hot and I was curious about the mystery behind Mallory’s death. Until…..the third act conflict came. Personally, I thought it was super OTT and very dramatic, but on the plus side? I didn’t see it coming😂

🎧𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄🎧
This was such a great audio to listen to, this was on the longer side for an audiobook, but I had a good time listening to this. Stephen is great as usual, I love his voice and he’s just perfect as Finn who is always in control and a little bit of a dom🥵 Janine is new to me and I think she’s amazing, of course, the accent is on point and she did so well in voicing the different characters, well done!

⚠️𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠/𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐤⚠️
- Voyeurism
- Violence/gun violence
- Kidnapping/hostage situation
- Cheating (not by MCs)
- Drug abuse
- Mental health issue

✨ 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 NETGALLEY & DREAMSCAPE MEDIA 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔, 𝙸'𝚖 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚢 ✨

When We Lied
Claire Contreras
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for review.
In When We Lied we meet Finneas Barlow a pro-hockey player. Finneas is a ladies' man a real wolf in a hockey uniform. Josslyn Santos is a basketball star and a admired influencer. The two met four years ago. Finneas made his rules plain, a one-time night, with no strings attached. Four years later Finn is back. The attraction is still there.
This is a hot, spicy and steamy tale. Finn comes across as an egotistical person. However, once I got to know him my opinion changed. It was obvious he cared for Josslyn. He was obsessed with her. Josslyn was an interesting and enjoyable character. She has a nice strength, but Finn is her weakness.
The dialogue left a lot to be desired. But the plot is interesting.