ARTFUL LIES
Series:Hunt Legacy Duology
Author: Jodi Ellen Malpas
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April 30th, 2020
Artful Lies, a brand new irresistible and passionate romance from the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of the This Man series, Jodi Ellen Malpas, is coming April 30, 2020!
An irresistible connection, a desire that won’t let go…
When aspiring antiques dealer Eleanor Cole is handed the chance of a lifetime to work for the Hunt Corporation, the renowned antiques dealers, she doesn’t think twice. Only to discover she’ll be working up close and personal with the notorious and insanely irresistible Becker Hunt. He is a man famous for getting what he wants, and Becker wants Eleanor.
But as Becker pulls her deeper into his world, she discovers there’s more to him than meets the eye.
And falling for Becker goes from being foolish to dangerous…
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‘I’m told you’re settling in well,’ he says, but I still refuse to look at him.
‘Yes, very well, thank you,’ I answer, giving myself a cheer for my professionalism. Then I move to the right. And so does he.
‘Good,’ he says quietly. ‘Very good.’
Biting my lip, desperately wrestling off the urge to take a quick peek at him, I step to the right again. And so does he. ‘Excuse me.’ It takes everything in me to maintain my strength. He’s like a magnet to my eyes. Nothing as stunning as him should be ignored. Immune? I laugh to myself. I don’t think that’s possible.
It’s a long, long while, but I eventually see his smart brogues shift.
‘My lady,’ he says quietly.
Damn it. I chance a peek up at him as I scoot past, catching the signs of a cheeky smirk. And, shit, if my eyes don’t sprint over his entire face as I continue past, and then down his tall frame.
‘I look better naked,’ he says, all low and sexy. That soon breaks my trance, and I swing away, outraged, marching on.
‘I don’t plan on finding out,’ I mutter under my breath, and he laughs, telling me I didn’t voice my promise quietly enough. I stop, turning to face him. ‘You know, I’m pretty sure I could make a complaint to HR about sexual harassment.’
He grins. ‘I am HR. What’s your complaint?’
I narrow my eyes. ‘You’re not funny.’
‘Then why are you fighting to hold back your grin?’
My lips purse. Damn him. ‘Are you going to continually try to get a rise out of me?’
‘A rise?’ He peeks down at his groin area, and then glances back up, his grin now mild. ‘Too late.’
My eyes naturally drop to his groin, and he chuckles as he turns and saunters away. My head cocks in admiration, his lovely backside my focus. It really is a sight to behold, his sexy swagger executed to a T.
‘Stop looking at my arse,’ he shouts over his shoulder.
I cringe. Holy shit, I need to find some control. He’s my boss, for Christ’s sake. ‘I was doing no such thing.’
‘You know,’ he calls, ‘I’m pretty sure I could make a complaint to HR.’
‘What’s your complaint?’ I ask on a frown.
‘That you’re undressing me with your eyes.’ He doesn’t entertain me with another glimpse of his lovely face, just carries casually on his way, disappearing through the large doors into the Grand Hall.
4.25 ‘My Haven’ Stars
Ohhh, wowwww!!! Artful Lies is absolutely RIVETING!!! Jodi Ellen Malpas’ first part of the Hunt Legacy Duology seduces and enthralls us into a mystique filled universe where Becker Hunt is king, and oh boy, what a ruler… Richly weaved, opulently set, emotionally raw and insanely sexy, with a jaw dropping twist and the perfect hint of mystery, Artful Lies enraptures us so intense and completely in its addictive Haven, that we’ll never, EVER want to get out!
Ms. Malpas promised us a Alpha to rival Jesse Ward, and I have to say, Becker Hunt is without a doubt one Alpha – with a capital A – that very much like the first, we won’t forget. This man is so potently written that he’s in a league of his own. The OTT Alpha at its finest, and in the most drool inducing of packages… He’s as aggravating – yes, many time I wanted to strangle him even more than Eleanor did, lol – as he is enticing, and his mysteriousness and maverick ways coupled with his unapologetic sex appeal, well, very much like he’s described, and pointed out by Eleanor herself, he’s just a combo impossible to resist. And oh boy, resist she try!
He must be a wizard, or something equally magical, because I feel like I’m under a spell.
For the love of all things gorgeous, he belongs in an art gallery.
Unconventional, daring, cocky but smart. Unapologetic for who he is. Passionate about his passion. A total maverick, just like his gramps said. Truly spirited. And he’s unearthed a spirit in me, too.
Eleanor has just moved to London to escape her past, as well as put her delayed professional dreams to fruition. From the very first moment though, Fate has seemed to have even bigger, and more ‘troublesome’, lol, plans for her, that start almost immediately in her new adventure when a God like stranger, with the most wicked of smirks and angel eyes, runs into her – and keeps on crashing into her, in more ways than one.
So imagine her reaction when after a rocky start in her search of employment, thanks to the mystery man, no less, she not only has a once in a lifetime chance to have the most coveted job in the field, and without a clue when applying. What she never expect was that along with the dream job, came a aggravating and wicked boss, none other than her mystery ‘cab thief’, aka Becker Hunt.
One minute, it feels like he’s mentally undressing me, the next he’s looking at me like he wants to strangle me.
I’m having you, Eleanor. Every fucking bit of you. I’m not forcing my way in. You’ll let me in, because you want me just as badly.’
‘Every time I see you lost in what you love, my fucking dead heart kicks a little.’
The chemistry… OMG, THE CHEMISTRY!!!! From that very first encounter, we could practically feel the sparks in the air, industrial sized sparks, but sparks, nonetheless. Eleanor and Becker’s magnetism is so powerfully described, I dare you not to feel their insane connection which only increases with every encounter, never once faltering, much to both their dismay. So powerful and unwanted in fact that is no wonder that it turn it gave us the most captivating and delicious of banters, these two could not be in the same room without wanting to strangle each other or rip one another’s couples, and I was so here for it!!! Of course this push and pull, the wicked games and taunting moments, translated into the most scorching of foreplays, and cold shower required sexy scenes. Yep they were just THAT explosive together!
‘I took you because I have an annoying fucking urge to let you in.’
I want him. All of him – his secrets, his passion, his words.
He could ruin me. But he could also fix me. To a certain extent, he’s already repaired my broken spirit.
The fact that they could be so raw when it came to their cravings, just made me enjoy even more when their showed their conflicting emotions, specially their struggle with the feelings the other invoked in them, and though there were a couple of times I wanted to nut punch Becker right there at the beginning, and wished that Eleanor had done just that, lol – still hoping FERVENTLY that as I suspect, nothing is as it seems when it comes to a certain Tiger Bird, and the shows that Becker set for Eleanor’s benefit, because it was honestly the only moment I was a bit put off, so fingers crossed! – when they FINALLY gave in, and they started slowly unveiling their vulnerability, and just how tortured Becker’s heart was, it brought a whole new dimension to their emotional connection. The feelings through the whole book are so beautifully exposed, it was impossible not to live them right there with the couple.
Eleanor, whose POV we get all throughout this book, is such an amazing leading lady, strong, and sassy but still completely relatable in her fragility and doubts. Her internal struggles and doubts are so vivid, I think that is why at the start I wanted to strangle Becker so much, yes, her thought’s are so realistically exposed I was right there with her in her fury and hurt, lol. Another incredible aspect we get from seeing the story thought her eyes, is Jodi Ellen Malpas’ masterful world building, and stage setting, because by giving Eleanor her art and history background, when we see the world and specially The Haven and Becker’s treasure, I felt I was right there with her in her awe and curiosity. JEM’s exquisite attention to detail and richly built descriptions really transport us to a new universe, in this case, all things Hunt.
What a ride this was, I’ve laughed, I’ve raged, I swooned, and I cried! The way that Becker made Eleanor feel throughout the book, I’ve felt all her emotions, and the way she burned for him but still felt for his tormented heart, I was right there with her. Ms. Malpas really transposed his anguish to a T. And by the end of this part, I was feeling her devastation like it was my own, and that is the number irrefutable proof of the amazingness of Artful Lies.
‘Don’t fall in love with me, princess,’ he whispers. ‘Because I’d hate myself forever if I hurt you.’
Safe from heartbreak. Because his heart is locked away with his other treasures. This is his haven, but it’s also his fortress.
Oh my… Jodi Ellen Malpas gave the PERFECT description herself for Artful Lies, indeed This Man meets Thomas Crown Affair is a SPOT ON reference when it comes to this book/duology. The intrigue and the mystery that the author masterfully intertwined with Eleanor and Becker’s EPIC love story, only made the already complex and captivating characters that much passionate, and the incredible storyline richer and alluring. From the very first paragraph, it’s impossible not to get ourselves emerged into this world, and never want to leave, so when we get to the ending of this first part of the duology, we’re about ready to offer Ms. Malpas our first born for the pleasure of unveiling what happens next to these two. I know I am, because JEM sure knows how to leave us in the very edge of our seats, where we don’t know if we should scream and beg for November to come sooner, or just worship her for the unforgettable characters that we have no doubt will branded forever in our minds. And their legendary tale is not even over yet! That about says it. Oh yes, Wicked Truths can’t come fast enough!!! <3 <3 <3 <3
‘You’re the fucking queen of the playing board, Eleanor. Superior to all. Got it?’
‘Every time I see you lost in what you love, my fucking dead heart kicks a little.’
Becker Hunt stole my heart. Ripped it from my chest. How is it possible that my heaven has transformed into the worst kind of hell?
ARC kindly provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR
for an honest review
Jodi Ellen Malpas was born and raised in the Midlands town of Northampton, England, where she lives with her husband, boys, and a beagle. She is a self-professed daydreamer, a Converse and mojito addict, and she has a terrible weak spot for alpha males. Writing powerful love stories and creating addictive characters has become her passion—a passion she now shares with her devoted readers.
Her novels have hit bestseller lists for the New York Times, USA Today, Sunday Times, and various other international publications and can be read in more than twenty-four languages around the world.
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