Crown of Lies (Truth and Lies Duet Book 1)

With every book Pepper Winters publishes, I think to myself, "She can no longer surprise me. Pepper has already written her best work yet." Then, she publishes another one and I am flat out WOWED! How does Pepper Winters write such exceptional books, time after time, over and over again?? One would think, at some point, she would grow dull. This is most definitely NOT the case. Pepper Winters absolutely stunned me with her new, Truth and Lies duet, consisting of Crown of Lies and Throne of Truth.

In Crown of Lies, Pepper Winters introduces a strong female and a sexy bad boy … but who is Nameless?? I devoured every page of Crown of Lies like I would my favorite dessert. This series is so unique and the characters are extremely well developed. A chance meeting, an intentional meeting, and a whole lot of questions, intensity, and passion are wrapped up in the pages of both Crown of Lies and Throne of Truth.

When I finished reading Crown of Lies, I truly wanted to throw my Kindle. Yes, I really did. There is a huge cliffhanger in Crown of Lies, but thankfully this author released Throne of Truth only a month later, so I wasn't left waiting too long. Contrary to my feelings after reading book one, with Throne of Truth, Pepper Winters answered all my questions and wrapped up this stunning duet with a fabulous HEA conclusion.

Having read several of Pepper Winter's masterpieces, I now know I will never figure out how she does it-writing stories that take me on an emotional journey the likes of which I've not experienced in most other stories. She is deep. She is harsh. She is extreme. She is a legendary author and one I will follow as long as she's publishing her outstanding imagination with us.

Read Crown of Lies and Throne of Truth, The Truth and Lies Duet. You will thank me for my high recommendation.

~Have You Heard? Book Blog

**SPOILERS AHEAD**

I could hardly put this one down. It's good, but not the very best that this author has delivered in the past. I love dialogue in my books. I want to read conversation, thoughts, moments, etc, there could have been a lot more of that in this book.

This starts off with a young woman just wanting to take a stroll through New York alone. She is constantly surrounded by guards, drivers etc, so for one night, she decides to rebel and wonder out on her own. Big mistake. This stroll turns into something she never imagined. Both bad and good. She is rescued from nearly being raped, by a man, who's face is overshadowed by a hoodie sweatshirt. This man, is homeless...or is he? He's a hero...or is he? He's dangerous...or is he? These are some questions that our heroine has tried to figure out for 3 years...ever since that fateful night he rescued her and then disappeared. She has been unable to find him, or get him out of her mind.

Our hero...or is he? Is sexy, dominant and very mysterious. He's a jerk.....or is he? Who knows. One minute he's suave and the next a total ass. Just when it looks like things will be explained, it takes a turn and leaves us with a a major cliffy.

The writing is good, but again, would have enjoyed more dialogue. The story line is good. A few things I overlooked (19 yr old, NEVER had friends, social graces and yet runs a billion dollar company). And I like cats, but, Can't imagine walking around the office or anywhere in public with it draped around me like a scarf.....just saying.

I will be picking up book 2 next...and BTW, thank your u Pepper Winters for writing a duet instead of a series with tons of books. :)

I absolutely loved this story. Penn is just wow. I could not get enough of him. I have read all of Pepper Winters book and I think Elle is one of my favorite female characters. Her strength and reserve was powerful.

Crown of Lies by Pepper Winters is the first book in her brand new Truth and Lies duet. Christ this woman can write some fantastic stories!

Elle is the star of this story and we get two phases in her life - her nineteenth birthday when everything just went horribly wrong except for the nameless boy that saved her life and set her soul on fire. And today, when she is fully in control of her families multi-generational department story dynasty and has the world at her fingertips but still longs for that one nameless boy.

Spoilers and all that - this story is amazeballs, ends in a cliffhanger and the next book will be out February 28, 2017 (Throne of Truth). Enjoy!

Captivating, enthralling, charming and seductive....Winters take hold of mind and ruins me like no other!
This was an exciting read with a heart stopping end. It completely took hold from the very first page and gave me everything I want and expect till the last!

Like all of WINTER'S work, it refreshing concept, enchanting characters and the unsettling edge-of-the-cliff anxiety is an experience like no other and completely wanted.

If your a Pepper Winters fan then I dont need to explain, if you have never experienced her work....then your in for a damn good treat, lucky you!

Crown of Lies was a non-stop, page-turner...I put it down long enough to write this review and at 1am will be going straight into part 2 of this sexy and seductive duet with Throne of Truth!

No words can describe the elation I feel when being transported into Ms Winter's world...

I basically want to smack myself for this, but up until now I was a Pepper Winters virgin.. I know I know, I can't believe it either. I own multiple books of hers but my TBR is hopeless at times.. However omg this was the PERFECT book to pop my Pepper cherry! Gahhh, it's hard to put into words what I feel about this book!! It was amazing to say the least. I was captivated my Penn Everett, and the story that Pepper spun. Elle was an awesome heroine and I LOVED her, I loved her strength, her back bone, her intelligence, her witty mouth and most of all her innocence. It was endearing and I was so wrapped up in her emotions through the entire story. This book was so much, it was hot, it was beautiful, it was suspenseful, it was heart wrenching, it was simply brilliant! The book grabbed me in such a way that I was breathless when I finished. I was anxious, crazy, and completely captivated by the time it ended, and THAT ending... HOLY CLIFFHANGER!! I need Thrown of Truths like yesterday, because I have a book hangover like no other, and I NEED to know what happens. This book is probably worth more than 5 stars, but since I can't do more than that, this is 5 well earned fantastic stars. Get ready to feel to your core with this enthralling tale, this is writing at its finest and I'm hooked!

Noelle Charlston has been raised by her father, Joe. He started the family empire, 'Belle Elle" famous for their fashion designs & high end quality clothing.. (her mother passed away when she was a young girl) Elle had been coached by her father to take over the business since she was 12 years old... and by the age of 16 she had dropped out of school and was pretty much running beside her father the business... Elle worked hard & long hours, no real friends, never been kissed, no school dances, & by the time she was 19 she decided she was going to go out on the town in 'NYC' it was time for her to have a little fun out, she needed to see what it was like without her bodyguard & just be a bit reckless for once! When she was out.. it wasn't what she thought, she saw a homeless man being laughed at by some girls which made her angry ( Elle went over and gave him all her money except $80.00 so she could get a cab to get home) then while she was trying to find a cab, Elle was attacked by two guys - who threatened to hurt her if she didn't do what she was told... they wanted her money, any jewelry (which was a necklace from her father) when she fought back & said 'no' they hit her and attempted to rape her.. began ripping her clothes up.. then another guy shows up to help her.. He attacked the guys & they ran off.. she forgot to get her necklace back.. but the guy who Elle called 'no name' asked to walked her home, so she was safe. But before they head back he takes Elle to Central Park and the two truly feel a connection, she gets her first kiss from him & then the security guards come, so they run.. only to get caught by police.. where he gets arrested and Elle's bodyguard comes and gets her.. (she tries for weeks to find him, but without a name,she comes out w/no luck) 3 years later, she finds her father talking to some man in the bar of a restaurant trying to play match maker.. Elle overhears the two talking .. she finds the gentleman very attractive, yet she is not impressed that her father is speaking to a stranger to find her a husband.. he introduces himself..Penn Everett. He continues to run into Elle and tries to get close to her & talk her into going out with him.. they finally go out & she feels like she knows him, he reminds her of 'no name' so she digs into getting to know him better.. the two get close, even become intimate (Elle's first experience) Penn has a friend, Larry who is also his atty .. Penn made his money off stocks - he is doing charity work, he begins to want to tell Elle who he is & his secrets.. but, before he can tell her everything, the secrets/lies begin to unravel - Elle finds some details & runs thinking he was one of the boys who attacked her in the alley when she was 19yrs... this book ends with a HUGE cliff... cant wait for bk2... omg!!

THREE YEARS
Since I ran away for the night, in New York streets, and almost got killed in an alley by two thieves. Until he showed up and saved me.

THREE DAYS
Since I threw a drink at the man my father expected me to marry, then found myself slammed against a wall with Penn Everett's seductive voice whispering a proposal I couldn't refuse.

THREE HOURS
To fall into hate with the man who reminded me of so many things and hid so much behind his lies. He couldn't be the man who saved me three years ago...but there's something so familiar...

THREE MINUTES
For our relationship to switch from no-strings to marriage. He announced it to my father--he's ecstatic. He told my friends--they're shocked. But he didn't ask me, he commanded me--and I'm livid.

THREE SECONDS
For his lies to slowly steal my heart and make me believe, hope...trust.

THREE BREATHS
For his truth to destroy me.

Crown of Lies takes you into a world of chaos, sex, and love. Ella after going thru a horrific encounter where she is saved by a chocolate loving hero, three years she keeps to working like a slave to keep people at bay all the while trying to find and save her mystery man. She is thrown into dates by her father and a family friend with people that she's not interested in only to have a mystery man show up. She's torn between his secrets and the way her body responds to him. Women's intuition tells her there's questions about this man that must be answered. But who is he really, someone bad or someone that she's been thinking about for three years.

I loved the characters the storyline and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

I recommend this book to anyone that loves romance, intrigue, and having lots of questions to answer.

Crown of Lies by Pepper Winters
Started off slow, it took 25-30% for me to get into the book.... I'm glad I stuck to it becausr now I can't wait for the next book....

Noelle a rich heiress who has been groomed to be CEO of her company

Nameless her savior one night when she was 19 gets arrested and disappears

Penn an arrogant alpha male with secrets and lies...appears when she's 22

Great idea for story
Characters could have been more developed
The book had suspense, lies, hot scenes, father & daughter bond....

overall a good read

WOW!! This story left me breathless!!! It is certainly thrilling and romantic! I felt sorry for Noelle! One night of freedom from her responsibilities causes years of fear and heartbreak. Saved by a nameless guy she can't forget! Years searching for him leads to a dead end. She meets a mysterious man who storms her defenses! He has secrets too numerous to count! Those secrets could rock her world! She was afraid of the unknown but, should have been more afraid of people she knew!

I am SOO Hooked!! There is a huge cliffhanger! I can't wait to read book #2!

Spoiler**** I liked the story line and it started off ok, however, the concept of a highly intellegent woman in a leadership and ownership role for her family's million dollar business not having basic common sense? It just didn't work for me. A person in her position within the world she lived in has a lot of connections and pull. Her voice would have been heard. Her being afraid she would never be able to step out again wasn't a good reason to stay quiet either as she never did anyway. It just wasn't believable for me. It has a good plot, but just wasn't executed very well for me.
Does have a gorgeous cover