J.T. Geissinger

Liars Like Us

Ms. Mint

"Hello, little lamb. Welcome to the lion's den."

“There are a million shades of gray between good and evil, love. Am I on the darker end of the spectrum? Yes. Am I a bad man who does good things or a good man who does bad things? Both. But you made this monster your slave. All of what I am, good and bad, light and dark, belongs to you.”

“Be a good girl and ask for my dick.” “Or you could be a good boy and just give it to me.”

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Liars Like Us is the first book in the "Morally Gray" series and its also loosely connected to her "Queens and Monsters" world as well so keep that in mind. You can read this one as a standalone if you choose, but some of the connections will make more sense if you have read the "Queens and Monsters" with the "Beautiful Cruel" duo series. This is a story that I think readers will either love or feel "meh" about. It worked really well for me. Not as much as some of her other books, but it's up there with how I felt about the Beautifully Cruel books. This is a edgier contemporary romance but I wouldn't call it dark romance necessarily either, but it depends on your spectrum as well. If you enjoy authors like: Lisa Renee Jones, Kristen Ashley (unfinished hero), or J. Kenner, than this one will work for you. This is also in 1st POV from the heroine, its not dual POV like some of her previous works so that may throw some readers off.

Emery Eastwood, is the owner of a small quaint bookshop where felines roam the premises and has a charm outlook to it. But financially she is barely making it and when a competitor corporate bookshop opens up in the neighborhood, she knows that she is in trouble and won't have a choice but to sell the shop that has been in her family. Then she is shocked when billionaire, Callum McCord makes her a tempting offer, ten million dollars to be his wife of convenience so he can maintain his inheritance. At first Emery fights the offers, but when she realizes its too tempting of an offer she reluctantly accepts with her own conditions. But being married to Callum won't be like anything that Emery expects, and there are secrets and motivations that will only test their relationship...

I found to really enjoy Liars Like Us. This was such a charming read, if I am being honest. But its different from what this author delivered in her previous works. So I do think this is a story that won't be for everyone. Throughout most of the story I was endeared by this story, the author of course has plenty of sass and laughs to entertain the reader and I guarantee that it will work for you. I really found that I just wanted more from this couple. We just see the side to Emery. And while it can work in other books, the way that this author writes, it does feel like a primary component is missing in this one which is seeing Callum's side of things.

We only see what happens in Emery's perspective. While I enjoyed her character for the most part, she dragged on the grovel from Callum way too long to be honest. Personally I am not sure why she was so shocked by his motivations, this is no timid gamma male you are dealing with. I did struggle a bit with the heroine. The hero I loved completely and was on board with him and when everything is revealed, yeah I adored it. I had no issues with what he does and found it quite fascinating. This story also has a bit of a "You've Got Mail" vibes to it, and I really enjoyed seeing a darker take on the story in some ways. The writing of course, is just as, easy to read as her previous books, so you will easily be drawn into this one. Definitely a captivating story that curled my toes and had me laughing up and down throughout. A true keeper of a read!

Lover of Romance 

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Introduction
Liars Like Us is the first book in the "Morally Gray" series and its also loosely connected to her "Queens and Monsters" world as well so keep that in mind. You can read this one as a standalone if you choose, but some of the connections will make more sense if you have read the "Queens and Monsters" with the "Beautiful Cruel" duo series. This is a story that I think readers will either love or feel "meh" about. It worked really well for me. Not as much as some of her other books, but it's up there with how I felt about the Beautifully Cruel books. This is a edgier contemporary romance but I wouldn't call it dark romance necessarily either, but it depends on your spectrum as well. If you enjoy authors like: Lisa Renee Jones, Kristen Ashley (unfinished hero), or J. Kenner, than this one will work for you. This is also in 1st POV from the heroine, its not dual POV like some of her previous works so that may throw some readers off.

Summary
Emery Eastwood, is the owner of a small quaint bookshop where felines roam the premises and has a charm outlook to it. But financially she is barely making it and when a competitor corporate bookshop opens up in the neighborhood, she knows that she is in trouble and won't have a choice but to sell the shop that has been in her family. Then she is shocked when billionaire, Callum McCord makes her a tempting offer, ten million dollars to be his wife of convenience so he can maintain his inheritance. At first Emery fights the offers, but when she realizes its too tempting of an offer she reluctantly accepts with her own conditions. But being married to Callum won't be like anything that Emery expects, and there are secrets and motivations that will only test their relationship...

My Outlook
I found to really enjoy Liars Like Us. This was such a charming read, if I am being honest. But its different from what this author delivered in her previous works. So I do think this is a story that won't be for everyone. Throughout most of the story I was endeared by this story, the author of course has plenty of sass and laughs to entertain the reader and I guarantee that it will work for you. I really found that I just wanted more from this couple. We just see the side to Emery. And while it can work in other books, the way that this author writes, it does feel like a primary component is missing in this one which is seeing Callum's side of things.

We only see what happens in Emery's perspective. While I enjoyed her character for the most part, she dragged on the grovel from Callum way too long to be honest. Personally I am not sure why she was so shocked by his motivations, this is no timid gamma male you are dealing with. I did struggle a bit with the heroine. The hero I loved completely and was on board with him and when everything is revealed, yeah I adored it. I had no issues with what he does and found it quite fascinating. This story also has a bit of a "You've Got Mail" vibes to it, and I really enjoyed seeing a darker take on the story in some ways. The writing of course, is just as, easy to read as her previous books, so you will easily be drawn into this one. Definitely a captivating story that curled my toes and had me laughing up and down throughout. A true keeper of a read!

Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 4
World Building:4
Cover:4
Hero: 4
Heroine: 3.5
Steam: 5
Heart & Feels:4
Ending:3.5
Overall View: 4


If you like a) a feisty spitfire and a real hoot for a heroine, b) a domineering alpha hero with a filthy filthy mouth, c) funny, endearing side characters, d) witty banters that are to die for, and e) fiery hot nsfw scenes, then you'll probably enjoy this book as much as I did. 

The series title is literally called "Morally Gray". That's enough indication that there's no such thing as a traditional hero here. I don't wanna give too much of the plot away, but I'll have you know that Callum is absolutely unhinged and a  psycho. In real life, he'd get a restraining order, and then probably locked up in either a correctional or mental institution. So, if you can't stand moral ambiguity in your book's characters, then you should skip this one.

If you like a) a feisty spitfire and a real hoot for a heroine, b) a domineering alpha hero with a filthy filthy mouth, c) funny, endearing side characters, d) witty banters that are to die for, and e) fiery hot nsfw scenes, then you'll probably enjoy this book as much as I did. 

The series title is literally called "Morally Gray". That's enough indication that there's no such thing as a traditional hero here. I don't wanna give too much of the plot away, but I'll have you know that Callum is absolutely unhinged and a  psycho. In real life, he'd get a restraining order, and then probably locked up in either a correctional or mental institution. So, if you can't stand moral ambiguity in your book's characters, then you should skip this one.

Skye

“how do you tell the stranger you married for his money that he’s becoming your center of gravity?"
•
the way I loved this book! Emery’s life is falling down around her when a seductive, over-confident billionaire swoops in and offers a marriage of convenience. but you know what they say about things that seem too good to be true. sure, the chemistry is there, and the solutions to all Emery’s problems have been provided, but what is she missing? and when she finds out, can she handle it?

this is my first experience reading J.T. Geissinger, and I’m so annoyed at myself for taking this long. her writing style is so immersive. she had my heart pounding during the “big renewal” and I felt like I was experiencing it irl. I appreciated how she dropped little clues throughout the story, but nothing so obvious that I was spoiled prior to the intended reveal.

Callum and Emery are irresistible on their own, but together, they are magic. and don’t even get me started on their spice. 🥵
•

read if you like:

♡ billionaire 
♡ save the family business 
♡ marriage of convenience 
♡ when he says “my wife”
♡ Outlander references
♡ Wuthering Heights references
♡ shotgun weddings
♡ he washes her hair
♡ when he calls her “darling”
♡ anti/alpha hero
♡ ambiguous morals
♡ spice 🥵
♡ Halloween parties 
♡ book stores 
♡ found family 
♡ tattooed men 
♡ big secrets that have the potential to ruin everything
♡ he falls first
♡ fiery women
♡ boss babes
♡ obsession / possessive 
♡ bad boy/good girl 
♡ close proximity
♡ fake relationship
♡ secret societies

trigger warnings:
 
☞ mention of spousal abuse
☞ alcohol dependency 
☞ controlling/possessive behaviors
☞ manipulation
☞ infidelity	
 
•

thank you Valentine PR and J.T. Geissinger for providing me with an early copy of Liars Like Us!