ARTFUL LIES (Hunt Legacy Duology #1) by Jodi Ellen Malpas-Review Tour
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About the book: Release Date April 20, 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…
••••
REVIEW: ARTFUL LIES is the first instalment in Jodi Ellen Malpas’ contemporary, adult HUNT LEGACY erotic, dark, romantic suspense series focusing on thirty-two year old antiques dealer Becker Hunt, and twenty-eight year old PA Eleanor Cole.
Told from first person perspective (Eleanor Cole) ARTFUL LIES follows Eleanor Cole in the wake of discovering her boyfriend and best friend’s affair, and the death of her father five years earlier. Eleanor loves the world of antiques and art having lived the life with her father’s antique obsession, and set off to London to make her own place in the world but she has no idea that the man who is currently the bane of her existence is about to become her boss at the Hunt Corporation, a prestigious house dealing in arts and antiquities. Enter Becker Hunt-womanizer, man-wh*re, alpha-hole, and troubled man-child who is unable to move on from the past. What ensues is the forbidden relationship between Becker and Eleanor, and the potential fall-out as Becker’s predilections come to light.
Eleanor Cole is an independent and intelligent woman who loves working for the Hunt Corporation but struggles with her attraction to heir-apparent Becker Hunt. Warned against getting involved by the people who know our hero, Eleanor finds herself pulled into the aura that is Becker Hunt, a man whose need for revenge places Eleanor in the direct line of fire. Eleanor will become the pawn in a hundred year old game of betrayal and vengeance, but it is Becker’s deeper and darker secrets that threaten Eleanor the most.
Becker Hunt has the looks and the charm of a Victorian rogue but our hero is a broken man unable to let go of the past. Cocky, dominant and controlling, Becker doesn’t do relationships, and has a reputation as a womanizer who uses women then spits them out. Eleanor has been forewarned on numerous occasions but the sexual tension and palpable sexual energy between Eleanor and Becker is too dangerous and strong to overcome.
The relationship between Eleanor and Becker begins as an accidental meeting when Becker Cole ‘steals’ Eleanor’s cab. The Hunt Corporation rarely hires outside help but something about Eleanor finds the people in charge hiring our heroine against their better judgement. As the remaining members of the household approach and pass the age of retirement, everyone is reluctant to expose Eleanor to Becker Hunt. Like a moth to a flame, Becker’s curiosity and need for Eleanor Cole finds our heroine caught between head and heart when Becker’s true nature and intent comes to light. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are introduced to a colorful and eclectic cast of secondary and supporting characters including Becker’s rival in and out of the art world Brent Wilson; Becker’s grandfather Mr. H aka Donald, his assistant Mrs. Potts, and Eleanor’s neighbor and friend Lucy Bason.
ARTFUL LIES is a tragic story of betrayal and revenge; power and control; obsession, attraction, chaos and heart break. The premise is captivating and compelling; the characters are startling, destructive and complex ; the romance is provocative, and edgy. ARTFUL LIES ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
‘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.
British talent Jodi Ellen Malpas sold hundreds of thousands of e-books of her passionately erotic trilogy This Man before landing a major US publishing deal and sailing straight to the top of the New York Times bestsellers chart in a few short months. Success quickly followed in the UK, with thousands of readers falling head-over-heels for the devastatingly handsome Lord of the Manor Jesse Ward and his feisty counterpart, Ava O’Shea, as all three books became major Sunday Timesbestsellers. This was followed by further success with her second series One Night, which introduced the irresistibly enigmatic M.
Jodi was born and raised in the Midlands town of Northampton, England, where she lives with her two boys and a beagle. She is a self-professed daydreamer, a Converse and, mojito addict, and has a terrible weak spot for Alpha Males. For more information, visit Jodi online at: www.jodiellenmalpas.co.uk, or www.facebook.com/JodiEllenMalpas, or www.twitter.com/JodiEllenMalpas.
