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Pieces of Me #1
Lies We Keep
When your soul shatters, how will you pick up the pieces?
Jezebel Tate’s writing career has reached success few experience, but when the light of fame shines too bright, Jezebel is cast back into the shadows, where she’s forced to ask herself what happens when admiration becomes obsession.
James Blakely is running from his past. A broken man haunted by a deadly mistake, James reluctantly accepts a position as Miss Tate’s private security and finds himself a pawn in her game of seduction.
When their worlds collide, Jezebel and James must decide how far they’ll go to escape the sins of their pasts.
Jezebel Tate’s writing career has reached success few experience, but when the light of fame shines too bright, Jezebel is cast back into the shadows, where she’s forced to ask herself what happens when admiration becomes obsession.
James Blakely is running from his past. A broken man haunted by a deadly mistake, James reluctantly accepts a position as Miss Tate’s private security and finds himself a pawn in her game of seduction.
When their worlds collide, Jezebel and James must decide how far they’ll go to escape the sins of their pasts.
188 pages, Paperback
First published May 14, 2019
About the author
Danielle Rose
31 books1,449 followersDanielle Rose is the USA Today bestselling author of The Darkhaven Saga. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from the University of Southern Maine. When not writing, she can be found frolicking the woods of Wisconsin, where she lives with her husband and their dogs.
Dark Secret (Darkhaven Saga 1) ebook is FREE!
Dark Secret (Darkhaven Saga 1) ebook is FREE!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
May 17, 2019
Jezebel hires bodyguard James Blakely to protect her from a stalker. Instant heat and chemistry bring this story to life. I really enjoyed the suspense aspect to the story. Danielle had me drawling over her descriptions of the sexy god that is Blakley.
Jezebel’s character took some warming up for me, but I feel there is more to her than we hear about, so I am hoping more comes to light in book two with her.
Danielle Rose is a new author for me and I like her writing style, it is well written and addictive, she lures you in and captures your attention throughout. I look forward to the next book in the duet The Truths we bear
Jezebel’s character took some warming up for me, but I feel there is more to her than we hear about, so I am hoping more comes to light in book two with her.
Danielle Rose is a new author for me and I like her writing style, it is well written and addictive, she lures you in and captures your attention throughout. I look forward to the next book in the duet The Truths we bear
April 2, 2019
I'm all about sexy bodyguard books. "Lies We Keep" definitely delivers in the hot bodyguard department with James Blakely. Jezebel, a young author who is being stalked, agrees to hire him as her bodyguard. It is obvious that Blakely is carrying around some significant baggage but he won't discuss it. Blakely interviews with Jezebel and is the first one that she has felt comfortable with. Of course, it doesn't hurt that she is attracted to him as well.
There is an undeniable push and pull between the two of them. Blakely tries to maintain his professionalism while Jezebel is actively trying to undermine his noble intentions every step of the way. Eventually, their physical attraction wins out. This puts Blakely on the defensive because he feels he can't properly protect Jezebel if he is distracted by a personal relationship with her.
Can James and Jezebel find a way to make things work? Do they uncover the identity of the stalker? Does James share his secrets with Jezebel? There are so many questions to still be answered. Looks like you'd better read the book!
I enjoyed the book. I I felt like there were areas of the story that should have been more developed. However, it wasn't enough for me to warrant a lower star rating. I felt there were enough other positives to keep the review up at 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There is an undeniable push and pull between the two of them. Blakely tries to maintain his professionalism while Jezebel is actively trying to undermine his noble intentions every step of the way. Eventually, their physical attraction wins out. This puts Blakely on the defensive because he feels he can't properly protect Jezebel if he is distracted by a personal relationship with her.
Can James and Jezebel find a way to make things work? Do they uncover the identity of the stalker? Does James share his secrets with Jezebel? There are so many questions to still be answered. Looks like you'd better read the book!
I enjoyed the book. I I felt like there were areas of the story that should have been more developed. However, it wasn't enough for me to warrant a lower star rating. I felt there were enough other positives to keep the review up at 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2018
Great premise for the book, but I don't think it was well developed.
Famous writer who is dealing with a stalker needs protection so she and her assistant decide to hire security. After to many failed interviews, Jezebel makes her decision for her new body guard based on looks alone. She's so attracted to this guy that she decides to hire him on the spot without even waiting for his clearances to come back. Then when she runs into him outside of the interview, she invites him back to her apartment and gives him a tour where she starts coming on to him.
Here's my thing....wouldn't you want to wait to see if this person is tied in anyway to someone who could be your stalker? Wouldn't you wait for his clearances to come back before showing him where you live?
I never felt more than a physical connection between the characters; the "love" felt forced rather than something that develops naturally.
Famous writer who is dealing with a stalker needs protection so she and her assistant decide to hire security. After to many failed interviews, Jezebel makes her decision for her new body guard based on looks alone. She's so attracted to this guy that she decides to hire him on the spot without even waiting for his clearances to come back. Then when she runs into him outside of the interview, she invites him back to her apartment and gives him a tour where she starts coming on to him.
Here's my thing....wouldn't you want to wait to see if this person is tied in anyway to someone who could be your stalker? Wouldn't you wait for his clearances to come back before showing him where you live?
I never felt more than a physical connection between the characters; the "love" felt forced rather than something that develops naturally.
April 7, 2019
It is my first book by this author and I loved every second of it ❣
I love how the story begins 😍
From the first page you are immediately in the story and Jezebels world or better said her head (her very visual imagination 🤭).
This book describes the ugly side of the celebrity life.
It describes what being a famous writer means from the unpleasant side.
Jezebel Tate is a writer who loves to write and she has a gift, that makes writing very easy for her. She is famous for her sexy cowboy books and with her fame, she attracts people who confuse her with her book characters.
Jezebel has a crazy stalker, who writes letters that very figuratively express what he wants to do to her.
The only solution to stay alive and safe is to hire a bodyguard.
James Blakely is very attractive, former soldier and she likes what she sees at first sight. He is a hot distraction from her otherwise lonely and ridden by fears life, or is he more?
A very sexy, hot and exciting read with thriller effect and a lot of action (not only in bedroom😉).
This book was the blast and now I'm looking for second part of it 😁 You should do it too 🙆♀️ it was really a fast and exciting read with a HEA 😍
I love how the story begins 😍
From the first page you are immediately in the story and Jezebels world or better said her head (her very visual imagination 🤭).
This book describes the ugly side of the celebrity life.
It describes what being a famous writer means from the unpleasant side.
Jezebel Tate is a writer who loves to write and she has a gift, that makes writing very easy for her. She is famous for her sexy cowboy books and with her fame, she attracts people who confuse her with her book characters.
Jezebel has a crazy stalker, who writes letters that very figuratively express what he wants to do to her.
The only solution to stay alive and safe is to hire a bodyguard.
James Blakely is very attractive, former soldier and she likes what she sees at first sight. He is a hot distraction from her otherwise lonely and ridden by fears life, or is he more?
A very sexy, hot and exciting read with thriller effect and a lot of action (not only in bedroom😉).
This book was the blast and now I'm looking for second part of it 😁 You should do it too 🙆♀️ it was really a fast and exciting read with a HEA 😍
June 11, 2019
For a quick read, Jezebel and James’ story had all the elements for a wonderful story.
I absolutely loved Jezebel. She was bold and confident and went after what she wanted. And in her story she wanted James. What started out as an itch to scratch with her new sexy bodyguard turned into something much more. This alpha female found an alpha male to curl her toes and win her heart.
It was sexy, suspenseful and through it all Jez remained true to herself and no matter her circumstance she never became a damsel in distress. She was a force with those pages and a heroine I really enjoyed getting to know.
I absolutely loved Jezebel. She was bold and confident and went after what she wanted. And in her story she wanted James. What started out as an itch to scratch with her new sexy bodyguard turned into something much more. This alpha female found an alpha male to curl her toes and win her heart.
It was sexy, suspenseful and through it all Jez remained true to herself and no matter her circumstance she never became a damsel in distress. She was a force with those pages and a heroine I really enjoyed getting to know.
November 20, 2017
What a ride! Jezebel is an author who has done pretty well for herself. She has been through a lot in the few years she has been writing, and a crazy man has taken notice. So with the help of her BFF and publicist, she hires a bodyguard. A very hot bodyguard the Jez knew right away she had a connection with.
The attraction is too much, and they have an impossible time resisting each other, but James Blakely is there for a reason and has a job to do, he can't let himself get distracted.
The chemistry between Jezebel and Blakely is intense and full of fire! But the connection goes deeper than that. This was a fast paced, steamy, emotional ride. I laughed, I cried, I blushed. The characters felt real and I was able to connect with them and the story. There were such intense moments that I found myself holding my breath or gasping out loud. Great story, and I can't wait to find out what comes next!
The attraction is too much, and they have an impossible time resisting each other, but James Blakely is there for a reason and has a job to do, he can't let himself get distracted.
The chemistry between Jezebel and Blakely is intense and full of fire! But the connection goes deeper than that. This was a fast paced, steamy, emotional ride. I laughed, I cried, I blushed. The characters felt real and I was able to connect with them and the story. There were such intense moments that I found myself holding my breath or gasping out loud. Great story, and I can't wait to find out what comes next!
Want to Read
March 11, 2018💝 FREE on Amazon today (3/11/2018)!💝
Blurb:
When your soul shatters, how will you pick up the pieces?
Jezebel Tate’s writing career has reached success few experience, but when the light of fame shines too bright, Jezebel is cast back into the shadows, where she’s forced to ask herself what happens when admiration becomes obsession.
James Blakely is running from his past. A broken man haunted by a deadly mistake, James reluctantly accepts a position as Miss Tate’s private security and finds himself a pawn in her game of seduction.
When their worlds collide, Jezebel and James must decide how far they’ll go to escape the sins of their pasts.
💝 ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 💝
Blurb:
When your soul shatters, how will you pick up the pieces?
Jezebel Tate’s writing career has reached success few experience, but when the light of fame shines too bright, Jezebel is cast back into the shadows, where she’s forced to ask herself what happens when admiration becomes obsession.
James Blakely is running from his past. A broken man haunted by a deadly mistake, James reluctantly accepts a position as Miss Tate’s private security and finds himself a pawn in her game of seduction.
When their worlds collide, Jezebel and James must decide how far they’ll go to escape the sins of their pasts.
💝 ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 💝
December 1, 2017
Both Jezebel and James are running from their past but fate has seemed to brought them together. With a stalker getting closer to Jezebel, she decides to hire a bodyguard per her best friend Tara's request. When James walks in for the interview, Jezebel knows instantly he will be the one to keep her safe. But a simple hookup isn't just simple the two start to develop feelings but neither wants to admit it. It isn't until the stalker is too close to comfort with death on the line they realize they need to admit more than they're willing. Will the two of them be able to make it from the stalker before Jezebel's life is taken? Well written story and loved watching the two characters struggle with their past and feelings for one another. Hope the next story is from James point of view!
November 21, 2019
*Big thank you to NetGalley/Publisher who sent me this book in exchange for an honest review*
I usually dont like books about security guards and their clients falling in love. I've read a few books with similar plots and they always seemed a bit cheesy to me.
This one wasn't one of those. This is one of those books that feels and reads completely organically. I loved the tension of the backstories, I thought that Jezebel was a very dynamic character and I thought that James was really swoon worthy.
The book read fast, was definitely a page-turner and definitely worth the read.
More Reviews: https://sshilsonreviews.blogspot.com/
I usually dont like books about security guards and their clients falling in love. I've read a few books with similar plots and they always seemed a bit cheesy to me.
This one wasn't one of those. This is one of those books that feels and reads completely organically. I loved the tension of the backstories, I thought that Jezebel was a very dynamic character and I thought that James was really swoon worthy.
The book read fast, was definitely a page-turner and definitely worth the read.
More Reviews: https://sshilsonreviews.blogspot.com/
Want to Read
July 1, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (7/1/2020)! 🎁
February 15, 2021
Much better than I was expecting. Solid and deep characters with interesting backstories. Well paced (a very quick read).
June 4, 2016
Danielle Rose’s newest novel, Lies We Keep, is her first venture into romance after completing the supernatural Blood Books trilogy, and it may be her finest work yet. Rose brings her infallible instinct for edge-of-your-seat stories to a new genre. This book has elements of all the best fiction: superb writing, a page-turning plot, complex characters, humor, romance, sex, danger, and a killer voice. Though at its heart, this book is a love story, it has all the nail-biting suspense Rose is known for. A must read.
April 1, 2019
ok, Damn ! What a start to the book ! I am already excited and grinning like a fool. I love Jezebel Tate's I-will-take-what-I-want attitude. And while we've read this trait in so many alpha males, it is refreshing to reading it from a woman's POV. And double damn if her mouth watering experience of setting her eyes on the drool worthy James Blakely, doesn't make my mouth water !! Right, so now I am all pumped up to see these two locking horns..
Coming back to the plot, not much of originality to it. Almost every celebrity falls for their body guards, because triple damn, who doesn't love some tall-dark-sexy mountain protecting you. The story started out well, we have a famous author, who has a stalker, as in a very serious-psycho stalker who writes her letters of the things he would do to her when he takes her. And somehow, this strong iron will lady becomes a blubbering mess, So, she keeps switching between strong, bold, fuck-you sorta woman to hide-under-the-bed sorta woman. And there is of course the I-can't-keep-my-hands-off-you sort in between too. And I would've have enjoyed these changes, if the transition between them were smoother. Things started spiraling out of control pretty quick. Too much haste in the plot, too many feelings too soon.. And you could see the twist coming from a mile long.. So you are pretty much ready when it comes and it hardly has any effect. And while we do get some glimpses of James' past, there are many deliberately hidden secrets about him, which I guess will be answered in the next book. There is nothing dramatic at all in the stalker angle, more of cat and mouse game between Jezebel and James and that was a let down for me. So much potential..
An extra star for the start though !
Thank you NetGalley and Waterhouse Press for providing me the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review
Coming back to the plot, not much of originality to it. Almost every celebrity falls for their body guards, because triple damn, who doesn't love some tall-dark-sexy mountain protecting you. The story started out well, we have a famous author, who has a stalker, as in a very serious-psycho stalker who writes her letters of the things he would do to her when he takes her. And somehow, this strong iron will lady becomes a blubbering mess, So, she keeps switching between strong, bold, fuck-you sorta woman to hide-under-the-bed sorta woman. And there is of course the I-can't-keep-my-hands-off-you sort in between too. And I would've have enjoyed these changes, if the transition between them were smoother. Things started spiraling out of control pretty quick. Too much haste in the plot, too many feelings too soon.. And you could see the twist coming from a mile long.. So you are pretty much ready when it comes and it hardly has any effect. And while we do get some glimpses of James' past, there are many deliberately hidden secrets about him, which I guess will be answered in the next book. There is nothing dramatic at all in the stalker angle, more of cat and mouse game between Jezebel and James and that was a let down for me. So much potential..
An extra star for the start though !
Thank you NetGalley and Waterhouse Press for providing me the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review
August 12, 2019
Lies we keep story based in Manhattan about a romance writer called Jezebel who is being stalked by a man so she has to hire an ex army body guard James Blakely for her own safety.
James is gorgeous, Jez is instantly attracted to him. I wish the tension was allowed to build on this a bit more felt a little bit rushed to me. The first kiss happened really early on for I always prefer more of a build up to this.
Like that Jez describes herself as an alpha female I don’t think there’s enough of that in romance books and I loved how she just owned that about herself.
Other than the romance being rushed it was an addictive read. The plot was fast paced and the intimate scenes were very well written and hot. I’ve gave the book 3 stars, I prefer more tension and suspense to be built rather than the how it was.
Thank you to netgalley and Waterhouse publishing for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
James is gorgeous, Jez is instantly attracted to him. I wish the tension was allowed to build on this a bit more felt a little bit rushed to me. The first kiss happened really early on for I always prefer more of a build up to this.
Like that Jez describes herself as an alpha female I don’t think there’s enough of that in romance books and I loved how she just owned that about herself.
Other than the romance being rushed it was an addictive read. The plot was fast paced and the intimate scenes were very well written and hot. I’ve gave the book 3 stars, I prefer more tension and suspense to be built rather than the how it was.
Thank you to netgalley and Waterhouse publishing for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2019
The chemistry between Jezebel and James is scorching hot from the moment they meet. I was drawn to the story based in their interaction alone.
When the element of danger is thrown into the mix, with the mystery of who the stalker could be, there wasn't a chance of going to sleep until I finished the book.
Both of the main characters have lost their family, so there's an underlying connection between them. Lies We Keep focuses on Jezebel's past, and how it's affected her daily life ever since.
With the help of her best friend Tara, and her new bodyguard, she must come to terms with her loss
All while fighting for her life against an unknown threat, that might be a lot closer than she realizes.
An amazing tale, woven with intrigue and romance. I immediately started the second book and will recommend Danielle Rose to anyone that'll listen!
When the element of danger is thrown into the mix, with the mystery of who the stalker could be, there wasn't a chance of going to sleep until I finished the book.
Both of the main characters have lost their family, so there's an underlying connection between them. Lies We Keep focuses on Jezebel's past, and how it's affected her daily life ever since.
With the help of her best friend Tara, and her new bodyguard, she must come to terms with her loss
All while fighting for her life against an unknown threat, that might be a lot closer than she realizes.
An amazing tale, woven with intrigue and romance. I immediately started the second book and will recommend Danielle Rose to anyone that'll listen!
June 7, 2019
I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway, and I'm so happy I did! Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. The story was very fast-paced and was about a woman who knew what she wanted and was very confident in getting it. There are too few books that star a woman who takes charge, knows the greatness she brings to the table, and isn't afraid of her sexuality, and Danielle Rose did it really well. There were more sexy scenes than I expected, but Ms. Rose also had incredible delivery with those. Just purchased her second book in the series, "Truth We Bare" and I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for future novels.
April 27, 2018
Jezebel is such an interesting character. She is so strong in the face of something so scary.( I won't spoil it for you). Blakley is a sexy man who comes into Jezebels life, right when she needs him. Can they keep each other safe and finally open up about the dark secrets that haunt them? This book has romance, sex, hidden secrets and frightening ordeals. I recommend you read this book!
May 21, 2019
This was my first read by this author and definitely not the last. This was a fast read, with a well written plot, plenty of sexy scenes and full of suspense. The connection between Jez and James was instant with plenty of heat. Highly recommend this book.
July 11, 2019
This was a really great story! Two shattered souls coming together! My first read by Danielle Rose and it won’t be my last!
September 28, 2024
“Could he handle an Alpha female?” …
April 3, 2019
Wow! This is my first Danielle Rose book and all I can say is WOW. Awesome characters. Amazing story. Wonderfully written. You really get into the mind of Jezebel Tate an author who likes to live a quiet life. A stalker is what brings her to meet James Blakey. I love how forward Jezebel is towards James. I love the interactions between them. Jezebel’s friend Tara is a great secondary character. The ending of this story is action packed. Absolutely loved Lies We Keep.
April 22, 2019
Okay wow, how had I not known of this author until now?? What an awesome read.
So Danielle Rose is a new author to me, and I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book, and I was pleasantly surprised, I really enjoyed it. From chapter one I was pulled in and totally captivated, needing to know what the hell was going on.
Is Lies We Keep, we have James and Jezebel, James a bodyguard and Jezebel a young author. When Jezebel discovers she has a stalker she has no choice than to hire someone to keep her safe, and that someone is James.
Jezebel wasn’t keen on hiring anyone but had no other choice, so when she finally found someone she comfortable with, he became her personal bodyguard, and hell it didn’t hurt with the fact that he was So. Damn. Hot.
But can they keep it professional? From the beginning, there is this immediate attraction between the both of them and the attraction only grows, and they continue to push and pull, struggling to try and keep things professional between the two and ultimately without a doubt it fails, and they find themselves all wrapped up in each other. James fears he can’t protect her properly now that things have progressed between the two of them, and that their personal life will get in the way of why he was hired in the first place, to protect her.
There is more to James than him being a bodyguard, he’s harboring some really personal baggage which was made obvious at the very beginning, but he’s not opening up about it to Jezebel or anyone, he’s tight-lipped, and he continues to struggle through it on his own.
Will these two be able to make this work? Will they be able to navigate not only a personal relationship but a professional one too? Will they be able to separate the two?
Will we find out who this damned stalker is?? So many questions have gone unanswered, and I can’t wait to find them in book 2!!
This was a fantastic start to what I have no doubt in my mind will be an incredible duet! The author is flawless, her writing flowed easily and it was easy to get lost in this plot. She keeps you on your toes and kept my attention from page one to the end of the book.
So Danielle Rose is a new author to me, and I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book, and I was pleasantly surprised, I really enjoyed it. From chapter one I was pulled in and totally captivated, needing to know what the hell was going on.
Is Lies We Keep, we have James and Jezebel, James a bodyguard and Jezebel a young author. When Jezebel discovers she has a stalker she has no choice than to hire someone to keep her safe, and that someone is James.
Jezebel wasn’t keen on hiring anyone but had no other choice, so when she finally found someone she comfortable with, he became her personal bodyguard, and hell it didn’t hurt with the fact that he was So. Damn. Hot.
But can they keep it professional? From the beginning, there is this immediate attraction between the both of them and the attraction only grows, and they continue to push and pull, struggling to try and keep things professional between the two and ultimately without a doubt it fails, and they find themselves all wrapped up in each other. James fears he can’t protect her properly now that things have progressed between the two of them, and that their personal life will get in the way of why he was hired in the first place, to protect her.
There is more to James than him being a bodyguard, he’s harboring some really personal baggage which was made obvious at the very beginning, but he’s not opening up about it to Jezebel or anyone, he’s tight-lipped, and he continues to struggle through it on his own.
Will these two be able to make this work? Will they be able to navigate not only a personal relationship but a professional one too? Will they be able to separate the two?
Will we find out who this damned stalker is?? So many questions have gone unanswered, and I can’t wait to find them in book 2!!
This was a fantastic start to what I have no doubt in my mind will be an incredible duet! The author is flawless, her writing flowed easily and it was easy to get lost in this plot. She keeps you on your toes and kept my attention from page one to the end of the book.
July 5, 2019
Five gloriously wonderful stars!
Review by Angelique
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
Forgiveness, love, happiness and tragedy comes to light in the first installment of the Pieces of Me series, Lies We Keep by USA Today bestselling author Danielle Rose.
We first meet Jezebel Tate, a successful author who seems to be at the top of her career and living a life that some only dream about. But things are never quite as good as it seems. The thing is, that even with her successful career and excellent financial situation, she cannot buy peace of mind or write away her past. No matter how badly she wants to. She can, however, find herself, someone, to protect her from a very obsessed and clearly psychotic stalker.
This is where we meet James Blakely. He is a man with the experience and demeanor of someone who would put his life on the line for another. That is exactly what Jezebel is looking for, plus he is not exactly bad on the eyes and who knows what else he can do with his well-worked body? She is all too eager to find out but is pulled back to reality before she could get distracted enough by the good looking Mr. Blakely.
James has his own past. Nothing he does can make him forget his tragedies but, he still manages to wake up every morning and do his utter best keep both Jezebel's stalker and his own demons at bay.
Things never run as smoothly as one wishes and they are both eventually put in a situation where they have to face their shadows. Is it too late or can they find the light at the end of the virtual tunnel?
It still amazes me when a few sentences that was developed from someone's mere train of thought can evoke so much emotion. Yet it happens. Every single time.
With Jezebel and James, it's no different. You cannot help feeling their pain and loving their good moments.
The story starts off slowly at first but falls into a rhythm that you lose yourself in. Being a fly on the wall with these two has been worth the late nights and extra few cups of coffee.
Living through their eyes and practically feeling the magic concrete city that is Manhattan with streets full of rushing people adds a little extra to the already brilliantly suspenseful, yet very sexy novel.
"Never forget that you're stronger than you could ever imagine."
***ARC received in exchange for an honest review.***
Review by Angelique
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
Forgiveness, love, happiness and tragedy comes to light in the first installment of the Pieces of Me series, Lies We Keep by USA Today bestselling author Danielle Rose.
We first meet Jezebel Tate, a successful author who seems to be at the top of her career and living a life that some only dream about. But things are never quite as good as it seems. The thing is, that even with her successful career and excellent financial situation, she cannot buy peace of mind or write away her past. No matter how badly she wants to. She can, however, find herself, someone, to protect her from a very obsessed and clearly psychotic stalker.
This is where we meet James Blakely. He is a man with the experience and demeanor of someone who would put his life on the line for another. That is exactly what Jezebel is looking for, plus he is not exactly bad on the eyes and who knows what else he can do with his well-worked body? She is all too eager to find out but is pulled back to reality before she could get distracted enough by the good looking Mr. Blakely.
James has his own past. Nothing he does can make him forget his tragedies but, he still manages to wake up every morning and do his utter best keep both Jezebel's stalker and his own demons at bay.
Things never run as smoothly as one wishes and they are both eventually put in a situation where they have to face their shadows. Is it too late or can they find the light at the end of the virtual tunnel?
It still amazes me when a few sentences that was developed from someone's mere train of thought can evoke so much emotion. Yet it happens. Every single time.
With Jezebel and James, it's no different. You cannot help feeling their pain and loving their good moments.
The story starts off slowly at first but falls into a rhythm that you lose yourself in. Being a fly on the wall with these two has been worth the late nights and extra few cups of coffee.
Living through their eyes and practically feeling the magic concrete city that is Manhattan with streets full of rushing people adds a little extra to the already brilliantly suspenseful, yet very sexy novel.
"Never forget that you're stronger than you could ever imagine."
***ARC received in exchange for an honest review.***
January 4, 2020
First, I gotta say I’m a Danielle Rose newbie.
And now I’m a fan. A big fan! So, this book titled Lies We Keep was a smooth, flawless, yummy read! The words flowed effortlessly on the pages making it a instant page turner. Once I started I honestly couldn’t look away. And trust me everyone in my house tried lol.
Jezebel (my mom calls me that lol) Tate is a Author and clearly a really good one considering her 8 figure bank account haha but like all celebrities there’s always that one fan...except not all is what it seems.
Enter in James Blakely. Oh, yes enter James enter. Really, I would love to take a bite outta him. His character was described so well I could taste his minty goodness. (You will understand that when you read this book) he is to be Jezebels new bodyguard. And at first site I could hear that song lyric, “Let the good times roll” by The Cars haha ya ya you peeps probably don’t even know who they are lol but anyways, that’s what popped into my mind. I knew that it was gonna be so good from the moment Jezebel set eyes on James. I immediately said allowed “you’re hired!” I mean come on, dude is sexy af! And he’s a bodyguard?! Where do I get one? I mean this isn’t exactly Whitney Houston’s Bodyguard but it’s close enough just dirtier, hotter and you need your fan on high and ice cubes to cool down from the flames scorching your body it was that hot. So, that being said, the book is a smooth easy read that you can easily finish in a hour if that if left alone but it’s definitely not boring or any negative Nancy crap. If someone says they don’t like it just ignore them they are obviously prudes and shouldn’t be writing reviews haha this book will have you wanting to tear your significant other’s clothes off! I guess you don’t need me to tell you I highly enjoyed this book. And despite my many punctuation errors this is the longest review I’ve ever written lol glad I have the next book! Great author, great book and no, no one asked me to write a review it’s all my own thoughts and opinions blah blah now I’m off for the next book that’s sure to curl my toes and make readers everywhere clench their thighs haha
And now I’m a fan. A big fan! So, this book titled Lies We Keep was a smooth, flawless, yummy read! The words flowed effortlessly on the pages making it a instant page turner. Once I started I honestly couldn’t look away. And trust me everyone in my house tried lol.
Jezebel (my mom calls me that lol) Tate is a Author and clearly a really good one considering her 8 figure bank account haha but like all celebrities there’s always that one fan...except not all is what it seems.
Enter in James Blakely. Oh, yes enter James enter. Really, I would love to take a bite outta him. His character was described so well I could taste his minty goodness. (You will understand that when you read this book) he is to be Jezebels new bodyguard. And at first site I could hear that song lyric, “Let the good times roll” by The Cars haha ya ya you peeps probably don’t even know who they are lol but anyways, that’s what popped into my mind. I knew that it was gonna be so good from the moment Jezebel set eyes on James. I immediately said allowed “you’re hired!” I mean come on, dude is sexy af! And he’s a bodyguard?! Where do I get one? I mean this isn’t exactly Whitney Houston’s Bodyguard but it’s close enough just dirtier, hotter and you need your fan on high and ice cubes to cool down from the flames scorching your body it was that hot. So, that being said, the book is a smooth easy read that you can easily finish in a hour if that if left alone but it’s definitely not boring or any negative Nancy crap. If someone says they don’t like it just ignore them they are obviously prudes and shouldn’t be writing reviews haha this book will have you wanting to tear your significant other’s clothes off! I guess you don’t need me to tell you I highly enjoyed this book. And despite my many punctuation errors this is the longest review I’ve ever written lol glad I have the next book! Great author, great book and no, no one asked me to write a review it’s all my own thoughts and opinions blah blah now I’m off for the next book that’s sure to curl my toes and make readers everywhere clench their thighs haha
November 26, 2019
Full disclosure: I received this novel (and one other previously reviewed) directly from the publisher, Waterhouse Press, but that in no way affected this review.
Romance, suspense, revenge, and two broken people who may just heal each other...or not. This romantic suspense novel introduces Jezebel Tate, an author who has not only an eight-figure income (okay, not believable as few authors really attain that threshold unless their stories are made into movies, but I digress) but a stalker who is after her. It also features James Blakely, an ex-military man who is now providing personal protection.
When Jezebel meets Blakely during the interview, she decides immediately that he is the man she wants to be her security protection. Not only that, she WANTS him and with the strong chemistry between them, it is a constant push-pull of will-they-or won't they.
Still, he and she both harbor secrets, and those secrets just may get them killed. Will they decide to go for it, or will James have the strength to ignore the seduction?
This is the first novel in the duology. There are some spicy sex scenes, but the cover says it is for mature audiences only. Kudos to the author, Danielle Rose, for avoiding most WTT (the hair-tucking occurred near the end of the book) and liking the Oxford comma as much as this reader.
An extended review to be posted as www.pedometergeek.wordpress.com
Romance, suspense, revenge, and two broken people who may just heal each other...or not. This romantic suspense novel introduces Jezebel Tate, an author who has not only an eight-figure income (okay, not believable as few authors really attain that threshold unless their stories are made into movies, but I digress) but a stalker who is after her. It also features James Blakely, an ex-military man who is now providing personal protection.
When Jezebel meets Blakely during the interview, she decides immediately that he is the man she wants to be her security protection. Not only that, she WANTS him and with the strong chemistry between them, it is a constant push-pull of will-they-or won't they.
Still, he and she both harbor secrets, and those secrets just may get them killed. Will they decide to go for it, or will James have the strength to ignore the seduction?
This is the first novel in the duology. There are some spicy sex scenes, but the cover says it is for mature audiences only. Kudos to the author, Danielle Rose, for avoiding most WTT (the hair-tucking occurred near the end of the book) and liking the Oxford comma as much as this reader.
An extended review to be posted as www.pedometergeek.wordpress.com
March 26, 2018
Everybody has a favorite author, based on what genre you read. For a good horror novel, I've followed Stephen King for 40+ years. For sci-fi/fantasy, Isaac Asimov has been my go-to read since I learned to read. There is always one author that has specialized in a specific genre, but the game has changed.
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Danielle Rose is an author I've followed since I discovered her supernatural series Blood Rose, involving witches and vampires. Rose spread her wings with the fantastic horror short story Her. Now Rose has become a triple threat with her contemporary romance series Pieces of Me, of which Lies We Keep is the first.
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Jezebel Tate is a famous author, who is receiving threatening letters from a stalker. Her agent suggested hiring a bodyguard until the stalker is caught, and that's when James Blakely enters the picture. Jezebel and James immediately bond, and this book soon becomes a lot hotter than Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner could ever be.
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Danielle Rose may have changed genres, but her ability to create living, breathing characters the reader can fall in love with surpasses all boundaries. This story of loss, lust and suspense flows seamlessly, with the reader kept enraptured by the author's storytelling and sense of buildup. The ending left me ready to immediately dive into Truth We Bear, the next book in the series.
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My Rating: 4.5/5 stars
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Danielle Rose is an author I've followed since I discovered her supernatural series Blood Rose, involving witches and vampires. Rose spread her wings with the fantastic horror short story Her. Now Rose has become a triple threat with her contemporary romance series Pieces of Me, of which Lies We Keep is the first.
.
Jezebel Tate is a famous author, who is receiving threatening letters from a stalker. Her agent suggested hiring a bodyguard until the stalker is caught, and that's when James Blakely enters the picture. Jezebel and James immediately bond, and this book soon becomes a lot hotter than Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner could ever be.
.
Danielle Rose may have changed genres, but her ability to create living, breathing characters the reader can fall in love with surpasses all boundaries. This story of loss, lust and suspense flows seamlessly, with the reader kept enraptured by the author's storytelling and sense of buildup. The ending left me ready to immediately dive into Truth We Bear, the next book in the series.
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My Rating: 4.5/5 stars
May 14, 2019
Romance Thriller!
Danielle Rose is a new author to me and the blurb for this duet caught my attention. Lies We Keep is book one of the duet where we get to know Jezebel. Being a well-known author, she tries to keep herself out of the spotlight and ends up getting caught in a stalker’s web. Afraid, she hires James as her bodyguard. Did I mention that he is sexy as sin?
James can’t help but to be attracted to Jezebel, however, he does not want to mix his job and keeps trying to deflect her advances. After a while, things go from professional to personal when their attraction and chemistry gets too much to bear. Now, James feels he may not be able to protect her and with his own demons tormenting him, things get crazy when the stalker makes his move.
This story pulled me in and trapped me as I couldn’t put it down. Just so much hotness, sexiness, and suspense and their chemistry were off the charts. For a romance book, this was also quite a thriller and I loved it!
Jezebel may be a hard character to like because she can come off as selfish and I felt we did not get as much background of her past as we did with James, who is very well written and we get that depth of his character. Other than that though, this was a great read and I need to know who this stalker is! Moving on to book 2!
Danielle Rose is a new author to me and the blurb for this duet caught my attention. Lies We Keep is book one of the duet where we get to know Jezebel. Being a well-known author, she tries to keep herself out of the spotlight and ends up getting caught in a stalker’s web. Afraid, she hires James as her bodyguard. Did I mention that he is sexy as sin?
James can’t help but to be attracted to Jezebel, however, he does not want to mix his job and keeps trying to deflect her advances. After a while, things go from professional to personal when their attraction and chemistry gets too much to bear. Now, James feels he may not be able to protect her and with his own demons tormenting him, things get crazy when the stalker makes his move.
This story pulled me in and trapped me as I couldn’t put it down. Just so much hotness, sexiness, and suspense and their chemistry were off the charts. For a romance book, this was also quite a thriller and I loved it!
Jezebel may be a hard character to like because she can come off as selfish and I felt we did not get as much background of her past as we did with James, who is very well written and we get that depth of his character. Other than that though, this was a great read and I need to know who this stalker is! Moving on to book 2!
September 5, 2019
This was my first experience with Danielle Rose. I chose this book at first because the cover caught my attention. The story focuses on James and Jezebel (didn't love the name). Jezebel's need for a bodyguard brings her in contact with James. We don't get a ton of info on James. The next book is his POV, so I'm assuming we will get more there. We just know he is former military recently turned civilian. Jezebel is a famous author with a healthy sexual appetite and no qualms about asking for and going after what she wants. What she wants is James, and the feeling is mutual though he wants to try to keep a professional distance. He doesn't want to get distracted from what he was hired to do, keep Jezebel safe from a dangerous stalker. Jezebel doesn't comprehend the word no, so you can see how this gets interesting. The story moves pretty fast and definitely fulfills it's quota of suspense and sexiness. Jezebel was a bit more brash and "alpha" than I personally prefer, but I think many people will like that she is nowhere near the typical heroine. Their story does have a satisfying ending, and I think it works fine as a standalone even though it leaves you questioning a few things about James. I'm interested to know what the author has in store for this couple in book two.
I received an ARC for honest review from Net Galley.
I received an ARC for honest review from Net Galley.
December 19, 2019
Could have been more:
The title on this book was a bit misconceiving; it should have been "Lies we tell ourselves". Both of the main characters blamed themselves for tragedies that had happened to their families and they had closed themselves off and not dealt with the emotional ramifications. We see some evidence of Jezebel working towards this in the epilogue but the majority of the book dealt with the lust and physical attraction between her and her bodyguard. Jezebel was an apt name for her and I wished we could have seen more of a mature relationship develop between these two and not just the hints from the epilogue. I thought the ending was overly dramatic and not fully explained. Perhaps we are supposed to wait for book two? Also Jezebel's physical ailments didn't seem realistic and were overkill for me.
This book was short and only part one. It would have been been more enjoyable had it been fleshed out a bit and combined with the second installment to make a solitary novel. It was told from a single point of view and I missed having James's perspective, which we only got a glimpse of in the epilogue. It ends on a happy-for-now and I don't think I shall be bothering with book two.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
The title on this book was a bit misconceiving; it should have been "Lies we tell ourselves". Both of the main characters blamed themselves for tragedies that had happened to their families and they had closed themselves off and not dealt with the emotional ramifications. We see some evidence of Jezebel working towards this in the epilogue but the majority of the book dealt with the lust and physical attraction between her and her bodyguard. Jezebel was an apt name for her and I wished we could have seen more of a mature relationship develop between these two and not just the hints from the epilogue. I thought the ending was overly dramatic and not fully explained. Perhaps we are supposed to wait for book two? Also Jezebel's physical ailments didn't seem realistic and were overkill for me.
This book was short and only part one. It would have been been more enjoyable had it been fleshed out a bit and combined with the second installment to make a solitary novel. It was told from a single point of view and I missed having James's perspective, which we only got a glimpse of in the epilogue. It ends on a happy-for-now and I don't think I shall be bothering with book two.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
May 18, 2019
Jezebel is an author with a stalker, so she needs a bodyguard immediately, though she's not giving off the impression that she's taking the situation as seriously as she should. So she agrees to hire James, not because he's the right guy for the job per se, but because she wants him badly. So yeah, she didn't come off too well for me despite being in one of my favorite jobs, an author. Now James is guarding her, and fending off her advances for some pages, as she's determined to get him into bed, as they have crazy chemistry, and that said chemistry won't be denied, so James finally gives in. What follows is sexy times that lights things on fire, that's how HOT they are. However, there's still the stalker, but it seems like that story line loses some steam with all of Jezebel & James' steam. Now, it seems like I'm complaining a bunch, but I really like Danielle Rose's writing style, and the story line did keep me reading, it's just I didn't quite imprint on Jezebel like I like to do on my heroines, however I'm hoping she develops more in the next book. I'm also anxious for the next book in the serious, because James has some serious demons himself, and I'm invested in them despite some of opinions. Anyway, that's enough out of me, and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
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