The Truth About Lies (Truth Duet, #1)

by Aly Martinez

[stacey_is_sassy]

***IT'S ALIVE!!!***

When Please becomes a dirty word…

4.5 Stars

I didn’t read the blurb. Well, I probably did when Aly Martinez did the cover reveal yonky donks ago, but I haven’t looked at it since. I went into The Truth About Lies not necessarily blind but without following my usual pre-read checklist. If I pre-prepared myself for an Aly Martinez then there would be a bloody good chance I’d never start it. Aly's stories are emotional, gritty and completely suck you in.

The Truth About Lies took me days to read. I’d start, take a few licks, then scurry off to distract myself from my heart breaking. LIFE SUCKS!! Luckily, not in my world but in poor Cora and Penn’s world it bloody SUCKED MONKEY’S BALLS!!

I kept telling myself I don’t need to torture myself with this…as I turned to the next page and kept going on. The first half took me three days to get through, the second half, a couple of hours. I was determined to not wuss out again. I even told myself *Sassy, turn off your bloody emotions and just get it done already…* See, the picture I was shown wasn't at all what I wanted to see. These two and their lies, cover-ups and secrets, made my eye twitch and my teeth grind. Well, I got it done and I only have a few open wounds…so, I call that SUCCESS!!

I kind of feel that if you know too much about this story before starting you won’t get the full impact of the journey. But, saying that, you kind of need to know that it’s not an easy or light-hearted read.

OMG!! I just read the blurb. Holy Heck!! How on earth did I sign up for this ARC? That opening line would have normally had me RUNNING for the hills. Geez, I can’t handle dealing with a hero whose wife was murdered in front of him… Hang on, wait a second, I just did… 😉

OK, this story is SOOO much more than the dead wife and a husband dealing with the emotional fallout. This story is a lot about Cora and the prison she’s living in and Penn's part in breaking her out...or...not. Her story will break your heart but it will also inspire you to be a better, stronger and more thoughtful person. Cora has been broken so many times and yet still makes it a priority to look after and protect those who are under her care.

I really enjoyed The Truth About Lies and this emotional journey Aly Martinez takes us on. Yes, at times it’s hard to witness and you question how and why Cora goes back for more. Then, another jigsaw puzzle piece is laid, and, you too decide you’d go back for more if you were in the same place. Well, you hope you would be strong enough to, anyway.

This is a duet so we don’t have the full story yet. Sure, I want more but I’m kind of glad that I get a break, to be honest. I mean geez, it took me days to get this far, this gives me a chance to put my heart back in my chest and prepare for the coming onslaught.

The Truth About Lies is emotional, gritty, and real in an *I wish it wasn’t so* kind of way. Both Cora and Penn will break your hearts with what they have already faced. After getting to know them better, I am convinced that these two deserve a HEA. If I get it (I mean, they get it), I will be that crazy woman at the finish line bawling and jumping up and down with joy. Come on Aly, you’d like to see that wouldn’t you? Pretty please with sugar on the top…

Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.