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True Lies

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Street-wise accountant Dajah Moore, who has been unlucky in love, falls for gorgeous corrections officer Rick Timmons, but Rick's troubled past comes between them in the form of his vindictive ex-girlfriend. Reprint.

416 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2002

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104 people want to read

About the author

Margaret Johnson-Hodge

18 books69 followers
Margaret Johnson-Hodge is the author of several books that have received national acclaim. She is a winner of the 1998 Reviewer’s Choice Awards, for “The Real Deal”. “Butterscotch Blues” made the Blackboard Bestsellers List, the Essence Magazine Bestseller List and Black Expressions Book Club 2000 Book of the Year coming in at number 6.

“A New Day” made the Mosaic Magazine What’s Hot Top Five Fiction List five (5) times and “True Lies” made the Black Expressions Best Sellers List in 2002. Margaret has garnered rave reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, The Quarterly Black Review, Essence Magazine and Ebony Magazine.

She has been featured in major papers in her hometown, was a guest speaker at Georgia’s Writers, Inc. Her novels “True Lies”, “Some Sunday” and “Butterscotch Blues” were Main Selections for Black Expressions, and “The Real Deal”, “A New Day”, “Warm Hands”, “A Journey To Here” and “This Time” were alternates selections.

Both Showtime and Hallmark Hall of Fame have considered her books for movie options and with the release of her sixth novel “True Lies”, Publisher Weekly declared: “Johnson-Hodge's popularity continues to grow. Audiences tired of shallow buppie antics will respond favorably to the earthy dramas she describes.” Her seventh novel, “A Journey To Here” was released to great reviews and the book garnered her a nominee for Author of The Year.

In 2005, Margaret donned a new cap - publisher - and released her eighth book – “This Time”, through her own publishing company – Sutton Place Publishers, Inc. "This Time" was well received by both critics and readers a like.

Born and raised in New York, Margaret no longer lives there, but New York is where her heart remains. She continues to craft stories about the great city in which she grew up and looks forward to telling more of them.

A mother and full-time author, she writes on a near daily basis, rarely taking a break from her craft. “There is always some story inside of me,” is how she sees it “and I just try and get it told.”

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Profile Image for Danita Brown.
194 reviews84 followers
July 7, 2019
Love this author, she never disappoints.
Profile Image for Mya.
1,502 reviews59 followers
April 1, 2018
It was a nice book. I couldn't wait to see what happen on the 2nd part. I felt like this book was missing something that tied it all together.
Profile Image for Carlease.
22 reviews5 followers
March 18, 2013
It is so refreshing to read a novel not only about my old stompin’ grounds but written by someone I know. Margaret Johnson-Hodge was a dear friend of an ex-boyfriend of mine who passed away several years ago. They used to take dance class together and if I remember correctly she could do some awesome splits! So it was no surprise to see Alvin Ailey mentioned in this book.
The story takes place in Queens, New York where I grew up and turning the pages of TRUE LIES was like turning the corner onto memory lane. Margaret’s descriptions of the neighborhoods are so vivid. Basement apartments, backyard birthday barbeques and the courthouse on Sutphin Blvd. in Jamaica came to life for me once again.
Her characters are people I know and grew up with: neighbors, classmates, family members. This is a story of baby mama drama with just enough twists & turns to leave the reader anxious to discover the outcome. It is a story of how truth and lies co-exist in matters of the heart.
The main characters are Dajah, Rick, Gina and Kanisha, three adults whose life decisions are guided by the welfare of a child. I won’t give the story away. I’ll leave that to Margaret. It’s a good read that I highly recommend. I hope someone adapts it for the big screen and when that happens, call my manager and get me in for the part of Gina’s mother, Doreen Alexander. That woman is a trip! Better yet, just call me and offer me the role. I guarantee you, I’ll accept.
Congratulations Margaret. I am so proud of you and so happy this book literally fell into my hands when I was staying at a little B&B in Chelsea. Perusing the shelves for something to read I came across a novel, TRUE LIES with your name as the author and had to do a double take. So now that it’s been read and reviewed by me, it will be waiting for your autograph the next time we meet.



Profile Image for Michael Bell.
517 reviews7 followers
June 21, 2022
If I was trying to establish a relationship, I would have loved to meet a young lady like Dajah Moore. She was single and beautiful. She had her own place and a desire to bond with someone. Why did she meet Rick on a whim? Why did she have to compete with his baby mama Gina? I loved Kanisha. She was a beautiful daughter who had her Father's heart. There are too many children in real life who have no relationship or financial support from their biological parent. Gina was no support in the beginning. She drank and smoked most of the day. She never had a job. She lost friends who were trying to improve themselves. She even robbed Rick once she found an old ATM card. Dajah doubted that Rick could separate his feelings from Gina. Hew tried for awhile. As fate would have it, Dajah couldn't win the fight for Rick's heart. It was a good story. I wish Dajah well.
21 reviews
May 16, 2021
Sad ending
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kimberly.
133 reviews1 follower
August 21, 2009
Dajah falls in love with a man (Rick) who has a baby (Kanisha) with another woman (Gina) is the story of true lies. I knew how this book will end when the story opened. Yes: Baby Mama Drama!!I just couldn't stop the from reading the train wreck. I really enjoyed it even though the story was something that I have seen before. The author did give the story a bit of a twist.
11 reviews
March 30, 2015
I absolutely loved this first book of the True Lies trilogy. I had purchased the second book in the series but refused to read it until after the first one was read. I was not disappointed. ... totally worth the wait. ... the characters and situations are so true to life. ...I'm excited about reading Tumbled ...the last book of the trilogy
Profile Image for Yvette.
96 reviews5 followers
October 2, 2007
Sometimes love is a lot of give and take
155 reviews5 followers
August 26, 2014
Loved it!

I LOVE this author! Read this year's ago, but wanted to read it again before I read the second part. Such a relief from drug books !!
Profile Image for Cheryl James.
38 reviews72 followers
September 15, 2015
I enjoyed the characters and the story line in this book. I look forward to following the characters in the next two sequals.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews

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