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Americana #37
To Tell the Truth
To Tell The Truth by Janet Dailey released on Jun 24, 1992 is available now for purchase.
186 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1977
85 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Janet Dailey
396 books1,851 followersJanet Anne Haradon Dailey was an American author of numerous romance novels as Janet Dailey (her married name). Her novels have been translated into nineteen languages and have sold over 300 million copies worldwide.
Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.
She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.
Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.
Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.
She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.
Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 21, 2024
Young, beautiful Andrea is enjoying a whirlwind romance with libidinous businessman Tell (short for "Tellman") at a ski resort when lo and behold, Tell happens to answer a phone call in her hotel room... from her husband!!! Furious Tell wastes no time in backhanding the hussie and throwing the engagement ring he had bought for her in her face, as she sobs and begs him to listen to her explanations.
Long story short, Andrea's marriage to her dearly departed father's wheelchair-bound best friend was a completely platonic arrangement she entered into because she had been left orphaned, destitute, depressed, AND jilted by her feckless ex-fiance, in the space of a few months. But we don't get to that Big Reveal until the raging hero and his snotty sister arrive as house guests of Andrea's husband and put poor Andrea through the ringer of slut-shaming emotional wreckage for a few dozens pages.
Once the truth is finally revealed, and the slime-slurping nematodes (nod to Boogenhagen) are suitably chastened, the husband of convenience gives Andrea and Tell his blessing...and the annulment of their marriage, which he had secretly sought out once he realized that the volcanic tension between his wife and their house guest was the result of their undying...ummm... love for each other.
Who says romance is dead?
Long story short, Andrea's marriage to her dearly departed father's wheelchair-bound best friend was a completely platonic arrangement she entered into because she had been left orphaned, destitute, depressed, AND jilted by her feckless ex-fiance, in the space of a few months. But we don't get to that Big Reveal until the raging hero and his snotty sister arrive as house guests of Andrea's husband and put poor Andrea through the ringer of slut-shaming emotional wreckage for a few dozens pages.
Once the truth is finally revealed, and the slime-slurping nematodes (nod to Boogenhagen) are suitably chastened, the husband of convenience gives Andrea and Tell his blessing...and the annulment of their marriage, which he had secretly sought out once he realized that the volcanic tension between his wife and their house guest was the result of their undying...ummm... love for each other.
Who says romance is dead?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2020
"To Tell the Truth" is the story of Andrea and Tell.
A super angsty love story, in which a resigned heroine goes to vacation in Squaw Valley. She meets the hero, a pursuit ensues and soon they fall madly in love. The hero proposes to her, only to realize she is "married", and the night ends in heartbreak, and a slap.
Months later, the heroine has shed all the tears she can and suffered, for her to receive guests in their home. Turns out hero is the son of a family friend. Ofcourse, the hero refuses to listen to her and spends the latter part of the book taunting her, calling her fifty shades of gold-digger and making her cry. He does eventually realize the truth of her marriage, and after more endearing confessions, they have their HEA.
I think the torture and banter lasted a bit too long. The suffering was dramatized, filled with sleeping pills and slamming doors That being said, I enjoyed it!
Safe
3/5
A super angsty love story, in which a resigned heroine goes to vacation in Squaw Valley. She meets the hero, a pursuit ensues and soon they fall madly in love. The hero proposes to her, only to realize she is "married", and the night ends in heartbreak, and a slap.
Months later, the heroine has shed all the tears she can and suffered, for her to receive guests in their home. Turns out hero is the son of a family friend. Ofcourse, the hero refuses to listen to her and spends the latter part of the book taunting her, calling her fifty shades of gold-digger and making her cry. He does eventually realize the truth of her marriage, and after more endearing confessions, they have their HEA.
I think the torture and banter lasted a bit too long. The suffering was dramatized, filled with sleeping pills and slamming doors That being said, I enjoyed it!
Safe
3/5
February 5, 2021
Lucky at cards, unluck in love.” Tell’s words as they left the casino brought the haunted look back into Andrea’s eyes. The skiing holiday in Squaw Valley was all she’d hoped for. And she had totally ignored the warning voices that cautioned her to stay away from Tell Stafford. A lot of girls indulged in harmless flirtations. Why shouldn’t she?
But Andrea and Tell had fallen deeply in love, and now it was too late. Andra knew that if she revealed her terrible secret, everything would change
But Andrea and Tell had fallen deeply in love, and now it was too late. Andra knew that if she revealed her terrible secret, everything would change
April 15, 2022
To Tell the Truth, Book 37 in the Americana series, was about Tell Stafford and Andrea "Andy" Grant.
Tell and Andrea met at a ski resort in Tahoe where they fell in love. Unfortunately, before Andrea could explain her situation to him, Tell answered her hotel room phone...and heard her husband on the other end. Angry and disgusted, he threw several hurtful and damning remarks her way and left. Andy's marriage was a unique situation, but Tell refused to listen to her. Heartbroken, Andrea returned to her home in Oregon.
Six months later, still reeling from the pain inflicted by Tell's harsh treatment, Andy and her husband, John, were expecting company...a Mrs. Rosemary Collins and her daughter, Nancy...as well as Rosemary's son...Tell Stafford. To say that Tell was angry would have been putting it mildly. He was absolutely livid, for he now believed that Andrea was nothing but a fortune hunter because her husband John was old enough to be her father...and in a wheelchair.
The more time that Tell and his family spent with Andrea and her husband, the more strained the atmosphere became between her and Tell, especially that he never wasted an opportunity to take a dig at her marriage and make her feel like something not worthy to be mentioned. Nothing Andrea said, or even tried to say, would convince Tell of her innocence in not having been unfaithful to her husband. He would never give her the opportunity to tell him the truth about her marriage to John. He was way too hostile and closed off to listen.
With this being such a short novel, a great deal of information was rushed through and was nearly too easy to overlook. The angst and drama were OTT and out of proportion. There was no humor at all in this book, so there was no relief for the tension that just kept building until it exploded when John finally sat everyone down and explained the events that led to his and Andrea getting married. By the time he was done, everyone just sat in stunned silence.
Andrea's character was such a strong one that it was hard to find fault with her...except for her inability to get Tell to listen to her. The things she had to endure would have broken most women, let alone someone who had been battered around from a young age.
Tell's character was a little difficult to like, but just as hard to dislike. He felt betrayed by Andrea and he had every right to be upset, but he did not have the right to be so angry as to not give Andrea the opportunity to tell him about her marriage. On the other hand, Andrea knew that, once she was certain of their love, she should have told him the facts. Both were at fault.
While the premise for this book was a bit unusual, it...well...no it didn't make any sense whatsoever for, infidelity is...infidelity no matter how you slice it. One could explain the facts of this book till they were blue in the face...one could debate the differences between church marriages and civil marriages for the same length of time, but the facts remain the same. Infidelity IS infidelity. While one may be considered to be performed in the eyes of God while the other is performed in the eyes of the law, they are both STILL performed in the eyes of God. Only the wording is slightly different. But even church weddings can have the words altered to...supposedly...leave out God.
This was a good book. Not a five-star book...just a decent one.
Tell and Andrea met at a ski resort in Tahoe where they fell in love. Unfortunately, before Andrea could explain her situation to him, Tell answered her hotel room phone...and heard her husband on the other end. Angry and disgusted, he threw several hurtful and damning remarks her way and left. Andy's marriage was a unique situation, but Tell refused to listen to her. Heartbroken, Andrea returned to her home in Oregon.
Six months later, still reeling from the pain inflicted by Tell's harsh treatment, Andy and her husband, John, were expecting company...a Mrs. Rosemary Collins and her daughter, Nancy...as well as Rosemary's son...Tell Stafford. To say that Tell was angry would have been putting it mildly. He was absolutely livid, for he now believed that Andrea was nothing but a fortune hunter because her husband John was old enough to be her father...and in a wheelchair.
The more time that Tell and his family spent with Andrea and her husband, the more strained the atmosphere became between her and Tell, especially that he never wasted an opportunity to take a dig at her marriage and make her feel like something not worthy to be mentioned. Nothing Andrea said, or even tried to say, would convince Tell of her innocence in not having been unfaithful to her husband. He would never give her the opportunity to tell him the truth about her marriage to John. He was way too hostile and closed off to listen.
With this being such a short novel, a great deal of information was rushed through and was nearly too easy to overlook. The angst and drama were OTT and out of proportion. There was no humor at all in this book, so there was no relief for the tension that just kept building until it exploded when John finally sat everyone down and explained the events that led to his and Andrea getting married. By the time he was done, everyone just sat in stunned silence.
Andrea's character was such a strong one that it was hard to find fault with her...except for her inability to get Tell to listen to her. The things she had to endure would have broken most women, let alone someone who had been battered around from a young age.
Tell's character was a little difficult to like, but just as hard to dislike. He felt betrayed by Andrea and he had every right to be upset, but he did not have the right to be so angry as to not give Andrea the opportunity to tell him about her marriage. On the other hand, Andrea knew that, once she was certain of their love, she should have told him the facts. Both were at fault.
While the premise for this book was a bit unusual, it...well...no it didn't make any sense whatsoever for, infidelity is...infidelity no matter how you slice it. One could explain the facts of this book till they were blue in the face...one could debate the differences between church marriages and civil marriages for the same length of time, but the facts remain the same. Infidelity IS infidelity. While one may be considered to be performed in the eyes of God while the other is performed in the eyes of the law, they are both STILL performed in the eyes of God. Only the wording is slightly different. But even church weddings can have the words altered to...supposedly...leave out God.
This was a good book. Not a five-star book...just a decent one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2023
Na, the premise was good, but the reason for marriage felt too fickle, so was the solution,but the ending or the second part felt rushed.
Also expected the H to at least say sorry.
needed an epilogue too.
Also expected the H to at least say sorry.
needed an epilogue too.
May 29, 2021
A new favorite
Janet Daily is an awesome writer but this book is exceptional! I couldn’t put it down. This is a story that could go on.
Janet Daily is an awesome writer but this book is exceptional! I couldn’t put it down. This is a story that could go on.
January 3, 2023
gd read
November 23, 2024
Harlequin romance.
January 20, 2021
"Πικρή αλήθεια"- Τζάνετ Νταίηλυ, Χρυσά 67, έτος έκδοσης: 1977
Ο Τελ Στάνφορντ ήταν ένας μεγάλος άντρας με ακαταμάχητη γοητεία, στην οποία καμία γυναίκα δεν μπόρεσε ποτέ ν' αντισταθεί. Φυσικά, απ' αυτόν τον κανόνα δεν μπορούσε να ξεφύγει ούτε η Άντρια. Παρ' όλο που απόφευγε συστηματικά τις κακοτοπιές, έχοντας πείσει τον εαυτό της, ότι ο έρωτας είναι ένα ηλίθιο παιχνίδι γεμάτο κινδύνους και απογοητεύσεις, μόλις τον αντίκρισε ξέχασε ολότελα τις απόψεις της. Έτσι, μέσα σε δύο μέρες αγαπήθηκαν παράφορα και σίγουρα ο έρωτάς τους θα 'χε ένα ευτυχισμένο τέλος, αν η 'Αντρια δεν ήταν παντρεμένη!....
Μου άρεσε παρά πολύ!!!!!!
Ο Τελ Στάνφορντ ήταν ένας μεγάλος άντρας με ακαταμάχητη γοητεία, στην οποία καμία γυναίκα δεν μπόρεσε ποτέ ν' αντισταθεί. Φυσικά, απ' αυτόν τον κανόνα δεν μπορούσε να ξεφύγει ούτε η Άντρια. Παρ' όλο που απόφευγε συστηματικά τις κακοτοπιές, έχοντας πείσει τον εαυτό της, ότι ο έρωτας είναι ένα ηλίθιο παιχνίδι γεμάτο κινδύνους και απογοητεύσεις, μόλις τον αντίκρισε ξέχασε ολότελα τις απόψεις της. Έτσι, μέσα σε δύο μέρες αγαπήθηκαν παράφορα και σίγουρα ο έρωτάς τους θα 'χε ένα ευτυχισμένο τέλος, αν η 'Αντρια δεν ήταν παντρεμένη!....
Μου άρεσε παρά πολύ!!!!!!
September 2, 2025
The story was kind of silly, but I found myself wanting the HEA because I liked the h and felt she had had enough unhappiness (losing her parents and getting dumped by her fiancé) and deserved true love conquering all.
That being said, she should have been braver and told the H the truth about her (platonic) marriage to a wheelchair bound older man. She had enough opportunities (they met on a ski resort vacation) but kept chickening out and - ironically - just when she was about to tell him, he finds out for himself and is furious, thinking all kinds of unflattering things about her, and naturally her "I was just about to tell you", got a cynical response, even though it was the truth.
Ironically, all his comments about her morals (or lack of them) were far from true, as she didn't care about money, did love her husband (as a friend/mentor) and was going to be honest with him about the H. Technically, she wasn't cheating, since she and the H didn't go beyond some kissing and caressing, and that was more than she ever did with her husband. They had separate bedrooms, and she hadn't slept with anyone, not even her former fiancé. So much for lack of morals!
The reason for the marriage was a bit silly: he was a friend of her parents, and she was staying at his house after they died, which made dirty minded people start gossiping. To protect her reputation, he suggested they get married, and she agreed to a non-religious ceremony, with the condition that if she ever fell in love, they could quietly annul it.
So, had she told the H from the start, everything would have been okay. As it was, he wouldn't listen, she gets dumped again and goes back to hubby.
Sometime later, her husband has guests: a dear friend from years back and her son and daughter. Want to guess who the son turns out to be?
Even crazier, she at first thinks his sister is his girlfriend, and he thinks the (happily engaged) caretaker is her boyfriend! So, his already low opinion of her morals takes a further nosedive!!
The frustration goes on way too long, made worse by the h becoming friends with the sister, who tells her about how her brother got his heart stomped on by some lying tramp, knowing that the "tramp" in question is her! This creates another betrayal situation, with more "I guess I should have told you", etc.
It takes a long time for everything to get straightened out, including an overlong speech by hubby that started to get on my nerves. And there's also an unsolved mystery with him. He talks of a lost love, but who was she? At first, I thought it might have been the h's mother, which would explain his caring so much for the h, then I thought it was the H's mother, because they had a history together, but it's left a mystery. Oh, well.
It's not bad, but a bit silly.
That being said, she should have been braver and told the H the truth about her (platonic) marriage to a wheelchair bound older man. She had enough opportunities (they met on a ski resort vacation) but kept chickening out and - ironically - just when she was about to tell him, he finds out for himself and is furious, thinking all kinds of unflattering things about her, and naturally her "I was just about to tell you", got a cynical response, even though it was the truth.
Ironically, all his comments about her morals (or lack of them) were far from true, as she didn't care about money, did love her husband (as a friend/mentor) and was going to be honest with him about the H. Technically, she wasn't cheating, since she and the H didn't go beyond some kissing and caressing, and that was more than she ever did with her husband. They had separate bedrooms, and she hadn't slept with anyone, not even her former fiancé. So much for lack of morals!
The reason for the marriage was a bit silly: he was a friend of her parents, and she was staying at his house after they died, which made dirty minded people start gossiping. To protect her reputation, he suggested they get married, and she agreed to a non-religious ceremony, with the condition that if she ever fell in love, they could quietly annul it.
So, had she told the H from the start, everything would have been okay. As it was, he wouldn't listen, she gets dumped again and goes back to hubby.
Sometime later, her husband has guests: a dear friend from years back and her son and daughter. Want to guess who the son turns out to be?
Even crazier, she at first thinks his sister is his girlfriend, and he thinks the (happily engaged) caretaker is her boyfriend! So, his already low opinion of her morals takes a further nosedive!!
The frustration goes on way too long, made worse by the h becoming friends with the sister, who tells her about how her brother got his heart stomped on by some lying tramp, knowing that the "tramp" in question is her! This creates another betrayal situation, with more "I guess I should have told you", etc.
It takes a long time for everything to get straightened out, including an overlong speech by hubby that started to get on my nerves. And there's also an unsolved mystery with him. He talks of a lost love, but who was she? At first, I thought it might have been the h's mother, which would explain his caring so much for the h, then I thought it was the H's mother, because they had a history together, but it's left a mystery. Oh, well.
It's not bad, but a bit silly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2009
Modern
Want to read
September 10, 2012(Note to self: Nana read this one but I did not have the chance to.)
June 1, 2016
It was almost a "did not finish". Almost.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews