Playing with Lies

Hollow Point #1

by Riley Edwards

A no-strings kinda guy and a forever kinda woman…what could go wrong?I had a stalker and I knew just who to ask for help—Detective Dalton Neary. My own personal Prince Charming. The problem was, he turned out not to be so charming, at least not in the forever kind of way I was looking for. He was a good-time guy with a sexy smile and a goat game that should be illegal. But not the man for me.

I should’ve told her no. I had no business playing bodyguard to a woman I’d spent months trying to keep my hands off of. But I couldn't fight the pull of Vanessa Hale. She was a weakness that turned into an obsession and when her life came crashing down around her I couldn’t walk away.

Lies and family secrets turn into a life-or-death situation threatening to destroy Vanessa's entire family and rob Dalton of his second chance at love.

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Contemporary, Military Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Mystery

323 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 26, 2023

About the author

Riley Edwards is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author, wife, and military mom. Riley was born and raised in Los Angeles but now resides on the east coast with her fantastic husband and children.

Riley writes heart-stopping romance with sexy alpha heroes and even stronger heroines. Riley's favorite genres to write are romantic suspense and military romance.

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Reviews

[Ashley Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a nice easy romance read with a mix of slight suspense and family, not to mention some smut. Between Vanessa's constant issues with stalking and then family drama, detective Dalton never left her side and was fighting his own demons the whole time. I felt some of the storyline was rushed but all in all it was a good read. Only thing I could say is the last chapter should have been labeled as an excerpt for the next book and not part of this one.

[Regina Hutsell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dalton and Vanessa light up the pages in this epic Hollow Point book. The dynamic between them is so sweet and incredible. The story is a perfect combination of action, spice, and emotion with a hint of mystery and secrecy. Such a great read! Couldn’t put it down.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a new series that is a spin off of the Triple Canopy one. It would help to read that one to be familiar with some of the other characters in this one.

It was fun how awkward Vanessa was when she got worked up or as she first started talking to Dalton. You could see the attraction on both sides, but it wasn't apparent if anything would come of it, due to the awkwardness. Dalton was able to get through to Vanessa enough where she was able to share a reason why she wanted to talk to him, thinking someone was following her. Dalton being a cop, immediately jumped to help her, which led to a fun weekend for them, followed by Vanessa getting clued in about Dalton being the no commitment guy. To say things got sticky for a bit is an understatement.

From there things really picked up. The past came slamming in all due to new technology. I loved that Vanessa immediate embraced part of this, even as you could tell what was coming, right before it went to shit, the first time. But oh boy, that first time was nothing compared to the second time towards the end. Holy cow...when it went bad, it went really bad. The only good to come out of things was that in the end those that we cared about were safe and the whole sordid mess was out in the open, which left our crew to now deal with things and they did so in a spectacular way! Loved to see how the family changed, the new connections, just more love to go around. And Dalton got his head out of his ass and held on to Vanessa, happy endings all around.

[Mel (whilemelwasreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"So, what I'm hearing is you think you're the boss."

"Baby, if you don't get down to business the only thing you're going to be hearing is yourself begging me to let you come when I show you just how bossy I can be."

Playing with Lies tells the story of Vanessa and Dalton. When Vanessa thinks she has a stalker she goes to Dalton-a detective she's got a huge crush on. And when he wades in to help her, forcing some proximity, it heats up more than just her stalker situation.

This romance suspense story had me hooked from the start and turning the pages for more. Vanessa is pure sunshine and sass. Dalton is pure alpha, protective swoon. But with commitment issues, he's only looking for a good time. But things change when he get's know Vanessa and the connection they share. And the chemistry they had was fire!! I was so here for these two. The banter. The swoon. The spice. The author nailed it all!

This story has all the feels and even had me cracking up laughing too. I felt the reasoning to why he didn't want to commit to be a tiny bit anticlimactic, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of this story. I truly loved it. This is my first read by this author and it will not be my last. I hate to compare authors, but it gave me a little Kristen Ashley vibes, which I often find incredibly hard to find-she's a top fave of mine. So it only makes me even more excited to read more from this author! Be sure to check this one out!

*Thanks to That's What She Said Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and given freely.

[Amanda Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I had my top books of the year set until this gem’s surprise release. What a way to end 2023! Massive book hangover in full effect.

Vanessa approaches Dalton because she feels like she is being watched. This situation gives them a reason to act on their attraction, but… Dalton doesn’t do relationships and Vanessa doesn’t do friends with benefits, so they try to end it after one steamy night.

Pffft! Dalton cannot stay away even after the danger is gone. He goes all in and is there for Vanessa when her life implodes. She eventually gets to return the favor and prove she is just as swoony as he is. These two! Book boyfriend and girl crush vibes all around.

There is a whole secondary plot in this story and it is so compelling. It ties in perfectly with the evolution of their relationship. I could not put this book down and stayed up way too late to finish it.

Playing with Lies is the perfect way to kick off the Hollow Point series. It can absolutely be read as a standalone and would be a great place to start if you’re new to Riley’s books. Dalton & Vanessa also have enough of a tie to the Triple Canopy crew that my heart was deliriously happy with the cameos.

I am desperate for the next book in this series (and all of the other active ones Riley has going right now)

[Shelley C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playing with Lies😳

Vanessa and Dalton are up next in the beginning of a new spin off series from Triple Canopy…and is a MUST read❣️

Dalton is partnered with Phoenix and has been trying to stay away from Vanessa as he considers himself to be a good time guy, no strings attached. Vanessa has had a thing for Dalton since the very first time she met him, however, she thinks someone might be following her and she’s hoping to approach him for help.

This story was fantastic and I really enjoyed it…I didn’t want to put it down - but unfortunately sometimes life gets in the way. I can’t wait for more Hollow Point stories😍

[JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playing with lies is my first novel by Riley Edwards and I thought this was great. I could tell that she’s written several books about these characters but it wasn’t necessary to have read them. This standalone was fun, sexy and on a fast track. This is the sort of book I want that has it all and is a quick read.
The spicy parts started almost immediately and the entire story moves quickly. I really enjoyed it and will definitely read another by this author.
Thanks to Rick and the author for this eArc.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riley does it again! She is one of my favourite romance authors. She writes characters and plots that have depth and emotion to them. I can't wait to see where she takes this brand new series, and I'm loving the callbacks and cameos from Triple Canopy characters. Looking forward to seeing more of them in future books.

[Stephanie]

Amazing!

I've followed 3 series now, and this book doesn't disappoint. Riley Edward's has a way of keeping you on your toes the whole read! Can't wait for the next!

[CKD! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find someone who's by your side

Vanessa feels eyes in her but never sees anyone. She thinks she's being paranoid however she reaches out to Dalton for help. Dalton doesn't think she's crazy and agrees she's being watch after a few run-in. Vanessa's stalker turns out to be something different completely and is a situation that will change her life forever.

Throughout drama going on, she and Dalton begin a relationship together. Riley has created a story that is all too really for many mothers and adds in a bit of extra drama. This is the first in a new series but there are characters and references to things in other books. There is a HEA with found family.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Maggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf'd at 32%

Too insta-love for me & not a lot of plot or character development. Also, this book kept referencing characters from another series which I hadn't read, so there was a lot of synopses around those stories (which I didn't care about).

[Patti Yuliano · Rating 2 out of 5]

too wordy

Loved him but she was annoying. The situation with Sullivan was handled so poorly. There are always major repercussions in a situation like that and my heart went out to the birth mother. Austin was right and should have had a bigger part.

[Audra Kee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Playing with Lies

The description if the book only somewhat covered what happened. It's almost like the author didn't know what direction to take. It's an ok read but only posts are seven worth it. Definitely not a book I would reread or recommend

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Man, I really seem to be in the minority with my opinion of this book. I'm really surprised by how highly rated it is because I found it to be a real drag.

There wasn't enough build up to the romance to get me invested in the H and h's relationship before they were just suddenly having sex. And I HATED the way the H called the heroine "Sweetheart" ALL THE FUCKING TIME. Seriously, he almost never used her name the entire book. Even before they started having sex he was calling her sweetheart. I'm not particularly fond of that pet name to begin with since it never feels natural in dialogue, but I especially hate it when a hero uses it BEFORE he's in a relationship with the heroine. It just sounds so asinine and patronizing, like the douchebag who calls his waitress sweetheart and thinks she just LOVES it when he slaps her on the ass.

Aside from that, the story just struck all the wrong chords with me. The "mystery" was SO FUCKING OBVIOUS that a child could have figured it out and yet everyone in the story stayed determinedly clueless for AGES. Seriously, this went on for freaking chapters and made everyone involved, especially the heroine, seem incredibly STUPID. The ending was really poorly set up and over in a very "and then everyone clapped" kind of unbelievable way. Basically, I just don't understand what everyone else saw in this story.


Okay, the story opens with our heroine, Vanessa, heading to a gathering where her crush, Dalton, will be. Dalton is a cop and partners with Vanessa's best friend's husband, Phoenix. We're treated to Vanessa, in a very Dear Diary tone, thinking about how she basically fell for Dalton at first sight and believes he's her "prince charming" because she kept bumping into him around town without them ever officially meeting. This, she believes, indicates that they're destined to be together since the universe keeps putting him in her path. This is a full grown woman, not a teenager.

At this gathering, Vanessa intends to ask Dalton to help her because she believes someone has been stalking her. She COULD just talk to Phoenix and he'd be all over helping her stay safe, but she goes to Dalton because she's desperate for him to prove he really is her prince charming by giving him the chance to "rescue" her. Except, she's so in lust with him that just sitting near him and their legs touching sends her spiraling into blush-filled horniness and she loses her nerve and runs out of the bar. That's right, this woman is afraid for her life because she's sure someone is stalking her, but one brush of this man's leg turns her into such a ninny that she'd rather take her chances with the stalker. Oh yeah, that's a heroine I can totally relate to...

Dalton goes after her, misinterpreting her running away as proof that he'd made her "uncomfortable." Because all her heavy breathing, blushing, and babbling before she ran off were apparently too difficult of a cypher for him to crack. The hero, too, is an adult. One who has been married, divorced, and now exclusively has short-term flings because he doesn't want to settle down. And yet he can't recognize the signs of attraction in a woman? Sure.

He catches up to her in the parking lot and she finally tells him about the stalker. He believes her immediately, much to her relief because she didn't have any proof, just a feeling of being watched everywhere she went. Then they realize someone is hiding behind the bushes right now! So Dalton orders Vanessa to get into her car while he goes to investigate. Of course the person is gone by the time he gets there, otherwise there'd be no story, so he follows her to her house.

At her house, Dalton quizzes Vanessa about who could be following her. We spend a lot of time hearing about this one old guy who installed new windows in her house and was overly chatty when they were alone together but always clammed up when others were around...and then that gets totally dropped. Nothing ever comes of that.

They have a little sexual tension-laced conversation that is made excruciating by Vanessa's inane habit of rambling on about random and embarrassing stuff, then blushing like a schoolgirl. It was very hard for me to want to see these two hook up when she came across like a thirteen year old awkwardly trying to flirt with her teacher. Dalton has no trouble with this childlike behavior, though, and is 100% sure he's going to fuck her ASAP.

Which really made me wonder...like, he's her best friend's husband's partner. They know each other. They've met before now. Often. So if Dalton was sooooo interested in her, why did he wait until now to do something about it? There are some lines in the book about Phoenix feeling protective of Vanessa and warning Dalton not to make a move on her if he was just going to pull a pump and dump, but Dalton doesn't care AT ALL about that in this scene. He's fully prepared to just have a fling with Vanessa and walk away, despite the fact that they'd see each other all the time in future and it would piss off Phoenix. So, why did he wait until now?

Anyway, eventually Dalton orders Vanessa to spend the weekend at his house because it's "safer" than him staying on her couch. She acquiesces and goes to pack a bag, then the chapter ends. We open the next chapter with Vanessa in the middle of giving Dalton a blowjob. Er, what? Just like that? A little awkward flirting where Vanessa blushes like a virgin and now she's suddenly some kind of Mata Hari? No build up? We don't get to read about them tearing each other's clothes off or anything? It was just so jarring. And we're told that we already missed the part where Dalton had gone down on her, which the author refers to as his "goat game" for some reason. We're just supposed to take their word for it that it was totally hot. Sure. Cuz it's not like that's the kind of thing romance readers want to actually read about in real time or anything. Just tell me after the fact that the off-page stuff was amazing. That's just as good.

Moving on, they have sex all weekend long but Vanessa still doesn't lose her childlike mannerisms. I mean, sure, she's all about craving that D in the sex scenes, but outside of that she still does all the blushing and being embarrassed and rambling just like a teenager. Thanks, I hate it.

Moving on, Dalton calls in a favor to get an alarm installed in her house, which he basically has to order her to get because she whines about how it'll cost money she'd been saving to remodel her kitchen. Yeah, you can TOTALLY tell that she's terrified of this stalker guy...

They part ways on Monday to go to their respective jobs and Vanessa works with her BFF. Vanessa has had visions of marriage and children in her eyes since their sexscapades this weekend, even though they haven't discussed their future or even their current relationship status at all. Then her BFF just blithely spills the beans on the fact that Dalton is divorced and has vowed to never get married again. He only ever does meaningless flings. Then BFF unconvincingly tries to back track and say that she "screwed up" by saying that and firmly believes that Vanessa is special enough to be the woman to make Dalton into the marrying kind again. Vanessa isn't having it though. Now she's determined to end things with Dalton because her dreams of him being her prince charming are dashed forever.

Meanwhile, Dalton is getting a stern talking-to from Phoenix about not breaking Vanessa's heart. Dalton basically tells Phoenix to fuck off and mind his own business. He and Vanessa are both adults and can have sex if they want to. He is NOT thinking that Vanessa is different or special or The One. Though he does throw a few "I'm not good enough for her" lines into the discussion, to which Phoenix tells him that's crap.

All of this just really fell flat for me. We hadn't gotten enough buildup to their relationship for me to feel like any of this was real. Dalton was so cavalier in hopping into bed with Vanessa without a single thought to indicate he shouldn't do it. Like, this wasn't a hero who had been secretly burning for his woman all this time but had studiously held himself back because he firmly believed she deserved better than him...but then circumstances put them into close proximity and his iron control finally shatters and he takes her with all his pent up desire. Nope, this was just some dude casually having sex with a girl from his close social circle without a single thought about how it could wreck everything when he dumped her. It was only AFTER the fact that suddenly these "I'm not good enough" feelings crept into the narrative. It just didn't jive. I didn't believe Dalton actually thought he wasn't good enough for her. I believed he was a manwhore who slept around and didn't see her as being any different from the next girl.

Moving on, when Dalton and Vanessa are next together, she tells him that they have to go back to being just friends. That she's a forever kind of girl and if he won't even entertain the idea that there could be a future for them then she needed to jump off their relationship train right here. Dalton doesn't want to stop having sex but also admits that he's not interested in anything but a fling so he reluctantly agrees to be just friends again.

As friends, we get a little backstory on Vanessa. She tells us about her sister and how she went through a rebellious phase as a teenager, drinking and partying, etc.. One day Vanessa had seen her sister drinking liquor straight from the bottle in her room in the middle of the day and had realized that she had a serious problem. So Vanessa had told their parents. The result was her sister being sent away to a "camp" for seven months. And, for some reason, a family friend had to take her there instead of their parents. When the sister came back she was completely cured. She no longer drank or partied and got great grades in school but she was more or less a different person. No more laughter or personality. Just anxiety and politeness. Vanessa felt like she lost her beloved sister at that camp and blamed herself for telling their parents. The family also refused to ever discuss this time at all. The sister never said what happened at the camp and their parents just pretended like those seven months never existed.

Next thing we know, Vanessa's "stalker" knocks on her door. It's a kid who looks like he could be her brother. He says he's sorry for scaring her but he'd been trying to work up the courage to come speak to her because, surprise, he's her nephew! Vanessa says that's impossible! She only has one sister and at 35 that sister is too young to have an 18 year old son!

You see what I mean about this "mystery" being so simple a child could solve it? Anyone who can do math would easily know that her sister WAS, in fact, old enough to have a child his age. And gee, by some cosmic coincidence, she just HAPPENED to go away to this camp right around that same time! How complex! But our heroine is TSTL and she never even CONSIDERS that this kid could be her sister's child. Nope, she's ready to believe that one of her parents had an affair and has been keeping a hidden love child out there somewhere, and this kid is descended from that mysterious half-sibling. Seriously, I can't even, with this woman.

She's SO convinced of this ridiculous theory that she invites her sister over and blindsides her with the kid, which was traumatizing for all involved. The sister of course freaks the fuck out and starts yelling about how the kid has to go away, which can't be great for the poor kid to hear. And then she runs out of the house and won't return phone calls for a while. Round about here Vanessa and Dalton start sleeping together again because she's just so emotionally beaten down that she needs comfort and support from somewhere, even if it's only temporary.

A while later, the sister's husband comes over and reads Vanessa the riot act for upsetting his poor anxiety-riddled wife. He explains that he's known all along that the sister had a baby and was forced to give it up for adoption. And guess who the father is? Yep! It's that "friend" who took her to the camp instead of her parents. Whoever could have guessed?

The guy was their parents' friend, so MUCH older than the sister when their "relationship" started. He was also married, and still is, with two legitimate kids. He's also rich and is a judge now. He didn't want it to get out that he'd had sex with a sixteen year old girl, so he'd forced her to put the baby up for adoption and to list the father as "unknown" on the birth certificate. And the reason the sister freaked out and said the kid had to leave was because this allegedly powerful man will destroy them all if he thinks they're a threat.

Honestly, this just seemed like a lot of bullshit to me. I mean, he's a judge, not the head of the mafia. Once word hit the press about his dastardly deeds, his reputation would be ruined and he'd lose his job. The author tries to give vague excuses like that their father is a financial advisor to rich people and the judge could make him lose his clients or whatever but that just sounds like BS. Her father has to be close to retirement age anyway and, again, all they have to do is go to the press with the truth and all the judge's rich friends will drop him in a second. So there really wasn't a threat here, but everyone kept acting like there was and all this had to be kept secret.

But the sister finally finds some of her old spirit and when they all go to some function where the judge is present she tells him that the truth is out and she's going to make him pay for what he did to her. She didn't actually have a plan to make him pay, she just got so angry when she saw him that she had to throw out some empty threats. The judge basically tells her she'll regret it if she tries to go up against him. Then they turn and see that one of his sons, James, overheard everything and is glaring at them.

Fast forward to the climax and Dalton is off on some raid for the side plot that took up way too much of this overlong book. While he's gone, Vanessa, her sister, and the kid all get kidnapped by James. Vanessa manages to grab a box cutter and hide it in her bra without being seen but that becomes Chekhov's box cutter because she never does anything with it. Dalton gets word about shots being fired at Vanessa's house and is frantic. Flash over to the Judge's house and James has the judge tied to a chair, beaten to a pulp, and now he's monologuing about how the sister was obviously a whore at the age of sixteen and now they've ruined everything so they have to die because he's just crazy like that.

The cops rush in, the day is saved, and Dalton decides that he's worthy of Vanessa after all so they can have a real relationship. Allegedly Dalton's issues stemmed from his first wife turning into an alcoholic. She blamed her alcoholism on him being a cop, saying that she drank because she was worried he might die in the line of duty, because she was lonely, and a whole other list of reasons that she claimed were all his fault. And he supposedly internalized this and believed that he'd "ruined" her, hence why he should never be in a real relationship again. That he couldn't "ruin" Vanessa too since she was so good and pure and amazing and yada, yada. But he's over that now.

Like 3o seconds after they decide to be together, who should walk through the door but his ex wife! And she's totally plastered and still saying he ruined her life. It's been TEN YEARS since they divorced AND SHE'S REMARRIED but we're told she still stops by Dalton's house every few months to drunkenly yell at him. And he allows this to happen even though he's a freaking cop and should be arresting her for drunk driving, trespassing, and any number of other things. Or, you know, just calling her fucking husband...But he didn't do any of those things because he felt bad that he'd "ruined" her life so he just let her keep abusing him whenever she felt like. Gotta love a strong hero...

Anyway, Vanessa goes all "keep away from my man" on the ex-wife and then she and Dalton bizarrely leave the house and leave the ex inside??? Why on Earth would they do that? What if she wrecks the place? What if she robs them? What if she pours rat poison in their coffee pot? I mean, seriously, when would you EVER leave a drunk angry person in your house like this?? It makes no sense.

And that's pretty much the end. I just never got into the groove with this book. The romance lacked the proper build up to make me believe in it so I didn't care when they were suddenly having sex. Then they immediately stopped having sex and pretended to be friends for the middle 75% of the book. Then they just kind of fell back into a relationship because the heroine needed any port in the storm that was her life.

I didn't believe Dalton's hangups about his ex because it makes him seem like a weak idiot. No rational person could really believe they were responsible for someone else's alcoholism unless they had been literally pouring the booze down the person's throat. And he'd had a freaking DECADE to get over that relationship but hadn't made any progress whatsoever. It just didn't feel real. It felt more like an excuse he used to sleep around without his friends thinking he was a total douche. Hey, I'm damaged, that makes it okay for me to use women and then toss them out like last nights dirty tissues!

Maybe if we'd actually seen some flashbacks of his time with the ex-wife that would have helped. Like if we'd seen him coming home after another late night to find his wife asleep but with the phone still clutched in her hands. Saw her waking up, desperately worried that this time he wouldn't come home, and then tearfully begging him to leave the force. Saying she couldn't bear the stress, she loved him too much. Please, please, can't he pick a new line of work? And he, too arrogant about how he was "helping people" and "doing the right thing" had turned a deaf ear to her pleas. He hadn't even noticed when the bottles of wine starting appearing next to her while she sat up with the phone, waiting to hear the worst. Nor that they changed to vodka after a few years...Not until it was too late.

You see how that scene would make it more believable that he actually HAD caused the wife's alcoholism? And that he would worry he'd do the same to any other wife? That no one could bear to wait up for him all night, unsure he'd return? But no, she's just a crazy alcoholic B who blames her troubles on everyone else and it doesn't go any deeper than that. Lame.

[Sandy Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 1 in the Hollow Point series. It is an off-shoot of Triple Canopy, and we meet these characters previously in those books. It could be read as a standalone but I recommend reading those books before this one, just because it introduces the characters. A no-strings kinda guy and a forever kinda woman…what could go wrong?I had a stalker and I knew just who to ask for help—Detective Dalton Neary. My own personal Prince Charming. The problem was, he turned out not to be so charming, at least not in the forever kind of way I was looking for. He was a good-time guy with a sexy smile and a goat game that should be illegal. But not the man for me.I should’ve told her no. I had no business playing bodyguard to a woman I’d spent months trying to keep my hands off of. But I couldn't fight the pull of Vanessa Hale. She was a weakness that turned into an obsession and when her life came crashing down around her I couldn’t walk away. Lies and family secrets turn into a life-or-death situation threatening to destroy Vanessa's entire family and rob Dalton of his second chance at love.

So I loved most of this book. I really liked the interactions between Vanessa and Dalton. I thought their chemistry was off the charts hot and loved that they both have to face things in their pasts in order to be what they want and need for each other. The suspense sucked me and kept me reading. Here was what I didn't like. Have you ever wanted to reach through a screen (or page) and smack the crap out of someone? Because I absolutely wanted to do that with Vanessa's parents. I get her sister and her issues, although I think she should have dealt with it all once she was an adult. And her husband should have helped her. But the parents just ignoring everything? Yeah, as a parent, I wanted to smack them. That was the only thing that made me drop it to 4 stars. Everything else, I absolutely loved about the story.

[Aleksandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @rick_283 for sending me this ARC!

Playing with Lies is a standalone Romantic Suspense book and the first in a series of standalones from Riley Edwards that I really enjoyed!

When Vanessa realizes she has a stalker, she decides to ask for help Dalton, a cop who is her friend’s husband’s partner. They have a great chemistry and are really attracted to each other, but with Dalton avoiding commitment after what he went through with his ex-wife and Vanessa looking for a forever kind of love, these two will have to decide if they are willing to give a relationship a try, especially with Dalton’s job and Vanessa’s family secrets coming into the light.

Vanessa and Dalton are amazing main characters, she is hilarious and what came out of her mouth made me laugh out loud so many times. Dalton was very protective from the moment they met and I really liked how he always wanted to take care of Vanessa and was always there for her when she needed him. Despite their different expectations about their relationship, they had a great chemistry since their first meeting and I can only complain about the insta love trope, I don’t like it in books and was a bit disappointed when I realized a few percent in that they were already thinking about each other that way, but still their relationship was interesting and I ended up really enjoying it. I also liked the suspense elements of the story, it kept me on the edge of my seat and I found all the family drama really interesting.

Playing with Lies is a great romantic suspense book that I’m sure everyone who enjoys this genre is going to like and I definitely recommend it if you enjoy this kind of stories.

[Mom Reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY HIGHLIGHTS HAVE SPOILERS YOU’VE BEEN WARNED

Riley is one of my top five authors so take that info with a grain of salt. I love her. Love her writing style. Love her stories. Everything.

MF✅

MC is a cop who is still hurting after a rough divorce💔

FMC is a spunky sunshine who at times can be a bit obtuse💛

HEA 🩷💙

Medium spice 🍆🌶️🌶️🌶️

Standalone but great to read prior books so you know who the folks are popping in and out of story. But not a “have to”✅
Prior books involving Pheonix and Wren (they are the main friends centered in this book). Their book is “Shattered”. Also mentioned are his brothers and sisters. Echo Kent’s book is “Fractured”. Triple Canopy is that series. Sunny Kent’s & Luke’s book “Imperfect” which is also Triple Canopy series.


There were a few times in the story where Riley made the fmc Vanessa so stupid I wanted to scream. I don’t want to spoil this bc promise me you just want to go in blind. But yeah she was an absolutely idiot to not put some shit together butttttttt, other than that I liked the fmc and felt she was well written and not TSTL!! 🫶🏼🩷

The MC Dalton was a good blend of alpha male and logical man. I appreciated he didn’t come across as a fucking ape. He got his head out of his ass soon enough which I liked.

I appreciate that the story took some turns I wasn’t expecting. The spice was hot.

Either way this was another W for Riley and I am so glad to see her writing in this 707 world still.
And if you haven’t. START WITH HER 707 SERIES!! It is a top series of mine and so so good. They are the men who started it all.

[Jenny Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dalton and Vanessa

I loved this book. It was fun and exciting. The plot was well written and the twists were executed perfectly. I loved the found family aspect. I loved the cameos of people from past books. I loved Dalton and Vanessa.

Vanessa seeks out Dalton when she thinks she has a stalker. They share a hot weekend, but when Vanessa finds out Dalton doesn’t do commitment she takes a step back. Dalton is determined to continue to protect Vanessa and quickly realizes that when the right woman steps into your life, you don’t have a choice. When her life falls apart, Dalton is the rock she needs.

I loved the relationship between Dalton and Vanessa. Dalton ended up being the perfect book boyfriend and Vanessa was equally as protective of Dalton. I loved the way they showed up for each other.

I loved the suspense plot. There were so many family secrets revealed and while they could have torn Vanessa’s family apart, I loved how everything turned out. There were some major twists and there was some major healing that had to take place, but everything turned out as it should.

This was the perfect start to this series of connected standalones. It was fast paced but had plenty of romance. I felt the emotional connection between Dalton and Vanessa. I found it easy to emphasize with both Dalton and Vanessa. This had everything I’ve come to expect out of a Riley Edwards book.

[Celtic Chic Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”. I know using a famous line from an editorial by Francis Pharcellus Church is a weird way to start a book review but how else am I to explain my wonder and joy [too much? LOL] at a new book by Riley Edwards releasing the day after Christmas?

"Playing with Lies," the first book in the Hollow Point series, takes us back to the cool town of Hollow Point, a place Triple Canopy fans know and love. It’s here we meet Detective Dalton Neary, remember him? The super hot, commitment-phobic guy from earlier stories. And Vanessa, she’s just awesome – sassy, funny, and the kind of girl you’d want as your bestie. Their chemistry is off the charts, making for some seriously fun and awkward moments.

Riley Edwards has done it again, delivering a story that’s a total rollercoaster. It’s not just about Vanessa and Dalton’s sparks – the book is packed with suspense, a bit of mystery, and loads of heart. Riley has this magic touch for creating characters that feel like old friends, making you laugh one minute and keep you on the edge of your seat the next. Every time she drops a new book, I think I can’t love her work any more than I already do, but here we are! "Playing with Lies" is a testament to her talent, and I'm already counting the days until the next one in the Hollow Point series.

[Di · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, those three words, sweetheart, sweetness and baby will get you each time as you go through Dalton and Vanessa’s story…which one is best….have to read to find out what I mean.
Dalton, a detective and Phoenix’s partner on the force has had his eye on Vanessa, BF to Wren and when Vanessa comes to him for help, he is all in. Vanessa is attracted to Dalton and asks for help when she believes she has a stalker, and gets to know Dalton personally when he takes her protection very seriously. Too bad Dalton has issues with relationships, he has his reasons and it will take a special woman to help him move forward from his past and in the meantime, Vanessa’s world blows up and it will take a strong man to stand beside her to navigate all that comes at her at once.
From the first page to the last I couldn’t put this book down, Dalton and Vanessa stole my heart, their connection, their sparks….steamy. The twists and turns, surprises and just when you think you figured it out…boom…another surprise. I LOVED the no drama between, their open honesty as they navigate everything that is thrown at them. Vanessa, a heart of gold who is no wilting flower and Dalton, who protects what is his and comes to terms with his past….sigh and swoon.
*I voluntarily read an advanced copy and expressed my honest opinion*

[Mother Of Dragons 86 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book :
⭐ 3.5 Stars


Playing With Lies is a solid romantic suspense with a steady pace and a cast that keeps you intrigued, even if it doesn’t dive as dark or intense as the title hints. The story blends secrets, danger, and tension, giving you a satisfying read without pushing too far into the extremes.

The MMC has that quiet edge vibe, the kind of man who’s clearly hiding something but keeps his cool just enough to make you want to see what’s underneath. The FMC brings determination and heart, and their connection slowly builds rather than consuming you whole. It’s enjoyable, just more on the lighter side for readers who usually crave deeper, darker emotional hits.

🎧 Audiobook Review 4⭐
🎧 Narrated by Robert Hatchet & CJ Bloom

Robert Hatchet and CJ Bloom are the highlight here.
Robert Hatchet gives the MMC a grounded, steady voice that fits the character’s controlled energy.
CJ Bloom delivers warmth and strength, giving the FMC’s perspective a nice emotional anchor.

Together, they enhance the story and make the listening experience smoother, sharper, and more immersive. If you pick this one up, the audiobook definitely adds an extra layer.

A good read with engaging characters and a well delivered narration. Perfect for when you want suspense and chemistry without diving into the deep end of darkness.

[RB · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's pretty telling that whenever I get fed up with the current mediocre offerings in romance, I check to see if there's a Riley Edwards book somewhere that I haven't read yet. Yeah! This is it. Thank God for spinoff series!

Vanessa and Dalton have been doing a very distant attraction dance, neither knowing of the others' interest. When a stalker enters the picture, this pushes Vanessa to reach out to Dalton, and the fun begins.

Vanessa is like a lot of Riley female characters. She's great at her job, pretty successful, lovely, has a boatload of good friends, and is lonely. Past crappy relationships have left her guarded in a believable manner. Plus, there's some past unresolved family damage that colors much of her current relationships, denting her self-confidence. Dalton has a ton of past damage that limits his relationships, mostly to one and done. Clearly, Vanessa isn't a fitting candidate, but their meet/cute turns into a smokin weekend that leaves both in a different frame of mind.

The drama of past events catching up to now is interesting and heartbreaking in many ways. This is where Riley Edwards really excels. She can write really honest, believable interactions that transcend most writers in romance today. While I sometimes read other stories and get bored with too much dialogue, I never skip ahead when reading her work. In this case, the past is particularly heartwrenching but not in an unbearable manner. I really liked this book and will reread it because it's just that well paced and good.

My only issue is the villain scene near the end. It was quite over the top and unbelievable. It all works out, though, and you can sort of just be ok with that part while moving forward to that lovely HEA.

When you want a for certain good story with characters you like a lot and can invest in, Riley Edwards is a go-to.

[EvaReadsWithDog · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a rollercoaster! From the moment I started reading, it sucked me in! Loved it!
Dalton and Vanessa. Their story has become my new favorite of Riley Edwards books.
Dalton is broken. Fullstop.
Vanessa believes in a bit of magic and forever because her mother taught her well!
Two opposites or maybe just two people that had to wait till they found each other… But it’s lust and steamy times from the beginning and those two can’t stay apart. Both characters are strong and together they can be even stronger if they give it a chance. But there’s also lies and family drama, secrets and angst, lots of angst till those two get their so much worth it HEA.
I absolutely loved to see characters from “Triple Canopy” in this story… Oh, and the Kent brothers and sister!
This story has life hack advices: "Surround yourself with women who only want to see you happy and will lift you up and cheer you on like it’s their job”.
This story has friends who are like family, found family: Another life hack: “Find your people.”
“Playing with Lies” is book 1 in the “Hollow Point” series and what a kick off that is! The plot, the twists, the characters… all the characters are what make this story beautiful! Just… read it!

[Tammy Moldovan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secrets, love and healing

Whew. This story packs quite an emotional punch. I was really feeling all the deep emotions with this one. All the feels. It had the perfect balance of humor, heartwarming love, real life issues, danger, past pain, and spice. Vanessa thinks she has a stalker and needs help. Dalton is a police detective and the partner of Vanessa’s boss’ husband. She has repeatedly seen Dalton in random places the last several weeks so she decides the universe wants her to ask him for help. After agreeing to help her with her potential stalker issue, the attraction between them combusts but after a spicy weekend they agree to friendship only since Dalton does not do relationships and Vanessa doesn’t do flings. Then Vanessa’s family life is torpedoed and things change for them again. To get to their HEA, there will need to be a lot of baggage unpacking and leaps of faith for both of them all while dealing with so much family drama. The book was well written and included engaging dialogue, three dimensional characters who grow, and a captivating storyline with sweet moments, exciting action, danger, supportive family and friends, painful pasts, plot twists, imperfect characters, missteps, secrets, and all the big feels.

[Reading Addict · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always excited whenever Riley Edwards starts a new series and Playing with Lies does not disappoint! Vanessa Hale is a woman with a problem. She feels like she's being watched but has no proof other than her instincts. She turns to Detective Dalton Neary. He's the partner of her boss's husband and the object of her huge crush. Dalton has always noticed Vanessa however he has a lot of reasons for keeping his distance from her until she approaches him with her concerns. One thing leads to another and after a lust filled weekend, Vanessa finds out what type of relationship Dalton is willing to offer her and it's nothing that she is willing to accept. After parting ways Dalton has to face that if he isn't willing to open up to Vanessa about his concerns, he may loose an opportunity at something special. Adding to all this emotional drama is the fact that someone really is following Vanessa and when that person is revealed the shocks don't end there! Playing with Lies is everything that you expect from a Riley Edwards book, angst, action, emotional and hot! It was told from dual POV and stands alone but I am looking forward to reading more stories in the Hollow Point series.

[Cassy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 maybe? This book did not turn out like I expected but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

I was expecting a suspense romance and it kinda was: there was stalking and a kidnapping, but they were at the very beginning and the very end. Most of the novel dealt with Vanessa and her family.

This novel also seems like it has too much going on but like… it works. You have a stalker which turns into long lost family, which turns into basically rape, which turns into threats and kidnapping. And don’t forget the side of his crazy ex-wife who shows up drunk to his house.

But IDK. I liked how protective Dalton was without being absolutely overbearing. The storyline with. Vanessa and her sister was actually interesting and perfect, even when his drunk of an ex showed up it worked because Vanessa got the chance to bring her claws out. Also the spice was pretty good.

I also appreciate how up front they were with each other. Vanessa wasn’t looking for a fling and Dalton wasn’t looking for a relationship… until he was. And he was immediately upfront about that too.

The only thing I really thought was out of place was the son James kidnapping the three. Especially because there was no real explanation as to WHY he was doing that. We barely got any sense of him or his up bringing. We knew a decent amount about his father but the son was barely mentioned and it seemed just kinda out of the blue.

I appreciated the complexities of this book and, even though it could have easily gone off the rails, it didn’t.

[Melanie Marnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riley Edwards knows how to draw her readers in by giving them genuinely likeable characters and weaving them into interesting diverse stories that are packed with some angst, suspense, danger, conflict, family, friends and of course lots of sizzle. Playing With Lies, a spinoff of the Triple Canopy series, has all that in spades. I dearly loved Vanessa Hale with her unfiltered mouth, offbeat humor, determination and her ideals. She's waiting for her Prince Charming and is not willing to settle for anything other than a happily ever after. Dalton Neary just may fill that bill, albeit reluctantly. Commitment? He's been there, done that and it's left him closed off. But Vanessa started crawling under his skin the first time he saw her. Now she finds she needs him and he finds he's unable to resist her no matter how he tries. When you add in a stalker, a venom spouting ex, a surprise new family member, a reckoning for a highly placed public official and a pack of lies coming to light, well let's just say it's a captivating read. Enjoy! I know I did.

[Elizabeth - the_passionista_book_doctor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playing with Lies is the first in a new spinoff series for Riley Edwards, but longtime readers will find everything they have come to know and expect from a Riley Edwards novel. The main characters are familiar to those who have read the 707/Next Generation/Takeback series. Dalton is Phoenix Kent’s partner and Vanessa is Wren’s assistant. I enjoyed the twists and turns of this story, starting with a stalker and ending with opening Pandora’s box of family secrets. Vanessa doesn’t feel safe, can feel the eyes watching her, and knows exactly who to ask for help. Dalton is living with his head down, blaming himself for ruining his ex-wife’s life. It’s beautiful to watch him open up and Vanessa fighting to show him that it wasn’t his fault and he is worthy of her love. Twisty and suspenseful as ever, if you are a fan of Riley Edwards, you will enjoy this book as much as, or even more, than some of her other series. It will hook you from the start and as always, leave you wanting the next book in the series!

[Dawn Cruikshank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playing with Lies

Wow! Another great story by Riley. Didn't realize that we got to see the Triple Canopy group as well as the Kent group. We meet Dalton and Vanessa. I gotta say Vanessa is a hoot. The story begins with Vanessa needing to meet Wren for a celebration of some kind. She started seeing Dalton around town. Vanessa was feeling someone watching her when she went into the bar. She started getting tongue tied around Dalton and thought she made a fool of herself when she tried to talk to him about her stalking problem. She embarrassed herself and left in a hurry. She didn't make it far when she felt someone watching her again. The story continues when Dalton actually believes her. As the story goes along, we learn about her older sister and her secret. As we get towards the end, the sisters and Sully find themselves in a bad situation. Glad everything turns out ok. Also glad that Dalton and Vanessa find their love for each other. FANTASTIC job Riley! I would recommend this book!

[Trish (Beautiful Chaos Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟 4.5
🌶️ 4

Way to kick off a series, Riley! I devoured this in one sitting and enjoyed every page. I wonder how Riley keeps us loving the characters as she expands her universe. But she does it anyway with loveable characters, some steamy romance, and a mystery that ends with the good guys winning and a happily ever after. So very satisfying.

Playing with Lies is the first book in the Hollow Point series, a spin-off of Triple Canopy. We have met both characters before and now get their story as they get together and fall in love. It's a bumpy ride, but the mystery keeps them together, working through the hard stuff and supporting each other along the way. There is the signature guy banter as Dalton tries to resist Vanessa and gets a good chewing out from heroes we have loved before. You cannot help but love them both and cheer at the end, knowing you will get to see them again as the series grows. A definite must-read for fans of Riley Edwards.