The Truths That Deceive

Obsidian Knights Secret Society #4

by Kristen Luciani

My beautiful captive played the wrong hand when she tried to escape me… My latest assignment should have been easy. Find ex-hacker/rogue CIA agent Calista Price and hand her over to the US government for treason. But Calista is nothing like the desk jockey I expected. She’s a wild card, fiery, seductive, and she feeds into every one of my primal play urges.

Chasing her is addictive. Wrong. She’s young enough to be my daughter, and my mission is to capture her, not ravage her.

None of that stops me from craving her at my deepest levels. Calista infects my blood. She’s got an appetite for the same dirty, twisted games that I do. And she loves being hunted.

But time is short with my shiny new toy. She’s a target for more than just the CIA and others are closing in fast. At the end of the line, there are only two outcomes for Calista.

Prison…or death.

As we fall deeper into our dark, depraved games, I know I can’t give her up. I want all of her - body, mind, and blackened soul that matches my own.

And I’ll destroy anyone who tries to take her from me.

Fans of dark billionaire, secret society, hate to love, and age gap tropes will devour book four in the OBSIDIAN KNIGHTS SECRET SOCIETY series by USA Today bestselling author Kristen Luciani!

Ready for a dark billionaire romance with no cheating and an HEA? Then scroll up and one-click to get your copy of THE TRUTHS THAT DECEIVE today!



Publisher's Please be aware that THE TRUTHS THAT DECEIVE contains explicit and mature content and graphic violence that some readers might find unsettling or triggering. A full list of triggers can be found in the book.

Genres: BDSM, Dark, Enemies To Lovers, Dark Romance

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2024

About the author

Kristen Luciani is a USA Today bestselling romance author, momtrepreneur, and a beauty product junkie with a penchant for stilettos, Silicon Valley, plunging necklines and grapefruit martinis. As a deep-rooted romantic who prefers juicy drama to fill the lives of anyone other than her, she tried her hand at creating a world of enchantment, sensuality, and intrigue, finally uncovering her true passion. No pun intended…

***FREE BOOK OFFER!*** Click here to get a free copy of my MAYHEM!
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Reviews

[Claudia, Cmarie927 · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best things about this author is her consistent ability to write heart-racing, adrenaline-inducing stories that are impossible to put down, and this latest addition to the series is no exception. As established in the previous Obsidian Knights stories, Smith is as much of a threat as Mercer, Orion, Malone, and any other knight, and has no need for entanglements.

Driven by her personal sense of justice, Calista is boldly pursuing a group of extremely dangerous individuals, fully aware of the risks involved in tracking them by herself. With the information she holds, her life hangs in the balance, and there are others apart from Smith on the hunt for her. Fortunately, he is the one who locates her first.

Locating a rogue CIA hacker for Smith should be a straightforward task. It is. Collecting her - done. Returning her to the US for CIA interrogation? This part is proving to be difficult for Smith. Despite his best efforts, he cannot resist the challenge that Calista poses, both professionally and personally. I enjoyed the chemistry between these two, and the control Smith takes in every situation. The “run and I will find you” parts of this story are steamy and lead to some entertaining situations. I loved their dynamic, and the way she challenges him!

Overall, this had me gripping the edge of my seat, with the pages flipping effortlessly. I was really happy with how things turned out for this couple, especially Smith, and I ended the book feeling very satisfied.

I urge you to read this author’s other engaging works as well. I’m really excited for her next project. I received a complimentary copy from Booksprout (thank you) and I’m voluntarily leaving my review.

[Intel Chicky Reads Romance (Kara Merideth) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Floved it!!

Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trope: enemies to lovers
Angst: 😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Absolutely loved it - definitely my favorite in the series ❤. Super fast paced with tons of action, twists, and turns that kept going all the way to the last page. The two MCs were complex and dynamic characters with a ton of chemistry and a push and pull that was crazy good. This is a true enemies to lovers, with lots of hate filled smexy times that nearly singed my eyebrows with all the flames from my kindle, lol. A fantastic conclusion to the series!

[Sarah Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another exciting and brilliant page turner.

I'm absolutely loving the Obsidian Knights Secret Society series. This time we have Smith's story, and he is one tantalising and complicated man. Sexy, secretive, sophisticated and seriously kinky. He certainly meets his match in Calista. I loved their spicy and fiery exchanges; their chemistry was undeniable and explosive, and their internal dialogue teamed with the banter between them made them a fascinating combination. I loved the excitement, intrigue and drama of the story and couldn't stop turning the pages until the very end. Brilliant!.

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

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

As much as I adored the first 3 books in the Secret Society of Obsidian Knights this fourth book just did not do it for me. There was a lack of space and the connections between the characters was just too chaotic for me. Smith was kinda sexy at times but that was it. I just felt like by the end the story just wasn’t that great and we didn’t really get a conclusion for the bigger picture.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Truths That Deceive is fourth book of the Obsidian Knights Secret Society Series. A full-length standalone novel with no cheating or cliffhanger and complete with a oh so satisfying happily-ever-after. The stories are interconnected with characters from the other books making appearance and contributing to the story. A brilliantly crafted story with two flawed and damage individuals and a twisty and complex storyline that captures the reader attention from the start and keeps you rooted and on the edge of your seat with it's twists and turns, high-octane action, adventures, mystery and suspense. A fast paced, thrilling, dark and twisted read. Hang on to your kindle and brace yourself for this tantalizing rollercoaster ride of cravings, tension and depravity. An absorbing addictive and unputdownable read. The Truths That Deceive contains explicit and mature content and graphic violence that some readers might find unsettling or triggering. 
A billionaires & millionaires romance, dark mafia romance, enemies-to-lovers romance, hate-to-love vibes romance, dark billionaire secret identity romance, touch-her-and-die romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense story, women's crime fiction story, crime thriller story, protective alpha hero story, forced proximity romance, polar opposite attracts story, aged gap trope story, forbidden romance, lust-at-first-sight story, insta-love romance, taboo romance, off-limits relationship with kinky fuckery, angst, graphic violence and gore, drama, anger, fear, guilt, enemies, depraved sexual games, public acts of sex, Dub-Con, debauchery, hurt and pain, dominance, dirty talking, captivity, anal sex, submission, edge play, consensual intense rough sex, primal play, graphic murder, chaos, revenge, graphic language, rope play, throat play, description of graphic sex acts, D/s, lies, darkness, madness, survival, resilience, revelations, sex trafficking ring, attacks, deception, dark secrets, steam, scorching hot passion, threats, bloodshed, witty banter, losses, forgiveness, BDSM, laugh-out-loud-moments, hidden agendas, love, kidnapping, double-cross, treachery, breath play, blood play, attempted rape, jealousy, manipulation, friendships, misconception and distrust and heartaches.
Calista Juniper Price a.k.a Hendrix, the hacker is a twenty-four year old CIA agent, she's not in the field. She sits behind the desk and has apparently gone AWOL after her field agent Johnny did the same. He stopped communicating and she waited to long to report it. Johnny gave her something for safe keeping. She's a computer Intel and a hacker. She dropped off the planet because she knows that she's a target. Calista poked into things that she should've never seen. Her twin and younger brother Henry Xavier is under the watchful eyes of the CIA. She was lasted sighted in Berlin investigating the whereabouts of her field agent, Johnny told her that was going undercover to look into Bolivia and it's sex trafficking ring. She's now sitting on information someone high up in the CIA wants. She have went deeper than she should poked into things far above her clearance level and now with what she got, she's not sure who she could trust. It's a weapon and this new weapon is scary in the wrong hands.
Smith Hunt a thirty-eight year old billionaire killer and member of the Obsidian Knights, a secret society. After coming off a killing spree with Reaper in Scotland, blowing apart a Bolivian dirty little porn and sex ring Smith went on vacation. It was then Enver a forner CIA and knight who had been in the field for many many years approached him about doing a job that was assigned to him. It was to find and bring back Calista a rogue hacker/CIA agent and hand her over to the USA government for treason. However, Calista is nothing like the desk jockey he was expecting. She’s a wild card, fiery, seductive, sassy and she feeds into every one of his primal play urges. Enver picked him because of his German name and case was right up his alley. While digging around on the dark web she came across the Collectors. Calista is after the Collectors and they're the reasons why she hadn't turn herself in yet to life of death or prison. She wants to find and ruin them financially and then find one of their founders, Jon Trenton. He was the one who raped her mother and set her down the path of horror from the age of fifteen and he could possibly be her father.
Calista knows that she's being followed so she hide out in a coffeehouse and club. It's cheap and fits with a punk and artist drug vibe with the feels of a speakeasy. She knows that she can't log into her CIA laptop because they would have her pinned immediately after she do so she scour the dark web on her burner phone while looking for potential threats using her training. She knows if there's anyone from big intelligence agencies is looking for she could find them on the dark web. She keeps landing on a group call the Obsidian Knights in the illegal chatters. But she can't find anything on them. She sits there pretending to be going through the mindless gossip when the hair on the back of her neck pricked with fear. There was a man in his late thirties who was reading a book. But there was something about him that rubbed her the wrong way. She knew that no one could be reading in a place like that. The mystery man blue eyes meet hers but by the time she told the bartender that if anyone asked about to point them in opposite direction he was gone.
Smith intentionally bummed into her and planted a tracking device on her, there was also an electricity than pass through his body from the touch. When Calista got back to her apartment to get her things so that she could leave Berlin Smith was there waiting for her. Smith was immediately attracted to her as he perverted search her weapon they were both arose, it was then that he knew that she was kinky and fucked up in the head. But they time was interrupted was mercenaries showed up to her apartment. He quickly realized that he wasn't the only one who was after her and wondered what she had that so many people wanted her. He took her back to his apartment that he had in the city. But she tried to escape. He told her that he likes the chase and if she run that he would chase her and fuck her, in the rain, the mud wherever. His statement only turns her on so she tried the theory to what he would do. "Chasing her is addictive. Wrong. She’s young enough to be my daughter, and my mission is to capture her, not ravage her. None of that stops me from craving her at my deepest levels. Calista infects my blood. She’s got an appetite for the same dirty, twisted games that I do. And she loves being hunted."
Calista pretends that she doesn't like him but she loves the chase, the hunt, the fight. It's thrilling, exciting, frightening and it makes her feel alive. It calls to the darkest recess of her soul. Their chemistry is electrifying and magnetic. He keeps telling himself that she's a job and he only wants to get want he needs about the Collectors to bring them down so that he could collect his money. But although she's young she fits into all his depraved kinks and kinky proclivities and she's the best sex/sub he has ever had. As they navigate through dangers and betrayal he finds that he's falling for her even though he doesn't believe that they should be together. Calista fights him at every turn but she can't seems to turn away from his touch and domination.
Smith doesn't do relationships but Calista was the exception to the rule. He would burn the world and sacrifice himself for her. "I want all of her mind, body and blackened soul that matches my own." The time they spend together he knows that he can't let her go. Smith even took a bullet for her and she kill a man for him when she thought that he was dead. In order to keep her the Obsidian Knights had to fake her death and she will now be working for them because they needed someone with her type of skill set to get information from places that they can't get into. After breaking his own and her heart because he let her go. Smith realized that he was in love with her and he cannot see his life without her being by his side. Calista has tame the playboy/womanizer freak and bring him to his knees. This book demands to be read and screamed escape from the everyday world and gave that something extra that you craved and never knew that you needed. Wow is all that I can say about this book. It's a great addition to the series. I can't wait to read the next installment.

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

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE TRUTHS THAT DECEIVE is the fourth instalment in Kristen Luciani’s contemporary, adult OBSIDIAN KNIGHTS SECRET SOCIETY dark, erotic, romance series focusing on a secret society of billionaires and assassins. This is thirty-eight year old, former CIA operative Smith Hunt, and twenty-four year old CIA hacker Calista Hendrix’s story line. THE TRUTHS THAT DECEIVE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary . Smith Hunt is Dakota Hunt’s estranged father (The Desires That Burn).

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise including light Dom / sub and graphic violence, there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers. The author includes a list of TW in the book.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Calista and Smith) THE TRUTHS THAT DECEIVE focuses on the hunt and take down of our story line heroine. Calista Hendrix is on the run having uncovered some information on the dark web. The CIA believes Calista is a traitor, and Smith Hunt is tasked with bringing her home but all is not as it appears to be when the truth reveals a much darker scenario including a need for vengeance for our story line heroine.

Once again, the world building is comprehensive and intricate. Calista is keeping the truth of her ‘supposed betrayal’ in the hopes of destroying the people who destroyed her life. As Smith struggles to keep Calista under control, our heroine refuses to sit back watching the world go by. At every opportunity Calista attempts an escape, often placing both of their lives in the direct line of fire.

The relationship between Calista and Smith begins as an assignment but Calista refuses to go quietly, and within hours is forcing Smith’s hand. Calista is not naïve to the in which she works and is currently under watch but she refuses to remain safe when the bad guys are always getting away. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic, and provocative but I dislike the use of a certain four-letter word liberally throughout.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and questionable secondary and supporting characters including many of whom we met in the previous instalments: Mercer, Orion, Malone, Black Widow and Jones, as well a number of CIA operatives and mentors who actions and roles are ambiguous and dubious.

THE TRUTHS THAT DECEIVE is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, exploitation and trafficking, acceptance and love. The premise is detailed, dark, dramatic and intriguing; the romance is aggressive and steamy; the characters are desperate, determined and energetic.


copy supplied for review

[Susana Sousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smith....

The Truths That Deceive is the fourth installment in the Obsidian Knights Secret Society Series of interconnected standalones featuring another knight with another mission: retrieve.

Smith flys to Germany looking for an essential key to the mayhem going inside and around a certain agence. A request and an added generous offer, more of a challenge for a bored knight...aren't they all?!!!
Calista Price is in hidding, not because she's do wrong guilty, but she may have stumbled upon what she wasn't supposed to.

What they didn't realize was being the holders of precious info to their very own inconspicous secret agenda.........without being able to connect the dots.

As Kristen got us used to, this high-octane, fast-paced, intriguing and chaotic narrative makes our protagonists the eyes of the reader that follows along with the peril, the prowl, dire predicaments, seedy dealings, arrests, escapes, friends, foes, across continents and the certain future to deliver.
In a niche, their very intricate game of predator and prey, daring, provoking, giving in, exchanging comfort in decadent, intimate and surrendering lies, while awaiting the caustic reality of the truth.

Smith, so used to being himself, blasé to any and everything that isn't Dakota, finds himself under the spell of the young hacker, so smart, so vulnerable, his protective instincts can't ignore, also...so young, too young, game for the hungry wolves above. Guilty or scape goat?

I loved the mystery in the story, how the tale opens bit by bit, revealing clarity and doubt at every turn and the heaviness hanging over our characters that trust with their bodies but not with their minds, exploiting pleasure to gain leverage and falling for each other without compromise.
Calista was totally unexpected, smart, witty, knew how to claw but, for a man like Smith, she was still kitten, ipone he was too eager to play with and train, because the situation would eventyally call for it.

I was a happy reader at the end, seeing Smith and Dakota finding their place in each other's hearts and being Calista the great catalyst for it, after all that could've gone wrong, but the Society would certainly made right!

[Good Booking Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for:
-fast-paced
-action & adventure
-heavy on the spice
-D/s, primal play, breath and blood play
-age gap
-OTT MC
-smart & fiesty FMC
then this is for you.

I went into this book completely blind, and had have not read any of the previous books of the series. I was relieved that it didn't matter, as the main focus of this book was the two main characters, Smith & Calista. The characters of previous books make appearances, but the author does such a smooth job of reminding the reader who they are and their significance to the MMCs, that you wouldn't know that you've jumped in to the series on book 4.

As mentioned, the story is fast paced and action packed. The FMC is young and super smart, which I appreciate in FMCs. There is a line in the book where she demands that she not be treated with kid gloves and says "I'm not a damn damsel" , and boy, truer words have never been spoken about this character. She finds herself in some scary, high stress situations and she remains calm, cool and level headed the whole time.

Smith is tasked with finding Calista (CIA agent) and bringing her in, back to the CIA, for questioning about possible treason activity. But he believes there is more to this story. He finds it hard to believe that she would knowingly, or, purposefully engage in acts of treason. So he takes his time bringing her in. He also believes she has information about The Collectors: a deep dark web organization who are sex traffickers - specifically young girls, and sells them around the world. The Collectors are the same organization who took his daughter (in a previous book - she was recovered and is safe) and have destroyed the lives of countless girls and their families.
He uses her for information and he uses her body (consensual) for his depraved needs. He's a hunter. in every sense of the word.

There are a few plot twists and turns, but it wouldn't be a dark romance if it also didn't have super kinky "stuff" going on. Please review the TW/CW before reading this book, as the primal play is very intense. D/s as well as Non-Con/Con.

I was given a free ARC of this book. This review is my opinion

[~lil maso~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Robyn for Saucy Reviews on Kinky Korner

4 1/2 stars

The Secret Society of Obsidian Knights, book four, is about Smith, who is tasked with finding and bringing in Calista, an exceptionally gifted computer whiz and hacker for the CIA.

The start of this story hooked me immediately with the action happening right from the first page. I was extremely invested in learning more about Smith, especially after the previous story, because I wanted to see if I would like him more. I do, but he still managed to annoy me. 😆

Calista might be fourteen years Smith’s junior, but she often acts more mature than twenty-four. Being super intelligent means she can uncover what a lot of other people can’t, but it also means it lands her in hot water, too.

The mystery revolves around the new, revolutionary missing weapon blueprints the CIA is hunting down, which means Calista gets caught in the crosshairs. It’s also about the same problem as in prior books—sex traffickers and trying to wipe them out. These two huge issues cause some incredible situations with loads of gritty, raw drama and fast-paced scenes with plenty of exciting action.

Some great twists and turns in the book make for exciting reading, but I will admit to feeling a bit confused at times due to the story's complexity. However, everything comes together, as it usually does, by the end. In fact, the ending takes me by surprise, but 🤐 not another word to spoil the story.

*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*

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[Robyn Corcoran · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars
I wrote this review for Saucy Reviews on Kinky Korner.
The Secret Society of Obsidian Knights, book four, is about Smith, who is tasked with finding and bringing in Calista, an exceptionally gifted computer whiz and hacker for the CIA.

The start of this story hooked me immediately with the action happening right from the first page. I was extremely invested in learning more about Smith, especially after the previous story, because I wanted to see if I would like him more. I do, but he still managed to annoy me. 😆

Calista might be fourteen years Smith’s junior, but she often acts more mature than twenty-four. Being super intelligent means she can uncover what a lot of other people can’t, but it also means it lands her in hot water, too.

The mystery revolves around the new, revolutionary missing weapon blueprints the CIA is hunting down, which means Calista gets caught in the crosshairs. It’s also about the same problem as in prior books—sex traffickers and trying to wipe them out. These two huge issues cause some incredible situations with loads of gritty, raw drama and fast-paced scenes with plenty of exciting action.

Some great twists and turns in the book make for exciting reading, but I will admit to feeling a bit confused at times due to the story's complexity. However, everything comes together, as it usually does, by the end. In fact, the ending takes me by surprise, but 🤐 not another word to spoil the story.

[Lisa Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Truths That Deceive is book 4 of the Obsidian Knights Secret Society series.
Obsidian Knights is a very secret society, that exist in the realm outside law, order, and rule that the rest of the world follows.
Smith is supposed to be on vacation. But a ex-CIA/Knight acquaintance asked him to go to Germany to bring back ex-hacker/rogue CIA agent Calista Price to the CIA.
Calista is in Berlin trying to find Johnny, the field agent she’s been handling. She knows she waited to long to report him, but Johnny asked her to hold off so he could look into something. He gave her information to look at, plus she had her own agenda. She knows she sitting on information someone high up in the CIA wants. And she’s on borrow time.
Smith founds Calista in a bar and when he brushes into her as he passes electricity cascades through her.
So Smith kidnaps her. He wants her to let him help her and save her ass.
Calista tries to escape several times. After the first time Smith tells her the “the chase” is his fucking jam. You either love it or you hate it, depending if it’s for fun or on you trying and get away.
Calista realizes she loves the chase, running, fighting. It’s so New, Frightening, Exhilarating. It’s coming home.
Smith keeps telling himself that Calista is just a job, a paycheck, that she’s too young for him. But the pull he feels for her is on such a visceral level that he doesn’t understand it.
Calista keeps telling herself that she’s just a job, paycheck to Smith. That he just wants the information and the information she has on the Collectors.

Can’t wait for Kristen Lucian’s new series. The Mafia Enemy’s Bride book 1 in The Corsano Mafia Series.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did like this book, quite a bit. There were things that were totally predictable, based on the author's writing style, but for the most part, the mystery was mostly a mystery this time. I appreciate that, since with previous books, it wasn't really a shock at all.

I didn't notice any grammatical issues. I haven't with the last few books. I have been sick, so maybe it isn't really registering, if there are any.

Story-wise, I liked these two together. They just worked. The predictability came at the very end where he can't admit that he loves her, and she's about to leave because he won't. This pretty much happened with all 4 books in the series. The part that I don't like, though, is that they work so well together, and their sparring and banter is so good between them, and then he just blurts out that whole spiel about her working for them and they can get married. It was inelegant, especially for him. I don't understand why he was ready to just let her go, but then bought a ring, anyway. I supposed he just wasn't ready to admit to himself that he couldn't let her go, even though he already knew?

Overall, this series was pretty good. The writing kept me engaged, even though some of the big reveals were not such a big shock.
I would recommend these books to others, for sure.

[Grinning Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cover of the actual book by Wander Aguiar- squee!

Cat’s Stats

MMC/FMC- Smith and Calista

Genre- Dark Romance

Length- about 300 pages

Heat- they do many, many things including but not limited to: BDSM, primal play, kinky stuff, spanking, exhibitionism/public zexytime, edging, rope play… basically it’s like a heavily loaded plate at a kink salad bar.

Series? Y

Safety? N (dub con and s. trafficking)

Triggers- graphic violence, graphic language, more graphic violence, graphic gore, still graphic violence, explicit erotic content as described above, and graphic murder. Basically it’s all the graphic and explicit. Triggers like an NRA swap meet.

Tropes- Age Gap, Billionaire, d/s, Dysfunctional Family FTW, Enemies to Lovers, Hate Sex High, Secret Handshake, Secret Identity, Vengeance Is Mine.

Premise- the CIA employs Smith to track down Calista, an IT agent who has gone rogue trying to break a s. trafficking ring.

What I Think- Woo! This book is a lot. It’s definitely not vanilla- more like a rich, dark chocolate with an almond crunch. If you’re not easily triggered and you like you some kink, you’re going to love this book.

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

[Debbie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This another story of Obsidian Knights, Smith has taken on a simple case return Callista a CIA hacker to the CIA for questioning. She's a CIA hacker gone rouge trying to find justice and the truth behind her friends' disappearance. Smith knows she is hiding something, something big he just needs her to trust him to get her information. A captivating story with a young CIA hacker and Smith a retired veteran CIA operative in this age-gap romance. Their chemistry is sizzling between them as they fight the attraction and stay alive as danger surrounds them at every turn. He knows she's hiding sensitive information from him, information he needs possibly about the Collectors. A sex trafficking ring he and his Obsidian Knights have been hunting and destroying, especially since his daughter was kidnapped by the Collectors. Can this rogue hacker trust anyone to help put the puzzle pieces together and find the truth. Can she trust him with her secrets? Can they trust each other? A fast-paced story with twists and turns, secrets and lies as the truth is uncovered. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sharon in SF · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the relationship story of Smith and Calista. She's a young, self-taught hacker whose inquisitive nature inadvertantly lands her in a lot of trouble, forcing her to hide from her employer, the CIA. Smith's been tasked to find her and bring her back stateside to face possible treason charges. With Smith's ex-CIA and military background, he locates her easily, but his inquisitive nature wants to find out the secrets she's uncovered. In their line of work, they trust no one but themselves so there's a constant dance between these two of what is truth vs fiction. He's drawn to her, but she's just a little older than the daughter he only recently discovered he had, so he's just going to have a little fun. I loved seeing Calista's intelligence challenge Smith at every turn. But, the storyline itself had so many moving parts that it was hard to keep track of the details. When this happened, it felt like the story sputtered, but then suddenly smoothed out so it could continue. I was really looking forward to Smith's story, and parts of it didn't disappoint, but others did so this was a 3.5 star read.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Kristen Luciano's books that begin with "This is a dark romance that contains very triggering situations"!

Smith's latest assignment....find Calista and turn her over the to US government. Easy right? He thought it would be quick, however, then he met her. She's nothing like he thought she'd be. She intrigues him immensely. He has a strong attraction to her even though she's much younger and very dangerous to him. She's more than a hacker and which has made turning her over harder than he expected.

Calista is trying to stay under the US radar of bringing her back. She's got to find Johnny, her field agent that has gone missing. She's good at her job of hacking, but how long can she stay undercover and avoid trouble? She always feels like someone is watching, which she's sure they are. Then she meets Smith and she thought she had problems before!

Great story, wonderful characters! So many twists and turns! It was nice to have characters from previous stories in this series make an appearance.

[Coastie Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smith is supposed to be on vacation, but when an ex-CIA/Knight acquaintance asks him to go to Germany and bring back ex-hacker/rogue CIA agent Calista Price. Calista has been in Berlin trying to find the field agent she’s been handling (Johnny). Calista is also looking into the Collectors as she is trying to find the man, she believes is responsible for her mother’s death. She has a lot of information but hasn’t had a chance to really look at it to see what she is sitting on.

When Smith catches up with her the adventure begins! They are both attracted to each other, but because of the circumstances, Calista is fighting it. She will stop at nothing to try and escape. What she doesn’t realize is that Smith loves the hunt!

Suspense, drama, lies, betrayal, secrets and passion are plenty. Who can you trust? Who can you believe? Will Calista finally be able to trust Smith and will Smith give in to his feelings for this feisty little hacker?

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

[Daniela Tavares · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/6.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5.

For some reason I thought Calista would be a bit more trained by the CIA which was a bit disappointing.
Primal play isn’t my fave but I also don’t dislike it however there was so much of spicy times in here that the rest was kind of lost in the story. I just remember them having a soft moment between them and the rest was just sex and lies between them sprinkled with a bit of truth.

I also couldn’t really believe any of them as far as I could throw him.
So in the end Calista came for Smith which it should’ve been the other way around.
I read Smith’s daughter story a long time ago so I don’t remember much but Smith could make an effort with her. He just gave up on having a relationship even though it’s “saver” now to do so. I liked that she came to him and actually invited him to her wedding but he definitely needs to do better.

Oh and also after everything Calista never got to see her brother so wth is that all about?

Overall I have mixed feelings about this.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in this phenomenal series, and this is Calista and Smith’s story.
Calista is smart and feisty, and she is an ex-hacker / rogue CIA agent, who is determined to get justice against those responsible for her friend’s disappearance. Smith is assigned the task to track down Calista, and hand her over to the government for possibly treason charges, but Smith feels there is more to Calista than what he has been told, but he is not the only one after her, can he keep her safe and protected?
This is a well written fast paced, action packed story, with drama, danger, suspense, intrigue, secret society, an age gap, emotions, humor, witty banter, friendships, violence, combustible chemistry, and hate / love, which leads to an entertaining, spicy, twisted, and unpredictable addictive page turner.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

[Jennifer Pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calista is a brilliant hacker who has been hired (LOL) by the CIA because she's too dangerous to be left to her own devices. She finds herself in a ton of danger after she didn't finish her last assignment, and it brought Smith into her life as he's hired to bring her in because she didn't do what she was supposed to do. He thinks it will be an easy job to deal with, but he never thought he would be so drawn to the much younger hacker so the sparks are flying between them. The moment those sparks ignite, they light the sheets on fire with their heat. He also quickly learns that there's more to this story than was told to him, so he ends up in a race against time to keep her safe from everyone after her. Kristen Luciani is so fantastic at keeping me on my toes cover to cover with any story she creates, and The Truths That Deceive is no exception as my heart raced like crazy with all the twists coming in hot. I absolutely LOVE this series so much & HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[Brandi-Lynn Weiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing about Kristen’s writing is that it always sucks me right in & keeps me invested right to the end.
The Truths That Deceive is packed w/action, angst, & a whole lot of spice. Smith is like the rest of the guys in this series- stubborn as hell & in denial right until the end. I loved watching him fight what he felt for Calista & act like she was just a job. And freaking Calista! I loved her. This girl was tough, sassy, smart, & gave everything Smith dished out right back like a champ. She was a perfect match for him & exactly what he needed to bring him to his knees- literally! And I loved the taser to the nuts scene she gave Reaper!
This was another great read & it has me looking forward to seeing if Reaper gets a story. There’s something about that man that has me intrigued to what to know more about him.

[Kari Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calista’s investigation has placed her in danger not only from the people it exposes but the CIA as well. Her attempts to stay ahead of everyone who is after her is thwarted by Smith however she soon finds out that he presents a much bigger challenge.

Smith has been recruited to bring Calista back to the CIA so that they find out what she knows and whose side she is on. It should have been straightforward, but he soon realizes that there is a lot more to Calista both when it comes to who she is and what she is being accused of that has him second guessing what his true mission should be.

Suspense, action and surprises as even though they may have begun as adversaries they find a love that neither saw coming.

[Viper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome series

Love of Smith and Calista 's adventurous love story.

Great addition to the series. Lots of advenure and suspense not knowing what is around the corner. They both met their match. Chemistry like fire. She is feisty and a firecracker. He is dangerous strong and sexy. Rough but caring.
Lots of emotions you laughed you cried. Love pain hurt fear excitement. Etc. The Knights have a very strong bond . They are funny how they give each others heck.
always on the run her running him chasing. Trying to bring the bad guys down.
Loved how it all came together. Truly enjoyed this book and series. Kristen look forward to your next adventure.

[JaneH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calista and Smith…to be honest I didn’t like either of them for quite a while. I liked how tough and strong she was, at the same time I found her to be a bit of a complainer. Smith, he just kept to much to himself unless it involved intimacy and even then he was quite cold.
Half way in my views changed, I liked them both, the passion was intense and the baddies were certainly bad.
Overall a good read. My only negative was there were so many characters I found I was getting confused at times as to who was good or bad.

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

[GKP2460 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Truths That Deceive is book 4 of the Secret Society Of The Obsidian Knights series and is Smith and Calistas fabulous, intense, gritty, spicy, action filled story that completely consumes it's readers from start to finish. This couple takes the hard way around everything it seems and with Smith it appears he's struggling with the age gap thing. Calista's tough as nails and is the perfect one to get him to see how things really are. It's a dark read so be sure to check the trigger warnings before you start reading. What a great read!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsidian Knights Secret Society Series!

It's been a bit since I've read a Luciani story, but the blurb and cover for "The Truths That Deceive" captured me, and I just knew I had to read it!

Both Smith and Calista captured me!

Sexy Smith! And his kinks! Oh My!!!

There really is Never a Dull Moment when reading a story by this author!

She brings the action, the intrigue, the heat, the dialogue, the banter!

Clear your schedule! I expect you'll have as hard a time as I did to put this down!!!

Excellent!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment Smith and Calista meet they have an intense connection and they are a perfect match for each other. This is a captivating read packed with action, danger, intrigue, suspense, angst, steam and so much more. The Truths that Deceive is book four and the final book in the Obsidian Knights Secret Society series. I recommend you start this series from book one and get ready for a steamy and dangerous ride. Great writing and a page turning story make this a 5-star read. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Michelle D · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a lot going on in this book. Smith is sent to find Calista, a CIA employee who has gone rogue.

This is an action packed book and I struggled to stay engaged. I liked the characters but not the story. One minute they are about to unalive each other and the next they are jumping each other's bones.

There are a few triggers to be aware of.

"I don't have to like you to want you."

If you're looking for:
-fast-paced
-action & adventure
-heavy on the spice
-D/s, primal play, breath and blood play
-age gap
-OTT MC
-smart & feisty FMC

3.5 ⭐/4🌶️

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Callista is a CIA hacker gone rouge to persue justice heading for some dangerous people only other are onto her and its mith that finds her first hes meant to bring her in or interogation but the more time they spend together the harder the descions become. well written engaging steamy desires, action, age gap and more.

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

[Syd Springer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fristen is back with another awesome book! I loved Smith and Calista. These two are perfect for each other. I loved the banter between Smith and Calista as well as the connection and chemistry. This book offered a lot for us readers including drama, steam, and intrigue and left us wanting more! I can't wait for more from Kristen soon.

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