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King's Security #4
The Liar
I thought he was my happily ever after, but everything between us has been a lie.
When I discover my husband married me under false pretenses, I want nothing more to do with him. I don’t care if he claims to love me. He broke my trust. Unfortunately, divorcing him could jeopardize a massive sting operation.
Apparently, the charming liar isn’t a bartender–he’s an undercover federal agent who married me to gain access to my colleagues. He’s investigating a network of dirty cops, and if I blow his cover, all of the progress he’s made will be lost.
The fastest way to get rid of him is to help him finish his case, but doing so plunges me headfirst into danger. The trouble is, I’m not sure which I’m most worried the risk to my life, or to my heart.
When I discover my husband married me under false pretenses, I want nothing more to do with him. I don’t care if he claims to love me. He broke my trust. Unfortunately, divorcing him could jeopardize a massive sting operation.
Apparently, the charming liar isn’t a bartender–he’s an undercover federal agent who married me to gain access to my colleagues. He’s investigating a network of dirty cops, and if I blow his cover, all of the progress he’s made will be lost.
The fastest way to get rid of him is to help him finish his case, but doing so plunges me headfirst into danger. The trouble is, I’m not sure which I’m most worried the risk to my life, or to my heart.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 3, 2024
158 people are currently reading
843 people want to read
About the author
A. Rivers
18 books399 followersA. Rivers writes steamy romance books with take-charge heroes and strong heroines who aren't afraid to fight the odds for love. On the rare occasions when she ventures out of the writing cave, you can probably find her face down in a book, cuddling her pets, or planning her next overseas adventure with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
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October 8, 2025SPOILER - ish!
I wanted to like this one because the blurb made it sound so interesting and different from the regular tropes we get often, but unfortunately the writing is awful. There is no depth to it, the main leads have no chemistry or character/relationship development as we are told how they meet in one page and the next they are suddenly married and having issues. Then there is the mystery/suspense which is a joke in itself.
It's basically a story about an interracial female cop & and a white undercover FBI agent who get together under false pretenses and suddenly they are in love. MMC went undercover to catch the killer who shot & killed his Father and to catch a few bad cops that are helping a drug cartel kidnap & kill women. FMC who is a cop in the precinct that he is infiltrating meets MMC while she's on vacation and supposedly falls for him and marries him.
I say "supposedly" because we are never shown how their relationship developed and they fell in love. MMC & his people basically staged the meeting because they knew she is not a dirty cop and they wanted an "in" to vet out the bad guys by using his relationship with the FMC. So he basically lies & manipulates her and we go from them meeting "accidently" to going out for a drink and next page is them married for 4 months.
Except they are not really married because he gave her a fake name & identity. Heroine then finds out all the lies and is pissed for a nano-second but decides to stay fake married to him to help him filter out the bad cops, all while also working a dead stripper case.
MMC feels "bad" about lying to her because apparently he loves her but doesn't make any effort to tell her the truth (even when he knows he can trust her) until his lies are all exposed. Even then, he still hides stuff and only gives her answers when he is found out and forced.
FMC who should have kicked him to the curb for how he used, lied and manipulated her - or at least made him work for some redemption, collaborates with him to catch the bad guys and there's an ILY and The End.
I should also reiterate how stupid the writing here is because for an undercover FBI agent who is posing as a Bartender at a bar to gain intel, why would you pull your gun out and interrogate the same suspects that you are trying to catch? Or meet with informants right out in the open where your fake wife & the cops you are trying to catch can see you? Or run into a building without any backup where you are caught and beaten and unable to save yourself & the woman you are supposed to love because you my friend are no Alpha big shot but a weak, weak man and an FMC who acts like a bad ass but is too dumb to put two & two together.
Anyway, maybe others will like it, but this was too stupid and lame for me.
I wanted to like this one because the blurb made it sound so interesting and different from the regular tropes we get often, but unfortunately the writing is awful. There is no depth to it, the main leads have no chemistry or character/relationship development as we are told how they meet in one page and the next they are suddenly married and having issues. Then there is the mystery/suspense which is a joke in itself.
It's basically a story about an interracial female cop & and a white undercover FBI agent who get together under false pretenses and suddenly they are in love. MMC went undercover to catch the killer who shot & killed his Father and to catch a few bad cops that are helping a drug cartel kidnap & kill women. FMC who is a cop in the precinct that he is infiltrating meets MMC while she's on vacation and supposedly falls for him and marries him.
I say "supposedly" because we are never shown how their relationship developed and they fell in love. MMC & his people basically staged the meeting because they knew she is not a dirty cop and they wanted an "in" to vet out the bad guys by using his relationship with the FMC. So he basically lies & manipulates her and we go from them meeting "accidently" to going out for a drink and next page is them married for 4 months.
Except they are not really married because he gave her a fake name & identity. Heroine then finds out all the lies and is pissed for a nano-second but decides to stay fake married to him to help him filter out the bad cops, all while also working a dead stripper case.
MMC feels "bad" about lying to her because apparently he loves her but doesn't make any effort to tell her the truth (even when he knows he can trust her) until his lies are all exposed. Even then, he still hides stuff and only gives her answers when he is found out and forced.
FMC who should have kicked him to the curb for how he used, lied and manipulated her - or at least made him work for some redemption, collaborates with him to catch the bad guys and there's an ILY and The End.
I should also reiterate how stupid the writing here is because for an undercover FBI agent who is posing as a Bartender at a bar to gain intel, why would you pull your gun out and interrogate the same suspects that you are trying to catch? Or meet with informants right out in the open where your fake wife & the cops you are trying to catch can see you? Or run into a building without any backup where you are caught and beaten and unable to save yourself & the woman you are supposed to love because you my friend are no Alpha big shot but a weak, weak man and an FMC who acts like a bad ass but is too dumb to put two & two together.
Anyway, maybe others will like it, but this was too stupid and lame for me.
December 16, 2024
Sorry but if a man and his team chose me to be his wife because I looked like the perfect dumb little candidate and I found out four months later on a whim, I would never ever ever let that man stay in MY flat regardless of the greater good. I understand what's at stake, but you really could have propositioned me at the beginning with a marriage of convenience instead of fucking lying. Four months of me thinking this man was the love of my life only to find out everything I knew about him was a lie?!?! LOL fuck off. And she just throws herself at him whenever things get heated like girlfriend, fucking get a grip.
AND THERE WAS NO GRRRROOOOOVEEELLLLLLLLLLL !!!!!!!!!
AND THERE WAS NO GRRRROOOOOVEEELLLLLLLLLLL !!!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2024
Forwarning: If you are not into the lying trope, this book is NOT for you. It is 99% lies from start to finish
The Liar, Book 4 of the King's Security series, was about "Westly/West Gallo" (not his true name), a "bartender" (in truth he was an undercover federal agent), and Joanna "Jo" Lee, a homicide detective in Chicago.
Joanna had "won" a train trip through some obscure contest. During that trip, she met West, who supposedly won a similar competition. Unknown to Joanna was the fact that West, and his FBI co-workers, had set the whole thing up in order for him to meet her so he could infiltrate her precinct that was purported to be full of dirty cops. Four months later, they were "married", although Joanna wasn't aware that it wasn't a legally binding marriage since West was using a fake identity.
When Joanna and her partner walked past a coffee shop on their way to a crime scene, she glanced in the window where she spotted her new husband holding hands with another woman. Unfortunately, she didn't have time to focus on her marriage possibly falling apart and turned her thoughts to her job instead.
When Joanna confronted him later that night, he deliberately lied to her face...again. Then he tried to use sex to convince her of his sincerity, as he said in his own words, "...so I could comfort her the only way I knew how: by worshiping her body.". But she was still too hurt and didn't allow him to have his way.
In the following days as her marriage slowly started unraveling, Jo learned more about West and the fact that he wasn't who he said he was. She learned that his real name was Weston Conti and that he was a federal agent and not a bartender as he'd told her. In the process, she was informed her marriage wasn't real either since the paperwork West filed had been under his alias and not his real name, along with the fact that the trip she supposedly won had been a lie as well. Feeling ill, she told her boss she was headed home for the day, and confronted her fake husband with what she knew. He didn't even bother to deny he had been lying. When she told him to move out, he used a touch of blackmail to force her to continue with the fake marriage. When he still refused to leave, Jo packed a bag and went to her friend's house, a female bodyguard who worked in a security office. After talking with her about the situation, the two of them came up with a plan.
The more Jo and her partner investigated their homicide case, the more embroiled Jo's fake husband became in it. The more he became involved, the further he dragged Jo into his mess. It was an absolute push/pull relationship from that point on.
This story was full of the usual angst, drama, heartache, and controversy. The tropes were bountiful and overflowing to the point of being a bit overwhelming. Even the emotional rollercoaster, with its twists and turns, couldn't save this novel from being more than a little unbelievable.
Both main characters, while fully developed and somewhat mature, needed to have a bit more background information on them. The author never truly fleshed them out, so they were somewhat too one-dimensional and flat. Oh sure the FMC, being a homicide detective, was a bit of a badass mama, but even that couldn't hide the flaws the author left glaringly obvious. Not only did she appear weak where her fake hubby was concerned, but she forgave him way too fast. There was barely any focus on the relationship because everything was focused on the crime/drama/plot errors, to the point that the relationship became more of an afterthought than the focal point of the story. While the title pointed to the story being about "the liar", that wasn't the focus of the book either. Everything revolved around the crime, thereby detracting from the romance of the story. So much so, that this book could easily have been placed under the category of Crime or even Thriller. But it definitely wasn't romance.
I honestly could not give this anything higher than a two-star rating. because the author left so many things unfinished and dangling in the wind. It was a rush job that left a lot to be desired, and in that, it was quite disappointing.
The Liar, Book 4 of the King's Security series, was about "Westly/West Gallo" (not his true name), a "bartender" (in truth he was an undercover federal agent), and Joanna "Jo" Lee, a homicide detective in Chicago.
Joanna had "won" a train trip through some obscure contest. During that trip, she met West, who supposedly won a similar competition. Unknown to Joanna was the fact that West, and his FBI co-workers, had set the whole thing up in order for him to meet her so he could infiltrate her precinct that was purported to be full of dirty cops. Four months later, they were "married", although Joanna wasn't aware that it wasn't a legally binding marriage since West was using a fake identity.
When Joanna and her partner walked past a coffee shop on their way to a crime scene, she glanced in the window where she spotted her new husband holding hands with another woman. Unfortunately, she didn't have time to focus on her marriage possibly falling apart and turned her thoughts to her job instead.
When Joanna confronted him later that night, he deliberately lied to her face...again. Then he tried to use sex to convince her of his sincerity, as he said in his own words, "...so I could comfort her the only way I knew how: by worshiping her body.". But she was still too hurt and didn't allow him to have his way.
In the following days as her marriage slowly started unraveling, Jo learned more about West and the fact that he wasn't who he said he was. She learned that his real name was Weston Conti and that he was a federal agent and not a bartender as he'd told her. In the process, she was informed her marriage wasn't real either since the paperwork West filed had been under his alias and not his real name, along with the fact that the trip she supposedly won had been a lie as well. Feeling ill, she told her boss she was headed home for the day, and confronted her fake husband with what she knew. He didn't even bother to deny he had been lying. When she told him to move out, he used a touch of blackmail to force her to continue with the fake marriage. When he still refused to leave, Jo packed a bag and went to her friend's house, a female bodyguard who worked in a security office. After talking with her about the situation, the two of them came up with a plan.
The more Jo and her partner investigated their homicide case, the more embroiled Jo's fake husband became in it. The more he became involved, the further he dragged Jo into his mess. It was an absolute push/pull relationship from that point on.
This story was full of the usual angst, drama, heartache, and controversy. The tropes were bountiful and overflowing to the point of being a bit overwhelming. Even the emotional rollercoaster, with its twists and turns, couldn't save this novel from being more than a little unbelievable.
Both main characters, while fully developed and somewhat mature, needed to have a bit more background information on them. The author never truly fleshed them out, so they were somewhat too one-dimensional and flat. Oh sure the FMC, being a homicide detective, was a bit of a badass mama, but even that couldn't hide the flaws the author left glaringly obvious. Not only did she appear weak where her fake hubby was concerned, but she forgave him way too fast. There was barely any focus on the relationship because everything was focused on the crime/drama/plot errors, to the point that the relationship became more of an afterthought than the focal point of the story. While the title pointed to the story being about "the liar", that wasn't the focus of the book either. Everything revolved around the crime, thereby detracting from the romance of the story. So much so, that this book could easily have been placed under the category of Crime or even Thriller. But it definitely wasn't romance.
I honestly could not give this anything higher than a two-star rating. because the author left so many things unfinished and dangling in the wind. It was a rush job that left a lot to be desired, and in that, it was quite disappointing.
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May 21, 2025Absolutely horrible and vile. The jackass married her because she’s the easiest candidate to manipulate and turned out their marriage wasn’t even real. He lied and exploited her kindness. Truly fucking awful. And when he was exposed, he had the nerve to gaslight her by trying to make her feel bad about ruining the case he was working on. Now this was a great set up for a good angst and redemption arc but one can only hope huh. I can’t believe she let this jackass stayed in her apartment and gave him “enough time” to complete his task. It’s not like he hadn’t just lied and manipulated you huh… and I was waiting for a grand and satisfying confrontation but it was such a let down I don’t even care to continue. Such a waste of a good plot
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2025
I am pleasantly surprised it was a real good book and I was able to finish it in two reading session.
Well although I am not fan of the book cover, the story is really intriguing it had me reading it because I just couldn’t let the book down. I think the fact that this book has real plots and a lore not just smut is what makes it so interesting. In most romance books the male lead either doesn’t regret enough or they just make out the whole time but in this book it was perfectly timed and it is about the storyline and romance on not only a physical level. The way West loves Joanna unconditional is so sweet and I love Joanna for standing up for herself and not letting mistakes go by. The only thing which was a big disappointing was the epilogue. Like the four month time skip okay , but it was really short chapter it could have been a bit more detailed instead, but well in the end I really enjoyed this book and I might read another book of hers.
Well although I am not fan of the book cover, the story is really intriguing it had me reading it because I just couldn’t let the book down. I think the fact that this book has real plots and a lore not just smut is what makes it so interesting. In most romance books the male lead either doesn’t regret enough or they just make out the whole time but in this book it was perfectly timed and it is about the storyline and romance on not only a physical level. The way West loves Joanna unconditional is so sweet and I love Joanna for standing up for herself and not letting mistakes go by. The only thing which was a big disappointing was the epilogue. Like the four month time skip okay , but it was really short chapter it could have been a bit more detailed instead, but well in the end I really enjoyed this book and I might read another book of hers.
November 23, 2025
Me gustó muchísimo, es una novela de suspenso romántico y creo que gran parte de por qué me gustó tanto es que el romance no tenía el mismo enfoque que la investigación que estaba ocurriendo, aunque entiendo que no es el caso para muchos de los que reseñaron el libro
October 10, 2024
The Liar, Book 4 of the King's Security series, was about "Westly/West Gallo", a pretend bartender/undercover federal agent, and Joanna Lee, a homicide detective in Chicago.
Joanna had "won" a train trip through some obscure contest. During that trip she met West, who supposedly also won a similar contest. Unknown to Joanna was the fact that West, and his FBI co-workers, had set the whole thing up in order for him to meet her so he could infiltrate her precinct that was purported to be full of dirty cops. Four months later, they were "married", although Joanna wasn't aware that it wasn't a legally binding marriage since West was using a fake identity.
When Joanna and her partner walked past a coffee shop on their way to a crime scene, she happened to glance into the window where she spotted her new husband holding hands with another woman. Unfortunately, she didn't have time to focus on her marriage possibly falling apart and turned her thoughts to her job instead.
When Joanna confronted him later that night, he continuously lied to her face...again. Then he tried to use sex to convince her of his sincerity, as he said in his own words, "...so I could comfort her the only way I knew how: by worshiping her body.". But she was still too hurt and didn't allow him to have his way.
Within the following days as her marriage slowly started unraveling, Jo learned more about West and the fact that he wasn't who he said he was. She also learned that his real name was Weston Conti, a federal agent. In the process, she was informed her marriage wasn't real either since the paperwork West filed had been under his alias and not his real name, along with the fact that the trip she supposedly won had been a lie as well. Feeling ill, she told her boss she was headed home for the day, and confronted her fake husband with what she knew. He didn't even bother to deny he had been lying. When she told him to move out, he used a touch of blackmail to force her to continue with the fake marriage. When he refused to leave, Jo packed a bag and went to her friend's house, a female bodyguard who worked in a security office. After talking with her about the situation, the two of them came up with a plan.
The more Jo and her partner investigated their homicide case, the more embroiled Jo's fake husband became in it. The more he became involved, the further he dragged Jo into his mess. It was an absolute push/pull relationship from that point on.
This story was full of the usual angst, drama, heartache, and controversy. The tropes were bountiful and overflowing to the point of being a bit overwhelming. Even the emotional rollercoaster, with its twists and turns, couldn't save this novel from being more than a little unbelievable.
Both main characters, while fully developed and somewhat mature, needed to have a bit more background information on them. The author never truly fleshed them out, so they were somewhat too one-dimensional and flat. Oh sure the FMC, being a homicide detective, was a bit of a badass mama, but even that couldn't hide the flaws the author left glaringly obvious. Not only did she appear weak where her fake hubby was concerned, but she forgave him way too fast. There was barely any focus on the relationship because everything was focused on the crime/drama/plot errors, to the point that the relationship became more of an afterthought than the focal point of the story. While the title pointed to the story being about "the liar", that wasn't the focus of the book either. Everything revolved around the crime, thereby detracting from the romance of the story. So much so, that this book could easily have been placed under the category of Crime or even Thriller. But it definitely wasn't romance.
I honestly could not give this anything higher than a three-star rating. because the author left so many things unfinished and dangling in the wind. It was a rush job that left a lot to be desired, and in that, it was quite disappointing.
Joanna had "won" a train trip through some obscure contest. During that trip she met West, who supposedly also won a similar contest. Unknown to Joanna was the fact that West, and his FBI co-workers, had set the whole thing up in order for him to meet her so he could infiltrate her precinct that was purported to be full of dirty cops. Four months later, they were "married", although Joanna wasn't aware that it wasn't a legally binding marriage since West was using a fake identity.
When Joanna and her partner walked past a coffee shop on their way to a crime scene, she happened to glance into the window where she spotted her new husband holding hands with another woman. Unfortunately, she didn't have time to focus on her marriage possibly falling apart and turned her thoughts to her job instead.
When Joanna confronted him later that night, he continuously lied to her face...again. Then he tried to use sex to convince her of his sincerity, as he said in his own words, "...so I could comfort her the only way I knew how: by worshiping her body.". But she was still too hurt and didn't allow him to have his way.
Within the following days as her marriage slowly started unraveling, Jo learned more about West and the fact that he wasn't who he said he was. She also learned that his real name was Weston Conti, a federal agent. In the process, she was informed her marriage wasn't real either since the paperwork West filed had been under his alias and not his real name, along with the fact that the trip she supposedly won had been a lie as well. Feeling ill, she told her boss she was headed home for the day, and confronted her fake husband with what she knew. He didn't even bother to deny he had been lying. When she told him to move out, he used a touch of blackmail to force her to continue with the fake marriage. When he refused to leave, Jo packed a bag and went to her friend's house, a female bodyguard who worked in a security office. After talking with her about the situation, the two of them came up with a plan.
The more Jo and her partner investigated their homicide case, the more embroiled Jo's fake husband became in it. The more he became involved, the further he dragged Jo into his mess. It was an absolute push/pull relationship from that point on.
This story was full of the usual angst, drama, heartache, and controversy. The tropes were bountiful and overflowing to the point of being a bit overwhelming. Even the emotional rollercoaster, with its twists and turns, couldn't save this novel from being more than a little unbelievable.
Both main characters, while fully developed and somewhat mature, needed to have a bit more background information on them. The author never truly fleshed them out, so they were somewhat too one-dimensional and flat. Oh sure the FMC, being a homicide detective, was a bit of a badass mama, but even that couldn't hide the flaws the author left glaringly obvious. Not only did she appear weak where her fake hubby was concerned, but she forgave him way too fast. There was barely any focus on the relationship because everything was focused on the crime/drama/plot errors, to the point that the relationship became more of an afterthought than the focal point of the story. While the title pointed to the story being about "the liar", that wasn't the focus of the book either. Everything revolved around the crime, thereby detracting from the romance of the story. So much so, that this book could easily have been placed under the category of Crime or even Thriller. But it definitely wasn't romance.
I honestly could not give this anything higher than a three-star rating. because the author left so many things unfinished and dangling in the wind. It was a rush job that left a lot to be desired, and in that, it was quite disappointing.
October 5, 2024
Like it
Good change of pace to what I’ve been reading. Good solid story line and suspense.
Good change of pace to what I’ve been reading. Good solid story line and suspense.
October 2, 2024
This is book four in The King’s Security series and it is West and Joanna’s story and it is definitely a must read. West is a federal agent and undercover to find and takedown the dirty cops who work for the cartel and to do that he needs someone who is not only clean but also works in one of the police departments and that is where Joanna comes in so now West in uncover while working as a bartender to get intel on her colleagues but what West didn’t expect was to fall in love with Joanna especially because they are living a lie which has now complicated there life even more and it could also put her in danger which is something that he didn’t want. Joanna is a detective and ended up falling in love with West only to find out that he lied to her right from the beginning which had know broke her trust leaving her feeling like everything between them was just a lie so now she needed to try and keep her distance from him while helping him as quickly as possible to complete everything so that she can walk away from his lies and betrayal. What do you do when you love your wife so much but you are living a lie and what happens when the secrets that you have been keeping is revealed and you could lose everything in the process well that is what West is dealing with but unfortunately he doesn’t have a choice and he knows that he will have to fight for Joanna until the end because losing her is definitely not a option. When West and Joanna find themselves in a very dangerous and difficult situation and surrounded by the people that they want to take down they both hope that they can get out alive and then hopefully they might stand a chance of getting the second chance that they both want and deserve especially as they are both still in love with each other but first they need to eliminate the threat as quickly as possible. Wow I absolutely love this book so much with all the emotions and action and I couldn’t put it down because it was so addictive. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next and I will definitely be there to read it.
October 8, 2024
The Liar is the fourth installment in the King’s Security series. The Liar is suspenseful romance story and a definite page-turner of a book. The Liar follows the story of Joanna and West. Joanna thought that West was her happily ever after, but she soon finds out that everything between them has been nothing but a lie. Joanna discovers that her husband, West married her under pretenses, and Joanna wants nothing more to do with him. She doesn’t care if he claims to love her, and he broke Joanna’s trust completely, unfortunately she can’t divorce him because it could jeopardize a massive sting operation. West is a charming liar who isn’t a bartender, but an undercover federal agent who married her to gain access to her colleagues. West is investigating a network of dirty cops, and if she blows his cover, all the progress he has made will be lost. Will Joanna ever be able to forgive West for betraying her trust? Or will Joanna get the divorce she wants after helping West complete his investigation? Joanna is a strong willed and independent woman whom I quite like straight away. West, when we learn he has been deceiving Joanna their entire marriage I want to punch him so badly, but I can understand why he had to keep this all hidden away from her, however, that doesn’t make me quite happy about it. The Liar is perfectly written, well-balanced, and beautifully written by author A. Rivers. Author A. Rivers does a phenomenal job with the way she created The Liar, the plot, characters, and the final outcome between the two main characters. The Liar is most definitely a book that I would give as a suggestion for anyone who enjoys reading cop romance stories. I’m looking forward to seeing what Author A. Rivers will come up with for her next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 19, 2024
I recently read The Liar by A. Rivers, and I was pleasantly surprised by how gripping and emotional this story turned out to be! This book is a captivating mix of romance, deception, and self-discovery that kept me turning the pages.
The narrative follows the life of a protagonist who finds herself entangled in a web of lies and secrets. As she navigates her complex relationships, the tension builds, making it hard to predict where the story will lead. I was drawn in by the twists and turns, especially as the layers of deception began to unravel. The stakes felt high, and I appreciated how Rivers kept me guessing about the characters' true intentions.
A. Rivers has crafted characters that are both relatable and flawed. The protagonist's journey of self-discovery is compelling, as she grapples with her past decisions and the consequences they bring. The supporting characters are well-developed too, each adding depth to the story and influencing her choices in significant ways. I found myself invested in their arcs, which made the emotional moments hit even harder.
Rivers's writing is engaging and flows smoothly, making it easy to immerse myself in the story. The dialogue feels authentic, capturing the nuances of each character's personality. The pacing is well-balanced; I appreciated how Rivers built tension without dragging out key moments.
Overall, The Liar is a captivating read that explores themes of love, trust, and redemption. I would rate this book four stars for its intriguing plot, strong character development, and engaging writing style. If you enjoy stories filled with twists and emotional depth, this book is definitely worth adding to your reading list!
The narrative follows the life of a protagonist who finds herself entangled in a web of lies and secrets. As she navigates her complex relationships, the tension builds, making it hard to predict where the story will lead. I was drawn in by the twists and turns, especially as the layers of deception began to unravel. The stakes felt high, and I appreciated how Rivers kept me guessing about the characters' true intentions.
A. Rivers has crafted characters that are both relatable and flawed. The protagonist's journey of self-discovery is compelling, as she grapples with her past decisions and the consequences they bring. The supporting characters are well-developed too, each adding depth to the story and influencing her choices in significant ways. I found myself invested in their arcs, which made the emotional moments hit even harder.
Rivers's writing is engaging and flows smoothly, making it easy to immerse myself in the story. The dialogue feels authentic, capturing the nuances of each character's personality. The pacing is well-balanced; I appreciated how Rivers built tension without dragging out key moments.
Overall, The Liar is a captivating read that explores themes of love, trust, and redemption. I would rate this book four stars for its intriguing plot, strong character development, and engaging writing style. If you enjoy stories filled with twists and emotional depth, this book is definitely worth adding to your reading list!
September 19, 2024
4.25 stars. Joanna, the female police homicide detective lead, was swept up in a romance with West, the male lead, when she was away on a train trip that she won in a competition. Now married, four months later, she sees him in a cafe with a beautiful woman as she and her partner respond to a call out. As she starts to investigate, she realises just how little she knows about her husband, and asks a friend at a security firm to look into him. Then she finds he doesn’t exist and she’s not legally married…
West didn’t mean to fall in love with his fake wife but, now that he has, he’s desperate to convince her that she was more than a convenient trustworthy target. He also needs to break open his investigation because she’s given him a deadline to be out the door. Can he both complete his task AND convince her he’s a longterm risk worth taking?
This story is dual POV, well written and edited, and a fast-paced, contemporary romantic suspense novel. I empathised with Joanna and appreciated her logical and careful assessment of her situation and the resolution she decided upon. I enjoyed her way of working and her dealings with West, even in a high stress situation. I enjoyed West’s genuine emotions toward Joanna, and appreciated his fear of losing her. I enjoyed the relationship development. I enjoyed the non-romance plot and the engagement with secondary characters. I really enjoyed the sweetness of the ending.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.
West didn’t mean to fall in love with his fake wife but, now that he has, he’s desperate to convince her that she was more than a convenient trustworthy target. He also needs to break open his investigation because she’s given him a deadline to be out the door. Can he both complete his task AND convince her he’s a longterm risk worth taking?
This story is dual POV, well written and edited, and a fast-paced, contemporary romantic suspense novel. I empathised with Joanna and appreciated her logical and careful assessment of her situation and the resolution she decided upon. I enjoyed her way of working and her dealings with West, even in a high stress situation. I enjoyed West’s genuine emotions toward Joanna, and appreciated his fear of losing her. I enjoyed the relationship development. I enjoyed the non-romance plot and the engagement with secondary characters. I really enjoyed the sweetness of the ending.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.
October 10, 2024
Joanna Lee is a female detective in the Chicago Police Department. She is going on a trip through the Rockies on a train. She won the luxury trip in a giveaway. As she is rushing to the train, she bumps into a handsome, built man.
Westley Gallo is also going on the trip. It turns out that their cabins are next to each other. West is also from Chicago and is a bartender. He’s nice, polite and handsome. Joanna can’t help but think that West is too good to be true.
They got married after only knowing each other briefly and now have been married four months. West is supposed to be working at Henry’s, a bar frequented by the police force. Near the end of her shift, Joanna and her partner, Denny Hanson, get sent to a murder scene. They have to park a couple of blocks away. While walking towards the apartment building, they pass a coffee shop. West is sitting at a table holding hands with a beautiful blonde. Joanna is upset. She calls Zeke at King’s Security and has him do a deep dive background check on West which she probably should have done before marrying him.
I felt bad for Joanna from the beginning. It was interesting watching how Joanna handled everything. I was rooting for West and Joanna to get their happy ending. I am sad this is the last book of the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Westley Gallo is also going on the trip. It turns out that their cabins are next to each other. West is also from Chicago and is a bartender. He’s nice, polite and handsome. Joanna can’t help but think that West is too good to be true.
They got married after only knowing each other briefly and now have been married four months. West is supposed to be working at Henry’s, a bar frequented by the police force. Near the end of her shift, Joanna and her partner, Denny Hanson, get sent to a murder scene. They have to park a couple of blocks away. While walking towards the apartment building, they pass a coffee shop. West is sitting at a table holding hands with a beautiful blonde. Joanna is upset. She calls Zeke at King’s Security and has him do a deep dive background check on West which she probably should have done before marrying him.
I felt bad for Joanna from the beginning. It was interesting watching how Joanna handled everything. I was rooting for West and Joanna to get their happy ending. I am sad this is the last book of the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 24, 2025
Pretty good quick read with not too much angst. Lying trope. Cop and Fed romance. Lacked a bit of depth but I definitely felt Jo’s pain when she found out West’s secret.
Summary:
Jo is married to West after only knowing each other for 4 months. Jo is a homicide detective and West is a bartender. When Jo responds to a case in a different part of town than she usually does she sees West cosied up to a pretty blond girl in a cafe holding her hand. When Jo goes home she immediately confronts him about it and he tells her she’s just a former colleague he was comforting. She is still suspicious though because he lied about everything being in coffee shop in the first place. Jo asks a private detective friend of hers the investigate West and she finds out his name is just an alias and he doesn’t actually exist. She confronts him again and he tells her the truth: he is an undercover fed who was ordered to seduce and marry her in order to get close to her colleagues so that they can investigate the dirty cops who are colluding with a local gang. Jo rightfully freaks out and is heartbroken but West assures her that his feelings are real. She obviously doesn’t believe him. Ultimately she decides to stay and help him with his investigation. In the end they bust the dirty cops and she forgives him and they get married a second time.
Summary:
Jo is married to West after only knowing each other for 4 months. Jo is a homicide detective and West is a bartender. When Jo responds to a case in a different part of town than she usually does she sees West cosied up to a pretty blond girl in a cafe holding her hand. When Jo goes home she immediately confronts him about it and he tells her she’s just a former colleague he was comforting. She is still suspicious though because he lied about everything being in coffee shop in the first place. Jo asks a private detective friend of hers the investigate West and she finds out his name is just an alias and he doesn’t actually exist. She confronts him again and he tells her the truth: he is an undercover fed who was ordered to seduce and marry her in order to get close to her colleagues so that they can investigate the dirty cops who are colluding with a local gang. Jo rightfully freaks out and is heartbroken but West assures her that his feelings are real. She obviously doesn’t believe him. Ultimately she decides to stay and help him with his investigation. In the end they bust the dirty cops and she forgives him and they get married a second time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2024
Detective Joanna Lee is a by the book police officer in Chicago. She won a trip aboard a train where she meets West Gallo. Their whirlwind romance leads to marriage. West Gallo is an undercover federal agent who is investigating a network of dirty cops and marrying Joanna gave him access to her colleagues, but West fell in love with Joanna. Joanna's life is turned upside down when she learns her husband married her under false pretenses. Will Joanna and West work together to solve Joanna's murder case and break West's dirty cop network? Can West prove to Joanna that he does love her and that she was more than a mark to him? Can Joanna learn to trust West again? Will help arrive in time when Joanna and West are taken captive? Will Joanna walk away from West or give him a second chance? I loved The Liar by A. Rivers! Joanna and West are a great couple who have amazing chemistry. I loved seeing Zeke, King, and Willow make an appearance in The Liar. The Liar is a fantastic book that contains drama, danger, betrayal, lies, loss, friendship, love, and chemistry. I would highly recommend getting The Liar and the other books in the King's Security series by A. Rivers. I received an ARC copy of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
October 3, 2024
This story was fast paced, filled with secrets that are revealing themselves left to right. Joanna was sure she found her price charming. West was everything she wanted in a man, but when she stumbles upon him with another woman seemingly having coffee and he fails to mention it to her, her suspicions together with her walls go up.
When she gets the info on him from Zeke, her world shatters. She wants nothing to do with him but leaving him after they talk seem impossible at the time. West has kept secret from Jo but not his love for her. When she confronts him, he knows he's losing her, so he'll do and say anything to make her realize that while he was very truthful about his job to her, his feelings are very much real. They embark on a mission to help him save his case and along the way their relationship.
I'm not sure what to expected when I picked up this book, but it was definitely not to be this much entertained. Both Jo and West were very likable characters (yes even West despite him lying to her) and their story had me glued to my seat, rooting for them to find their way back to each other.
When she gets the info on him from Zeke, her world shatters. She wants nothing to do with him but leaving him after they talk seem impossible at the time. West has kept secret from Jo but not his love for her. When she confronts him, he knows he's losing her, so he'll do and say anything to make her realize that while he was very truthful about his job to her, his feelings are very much real. They embark on a mission to help him save his case and along the way their relationship.
I'm not sure what to expected when I picked up this book, but it was definitely not to be this much entertained. Both Jo and West were very likable characters (yes even West despite him lying to her) and their story had me glued to my seat, rooting for them to find their way back to each other.
November 1, 2024
This is the 4th book in the King’s Security series by A. Rivers and is Joanna Lee (Detective) and West Gallo (Undercover Federal Agent) story. They meet when they both win a holiday! Get married and their story progresses from there! This is an emotional journey, filled with secrets, intriguing situations and many twists and turns. When she sees him with another woman, holding hands, and having coffee, she asks him about it but when he fails to explain it to her, she becomes suspicious. A call to Zeke at King's Security asking him to investigate her husband, the results have her reeling! Although he lied, he is trying to prove to her that she can trust him. Now they both are trying to save both his case and their marriage. Can all be revealed and they can save their marriage and solve his case? Will they get their HEA?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 5, 2025
I went into this thinking it would be more of a betrayal/marriage in trouble book. That part was there, but it was more of a police procedural with the romance a close second in priority.
It’s not my usual read but I did like it. It didn’t try to be really clever but the plot moved nicely and the marriage in crisis was a good and always present carrier of the story flow.
All that said, there is virtually no groveling, he just kinda explains why he did what he did and she compartmentalizes then just kinda accept it. I would’ve at least liked a big fight with some yelling and throwing his betrayal back in his face a few time, maybe some snide or snarky comments. Make him feel bad, make him FEEL like she wasn’t gonna take him back/stay. But no. Just acceptance.
I would have rated higher but I feel slightly misled from the description about what the main focus was of the book. It was good and written well, but didn’t satisfy my romantic expectations enough.
It’s not my usual read but I did like it. It didn’t try to be really clever but the plot moved nicely and the marriage in crisis was a good and always present carrier of the story flow.
All that said, there is virtually no groveling, he just kinda explains why he did what he did and she compartmentalizes then just kinda accept it. I would’ve at least liked a big fight with some yelling and throwing his betrayal back in his face a few time, maybe some snide or snarky comments. Make him feel bad, make him FEEL like she wasn’t gonna take him back/stay. But no. Just acceptance.
I would have rated higher but I feel slightly misled from the description about what the main focus was of the book. It was good and written well, but didn’t satisfy my romantic expectations enough.
September 16, 2024
If you have been reading this series since the beginning then you know who Detective Joanna Lee is, this is her story. What she thought was a lucky win turned her life upside down and then some. After finding out who her husband really is she’s not sure who she can trust but one thing is for sure, there is a case or two that needs to be solved. I hate that this is the last book in the King’s Security series but I hope we see these guys again. 🖤🔥⛓️💥🔥🖤
My favorite quotes:
• Jo: However hard I may have tried to keep a distance between us, it was time to admit the truth. My stupid heart belonged to West. Whether his name was Gallo, Conti, or something else.
I was his.
• West: My heart swelled. “You mean it?”
She nodded, her lip caught between her teeth. “Don’t lie to me or I’ll end you.”
“I won’t.” I cupped her face between my hands and kissed her. She tasted of everything I loved. If I could bottle this moment up and make it last forever, I would. But then I’d miss out on a lifetime with her, and that seemed like a terrible loss.
• West: I kissed her beautiful face, silently thanking whatever fates had brought us together.
My favorite quotes:
• Jo: However hard I may have tried to keep a distance between us, it was time to admit the truth. My stupid heart belonged to West. Whether his name was Gallo, Conti, or something else.
I was his.
• West: My heart swelled. “You mean it?”
She nodded, her lip caught between her teeth. “Don’t lie to me or I’ll end you.”
“I won’t.” I cupped her face between my hands and kissed her. She tasted of everything I loved. If I could bottle this moment up and make it last forever, I would. But then I’d miss out on a lifetime with her, and that seemed like a terrible loss.
• West: I kissed her beautiful face, silently thanking whatever fates had brought us together.
October 6, 2024
The Liar by A. Rivers, book four in the King’s Security series, is an enjoyable, wonderful, emotional story, filled with secrets that are unraveling with the turn of each page. West is working undercover and marriage to Detective Joanna Lee helps him with his cover; but along the way the only real thing about his lies was the love he has for her. A romantic at heart, Joanna was sure she found her price charming. West was everything she wanted in a man, but when she stumbles upon him with another woman seemingly having coffee and he fails to mention it to her, she becomes suspicious. A quick call to Zeke at King's Security and the investigation into West is on; turning her world upside down. Although West lied to her, he does everything to prove to her that she can trust him. They embark on a mission to help him save his case and along the way their relationship. This story has a little bit of everything: drama, suspense, romance, action and a
sweet and beautiful ending.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.
sweet and beautiful ending.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.
October 4, 2024
What a tangled web to weave, if intending to deceive..it may not be West's intention, but it is what he did. Jo's chance meeting on a train, after winning a competition, led to marriage. She fell fast for her bartender. An odd liaison for a PD detective. A happy situation to be in until a homicide and circumstances forced things into the open. Things weren't as she first thought, but much worse. He marriage and husband exists on lies.
Trust between them was lost, but trust in her operations was also at stake. Who to trust was a major headache, especially as some were needed to have her back, but they could also be the ones who were turned against her.
A complicated storyline, independent and strong characters, drama and danger combine to interrupt the calm of King's Security.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Trust between them was lost, but trust in her operations was also at stake. Who to trust was a major headache, especially as some were needed to have her back, but they could also be the ones who were turned against her.
A complicated storyline, independent and strong characters, drama and danger combine to interrupt the calm of King's Security.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 2, 2025
Sorry, but this book was such a disappointment.
This novel is marketed as a romance, but it really reads more like a light crime thriller. The central lie - - is brushed aside far too quickly, with little emotional fallout or meaningful reconciliation. Their chemistry is minimal, and conversations focus more on the case than their relationship, leaving the romance flat and unconvincing.
The writing itself is serviceable but lacks depth, and the pacing often feels mechanical. If I’d gone in expecting a thriller, I might have enjoyed it more, but as a romance it fails to deliver tension, emotion, or connection.
That's not a book I’d recommend if you’re looking for a love story, though readers more interested in the detective angle might find something here.
This novel is marketed as a romance, but it really reads more like a light crime thriller. The central lie - - is brushed aside far too quickly, with little emotional fallout or meaningful reconciliation. Their chemistry is minimal, and conversations focus more on the case than their relationship, leaving the romance flat and unconvincing.
The writing itself is serviceable but lacks depth, and the pacing often feels mechanical. If I’d gone in expecting a thriller, I might have enjoyed it more, but as a romance it fails to deliver tension, emotion, or connection.
That's not a book I’d recommend if you’re looking for a love story, though readers more interested in the detective angle might find something here.
September 27, 2024
A marriage of convience to help with a cover West prayed on Jo's romantic nature, but along the way the only real thing about his lies was the love he has for her.
Jo stumbles across West in a intimate meeting, which begins to start her questioning of his morals. A quick call to Zeke at King's Security and the investigation into West is on.
Drama and angst ensue as the lies unravel, just who really is West and is he the husband she loves or a complete stranger?
Once the truth is revealed can West and Jo reconcile or is it over forever.
The final book of the kings security series, dual pov writing, angst and drama, pure love with lies and undercover truths. 5/5 stars brilliant story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jo stumbles across West in a intimate meeting, which begins to start her questioning of his morals. A quick call to Zeke at King's Security and the investigation into West is on.
Drama and angst ensue as the lies unravel, just who really is West and is he the husband she loves or a complete stranger?
Once the truth is revealed can West and Jo reconcile or is it over forever.
The final book of the kings security series, dual pov writing, angst and drama, pure love with lies and undercover truths. 5/5 stars brilliant story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 29, 2024
I loved this series from the beginning and it makes me sad that this was the last book in the King’s security series. Detective Joanna Lee has always been a straightforward and by the book kinda girl. After finding out who her husband West really is, her world is turned upside down. They need to solve some cases as well and she isn’t sure who she can trust anymore. It was great to see some guys like Zeke returning to the story. Although West lied to her, he does everything to prove to her that she can trust him. This story has a little bit of everything: drama, suspense, romance, action… but
the ending was so sweet and beautiful.
I received a copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
the ending was so sweet and beautiful.
I received a copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 2, 2024
This is the first book I've read in this series and I've thoroughly enjoyed it, I don't feel I've missed anything by not having read the previous 3 books but I'd definitely like to go back to read the other characters stories.
Jo is a detective who married West, a bartender, 4 months after they met on a holiday they both won. Except they didn't win the holiday, it was all part of the undercover operation West is part of as an FBI agent to try to find the dirty cops working with the Ortez family. West wasn't supposed to fall in love with his target but those emotions are real and he's going to have to fight to prove to Jo that she can trust him.
An epic adventure of betrayal, heartbreak and discovery, with wonderful characters who are strong and courageous.
Jo is a detective who married West, a bartender, 4 months after they met on a holiday they both won. Except they didn't win the holiday, it was all part of the undercover operation West is part of as an FBI agent to try to find the dirty cops working with the Ortez family. West wasn't supposed to fall in love with his target but those emotions are real and he's going to have to fight to prove to Jo that she can trust him.
An epic adventure of betrayal, heartbreak and discovery, with wonderful characters who are strong and courageous.
March 31, 2025
The plot of this book sounded so good and I liked the way, the whole mystery about the case was integrated in the story but I wasn't a fan of West and his lies. He basically told Joanna that she was the perfect naive and gullible target whom he could easily use and that was infuriating. Throughout the whole book, only the mystery about solving the case was focused on and due to it, West & Jo's romance was sidelined. I could not feel connected with either of their characters, ngl. I also did not like how Jo forgave him so fast because West definitely took advantage of her soft hearted nature. This book could've been a thriller but not a romance because I felt like there was barely any focus on reparing the relationship between West & Jo due to all the investigation drama tbh.
September 8, 2024
This is Book 4 of King's Security starring Joanna and West. OMG this one I will start off by saying the ending leaves you wanting more, the beginning starts off with a few questions and a lot of doubt in the middle but the love is there between these two from the start. I have to say I think making West work at it a little more would not have hurt him. I loved the way these two can work so well together and have their relationship be so broken but in the end it all works out. The danger is just the right amount to keep you going to find the truth.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 24, 2024
Joanna is a by-the-book police officer in Chicago. She met West, completely by chance when they were about to board a train. She had won tickets for the trip. He was across the hall. They enjoyed the trip together and in a whirlwind romance, got married. All seemed well until some things about him didn't click. When she found out who he really was, she was very angry that he married her under false pretenses.
But when their cases crossed paths, and then merged, they worked together to solve several puzzles, that included murder. This is a well put together book that kept my interest from start to finish.
But when their cases crossed paths, and then merged, they worked together to solve several puzzles, that included murder. This is a well put together book that kept my interest from start to finish.
October 17, 2024
West and Joanna. Shes a police officer and hes undercover. They meet on a train and its insta love, or so she thought. They get married and she finds out he lied to her and she cant divorce him because hes undercover. Now shes helping and her feelings are involved. Theirs is a great story and their journey is full of obsticles to get around and a murder to solve and the chaos and danger that goes with that.
There are so many secrets and lies and misunderstandings. Couldnt put it down needed to know what was happening next. Great story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
There are so many secrets and lies and misunderstandings. Couldnt put it down needed to know what was happening next. Great story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 3, 2024
This is the 2nd book from this series that I have read, it was an emotional one to read with the impact on them both when truths came to light, I was pleased to see good support from friends. Knowing who to trust, what to believe and dealing with everything between them whilst investigating was hard for them both, but it was during this that they were both able to think about what they really wanted and do what ever was needed to survive and get it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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