What do you think?
Rate this book
Vengeful Lies #1
Vengeful Lies
Dear Kitten,
Marry me and I’ll give you the world.
Refuse, and I’ll burn yours to the ground.
Sincerely,
Your soon-to-be husband
It started out as a hit. One bullet. One man.
My orders are clear—get close to the mafia heir, Eli Monti, play with his head, and wait for the signal to end it. End him.
I thought he would be my easiest mark yet. But somehow I’m the one being played.
Eli always gets what he wants and now, he wants me.
His vengeful proposal isn’t a request. It’s a demand.
When you play games with a man who's been mastering them all his life, you learn some new tricks.
Top of the list: Find the best way to kill my fake fiancé.
From USA Today and Amazon Top 25 Best Selling Author duo, a new Standalone Dark Romance in the same world as the Lethal Vows
Marry me and I’ll give you the world.
Refuse, and I’ll burn yours to the ground.
Sincerely,
Your soon-to-be husband
It started out as a hit. One bullet. One man.
My orders are clear—get close to the mafia heir, Eli Monti, play with his head, and wait for the signal to end it. End him.
I thought he would be my easiest mark yet. But somehow I’m the one being played.
Eli always gets what he wants and now, he wants me.
His vengeful proposal isn’t a request. It’s a demand.
When you play games with a man who's been mastering them all his life, you learn some new tricks.
Top of the list: Find the best way to kill my fake fiancé.
From USA Today and Amazon Top 25 Best Selling Author duo, a new Standalone Dark Romance in the same world as the Lethal Vows
494 pages, Paperback
Published January 30, 2025
1595 people are currently reading
6396 people want to read
About the author
T.L. Smith
84 books6,611 followersUSA Today Best Selling Author T.L. Smith loves to write her characters with flaws so beautiful and dark that you can’t turn away from. Her books have been translated into several languages. If you don’t find her in her home town of Queensland, Australia you can usually find her travelling around the world to sitting on a beach in Bali, to exploring Alcatraz in San Francisco or walking the streets of New York.
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/authortlsmith/
Instagram - tlsmith1313
Twitter - @LsmithT
Tiktok - tlsmith.13
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/authortlsmith/
Instagram - tlsmith1313
Twitter - @LsmithT
Tiktok - tlsmith.13
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 554 reviews
May 10, 2025
What a great story with amazing and charismatic characters!
It’s worth reading.
It’s worth reading.
January 29, 2025
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Stand-alone: Yes**
Author: T.L. Smith and Kia Carrington-Russell
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Spiciness Rating: 3.5/5 🌶
POV: First Person Dual Perspective
Main Couple: Eli and Jewel
Trope(s): Mafia Romance, Billionaire, Enemies To Lovers, Hitwoman, Touch and her Die Vibes
‘And then his lips are on mine. An explosion of stimulations bombards me as his primal nature meets mine. His tongue presses against mine, and I’m caged entirely, forced to take him. All of him. It’s not just a kiss; it’s an utter claim.’
The dynamic duo is back, y’all and this time it’s all about the next gen. That’s right all of our Lethal Vows lovers have children and it is their turn to take the mighty fall down the rabbit hole of love. Eli Monti has met his match. The banter is on point, the storyline keeps you on your toes, and this next gen has the potential to just maybe outdo their parents'. From the start this book captivated my attention. Jewel is *chefs kiss*, the balls on this chick, LOVE it. Eli’s crazy recognizes hers and man he is not letting that go. Jewel never stood a chance once she was on Eli’s radar. He is honed in, locked and loaded, and dead set on her.
Eli Monti has been groomed to take ownership of the family business from his father Crue Monti when he retires. However, as is the family tradition that cannot happen until he marries. The clock is ticking.
Jewel Diamond is a contract killer. She came to New York for a job, stayed because she liked the place and all the wonderfulness that comes with it. Her next target- Eli Monti. However, this job is way different from her others. The client wants Eli “played with” so Jewel takes great pleasure letting herself into his spaces to leave him “love notes.”
But, playing with her target makes him very aware of her existence.
Let the cat and mouse games begin. Eli gives as good as he gets.
Then his hitwoman turns into a perfect distraction.
Their connection draws them together. One Jewel knows she should completely avoid. But, then Eli makes a move she wasn’t expecting.
Now the only way out of this contract is to try to figure out just who hired her, oh and marry Eli.
Stand-alone: Yes**
Author: T.L. Smith and Kia Carrington-Russell
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Spiciness Rating: 3.5/5 🌶
POV: First Person Dual Perspective
Main Couple: Eli and Jewel
Trope(s): Mafia Romance, Billionaire, Enemies To Lovers, Hitwoman, Touch and her Die Vibes
‘And then his lips are on mine. An explosion of stimulations bombards me as his primal nature meets mine. His tongue presses against mine, and I’m caged entirely, forced to take him. All of him. It’s not just a kiss; it’s an utter claim.’
The dynamic duo is back, y’all and this time it’s all about the next gen. That’s right all of our Lethal Vows lovers have children and it is their turn to take the mighty fall down the rabbit hole of love. Eli Monti has met his match. The banter is on point, the storyline keeps you on your toes, and this next gen has the potential to just maybe outdo their parents'. From the start this book captivated my attention. Jewel is *chefs kiss*, the balls on this chick, LOVE it. Eli’s crazy recognizes hers and man he is not letting that go. Jewel never stood a chance once she was on Eli’s radar. He is honed in, locked and loaded, and dead set on her.
Eli Monti has been groomed to take ownership of the family business from his father Crue Monti when he retires. However, as is the family tradition that cannot happen until he marries. The clock is ticking.
Jewel Diamond is a contract killer. She came to New York for a job, stayed because she liked the place and all the wonderfulness that comes with it. Her next target- Eli Monti. However, this job is way different from her others. The client wants Eli “played with” so Jewel takes great pleasure letting herself into his spaces to leave him “love notes.”
But, playing with her target makes him very aware of her existence.
Let the cat and mouse games begin. Eli gives as good as he gets.
Then his hitwoman turns into a perfect distraction.
Their connection draws them together. One Jewel knows she should completely avoid. But, then Eli makes a move she wasn’t expecting.
Now the only way out of this contract is to try to figure out just who hired her, oh and marry Eli.
May 25, 2025
This was really good and I loved the way their relationship developed.
Seeing her soften a little and the bond she started to form with his family and friends was so sweet 🥹
Those two were absolutely psychopaths and they fit well together, that’s for sure!
There were so things I wasn’t a fan of tho!
1- His dirty talk at first was really cringy.
2- I love a morally grey man, but this guy was just morally black, and that’s not my thing. His only saving grace was the way he treated her once he started to fall in love with her.
3- The FMC’s name… Jewel Diamond? Really?🙄
4- Wtf are virgin auctions? 🤬 apparently the cousin (forgot his name), runs the virgin auctions and Eli mentions that he supported him when he started that. wtf? This better not be what it sounds like because that’s fkn disgusting. Book 2 will be about the cousin, so I guess I’ll have to wait and see.
This I quite enjoyed:
1- Hawke! That man was so funny and I can’t wait for his book! I’m getting a feeling that it’ll either be a love triangle or Why choose with his broker and Billie? 🤔
2- I loved Rya! Eli’s mom was such a sweety and had her husband wrapped around her little finger. I loved the way she welcomed Jewel into the family and made her feel like she belonged.
3- The way Eli went against everyone in his life when he thought he safety was at risk 😭
4- That she kept calling him an asshole 😂 it was so frequent that it basically became his nickname. Still better than his nickname for her! (Kitten 😒)
The plot twist was fun, but I honestly guessed it a little after they met 🤷🏻♀️
Seeing her soften a little and the bond she started to form with his family and friends was so sweet 🥹
Those two were absolutely psychopaths and they fit well together, that’s for sure!
There were so things I wasn’t a fan of tho!
1- His dirty talk at first was really cringy.
2- I love a morally grey man, but this guy was just morally black, and that’s not my thing. His only saving grace was the way he treated her once he started to fall in love with her.
3- The FMC’s name… Jewel Diamond? Really?🙄
4- Wtf are virgin auctions? 🤬 apparently the cousin (forgot his name), runs the virgin auctions and Eli mentions that he supported him when he started that. wtf? This better not be what it sounds like because that’s fkn disgusting. Book 2 will be about the cousin, so I guess I’ll have to wait and see.
This I quite enjoyed:
1- Hawke! That man was so funny and I can’t wait for his book! I’m getting a feeling that it’ll either be a love triangle or Why choose with his broker and Billie? 🤔
2- I loved Rya! Eli’s mom was such a sweety and had her husband wrapped around her little finger. I loved the way she welcomed Jewel into the family and made her feel like she belonged.
3- The way Eli went against everyone in his life when he thought he safety was at risk 😭
4- That she kept calling him an asshole 😂 it was so frequent that it basically became his nickname. Still better than his nickname for her! (Kitten 😒)
The plot twist was fun, but I honestly guessed it a little after they met 🤷🏻♀️
May 25, 2025
The nickname "kitten" irked me a little. However, it was so entertaining to read this book.
February 2, 2025
I hate when authors think the only way to portray the fmc as a strong woman is by having her constantly act rude and like a bitch throughout the whole book.
chemistry between the fmc and mmc is zero because she’s in denial about her feelings until 95% of the book, always calling him names, keeping him at a distance.
I couldn’t take the mmc seriously as a mafia boss.. in the beginning especially the parts that were written in his pov almost gave female vibes from the writing style. something I never experienced before when reading a male pov lol. almost like the roles were reversed with these two.
chemistry between the fmc and mmc is zero because she’s in denial about her feelings until 95% of the book, always calling him names, keeping him at a distance.
I couldn’t take the mmc seriously as a mafia boss.. in the beginning especially the parts that were written in his pov almost gave female vibes from the writing style. something I never experienced before when reading a male pov lol. almost like the roles were reversed with these two.
February 13, 2025
I loved this book so much. I loved jewel she is my favorite. I definitely recommend this book. I’m excited for the next one
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
February 1, 2025
Evet 2. Jenerasyon böyle yazılmalı işte heyttt 😍🙈💯
Alek Anya bebeklerimi görmek de güzel oldu ✅
Alek Anya bebeklerimi görmek de güzel oldu ✅
February 1, 2025
Get ready for an action packed, steamy hate to lovers romance!
Jewel and Eli are playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Jewel finds it intriguing to confuse and frustrate the dominate man while Eli enjoys seeing the fire in Jewels eyes when she’s mad. Together these two are trying to figure out who wants him dead while also deciding if forever is something they can have. A relationship isn’t what either wants and yet the more time they spend together the more they enjoy each other and their truces.
This story is a little longer than I anticipated but there was a lot to learn and know. I didn’t find myself bored because Jewel is someone who loves a good time especially at the expense of Eli so there were some hilarious and intense moments.
A definite must read even if you haven’t read any of the other books! This book has something for every dark smutty reader!
Jewel and Eli are playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Jewel finds it intriguing to confuse and frustrate the dominate man while Eli enjoys seeing the fire in Jewels eyes when she’s mad. Together these two are trying to figure out who wants him dead while also deciding if forever is something they can have. A relationship isn’t what either wants and yet the more time they spend together the more they enjoy each other and their truces.
This story is a little longer than I anticipated but there was a lot to learn and know. I didn’t find myself bored because Jewel is someone who loves a good time especially at the expense of Eli so there were some hilarious and intense moments.
A definite must read even if you haven’t read any of the other books! This book has something for every dark smutty reader!
October 14, 2025
She’s a hired assassin — a skilled sniper and a master with blades.
He’s the son of a mafia boss, eager to take his father’s place at the top.
She’s been hired to kill him — but not just kill him. A dead rat in his desk drawer, a scandal on the front porch, intimate photos tucked into his jacket pocket, and, as the cherry on top, a knife in his thigh — that’s how their unforgettable introduction went.
A cloth soaked in sedative pressed to the face, tied hands, and blackmail — that’s how their conversation continued.
Watching the relationship between these two arrogant, ruthless individuals evolve was absolutely fascinating. The roles keep shifting — and soon, it’s impossible to tell who’s the cat and who’s the mouse… or if their original plans even matter anymore when the passion between them explodes with the force of a supernova. ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
And although the resolution of the main mystery wasn’t a complete surprise for me, I really enjoyed the concept. I’ll definitely keep reading this series with pleasure. 💘
He’s the son of a mafia boss, eager to take his father’s place at the top.
She’s been hired to kill him — but not just kill him. A dead rat in his desk drawer, a scandal on the front porch, intimate photos tucked into his jacket pocket, and, as the cherry on top, a knife in his thigh — that’s how their unforgettable introduction went.
A cloth soaked in sedative pressed to the face, tied hands, and blackmail — that’s how their conversation continued.
Watching the relationship between these two arrogant, ruthless individuals evolve was absolutely fascinating. The roles keep shifting — and soon, it’s impossible to tell who’s the cat and who’s the mouse… or if their original plans even matter anymore when the passion between them explodes with the force of a supernova. ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
And although the resolution of the main mystery wasn’t a complete surprise for me, I really enjoyed the concept. I’ll definitely keep reading this series with pleasure. 💘
June 24, 2025
NOW THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE A MAFIA BOOK!!! 👏👏👏
there’s NO weakass, doormat, spineless, boringass, virgin, stupidass, submissive (outside the bedroom hehehe), insufferable, annoyingass fmc in this one! AND THANK FUCK FOR THAT.
i freaking LOVED jewel. like??? she was actually badass. not the fake badass that is often advertised where the fmc rolls her eyes once and suddenly she’s feisty. nah. jewel was cray cray!
AND ELI????? LORD. HAVE. MERCY 😩🤤 this man was CRAZY. i was eating that shit up. eli was delicious, scrumptious, DELECTABLE. i’d let him ruin me.
i like lists, and it’s usually how i prefer to review books because it makes more sense in my brain, so here’s the list of things i liked and disliked:
1) the fmc. she’s a literal contract killer??? how i wish more authors would write TRULY badass/unhinged fmcs. she was genuinely cool af and had an actual personality. more of this pls.
2) the mmc. GAHHH. THIS MAN. he was so damn yummy. he had an actual personality and was so damn entertaining.
3) their banter. nothing makes me more feral than two psychos flirting through sarcasm and death threats :)
4) hawke. i love the “funny friend” role in every found family crew and he did not disappoint. give him his own book pls.
5) the mmc’s left eye twitching. lmao it was so random but it made me laugh every time. man was on the brink 24/7 and i respect it.
things i didn’t love (but didn’t ruin it either):
1) a few continuity errors. nothing major, just little things that didn’t fully line up but i was enjoying the book too much so i chose to ignore it lol 🤷♀️
2) i kind of guessed the plot twist halfway through but it was still fun seeing it all play out.
3) would’ve loved more in action scenes to show off her skills.
4) wish there was an epilogue that went further into the future. there was a bonus scene but it was clearly a setup for another character’s book.
5) wasn’t super clear if she was still gonna be a hitwoman at the end. hope so. like yes, pop off, keep murdering for money hehehe ✨
this was an awesome read! i loved both mcs. i loved the story. i definitely recommend it. no more too-old-to-be-a-virgin doormat fmcs!!! give me unhinged, short tempered, gun wielding fmcs forever 😁
(oh and the smut was okay. could’ve been hotter but not enough of a miss to put it in the dislike section. i also don’t wanna ruin my 5/5 list symmetry lol)
there’s NO weakass, doormat, spineless, boringass, virgin, stupidass, submissive (outside the bedroom hehehe), insufferable, annoyingass fmc in this one! AND THANK FUCK FOR THAT.
i freaking LOVED jewel. like??? she was actually badass. not the fake badass that is often advertised where the fmc rolls her eyes once and suddenly she’s feisty. nah. jewel was cray cray!
AND ELI????? LORD. HAVE. MERCY 😩🤤 this man was CRAZY. i was eating that shit up. eli was delicious, scrumptious, DELECTABLE. i’d let him ruin me.
i like lists, and it’s usually how i prefer to review books because it makes more sense in my brain, so here’s the list of things i liked and disliked:
1) the fmc. she’s a literal contract killer??? how i wish more authors would write TRULY badass/unhinged fmcs. she was genuinely cool af and had an actual personality. more of this pls.
2) the mmc. GAHHH. THIS MAN. he was so damn yummy. he had an actual personality and was so damn entertaining.
3) their banter. nothing makes me more feral than two psychos flirting through sarcasm and death threats :)
4) hawke. i love the “funny friend” role in every found family crew and he did not disappoint. give him his own book pls.
5) the mmc’s left eye twitching. lmao it was so random but it made me laugh every time. man was on the brink 24/7 and i respect it.
things i didn’t love (but didn’t ruin it either):
1) a few continuity errors. nothing major, just little things that didn’t fully line up but i was enjoying the book too much so i chose to ignore it lol 🤷♀️
2) i kind of guessed the plot twist halfway through but it was still fun seeing it all play out.
3) would’ve loved more in action scenes to show off her skills.
4) wish there was an epilogue that went further into the future. there was a bonus scene but it was clearly a setup for another character’s book.
5) wasn’t super clear if she was still gonna be a hitwoman at the end. hope so. like yes, pop off, keep murdering for money hehehe ✨
this was an awesome read! i loved both mcs. i loved the story. i definitely recommend it. no more too-old-to-be-a-virgin doormat fmcs!!! give me unhinged, short tempered, gun wielding fmcs forever 😁
(oh and the smut was okay. could’ve been hotter but not enough of a miss to put it in the dislike section. i also don’t wanna ruin my 5/5 list symmetry lol)
February 1, 2025
Love T L Smith and this was another fantastic read, combining pacy plot that had me hooked with great characters that have a lot of depth/development, loved this can't wait for the next one! Was more emotional than her other books I found
January 15, 2025
Eli Monti is the heir to the Monti mafia empire and yes, Crue’s son. When Jewel is paid to un a/liv€ him. She thinks it’s an easy job so Jewel decides to toy with him a little. Well, that wasn’t a good idea and now it could be his turn to return the favor! Can these cat and mouse games create a new scenario between them? These two are quite the feisty pair and I loved every second of their back and forth banter. Omg, Anya’s twins Ford & Hawke are also going to be a riot, I can already tell lol! I was smirking a lot while reading this one. It’s so good! A second generation that definitely matches rivals their parents! Get ready for a heated enemies to lovers dark romance. Told in first person and dual POV.
February 22, 2025
No bc why did I finish this??? This was honestly so good In the beginning and had me absolutely hooked, but then literally nothing happened. Like I couldn’t tell you one thing that ACTUALLY happened in this book beside the main characters going at it like bunnies but then hating eachother. Like be so fr right now. I’m honestly just so upset and mad bc I wasted so much time reading this, waiting for something to happen and then I looked down for it to be 60% and nothing was happening. Also that big “twist” was absolutely so dumb and came out of nowhere.
April 18, 2025
Wow! Second generation is here.
Empezamos con Eli Monti, hijo de Crue y Rya de Lethal Vows, que está a punto de heredar la mafia de NY de su padre, si es que se casa.
Jewel Diamond es una asesina a sueldo que ha recibido el encargo de asesinar a Eli, aunque primero debe jugar un poco con él. Esto, sin duda es una mala idea, porque a Jewel le gusta más la distancia que da su rifle de francotiradora.
Pronto quedará comprometida la identidad de Jewel y Eli le propondrá un arreglo para que él pueda heredar y por aquello de tener a los enemigos cerca.
El libro está muy bien escrito, esta pareja se va perfeccionando libro tras libro. La trama es muy buena, no me importa haber deducido quién era el cliente de Jewel, sigue siendo un giro muy bueno. El ritmo es rápido, los capítulos son todos de la duración perfecta, no hay forma de no atraparte en la lectura.
Los protagonistas y todos los nuevos personajes de esta segunda generación me han gustado tanto como sus padres que, por supuesto, también van a aparecer en la historia.
Este es uno de esos libros en los que sí son enemigos, pero por obligación, tendremos proximidad forzada, slow burn, protagonistas fuertes, tócale y mueres (por ambas partes), amistad, familia, mucha gente loca... para mí ha sido una gran sorpresa, pero es que al 10% ya sabía cuánto me iba a gustar.
Seguimos con esta serie.
Empezamos con Eli Monti, hijo de Crue y Rya de Lethal Vows, que está a punto de heredar la mafia de NY de su padre, si es que se casa.
Jewel Diamond es una asesina a sueldo que ha recibido el encargo de asesinar a Eli, aunque primero debe jugar un poco con él. Esto, sin duda es una mala idea, porque a Jewel le gusta más la distancia que da su rifle de francotiradora.
Pronto quedará comprometida la identidad de Jewel y Eli le propondrá un arreglo para que él pueda heredar y por aquello de tener a los enemigos cerca.
El libro está muy bien escrito, esta pareja se va perfeccionando libro tras libro. La trama es muy buena, no me importa haber deducido quién era el cliente de Jewel, sigue siendo un giro muy bueno. El ritmo es rápido, los capítulos son todos de la duración perfecta, no hay forma de no atraparte en la lectura.
Los protagonistas y todos los nuevos personajes de esta segunda generación me han gustado tanto como sus padres que, por supuesto, también van a aparecer en la historia.
Este es uno de esos libros en los que sí son enemigos, pero por obligación, tendremos proximidad forzada, slow burn, protagonistas fuertes, tócale y mueres (por ambas partes), amistad, familia, mucha gente loca... para mí ha sido una gran sorpresa, pero es que al 10% ya sabía cuánto me iba a gustar.
Seguimos con esta serie.
March 10, 2025
Just a amazinggg read. Definitely underrated.
Mafia man falls for the hitwoman out to kill him❤️🔥 The story the plot and how much attention is given to the main couple is just chef's kiss😘Must read for mafia dark action packed romance fans.
Safe. HEA😍
Mafia man falls for the hitwoman out to kill him❤️🔥 The story the plot and how much attention is given to the main couple is just chef's kiss😘Must read for mafia dark action packed romance fans.
Safe. HEA😍
July 7, 2025
نجمه لانه كيفي
كنت بعطيه نجمتين بس عقاب للكاتبه على كتابتها للأحداث
مدري ليه كان مفروض اسوي dnf له بس تعبت وانا اعطي كل كتاب dnf بليز اكتبو كتب حلوه ومو مقرفه ارجوكم
كنت بعطيه نجمتين بس عقاب للكاتبه على كتابتها للأحداث
مدري ليه كان مفروض اسوي dnf له بس تعبت وانا اعطي كل كتاب dnf بليز اكتبو كتب حلوه ومو مقرفه ارجوكم
July 17, 2025
I have to say that I was absolutely smitten by Eli and Jewel, and I think that they are my favorite unhinged couple so far this year. This is my first book by this author, and a very good first book it was.
Vengeful Lies is the story of Jewel, an assassin hired to "toy" with Eli, the New York mafia heir, while waiting on the final command to kill him. When I say toy, I am really saying "poke the bear', which she did stupendiously. However, Eli is very good at poking back.
Their story is filled with sassy, feisty and hilarious banter. The hate/love tension and the push and pull between these characters made for a delicious, explosive chemistry I couldn’t get enough of. Jewel loves to have fun, especially at the expense of Eli, so there were some preposterous, yet laughable moments. Eli is the morally grey, don't touch what's mine MMC I love.
These two are absolutely crazy, but in a believable and electrifying way. I loved how toxic and psychotic they get for each other. The back and forth with these two was so good, it had an amused and sometimes bemused smile on my face the entire time. I loved their antagonism and their cat and mouse games. I loved that the more Eli pushed, the harder Jewel pushed back. And this is no weak FMC. Nope! This is a woman after my own heart and I loved her sass almost as much as I loved how much hell she gave Eli.
The story was entertaining and action packed. The big reveal twist was a bit cheeky for me, but I enjoyed the story from beginning to end.
I would definitely recommend this as a fun, contemporary read, with some dark edges that kept the intensity going. Hot, sizzle, fun!
4 stars
Vengeful Lies is the story of Jewel, an assassin hired to "toy" with Eli, the New York mafia heir, while waiting on the final command to kill him. When I say toy, I am really saying "poke the bear', which she did stupendiously. However, Eli is very good at poking back.
Their story is filled with sassy, feisty and hilarious banter. The hate/love tension and the push and pull between these characters made for a delicious, explosive chemistry I couldn’t get enough of. Jewel loves to have fun, especially at the expense of Eli, so there were some preposterous, yet laughable moments. Eli is the morally grey, don't touch what's mine MMC I love.
These two are absolutely crazy, but in a believable and electrifying way. I loved how toxic and psychotic they get for each other. The back and forth with these two was so good, it had an amused and sometimes bemused smile on my face the entire time. I loved their antagonism and their cat and mouse games. I loved that the more Eli pushed, the harder Jewel pushed back. And this is no weak FMC. Nope! This is a woman after my own heart and I loved her sass almost as much as I loved how much hell she gave Eli.
The story was entertaining and action packed. The big reveal twist was a bit cheeky for me, but I enjoyed the story from beginning to end.
I would definitely recommend this as a fun, contemporary read, with some dark edges that kept the intensity going. Hot, sizzle, fun!
4 stars
February 18, 2025
OMG! I think I have new favorite dark couple, yup Eli & Jewel are 🔥.
Wonderful chemistry between the characters, perfect plot, definitely a must read.
Wonderful chemistry between the characters, perfect plot, definitely a must read.
February 6, 2025
I felt like this book made sense. Jewel is a hired hit woman tasked with playing and eventually eliminating the New York Italian mafia heir, Eli. Except he’s into it when she stabs him and threatens to murder him at every turn. Neither ever anticipated love, but the marriage of convenience Eli blackmails Jewel into soon turns real. Now they just have the pesky problem of who has the hit out on Eli and what will they do when they learn Jewel won’t fulfill it?
I appreciated the depth of Jewel’s character and the subsequent character growth we get to witness. It felt realistic due to her background for her to hold the beliefs and attitudes she did. Eli was a little less consistent but at the end of the day isn’t showing growth and change what we like best in the mafia murdery types?
I was given a free copy. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
I appreciated the depth of Jewel’s character and the subsequent character growth we get to witness. It felt realistic due to her background for her to hold the beliefs and attitudes she did. Eli was a little less consistent but at the end of the day isn’t showing growth and change what we like best in the mafia murdery types?
I was given a free copy. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
January 24, 2025
OOHHH YOU HAVE NO IDEA how excited I was to learn that Lethal Vows has a DAMN NEXT GENERATION! AAAHH! And the first book is a Monti?! Crue Monti’s son? UGH. I COULD NOT.
Going into this, I HAD NO IDEA what to expect with how Crue and Rya’s son would turn out, especially taking after Crue and OH GOD ALMIGHTY! He is just Y.U.M.M.Y! And taking after his father in almost EVERYTHING, just brought back the feels for Crue. Ahh, son like father, father like son. Don’t EVEN get me started on Jewel! She is FUCKING EPIC! I know for a fact that she’d get along with Rya and Anya FOR SURE with her sass, charisma and her all-round charm, plus her don’t-want-no-man-running-my-life mantra. I especially LOVE how she toys with Eli; IT IS TOO DAMN GOOD. UGH. And their chemistry, DON’T. EVEN. GET. ME. STARTED.
But OH MY GOD I nearly damn well cried when we got introduced to EVERYONE’S KIDS. AAHH! LIKE ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I for sure as hell wasn’t expecting anything more for the Lethal Vows series, BUT I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS. I also wasn’t expecting THAT FUCKING PLOT TWIST EITHER. I dead ass cackled at that shit. You can see all the similarities passed down, and not to mention seeing the older versions of the characters and how they still resemble their love for each other… *cries in love and happiness* Of course, this makes me SO DAMN EXCITED like I’m GONNA EXPLODE waiting for the next book. I CAN’T FUCKING WAIT. AAAHHHH!
Going into this, I HAD NO IDEA what to expect with how Crue and Rya’s son would turn out, especially taking after Crue and OH GOD ALMIGHTY! He is just Y.U.M.M.Y! And taking after his father in almost EVERYTHING, just brought back the feels for Crue. Ahh, son like father, father like son. Don’t EVEN get me started on Jewel! She is FUCKING EPIC! I know for a fact that she’d get along with Rya and Anya FOR SURE with her sass, charisma and her all-round charm, plus her don’t-want-no-man-running-my-life mantra. I especially LOVE how she toys with Eli; IT IS TOO DAMN GOOD. UGH. And their chemistry, DON’T. EVEN. GET. ME. STARTED.
But OH MY GOD I nearly damn well cried when we got introduced to EVERYONE’S KIDS. AAHH! LIKE ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I for sure as hell wasn’t expecting anything more for the Lethal Vows series, BUT I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS. I also wasn’t expecting THAT FUCKING PLOT TWIST EITHER. I dead ass cackled at that shit. You can see all the similarities passed down, and not to mention seeing the older versions of the characters and how they still resemble their love for each other… *cries in love and happiness* Of course, this makes me SO DAMN EXCITED like I’m GONNA EXPLODE waiting for the next book. I CAN’T FUCKING WAIT. AAAHHHH!
February 4, 2025
Gaaaah!!! This was so beautifully written. Jewel and Eli are picture freaking perfect. This was one of those books that I could hardly put down. I absolutely devoured it. I’m so stoked for the rest of this series!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
March 29, 2025
4.25⭐️ calling all unhinged girlie pops!!🙋🏻♀️
this was such an addicting read! the fmc & mmc really matched each other’s freaks fr😮💨 i adore an fmc who majors in badassery, and jewel really delivered. she was fucking crazy y’all. and eli was both psychotic and lethal, while somehow also being pretty swoony? idk if that’s the right word for him but just know that this man was the downest of bad for his girl. and i ate it up.
these stars are for vibes and entertainment, not necessarily the quality of writing or emotional depth lmao. i just had a fan fucking tastic time🤪 and i will admit that i was indeed gagged by the twist at the end. what the actual hell. but also- slay.
even tho this is technically the start to a second gen interconnected standalone series- it can totally be read and enjoyed on its own without any prior knowledge of the parents’ stories!
this was such an addicting read! the fmc & mmc really matched each other’s freaks fr😮💨 i adore an fmc who majors in badassery, and jewel really delivered. she was fucking crazy y’all. and eli was both psychotic and lethal, while somehow also being pretty swoony? idk if that’s the right word for him but just know that this man was the downest of bad for his girl. and i ate it up.
these stars are for vibes and entertainment, not necessarily the quality of writing or emotional depth lmao. i just had a fan fucking tastic time🤪 and i will admit that i was indeed gagged by the twist at the end. what the actual hell. but also- slay.
even tho this is technically the start to a second gen interconnected standalone series- it can totally be read and enjoyed on its own without any prior knowledge of the parents’ stories!
October 17, 2025
A mafia-esque dark romance with a key difference, in that the FMC is an expert assassin and her latest target is the MMC, heir to a powerful mafia family. Includes enemies to lovers, some fun and spicy moments, found (and for him, real) family, and some foes to flee and pursue.
I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t particularly memorable, and there were several clunky references to certain side characters and their titles or infamy, such as repeated mention of characters responsible for the ‘underworld auctions’. These initially looked like they might be heading somewhere, but no, they had little relevance to the plot, so I can only imagine they either have been, or will be, featured in other books by these authors. They were also among only a smattering of actual glimpses of the mafia context.
I spotted a lot of basic errors, from misplaced commas and apostrophes to missing words (e.g. “which it gives me” should’ve been “which is why it gives me”), inconsistent tense and conjugation (e.g. “whoever I wanted to be or pretend to be”), and incorrect word choice (e.g. “one so childish as jealously” should have been “…jealousy”).
I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t particularly memorable, and there were several clunky references to certain side characters and their titles or infamy, such as repeated mention of characters responsible for the ‘underworld auctions’. These initially looked like they might be heading somewhere, but no, they had little relevance to the plot, so I can only imagine they either have been, or will be, featured in other books by these authors. They were also among only a smattering of actual glimpses of the mafia context.
I spotted a lot of basic errors, from misplaced commas and apostrophes to missing words (e.g. “which it gives me” should’ve been “which is why it gives me”), inconsistent tense and conjugation (e.g. “whoever I wanted to be or pretend to be”), and incorrect word choice (e.g. “one so childish as jealously” should have been “…jealousy”).
December 17, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Five-Star Review
Vengeful Lies by T.L. Smith
That’s it. I’m officially hooked. Vengeful Lies is the book that fully converted me into a dark romance addict and I’m not looking back. This story is fast-paced, viciously addictive, and unapologetically unhinged in the best way possible.
Jewel is everything I want in a female lead: a professional hitwoman with teeth, confidence, and zero interest in being controlled. She’s not “pretend” tough she’s genuinely dangerous, sharp-witted, and fearless. From the moment she takes a contract on mafia heir Eli Monti, the tension is electric. What starts as enemies with a deadly agenda quickly spirals into something far more twisted.
And Eli? Ruthless, calculating, and fully aware of his own darkness. Instead of running from the threat on his life, he leans into it hard. Their fake engagement is explosive, their banter is feral, and their chemistry is off the charts. Think Mr. & Mrs. Smith vibes, but darker, bloodier, and far more intense.
The dual POV works beautifully, the plot twists hit hard, and the side characters (especially Hawke) steal every scene they’re in. I flew through this book, guessed a major twist midway, and still couldn’t put it down.
Spicy, violent, smart, and wildly entertaining Vengeful Lies proves T.L. Smith knows exactly how to write morally gray chaos. Dark romance readers, this one is a must.
Vengeful Lies by T.L. Smith
That’s it. I’m officially hooked. Vengeful Lies is the book that fully converted me into a dark romance addict and I’m not looking back. This story is fast-paced, viciously addictive, and unapologetically unhinged in the best way possible.
Jewel is everything I want in a female lead: a professional hitwoman with teeth, confidence, and zero interest in being controlled. She’s not “pretend” tough she’s genuinely dangerous, sharp-witted, and fearless. From the moment she takes a contract on mafia heir Eli Monti, the tension is electric. What starts as enemies with a deadly agenda quickly spirals into something far more twisted.
And Eli? Ruthless, calculating, and fully aware of his own darkness. Instead of running from the threat on his life, he leans into it hard. Their fake engagement is explosive, their banter is feral, and their chemistry is off the charts. Think Mr. & Mrs. Smith vibes, but darker, bloodier, and far more intense.
The dual POV works beautifully, the plot twists hit hard, and the side characters (especially Hawke) steal every scene they’re in. I flew through this book, guessed a major twist midway, and still couldn’t put it down.
Spicy, violent, smart, and wildly entertaining Vengeful Lies proves T.L. Smith knows exactly how to write morally gray chaos. Dark romance readers, this one is a must.
April 3, 2025
Love when a book takes you by surprise! Mr and Mrs smith vibes with this one. The FMC was a badass. The MMC fell so hard for her. The wedding dress scene will live in my brain for eternity. So unhinged in the best way. Kind of a weird ending but I didn’t hate it. Will definitely be continuing on with this series.
July 13, 2025
My First Read By This Author. I Will Be Continuing The Series 😊
June 16, 2025
mega dziwne. nie rozumiem zachowań głównych bohaterów tak bardzo, że czuję w kościach, że był to jakiś wattpad wannabe
November 22, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ I like the twist at the end.
February 8, 2025
This book was so fun & I couldn't put it down! I loved both Jewel & Eli, Jewel was such a strong, confident fmc. I thought their instant chemistry & banter throughout the book was amazing. I feel like if you're a fan of The Ruinous Love trilogy or love when the fmc is just as morally grey as the mmc, you'll love this one! since this is a dark mafia romance, just make sure you check tw's! 🖤
what to expect:
🖤 mafia romance
🤭 enemies to lovers
🩶 morally grey fmc & mmc
🌶️ spicy
what to expect:
🖤 mafia romance
🤭 enemies to lovers
🩶 morally grey fmc & mmc
🌶️ spicy
February 4, 2025
Spice: 4
Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers
Mafia
Hitwoman
Touch Her and Die
Billionaire
dark romance
fake engagement
Dual POV
Trigger Warnings:
Murder
knife play
gun violence
p3riod play
That's it. I'm hooked. Yall have been trying to get me into dark romance for a while now and.... I'm a fan! Sign me up for the rest of T.L. Smith's books, I NEED MORE!
I literally was describing this book to my book bestie and I told her it was "spicey, both the MCs were addicted to unaliving people, and thrived in hurting each other for sexual reasons.... tell me why that turned me on?" LOL But it's true! I could not put this book down! It had mystery, it had spice, it had unhinged people/acts, but it was sexy!
Vengeful Lies follows FMC Jewel, a hitwoman, who just got a job to take out Mafia Heir Eli Monti. Only this time, the person who hired her asks she "plays" with her target before taking him out. What Jewel didn't count on was that Eli isn't just some rich playboy mafia prince. Oh no, he's more than happy to get his hands dirty. Did Jewel bite off more than she could chew? Or has she met her match?
Eli, Eli Eli.... Why do I love you? ROFL JK. I know why. He's ruthless. He's the first to pull the trigger and he loves the color red. When he figures out Jewel has a hit on him, it just makes him want to get closer to her... or it could because he loves how stabby with a knife she is. Either way, he's blackmailed her into a fake engagement to take over the family business. But Jewel isn't a push over, and sometimes you can't tame a kitten.
I love Eli and Jewel. I love how unhinged they were. They give off "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" vibes but in a dark way. I loved it. I also loved the side characters in this story, especially Hawke! I hope we get a Hawke/Billie story in the future. *Side note: I figured out who hired Jewel to take out Eli half way thru the book and I was super proud of myself!
Uh also...... how did I just find out this series is a spin off from ELI's parents generation?! Now I have to go back and read Crue and Rya's story because they're just as unhinged! Okay, I'm addicted to dark romance and T.L. Smith!
Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers
Mafia
Hitwoman
Touch Her and Die
Billionaire
dark romance
fake engagement
Dual POV
Trigger Warnings:
Murder
knife play
gun violence
p3riod play
That's it. I'm hooked. Yall have been trying to get me into dark romance for a while now and.... I'm a fan! Sign me up for the rest of T.L. Smith's books, I NEED MORE!
I literally was describing this book to my book bestie and I told her it was "spicey, both the MCs were addicted to unaliving people, and thrived in hurting each other for sexual reasons.... tell me why that turned me on?" LOL But it's true! I could not put this book down! It had mystery, it had spice, it had unhinged people/acts, but it was sexy!
Vengeful Lies follows FMC Jewel, a hitwoman, who just got a job to take out Mafia Heir Eli Monti. Only this time, the person who hired her asks she "plays" with her target before taking him out. What Jewel didn't count on was that Eli isn't just some rich playboy mafia prince. Oh no, he's more than happy to get his hands dirty. Did Jewel bite off more than she could chew? Or has she met her match?
Eli, Eli Eli.... Why do I love you? ROFL JK. I know why. He's ruthless. He's the first to pull the trigger and he loves the color red. When he figures out Jewel has a hit on him, it just makes him want to get closer to her... or it could because he loves how stabby with a knife she is. Either way, he's blackmailed her into a fake engagement to take over the family business. But Jewel isn't a push over, and sometimes you can't tame a kitten.
I love Eli and Jewel. I love how unhinged they were. They give off "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" vibes but in a dark way. I loved it. I also loved the side characters in this story, especially Hawke! I hope we get a Hawke/Billie story in the future. *Side note: I figured out who hired Jewel to take out Eli half way thru the book and I was super proud of myself!
Uh also...... how did I just find out this series is a spin off from ELI's parents generation?! Now I have to go back and read Crue and Rya's story because they're just as unhinged! Okay, I'm addicted to dark romance and T.L. Smith!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 554 reviews