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LIPS: Kiss The Lips That Lie
Win a free print copy of this book!
3 days and 14:35:42
10 copies available
U.S. only
“That she told him truths disguised as fiction from the outset was only one of her secrets.”
Selene Ormond, a striking English au pair, has finally met her match in Davis Beckwith—a reserved CPA and heir to his family’s prestigious firm. Their chemistry is irresistible, each sharing a taste for secrets. Yet, their romance is shadowed by Davis’s formidable mother, Miss Addy, and the messy past Selene thought she’d left behind in Britain.
As their lives intertwine, so does the web of deception holding them together. Against a backdrop of eccentric relatives, posh ex-pat friends, and vicarious liaisons, the pair must navigate betrayal, ambition, and their damaged pasts. LIPS unravels the tangled threads of family, desire, and deceit on a treacherous journey to keep love alive.
Selene Ormond, a striking English au pair, has finally met her match in Davis Beckwith—a reserved CPA and heir to his family’s prestigious firm. Their chemistry is irresistible, each sharing a taste for secrets. Yet, their romance is shadowed by Davis’s formidable mother, Miss Addy, and the messy past Selene thought she’d left behind in Britain.
As their lives intertwine, so does the web of deception holding them together. Against a backdrop of eccentric relatives, posh ex-pat friends, and vicarious liaisons, the pair must navigate betrayal, ambition, and their damaged pasts. LIPS unravels the tangled threads of family, desire, and deceit on a treacherous journey to keep love alive.
339 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 17, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 15, 2026
The truth is that the book held my focus right away. From the opening image, which is a person diving into Lake Michigan after dark, vanishing beneath, I felt a shiver stay with me even as time jumped ahead to 2017.
Out here, things unfold through DB and Selene, hanging out at his mom's vintage cottage near the lake. On paper, it looks like any pair passing summer days; scrubbing walls, walking sandbars, sharing memories one by one. Yet the words carry weight, each moment peels back a layer, showing what stays hidden when people simply exist alongside each other.
Over in England lives Selene, who brings a sharp gaze when looking at America. What stands out is the way she takes in DB’s life; the homes, the habits, the ease with which his family moves through the world. Notice how she points out buildings wear slower than back in London. Then there's the way DB wears fine outfits and treats paintings like they belong on walls, she doesn’t blink at it. Something shifts when she shares what once frightened her back in childhood. The moment lands heavily, yet you cannot turn your eyes elsewhere.
Heavy stuff sits behind DB’s quiet moments. A boy without a father early on that mark runs deep. You see it in how he moves beside Selene, cautious like he's walking through someone else's memories. His words about his mother hang differently from the others', even though she appears only in absence. That absence? It fills rooms it isn’t in.
What stands out is the way the lake acts like a living thing. Beautiful when still, inviting kids like Selene to dive in and move without worry. Yet shifts, becomes somber, almost threatening. A quiet echo of what happened at first, along with secrets left unspoken between them. Something lingers just below the surface; a faded picture, odd trinkets, silence where questions might go. Dad's past feels incomplete, like pieces never quite fit. Mom seems to hold something back, though her hands stay still. Selene leaves gaps, not because she hides them, but because she never fills them.
Truth is, the rhythm moves slower than most things I pick up. No real rush, hardly any movement as we expect. That works just fine since the whole point sits in just how close you get to people, sensing quiet strain between them. When it finished, curiosity had already taken hold. Would truths surface? Could DB and Selene hold steady? Would they at last look their history straight in the eye near that haunted water?
Speedy thrills? You won’t find those here. Still, if heavy thoughts mixed with real emotion are what pull you in, then maybe take a moment to start down that path.
Out here, things unfold through DB and Selene, hanging out at his mom's vintage cottage near the lake. On paper, it looks like any pair passing summer days; scrubbing walls, walking sandbars, sharing memories one by one. Yet the words carry weight, each moment peels back a layer, showing what stays hidden when people simply exist alongside each other.
Over in England lives Selene, who brings a sharp gaze when looking at America. What stands out is the way she takes in DB’s life; the homes, the habits, the ease with which his family moves through the world. Notice how she points out buildings wear slower than back in London. Then there's the way DB wears fine outfits and treats paintings like they belong on walls, she doesn’t blink at it. Something shifts when she shares what once frightened her back in childhood. The moment lands heavily, yet you cannot turn your eyes elsewhere.
Heavy stuff sits behind DB’s quiet moments. A boy without a father early on that mark runs deep. You see it in how he moves beside Selene, cautious like he's walking through someone else's memories. His words about his mother hang differently from the others', even though she appears only in absence. That absence? It fills rooms it isn’t in.
What stands out is the way the lake acts like a living thing. Beautiful when still, inviting kids like Selene to dive in and move without worry. Yet shifts, becomes somber, almost threatening. A quiet echo of what happened at first, along with secrets left unspoken between them. Something lingers just below the surface; a faded picture, odd trinkets, silence where questions might go. Dad's past feels incomplete, like pieces never quite fit. Mom seems to hold something back, though her hands stay still. Selene leaves gaps, not because she hides them, but because she never fills them.
Truth is, the rhythm moves slower than most things I pick up. No real rush, hardly any movement as we expect. That works just fine since the whole point sits in just how close you get to people, sensing quiet strain between them. When it finished, curiosity had already taken hold. Would truths surface? Could DB and Selene hold steady? Would they at last look their history straight in the eye near that haunted water?
Speedy thrills? You won’t find those here. Still, if heavy thoughts mixed with real emotion are what pull you in, then maybe take a moment to start down that path.
January 13, 2026
I just finished reading LIPS, and if you're looking for a clean, straightforward romance, this definitely isn't it. It’s a psychological drama that feels a bit like peeling back the layers of a very expensive, very broken machine to see what's actually driving the gears underneath.
The story is set in Chicago and revolves around two characters who, on paper, shouldn't work at all. You have Davis (DB), a CPA who is basically the definition of structure and logic. He’s an heir to a prestigious firm, but he’s carrying this massive, tragic weight from his father’s suicide thirty years ago. He’s a guy who plays by the rules because reality hit him too hard when he was a kid.
Then you have Selene. She’s this British au pair who is messy, chaotic, and fascinating. She’s the variable that throws DB’s perfectly calculated life into chaos. What interested me most was her relationship with the truth—she seems to treat lying almost like a survival mechanism or an art form, telling truths disguised as fiction.
The tension in the book comes from two places. Externally, you have DB’s mother, Miss Addy. She reminds me of a strict system administrator who refuses to grant access to anyone she deems a security risk. She’s controlling and judges Selene constantly, trying to manage the "family politics".
But the internal tension is where it gets really dark. As DB and Selene get closer, they don't just go for dinner and movies; they dive into this world of "vicarious liaisons" and taboo encounters to keep their spark alive. It felt like they were stress-testing their relationship, pushing it to the breaking point to see if it would hold.
The Core Question:
The book basically asks: Can you build a stable future on a foundation of secrets?. As someone who values logic, it’s frustrating to watch them build their lives on such unstable ground, but that’s also what makes it a compelling read. You’re constantly waiting for the "tangled threads" of the past to snap.
Final Verdict:
It’s a bit melodramatic in places, and the characters can be frustratingly opaque, but it’s a solid exploration of how hard it is to truly know another person. If you like stories that explore the darker, messier side of human psychology rather than just the happy ending, give this a shot.
The story is set in Chicago and revolves around two characters who, on paper, shouldn't work at all. You have Davis (DB), a CPA who is basically the definition of structure and logic. He’s an heir to a prestigious firm, but he’s carrying this massive, tragic weight from his father’s suicide thirty years ago. He’s a guy who plays by the rules because reality hit him too hard when he was a kid.
Then you have Selene. She’s this British au pair who is messy, chaotic, and fascinating. She’s the variable that throws DB’s perfectly calculated life into chaos. What interested me most was her relationship with the truth—she seems to treat lying almost like a survival mechanism or an art form, telling truths disguised as fiction.
The tension in the book comes from two places. Externally, you have DB’s mother, Miss Addy. She reminds me of a strict system administrator who refuses to grant access to anyone she deems a security risk. She’s controlling and judges Selene constantly, trying to manage the "family politics".
But the internal tension is where it gets really dark. As DB and Selene get closer, they don't just go for dinner and movies; they dive into this world of "vicarious liaisons" and taboo encounters to keep their spark alive. It felt like they were stress-testing their relationship, pushing it to the breaking point to see if it would hold.
The Core Question:
The book basically asks: Can you build a stable future on a foundation of secrets?. As someone who values logic, it’s frustrating to watch them build their lives on such unstable ground, but that’s also what makes it a compelling read. You’re constantly waiting for the "tangled threads" of the past to snap.
Final Verdict:
It’s a bit melodramatic in places, and the characters can be frustratingly opaque, but it’s a solid exploration of how hard it is to truly know another person. If you like stories that explore the darker, messier side of human psychology rather than just the happy ending, give this a shot.
September 4, 2025
The book begins with a haunting scene of a father walking into the cold vastness of Lake Michigan, and from there it stretches into a sweeping and layered narrative that mixes family history, secrets, art, desire, and the way the past claws its way into the present. At the center is Davis Beckwith, heir to a complicated family legacy, and Selene, a young Englishwoman whose charms and tangled impulses drive much of the story forward. Their relationship unfolds against a backdrop of wealth, decay, and long shadows of tragedy, with the author weaving together voices, memories, and settings in a way that blurs the line between truth and invention.
Reading it pulled me in slowly at first, like wading into deep water. The prose has a deliberate, almost meditative rhythm, and sometimes it lingers on detail long enough to feel claustrophobic. Yet I found that same attention to detail intoxicating. The rooms, the objects, the little observations of human behavior felt alive. I loved the way the author treats silence and absence with as much weight as spoken words. At times, I was frustrated with how opaque the characters could be, but that frustration worked in the book’s favor. It mirrored the way secrets seep into family life, how you can love someone without ever really knowing them.
Emotionally, the book left me uneasy and restless. I alternated between admiration for the writing and irritation at the characters, especially DB, who often seemed passive to the point of vanishing. Selene, on the other hand, is magnetic and maddening, brimming with contradictions. I didn’t always like her, but I couldn’t look away. The novel made me think about the lies we tell ourselves and others, and how much of love is invention. I felt caught between awe and discomfort, which is not a bad place for a novel to put me.
I’d recommend this book to readers who like fiction that doesn’t rush, who enjoy atmosphere and layered family drama, and who don’t mind a story that raises more questions than it answers. If you like being unsettled and pushed to look harder at the ties that bind people together, LIPS is well worth the read.
Reading it pulled me in slowly at first, like wading into deep water. The prose has a deliberate, almost meditative rhythm, and sometimes it lingers on detail long enough to feel claustrophobic. Yet I found that same attention to detail intoxicating. The rooms, the objects, the little observations of human behavior felt alive. I loved the way the author treats silence and absence with as much weight as spoken words. At times, I was frustrated with how opaque the characters could be, but that frustration worked in the book’s favor. It mirrored the way secrets seep into family life, how you can love someone without ever really knowing them.
Emotionally, the book left me uneasy and restless. I alternated between admiration for the writing and irritation at the characters, especially DB, who often seemed passive to the point of vanishing. Selene, on the other hand, is magnetic and maddening, brimming with contradictions. I didn’t always like her, but I couldn’t look away. The novel made me think about the lies we tell ourselves and others, and how much of love is invention. I felt caught between awe and discomfort, which is not a bad place for a novel to put me.
I’d recommend this book to readers who like fiction that doesn’t rush, who enjoy atmosphere and layered family drama, and who don’t mind a story that raises more questions than it answers. If you like being unsettled and pushed to look harder at the ties that bind people together, LIPS is well worth the read.
September 1, 2025
In any relationship, it's important on how well people know each other. Peter Gooch's LIPS: Kiss The Lips That Lie brings us a love story that so much tells a love that seeks oneness and honesty.
Davis is the only son of Augustus and Alice Beckwith, in his thirties who's good with numbers but clueless about women. Get-togethers every once in a while, here and there, with his family, not just for all atingle moments alone, but for knowing each other better. But Walter Blanchard wants to talk to him, and Selene finds a picture of a woman in his apartment. Will he let Selene get back to England with her doubts? Are they going to have that distance forever, on a significant milestone of their lives?
LIPS: Kiss The Lips That Lie is one of those love stories that tells myriads of important concerns about our intimate relationships. Selene's family oriented nature in getting along with Davis's family and skeptical nature are good characteristics in balancing and nurturing relationships. Davis's character portrays shrewdness, self-restraint and teaches about fidelity. The story teaches trust, professionalism and respect as well. Slight profanity is present but tolerable. I give a four-star rate then for the remarks above.
Therefore I recommend to readers most especially to the ones having relationship issues, not only to relate from, but to enlighten and give hope thru the elements of the story.
Davis is the only son of Augustus and Alice Beckwith, in his thirties who's good with numbers but clueless about women. Get-togethers every once in a while, here and there, with his family, not just for all atingle moments alone, but for knowing each other better. But Walter Blanchard wants to talk to him, and Selene finds a picture of a woman in his apartment. Will he let Selene get back to England with her doubts? Are they going to have that distance forever, on a significant milestone of their lives?
LIPS: Kiss The Lips That Lie is one of those love stories that tells myriads of important concerns about our intimate relationships. Selene's family oriented nature in getting along with Davis's family and skeptical nature are good characteristics in balancing and nurturing relationships. Davis's character portrays shrewdness, self-restraint and teaches about fidelity. The story teaches trust, professionalism and respect as well. Slight profanity is present but tolerable. I give a four-star rate then for the remarks above.
Therefore I recommend to readers most especially to the ones having relationship issues, not only to relate from, but to enlighten and give hope thru the elements of the story.
January 9, 2026
This is a richly layered novel that explores intimacy, desire, power, and deception through deeply human characters. From the opening pages, the story establishes an emotionally charged atmosphere, inviting the reader into a world where love is intense, complicated, and often intertwined with secrecy. This is not a light romance; it is a reflective and sometimes unsettling exploration of relationships and the emotional risks people take when boundaries blur.
One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in its psychological depth. The characters feel complex and flawed, driven by desire, insecurity, and the need for validation. Their interactions are often subtle yet loaded, revealing how affection and manipulation can exist side by side. The author does an excellent job of portraying emotional tension—not only through dialogue, but also through silence, internal conflict, and unspoken motives. These moments give the story a lingering emotional weight.
The prose is descriptive without being excessive. Settings are vividly drawn and often mirror the internal states of the characters, reinforcing the mood of intimacy and unease. Certain scenes are particularly striking, leaving a strong impression and encouraging the reader to reflect on themes of trust, autonomy, and emotional vulnerability. The title itself feels symbolic, capturing the central idea that affection and truth do not always align.
At times, the narrative requires patience, as the pacing favors emotional buildup over quick resolution. However, this slower approach allows the story to breathe and gives readers space to fully absorb the complexities of the characters’ choices.
Overall, LIPS – Kiss the Lips That Lie is a compelling and mature work that will resonate with readers who appreciate psychologically driven fiction. It is a thought-provoking novel that challenges simplistic ideas of love and reminds us that intimacy often comes with consequences.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2026
So this book LIPS is basically about a guy and a girl who have this really complicated relationship. They meet, fall into something that feels like love, but nothing is ever as simple as it seems. The story starts slow with guy finding a piece of land and planning this fancy house. The girl shows up as this nanny working for his friend's wife. They get together, she meets his weird but charming mom, and everyone seems happy. But then things get messy real fast.
What works about this book is that the characters feel like real people. The guy names DB is this rich guy who is kind of lost inside, trying to figure out what he actually wants. They girl, Selene is prettier and more complicated than she looks at first. His mom is absolutely mad in the best way. The writing is good and the dialogue feels natural. You actually care about what happens to these people even when they are being stupid.
The relationship between DB and Selene is the heart of everything. They have intense moments but there is always something off underneath it all. You keep waiting for things to get better, but they just keep getting weirder.
The only thing that I did not like is that some parts go on way too long describing scenery and landscapes. Also the ending feels like it is not really an ending. You finish reading and you're like what the hell just happened? That could be on purpose, but it's frustrating.
If you like books that mess with your head about relationships and make you question what is real between two people, this will do it. It is not a happy love story. It is darker than that. It is about people who want each other but maybe should not.
What works about this book is that the characters feel like real people. The guy names DB is this rich guy who is kind of lost inside, trying to figure out what he actually wants. They girl, Selene is prettier and more complicated than she looks at first. His mom is absolutely mad in the best way. The writing is good and the dialogue feels natural. You actually care about what happens to these people even when they are being stupid.
The relationship between DB and Selene is the heart of everything. They have intense moments but there is always something off underneath it all. You keep waiting for things to get better, but they just keep getting weirder.
The only thing that I did not like is that some parts go on way too long describing scenery and landscapes. Also the ending feels like it is not really an ending. You finish reading and you're like what the hell just happened? That could be on purpose, but it's frustrating.
If you like books that mess with your head about relationships and make you question what is real between two people, this will do it. It is not a happy love story. It is darker than that. It is about people who want each other but maybe should not.
January 18, 2026
If you enjoy psychological thrillers with a blend of family drama, then this book is certainly for you. You might want to take note if youre sensitive to explicit content, though.
So the book starts by telling about DB’s dad, who had committed suicide by drowning in 1987, when DB was just a child. Fast forward to the present, where DB is now an adult, and he is in a relationship with Sele, so he is very good at making up stories, or should I say lying. Now, not only is she in a relationship with DB, but she also has some sort of a relationship with Gillian, who is also a woman.
Aside from the relationships and drama, Selene struggles with fully owning her man, as Addy has a strong hold on him, not just as a mother but also as a boss, as she handles his family finances. One of the main things I like about this book is Selene’s stories and how she mixes them with her past, as well as uses them to manipulate DB. Her stories kept me asking what was true and what part of it was made up.
On the downside, I think DB was a bit too nonchalant for his role and could have done better both for Selene and their relationship. However, I enjoyed Gillian's presence there as it somehow kept DB on his toes. The characters are not your average characters, but it is certainly worth the read. I would rate it a 4 out of 5 stars.
So the book starts by telling about DB’s dad, who had committed suicide by drowning in 1987, when DB was just a child. Fast forward to the present, where DB is now an adult, and he is in a relationship with Sele, so he is very good at making up stories, or should I say lying. Now, not only is she in a relationship with DB, but she also has some sort of a relationship with Gillian, who is also a woman.
Aside from the relationships and drama, Selene struggles with fully owning her man, as Addy has a strong hold on him, not just as a mother but also as a boss, as she handles his family finances. One of the main things I like about this book is Selene’s stories and how she mixes them with her past, as well as uses them to manipulate DB. Her stories kept me asking what was true and what part of it was made up.
On the downside, I think DB was a bit too nonchalant for his role and could have done better both for Selene and their relationship. However, I enjoyed Gillian's presence there as it somehow kept DB on his toes. The characters are not your average characters, but it is certainly worth the read. I would rate it a 4 out of 5 stars.
August 17, 2025
This book pulled me in right from the start. Selene and Davis are such an interesting pair, full of secrets and tension, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship unfold. Selene was my favorite character because she always kept me guessing, and even when I questioned her choices I couldn’t stop rooting for her.
The writing is smooth and has that sharp edge of mystery I like. Some parts slowed down a little with the side characters, but the drama with Miss Addy and the family tension more than made up for it. I especially liked how the story kept twisting, showing how love and lies can get tangled.
Overall, it is a really engaging read with a mix of romance, family drama, and deception. I finished it wanting more and I think it is perfect if you like a story that keeps you on your toes.
The writing is smooth and has that sharp edge of mystery I like. Some parts slowed down a little with the side characters, but the drama with Miss Addy and the family tension more than made up for it. I especially liked how the story kept twisting, showing how love and lies can get tangled.
Overall, it is a really engaging read with a mix of romance, family drama, and deception. I finished it wanting more and I think it is perfect if you like a story that keeps you on your toes.
October 4, 2025
An amazing book, with a perfect blend of romance, suspense, and drama. Selene, a Londoner, art lover, and nanny, is lucky to have DB as her sweetheart in the Midwest USA. I absolutely love this novel because it serves as a poignant reminder of how past events can profoundly affect our personalities and, in turn, our loved ones. The characters are amazing and relatable, the scenes are picturesque and intricate, and the plot twists are incredible. I recommend this book to adult fiction readers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews