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Runaway Lies
Their relationship is built on a bed of lies – but can he trust his heart in order to save her life?
Darcy Montgomery is on the run. She must hide until she can testify in a shocking court case involving her former employer, but so far the witness protection program has only brought more danger. Any hopes of keeping a low profile are dashed when she saves the two children of wealthy property developer, Dominic St. James, from a sinking car driven by his ex-wife.
Dominic St. James learns the car crash was no accident and his ex-wife is still missing, presumed dead. He is determined to keep his children, as well as their mysterious rescuer, safe until the threat is neutralised. Fighting his enemies and a growing attraction, he discovers that Darcy is much more than she seems.
The danger to Darcy, Dominic and his family grows as their security is eroded and they face not one but two adversaries who have deadly intent. Who ultimately can trust who?
Darcy Montgomery is on the run. She must hide until she can testify in a shocking court case involving her former employer, but so far the witness protection program has only brought more danger. Any hopes of keeping a low profile are dashed when she saves the two children of wealthy property developer, Dominic St. James, from a sinking car driven by his ex-wife.
Dominic St. James learns the car crash was no accident and his ex-wife is still missing, presumed dead. He is determined to keep his children, as well as their mysterious rescuer, safe until the threat is neutralised. Fighting his enemies and a growing attraction, he discovers that Darcy is much more than she seems.
The danger to Darcy, Dominic and his family grows as their security is eroded and they face not one but two adversaries who have deadly intent. Who ultimately can trust who?
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2015
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257 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
February 1, 2016
Being on the run, Darcy Montgomery knew she needed to keep out of sight as much as possible, she thought driving on the back roads instead of the freeway she had less opportunity of passing any police. When another car comes tearing around the bend which causes Darcy to swerve suddenly she is a little shaken. Collecting her thoughts Darcy quickly realizes that the car has ploughed over the edge into the deep and the darkened water below, but her shock soon turns to terror when she sees two children in the car.
Dominic St. James is beside himself with worry, once he reaches the hospital to visit his children. He is told that his ex wife who was driving had not been found yet. Dominic also finds out that the woman who is with his children is the woman who saved their lives. Dominic is so grateful to Darcy for saving his kids and wants to do something to show just how grateful he is. Darcy soon learns that Dominic is a very wealthy property developer in Sydney. But in knowing that Darcy still she wants nothing from this man in fact all she desires is to be able to leave the hospital without anyone recognizing her. As time passes Darcy knows that trying to get away quickly, maybe a little harder than she first imagined.
Darcy then starts thinking that perhaps she would be safer to accept help from Dominic as he could give her the protection she needed or could he? Things suddenly change once Dominic discovers that the car accident, his children were involved in wasn't an accident at all. Feeling uneasy Darcy wasn't sure if she was safe anymore. Was Darcy in danger and if so could Dominic protect her or was he in danger as well?
Oh my goodness what a fabulous read this was. The suspense, twists and turns had me turning the pages rather quickly. If you love reading psychological thrillers then this book is a must read for you. Highly recommended.
Dominic St. James is beside himself with worry, once he reaches the hospital to visit his children. He is told that his ex wife who was driving had not been found yet. Dominic also finds out that the woman who is with his children is the woman who saved their lives. Dominic is so grateful to Darcy for saving his kids and wants to do something to show just how grateful he is. Darcy soon learns that Dominic is a very wealthy property developer in Sydney. But in knowing that Darcy still she wants nothing from this man in fact all she desires is to be able to leave the hospital without anyone recognizing her. As time passes Darcy knows that trying to get away quickly, maybe a little harder than she first imagined.
Darcy then starts thinking that perhaps she would be safer to accept help from Dominic as he could give her the protection she needed or could he? Things suddenly change once Dominic discovers that the car accident, his children were involved in wasn't an accident at all. Feeling uneasy Darcy wasn't sure if she was safe anymore. Was Darcy in danger and if so could Dominic protect her or was he in danger as well?
Oh my goodness what a fabulous read this was. The suspense, twists and turns had me turning the pages rather quickly. If you love reading psychological thrillers then this book is a must read for you. Highly recommended.
November 17, 2015
This book captured my interest right from the first line. Darcy Montgomery is a woman on the run. Running for her life. That is until she is involved in an accident that changes her plans in more ways than she expected. The last thing she needed was more complications but that is exactly what she ends up with, when she rescues the four year old twins of Dominic St James. The body of the children’s mother and driver of the car is not recovered.
I liked both Darcy and Dominic and also some of the other characters: the twins Jonah and Julia and Dominic’s housekeeper Gertrude and her husband Roland. I liked the Australian setting and could picture that road to Wiseman’s Ferry. The action and suspense starts from the first page and keeps it up right to the end. Just when you think it has eased off, something else happens to ramp it up again. I kept wanting to keep reading and resented being taken away from it by the mundane things of everyday life.
One of the villains in the piece had me cracking up. He is just so unbelievably stupid. But he did add a touch of humour to the tension of the story and that was a good thing.
The two things that I didn’t like were, ‘the purple blast of frangipani.’ I thought I knew a bit about plants and have never in my life seen a purple frangipani. White, cream or pink I would have accepted. I could be wrong but think frangipani was the wrong flower. Jacaranda perhaps? However, that was just a minor point. For those who like steamy sex scenes there are a couple. I would rather just leave it to our imaginations. We all know what happens, without being given a blow by blow description. But that is perhaps personal taste.
Those two points aside I enjoyed this book. It had me involved with the characters. It’s good to see another book by an Aussie author hit the bookshelves, especially on that is highly readable.
I liked both Darcy and Dominic and also some of the other characters: the twins Jonah and Julia and Dominic’s housekeeper Gertrude and her husband Roland. I liked the Australian setting and could picture that road to Wiseman’s Ferry. The action and suspense starts from the first page and keeps it up right to the end. Just when you think it has eased off, something else happens to ramp it up again. I kept wanting to keep reading and resented being taken away from it by the mundane things of everyday life.
One of the villains in the piece had me cracking up. He is just so unbelievably stupid. But he did add a touch of humour to the tension of the story and that was a good thing.
The two things that I didn’t like were, ‘the purple blast of frangipani.’ I thought I knew a bit about plants and have never in my life seen a purple frangipani. White, cream or pink I would have accepted. I could be wrong but think frangipani was the wrong flower. Jacaranda perhaps? However, that was just a minor point. For those who like steamy sex scenes there are a couple. I would rather just leave it to our imaginations. We all know what happens, without being given a blow by blow description. But that is perhaps personal taste.
Those two points aside I enjoyed this book. It had me involved with the characters. It’s good to see another book by an Aussie author hit the bookshelves, especially on that is highly readable.
June 25, 2015
With Darcy Montgomery on the run, her home was the old Kombi she drove. Terrified, knowing to be recognised by the wrong people meant her death, she kept a low profile – driving the back roads, keeping away from the freeways. It was midway between Christmas and New Year and there would be police everywhere so it was imperative she stayed under the radar. Her name and identity change went part way to assuring her safety, but she knew it wasn’t enough. Unexpectedly, a speeding car which suddenly appeared around a bend caused her to veer in the gravel and almost lose control; but the shock that hit her when she realized the other car had disappeared over the embankment had her rushing to help. When she saw the car slowly sinking in a deep and murky creek with two small children inside, she was horrified…
When Dominic St. James, a wealthy property developer in Sydney frantically rushed to the hospital to see his children, he was informed his ex-wife was yet to be found. And the woman with the children was the person who had saved them. His gratitude was immense; but Darcy didn’t want his help – or the publicity – she wanted nothing more than to leave the hospital and vanish once again. But that was not to be – so grudgingly she thought that perhaps within the safe confines of Dominic’s high security and protection, she would be safe.
But when Dominic learned the car crash hadn’t been an accident, the danger around them all intensified. The tension and stress hung over the household – the pressure mounted; the secrets and lies deepened. There was a maniac out there – one that was intent on doing lasting damage. Would they all be safe? Could Dominic trust Darcy; the woman he was beginning to care for? Could Darcy trust Dominic?
Runaway Lies is a brilliant psychological thriller by Aussie author Shannon Curtis. It is classed as romantic suspense, but it is much heavier on the suspense in my opinion. A fast paced story with an excellent plot, I found it difficult to put down. And the ending! Wow! I didn’t expect that! Such a great tale with many unexpected twists, this author knows how to entertain. Highly recommended.
When Dominic St. James, a wealthy property developer in Sydney frantically rushed to the hospital to see his children, he was informed his ex-wife was yet to be found. And the woman with the children was the person who had saved them. His gratitude was immense; but Darcy didn’t want his help – or the publicity – she wanted nothing more than to leave the hospital and vanish once again. But that was not to be – so grudgingly she thought that perhaps within the safe confines of Dominic’s high security and protection, she would be safe.
But when Dominic learned the car crash hadn’t been an accident, the danger around them all intensified. The tension and stress hung over the household – the pressure mounted; the secrets and lies deepened. There was a maniac out there – one that was intent on doing lasting damage. Would they all be safe? Could Dominic trust Darcy; the woman he was beginning to care for? Could Darcy trust Dominic?
Runaway Lies is a brilliant psychological thriller by Aussie author Shannon Curtis. It is classed as romantic suspense, but it is much heavier on the suspense in my opinion. A fast paced story with an excellent plot, I found it difficult to put down. And the ending! Wow! I didn’t expect that! Such a great tale with many unexpected twists, this author knows how to entertain. Highly recommended.
March 14, 2015
Runaway Lies by Shannon Curtis
What a terrific novel this is, and what a surprise!
I have to confess to being guilty of letting the cover sway me into thinking this was going to be a lot different to what it was.
Although I have nothing against this particular cover, I don't believe it does justice to the book at all, as it put me in mind of a rural romance type of setting, which is far from the reality of this book. So I was very quickly and pleasantly surprised to find it going in an altogether different direction.
That is not a criticism of rural romance, just that it is a separate genre to was I see this book as being....though romance does feature in this story.
I would have liked to see a cover that better reflected the type of suspense filled, action packed, drama contained within its pages (perhaps for future books?).
That said, once having started, I found it difficult to put this book down...mostly because it was just such a good attention grabbing, thrilling, and well paced story.
Runaway Lies covers some serious crime and drama, though the overriding theme is one of suspense, and the author cleverly manages to keep you in a prolonged state of suspense throughout.
Lovers of romance won't be disappointed either as there are one or two pretty steamy scenes involved also.
I was very impressed with this book from start to finish and am sure this author has a lot more to offer in future books.
I am eager to read more now from Shannon Curtis and would rate this up there with some of the best of our Australian crime writers.
5★s
February 4, 2015
Runaway Lies is an engaging novel of romantic suspense from Shannon Curtis. The plot is fast moving, offering some exciting and dramatic moments, and the romantic tension sizzles.
Darcy Montgomery has managed to elude her former boss for four months but when she rescues the children of wealthy business tycoon Dominic St. James from his ex wife's sinking car, her anonymity is at risk of being compromised. Despite her injuries, Darcy is determined to slip away before anybody discovers the dangerous truth about her.
Dominic is grateful to Darcy for saving the lives of his four-year-old twins, and feels responsible for her injury when it's determined that the accident was engineered. He's puzzled though by her reluctance to accept his offer of help, even when she has lost everything.
Despite Darcy's hesitation, Dom convinces her to spend at least a few weeks recuperating with him and his family and, after months on the run, she finally begins to let down her guard. But just as Darcy decides to trust Dom with her secret, her carefully constructed facade collapses and Darcy has no other choice but to run to protect her life...and her heart.
I wasn't sure what to think of Darcy at first. Curtis presents her as a guilty woman on the run and I made the assumption that she had somehow bought her troubles on herself. I was relieved to discover as the story unfolded that Darcy had simply found herself in an awful position and was doing her best to do what was right, even though it meant she had to lie.
I have to admit my least favourite character trope in romance is the 'billionaire boyfriend', it is usually relied upon as a plot convenience allowing the author to circumvent issues that would trouble someone without a Platinum credit card, but Dom's wealth doesn't interfere in the story. I liked him a lot, he proved to be a great guy and a caring father.
I really liked the way Curtis involved the children in the story. It's notoriously difficult to do so in a way that is realistic but the author manages to integrate them neatly into the plot and keep their behaviour and actions age appropriate.
An entertaining tale of intrigue, action and romance, set in NSW, I really enjoyed Runaway Lies and would recommend it to fans of Helene Young and Bronwyn Parry.
August 22, 2015
This was a great psychological thriller. Very hard to put down in that I read it in one sitting, story just keeps moving along at a very fast pace. Excellent characters and plot, highly enjoyable.
August 5, 2015
Darcy Montgomery is a woman on the run - from her ex-boss who’s really got it in for her. When she finds herself in a near-miss accident with the other vehicle landing up in a river and she fights with pure determination to save the two young passengers, she has no idea of the danger ahead when her identity and whereabouts are exposed in the media.
Suffering with injuries from her heroic rescue effort and, after a well-placed bomb gets her questioning her logic, she acquiesces (somewhat reluctantly) to Dominic St. James (the children’s father) “taking her under his wing” and into his home, where she is offered the chance to recuperate.
She soon starts to feel safer and more secure than she has for a while but, for how long, she has no idea. As she grows closer to Dominic and his little extended family, the fact that she hasn’t been totally honest with him begins to weigh on her conscience when the enemy gets too close for comfort and the safety of his children is compromised. It’s hard to know who to trust when both the hero and heroine have enemies, but even harder to let go of a passion built on a bed of lies.
It’s no secret that I’m a lover of romantic suspense and it usually doesn’t take me too long to connect with the protagonist, but in this case, Darcy was a bit of an enigma to me because Shannon Curtis doesn’t let on too early exactly what it is she is running from and why, so this made it a bit difficult for me to experience that connection with her. While it took me a couple of chapters to get into the novel, her writing managed to hold my attention enough for me to gather pace with Darcy’s journey, whereafter I was plummeted headlong into a race against time with her. Once I was over that first hurdle, I became very sympathetic to the position Darcy had found herself in and immediately began slipping into the world of this strong, resourceful woman who had been let down by a system that was meant to protect her.
I warmed to Dominic almost immediately because of the absolute gratitude he felt towards Darcy for saving his children. Whilst he is a very rich man, he came across as sincere and honourable and thankfully, not at all like the playboy that Darcy had read about in the tabloids. He is a warm and understanding character who’s never quite gotten over the fact that he lost his whole family when he was younger and this made me empathise with him as well as admire his efforts as a father to his twins, who grabbed me by the heartstrings with the vulnerabilities they displayed throughout the story.
The romance is believable and balanced very well by the suspense element, with a slow build of sensual passion that finally bursts into flame but at no time did I lose sight of the fact that all of these characters were in grave danger.
If you fancy edge of your seat suspenseful reading flavoured with some great spice and a truly shocking twist (one that I didn’t see coming) with characters that have substance, I don’t hesitate to recommend this novel to you.
Suffering with injuries from her heroic rescue effort and, after a well-placed bomb gets her questioning her logic, she acquiesces (somewhat reluctantly) to Dominic St. James (the children’s father) “taking her under his wing” and into his home, where she is offered the chance to recuperate.
She soon starts to feel safer and more secure than she has for a while but, for how long, she has no idea. As she grows closer to Dominic and his little extended family, the fact that she hasn’t been totally honest with him begins to weigh on her conscience when the enemy gets too close for comfort and the safety of his children is compromised. It’s hard to know who to trust when both the hero and heroine have enemies, but even harder to let go of a passion built on a bed of lies.
It’s no secret that I’m a lover of romantic suspense and it usually doesn’t take me too long to connect with the protagonist, but in this case, Darcy was a bit of an enigma to me because Shannon Curtis doesn’t let on too early exactly what it is she is running from and why, so this made it a bit difficult for me to experience that connection with her. While it took me a couple of chapters to get into the novel, her writing managed to hold my attention enough for me to gather pace with Darcy’s journey, whereafter I was plummeted headlong into a race against time with her. Once I was over that first hurdle, I became very sympathetic to the position Darcy had found herself in and immediately began slipping into the world of this strong, resourceful woman who had been let down by a system that was meant to protect her.
I warmed to Dominic almost immediately because of the absolute gratitude he felt towards Darcy for saving his children. Whilst he is a very rich man, he came across as sincere and honourable and thankfully, not at all like the playboy that Darcy had read about in the tabloids. He is a warm and understanding character who’s never quite gotten over the fact that he lost his whole family when he was younger and this made me empathise with him as well as admire his efforts as a father to his twins, who grabbed me by the heartstrings with the vulnerabilities they displayed throughout the story.
The romance is believable and balanced very well by the suspense element, with a slow build of sensual passion that finally bursts into flame but at no time did I lose sight of the fact that all of these characters were in grave danger.
If you fancy edge of your seat suspenseful reading flavoured with some great spice and a truly shocking twist (one that I didn’t see coming) with characters that have substance, I don’t hesitate to recommend this novel to you.
February 6, 2015
WOW what an awesome story this one is it will grab you from the first page and keep you enthralled till the very end :) There is everything that a reader would want in this fast paced romantic suspense lots of romance suspense times where you will be grabbing for the tissues smiling with the thoughts from the fantastic and caring heroine Darcy and jumping to the edge of your seat. When Darcy Montgomery is on the run trying to stay alive she becomes a bit of a heroine which puts her in the limelight the worst thing that could happen but Dominic St James wealthy business man steps in he owes Darcy so much but there is a current of electricity between them from the start as well as a web of lies and there are threats coming from a few angles I loved the other characters in this story as well and I do hope that we see some of their stories in future books really this is a story that you should not miss it is going to stay with me for a long time don't miss this one.
February 3, 2015
This book kept me wanting to read more and more, but I had to sleep at some stage!! The intertwining plots made this a fast paced and exciting read. Loved the characters. Will be looking out for more from this Author.
March 10, 2024
Shannon Curtis's Runaway Lies is about lies, threats, and jealousy. Darcy Montgomery knew something terrible about her employer, so she needed to keep a low profile until she could testify in court. She encountered a car entering the water with children on board. However, the children belong to Dominic St. James, so Darcy Montgomery's quiet life became more dangerous. When someone tried to kill Darcy Montgomery, Dominic St James offered her safety at his Bowral retreat. However, the threat does not end there, and the readers of Runaway Lies will continue to follow Darcy Montgomery to discover what happens.
Runaway Lies is the first book I have read by Shannon Curtis. I enjoyed it because I was engaged with the story and characters from the first page. I love Shannon Curtis's portrayal of her characters and the way they interact with each other throughout this book. Runaway Lies is well-written and researched. I also like Shannon Curtis's description of the settings, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of Runaway Lies will learn about the effects of mental illness on the sufferer and everyone around them. They will also learn about the role of physiotherapists.
I recommend this book.
Runaway Lies is the first book I have read by Shannon Curtis. I enjoyed it because I was engaged with the story and characters from the first page. I love Shannon Curtis's portrayal of her characters and the way they interact with each other throughout this book. Runaway Lies is well-written and researched. I also like Shannon Curtis's description of the settings, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of Runaway Lies will learn about the effects of mental illness on the sufferer and everyone around them. They will also learn about the role of physiotherapists.
I recommend this book.
March 2, 2015
Who can resist a cover with a girl in a red coat? Not I. I’d heard some book noise that Runaway Lies was a fantastic book with some gripping suspense scenes, so naturally I had to pick it up. I don’t think that description did it justice, because this book is bloody good (not bloody as in gore, bloody as in the Aussie adjective). It would perfectly suit two types of readers – those who are fans of romantic suspense and those who enjoy suspense with a little bit of romance. The suspense is brilliantly written – just when you think Darcy (the heroine) is safe, something else jumps out of the shadows. It’s taut writing that will get your pulse racing. Oh, and if you don’t mind a bit of romance (which I don’t), the hero, Dom, is a hot multi-billionaire with baggage.
The story opens with Darcy, who is on the run as she’s a wanted woman. Not for what you might think though – Darcy’s a whistle-blower against her boss, who lost a lot of people’s life savings. Now he wants her gone. There’s not long until the trial, so Darcy has changed her appearance and gone into the Australian bush. But while driving, she notices a vehicle behaving erratically, which then crashes into the river. Darcy can’t help but to try to save the occupants and that’s where she comes into contact with Dominic St John, multimillionaire property developer. His children were in the car and his ex-wife has disappearance. Dom is incredibly grateful to Darcy for saving his children and wants her to stay until she recovers from her injuries. Darcy really doesn’t want to put the family in danger and declines, only to be forced to accept under explosive circumstances. Here begins a game of cat and mouse, where Darcy is the hunted and multiple threats turn up on her doorstep. Dom is under fire too – someone has a grudge against him and things turn nasty. In the midst of this uncertainty, Dom and Darcy turn to each other. But can they outrun their enemies?
While the characters of Dom and Darcy are incredibly well done (both their pasts are revealed slowly and deliberately – it’s like an intricate jigsaw puzzle where you only see the picture as the final piece is slotted in), the secondary characters are just as amazing. Dom’s security man, Alex and his police siblings were fascinating in the way they combined their skills to solve the mysteries. I would be a happy reader if any of them got their own story. Dom’s twins are just delightful – they’re cute and clever. It’s easy to see why Darcy falls for them and is determined to protect them at all costs. Even the minor characters, such as Darcy’s physiotherapist, are memorable. It really packed a punch when something happened to them (there’s a bit of a body count in this book).
The plot of Runaway Lies breaks all the speed limits and flies through some rough terrain – it’s incredibly well done and once I’d established Darcy’s motivation for being on the run, I was happy to be taken for the ride. It’s a wonderful story, not just for romance fans, but for anyone who likes a suspense thriller.
Thank you to Harlequin Australia for the eARC. My review is 100% honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
The story opens with Darcy, who is on the run as she’s a wanted woman. Not for what you might think though – Darcy’s a whistle-blower against her boss, who lost a lot of people’s life savings. Now he wants her gone. There’s not long until the trial, so Darcy has changed her appearance and gone into the Australian bush. But while driving, she notices a vehicle behaving erratically, which then crashes into the river. Darcy can’t help but to try to save the occupants and that’s where she comes into contact with Dominic St John, multimillionaire property developer. His children were in the car and his ex-wife has disappearance. Dom is incredibly grateful to Darcy for saving his children and wants her to stay until she recovers from her injuries. Darcy really doesn’t want to put the family in danger and declines, only to be forced to accept under explosive circumstances. Here begins a game of cat and mouse, where Darcy is the hunted and multiple threats turn up on her doorstep. Dom is under fire too – someone has a grudge against him and things turn nasty. In the midst of this uncertainty, Dom and Darcy turn to each other. But can they outrun their enemies?
While the characters of Dom and Darcy are incredibly well done (both their pasts are revealed slowly and deliberately – it’s like an intricate jigsaw puzzle where you only see the picture as the final piece is slotted in), the secondary characters are just as amazing. Dom’s security man, Alex and his police siblings were fascinating in the way they combined their skills to solve the mysteries. I would be a happy reader if any of them got their own story. Dom’s twins are just delightful – they’re cute and clever. It’s easy to see why Darcy falls for them and is determined to protect them at all costs. Even the minor characters, such as Darcy’s physiotherapist, are memorable. It really packed a punch when something happened to them (there’s a bit of a body count in this book).
The plot of Runaway Lies breaks all the speed limits and flies through some rough terrain – it’s incredibly well done and once I’d established Darcy’s motivation for being on the run, I was happy to be taken for the ride. It’s a wonderful story, not just for romance fans, but for anyone who likes a suspense thriller.
Thank you to Harlequin Australia for the eARC. My review is 100% honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
September 25, 2015
Runaway Lies is a fast paced psychological thriller, combined with a steamy romance. The book features a strong female lead in Darcy Montgomery, a woman on the run from the witness protection program that has failed her. Darcy is doing all she can to avoid attracting any attention to herself, as she awaits giving testimony for a high profile trial involving her ex employer. One night while travelling in along a quiet road, trying to remain undetected, Darcy stumbles upon a car accident. Tragically, two young children, four year old twins are involved and Darcy becomes their saviour. Despite, safely pulling the twins out the wreckage, Darcy fails in finding the driver of the car, the twin’s mother. This sets the scene for the ongoing mystery thread of Runaway Lies, as the reader is drawn into completing the puzzle surrounding the mother’s disappearance. Interwoven with this compelling story thread, is the romance that develops between Darcy and Dominic St James, the father of the twins. Dominic offers to give Darcy shelter in his home, to prevent any undue attention from the car accident that would reveal her location prior to the important court case. In Dominic Darcy finds protection, his rich and powerful background means he can offer her the tightest security possible. She also finds him hard to resist on a romantic level. Each however are surrounded by danger, as Dominic too has had threats made to his life. It is a matter of trust between Darcy and Dominic as their lives become inexplicably linked by danger.
After reading my first Shannon Curtis book I have to say that I am impressed. I would class this book as a great Aussie crime book, filled by elements of both suspense and romance. What I enjoyed most about this book was the mystery involving the disappearance of the mother of the twins Darcy rescues, Ava. It certainly provided the bait to hook me right into the storyline and did not let go until the end. I had a few suspicions about how the novel might end but Curtis took me on a number of unexpected twists to get there, which I enjoyed. The pace in this book is spot on, it was a quick read, I almost read it in a single sitting. I had to force myself to close the book! The characters are well refined. Darcy is a fantastic leading lady, who is matched perfectly to Dominic. Their romance is filled with a good balance of tension and heat. The supporting characters bring another layer to the already interesting storyline. The setting is another bonus about this book, I loved the raw Australian rural landscape in which the vast majority of the book is set.
Runaway Lies offers a fusion of themes - from witness protection, crime, mental illness and romance, under a guise of simmering suspense. A great read by an Australian author I’m keen to hear more from in the future.
After reading my first Shannon Curtis book I have to say that I am impressed. I would class this book as a great Aussie crime book, filled by elements of both suspense and romance. What I enjoyed most about this book was the mystery involving the disappearance of the mother of the twins Darcy rescues, Ava. It certainly provided the bait to hook me right into the storyline and did not let go until the end. I had a few suspicions about how the novel might end but Curtis took me on a number of unexpected twists to get there, which I enjoyed. The pace in this book is spot on, it was a quick read, I almost read it in a single sitting. I had to force myself to close the book! The characters are well refined. Darcy is a fantastic leading lady, who is matched perfectly to Dominic. Their romance is filled with a good balance of tension and heat. The supporting characters bring another layer to the already interesting storyline. The setting is another bonus about this book, I loved the raw Australian rural landscape in which the vast majority of the book is set.
Runaway Lies offers a fusion of themes - from witness protection, crime, mental illness and romance, under a guise of simmering suspense. A great read by an Australian author I’m keen to hear more from in the future.
September 29, 2015
Note / Disclaimer: I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
I really liked the setting, I don't read many books set in Australia and this makes me want to make an effort to read more. Darcy was a relatable character, and her decisions sometimes seemed a bit silly, but when you're running for your life I guess rationality isn't as important. Dom was the kind of romantic lead I like, as in he was in charge without treating anyone badly, he was rich but he'd earned it, and he loved his kids more than anything else.
For both of the main characters I would have liked a bit more backstory, what their lives were like before all the drama, or even what they were like as kids.
Tony has to be one of the most entertaining 'bad guys' i've ever read. He thinks he's some kind of master criminal, but he keeps making the craziest mistakes. Oh, my modelling clay fake nose and chin won't stay stuck to my face - lets superglue them! Oh, I need to escape out a window down a brick wall - i've seen people do that all the time in movies, it doesn't look that hard! His character was a good contrast to Mark, who was just an a*hole, blaming Darcy for exposing his criminal activity.
Overall, this book was an enjoyable and fast read. I look forward to checking out other books by this author.
I really liked the setting, I don't read many books set in Australia and this makes me want to make an effort to read more. Darcy was a relatable character, and her decisions sometimes seemed a bit silly, but when you're running for your life I guess rationality isn't as important. Dom was the kind of romantic lead I like, as in he was in charge without treating anyone badly, he was rich but he'd earned it, and he loved his kids more than anything else.
For both of the main characters I would have liked a bit more backstory, what their lives were like before all the drama, or even what they were like as kids.
Tony has to be one of the most entertaining 'bad guys' i've ever read. He thinks he's some kind of master criminal, but he keeps making the craziest mistakes. Oh, my modelling clay fake nose and chin won't stay stuck to my face - lets superglue them! Oh, I need to escape out a window down a brick wall - i've seen people do that all the time in movies, it doesn't look that hard! His character was a good contrast to Mark, who was just an a*hole, blaming Darcy for exposing his criminal activity.
Overall, this book was an enjoyable and fast read. I look forward to checking out other books by this author.
March 11, 2015
Runaway Lies is a fast paced thriller that I found impossible to put down.
I think the story would make a wonderful film script for a Hollywood blockbuster - Not only do you have an action packed plot but also the ongoing mystery of a missing ex-wife is wrapped up beautifully at the end.
Although the plot and sub-plot are a little improbable and the characters are not quite real these weaknesses, I feel, are part of the book's strength. They take you out of the every day and add to your reading enjoyment when you are wanting escapism.
This book was a first reads win - Thank you to the publisher - it was great!
I think the story would make a wonderful film script for a Hollywood blockbuster - Not only do you have an action packed plot but also the ongoing mystery of a missing ex-wife is wrapped up beautifully at the end.
Although the plot and sub-plot are a little improbable and the characters are not quite real these weaknesses, I feel, are part of the book's strength. They take you out of the every day and add to your reading enjoyment when you are wanting escapism.
This book was a first reads win - Thank you to the publisher - it was great!
March 11, 2015
This is a fantastic book. It is regarded as a romance book, however it has a great element of mystery throughout it. Darcy is on the run and rescues 2 children from a car as it submerges. Where is the mother? Has she drowned? The children' father is extremely grateful and wants to protect Darcy. He doesn't realise that she is being chased by her former boss for what he sees as a crime. Her flight from him becomes combined with an attempt on the children's fathers life.
May 7, 2015
Really enjoyed this book so much. I am a Sydney girl living in SA so it was nice to read about familiar places. Great female character in Darcy, really enjoy Dom as well, and it was nice to have sweet kids with out being sickly sweet. The story was gripping and fast paced enough to keep you turning the page, but slowed down when it needed too. I hope we get to see a book or two in the Knight brothers. really recommend this book.
October 24, 2018
Couldn't decide on a book... so, of course, I decided to shut my eyes before flicking my finger over the screen, and then stabbing at a book.
Not what I was expecting, and a little bit of 'really, something else is happening again', but I really enjoyed it. Loved the main characters.
*reread many times and still want to read a series about Alex's family!
Not what I was expecting, and a little bit of 'really, something else is happening again', but I really enjoyed it. Loved the main characters.
*reread many times and still want to read a series about Alex's family!
January 26, 2015
Runaway Lies by Shannon Curtis was a fast paced, action packed read full of subterfuge, heartbreak, nail bitingly non stop action and scorching scenes with many twists in a thrilling story that did not slow down on the suspense.
*ARC received from the Publisher
5 stars
*ARC received from the Publisher
5 stars
June 8, 2015
I loved this book. I loved Darcy and the kids, and the pace kept me hooked from the first page to the last. I didn't want it to end and would love to read more about the secondary characters, the Knight family.
March 22, 2015
Very enjoyable storyline and characters. A bonus that it was set in Australia.
July 20, 2015
Great read by aussie author Shannon Curtis!!!:)
July 2, 2015
So many twists and turns WOW enjoyed this book. Unable to put down till finished
July 30, 2015
I was surprised how much i liked this book. Had a bit of everything, a mild romance, with some suspense and a cute set of twins with a hot, rich daddy... All in all a good quick read.
December 9, 2018
Darcy Montgomery is on the run. Witness protection let her down and now she’s trying to stay alive long enough to make it to court. Then she rescues Dominic’s children and gets involved in more crime. There sure are a lot of shady characters out there!
This is actually a pretty good crime thriller with a bit of erotic romance thrown in. I’m not a fan of impossibly good looking heroes with no imperfections, or impossibly beautiful heroines who don’t know they’re beautiful, but this one isn’t too bad, and the sex scenes are we’ll written.
I suspect the language was aimed at American readers and the author has an annoying habit of referring to the characters as “the woman and “the man” (he was in love with the woman) but overall this was a fast-paced, lighthearted and engaging book with a bit of a gritty edge to it. It’s by no means sappy - not everyone comes out of it alive! And just like a Mission Impossible movie, just when you think it’s all over, something else happens.
The cover art also doesn’t do the novel justice. For starters, it’s set in New South Wales in the height of Summer and the cover shows a woman in boots and an overcoat photoshopped over the top of some random country scene. They really could have done better.
Otherwise a great book. I enjoyed it.
This is actually a pretty good crime thriller with a bit of erotic romance thrown in. I’m not a fan of impossibly good looking heroes with no imperfections, or impossibly beautiful heroines who don’t know they’re beautiful, but this one isn’t too bad, and the sex scenes are we’ll written.
I suspect the language was aimed at American readers and the author has an annoying habit of referring to the characters as “the woman and “the man” (he was in love with the woman) but overall this was a fast-paced, lighthearted and engaging book with a bit of a gritty edge to it. It’s by no means sappy - not everyone comes out of it alive! And just like a Mission Impossible movie, just when you think it’s all over, something else happens.
The cover art also doesn’t do the novel justice. For starters, it’s set in New South Wales in the height of Summer and the cover shows a woman in boots and an overcoat photoshopped over the top of some random country scene. They really could have done better.
Otherwise a great book. I enjoyed it.
June 29, 2022
So enjoyed this book, wish there was a 2nd book to the same story
February 15, 2017
4.5 stars
It was a thriller ride.Did not see that twist coming in the end.
It was a thriller ride.Did not see that twist coming in the end.
March 29, 2015
I really did not enjoy this book at all. I thought it was a crime novel, and it was. Except for the flowery descriptions of the decor. Oh and the raunchy sex scenes. Both of which I felt were unnecessary and did not add anything to the story. And the crime part of it? Well, Dom had an idiot disgruntled ex employee after revenge, and someone was trying to kill his children. And Darcy had not one, but two people trying to kill her. Kinda implausible. And then there's the happy-ever-after ending...... I just found the whole thing far to cliche.
July 11, 2015
Something a bit different with murder, witness protection, mental illness and the big bad world of financial espionage. Hard to put down and good plot. Interesting characters especially the family relationship of Alex Knight - do people still put their lives on the line for these mogul property developers?
The web of deceit catches up with you in the end.
The web of deceit catches up with you in the end.
December 20, 2016
I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
When I recieved this book I immediately opened it to a random page to see if it could catch my interest... A few lines in and I was hooked! Back to the beginning I read and I could not stop!
There was crime, drama, captivating family moments and of course a steamy romance! From me to you, this is definately a must read!!
When I recieved this book I immediately opened it to a random page to see if it could catch my interest... A few lines in and I was hooked! Back to the beginning I read and I could not stop!
There was crime, drama, captivating family moments and of course a steamy romance! From me to you, this is definately a must read!!
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