The Lies We Play: A Why Choose Hockey Romance

by Claudia Y. Burgoa

I had two men, one secret marriage, and a love the law refused to name.

Then came the accident.

When I woke up, Halston Saint Claire was hidden behind his family’s money, lawyers, and lies. Creed Lafontaine was gone. Everyone around me insisted the rings, the vows, the three of us—it was all trauma talking.

So I did what broken girls with color-coded calendars and trust issues do best.

I survived.

Now I live in Florence, restoring damaged art and pretending the past doesn’t still have its hands on me. Until one forged document drags me back into the Saint Claire world, where old money buries truth, families weaponize concern, and the two men I never stopped loving are closer than I’m ready for.

Creed remembers everything.

Halston remembers in fragments.

And I remember enough to know our love wasn’t the lie.

It was the thing everyone tried to erase.

Now the three of us have one chance to uncover what really happened that night, reclaim the marriage stolen from us, and decide whether a love built for three can survive ten years of betrayal.

Because in the Saint Claire world, love was never the most dangerous thing.

It was the lies we played to survive it.

Tropes:
🏒Why Choose / MMF
🏒Secret Marriage
🏒Second Chance Romance
🏒Forced Separation
🏒Amnesia
🏒Hockey Romance
🏒Old Money Family Drama
🏒Romantic Suspense
🏒Hidden Conspiracy
🏒He remembers her body before his mind catches up
🏒The marriage was legal, but the love was always three
🏒Touch her and find out
🏒Found family over blood family
🏒The body remembers what the world erased

Genres: Audiobook, M M F, Hockey, Why Choose, Second Chance, Romantic Suspense, Sports

638 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 19, 2026

About the author

Claudia is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author.
She writes alluring, thrilling stories about complicated women and the men who take their breath away.
She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband and her youngest two children. She has a sweet Bichon, Macey, who thinks she's the ruler of the house. She's only partially right.
When Claudia is not writing, you can find her reading, knitting, or just hanging out with her family.
At night, she likes to binge watch shows with her equally geeky husband.

Instagram: http://bit.ly/ClaudiasIG
TikTok: https://bit.ly/CBstiktok
Bloggers/Influencers: https://geni.us/CBBloggers
Newsletter: https://geni.us/CBNewsletter

Reviews

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5🌟 | 3🌶️

ARC Review 📖

This was such an emotional and addictive second-chance romance.

Livia, Creed, and Halston had a connection that felt so genuine, and I loved watching their history, chemistry, and years of longing slowly unfold. The flashbacks added so much to their relationship and made their present-day journey even more meaningful.

I adored all three of them for different reasons. Livia’s wit and determination, Creed’s unwavering devotion, and Halston’s vulnerability made them such an easy trio to root for. The family secrets and suspense kept me curious, while the emotional side of their relationship was what really pulled me in.

Once everything started falling into place, I was completely invested. There are a lot of layers to their story, but they ultimately made the journey so rewarding. I loved the mix of romance, suspense, yearning, and found family, and seeing these three finally fight for the life they wanted was incredibly satisfying.

The romance, secrets, and emotional payoff made this such a memorable read for me.

~~~~

ALC Review (Audiobook) 🎧

This was such an immersive listen, and Grace Grant, Stephen Borne, and Robert Hatchet brought so much personality and emotion to Livia, Halston, and Creed. Having a distinct voice for each character made the shifting timelines and complicated relationship dynamics much easier to sink into, and I especially loved how their performances captured the contrast between who these characters were in the past and what they became after everything they endured. Robert Hatchet’s portrayal of Creed’s devotion really stood out to me, while Stephen Borne brought so much vulnerability to Halston, and Grace Grant perfectly captured Livia’s warmth and determination. The audiobook added an extra emotional layer to an already intense story, and I’m so glad I listened to this one.

~~~~

I was so excited to experience this one in both formats. Having the ARC and ALC meant I could fully sink into the story, and honestly, it made the experience that much better.

~~~~

A huge thank you to Claudia Burgoa and The Smuthood for the ARC & ALC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨

[Lauren (lololovesthings)]

DNF @ 47%. I am having the most difficult time getting into "The Lies We Play" by Claudia Burgoa. I have read her books before and have enjoyed them, but I think the dual timeline coupled with multiple points of view is making something feel off here for me. I am clearly in the minority, so this might just be a me thing. I have loved many, many Why Choose romances in the past, but this one is just not keeping my attention. Something is off with the writing style, and it's continually making me lose focus. I also do not feel like the three main characters, Halston (MMC), Creed (MMC), and Olivia (FMC), feel like a couple at all. I really liked Halston and Creed, but Olivia often felt like a third wheel. The suspense part of the story was compelling, but it's taking way, way too long to get any answers. This is a book that *feels* long while you're reading it, and that's never a good thing. I also thought the audiobook narration by Grace Grant, Robert Hatchet, and Stephen Borne felt a little stale, especially when Grant's chapters happened. Coupled with my lack of overall interest in this trio of romantic partners, I am just going to call it quits here.

Thank you to Claudia Burgoa and The Smuthood for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

[Isabella Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

"𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴."

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5

Okay…you guys already KNOW if you put a hockey player on the cover, there is approximately a 97% chance I’m going to read the damn book. 😂🏒🖤

I am a hockey romance girl through and through. It’s basically a personality trait at this point.

And The Lies We Play by Claudia Y. Burgoa???

Hockey romance. Why choose/MMF. Secret marriage. Second chance. Forced separation. Amnesia. Old-money family drama. Hidden conspiracy.

Claudia really looked at the trope list and said…

Yes.

😂👏🏻

I gave this one 4 ⭐️, and Claudia is already one of my favorite authors, so I went into this expecting her to give me romance and emotional damage.

She delivered. 😩

But THIS relationship???

We need to discuss.

Because our girl didn’t have one man.

She had TWO.

And not in a “which one will she choose?” way.

No ma’am.

THE ANSWER IS BOTH. 👀🧎🏻‍♀️

She had Halston Saint Claire and Creed Lafontaine. She had rings. She had vows. She had a marriage.

The THREE of them.

Then there’s an accident.

She wakes up and suddenly Halston is hidden away behind his family’s money, lawyers and lies. Creed is gone. Everyone around her is telling her that this relationship she remembers—the vows, the rings, the three of them—never actually existed.

That it’s trauma.

That she’s confused.

That she’s remembering something that wasn’t real.

Excuse me???

The level of gaslighting happening here had ME questioning reality and I wasn’t even in the f*cking accident. 😩😂

So she does what any woman with trust issues and a color-coded calendar would do…

She gets the hell out.

She builds a life.

She moves to Florence and restores damaged art—which honestly felt so beautifully fitting for a woman trying to piece herself back together after everyone convinced her that the most important part of her life never existed. 🥹

And then TEN YEARS LATER…

One forged document pulls her right back into the Saint Claire world.

And guess who’s waiting there?

CREED. AND. HALSTON.

👀👀👀

Creed remembers everything.

Halston remembers fragments.

And she remembers enough to know one thing:

Their love was NEVER the lie.

😭😭😭

You guys…the forced separation and second-chance aspect of this HURT.

Because TEN YEARS?!

Claudia.

Respectfully.

What the f*ck?! 😩

There is something particularly painful about characters who didn’t separate because they stopped loving each other. They didn’t fall out of love. They didn’t choose different lives.

Their life together was stolen from them.

And now they have to figure out whether something that was broken apart for a DECADE can actually be put back together.

Meanwhile, there’s an entire old-money family with enough secrets, manipulation and questionable behavior to keep everyone in therapy indefinitely. 😂

And then we have the amnesia element…

“He remembers her body before his mind catches up.”

HELLO?!?!

🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️

The idea that your brain can forget someone but your BODY still recognizes them???

I’m sorry.

That sh*t gets me EVERY TIME. 😩

And the relationship between the three of them was what really made this work for me. This isn’t two men tolerating each other because they both want the same woman.

The love was ALWAYS three.

That’s such an important distinction with MMF/why choose for me because I want to believe in the entire relationship—not just the individual relationships surrounding the FMC.

And here, I did. 🖤

There’s romance, but there’s also suspense and this whole underlying mystery of what the hell actually happened that night and WHY did someone work so hard to erase their marriage?

So while I was rooting for these three idiots to find their way back to each other, I was also sitting there like…

Okay but WHO ARE WE FIGHTING?! 😂🔪

And with the Off Campus craze happening right now, LISTEN TO ME…

If you’re watching the show, devouring the books and suddenly realizing that hockey romance has taken over your entire personality…

WELCOME. 😂🏒

Now come sit with those of us who have been happily losing our minds over fictional hockey men.

Because if you want that hockey-romance fix but you’re ready for something with more adult drama, second-chance heartbreak, suspense, MMF dynamics and a whole lot of “touch her and find out” energy…

You need to put this one on your radar. 👀

This wasn’t quite a 5 star for me. There were places where I wanted a little more time with certain emotional moments because TEN YEARS of separation, betrayal and missing memories gives you SO much to unpack. I wanted to marinate in some of that pain a little longer.

Apparently I enjoy suffering.

We’ve established this. 😂

But overall, this was another solid read from an author I already love.

4 ⭐️

Hockey romance.
Two men.
One woman.
A secret marriage.
Ten years of stolen time.
And enough family lies to make Thanksgiving dinner an absolute f*cking nightmare.

What more could I ask for? 😂🏒🖤

And Claudia…

Two hockey men at once?

Ma’am.

You really do understand your audience. 🧎🏻‍♀️😂

[Mamawattto4 Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Claudia Burgoa for the Audio ARC

This is an early listen review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Lies We Play completely captivated me from beginning to end. This was such an emotional, beautifully layered story filled with love, heartbreak, family secrets, and second chances. I was hooked from the very first chapter and couldn’t wait to uncover the truth alongside these characters.

The audiobook was absolutely fantastic! The three narrators did an incredible job, and I loved that each of the main characters had their own narrator. It made the story feel so immersive and added even more depth and emotion to every scene.

I’ve read many books by Claudia Burgoa, and she never disappoints. Her stories always pull me in emotionally, and this one was no exception. If you love emotional romance, family drama, and a story full of secrets, healing, and unforgettable characters, I highly recommend picking this one up especially the audio!

[Meg.RecsBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

audio / 4.5* / smuthood

Wow. Incredible depth, so many layers to their story. Three POV’s perfectly adapted in narration by Grace Grant, Stephen Borne, and Robert Hatchet. Then and Now storylines can be difficult, but Claudia perfected it and the voice actors brought it to the next level.

Livia, Halston, and Creed were easy to distinguish and the timeline was fairly easy to follow because of the chapter headers. I would have loved to feel a bit more about the coming together at the beginning of their relationship, the coming together after time did truly make up for it.

I loved how their bodies still remembered one another. Absolutely touching.

Thank you to Claudia and the Smuthood for the opportunity to listen and review this book ahead of it’s release. Truly an honour, all opinions are my own.

[skia_reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine waking up in a hospital with no real memory… depending on your loved ones to fill in the blanks. But when you start asking questions, everyone is making you believe you made the whole thing up. That what you do remember never really happened…

This one had a lot of promise, and I was genuinely curious about the mystery surrounding these characters, especially when some of the puzzle pieces started to come together.

But what made it difficult for me were the multiple POVs and the frequent time jumps. I found myself struggling to stay fully engaged.

Don’t get me wrong, the flashbacks made sense, as they helped us understand how they met, how they fell in love with one another, and how they ended up where they are now.

I just wasn’t able to connect with their story. 😔

3⭐️

[Brandy Dunigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well… apparently I enjoy watching fictional people make terrible decisions for 300+ pages because THIS was a whole damn mess—and I was invested in every second of it.

Hockey, MMF romance, amnesia, secrets, rich-family drama, and enough angst to make me question my life choices.

Nobody communicates, everyone is lying, and I was basically yelling “JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER, YOU ABSOLUTE IDIOTS!”

Messy, dramatic, spicy, and completely addictive. Did I have questions? Absolutely. Did I care? Not even a little. I ate this chaos right up.

[ash.reads.romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I love you both. I loved you before I understood what we were. I loved you when we were temporary. I loved you when we were careful. I love you now when the world is asking us to be strategic instead of romantic. And I will love you later.”

This story is about Halston, Creed, and Olivia and the world that tried to keep them apart and nearly did… for 10 years.
When Olivia wakes up in the hospital months after an accident, she finds that the men she loves are no where to be found.
Trying to move on yet trying to remember, this story flips between past and present, slowly giving us the dynamics of this trio and what severed it.

The tropes:
🏒Why Choose / MMF
🏒Secret Marriage
🏒Second Chance Romance
🏒Forced Separation
🏒Amnesia
🏒Hockey Romance
🏒Old Money Family Drama
🏒Romantic Suspense
🏒Hidden Conspiracy
🏒He remembers her body before his mind catches up
🏒The marriage was legal, but the love was always three
🏒Touch her and find out
🏒Found family over blood family
🏒The body remembers what the world erased

Overall I enjoyed the suspense and family secrets that slowly unraveled throughout this story.

The audio was great. The narrators were great and I loved that each character had a different narrator lending personality and depth to each one.

Thank you to The Smuthood and author for the ALC

[Theresa L · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ 2.5🌶 5🎧

I knew this was going to be an emotional roller-coaster but this hit harder than I expected. I was absolutely devastated, awestruck with the beauty of their connection and swept away in their live and devotion. The way this story unfolds with the alternating timelines and POVs helps it hit a deeper emotional depth. Claudia gave this story so much depth and with emotional, complex characters. I love this story, the characters and their soul deep unbreakable bond.

This audiobook was in duet style narration by Grace Grant, Robert Hatchet and Stephen Borne. Stunning performance by all three of them. I was completely captivated by their performances. It felt like I was living the story with with the characters. They gave every emotion its own space to breath. Their pacing was perfect andnthe sounded flawlesstogether. The casting and editing it top notch.

Thank you to Claudia Burgoa for this ALC and ARC. These are my honest opinions and feelings.

[Laura Fabian · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC & ALC kindly provided for the author in exchange for an honest review

When I started this book, I thought I knew what to expect after reading the previous two installments in this part of Claudia Burgoa’s universe—but I was so wrong! The Lies We Play is one of the author's most surprising books for me, as well as one I enjoyed the most; that’s why I’m certain that Creed, Livia & Halston will always hold a special place in my heart.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the author's decision to present the story using a dual timeline, although I was a bit confused during the first two chapters—which I believe was intentional—the complexity of the main characters' experiences becomes much more palpable as the story unfolds, and I absolutely loved that.

I also loved reading about Creed—especially his feelings regarding Vesper and his relationship, while it was heartbreaking at times, it helped me understand just how devastated he was after Liv and Hal disappeared from his life. I enjoyed his flirtatious side and the way he falls for both characters the moment he sees them, and loved getting to know his fears regarding the relationship and his place within it, as it revealed his more vulnerable side; however, what I liked most was seeing how he never stopped pursuing happiness alongside the people he loves.

Livia was a charming character; I fell in love with her from that first encounter with Creed—with her bold, sincere, and sweet personality, and the way she takes the initiative to set the relationships with the men in her life in motion. I also loved the Liv of the present timeline; even though it broke my heart to read her without hope, I appreciated that she remained a brave woman, determined to find the truth, and that she always knew what her reality was, even when people tried to deceive her for so long.

Halston is the most lost of the main characters, and reading about him in the present was heartbreaking, yet, I loved the contrast between the Halston who finds a safe space to be himself with Creed & Livia, and the Hal who has no idea who he is—yet still senses something is wrong and experiences moments that echo his past self. I believe he is undoubtedly one of the best characters Claudia has ever written, thanks to the complexity of his circumstances, his vulnerability, and the way his storyline developed from start to finish.

🎧Audiobook Review🎧

🏒Narrators: Grace Grant, Stephen Borne & Robert Hatchet
🏒Narration: 5/5
💙Duet narration

This author's recent books have been incredibly emotional—something I absolutely love. Plus, Claudia Burgoa has chosen the best narrators to bring these stories to life perfectly, conveying every emotion of the characters they portray; they have truly been amazing!

Grace Grant, as Livia, made me want to protect the character even more; she made me feel Liv’s desperation and pain in Florence. I also loved how she captured the innocent, fun, and bold side of the past Livia, creating such a striking contrast with the woman in the present. I loved the way the narrator gave voice to the complexity of Livia’s feelings regarding Creed & Halstone, her parents, and the tragic situation they are living through.

I think Stephen Borne is the narrator who carries the most emotional weight in this book, and he did a magnificent job; thanks to Claudia Burgoa’s wonderful writing and this narrator’s performance, I could truly feel how lost and shattered Halston is within the life that was created for him., it broke my heart to hear him reconnecting with Creed while doubting himself, and that final flashback chapter—where we finally learn what actually happened—completely destroyed me, BUT I enjoyed it immensely.

Robert Hatchet is becoming one of my favorite narrators thanks to this author's books! I loved hearing him as Callaway in the previous book, and his portrayal of Creed in this one was even more heartbreaking and beautiful (Creed is my favorite). It broke my heart how this narrator made me feel his loneliness, his hope upon hearing Hal for the first time after so many years, and the way he springs into action the moment he has the chance to win back the loves of his life. I also really enjoyed hearing the Creed of the past being such a flirt and acting so sweetly toward Liv & Hal.

ARC & ALC amablemente proporcionada por la autora a cambio de una reseña honesta

Cuando empecé este libro creí que sabía que esperar después de leer los dos anteriores en esta parte del universo de Claudia Burgoa, que equivocada estaba! The Lies We Play es uno de los libros que más me ha sorprendido de la autora, también uno de los que más he disfrutado y por eso estoy segura de que Creed, Livia & Halston siempre van a tener un lugar especial en mi corazón.

Una de las cosas que más me gustó de este libro fue que la autora decidiera presentar la historia en una linea de tiempo dual porque, aunque estuve un poco confundida los dos primeros capítulos (lo cual creo que es intencional), la complejidad de lo que viven los personajes principales se siente mucho más a medida que se avanza en la historia, y amé mucho eso.

También me encantó leer a Creed, especialmente sus sentimientos en cuanto a Vesper y la relación con sus cuñados porque aunque me rompió mucho el corazón, me ayudo a comprender lo destrozado que quedó después de que Liv & Hal desaparecieran de su vida. Disfruté mucho su lado más coqueto, la manera en la que se enamora de ambos personajes desde la primera vez que los ve, y como ellos lo conocen tan bien, me encantó conocer sus miedos por la relación y su lugar en ella porque me dejó ver su lado más vulnerable, pero creo que lo que más me gustó de él fue conocer la manera en la que nunca dejó de buscar su felicidad junto a las personas que ama.

Livia fue un personaje encantador, me enamoré de ella desde ese primer encuentro con Creed, de su personalidad atrevida, sincera y dulce, de la manera en la que ella toma la iniciativa para poner en movimiento la relación que se forma con los hombres de su vida, y también de la Liv en la que leí en el presente, porque aunque me rompió el corazón leerla sin esperanzas, me gustó que siguiera siendo una mujer valiente, dispuesta a encontrar la verdad y que siempre supo cual fue su realidad, aún cuando intentaron engañarla durante tanto tiempo.

Halston es quien más perdido está de los personajes principales y leerlo en el presente fue horrible, pero a pesar de eso me encantó el contraste de ese Halston que encuentra en Creed & Livia un lugar para ser el mismo y sentirse seguro, con el Hal que no tiene idea de quien es pero aún así sabe que algo no está bien, y sigue teniendo momentos que recuerdan a su yo del pasado. Creo que él es, sin duda, uno de los mejores personajes que ha escrito Claudia, por la complejidad de sus circunstancias, lo vulnerable que es, y la manera en la que desarrollo su trama se principio a fin.

🎧Reseña del audiolibro🎧

🏒narradores: Grace Grant, Stephen Borne & Robert Hatchet
🏒narración: 5/5
💙narración en dueto

Los últimos libros de esta autora han sido de lo más emocionales, algo que estoy amando con locura, además de que Claudia Burgoa ha elegido a los mejores narradores para interpretar estas historias de manera perfecta y transmitiéndome todas las emociones de los personajes a los que les dan vida, sin duda han sido maravillosos!

Grace Grant como Livia me hizo querer proteger a este personaje aún más porque esta narradora me hizo sentir la desesperación y el dolor de Liv en Florencia, también amé que me diera ese lado inocente, divertido y atrevido de la Livia del pasado que contrastó tanto con la mujer del presente. Amé también la manera en la que la narradora le dio voz a la complejidad de los sentimientos de Livia por Creed & Halstone, por sus papás, y por la trágica situación que viven.

Creo que Stephen Borne es el narrador con la mayor carga emocional en este libro y lo hizo de maravilla, gracias a la maravillosa escritura de Claudia Burgoa y a este narrador pude sentir lo perdido y destrozado que esta Halstone en la vida que crearon para él: me rompió mucho el corazón escucharlo reencontrarse con Creed, dudando de si mismo, y ese ultimo capitulo del pasado en el que por fin sabemos qué fue lo que pasó me destruyó por completo, PERO lo disfruté muchísimo.

Robert Hatchet se está convirtiendo en uno de mis narradores favoritos gracias a los libros de esta autora! me encantó escucharlo como Callaway en el libro anterior, y su interpretación de Creed este fue aún más desgarradora y hermosa (Creed es mi favorito), me rompió el corazón la manera en la que este narrador me hizo sentir su soledad, su esperanza cuando escucha a Hal por primera vez después de tantos años, y la manera en la que se pone manos a la obra en cuanto tiene la oportunidad de recuperar a los amores de su vida. También disfruté mucho escuchando a ese Creed del pasado siendo un coqueto y el más lindo con Liv & Hal.

🏒Livia: 5/5
🏒Creed: 5/5
🏒Halston: 5/5
🏒trama: 5/5
🏒historia de amor: 5/5
🏒personajes secundarios: 5/5
🏒universo: 5/5
🏒portada: 5/5
🥵: 1/5

[nikkislistensandbookread · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mini ARC Review: Claudia Burgoa has easily become one of my favorite authors and this book was everything I expected. Get ready for an emotional ride that takes you between the past and present of Livia, Creed, and Halston love, connection and devotion.


Thank you Claudia for the ARC.

This is my honest review and has been left voluntarily.

[Maria L · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐ Because believing in yourself is half the battle. Knowing that how you love someone or two someones is not anyone’s business but your own. This story is about how an accident changed 3 lives, because money can hide a lot of sins, and can convince people of truths they never believed in the first place. In The Lies We Play 3 souls manage to find each other again, after 10 years of being held apart by other people’s lies. I love how fiercely they fought for their forever.

You’re heart will survive, but your sleeves will not. Get your tissues ready before you crack the cover.

I listened to the audiobook simultaneously while reading. In some instances I read the chapters before listening, and vice versa. No matter how you consume this story, it will be fabulous! Grace Grant, Stephen Borne and Robert Hatchet were all simply amazing. They each brought so much emotion to their characters, I could feel my heart break over and over. Between the uncertainty, the pining, the tension, and the triumph of finally getting back together, these narrators helped me feel them all.

Thank you Claudia Burgoa for this eARC and ALC. The above is my own and personal opinion.

[Audio book lover · Rating 3 out of 5]

💔🏒 Three hearts, one secret marriage, and a decade of lies that couldn’t erase what their bodies remembered. 🏒💔

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
Spice-meter: 🌶️☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
Audiobook: 🎧 Duet multicast
Series: standalone
HEA: Yes

The Lies We Play is my first book by Claudia Burgoa, and this was definitely an emotional and ambitious story. It combines second chances, secret marriage, amnesia, family secrets, romantic suspense, and a why-choose relationship into one complicated story filled with heartbreak and betrayal.

The story is told through three POVs, which worked well for this particular setup. The different perspectives slowly reveal pieces of the past and give you enough information to start figuring out who can actually be trusted. There is a lot happening beneath the surface, and the mystery surrounding what happened ten years ago kept me curious.

Livia was easily my favorite part of the story. She is sassy, witty, sarcastic, funny, and incredibly resilient. Watching her go from the hopeful young woman she was before the accident to someone shaped by everything she endured was heartbreaking, but I loved seeing her gradually reclaim her strength.

That said, I did have some issues with the execution.

For me, the biggest one was the relationship dynamic. I personally felt a much stronger connection between Hal and Creed than between either man and Livia. At times, the story felt more MM with the MF/MFM relationship added around it.

I also found myself getting frustrated with some of the repetition. Certain pieces of information or emotional beats were repeated several times, and after a while I felt like I already understood the point.

The pacing was another mixed bag. I found the book quite a slog in places, particularly before the conspiracy really started coming together. Whenever we finally seemed to be making progress, the story would jump back into the past and some of that momentum disappeared again. I was also hoping the reunion would happen considerably earlier than it did after ten years apart, waiting until roughly three-quarters into the book felt like a long time.

Ironically, once everything finally started coming together, the resolution moved incredibly quickly. The revelations and final developments felt almost blink and you'll miss it, which made the ending a little anticlimactic for me.

Still, I was genuinely happy to see these three finally get their hard-earned HEA. Despite my issues with the pacing and relationship dynamic, there was a lot of emotion packed into this story, and the underlying mystery kept me invested enough to see it through.

What I Loved

✔️ Emotional second-chance romance
✔️ Strong and resilient heroine
✔️ Three POVs that add different perspectives
✔️ Secret marriage and hidden history
✔️ Romantic suspense and conspiracy
✔️ Family secrets and old-money drama
✔️ Found family over blood family
✔️ Plenty of emotional angst
✔️ A hard-earned HEA

🎧 Narration

Performed by Grace Grant, Robert Hatchet, and Stephen Borne.

Honestly, listen to this one if you have the option.

Having three distinct narrators for a multi-POV story was absolutely the right choice. Grace Grant, Robert Hatchet, and Stephen Borne all brought their characters to life and made it easy to follow the different perspectives.

Grace Grant especially stood out to me as Livia. She captured the contrast between the bubbly, hopeful woman she once was and the hurt, frustrated, and emotionally guarded woman she became after everything that happened. You could hear the heartbreak in her voice, and that added a lot to the more emotional scenes.

Robert Hatchet and Stephen Borne were equally strong, bringing their own personalities and emotional nuances to their characters. Their performances worked particularly well during the more intense scenes, where all three narrators matched each other's energy beautifully.

The audiobook genuinely elevated the story for me, and I think the three-narrator format made this much more immersive than it would have been with a single narrator.

Tropes & Vibes

✔️ Why Choose / MMF
✔️ Secret Marriage
✔️ Second Chance Romance
✔️ Forced Separation
✔️ Amnesia
✔️ Romantic Suspense
✔️ Hidden Conspiracy
✔️ Old Money Family Drama
✔️ Found Family
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Touch Her and Find Out
✔️ Protective Heroes

Final Thoughts

The Lies We Play had all the ingredients for a story I should have absolutely devoured: secret marriage, three people who never stopped loving each other, amnesia, family manipulation, conspiracy, and a decade of separation.

For me, the execution wasn't quite as strong as the premise. The pacing could be slow, some moments were repeated more than necessary, and I struggled to fully connect with the MMF relationship because Hal and Creed's bond felt significantly stronger to me than their individual connections with Livia.

But there was still plenty to enjoy. Livia's character growth was fantastic, the emotional stakes were high, and once the conspiracy finally started unfolding, the story became much more engaging. And the audiobook? Absolutely fantastic.

If you enjoy emotional why-choose romances with secret marriages, amnesia, family secrets, second chances, hockey, and romantic suspense, this could definitely be worth picking up especially in audio.

[Kim Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

When this book was first announced I wasn’t sure how I felt. I’ve never read a book where a character goes through an accident so brutal that they end up with amnesia. I’ve always been hesitant to read books like this, I know they exist and they can come with lots of feels, angst and the ability to wreck you. I just was never interested in books with this because of the unknown. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about reading a book where it involves essentially falling back in love again and finding yourself. At the very least, trying to figure out how you used to be while also navigating how you currently are. In the beginning, I found myself lost in the mystery, figuring out what happened as the characters do. I was stuck between confusion, intrigue and anger. Confusion because the book is cagey and vague. You know something is being kept under wraps and someone is getting paid off or bought to keep the relationship between Livia, Creed and Halston hidden and forgotten. I was intrigued by this because of course I want to know what happens and if there’s something deeper going on. The whole issue is because you don’t know why or how this is being handled. The book uncovers this, piece by piece, chapter by chapter navigating the past with the future. For this type of story this was badly needed. It gave you a front row seat to how they were before the accident so you can compare it to how they are now. All the unspoken hurt and no answers, only the thought of betrayal and maybe they didn’t love each other enough when that was further from the truth. It wasn’t the lack of love they felt for each other that got me, it was the emptiness all three of them felt. It felt as if someone went into their head and pulled out core memories even though Halston was the one suffering from amnesia. Creed, Livia and Halston were not the same people after the accident. It was the fact that they felt like a shell of a person when they weren’t with each other, like parts of them were missing and nothing filled them up or even got remotely close to the connection Livia, Creed and Halston had with each other. It wasn’t until the halfway point, back in the middle of a flashback after separate nights between Livia and Creed or Creed and Halston gets recounted that the mystery lost its luster for me. It was very slow moving from there and uses more metaphors than should be allowed in a book but that was also in general with the story. Everything was very emotionally explained and I just wanted the book to be. I wanted it to say what it meant and not dance around emotions and descriptions that lost me so much I couldn’t describe the feeling. It was a complex plot that seemingly had to also use complex language. When it finally unfolds the truth, or at the very least, the shadow of the truth without a motive things appear to go back to normal. Halston miraculously gets better and everyone moves forward together. At least the author was able to put the pieces together and clear up the actions alluding to the reasoning, a motive was never unveiled. While you get the gist of what happened, there was never really a definitive answer. I think I would have been more settled if the motive and instigator was clarified, or at least implied. I can get behind that for details but when a big part of the plot is left unintentionally out of the story, it does make you wonder. Then there’s Creed’s brother’s story coming next so maybe questions will get answered there. All I know is that I gave this a 4 because I feel like there’s still things that haven’t been answered and once you get past the halfway mark, the book slows down exponentially. I think that’s why this ended up taking me a week to finish, plus chapters where we don’t get answers but moments in time that don’t get to be groundbreaking. It felt like it was dragged out unnecessarily. I get you have to move slow due to Halston’s condition but it could have been pushed along more. Then there’s also a part of me that wishes all three of them could have the intimacy they crave in present time, just to see how it would go with Halston’s state and to see if their connection still exists. Will he know how to touch, caress and plunge inside? Will he be tender, unsure or aggressive? I would have liked to read about amnesia Halston having sex with Creed and Livia but at the same time I get why it wasn’t included. It would have been a bit insensitive. I’m just sorry I wasn’t able to give this the full 5 star it could have been for those reasons.

[Jenna Lundberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎨💔 A Love the World Tried to Erase 💔🎨
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars | 🌶️🌶️ 2 Chili Peppers

The Lies We Play was such an emotional and ambitious second-chance romance. There is A LOT happening in this story, with a secret marriage, amnesia, ten years of forced separation, family manipulation, romantic suspense, and three people trying to reclaim a love everyone else tried to convince them never existed.

This was my first book by Claudia Burgoa, and the premise immediately intrigued me. Livia, Creed, and Halston had built something together before one devastating accident ripped their lives apart. Ten years later, Creed remembers everything, Halston only has fragments, and Livia has spent years rebuilding a life after being told that the marriage and love she remembers were essentially products of her trauma.

Livia was probably my favorite part of the story. She's witty, sarcastic, quirky, determined, and incredibly resilient. I loved seeing the difference between the hopeful young woman we meet in the flashbacks and the woman she became after everything she endured. There's also something beautifully fitting about Livia building a life in Florence restoring damaged art while carrying so many damaged pieces of her own past.

And then there is Creed. 🥹 His unwavering devotion to both Livia and Halston brought so much emotion to the story. He remembers what they had, knows it was real, and has carried that love with him through all those missing years. He often felt like the steady center of the three of them, and I loved the warmth and acceptance his family brought to the story.

Halston's journey is heartbreaking in a completely different way. He's spent years surrounded by people controlling what he knows and believes about his own life. Watching pieces of his past slowly return, especially those moments when his emotions and body seem to remember Livia and Creed before his mind fully catches up, added another layer to their second chance.

I also really enjoyed the flashbacks because they allowed us to see how these three originally came together. Their relationship wasn't simply physical. There was friendship, flirting, affection, trust, and history there first, which made knowing what was eventually taken from them hurt even more.

That said, there were a few things that kept this from being a five-star read for me.

The biggest was probably the balance within the relationship. I adored all three characters individually, but I personally felt the strongest connection between Halston and Creed. At times, I wanted the individual relationships between Livia and each man to feel as deeply developed as the connection between the two men.

The pacing was also a little uneven for me. With three POVs and timelines moving between then and now, there are a LOT of layers to unravel. Some information and emotional beats felt repetitive, and just when I thought the mystery was gaining momentum, another trip into the past could slow things down again. I also expected the reunion after ten years apart to happen earlier than it did.

Ironically, once all those puzzle pieces finally started clicking into place, I wanted the book to slow down! 😂 After such a long buildup, some of the final revelations and resolution happened so quickly that I was left wanting a little more time to experience the payoff.

But despite those issues, I was invested in seeing Livia, Creed, and Halston get their answers and finally fight for the life they should have been allowed to have all along.

At its heart, The Lies We Play isn't simply about three people finding their way back to each other. It's about realizing their love was never the lie. The lie was everything they were told to make them believe it wasn't real. Seeing them finally reclaim that truth made their HEA incredibly satisfying. ❤️

Thank you to Claudia Burgoa and The Smuthood for the gifted advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Books, Booze & Bon Voyage (Krista Webster) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lies We Play by Claudia Burgoa is a why choose, MMF romance between Halston Wolfe Saint Claire, Creed Lafontaine and Livia Crane. The story is set over ten years and is told in both the past and the present from all three main characters POV’s. A standalone but has links to Lost In Overtime as Creed is Vesper’s brother. They are complicated characters who start an unconventional relationship but are totally committed to each other. They have a secret marriage which results in their lives being in danger and the catalyst to all that then happens. A tragic accident leads to lost memories, lots of secrets and lies, threats and blackmail to stop them finding each other. They didn’t lose each other, they were kept from each other and made to believe their love didn’t exist. It is an emotional and complex tale about healing, survival and love overcoming all the challenges. Creed remembers everything, Hal only fragments and Livia remembers enough to know their love was real. Will they get a second chance after everything was taken away from them when Hal’s powerful family is determined to hide the truth of what really happened and deny them the love they had once had.

The story starts with Livia waking up with significant trauma from the accident. She has memory problems due to her head injury and a problem with her left hand but is desperate to know where Halston and Creed are. Her parents tell her he’s in a critical condition so she begs for them to call Creed, but they have no idea who he is. She is determined to recover and find them because she knows the Saint Claires have broken them apart by using their wealth to twist things. Has she been widowed by one and possibly abandoned by the other.

Creed plays hockey for the Night Hawks and met Livia when they lived in the same apartment block and chatted up on the roof. He thought she was a little strange, but smart and seemed lonely. They became friends and have great banter but he is guarded because his father had drilled into him not to fall in love and throw away everything he’s worked for in his career. We hear how she meets Halston, then introduces him to Creed and the start of their relationship. Creed has a controlled and arrogant hockey persona but behind closed doors he’s insecure, frightened and vulnerable. Halston is intense and works for his family. He is helping his grandfather fix his legacy but worries about the future so he and Livia marry but keep it a secret from everyone. The guys are so different but complement each other so you can see how she could never choose between them and ends up loving them both. I liked how they were different with each other, the passion and wanting poured off the pages.

Creed has spent ten years reliving the accident and knows it wasn’t Hal’s fault. He has been relentless in his quest to find them and get them back. He is angry over the situation and events since the accident. Livia is working in Florence and thinks Creed never searched for her so has learnt to live without them. Halston has been manipulated and controlled since the accident by his family. He can’t remember the others but has memories and feelings that contradicted the story they’ve told him. He knows he’s under surveillance so who was he and why does he feel trapped. He is unsettled by thoughts about a woman and a man, so can he get back to that life.

How do they all find each other again? They are all haunted by their memories but then a visit to a sports bar, a phone call and incriminating paperwork kicks starts everything. We get startling revelations and confessions about the last ten years as they find the proof of the lies, fraud, threats and betrayal. We hear the truth about the car accident, Hal’s grandfather, and what his family did to Creed, Livia and their parents. We learn what Creed did to try and save the ones he loves. I felt sorry for Hal as he felt it’s was all his fault and they have lost ten years of their lives because he didn’t protect them.

I loved how Fitzhenry links them all together and how their trinity knot tattoos were a constant reminder of what they had. I was so pleased Hal’s family got their comeuppance and Livia’s parents came good in the end. I did struggle with the constant changing from past to present and POV. I felt there was a lot about compartmentalism and locked doors inside each character. Can they now prove everything, get through the remaining obstacles and figure out a way to be happy again. Stay safe and have a future together. It was an enjoyable read with a mystery to solve within a layered romance with interesting characters.

[Donna reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS AUDIOBOOK RIPPED MY HEART OPEN, SHATTERED MY SOUL… AND MADE EVERY TEAR WORTH IT!! 🎧

The moment I pressed play on THE LIES WE PLAY by Claudia Burgoa, I knew she was going to break my heart into a million pieces.

The devastating part?

It was SO much worse than that.

Livia, Creed and Halston’s story BROKE ME.

My heart and soul bled for these three in a way they never have before. The loss. The separation. The secrets. The lies. Everything they were forced to endure…

It was devastating.

There were moments I had to physically stop what I was doing because I couldn’t see through the tears.

Their love was so pure, beautiful and real and hearing everything they shared become tangled in circumstances beyond their control absolutely shattered me.

And Creed… OH LORD, CREED.

He is the kind of man who never stops searching, never stops protecting and never stops loving. The way he fights for Livia and Halston, carrying so much while refusing to give up on the people he loves…

My heart hurt for him in a way I can’t even explain.

And Livia discovering truths about her past and the people who were trying to protect her?

That hit HARD.

I won’t say more because you NEED to experience those revelations for yourself, but Claudia knows exactly when to pull the rug out from underneath you and leave you sitting there staring at the ceiling like…

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!

And Halston…

My heart.

Watching him struggle with everything he has lost, everything he questions and the man he desperately wants to become beyond his family’s expectations was heartbreaking.

Then there are these three together…

Their connection is simply beautiful.

Livia is sass, wit, strength and the most endearing personality. I absolutely adored her.
Creed is the ultimate book boyfriend…charming, funny, protective, devoted and completely panty-melting.
And Halston is the smart, kind, caring, loving man fighting to break free and simply be himself.

The chemistry between all three?

The tension. The yearning. The emotional connection. The love. The spice.

And the way they touch their shared tattoos…

SHIVERS.

Those moments were so incredibly intense. There is so much history, meaning, longing and emotion behind those tattoos that every touch felt like it carried a thousand words.

And then you add Grace Grant, Stephen Borne and Robert Hatchet bringing this story to life…

THEY AREN’T JUST NARRATING IT. THEY’RE LIVING IT.

Every crack in their voices. Every silence. Every desperate plea. Every ounce of love, grief, longing and pain…

YOU FEEL IT ALL.

My heart was pounding.

Then breaking.

Then somehow beating again…

Just in time for Claudia to destroy it all over again. 😭

This woman has an incredible gift for making you fall completely in love with her characters before emotionally DESTROYING YOU.

THE LIES WE PLAY is a WHY CHOOSE romance like no other.

It’s heartbreaking. Breathtaking. Emotional. Suspenseful. Sexy. And completely unforgettable.

And the best part?

I can’t tell you everything I want to tell you because you NEED to experience this story for yourself.

If you read romance or listen to romance audiobooks, THIS NEEDS TO BE YOUR NEXT READ OR LISTEN.

Just prepare yourself…

Because Claudia Burgoa is going to take your heart, put it through an emotional blender, and somehow leave you begging for more.

I am STILL feeling the aftermath of this spectacularly devastating, heartbreaking, breathtaking romance.

Five stars will never be enough.

[Loverulesall_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐
3🌶️

THIS STORY NEEDS TO BE MADE INTO A FILM!! 🎬

Claudia literally ripped my heart out and pieced it back together again in this emotional love story between Livia, Halston and Creed. I cried, I screamed, I swooned and I am NOT OVER IT! 😮‍💨

Livia wakes up in hospital after a car accident and is made to believe she dreamt up about her marriage/relationship with Halston and Creed. The details are fuzzy but in her heart she knows they truly existed. When neither men come to find her when she wakes up in hospital, the silence speaks a thousand words. She is left with no choice but to give up hope of them ever reuniting and consequently starts a new life in Florence, Italy.

Fast forward ten years, Halston is at the helm of the Saint Claire Foundation, but suffers from amnesia due to the car accident he was involved in with Liv. Memories randomly start filtering in, with no rhyme of reason. He doesn't remember the man nor the woman in his newfound memories, but his heart somehow recognises them.

Creed has been merely surviving the last decade, instead choosing to throw himself into his hockey career. He never forgot about Liv or Hal, but had to give up investigating their whereabouts when his own family lives were threatened.

However, it all changes one night when he receives a phone call from an unknown number. Something tells him to answer... And it's none other than Hal. Hal found a number in a hidden drawer - one from his old life that never got touched. He is confused about Creed and many other things in his life, but instincts tell him he is someone he can wholeheartedly trust. Creed learns that Hal is under a conservatorship and instantly worries about his safety. If the Saint Claire name kept Hal hidden for the past decade, there's not much his family won't do in order to keep him compliant and play his intended role 👀

In a cascade of events, Livia finds evidence of her signature forged in numerous documents linked to the Saint Claire Foundation. Contacting a previous lawyer who was 'let go' by the Saint Claire's sheds light on illegal provenance deals - a money laundering operation hiding behind charitable tax. They must tread carefully in order to not raise suspicions, but the truth behind what really happened the night of the accident points to the fact that it might not have been an accident after all.

My heart!!! ❤️‍🩹😮‍💨🥹
This story was nothing short of drama.
I enjoyed every single aspect of this one - how Liv and Hal believed the lies that were told after the accident by their family, how their memory of events was simply rewritten but deep within, their hearts still yearned for the love they lost.
The story does contain a dual timeline, which I found gave a real insight in how they all met and eventually fell in love, as a unit. Their love was truly palpable and beautiful - never one without the other, loving each other just the same - fierce and forever ♾️
I was truly rooting for Liv, Hal and Creed to make it back to each other. A decade of loss, lies and betrayals that kept them apart... but secretly they never gave up hope, even if it was minute. My emotions have truly been through the wringer with this one, but I'm so happy that they eventually got their long awaited for HEA 💗

Thank you so much to Claudia for giving me the opportunity to read this book in advance. All thoughts and opinions are my own 🫶🏻

[Tara Baja · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I love you. Both of you. Not equally, because love is not math. Completely. Differently. With everything I was before you, everything I am because of you, and everything I will become with you.”
- Halston


First and foremost I'd like to thank and show my appreciation to Claudia for providing me with an advanced readers copy and an advanced listener copy of this book, in reciprocity for my honest review. The Lies We Play tells a story of a romance that knows no name. A triad of friends to lovers that was lost in tragedy, leaving them separated from each other for over 10 years. Was it fate that kept them apart, or are other mysterious forces working to keep them from being united?

Livia is a college student, who meets Creed, a Pro Hockey player, one night in their apartment building. They share a love of books and have a flirtatious banter yet decide to remain friends, feeling it's not the right time in their lives for a relationship. Liv meets Halston a Pre-Law major who comes from a prestigious family, and introduces him to Creed. Their attraction is undeniable, and soon the three of them become close friends. Afraid to fall in love, yet love is what they ultimately share with each other.

A marriage, a car accident, death threats and separation leaves them apart for 10 years. Now, Halston has amnesia. Livia having been gaslit for the past decade, still suffers from long lasting injuries. Then there's Creed, still in the NHL, fighting to bring them all back together. It's a mystery of who, what, where, and why that he works to uncover in order to find his "husband & wife". He's been gaslit for the past decade as well! However, he refuses to believe what he's been told and fights for his loves!

This story is heavily emotional, with passion, devotion and unfortunately tragic events that keeps the reader on edge. Will they ever be reunited? Why are they being kept a part in the first place? Who is the real villain here? The narration of Grace Grant as Livia, Stephen Borne and Robert Hatchet as Creed and Halston respectively, felt accurate to what I envisioned their characters would sound like. While I don't know which actor played the latter two characters, I will say, you could hear the love in every actors voice.

Halston's, when he was initially healthy, voice always seemed a bit hesitant, having lived a life mired with expectations. As if he was measuring each word he spoke. Still, he held a quiet strength. Yet, after the accident, he sounded so unsure because of his amnesia, it was kind of heartbreaking to hear. Creed's voice on the other hand, remained confident, strong, and in my opinion, quite sexy. He was the glue that held the trio together, before and after the accident. You could also hear the grief he held at the loss of his loves.

Livia's, the heart of the trio, voice had her own strength, as well as kind of a neurotic awkwardness, that was pretty cute. Her ramblings made me laugh through out the story, because I actually have the same problem as well. All in all, this MFM traumance was a stirring and emotive love story. That, while it had a few sexy and comical moments, it held a poignancy throughout that made you hope and believe that after everything they went through, together and individually, their love will outlast it all! 5⭐

[Linda Ketter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lies We Play is a complete standalone featuring a triad and a story full of secrecy, deceit and greed.

Creed was born into a big loving family. His sister is married to two men who are professional hockey players, just like him. They are competitors, but they leave it on the ice, except for the ribbing. He is bisexual and his family fully supports him. He is a very private person and does not bring his personal life to the rink. Until one fateful night.

Halston is the only son of his father. He grew up in a cold family, except for his mother and grandfather. His grandfather, Cornelius, taught him everything he knows since he was a small child. They had a special bond that no one else in the family had. He is in school to become a lawyer because that is what is expected of him. He is a closet bisexual, as his family would not accept him for it. He is quiet and contemplative, and appears to be grumpy. But he is very protective of those he loves.

Livia is the only child to parents who never thought they would have children. She is a late in life baby and is deeply loved by her parents, even if can be smothering. She is not even old enough to drink when she moves out on her own, and meets Creed. One night, while at the local bar watching Creed play hockey and commenting on every play, she meets Hal, who is curious about her. And thus begins a love for the ages.

Livia, Creed and Hal become a triad in all ways over the next few months. They move in together in Hal's home after the holidays. When it becomes clear that Hal and Liv need to get married so he can inherit his grandfather's trust, they all agree that on paper it is the two of them, but in reality it is the three of them. But life is not on their side and one night will change all of their lives.

The next ten years will test these three. Creed is unable to find Liv or Hal. They are being hidden by their families and he is persona non grata. Liv has dealt with ongoing effects from the night that changed her life. She has finished school and now works in Florence. But when she is asked about a new request, her curiosity is piqued. But is it the beginning of the end?

Calls are made. Emails are sent. Things are put into motion to protect Creed, Liv and Hal. So much is at risk. Will they be able to uncover the truth about what happened, why and who was behind it?

I have to say, this book brought out so many emotions in me. I was heartbroken for these three and everything they had to go through to be together, and all of the years lost. I was angry at the reason behind those missing years and the manner in which it happened. But this love story brought me to tears. This story is the true meaning of love lasting the test of time.

It has been awhile since I have listened to a book narrated by Grace Grant. She has a raspy voice that truly fit Liv. It has also been awhile since I have listened to Robert Hatchett so it was nice listening to him again. Stephen Borne is new to me, but I truly enjoyed listening to him. These three brought everything to this story.

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lies We Play is a why choose romance featuring Livia Crane, Halston Saint Claire, and Creed Lafontaine. The book flips back and forth in time with chapters starting off being either now or then.

Livia and Creed lived in the same building and ended up meeting on their shared roof. They quickly connected and ended up meeting regularly. Livia was a student completing her degree whereas Creed was a defenseman for the Night Hawks. Initially Livia knew nothing about hockey but Creed slowly taught her. On nights when he was playing, she liked to watch the game from the neighbourhood bar. It is there that she met Halston, a law student, and quickly introduced him to Creed. The three became inseparable and ended up covertly moving in together, secretly keeping their relationship from being known to their families as it would not have been well received by most. Their love for one another was fierce and undeniable. That was then.

The now comes over a decade later. Ten years prior, there was a car accident where Halston was driving, Livia was the passenger, and Creed was on speakerphone. Both Livia and Halston were gravely injured. When they finally regained consciousness, it was months after the incident and all three were kept apart by their loved ones. Halston's memory was severely impacted and while he felt a void, he had no recollection of Livia or Creed. Livia remembered but was told that Halston's family had requested their privacy and that she keep her distance, and that Creed never came looking for her. Creed however knew the truth, and never stopped looking. It wasn't until 10 years later that a suspected forgery has Livia reaching out to the world she left behind, while Halston starts to get pieces of his memory back, and begins to fight his way back to his partners.

This was a fantastic book with an engaging plot and memorable characters. I loved Livia's dry wit and how she sees the world. Creed's love for his partners never waivered; he was committed to them even when he was kept from being by their sides. As for Halston, I loved how he initially comes across as being somewhat straight-laced but really he is very openminded and easygoing. He has such a big heart when it came to Livia and Creed.

I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook which was narrated by Grace Grant, Robert Hatchet, and Stephen Borne. They played Livia, Creed, and Halston, respectively. All three are brilliant voice actors that elevated Burgoa's brilliant writing skills and brought the characters to life. I appreciated how different their voices are as it made it easy to differentiate between characters. I especially enjoyed Borne's voice with its sort of gravely quality. I felt it really represented Halston well.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend checking it out.

[Oshlii McTier · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALC Review
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
"Lying is done with words, and also with silence"

"Some lies trap you, some lies keep you alive. The trick is knowing which one you're playing."

If you're like, you go into a “why-choose” romance with certain assumptions about how the story is going to play out. Boy, was I wrong! The story centered around money, power, and control, all packaged nicely within a game of psychological warfare that spanned an entire DECADE! In my opinion, the why-choose element seemed secondary to the plot, which was a refreshing change of pace for me.

The story begins with a car accident in NY that sets off a cascade of events. Instantly, I was hooked! Livia and Halston were in the car; Creed was on the phone via Bluetooth. Three people, once happily married and in love, and in an instant, each are left with broken pieces of what actually happened in the accident and unsure of who to trust.

Livia wakes up hospitalized in Italy, having been told that her marriage was never real…

Creed is blackmailed into silence and told to stop searching for his two loves…

Halston wakes up with amnesia, forced into a conservatorship and under the complete control of his family…

The rest of the story is told in a series of time jumps, detailing their love story prior to the accident, and their brokenness after the accident; ultimately leading to the climax of figuring out what truly forced them apart. The buildup to the ‘who done it” moment felt like sweet agony! Claudia Burgoa really took her time with developing each of the characters as individual couples, and as three. The spice in this story wasn’t over the top (again, so different than the usual why-choose), and each intimate scene felt so well placed and intentional.

Ironically, a small clerical error, literally a false signature, was the loose thread that started to unravel this twisted web of lies! I literally wanted to scream as the truth started to come to light because I felt like I had a personal stake in getting the three of them back together!
I can’t praise these narrators enough for the brilliant work they did on this audiobook. While all three were phenomenal, I must say that Stephen Borne, as Halston, literally made me cry. His portrayal of a broken man with no memories of the last ten years, constantly being fed lies about who he was and how he ended up in his current state, was nothing short of outstanding. His narration was so gut-wrenching, so visceral…I felt like I could close my eyes and picture the agony on his face.

The conclusion was everything I needed it to be and more. These three fought so hard for a happy ending and Claudia definitely delivered! All in all this wasn’t just a story…it was an experience!

[Bette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Amazing & Addictive Story & Listen🎧

The Lies We Play
By: Claudia Burgoa
Narrated by: Grace Grant, Stephen Borne, Robert Hatchet

Claudia Burgoa does it again, pens another wonderful novel, an amazing trifecta of a romance that tugs at your heartstrings and tugs hard. No one builds stories like Claudia Burgoa, stories that draw you in immediately and hold your attention hostage the entire time. Her descriptive details and way with words bring you alongside the characters, into their heads, giving you an inside view of everything they are thinking, seeing, and feeling. “The Lies We Play”, a standalone why-choose romance, is Livia, Creed Lafontaine, and Halston Saint Claire’s story, and wow, what a story it is, one filled with mystery and intrigue, a romantic suspense like no other. This uniquely presented story is told in alternate timelines, with the past and how the three met: first Livia and Creed, and then Halston, but we also see them in present day, ten years later and we find out what happened, where it all went wrong and why. Holy moly, Burgoa weaved a mighty fine web around these three, surrounding them with danger, while creating a complex, multi-layered story that keeps you thinking and wanting more, more answers and more of them. As always, the writing, plot, and world-building are incredible, as are the character growth and development. It was great seeing familiar faces/names pop in from previous books, a real treat for lovers of Burgoa’s fabulous characters and books. Claudia Burgoa, thank you for another amazing, absolutely addictive, and wonderfully entertaining story, and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 And for the fabulous audiobook listen performed by Grace Grant, Stephen Borne and Robert Hatchet, who did a fantastic job voicing the characters. I loved how they took their roles and made them their own, sounding believable and as I imagined the characters to sound. Grant excelled in Liv’s role, grasping every facet of her personality, both before and after the incident: the before bubbly, young, full of life and hope, and the after, full of hurt and despair, until she lets that pain go. Hatchet and Borne were just as fabulous in showing how it changed them. They were fantastic at performing the roles of the side/secondary characters too. They set the ideal tone for the story, and their expressive delivery conveys all the characters’ emotions — their passion, their fear, and their heartache, making you feel it all. Their talent truly shines in their performance, a captivating performance that is entertaining and keeps you hooked on the story.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually shy away from MMF books. I am glad I didn’t with this one.
Halston, Creed and Livia are the key players.
Halston Saint Claire – Damaged rich boy who doesn’t want the family money, public image or anything else that goes along with it. He is intense and torn. Halston was close with his grandfather. His cheating father pushed his beloved mother out of the family and replaced her with one of his many mistresses, aka, the evil stepmother. When Halston’s father and grandfather die, all is left to Halston. This creates a problem for the stepmother who wants to rule the kingdom, so to speak.
Livia – Free spirit, quirky, only child of an older couple.
Creed Lafontaine - Professional hockey layer. Strong, level headed, steady, a few insecurities and an emotional support human to Halston and Livia. Creed was my favorite character. He is so strong and the glue. He also has an awesome, loving family. They are so open and accepting.
I found Creed easy to like immediately. He loves to spend time on the roof of his building and one night he finds himself not alone. Enter Livia. He decides he’ll share his roof time with this quirky young woman.
Constance, the evil stepmother, who I instantly disliked. You are supposed to dislike her. She has infiltrated the Saint Claire family for her own personal gain.
Livia meets Halston at a bar and finds him interesting. She wants him to meet her friend, Creed, and the friendship/relationship starts.
There so many horrible things that happen along the way but that’s what makes the book so good. Halston has no one to trust but Livia and Creed. Livia feels she has no one and then there’s Creed who feels pushed out of their world. It all works for them but the world is not ready for an open three-way marriage.
This book has so much going for it. There is intrigue, so much intrigue, so many secrets, corruption, greed and manipulative and so many lies. The book is told in “Now” and “Then” which can be a bit confusing but that adds to the intensity of the book. The author is an excellent wordsmith. She writes a vivid picture of how the story plays out. The book kept me engaged and I lost sleep not being able to put it down. “Just one more chapter” turned into 2 more hours of reading. So good.
The s*x scenes are few and written in a tender and loving way.
Love – Losing it all – finding love again & piecing things back together.
This book is fantastic and I felt honored to read it as an ARC for Claudia Burgoa. It is one of the best books I have read in 2026. I would give it more than 5 stars if I could. It’s that good.

[Sharon in SF · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story contained a lot of moving parts since it was told from each of the three main characters points of view, both in the present and also flashing back to the past; and the past included time before the accident and also what transpired in the years following the accident that tore their respective lives apart. Livia Crane was a happy go-lucky college student when she met pro hockey player, Creed Lafontaine, since they lived in the same building. They carry on a flirty friendship, but he travels too often for her to consider dating him. While she sits in a neighborhood bar watching one of his home games, Halston Saint Claire walks in for a drink after a grueling meeting with his family. Of course Liv strikes up a friendly conversation with him while she's also flirt texting with Creed before his game. Unlike most "why choose" romances, Livia, Creed and Halston establish a cute but very flirty friendship first.
The "before-the-accident" past covers the first couple of years leading to the marriage between Halston and Livia. The flashbacks covering the ten years post-accident mainly focus on Livia as she heals from her injuries, wonders why she hasn't heard from either Creed nor Halston, and re-builds her life in Florence as an art restoration expert. Halston survived the accident but suffers from amnesia. As a result his generation-weathy family has carefully orchestrated his life for the past ten years and also prevented Creed, who wasn't in the accident, from finding Halston or Livia.
The Lies We Play contains all the angsty emotions usually found in Claudia Burgoa stories, but the timetable and details contained in the flashbacks sometimes made it difficult to follow. It was hard to fathom that in ten years, Creed, with his resources, couldn't subtlely locate Livia nor Halston to uncover the truth of their feelings? Anyway, I listened to the audio book which was done in "Duet" format, ie, three narrators speaking their roles within a chapter. I initially liked Grace Grant's portrayal of Liv as a college student, but didn't care for her voicing as the adult Liv. Robert Hatchet nailed Creed's role throughout, first as the playful and flirty "friend", then as the protective boyfriend over both, to the glue that brought them all back together. Stephen Borne's voice reminded me of a grandfather-type so it totally missed the boat for me as pre-accident Halston. His characterization became stronger as Halston struggled with bringing the foggy memories of Liv and Creed into his present. This was a solid 3.5 star read.

[Shelly Stricker]

Claudia Burgoa knows how to make you fall in love with her characters—but man, does she also know how to rip your heart out of your chest, stomp on it for a while, and then somehow put it back together just in time to give you the happily ever after you desperately needed.

The Lies We Play took me on one heck of an emotional roller coaster.

I keep thinking Claudia can't possibly break my heart more than she did in the last book I read of hers, and then… BOOM. Cue the tears. The heartbreak. All the feels. And me wondering where I put the tissues.

This time, it was Halston, Creed, and Livia who completely destroyed me.

The love these three shared was absolutely beautiful. There was something so powerful about the way they loved one another, which made it even more devastating to watch other people try to tear them apart.

Livia woke up in a hospital and was told her marriage wasn't real.

Creed was blackmailed and ordered to stop looking for the two people he loved.

And Halston woke up with amnesia, trapped in a conservatorship and completely under the control of his family.

Just imagine that for a moment.

What would you do if the people you loved were taken from you—and everyone around you was determined to convince you that what you remembered, what you felt, and what you believed wasn't real?

How hard would you fight to find your way back to them?

This story was heartbreaking, frustrating, beautiful, and extraordinary. There were moments when I hurt so much for these three, and there were plenty of times I wanted to reach inside the book and deal with a few people myself.

And the audiobook made the experience even better. Grace Grant, Robert Hatchet, and Stephen Borne did a fantastic job bringing this story to life. They pulled me in from the beginning, made me feel connected to the characters, and kept me completely invested throughout the entire book.

Claudia never ceases to amaze me with the stories she creates. She somehow manages to break your heart and soul while still making you believe that love is worth fighting for.

The Lies We Play may break your heart along the way, but I promise the journey is worth it—and the ending gives you exactly what you need after everything these characters endure.

I absolutely loved this book.

Claudia Burgoa is, and probably always will be, an automatic one-click for me.

Highly recommend—but bring tissues. You're going to need them.

[Bri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really took my time thinking about this book after I read it because it deserves full attention. TLDR: 5 stars, MMF, light spice, biggest trigger IMO: gaslighting and manipulation by loved ones. Spoiler-free full review below:

This book was genuinely unlike anything I've read since I fell into the Romance genre a few years ago. At first it felt a lot like a Guy Ritchie film- his signature snappy and smart back-and-forth dialog and editing. Starting the story from the climax, then jumping back to the beginning. This had that same feel of jumping from past to present and building this NEED to know how things ended up where they did and what happened after.  At the same time, it never felt like an action movie, it had the plot and pacing of a Jane Austen novel. There is a story told in pieces, tied together with this beautiful thread of intellect and romanticism and humanity. The closest comparison for me is Atonement. I’ve never read it but reading this felt very similar, emotionally, to watching the movie.

if you are not interested in MMF or any form of LGBTQ+ relationships, this one is not for you. If that "i want 2 boyfriends and i want the boyfriends to be boyfriends" audio is your dream scenario... this one is definitely the one. i feel like while there is spice in this, this is not smut. to me, this is more about the emotional connection between 3 people that is partially expressed through sex, but this is romance with a bit of smut. It reminded me of Sadie Kincaid’s ‘The Perfect Fit,’ but that one is little more fast-paced and smut-forward. both are BEAUTIFUL books, but this one just felt a bit softer to me. more... reverent? i dunno, don't get me wrong, i love a good 3-4 chili pepper read, but the classical literature girlie in me is still a sucker for the Mr Darcy trapsing through the misty morning fog sort of journey.

according to goodreads, i have read 147 books in the 3 years since i rediscovered my love for reading and a piece of my soul that i didn't even know was missing clicked back into place. In, now, 148 books chapter 41 of this book might be my favorite thing i have ever read.

"... then I will make that line holy.”

Actual chills. 😮‍💨

The other line that hit me like a ton of bricks: “That thought makes something sour move under my skin. I need to stop doing that. Giving people the version of me they trained themselves to expect.”

All the feels. 10/10. I loved it.

[Sonja Charters · Rating 5 out of 5]

On first glance, this looks like your usual hockey romance - on reading it's tag, it sounds like a why choose usual hockey romance - but oh my gosh, this was so, so much more and I absolutely devoured it!

 

Now, I was slightly daunted by it's page count at first, for a hockey romance - but I as soon as I started reading and things became clearer as to the direction this book was heading, I was hooked!

So much so, that I created chores so that I could just keep listening to this for the duration!

I inhaled this over the full day!

 

I don't really want to say too much and give any spoilers but we follow this storyline over a dual timeline and through multiple pov's which meant following our characters before and after the accident.

 

When we see Liv in present day, her family around her are telling her that the trauma and memory loss is playing tricks on her and that the men and marriage she remembers, actually never happened.

Obviously, she has no choice but to love life and survive, but the memories never leave her.

 

We then have plenty of opportunity to meet each of the characters and to relive their original love story, before discovering what really happened to split them up.

 

This was such an emotional and heart wrenching read and I was desperate to find out what had happened before, what had caused the accident really and whether these characters would ever get their chances to be together again - even after 10 years apart.

 

I found the characters a little tricky to really get into at first as they were very different characters, but this really showed that love can come in many forms and that bonds really can form and run deep.

 

This difference created a really interesting mix of themes through the book and we saw betrayal, lies and corruption within family units and people judging and making decisions for others based on these biases.

 

I definitely grew to love each of the characters - especially helped by the duet narration which was perfection. Each of the personalities shone through and had me completely immersed in each of their storylines and development.

Their love and passion and quirks were so well portrayed through the book a d I had the best time.

 

It's a chunky one, but oh so worthwhile and I can't wait to see more from this author soon!

 

 
 

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨️ALC REVIEW✨️
I have loved every book I've read from Claudia Burgoa and this was no exception. Her writing is just so beautiful - I find it's one I have to pay close attention to (for audio) or I miss all the little details she uses. "The apartment feels smaller than it is as if the city has leaned its whole face against the windows to watch." I mean, seriously, how beautiful is that? And there are so many other examples I bookmarked.

This is multi-cast narrated by Grace Grant, Stephen Borne and Robert Hatchet. I thought each of them played their characters so well. There is a lot of banter in the book but it's a very dry humor and the narrators were perfect - never over the top boisterous, rarely a chuckle to their tone, as that wouldn't feel right. However, I could see the eye rolls in Grace's tones. See just the hint of a smile in Robert's. See Stephen's playful glare. Each of them brought the character's to life wonderfully.

The Lies We Play is a dual timeline story - scenes in the 'before' when the threesome is just meeting, developing their relationship, up to the accident, and then 'after' which is several years later. It's filled with a heartache you will completely feel as we learn how much they loved and lost. It's also filled with hope as Vivia, Creed and Halston never stopped loving each other even when the world was against them (well really just Halston's family - if you need to add side characters/family to despise to a list, add the Saint Claires for sure!)

Every bit of the relationship development, including the spicy scenes, is very emotionally driven. This is definitely more focused on plot than spice, but the scenes that are included are powerful. It connects the characters in ways you will feel with your whole being. As I mentioned above, Claudia writes so beautifully, you will feel like you're in the room with them, feel their longing, their hurt, their fear, and their love. It also brings up real-world problems for a throuple that the world won't recognize.

The Lies We Play is a standalone (isn't listed as part of a series) however characters from Lost In Overtime pop up, especially near the end (the FMC in that book is Creed's sister).

The only complaint I have is that I want more of their 'future'. It is certainly a happy ending and they are finding a new normal. But maybe an extended epilogue, Claudia?? Please?

[LeMiliere]

I'm still thinking about this book days after finishing it, It captured my attention, drew me in and kept me enthralled until the very end. It's a love story with a difference; it started as a three-way friendship between professional hockey player Creed and college students Livia and Halston. Creed and Livia met first because they lived in the same building and became friends. Then Liv met Halston in a bar whilst texting Creed, telling him she thought the two guys would like each other, so to join them after the game.

This three-way friendship turned into a triad love affair. An affair they kept secret for three years, each for different reasons. But the day finally came when, for legal reasons, Halston needed to be married. Under the law, a marriage licence could only take place between two people and only bear two signatures, so Halston and Liv married with Creed acting as their witness. Although, all three made very sincere and emotional vows to each other that day. Their marriage is later torn apart following an arranged accident and a cover-up by Halston's family.

While the rings, promises, and vows represent the core truth of their bond, after the accident her parents try to convince Livia it was just trauma talking. Halston has no memory of them and is placed under a Conservatorship by his family, and poor Creed, who remembers everything, can't reach either of them.

Their story jumps back and forth between "then" and "now", now being the present and then being ten years before and is told by all three of them. This is one of the most emotional books I have listened to; the characters are wonderfully well-drawn by Claudia and brought to life by very talented narrators. Grace Grant is perfect as Liv; Stephen Borne portrays Halston, although personally I thought he sounded a little too old. My favourite character, Creed, is brought to life superbly by Robert Hatchet.

They do eventually manage to reunite, and it's then that one of the most moving and memorable statements in their story is made by Halston after he has regained his memory: “I love you. Both of you. Not equally, because love is not math. Completely. Differently. With everything I was before you, everything I am because of you, and everything I will become with you.” If ever three people deserved their happy ever after, it was Liv, Halston and Creed!