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Safe Harbor #1
Tangled Lies
Orphaned as a child in Russia, boat captain Sasha Petrov has spent most of her life adrift, anchored by only her loving foster family. So when they beg her to return to the family marina in Safe Harbor, Florida, for Mama Rosa’s sixtieth birthday, Sasha complies, hoping to put the past behind her. But Mama Rosa has other she wants her three foster daughters to find Tony, the biological son who disappeared twenty years earlier.
Sasha agrees to try, but that’s easier said than done when bad boy Jesse Claybourne shows up, reigniting an old attraction. Back in Safe Harbor on a quest of his own, Jesse gets tangled up in Sasha’s search, and soon the two are close to uncovering an old town secret that some will stop at nothing to protect.
When Sasha’s dog and Jesse are attacked, they realize the past is hiding something more sinister than they ever imagined. Can they expose the truth without destroying Sasha’s family and breaking each other’s hearts, or are they sailing against the wind?
Sasha agrees to try, but that’s easier said than done when bad boy Jesse Claybourne shows up, reigniting an old attraction. Back in Safe Harbor on a quest of his own, Jesse gets tangled up in Sasha’s search, and soon the two are close to uncovering an old town secret that some will stop at nothing to protect.
When Sasha’s dog and Jesse are attacked, they realize the past is hiding something more sinister than they ever imagined. Can they expose the truth without destroying Sasha’s family and breaking each other’s hearts, or are they sailing against the wind?
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2016
125 people are currently reading
635 people want to read
About the author
Connie Mann
15 books231 followersConnie Mann loves taking readers on heart-pounding, suspense-filled adventures featuring strong, determined women who fight for what they believe – and for those they love. Her Speranza Team novels center around a modern-day secret society of women who travel the globe helping other women, especially those trying to make the world a better place.
Connie is also the author of the Florida Wildlife Warriors series, the Safe Harbor series, Angel Falls and Trapped. She has won several writing awards and loves encouraging writers through mentoring and writing workshops.
Connie has been a USCG-licensed boat captain for 20 years and gets to introduce Florida visitors to dolphins and manatees, which is as much fun as it sounds. She is also passionate about helping women and children in developing countries break the poverty cycle through education and entrepreneurship.
She and her husband love spending time with family and friends and exploring new places, especially if they involve water and boats. Visit Connie online at www.conniemann.com and sign up for her newsletter for all the latest news.
Connie is also the author of the Florida Wildlife Warriors series, the Safe Harbor series, Angel Falls and Trapped. She has won several writing awards and loves encouraging writers through mentoring and writing workshops.
Connie has been a USCG-licensed boat captain for 20 years and gets to introduce Florida visitors to dolphins and manatees, which is as much fun as it sounds. She is also passionate about helping women and children in developing countries break the poverty cycle through education and entrepreneurship.
She and her husband love spending time with family and friends and exploring new places, especially if they involve water and boats. Visit Connie online at www.conniemann.com and sign up for her newsletter for all the latest news.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
May 25, 2016
Sasha is at home when she is on the water. When her current job ends due to a difference in opinion about her relationship with the captain, he thinks they have one and she does not, she returns home to Safe Harbor in time for her mother’s birthday only to find out she has cancer. She decides to stay and help if she can. While she is trying to settle in her mother asks her to find out what happened to Tony, her missing brother who had drowned but whose body had never been found. Throw in her attraction to Jesse, who has also returned home after many years and who the town is not happy to see. He has inherited his late aunt’s boat and he is determined to race it. This is a great read with a little romance and a lot of mystery. I would like to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.
May 7, 2016
I had never read a book by Ms Mann so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Let me say it was a great story filled with suspense, family relationships, characters’ insecurities and romance. Not a dull moment and it certainly held my attention.
The story centers around Sasha Petrov , Jesse Claybourne, and Sasha’s adoptive family.
Sasha is a boat captain .She has always been restless and doesn’t want to get close to people , for fear that she will hurt them. Her mother is ill and Sasha returns home for her Mother’s birthday and to help for a while.
Jesse Claybourne, a friend with whom she shared an attraction, is back in town after having had some bad luck and now is determined to win a boat race and start a racing team in Safe Harbor.
The characters are complex, and the plot thickens when Sasha’s mother asks her to find out what happened to Tony , the son that was presumed to have drowned but whose body was never recovered , as well as to who doesn’t want Jesse to participate in the race.
Be ready for a bumpy ride where you never know what’s around the corner.
+This book was gifted for an honest review and trust me , this one is!
September 5, 2016
When I read Connie Mann's book, Angel Falls, I knew I wanted to read more of her books. And after finishing this one, Tangled Lies, I was not disappointed.
Sasha Petrov, foster daughter of Sal and Mama Rosa, goes home to Florida after hearing Mama Rosa has cancer and not doing well. She is surprised when she is not welcomed by nearly everyone in town. She also sees that a high school friend, Jesse Claybourne, is back in town and he is also very unwelcome.
Mama Rosa gives Sasha a task to do and from then on, being unwelcome is just a drop in the bucket. People want her and Jesse both dead. What is going on? It seems as if the entire town is keeping a secret that folks will kill to keep secret.
Connie Mann has created wonderful characters, a great setting and a truly super mystery. Two, actually. I enjoyed every single minute, racing to finish because I just HAD to know the ending of the mystery! I recommend this book and I don't think you'll be disappointed.
*I was given a copy of this book via Net Galley in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.
Sasha Petrov, foster daughter of Sal and Mama Rosa, goes home to Florida after hearing Mama Rosa has cancer and not doing well. She is surprised when she is not welcomed by nearly everyone in town. She also sees that a high school friend, Jesse Claybourne, is back in town and he is also very unwelcome.
Mama Rosa gives Sasha a task to do and from then on, being unwelcome is just a drop in the bucket. People want her and Jesse both dead. What is going on? It seems as if the entire town is keeping a secret that folks will kill to keep secret.
Connie Mann has created wonderful characters, a great setting and a truly super mystery. Two, actually. I enjoyed every single minute, racing to finish because I just HAD to know the ending of the mystery! I recommend this book and I don't think you'll be disappointed.
*I was given a copy of this book via Net Galley in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.
May 18, 2016
~ Thank goodness I received advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. ~
Sasha Petrov lived by the tides, floating wherever the winds took her.
As can happen to the best of us, after leaving home in a huff, Sasha avoided going back, trading family entanglements for life on the high seas. With each day that passed, the avoidance just got easier. Luckily, she answered the call home before it was too late. After arriving, guilt plagued her that she hadn’t known about her foster mother illness.
Without giving away too many spoilers, an impossible task is asked of Sasha and her foster sisters, one that is met with skepticism, obstacles, and downright danger. When even the man she’s known most of her life as her father tries to discourage her, the tangled web that Sasha faces intensifies.
Enter Jesse. The boy next door that everyone loved turned bad boy ex-con. Or had he? Sparks reignite between he and Sasha and before long, he’s tangled up tight. Add a loyal dog, a younger foster sister with an attitude larger than the Gulf of Mexico, and cantankerous boat captains, all getting wrapped up together with lies and secrets over two decades old, and you have all the makings of an intriguing adventure.
Connie Mann’s books never disappointment – the depths of her stories keep you hanging on every word until you’ve reached the very last page. Warning: don’t start this book in the evening if you have to work the next day – you will not be able to put it down!
I am so happy to recommend this book to anyone wanting a great read. This book will have your heart racing, anger rising, and emotions jumping through hoops.
Sasha Petrov lived by the tides, floating wherever the winds took her.
As can happen to the best of us, after leaving home in a huff, Sasha avoided going back, trading family entanglements for life on the high seas. With each day that passed, the avoidance just got easier. Luckily, she answered the call home before it was too late. After arriving, guilt plagued her that she hadn’t known about her foster mother illness.
Without giving away too many spoilers, an impossible task is asked of Sasha and her foster sisters, one that is met with skepticism, obstacles, and downright danger. When even the man she’s known most of her life as her father tries to discourage her, the tangled web that Sasha faces intensifies.
Enter Jesse. The boy next door that everyone loved turned bad boy ex-con. Or had he? Sparks reignite between he and Sasha and before long, he’s tangled up tight. Add a loyal dog, a younger foster sister with an attitude larger than the Gulf of Mexico, and cantankerous boat captains, all getting wrapped up together with lies and secrets over two decades old, and you have all the makings of an intriguing adventure.
Connie Mann’s books never disappointment – the depths of her stories keep you hanging on every word until you’ve reached the very last page. Warning: don’t start this book in the evening if you have to work the next day – you will not be able to put it down!
I am so happy to recommend this book to anyone wanting a great read. This book will have your heart racing, anger rising, and emotions jumping through hoops.
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May 15, 2016Just having finished Connie Mann's Tangled Lies, I am sitting in my chair and waiting for my racing heart to still. This story is about water and a woman captain, Sasha,whose heart is calmed by being on the water. However, there is nothing calm or boring about this novel. Sasha finally returns home to her foster parents' to celebrate her mother's birthday, only to discover her mother has cancer. Plus her folks have a new foster daughter, Blaze, as prickly as Sasha once was.
To add to Sasha's confusion is the return of an old friend, Jesse, whom the town has rejected because of his past. Together, the two try to solve the mystery of Sasha's missing brother Tony, who disappeared as a toddler. Can they trust each other enough to open up and work together or will feelings and regrets get in the way?
Connie had me flipping pages as fast as I could to see why the town was so unhappy over Jesse's return and why there were so many secrets surrounding Tony's disappearance. The suspense hangs palpable over the novel like a dense fog that refuses to clear until the very end. A satisfying, clean romance is sprinkled throughout, but it is the unexpected waves of action, the subterfuge, and the totally shocking conclusion that makes this tome a favorite!!
I gratefully received an ARC copy of this ebook both from the author and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
To add to Sasha's confusion is the return of an old friend, Jesse, whom the town has rejected because of his past. Together, the two try to solve the mystery of Sasha's missing brother Tony, who disappeared as a toddler. Can they trust each other enough to open up and work together or will feelings and regrets get in the way?
Connie had me flipping pages as fast as I could to see why the town was so unhappy over Jesse's return and why there were so many secrets surrounding Tony's disappearance. The suspense hangs palpable over the novel like a dense fog that refuses to clear until the very end. A satisfying, clean romance is sprinkled throughout, but it is the unexpected waves of action, the subterfuge, and the totally shocking conclusion that makes this tome a favorite!!
I gratefully received an ARC copy of this ebook both from the author and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read
May 14, 2016I enjoyed reading Tangled Lies...so much so that I did not want to stop reading!! Unlike other books, the story and characters are believable, I felt connected to their lives and I wanted to know more. Connie weaves her boat captain life into the story helping the story and characters to be believable. There are twists and turns to the story that I was not expecting. Tangled Lies is an excellent read and I would recommend it to any one that loves a good page turner filled with suspense and some romance as well! I truly was "swept away!" I'm hoping for a sequel so that we can continue to follow what happens in the lives of Jesse & Sasha!
May 20, 2016
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and it was a Page Turner!
When Sasha Petrov returns home, she finds her foster mom fighting cancer and in need of answers about the son she lost. Reunited with her high school crush, Jesse, who has also returned home, inheriting his late aunt’s boat and house, Sasha determines to solve a decades old mystery. Together, they will uncover the truth, but not without risking it all.
Connie Mann skillfully weaves a web of secrets, lies, and escalating danger that kept me in a state of anxiety. I simply had to know what was going to happen next.
Great pacing, action, and a love story that tugs on the heartstrings, I really wanted these two damaged souls to have a happy ending! And how cool to find a story with a female boat captain!
When Sasha Petrov returns home, she finds her foster mom fighting cancer and in need of answers about the son she lost. Reunited with her high school crush, Jesse, who has also returned home, inheriting his late aunt’s boat and house, Sasha determines to solve a decades old mystery. Together, they will uncover the truth, but not without risking it all.
Connie Mann skillfully weaves a web of secrets, lies, and escalating danger that kept me in a state of anxiety. I simply had to know what was going to happen next.
Great pacing, action, and a love story that tugs on the heartstrings, I really wanted these two damaged souls to have a happy ending! And how cool to find a story with a female boat captain!
May 10, 2016
I was given this book in advance for an honest review. I enjoyed it so much that I pre-ordered a copy off Amazon so I could make sure my local library has a copy.
Filled with complex characters, an engaging mystery, and a story that keeps you turning pages into the wee small hours of the night because you just have to know what happens next.
Great read!
Filled with complex characters, an engaging mystery, and a story that keeps you turning pages into the wee small hours of the night because you just have to know what happens next.
Great read!
August 6, 2016
I haven’t read anything by Connie Mann before, so I can’t compare this novel in terms of the author’s other books, but I’m disappointed to say this one hasn’t inspired me to check them out. It was a combination of factors in this case; several aspects of the story and writing that prevented it from coming together as a compelling whole.
The main thrust of the plot is the search for Mama Rosa and Pops’ biological son who disappeared twenty years ago, when he was just a toddler. The case was ruled an accidental death – it was presumed he fell into the lake and drowned – but his body was never found, and Mama Rosa is convinced he is still alive. She asks her three eldest foster daughters to help look for Tony, but it is largely Sasha who takes up the search, assisted by Jesse Claybourne and another troubled teen Mama Rosa and Pops have taken in, ‘Blaze’.
Jesse Claybourne hasn’t been back to Safe Harbor for several years, but his arrest for possession of drugs was big news with the locals, so he doesn’t exactly receive a warm welcome. But he doesn’t want to cause any trouble; just use his aunt’s slip at the marina to work on The Painted Lady before he races her in the Tropicana in a few weeks - a race he needs to win in order to keep a promise to a friend.
As Sasha begins to investigate what happened the day Tony disappeared, it becomes obvious that many, Pops included, would prefer that she didn’t dredge up the past; a little too obvious, in my opinion. One of the things that niggled away at me throughout this book was the lack of subtlety or sophistication to the characters' actions and dialogue. Characters who didn’t like Jesse and/or Sasha’s questions either voiced their opinions quite freely, or had very obvious non-verbal reactions – often a particular emotion that ‘flashed’ in their eyes, or a nervous look, etc. Perhaps this was all in the name of showing rather than telling, but it was all too 'on the nose' for me.
The author seemed to take the same approach to showing the tension between Sasha and her sisters, and Sasha and Jesse. Sasha and her sisters therefore came across as snarky, which was not at all endearing, and Sasha flip-flopped between being attracted to Jesse and pushing him away, without any particular rhyme or reason as to why. It didn't help that many of their romantic interactions felt forced or contrived, with no build up to lead into them.
Another disappointing aspect was that I didn’t feel the emotional connection between Sasha and Jesse. Their attraction to one another seemed more physical than emotional, and was occasionally expressed in ways that crossed the line to inappropriate for me, particularly for a book classified as 'Christian Fiction'. For example, Jesse thinks Sasha has a body that ‘screams to be touched’, and when Sasha jokes that Jesse is getting the locals riled up about her virtue (because they were overtly flirting in public) Jesse replies, “I like your virtue. I want to get all kinds of familiar with your virtue, just so you know.” I think there are times when it’s realistic to acknowledge sexual attraction, but I also think there are more subtle and respectful ways to do it.
Neither Jesse nor Sasha really showed any personal growth through the course of the novel. I actually found it difficult to connect with Sasha’s character. There were a few times when I thought her attitude to others was uncharitable (eg: trying not to stare at how much weight a former cheerleader had gained), and the constant ‘accidental’ letting down of her family by never hearing her phone ring, or forgetting about promises got a bit old.
The last thing I’ll mention is the suspense plot itself. It just didn’t grab me. It has its moments, but half of the suspense came from Jesse’s and Sasha’s constant ‘feeling’ that ‘something wasn’t right’ or that they were being watched, and many of the clues were too obvious. The resolution to the mystery of Tony’s disappearance did hold one surprise for me, but it was a little underwhelming on the whole.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
The main thrust of the plot is the search for Mama Rosa and Pops’ biological son who disappeared twenty years ago, when he was just a toddler. The case was ruled an accidental death – it was presumed he fell into the lake and drowned – but his body was never found, and Mama Rosa is convinced he is still alive. She asks her three eldest foster daughters to help look for Tony, but it is largely Sasha who takes up the search, assisted by Jesse Claybourne and another troubled teen Mama Rosa and Pops have taken in, ‘Blaze’.
Jesse Claybourne hasn’t been back to Safe Harbor for several years, but his arrest for possession of drugs was big news with the locals, so he doesn’t exactly receive a warm welcome. But he doesn’t want to cause any trouble; just use his aunt’s slip at the marina to work on The Painted Lady before he races her in the Tropicana in a few weeks - a race he needs to win in order to keep a promise to a friend.
As Sasha begins to investigate what happened the day Tony disappeared, it becomes obvious that many, Pops included, would prefer that she didn’t dredge up the past; a little too obvious, in my opinion. One of the things that niggled away at me throughout this book was the lack of subtlety or sophistication to the characters' actions and dialogue. Characters who didn’t like Jesse and/or Sasha’s questions either voiced their opinions quite freely, or had very obvious non-verbal reactions – often a particular emotion that ‘flashed’ in their eyes, or a nervous look, etc. Perhaps this was all in the name of showing rather than telling, but it was all too 'on the nose' for me.
The author seemed to take the same approach to showing the tension between Sasha and her sisters, and Sasha and Jesse. Sasha and her sisters therefore came across as snarky, which was not at all endearing, and Sasha flip-flopped between being attracted to Jesse and pushing him away, without any particular rhyme or reason as to why. It didn't help that many of their romantic interactions felt forced or contrived, with no build up to lead into them.
Another disappointing aspect was that I didn’t feel the emotional connection between Sasha and Jesse. Their attraction to one another seemed more physical than emotional, and was occasionally expressed in ways that crossed the line to inappropriate for me, particularly for a book classified as 'Christian Fiction'. For example, Jesse thinks Sasha has a body that ‘screams to be touched’, and when Sasha jokes that Jesse is getting the locals riled up about her virtue (because they were overtly flirting in public) Jesse replies, “I like your virtue. I want to get all kinds of familiar with your virtue, just so you know.” I think there are times when it’s realistic to acknowledge sexual attraction, but I also think there are more subtle and respectful ways to do it.
Neither Jesse nor Sasha really showed any personal growth through the course of the novel. I actually found it difficult to connect with Sasha’s character. There were a few times when I thought her attitude to others was uncharitable (eg: trying not to stare at how much weight a former cheerleader had gained), and the constant ‘accidental’ letting down of her family by never hearing her phone ring, or forgetting about promises got a bit old.
The last thing I’ll mention is the suspense plot itself. It just didn’t grab me. It has its moments, but half of the suspense came from Jesse’s and Sasha’s constant ‘feeling’ that ‘something wasn’t right’ or that they were being watched, and many of the clues were too obvious. The resolution to the mystery of Tony’s disappearance did hold one surprise for me, but it was a little underwhelming on the whole.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
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May 20, 2016Review for Tangled Lies
Connie Mann, author
Sasha was orphaned as a child in Russia, then became a foster child in Florida. She always felt responsible for her family’s death. Her anchor was her foster parents, yet she tended to drift away when she grew older. Her love of the sea drove her to get her license as a boat captain.
When her foster mother’s sixtieth birthday arrives and she learns she has cancer, Sasha returns home. She doesn’t plan to stay in Safe Harbor, but Mama has plans for her foster daughters. She wants them to find her son who disappeared at the age of three. Sasha is determined to find the boy after twenty some years, but someone is determined to make her quit looking into the lies of the small town.
Jesse returns back to Safe Harbor when his aunt dies and he inherits his aunt’s house and belongings. He spent time in prison for something he didn’t do. When he returns, he learns people don’t want him there.
Sasha has always been drawn to bad boy Jessie, and seeing him again drags up all those old feelings. When Sasha’s dog, Jesse and Sasha are all attacked, they know there’s a secret in the town, and they are determined to learn what it is, unless someone kills them first.
This is a wonderfully weaved story with lots of twists and turns, making you want to know what’s next. It is a hard book to put down. Will Sasha break Jesse’s heart again? Will they be able to expose the truth without destroying Sasha’s family?
Connie weaves a great story that I recommend you read.
Connie Mann, author
Sasha was orphaned as a child in Russia, then became a foster child in Florida. She always felt responsible for her family’s death. Her anchor was her foster parents, yet she tended to drift away when she grew older. Her love of the sea drove her to get her license as a boat captain.
When her foster mother’s sixtieth birthday arrives and she learns she has cancer, Sasha returns home. She doesn’t plan to stay in Safe Harbor, but Mama has plans for her foster daughters. She wants them to find her son who disappeared at the age of three. Sasha is determined to find the boy after twenty some years, but someone is determined to make her quit looking into the lies of the small town.
Jesse returns back to Safe Harbor when his aunt dies and he inherits his aunt’s house and belongings. He spent time in prison for something he didn’t do. When he returns, he learns people don’t want him there.
Sasha has always been drawn to bad boy Jessie, and seeing him again drags up all those old feelings. When Sasha’s dog, Jesse and Sasha are all attacked, they know there’s a secret in the town, and they are determined to learn what it is, unless someone kills them first.
This is a wonderfully weaved story with lots of twists and turns, making you want to know what’s next. It is a hard book to put down. Will Sasha break Jesse’s heart again? Will they be able to expose the truth without destroying Sasha’s family?
Connie weaves a great story that I recommend you read.
May 24, 2016
Tangled Lies is a fabulous story! It has everything I love in a novel: a suspenseful plot with lots of twists and a surprise in the end, a sweet tension-filled romance, and a well-developed cast of characters. Plus it has some really cool factors: the setting is a marina in Florida, the heroine is a boat captain, and the hero races a vintage boat. I'm sure you'll root for Sasha & Jesse like I did. You won't be disappointed!
I received an advance reading copy for an honest review.
I received an advance reading copy for an honest review.
May 16, 2016
Connie Mann's newest, TANGLED LIES, more than lives up to its title. From the first page to the last, I was engaged, and each twist kept me guessing. I was completely floored by the unexpected ending, and I'm looking forward to the sequel.
Fast paced with lots of twists and turns, coupled with characters we care about, TANGLED LIES is well worth the read.
Fast paced with lots of twists and turns, coupled with characters we care about, TANGLED LIES is well worth the read.
May 17, 2016
I do like romantic suspense novels and just finished advanced copy of your novel, well done, I loved reading it and I am going to go back and read some more of your work. Great new novel! --mm--
October 13, 2017
A LITTLE SLOW BUT A PRETTY GOOD MYSTERY, JUST LIKE REAL LIFE ALL THE GOOD PEOPLE STRUGGLE WHILE THE BAD PEOPLE KEEP ON BEING BAD. WHAT A HORRIBLE LITTLE TOWN, THE RESIDENTS ARE RATHER SCARY, I HATED THEM ALL. A LITLE OVERKILL IN THE BAD STUFF HAPPENING DEPARTMENT; BEATINGS, CHOKING, SHOOTING, BOMBS, POISONING, DRUGGING, ATTEMPTED DROWNING, BOW/ARROWS AND KIDNAPPING. IT IS A PLACE I DON’T WANT TO VISIT OR DRIVE THRU EVER, I’D GO AROUND IT, NO MATTER HOW MUCH EXTRA TIME IT TOOK. ;>
June 2, 2016
It's been a couple hours since I finished reading Tangled Lies by Connie Mann (which I picked up free for review from NetGalley.com). At first, I was very satisfied with the ending. Now I'm left with the curious feeling that there could be more. I always feel that about happy-ever-afters. But I'm left wanting more from the characters. I wonder how mom will be, I wonder about the rebellious teen. I'm trying really hard not to give spoilers here. Needless to say, I want more.
In the tags, this book is described as a Christian fiction. And that element was there but it didn't feel like the author was proselytizing and it didn't seem preachy. What I came away with was that these felt like real characters who just happen to have a certain belief system. But they used their heads to figure out problems, they were flawed and tried to be better people. By the way, we never get to see the reasons the bad guys are the bad guys. But it felt okay not knowing as we viewed the world through the main character, Sasha and her male counterpart, Jesse. Information the reader gets is from their eyes.
Oh, the other thing in the tags, romance. Yeah, it was there but it was adult and independent rather than the codependent garbage usually out there. I not only didn't mind it, I was happy with the process of watching two people navigate love's waters. See what I did there? A book about sea captains?
Which brings me to the next element. The water, boats and captains. YAY! I was very impressed with the female, Captain Sasha, and her skills (the author is a captain so knows a thing or two about that life).
My favorite parts of the book were who rescues whom, when and how each of the main characters deal with their lives, and how they struggle to survive what life throws at them.
Throw in a sassy teen sister, and a loving mother who has cancer and you have a story with depth. The author kept me interested, sometimes wishing I could read faster to see what happens next.
I highly recommend this book if you like mystery and suspense. Great job, Captain!
In the tags, this book is described as a Christian fiction. And that element was there but it didn't feel like the author was proselytizing and it didn't seem preachy. What I came away with was that these felt like real characters who just happen to have a certain belief system. But they used their heads to figure out problems, they were flawed and tried to be better people. By the way, we never get to see the reasons the bad guys are the bad guys. But it felt okay not knowing as we viewed the world through the main character, Sasha and her male counterpart, Jesse. Information the reader gets is from their eyes.
Oh, the other thing in the tags, romance. Yeah, it was there but it was adult and independent rather than the codependent garbage usually out there. I not only didn't mind it, I was happy with the process of watching two people navigate love's waters. See what I did there? A book about sea captains?
Which brings me to the next element. The water, boats and captains. YAY! I was very impressed with the female, Captain Sasha, and her skills (the author is a captain so knows a thing or two about that life).
My favorite parts of the book were who rescues whom, when and how each of the main characters deal with their lives, and how they struggle to survive what life throws at them.
Throw in a sassy teen sister, and a loving mother who has cancer and you have a story with depth. The author kept me interested, sometimes wishing I could read faster to see what happens next.
I highly recommend this book if you like mystery and suspense. Great job, Captain!
May 24, 2016
If you love mysteries, this book is definitely for you. Personally, I’m a sucker for the romance, but I couldn’t put this book down! And Sasha and Jesse were wonderful, trust me, but it was the mystery! Where’s Tony? Who is threatening Sasha? Who (spoiler) IS ATTACKING BELLA, THE MOST PERFECT DOG IN THE UNIVERSE? I kid you not, I read 88% of this book on Sunday afternoon. I really wanted to watch Gilmore Girls (Jess, I need you in my life) but I couldn’t pull up Netflix with all the action and intrigue going on in this book! Connie! LOVE!
This book switches back and forth between Sasha’s and Jesse’s point of views, and I liked that tone a lot more than I have in the past. Both characters have some very real internal struggles that affect their decision-making and actions in the book, and I liked that we saw it from an outsider’s perspective, and then later got the explanation and understood the situation through a different set of eyes. Really interesting way to write a story, especially with all that happens in the town of Safe Harbor, Florida.
One thing that I really loved about this book was the focus on boats and marinas and captaining (word? Using it). Connie is a licensed boat captain (because why limit yourself to being incredible at one thing) and truly poured her expertise into the pages of her book. I’ve been out on the lake a couple of times with some friends, but Sasha and Jesse’s story revolves around the world of a shore-side marina town. (Is that a thing? I’m making it a thing.) Connie does a fantastic job of giving the details about steering a ship in a storm and prepping for a chartered fishing trip, while at the same time, not rambling about tiny specifics so that the ignorant (read: me) disengage and become disinterested. I’ve never read a book that revolved so much around boats, and I really enjoyed it as a setting!
This was a quick read, as the plot pulls you in quickly and doesn't let go. I really enjoyed reading Sasha and Jesse's story, and my fingers are crossed for more!
This book switches back and forth between Sasha’s and Jesse’s point of views, and I liked that tone a lot more than I have in the past. Both characters have some very real internal struggles that affect their decision-making and actions in the book, and I liked that we saw it from an outsider’s perspective, and then later got the explanation and understood the situation through a different set of eyes. Really interesting way to write a story, especially with all that happens in the town of Safe Harbor, Florida.
One thing that I really loved about this book was the focus on boats and marinas and captaining (word? Using it). Connie is a licensed boat captain (because why limit yourself to being incredible at one thing) and truly poured her expertise into the pages of her book. I’ve been out on the lake a couple of times with some friends, but Sasha and Jesse’s story revolves around the world of a shore-side marina town. (Is that a thing? I’m making it a thing.) Connie does a fantastic job of giving the details about steering a ship in a storm and prepping for a chartered fishing trip, while at the same time, not rambling about tiny specifics so that the ignorant (read: me) disengage and become disinterested. I’ve never read a book that revolved so much around boats, and I really enjoyed it as a setting!
This was a quick read, as the plot pulls you in quickly and doesn't let go. I really enjoyed reading Sasha and Jesse's story, and my fingers are crossed for more!
June 2, 2016
Sasha Petrov is a very likable main character in the book Tangled Lies. She is comfortable in the position of licensed boat captain, whether leading a chartered fishing tour, hauling cargo, or competing in a speed race. In fact, she is more comfortable in that role than in relating to family and potential romantic interests. Orphaned as a girl, her past hampers her current relationships but not her efforts to help those she loves.
Tangled Lies is one of those books you just don’t want to put down. The “tangled lies” make the reader want to return for more of the extreme adventure, mystery, and romance that would seem unbelievable for a small town setting. It is, actually, the unhealthy closeness of the denizens of little Safe Harbor, Florida, and its marina that make the playing out of this puzzle believable. As a reader, I wanted to know the answers to the odd intermingling of hateful attitudes and violent events in what was ostensibly pleasant small town America, but I was afraid to have the motives revealed.
Connie Man is a Christian author which, in this case, means characters who approach real issues in their lives without profanity and with self-imposed limitations on their sexual relationships. It more importantly means that they trust in God as their source of strength during difficult times. They have personal issues to work through, but they admit their weaknesses and try to do what is right.
Tangled Lies is Ms. Mann’s third novel. She is a boat captain in Florida herself, lending authenticity to this work.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to the publisher Waterfall Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Tangled Lies is one of those books you just don’t want to put down. The “tangled lies” make the reader want to return for more of the extreme adventure, mystery, and romance that would seem unbelievable for a small town setting. It is, actually, the unhealthy closeness of the denizens of little Safe Harbor, Florida, and its marina that make the playing out of this puzzle believable. As a reader, I wanted to know the answers to the odd intermingling of hateful attitudes and violent events in what was ostensibly pleasant small town America, but I was afraid to have the motives revealed.
Connie Man is a Christian author which, in this case, means characters who approach real issues in their lives without profanity and with self-imposed limitations on their sexual relationships. It more importantly means that they trust in God as their source of strength during difficult times. They have personal issues to work through, but they admit their weaknesses and try to do what is right.
Tangled Lies is Ms. Mann’s third novel. She is a boat captain in Florida herself, lending authenticity to this work.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to the publisher Waterfall Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
May 3, 2018
Tangled Lies is a romantic suspense that held my attention from the first page to the end and kept me wondering what was going on in the gulf coastal town of Safe Harbor, Florida. Sasha Petrov grew up in the small town as a foster child of Sal and Rosa Martinelli along with two other foster sisters where the family owned a marina. The family now has another teenager living with them. Sasha loved growing up on the water and went on to become a boat captain. She returns home for Mama Rosa's sixtieth birthday party after leaving a job in Washington state. Mama Rosa is undergoing treatment for cancer and wants her girls to find out what happened twenty three years ago to her and Sal's three old son that went missing. Sasha starts investigating the situation but she meets a lot of resistance from the townspeople. They are protective of what happened that day for some reason. Even Sal wants to stop Sasha from investigating the situation. An old boyfriend, Jesse, is also back in town. He and Sasha rekindle their friendship and work together to try to figure out what happened all those years ago. Jesse spent a short time in jail accused of being involved in drugs although he was innocent and released when his partner admitted as much. But the townspeople don't want him around. There are strange things going on in this town and lives are in danger. This is a great story with romance, suspense, danger, family love, faith and twist at the end.
June 6, 2018
This series is about 3 women who grew up foster kids to Rosa and Sal Martinelli. Each had something traumatic happen in their childhoods that they still carry with them today as grown women.
Sasha Petrov is from Russia. Her childhood left her with huge commitment phobia's. She loves the sea and manning boats at the Captain. When her current captain's job ends with her quitting at the same time Mama Rosa is having a 60th birthday celebration she decides its time to go back home to Safe Harbor.
What she didn't expect was to find Mama Rosa in poor health and a old childhood fling return to town. And if that wasn't stressful enough Mama Rosa asks her “daughters” to find her only biological son that was kidnapped 20 years ago.
What no one knows is there is some nefarious things going on in Safe Harbor that with both the return of Jesse and Sasha's looking into the disappearance puts everyone in danger.
This ones ends with one heck of a surprise twist..
Sasha Petrov is from Russia. Her childhood left her with huge commitment phobia's. She loves the sea and manning boats at the Captain. When her current captain's job ends with her quitting at the same time Mama Rosa is having a 60th birthday celebration she decides its time to go back home to Safe Harbor.
What she didn't expect was to find Mama Rosa in poor health and a old childhood fling return to town. And if that wasn't stressful enough Mama Rosa asks her “daughters” to find her only biological son that was kidnapped 20 years ago.
What no one knows is there is some nefarious things going on in Safe Harbor that with both the return of Jesse and Sasha's looking into the disappearance puts everyone in danger.
This ones ends with one heck of a surprise twist..
June 2, 2016
I was very pleased with this book, given to me to read since the author will be visiting our library in June. I really enjoyed this suspense novel with a light romantic story. It kept me engaged and I love the Florida location.
May 19, 2016
I enjoyed the romance mystery.
January 17, 2022
This was an editor's choice...
Frankly. I expected to be disappointed.
However, Ms. Mann, your terrific novel converted me to a fan, of you,😐 not the editors!
This is truly a moving, convoluted, suspenseful romantic novel. Until the very end, I had absolutely no clue. Excellent marks for shocking me! I read so much, rarely am I surprised!
Sasha is an amazing character, multi-dimensional, yet a convoluted individual. You truly do not expect her to do things, impetuous woman, but then, she also is completely unsure and fearful based on her past.
She singlehandedly does the one thing her foster asked of her, with twists, backstabbing small town, and small town mentality, they never forget one tiny thing, and guilty even when innocent.
She reconnects with the man she had some feelings for in high school, many years later. He too is painted with a brush of past events, whether true or not. Together, with her young teenage foster sister they turn a small town on it ears.
While a very convoluted novel, Ms. Mann does not lead on a path we cannot follow. Throughout the novel, we begin to understand Sasha and her man, family, small town mentality (yes I live in one, this exists), and perseverance through love.
I completely fell in love with Sasha, full of baggage, but loves, and an incredibly strong woman who simply cannot give up!
Stellar novel, I'm hope there is another book after this, Ms.Mann I think you know where I am going here ...
I totally loved this novel.
Outstanding Read!
Karen
Frankly. I expected to be disappointed.
However, Ms. Mann, your terrific novel converted me to a fan, of you,😐 not the editors!
This is truly a moving, convoluted, suspenseful romantic novel. Until the very end, I had absolutely no clue. Excellent marks for shocking me! I read so much, rarely am I surprised!
Sasha is an amazing character, multi-dimensional, yet a convoluted individual. You truly do not expect her to do things, impetuous woman, but then, she also is completely unsure and fearful based on her past.
She singlehandedly does the one thing her foster asked of her, with twists, backstabbing small town, and small town mentality, they never forget one tiny thing, and guilty even when innocent.
She reconnects with the man she had some feelings for in high school, many years later. He too is painted with a brush of past events, whether true or not. Together, with her young teenage foster sister they turn a small town on it ears.
While a very convoluted novel, Ms. Mann does not lead on a path we cannot follow. Throughout the novel, we begin to understand Sasha and her man, family, small town mentality (yes I live in one, this exists), and perseverance through love.
I completely fell in love with Sasha, full of baggage, but loves, and an incredibly strong woman who simply cannot give up!
Stellar novel, I'm hope there is another book after this, Ms.Mann I think you know where I am going here ...
I totally loved this novel.
Outstanding Read!
Karen
December 16, 2017
Holes in the story
I listened to this story. Maybe I would have liked it better if I had read it. I'm not sure if I would have. It was intriguing and I hoped it was going to get better as I got further into the story. Spoiler alert. The whole town is against Sasha looking into the case of her missing brother. Who really isn't her brother. While someone is trying to stop her, someone is going after Jesse, her love interest. Ms. Mann had a lot of holes in the story. It made no sense why she and Jesse were trying to be stopped from entering the race. It m made no sense why the missing boys clothes where found in an old refrigerator in a zip lock bag. Why were they shooting arrows at her? Why didn't she have bruises on her neck from nearly being chocked to death? Why didn't the dog bark when a bomb was being planted in the truck? Especially since it were the people who had tried to kill her the night before. Why were they trying to use torpedoes to kill her. Why did they have torpedoes in the first place. And why on earth was Sasha's father friends with the men he knew were responsible for h I s child's disappearance and known drug dealers? Holes every where.
I listened to this story. Maybe I would have liked it better if I had read it. I'm not sure if I would have. It was intriguing and I hoped it was going to get better as I got further into the story. Spoiler alert. The whole town is against Sasha looking into the case of her missing brother. Who really isn't her brother. While someone is trying to stop her, someone is going after Jesse, her love interest. Ms. Mann had a lot of holes in the story. It made no sense why she and Jesse were trying to be stopped from entering the race. It m made no sense why the missing boys clothes where found in an old refrigerator in a zip lock bag. Why were they shooting arrows at her? Why didn't she have bruises on her neck from nearly being chocked to death? Why didn't the dog bark when a bomb was being planted in the truck? Especially since it were the people who had tried to kill her the night before. Why were they trying to use torpedoes to kill her. Why did they have torpedoes in the first place. And why on earth was Sasha's father friends with the men he knew were responsible for h I s child's disappearance and known drug dealers? Holes every where.
August 19, 2017
I would like to thank NetGalley, Waterfall Press, and Connie Mann for an advanced copy of Tangled Lies for an honest review.
Sasha Petrov returns home not only for her ailing Mother's 60th birthday party, but a surprise request. Mama Rosa asks her daughters to find out what happened to her and Sal's biological son Tony who disappeared from the yard 20 years ago. Sasha promises that she will do what she can to find the truth. Reigniting an old friendship with Jesse Clayborn who has also recently returned to Safe Harbor, they work together in search of long hidden clues to her brothers disappearance. I really enjoyed Tangled Lies by Connie Mann and recommend it. This book has it all, suspense, mystery, and romance. Everything to keep you turning pages as Sasha and Jesse fight for their lives in search of the truth.
Sasha Petrov returns home not only for her ailing Mother's 60th birthday party, but a surprise request. Mama Rosa asks her daughters to find out what happened to her and Sal's biological son Tony who disappeared from the yard 20 years ago. Sasha promises that she will do what she can to find the truth. Reigniting an old friendship with Jesse Clayborn who has also recently returned to Safe Harbor, they work together in search of long hidden clues to her brothers disappearance. I really enjoyed Tangled Lies by Connie Mann and recommend it. This book has it all, suspense, mystery, and romance. Everything to keep you turning pages as Sasha and Jesse fight for their lives in search of the truth.
March 23, 2020
Received in a Goodreads giveaway. This was a fast good read (no pun intended).
After abruptly quitting her job, Sasha heads home for her foster mother's 60th birthday. She arrives home to discover Mama Rosa's ill from a relapse of her cancer (of which Sasha wasn't even aware of the original diagnoses). What Mama Rosa wants for her birthday, is for her foster daughters to find out what happened to her biological son, Tony, who disappeared when he was three years old.
By "luck of the draw", the search/research lands on Sasha.
Meanwhile, Jesse Claybourne has inherited his aunt's share of the marina and her vintage speed boat and has returned to Safe Harbor. But, Jesse isn't welcome in Safe Harbor, not after a drug arrest and someone(s) wants him gone.
But, someone wants Sasha to stop as well, and that includes her foster dad, Pop.
After abruptly quitting her job, Sasha heads home for her foster mother's 60th birthday. She arrives home to discover Mama Rosa's ill from a relapse of her cancer (of which Sasha wasn't even aware of the original diagnoses). What Mama Rosa wants for her birthday, is for her foster daughters to find out what happened to her biological son, Tony, who disappeared when he was three years old.
By "luck of the draw", the search/research lands on Sasha.
Meanwhile, Jesse Claybourne has inherited his aunt's share of the marina and her vintage speed boat and has returned to Safe Harbor. But, Jesse isn't welcome in Safe Harbor, not after a drug arrest and someone(s) wants him gone.
But, someone wants Sasha to stop as well, and that includes her foster dad, Pop.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2018
Redundant plot points
How many times can a person be told to get out of town, or to leave the past buried? Well if you want to find out then pick up this book. As a romantic suspense it was a hit and miss story; with too many redundant plot holes to count. Everyone in Safe Harbor doesn’t want the heroine Sasha looking for her long missing foster brother. It’s as if the entire town was in on his abduction or possible drowning. Wow, what a welcoming little town. Then to jailbird Jessie they are just as welcoming despite him owning half the marina. I was honestly bored to while listening to the book, the narrator’s angst ‘teen’ voice was like fingernails on a chalkboard.
I won’t be continuing a series with too much drama and not enough plot.
How many times can a person be told to get out of town, or to leave the past buried? Well if you want to find out then pick up this book. As a romantic suspense it was a hit and miss story; with too many redundant plot holes to count. Everyone in Safe Harbor doesn’t want the heroine Sasha looking for her long missing foster brother. It’s as if the entire town was in on his abduction or possible drowning. Wow, what a welcoming little town. Then to jailbird Jessie they are just as welcoming despite him owning half the marina. I was honestly bored to while listening to the book, the narrator’s angst ‘teen’ voice was like fingernails on a chalkboard.
I won’t be continuing a series with too much drama and not enough plot.
January 20, 2020
Sasha returns to the town she grew up in and to her dying foster mom who only has one request to her three foster daughters and that is to find the fate of her biological son who went missing at three years old. The people in Safe Harbor do not want her investigating at all. She is meant with resistance at every corner. Even her foster father and the missing child's biological father does not want her to investigate. What are the people in this town hiding? Who are they protecting? Who are they afraid of? I had to keep reading to find the answer and to find the fate of the missing child. The child's mother feels in her heart that her son is alive. The book started out slow but picked up the pace rapidly when Sasha started investigating.
November 7, 2018
Is was just a dinner date with Jesse, and yet she was a tangled mess Her gut was in knots and she was acting like a nitwit.They keep trying to pin something on him, to get him out of town. He wasn’t guilty the first time.
A feeling that MaMa has that her first born is out there somewhere.Sasha been asking questions and has gotten people to feel uneasy. Will Sasha find the answer, and bring closure. Enjoyable to see how the three women interact, and brings a nice touch to this story. It is about hopes, family and love that connects them together. Readers will enjoy and the series
A feeling that MaMa has that her first born is out there somewhere.Sasha been asking questions and has gotten people to feel uneasy. Will Sasha find the answer, and bring closure. Enjoyable to see how the three women interact, and brings a nice touch to this story. It is about hopes, family and love that connects them together. Readers will enjoy and the series
April 3, 2019
Lies, not so tangled
This is the first book that I have read by Connie Mann, and it won't be the last. So the two main characters are Sasha and Money Boy aka Jesse. Friends crushed from long ago that meet again at a time in their lives that a little turmoil could be a challenge, and bring so closure to them both. The characters are fun, you can see yourself in them, and you really want them to win.
This is the first book that I have read by Connie Mann, and it won't be the last. So the two main characters are Sasha and Money Boy aka Jesse. Friends crushed from long ago that meet again at a time in their lives that a little turmoil could be a challenge, and bring so closure to them both. The characters are fun, you can see yourself in them, and you really want them to win.
January 27, 2017
Connie Mann's heroine hooked me immediately. I mean, who can resist an orphaned, Russian, boat captain as the female lead in a romantic suspense?? In addition to outstanding characterization, she provides such vivid settings and realism that the book hooks you and doesn't let go until the end. A great read!
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