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Lily's House #1
House Without Lies
Her Dream Didn’t Include Him—Until It Did
Lily has a dream, a dream of a big house without lies, a place of refuge for runaway girls. She knows what it’s like to grow up feeling unloved, and she now fills every space in her tiny apartment with endangered teens. They don’t have everything they need, but together they have enough.
Or so she thinks—until she meets Jameson and glimpses the mysterious something between them that just might mean real love.
Jameson, who works as a teen counselor, believes the only way Lily can really help the girls is by certifying as a foster parent and going through the system. But becoming legitimate may mean losing some of the girls to the families who threw them away, and Lily hasn’t worked hard to save the teens only to abandon them now.
It seems Jameson will be one more entry on the very long list of things Lily has given up for the girls. What other choice is there when she is all they have?
When two of the teens’ fathers come looking for them, and another one’s mother plans to put her daughter in danger, Lily’s life spins out of control. They need a new home—and fast. A safe place. A house without lies.
Editorial note: House Without Lies is a clean, contemporary romance with a satisfying ending (no cliffhanger). There are currently two sequels that tell the stories of other characters connected with Lily’s House: Tell Me No Lies and Your Eyes Don’t Lie. Another novel and several novellas are in the works.
Lily has a dream, a dream of a big house without lies, a place of refuge for runaway girls. She knows what it’s like to grow up feeling unloved, and she now fills every space in her tiny apartment with endangered teens. They don’t have everything they need, but together they have enough.
Or so she thinks—until she meets Jameson and glimpses the mysterious something between them that just might mean real love.
Jameson, who works as a teen counselor, believes the only way Lily can really help the girls is by certifying as a foster parent and going through the system. But becoming legitimate may mean losing some of the girls to the families who threw them away, and Lily hasn’t worked hard to save the teens only to abandon them now.
It seems Jameson will be one more entry on the very long list of things Lily has given up for the girls. What other choice is there when she is all they have?
When two of the teens’ fathers come looking for them, and another one’s mother plans to put her daughter in danger, Lily’s life spins out of control. They need a new home—and fast. A safe place. A house without lies.
Editorial note: House Without Lies is a clean, contemporary romance with a satisfying ending (no cliffhanger). There are currently two sequels that tell the stories of other characters connected with Lily’s House: Tell Me No Lies and Your Eyes Don’t Lie. Another novel and several novellas are in the works.
266 pages, ebook
First published January 12, 2016
1845 people are currently reading
1199 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Branton
32 books72 followersTeyla Rachel Branton grew up avidly reading science fiction and fantasy and watching Star Trek reruns with her large family. They lived on a little farm where she loved to visit the solitary cow and collect (and juggle) the eggs, usually making it back to the house with most of them intact. On that same farm she once owned thirty-three gerbils and eighteen cats, not a good mix, as it turns out. Teyla always had her nose in a book and daydreamed about someday creating her own worlds. She is now married, mostly grown up, and has seven kids, so life at her house can be very interesting (and loud), but writing keeps her sane. She thrives on the energy and daily amusement offered by her children, the semi-ordered chaos giving her a constant source of writing material. Grabbing any snatch of free time from her hectic life, Teyla writes novels full of mystery, romance, and imagination. She warns her children that if they don’t behave, they just might find themselves in her next book! She’s been known to wear pajamas all day when working on a deadline, and is often distracted enough to burn dinner. (Okay, pretty much 90% of the time.) A sign on her office door reads: DANGER. WRITER AT WORK. ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK. She loves writing fiction and traveling, and she hopes to write and travel a lot more. She also loves shooting guns, martial arts, and belly dancing. She has worked in the publishing business for over twenty years.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
April 16, 2016
I really do appreciate a clean romance and this one fits the bill, but I wasn't expected an emotional roller coaster in addition. I'm all about the happily-ever-afters and don't always like to dwell on the fact that there's a lot of crummy things that happen in life to good people.
Lily is born privileged, but decides at a young age that it's her mission in life to rescue and protect those less fortunate than her, namely runaway girls. At the ripe old age of 22, Lily is on the brink of becoming a foster parent, in addition to being guardian to a couple of teen girls. She is an aggressive protector of these girls and will do whatever it takes to keep them from the hands of their dangerous biological parents. Mario (aka "Jameson") is a fellow advocate and assists in ways that Lily couldn't have imagined. He has resources that will benefit her cause in leaps and bounds.
I couldn't help but admire Lily and her efforts, but at the same time, I struggled with believing that someone so young would know how and what to do to help these girls, not to mention being given so much freedom with fostering. Not much older than them, she acts like a mother, but plays the role of a big sister better, but she's very likable, as are the girls. Jameson is a dream come true and his character is very appealing. I love the natural progression of their relationship, especially in relation to their goals. There are some difficult subject matters to deal with and it's handled in an appropriate way.
Content: mild romance (kissing, vague talk of teen pregnancy, making out, sleeping with someone, mild innuendo); moderate violence (descriptions of child abuse--not graphic, but may be disturbing to some, fights). Clean for an older reader.
*I received a copy through eBooks for Review in exchange for an honest review*
Lily is born privileged, but decides at a young age that it's her mission in life to rescue and protect those less fortunate than her, namely runaway girls. At the ripe old age of 22, Lily is on the brink of becoming a foster parent, in addition to being guardian to a couple of teen girls. She is an aggressive protector of these girls and will do whatever it takes to keep them from the hands of their dangerous biological parents. Mario (aka "Jameson") is a fellow advocate and assists in ways that Lily couldn't have imagined. He has resources that will benefit her cause in leaps and bounds.
I couldn't help but admire Lily and her efforts, but at the same time, I struggled with believing that someone so young would know how and what to do to help these girls, not to mention being given so much freedom with fostering. Not much older than them, she acts like a mother, but plays the role of a big sister better, but she's very likable, as are the girls. Jameson is a dream come true and his character is very appealing. I love the natural progression of their relationship, especially in relation to their goals. There are some difficult subject matters to deal with and it's handled in an appropriate way.
Content: mild romance (kissing, vague talk of teen pregnancy, making out, sleeping with someone, mild innuendo); moderate violence (descriptions of child abuse--not graphic, but may be disturbing to some, fights). Clean for an older reader.
*I received a copy through eBooks for Review in exchange for an honest review*
January 14, 2018
Even though it was difficult to read with the situations, it was so well written it didn't make it a hard read. Somethings might not work as well in real life but I absolutely loved it and the positive, and hope it gives cannot compare. It's a great book for anyone to read to see how things work on both sides of abusive situations. Well done Rachel.
February 20, 2016
LILY'S HOUSE series by Rachel Branton promises to be very intriguing. Lily and Mario (Jameson) are pretty much perfect for each other, the only problem is that Lily's family has her on a strict plan, and that doesn't include marrying someone they deem beneath her. But Lily's heart is vast and as she juggles her passion for helping homeless girls, her college classes, and her dreams of becoming a foster parent, when Jameson comes into the picture like a knight in shining armor. But Lily thinks he's "too good to be true" at first especially when she's walking the delicate balance of caring for abused girls. HOUSE WITHOUT LIES is a sweet romance that's both entertaining and inspirational.
June 27, 2016
House of Lies was a very sweet clean romance. It's well written and reads fast and I pretty much finished it start to finish in one evening.
The characters of the book from the MC Lily to the girls who live with her, her romantic interest and her family are interesting. They all have issues in their backgrounds and you do really want to see them come out on the other side in a positive fashion. That said... I think there was a little bit of a problem with the characters all being extreme examples of whatever they were and that coming through things was a little too easy in the end. For example: Lily has half a dozen damaged young women living with her. Each has suffered abuse of some sort and really should be fairly mental and should struggle a lot more to get along with each other than they do. This is acknowledged briefly in the book, but it's really not addressed as more than the idea that surviving and the feeling of family is stronger than the amount of therapy these kids REAAAAALLY need.
I applaud an author taking on some of these difficult subjects and for the most part Rachel Branton does it well, but I do think there would be a little more friction and a lot more concern over mental and emotional recovery for the girls involved. I'm also not entirely buying a 22 year old college student with only a part time job being allowed to take on so many foster kids, even knowing how stressed the system can get. Soo...there's certainly some required sense of disbelief, and for readers who might be struggling with the system in their own lives it may come across as too flippant.
Jameson is a fun hero and his father was one of my favorite secondary characters. Here there's a problem of Jameson being just a little -too- perfect and I wanted to see more depth to the character that showed he had flaws too, or more concerns about what he was getting involved with. Or that he secretly doesn't wash his socks, just something to humanize him further. Even their big misunderstanding is pretty minor, which I didn't mind necessarily, but it puts the book in the realm of a lighter read. And heaven knows sometimes we want a lighter read. :)
So all in all I enjoyed myself and I've downloaded the next two books in the series, which is prolly the best recommendation I can give.
The characters of the book from the MC Lily to the girls who live with her, her romantic interest and her family are interesting. They all have issues in their backgrounds and you do really want to see them come out on the other side in a positive fashion. That said... I think there was a little bit of a problem with the characters all being extreme examples of whatever they were and that coming through things was a little too easy in the end. For example: Lily has half a dozen damaged young women living with her. Each has suffered abuse of some sort and really should be fairly mental and should struggle a lot more to get along with each other than they do. This is acknowledged briefly in the book, but it's really not addressed as more than the idea that surviving and the feeling of family is stronger than the amount of therapy these kids REAAAAALLY need.
I applaud an author taking on some of these difficult subjects and for the most part Rachel Branton does it well, but I do think there would be a little more friction and a lot more concern over mental and emotional recovery for the girls involved. I'm also not entirely buying a 22 year old college student with only a part time job being allowed to take on so many foster kids, even knowing how stressed the system can get. Soo...there's certainly some required sense of disbelief, and for readers who might be struggling with the system in their own lives it may come across as too flippant.
Jameson is a fun hero and his father was one of my favorite secondary characters. Here there's a problem of Jameson being just a little -too- perfect and I wanted to see more depth to the character that showed he had flaws too, or more concerns about what he was getting involved with. Or that he secretly doesn't wash his socks, just something to humanize him further. Even their big misunderstanding is pretty minor, which I didn't mind necessarily, but it puts the book in the realm of a lighter read. And heaven knows sometimes we want a lighter read. :)
So all in all I enjoyed myself and I've downloaded the next two books in the series, which is prolly the best recommendation I can give.
April 23, 2016
House without lies was an okay read. I liked Lily. She seems very passionate and driven in her goal to get these girls a home where they can live without fear and surrounded by love. She is willing to sacrifice almost everything to achieve her goal. And here is where I find it hard to connect with Lily completely. I understand such passion, but at times it felt a little unrealistic to me, especially as she is so young. That being said, who am I to judge.
Jameson is a great guy. He is fun, sweet, understanding, and everything Lily needs. She can’t carry that whole burden alone, so a little help and someone to lean on is perfect for her.
What for me fell short in this book, were a few factors:
1. I didn’t like the cover picture of the book. Having read the book, the Lily on the cover looks nothing like the Lily in the book. The Jameson may have the rough jawline, but that is where it ends. So having that picture in my mind starting off the book, and then meeting totally different people, that I didn’t enjoy.
2. Having Jameson have 2 first names and the whole story about only his mum calling him Jameson was a little far-fetched. It was a little silly people calling him Mario when he was Jameson throughout the book. Also Mario is such a silly name for such a strong character. Seriously, the Mario Bros video game. No, just no!
3. The story did make me think of the harder realities in life, abuse, neglect, living on the streets. So it was definitely a thought provoking read, but as I mentioned earlier, it was a little to unrealistically executed to feel completely real.
All in all this was an okay read, but not one I think I will go back an reread in the future.
Jameson is a great guy. He is fun, sweet, understanding, and everything Lily needs. She can’t carry that whole burden alone, so a little help and someone to lean on is perfect for her.
What for me fell short in this book, were a few factors:
1. I didn’t like the cover picture of the book. Having read the book, the Lily on the cover looks nothing like the Lily in the book. The Jameson may have the rough jawline, but that is where it ends. So having that picture in my mind starting off the book, and then meeting totally different people, that I didn’t enjoy.
2. Having Jameson have 2 first names and the whole story about only his mum calling him Jameson was a little far-fetched. It was a little silly people calling him Mario when he was Jameson throughout the book. Also Mario is such a silly name for such a strong character. Seriously, the Mario Bros video game. No, just no!
3. The story did make me think of the harder realities in life, abuse, neglect, living on the streets. So it was definitely a thought provoking read, but as I mentioned earlier, it was a little to unrealistically executed to feel completely real.
All in all this was an okay read, but not one I think I will go back an reread in the future.
April 5, 2016
There are so many different reasons to love a book. This book is a clean romance, which I love, but there are a lot of clean romance books out there. This one stood out because it was equal parts plot and character driven. There was such a good balance of both going on that I was completely absorbed into everything. I didn't want to put this book down.
All I know is that we need more Lily's in this world. While reading, I wanted to be Lily. Or someone just like her. She has a ginormous heart, dedicated to helping girls that cannot help themselves. I loved her determination and her protective nature.
Yes, there was a growing romance with a few bumps happening throughout this book but the main focus of this book really was Lily and her relationship with the girls under her care. Jameson just gradually found his way into Lily's life and goals.
There were a lot of characters in this book which can be so overwhelming as a reader but each character in this book was so distinct in personality and traits that I had no problem keeping everyone straight. I am so glad that while this is the beginning of a series, this book ended happily and with resolution. The other books that follow will be based on different characters and can each stand alone. That's my favorite kind of series! I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series that revolves around Lily's sister.
Content: Clean romance, some talk of drug and alcohol abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse
* I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
All I know is that we need more Lily's in this world. While reading, I wanted to be Lily. Or someone just like her. She has a ginormous heart, dedicated to helping girls that cannot help themselves. I loved her determination and her protective nature.
Yes, there was a growing romance with a few bumps happening throughout this book but the main focus of this book really was Lily and her relationship with the girls under her care. Jameson just gradually found his way into Lily's life and goals.
There were a lot of characters in this book which can be so overwhelming as a reader but each character in this book was so distinct in personality and traits that I had no problem keeping everyone straight. I am so glad that while this is the beginning of a series, this book ended happily and with resolution. The other books that follow will be based on different characters and can each stand alone. That's my favorite kind of series! I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series that revolves around Lily's sister.
Content: Clean romance, some talk of drug and alcohol abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse
* I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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June 14, 2018💝FREE on Amazon today (6/14/2018)!💝
Blurb:
Her Dream Didn’t Include Him—Until It Did
Lily has a dream, a dream of a big house without lies, a place of refuge for runaway girls. She knows what it’s like to grow up feeling unloved, and she now fills every space in her tiny apartment with endangered teens. They don’t have everything they need, but together they have enough.
Or so she thinks—until she meets Jameson and glimpses the mysterious something between them that just might mean real love.
Jameson, who works as a teen counselor, believes the only way Lily can really help the girls is by certifying as a foster parent and going through the system. But becoming legitimate may mean losing some of the girls to the families who threw them away, and Lily hasn’t worked hard to save the teens only to abandon them now.
It seems Jameson will be one more entry on the very long list of things Lily has given up for the girls. What other choice is there when she is all they have?
When two of the teens’ fathers come looking for them, and another one’s mother plans to put her daughter in danger, Lily’s life spins out of control. They need a new home—and fast. A safe place. A house without lies.
Blurb:
Her Dream Didn’t Include Him—Until It Did
Lily has a dream, a dream of a big house without lies, a place of refuge for runaway girls. She knows what it’s like to grow up feeling unloved, and she now fills every space in her tiny apartment with endangered teens. They don’t have everything they need, but together they have enough.
Or so she thinks—until she meets Jameson and glimpses the mysterious something between them that just might mean real love.
Jameson, who works as a teen counselor, believes the only way Lily can really help the girls is by certifying as a foster parent and going through the system. But becoming legitimate may mean losing some of the girls to the families who threw them away, and Lily hasn’t worked hard to save the teens only to abandon them now.
It seems Jameson will be one more entry on the very long list of things Lily has given up for the girls. What other choice is there when she is all they have?
When two of the teens’ fathers come looking for them, and another one’s mother plans to put her daughter in danger, Lily’s life spins out of control. They need a new home—and fast. A safe place. A house without lies.
April 3, 2016
***3.5 stars***
I love the concept of this book. Lily is a young woman who grew up in a privileged family. She had money, but the home lacked love and nurture. Lily is a nurturer and has found her calling helping girls who have come from neglect and abuse. She finds strays girls and provides a safe place for them to recover and thrive.
While helping out a young girl, she meets Jameson. He is her perfect match. He compliments her and supports her efforts. He is not he man her family envisioned for her, he comes from a nurturing home that didn't have a lot of means. But he know love and how to love. The things that Lily needed from a family.
The book started a little slow for me. It builds upon the struggles that Lily and the girls are going through. As I got about half way through the book, I started to appreciate the beginning more. It is an important part of the building of the story. I am not a huge fan of instant love, this book has that, but is done well.
This book has kissing and while there isn't current abuse, it does refer to past abuses of the girls, including sexual abuse.
I love the concept of this book. Lily is a young woman who grew up in a privileged family. She had money, but the home lacked love and nurture. Lily is a nurturer and has found her calling helping girls who have come from neglect and abuse. She finds strays girls and provides a safe place for them to recover and thrive.
While helping out a young girl, she meets Jameson. He is her perfect match. He compliments her and supports her efforts. He is not he man her family envisioned for her, he comes from a nurturing home that didn't have a lot of means. But he know love and how to love. The things that Lily needed from a family.
The book started a little slow for me. It builds upon the struggles that Lily and the girls are going through. As I got about half way through the book, I started to appreciate the beginning more. It is an important part of the building of the story. I am not a huge fan of instant love, this book has that, but is done well.
This book has kissing and while there isn't current abuse, it does refer to past abuses of the girls, including sexual abuse.
May 1, 2016
3.5 stars
HOUSE WITHOUT LIES was a heart-wrenching read about a woman and her drive to save teenage girl runaways and be the mother they've never had. It was filled with family, friendship, heartbreak, and romance. A bittersweet read with a happy ending.
I really liked Lily and Jaimeson and all the girls living with Lily. There were parts that were a little overly dramatic or where Lily was hot and then cold towards Jaimeson almost in the same moment. I wanted a little more maturity there. They insta-attraction was pretty strong as was their romance, but it was still sweet and they were a good match. I loved the overall theme of Lily getting her house where there would be no lies, but lots of laughter and love and how it all turns out in the end.
Content: Some references to abuse, both physical and sexual, but clean.
Source: Received a complimentary copy through ebooksforreview.com, which did not affect my review in any way.
HOUSE WITHOUT LIES was a heart-wrenching read about a woman and her drive to save teenage girl runaways and be the mother they've never had. It was filled with family, friendship, heartbreak, and romance. A bittersweet read with a happy ending.
I really liked Lily and Jaimeson and all the girls living with Lily. There were parts that were a little overly dramatic or where Lily was hot and then cold towards Jaimeson almost in the same moment. I wanted a little more maturity there. They insta-attraction was pretty strong as was their romance, but it was still sweet and they were a good match. I loved the overall theme of Lily getting her house where there would be no lies, but lots of laughter and love and how it all turns out in the end.
Content: Some references to abuse, both physical and sexual, but clean.
Source: Received a complimentary copy through ebooksforreview.com, which did not affect my review in any way.
January 23, 2018
Lily has a heart of gold: warm, giving and wise. Aiding girls on the streets (homeless, abused / unwanted), is what she does. The system hasn't helped Lily's girls. Just finishing grad school, Lily's dreamed of doing this since she was a child herself; money is tight and problems abound. Meeting and being attracted to Jameson (who works in the system) while carrying these burdens makes Lily wary.
Excellent read! Truthful and honest, written to inspire and entertain! 4 1/2 stars.
Excellent read! Truthful and honest, written to inspire and entertain! 4 1/2 stars.
July 31, 2018
Wonderful
This is an emotional book about a young woman who takes in girls who have been abused by their families. She meets a man who shares her passion for helping teens.
This is an emotional book about a young woman who takes in girls who have been abused by their families. She meets a man who shares her passion for helping teens.
June 19, 2021
Loved it
Absolutely loved this book and the characters. There is a lot of plot, family and romance. Which leaves you wanting to read the next one. Lily is an amazing women with so much heart and can't turn anyone away with Mario who is a perfect match for her.
Absolutely loved this book and the characters. There is a lot of plot, family and romance. Which leaves you wanting to read the next one. Lily is an amazing women with so much heart and can't turn anyone away with Mario who is a perfect match for her.
April 28, 2018
Another free book from the Teyla's reader group. First book in the Lily's House series which I should read before starting on Tara' story Cowboys Can't Lies. However no harm done, now I get to "see" how Lily started her home.
Well, it was a rocky road but with a pinch of perseverance and a lot of love...anything is possible.
Happy to have followed Lily's journey with Jameson and the girls and the birth of Lily's House.
Well, it was a rocky road but with a pinch of perseverance and a lot of love...anything is possible.
Happy to have followed Lily's journey with Jameson and the girls and the birth of Lily's House.
July 18, 2016
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Lily dreams of a big house, a place of refuge for runaway girls. She knows what it’s like to grow up feeling unloved, and she now fills every space in her her tiny apartment with endangered teens. They don’t have everything they need, but together they have enough.
Or so she thinks—until she meets Jameson and glimpses the mysterious something between them that just might mean real love.
Jameson, who works as a teen counselor, believes the only way Lily can really help the girls is by certifying as a foster parent and going through the system. But becoming legitimate may mean losing some of the girls to the families who threw them away, and Lily hasn’t worked hard to save the teens only to abandon them now.
It seems Jameson will be one more entry on the very long list of things Lily has given up for the girls. What other choice is there when she is all they have?
When two of the teens’ fathers come looking for them, and another one’s mother plans to put her daughter in danger, Lily’s life spins out of control. They need a new home—and fast. A safe place. A house without lies.
MY TAKE
I loved this book so much. Lily has such a great heart, and her willingness to make sacrifices (and I mean big sacrifices) to make sure these girls were safe was her greatest strength. When Jameson shows up, the chemistry sparked. That he was involved in helping youth too just added to what they could potentially share. I crave romances where the love interests share more than just physical attraction. And Jameson's family rocked.
This book deals with some tough issues relating to the things that happen to kids. I loved that there were so many good and loving characters to balance out the evil ones. Lily and Jameson were lovely and their romance a delight.
Lily dreams of a big house, a place of refuge for runaway girls. She knows what it’s like to grow up feeling unloved, and she now fills every space in her her tiny apartment with endangered teens. They don’t have everything they need, but together they have enough.
Or so she thinks—until she meets Jameson and glimpses the mysterious something between them that just might mean real love.
Jameson, who works as a teen counselor, believes the only way Lily can really help the girls is by certifying as a foster parent and going through the system. But becoming legitimate may mean losing some of the girls to the families who threw them away, and Lily hasn’t worked hard to save the teens only to abandon them now.
It seems Jameson will be one more entry on the very long list of things Lily has given up for the girls. What other choice is there when she is all they have?
When two of the teens’ fathers come looking for them, and another one’s mother plans to put her daughter in danger, Lily’s life spins out of control. They need a new home—and fast. A safe place. A house without lies.
MY TAKE
I loved this book so much. Lily has such a great heart, and her willingness to make sacrifices (and I mean big sacrifices) to make sure these girls were safe was her greatest strength. When Jameson shows up, the chemistry sparked. That he was involved in helping youth too just added to what they could potentially share. I crave romances where the love interests share more than just physical attraction. And Jameson's family rocked.
This book deals with some tough issues relating to the things that happen to kids. I loved that there were so many good and loving characters to balance out the evil ones. Lily and Jameson were lovely and their romance a delight.
February 12, 2017
This was a new author for me and I'm so glad I read this book! It was very well written. I loved the originality of the plot. I was enthralled with the story from start to finish. I found it hard to put down. This is a book that you read for its storyline, not for the romance. There is romance (clean) but it's much more about the characters and their struggles and triumphs. I highly recommend it and I would happily read more from the author.
January 19, 2021
Even though I read the synopsis for House Without Lies prior to starting it, while reading the first few pages of Chapter 1, I was thinking "Oh no, how did I miss this book was about broken and abused girls?" I decided I'd finish the chapter before I made my final decision. I'm happy i gave this book more than a few pages.This book was much more than "helping broken and abused girls" - it was about true, unconditional Love. A few more pages, and I was in this book hook, line and sinker. Even though I could already see how the book would end, I had to keep reading to find out how everything unfolded. Rachel Branton gave Saffron (I just love her name!), Ruth, Zoey, Halla and Elsie so much heart, hurt and hope, one couldn't help but love these girls as if they were standing in front of you. Of course, crisis after crisis, hoity-toity parental snobs, love and hope ran throughout the book. From an "Oh no, not for me" stance to feeling hopeful and happy for all characters, I'm glad I read this book. I closed the last page and sighed with contentment. I will definitely read the second and all following books in this series ... as long as Rachel Balnton embues the new primary and secondary characters as much depth as she gave Lily's girls, the rest of this series will be a pleasure to read!
January 26, 2019
This is a solid 3.5 but not really a 4 star read. There is a lot to like in this story, but it just didn’t quite hit my heart, wrench my gut, or bring out any extreme emotions. It was good. Lily is a nurturer and is on a mission to save as many unloved, broken girls as possible. She literally picks them up off the street to give them love and a safe home. She knows that the system fails many of these girls and she’s determined to offer them hope no matter the costs. The saved girls in House Without Lies will touch your heart, some of their stories are truly tragic.
Jameson and Lily meet by chance but it seems it was fate. He is a worker in the system and is mostly a rule follower. He tries to get Lily to trust the system. She doesn’t and now she’s not sure she should trust him. Jameson is shown that the system doesn’t always work, it fails and you have to be cautious. Together, Jameson and Lily work to make a difference in their world.
The story is interesting and entertaining. It held my interest throughout the entire story, there were just no “edge of my seat” type of moments. There was no witty banter or laugh-out-loud kind of moments. House Without Lies is a good, solid read.
Jameson and Lily meet by chance but it seems it was fate. He is a worker in the system and is mostly a rule follower. He tries to get Lily to trust the system. She doesn’t and now she’s not sure she should trust him. Jameson is shown that the system doesn’t always work, it fails and you have to be cautious. Together, Jameson and Lily work to make a difference in their world.
The story is interesting and entertaining. It held my interest throughout the entire story, there were just no “edge of my seat” type of moments. There was no witty banter or laugh-out-loud kind of moments. House Without Lies is a good, solid read.
April 24, 2019
An inspiring, clean story of love and hope!
Lily has a dream of a future with a house filled with love and family, unlike the mansion she grew up in with her sister, Tessa. She has devoted her life to helping homeless girls even if it means putting her education on hold or living hand-to-mouth. She has no time for relationships until she meets the cousin of a young grocery clerk who has been helping with expired groceries. Mario Jamison Perez is unlike any man she has met before. Like Lily, Jamison wants to help and volunteers at a non-profit for troubled children. Unlike her, he comes from a large, loving middle-class family.
The storyline weaves a story about the lives of neglected and abused children and the dangers they face. The chemistry between Lily and Jamison is undeniable but Lily’s commitment to her girls is more important than romance. The plot could be very dark at times. The book is well written and the characters were realistic and believable. I enjoyed reading it and would like to read other books in the series.
Lily has a dream of a future with a house filled with love and family, unlike the mansion she grew up in with her sister, Tessa. She has devoted her life to helping homeless girls even if it means putting her education on hold or living hand-to-mouth. She has no time for relationships until she meets the cousin of a young grocery clerk who has been helping with expired groceries. Mario Jamison Perez is unlike any man she has met before. Like Lily, Jamison wants to help and volunteers at a non-profit for troubled children. Unlike her, he comes from a large, loving middle-class family.
The storyline weaves a story about the lives of neglected and abused children and the dangers they face. The chemistry between Lily and Jamison is undeniable but Lily’s commitment to her girls is more important than romance. The plot could be very dark at times. The book is well written and the characters were realistic and believable. I enjoyed reading it and would like to read other books in the series.
April 29, 2019
I do not know enough about Child Protection Services in the U.S.A. to say if the occurrences in this book were realistic or not, but they did seem a bit unrealistic and made-to-fit to me. The same feeling applies to the main protagonists, Jameson and Lily, who seemed younger in their behaviour and actions/reactions than they actually were.
The plot was a good one, though, although again a bit much on the unreal side - Lilly single-handedly initially saving all those young kids, later with the help of Jameson; Bea seeming to bend all rules to make this possible, and give Lilly the legality she needs, and other incidents.
The love story between Lilly and Jameson - again, very fast, all doubts and problems solved nearly instantaneously, like a miracle, or a fairytale.
And still - something in this book drew me in and kept me reading, I just wanted to know how she solved all the problems with the kids.
On the whole, although highly unrealistic in my opinion, a likeable and well written story. And yes, I would like to get my hand on more in this series.
The plot was a good one, though, although again a bit much on the unreal side - Lilly single-handedly initially saving all those young kids, later with the help of Jameson; Bea seeming to bend all rules to make this possible, and give Lilly the legality she needs, and other incidents.
The love story between Lilly and Jameson - again, very fast, all doubts and problems solved nearly instantaneously, like a miracle, or a fairytale.
And still - something in this book drew me in and kept me reading, I just wanted to know how she solved all the problems with the kids.
On the whole, although highly unrealistic in my opinion, a likeable and well written story. And yes, I would like to get my hand on more in this series.
September 5, 2019
I have three adult children, and I can't fathom a young woman, still in college, RICH no less, taking on such a task as giving a home — a REFUGE — to girls not a whole lot younger than her. I applaud her courage and selflessness. And the fact that so many children face abuse in their own homes is a FACT just makes it that much sadder.
One of the lesser-star ratings mentioned too much violence in this book. While things are mentioned, they aren't described in detail. I personally hate child-endangerment stories, and this story didn't cause me to quit reading. Overriding the sadness is the love between Lily and the girls, the girls themselves, and of course Lily and Jameson. My favorite line was: I would be his light, and he would be my anchor, and together we'd build our future. LOVED that.
I would hope that this story would help all of us to keep our eyes open and help where we can — because there is a lot of help needed out there.
I got this book for free after reading another of Rachel's books, and truly can't wait to read more!
One of the lesser-star ratings mentioned too much violence in this book. While things are mentioned, they aren't described in detail. I personally hate child-endangerment stories, and this story didn't cause me to quit reading. Overriding the sadness is the love between Lily and the girls, the girls themselves, and of course Lily and Jameson. My favorite line was: I would be his light, and he would be my anchor, and together we'd build our future. LOVED that.
I would hope that this story would help all of us to keep our eyes open and help where we can — because there is a lot of help needed out there.
I got this book for free after reading another of Rachel's books, and truly can't wait to read more!
February 1, 2017
A must read if you're looking for a "feel good" book.
This is a new author for me, and one that will stay on my list of favourites. I found the author through a daily discounted book newsletter I receive.
If you're looking for steamy you won't find it here. What you will find is a well written, fun and thought provoking book.
Lily and Mario are such a great couple, and you can't help but love them and the young girls Lily rescued. Lily was brought up in a privileged world, but without the love of her parents. How can two such cold people have a daughter as kindhearted, supportive and loving as Lily?
It's a stark reminder of how many children are living with parents or guardians who are their worst nightmare and abusers.
I highly recommend this book, and can't wait to read the next one.
This is a new author for me, and one that will stay on my list of favourites. I found the author through a daily discounted book newsletter I receive.
If you're looking for steamy you won't find it here. What you will find is a well written, fun and thought provoking book.
Lily and Mario are such a great couple, and you can't help but love them and the young girls Lily rescued. Lily was brought up in a privileged world, but without the love of her parents. How can two such cold people have a daughter as kindhearted, supportive and loving as Lily?
It's a stark reminder of how many children are living with parents or guardians who are their worst nightmare and abusers.
I highly recommend this book, and can't wait to read the next one.
March 21, 2018
5 stars
Heart warming, clean romance
This is a clean and heart warming romance. It is also a tale of riches to rags, heartache to heart full. The author does a nice job of bringing the ugliness of child abuse to light without really making the reader feel all of the pain. It could, however, be a trigger for some readers. It covers topics such as domestic violence, rape and incest. This author generally produces a quality product.That is why I don't understand her using the term nationality when she should say heritage. These terms are not interchangeable and do not have the same meaning..I am going to read the rest of the series as soon as possible! I bought this book and this is my honest review.
Heart warming, clean romance
This is a clean and heart warming romance. It is also a tale of riches to rags, heartache to heart full. The author does a nice job of bringing the ugliness of child abuse to light without really making the reader feel all of the pain. It could, however, be a trigger for some readers. It covers topics such as domestic violence, rape and incest. This author generally produces a quality product.That is why I don't understand her using the term nationality when she should say heritage. These terms are not interchangeable and do not have the same meaning..I am going to read the rest of the series as soon as possible! I bought this book and this is my honest review.
June 2, 2019
Have you ever wanted to reach out and hug a teenage girl who looks like she has no friend in the world? What if she is covered in bruises and cuts? That is where Lily finds herself, but unlike most of us, she does something about it. She has a dream of a home filled with children who have no need to lie, run, or hide.
Lily grew up in a home where her parents had no idea what love meant. They only knew about money, prestige, and power over other people. Lily was determined to make her own family from the scared girls with no place to turn except the streets.
This book illustrates God’s perfect plan when we have no idea how to even make a plan. It is a beautiful picture of God’s love, forgiveness, and provision.
Lily grew up in a home where her parents had no idea what love meant. They only knew about money, prestige, and power over other people. Lily was determined to make her own family from the scared girls with no place to turn except the streets.
This book illustrates God’s perfect plan when we have no idea how to even make a plan. It is a beautiful picture of God’s love, forgiveness, and provision.
July 25, 2017
This was an interesting story about Lily who has grown up in a dysfunctional family and longs to help girls who have been abused and neglected by their families. She takes them in and is trying to help them without any support from the government and they are barely getting by until she meets Jameson who helps her to see the light and get the help and training that she needs to really make a difference. It was a hard story for me to read because I hate to hear about young people being abused and mistreated. I have 10 children of my own and find it hard to read things like this because I would never want anything like that to happen to them. It did have a lovely happy ending.
April 2, 2019
Wow! Excellent Read
Lily is now my hero. Although she is young, and she is struggling to get through college and pay for items like rent and food, she never turns her back on a girl who needs her help. And there are so many of them. When she meets Jameson, she is hesitant to get involved with him, because "her girls" come first. But he fits right in. The girls like him and he wants to be part of the "family." I fell in love with the girls, all coming from bad situations. And Elsie? If she doesn't pull at your heart strings, you don't have a heart. I loved this book. It's definitely worth a five-star rating.
Lily is now my hero. Although she is young, and she is struggling to get through college and pay for items like rent and food, she never turns her back on a girl who needs her help. And there are so many of them. When she meets Jameson, she is hesitant to get involved with him, because "her girls" come first. But he fits right in. The girls like him and he wants to be part of the "family." I fell in love with the girls, all coming from bad situations. And Elsie? If she doesn't pull at your heart strings, you don't have a heart. I loved this book. It's definitely worth a five-star rating.
August 5, 2023
After reading book 5 I decided to reread the rest of the series. Don't read if you are sensitive to stories that reference abuse of any kind.
For me, I love this series because it shows how one person can make a difference and give victims hope and a way through the pain. Working WITH the system as well, and showing the good parts. I love Lily who will do anything for her girls, and Jameson comes into the story to fight her battles with her. A house without lies. Definitely worth reading. Clean romance but lots of references to past abuse, including sexual.
Happy ending and don't forget there are 6 more books in this series!
For me, I love this series because it shows how one person can make a difference and give victims hope and a way through the pain. Working WITH the system as well, and showing the good parts. I love Lily who will do anything for her girls, and Jameson comes into the story to fight her battles with her. A house without lies. Definitely worth reading. Clean romance but lots of references to past abuse, including sexual.
Happy ending and don't forget there are 6 more books in this series!
January 31, 2019
Lily wants a large place to house her family of runaway girls. Her small flat isn’t big enough for them. Jameson, is a teen therapist and thinks Lily should become be a foster mother. Lily isn’t sure she wants to, due to some of the girls’ situations. Things get real crazy for Lily, and she needs to find a bigger house and soon. This is an emotional story with sentimental subjects. House Without Lies (Lily's House Book 1) is an uplifting and clean tale, with a good portion of drama, romance and warmth. An enjoyable story about true love.
April 21, 2019
Great book -
Warning for those with PTSD or trauma from childhood. This book could cause triggers.
I found this book to be one of hope and love. I cried with the characters. I felt warm fuzzies in my soul with them. A little piece of my own struggles in life healed. Rachel does a great job of writing a story in a way that you lose yourself in it. You can't wait to read more to see how things turn out. Love this book and highly recommend it - if you want to read a story about despair that is turned into hope and love. I want a Lily in my life.
Warning for those with PTSD or trauma from childhood. This book could cause triggers.
I found this book to be one of hope and love. I cried with the characters. I felt warm fuzzies in my soul with them. A little piece of my own struggles in life healed. Rachel does a great job of writing a story in a way that you lose yourself in it. You can't wait to read more to see how things turn out. Love this book and highly recommend it - if you want to read a story about despair that is turned into hope and love. I want a Lily in my life.
March 19, 2021
Quite unrealistic story of a young woman who collects runaways and tries to shelter and feed them in her small apartment. It's in need of better editing (a "border" and a "boarder" are two different things), which might also help clear up some of the unrealistic aspects. Still, I did enjoy the story of someone putting herself on the line to meet the needs of the abused and neglected, which unfortunately is altogether too real in our world. I have the next book in the series and am reading it now.
October 14, 2017
House without Lies
This was a nice story. Lily might have come from a family rich financially, but she had been starved for love and affection. Fighting for all these abused girls was her focus in life. Luckily Mario was as kind hearted as she was. With Bea's help and support from her sister,they were able to rescue the girls from their abusive homes. Good ending. Gave it 5 stars
This was a nice story. Lily might have come from a family rich financially, but she had been starved for love and affection. Fighting for all these abused girls was her focus in life. Luckily Mario was as kind hearted as she was. With Bea's help and support from her sister,they were able to rescue the girls from their abusive homes. Good ending. Gave it 5 stars
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