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The Ross Duology #1
Parallel Lies
‘My name is Madeleine, Madeleine Ross. It is a name chosen with thought and because it is classy, and that is what is needed here…’
Madeleine Ross has life exactly as she planned it.
Cosy cottage, friendly village, satisfying job.
Company… when she wants it.
It’s an enviable existence for an independent young woman, and one she’s keen to protect.
Enter Daniel – strong, dependable and a danger to everything she’s built. He’s not something she was looking for, but hearts can’t be controlled and maybe, just maybe he might be worth letting into hers.
But, all is not what it seems. Because Madeleine is hiding a lifetime of secrets. Deep secrets.
And they never stay buried for ever.
Her darkest secret returns, like the proverbial bad penny. He is her first love, shadowy, dangerous, the baddest of bad boys. No matter how far she runs, or how well she hides, she can never escape him.
Or her past.
Here he is, on her doorstep, with a proposition she is powerless to resist but which could devastate the future she hoped to have.
Can Madeleine satisfy the old love while keeping the new?
You can’t always get what you want but, desperate to preserve the life she has worked so hard for, Madeleine is willing to risk everything to prove that she can.
Madeleine Ross has life exactly as she planned it.
Cosy cottage, friendly village, satisfying job.
Company… when she wants it.
It’s an enviable existence for an independent young woman, and one she’s keen to protect.
Enter Daniel – strong, dependable and a danger to everything she’s built. He’s not something she was looking for, but hearts can’t be controlled and maybe, just maybe he might be worth letting into hers.
But, all is not what it seems. Because Madeleine is hiding a lifetime of secrets. Deep secrets.
And they never stay buried for ever.
Her darkest secret returns, like the proverbial bad penny. He is her first love, shadowy, dangerous, the baddest of bad boys. No matter how far she runs, or how well she hides, she can never escape him.
Or her past.
Here he is, on her doorstep, with a proposition she is powerless to resist but which could devastate the future she hoped to have.
Can Madeleine satisfy the old love while keeping the new?
You can’t always get what you want but, desperate to preserve the life she has worked so hard for, Madeleine is willing to risk everything to prove that she can.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 12, 2017
40 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Georgia Rose
13 books271 followersGeorgia Rose is a writer of suspense. Both romantic and psychological. First came the romantic and suspenseful Grayson Trilogy books: A Single Step, Before the Dawn and Thicker than Water. Following completion of the trilogy she was asked for more and so wrote a short story, The Joker, which is based on a favourite character from the series and the eBook is available to download for free at the retailer of your choice.
Her fourth novel, Parallel Lies, encompasses crime along with Georgia’s usual blending of genre and its sequel, Loving Vengeance, completed The Ross Duology.
Georgia is now writing psychological suspense for her third series – A Shade Darker. The first four books are A Killer Strikes, Shape of Revenge, Hard to Forgive and A Stolen Future. The fifth in the series, Driven by Deception, will follow in 2026.
Georgia’s background in countryside living, riding, instructing and working with horses has provided the knowledge needed for some of her storylines; the others are a product of her passion for people watching and her overactive imagination.
She has also recently started running workshops and providing one-to-one support for those wishing to learn how to independently publish and you can find her, under her real name, at www.threeshirespublishing.com.
Following a long stint working in the law Georgia set up her own business providing administration services for other companies which she does to this day entwining that work along with her writing.
Her busy life is set in a tranquil part of rural Cambridgeshire in the UK where she lives with her much neglected husband.
Her fourth novel, Parallel Lies, encompasses crime along with Georgia’s usual blending of genre and its sequel, Loving Vengeance, completed The Ross Duology.
Georgia is now writing psychological suspense for her third series – A Shade Darker. The first four books are A Killer Strikes, Shape of Revenge, Hard to Forgive and A Stolen Future. The fifth in the series, Driven by Deception, will follow in 2026.
Georgia’s background in countryside living, riding, instructing and working with horses has provided the knowledge needed for some of her storylines; the others are a product of her passion for people watching and her overactive imagination.
She has also recently started running workshops and providing one-to-one support for those wishing to learn how to independently publish and you can find her, under her real name, at www.threeshirespublishing.com.
Following a long stint working in the law Georgia set up her own business providing administration services for other companies which she does to this day entwining that work along with her writing.
Her busy life is set in a tranquil part of rural Cambridgeshire in the UK where she lives with her much neglected husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
September 11, 2017
Read by Julie on www.whisperingstories.com
‘Parallel Lies’ is the latest novel from British author Georgia Rose. The book has a contemporary setting, is written in the first person and the present tense. We meet the main character, Madeleine Ross and are gently dropped into her life with most of the story being told from her perspective.
Among her neighbours, Madeleine has some admirable foils to help move events along in the quiet village of Crowbridge. Whilst the first few chapters are scene-setters, we begin to realise from a little drip-feeding of Madeleine’s thoughts, all is not what it seems.
As the tale progresses, we have more insights into Madeleine’s habits and routines along with some delightful cameos from her supporting cast, particularly Sidney, the newsagent.
Georgia Rose’s writing style is straightforward and very easy to follow. She maintains a good dialogue to description ratio and her characters have depth. We’ve all met pretentious people at community social events like Letitia and Ben. Placing these supporting players into her story adds a realism which anchors her plot to allow her a bit of licence with some of the slightly more improbable aspects.
This tempo builds slowly and the reader has to rejust their mind-set to accommodate the many layers of Madeleine as they are gradually revealed. If you have read the Grayson Trilogy, I think you will readily accept that Georgia Rose won’t show her hand too quickly; if you haven’t, stay with this tale through the early chapters and you will be rewarded.
There are some detailed descriptive passages, from Sidney’s shop to the interior of the Bull pub and the area from which Madeleine originally came. The author touches on some domestic minutiae; be it eating soup with a neighbour, having a pub meal with a friend or shopping in the small local supermarket. These safe, cosy everyday occurrences give counter-balance to the grittier, more menacing aspects of the plot.
The underlying theme here is romance however turbulent waters stand in the way of Madeleine and her man but there isn’t an over-reliance on a simple love story to carry the book. There are complexities and twists in abundance as the tale gathers pace so that by half way, I was definitely hooked.
I confess to having no idea if the scenario is credible but even if it isn’t, the book is a jolly good read. If you are looking for an engaging story and don’t mind a bit of adult content, you’ll enjoy ‘Parallel Lies’. I award Georgia Rose a well-deserved five stars and look forward to her next offering.
‘Parallel Lies’ is the latest novel from British author Georgia Rose. The book has a contemporary setting, is written in the first person and the present tense. We meet the main character, Madeleine Ross and are gently dropped into her life with most of the story being told from her perspective.
Among her neighbours, Madeleine has some admirable foils to help move events along in the quiet village of Crowbridge. Whilst the first few chapters are scene-setters, we begin to realise from a little drip-feeding of Madeleine’s thoughts, all is not what it seems.
As the tale progresses, we have more insights into Madeleine’s habits and routines along with some delightful cameos from her supporting cast, particularly Sidney, the newsagent.
Georgia Rose’s writing style is straightforward and very easy to follow. She maintains a good dialogue to description ratio and her characters have depth. We’ve all met pretentious people at community social events like Letitia and Ben. Placing these supporting players into her story adds a realism which anchors her plot to allow her a bit of licence with some of the slightly more improbable aspects.
This tempo builds slowly and the reader has to rejust their mind-set to accommodate the many layers of Madeleine as they are gradually revealed. If you have read the Grayson Trilogy, I think you will readily accept that Georgia Rose won’t show her hand too quickly; if you haven’t, stay with this tale through the early chapters and you will be rewarded.
There are some detailed descriptive passages, from Sidney’s shop to the interior of the Bull pub and the area from which Madeleine originally came. The author touches on some domestic minutiae; be it eating soup with a neighbour, having a pub meal with a friend or shopping in the small local supermarket. These safe, cosy everyday occurrences give counter-balance to the grittier, more menacing aspects of the plot.
The underlying theme here is romance however turbulent waters stand in the way of Madeleine and her man but there isn’t an over-reliance on a simple love story to carry the book. There are complexities and twists in abundance as the tale gathers pace so that by half way, I was definitely hooked.
I confess to having no idea if the scenario is credible but even if it isn’t, the book is a jolly good read. If you are looking for an engaging story and don’t mind a bit of adult content, you’ll enjoy ‘Parallel Lies’. I award Georgia Rose a well-deserved five stars and look forward to her next offering.
July 23, 2022
4.75 Stars!
This was a fabulous romantic suspense that felt subtle in its delivery but packed a solid punch. I listened to the audio and the narrator was AMAZING. Her diction and cadence gave the story perfectly nuanced suspense in this quaint England small-town setting. I was absolutely mesmerized and wanted to listen non-stop.
This was a romantic suspense that leaned heavier on the suspense and character redemption. The author did a superb job with the development of Maddie's character. She was a strong female protagonist, but with vulnerabilities that evoked empathy. Given her propensities, I was surprised and equally delighted with how much I liked her. While the romance was more understated, Maddie's love interest did have a few chapters in his own POV that made him seem even more enigmatic. The story didn't end on a cliffhanger, but it did have a rather open/HFN conclusion.
September 6, 2017
I have been looking forward to the release of Parallel Lies by Georgia Rose for quite a while as I am such a fan of her previous work – The Grayson Trilogy. All I can say by way of introduction is this deliciously intriguing novel did not disappoint.
The beauty of Rose’s writing is that it is so understated the action creeps up on the reader, almost like peeling an onion, each layer revealing a new dimension to the novel. The story begins in the village of Crowbridge where on the surface life passes at a gentle pace but there are hints from the onset that things may not be as idyllic as they superficially seem.
This is particularly personified by Rose’s protagonist Madeleine Ross, a twenty four year old single woman. She has made friendships in the village but no-one knows anything about her life before she relocated from London four years earlier. It is Madeleine’s voice that Rose uses to tell her story using first person narrative which is particularly effective. Madeleine demonstrates strength and a knowing self-awareness that draws the reader in immediately.
As the novel unfolds Madeleine’s secrets are slowly revealed as are her insecurities and failings. She grew up with little love or affection and is only able to express her needs through sex. This results in her pursuing a promiscuous and potentially emotionally damaging lifestyle. Despite the fact that she is intelligent and kind she doesn’t feel good enough. She feels the strain of pretending to be a “lovely girl” in the village but fears that if her new friends saw her life away from the village they would no longer like her.
Madeleine is better than she thinks she is and her relationships with the people in the village are a testament to this. In Kourtney, a young working class girl, she sees some of herself and goes out of her way to help her rise above her stagnating origins. She has a sisterly relationship with her neighbour Diane, a wonderfully free spirited woman in her 60s who has earned the reputation of being a witch.
One of the themes of Parallel Lies is poverty and the impact it has on children’s lives. Madeleine grew up in a one parent, dysfunctional home in Inner City London. Her mother was unfit to care for her which meant that Madeleine was left to her own devices and inevitably made bad choices which have led to life-long scars. Rose emphasises however that poverty is not just a big city problem and rural areas have their fair share too. In Crowbridge we meet the ostentatiously wealthy couple Letitia and Ben Pritchard but this is contrasted by Kourtney’s situation as she cares for her alcoholic mother and younger siblings with limited opportunities in the rural village where she was born.
Madeleine’s life changes when she meets Daniel Travers, the nephew of her boss. She is a security consultant for an insurance company and it is when describing Madeleine’s work that Rose demonstrates her skill at building the pace of the story to at times almost heart stopping tension. Through Daniel, Rose creates a new voice and in the chapters that he narrates she employs second person narrative which distinguishes it perfectly from Madeleine’s voice.
Rose uses Madeleine and Daniel’s relationship to explore the theme of trust. Madeleine has previously been unable to enjoy emotional relationships with men as she didn’t know how. Although Rose offers no censure of her protagonist’s life choices it’s obvious that her behaviour is born out of an inability to trust. At the same time Daniel, who prior to working for his uncle has led a feckless existence dropping out of university and unable to hold down a job, has to learn to trust Madeleine to take control of her own life without his interference.
Inevitably Madeleine’s past catches up with her and threatens to put her and everyone she cares about in danger. Relying on her innate intelligence she hatches a plan to free herself and keep everyone safe. Despite a shady past, Madeleine is morally honest and has a good heart but she has many hurdles to clear before she can be who she really wants to be.
One of the many things I like about Rose’s novels is the care and attention she applies to her characters. There are no throwaway characters and consequently the reader really cares about them all. Even the less likeable characters such as Letitia and Tag are presented in such a way that they elicit some sympathy for the insecurities and damage that is propelling their actions. Each of the villagers piques our interest in such a way that should she choose to Rose could tell each of their stories and I would be only too happy to read them.
The lightness of Rose’s touch is the perfect foil for the fact that Parallel Lies carries a serious, hard hitting message about poverty and the impact it has on children. Vulnerable young people being groomed and taken advantage of is a very relevant issue that Rose skilfully taps into. The quote that ran through my mind constantly as I read it was “It is easier to build strong children than repair broken men.” (Frederick Douglass)
Parallel Lies is an intelligent, entertaining read which I devoured greedily in a few days. If you are looking for a thriller with a dark edge then I can’t recommend this novel highly enough.
The beauty of Rose’s writing is that it is so understated the action creeps up on the reader, almost like peeling an onion, each layer revealing a new dimension to the novel. The story begins in the village of Crowbridge where on the surface life passes at a gentle pace but there are hints from the onset that things may not be as idyllic as they superficially seem.
This is particularly personified by Rose’s protagonist Madeleine Ross, a twenty four year old single woman. She has made friendships in the village but no-one knows anything about her life before she relocated from London four years earlier. It is Madeleine’s voice that Rose uses to tell her story using first person narrative which is particularly effective. Madeleine demonstrates strength and a knowing self-awareness that draws the reader in immediately.
As the novel unfolds Madeleine’s secrets are slowly revealed as are her insecurities and failings. She grew up with little love or affection and is only able to express her needs through sex. This results in her pursuing a promiscuous and potentially emotionally damaging lifestyle. Despite the fact that she is intelligent and kind she doesn’t feel good enough. She feels the strain of pretending to be a “lovely girl” in the village but fears that if her new friends saw her life away from the village they would no longer like her.
Madeleine is better than she thinks she is and her relationships with the people in the village are a testament to this. In Kourtney, a young working class girl, she sees some of herself and goes out of her way to help her rise above her stagnating origins. She has a sisterly relationship with her neighbour Diane, a wonderfully free spirited woman in her 60s who has earned the reputation of being a witch.
One of the themes of Parallel Lies is poverty and the impact it has on children’s lives. Madeleine grew up in a one parent, dysfunctional home in Inner City London. Her mother was unfit to care for her which meant that Madeleine was left to her own devices and inevitably made bad choices which have led to life-long scars. Rose emphasises however that poverty is not just a big city problem and rural areas have their fair share too. In Crowbridge we meet the ostentatiously wealthy couple Letitia and Ben Pritchard but this is contrasted by Kourtney’s situation as she cares for her alcoholic mother and younger siblings with limited opportunities in the rural village where she was born.
Madeleine’s life changes when she meets Daniel Travers, the nephew of her boss. She is a security consultant for an insurance company and it is when describing Madeleine’s work that Rose demonstrates her skill at building the pace of the story to at times almost heart stopping tension. Through Daniel, Rose creates a new voice and in the chapters that he narrates she employs second person narrative which distinguishes it perfectly from Madeleine’s voice.
Rose uses Madeleine and Daniel’s relationship to explore the theme of trust. Madeleine has previously been unable to enjoy emotional relationships with men as she didn’t know how. Although Rose offers no censure of her protagonist’s life choices it’s obvious that her behaviour is born out of an inability to trust. At the same time Daniel, who prior to working for his uncle has led a feckless existence dropping out of university and unable to hold down a job, has to learn to trust Madeleine to take control of her own life without his interference.
Inevitably Madeleine’s past catches up with her and threatens to put her and everyone she cares about in danger. Relying on her innate intelligence she hatches a plan to free herself and keep everyone safe. Despite a shady past, Madeleine is morally honest and has a good heart but she has many hurdles to clear before she can be who she really wants to be.
One of the many things I like about Rose’s novels is the care and attention she applies to her characters. There are no throwaway characters and consequently the reader really cares about them all. Even the less likeable characters such as Letitia and Tag are presented in such a way that they elicit some sympathy for the insecurities and damage that is propelling their actions. Each of the villagers piques our interest in such a way that should she choose to Rose could tell each of their stories and I would be only too happy to read them.
The lightness of Rose’s touch is the perfect foil for the fact that Parallel Lies carries a serious, hard hitting message about poverty and the impact it has on children. Vulnerable young people being groomed and taken advantage of is a very relevant issue that Rose skilfully taps into. The quote that ran through my mind constantly as I read it was “It is easier to build strong children than repair broken men.” (Frederick Douglass)
Parallel Lies is an intelligent, entertaining read which I devoured greedily in a few days. If you are looking for a thriller with a dark edge then I can’t recommend this novel highly enough.
August 26, 2017
Madeleine Ross is settling into a comfortable life: she has a snug cottage in the country, complete with inherited gardener. She has friends and neighbours who care for her and look out for her. And she has a new man in her life. What could possibly go wrong? Well quite a lot, actually. Madeleine has some dark secrets in her past that she has worked hard to hide. But then an old face appears from that past and it looks like everything is going to unravel.
I loved this book and read it in just a couple of sessions. The writing is good and the characters, especially Madeleine, are well-drawn. The storyline is original and the level of suspense kept building. A great new book from Georgia Rose, highly recommended.
I loved this book and read it in just a couple of sessions. The writing is good and the characters, especially Madeleine, are well-drawn. The storyline is original and the level of suspense kept building. A great new book from Georgia Rose, highly recommended.
February 23, 2019
Parallel Lies tells an intriguing story with a mysterious main character. Curiosity peaks from the first page and will keep them turning long after bedtime to unravel both plotline and character! This one hits all the right spots. Perfect to curl up with for a long evening of reading.
Madeleine Ross lives in the village of Crowbridge, a small place with a close community. Madeleine fits right in, the right speech, involved in community activities, has bought a lovely cottage on the outskirts, and has lived there four years. Not long enough to be considered a native but long enough for acceptance.
She has two close friends in the village. First Diane, the woman who sold her the cottage, and only close neighbor. Diane is a delightfully colorful character. Second is Chris, former bookstore owner, now full time writer. Except they don’t truly know Madeleine at all.
To be truthful Madeleine isn’t even her name. That was left behind with every other part of her former life when she escaped. Madeleine Ross is merely the woman she chose for her reinvented life. How many of us at some time don’t wish we could start fresh, even if we have nothing to run from, like Madeleine does?
Of necessity, she has chosen to roam afield for her work. She wouldn’t want too much scrutiny. Madeleine tells those who ask that she works in insurance, not truly a lie. But no one would ever guess what this job really entails.
The question is how long can a person live a total lie without some part of their past appearing to haunt them? If the past is exposed, do you lose all that you have built?
Madeleine Ross lives in the village of Crowbridge, a small place with a close community. Madeleine fits right in, the right speech, involved in community activities, has bought a lovely cottage on the outskirts, and has lived there four years. Not long enough to be considered a native but long enough for acceptance.
She has two close friends in the village. First Diane, the woman who sold her the cottage, and only close neighbor. Diane is a delightfully colorful character. Second is Chris, former bookstore owner, now full time writer. Except they don’t truly know Madeleine at all.
To be truthful Madeleine isn’t even her name. That was left behind with every other part of her former life when she escaped. Madeleine Ross is merely the woman she chose for her reinvented life. How many of us at some time don’t wish we could start fresh, even if we have nothing to run from, like Madeleine does?
Of necessity, she has chosen to roam afield for her work. She wouldn’t want too much scrutiny. Madeleine tells those who ask that she works in insurance, not truly a lie. But no one would ever guess what this job really entails.
The question is how long can a person live a total lie without some part of their past appearing to haunt them? If the past is exposed, do you lose all that you have built?
April 22, 2019
I received this book for free. I am voluntarily leaving this review and all opinions expressed herein are mine.
Here, the MC Maddie is mostly the narrator and her character is slowly revealed as the story progresses. It's clear from the beginning that Maddie is hiding something and pretending to be someone she is not for the villagers where she lives and then she is someone different at the gym and then someone different again when someone from her past shows up. So who is Maddie and what does she have to hide?
This is an intriguing mystery/character study which had my curiosity piqued throughout. The story is well written with believable and well developed characters. I am giving fair warning that you will stay up until the wee hours trying to piece it all together. I highly recommend this book.
I listened to this book -- the narrator is pitch perfect for this story.
Here, the MC Maddie is mostly the narrator and her character is slowly revealed as the story progresses. It's clear from the beginning that Maddie is hiding something and pretending to be someone she is not for the villagers where she lives and then she is someone different at the gym and then someone different again when someone from her past shows up. So who is Maddie and what does she have to hide?
This is an intriguing mystery/character study which had my curiosity piqued throughout. The story is well written with believable and well developed characters. I am giving fair warning that you will stay up until the wee hours trying to piece it all together. I highly recommend this book.
I listened to this book -- the narrator is pitch perfect for this story.
February 20, 2019
The writing style is nattering British, took a little getti9ng used to, but it seemed to calm as I read. The characters were very realistic and the story itself was quite interesting and imaginative. The parallel lies are the two lives Madelaine leads, a quiet rural villager and aa skilled thief. An intruder from her past threatens to upset her world just as she is growing satisfied in it. Interesting friends in the little village and a variety of characters from her gym ad spice and interest.
July 18, 2019
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Georgia Rose's "Grayson Trilogy," I was looking forward to her take on a standalone novel, one focused less on romance and more on the twists and intrigues of a good suspense narrative... I wasn't disappointed.
The story orbits around Madeleine Rose, a woman with a mysterious past and self-created identity, who's living a life that's both warm and satisfying, but, as well learn early on, clearly balanced on the thread of deception. We initially follow her as she engages in some dubious activities, only to learn that her unusual job for an insurance company includes spotting security breaches by actually causing them. What we don't know is what she's hiding.
As the story evolves, which it does slowly, we are, page-by-page, immersed in the characters, settings, and details of Maddie's life, which is rich and intriguing. Georgia Rose has a sharp facility for creating "place," with all its visuals and sensory elements, which is something I really enjoy about her work. The reader is able to easily picture, imagine, even smell the surrounds in which the characters live and engage, and that makes for a very visceral read, my favorite kind.
Once we get into the mechanics of her job and begin to learn a bit about her occluded past, it's clear there's danger there, and something, and someone, she's desperate to keep from her new life. But just as she meets and begins to be both conflicted by and attracted to a new man at the company, that past seeps dangerously back into her existence, causing her -- and us -- considerable concern.
The story takes some unexpected twists, and there were times when Maddie seemed to be on the brink of making self-destructive choices (yet again), but that precarious journey is part of what makes this such a suspenseful read. I appreciated her strength and cleverness, her ability to survive and get herself out of tangles without looking to others (men) to get the job done... that's always refreshing! I might have liked a few more pages at the end, but certainly even that was unpredictable, which is the crafty style of this writer!
All in all, another excellent read by a very talented author.
The story orbits around Madeleine Rose, a woman with a mysterious past and self-created identity, who's living a life that's both warm and satisfying, but, as well learn early on, clearly balanced on the thread of deception. We initially follow her as she engages in some dubious activities, only to learn that her unusual job for an insurance company includes spotting security breaches by actually causing them. What we don't know is what she's hiding.
As the story evolves, which it does slowly, we are, page-by-page, immersed in the characters, settings, and details of Maddie's life, which is rich and intriguing. Georgia Rose has a sharp facility for creating "place," with all its visuals and sensory elements, which is something I really enjoy about her work. The reader is able to easily picture, imagine, even smell the surrounds in which the characters live and engage, and that makes for a very visceral read, my favorite kind.
Once we get into the mechanics of her job and begin to learn a bit about her occluded past, it's clear there's danger there, and something, and someone, she's desperate to keep from her new life. But just as she meets and begins to be both conflicted by and attracted to a new man at the company, that past seeps dangerously back into her existence, causing her -- and us -- considerable concern.
The story takes some unexpected twists, and there were times when Maddie seemed to be on the brink of making self-destructive choices (yet again), but that precarious journey is part of what makes this such a suspenseful read. I appreciated her strength and cleverness, her ability to survive and get herself out of tangles without looking to others (men) to get the job done... that's always refreshing! I might have liked a few more pages at the end, but certainly even that was unpredictable, which is the crafty style of this writer!
All in all, another excellent read by a very talented author.
March 1, 2020
I won an audio version of this book and am providing an honest, spoiler-free review.
I wasn't really sure what to expect when I began listening to this book, but I immediately found myself drawn to the main character. There was something about her darkness that piqued my interest. I was hooked very quickly and found myself thinking about the story during times when I couldn't listen. Even now, days after I finished the book, I am still thinking about the main character.
The main character was so unlike any I'd ever read about before. On the surface, a hard nut to crack, but inside, just a scared little girl. The contrast was distinct and drew me further and further into her world.
There are twists and turns and unexpected quandaries. At first I found the ending to be abrupt, but after considering it I realized it couldn't have ended any other way.
I wasn't really sure what to expect when I began listening to this book, but I immediately found myself drawn to the main character. There was something about her darkness that piqued my interest. I was hooked very quickly and found myself thinking about the story during times when I couldn't listen. Even now, days after I finished the book, I am still thinking about the main character.
The main character was so unlike any I'd ever read about before. On the surface, a hard nut to crack, but inside, just a scared little girl. The contrast was distinct and drew me further and further into her world.
There are twists and turns and unexpected quandaries. At first I found the ending to be abrupt, but after considering it I realized it couldn't have ended any other way.
November 3, 2022
A great story with lots of twists and turns. The main character Maddie is fascinating. The way Georgia Rose develops her character is excellent. The story line is great. Maddie’s point of view was well done but I was frustrated with Dan’s POV which was not very developed. I assume we will learn more about him in the next book I also didn’t understand how their relationship so quickly and deeply. Especially with Maddie’s hang-ups due to her horrific childhood. But overall it was a great book and I highly recommend it.
February 20, 2020
Parallel Lies begins The Ross Duology by Georgia Rose. It is my first introduction to Miss Rose’s writing. I thought it was a pretty good read.
I am the pleasure of listening to the audio version of Parallel Lies. Henri Merriam’s performance was wonderful and kept me interested with the story from start to finish.
I am giving Parallel Lines four stars. I look forward to the second part from The Ross Duology to find out what happens next in the story.
I received the audio version of this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
I am the pleasure of listening to the audio version of Parallel Lies. Henri Merriam’s performance was wonderful and kept me interested with the story from start to finish.
I am giving Parallel Lines four stars. I look forward to the second part from The Ross Duology to find out what happens next in the story.
I received the audio version of this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
September 24, 2017
[QUOTE] "Keep the lies you’re going to be telling parallel to the truth of the life you previously led." [END QUOTE]
Madeleine “Maddy” Ross has followed two of the three basic rules for assuming a new identity. First, she’s safe from the emotional pull of her old life because it holds nobody and nothing she wants to keep. Second, she’s built a backstory that holds enough truth to keep her from slipping up. But then there’s that third rule… the one about patterns. That rule says you should try to find a similar niche to inhabit, but change the details. Instead, Maddy moved to a completely different place, a small village where she can hide in plain sight. And most dangerous of all, she kept up her habit of going to a gym. When her old, deadly life reached out, breaking that third rule was the clue that gave her away.
When Maddy meets her new boss Daniel, she finds herself questioning all she’s built. But even as she takes the first tentative steps toward change, and considers letting him inside the perfect facade she’s constructed to hide the horrors of her past, that past is about to find her.
The contrast between Maddy’s old and new worlds couldn’t be more dramatic. Her childhood was a place where small children were victims, where those who should have offered protection and love could barely manage coexistence, and where it’s easy to mistake a predator’s grasp for care or even affection. While Maddy cautiously navigates the politics and gossip of her new existence in a small village, she slowly builds village relationships and even begins to respond to the determined advances of the stray kitten known unceremoniously as Cat.
The voice of Georgia Rose’s writing is a curious blend that I’ve seen very few other writers pull off. On one hand, the spirit of classic writers such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers is channeled in the almost timeless microcosm of an English country village, so that the mention of modern technology and settings almost comes as a shock. But then the action, initially slow-building, explodes in shocking emotional and physical violence.
Then there are those parallels. In addition to Maddy’s story, there are two shadow stories unfolding through the book. One is a fictional novel that her writer friend Chris tells her about in small snatches of pub chat. In his tale, a young woman’s mysterious past is affecting her ability to live in the present. Despite the resemblance to her own story, Maddy wonders if she would find the finished work “a little boring.” When she asks him about the ending, Chris tells her, “Everything will work out exactly the way it’s meant to.” Maddy is not impressed.
Unlike Chris’ tale that runs parallel to Maddy’s new life, there is the story of Kourtney, a teenager in whom Maddy sees her own younger self. But she views Kourtney as someone who still has a chance at her own life, a “resourceful and hard working” girl who is willing and able to accept the help and advice that will lead to a better life. Maddy doesn’t hesitate to offer practical assistance to the younger girl, even though it was something she herself never received.
And then there’s Sidney, the newsagent where Maddy buys her papers. Obviously, she could have gone anywhere for them, but she goes almost daily to Sidney’s grubby failing little shop which could have come straight from her old life. Although Sidney barely acknowledges her existence, Maddy returns over and over, greeting him, attempting conversation, and silently demanding that he see her.
There were so many things I enjoyed and admired in this book, from the layered parallel stories, to the well-rounded characters, the complex unfolding of Maddy’s story, and even the cameo appearance of a favorite character from her earlier Grayson Trilogy. Unfortunately, I thought Daniel came across as emotionally weak beside the battle-hardened Madeleine (although, to be fair, she was a tough act to follow). But I admired the way Maddy’s character continues to develop as she faces her life head on, making hard choices, and succeeding against all odds.
I do have to admit, though, that when I got to that dramatic ending I screamed “NOOOO!” at my Kindle. One of the things Georgia Rose spoiled readers with in her earlier thrillers was a long and thorough wrap up of all possible loose ends. But with the richly developed secondary characters and somewhat enigmatic ending, I found myself hoping for more. (And okay, I may have written to Georgia demanding more. Something. Anything. Don’t judge me…) For those who admire character-driven thrillers, who can handle brief but shocking violence, and who enjoy beautiful writing, I can’t recommend Parallel Lies enough.
Madeleine “Maddy” Ross has followed two of the three basic rules for assuming a new identity. First, she’s safe from the emotional pull of her old life because it holds nobody and nothing she wants to keep. Second, she’s built a backstory that holds enough truth to keep her from slipping up. But then there’s that third rule… the one about patterns. That rule says you should try to find a similar niche to inhabit, but change the details. Instead, Maddy moved to a completely different place, a small village where she can hide in plain sight. And most dangerous of all, she kept up her habit of going to a gym. When her old, deadly life reached out, breaking that third rule was the clue that gave her away.
When Maddy meets her new boss Daniel, she finds herself questioning all she’s built. But even as she takes the first tentative steps toward change, and considers letting him inside the perfect facade she’s constructed to hide the horrors of her past, that past is about to find her.
The contrast between Maddy’s old and new worlds couldn’t be more dramatic. Her childhood was a place where small children were victims, where those who should have offered protection and love could barely manage coexistence, and where it’s easy to mistake a predator’s grasp for care or even affection. While Maddy cautiously navigates the politics and gossip of her new existence in a small village, she slowly builds village relationships and even begins to respond to the determined advances of the stray kitten known unceremoniously as Cat.
The voice of Georgia Rose’s writing is a curious blend that I’ve seen very few other writers pull off. On one hand, the spirit of classic writers such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers is channeled in the almost timeless microcosm of an English country village, so that the mention of modern technology and settings almost comes as a shock. But then the action, initially slow-building, explodes in shocking emotional and physical violence.
Then there are those parallels. In addition to Maddy’s story, there are two shadow stories unfolding through the book. One is a fictional novel that her writer friend Chris tells her about in small snatches of pub chat. In his tale, a young woman’s mysterious past is affecting her ability to live in the present. Despite the resemblance to her own story, Maddy wonders if she would find the finished work “a little boring.” When she asks him about the ending, Chris tells her, “Everything will work out exactly the way it’s meant to.” Maddy is not impressed.
Unlike Chris’ tale that runs parallel to Maddy’s new life, there is the story of Kourtney, a teenager in whom Maddy sees her own younger self. But she views Kourtney as someone who still has a chance at her own life, a “resourceful and hard working” girl who is willing and able to accept the help and advice that will lead to a better life. Maddy doesn’t hesitate to offer practical assistance to the younger girl, even though it was something she herself never received.
And then there’s Sidney, the newsagent where Maddy buys her papers. Obviously, she could have gone anywhere for them, but she goes almost daily to Sidney’s grubby failing little shop which could have come straight from her old life. Although Sidney barely acknowledges her existence, Maddy returns over and over, greeting him, attempting conversation, and silently demanding that he see her.
There were so many things I enjoyed and admired in this book, from the layered parallel stories, to the well-rounded characters, the complex unfolding of Maddy’s story, and even the cameo appearance of a favorite character from her earlier Grayson Trilogy. Unfortunately, I thought Daniel came across as emotionally weak beside the battle-hardened Madeleine (although, to be fair, she was a tough act to follow). But I admired the way Maddy’s character continues to develop as she faces her life head on, making hard choices, and succeeding against all odds.
I do have to admit, though, that when I got to that dramatic ending I screamed “NOOOO!” at my Kindle. One of the things Georgia Rose spoiled readers with in her earlier thrillers was a long and thorough wrap up of all possible loose ends. But with the richly developed secondary characters and somewhat enigmatic ending, I found myself hoping for more. (And okay, I may have written to Georgia demanding more. Something. Anything. Don’t judge me…) For those who admire character-driven thrillers, who can handle brief but shocking violence, and who enjoy beautiful writing, I can’t recommend Parallel Lies enough.
September 12, 2017
Twenty-four years old and single, Madeleine Ross has lived on the edge of Crowbridge village for the last four years. Although she’s part of the village community, supports local events and has friendly relationships with people, she doesn’t talk about her life before moving to the village. Her closest friend, Diane (a great character who relishes the local suspicions that she’s a witch) lives next door, and after initially renting the cottage she owned to Madeleine, eventually gave her the option to buy.
From the start the inference that there’s more to Madeleine than meets the eye is apparent, when she helps and advises Kourtney, a young village girl who has a tough home life. Madeleine can sympathise fully with Kourtney’s unfavourable circumstances, reminding Madeleine in some respects of her own upbringing.
Told in the first person from Madeleine’s perspective, we get an increasing insight into her personality and past life as the story progresses, far beyond the image she presents to her neighbours. Her job with an insurance company is interesting, probably unique to say the least, and the mornings spent at the gym show how the lack of parental love and care in her formative years, plus the lifestyle she led prior to moving to Crowbridge, has had a negative affect and left her with harmful emotional issues.
Madeleine’s life takes a new turn when she meets Daniel, her prospective new boss. She’s uncomfortable with change and likes her life just the way it is, which makes Madeleine unsure whether she can work with Daniel. Then, to make the situation worse, the past catches up with her when her ex boyfriend Tag reappears and threatens to destroy the life she’s built. Madeleine devises a daring plan to escape the dark secrets of her past once and for all and take a chance on a whole new future.
Madeleine is a great character. Sympathetic and well defined and we can tell almost immediately she is warm-hearted by her reluctance to deliberately hurt others’ feelings and her concern for Kourtney. I enjoyed how Georgia Rose reveals Madeleine’s past gradually, developing her from someone basically living a lie, although it becomes easy to understand why she chose to live as she did, to an altogether stronger person.
Each of the supporting characters have a part to play and they all add depth to the story. Even Sidney, the ‘less than fragrant’ newsagent proprietor. Parallel Lies is very well written, measured and steady to begin with in keeping with village life, with suspense and tension building progressively as the story unfolds. There’s a message here too, about how early circumstances shape a person’s life, in different ways, and how important the formative years are. Kourtney was determined to rise above the disadvantages, whereas Madeleine didn’t really have a chance. An excellent read.
I chose to read and review Parallel Lies based on an advance reader copy of the book supplied by the author/publisher.
From the start the inference that there’s more to Madeleine than meets the eye is apparent, when she helps and advises Kourtney, a young village girl who has a tough home life. Madeleine can sympathise fully with Kourtney’s unfavourable circumstances, reminding Madeleine in some respects of her own upbringing.
Told in the first person from Madeleine’s perspective, we get an increasing insight into her personality and past life as the story progresses, far beyond the image she presents to her neighbours. Her job with an insurance company is interesting, probably unique to say the least, and the mornings spent at the gym show how the lack of parental love and care in her formative years, plus the lifestyle she led prior to moving to Crowbridge, has had a negative affect and left her with harmful emotional issues.
Madeleine’s life takes a new turn when she meets Daniel, her prospective new boss. She’s uncomfortable with change and likes her life just the way it is, which makes Madeleine unsure whether she can work with Daniel. Then, to make the situation worse, the past catches up with her when her ex boyfriend Tag reappears and threatens to destroy the life she’s built. Madeleine devises a daring plan to escape the dark secrets of her past once and for all and take a chance on a whole new future.
Madeleine is a great character. Sympathetic and well defined and we can tell almost immediately she is warm-hearted by her reluctance to deliberately hurt others’ feelings and her concern for Kourtney. I enjoyed how Georgia Rose reveals Madeleine’s past gradually, developing her from someone basically living a lie, although it becomes easy to understand why she chose to live as she did, to an altogether stronger person.
Each of the supporting characters have a part to play and they all add depth to the story. Even Sidney, the ‘less than fragrant’ newsagent proprietor. Parallel Lies is very well written, measured and steady to begin with in keeping with village life, with suspense and tension building progressively as the story unfolds. There’s a message here too, about how early circumstances shape a person’s life, in different ways, and how important the formative years are. Kourtney was determined to rise above the disadvantages, whereas Madeleine didn’t really have a chance. An excellent read.
I chose to read and review Parallel Lies based on an advance reader copy of the book supplied by the author/publisher.
September 11, 2017
Read my full review at Musings Over Nothing
Maddy lives in a laid back, picturesque village. She has made friends with a few, yet believes she will be considered an outsider whatever she does. She wishes that she blends into their life without arousing any suspicion to escape from her past. Will the reality catch up with her fake life?
Enters Dan, her new boss who disapproves everything she does - her ethics, her job, and her lifestyle. The attraction seems mutual, but Dan would not take anything less than what he bargains for. When things finally smoothen for them, her luck runs out. Her ex and everything else that she has been running away for years have finally leaped on her. Can she survive this setback? Would running away again solve her problems? What would her self-righteous boyfriend be able to handle her truths? Read Parallel Lies to know more.
The story travels at a slow pace, but the writing grows on you. It takes about a 100 pages for the story to move, and we get to meet the other characters. Though we primarily hear the story from Maddy's POV we get to hear Dan's view a few times, which help us understand Maddy's history and character better.
I love how Maddy's character developed throughout, from someone who was struggling to fit into her fake life to someone who has realized what she wants in life and lets her past go. I liked how she helps Kourtney to move ahead in her life, and the other minor characters like Diane and Chris are nicely etched.
I didn't care much for the parts of Dan's POV in the second person, and thankfully they were few and short. Parallel Lies is surely a Happily Ever After kind of story, yet it offers many variations from the heart-wrenching ones that we often get to read. It involves action, mystery, drama, and pinch (or more) of romance - a perfect combination for a summer read.
Maddy lives in a laid back, picturesque village. She has made friends with a few, yet believes she will be considered an outsider whatever she does. She wishes that she blends into their life without arousing any suspicion to escape from her past. Will the reality catch up with her fake life?
Enters Dan, her new boss who disapproves everything she does - her ethics, her job, and her lifestyle. The attraction seems mutual, but Dan would not take anything less than what he bargains for. When things finally smoothen for them, her luck runs out. Her ex and everything else that she has been running away for years have finally leaped on her. Can she survive this setback? Would running away again solve her problems? What would her self-righteous boyfriend be able to handle her truths? Read Parallel Lies to know more.
The story travels at a slow pace, but the writing grows on you. It takes about a 100 pages for the story to move, and we get to meet the other characters. Though we primarily hear the story from Maddy's POV we get to hear Dan's view a few times, which help us understand Maddy's history and character better.
I love how Maddy's character developed throughout, from someone who was struggling to fit into her fake life to someone who has realized what she wants in life and lets her past go. I liked how she helps Kourtney to move ahead in her life, and the other minor characters like Diane and Chris are nicely etched.
I didn't care much for the parts of Dan's POV in the second person, and thankfully they were few and short. Parallel Lies is surely a Happily Ever After kind of story, yet it offers many variations from the heart-wrenching ones that we often get to read. It involves action, mystery, drama, and pinch (or more) of romance - a perfect combination for a summer read.
September 12, 2017
Parallel Lies falls in the genres of mystery and romantic suspense. The main character is Madeleine Ross, who lives in one of those BBC Sunday night drama type villages, where she fits in very well ... or so it seems. Right from the start, we realise that there is more to her than meets the eye, that she has big secrets about her identity. She's an interesting though not a particularly likeable character, often cold, cynical and critical, which was a plus point for me; I admire any author who has the confidence to make her main character someone the reader will not necessarily warm to, and I enjoyed her astute observations about the pretensions and social hierarchy of the villagers.
Because of the shocking and traumatic events in Maddy's past, she holds people at a distance. She does not form romantic attachments but finds partners for emotionless sex amongst regulars at her local gym; one can only imagine the conversations in the men's changing rooms. Then again, part of her charm is that she cares little for what people think, or so she would have us believe; that she tries to convince us of this speaks otherwise. And then the man appears who will turn her heart on its head....
I gave a big round of applause for the way in which the mystery unfolds; the information is fed to the reader at the right time, in exactly the right amounts, to hold the reader's interest and make them wonder what's round the next corner. Just when Madeleine's new life seems to be on the up, a love from her past arrives. He knows everything about her and threatens to insert a particularly malicious set of spanners into the works.
There were some elements about the novel that stretched feasibility for me, but, of course, disbelief suspension ceilings vary from person to person, and mine is probably lower than most. Recommended readers: anyone who likes an artfully unravelling mystery, heists, plenty of love life shenanigans and a fair few unexpected turns of event.
Because of the shocking and traumatic events in Maddy's past, she holds people at a distance. She does not form romantic attachments but finds partners for emotionless sex amongst regulars at her local gym; one can only imagine the conversations in the men's changing rooms. Then again, part of her charm is that she cares little for what people think, or so she would have us believe; that she tries to convince us of this speaks otherwise. And then the man appears who will turn her heart on its head....
I gave a big round of applause for the way in which the mystery unfolds; the information is fed to the reader at the right time, in exactly the right amounts, to hold the reader's interest and make them wonder what's round the next corner. Just when Madeleine's new life seems to be on the up, a love from her past arrives. He knows everything about her and threatens to insert a particularly malicious set of spanners into the works.
There were some elements about the novel that stretched feasibility for me, but, of course, disbelief suspension ceilings vary from person to person, and mine is probably lower than most. Recommended readers: anyone who likes an artfully unravelling mystery, heists, plenty of love life shenanigans and a fair few unexpected turns of event.
September 12, 2017
Opening a book by Georgia Rose, you know that it will encompass more than one genre, that it will reveal more of the heroine’s past life gradually, layer by layer. Madeleine Ross appears to be a young woman in control, living a carefully organised life in an idyllic, friendly English village. But all is not as it appears. Her occupation is extremely unusual and she hates any change in her routine.
However, Maddie’s boss, Cubby is about to retire and she is not happy to be working with his disapproving nephew, Daniel. Soon there are fireworks between them and yet she cannot deny a mutual attraction. Meanwhile, Madeleine helps teenager, Kourtney, to escape her unfortunate home circumstances and start out on a successful future. She is also tempted to improve the life of Letitia, a trophy wife with an arrogant husband.
Speaking in the first person, Madeleine shows the reader that her need to plan in detail arises from chaos in her past life. Her kindness and warmth provoke friendship from older friends in the village such as Chris, a writer and Diane, a healer but her relationships with young men have no depth.
In contrast, we discover more about Daniel in the second person. As he sees more of Maddie, he seeks some commitment which she is unwilling to give but when she is threatened, “Hatred coils,” in his gut, “visceral and black like angry snakes.” He is prepared to do anything he can to save her.
Every character in the book is significant. We learn about their character and beliefs, making the story more intense and real. Towards the conclusion, tension mounts as Madeleine seems to be caught in a web from which there is no escape but we hope that her intelligence and ingenuity might bring hope for her future.
This is a book which surprises and intrigues the reader with an unusual but likeable heroine who will win your loyalty. A highly recommended read.
However, Maddie’s boss, Cubby is about to retire and she is not happy to be working with his disapproving nephew, Daniel. Soon there are fireworks between them and yet she cannot deny a mutual attraction. Meanwhile, Madeleine helps teenager, Kourtney, to escape her unfortunate home circumstances and start out on a successful future. She is also tempted to improve the life of Letitia, a trophy wife with an arrogant husband.
Speaking in the first person, Madeleine shows the reader that her need to plan in detail arises from chaos in her past life. Her kindness and warmth provoke friendship from older friends in the village such as Chris, a writer and Diane, a healer but her relationships with young men have no depth.
In contrast, we discover more about Daniel in the second person. As he sees more of Maddie, he seeks some commitment which she is unwilling to give but when she is threatened, “Hatred coils,” in his gut, “visceral and black like angry snakes.” He is prepared to do anything he can to save her.
Every character in the book is significant. We learn about their character and beliefs, making the story more intense and real. Towards the conclusion, tension mounts as Madeleine seems to be caught in a web from which there is no escape but we hope that her intelligence and ingenuity might bring hope for her future.
This is a book which surprises and intrigues the reader with an unusual but likeable heroine who will win your loyalty. A highly recommended read.
September 8, 2017
Right from the beginning of what appears to be the idyllic story of a woman’s life, you sense the ominous presence of a serious mystery seeping through the pages.
Maddy’s life seems perfect, but if you look closely you can see the joins. This is a woman with carefully guarded secrets. She is not what she pretends to be but gives nothing away. You sense how vitally important it is that it stays buried.
Slowly, almost teasingly, we start to learn the truth about Maddy. At first so proper, so delightfully independent, but as we begin to discover the truth, we find a very different woman. The more we find out, the more we know that what we are seeing is only the tip of the iceberg. She confides with the reader with candid honesty about the life she has so carefully constructed, and why it had been necessary.
As the skeletons of her life begin to show, we discover more grubby secrets, all alluding to something or someone so terrifying, she once ran away from.
The tension mounts as the past threatens to ruin all her carefully constructed peace, and I desperately wanted Maddy to rid herself of her demons and find happiness at last, but it looked hopeless.
I really enjoyed reading Parallel Lies, a beautifully written mystery with more twists and turns than a rattlesnake. Maddy is not your typical heroine, she comes with all manner of faults and failings. Some you won’t approve of, but you will understand them.
(Thank you to the author for my free review copy)
Maddy’s life seems perfect, but if you look closely you can see the joins. This is a woman with carefully guarded secrets. She is not what she pretends to be but gives nothing away. You sense how vitally important it is that it stays buried.
Slowly, almost teasingly, we start to learn the truth about Maddy. At first so proper, so delightfully independent, but as we begin to discover the truth, we find a very different woman. The more we find out, the more we know that what we are seeing is only the tip of the iceberg. She confides with the reader with candid honesty about the life she has so carefully constructed, and why it had been necessary.
As the skeletons of her life begin to show, we discover more grubby secrets, all alluding to something or someone so terrifying, she once ran away from.
The tension mounts as the past threatens to ruin all her carefully constructed peace, and I desperately wanted Maddy to rid herself of her demons and find happiness at last, but it looked hopeless.
I really enjoyed reading Parallel Lies, a beautifully written mystery with more twists and turns than a rattlesnake. Maddy is not your typical heroine, she comes with all manner of faults and failings. Some you won’t approve of, but you will understand them.
(Thank you to the author for my free review copy)
September 3, 2017
This book is involves the story of young woman, Madeleine “Maddy”, who lives in the small village of Hartleigh. I have never been to the UK but the author describes the surroundings so well that I feel like I was transported right into Maddy’s world. Maddy is a very independent woman that has a very unique job. While at work one day, Maddy is introduced to Daniel through her boss, Cubby. Her relationship with Daniel starts heating up after a night of some serious fireworks. Just when I thought Maddy had it all, her past comes back in the form of her ex-boyfriend, Tag. Tag turns Maddy's world upside down with his master plan that is certain to destroy everything that she has worked to hard to obtain. But Maddy puts her own plan into action to finally break free from Tag forever.
The first half of the book was a little slow for me but I’m so glad that I kept reading as the second half of the book is action packed and full of twist and turns and I could not put it down! Overall, I loved how this book was so descriptively written and how the story slowly unfolds to the bigger picture. I also loved that Maddy is no victim and is clearly a strong character that does not need a man to come save her. She handles her business!
I do want to warn that the book contains information about sexual assault and/or violence which may be triggering to survivors.
The first half of the book was a little slow for me but I’m so glad that I kept reading as the second half of the book is action packed and full of twist and turns and I could not put it down! Overall, I loved how this book was so descriptively written and how the story slowly unfolds to the bigger picture. I also loved that Maddy is no victim and is clearly a strong character that does not need a man to come save her. She handles her business!
I do want to warn that the book contains information about sexual assault and/or violence which may be triggering to survivors.
September 6, 2017
Great book! The life of Madeleine Ross, Maddy, is complicated and secretive. She doesn't let too many people know the real her. She thinks her life is perfect the way it is now that she has a home of her own and is on her own. She ran away from a man that she felt wasn't right for her and she carved out a life for herself in the Country. Although she does worry about how her new neighbors and friends will look at her should her past or real job be discovered. She lives a simple life, has friends, a job she enjoys, and sex on her terms. Things are changing for Maddy though and she has to decide if she's ready to share the past or her job with others and let them in all the way.
There are a lot of things going on in this book. It is well written and keeps your attention throughout. I give this book a 5-star review because I love Maddy and her life. She has to figure out if Dan, her new boss and love interest is the "One". She still has a reaction to Tag, her ex, but wants a better man for herself. When she figures it out, will it be too late? I look forward to reading more of Georgia Rose's books and I really hope that there is more to come in Maddy and Dan's lives. I would like to see what will happen now.
There are a lot of things going on in this book. It is well written and keeps your attention throughout. I give this book a 5-star review because I love Maddy and her life. She has to figure out if Dan, her new boss and love interest is the "One". She still has a reaction to Tag, her ex, but wants a better man for herself. When she figures it out, will it be too late? I look forward to reading more of Georgia Rose's books and I really hope that there is more to come in Maddy and Dan's lives. I would like to see what will happen now.
September 6, 2017
I was just two pages into Georgia Rose’s new thriller romance and she had me hooked. I knew her main character was living some sort of lie. But what was it? And when did I get to find out? And what was going on? From that point on it was hard to put down but, I have this life that does exist outside the written word, so I put it down. And then spent much of the time until I could pick it back up again pondering all the lies and foreshadowing the love and sneakiness the twists and turns the story had taken. I thought long about the supporting characters- I loved the supporting characters. They could each have a book, in fact I’d bet that with the amount of secret backstory they must all have to be so substantial that there are already a book’s worth of material floating around for each of them... Hmmm, I think I'll cross my fingers and hope something happens there...
Would I recommend it?
This is the sort of book that I doubt my husband really wants to read. Bit heavy on the romance, not exactly his jam, but I liked it so much I told him about the whole thing anyway. If you are any kind of romance reader, or like a light thriller with a bit of drama and a bunch of suspense, you’ve got to get your hands on this book!
Would I recommend it?
This is the sort of book that I doubt my husband really wants to read. Bit heavy on the romance, not exactly his jam, but I liked it so much I told him about the whole thing anyway. If you are any kind of romance reader, or like a light thriller with a bit of drama and a bunch of suspense, you’ve got to get your hands on this book!
September 12, 2017
***I was given a free copy by the author for an honest review***
I have to say this was not the story I was expecting. It was darker than the author's previous novels.
Madeleine is our main character and has created a new life for herself in a tight knit village. She is very guarded, and only shows people what she wants them to see. Through a series of flashbacks, we find out why.
I liked this book for a lot of reasons. One being that the main character was very relatable. She is a very broken person- as many of us are.
The pace of the story is steady and the characters are solidly written. There is a good mix of suspense, mystery and romance.
As soon as I finish one of the author's books, I'm always left wanting more. Parallel Lies was no exception.
I have to say this was not the story I was expecting. It was darker than the author's previous novels.
Madeleine is our main character and has created a new life for herself in a tight knit village. She is very guarded, and only shows people what she wants them to see. Through a series of flashbacks, we find out why.
I liked this book for a lot of reasons. One being that the main character was very relatable. She is a very broken person- as many of us are.
The pace of the story is steady and the characters are solidly written. There is a good mix of suspense, mystery and romance.
As soon as I finish one of the author's books, I'm always left wanting more. Parallel Lies was no exception.
September 18, 2017
Mystery and romance peppered with a lot of attitude, this is a thrill of a read.
Medeleine Ross, from the outside, appears to have a great life for an independent woman. But she’s harbouring secrets. And when Dan walks into her life, she’s willing to give him a chance. Too bad there’s her ex has never let her go, and he’s back to cause trouble…
From the first sentence that pulls you into the head of our strong and feisty heroine, to the pacy plot, and the range of characters (at times both relatable and despicable), this was well-written romantic crime fiction. The pace was strong, and the tension ratcheted up. I enjoyed the occasional change in voice, and anticipating Madeleine’s actions had me holding my breath until the end. Recommended.
*Thank you to the author for my free review copy.
Medeleine Ross, from the outside, appears to have a great life for an independent woman. But she’s harbouring secrets. And when Dan walks into her life, she’s willing to give him a chance. Too bad there’s her ex has never let her go, and he’s back to cause trouble…
From the first sentence that pulls you into the head of our strong and feisty heroine, to the pacy plot, and the range of characters (at times both relatable and despicable), this was well-written romantic crime fiction. The pace was strong, and the tension ratcheted up. I enjoyed the occasional change in voice, and anticipating Madeleine’s actions had me holding my breath until the end. Recommended.
*Thank you to the author for my free review copy.
February 18, 2019
Madeleine leaves a criminal life behind. She escapes from Tad. She gets a new identity and starts a new life. She gets settled in her new life and meets Dan, who fall for each other. But Madeleine's past love ,Tad, finds her and wants her to team up again for a jewel heist. I could not put this novel down. It captivated me from the beginning. Can Madeleine escape her past or continue in her new life she loves?
September 18, 2017
This is a story of mystery, suspense, drama, and romance. Madeleine Ross is a girl with many secrets from her past. The story is told from her perspective. It is well written the plot is good and the characters interesting. It keeps your interest on what is going to happen next. I received an ARC copy of this book and give a voluntary review.
October 8, 2017
Parallel Lies is a pacy and well constructed story with well-drawn characters - and very hard to put down! Written in the first person, it gives form and substance to the main player, Madeleine, who is a damaged and vulnerable woman with an unlovely past not of her own making. Strong and morally solid she comes across as both interesting and very likeable. Georgia Rose has really hit her straps in this new book and I look forward to her future writings.
February 28, 2019
Parallel Lies, my first highly enjoyable read/listen from author Georgia Rose. I don't restrict myself to a particular genre. I'm a sucker for anything with memorable characters and a story that keeps me turning the page long after I should have called it a night. I was given an Audio copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
March 1, 2019
The story starts slowly forming a solid background then builds to a crescendo, taking you on a journey through the life of a young lady who has finally escaped her traumatic and unhappy past and is attempting to create a new and happier life. It is the first book I have read from this Author and it certainly won't be the last. A well crafted read which draws you in and doesn't disappoint. Cannot wait for Georgia Rose's next book. A well crafted story which is a Must Read.
September 12, 2017
I reviewed Parallel Lies on behalf of Whispering Stories and it can be viewed by following the link below:
http://whisperingstories.com/parallel...
I awarded Parallel Lies five stars.
http://whisperingstories.com/parallel...
I awarded Parallel Lies five stars.
March 1, 2019
The storyline of very different from anyother book I've read. It ends with needing to read book 2 so can't wait for it so can learn how the girls situation is resolved. It has adult situations. The reader of this one has a British accent. It look me a while to get used to listening to her & follow what was being read. She did a great job, it was my hearing that caused me a problem. I received a free audio of the book from the author.
September 18, 2017
A new life
A well told story of starting over, reinventing oneself. I enjoyed the ups and downs but I would have liked to have his arms hold her close at the end.
A well told story of starting over, reinventing oneself. I enjoyed the ups and downs but I would have liked to have his arms hold her close at the end.
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