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Harbored Secrets #1
Living Lies
In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name--but no one knows your secret. At least that's what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.
Lane must work with Walton's newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she'll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.
Debut novelist Natalie Walters pulls you to the edge of your seat on the first page and keeps you there until the last in this riveting story that will have you believing no one is defined by their past.
Lane must work with Walton's newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she'll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.
Debut novelist Natalie Walters pulls you to the edge of your seat on the first page and keeps you there until the last in this riveting story that will have you believing no one is defined by their past.
335 pages, Paperback
First published May 21, 2019
528 people are currently reading
3603 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Walters
14 books1,207 followersMy world revolves around GIJOE and our three adult (or almost adult) children who keep my life anything but predictable. Our boots hit the ground wherever the Army sends us but home is when we’re all together no matter the zipcode. My passion is writing stories where adventure meets love and share my belief that life rooted in purpose is a story worth telling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 470 reviews
May 22, 2019
Wow, a fun new author to follow! I loved this book!
The suspense is excellent in this. But paired with the suspense is a very good small-town vibe, which generally isn't done or is just done by a Love Inspired Suspense author with scant chance for nice atmospheric descriptions. With Lane as a small-town restauranteur, there's so much that revolves around the quieter side of things, as well.
The mystery is edge-of-your seat as a killer not only can't be found but continues to make cryptic threats and damage things; what sense does it make? This part took me a good while to sort out and kept my brain delightfully busy. It's also hard to guess how things tie in to issues in nearby Savannah and to work out what possible interest the small town could have in a possible larger crime scene.
Two other major elements, the gentle romance and Lane's struggle with clinical depression, are more than enough to make this book sparkle. I loved every moment and had a hard time putting it down to do other things. I'd read a few chapters in an ebook, but the very day my review copy came in the mail I dropped everything and read to the end while toting it around the house in one hand during chores!
Thanks to Revell for a free reading copy. A positive review was not required.
The suspense is excellent in this. But paired with the suspense is a very good small-town vibe, which generally isn't done or is just done by a Love Inspired Suspense author with scant chance for nice atmospheric descriptions. With Lane as a small-town restauranteur, there's so much that revolves around the quieter side of things, as well.
The mystery is edge-of-your seat as a killer not only can't be found but continues to make cryptic threats and damage things; what sense does it make? This part took me a good while to sort out and kept my brain delightfully busy. It's also hard to guess how things tie in to issues in nearby Savannah and to work out what possible interest the small town could have in a possible larger crime scene.
Two other major elements, the gentle romance and Lane's struggle with clinical depression, are more than enough to make this book sparkle. I loved every moment and had a hard time putting it down to do other things. I'd read a few chapters in an ebook, but the very day my review copy came in the mail I dropped everything and read to the end while toting it around the house in one hand during chores!
Thanks to Revell for a free reading copy. A positive review was not required.
November 25, 2023
This book starts with a serious bang and rarely lets up. Between the homicide, all the twists and turns, the romance, and Lane's battle with depression, this one is full of intensity. Still, despite being Christian fiction, some of the violent details and emotionally disturbing moments may be too much for some readers. Proceed with caution.
October 18, 2018
Living Lies is a nail-biter that will make you play hookie from your day job, feed your children cereal for supper, and not stop reading until the last page. Natalie Walters' debut novel is intriguing and enticing, with a romance that will make you believe not only in love, but that you are worth being loved. It gripped me from the first chapter and didn't let go until the end!
April 21, 2019
Solid debut!
This suspense novel is believable and features an unlikely heroine, one that suffers from depression. Lane captured my heart with her sweet spirit and desire to help others. Typically, an on again off again romance drives me bonkers, but it rang true knowing the main female character isn't confident of her worth or value.
The secondary characters were wonderful including young police officer Frost and an unnamed character to avoid spoilers.
I look forward to continuing this series.
My gratitude to publisher Revell for a complimentary NetGalley copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and the opinions expressed are my own.
This suspense novel is believable and features an unlikely heroine, one that suffers from depression. Lane captured my heart with her sweet spirit and desire to help others. Typically, an on again off again romance drives me bonkers, but it rang true knowing the main female character isn't confident of her worth or value.
The secondary characters were wonderful including young police officer Frost and an unnamed character to avoid spoilers.
I look forward to continuing this series.
My gratitude to publisher Revell for a complimentary NetGalley copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and the opinions expressed are my own.
June 18, 2019
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Reads and a complimentary electronic copy from NetGalley. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts.
What an important book for mental health awareness!
I was quite impressed by the author’s handling of depression, suicide, PTSD, and the support (and lack of support) various characters encountered and lived with. I’m eager to see how Mrs. Walters builds on these topics (or introduces us to new ones) in book two of her Harbored Secrets series.
The only characters I truly despised were the leading lady’s parents. Their controlling personalities were written so well that I struggled to get through their scenes because of previous personal experience with that type of people. Not fun memories! But I must applaud the author for nailing it, even if it made the book a bit challenging to get through. (The second half was easier for me to fly through, and I doubt this issue will slow down most readers.)
Plot twists aplenty kept me riveted to my seat and flipping the pages quickly, particularly in the back half. The pace was fairly decent for a suspense novel, though it read much more like a police procedural than the thriller sort of suspense book the cover implied I was getting into. As much as I enjoyed this book, there were spots where characters randomly thought about (and for too long on occasion) about potential romance, and this ground things to a halt in a few scenes.
The faith thread was sprinkled in very lightly. When it showed up, it was strong. I would have liked this to have been a more important aspect of the plot rather than almost as an afterthought.
Content: one expletive, drugs, alcohol, tattoos, dysfunctional family, depression, suicide
Note: There is violence associated with the suspense genre. Nothing I wouldn’t expect.
What an important book for mental health awareness!
I was quite impressed by the author’s handling of depression, suicide, PTSD, and the support (and lack of support) various characters encountered and lived with. I’m eager to see how Mrs. Walters builds on these topics (or introduces us to new ones) in book two of her Harbored Secrets series.
The only characters I truly despised were the leading lady’s parents. Their controlling personalities were written so well that I struggled to get through their scenes because of previous personal experience with that type of people. Not fun memories! But I must applaud the author for nailing it, even if it made the book a bit challenging to get through. (The second half was easier for me to fly through, and I doubt this issue will slow down most readers.)
Plot twists aplenty kept me riveted to my seat and flipping the pages quickly, particularly in the back half. The pace was fairly decent for a suspense novel, though it read much more like a police procedural than the thriller sort of suspense book the cover implied I was getting into. As much as I enjoyed this book, there were spots where characters randomly thought about (and for too long on occasion) about potential romance, and this ground things to a halt in a few scenes.
The faith thread was sprinkled in very lightly. When it showed up, it was strong. I would have liked this to have been a more important aspect of the plot rather than almost as an afterthought.
Content: one expletive, drugs, alcohol, tattoos, dysfunctional family, depression, suicide
Note: There is violence associated with the suspense genre. Nothing I wouldn’t expect.
July 22, 2022
About this book:
“In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name--but no one knows your secret. At least that's what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.
Lane must work with Walton's newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she'll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.”
Series: Book #1 in the “Harbored Secrets” trilogy.
Spiritual Content- A handful prayers & thanking God; Lane thinks that God doesn’t hear her prayers or that He doesn’t care, there’s a mention of when “she was naïve enough to believe there was something bigger watching out for her”, how she used to search for an answer to why God would make her broken, later she wonders if “God predestined these individuals with a [mental] sickness that made them a danger to others? Did that mean she was just as dangerous?”, and if God made a mistake allowing her to live (Ms. Byrdie replies that God never makes mistakes and she’s here on a purpose, that Lane was perfectly made and that she needs to stop punishing herself for “the way God made you—even for your depression”); Ms. Byrdie witnesses a bit to Lane and tells her that she and God love her and that God makes all things new, that they need to put their hope in Him; *Spoiler* *; A handful of talks about God; ‘H’s are not capitalized when referring to God; Mentions of God, His purpose for you, & faiths; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of churches, church going, a pastor, & a benefit being at a church; A couple mentions of saints; A mention of thanking God; A mention of a hymn; A mention of a missionary trip;
*Note: A few mentions of looking like cave people; A couple mentions of taking money from the devil & making a deal with the devil; A couple mentions of Mother Nature; A mention of facing demons in wars; A mention of a hellish nightmare of war; A mention of thinks that his nightmares are atonement of his sin.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form ‘biddy’, a ‘crap’, a ‘heck’, a ‘sheesh’, two forms of ‘shut up’, and six forms of ‘stupid’; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written, one held back by Charlie); Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Lane has depression and anxiety & battles the darkness, suicidal thoughts, and self-blame (this is a very important part of the book and we see her struggling with her worth throughout the whole book, if she should even be alive since she’s “broken”, and her telling someone else that she’s never going to get better (she goes to a psychiatrist and has pills/medicine to take; her family isn’t supportive/helpful, choosing not to discuss her depression) *Spoiler* ); Miguel struggles with PTSD after being in the Vietnam war (up to semi-detailed); Finding a body (of a teen girl), the smell, & how the murder happened (border-line semi-detailed // detailed); A nightmare that’s a combination of a murder and being in a war (the person is injured by themself during the dream, up to semi-detailed); Cars racing around to terrify someone & two car crashes (and panicking, semi-detailed); Being held at gunpoint, Being drugged, Being hit, Self-harm (Miguel), Pain, Injuries, & Blood/Bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Fighting, gunshots, & seeing people shot and killed (up to semi-detailed); Throwing up; Many, many mentions of suicides (including those who have attempted to commit suicide and those who were successful), suicidal thoughts, a bridge that many people go to to commit suicide (the book opens with Lane at the bridge), depression, anxiety, & PTSD (including military men) (there is a comment that hits Lane hard from her brother about not being able to understand why a person would commit suicide since life’s not that hard); Many mentions of the murder, the killer, & how it happened (semi-detailed to detailed); Many mentions of wars, fighting, bodies being torn apart, seeing many deaths, deaths, & those coming home struggling with PTSD (including a woman calling a Nam vet a “baby killer” because his unit was told to kill a village (though he tried to stop the violence), up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of drugs (including meth and marijuana), drug lords, cartels, & teens going to a place to get high; Mentions of a car accident, death, & the grief of the family (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of terrorists; Mentions of random attacks at schools, nightclubs, and shopping centers being almost always centered on a person suffering from a mental disorder and Lane wonders if she is just as dangerous; Mentions of gunshots, someone being attacked/hit, self-harm, injuries, pain, blood/bleeding & nightmares (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of criminals, jails/prisons, thieves, stealing, & stolen items; Mentions of a judge threatening to take a child away from his mother due to her mental health (*Spoiler* ; Mentions of computer hacking; Mentions of smoking, tobacco, cigarettes, & pipes; Mentions of alcohol, an alcoholic, bars, drinking, social drinking at dinner and events, & teens going to a place to get drunk; Mentions of throwing up; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of tattoos & piercings; Mentions of hitting a deer with a car & blood (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of betting; A couple mentions of criminals in jail having their own code of justice and that the murder of a beautiful young girl is a crime they don’t tolerate; A couple mentions of fires & smoke; A couple mentions of a potential break-in; A couple mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of a teen saying her parents are jerks & later sneaks out of the house; A mention of those that double-cross drug lords head up naked and headless; A mention of a story of a saint being decapitated and then carrying his head for six miles; A mention of a robbery; A mention of a bully; A mention of cyber-bullying;
*Note: Some women (who mean well) tell Lane that she’ll be ready again for a man/marriage; Mentions of social media & other technology (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google); Mentions of celebrities, actors, & authors (Paula Deen, Audrey Hepburn, Jennifer Aniston, John Wayne, Gizzly Adams, Prince Harry, Laila Ali, Mark Twain, ); Mentions of car brands; A few mentions of brand names (LEGO, Converse shoes, J.Crew magazine, iPhone, & Tic Tacs); A few mentions of sports teams; A couple mentions of Disney Princesses; A mention of Hallmark; A mention of the TV show Friends; A mention of someone being a Trekkie (Star Trek fan).
Sexual Content- Quite a few fingers/hand kisses, three forehead/head kisses, an almost kiss, two barely-above-not-detailed kisses, two semi-detailed kisses, and detailed kiss; Remembering kisses (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to be kissed & to kiss; Charlie stares at Lane’s lips “with a hunger” and later battles temptation for her; Touches, Nearness, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Warmth, Smelling, & Butterflies (up to semi-detailed); Blushes & Winks; Noticing & Staring (including Charlie with Lane’s skin between her shirt and waistband, and Lane with his bare chest, up to semi-detailed); Mentions of dating, dates, girlfriends/boyfriends, & crushes; Mentions of flirting, a flirt, & winking; A few mentions of a playboy; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of men staring at Lane with hunger in their eyes & Charlie feeling possessive; A couple mentions of making googly-eyes at someone; A mention of rapists in jail; A mention of a man knowing better than to touch a girl that would be jailbait; A mention of an older woman looking at Charlie’s bare chest & saying that she’ll enjoy the view; A mention of a man eyeing another man’s wife; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: Mentions of postpartum depression; Mentions of a teen girl’s tiny shorts & revealing top and her mother’s outfit not leaving much to the imagination either; A few mentions of hunks & chicks; A couple mentions of hot/haute women; A couple mentions of a man in his boxers; A cut-off mention of “posters with women who—” (in context of a playboy’s art taste); A mention of a wife suffering depression after being told her and her husband couldn’t have kids.
-Lane Kent, age 28
-Charlie Lynch
P.O.V. switches between them & Miguel (x3)
335 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star
Older High School Teens- One Star (and a half)
My personal Rating- Two Stars
{ Those who have a heart for those struggling with mental illnesses may find this book insightful, but those struggling with suicidal thoughts or depression could find it triggering. }
This was my first book by this author and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Christian Fiction Suspense is one of my favorite genres, but it’s also the genre I have the most pet peeves about—particularly when it comes to the romance elements.
This book dealt with a lot of serious topics such as depression, anxiety, mental health, suicide and suicidal thoughts, veterans, and military men coming home a shell of themselves with PTSD. There’s a lot of potential triggers and is definitely not a book I would recommend for younger readers.
It’s hard to say that I “liked” this book because of such serious—and important—topics found in it, but this book definitely gave me more perspectives on these topics and made me a bit more aware of them. So, yes, I “liked” this book because I learned while reading but also because it was very different from the typical CF Romantic Suspense books I’ve read before.
However. There’s a few other things I need to note that is the cause for the low ratings.
-The body and murder were more detailed than I was expecting. If I would have dwelled on those parts or the family of the victim, it would have been really hard to get through. Regardless, I would say that this was pushing the envelope for me personally, and those with sensitive stomachs might need to pass on this one.
-Secondly, the attraction between Lane and Charlie. At only a few pages in, Charlie noticed Lane’s blouse riding up and the bit of skin between it and her waistband showing. I think that gives you an idea for how the rest of the book was. If this was a secular book, I probably would have just rolled my eyes, but for a Christian Fiction book, I wasn’t happy with this or a scene of Lane noticing his bare chest.
-And finally, I can’t say I’m happy with the ending. I purposely did not read about the next book, thinking that it would still be about Lane, but I now know that it’s not. And that’s the problem I’m facing because I was really expecting a faith scene. As I was nearly the end, I was thinking, “Oh, okay, it’s going to be lighter in this book—realistic for everything that Lane is going through—and we’ll see the faith elements in the next book.” Well, no. Don’t get me wrong, I did like Charlie and his manners (minus the…noticing and desires mentioned above), but I’m not thrilled with him being looked at Lane’s hero and rescuer. That’s the Good Lord’s place, not another human that will inevitably fail you and let you down—we’re humans, we’re flawed, we make mistakes. While there was more faith content towards the end than the beginning, I wish there made been more for Lane. Especially as I’ve seen that those struggling with depressing or anxiety still have hard times, but pulling their attention back to God is what truly helps…not putting their trust in a fellow human.
-Also on that note, I don’t personally agree with the mindset that those with mental illnesses (is that the correct word? Forgive me if it’s not) were made that way by God as a couple parts of this book implied. Something I’ll need to pray about, think on, and research in my Bible.
Would I read more by this author? I think so, yes. After seeing that the second book in this series features Deputy Frost, I’m more apt to do so because he was easily my favorite character.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
“In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name--but no one knows your secret. At least that's what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.
Lane must work with Walton's newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she'll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.”
Series: Book #1 in the “Harbored Secrets” trilogy.
Spiritual Content- A handful prayers & thanking God; Lane thinks that God doesn’t hear her prayers or that He doesn’t care, there’s a mention of when “she was naïve enough to believe there was something bigger watching out for her”, how she used to search for an answer to why God would make her broken, later she wonders if “God predestined these individuals with a [mental] sickness that made them a danger to others? Did that mean she was just as dangerous?”, and if God made a mistake allowing her to live (Ms. Byrdie replies that God never makes mistakes and she’s here on a purpose, that Lane was perfectly made and that she needs to stop punishing herself for “the way God made you—even for your depression”); Ms. Byrdie witnesses a bit to Lane and tells her that she and God love her and that God makes all things new, that they need to put their hope in Him; *Spoiler* *; A handful of talks about God; ‘H’s are not capitalized when referring to God; Mentions of God, His purpose for you, & faiths; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of churches, church going, a pastor, & a benefit being at a church; A couple mentions of saints; A mention of thanking God; A mention of a hymn; A mention of a missionary trip;
*Note: A few mentions of looking like cave people; A couple mentions of taking money from the devil & making a deal with the devil; A couple mentions of Mother Nature; A mention of facing demons in wars; A mention of a hellish nightmare of war; A mention of thinks that his nightmares are atonement of his sin.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form ‘biddy’, a ‘crap’, a ‘heck’, a ‘sheesh’, two forms of ‘shut up’, and six forms of ‘stupid’; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written, one held back by Charlie); Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Lane has depression and anxiety & battles the darkness, suicidal thoughts, and self-blame (this is a very important part of the book and we see her struggling with her worth throughout the whole book, if she should even be alive since she’s “broken”, and her telling someone else that she’s never going to get better (she goes to a psychiatrist and has pills/medicine to take; her family isn’t supportive/helpful, choosing not to discuss her depression) *Spoiler* ); Miguel struggles with PTSD after being in the Vietnam war (up to semi-detailed); Finding a body (of a teen girl), the smell, & how the murder happened (border-line semi-detailed // detailed); A nightmare that’s a combination of a murder and being in a war (the person is injured by themself during the dream, up to semi-detailed); Cars racing around to terrify someone & two car crashes (and panicking, semi-detailed); Being held at gunpoint, Being drugged, Being hit, Self-harm (Miguel), Pain, Injuries, & Blood/Bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Fighting, gunshots, & seeing people shot and killed (up to semi-detailed); Throwing up; Many, many mentions of suicides (including those who have attempted to commit suicide and those who were successful), suicidal thoughts, a bridge that many people go to to commit suicide (the book opens with Lane at the bridge), depression, anxiety, & PTSD (including military men) (there is a comment that hits Lane hard from her brother about not being able to understand why a person would commit suicide since life’s not that hard); Many mentions of the murder, the killer, & how it happened (semi-detailed to detailed); Many mentions of wars, fighting, bodies being torn apart, seeing many deaths, deaths, & those coming home struggling with PTSD (including a woman calling a Nam vet a “baby killer” because his unit was told to kill a village (though he tried to stop the violence), up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of drugs (including meth and marijuana), drug lords, cartels, & teens going to a place to get high; Mentions of a car accident, death, & the grief of the family (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of terrorists; Mentions of random attacks at schools, nightclubs, and shopping centers being almost always centered on a person suffering from a mental disorder and Lane wonders if she is just as dangerous; Mentions of gunshots, someone being attacked/hit, self-harm, injuries, pain, blood/bleeding & nightmares (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of criminals, jails/prisons, thieves, stealing, & stolen items; Mentions of a judge threatening to take a child away from his mother due to her mental health (*Spoiler* ; Mentions of computer hacking; Mentions of smoking, tobacco, cigarettes, & pipes; Mentions of alcohol, an alcoholic, bars, drinking, social drinking at dinner and events, & teens going to a place to get drunk; Mentions of throwing up; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of tattoos & piercings; Mentions of hitting a deer with a car & blood (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of betting; A couple mentions of criminals in jail having their own code of justice and that the murder of a beautiful young girl is a crime they don’t tolerate; A couple mentions of fires & smoke; A couple mentions of a potential break-in; A couple mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of a teen saying her parents are jerks & later sneaks out of the house; A mention of those that double-cross drug lords head up naked and headless; A mention of a story of a saint being decapitated and then carrying his head for six miles; A mention of a robbery; A mention of a bully; A mention of cyber-bullying;
*Note: Some women (who mean well) tell Lane that she’ll be ready again for a man/marriage; Mentions of social media & other technology (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google); Mentions of celebrities, actors, & authors (Paula Deen, Audrey Hepburn, Jennifer Aniston, John Wayne, Gizzly Adams, Prince Harry, Laila Ali, Mark Twain, ); Mentions of car brands; A few mentions of brand names (LEGO, Converse shoes, J.Crew magazine, iPhone, & Tic Tacs); A few mentions of sports teams; A couple mentions of Disney Princesses; A mention of Hallmark; A mention of the TV show Friends; A mention of someone being a Trekkie (Star Trek fan).
Sexual Content- Quite a few fingers/hand kisses, three forehead/head kisses, an almost kiss, two barely-above-not-detailed kisses, two semi-detailed kisses, and detailed kiss; Remembering kisses (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to be kissed & to kiss; Charlie stares at Lane’s lips “with a hunger” and later battles temptation for her; Touches, Nearness, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Warmth, Smelling, & Butterflies (up to semi-detailed); Blushes & Winks; Noticing & Staring (including Charlie with Lane’s skin between her shirt and waistband, and Lane with his bare chest, up to semi-detailed); Mentions of dating, dates, girlfriends/boyfriends, & crushes; Mentions of flirting, a flirt, & winking; A few mentions of a playboy; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of men staring at Lane with hunger in their eyes & Charlie feeling possessive; A couple mentions of making googly-eyes at someone; A mention of rapists in jail; A mention of a man knowing better than to touch a girl that would be jailbait; A mention of an older woman looking at Charlie’s bare chest & saying that she’ll enjoy the view; A mention of a man eyeing another man’s wife; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: Mentions of postpartum depression; Mentions of a teen girl’s tiny shorts & revealing top and her mother’s outfit not leaving much to the imagination either; A few mentions of hunks & chicks; A couple mentions of hot/haute women; A couple mentions of a man in his boxers; A cut-off mention of “posters with women who—” (in context of a playboy’s art taste); A mention of a wife suffering depression after being told her and her husband couldn’t have kids.
-Lane Kent, age 28
-Charlie Lynch
P.O.V. switches between them & Miguel (x3)
335 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star
Older High School Teens- One Star (and a half)
My personal Rating- Two Stars
{ Those who have a heart for those struggling with mental illnesses may find this book insightful, but those struggling with suicidal thoughts or depression could find it triggering. }
This was my first book by this author and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Christian Fiction Suspense is one of my favorite genres, but it’s also the genre I have the most pet peeves about—particularly when it comes to the romance elements.
This book dealt with a lot of serious topics such as depression, anxiety, mental health, suicide and suicidal thoughts, veterans, and military men coming home a shell of themselves with PTSD. There’s a lot of potential triggers and is definitely not a book I would recommend for younger readers.
It’s hard to say that I “liked” this book because of such serious—and important—topics found in it, but this book definitely gave me more perspectives on these topics and made me a bit more aware of them. So, yes, I “liked” this book because I learned while reading but also because it was very different from the typical CF Romantic Suspense books I’ve read before.
However. There’s a few other things I need to note that is the cause for the low ratings.
-The body and murder were more detailed than I was expecting. If I would have dwelled on those parts or the family of the victim, it would have been really hard to get through. Regardless, I would say that this was pushing the envelope for me personally, and those with sensitive stomachs might need to pass on this one.
-Secondly, the attraction between Lane and Charlie. At only a few pages in, Charlie noticed Lane’s blouse riding up and the bit of skin between it and her waistband showing. I think that gives you an idea for how the rest of the book was. If this was a secular book, I probably would have just rolled my eyes, but for a Christian Fiction book, I wasn’t happy with this or a scene of Lane noticing his bare chest.
-And finally, I can’t say I’m happy with the ending. I purposely did not read about the next book, thinking that it would still be about Lane, but I now know that it’s not. And that’s the problem I’m facing because I was really expecting a faith scene. As I was nearly the end, I was thinking, “Oh, okay, it’s going to be lighter in this book—realistic for everything that Lane is going through—and we’ll see the faith elements in the next book.” Well, no. Don’t get me wrong, I did like Charlie and his manners (minus the…noticing and desires mentioned above), but I’m not thrilled with him being looked at Lane’s hero and rescuer. That’s the Good Lord’s place, not another human that will inevitably fail you and let you down—we’re humans, we’re flawed, we make mistakes. While there was more faith content towards the end than the beginning, I wish there made been more for Lane. Especially as I’ve seen that those struggling with depressing or anxiety still have hard times, but pulling their attention back to God is what truly helps…not putting their trust in a fellow human.
-Also on that note, I don’t personally agree with the mindset that those with mental illnesses (is that the correct word? Forgive me if it’s not) were made that way by God as a couple parts of this book implied. Something I’ll need to pray about, think on, and research in my Bible.
Would I read more by this author? I think so, yes. After seeing that the second book in this series features Deputy Frost, I’m more apt to do so because he was easily my favorite character.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
May 24, 2019
Living Lies, book one in the Harbored Secrets series by debut author, Natalie Walters, instantly grabs your attention and, like a good suspense book, doesn’t let go. I became so attached to these characters that even after the story was over I still wanted to keep reading.
In her debut novel, Walters tackles subjects that I haven’t seen many fiction authors take on: depression and suicide. And she does so with great diplomacy and eye-opening realisticity. Lane Kent is just struggling for a ray of hope after her husband’s traumatic death, but instead, she finds herself tangled up in a web of deadly deceit. The “new guy in town,” former Marine-turned-sheriff’s-deputy Charlie Lynch is tasked with discovering the truth behind the murder that has rocked the small town of Walton, Georgia. Both of these characters are struggling with their own demons, and are so real you can’t help but relate to them. The addition of 5-year-old Noah, Lane’s son, was very sweet, and I loved seeing his interactions with Charlie, as he and Lane find themselves drawn to each other.
There isn’t boatloads of action throughout most of this story, but the twisty plot definitely keeps your attention. I had a few guesses as to how the story would play out, but for the most part, I was surprised. I greatly enjoyed Walters’ writing style; it’s not overly wordy, but it smoothly draws you into the story, and you can’t stop reading.
All in all, I think Natalie Walters is an author to watch. I look forward to reading book two of the Harbored Secrets series in November! I highly recommend this novel to fans of suspense with a touch of romance.
In her debut novel, Walters tackles subjects that I haven’t seen many fiction authors take on: depression and suicide. And she does so with great diplomacy and eye-opening realisticity. Lane Kent is just struggling for a ray of hope after her husband’s traumatic death, but instead, she finds herself tangled up in a web of deadly deceit. The “new guy in town,” former Marine-turned-sheriff’s-deputy Charlie Lynch is tasked with discovering the truth behind the murder that has rocked the small town of Walton, Georgia. Both of these characters are struggling with their own demons, and are so real you can’t help but relate to them. The addition of 5-year-old Noah, Lane’s son, was very sweet, and I loved seeing his interactions with Charlie, as he and Lane find themselves drawn to each other.
There isn’t boatloads of action throughout most of this story, but the twisty plot definitely keeps your attention. I had a few guesses as to how the story would play out, but for the most part, I was surprised. I greatly enjoyed Walters’ writing style; it’s not overly wordy, but it smoothly draws you into the story, and you can’t stop reading.
All in all, I think Natalie Walters is an author to watch. I look forward to reading book two of the Harbored Secrets series in November! I highly recommend this novel to fans of suspense with a touch of romance.
June 6, 2019
What a wonderful debut! Though suspense is not my go-to genre, I was drawn to this story first because of the small town setting, but also because of the author's presence on social media. Say what you will, but I'm always drawn to a warm, down-to-earth person, especially online where things can be so shallow and superficial.
As I mentioned previously, the small town setting of Walton, Georgia comes to life in this story. From the locals who look after one another, to the diner where everyone gathers on the designated night, the flavor feels just right. In addition to the setting, I loved getting to know these characters. Lane's character is one that truly resonated with me, and I feel she will do the same for anyone that has struggled at any point in their life with depression. I applaud Walters for portraying her in what I feel is a realistic yet sensitive way. I cheered for the way that Lane kept pushing through, even when darkness threatened to take over her heart and mind. Words spoken to her by the precious Ms. Byrdie rooted deep into my heart:
"You are not broken. You are perfectly made. You have to stop punishing yourself for the way God made you - even for your depression. You need to forgive yourself and take captive those thoughts that you are anything but the woman our Creator designed you to be."
The secondary characters are varied and endearing as well. My particular favorites (other than a handsome deputy Charlie Lynch, of course) are the Ms. Byrdie mentioned above, and Deputy Frost, who works with Charlie. The banter between Charlie and Deputy Frost had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion.
The plot unfolds with delicious twists, and the mystery is sustained until just the perfect time. It was far enough to keep me guessing, yet soon enough so as to heighten the tension when I had a bit more of a clue than I did before. The investigating feels realistic to me, and I never felt there was any awkward behavior just for the sake of a thrill. Everything happens organically and feels natural. Speaking of feeling natural, the romance is a bit of a slow burn and SO sweet.
I appreciate Living Lies for both it's entertainment value as much as I do for its honest portrayal of both struggles and hope. Throw in a quality mystery and an endearing romance, and it's a winning debut. I've added book two in the series to my to-read list and will be eager to get my hands on it!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and the opinions expressed here are my own.
As I mentioned previously, the small town setting of Walton, Georgia comes to life in this story. From the locals who look after one another, to the diner where everyone gathers on the designated night, the flavor feels just right. In addition to the setting, I loved getting to know these characters. Lane's character is one that truly resonated with me, and I feel she will do the same for anyone that has struggled at any point in their life with depression. I applaud Walters for portraying her in what I feel is a realistic yet sensitive way. I cheered for the way that Lane kept pushing through, even when darkness threatened to take over her heart and mind. Words spoken to her by the precious Ms. Byrdie rooted deep into my heart:
"You are not broken. You are perfectly made. You have to stop punishing yourself for the way God made you - even for your depression. You need to forgive yourself and take captive those thoughts that you are anything but the woman our Creator designed you to be."
The secondary characters are varied and endearing as well. My particular favorites (other than a handsome deputy Charlie Lynch, of course) are the Ms. Byrdie mentioned above, and Deputy Frost, who works with Charlie. The banter between Charlie and Deputy Frost had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion.
The plot unfolds with delicious twists, and the mystery is sustained until just the perfect time. It was far enough to keep me guessing, yet soon enough so as to heighten the tension when I had a bit more of a clue than I did before. The investigating feels realistic to me, and I never felt there was any awkward behavior just for the sake of a thrill. Everything happens organically and feels natural. Speaking of feeling natural, the romance is a bit of a slow burn and SO sweet.
I appreciate Living Lies for both it's entertainment value as much as I do for its honest portrayal of both struggles and hope. Throw in a quality mystery and an endearing romance, and it's a winning debut. I've added book two in the series to my to-read list and will be eager to get my hands on it!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and the opinions expressed here are my own.
June 13, 2019
This Book!
This Author!
Wow, let me tell you, I wasn't big on reading Christian fiction suspense before my son became a police officer.
Suspense is not a new genre but quite a few of the Christian fiction authors are jumping on the bandwagon of writing the hottest read genre now and I'm enjoying it quite a bit.
I find it hard to believe this is the author's debut book. She definitely writes like she has quite a few books under her belt.
I am also so glad to see she brings depression front and center in her book. It's an issue that so many of us deal with on a personal issue or know someone that is affected by it.
My hope is that people reading this that are affected by this will not feel ostracized by their condition but will discuss it in their families and get the help they need or get someone suffering with it the help they need.
This book is just incredible, it is written and flows like a well greased cog.
The pieces fit together like a well put together puzzle.
One thing I noticed is the book has a small town feel and neighbors helping neighbors and just caring for each other.
I had to keep reading to find out what happens and it had me guessing all the way to the end.
I am really looking forward to the next book in series.
Published May 21st 2019 by Fleming H. Revell Company.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
This Author!
Wow, let me tell you, I wasn't big on reading Christian fiction suspense before my son became a police officer.
Suspense is not a new genre but quite a few of the Christian fiction authors are jumping on the bandwagon of writing the hottest read genre now and I'm enjoying it quite a bit.
I find it hard to believe this is the author's debut book. She definitely writes like she has quite a few books under her belt.
I am also so glad to see she brings depression front and center in her book. It's an issue that so many of us deal with on a personal issue or know someone that is affected by it.
My hope is that people reading this that are affected by this will not feel ostracized by their condition but will discuss it in their families and get the help they need or get someone suffering with it the help they need.
This book is just incredible, it is written and flows like a well greased cog.
The pieces fit together like a well put together puzzle.
One thing I noticed is the book has a small town feel and neighbors helping neighbors and just caring for each other.
I had to keep reading to find out what happens and it had me guessing all the way to the end.
I am really looking forward to the next book in series.
Published May 21st 2019 by Fleming H. Revell Company.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
January 28, 2020
In Living Lies, the author transports readers to small town Georgia where things aren't as they seem. When a teenager is found murdered, the question becomes why and who. The chain of events launched by the discovery of the body threatens to put Lane Kent's precarious world in danger. Her battle with depression has almost taken her life, and now she'll do anything to convince everyone else she is fine. Charlie Lynch has arrived in town just in time to be assigned to the murder, but finds himself intrigued by Lane and her young son. What ensues is a spiraling story of intrigue and romance well worth the read.
December 21, 2023
WOW!!! I absolutely loved this book! The story was great. The characters were great. This is my first Natalie Walter's, but it definitely won't be my last!
5/5 well-deserved stars.
5/5 well-deserved stars.
May 26, 2019
I enjoy trying new authors. It is almost a game—to see if they’re ones I’ll read again or if one book is enough. When it comes to Natalie Walters, I’ll be looking out for another book from her.
Natalie deals with such a difficult topic in Living Lies: depression, suicidal thoughts, self-blame, and PTSD. And all of that is mixed up in a murder investigation of a teen girl that just doesn’t make sense. The mystery was veiled and gave me the challenge of not knowing off hand who was involved—or why. I thought the mystery was done in a very good way.
Lane was a very real and relatable character. She was flawed and needy. I can’t say so much about Charlie. He was just a little too perfect and understanding. Don’t get me wrong—he seemed like a fantastic guy, but beyond his little disagreement with his dad, he really was the perfect guy. I absolutely loved how Lane’s and Meagen’s sister-relationship strengthened throughout the novel. It gave greater emphasis on the family life of Lane. And Miguel! Personally, I think he was the best character in the book—so very well done. My heart went out to him (knowing that there are so many real veterans like him).
Personally, I like a stronger Christian thread. The strong Christians in this novel were not the main characters, but an older couple. It left me wondering if Lane and Charlie had personal relationships with Jesus or if they were just good people who prayed when they needed help. I know… one of my pet peeves is when I can’t clearly tell if a character became a Christian during the novel or they just turned over a new leaf. That was this novel. Lane started the novel almost doubting God’s existence and somewhere there was a turning point in her thought process, but no point of her actually coming to Christ for salvation. And I guess I’ll go ahead and mention it here… I do realize the difficulties and struggles of depression and how very important it is to have people there for you, but Lane found her hope and recovery in a person rather than turning to God. This was all wonderful for her, but what about people who don’t have a strong person who accepts them how they are? That void can only be filled through Jesus Christ. There were also some hints that people with chronic depression were “made that way by God.” I personally believe that it’s due to sin entering the world, not God’s handiwork. So yeah, I’m being ultra sensitive here, I realize. I just can’t stop my brain from analyzing while I read a fictional book.
I do admire Natalie for tackling the difficult topic of depression and its repercussions. I thought she presented it well and showed the importance of an individual making the choices that either help or hurt their journey with depression.
The romance was constant thread in the book almost from page one and yeah… I’m not a romantic. There was one scene where she was drawn to Charlie’s shirtless body and then some kisses. Nothing explicitly inappropriate was in the novel. Just some subtle hints.
As far as mystery goes, as I already mentioned, this one was very well done. I’ll not give a spoiler, but when they finally linked Sydney to the “bad guys,” it was like, “Wow—but that makes perfect sense.” I learned something new about a certain process about a certain thing (yeah, no spoilers).
This book has left me hoping that book two is about Deputy Frost. Just sayin’. (okay, so I had to look it up and yay!!!!)
*I received this book from Revell and happily provided my honest review*
Natalie deals with such a difficult topic in Living Lies: depression, suicidal thoughts, self-blame, and PTSD. And all of that is mixed up in a murder investigation of a teen girl that just doesn’t make sense. The mystery was veiled and gave me the challenge of not knowing off hand who was involved—or why. I thought the mystery was done in a very good way.
Lane was a very real and relatable character. She was flawed and needy. I can’t say so much about Charlie. He was just a little too perfect and understanding. Don’t get me wrong—he seemed like a fantastic guy, but beyond his little disagreement with his dad, he really was the perfect guy. I absolutely loved how Lane’s and Meagen’s sister-relationship strengthened throughout the novel. It gave greater emphasis on the family life of Lane. And Miguel! Personally, I think he was the best character in the book—so very well done. My heart went out to him (knowing that there are so many real veterans like him).
Personally, I like a stronger Christian thread. The strong Christians in this novel were not the main characters, but an older couple. It left me wondering if Lane and Charlie had personal relationships with Jesus or if they were just good people who prayed when they needed help. I know… one of my pet peeves is when I can’t clearly tell if a character became a Christian during the novel or they just turned over a new leaf. That was this novel. Lane started the novel almost doubting God’s existence and somewhere there was a turning point in her thought process, but no point of her actually coming to Christ for salvation. And I guess I’ll go ahead and mention it here… I do realize the difficulties and struggles of depression and how very important it is to have people there for you, but Lane found her hope and recovery in a person rather than turning to God. This was all wonderful for her, but what about people who don’t have a strong person who accepts them how they are? That void can only be filled through Jesus Christ. There were also some hints that people with chronic depression were “made that way by God.” I personally believe that it’s due to sin entering the world, not God’s handiwork. So yeah, I’m being ultra sensitive here, I realize. I just can’t stop my brain from analyzing while I read a fictional book.
I do admire Natalie for tackling the difficult topic of depression and its repercussions. I thought she presented it well and showed the importance of an individual making the choices that either help or hurt their journey with depression.
The romance was constant thread in the book almost from page one and yeah… I’m not a romantic. There was one scene where she was drawn to Charlie’s shirtless body and then some kisses. Nothing explicitly inappropriate was in the novel. Just some subtle hints.
As far as mystery goes, as I already mentioned, this one was very well done. I’ll not give a spoiler, but when they finally linked Sydney to the “bad guys,” it was like, “Wow—but that makes perfect sense.” I learned something new about a certain process about a certain thing (yeah, no spoilers).
This book has left me hoping that book two is about Deputy Frost. Just sayin’. (okay, so I had to look it up and yay!!!!)
*I received this book from Revell and happily provided my honest review*
November 26, 2018
With the charm of a small Southern town juxtaposed to the hurt of depression and the heartwarming love of a mother for her child, Living Lies (the first in the Harbored Secrets series) is a beautiful mix of loveable characters, mystery, and romance.
I had the pleasure of reading this book through a few times during its creation and after and can honestly say I fell in love with Charlie and Lane from the beginning. The combination of romance and real-life running alongside an investigation into a girl's mysterious death give this story depth. That depth is only furthered as we see Lane's honest struggle with depression. Natalie Walters does an outstanding job of showing the difficult reality of life with depression but with the truth that there is hope.
If you enjoy small towns, mysteries, and sweet romance THIS is the book for you!
_____
I received this book for free but was under no obligation to post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.
I had the pleasure of reading this book through a few times during its creation and after and can honestly say I fell in love with Charlie and Lane from the beginning. The combination of romance and real-life running alongside an investigation into a girl's mysterious death give this story depth. That depth is only furthered as we see Lane's honest struggle with depression. Natalie Walters does an outstanding job of showing the difficult reality of life with depression but with the truth that there is hope.
If you enjoy small towns, mysteries, and sweet romance THIS is the book for you!
_____
I received this book for free but was under no obligation to post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.
November 30, 2025
"We should be ashamed that so many people are forced to suffer in silence . . . "
Lane Kent suffers in silence, her battle with chronic anxiety and depression leading her to think that the edge of a precipice is safer than the levels of reality. But it was there on the edge, that strength met weakness and hope introduced himself to despair. If only there hadn't been a dead body.
Charlie Lynch arrives in Walton, Georgia to assume the position of deputy sheriff when he is immediately distracted by, or rather attracted to, his new neighbor. Their first meeting was rather bizarre and quickly morphed into something more serious, but the day-to-day version of living so close to Lane Kent and her son Noah, is rather enjoyable.
As Lane and Charlie become entangled in a murder investigation, their hearts become tangled in a different sort of discovery, one that will require Lane to believe that she is "loved, wonderfully made, and has purpose", freeing her to live life out from under the shadow of lies.
Lane Kent suffers in silence, her battle with chronic anxiety and depression leading her to think that the edge of a precipice is safer than the levels of reality. But it was there on the edge, that strength met weakness and hope introduced himself to despair. If only there hadn't been a dead body.
Charlie Lynch arrives in Walton, Georgia to assume the position of deputy sheriff when he is immediately distracted by, or rather attracted to, his new neighbor. Their first meeting was rather bizarre and quickly morphed into something more serious, but the day-to-day version of living so close to Lane Kent and her son Noah, is rather enjoyable.
As Lane and Charlie become entangled in a murder investigation, their hearts become tangled in a different sort of discovery, one that will require Lane to believe that she is "loved, wonderfully made, and has purpose", freeing her to live life out from under the shadow of lies.
December 28, 2020
oh my goodness, i loved this book! The characters, the plot, the setting, and the compassionate light it shines on depression & anxiety. Longer review coming soon...
September 19, 2020
Absolutely loved it! With the suspense and the family community I just was hooked from the first chapter. The characters journey to freedom with God and the use of Bibical principles was an added bonus!!
Favourite quotes:
“She knew that hiding in the shadows of lies to avoid the truth was hurting her more than the speculation of others”.
“He makes all things new. Every morning you wake up is a day you can live freedom of knowing God has plans for you”.
I give Morgan Hallett 5 stars for an excellent audio performance.
This was my first book read by this author and will definitely not be my last. I can not wait to read book two in this series!
A must read for all those who enjoy Christian suspense!
Favourite quotes:
“She knew that hiding in the shadows of lies to avoid the truth was hurting her more than the speculation of others”.
“He makes all things new. Every morning you wake up is a day you can live freedom of knowing God has plans for you”.
I give Morgan Hallett 5 stars for an excellent audio performance.
This was my first book read by this author and will definitely not be my last. I can not wait to read book two in this series!
A must read for all those who enjoy Christian suspense!
May 22, 2019
Wow, this book blew my mind! I read it in less than 6 hours on my way back to Kentucky. This book keep my attention for the entire ride!!
From the very first page, I was drawn into the book. I could hardly put it down. Everything drew me in. The writing, characters, and the plot all made this book worthwhile. The suspense in this book had me continually guessing who was involved in the case and who was innocent.
The characters were real and authentic. Lane's story really touched me in a way that most stories don't. Even though, I in no way really know what she is going through, I loved seeing her character development throughout this novel. Charlie was another amazing character that I loved from the first time we meet him. I honestly loved all the characters that were in this book! They all were unique in their own way and wormed their ways into my heart.
Can I just say that I wish and hope the Frost will get his own book?? I really want that! I loved seeing him in this book and now I just want a book on this computer nerd cop!!
I personally have a heart for veterans struggling with PTSD, and there were a few people in here, that I wanted to hug and tell them that everything was going to be okay and then put them into an art therapy. Y'all art helps PTSD patients. Trust me I did the research for school this year.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait to read this next one when it comes out!!
*This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing through Interviews & Reviews in exchange for my own honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts are my own.*
From the very first page, I was drawn into the book. I could hardly put it down. Everything drew me in. The writing, characters, and the plot all made this book worthwhile. The suspense in this book had me continually guessing who was involved in the case and who was innocent.
The characters were real and authentic. Lane's story really touched me in a way that most stories don't. Even though, I in no way really know what she is going through, I loved seeing her character development throughout this novel. Charlie was another amazing character that I loved from the first time we meet him. I honestly loved all the characters that were in this book! They all were unique in their own way and wormed their ways into my heart.
Can I just say that I wish and hope the Frost will get his own book?? I really want that! I loved seeing him in this book and now I just want a book on this computer nerd cop!!
I personally have a heart for veterans struggling with PTSD, and there were a few people in here, that I wanted to hug and tell them that everything was going to be okay and then put them into an art therapy. Y'all art helps PTSD patients. Trust me I did the research for school this year.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait to read this next one when it comes out!!
*This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing through Interviews & Reviews in exchange for my own honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts are my own.*
January 5, 2020
Natalie Walters is a new-to-me author, but I will definitely be looking for more of her books. The suspense in this one is high paced from start to finish. The characters are well-developed and complex. Both MC's are realistic and have both every day weaknesses and strengths.
Set in small town Walton Georgia, Lane Kent has returned to her home town and purchased a bakery to support herself and her 4 year old son after the death of her husband in a car accident. Lane suffers from depression that overcomes her at times. When a murder happens in Walton (where they have had no murders for 30 years), new deputy in town, Charlie, nephew of the sheriff, is put in charge of solving it. But surrounded by lies nothing appears as it really is. Both Lane and Charlie learn through the solution to the murder that living lies does not bring peace and that only God's truth can set you free. The secondary characters were a wonderful addition to this novel and rounded out the cast of characters very well.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
Set in small town Walton Georgia, Lane Kent has returned to her home town and purchased a bakery to support herself and her 4 year old son after the death of her husband in a car accident. Lane suffers from depression that overcomes her at times. When a murder happens in Walton (where they have had no murders for 30 years), new deputy in town, Charlie, nephew of the sheriff, is put in charge of solving it. But surrounded by lies nothing appears as it really is. Both Lane and Charlie learn through the solution to the murder that living lies does not bring peace and that only God's truth can set you free. The secondary characters were a wonderful addition to this novel and rounded out the cast of characters very well.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
November 2, 2025
Good suspense and an engaging story line. I really enjoyed the small-town vibes and the mix of mystery and romance . A solid start to the series.
April 29, 2019
3.75
Christian Suspense is my all time favourite genre, and when I find a new author in this genre, and one who delivered a enjoyable suspense, I want to do a happy dance. I'm feeling like this after reading Living Lies.
There was a great mystery around the murder of Sydney and why she died. Added to that a small town, a heroine who struggles with depression, a charming hero, the cutest little boy and very interesting side characters, you have a winning combo. Even though I guessed right away what is going on with the paintings and the actual murderer, I still enjoyed the ride of seeing how the characters will come to the same conclusion. The ending and one or two other small things I did not expect, so I enjoyed those twists.
I see a lot of potential in this writer and added her to my authors to watch. If you love suspense like I do, you should give this one a go.
*I downloaded a free copy from Netgalley when this was available as Read now. All opinions are my own.*
Christian Suspense is my all time favourite genre, and when I find a new author in this genre, and one who delivered a enjoyable suspense, I want to do a happy dance. I'm feeling like this after reading Living Lies.
There was a great mystery around the murder of Sydney and why she died. Added to that a small town, a heroine who struggles with depression, a charming hero, the cutest little boy and very interesting side characters, you have a winning combo. Even though I guessed right away what is going on with the paintings and the actual murderer, I still enjoyed the ride of seeing how the characters will come to the same conclusion. The ending and one or two other small things I did not expect, so I enjoyed those twists.
I see a lot of potential in this writer and added her to my authors to watch. If you love suspense like I do, you should give this one a go.
*I downloaded a free copy from Netgalley when this was available as Read now. All opinions are my own.*
May 13, 2019
A great solid debut by Natalie Walters. I think any romantic thriller reader will thoroughly enjoy this book. I know I did. This book deals with a heroine who suffers from depression and it gave me insight as to how those who suffer from this disease feels. I loved the hero. He was everything you'd want in one. Strong, handsome and brave. The mystery/thriller kept me turning pages.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
4.5 stars
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
4.5 stars
August 1, 2019
Living Lies certainly starts out with a bang! Opening right up with a murder mystery, I knew that this book would keep me right on my toes! The writing style kept me reading just as much as the plot, though—Ms. Walters knows how to spin a tale!
So, the characters.
Lane . . . oh my word. Right away, I wanted to jump into the book and pull her into my arms and hide her from every ugly thing life has to throw at her. She is definitely a character that will pull on your heartstrings!
Noah—hold on to your hearts, ladies, before this five-year-old steals every one of them! He was so adorable, and to see him interacting with Lane and Charlie will either steal your heart or melt it. So definitely lock your heart up in a super tough shell if you don't want one (or both) of those things to happen.
Charlie. The slightly cliche, I'm-a-gentleman-that-won't-do-anything-to-hurt-you knight in shining armor. He was easy to like, but like I said, kinda cliche. The way he understood how Lane felt, though, and the way he wanted to help her added to the story so well.
Or, at least, it added to the story until they really fell in love. I don't want to hear about the rush of electricity or heat that you get when you touch each other, 'kay? I don't want your kisses described in detail.
Honestly, I reallllllyyyyy disliked the romance. It's not that Lane and Charlie didn't belong to each other—far from it! I just didn't like the way their attraction was described so much.
The themes in the book, though—suicide awareness. Self-love and respect. Your true worth. So, so much yes. Ten thousand-star plot but, in my opinion, 1- or 2-star romance. Thus, I'll just stick with 4 stars.
The mystery definitely kept me guessing, but that could be because I was pretty confused through a good bit of the book! I'm not sure whether or not this was the author's intent or not, but I'll lean towards not. Of course we're supposed to be confused as to who the actual culprit is, but not how all the pieces are tying together. Much of the time while the detectives were discussing things, or when certain scenes played out, I was left going, "Wait, what?" All in all, though, the mystery was fabulous.
So, yes. If you can handle heavy attraction, murder mysteries, and suicide, this book is for you!
I was given a free e-copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.
So, the characters.
Lane . . . oh my word. Right away, I wanted to jump into the book and pull her into my arms and hide her from every ugly thing life has to throw at her. She is definitely a character that will pull on your heartstrings!
Noah—hold on to your hearts, ladies, before this five-year-old steals every one of them! He was so adorable, and to see him interacting with Lane and Charlie will either steal your heart or melt it. So definitely lock your heart up in a super tough shell if you don't want one (or both) of those things to happen.
Charlie. The slightly cliche, I'm-a-gentleman-that-won't-do-anything-to-hurt-you knight in shining armor. He was easy to like, but like I said, kinda cliche. The way he understood how Lane felt, though, and the way he wanted to help her added to the story so well.
Or, at least, it added to the story until they really fell in love. I don't want to hear about the rush of electricity or heat that you get when you touch each other, 'kay? I don't want your kisses described in detail.
Honestly, I reallllllyyyyy disliked the romance. It's not that Lane and Charlie didn't belong to each other—far from it! I just didn't like the way their attraction was described so much.
The themes in the book, though—suicide awareness. Self-love and respect. Your true worth. So, so much yes. Ten thousand-star plot but, in my opinion, 1- or 2-star romance. Thus, I'll just stick with 4 stars.
The mystery definitely kept me guessing, but that could be because I was pretty confused through a good bit of the book! I'm not sure whether or not this was the author's intent or not, but I'll lean towards not. Of course we're supposed to be confused as to who the actual culprit is, but not how all the pieces are tying together. Much of the time while the detectives were discussing things, or when certain scenes played out, I was left going, "Wait, what?" All in all, though, the mystery was fabulous.
So, yes. If you can handle heavy attraction, murder mysteries, and suicide, this book is for you!
I was given a free e-copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.
May 16, 2019
This was an edge of your seat page-turner! I stayed up past midnight two nights in a row to see what happens! Mystery, murder, intrigue, Vietnam veterans with PTSD, and a heroine struggling with depression, something a lot of people hide.
Walters did a great job of creating characters I cared about. And the suspense was high. I enjoyed watching the romance develop between Lane and Charlie and the way Lane grew throughout the book. I loved the small town of Walton, Georgia. It made me think of my own small town. If you enjoy romantic suspense that keeps you up at night, you'll love this book.
Walters did a great job of creating characters I cared about. And the suspense was high. I enjoyed watching the romance develop between Lane and Charlie and the way Lane grew throughout the book. I loved the small town of Walton, Georgia. It made me think of my own small town. If you enjoy romantic suspense that keeps you up at night, you'll love this book.
October 23, 2024
This story deals with a lot of hard topics (depression, anxiety, PTSD, suicide, suicidal thoughts, etc ) which I think the author handled fairly well, especially considering this was a debut novel.
I really enjoyed Charlie's character: he was an example of what a good romantic partner looks like. He was respectful to all and stood by Lane with love and support.
There were a few things that bothered me here and there. One of the main things was that Lane, a widow of 2 years, still wore her wedding ring despite showing interest and later on growing to care for another man-- personally, I felt like it would have been a step in her moving on by taking off her ring etc, just felt weird to me she still wore it at the end of the book. This is probably more of a me problem but I noticed there were quite a few times that Lane was asked if she was okay.
I did enjoy the story but it didn't surprise me much or leave me in suspense.
Content: mental illness/disorders to include PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts; suicide attempts; brief depictions of lust in side characters, brief mentions of social drinking
Christian faith rating: 1/3
I really enjoyed Charlie's character: he was an example of what a good romantic partner looks like. He was respectful to all and stood by Lane with love and support.
There were a few things that bothered me here and there. One of the main things was that Lane, a widow of 2 years, still wore her wedding ring despite showing interest and later on growing to care for another man-- personally, I felt like it would have been a step in her moving on by taking off her ring etc, just felt weird to me she still wore it at the end of the book. This is probably more of a me problem but I noticed there were quite a few times that Lane was asked if she was okay.
I did enjoy the story but it didn't surprise me much or leave me in suspense.
Content: mental illness/disorders to include PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts; suicide attempts; brief depictions of lust in side characters, brief mentions of social drinking
Christian faith rating: 1/3
September 3, 2019
What an astounding debut novel! And Natalie Walters brings something unique to the romantic suspense genre.
I love that she addresses the difficult topic of depression in this book. The insights she brings to Lane's character are phenomenal. Lane has allowed depression to define her for too long and this book is, in part, her journey towards not only accepting herself for who she is, but finding others to love on her and support her no matter what. As Ms. Byrdie says -- "Honey, we can only be who God created us to be. Mess and all." (p 31) I appreciate the realism the author brings to this topic. There's no magic, pray-it-away cure, but Lane does come to a place of acceptance and hope.
Another one of those supporters -- if she'll let him be -- is Deputy Charlie Lynch. Protective, understanding, persistent -- what's not to love about this hero? Lane has her reasons for keeping him at a distance and I love that he pursues her anyway. Not in a macho stalkerish way or anything, but in a gentle, respectful way. These two go from stilted strangers to sometimes friends and when that friendship develops into something deeper...well, let's just say their romance is as nail-biting as the suspense.
Speaking of which -- the suspense was so cleverly plotted. Sometimes Walters let us in on a secret before Lane and Charlie figure it out. You'd think that would take away from the mystery element, but instead it made it edgier. Plus, there were still plenty of intriguing pieces of the puzzle to fit into place. Top notch on-the-edge-of-your-seat stuff!
I love the southern small-town dynamics that bring both drama and humour to the story. There are secondary characters I loved to hate and ones I wanted to keep right next to me even after I closed the book. Ms. Byrdie with her big heart and sage advice -- "Their hearts are in the right place even if their good sense hasn't caught up." (p 31) Her husband, Sheriff Huggins, with his big ol' comforting hugs. Miguel -- so broken and lost. I just want to wander in to the Way Station Cafe and people watch!
Luckily I don't have long to wait to armchair travel back to Walton, Georgia since the second book in the Harbored Secrets series -- Deadly Deceit -- releases this November!
Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.
I love that she addresses the difficult topic of depression in this book. The insights she brings to Lane's character are phenomenal. Lane has allowed depression to define her for too long and this book is, in part, her journey towards not only accepting herself for who she is, but finding others to love on her and support her no matter what. As Ms. Byrdie says -- "Honey, we can only be who God created us to be. Mess and all." (p 31) I appreciate the realism the author brings to this topic. There's no magic, pray-it-away cure, but Lane does come to a place of acceptance and hope.
Another one of those supporters -- if she'll let him be -- is Deputy Charlie Lynch. Protective, understanding, persistent -- what's not to love about this hero? Lane has her reasons for keeping him at a distance and I love that he pursues her anyway. Not in a macho stalkerish way or anything, but in a gentle, respectful way. These two go from stilted strangers to sometimes friends and when that friendship develops into something deeper...well, let's just say their romance is as nail-biting as the suspense.
Speaking of which -- the suspense was so cleverly plotted. Sometimes Walters let us in on a secret before Lane and Charlie figure it out. You'd think that would take away from the mystery element, but instead it made it edgier. Plus, there were still plenty of intriguing pieces of the puzzle to fit into place. Top notch on-the-edge-of-your-seat stuff!
I love the southern small-town dynamics that bring both drama and humour to the story. There are secondary characters I loved to hate and ones I wanted to keep right next to me even after I closed the book. Ms. Byrdie with her big heart and sage advice -- "Their hearts are in the right place even if their good sense hasn't caught up." (p 31) Her husband, Sheriff Huggins, with his big ol' comforting hugs. Miguel -- so broken and lost. I just want to wander in to the Way Station Cafe and people watch!
Luckily I don't have long to wait to armchair travel back to Walton, Georgia since the second book in the Harbored Secrets series -- Deadly Deceit -- releases this November!
Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.
January 3, 2020
Living Lies is the Debut novel by Natalie Walters.
I find it hard to believe that this is a debut novel! It is fantastic and real. I look forward to reading more by Ms. Walters.
The author tackles some tough topics but does so with compassion. She does not shrink away from showing the struggles of depression and PTSD. She shows many perspectives through her characters, Lane Kent, her parents and veteran Miguel. You can see the growth of the characters as they deal with the many facets of these difficulties as they affect their loved ones and themselves.
This is not a gloomy novel! The suspense and mystery to be solved is complex and up to date. This story keeps you hopping! It is nicely balanced by the actions of cute kids and an overactive dog. Those scenes were spot on. The romantic angle between the lead characters was interesting. The hero lawman, Charlie Lynch is new in town and is very sympathetic to the female lead, Lane Kent.
Living Lies is a captivating story and totally awesome for a debut novel. The next story in Harbored Secrets series is in the works!
* This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own. *
I find it hard to believe that this is a debut novel! It is fantastic and real. I look forward to reading more by Ms. Walters.
The author tackles some tough topics but does so with compassion. She does not shrink away from showing the struggles of depression and PTSD. She shows many perspectives through her characters, Lane Kent, her parents and veteran Miguel. You can see the growth of the characters as they deal with the many facets of these difficulties as they affect their loved ones and themselves.
This is not a gloomy novel! The suspense and mystery to be solved is complex and up to date. This story keeps you hopping! It is nicely balanced by the actions of cute kids and an overactive dog. Those scenes were spot on. The romantic angle between the lead characters was interesting. The hero lawman, Charlie Lynch is new in town and is very sympathetic to the female lead, Lane Kent.
Living Lies is a captivating story and totally awesome for a debut novel. The next story in Harbored Secrets series is in the works!
* This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own. *
July 30, 2019
Living Lies is Natalie Walters debut novel and it was a great read! I cannot wait to see what other stories this author comes out with. ;)
The suspense was wonderful. It kept me guessing and there were enough tense moments to keep me interested. I liked the characters a lot and how the MC suffered from depression (not something prevalent in a lot of books).
All in all, Living Lies was very good and I recommend it to fans of this genre.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
The suspense was wonderful. It kept me guessing and there were enough tense moments to keep me interested. I liked the characters a lot and how the MC suffered from depression (not something prevalent in a lot of books).
All in all, Living Lies was very good and I recommend it to fans of this genre.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
October 12, 2020
What I'd liked most about this book was how the main female character, Lane, was dealing with her depression. She has suffered from it about her whole life. Because of it she has caused a lot of heartache for her and her family. Charlie the main male character meets her when Lane was thinking to kill herself jumping off a bridge. Once getting to know her he falls in love with her. They dealt with this subject well. Her family didn't really support her and she felt alone. I have dealt with depression my whole life and that much is true. Family are the first people to run. I wish all of us can have a Charlie who looks pass the depression and falls in love with her even with her problems. Now this book is a thriller and that part is alright. I have read better but I really liked the mental health situation. I would recommend this book!
April 17, 2019
Living Lies is the first book in the Harbored Secrets series by debut novelist, Natalie Walters. Walters has done a superb job of crafting a thrilling suspense, with threads of heart-pounding romance and important messages about acceptance and removing the stigma of mental health and depression. I truly enjoyed this exciting book and I look forward to reading the subsequent titles in the series.
Lane Kent knows heartbreak. She knows the guilt of her past mistakes. Returning to her home town with her young daughter was supposed to be a fresh start but sometimes the secrets and family expectations feel suffocating. When Lane finds a dead body in the woods, she and Deputy Charlie Woods team up to solve the case.
I loved the relationship that builds between Lane and Charlie. I loved how the feelings of love and excitement of a new romance don’t change the facts of Lane’s depression - nothing is swept under the carpet and I loved the dedication to truth and reality. This isn’t a fairytale, but more closely resembles the harsh reality of life, which I though was both really important and helpful for readers, especially those who can relate to Lane’s experiences with suicidal thoughts and depression. Yet, there is a wonderful joy and glow you can feel emanate from Charlie and Lane as they manage to steal quick moments of time in amongst the murder investigation.
There is no shortage of action and tense moments in Living Lies. At first, with the inclusion of chapters from a secondary character, I thought the mystery would be easily laid out to readers and reduce the suspense a little, but the added details, while removing a little of the guess work, only serves to increase the tension and builds to a nail-biting climax.
The crime in Living Lies resolves around murder, drugs, art and basically all those things that make the good guys so eager to catch their bad guys. I loved Deputy Frost - genius, computer-geek, slightly awkward and all-round good guy. I do hope he and others of the wonderfully supportive and detailed secondary characters return in the next books in the series.
Living Lies is a complex, well-constructed and engaging story. With such important and positive messages about mental health, interwoven with the story of crime-fighting action, faith, and romance, I can very highly recommend Living Lies.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
Lane Kent knows heartbreak. She knows the guilt of her past mistakes. Returning to her home town with her young daughter was supposed to be a fresh start but sometimes the secrets and family expectations feel suffocating. When Lane finds a dead body in the woods, she and Deputy Charlie Woods team up to solve the case.
I loved the relationship that builds between Lane and Charlie. I loved how the feelings of love and excitement of a new romance don’t change the facts of Lane’s depression - nothing is swept under the carpet and I loved the dedication to truth and reality. This isn’t a fairytale, but more closely resembles the harsh reality of life, which I though was both really important and helpful for readers, especially those who can relate to Lane’s experiences with suicidal thoughts and depression. Yet, there is a wonderful joy and glow you can feel emanate from Charlie and Lane as they manage to steal quick moments of time in amongst the murder investigation.
There is no shortage of action and tense moments in Living Lies. At first, with the inclusion of chapters from a secondary character, I thought the mystery would be easily laid out to readers and reduce the suspense a little, but the added details, while removing a little of the guess work, only serves to increase the tension and builds to a nail-biting climax.
The crime in Living Lies resolves around murder, drugs, art and basically all those things that make the good guys so eager to catch their bad guys. I loved Deputy Frost - genius, computer-geek, slightly awkward and all-round good guy. I do hope he and others of the wonderfully supportive and detailed secondary characters return in the next books in the series.
Living Lies is a complex, well-constructed and engaging story. With such important and positive messages about mental health, interwoven with the story of crime-fighting action, faith, and romance, I can very highly recommend Living Lies.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
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