Tell Me No Lies

by Fiona M. Marsden

Secrets and Lies

It’s been seven years and long past time for
software tycoon Lucas Hall to cut final ties with
Harriet Emerson. Except now he knows she lied
to him all those years ago. Before he hands her
the divorce papers, Lucas intends to know the
whole truth.

Harriet had lied to ensure Lucas didn’t forsake
his future. Now he’s back and one lie is exposed.
Dare she take a chance to be with Lucas,
knowing it can’t last.

Her secrets could change everything.

This book was a finalist in the Valerie Parv Award in 2017 and 2nd in the Emerald Pro 2018 with RWAus.

This is an Australian romance set in Australia with Australian spelling and grammar.

Genres: Second Chance, Contemporary

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2019

About the author

Fiona Marsden shares her five-acre rural block in Australia with kangaroos, wallabies and a koala. A keen reader from childhood, she hasn't let the proliferation of books available prevent her from writing her own stories.

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great story filled with emotion that is sure to bring on a few tears, MS Marsden really knows how to get to the heart of her charters and bring then to life for us readers, set in Brisbane Australia, this is the story of two people very much in love when tragedy tears them apart and now seven years later can love bring them back together?

Harriet Emerson is a young dancer and student when she meets IT geek Lucas Hall, they click instantly and fall madly in love and against family wishes they continue together make firm commitments but an accident changes Harriet’s life she lies to Lucas and forces him to leave, and now he is back in her office and is determined to get to the truth.

Lucas moved on and away to the States made his fortune but never forgot the woman he loved and now back in Australia is searching for her, and when he finds her is shocked to learn what has happened to her, but he is never going to give up on finding out the truth he feels she owes him.

Truly this is a beautifully written story, moving and emotional Lucas is real hero material and Harriet stubborn as all get out, but for reason that she held dear to her and that was Lucas and now their journey is starting again, and what a journey because as we all know the journey to true love never runs smoothly and with Harriet and her health issues they might be a little harder, oh but what an ending there were lots of happy tears from me. Thank you MS Marsden a book I highly recommend, you have taken on a lot of issues and done it so well you rock thank you.

[Susan Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a lovely, emotional story, with quite an unusual storyline. Harriet was a ballet dancer when she met Lucas. She was still seventeen, he was a brilliant student heading for an amazing career in computer programming, a real geek. Harriet was the only girl who he wasn’t awkward with. Then, taking her home on his motorbike they are involved in a terrible accident, and Harriet was injured. Lucas had been granted a university scholarship in America, he wanted her to go with him, she had even obtained a job as a ballet teacher. But she couldn’t travel, and didn’t want Lucas to miss his opportunity. She said deeply hurtful things to him when she finished with him, all designed to make sure he took advantage of his opportunity. Seven years have passed, and Lucas is back, his company are updating the computer system for the charity where she works. Not that she expects to see him, the CEO wouldn’t be involved in such an unimportant job ... wrong! He had seen her name on the application and wanted to find out the truth about why she dumped him.

It soon becomes very obvious why, but it is a long time, with many twists and turns in their relationship before Lucas finds out everything that happened, and that is a real tear-jerking moment! Harriet just doesn’t want to talk about it, and keeps trying to drive him away rather than explain.

A delightful ending, and a must-read story.

[Debbie DiFiore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow that packed a punch!

I loved this romance and yes it was very angsty but these two deserved to be together. She did do a boneheaded thing and lied to him to push him away so he could follow his dream after they were in an accident. It wasn't anything he did, she just wanted him to live his life without being hampered by her disability. And she pushed him away again, but I understood the second time. He went on a date, not really a romantic one, it was business kinda, but he didn't tell her and she saw him with her. She was stubborn and didn't listen to him but he sent away and served her with divorce papers and that did annoy me. He really did love her and stayed faithful for the seven years apart. I think. I got confused a time or two with hid thoughts but I'm pretty sure he did. Which is so refreshing because most of these stories seem to have men cheat anymore. They were still married all those years and there were many more secrets too which I don't want to spoil. The ending is very cute and I am glad I read this. I give it five stars. Four but he did stay faithful so one star for that! Very emotional story and there are triggers. Broke my heart.

[Bev · Rating 2 out of 5]

Going on the burb I'd hoped to love this more, sadly I didn't. I'm not a fan of TSTL characters and Harriet was beyond a TSTL martyr as well as being dishonest a lot of the time. It frustrated me that Lucas was such a beta character (not calling him a hero) and didn't challenge her on her constant lies till almost the very end. This, spoken by Lucas pretty much sums her up when he found out she was pregnant with his SECOND child (having lost the first baby to stillbirth):

“It’s time you acknowledged that I do have rights. Rights and obligations. You’re trying to deny both if you keep me out of your life and the life of our child. Isn’t it about time you met some of your obligations?”
“You sent the divorce papers.”
“You know I wouldn’t have if you’d told me about the baby.” (She didn't, nor did she tell him about her tragic disability because she was being a martyr. 🙄 Just no!)

And her reply which cued the eye roll ... again:

“You sound so confident. What about your trust? In your view, I’ve done nothing but lie. What chance do I have of you trusting me?”

Honestly, she was ridiculous and annoyed me to no end because it wasn't "HIS view", she's straight up bloody dishonest and not the type of character I want to read about.

[Danny Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best thing about this book was they were both celibate during the 7 yr spilt. But I found the book boring, and the characters unlikeable. Especially the h. The H should have just cut ties

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Tell me no lies is all about lies. The lies we tell, for whatever reason, even protecting the ones you love. Lucas Hall was back in town, after seven years when he left for the USA, now a very rich man and owns his own business. He needed closure of his past and marriage to Harriet. Once the love his life, who had ripped out his heart without a care. All is not what it seemed; unaware Harriet had been left in a wheelchair after an accident they were involved in. Far far too many lies between them trust broken as well hearts. They had to overcome so much to achieve that happy ever after.
Loved this story that made me cry a few times. So beautifully written, Fiona is on her way to becoming an author that will touch people's heart and mind. An emotional roller coaster.
A must read book.

[Kari Lemor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book and especially loved that the author wrote the main character and her injury with so much detail and authenticity. It's nice to see a story where the conflict doesn't always get 100 % resolved with unrealistic miracles, like this heroine's. I really like reunion stories and this couple deserved their happily ever after. Well done!

[Dottie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If your looking for an emotion packed story Ms. Marsden has filled that brilliantly. Lucas Hall and Harriet Emerson were two people in love, they refuse to allow their parents feeling to impact them, nothing was going to keep them from being together. However life played a hand in this and when Harriet is involved in an accident she lies to Lucas so convincingly that he leaves and goes to the States to finish his education and make a life for himself. He never stopped loving Harriet so when e comes back to Australia he decides he has to find her and finally have closure so he can go on with his life. He is wealthy but truly not that happy. When his company is called to repair computers at a non profit he stops in when he sees her name of the paperwork. He receives a shock because he realizes why she sent him away. A truly lovely emotional story and be prepared for so many heartbreaking moments, but also know that Ms. Marsden will give you a deep story of love that can transcend all medical issues. An awesome story, and looking forward to more of her books.

[Michelle D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! The heroine is disabled, something you don't often see in a romance, and she is beautifully written. She's accomplished, self-sufficient and an all-round awesome character. A reunion romance, the hero comes back to find there were consequences to an accident from years before that were kept from him.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

FREE today (December 26, 2023) on Amazon.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to read a an inclusive romance - Henrietta's disability was handled really well, and added to the romance.

[Raffaella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very painful story with a lot of triggers.
The hero and the heroine met and married when she was 18 and he was 22, he was a penniless nerd with no social skills and she was a social butterfly. Just after the wedding they had an accident and some days later she dumped him telling he was only a fling, and she didn’t want to leave her country to go with him I the USA, where he was going to study and to build a career. He comes back after some days, and hears her badmouthing his male prowess with her bff.
He leaves her and after seven years they meet again.
Guess what. She was severely hurt in the accident and remained a cripple. And the things he heard her saying to her bff, were lies because her bff told her she planned to shag him and she didn’t was jealous. Typical 18 yo squabbling.
So, basically she lied to him because she didn’t want him to give up on is dreams and to become a burden to him. Honest. The hero was quite determined to win her trust, because he was interested in her but I didn’t feel he was so in love with her. Apparently he didn’t even date once during their separation but I think it was more because he was a social klutz than because he couldn’t stop loving her.
After all he never even asked her parents how she was after she dumped him. Ok, she lied and told him her wounds were superficial but I don’t feel that he was a lot worried about her, and he never felt guilty enough that the accident was while she was on his bike, and his bike shattered her legs. And when he decided to resume their relationship I never felt that great passion, I think he was more concerned that she could dump him again than to show her he was man enough for her when the first time apparently he was not. She dumps him once again before they finally reunited because she is pregnant and this time he’s really more determined to win her back but I felt it was for the child more than her. He also was serving her divorce paper when the pregnancy came up.
So, three stars because for once they were both celibate but not more because the heroine went through a lot alone and he didn’t fight for her hard enough. There is also another loss she went through after the accident, she found out she was pregnant and lost her child due to complications. Thank god she will have other after the reconciliation, but I never felt it was balanced because even if the hero never date or was interested in any other woman he had his life, succeeded in his job and became successful and more skilled with people, while the heroines life is full of hurt, pain and loss for sever years. Not a fan of heroines that decide to become martyr for someone that is not worthy of them.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super happy I’ve stumbled upon this on one of my groups in fb. This is such an amazing story! I cried from start to finish! It was very emotional that I can really feel true love between characters. Remember the love inscriptions in the Bible? “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” It’s exactly them 😍🥹 thank you Ms. Fiona for sharing this wonderful heartfelt story. YOU ARE AMAZING!

[Bookomaniac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tropes:

* MF contemporary
* story told in conversation
* set in Australia
* H handsome successful programmer, returning from America
* 7 years after break up
* looking for wayward wife
* finds her severely disabled from accident 7 years before
* she lied to set him free
* young love, first love
* H is a computer programmer; h is a dancer
* married at 18
* hopes and dreams
* tragic motorcycle accident at 18
* her legs are crushed
* she breaks up with him before he realizes how bad her injuries are
* 7 years later, the truth revealed
* she works at nonprofit for disabled people
* conflicted emotions for both
* they talk it out
* difficulties and insecurities when dating again
* eventual HEA

[Mari Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good to see a disabled heroine who isn't helpless or pitiable. She wasn't stereotypical at all, and was strong. A great read.