Read My Lips

by Kelle Z. Riley

Temptation always leads to trouble...
Claire Lennox thought she could have it all-until trusting the wrong man destroyed her career, her reputation, and her heart. Now, as director of a literacy foundation, she has new ambitions. But when a sexy client tempts her to love again, does she dare?

Billionaire chocolatier Clayton McClaine risks everything-even his heart-when he goes incognito, hoping to overcome the dyslexia that haunts him and threatens to destroy his carefully crafted image.

They're perfect for each other, except for one little thing-the billion-dollar deception that lies between them.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

Published August 24, 2021

About the author

Kelle Z. Riley, writer, speaker, global traveler, Ph.D. chemist and martial artist weaves bits of her real life into the Undercover Cat Series books. The series features a scientist-turned-sleuth who juggles mystery, romance and the search for a perfect cupcake recipe.

By day Kelle is a full time chemist working in water treatment with multiple U.S. patents. At night she turns into an author whose accolades include finals in the RWA Golden Heart and numerous chapter contests. More information on her workshops can be found on her website.

Kelle can be reached at www.facebook.com/kellezriley www.twitter.com/kellezriley and www.kellezriley.net

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 too many lies stars

AS SAID BEFORE, TOO MANY LIES

Sadly, this book didn't work for me. The story was okay, but way too predictible. There were a few really nice, heartfelt moments. As a big romantic, I swooned reading some lines that were dream-worthy. Besides, the plot sounded very originial. A dyslexic CEO isn't something we encounter often and this feature rendered Clayton/Artie very endearing at first. However it was quickly put aside, coming up only from time to time, but never having a real emotional impact on the story -I loved the writing scene on the boat, but it was the only time I felt anything regarding this theme beyond the first quarter of the novel.

Clayton's character began strong. He let his vulnerability out with Claire, which made me quickly like him. She had lost trust into people and the idea of her getting it back thanks to building a relationship with him was very appealling. But, to be honest, I never clicked with either of them. Despite a few background infos thrown into the mix, they felt quite unidimensional. No matter under which angle I was looking at the story, Clayton sounded selfish and Claire too forgiving. Side-characters were also very sketchy. I didn't like Jill, so I didn't mind, but I'd have loved to know more about Jimmy. He was the only sensible man in this book and there was room for developping his germing side storyline.

I'm probably not the main target audience for billionaire romances, so I'm not surprised it didn't went as well as it could have. However, I'd still recommend it to people who want a quick light romance with a few sexy scenes.

I wrote this honest review after receiving a free copy. All opinions are my own.

[Stay Fetters · Rating 2 out of 5]

"You crave me. I’m not your worst fear. I’m your greatest desire."

Undercover Boss with a cute contemporary twist.

A self-made billionaire meets the Director of the Literacy Foundation. Being alone together and in close contact, what could go wrong?

Usually, with contemporaries, there is a lot of sexual tension and things start to get really good about half of the way into the book. This was not like that at all. Yes, there was that tension but it wasn't dragged out like in other books. There was that instant attraction and they didn't dance around that. They got right down to it. It was a wham, bam, thank you, ma'am, with a little role-playing. *Did the temperature just rise?*

Now the characters were something else altogether. It took me quite some time to actually start to like them. They both came off a tad bit arrogant for my tastes but once Clayton lets his freak flag fly, that's when things start to change. Also, admitting that you need help was a very strong turn in Clayton's character. He felt as if the world knowing would ruin him and that broke my heart. Claire came off as overbearing and it took a little longer for me to start liking her. It also confused me a bit that she didn't recognize Clayton at all. Umm... His face is plastered everywhere and people were shoving that Most Eligible Bachelor article under your nose and she still hasn't the faintest idea. I still shake my head in confusion at that.

Read My Lips was a typical cute romance. It had the insta-swoon and the heartache. I just kind of wish that authors would stop using the lie storyline. Besides that, this was decent and had a lot of heart. It takes strength to admit you need help and it takes an even stronger person to help someone in need. It was well worth the read and prepare yourself for some very serious role-playing that will make you seek out the hidden treasure.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clayton and Claire's Story . . .

Claire Lennox had started over after a broken heart that took everything away from her. She is currently director of a literacy foundation and it has made a positive difference in her life. But a new client wants her to risk her heart again. Her big issue was trust after what her ex-boyfriend did to her life. So Billionaire chocolatier Clayton McClaine who has dyslexia, giving a false name of Artie Michaels, has already started down a slippery path that Claire may hold against him when she inevitably finds out.

Will Clayton (Artie) lose the woman he falls in love with because of his deception? Or can he convince her to give him a chance to prove his love for her?

[Brenda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written book with strong characters in Clayton and Claire. The author does a great job building the story and handles his Dyslexia perfectly. She's had her struggles before she meets "Archie" , can she forgive him for keeping his true identity a secret? The author had me glued to the pages from start to finish reading their story. It moves fluidly with descriptive scenes and is a great read.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Happily Ever After Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance

Read My Lips begins the Riches & Royals series with a complex romance between two people with major trust issues. Claire has good reason to not trust any man in a powerful position after such a man not only broke her heart but destroyed her career and reputation all in one swoop. Clayton is already at the top of the chain command of his company, a self-made billionaire who should have the world at his feet yet he’s hiding a secret from the public and many in his inner circles as Clayton has dyslexia and is somewhat terrified of that condition becoming public.

Currently, Claire is the director of a literacy foundation – the very foundation that Clayton’s business sponsors. As Clayton finally makes the decision to get professional help in dealing with his dyslexia he’s made the choice to do so incognito and definitely undercover. That’s a decision that will come back to bite hard as his relationship with Claire, his teacher/therapist heads into romantic waters that get muddied even more when he doesn’t correct the lie that brought them together.

Overall, I enjoyed Read My Lips. There were issues that I consider nitpicking and my own preferences that do not pertain to the well-written story that touches on a few subjects that aren’t always addressed in Romance, so I’m choosing not to go into them here. The one that I will mention is the continuation of Clayton’s lie of being “Artie”. As time moved on with their romance, as real feelings began to develop between them that lie was always going to be a heartbreaking moment when finally revealed. There were many times, in my opinion, that he could have told the truth and still maintained the romance with Claire. Yet knowing her trust issues, how she’d been destroyed by another lie… yeah, it went on far too long for my enjoyment. And, again, that is my own opinion you’d have to make that call based on what you enjoy in your Romances.

We get a few hints of what is yet to come in the series, meet several secondary characters who will most likely end up with their own stories one day, and resolve Claire and Clayton’s issues by the story’s ending. I’ll keep an eye out for the next one. Read My Lips is a good story that many will enjoy.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own – good, bad, or indifferent. I was not financially compensated for this review and no expectation of a positive review was promised.*

[Beth Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I received a digital ARC from NetGalley. This review contains my own opinions of the book.
Clayton is a billionaire entrepreneur who owns a successful chocolate company. He has been hiding his learning disability for years. With the guidance of a lifelong friend, he goes undercover to seek treatment from a non-profit literary clinic that he owns. Here he meets his teacher, Claire. Claire has been avoiding the corporate world and all the men who are trying desperately to climb the corporate ladder. But she falls quickly for Clayton, or Artie as she knows him. Clayton's desires for Claire trump his common sense in coming clean with his identity.

This is a secret billionaire, instant love romance.
The characters are easy to like, but come off as a little flat.
The relationship between the two characters is sweet, but the spice seems forced and similar to that of a lifetime movie, which I personally do not prefer. It really is set for older adults. (Yes, I am an older adult. But I prefer a bit more passion and fire with my romance.)

It does set up nicely the next book. I would love to see more character depth and development.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story hidden inside tells a different story than what is displayed on the cover! "Read My Lips is an explosive, startlingly divine romantic novel where Clayton and Claire's love transcends social status, education and a host of societal norms and criticisms. Clayton is head of a billion dollar advertising industry, but with a secret so shocking that it could ruin everything he worked for. The only person he begins to trust is Claire whom he finds completely devoid of the usual wiles that woman use to beguile a wealthy man, compassionate, genuinely kind, talented, and her non judgemental attitude capture his heart! After being unfairly manipulated and transferred to another department helping dyslexic people to read, she turns it around to gain higher patronage and stance within the organization. Clayton oozes sexual appeal, a man with a remarkable business acumen who controls his company with integrity, but not afraid to exact vengeance on the man who wronged Claire. He becomes her bodyguard, her knight without her knowing and the most outstanding part of this book is the total reverence he pays her in every page, his love is openly revealed with glowing compliments as I have never seen before. When he compares her to his divine goddess, no one and nothing could dare win his heart again! "Read My Lips" is a mindblowing, emotionally inspiring love that will consume you and reignite passions that you thought were dormant. Clayton has reinvented neo romantic principles in the pure reverence in the way he loves Claire, who in turn returns his love by overlooking his flaws, being patient in teaching him, not being judgmental and loving him inspite of her former tragic experiences with men and love!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lyndi (mibookobsession) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Self-made billionaire Clayton McClain has a well-kept secret that he's held all his life... he's severely dyslexic.  So far,  he's been able to hide it with well paid assistants and his best friend and business partner,  Jimmy. But after his mother's death,  he receives a letter from her that he's unable to read and he decides to finally confront his disability. He turns to the literacy foundation that his chocolatier company sponsors,  but goes in disguise. 

When Claire Lennox meets Artie for the first time he's wearing threadbare clothes and pretending to be a lowly employee in the McClain chocolate factory.  They're immediately attracted, but a bad past relationship with a corporate executive has Claire reluctant to give him a chance. As they become closer and start a relationship,  Artie is afraid to tell her the truth given her past. Will she ever accept his true identity?

I love this rags to riches story that shines a light on literacy and dyslexia. Just like a man,  Clayton needs a little more trust and communication and it takes his friend Jimmy to talk some sense into him...only too late to do any good!

I received an early review copy of this book through NetGalley. My review is given voluntarily. For this and more of my reviews please visit mibookobsession.blogspot.com

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading some of the reviews of this book, I had a very different expectation going into it. I certainly didn’t expect to be as moved by the story as I was. It was pretty clear how much effort it took for Clayton to reach out for help and how much trust he was placing in the hands of the people who knew his “shameful secret”. Clayton and his situation brought me to tears on more than one occasion through the story. Though, I don’t understand how dyslexia is such a reprehensible condition, but I understand pride and I realize that sometimes schoolyard bullies never grow up. I really liked Claire in the beginning. I loved her drive to see the clinic be the best it could be and admired her continued belief in love in spite of her previous experiences with the emotion. I just didn’t like her very much when they hit their bump in the road. I really enjoyed the way this book ended and I’m glad to see that some of the quirky supporting cast will get books of their own.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through Booksprout.

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clayton and Claire have a wonderful story about working on your fears secretly and sometimes finding help, even if you go incognito to get it. His dyslexia and her trust issues are both strong blockades in life. My husband has dyslexia and he is very outgoing about it and is sort of a comedian besides, to his friends and coworkers. I know the stigma he had growing up, but some of our best fun is driving across country as he reads the signs and billboards and messes them up. I love that he feels so open about it and accepts it, as I do. He has made my life more fun for over 25 years now.
Reading about these characters and how they handle everything was insightful. Both problems are a lot more common than people think. The storyline has drama, suspense, surprises, support, lies and romance. Loved how they pull it all together.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Riches & Royals series by a new Author to me. Claire Lennox director of a literacy foundation and Billionaire chocolatier Clayton McClaine's story of suspense, drama, danger, twists, turns, villains, and romance. The story was well worth reading. I want to read more in this series. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Puppybhai]

2 stars ⭐⭐

There were so many things wrong with this story that it did not work for me. I thought it was going to be a simple read about h finding love again but surprises were waiting for me that I wasn't prepared for. Because of that, I find it difficult to even finish this book but at last, I did.

Arc provided by NetGalley in exchange and honest review so thank you netgalley. 🧡

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book one in The Riches and Royals Series and it is Clayton and Claire's story and it is a must read. Omg this book was really insightful into the problems of Dyslexia in society and how it can take away the confidence from that person and also make them more down to earth and understanding and that is what Clayton suffered from but with help will be be able to overcome some of his struggles. Claire has her own baggage after trusting the wrong person that completely tore her world apart leaving her devastated and unable to trust but now she has a job as a director of a literacy foundation and that is where she meets Clayton who is a billionaire only he is going by the name Archie so that no one knows who he is and how much he struggles but as they get closer and feelings start to be involved will Clayton's secret tear them apart especially as Claire has gone through so much already only time will tell how it will all turn out for them. I absolutely loved this book and I couldn't put it down as it kept my attention right from the start. This is the first book that I have read by Kelle Z Riley but definitely not the last as it was so well written and definitely worth reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kat Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good, well developed story with lovable characters. I just loved Clayton and Claire and their chemistry.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christopher Denton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who Doesn’t Enjoy A Little Roleplay?

If you enjoy whimsical romantic scenes where the protagonist and their love interest are really enjoying themselves and get lost in their imaginations, you will adore Read My Lips. This is a wonderful romantic comedy where the characters are well developed and the background conflict is engaging and entertaining.

The initial paragraph introduces obvious conflict, though it’s not the main conflict of the story. This produces a small initial hook leading us into the first chapter. A scene involving a magazine article works well to introduce the main characters. While the last paragraph of the opening chapter doesn’t exactly contain a hook, it does contain enough information about Clayton’s immediate thoughts and character development to intrigue the reader.

Having read hundreds of billionaire romances, the male love interests tend to blend into one another with predictable character traits…tall, handsome, six pack, intelligent, dominant, confident, etc. However, Clayton breaks the mold a little, which is a nice surprise and makes him stand out.

Clayton suffers from dyslexia, which not only gives him a problem to resolve in this story, but it also means he’s less insufferably confident than many other billionaire protagonists. He’s also nicely down-to-earth and practical. The kind of guy you might ask to unblock your kitchen sink in an emergency.

Claire is a wonderful example of a sympathetic character. She has so many likable features, she could be a checklist. She’s an everywoman character, mixing easily with working-class people. She’s modest and humble despite being a college graduate and having an executive past. She’s not greedy and money-grabbing. She’s a loyal and caring friend. She cares about her clients no matter their background. She’s suffered from betrayal in her past, and she’s an underdog within her organization.

With her initial conversation with Mrs. Jablonski as well as many later conversations with friends like Jill and Rhonda, Claire flies through the Bechdel-Wallace Test with ease. Despite this novel falling neatly into the romance genre, Claire’s life and thoughts are not completely dominated by men.

Peterman is a well developed antagonist with a complex personality that is nicely introduced and explored as this story develops. I would have liked him to demonstrate a few redeeming qualities to make him more three-dimensional, but I did find him interesting none the less.

Several other interesting characters are introduced, and it’s clear that they’re all being set up for potential future relationships in the next few books in this series. However, they are not introduced in a bad way. They all flow seamlessly into the narrative in a natural manner and add to the texture of this tale.

The only slightly negative thing I can say about the characters is that Clayton and Claire alliterate, and it’s usually better not to have names so similar. Also, although Claire’s parents are still around, we don’t get to meet them or hear much about them until the end.

Clayton must overcome his reading problems and recruits Claire to help. He has no interest in relationships, and she is wary of rich and powerful men because of a previous trauma. The two main conflicts are clear from the beginning, and the only question is whether either of them can be overcome.

There is a tertiary conflict that is in many ways more interesting than these two main conflicts and that relates to Claire’s employment history. That conflict entertained me greatly and had a most satisfying resolution. I especially liked what happened on p.123.

The overall story isn’t majorly complex, but there are some nice plot developments as the story progresses, especially around p.269 as we enter chapter 24 and things start to go wrong for Clayton.

In terms of the more intimate parts of the story, this romance is exceptionally well crafted. It touches on the areas of mild role play and cosplay without going in too deep or becoming too explicit. The scenarios created are original, lighthearted and whimsical, fit well within the overall story being created, and are both entertaining and sensual.

The various settings are well introduced and clear. It is always easy to visualize where we are in the story. The third-person limited narrative is easy to follow and successfully shows rather than tells this story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this billionaire romance mainly because of the unique and well-developed main characters and the background conflict relating to Claire’s backstory. This is a great introductory novel for an entertaining series of related relationships using the characters already introduced in this novel. I am going to rate it 5 out of 5.

Notice:

I received an advance review copy (ARC) for free, but this review is my honest opinion of the book.

[Megan (sporadic hiatus due to law school) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rating: 1.3/5.0

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness, it's finally over.

I have several issues with Read My Lips.

For starters, I want to say that it's highly uncommon to have a main character who is a well-known celebrity figure and a billionaire have any type of disability. And Clayton having dyslexia? It was a very nice touch and a good change from the common he's perfect/she's perfect drama.

However, his dyslexia only appeared in various moments and had no other ties to the story. There were no emotional shifts as a result of his dyslexia, only a justification as to why the two main characters became involved with one another. I think there is a grand total of one or two scenes in which Claire is actually helping Clayton with his reading and writing, and it's not for very long.

I think Claire should have pawned Clayton's amethysts and dumped him the second she found out about his lies. This guy had so many chances to tell her - he knew it would only get worse the longer he waited and knew he had this big gala dedicated to her in which he would need to show her the truth - and he still procrastinated it until it was too late. That's karma for me, dude. This guy flat out said "Nah, I'll do it the day of" and then freaked out when he kept missing her. Claire deserves so much better than him and I don't like that she forgave him so easily just because he announced to the world that he was dyslexic and had his reasons and tried his hardest etc. It felt like some common out, where he did very little groveling.

Another issue of the main guy putting off telling the truth for so long was the fact that this book is enormous. Really, it's about 328 pages (pdf edition, which is extremely difficult to read, by the way) but I think that's 100+ pages too many. There didn't need to be so much going on. By the third time Clayton decided to put off telling her - after realizing he was in love with her - anybody would understand how it would go. I was bored to tears and kept picking up something more interesting by the 150pg mark.

Also, the very beginning is Clayton going into the clinic and overhearing Claire and one of her patients reading this article about him out loud. It's a magazine article, so it has a picture of him. Claire even makes a comment saying "she'd seen so many images of him that day, she'd picture his face on everyone else's" (paraphrasing). How did he not get discovered at all? Especially when he mentions he made the disguise to stop the paparazzi from following him, but when he dressed up and took Claire out for a public date at an upper-class place, nobody noticed? How is it he got away with his disguise for so long when his picture was probably in magazines for months straight?

Let's talk Jimmy, Clayton's best friend, for a moment. He's apparently also a very rich guy who grew up with Clayton and started (is co-running?) the company. However, he's Clayton's chauffeur because he doesn't want to be in the limelight. (Valid.) For being the best friend of Clayton, he doesn't get listened to very often. Jimmy, in the middle of driving his business partner and friend around, starts talking about this girl he likes. Clayton, very distracted by his panicking about telling Claire the truth but ultimately going to put it off, gives a little bit of advice and then ignores the rest of what Jimmy says to ask/talk about his problems with Claire a little more. Clayton also makes a comment that Jimmy is now the most eligible or most sought-after bachelor since Clayton had Claire, but how does that make sense if Jimmy pretends to be a chauffeur to stay out of the limelight? It's probably trying to set up the next one, but there has to be one or the other. There can't be both.

Frankly, that annoyed me more than almost everything in the book. You'd better start listening to people more often, or at least hearing what they have to say, or you're going to end up friendless - and walking.

Read My Lips was disappointing and aggravating to read. To sum it up, the dyslexia was just an excuse for a meet-that-forces-the-characters-to-spend-time-together and Clayton was very annoying and I think Claire and everybody in that clinic need to get their eyes checked. And Jimmy deserves better.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review
3.5 stars.
An often fascinating insight into living with dyslexia, “Read my Lips”, by Kelle Z. Riley, features a charming hero with vulnerabilities and a woman wary of love.
The hero’s mix of strength and vulnerability, power and tenderness is engaging. Despite all his success, Clayton still feels insecure about his worth and has uncertainties.
And it’s always exciting to read a book with a different hero.
I really liked the parts about Clayton dealing with his dyslexia, although some dimensions lacked more development to be fully believable.
This was a light, quick read, so I didn’t mind the sometimes naive views of the corporate world and the peculiar functioning of the clinic. But suspending disbelief with this patient/therapist relationship was a bit harder.
This was enjoyable, a sweet romance with charming characters, but in the end I’d trade the extended “steamy sessions” for more about Clayton’s struggles and ways of coping.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Riley has penned a powerful story that delicately touches on the personal struggles and the associated stigma plaguing anyone dealing with dyslexia. The book also speaks to some of the injustices in workplaces where gender and authority dictates how far your career choices will take you. Claire had to make unplanned and unfair career changes because she was too trusting of the person who should have had her welfare first and foremost in his heart. We get to take the journey with her as she learns to trust again and deal with the parallelism of her life then and now. Though the culmination of the story was somewhat predictable, the emotions elicited weren't, you got the feeling of living her life alongside her. This was a well written book that was not only powerful, enlightening and deeply emotional, but satisfactory in the end. I recommend this book without prejudice and am thankful for the ARC from Netgalley.

[MookNana · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the positive side, the novel conveys a beautiful sense of place. Chicago almost felt like another character. The description about the work done at the literacy center—especially the specific information about dyslexia—was very interesting. I always love learning something new along with the story! The resolution did have a nice emotional resonance—I believed their pain and was happy for their reconciliation.

Unfortunately, neither the characters nor their relationship felt fully authentic or developed to me. I couldn’t quite get a handle on who they really were or what motivated them. I found the “game” awkward and the pace of their relationship felt somehow both rushed and drawn out. Some of the corporate scenarios seemed a bit implausible.

I wouldn’t discourage anyone from giving it a try, but it didn’t quite land for me.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was soo good! The romance, the spice, the way the two main characters fell in love, perfect. I couldn't put it down for longer than a few hours and not by choice. I think the ending may have been a bit rushed but otherwise I have nothing to criticise. Great for a quick romance fix.

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute and entertaining quick read. There was more to it than a simple romance. The story explores the literacy inequalities still very much prevalent in today’s society. I appreciated the fact that the author explored this topic all while providing a secretive and romantic tale.

[Corrine Pritchett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge romance fan, and always gravitate toward it when I feel a reading slump coming on because they are generally easy to get into. I did that for this book, and it did not disappoint! I read the book nearly in one sitting, because I became obsessed with Claire and Clayton's story. Chocolate, Cinderella trope, rich main character in disguise, is there more you could want from a romance? And this is the first in a series! Can't wait for more!!

[Books Forward · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet romance is like a modern day Cinderella! Career-driven, emotionally wounded Claire begins to fall for a worker at her new position who turns out to be someone way more powerful. Filled with desire and humor, this is is a great romance read with an endearing story and steamy scenes t0 melt into.

[Jerry Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who teaches and once had a career in the counseling world, I enjoyed the primary theme of trust in Kelle Riley’s Read My Lips. I can also connect well with how impactful other’s actions can be to our own lives. There is much to connect with as we are introduced to Claire, who directs the McClaire Literary Clinic. Clayton attends the clinic under a false name, Artie, seeking help with his dyslexia. Kelle then weaves a well paced story as “Artie” has several opportunities to reveal his hand and come clean with Claire. Kelle does a superb job portraying his fear:
All of his noble urges to come clean with her had dissolved the minute he learned how deeply Peterman wounded her. No wonder she thought of men with power, money, and influence as the enemy.
- Riley, Kelle Z.. Read My Lips (pp. 90-91). Kelle Riley. Kindle Edition.

He is a man caught in a lie trying to live out the burning truth that he is in love. yet, what is he to do that Claire was so hurt by someone with wealth and power. If she discovers he isn't just a man overcoming dyslexia but an actual wealthy billionaire will she still love him? I enjoyed the fact that it is Clayton’s wealth and power as a billionaire chocolatier (and yes there are some steamy love scenes if that is what you read for) rather than his dyslexia that he fears will cause him to lose Claire. Of course, eventually Claire discovers who “Artie” really is. The end is well crafted and checks all the boxes of why we read such stories as Read My Lips. A wonderful first book in a series.

The second book promises the story of Jill, an enjoyable side character in Read My Lips. It looks to be fun based on Jill’s character in Read My Lips:
“Jill had shouldered the responsibilities of supporting her stepmother and her younger siblings from that moment on. Beneath Jill’s polished exterior was a woman determined to sacrifice herself to make amends for a twist of fate. A woman destined for heartache because she was prepared to forego love for money.”

Riley, Kelle Z.. Read My Lips (p. 128). Kelle Riley. Kindle Edition.

[IgnoringMyKids · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Read My Lips, Clayton is a self-made business tycoon who has a shocking secret: he is severely dyslexic. He goes to an adult reading clinic his complany sponsors and meets Claire but doesn’t want anyone to know about his struggles, so introduces himself as Archie. Of course, they fall in love and he waits far too long to trust that he’s finally met a woman who’s not out for his money. Claire has her own baggage, coming off a relationship with one of Clayton’s executives who presented Claire’s ideas as if they were his own and then slut shamed her to the rest of their coworkers.

I was very interested in the book blurb because I have both a husband and a son who are dyslexic. I appreciated the depiction of it—the embarrassment of not being able to read and write well, the skills one develops in order to compensate in a world full of words. I think it didn’t work for me because of the lies—when one character is completely deceptive throughout the story, it’s just too much of a suspension of disbelief when the other character gets over it within a matter of days (this is the second book I’ve read recently where that has happened and both really bothered me). Maybe that’s just me, though.

Thank you to @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #stlreads #steamyromance #netgalley #readmylips

[Kayla Rhein · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Read My Lips” by Kelly Z Riley was a nice, light, pool read with just the right amount of smut to make me blush while reading it in public. The story centers around Claire, a scorned but determined young woman who is running a literacy clinic. In comes Clayton (or Artie, as he introduces himself to Claire) who is the tippy top boss of his chocolate company, who owns the literacy clinic. Clayton is dyslexic and comes to the clinic for help learning to read, and subsequently falls for Claire. I felt as though their storyline was very accelerated, and as a therapist I also feel very uncomfortable with a teacher falling for her client, but if you want a quick, fun read this is perfect for you! Thank you to @netgalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review. #bookstagram #netgalley #netgalleyreview #netgalleyreads #netgalleyreviewer #readmylips #richestoroyals #bookworm #speedreading #speedreader

[DIL · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fake identity mixed with contemporary romance was certainly well-written. I definitely did not expect to get through it in one sitting and wished it was a little longer. The emotional aspect of dyslexia is something I haven't heard or read about, so it was a refreshing new concept. I didn't quite like how hastily the ending had been written and wished there was more clarification. The plot should have been developed more, especially background info on Claire and where she's from. However, overall the book was an enjoyable one-off. The excerpt to the second book is amazing and I cannot wait to read it, because it sounds that there might be some action mixed romance genre which sounds delightful.

*Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Arlena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Read My Lips
Author: Kelle Riley
Publisher: Kelle Z Riley
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"Read My Lips" by Kelle Riley
My Opinion:

"Read My Lips" I love you was all that Clayton could say after all that had gone on with him and the lovely Claire after it was all said and done. I enjoyed the story with all that came from these two, Clayton and Claire, who seems to be made for each other. Yes, we find Clayton dealing with his dyslexia and going to the McClaire Literary Clinic using another name...Artie Michaels and this is where Claire comes into the picture. With all that was going on with these two, when it was time to come clean about his situation, it would have been better if Artie [Clayton] would have told her the whole truth right then. This was needed since Claire seemed to have problems with trust issues from her last encounter with an ex-boyfriend, and this would have also helped in the overall plot of the story. It would have enabled Clayton in the end; however, as these sweet romances can go, you will have to pick up this novel to see how and if this author could get it all straightened out in the end.

I want to thank Independently Published and Netgalley for the book's arc and for giving my honest review.

[Christina Gizzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It may have taken me forever to finish this book, but I loved it. I thought that the characters were incredibly well written and complex. I love that Clayton did not just get over his disability quickly like I have seen in other books. It took him some time to understand how to read and even when he learned how to differentiate letters, he still had trouble during the gala. I hated how many lies were told throughout the book and how there were not many repercussions. I think that the ending was too quick compared to the rest of the novel. The last chapter was super quick and had a lot of important information stuffed into it that could have been fleshed out more. I think this book is adorable and the love story was not too unrealistic.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that the relationship between Claire and Clayton is absolutely adorable,
She knows that he is hiding something and needs time, and when he finds that someone in his OWN company is the reason that she has been burned in the past, you can almost see the twist coming.
I would have liked a bit more insight into Clayton's dyslexia and how he copes with it, and I don't really like the lying for such a prolonged period of time, but you can't please everyone all the time. :)
The author did a great job at developing the tension between the two MCs.
I would be interested in reading more from her.