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Being True #1
Hidden Truth
Ethan Anderson thinks Stone McIntyre, the sexy cop next door, is too interested in his business. When Ethan stumbles upon not just one dead body but two at a true crime podcasters convention, Stone might be his only hope of surviving.
Stone doesn’t know what it is about his new neighbor, but he wants to find out more. Ethan isn’t giving up any details about his personal life. The lack of information makes Stone dig deeper, but all he finds is more loose ends.
Now involved in a triple homicide, Stone must decide if he trusts the mysterious Ethan or if he’s the suspect they’ve been searching for.
Stone doesn’t know what it is about his new neighbor, but he wants to find out more. Ethan isn’t giving up any details about his personal life. The lack of information makes Stone dig deeper, but all he finds is more loose ends.
Now involved in a triple homicide, Stone must decide if he trusts the mysterious Ethan or if he’s the suspect they’ve been searching for.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 17, 2022
18 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 14, 2022
For the full Review go here Hidden Truth
I went into this one excited. I like a good murder suspense. For the most part, this book was great. Ethan was mostly written well and easy to understand. Stone was much of the same mostly easy to understand. But some odd choices made this book a bit of a miss for me.
Firstly the whole opening seemed a bit much. We have to deal with a rude neighbour which is fine but it’s the interaction with Stone and Ethan that seems off. Stone helps to get rid of the rude neighbour but his last interaction with Ethan is a rather snippy and also rude comment about how the truck can’t stay there. It’s a moving van and it won’t be staying there so why so much attitude? Then another incident with the same slightly off neighbour happens and Stone again helps with the situation but then gets mad at Ethan for shouting at him. He came onto his property and had to be almost forcibly removed and Stone was mad that Ethan was angry with the neighbour? The same neighbour he just helped calm down for a second time. How is he going to be helpful and then be mean right after? it didn’t stop there. He also comes over to Ethan’s door getting Ethan angry again by accusing him of parking his car in his driveway.
The reason this is odd is that he’s a detective and when Ethan who has a garage says it isn’t his car he argues with him about seeing him driving it instead of embracing that it’s not his car. But he’s a detective. Being trained to see things others can’t is part of his job. It’s odd he couldn’t tell the difference between the cars or would even assume a new neighbour wouldn’t park in his own driveway or garage.
Now to be fair this is all set up for an apology scene. One where he explains the neighbour isn’t as well as he used to be, to establish he has a sensor camera outside his house for security which comes up later on, and to transition, not very well but more on that later, into revealing the death threat emails Ethan has received. But it doesn’t sell well as a meet and great enemies to friends situation. Especially when you add on how, even if justified, Ethan was equally rude. When they are trapped at the checkout together and Stone is obviously trying to say something instead of staring him down and waiting for what he had to say he gives a lot of attitude and standoffish vibes. He definitely could’ve demanded he apologise or wait to see if he was and still been fuming while doing this instead of approaching it the way he did. After all, they were in the same lane why not hear him explain his bad behaviour considering Ethan has bought a house and is stuck beside him for the indefinite future.
I dunno but all of this could’ve been handled if Stone had simply come over with a peace offering of coffee after the rude encounter with the neighbour and explained how he knew he was home cause his car didn’t alert the camera, and that the neighbour had changed a bit after an event in his life and was acting out. This would’ve revealed all the things needed for the plot and got Ethan comfortable enough to show him the emails without all the aggression that made me not like both of them and then be expected to like them both so quickly. Also, the car was toed so who did it belong to? Again it just made it seem even more obvious it was set up for this apology scene that could’ve happened without all the extras.
The next thing was scene transitions and even conversation transitions didn’t, well, transition. For example, we know Ethan has death threat emails. When it doesn’t come up it goes something like this. Ethan says he’s sorry for being a jerk at the store but… he trails off. Stone says what is it. He says it’s not that serious. Stone isn’t convinced. Then the story switches out of Ethan’s POV to Stone’s in the next chapter. So I’m reading along waiting and he asks again, after this apology breakfast he brought to Ethan’s home has been eaten, what Ethan didn’t say earlier. Ethan says, again ‘I really think it’s nothing but the two emails’… and I’m like hmmm did he already tell him about the emails? He didn’t though so why is he talking like he did. Why didn’t he instead say ‘I got two threatening emails that I sent of to a friend who works in (wherever she works). Then casually explain it away like it’s par for the course with his job and downplay the importance of them. But he talks like he’s already told Stone about the emails but refused to tell him what was in them then he lets Stone read them. However, in actuality, he hasn’t told him anything yet. It was just odd and I reread the beginning of this chapter a few times to see if I missed when the first mention of emails happened.
This happens a few times in the book. Another example, this is scene related, is when Stone wakes up with Ethan on his mind, handles that excitement and showers but the very next paragraph starts off talking about a meeting short and we find out after this that presently Stone is on his way to the author conference Ethan as at, the place where the murders are happening. It’s odd cause you don’t just shower and immediately have a meeting then arrive at a destination. We didn’t get dressed, brush our teeth, think about the meeting we don’t want to go to, grab a coffee or even arrive at the meeting. Stone is actually arriving at the hotel which means these things have already transpired. Instead of starting in the car and having Stone think about how his day has gone so far from the released pent-up frustration thinking about Ethan before heading off to a brief meeting and arriving at the destination, the author describes them as present actions so I was def thinking, when did Stone go to the meeting, how did they get there, when did it end putting them on the road to the conference, just where are we exactly?
These are just two examples but scene changes without solid transitions happened often enough for me to notice. And when it occurred within a chapter, unlike the above which was the beginning of a chapter, you just happened to be in one place then another without a page break or obvious signifier things had changed. It broke up the flow sometimes but in between these occurrences, the flow was fine. No issues at all really. I was here for all of it. Like I said a good suspense mystery is one of my favourite things to read. (there's a lot more after this point in the original review here Hidden Truth)
Over all, there wasn’t a single point reading this that I thought I’m quitting. I did enjoy the story despite some of the issues. It was a decent murder mystery and crafted well enough to keep me entertained. In that aspect, it was a hit. But the awkward transitions in both conversations, and scenes, and some inconsistencies with the murders coupled with the weird beginning and the hard to believe actions of Stone at the end did bring me out of the story enough to damper that enjoyment. It’s worth the read and others will probably thoroughly enjoy it. And it’s the first in the series so there’s more where this came from so who knows. It might shape up into something pretty spectacular but it was an enjoyable ‘okay’ for me.
Lastly, a totally Biased decision, but the cover model is pure hotness, and this may or may not have played a teeny part in me wanting to read this story
I went into this one excited. I like a good murder suspense. For the most part, this book was great. Ethan was mostly written well and easy to understand. Stone was much of the same mostly easy to understand. But some odd choices made this book a bit of a miss for me.
Firstly the whole opening seemed a bit much. We have to deal with a rude neighbour which is fine but it’s the interaction with Stone and Ethan that seems off. Stone helps to get rid of the rude neighbour but his last interaction with Ethan is a rather snippy and also rude comment about how the truck can’t stay there. It’s a moving van and it won’t be staying there so why so much attitude? Then another incident with the same slightly off neighbour happens and Stone again helps with the situation but then gets mad at Ethan for shouting at him. He came onto his property and had to be almost forcibly removed and Stone was mad that Ethan was angry with the neighbour? The same neighbour he just helped calm down for a second time. How is he going to be helpful and then be mean right after? it didn’t stop there. He also comes over to Ethan’s door getting Ethan angry again by accusing him of parking his car in his driveway.
The reason this is odd is that he’s a detective and when Ethan who has a garage says it isn’t his car he argues with him about seeing him driving it instead of embracing that it’s not his car. But he’s a detective. Being trained to see things others can’t is part of his job. It’s odd he couldn’t tell the difference between the cars or would even assume a new neighbour wouldn’t park in his own driveway or garage.
Now to be fair this is all set up for an apology scene. One where he explains the neighbour isn’t as well as he used to be, to establish he has a sensor camera outside his house for security which comes up later on, and to transition, not very well but more on that later, into revealing the death threat emails Ethan has received. But it doesn’t sell well as a meet and great enemies to friends situation. Especially when you add on how, even if justified, Ethan was equally rude. When they are trapped at the checkout together and Stone is obviously trying to say something instead of staring him down and waiting for what he had to say he gives a lot of attitude and standoffish vibes. He definitely could’ve demanded he apologise or wait to see if he was and still been fuming while doing this instead of approaching it the way he did. After all, they were in the same lane why not hear him explain his bad behaviour considering Ethan has bought a house and is stuck beside him for the indefinite future.
I dunno but all of this could’ve been handled if Stone had simply come over with a peace offering of coffee after the rude encounter with the neighbour and explained how he knew he was home cause his car didn’t alert the camera, and that the neighbour had changed a bit after an event in his life and was acting out. This would’ve revealed all the things needed for the plot and got Ethan comfortable enough to show him the emails without all the aggression that made me not like both of them and then be expected to like them both so quickly. Also, the car was toed so who did it belong to? Again it just made it seem even more obvious it was set up for this apology scene that could’ve happened without all the extras.
The next thing was scene transitions and even conversation transitions didn’t, well, transition. For example, we know Ethan has death threat emails. When it doesn’t come up it goes something like this. Ethan says he’s sorry for being a jerk at the store but… he trails off. Stone says what is it. He says it’s not that serious. Stone isn’t convinced. Then the story switches out of Ethan’s POV to Stone’s in the next chapter. So I’m reading along waiting and he asks again, after this apology breakfast he brought to Ethan’s home has been eaten, what Ethan didn’t say earlier. Ethan says, again ‘I really think it’s nothing but the two emails’… and I’m like hmmm did he already tell him about the emails? He didn’t though so why is he talking like he did. Why didn’t he instead say ‘I got two threatening emails that I sent of to a friend who works in (wherever she works). Then casually explain it away like it’s par for the course with his job and downplay the importance of them. But he talks like he’s already told Stone about the emails but refused to tell him what was in them then he lets Stone read them. However, in actuality, he hasn’t told him anything yet. It was just odd and I reread the beginning of this chapter a few times to see if I missed when the first mention of emails happened.
This happens a few times in the book. Another example, this is scene related, is when Stone wakes up with Ethan on his mind, handles that excitement and showers but the very next paragraph starts off talking about a meeting short and we find out after this that presently Stone is on his way to the author conference Ethan as at, the place where the murders are happening. It’s odd cause you don’t just shower and immediately have a meeting then arrive at a destination. We didn’t get dressed, brush our teeth, think about the meeting we don’t want to go to, grab a coffee or even arrive at the meeting. Stone is actually arriving at the hotel which means these things have already transpired. Instead of starting in the car and having Stone think about how his day has gone so far from the released pent-up frustration thinking about Ethan before heading off to a brief meeting and arriving at the destination, the author describes them as present actions so I was def thinking, when did Stone go to the meeting, how did they get there, when did it end putting them on the road to the conference, just where are we exactly?
These are just two examples but scene changes without solid transitions happened often enough for me to notice. And when it occurred within a chapter, unlike the above which was the beginning of a chapter, you just happened to be in one place then another without a page break or obvious signifier things had changed. It broke up the flow sometimes but in between these occurrences, the flow was fine. No issues at all really. I was here for all of it. Like I said a good suspense mystery is one of my favourite things to read. (there's a lot more after this point in the original review here Hidden Truth)
Over all, there wasn’t a single point reading this that I thought I’m quitting. I did enjoy the story despite some of the issues. It was a decent murder mystery and crafted well enough to keep me entertained. In that aspect, it was a hit. But the awkward transitions in both conversations, and scenes, and some inconsistencies with the murders coupled with the weird beginning and the hard to believe actions of Stone at the end did bring me out of the story enough to damper that enjoyment. It’s worth the read and others will probably thoroughly enjoy it. And it’s the first in the series so there’s more where this came from so who knows. It might shape up into something pretty spectacular but it was an enjoyable ‘okay’ for me.
Lastly, a totally Biased decision, but the cover model is pure hotness, and this may or may not have played a teeny part in me wanting to read this story
March 19, 2022
Watch your back! Stone, works in law enforcement, so he has a natural curious mind. He's interested in his next door neighbor, whom seems unusually reticent. Ethan, notices his sexy neighbor, but he has more on his mind after finding two dead bodies at a convention he's attending. Det Stone, is on the case. Can he juggle his protective interest in Ethan, with his questions about the case? Will these two be able to work together to solve the crimes? Will Ethan be able to relieve Stone's mind? Can Stone keep Ethan safe? Good story. Nice mystery, keeps you intrigued and involved. Fun characterss, well done! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 18, 2022
The set up for this book was original a murder mystery at a true crime for authors of the genre.
Ethan, a trans gender gay man and a true crime writer who has moved house and turns out to be living next to Stone, a cis pan man and a cop. The story about the conference, the attendees and the persons who keep dropping dead is well done. It seems that Ethan might be a future victim.
I liked the overall storyline but found the first interactions between Ethan and Stone a bit strange and unpleasant. Stone is cop, even tough there are mitigating circumstances, he should be better in interactions.
I however appreciate that Ethan being a trans gender gay man is a non issue for Stone.
I recommend this book for anybody who like a who done it with a hfn at the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ethan, a trans gender gay man and a true crime writer who has moved house and turns out to be living next to Stone, a cis pan man and a cop. The story about the conference, the attendees and the persons who keep dropping dead is well done. It seems that Ethan might be a future victim.
I liked the overall storyline but found the first interactions between Ethan and Stone a bit strange and unpleasant. Stone is cop, even tough there are mitigating circumstances, he should be better in interactions.
I however appreciate that Ethan being a trans gender gay man is a non issue for Stone.
I recommend this book for anybody who like a who done it with a hfn at the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 7, 2022
This book was so bad. It reads like a teenager's first attempt at writing.
Every single thing was told. Nothing at all was shown. We never get inside either MC's head to SEE what they're feeling. We're simply told, "Ethan was scared." "Stone was upset."
There was WAY too much moaning. Ethan moaned every time he ate anything.
The MCs hated each other when they met, and the writing unrealistically manipulated them into NOT TALKING about it right away. Then, when they finally talk, they jump into bed, like, a day later! Stone is all 'oh noes, I can't kiss Ethan, he's a murder suspect and I'm a cop!' and then hours later, they're stripping each other's clothes off. What the bleeping hell?
Every secondary and background character, including the eventually revealed murderer, is flat and empty. They are all cardboard cutouts—worse than cardboard cutouts since I couldn't even tell you what anyone looks like. Come to think of it, Ethan and Stone were pretty flat too. And I couldn't tell you what they looked like either.
When Ethan gets attacked, I immediately got lost what was happening in the fight scene. I know fights are hard to write, but this was really bad. And then Stone shows up and he's just chill. The guy he likes just got jumped by someone who wanted to kill him, and he's just like, meh.
When they finally found the killer, I didn't even care anymore. And the whole "big climax" was just so boring. I want to call it predictable but it wasn't even that. It was unrealistic and dull.
Reading this was a waste of my time.
Every single thing was told. Nothing at all was shown. We never get inside either MC's head to SEE what they're feeling. We're simply told, "Ethan was scared." "Stone was upset."
There was WAY too much moaning. Ethan moaned every time he ate anything.
The MCs hated each other when they met, and the writing unrealistically manipulated them into NOT TALKING about it right away. Then, when they finally talk, they jump into bed, like, a day later! Stone is all 'oh noes, I can't kiss Ethan, he's a murder suspect and I'm a cop!' and then hours later, they're stripping each other's clothes off. What the bleeping hell?
Every secondary and background character, including the eventually revealed murderer, is flat and empty. They are all cardboard cutouts—worse than cardboard cutouts since I couldn't even tell you what anyone looks like. Come to think of it, Ethan and Stone were pretty flat too. And I couldn't tell you what they looked like either.
When Ethan gets attacked, I immediately got lost what was happening in the fight scene. I know fights are hard to write, but this was really bad. And then Stone shows up and he's just chill. The guy he likes just got jumped by someone who wanted to kill him, and he's just like, meh.
When they finally found the killer, I didn't even care anymore. And the whole "big climax" was just so boring. I want to call it predictable but it wasn't even that. It was unrealistic and dull.
Reading this was a waste of my time.
March 22, 2022
I was giddy when reading the synopsis before receiving this as an ARC because it was a M/M murder suspense story! I do not read enough of that trope! I kept turning the page because I wanted to know who did it and the romance…between two guys…delicious!
The story is about Main Character 1 - Ethan, a podcaster who found two dead bodies at a convention and Main Character 2 - Stone, a law enforcement assigned to the case. The ending was so good. Don’t want to ruin it by saying more. Pick up the book and read it! Worth your time!!!!
The story is about Main Character 1 - Ethan, a podcaster who found two dead bodies at a convention and Main Character 2 - Stone, a law enforcement assigned to the case. The ending was so good. Don’t want to ruin it by saying more. Pick up the book and read it! Worth your time!!!!
March 4, 2022
Worth The Read
This book kept me intrigued the entire way through from Ethan's and Stone's rocky start to the conclusion of the mystery. I could even enjoy more of them together.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book kept me intrigued the entire way through from Ethan's and Stone's rocky start to the conclusion of the mystery. I could even enjoy more of them together.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 25, 2022
Welllll
It was well not good to me. It was way to quick in the relationship and the HEA I read it all but really didn't think it was well done.
It was well not good to me. It was way to quick in the relationship and the HEA I read it all but really didn't think it was well done.
May 29, 2022
I am not sure how this author started showing up on my email. (Maybe because I like romantic suspense?) Since this was offered in KU, I decided to give this a try. It wasn't a bad read. A well thought out story. Nice pacing that kept me turning the page. No slow spots to put me to sleep. Not even any eyeroll moments. Just a good story. It was told well. But the key word here is told. With the background of the main character, I would have expected to shed a tear or two. But it read like an old Dragnet show with Jack Webb. "Just the facts," even though we were at a 'True Crime conference' where gossip abounds and sneaking in a romance with the investigating detective. A decent read that I did enjoy.
May 11, 2025
A True Crime writers and podcster’s conference plagued by murder. What better situation to find true love. Ethan has just moved into his new house ahead of the conference starting. He's got a crazy neighbour and a hot cop who he'd like to get to know better. Stone is still dealing with the death of his work partner but would like to get to know Ethan better. Stumbling on a murder scene on day one of the conference starts these two off on a path they both want to follow despite the risks. Ethan is not only a prime suspect but terrified that Stone will reject him for who he is like so many in his past. An interesting mix of crime drama and learning to accept and truly see people for who they are rather than what they do and stereotypes.
December 8, 2022
A fun mystery with a true crime writer and a cop who start off on the wrong foot. The argument that starts their enemies to lovers trope felt a bit forced and overdramatic. I get what the author what trying to convey but I think it could have been done more successfully. I enjoyed their chemistry and how the trans issue was handled. With how much anxiety Ethan had about his being trans, it was great to see it didn't matter to Stone. I'd read the story again more for the characters than the strength of the mystery.
January 28, 2023
Podcaster writer and detective
York has set a police procedural in Charleston at a true crime convention. MCs are Ethan, a writer and podcaster who brushes up against several murders, and Stone, a police detective. Characters are nicely fleshed out, little ringers tossed in to keep it interesting. Graphics are tempered, both the crimes and intimate scenes. Ancillary cast is varied and interesting.
York has set a police procedural in Charleston at a true crime convention. MCs are Ethan, a writer and podcaster who brushes up against several murders, and Stone, a police detective. Characters are nicely fleshed out, little ringers tossed in to keep it interesting. Graphics are tempered, both the crimes and intimate scenes. Ancillary cast is varied and interesting.
April 7, 2022
I love a murder mystery with two hot MC's! Ethan has a secret and Stone is trying to find out. While people are dying at the convention, Stone is rushing to solve it so he can bring to light his affair with the prime suspect, Ethan! .
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 18, 2022
Ethan is true crime writer and pod cast host. Stone is a detective and Ethan's new neighbor. Ethan's at a convention in his town when people start dying around him . Stone is put on the case and he will do anything to keep Ethan safe. I really enjoyed this book.
March 21, 2022
Love it. Although Ethan and Stone may have started out a little rocky and mysterious they sure didn’t end up that way. Ethan is very secretive but when his life is possibly in danger Stone goes into detective/protection mode. Definitely worth the read.
April 23, 2022
I think the characters made this story so enjoyable. Ethan, with his secrets and Stone, a suspicious detective finds common ground as they search for the killer. Fun read and I recommend it.
June 19, 2023
Very good murder mystery.
This book really held my interest. I had to finish it without stopping. Ethan and Stone may not be the perfect couple but they work well together.
This book really held my interest. I had to finish it without stopping. Ethan and Stone may not be the perfect couple but they work well together.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews