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Tricked Truths
Grace Jamison had left the little town of Everly twelve years ago with her son and vowed never to return. But in order to move on with her future, she finds she has to return to her hometown and fix the wrongs of the past — starting with the only man who had the power to hurt her. The last person Trick Burnett wanted to see on West End property was his adulterous one time stepmother — the woman responsible for his father’s murder. Too bad his body seemed to have a mind of its own where Grace was concerned. Trick hated secrets and Grace was a walking cache of them. He wasn’t above committing sexual blackmail in order to trick the truth from her time and again. Her sweet responsiveness always left him hungry for more until the mere revelation of her dark secrets was no longer enough. He couldn’t rest until he had everything from her — mind, body and soul. 5 Blue Ribbons from Romance Junkies TRICKED TRUTHS is a prime example of Beth Kery’s exceptional writing abilities. The story drew me in and I couldn’t put it down until I had read the final word. Believe me, this unlikely couple’s journey of discovery is one you don’t want to miss. Grab a copy of this fantastic book at your earliest opportunity.
199 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 31, 2007
55 people are currently reading
672 people want to read
About the author
Beth Kery
186 books2,694 followersBeth Kery is the New York Times and USA Today best selling author of over thirty novels, novellas and serials. She writes contemporary romances as well as erotic contemporary romances, her hallmarks being emotional intensity, leap-off-the-page realistic characters and steamy sexual tension.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
January 31, 2021
I usually really like/love Beth Kery. Her heroes are usually pretty alpha and dominant but basically decent. This guy, not so much.
Grace and Trick had had a thing, maybe, when she was a teenager but she ended up marrying his dad. Oh well. She's back now with her son and the town hates her, Trick hates her....Been there, done that. Let the slut shaming and humiliating begin.
Major spoilers so beware.
Read Beth Kery, just find a better one. Exposed to You is a little angsty and Bound to You is good as well. It has a blind hero who is quite a gem.
Grace and Trick had had a thing, maybe, when she was a teenager but she ended up marrying his dad. Oh well. She's back now with her son and the town hates her, Trick hates her....Been there, done that. Let the slut shaming and humiliating begin.
Major spoilers so beware.
Read Beth Kery, just find a better one. Exposed to You is a little angsty and Bound to You is good as well. It has a blind hero who is quite a gem.
November 9, 2018
Ok wow, Beth Kery sure knows how to write a smutty story - with a story!
Smut is certainly not my genre - bdsm and anal just don’t do it for me.
But to read BK, one has to contend with all that and more.
Smut is certainly not my genre - bdsm and anal just don’t do it for me.
But to read BK, one has to contend with all that and more.
August 10, 2013
Could never fully get into this one. Didn't like how verbally abusive the hero was to the heroine, and what was worse, I didn't like how she did nothing about it. I know Beth Kery's heroes specialize in asshat behavior, but this guy-"Trick"--took it a bit too far. So my dislike of him and my lack of respect for the heroine put a damper on their smutty sexcapades (Ms. Kery does write some of the most smutastic sex scenes). To her credit, the plot had some twists and turns that I didn't see coming--if only the characters were a bit more likable I would've bumped it up another star.
Something about this brute reminds me of Trick...
This was an earlier work of Ms. Kery and she's come a long way since. For a sample of her best, try Wicked Burn, Exposed to You or my favorite, Daring Time. 3 1/2 stars
*Warning: This book contains explicit sex (including lots of oral, and one anal scene), and a blunt, dirty talking hero. Not for the faint of heart.
Something about this brute reminds me of Trick...
This was an earlier work of Ms. Kery and she's come a long way since. For a sample of her best, try Wicked Burn, Exposed to You or my favorite, Daring Time. 3 1/2 stars
*Warning: This book contains explicit sex (including lots of oral, and one anal scene), and a blunt, dirty talking hero. Not for the faint of heart.
August 22, 2021
First read this one in 2009 and it has been one I’ve come back to more that once over the years.
Oooooh the drama.
Trick and Grace meet each other the first time by chance when they are 17 and 24 (he assumes she’s older), and they have an instant intense connection. There’s a passionate embrace. Grace runs away with no explanation. Imagine Trick’s rage when the next time he sees her that day, she’s introduced to him as his father’s fiancé. 😱 Du-du-daaaahh!
That’s awkward.
Fast forward 13 years. Trick is incensed that Grace (10 years a widow) is moving into a house on his property with her 12 year old son in tow. Trick is convinced that Grace is the reason his father died. He believes the local lore that his father was shot by Grace’s lover during a tussle when he caught her cheating. 😱
Yikes
Anywho, lots of drama and misunderstandings, and angry smexxy times ensue. Of course all is not as it seems. Grace has got SECRETS. 😏 And Trick is determined to get them out of her. By smexxing her silly. 👀
As you do. 🤡
Bottom Line? I still find this book highly entertaining. However, my tastes have changed a bit and there are some things in here that bothered me more this time around. So, I’m taking away a star from a book that was once a 5 star reread. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- cheating… maybe?? it’s not completely straight forward. Before this read I would have said no, but this time I saw it as borderline. 🤷🏼♀️ Early in the book the H has an on page tryst, with the OW as the aggressor. They don’t have intercourse, because he realizes he isn’t into her now that he’s been with the h, and feels kinda gross and guilty, so he cuts it short. At this point in the book, The H and h are still in full angry hate mode, but they have shared an angry kiss and other intimacy (but not full sex), although begrudgingly. they are both fiercely trying to resist each other (I mean DUH.. she’s his STEPMOTHER! 🤪). There is no expectation of a relationship or fidelity yet, but I can see some readers taking exception to it. The h comes across them as they are straightening clothes, so she suspects something, but she doesn’t get upset. 🤷🏼♀️
- no sharing
- OW drama - the very first scene is the H having relations with an OW - it’s made clear he doesn’t even really like this woman, but the h comes across them, and that is how the h and H see each other for the first time in 10 years. This same OW is who aggressively pursues him through out the book and tries to get Grace to leave town. The H has ZERO feelings for her, and is kinda disgusted by her. After he rejects her, in the scene described above he doesn’t touch her again, although she continues to cause other problems for the h.
- the h is a virgin 👀😅
Oooooh the drama.
Trick and Grace meet each other the first time by chance when they are 17 and 24 (he assumes she’s older), and they have an instant intense connection. There’s a passionate embrace. Grace runs away with no explanation. Imagine Trick’s rage when the next time he sees her that day, she’s introduced to him as his father’s fiancé. 😱 Du-du-daaaahh!
That’s awkward.
Fast forward 13 years. Trick is incensed that Grace (10 years a widow) is moving into a house on his property with her 12 year old son in tow. Trick is convinced that Grace is the reason his father died. He believes the local lore that his father was shot by Grace’s lover during a tussle when he caught her cheating. 😱
Yikes
Anywho, lots of drama and misunderstandings, and angry smexxy times ensue. Of course all is not as it seems. Grace has got SECRETS. 😏 And Trick is determined to get them out of her. By smexxing her silly. 👀
As you do. 🤡
Bottom Line? I still find this book highly entertaining. However, my tastes have changed a bit and there are some things in here that bothered me more this time around. So, I’m taking away a star from a book that was once a 5 star reread. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- cheating… maybe?? it’s not completely straight forward. Before this read I would have said no, but this time I saw it as borderline. 🤷🏼♀️ Early in the book the H has an on page tryst, with the OW as the aggressor. They don’t have intercourse, because he realizes he isn’t into her now that he’s been with the h, and feels kinda gross and guilty, so he cuts it short. At this point in the book, The H and h are still in full angry hate mode, but they have shared an angry kiss and other intimacy (but not full sex), although begrudgingly. they are both fiercely trying to resist each other (I mean DUH.. she’s his STEPMOTHER! 🤪). There is no expectation of a relationship or fidelity yet, but I can see some readers taking exception to it. The h comes across them as they are straightening clothes, so she suspects something, but she doesn’t get upset. 🤷🏼♀️
- no sharing
- OW drama - the very first scene is the H having relations with an OW - it’s made clear he doesn’t even really like this woman, but the h comes across them, and that is how the h and H see each other for the first time in 10 years. This same OW is who aggressively pursues him through out the book and tries to get Grace to leave town. The H has ZERO feelings for her, and is kinda disgusted by her. After he rejects her, in the scene described above he doesn’t touch her again, although she continues to cause other problems for the h.
- the h is a virgin 👀😅
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2012
This had the makings of an enjoyably over-the-top old skool romance -- bitter hero with a madonna/whore complex, pathetic misunderstood heroine, slutty i.e. Evil other woman, and -- so I was a little disconcerted at first by how porny it is. It was like watching a 1940s costume drama with a bow-chicka-wow-wow soundtrack.
Once I got over my genre expectation confusion, it was a real page-turner. I was dying to get to the juicy secrets but certainly didn't mind having to read lots of hot sex scenes along the way. And the plotting is impressive, carefully designed to keep readers guessing and off balance. The writing style is on the sentimental, old fashioned side: Trick is always thinking about how fragile and delicate Grace is... he even "savors" her "preciousness" at one point. But Grace's character and motives have some interesting surprises in store.
The quality of the ebook is pretty good, except for a few odd or misplaced words. But if you're not big on graphic oral and anal sex scenes, this is definitely not your book. Major spoiler:
Once I got over my genre expectation confusion, it was a real page-turner. I was dying to get to the juicy secrets but certainly didn't mind having to read lots of hot sex scenes along the way. And the plotting is impressive, carefully designed to keep readers guessing and off balance. The writing style is on the sentimental, old fashioned side: Trick is always thinking about how fragile and delicate Grace is... he even "savors" her "preciousness" at one point. But Grace's character and motives have some interesting surprises in store.
The quality of the ebook is pretty good, except for a few odd or misplaced words. But if you're not big on graphic oral and anal sex scenes, this is definitely not your book. Major spoiler:
January 24, 2015
Tricked Truth by Beth Kery
I don’t usually clarify my star rating but I felt I needed to with this story. I rated it a 2.5 in my head but gave it 3 stars in Goodreads. That extra nudge was simply because it’s a Beth Kery story. I almost always enjoy her stories to a varying degree, from good to very good except this story. Oh...and except Velvet Cataclysm which I didn’t like at all. Her writing style in this book is a bit like poetry in the way she uses her words. Okay maybe not poetry but I don’t know the word to describe it so here is an example. “The amount of incendiary material he’d built up for Grace must have been monumental.” See what I mean? The whole story is written like this, different.
Now on to my thoughts about this story.
First off Grace is NOT Trick’s mother-in-law. She was married to Trick’s father Evan, so she is his stepmother! Grace is described as his mother-in-law in the Goodreads synopsis and also several times in the story, talk about confusing and not a good start to this book. This story did get a bit better as it unfolded and the characters took shape for me.
Trick was an asshat to Grace from the word go. Grace was a strong, assertive woman with everyone but…Trick. For the most part, Grace was Tricks whippy post, figuratively speaking that is—and she let him. That’s the part I disliked most, her hypnotic like acceptance of his treatment. I understood it sure and it was explained at the end but I don’t have to like it though.
Then there was the mad dash to the end of the story where explanations’ and secrets were revealed. The ending was just too rushed for me. I needed more closure.
I don’t usually clarify my star rating but I felt I needed to with this story. I rated it a 2.5 in my head but gave it 3 stars in Goodreads. That extra nudge was simply because it’s a Beth Kery story. I almost always enjoy her stories to a varying degree, from good to very good except this story. Oh...and except Velvet Cataclysm which I didn’t like at all. Her writing style in this book is a bit like poetry in the way she uses her words. Okay maybe not poetry but I don’t know the word to describe it so here is an example. “The amount of incendiary material he’d built up for Grace must have been monumental.” See what I mean? The whole story is written like this, different.
Now on to my thoughts about this story.
First off Grace is NOT Trick’s mother-in-law. She was married to Trick’s father Evan, so she is his stepmother! Grace is described as his mother-in-law in the Goodreads synopsis and also several times in the story, talk about confusing and not a good start to this book. This story did get a bit better as it unfolded and the characters took shape for me.
Trick was an asshat to Grace from the word go. Grace was a strong, assertive woman with everyone but…Trick. For the most part, Grace was Tricks whippy post, figuratively speaking that is—and she let him. That’s the part I disliked most, her hypnotic like acceptance of his treatment. I understood it sure and it was explained at the end but I don’t have to like it though.
Then there was the mad dash to the end of the story where explanations’ and secrets were revealed. The ending was just too rushed for me. I needed more closure.
July 9, 2012
I am having a hard time reviewing this without spoiling the plot. For an erotic novel, this book was extremely plotty as is typical for Beth Kerry books.
To be honest, I loved the over the top, soap operatic story, but I feel that it never came together at the end. When the secret was revealed, it made me feel that the story was less than the sum of its parts. I was so excited to find out the secret I was turning the pages rapidly and reading breathlessly, but after I found it out I wished I hadn't known it- I enjoyed it a lot while it was a mystery though. Putting together the puzzle pieces was fun!
Also, as is typical for Beth Kerry, we are dealing with a hero who is a major asshole who treats the heroine very poorly. At the end of the book after Trick realized he had badly misjudged Grace and was willing to grovel to get her back, I appreciated his effort, but I wouldn't have let him off the hook so easily if he were my boyfriend!
Now that we have the bad shit out of the way, this book was touching, sweet, and hot as anything I have read! I will definitely read more books by this author for steamy scenes, asshole heroes and plots that really put you through an emotional wringer!
To be honest, I loved the over the top, soap operatic story, but I feel that it never came together at the end. When the secret was revealed, it made me feel that the story was less than the sum of its parts. I was so excited to find out the secret I was turning the pages rapidly and reading breathlessly, but after I found it out I wished I hadn't known it- I enjoyed it a lot while it was a mystery though. Putting together the puzzle pieces was fun!
Also, as is typical for Beth Kerry, we are dealing with a hero who is a major asshole who treats the heroine very poorly. At the end of the book after Trick realized he had badly misjudged Grace and was willing to grovel to get her back, I appreciated his effort, but I wouldn't have let him off the hook so easily if he were my boyfriend!
Now that we have the bad shit out of the way, this book was touching, sweet, and hot as anything I have read! I will definitely read more books by this author for steamy scenes, asshole heroes and plots that really put you through an emotional wringer!
June 29, 2012
I usually enjoy Beth Kery,but this book just did work it for me.It had the tropes that I liked,but still the way they were resolved,nope,not for me.
nope
November 6, 2018Read the review below and see what kind of a mess this book is:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
July 23, 2012
Smokin' Hot Read!!!
I picked this up for free yesterday and stayed up all night reading it. It was an awesome, very erotic read!
Grace moves back to her old town where she inherited a guest home from her dead husband. Unfortunately, her step son, who is older than she is, lives in the main house on the same property. He believes that she had an affair with another man while married to his father, and said man, killed his father--shot him during an argument. He blames her for his father's death, but doesn't know the true circumstances of why Grace agreed to marry his father (she was only seventeen at the time) or why the man shot his father. What he does know is that ever since he saw her as a teen, he's been in love with her. And he hates her and himself for his strong feelings toward this woman.
Grace also is attracted to Trick, but she believes he hates her and blames her for his father's death. From the moment she moves back, she is torn between lusting after him and trying to keep her distance. Soon, Trick realizes she's also brought her adolescent son (who he believes is his brother) and he wants to spend time with him. So it becomes difficult for them to maintain their distance.
The chemistry between Grace and Trick is so strong - both lead characters are trying to resolve their feelings of distrust, love, lust. The love scenes are unbelievably hot. And the thing is that the reader doesn't find out what is going to happen until the very end of the book. Let's just say Ms. Grace is holding out some on secrets that are game changers.
This is a really great erotic read! Highly recommended!!!
I picked this up for free yesterday and stayed up all night reading it. It was an awesome, very erotic read!
Grace moves back to her old town where she inherited a guest home from her dead husband. Unfortunately, her step son, who is older than she is, lives in the main house on the same property. He believes that she had an affair with another man while married to his father, and said man, killed his father--shot him during an argument. He blames her for his father's death, but doesn't know the true circumstances of why Grace agreed to marry his father (she was only seventeen at the time) or why the man shot his father. What he does know is that ever since he saw her as a teen, he's been in love with her. And he hates her and himself for his strong feelings toward this woman.
Grace also is attracted to Trick, but she believes he hates her and blames her for his father's death. From the moment she moves back, she is torn between lusting after him and trying to keep her distance. Soon, Trick realizes she's also brought her adolescent son (who he believes is his brother) and he wants to spend time with him. So it becomes difficult for them to maintain their distance.
The chemistry between Grace and Trick is so strong - both lead characters are trying to resolve their feelings of distrust, love, lust. The love scenes are unbelievably hot. And the thing is that the reader doesn't find out what is going to happen until the very end of the book. Let's just say Ms. Grace is holding out some on secrets that are game changers.
This is a really great erotic read! Highly recommended!!!
August 8, 2013
This was another free read that I got. For me it was ok. I liked it enough. I got the story line and more or less knew where this was going. For the most part I was only half right about the secret. And I just didn't see that last secret coming in the last chapter. It was intriguing enough that it kept me turning the pages as I read but some of the circumstances for me were a bit much. I can understand why Trick acted the way he did to a point but the whole "I hate you but I am going to fuck you and belittle you" was a bit much for me. The same for Grace. I understand why she felt she had to do some of what she did. It was honorable that sacrifices she made for her brother Kenny. And being that she was only 17 when this all started, some can be put off to naivety. But why she went along with the last secret rang hard for me to accept. And the whole virgin thing at her age was hard to swallow.
Don't get me wrong, the book was a ok read for me. It was just hard for me to accept in some parts. So though I may not have fallen in love with it I also didn't hate it.
Some one else may fall in love with it. For me it was ok.
Don't get me wrong, the book was a ok read for me. It was just hard for me to accept in some parts. So though I may not have fallen in love with it I also didn't hate it.
Some one else may fall in love with it. For me it was ok.
June 27, 2013
First and foremost, I think it must be said that the majority of this book is about sex. And it's not always "nice" either. A lot of this story is about Trick (main male) wanting to dominate and subdue his father's ex wife who he had the hots for, and still does, which is also the main reason he hates her but doesn't want to admit it. Grace (main female) takes everything that is thrown at her, not only by him but also nastiness given by other members of the community. And she never gets upset! To be honest, this was the hardest part for me as it just seemed completely unbelievable. No one is going to take that sort of s**t and not even get angry. There were a few moments when her "delicate frame seemed bowed" or "there were tears in her large, luminescent eyes" but that was about it. She seemed to take the word submission to a whole new level.
There are a few twists and turns in this book but it is mainly a very graphic book about lots of angry sex. OK but not really my thing.
There are a few twists and turns in this book but it is mainly a very graphic book about lots of angry sex. OK but not really my thing.
June 26, 2012
Ok at first some of the purple prose got to me because I have read Beth's stuff before and didn't notice it before (this was an earlier writing from her). I don't know if I got into the story and didn't notice anymore or if it was just in beginning (words like torpid and turgid hehe). This story reminded me of my early romances I read from Harlequin and Loveswept. Lots of misundertandings and unrequited love. However I did like the characters and story. Just not something new. The tension and sex was hot!!!
March 30, 2011
The book was good. I kept waiting for something to happen and then have something totally different happen. The suspense in the story kept me glued to it from start to finish. The unconditional love Grace felt for Trick reminded me of Kery's previously read books. Her strength and her desire to protect him from a truth that could hurt him was impressive.
Wouldn't have minded a more elaborate ending though.
Wouldn't have minded a more elaborate ending though.
Read
November 19, 2023Thanks to my GR friends - I’ve been warned about this book. All these secrets, fake marriage but blowjobs with the H’s father. While the H has a son with OW but the h is raising 😲.
No thanks 😵💫
No thanks 😵💫
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2013
Synopsis: Trick is a real man who has brains and brawn, muscles and master's degrees, and a successful business in biofuels. Grace is a young woman who has dark secrets. Grace, desperate for a way to support her brother who has Down Syndrome, married Trick's father when she was only 17, but the marriage ended tragically, and Grade fled town, hounded by rumors that she was an adulterous murderer. When she returns more than a decade later, sparks fly between Trick and Grace, but the secrets that surround them may prove too strong.
Currently, it is a FREE Amazon Kindle download!
The Good: Honestly, I'm a little out of my depth here. To tell you the truth, I downloaded the book because Fiction Vixen featured it as a free download and, frankly, the cover was ripe for mockery. I suppose as erotica goes, it might be just fine. The sexy-sexy scenes were well. um. yeah. ok. um. wow.
More than that, I found the secrets rather interesting, and I felt compelled to read on just to solve the mystery. But this might have been due to the fact that the relationship between the primary couple was so underdeveloped.
The Bad: The tale is mostly a collection of sex scenes connected by the thinnest excuse for a plot. This style of narration, (let's call it g-string narration, shall we?) is at its flimsiest when the characters just have to get all lusty when they have 101 reasons for not getting close. Trick allegedly hates the black widow and wants her thrown off his property, but whenever they cross paths, he has to fight the instinct to throw himself at her--and he fails. He fails every time. Grace, too, berated and embarrassed by the hero, still feels unable to resist the man who is making her life hell. At one point, although Grace is being forced from her home all she can do is marvel at Trick's manly manliness and give us pages of description of his assets. Ri.Dic.U.Lous. G-string narration does not a tale make. Nay, verily, g-string narration makes Lady porn. Le triste face. :(
The Ugly: The Cover. Oh, the cover...
We’ve all been there. We’re wandering through a bookstore, or maybe aimlessly searching suggestions, looking at random lists on Amazon.com for something to read. Happily, we traipse through booktopias convinced that we’re going to find something wonderful to read and then… We are greeted with this:
Before I begin, I feel I must point out one very simple fact:
Most authors get absolutely no input in their covers, or, if they do, it’s mostly a kind of courtesy. Publishers rule. Authors weep and hope for reprints.
Challenge accepted. Unleashing Mockery…
Let's be real, shall we. This cover is the most remarkable thing about the book, and my-oh-my there is so much to say. As Photoshop disasters go, this wins first place in the Creepy Division. He is all scary muscle face and she is all blowing in the wind. It puzzled me for a while. Why is he wearing the weird Bolo cowboy tie-that-is-not-a-tie even though he is without a shirt? Why is she immaterial vapor? How do immaterial vapor women apply eye-liner? Why are there shadow horses running around? What exactly is a tricked truth? Then I realized... this is probably a cover designed by a man who hates reading women's fiction and longs to write his own Skynet fan-fic. Meet Model T-1-800 (the T stands for Texas). He was sent from the future to destroy Sarah Connor and to prevent the birth of John Connor, future leader of the resistance. The Model T-1-800 was built to kill women and then sexually satisfy their ghosts. Oh, what a tragedy.
Forgive the cover artists, for they know not what they do.
As posted on http://bookswithbenefits.com
Currently, it is a FREE Amazon Kindle download!
The Good: Honestly, I'm a little out of my depth here. To tell you the truth, I downloaded the book because Fiction Vixen featured it as a free download and, frankly, the cover was ripe for mockery. I suppose as erotica goes, it might be just fine. The sexy-sexy scenes were well. um. yeah. ok. um. wow.
More than that, I found the secrets rather interesting, and I felt compelled to read on just to solve the mystery. But this might have been due to the fact that the relationship between the primary couple was so underdeveloped.
The Bad: The tale is mostly a collection of sex scenes connected by the thinnest excuse for a plot. This style of narration, (let's call it g-string narration, shall we?) is at its flimsiest when the characters just have to get all lusty when they have 101 reasons for not getting close. Trick allegedly hates the black widow and wants her thrown off his property, but whenever they cross paths, he has to fight the instinct to throw himself at her--and he fails. He fails every time. Grace, too, berated and embarrassed by the hero, still feels unable to resist the man who is making her life hell. At one point, although Grace is being forced from her home all she can do is marvel at Trick's manly manliness and give us pages of description of his assets. Ri.Dic.U.Lous. G-string narration does not a tale make. Nay, verily, g-string narration makes Lady porn. Le triste face. :(
The Ugly: The Cover. Oh, the cover...
We’ve all been there. We’re wandering through a bookstore, or maybe aimlessly searching suggestions, looking at random lists on Amazon.com for something to read. Happily, we traipse through booktopias convinced that we’re going to find something wonderful to read and then… We are greeted with this:
Before I begin, I feel I must point out one very simple fact:
Most authors get absolutely no input in their covers, or, if they do, it’s mostly a kind of courtesy. Publishers rule. Authors weep and hope for reprints.
Challenge accepted. Unleashing Mockery…
Let's be real, shall we. This cover is the most remarkable thing about the book, and my-oh-my there is so much to say. As Photoshop disasters go, this wins first place in the Creepy Division. He is all scary muscle face and she is all blowing in the wind. It puzzled me for a while. Why is he wearing the weird Bolo cowboy tie-that-is-not-a-tie even though he is without a shirt? Why is she immaterial vapor? How do immaterial vapor women apply eye-liner? Why are there shadow horses running around? What exactly is a tricked truth? Then I realized... this is probably a cover designed by a man who hates reading women's fiction and longs to write his own Skynet fan-fic. Meet Model T-1-800 (the T stands for Texas). He was sent from the future to destroy Sarah Connor and to prevent the birth of John Connor, future leader of the resistance. The Model T-1-800 was built to kill women and then sexually satisfy their ghosts. Oh, what a tragedy.
Forgive the cover artists, for they know not what they do.
As posted on http://bookswithbenefits.com
March 4, 2013
This was another really good freebie read! Grace moves back to Everly with her son after an extended stay away. The mystery starts early on, when it becomes obvious that no one really wants her there. Especially Trick... her (technical) step son and resident hottie alpha cowboy.
The little mysteries woven into the story kept me interested throughout the entire read. And the slow build of trust and confidence between Grace and Trick was pretty organic. Plus? The sex was super hot!
I will definitely read more of this author. Maybe something that is a little less family oriented next time. I'd like to see how she does "the sex" without a kid in the picture!
June 27, 2012
I picked this one up purely because I really really really like Beth Kery's writing. I don't think I even read the synopsis before starting it. While it wasn't quite as heart wrenching as some of her other books, it had the twists and turns that I've come to admire from her. As an added plus, it was suitably steamy and just the thing I was looking for on a lazy summer day.
This book was a free Kindle download I picked up 06/26/12 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
This book was a free Kindle download I picked up 06/26/12 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
December 23, 2012
Not a bad one, but not one of her best. Definitely a lot of heat between these two characters. The plot, for me, was a little too unbelievable and not very realistic. Some of the erotic vocabulary was a little dated which surprised me since the book is only five years old. I can't help it...whenever I see "turgid" used, it just makes me roll my eyes. But there is plenty of hot sex and Trick is hot for Grace and she for him, so good enough.
February 23, 2013
Had this book on my kindle for ages and finally got round to reading it last night, and what a fabulous read it was so full of emotion with a little twist at the end. Loved the main characters so much I could sit down and read it all again, not too mention hot action included.
October 23, 2018
... not my favorite Beth Kery, but still a very enjoyable read.
I did have some cringe moments when I was like "so ... Trick will be... Randy's ... brother... dad?" and that kinda sums it all up I guess? => which it all resolves not skeevy, but :X for a while you're left wondering
It felt like some of the bigger outside factors (which R E A L L Y impacted Trick and Grace's relationship were glossed or rushed over). And I've never experienced it - don't know that I ever will - but such incredible lust/attraction (mixed in with love?) that ... I'd let someone who I knew (or thought) hated me do anything they wanted to me? Like ... I ... would not find that attractive or sexy.
I guess I felt I wanted Grace to throw down more ... but that's not her personality.
She did have a steel core though, standing up to almost anyone ... other than Trick - or for herself.
I'm glad I read it, but I'll be re-reading Beth Kery's other books before this one.
C
I did have some cringe moments when I was like "so ... Trick will be... Randy's ... brother... dad?" and that kinda sums it all up I guess? => which it all resolves not skeevy, but :X for a while you're left wondering
It felt like some of the bigger outside factors (which R E A L L Y impacted Trick and Grace's relationship were glossed or rushed over). And I've never experienced it - don't know that I ever will - but such incredible lust/attraction (mixed in with love?) that ... I'd let someone who I knew (or thought) hated me do anything they wanted to me? Like ... I ... would not find that attractive or sexy.
I guess I felt I wanted Grace to throw down more ... but that's not her personality.
She did have a steel core though, standing up to almost anyone ... other than Trick - or for herself.
I'm glad I read it, but I'll be re-reading Beth Kery's other books before this one.
C
July 16, 2023
Trick is the H…
Another average read. There are several twists that you don’t see coming. And there are several grammatical errors and such. So overall this was a decent read but not anything particularly special.
I think I originally got this due to the OW drama. The H is smexing some married woman and she’s practically a stalker. She’s always after him and he gives in a lot. The romance was a bit lacking until late in the book. Another reason it’s only 3 stars.
Another average read. There are several twists that you don’t see coming. And there are several grammatical errors and such. So overall this was a decent read but not anything particularly special.
I think I originally got this due to the OW drama. The H is smexing some married woman and she’s practically a stalker. She’s always after him and he gives in a lot. The romance was a bit lacking until late in the book. Another reason it’s only 3 stars.
August 2, 2017
Awesome! I loved it, terrific story. Great writing. Loved it.
October 25, 2015
Poor girl Grace married a very rich man, but just before she did she had a very hot swimming encounter with Trick, who happened to be the rich man’s son. Trick was ropeable when he found out. Then the rich man is murdered and Grace is run out of town. Years later, she’s back, with her adolescent son, to right some wrongs and reveal some secrets.
And those secrets are crazy. And mostly this book is crazy. There is an evil dangerous slut, and the hero keeps playing around with her breasticles, even though he’s now started touching the heroine’s various body parts, and even though he doesn’t like the bad girl any more and thinks she’s boring. And with Grace, Trick is all: grraowr, you slept with my Dad but I can’t resist you, let’s do things to each other and make the reader wonder sometimes why I’m never taking my little soldier down the front passage … because incest maybe? And then Grace is all: sure, do it all except that bit, let me atone for unspecified things that are not the same as the things you think they are, and wordlessly demonstrate my undying love!
This is one of those books where in the first couple of pages it seems like the heroine has been horrible, but yeah, we all know how romances work. Everyone and especially Trick is all over just what a nasty piece of slutty murderous work Grace is, and she’s nobly taking it because she loves everybody so much, and probably they should be more sensible about it. Won’t it be great when everyone (Trick) finally works out how incredible she is? When that happens, he’ll be all sobbing and kissing her toes and swearing eternal devotion, and nobody will ever be mean to her again, the end!
It’s not at all sensible, but I love this kind of story.
And those secrets are crazy. And mostly this book is crazy. There is an evil dangerous slut, and the hero keeps playing around with her breasticles, even though he’s now started touching the heroine’s various body parts, and even though he doesn’t like the bad girl any more and thinks she’s boring. And with Grace, Trick is all: grraowr, you slept with my Dad but I can’t resist you, let’s do things to each other and make the reader wonder sometimes why I’m never taking my little soldier down the front passage … because incest maybe? And then Grace is all: sure, do it all except that bit, let me atone for unspecified things that are not the same as the things you think they are, and wordlessly demonstrate my undying love!
This is one of those books where in the first couple of pages it seems like the heroine has been horrible, but yeah, we all know how romances work. Everyone and especially Trick is all over just what a nasty piece of slutty murderous work Grace is, and she’s nobly taking it because she loves everybody so much, and probably they should be more sensible about it. Won’t it be great when everyone (Trick) finally works out how incredible she is? When that happens, he’ll be all sobbing and kissing her toes and swearing eternal devotion, and nobody will ever be mean to her again, the end!
It’s not at all sensible, but I love this kind of story.
August 11, 2012
This is an older Beth Kery. Gotta love when an author has one of her characters screwing on the first page. :-) And Ms. Kery is very nice with the sex scenes, though admittedly this first one wasn't all that steamy. I suppose it wasn't supposed to be. The female was essentially just a hole for Trick.
I figured out one of the twists early on in the story. I was glad to see the fallout from that wasn't too bad. I didn't guess half of it, though. And I didn't guess the second twist either.
I can't believe Grace was so... not sure if complacent is the right word? Accommodating? She took everything Trick and everyone else in Everly threw at her. I almost think she's a saint with what she agreed to and how Trick treated her and how Evan set up her up to be the fall guy for so many things. And she never once betrayed Evan. Or anyone else, for that matter.
Ultimately, it was a sweet story. Hot sex (normal for a Kery story) and an HEA. I often pay for Ms. Kery's stories, so a freebie is very nice for me.
One thing I was surprised about, however, was the editing. Maybe I'm just used to her more recent books, where if there are problems, I don't notice them. But "adulterous" for "adultress" and "reigns" for horse bridle reins... there were several more. I'm just not used to that kind of thing in a Beth Kery book. They were few and far between (thankfully), but still there and they pulled me from the story.
I figured out one of the twists early on in the story. I was glad to see the fallout from that wasn't too bad. I didn't guess half of it, though. And I didn't guess the second twist either.
I can't believe Grace was so... not sure if complacent is the right word? Accommodating? She took everything Trick and everyone else in Everly threw at her. I almost think she's a saint with what she agreed to and how Trick treated her and how Evan set up her up to be the fall guy for so many things. And she never once betrayed Evan. Or anyone else, for that matter.
Ultimately, it was a sweet story. Hot sex (normal for a Kery story) and an HEA. I often pay for Ms. Kery's stories, so a freebie is very nice for me.
One thing I was surprised about, however, was the editing. Maybe I'm just used to her more recent books, where if there are problems, I don't notice them. But "adulterous" for "adultress" and "reigns" for horse bridle reins... there were several more. I'm just not used to that kind of thing in a Beth Kery book. They were few and far between (thankfully), but still there and they pulled me from the story.
February 1, 2013
**I purchased this book on Amazon with a different cover (which is awful!!!! check it out, it still has the bad cover on amazon)**
In my opinion the cover of this book is horrible and belies its quality. It made me think it should have been the cover of an 80's porn movie. I feared the cheesy cover and free price were telltale signs of low quality story telling. Even though my first impression told me to stay away from it, I "purchased" the book anyway based on the reviews. It was free and if I didn't like it, I wouldn't read it - no harm no foul. Much to my surprise, the book was well written, had good character development, and the story was creative as well as capturing. The book was definitely steamy and the intense sex scenes carried on for pages and pages.
When I finished the book I felt a bit lost as I had become engrossed in the characters and the story kept replaying in my mind (which to me is the sign of a good book). Since I couldn't stop thinking about the story, I read it again, the next day. I have since done a little more homework and found Beth Kery has many books out there, almost all with reviews in the 4-5 range. I am now reading my second Beth Kery book and am excited to see a new story line that promises to deliver a similar impact as this book did.
*For those of you with issues regarding editing: this book has some editing issues. I realize that, but my review is based on the story, not the editing and I include this footnote as a courtesy to readers who don't share the same opinion
In my opinion the cover of this book is horrible and belies its quality. It made me think it should have been the cover of an 80's porn movie. I feared the cheesy cover and free price were telltale signs of low quality story telling. Even though my first impression told me to stay away from it, I "purchased" the book anyway based on the reviews. It was free and if I didn't like it, I wouldn't read it - no harm no foul. Much to my surprise, the book was well written, had good character development, and the story was creative as well as capturing. The book was definitely steamy and the intense sex scenes carried on for pages and pages.
When I finished the book I felt a bit lost as I had become engrossed in the characters and the story kept replaying in my mind (which to me is the sign of a good book). Since I couldn't stop thinking about the story, I read it again, the next day. I have since done a little more homework and found Beth Kery has many books out there, almost all with reviews in the 4-5 range. I am now reading my second Beth Kery book and am excited to see a new story line that promises to deliver a similar impact as this book did.
*For those of you with issues regarding editing: this book has some editing issues. I realize that, but my review is based on the story, not the editing and I include this footnote as a courtesy to readers who don't share the same opinion
February 20, 2014
This was another free read that I got. For me it was ok. I liked it enough. I got the story line and more or less knew where this was going. For the most part I was only half right about the secret. And I just didn't see that last secret coming in the last chapter. It was intriguing enough that it kept me turning the pages as I read but some of the circumstances for me were a bit much. I can understand why Trick acted the way he did to a point but the whole "I hate you but I am going to fuck you and belittle you" was a bit much for me. The same for Grace. I understand why she felt she had to do some of what she did. It was honorable that sacrifices she made for her brother Kenny. And being that she was only 17 when this all started, some can be put off to naivety. But why she went along with the last secret rang hard for me to accept. And the whole virgin thing at her age was hard to swallow.
October 5, 2014
A good read. Trick is a man besieged by want/lust/love for his young stepmothet who he shared a passionate embrace with before she married his father years ago. He is upset and hurt by all this and the part she played in his father's murder. He hides it behind a wall of hate and nasty verbal abuse as he torments her trying to get to the truth. As he hurts her he is hurting himself too. He can't let go of the need for her through it all and the love he feels. He is such a tormented soul in so much pain. Grace is a woman divided between love for Trick and protecting him from the truth. She is a strong woman taking all the abuse he dishes out but still loving him enough to still want to protect him. Their emotions are so strong that this leads to some very passionate encounters.
October 3, 2013
Ho-hum. Yet another "romance" novel about a woman who apparently gets off on being treated like crap. Things I would consider to be near-rape are meant to be seduction. Naturally the man is vastly experienced and the woman is virginal and innocent -- cliché cliché cliché.
I do have to admit that what ended up being the backstory (not revealed until the end of the book, and I won't spoil it here) was actually interesting and compelling -- and there was some other good drama along the way. I just can't give it a good rating since so much of it was centered on this horrible relationship dynamic between the two main characters that made me uncomfortable and unhappy, and really didn't even make much sense.
I do have to admit that what ended up being the backstory (not revealed until the end of the book, and I won't spoil it here) was actually interesting and compelling -- and there was some other good drama along the way. I just can't give it a good rating since so much of it was centered on this horrible relationship dynamic between the two main characters that made me uncomfortable and unhappy, and really didn't even make much sense.
November 3, 2013
Trick, the hero, is definitely an alpha-hole - bordering on cruel to the heroine. Grace is neither a doormat nor confrontational. When people are cruel or snarky to her, she kills them with kindness or walks away (most of the time). There is a complicated and somewhat preposterous backstory between the two and her son. The ILYs seem to come after about four cumulative hours in each other's company (at least on her part) and it is never really clear why they actually love each other. The ending is also a little abrupt. But the chemistry between the two is scorching and the love scenes are well done, imaginative and HOT. The small-town feel is well-done, if some of the secondary characters do stretch the bounds of believability with their actions.
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