Crown of Lies

Pepper Winters

Jan 2017 · Pepper Winters

About this ebook

From New York Times Bestseller, Pepper Winters, comes a delicious sinful hero.

THREE YEARS
Since I ran away for the night, danced in New York streets, and almost got killed in an alley by two thieves. Until he showed up and saved me. 

THREE DAYS 
Since I threw a drink at the man my father expected me to marry, then found myself slammed against a wall with Penn Everett’s seductive voice whispering a proposal I couldn’t refuse. 

THREE HOURS
To fall into hate with the man who reminded me of so many things and hid so much behind his lies. He couldn’t be the man who saved me three years ago…but there’s something so familiar…

THREE MINUTES
For our relationship to switch from no-strings to marriage. He announced it to my father—he’s ecstatic. He told my friends—they’re shocked. But he didn’t ask me, he commanded me—and I’m livid. 

THREE SECONDS
For his lies to slowly steal my heart and make me believe, hope…trust. 

THREE BREATHS 
For his truth to destroy me.

Advance Reviews: 

"Crown of Lies takes sensual and gripping to the next level in a masterfully written tangled web that will keep you furiously turning pages. Pepper Winters has outdone herself. Penn Everett will be your new obsession." --USA Today bestselling author Meghan March

"Thrilling and mysterious, this book has left me with a major hangover!!!!"

--Lina's Reviews

"Crown of Lies is my first top 2017 read so far and it's a MUST read, one-click worthy book." -- Punch Drunk Library 

"Pepper does a great job of delivering, yet again, one of the hottest alphas cloaked in mystery out there." --Dee, Goodreads

"The chemistry between them is scorchingly hot and the banter is perfect."--Vickie Goodreads

"WOW Pepper has done it again. 
I really wish I could give this book so much more than 5 stars it is brilliant" --We've Licked That Book Blog

Ratings and reviews

Personally, I had to put this one down. I tried to read it, the first half was good, just until she start to get closer with Penn. In my opinion, the first half section was amazing, they had a perfect chemistry, and it was pure. Until Penn involved which turned his characteristic completely which I had a hard time relating to the story. Even he dropping hints that he was Nameless, his character wasn't pronounce enough in the first place.

Wow! Just... Wow! I'll be honest, I don't know whether I"m appalled, shocked, or awed - maybe a little of all three? I do know that Pepper Winters pulled me into this story and there was no getting away. The writing is reminiscent of something from the classics, something from a different time. I know it isn't, but the pacing and atmosphere feel that way. It also borders right on the edge of purple prose, of being just a little too much, a little too flowery, but for me, it suited the story and its characters. Elle is the type of character who would've irritated me had she not been so innocent and sheltered. And Penn? Holy smokes, Penn is something else. Should I like Penn? Absolutely not, and in real life, I wouldn't have anything to do with the likes of Penn Everett. But in the world the author has created for him, I can swoon over his way too arrogant self while I make guesses about his secrets. And this is where I tell you that I thought I knew where this story was going, I thought I had it all figured out, and maybe I do, but that cliffy was so not what I expected. Okay, maybe part of it, like the very last bit, but not the other part - talk about a shocker! And when I listened to that last bit and got the little thank you bit from audible, I nearly lost it. I immediately bought the next part of the duet, and I'm trying to hold off until the weekend because I know I'm not gonna want to stop listening for anything so mundane as household chores and dinner. The narration for Crown of LIes introduced me to a couple of new to me narrators, and it's done a little differently than I've heard. I've listened to duet narration several times, but we usually get something from both characters' heads. This book is written in first-person point of view from Elle's perspective. Kylie Stewart does everything except the male dialogue, and Eric Rolon does all of that, while Stewart does all the dialogue tags and body movement lines, as in Rolon narrates something Penn has said, and Stewart finishes with "he said." It was a little disconcerting at first, but once I settled in and got used to it, it worked. The only issue I had with the narration is that Eric Rolon is a little over the top with Penn in the beginning. I realize that Penn is arrogant, but he comes across sounding almost childish as he verbally one-ups others. I don't know if the narrator was uncomfortable with the character at first or what, but he did seem to settle into the role as the story progressed. The story may be out there, and many things stretched my suspension of disbelief, but all things considered, this was one doozy of a listen, and I'll be impatiently waiting for the weekend to finish the duet.

Crown of Lies is a very intriguing book. It's a story of a young woman, Elle, who is groomed from a very early age to take over her family's business. She's lived a very sheltered life, but one night she decides to throw caution to the wind and go exploring the streets of New York. She meets a mysterious young man who rescues her from a bit of danger, and together they begin a little adventure. Elle never knows this stranger's name and she never forgets him or the time they shared that one fateful night. Fast forward three years and Elle is a high profile CEO and still very much living in her gilded cage of responsibility. She meets another mysterious man, Penn Everett, and they begin a whirlwind relationship full of lies, deceit and scorching hot passion. Elle is confused by Penn, she doesn't trust him completely and doesn't understand his motivations. She's torn between her feelings for the man she met years ago that rescued her, and this man with a curious past who lies and manipulates everyone around him, but still the draw to him is undeniable. Who is Penn Everett? That's the million dollar question. He's definitely a beguiling character and I can't wait to find out more about him. Crown of Lies ends in a cliffhanger, so be warned. There are a lot of unanswered questions that will leave you aching for more, but the sequel is due out very soon. I really enjoyed this book. I love the writing style of Pepper Winters, she knows how to weave a tale that leaves you breathless and anxious for more. I can't wait to see how this story ends! ARC kindly provided to me by author, but my review is voluntary and my opinion honest

About the author

 After chasing her dreams to become a full-time writer, Pepper has earned recognition with awards for best Dark Romance, best BDSM Series, and best Hero. She’s an multiple #1 iBooks bestseller, along with #1 in Erotic Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, and Erotica Thriller. She’s also honoured to wear the IndieReader Badge for being a Top 10 Indie Bestseller.

 

Pepper is a Hybrid Author of both Traditional and Self-published work. Her Pure Corruption Series was released by Grand Central, Hachette. She signed with Trident Media and her books have sold in multiple languages and audio around the world.

 

On a personal note, Pepper has recently returned to horse riding after a sixteen year break and now owns a magnificent black gelding called Sonny. He’s an ex-pacer standardbred who has been retrained into a happy hacking, dressage, and show jumping pony. If she’s not writing, she’s riding.

 

The other man in her life is her best-friend and hubby who she fell in love with at first sight. He never proposed and they ended up married as part of a bet, but after eleven years and countless adventures and fun, she’s a sucker for romance as she lives the fairy-tale herself.

 

For more information on Pepper and her work please follow:

 

Facebook: Peppers Books

Instagram: @Pepperwinters

Facebook Group: Peppers Playgound

Website: www.pepperwinters.com