Deadly Lies [Mass Market Paperback]

Cynthia Eden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2011 | Series: Deadly

She wants to hide the past
FBI Special Agent Samantha Kennedy is haunted by memories of the serial killer who abducted her. To keep the darkness at bay, she pretends to be a different, more confident woman. This Samantha doesn't fear every unknown face. So she throws caution to the wind and shares a night of unbridled passion with a handsome stranger.

He needs to uncover the truth
One night isn't enough for successful entrepreneur Max Ridgeway. He wants more of the sexy, smart, mysterious woman who slipped away before dawn. When they meet again, their attraction is undeniable-until his stepbrother goes missing, and Max realizes that Samantha isn't who she seems. But they must trust each other to trap a ring of bloodthirsty kidnappers before the nightmares that terrorize Sam become irrevocably real.

As a merciless criminal spins a web of . . .
DEADLY LIES

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The heart-pounding sequel to Deadly Fear and Deadly Heat offers surprise and sexy romance at every turn. Still traumatized by a near-fatal encounter with a serial killer, FBI special agent Samantha Kennedy fights to prove herself by tracking a kidnapper who is targeting the sons of wealthy men. She's also navigating an attraction to business owner Max Ridgeway. When Max's stepbrother disappears, he and Samantha must race against time and the ever-changing whims of a brutal killer while confronting their troubled pasts and their shared passion. Eden's characters are complex and likable, and her plot speeds along breathlessly to a surprising and sizzling conclusion. (Mar.)
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Review

"Offers surprise and sexy romance at every turn...Eden's characters are complex and likable, and her plot speeds along breathlessly to a surprising and sizzling conclusion." (Publishers Weekly)

"Their sexual chemistry is fiery, their conflict strong and the plot turns twisted. Readers will race through the final pages to see if the characters-and love-can survive."

(Bookpage)

"[T]he fantastically tight plot keeps the pages turning with breakneck speed...It's intense, hot and urgent." (4 Stars! RT Book Reviews on Deadly Fear)

"Eden has written such an intricate web of suspense, the reader will be lead at a highly charged pace until the climactic ending. Highly Recommend!" (RomanceReadersConnection.com on Deadly Fear)

"It's a good read for passing the day away, but avoid the nights, you might be afraid to sleep." (RomanceReviewsToday.com on Deadly Fear)

"With lots of twists and turns and close calls, Deadly Fear is romantic suspense at its best!" (TheRomanceStudio.com on Deadly Fear)

"With a perfect blend of romance and suspense, this book will have you dying to turn the page." (AuthorKellyMoran.blogspot.com on Deadly Fear Kelly Moran)

"Danger and excitement leap off very page." (Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Eternal Hunter)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Forever; 1 edition (March 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446559253
• ISBN-13: 978-0446559256
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #536,395 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

USA Today Best-selling author Cynthia Eden has written over twenty-five novels and novellas. She was named as a 2013 RITA® finalist for her paranormal romance, ANGEL IN CHAINS, and, in 2011, Cynthia Eden was a RITA finalist for her romantic suspense, DEADLY FEAR.

Cynthia is a southern girl who loves horror movies, chocolate, and happy endings. She has always wanted to write (don't most authors say that?), and particularly enjoys creating stories about monsters-vampires, werewolves, and even the real-life monsters who populate her romantic suspense stories.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#7 in Books > Romance > Fantasy & Futuristic

#11 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Suspense

#12 in Books > Romance > Romantic Suspense

#46 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance

#50 in Books > Romance

#7 in Books > Romance > Fantasy & Futuristic

#11 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Suspense

#12 in Books > Romance > Romantic Suspense

#46 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance

#50 in Books > Romance

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic third book in the series. Dark but with a great romance. February 26, 2011

By Reviewer Aus

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Do yourself a favour and read Deadly Fear before you read this one. While Deadly Lies could easily stand up on its own, the traumatic incident at the heart of heroine Samantha Kennedy's story took place in the first book of the series.

I've loved every instalment of Cynthia Eden's dark, twisted and romantic `Deadly' series. She writes fantastic romantic suspense and never shies away from the deeper, darker aspects of her stories. If the bad guys make threats you can be guaranteed they mean them. This isn't prettied-up suspense just so we can read about the relationships, and it's so much better for that.

This one's a little different to the first two in the series, as the hero, Max Ridgeway, is not a member of the FBI's elite team for catching serials (killers, rapists, arsonists). Sam is an FBI agent, but more at home working at a desk than in the field. In the first book a killer who preyed upon people's worst fears got his hands on her, and when she first meets up with Max her plan is for nothing more than casual sex in an attempt to recapture her confidence.
However from the outset it's about more than that for both of them. They're forced to stick together after Max's stepbrother becomes one of a string of young men with rich fathers who are kidnapped for colossal ransoms.

As with Eden's other books you never know quite what is going to happen next. She doesn't play it safe, and there are twists and turns up until the very end. And boy does she ever love beating up her characters!

Another small but significant thing was that the heroine wore glasses/contacts. I was only recently wondering why all heroes and heroines come with 20/20 vision, when in reality there're heaps upon heaps of people who don't. Now we just need the occasional hero with glasses and the world will be perfect!

I felt the author did a good job of pulling off the relationship development during a time where the characters were traumatised and under great pressure. It's hard to know when it's `appropriate' for characters to get together when so many things are going wrong. Maybe once or twice it felt a little forced for the relationship to come into focus.

Luke and Monica from book one have fairly prominent roles in this one, which is another reason I'd recommend you read their story first.

I haven't been disappointed by this series, and every `Deadly' book has been a five star read for me. Cynthia Eden is one of the best romantic suspense writers you'll find.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Deadly Indeed March 14, 2011

By MoranReviews

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes paranormal romances and romantic suspense novels. She is currently very busy writing her stories for Grand Central Publishing and Kensington Brava. She has always wanted to write, and particularly enjoys creating stories about monsters, vampires, werewolves, and even the real-life monsters that populate her romantic suspense stories. Cynthia graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Alabama where she studied Sociology and Communication. Cynthia has worked as a college admissions counselor, a teacher, and as an editor. Other titles include: Eternal Hunter, Midnight Sins, and Hotter After Midnight.

FBI Special Agent Samantha Kennedy is still haunted by her past. On a previous case for the Serial Services Division, she was abducted and forced to endure her worst fear by a mad man. Her fellow agents aren't sure she's ready to return yet, so she pretends to be a more confident and completely in control woman. In an attempt to keep the darkness at bay, she shares an unbridled passion with a handsome stranger. But personal and professional lines are crossed when successful entrepreneur Max Ridgeway's brother is the next in a line of kidnappings targeting rich families. Some victims have returned with scars, some have returned in pieces. The attraction between Max and Sam is undeniable, but neither is who they seem. Yet they must trust each other to work this case of deadly lies or Samantha's nightmares will become all to real... again.

This is the third book in the SSD series with Deadly Fear and Deadly Heat coming before. Though part of a series, these are stand alone reads. I didn't find this book near as haunting and powerful as the first two, but nonetheless it was a stellar read. Mostly in part because of the author's detail to post traumatic stress syndrome and working it into the plotline for her heroine.

After reading all three books in this series, what stands out most memorable to me is the epilogues, told through the point of view of Hyde, the head of SSD. He has his own traumatic past and reasons for joining this division of the FBI, which we learn little by little at the end of every book. I don't know if this is the last book in the series or not, but I hope not for several reasons, especially Hyde's.

As with all Cynthia's books, she spins a web of lies, murder, and deceit so deep you must keep reading or succumb to insomnia. The secondary characters are essential and interesting, the plot is fast-paced, the romance hot, and the setting vivid. Recommended.

Kelly Moran
Author and Reviewer
Bookpleasures

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Truly chilling villians February 28, 2011

By Nils

Format:Mass Market Paperback

This is my second book by Cynthia Eden, and while I love her writing, her villians are truly terrible. SuperBad, Ultra scary. The first book, Deadly Fear, was very well done, but the serial killer in that one was so horrifying in his method (and madness, for that matter) that I know I will never reread it. Because of that book, I was eager to read Sam's book, since she really seemed like an interesting character.

Which she was, and I adored Max and liked this book a lot. But again, the villians in this story were so bad that it kind of overshadowed the romance. Still, it was a page turner. If you're looking for romantic suspense heavy on the suspense, and don't mind being bummed out by the bad side of human nature a little, excellent book.