The Opportunist (Love Me With Lies #1) [Kindle Edition]

Tarryn Fisher (Author)

Book Description

Olivia Kaspen is a sharp tongued manipulator used to always getting what she wants. With just one exception-Caleb Drake, the one she foolishly let slip away. After a chance encounter brings Caleb back into her life, Olivia finds herself wanting a second chance with her first love, and asking herself how far she is willing to go to get him back.  Her only problem is a red head named Leah, Caleb's new love. Olivia must fight for what was once hers, and in the process discover that sometimes love falls short of redemption.

Editorial Reviews

Review

• "Unique, emotional, heartbreaking and romantic. From the very beginning, you will fall for these deeply flawed characters, and will root for them despite everything they do. The Opportunist is a story that will climb inside your mind and stay with you long after the final page." (S.C. Stephens, author of Thoughtless)
• "A riveting story of love and betrayal, with a twist. The Opportunist is an emotional journey that proves ones ability to love someone requires the ability to love themselves first. And that self acceptance almost always comes with a price. The end result is a highly moving and rewarding read." -Dina Silver, author of One Pink Line

About the Author

Tarryn Fisher was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. She has a BA in Psychology. She is currently work on her second novel, Dirty Red.

Product Details

• File Size: 439 KB
• Print Length: 429 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 147911698X
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B006FDAHZ4
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,789 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 59 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars My Kindle was smoking after this one June 14, 2012

By mans point of view

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

You are going to want to read this one over and over again! Seriously, when I was finished I was like WTH just happened? T he book will leave you wanting more and I cannot remember a book that I became so emotionally invested in the characters as this one. This book grabbed me page one and even though I am finished, I cannot stop thinking about Caleb and Olivia's decade of love and turmoil. Just when I thought I knew what would happen next, the story took another tug at my heart strings turn. The characters in the book are not the manipulators, it is Tarryn Fisher the author that is. Well done Miss Fisher! I cannot wait for your next book!

53 of 60 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "Intense and warm and depressing all at the same time." August 17, 2012

By Fred LeBaron

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was scared to read this book, honestly, after various reactions I'd read. And so I kept putting off picking it up, even as its hauntingly seductive cover peered up at me enticingly from the table where I'd proudly, if skittishly, placed my copy. Sheesh, the way people talked about the ending, I was afraid that it would put a permanent crack in my soul or something. For the life of me, I don't know why I was so focused on that, rather than everyone pointing out what an awesome read it is. Because this is, truly, madly, deeply, a rich, immersive, unputdownable and wonderful book, one to be savored, not endured, as I had somehow come to fear. This will henceforth be my go-to example of how having preconceptions can hold you back from experiencing something wonderful, because I really expected Olivia, and her story, to be unloveable and reprehensible to the core, beyond the pale of understanding, let alone empathy. And, yeah, not gonna sugarcoat it (sort of silly at this point, right?), she does some kind of stomach-turningly unpalatable, cruel and self-destructive things (not really persuading you to read it yet, am I, sorry! keep reading, please!) But Tarryn's gift is to make these things, and Olivia, emotionally accessible even as they, and she, remain essentially unforgiveable. So, kindof a crap job on the summary and all that, but since there are over 3,000 community reviews, and 59 (!) Friend Reviews, that would be a little redundant anyway. I guess you've gotten the idea, or at least I hope so, that I find the character of Olivia the central and fascinating facet of this story. I love her voice, it's so honest, ironically, as she embarks on her amazing career of lies. I also love how she seems propelled to almost always do the wrong thing, even as she realizes the folly and the awfulness, but is unable to help herself. It's like she almost astonishes herself with how low she is willing to stoop. Side note - wouldn't it be kind of awesome to be loved the way she loves Caleb? Probably creepy irl, but to have someone so obsessed with you? And how about that Caleb? He's got a few tricks up his sleeve, too. I would say this story has more twists than a corkscrew, but that seriously understates the twisty-ness (and twistedness)of the plot. It would have to be a corkscrew for one of those Jereboam sized bottles to do it justice. In addition to the intensity of the story and characters, The Opportunist is beautifully and poetically written. The image of the tree where Olivia and Caleb meet is hauntingly pervasive. I like the way Tarryn uses names, too. In the Biblical story, Noah sent out a dove (ava), who returned ultimately, after the floods of tears and tumults, with an Olive branch. Yes, everything had been destroyed, but hope remains, and those images resonate with the story for me. I also thought it was cool the way Tarryn referenced Caleb's habit of backwards names - it emphasized that almost everyone in the book (except Cammie, a great side character, btw!), seems to have both a public and a hidden identity or agenda. Which I guess is a nice way of saying they are all two-faced liars with something to hide. And Leah, namesake of one of the greatest deceptions in the Bible, fits right in.And as for the ending? Ok, yes I cried, it was one of those chest clenchy cries that sneaks up on you, and wrings the tears out, even as you feel relief and sadness intermingled. But no, my soul isn't cracked. In fact it feels fuller, richer, more humane, somehow, for having shared Olivia's journey. Do yourself the favor of experiencing it yourself, don't be scared!

37 of 43 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Airport F****** Blue November 30, 2011

By DrummingMexican

Format:Kindle Edition

Olivia Kaspen is, quite simply, the kind of character a whole series of books could be based on. She's easy to relate to, bitingly funny, and, frankly, a touch evil, which every good character should be. This story certainly isn't your everyday, cliched love story with boringly fake bimbos and blowhards. It's a rather well-written look at flawed characters who are too proud or pathetic to make the right, or smart, choices, and just like us, seem to increase their problems rather than erase them. When we near the end of the story, we are taken by surprise by a twist I obviously wont reveal here, but one that elevated the story for me while at the same time making one of the characters even more loathsome. This book may not ever be required reading in high schools or colleges alongside War and Peace or Les Miserables, but it is a wonderful first novel from a very talented author who I look forward to reading more from. And, I will never be able to fly in a airplane as it approaches an airport without thinking of this book.

More About the Author

Tarryn fancies that she was born a writer. Before she wrote The Opportunist & Dirty Red, she wrote a series of books about dog catching orphans. Her friends declared them the greatest books ever written and by fifth grade she knew she wanted to be a professional storyteller. She lives in Washington with her family and her llamas Milton and Mort.





visit her website at http://www.tarrynfisher.com