Would I Lie to You?: A Novel [Hardcover]

Trisha R. Thomas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 3, 2004

Venus feels history repeating itself, and she’s not loving it. She ended a relationship with Clint because he couldn’t commit, cut off her long, processed hair, and started on a new path, with a new boyfriend.

But she’s been with Airic for more than two years and they still haven’t set a wedding date. When a new project takes her to Los Angeles for a temporary assignment, Venus welcomes the opportunity to spend some time with her family in California and to see if a little absence makes Airic’s heart grow fonder. But in L.A., savvy, ambitious Venus runs head-on into a new complication—the equally savvy and ambitious Jake Parsons, a former rap star turned clothing designer. Jake’s as suave as he is successful, and ten years her junior. Venus’s job is to create a marketing campaign for his urban wear. Jake’s job, it seems, is to distract her from her long-distance romance with Airic.

But when Venus’s mother is diagnosed with breast cancer, her entire world seems to crumble. Everything she thought would make her happy—her new look, her successful career, her ?ancé—can’t ?x the sadness and emptiness she feels. Before she throws in the towel, she’s offered one more chance, a chance for change, for growth, and maybe even for a new love. Will she take it? Or give in to the notion that her life will always be close but no cigar? Moving, romantic, and inspiring, Would I Lie to You? is one woman’s happy, light-hearted story of giving in instead of giving up.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Thomas's enjoyable but flawed novel continues the story of Venus Johnston, begun in Nappily Ever After. Now 36, Venus has become the director of a Washington, D.C., marketing firm. Sent to Los Angeles to revive JP-Wear, the clothing brand of former rap artist Jake Parson, Venus is surprised by her powerful instant attraction to Jake. She works hard to ignore her emotions, especially because her long-time fiance, Airic, a self-made businessman, awaits her return to D.C. Jake, attracted to Venus and undeterred by her engagement, begins to weaken her resolve, until the sudden hospitalization of Venus's mother forces her to step back and carefully examine her own life. It also brings her into contact with her old flame Dr. Clint Fairchild, allowing her to express her long-held anger at their sudden breakup. She remains ambivalent about Jake's role in her life until her best friend visits Los Angeles with the disturbing news that Airic is under investigation for securities fraud. With her successful project nearly complete, Venus decides to return to Washington-more out of duty than love, though she won't admit it. Airic's case is favorably resolved, but Venus decides to end their relationship, even though she is pregnant with his child. Jake, still on the West Coast, has stayed in close touch with Venus; finally, he can be hers-but will he want to make a life with Venus and another man's child? Readers may be distracted by the plethora of bit players, and too much is crammed into the final few pages. Nonetheless, Thomas's new novel will please her fans and perhaps win new ones as well.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Venus Johnston picks up where she left off after ending her relationship with Clint. Although she supported him while he attended medical school, he wouldn't commit to marriage. This time she's close to marriage, engaged for two years to a successful businessman, Airic, a divorced father of two adult daughters. But she's plagued by a continuing dream of being left at the altar by Clint. Venus is all set to have what she's always wanted--the perfect job and a perfect marriage--until the job takes her on assignment to L.A., and she's irresistibly drawn to her client. Jake Parson is a former rapper who has parlayed his popularity into success in the clothing-design world with a line of hip-hop fashions. Jake's appeal, her mother's bout with cancer, and her doubts about Airic's suitability throw Venus into self-reflection about the true meaning of love and marriage. Readers who enjoyed Thomas' Nappily Ever After (2000) will enjoy this sequel. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Crown; 1st edition (February 3, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400048745
• ISBN-13: 978-1400048748
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #208,545 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Trisha R. Thomas speaks to the insurmountable beauty standards set for young girls, following them into adulthood, and how it continually effects their lives as women. She's been a guest analyst on CNN's Paula Zahn and Headline News. Her sixth novel in the series,Un-Nappily In Love continues with the spirited character, Venus Johnston, who bucks the status quo and starts living for the beauty within herself, instead of what's on the outside. Her debut novel Nappily Ever After will soon be a film starring Oscar winner Halle Berry. Publisher's Weekly offers praise for her series, "...it's her wry humor that keeps this delightful series blooming."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Sophomore Book, June 1, 2004

By 

"tiffy47809" (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Would I Lie to You?: A Novel (Hardcover)

I thought that Trisha Thomas' follow up to Venus' life was great and a good sophomore book. A lot of times we go through life and think that everything should be wrapped up in a neat little package and that Venus would live happily ever after with Airic but Ms. Thomas let us know that all things dont work like that and sometimes you have to make many stops on your way to find true happiness. I felt at then end of Nappily Ever After that she was going with Airic just because he was there and available and I am glad she came back with this book to show us that sometimes plans do change and sometimes we have to go a long way around to reach the goal that we are trying to attain. I was shocked at the end about one little scenario that I wanted to go one way but it went the other but I thought after a while that it did show a real depiction of REAL life and not fiction. I thought it was a great book. Keep up the good work Ms. Thomas!!!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars VERY ENJOYABLE!!!, July 26, 2006

By 

Dana Y. Bowles "DYB" (West Chester, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Would I Lie to You?: A Novel (Hardcover)

Ms. Thomas shows us all that she's gotten her groove back in this her third novel. A sequel to the equally enjoyable Nappily Ever After, this story follows the heroine from that novel--Venus Johnston. Venus is young and beautiful with a successful career. Her life plan is to become married and have children, and live an idyllic family life; but this novel finds her after The One Who Got Away--gorgeous doctor/boyfriend Clint---still thinking of him daily, but engaged to be married to boyfriend Airic; it would seem as though Venus's life is back on track...but then her career takes her on a project from Washington D.C. to the palm trees of L.A.....and just when Venus thinks she's gotten it all figured out, she meets a man who literally makes her gasp. And to add to the dilemma, it would appear as though the now separated Clint is also in L.A. When Venus and her family are confronted with a catastrophic illness, the responses from the men in her life present Venus with an epiphany; is it more important to be married, or is there truly such a thing as a love that makes your heart pound and your spirit soar?

Loved loved loved the book (and Jake), and I am anxiously awaiting the next in the series.....Nappily Married.


DYB

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing But Another Page Turner, July 7, 2005

By 

Jenny - See all my reviews

This review is from: Would I Lie to You?: A Novel (Hardcover)

I read "Would I lie to you" in a couple of days, I couldn't but it down! When I first picked up the book I didn't realize it was part of a sequel, the first being "Nappily Ever After." After I read "Would I lie to you" I immediately went out and got "Roadrunner" and "Nappily Ever After." Trisha Thomas is my new favorite fiction author. If I read one more suck-it, do-me novel I think I am going to die. Trisha Thomas is obviously very intelligent and can communicate her ideas beautifully in a sophisticated way as to allow my imagiation to actually work. I don't need to be knocked over the head. Some of these writers need to understand less is more.

Thank you Trisha!