Loved this book,once started was difficult to put down,good characters,exciting storyline and really well written,One of those books that makes you happy you read,
An easy 10/10
5 Stars

I would like to thank Aria & Aries and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Secrets and Lies’ by Stephanie Harte in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Ella Dawson is working at the Riverside Tavern when she serves Conor Baxter. There’s an immediate attraction between them and within weeks Ella moves into his luxury house. Conor can’t risk losing her so tells her he’s in IT rather than admit he’s the middleman in acquiring and distributing cocaine for small-time London gangsters. At the beginning of their relationship Conor is the man of Ella’s dreams but when he starts to control her every move and becomes angry if she makes a mess she starts to doubt if their relationship can survive.

‘Secrets and Lies’ is an action-packed gangland drama with the story told in alternate chapters by Ella and Connor, part of it in hindsight. It’s an enjoyable story with excitement and intrigue and as most of the chapters are fairly short I found I was saying just one more chapter and turning the pages well into the night until I’d come to the end. I found the plot interesting but there was so much unnecessary repetition that I found annoying, such as the two characters continually describing the other as ‘her boyfriend’ or ‘his girlfriend’ rather than just say their name. But generally it was an easy read that I enjoyed and despite the quick and somewhat disappointing ending I’d recommend it.

Ambitious middleman Connor Baxter is determined to become his own master. He's done being an informer for the worst scum of London's gangland scene. This world is all he's ever known, but he has plans. Big plans. But pulling it off will mean partnering with some very scary people. He's just getting started when when he meets beautiful barmaid Ella Dawson. Ella's a good girl, but there's something about Connor that catches her attention, and he treats her like a princess. When Ella gets caught up in Connor's shady deals, it's not just her heart that's at risk.

It took me a few chapters to get into this book. It's quite predictable and full of double crossings .The pace is also quite slow for this type of read. The pace did eventually pick up nearer the end. I wasn't keen on Connor and Ella. This story showed more potential. I did like the book, but not so much as the others that I've read by the author.

I would kike to thank #NetGalley #AriaAries and the author #StephanieHarte for my ARC of #SecretsAndLies in exchange for an honest review.

This book was OK. Unfortunately I cannot establish which genre it belongs in? Advertised as a gritty gangland book but at times was more chick lit/romance. A lot of repetition and the writing seemed very simplistic. Not a terrible read but just not as polished as I was expecting.

It took me a while to settle into reading this book and at the start, I wasn’t sure of the genre and found both Ella and Conor tedious and predictable. That changed when Ella started to realise that a perfect life without any financial worries isn’t all it seems and while Conor had his issues, he was gaslighting Ella whether he realised it or not. The pace picked up for me towards the end which I enjoyed .

Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Stephanie Harte for allowing me to read this Arc.
I have loved all of Stephanie Harte's previous books. I have to say that I really enjoyed Secrets and Lies too but it just didn't grip me like the others. I felt that it lacked a really gripping storyline. I felt that rather than hurriedly turning pages I was plodding through it.

Ella Dawson is a struggling Uni student, so she pays her way by working as a barmaid at a local bar. Her parents always told her to do what is right after her parents having her at a young age.
In comes Connor Baxter an enforcer for a London gang now turned middleman. Even though Connor is older by ten years to Ella there seems to be an attraction. But instead of telling Ella what he does for a living, he tells her that he supplies I.T. equipment.
The pair have a whirlwind relationship, and they care for each so much that they decide to move into together. But against Ella’s parents wishes. Her parents think that Connor is too old for her and will lead her astray.
I have read the authors previous books, so I was looking forward to reading Secrets and Lies. This was a great story about Ella and Connor and their lives for fancy clothes, fast cars and holidays and the secret life that Connor led. But just felt that the Ella was quite naive that she didn’t have any idea about Connor as she lived with him after all. Great story for fans of Gangland crime. 4 stars from me.

Thank you for this ARC. I only received it yesterday and read it last night. Love Stephanie's book and this one didn't disappointment. Bad boy Conor meets Ella the barmaid, roll on your next book

Loved this author's previous books, and after a few tries of getting back into this new series I found it lacking, so sorry but it all got a bit confusing. Conor London gangster and Ella just didn't grip me.

My name is Isabelle Elle is my short name
It Was the first time we met was Conor Baxter I met him in the Riverside Tavern I was a barmaid
I suddenly moved in with him
He was going to Spain to do a Job with a man called Diego Gomez
Whilst he was in Spain I had my mates in called Lucy and Amy
I had an ARC

Ella is a struggle Uni student that works in a bar in London to pay for her tuition fees.

While working Ella serves Connor and there is an instant attraction, Ella and Connor seem to fall in love instantly with Ella jumping into living with Connor almost immediately.

Unbeknown to Ella, Connor isn't the IT equipment seller he claim's to be and then the relationship seems to unravel.

I had high hopes for the story but it seemed very repetitive and really unrealistic and the story didn't keep me gripped.

I was excited to read Secret and Lies by Stephanie Harte having not read one of her books before. I quickly became sucked in to the story of Ella and Conor and how he whisked her away into a lavish lifestyle of expensive dinners, holidays and designer treats. The relationship between them was well written from both sides and I couldn't help but warm to Conor initially despite his dodgy dealings with small-time drug dealers and his tainted past. I rooted for them to make it work but his coercive behaviour not to mention drawing Ella into his business negotiations with the Spanish cartel ruined their blossoming relationship. Ella was quickly drawn away from her family and friends and was left feeling isolated with nowhere to turn.

'This gritty thriller is a binge-worthy read, with characters you can't help but root for.'

I really enjoyed this book. Character development was good. The plot was very interesting. Not a lot of typos.

This book surprised me coz started off a bit slow but as I kept going on,it actually made me love the characters and even the storyline. Was a believable story about how opposites attract and are good for one another.

Thank you NetGalley, Aria & Aries and Harte for this advanced ebook copy!

Secrets and Lies was a suspense novel in my opinion.
Conor is over being an enforcer to London's most gang. He has some plans to become his own boss. But that will.mean coming across some.wild scary people.
People are lying to him and its making him suspicious!
Then he meets a gorgeous girl Ella who is good and honest.
Ella starts falling for Conor but what she doesn't know is it could turn bad for her falling for him!.
Soon she gets caught up in his wild deals and it could be deadly!.

I was emerged in this mystery story! It.was honestly very interesting and intriguing getting Conor's side of everything. I actually liked him. And Ella she was awesome I just loved her character.
The story was my most favorite. Its well written with a great plot and ending!
Overall enjoyed this book!

Conor Baxter is a enforcer for some of the worse London gangsters it's all his known but his got big plans.
He meets barmaid Ella Dawson she's 10years younger than him and a good girl but his caught her attention and he treats her like a queen.
They fall in love and things are going really well but then Ella learns what Conor does for a living the hard way can their love survive?

I was looking forward to reading this new book by Stephanie Harte as I liked her previous books but I found this story slow paced and a bit humdrum.
Thank you to Netgalley and Aria and Aries for the ARC.

I am sorry to say this book confused me it was a little repetative but above all it lacked a story to grip me.

After enjoying Stephanie's last trilogy I wondered what to expect next.

Needless to say I wasn't disappointed.

I was so invested into the world of Conor and Ella who are complete opposites.

I loved this and really think Stephanie gets better with every book.

One author to watch out for.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I started off with high hopes about this book but was left feeling a bit disappointed. with the predictability A typical tale of drug smuggling, ambition and double dealings but lacking in character depth and plot. The pace was slow, a bit repetitive throughout and it failed to interest me or excite me. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.