Beneath Your Lies is a page-turner full of plot twist and intruiging characters. As thriller, it succeed brilliantly, nothing felt predictable, yet it all made sense in the end. As a romance it didn't resonate as well with me. It was intriguing, but where the characters actions felt well explained in the their actions as far as the mysteries and murders in the plot, their romantic and sexual choices seemed forced and more predictable, following a dark romance formula rather than what a person would do in this situation. Maybe this stood out to me more because the thriller/mystery aspect of the plot was so well thought out in contrast.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of Beneath Your Lies by Nicole J. Owen in exchange for an honest review.

This is an emotionally charged and suspenseful story that explores betrayal, obsession, revenge, and survival. From the very beginning, the tension builds steadily, and I appreciated how both the FMC and MMC were written as morally grey characters. Their choices, flaws, and unpredictable actions added a raw and unsettling edge to the narrative.

The themes of female rage, seduction, and secrets were woven throughout in a way that kept me engaged, and I enjoyed the darker tone of the book. The story captures destructive emotions and messy relationships in a way that feels unapologetic and bold.

That being said, I did feel some aspects of the book could have been stronger. The character development at times lacked depth — I wanted a closer look at motivations and inner conflicts to fully understand their choices. Additionally, a few plot threads felt underdeveloped, which left me wishing for more resolution and impact in certain moments.

Overall, this was an intense and atmospheric read that held my attention. While there were areas that could have been expanded, I still found the story gripping and would recommend it to readers who enjoy suspenseful dark romance filled with secrets, revenge, and morally grey leads.

*SOME SECRETS CAN NEVER STAY BURIED... NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY.*

Thank you, Moonlit Graves Publishing, for sending me this ARC.

Wow, I loved this! This book checked all the boxes for me. It is very rare for me to love a thriller as much as I enjoyed this one. It is an easy 5-star read. I was hooked as soon as I read the Prologue and couldn't put the book down until the very last page.

Beaneth Your Lies has multiple POVs and a dual timeline, which adds the right level of depth and complexity to the story. It was so fun to dissect each of the characters and figure out what role they would have.

Ronan, the MMC, was just the right mix of dark, dangerous, protective, and witty. I loved him! Veronica, the FMC, displayed ample sass and independence, making her character likable. Richard was just a d*** but necessary to the storyline. 😆 And, everyone needs a Sylvie in their lives.

The book had several other well-developed characters, each with their own storylines that contributed to the plot. I love how they all fit into the bigger picture.

Another thing I wanted to note was that this book was the perfect length—just shy of 300 pages. I love full-circle twisty thrillers like this, and it is rare for an author to capture what Nicole and her editing team did. So often, I'd love to take a red pen and eliminate 25% of those 400+ page thrillers. So thank you for executing this book seamlessly! The way everything clicked together at the end was truly brilliant.

If you love a good, fast-paced, twisty thriller filled with spice, betrayal, mystery, and strong characters- this one is for you! So many twists and turns.🔪🩸

Even if you are someone who struggles with multiple POVs, do not be discouraged. Each character is very unique, and once you find your rhythm, you will speed right through this one. Absolutely binge-worthy!

Go preorder this book...now! Highly recommend!!

Pub Date Sep 23 2025

As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤✨

The premise sounded really interesting, but I am noticing I am steering more and more away from dark romances. It is not gripping me as much as it was before. I was not able to continue this one and had to DNF.

It was an amazing book! Just what I was expecting and more ^_^ Such an amazing genre of romantic suspense ! Hope to find books like this because this book made me love the genre

Beneath Your Lies, by Nicole J Owens, is a gripping thriller centered around a strong FMC. It hooks you from the very start and keeps up the momentum. Twists and turns, seasoned with spice, make it a standout. And that ending...
I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

4.25
I really enjoyed this book.
From the start it had me thinking and I couldn’t put it down. I was always so excited to read this book.
There’s spice & mystery, can’t believe that this is her debut!
So so good. Really recommend giving this a read!

This was a phenomenal book. It had me hooked from the beginning. At first I had no idea why there was a POV of Taylor, but I found out at the end that it was relevant. The suspense in this book was incredible and the twists at the end just tied it all up nicely. This was a brilliant read.

This one had a lot of potential—a juicy setup, some well-developed characters, and a twisty plot that kept me curious. Veronica’s marriage-from-hell colliding with Ronan’s dark and dangerous past was a combo that worked, and I liked the arcs both leads got.

That said, the writing style didn’t always land for me. The prose leaned cliché and overstuffed, which pulled me out of the story more than once (yes, there were a few eye-rolls). Still, the core idea was creative, the suspense carried me through, and the spice was definitely a strong point. Hoping book two trims the fat and leans into the sharp, twisty energy this story promises.

This was a real page-turner for me! I absolutely loved how the story kept moving—every chapter pulled me in deeper, and the pacing was spot-on. Those flashbacks worked so well, adding extra intrigue. I figured out whose they were pretty quickly, but it didn’t spoil the fun at all. What really surprised me was the main twist—I did not see that coming, and it made the whole book feel even more exciting.

On the flip side, I wasn’t a fan of how fast Veronica and Ronan’s relationship kicked off. That instant love felt a bit forced, especially when they started spilling big secrets to each other—honestly, it seemed pretty reckless and took me out of the story for a moment. Still, the tension and drama definitely made up for it.

Overall, this thriller was super entertaining, and I’d recommend it if you want a story full of surprises and great pacing. Just prepare for a romance that gets a little wild a bit too soon!

Wow. I was completely shocked by the turn of events. You have the best feminine rage and giving hell I have seen. The instant connection between characters and the mystery is on point. Your constantly turning pages to figure out what is happening next. Addictive does not even describe the feeling of reading this book. You have just the right mix of spicy and dirty. I loved it!

3.75 stars rounded up

Beneath Your Lies is a fast-paced, spicy, suspense romance that takes you on a ride filled with lots of twists and turns. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a good mix of genres and is ok with some spice.

It’s told in multi-POV which was helpful with connecting all the dots along the way. I wasn’t expecting as much of a complex plot surrounding the romantic aspect of the story between Veronica and Ronan. The premise of them getting together because Veronica’s husband was caught cheating and he was allowing her to have her own affair was super interesting to me.

I will say that despite all the twists and turns, most were super predicable (to me) and even though there was one I didn’t see coming, it didn’t really catch me off guard with a “gotcha” but I still enjoyed it. I read pretty much in one sitting.

With that ending, are we getting a sequel or is Nicole J Owens leaving things up to our imagination? 🤔

Thanks so much to Moonlit Graves Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

Oh. My. God!! Move over HD Carlton, there is a new dark romance suspense author in town! This book was SERIOUSLY one of the best ones I've ever read. I loved how it was such a good balance of spicy but suspense. Had me on the edge of my seat the whole time and the twists were just *chefs kiss*. Hopefully there is a second book coming out because I need more!! Thank you for this opportunity to read ARC of this title!

This book had me hooked from the very first page and I honestly couldn’t put it down. The mix of suspense, secrets, and tension kept everything so intense that I flew through it. Veronica and Ronan had an incredible chemistry that felt raw and powerful, and I loved every moment they shared. The multiple POVs added so much depth, and the way everything clicked together at the end was just brilliant. The writing was smooth, fast paced, and completely addictive. The final chapter left me in shock and already wishing for a sequel. Thank you so much to the author and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving a honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and Moonlit Graves Publishing for entrusting me with an ARC of this twisty, fun read. I had no idea when I started this debut novel by Nicole J. Owens that I would LOVE this book. Not only have I found a new favorite MMC and power couple, but she definitely left me wanting more!

Beneath Your Lies by Nicole J. Owens is, what I’d describe as, a dark romance thriller that had me glued to its pages. The book started off a touch slow and I needed a minute to straighten out the characters. Once it got going, though, I couldn’t put it down. I have a strict “no reading before bed” rule because I know I’ll stay up too late. I broke that rule and stayed up way too late because I just had to finish it. Veronica and Ronan are filled with secrets, bodies are dripping like flies, and the twists and turns are aplenty. Though some of the twists can be guessed, they are still so fun when revealed. Finally, the spicy scenes are on point. I am hoping for another in this series and can’t wait to read it.

Beneath Your Lies was such a wild ride. It’s dark, messy, addictive, and honestly nothing like I expected. Veronica and Ronan’s story is full of secrets, betrayal, and that kind of dangerous chemistry you just know is going to explode.

It definitely leans into the darker side of romance, but that’s what made it so gripping — I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Twists, drama, passion, lies, unaliving people… it’s all there.

If you’re into romantic suspense with a psychological edge (and you don’t mind things getting a little morally grey), this one is worth picking up.

A sizzling debut novel by Nicole J Owens! Beneath Your Lies hooked me with its fast pace, sharp writing, and the steamy and dangerous chemistry between Veronica and Ronan. At the same time, the jumpy structure and over-the-top drama sometimes pulled me out of the story, even with the wildly entertaining ride it exuded overall.

This story followed Veronica Sullivan, the polished wife of a rising District Attorney, uncovered her husband’s affair just as he was fighting for re-election. To protect his image, he suggested she take a lover of his choice—but instead, Veronica fell into a dangerous entanglement with Ronan, a brooding hitman. He pulled her into a web of passion, secrets, and murder.

Collectively, Beneath Your Lies delivered a dark, fast-paced mix of romance and suspense, followed Veronica Sullivan as her husband’s betrayal pushed her into a dangerous affair with a hitman that spiraled into secrets and murder. I was drawn in by the sharp, witty writing and addictive pacing, along with the explosive chemistry between the leads, though at times the fragmented structure and over-the-top drama kept it from feeling fully grounded. Still, this was a compulsively readable, twisty ride that balanced passion, betrayal, and danger in a way that kept me hooked. Looking forward to reading more by Owens!

Thank you Net Galley and Moonlit Graves Publishing for gifting me an advance copy in exchange for my review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Nicole J. Owens, and Moonlit Graves Publishing for the opportunity to read Beneath Your Lies Early!

I thought this was a fantastic read. The spice was great and on point. I loved the plot and cover, which is what instantly drew me to the book. Every chapter has great detail and length. I really enjoyed reading this and look forward to reading more by the author in the future. This was my first NetGalley read/experience and it did not disappoint.

“We’re always taught to fear the loudest person in the room. but the truth is, you should be more afraid of the quiet ones”

Let me just say this is an amazing debut novel! A fantastic writing style that was easy to follow!

This book is perfect if you love suspense and mystery with your romance. There are twist and turns constantly. You know something is coming but what is hard to guess! And I love that!

It had all the things:
Suspense
Amazing side characters
A captivating romance
Revenge

I couldn’t put this down and finished it in less than 24 hours. Pick it up and give it a try you won’t regret it!