Lies Unspoken (Flawed Love #1) by Lisa de Jong

I tried hard not to fall for the bad guy.

My new roommate, Blake, is a jerk—an unemployed artist with a chip on his shoulder. I can’t stand him unless his hands are on me. He makes me desperate for him, and everything he makes me feel.

And then there’s my new boss, Pierce--successful, charming, and extremely good-looking. He goes after what he wants, but what does he see in me?

I try to stay away, but I end up in the arms of exactly who I was hiding from. And when I find out what’s being hidden from me, my heart twists in ways it never should.

I thought I knew him.
I didn't.
The way he kissed me.
The way his hands traveled every inch of my skin.
I thought it meant something, but as it turns out, it was all lies unspoken.

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Review by Amanda

What do you do when the person you thought you were going to spend the rest of your life with decides that he no longer wants to be with you.  Well, if you are Lila, you run of course.  Lila moves from Small Town, Nebraska to the hustle and bustle of Chicago.  En route to Chicago, she sits next to an incredibly handsome, successful and charming business man, Pierce Stanley.  He is a wonderwerk in the architecture industry, and with Lila having studied design, the 2 have much in common.  This chance encounter sets the pace for the rest of the book - without us even realising it.

Lila's new home in Chicago is in the flat of her best friend Mallory, who is currently away studying in Spain.  What Mallory fails to tell her best friend is that her brother Blake has moved in to the apartment too.  As soon as these two meet, it is like an explosion - both stubborn, snarky and full of sass.  They agree on almost nothing, and after a late night working at the bar where she has found a job, things come to a head.  Lila decides that the only way that she and Blake will ever live comfortably together is for them to have a list of rules - which she dutifully draws up.

This is of course like waving a red flag to a bull, and Blake tells her very succintly that he will not be following any rules set down.  However, Blake is also a bit of an enigma to Lila, he comes and goes at all hours.  There are days where he doesn't even come home at all.  One night he does come home, he finds Lila preparing a meal.  He has a bottle of tequila and the two quickly agree to break bread and drink tequila.  A game of truth or dare ensues - well to be fair, a game of truth ensues.  They learn bits and pieces about one another and soon find out they have more in common than they realise.  Both have clearly endured heartache and both are clearly still hurting. 

As does happen, when two singletons are living together, things soon start heating up between them.  Although initially Blake is weary and tells Lila to please stay away, it is clear that the chemistry is combustible and neither of them are able to stop.  However, Blake makes it crystal clear that whatever happens between he and Lila will come with stringent terms and conditions

"Because I'm done fighting you.  I'm done fighting this.:  He turns me in his arms, holding my face ion his hands.  "I don't want a relationship, but I want you.  Be with me.. just like this." - Blake, Lies Unspoken by Lisa de Jong

"Before we do this, you have to agree to one thing."  I nod nervously, anxious to just have his mouth on mine again.  "No feelings.  No attachment.  Just you and me, like this.  Can you do that?" - Lies Unspoken by Lisa de Jong

Lila of cours agrees because she is not ready for a relationship after having her heart torn in half by her ex fiance.    However, as Blake begins opening himself up more and more to Lila, she begins to see the real Blake. She begins to feel things for him - and ultimately begins to fall in love with him. 

Lila has also in the interim accepted an internship position with Pierce Stanley and has agreed to accompany him to a work function.  Things slowly start to fall apart when Pierce arrives at the apartment that Lila and Blake share.  It is obvious that Pierce and Blake know one another, it is also glaringly obvious that they DETEST each other.  We are left to guess as to what the reason for this is.  This adds a lovely little dimension to the story and it keeps you guessing.

I thorougly enjoyed this book.  There was a bitof everything in it.  There was so much angst and heartfelt emotion that at times, it was like you literally had to force yourself to put the book down and walk away.  I do love these kinds of reads.  You were also left to question so much - because de Jong would tell you just enough to give you an idea of what was happening, but leave things just out of your reach.  This is definitely a departure from her normal works, and I have to say I found this book refreshing and amazing.  Although in typical fashion, she does leave your heart hurting and wanting some form of resolution.

I loved all 3 of the leading characters.  They were all fractured and broken.  Lila was devout in going to a new city and finding her happiness again.  I loved that.  Although she was beaten, she was not down, and I did love that she was willing to give life another chance.  I also loved that she gave it a shot at the bar.  Lila was a real character - you could almost picture her as being your best friend, that was just trying to lift herself up and get herself together.

Blake on the other hand was trapped in his own world of pain.  Although, we weren't privy to the cause of this - the character was written so that you could see almost immediately how damaged he is.  The way his character develops throughout the book is really amazing.  He is the stereotypical tough guy that has manicured this perfect front so as not to allow anyone to really know the real him.

Finally we have Pierce, gorgeous, successful and completely smitten with Lila.  He is prepared to do anything for Lila, even if it means just being her friend for now.  He is the epitome of a good guy, but with so much unresolved and unsaid with regards to him and Blake - we are always wondering, is he really the man he proclaims to be....

The book does end on a cliff hanger, and it is a heart wrenching, gut aching one at that... Just a warning to those of you that don't like those, it may be better to wait until the series is complete

I am giving this book 4 Stars.  Lisa de Jong never fails to disappoint.   Her books are always well written and will leave you reeling from all the emotions she elicits in you!  I am really looking forward to where book 2 takes us, and I am also hoping that each of the 3 characters get their Happily Ever After.

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Meet Lisa de Jong

Lisa De Jong is a wife, mother and full-time number cruncher who lives in the Midwest. Her writing journey involved insane amounts of coffee and many nights of very little sleep but she wouldn't change a thing. She also enjoys reading, football and music.

For more information about Lisa and her books follow her at:
Twitter: @LisaDeJongBooks
Blog: www.lisadejongbooks.blogspot.com

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