Readers will find themselves drawn to this gritty and emotionally intense tale of second chances and a romance that evolves in the most unexpected way. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Mistaken Identity by Lani Lynn Vale, along with my impressions of it, then add this fifth installment in the Content Advisory series to your bookshelf!
From the moment Creole Williams met Audric Ingram, they were inseparable.
But not the way one would think.
They shared a best friend.
What they did not do, however, was like each other.
You could say that it was a war to win the best friend title.
The only problem was, their best friend would never choose a clear winner. So they spent their teenage years fighting it out. What Audric didn’t know, though, was that Creole was desperately in love with him.
The same went for Audric. He wanted Creole more than his next breath.
But it was never the right time.
Then life happened, and it kicked them both in the teeth.
One second they’re acting, and the next the anger is real, and neither one of them can stand to be near the other.
For years, they fight it out, one-upping each other to the point where neither one of them can be in the same room with each other without things going to hell.
Then one day their best friend dies, and they have to figure out a way to live without her.
There’s no fighting anymore, at least verbally. Physically, however? They let their bodies duke it out the fun way.
But in the end, neither one of them wins.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Ms. Vale has done it again! She's taken readers on another emotionally intense journey that puts them, as well as her characters, through the wringer. In a story of childhood friends whose relationship turns to jealousy and ultimately to tragedy, things turn unexpectedly steamy as those left behind redefine what they've always meant to each other. Set amongst the backdrop of the Truth Tellers MC there's also suspense along with characters laying the groundwork for future installments.
Creole Williams and Audric Ingram are compelling characters, ones that you're drawn to and can picture interacting with in real life. Creole had a difficult past full of trials and tribulations, one that could've turned her bitter, but she's a bright light with a big heart. She's an empathetic woman with a strong backbone who finds a family of her own within the Truth Tellers MC while making the most of her second chance with Audric. Audric's history with Creole has taken a lot of turns, and it's not always shown him in the best light, but the man he is now definitely shows him worthy of her and protective of her through everything. Despite his tough exterior there's a softer side to Audric on display, especially with his daughter that made his connection to Creole even more believable and richer. Theirs is a romance of pure perfection, one built on a rocky road full of pain and heartbreak, that had me glued to the pages from start to finish.
By the turn of the final page I was left emotionally drained but immensely satisfied by this romance of second chances. It's raw and gritty at times, sometimes with triggering events and particularly in depicting this couple's past, but it made their HEA all the more rewarding. On a whole there's a perfect balance of steam and suspense that held me captive and unable to put this book down. The other members of the Truth Tellers MC further enriched this story through the unwavering support they gave to Audric and Creole in their role of being a found family. I look forward to where things go from here for the Truth Tellers, and for a series that continues to pull at your heartstrings, as Ms. Vale keeps publishing one winner after another.
My rating for this is an A-
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
DISCOVER THE NEXT INSTALLMENT IN THE CONTENT ADVISORY SERIES:
UGLY DUCKLING (Book #6 - Releasing October 7th)
AUTHOR INFO:
Lani Lynn Vale is an American author of humorous romantic suspense novels. Born in the Great State of Texas, she has lived the majority of her adult life in East Texas where most of her novels are based. She’s married to her high school sweetheart whom her readers refer to as “LLV’s Bearded Half.” She published her first novel, Boomtown, in the summer of 2013 after the birth of her third child. She’s gone on to publish over 100 novels, with most of them going on to become USA Today Bestsellers.
