Linda Smolkin – Love The Way They Lie

I am delighted its my turn to post for the tour of Linda Smolkin’s Love The Way They Lie. Thank you to Random Things Tours and Linda Smolkin,for my invitation and my copy of the book.

In a matter of minutes, a speeding ticket turns her life upside down.

Thirty-eight-year-old Maggie Simmons has another reason to hate the Department of Motor Vehicles—other than the long lines. A visit to the DMV reveals a photo from a speeding ticket with her husband in the arms of a mystery woman. Maggie’s happy marriage to Nate shatters, but he refuses to leave her alone. In her attempts to move forward, remnants of her old life tear apart.

After separating, she fills the void with her dog, Chili, and a string of unexpected relationships. She finds herself with multiple people vying for her attention—and she enjoys the distraction. However, Maggie soon realizes they may have ulterior motives.

One by one, more betrayal weaves its way into Maggie’s life, leaving her devastated by the idea of being heartbroken and alone. In order to escape her reality, she flirts with the unthinkable—the one thing that triggered her suffering in the first place. A lie.

Love the Way They Lie is the third novel by author Linda Smolkin whose debut, Among the Branded, was called “a beautiful and fascinating novel that will keep readers hooked” by San Francisco Book Review.

Maggie’s life crumbles around her feet when she sees a picture of him with another woman. We explore how Maggie comes to terms with the loss of her relationship.

A contemporary fiction story blended with romance and a dash of suspense that took me through all Maggies’ emotions as she stumbled from one relationship to another after her marriage breaks down. Linda Smolkin has done a great job in crafting Maggie. She is a character who you can easily become frustrated with due to her fragility in not wanting to be alone. I felt this made her feel more real, as so many newly single people do exactly the same. She isn’t always likeable, but then is anyone?

The character development is clear as the story unfolds; we do see Maggie grow throughout, which really made me feel like I was with her and felt almost proud of her .

Quite an original story that brought drama, tears, and even suspense. This is the first book I have read by this author, and I have already had a look at her other books, hoping to be able to fit one in sooner rather than later. This book is quite a fast read, which meant I was through it in no time. The conclusion is open-ended, so…fingers crossed!

Purchase Link

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Way-They-Lie-Novel/dp/0998617121/

Author Bio

Linda Smolkin always wanted to be a writer—ever since she saw her first TV commercial and wondered how to pen those clever ads. She got her degree in journalism and became a copywriter. Linda landed a job at an ad agency, where she worked for several years before joining the nonprofit world. She’s the author of AMONG THE BRANDED, THE SECRET WE LOST, and LOVE THE WAY THEY LIE and currently working on her fourth novel. When not in front of the computer, she’s behind the drums escaping into her pretend rock-star world. For more information about Linda, visit her website at lindasmolkin.com.