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theartsybookwitch 's review for:

Cruel Lies by Heleva Risque
5.0
dark emotional medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

"I was drunk on her and never wanted to sober up again."

Cruel Lies, the first in Heleva's newest series, Killers of Port Wylde, is a dark romance tale you don't want to miss.

Seven years after a brush with death, Harper comes back face-to-face with her stepbrothers, Angel, Nash, and Rowan. AKA the Skeleton Crew.

Harper, already a badass, down on her luck, get thrown a curveball, and comes out the other side strong as hell. She's so powerful in her own right, and is even a mechanic? GIRLBOSS.

And the boys? All three boys are dealing with trauma in their own ways, and seeing how well they protect each other? I love them all so much.

It's refreshing at how Heleva deals with mental health and trauma, and how it's represented throughout Harper and the boys.

Highly recommended for any dark romance reader, but please head the TWs before delving into Cruel Lies and the prequel, Cruel Vows.

tropes // MMMF, stepbrothers (plural), mental health rep, assassins

tw //
sexual content, death, blood, torture, panic attacks, cutting,