This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨✨


First Impressions
Loving Lies is the second installment in the "Granton University" series and this is one of this author's first series and I have been meaning to work my way through her backlist. This has been a trilogy I have been wanting to get to for quite some time. After the first book, I really couldn't wait but to step inside this one. I was very impressed with this one, and definitely had Linda Kage's balance of humor and emotion that she portrays so talently. Loving Lies was so intriguing in the set up especially as we are dealing with the after effects of a shooting. I would say if you are triggered by such events, to be aware before picking this one up. Loving Lies is a story of secrets from all avenues, its a instant love attraction but takes time for our couple to truly find their way together and delivers in all the swoony feels.

First Line
It was a good day to be a good person.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Jonah Abbott
Jonah is suffering from Amnesia after being shot by the boy we know as "Einstein". He is thoughtful and a bit of a grouch. But lights up when Tess is near.

The Heroine: Tess Simpson
Tess is bright and bubbly and beyond sweet. She is more of a follower than a leader. But is coming into her own and finding her own path of strength and forging ahead.

Summary
Tess Simpson has a kinda and caring heart and she suffers when she sees others suffer. When she drags her best friend with her to volunteer to work at the hospital, she hears of a amnesiac who is alone, has no one that has visited him. When she visits him, there is an instant attraction between the two. And even though Jonah senses that she is lying to him, he plays along with her game. He doesn't trust easily and when his memory returns, he wants to know if she is out there to deceive him or if she is real. When the truth comes out on who Jonah truly is though, he is caught in a horrible scandal that was unknowingly brought by Tess. Even though Tess had honest good intentions it went completely wrong. And now she is determined to find her way back to him despite the rumors that he was part of the bullies of Einstein. And when Jonah and Tess find their way together amidst the drama and chaos, they find a love worth fighting for and where healing can truly begin for both of them...

What I Loved
Loving Lies is a breathtaking romance that will take your heart by storm. I honestly couldn't get enough of this one here. I just wanted so much for this couple to find their way and they most definitely do and its delightful. There was so much charm and delights to this book especiall in the early chapters with Jonah and Tess. And I found it hilarious how Tess gets so nervous around hot men and how she just verbally stumbles. I knew this lie would get her and it does haha But in a different way than you would expect. The ways in which this couple finds their way back to each other was so fun and while it was a bit of a emotional road, the author really guides the reader through the angst and trial and to the glorious swoons. I absolutely loved the third act, it was everything I could have hoped for and more. I just want to live in their moments together. And seeing Jonah find healing and a solid HEA was very well balanced with the story.

What I Struggled With
I didn't really struggle with anything in here to be honest. I felt like everything was done just right.

Overall View
Loving Lies is a stunning portrayal of love and loss, of redemption and healing, and forging your own path that matches your heart...

Favorite Quote(s)
After everything that’s happened, I’d think we’d have learned by now that every second we have is a gift we shouldn’t squander by worrying about things happening too fast. If we have a chance to be happy, then we should grasp it with both hands and hang on tight for as long as it lasts

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Character Types: College Student, Athlete
Themes: Football
Tropes: Opposites Attract, Amnesia, Grumpy Sunshine, Instant Love Connection

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
a blend of both

Song This Book Inspires
All Out of Love by Air Supply

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes read in order if you can

Steam/Spice Explanations

Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.