Crown of Lies

Truth and Lies Duet, Book 1

By: Pepper Winters

Narrated by: Kylie Stewart, Eric Rolon

Noelle Charlston lives a fairy-tale life: a doting father, a powerful job, and a future blessed with financial security.

However, two meetings with two men changes her happy existence forever. First, she meets the man who makes her heart sing. Three years later, she meets the man who makes her blood quiver.

Broken-hearted from a teenage romance, Noelle's freedom is no longer hers. It belongs to the stranger her father believes is her perfect match. The stranger who pulls his lies over everyone he touches.

Including her.

Seduced and manipulated, Noelle gives into the mysterious Penn Everett. The lies he spins, the truth he hides, the mystery he weaves - it's all enough to slowly erode the woman she is and turn her into something else.

Until her past collides with her present.

And it's her turn to lie.

To everyone...including herself.

©2017 Pepper Winters (P)2017 Pepper Winters

Ugh!

Why is Elle so useless? She is amazingly naive and stupid. Why are women Alexandrian thisnway.n I'm not sure if I'll read the secondnbook, only because I just don't care what happens tonher.

Good but predictable

Good story but a bit predictable. After reading the blurb and listening to the first few chapters you know what is going to happen. Great performance from the readers though. Saying that I will listen to the second book just to see how it finishes.

Intriguing story that pulls you in!

This book pulls you in to the dark intriguing story just like all of Pepper Winters books. The mystery of nameless and Penn I can't wait for the answers to all the questions. And Gregg I did not see that happening...Can't wait to start the next audible. Kylie Stewart did an amazing bringing Elle to life. Eric Rolan did a great job narrating too. I really enjoyed listening to them!

A truly intricate and unique story

This story drew me in so fast, trying to piece it all together. There is so much mystery lurking in the shadows. Noelle lived so long in the sheltered tower built by her father. When she finally pushes back to seek out some sort of normalcy trouble comes her way but so does a mysterious hero. Finding a bit of what she was missing out on but also seeing the world for the cruel things the world can impose on you she retreats back to her gilded cage until another twist of fate comes barreling at her. I cannot wait to dive into Throne of Truth.
This was such a unique audio as it is all in one POV but you get the dual narrators for a full experience of the story.

So far...meh

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Meh, meh, meh. It has the kindling of a potentially good story, but the female narrator is clearly bringing it down by steamrolling through the reading. Her voice begins to sound monotonous after a few chapters. She does put more feeling into the dialogue part, but the first-person narration of the story is really dragging this down for me and I'm only 3 hours into this story. The male narrator helps but with so many male characters, his depth of variations of the New York accent can only go so far before they all start sounding the same. I'm just waiting for the fire to really spark and the story to really get going.

If you’ve listened to books by Pepper Winters before, how does this one compare?

my first Pepper Winters book...so we'll see.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

probably. With stream of conscious, first person narration, the stories can drone on and on...

Do you think Crown of Lies needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

As of right now, no. That means the story is toooooooooooo long. But apparently there is a follow-up book.

Any additional comments?

maybe this book could've been better with two different POVs. Something to break up the female narrator. Her parts are just too long and her voice starts to sound like background noise (sorry to be harsh)!

I was hooked!

Would you consider the audio edition of Crown of Lies to be better than the print version?

I think the audio version is better because it gives you more detail and it makes you feel every emotion in the pages.

What other book might you compare Crown of Lies to and why?

I don't think I've read a book like this before, but if anyone can recommend more books like this I'd be thankful.

Which scene was your favorite?

When she found the necklace again.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, it was definitely one that I didn't want to stop listening to but unfortunately I had to stop when things like sleep were necessary.

This cliffhanger sucks!

You need to purchase another book to find out the ending.
It needs to be included together

Full of twists

"Crown of Lies" by Pepper Winters, is a new book for me. and wanted to dive into it. What I didn't expect was to get so captivated.

It is a twisty road of interesting events, and I'm sure a lot more to come, this does end on a chlifhanger, and a good one at that.

The chemistry is delicious between Elle and Penn, and even though sometimes they were a little childish, the way Pepper used her words, by slowly adding romance, danger, a dash of intrigue, and pushing boundaries, it was perfect.

The book is steamy; Penn, puts on an alpha male show, and he pushes all the right buttons.

I'm looking forward to the second book.

XOXO Lottle.

The cliffhanger is so gripping!

Elle’s childhood was spent learning her father’s business, and she became the CEO of Belle Elle as a teenager. Working as hard as she does has led to a very sheltered life. When she finally decides to go out on her own, she is assaulted by two men, but a young vagrant saves her. Unexpectedly, Elle becomes smitten with the young man but never even learns his name before he is arrested and she is whisked away. Years later, her father is trying to play matchmaker, and a cocky young man claims he can win her heart. Caving to Penn’s seduction, she still mourns the absence of the man who saved her that night, but she needs Penn’s protection from enemies who want control of her empire.

Be forewarned, Crown of Lies is the first book in a duet, so it ends on a cliffhanger, right in the middle of the action. The cliffhanger is gripping, so there is no way to skip the second book!

Kylie Stewart was a perfect casting for the role of Elle. She has a youthful voice, and her emotions shine through her narration. Alongside Eric Rolon, the two narrate as a duet. Even though Elle’s night with the homeless man who saved her is fleeting, you can feel their desire and their instant connection. What I found frustrating, though, was the male characters. Elle’s father is weak and gullible–not what I would imagine a former CEO to be. And Penn–his weird outspoken verbal assault on Elle’s bullies is uncomfortable and overacted. And it honestly makes little sense for the plot. I really enjoyed the storyline, though, despite these factors, which is why I still gave the book a good rating. I’m devastated by the cliffhanger, so I’ll certainly be reading the second half of the duet!

Captured from the first chapter

What did you love best about Crown of Lies?

The story was wonderfully wrote, it brought you into Elle's world and made you feel like you were right along side her throughout her entire journey. The story between her and Pen was too good. So much sexual tension in this book!!!

What about Kylie Stewart and Eric Rolon ’s performance did you like?

Loved it. The voices matched the characters...which I have found in other books to be way off.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes!