Liviania’s review of Lie with Me by Cara Summers
Contemporary romance released by Harlequin Blaze 1 Aug 08

Philly Angelis convinces herself to make a move on Roman Oliver, whom she’s been lusting after for years. Despite being equally attracted, Roman turns her down. He has the usual reasons, including his friendship with her brothers. Since they’ve been his best friends for ages they’d clearly be against him dating their sister. Instead of moping, Philly decides to go to Corfu, Greece where her family members tend to find their true loves and have a steamy fling. Roman gets jealous like a proper alpha male. Then the story gets interesting when Philly uses her pet psychic powers to discover a murder.

There’s something wonderful about a story where a man and a woman get caught between two evil, amoral men in order to rescue a cat.  It’s slightly insane and cartoony, but Summers makes it work.  I think the mystery would not work if it was less over the top – it’s that element of fun that convinces you to go with it. Bring on the above-the-law businessmen and the nearly identical women!  I also love how quickly Philly convinces other characters that she really can talk to animals.  It works perfectly in the story’s context.  Despite the fact Summers makes the mystery work so well for me, I kept wanting to flip through the romance bits.

Philly convinces Roman to have an affair while they’re in Greece.  She also convinces herself that he’s not the one and she’ll be happy with just a vacation fling when she’s been pining for the guy for umpteen years.  Of course, despite the fact she’s had a giant crush on him and he’s been a family friend for years, they’re apparently had no conversations alone before the trip.  So she’s been crazy about him but has made no effort to get to know him, apparently.

Second, I really like that she’s the forward, aggressive one in the relationship.  Philly takes the steps to get the life she wants and doesn’t back down from a challenge.  Unfortunately, she’s bold because she’s acting like “the new Philly” instead of herself.  Can’t she decide that she wants to add certain traits to her personality because she’ll be more happy that way rather than dismissing her boldness as an alternate persona she plans to ditch once she leaves Greece?

Overall, I enjoyed the book.  It was light and entertaining and I don’t regret spending an afternoon relaxing with it.  The glimpses of the rest of the Angelis family makes me want to read The P.I., The Cop, and The Defender.  Looking at her site, several of the summaries look interesting to me.  I was dissatisfied with some elements of Lie With Me, but I want to give Summers another chance because there was so much in the story that I did like.  I respect a romance novel that manages to make me smile while I’m frustrated with the hero and heroine.

Grade: C

Summary:

Corfu’s exotic beaches are a matchless place to meet true love…or at least to have a fabulous fling! And that’s exactly what Philly Angelis needs. After all, she’s a survivor of unrequited love…and an embarrassingly rejected sexual proposition. Fleeing to Greece to soak in its sexy magic—as well as to find a hot guy to take her mind off her longtime crush, Roman Oliver—seems the perfect antidote.
Roman can’t believe what he’s doing. Philly is his best friend’s little sister—definitely hands-off! So why is he following her to Corfu? And why is he taking her outrageously delicious sexual proposition seriously? Maybe because Philly’s all woman now—a woman who knows exactly what she wants. And, God help him, Roman’s going to give it to her….
Read an excerpt here.