Book Review: The Price of Honey (Deadly Ambition #1) by Liane Moriarty

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The Price of Honey (Deadly Ambition #1) by Liane Moriarty is an Amazon Original Stories short story scheduled for publication on April 1, 2026. This short mystery story opens with Honey Beckett riding in an Uber on the way to her husband’s funeral, struggling to process the shocking reality that he is actually gone. The situation feels surreal to her, and as she arrives at the service, the emotions surrounding the day only become more complicated. Honey ultimately decides she needs to sit with Barney’s previous three ex-wives, and the gathering of these women creates a moment filled with tension, curiosity, and one final sense of betrayal that ties them all together. Because I am an Amazon Prime member, I received a digital copy of The Price of Honey for free through the Amazon First Reads program . A huge thank you goes out to Amazon for providing the opportunity to read this short story early before its official release. Programs like First Reads are a great way for readers to ...
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Book Review: First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

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Book Club Selection & Book Review of First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston follows Evie Porter, a woman with seemingly everything she could want, but there’s a shocking twist ... Evie Porter doesn’t exist. Her life is a carefully constructed identity. First comes the persona ... Evie Porter. Then comes the mark ... Ryan Sumner. Finally ... the job. Evie only knows her boss as Mr. Smith, and after a disastrous previous assignment, she can’t afford to fail with Ryan Sumner if she wants to leave this life behind and reclaim her real identity.

Ashley Elston delivers a fast-paced, suspenseful story that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. First Lie Wins is full of twists, turns, and unpredictable moments that had me guessing throughout the book. While the story wraps up satisfyingly, the ending leaves room for a possible sequel, which I hope happens because I’m eager for more of Evie’s thrilling adventures.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of First Lie Wins is how it reminded me of the TV show Alias. Elston cleverly reveals only small pieces of Evie’s past at a time, gradually building a complete picture that ties the story together in a cinematic way. The narrative is so immersive that every time I had to pause reading and return to reality, it took me a moment to adjust; proof of how compelling and absorbing this book is.

I have nothing negative to say about First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston. I give it a full five out of five stars. I can’t wait to read more from this author and will definitely pick up her next book without even reading the synopsis.

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