ARTFUL LIES (The Hunt Legacy Duology #1) by JODI ELLEN MALPAS

“Don’t fall in love with me, princess,” he whispers. “Because I’d hate myself forever if I hurt you.”

We can always rely on Jodi Ellen Malpas to deliver a spine-tingling, passion laden romance, and in Artful Lies, the book in the Hunt Legacy Duology, we can add intrigue and a heart-stopping book boyfriend to the list. Prepare yourselves for Becker Hunt, because this self-obsessed, conceited, possessive and draw droppingly good looking maverick with a penchant for green granny smith apples, is going to sweep you off your feet. He certainly had us swooning!

“…you can tell a lot from a man’s looks and how he carries them. Your boss carries his looks like a weapon.”

Jodi Ellen Malpas has brought us some gorgeous book boyfriends, and we have to say, after Jesse Ward, Becker Hunt is up there as our favourite! A tortured soul with a heart that beats for one woman, a man cloaked in mystery that had us guessing and surmising from the very beginning right to the end.

“Me and you have something pretty fucking phenomenal, princess.”

Eleanor Cole needs a new start. Feeling stifled in her village of Helston, Eleanor heads to the bright lights of London after the death of her father and betrayal from her best friend and boyfriend. After trying to keep her father’s antique business afloat following his passing, Eleanor needs more and London offers her the excitement and job prospects she craves.

Taking a job with The Hunt Corporation, whose head Becker Hunt is a man well-travelled, well-traversed and well respected in the antique world. A job with the Hunt Corporation and their Haven building will provide Eleanor the quench to her passion thirst for the antique world.

Initially drawn to, but miffed by the philandering, self-assured and ridiculously good looking sexy Becker Hunt, Eleanor soon begins to have feelings for Becker, he, in turn, slowly brings Eleanor into the inner sanctum of his business, and this is where the intrigue comes in. Just who is Becker and what are his motives?

‘How is it possible that my heaven has transformed into the worst kind of hell?’

As this is the first book in the duology, the story concentrated on getting us acquainted with the characters, getting to know them as best we could, because, can you really know Becker Hunt? We’re not too sure.

“I want you to surrender.”
“Not a chance.”

As the story is told from Eleanor’s pov, which we have to say only serves to heighten the mystery surrounding Becker, we learn little by little of Becker’s demons and obsessions. This man certainly has some skeletons in his closet.

‘His angel eyes have danger looming behind their beauty.’

We really enjoyed Artful Lies and cannot wait to sink our teeth into Wicked Truths, the final book in the duology when it releases later in the year. Jodi Ellen Malpas has given us yet another book boyfriend to obsess over and a story that kept us glued to every page!