*~*All the Pretty Lies by M. Leighton Blog Tour – Review & Giveaway*~*

Title:   All The Pretty Lies  (Pretty #1)

Author:   M. Leighton

Genre:   Contemporary Romance

Release Date:   November 12, 2013

Her…

Sloane Locke has led a sheltered life. However, with a history like hers, she can understand why her brothers and her father want so much to protect her. She has gone along with it for twenty long years, but those days are over. For the girl who never makes promises, Sloane has made a pact with herself that things will change on her twenty-first birthday. So when the clock strikes midnight, Sloane strikes out to spread her wings and break a few rules.

Him…

In addition to inking skin, Hemi Spencer possesses many talents. Controlling himself has never been one of them. It’s never had to be. He’s lived a life of indulgence for as long as he can remember. Right up until tragedy struck. Now, he’s nothing but controlled. He’s a man on a mission, one who will let nothing and no one stand in his way.

Them…

Nothing in their lives could’ve prepared Sloane and Hemi for what they’d find in each other—distraction and obsession, love and possession. But the one thing they can’t find is a future. Neither one has been totally honest. And they’ll soon learn that the devil is in the details. In the details and in the lies.

How far will two people go to live in the now when the now is all they’ve got?

All the Pretty Lies by M. Leighton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 “butterflies” ‘Live, no regrets’ “little girl” ‘Frick!’ Kisses

Oh my…she did it again. M. Leighton turned me into a googley eyed happy little book worm. How??? How does she continually come up with these amazingly wonderful BBF’s, fabulous heroine’s you can’t help but love and these stories that just melt my heart? I don’t understand! Wait…I don’t want to understand! Because I love it!

Sloane Annelle Locke – first of all, love her name. Second of all, love her family, her dad and three brothers – even though all four are over bearing and protective, they are 6’4″+ teddy bears who love her…what’s not to love about guys like that? (Plus they’re cops – hello men in uniform!) Third of all…I love her spirit, her desire to be free and live her life, her love of art and all things creative and beautiful…I love that she said ‘Frick’ instead of fuck because of her family…there’s so much to love about Sloane. She’s strong, she has to be to compete with her dad and brothers, and while they have had a pretty strict hold on her life for the past 20 years, 11 months and 364 days…now that she is 21, she’s doing things her way – whether they like it or not. She might be sheltered but she is far from naïve and I thought she was a really smart and practical girl. But like every girl, it’s hard to keep your head on straight when faced with an über swoony bad boy with tattoo’s.

‘I nod. “That’s fine. I understand.”
“Still worth it?”
I nod again. The butterflies are more significant than what I’ve told anyone else, so I can honestly say that the pain is worth it for me. “Yes,” I answer.
Hemi’s eyes delve deep into mine, like he’s trying to see where the butterflies live, where they were born and what they’ve been through. After a few seconds, he says simply, enigmatically, “The important ones always are.”’

Hemsworth Spencer…Mmmm….Hemi…they don’t call him “Hemi the Hottie” for nothing, that man earned that title! And seriously, what’s up with another hot name, I love it. Hemi is…28…a bad boy to a ‘T’ with a shit ton of secrets that just about drove me batty. But he’s ‘sexy, beautiful , elusive Hemi’ …so he’s allowed to drive me a little batty. He had just enough edge to make him a jerk, but I still couldn’t stop myself from loving him…because as hard as he tried, he couldn’t hide the fact that deep down, he’s a good guy. Under all the tattoo’s, the attitude, the jerk-ish ways, the old school car…bundle that up in a tall, dark and handsome package with blue eyes that can turn midnight …well, I just didn’t stand a chance against him. It’s funny because Hemi is very…set in his ways. He knows what he wants, he’s got a specific purpose, a specific goal and nothing will deter him from achieving that. Except a raven haired girl with big brown eyes that knocks him off his game.

‘But a girl like her deserves nice, too. And naughty’s all I’ve got. It’s all I’m interested in. Especially now. Which means I need to stay away from her. I need to deny myself the pleasure of her. And I’m not used to denying myself anything that I want. Including women.
Sloane might have to be the first.
And I like it even less than I thought I would.’

I could not get enough of how polar opposite these two were at times and yet, how similar they are. She may be the sweet, innocent virgin and he may be the rough, tough tattoo’d guy, but they have more in common than you would think. Now…please don’t roll your eyes when I say she was a virgin…it’s not like that…Sloane is not your average virgin. I don’t know how to explain it but while she may not be experienced sexually, she is not some delusional girl. She’s very practical and I was totally into her whole outlook on her relationship with Hemi and what she was getting into. And…what she was getting into was some super hotness. There was so much build up by the time they actually did have sex I was ready to have a parade or something! And Hemi alone is deliciousness on a plate…but damn…the mouth on that boy was made for sin and I loved every minute of it. I loved the sexual confidence he brought out in Sloane and I loved his caveman possessiveness. So. Freaking. Hot!

‘I love this feeling. All these feelings. Most of all, I love being with Hemi. Touching him and being touched by him. I love the anticipation that’s building between us. I love that he’s watching over me, that he’s showing me some fun in a not-so-fun time. I love that he tried to stay away from me and couldn’t, that he’s not even trying anymore. And that he admitted it. I love everything about him and this night.’

Alright…I won’t lie, I was a little cautious of Hemi at first…there were a few things that rubbed me the wrong way, which was tough because there was also a lot that rubbed me the right way! His past, his family and his secrets were torturous and even worse once you find out what they are because you’re hurting for so many reasons…for him, for her, for their families…I was torn. So…the angst…the build…the secrets – now, I can’t hold everything against Hemi, Sloane had a secret of her own, but hers was relatively minor in comparison to his. It was killer not knowing…because it has to do with both of their families and I’m invested in both of them, but Sloane is my girl! I knew whatever was going to happen was really going to affect her because with her mom being gone, her father and brothers are very important to her. No matter how crazy they make her, she wouldn’t know what to do without them. But that’s the thing that probably makes them the most alike, they both have brothers and know how important they are to each other…they relate and connect in that way, which in the end is very important.

“When you’ve got a lot of regret to look back on, a short life can seem like an eternity in hell.”

As usual, I am blown away by the characters…especially Sarah, Sloane’s best friend. She. Is. FREAKING. Hilarious!!! OMG…she’s magical…so many times I was laughing out loud – like, had to stop reading because I was laughing so hard. And it’s not like she is insanely major to the story line or plot, but I cannot imagine this book without her in it. One of my favorite little pieces of Sarah goodness…

“He’s a man. He thinks with his dick. As long as you keep that in mind, you’re golden.”
“You should put that on a mug.”
“I know. I’m like a modern day Confucius.”
“If Confucius was full of random wisdom involving penises.”
“How do you know he wasn’t?”
“You make a good point.”

Really? See what I’m talking about? And there were quite a few of those! It gave the book a lighter feel and kind of sliced through the angst and sexual tension…which was nice. Sarah wasn’t the only one that I loved…I know the Pretty Series is not based on the Locke Family, but I am starting an official petition to make that happen. You do not introduce three tall men into my world, make me like them and then they just disappear…nope. Not okay with that. Steven, Scout and Sig need books – we don’t really get anything from Scout, but I loved Sig and Steven, and Scout is a mixture of the two, so how could I not love him??

“It’s addictive, having something that no one else has touched. It made me want more. I didn’t just want to have you. I wanted to possess you. I wanted to make you mine, to mark you so deeply that you could never be anyone else’s. I want you, Sloane,” I confess, reaching out to stroke her satiny cheek with the back of my index finger. “I always have. But it’s not enough. It’s not enough just to have you once or twice, or for a little while. I want you to be mine. Forever. Because I love you even more than I want you. And I never want to let you go. Never.”

EEEEP!!! So I already said it, Pretty Little Lies is the first book in a series…and I make it no secret, I love series! I have to say my eyebrows were a little raised when I found out that the rest of the series was based on Hemi’s brothers…not that I’m not dying to read them…but I didn’t get to know them as well as the Locke boys…so they are enigma’s to me…which is exciting! And Reese is up next…the oldest Spencer boy…and as much as I enjoyed All The Pretty Lies I wonder what All The Pretty Poses will bring!

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M. Leighton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Wild Ones and The Bad Boys romance trilogies. She is a native of Ohio, relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she lets her mind wander to romantic settings with sexy Southern guys much like the one she married and the ones you’ll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren’t roaming in that direction, she’ll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.