Liar

The Madison Kate Series, Book 2

By: Tate James

Narrated by: Brooke Daniels, Lucas Webley

Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

“Liar, liar, pants on fire.”

The words scrawled on the back of my newest stalker mail makes my blood run cold. I have no idea if it’s the lie I know or one that I don’t.

Since arriving back into Shadow Grove, I’ve been stalked, tormented, chased, and almost killed. I’ve been lied to, repeatedly, by people I was growing to trust.

Liar.

That word haunts me. Someone knows more about my life than I do. Someone is taunting me with answers and teasing me with secrets. Am I desperate enough to fall for more deception?

Archer and his boys made a huge mistake when they lied to me. They thought they could play me, but they’re about to learn that they’ve met their match.

No one stabs Madison Kate and gets away with it.

Liar is a full-length college/new-adult romance with enemies-to-lovers/love-hate themes. This is a reverse-harem novel, meaning the main character has more than one love interest. This is book two of four in the series.

©2020 Tate James (P)2020 Tate James

Young Ladies: Here's what NOT to do.

This is a Three-Book Review.
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So, here's the thing. You're going to really want to love this story. Like, really, REALLY love it. That sparks a'flyin' book summary you just read tells you that the lead female character is a strong, independent, take-no-prisoners she-wolf who'll bite your hand if you get too close.

Yeah...sigh...not so much.

In actuality, this story is about a woman who's ONLY positive attribute is her "smokin' hotness". Seriously. She can barely put 2 + 2 together. She's kind of a narcissistic, horrible person. But she finds herself the object of numerous powerful men's desires LITERALLY only because of what she looks like. Not kidding, absolutely no other redeeming qualities that would qualify it. Which tells younger women reading this that (a) you can forget all your problems by just taking your clothes off and hoping the dude has a condom, and (b) if you're not "f'kin' beautiful", you don't deserve deep, obsessive love. Way to go, Tate James!

And she relies on her body continually to stop her from having to form a complete thought, or remember that she should probably grab some pride from somewhere and kick various people to the curb.

The aforementioned men in her life quite literally destroy her world several times over, and continue to lie, demean, and berate her without caution. The writer gives her a very narrow curse words vocabulary, so she hurls the same lame clapbacks at them, then resolves the whole thing by telling them to pull their pants down.

So, why then, did I read all 3 books? Three reasons...

1. Love the story or hate it, I found myself yelling at my kindle and the writer's continual use of the same phrases, same tone, same everything. I had to put the story down many times because I just couldn't anymore with the LFC. And isn't that the true measure of good art? If an artist's work can get you to think about it, discuss it, even argue about it, long after you've finished reading it, then the artist has done his/her job. I can't argue with that.

2. I kept expecting the writer's promise about the LFC's strength to come to fruition at some point. Every time the male characters would do something horrendous, I thought, "Mmm'kay, here we go. FINALLY, she's going to get a backbone, kick them out, and be done with them." Sadly, it didn't happen. Just more of the same. Here's how each development went:

LFC: "Are you SERIOUS? You f*king destroyed my life. AGAIN!........You're an a-hole. I'm storming out...........Huh? Well, okay. Got any condoms...?"

3. The series was free with my membership. :)

About the narration, Brooke Daniels did great. There's a random clicking noise in the background several times per chapter. Sort of like when a dog's nails click on a hardwood floor? There are also random car horns, like in Ch 23 of Book 2. You probably won't notice without headphones. As far as Lucas Webley's narration, I previously wrote a pretty scathing review for him...can't remember the book, but the brother could not enunciate for anything! He's much improved and does a great job keeping each male character's voice their own.

I am so tired of writers creating women this way. Where are all the strong, independent (but not whiny or b!tchy) female lead characters who look like us, act like us, ARE us!? They can't all be buxom, blonde-haired, VIOLET-eyed, dingbat pushovers, can they?

Dumb FMC

The more I listen, the more I see that the plot to this novel usually surrounds "how stupid can the FMC be this time". The antagonist doesn't have to try to hard, because she's really just an idiot. Through out the series, its just pure stupidity like, "Oh, someones trying to kill me, but its a great idea to just go to a party!" or "Hey, I know these guys are lying to me but who cares, because they're hot!" or "I hate these guys so much, but I'm going to do exactly what they say anyway within 30 min of the conflict, so I guess I cant be too mad." I mean I don't understand her. There's, just no conviction with anything!!! Someone could say hay Madison Kate I'm going to force you to come with me and she'll just make some sort of weak comeback, but still go along with it, as if there's no other choice! Its like she doesn't know how to make any real decisions for herself or do anything unless someone tells her too. The only real thing the character conveys is that, she's just a good looking dumb ass. Ahhh... okaaaay. That's just bad character building to write about such a bobble head MC that does 95% of the narration.

Such potential ruined with a neurotic lead

Narration: nothing but positives, in my opinion.

Story: female lead is @:$;)$!? Obnoxious at this point. She gets mad at stupid moments and when she has a legit reason to get pissed, it quickly turns sexual and she loses her anger. It’s ridiculous and infuriating. Super disappointed; storyline has such potential.

Frustrating

The whole secrets story thing just keeps dragging out and dragging out. Not to mention just get sick and tired of the heroine being justifying pissed off one second and then flipping to head over heels time and time again. The three guys betray her time and time again and she keeps getting caught up in the lust. Instead of moving the story along it feels more like a record on repeat.

Skip it

This story is 80% raunchy sex, 10% storyline, and 10% discussions of a crazed sex driven stalker. Oh and the main character is 18 and her reverse harem is in their twenties. If you’re looking for a plot skip it, if you’re looking for sex enjoy it but I’d take a good plot with romance over this book in a heartbeat.

I dont want this story to end!!

I'm in love with these characters and story.. such a great listen! My attention has been captured the whole time and I dont want the story to end! On to the next book!

More High School Drama

OMG, I cannot even make myself like MK or the guys. They lied to her repeatedly, she gets mad and plots revenge plots involving superglue and porn but then because they are "so hot" she falls in to bed with one or the other. She has NO internal dialogue or issues about having sex with her boyfriend, then when he is hurt, she goes at it with his best friend in the kitchen. Nope, she never has a thought about cheating or his feelings.

MK also has no positive qualities other than she apparently is a sexy teenager who can zing one liners left and right. Her answer to everything is to flirt, strip or call people names.

Archer is a bully but the backstory takes so long to come out that I gave up waiting and quit listening. I couldn't take anymore teenage angst, drama and petty one liners. There is no plot here, just a some suggestions but they never really explore the plot. Oh - and who the heck calls each other by their full names so much in conversation? It feels forced and fake.

She really needs to grow up, so very annoying .

Why are 3 men ?? dealing with this child she needs therapy and a parent.

Good enough to finish

The plot and mysteries are interesting enough to finish the series maybe, but Archer's behavior has made no sense and is unnecessarily cruel through two books. Even though I guessed part of the reason, it still makes no sense and is repetitive.

Sexy but flawed

I can't stop listening but I find it a bit frustrating. The amount of added noise to the recording should be limited because to much of it was disillusioning. the click of a door is a nice touch when it adds suspense. It's more of a nuisance when it makes me check my own.

As always...

fucking awesome! Great read by the narrators and wow Tate slams it down yet again!

Another cliff hanger!!!!

Hot, dark and engaging. This book takes teasing and tempting to a new level! I listened to it in just 2 days!!!!

Amazing 🤩

I’m a huge fan of this series and this audio production was perfect. I can’t wait to listen to the rest.