I loved the premise of Half Truths and was eager to see what ride the author would take readers on, and it was indeed a ride and one I think many readers will love.

I enjoyed the slow burn romance and the secrets driving the suspenseful plot, it set a specific mood that carried throughout the book. I also really liked the setting. The author did a fantastic job painting the scenes with vivid descriptors and flushing out the emotions of the characters, making it easy to become immersed in the story. Although I wouldn’t say Half Truths was chock-full of unanticipated twists and revelations, the way the story of the secret societies and disappearing students unfurled definitely grabbed and held my attention.

In fact, the story snagged so much of my interest that the romance ended up being a backstory in many ways. While I did like the slow build between Logan and Amelia and thought they complimented each other well, the chemistry between these two seemed to spark but not catch fire as much as I hoped. Perhaps it was simply that all the other action and suspense muted their romance, but despite the slow initial build, it felt as though their feelings developed and significantly deepened far too quickly based on their histories. Regardless, Half Truths is definitely worth the read, especially if you like plots that contain many moving parts.

I will start off by saying I've read every single one of Claire Contreras books. AND I LOVE THIS AUTHOR.

This one was a 3.5 stars for me. I can tell it's a <"It's Me Not You"> thing.
I think most can appreciate sometimes it's just a mood thing. TBH I'm sad that I didn't absolutely love it like most everyone else.

This story has a great flow. The mystery is constant, intriguing and I couldn't stop turning pages.
Logan is the perfect bad-boy-mysterious-hero I LOVE HIM!!!
Amelia is determined and daring.

But I was left with questions. This is a standalone and there were some aspects that weren't clear <OR> I'm just looking too much into it but I don't think so. By the end of the book I still wasn't sure what the purpose of <______> was..... #NoSpoilers

Unfortunately, the formatting of this title was bad enough that I was not able to read it...blank pages, pages with only a couple of lines on them, uneven paragraphs and spacing.

This will stay on my TBR as something I may pick up at a later date, but I am not able to review this ARC.

DNF @ 59%.

I feel like I'm just hate reading this at this point, so I'm going to let it go. Let me sum this up for you, rich people are terrible and the heroine of this book hates herself for having money. Oh, and she's edgy...which makes her like most of the other heroines I read. OH. Also, the hottest guy on campus wants her but barely knows her. Which would be fine if it was just for sex. But he's doing some heavy hinting at wanting her for more. And I just don't know why...

I will say that while I am not a fan of this book, I do think the author is a decent writer. I'm just not on board with this plot.

Half Truths is this perfect narrative constructed by some of my favourite tropes—secret societies, enemies to lovers and college sports—beautifully weaved together and set within an eerie, sinister environment that clutched every fibre of my being without remorse. Carefully crafted, Claire Contreras delivered a suspense-filled romance that left me on edge, wondering what questions will be answered and secrets unveiled as each page flew by in the most riveting blur ever.

"He had a mysterious aura about him that matched his namesake."

I’m in absolute love with Logan Fitzgerald, a perpetually brooding hero surrounded by an aura of alluring mystery and captivating intrigue. Mean and detached though somehow charming, Fitz’s disinterested attitude is overshadowed by an unforeseen softer, sweeter side hidden beneath the complex multi-facets he possesses. Receiving glimpses of this unattainable hero left me an unashamed wanton mess, desperate to have more of this conceited character because there’s nothing better than having a mean yet romantic hero.

"He left a lot to the imagination. Maybe that was it. He gave just enough to pique interest, but not enough to satisfy."

Amelia Bastón’s characterisation truthfully astounded me. She’s more than just a ‘rich girl’ surrounded by materialism and superficiality. Mae’s determination to become more, to achieve her dreams beyond her family’s desires is an admirable and relatable quality that will resonate with readers. Furthermore, her irrevocable love for her brother is an endearment. Combined with an unfettered resolve to uncover some hidden truths unveils a character that’s fierce and intelligent and ambitious; a woman who loves wholly and unconditionally.

"I want you forever, Amelia,” he said against my hair. “And forevermore after that."

Started as enemies, but turned into lovers, Fitz and Mae’s connection transitioned with such a delicious slow burn, my heart ached to have more once the torture finished. Despite the constant bickering and bantering, the sexual tension and chemistry between them kindled and crackled into something undeniable as it flared across the pages. Even though the romance doesn’t dominate the narrative, Fitz and Mae’s bond progresses naturally and beautifully.

Countless secrets and creative foreshadowing increase the tension and suspense tenfold flowing through this intricate narrative. I’m in absolute love with enemies to lovers and the feature of secret societies and college sports made me more enamoured than I anticipated with Half Truths. It’s as if my heart waited for something this brilliant, a faultless blend of romance and thriller, to be written for years.

When I read the synopsis of Half-Truths, I knew that I had to get my hands on it! I have been on the hunt for a good romantic thriller for a long time, but every time I have picked one up, it was always lacking. Either the mystery was top-notch or the romance was amazing, but they never seemed to both be on the same level. That was until I read Half-Truths, one of my favorite reads of 2019.

This is my first read by Claire Contreras and I can't wait to read some of her other books because I thought Half-Truths was written masterfully. Everything flowed perfectly and the story unraveled at the perfect pace. I honestly don't think that it could have been written better because it was just perfect. Also, would this not be the perfect book to turn into a TV show? Come on Netflix, make this happen!

Don't even get me started on Logan! He was a hot, brooding alpha male that so happens to be my newest book boyfriend. I don't even have enough words to describe how perfect he was. I also really loved Mae. She was smart, sassy and felt very genuine. I also liked that every time she put herself in danger, she did so intelligently and with purpose.

The mystery aspect of this book was great. I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. There were a lot of twists and turns and I was complexly satisfied by the time I turned the last page.

Hands down my favorite aspect of this book was the romance. Swoon worthy is not a strong enough word for what I was feeling. This book was full of angst and the chemistry between Logan and Mae was off the charts! I can't wait to pick up more books by Contreras if her romances are all like this!

I know that I have said this a million times already about this book, but this book was perfection. From the unique characters, to the thrilling mystery, to the epic romance, this book has it all. I feel like most romance readers will devour this book and it probably will create a lot of new Claire Contreras fans!

Half-Truths was a totally unexpected read for me and I LOVED IT! This is not just a romance novel but one filled with mystery and suspense! I haven't have the pleasure of reading many Claire Contreras novels but you can bet that's going to change after this one! I highly recommend it.

Logan and Mae's story was simply fantastic! It was layered and complex. It was emotional and explosive. It had me hooked from page one through to the end. I have always been a fan of this author but this story just took it up a notch. It's a hard one to review without giving away spoilers. I will say it's one of the very best kind of enemies to lovers I've ever read. Definitely recommend.

Incredible! Claire Contreras did not disappoint. I love this world she has created and I can’t wait to read more!

3.5 Stars
Days after finishing this book and I'm still undecided on my feelings and rating for it.
But I've got to try and put my feelings into a review. So here goes:

I didn't enjoy this first 60% of this book, it was slow and I couldn't connect with the characters properly. I felt like we had everything thrown at us at the beginning. In a new school, these werid people walking round in cloacks, a missing girl, Mae brother's accident. I dunno. It just seemed like a lot. Then through in there that Logan, plays hockey and I'm not even sure what genre of book we have here.

Anyway, the things I like are: the last 40%, the book just felt like it took a whole different turn on the storyline. I enjoyed the characters a lot more, actually started to root for them. I kind of knew who that "bag guy" was going to be. I've read a lot of thrillers/mystery/suspence books and some of them are just easy to spot. But I didn't figure out the why. I did find myself sitting on the edge of my seat and ignoring real life to kind out what was going to happen.

By the end I loved the characters, and the relationship they had developed, we definatley need a follow on book as there is still loads of questions we need answers to.

My first thoughts after finishing HALF TRUTHS was HOLY S! My second was that I wanted more!!! I couldn’t believe it when I reached the end. I kept starting at my iPad willing more pages to materialize. I’m a huge fan of Ms. Contreras and this is my favorite book to date. HALF TRUTHS has the perfect mixture of romance and suspense. I loved Amelia and loved Logan even more. I love this twisted world she came up with and I’m hoping we”ll see more of it in the future. I loved Logan hardcore and was constantly on edge waiting for the other shoe to drop. My favorite thing about this book (besides him ....swoon) is that it was unpredictable. I had no clue where this story was going or what the twist was until the second the author wanted me to. Bravo! A must read.

Completely twisted and mysterious!!!!! I was so enthralled with this book from the start. I had no clue what this book was about when I started reading it and honestly, I’m so glad I went on blind. It made it that much more enjoyable.

This read was so suspenseful, I was left guessing right up until the end. There was such an intricate web of secrets and conspiracies in this book that you just never quite knew what was real vs speculation and what would happen next!

Amelia aka Mae was the perfect heroine for this story! She was strong and independent but vulnerable and a bit of a loner. She was so driven and I think that really helped the bottom line of this story. She wouldn’t take people at their word and needed to find out the truth herself. Her curiosity and rigid back bone proved to work in her favor though out the suspenseful torture the author put us through. She was so sassy and smart. I couldn’t find a single thing to dislike about her.

I couldn’t get enough of Logan “Fitz” Fitzgerald!!!!! He may have been a total jerk in the beginning but oh my goodness did he make me swoon by the end! His character was so complex and guarded. I loved how he slowly peeled back layers of himself to Mae over the course of the read. He totally won me over.

I absolutely enjoyed the fact that romance was not the focus of this story. It was there, hiding in the darkest corners of the writing and really allowed the story to flow unconstrained by a relationship or feelings. Yes, there was some incredible intimacy, but it wasn’t the sole focus which worked so well for this particular book!

The only thing that kept this book from being 5 stars for me was the ending chapters. It felt so rushed and left a bit open ended. There was so much suspense and anticipating built up over the course of the book, that it felt like the author didn’t do the ending justice by rushing through it. I would have preferred a duet for this story.

I love Claire Contreras and I loved this book! There was so much mystery surrounding this whole story. I loved all of the ups and downs. I shipped Mae and Logan super hard. I did not see that ending coming and I really enjoyed that. I can't wait to read what other books Claire comes up with in this universe. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with and ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Claire Contreras! This book did not disappoint! This had thrill, suspense, and romance! I couldn't read it fast enough. I would definitely recommend!!

I received this ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review

There was this eerie feel to the book and it had me hooked from the beginning. At first Amelia and Logan were tough nuts to crack. I felt like I spent the entire book trying to figure everybody out. It seemed like I was only getting these bread crumbs and I could not flip these pages fast enough! It was so good. The only issue I have is that I wanted more. I felt we could have got some more info during the aftermath of the criminals. We found out the motive but I needed to know a little bit more of what happened. Other than that it was a great read.
This book actually reminded me of a couple of episodes from the Gilmore Girls with Rory and Logan.

Arc provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

My first Contreras book and I will read more from her! This had the right mix of romance, mystery and suspense. I really liked the chemistry between Mae and Logan as well as the slow burn of their romance. I was not pleased with that Epilogue though. After everything that happened we basically get a one page from Logan's POV that doesn't really tell us much. It was a huge letdown. Now if you told me there would be a second book that would explore all the implications from the end of this book, I could live with the ending.

A quiet great mash up of Scream, Riverdale, Penelope Douglas’ Devil’s Night (but this time there are two secret club members differentiated by their black and red clocks, which one is bad, we don’t know yet!) It’s fast pacing, mysterious, gripping page turner with hot, undeniable chemistry between Mae and Logan Moriarty Fitzgerald (After Andrew Scott, Moriarty name always gives me a wide smile! No offence Sherlock!)

The plot is intriguing: Mae a.k.a Amelia changes her school to dig more about the mystery of her brother’s car crash, her missing girlfriend and her secrets about her own family history. But as soon as she takes her first step to the school area, she bumps into the school’s star, bad boy hokey play Logan Moriarty Fitzgerald ( for his friends he’s Fitz but only for Mae he is Logan) Then she realizes, she is stalked by the guys wearing red cloaks and finally she is summoned to a special Society Club. She reluctantly accepts to offer because her brother commits suicide by swallowing too much drugs and he is in coma right now. The thing happens to him might be connected with the secret club she was summoned and her brother was also the member of the club and mentor of Logan. So Amelia finds herself play a very dangerous game with no return.

The romance parts are balanced even the hero is man-whore but as far as I can read, he didn’t cheat on or treat unfair the heroine and stayed away from his orgies (that’s heroine’s definition for his sexcapades!) so he didn’t deserve my slaps, punches or any of assassination scheme for I plan for the worst douchebag heroes!

BUT… You get that something is up after those good words about the book.

I was even planning to give five stars to this book but some parts really irritated me and I stayed between three and four. If I didn’t like Mae so much and her attraction, slow-burn and hot chemistry with Logan, I would give three stars to this book because the bad guy of the story is so obvious, carrying a big colorful, shiny billboard sign above his/her head pointing at him/her! And the motives of bad guy made me nod my head and asked myself: “Really! That was the reason?” It’s not quiet satisfying revelation after all those mystery parts.
But I think this is the first book of the series and there are still unanswered parts of the story.

My conclusion:

HEROINE: Normally I hate the guts of rich, spoiled brat kind of posh girls but Mae knows that money only belongs to her family and the richness of them doesn’t define her. She is smart, brave, self-confident, player, witty. So I liked her.

HERO: Yes he’s hot and when it comes to Mae, I can see his passion and undeniable attraction he feels for heroine. But I found him a little weak at the last parts. So let’s say above the average, likable but not loveable hero!

STORY PROGRESSION: Makes you flipping pages faster than light speed.

ENDING: Not quite romantic and not so satisfying with too many blanks but sequel might be on its way to solve this problem. I don’t know what the second book will be about (My guess it will be Nolan story) but I like to read more about this couple. They are match made in heaven, complete each other perfectly.

Do I read the sequel? Yes, definitely if it gives me more closure, more hot couples on the board and snippets about Mae and Logan’s story.

Thanks to NetGalley and brilliant, one of my favorite romance (now also thriller) authors Claire Contreras to share this riveting, nail biter ARC COPY in exchange my honest review.

An intense thriller where surrogacy arrives in an other dimension!

Roz relocates from Ireland to New York because a "diamond couple" are going to adopt her baby. Throughout this entire debacle, we see Roz confused and afraid. Roz' best friend in Ireland tries to get her father to help Roz. Will he be able to do so?

An excellent depiction of a girl who finds herself pregnant and is in need of income.

Thrills and suspense throughout the entire book!

HIGHLY recommend!!!

Many Thanks to Claire Contreras and NetGalley for a wonderful read!