Mona Lisas and Little White Lies

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Pub Date 19 Mar 2019 | Archive Date 01 Apr 2019

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Description

She’s America’s hottest new celebrity. But her identity remains a secret.

Lily Machara is a wisecracking auto mechanic. She’s never cared for glitz or drama. But when Ryder Flynn, a rising star in the world of commercial art, adopts Lily as his muse after a random sighting, Lily discovers herself painted into his hot new pieces ... and becomes America’s newest — anonymous — celebrity. The only problem: The woman Ryder imagines isn’t the true Lily.

Or is it?

Now, as Lily and Ryder give in to mutual curiosity and a budding romance, Lily’s life — secrets and all — fall victim to a pop culture with one question on its mind: Who is the woman in Ryder Flynn’s art?

In the spirit of Cyrano de Bergerac and Pretty Woman, MONA LISAS AND LITTLE WHITE LIES is a delightful new romantic comedy from John Herrick, author of Beautiful Mess, From the Dead, and 8 Reasons Your Life Matters. A character-driven page turner and the feel-good story of the year, in the tradition of Nicholas Sparks, Jodi Picoult, Emily Giffin, and Elin Hilderbrand. Available as a Kindle Unlimited title.

She’s America’s hottest new celebrity. But her identity remains a secret.

Lily Machara is a wisecracking auto mechanic. She’s never cared for glitz or drama. But when Ryder Flynn, a rising star in the...


Available Editions

ISBN 9781732431409
PRICE $4.99 (USD)

Average rating from 81 members


Featured Reviews

Lily Machara is a wisecracking auto mechanic more at home with the other mechanics than in the pages of a magazine. She is shocked to find her doppelgänger appearing in advertisements.

Lily has no connection to the artist that she is aware of...and the media is clamouring to locate the source of the artist’s muse.

A delightful romantic comedy develops and would be popular for fans of Nora Roberts, Kristan Higgins and Nicholas Sparks.

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Ryder is a modern artist who accidentally found a muse in a beautiful girl he saw in a hotel lobby. He was instantly drawn to her, and repeatedly painted her image along with his in all sorts of commissioned works. As Ryder rose to fame, the woman became known as his Mona Lisa. Now the media is desperate to find out who she is.

Lily is an auto mechanic. When she sees the beautiful renderings of her likeness show up in billboards and magazines she is stunned, and more than a little intimidated at the thought of actually being the polished woman she sees reflected. When her privacy is invaded, Lily is determined to meet the man who has exposed her to scrutiny, and let him know exactly how she feels.

Both of these characters have issues to work through as they interact emotionally with the art Ryder has created. The big question is whether they will be able to have the relationship they both seem to want.

I loved Lily and Ryder's story. They were real people dealing with realistic fallout from fame neither was seeking. The emotional journey they take to discover who they are and what they're looking for is thoughtful, interesting, and more than a little emotional. They each have to grow up, and grow into the relationship they fantasize about.
This was a fabulous read.

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Mona Lisas and Little White Lies, John Herrick

Jeannie Zelos Book Reviews

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Women's Fiction.

Well, this is written by a man and Still classified as Women's Fiction – I just don't understand why we try to exclude men we should be encouraging readers not discouraging them :-(

Anyway, my first read by this author. It was well written, and the story flowed well but.....maybe In was just over-expecting. I love the fame/non fame romance trope and with the famous lead being an artist, ( such a change from the usual rock/film star leads), and being an artist myself I was hooked. Throw in that Lily isn't a primped and pampered lady but one that works as a mechanic and I thought I'd love this.

So what went wrong? Well. Its not the writing but the story-line. I didn't understand why the first 30% Lily and Ryder had barely met, and she was involved with Evan. Unless maybe it was to showcase her insecurity in her looks? Lily is lovely but not bursting with confidence, even though her friends tell her she is beautiful, she just can't see it. And of course her job isn't one that springs to mind as feminine even though she's good at it and loves it.
I loved that Ryder inserted himself and Lily into so many paintings after only meeting her once, though I'm dubious that he could paint her so exactly without and reference pics ;-). still, artistic licence all round! Once his paintings start becoming famous and seen everywhere though the hunt is on, who is the mysterious lady in his work. They meet after Lily sees one of these works....and it doesn't go too well. Ryder isn't letting her go though, six years he's been thinking of her and now he's found her he's not letting her disappear again. I guess this is where my expectations and the book parted ways. I expected more of the fame aspect, more of the hounding the media do to people.
The breakup was a shock, it just didn't seem real even though I suspected it would happen that way. I felt they needed more of a reason to part, and that Ryder was wrong. I did like that it wasn't one of those break up and two pages later make up books. I like my drama to wallow, to really feel “will they get back, or has too long passed?” A side effect of the break up was a revelation about someone that caught me out, and yet looking back all the clues were there but I missed them. I love that kind of surprise, clever planning.
I'm not sure why its billed as comedy though? That has me mystified, and I had to go back and check the description but yes, comedy is there in the blurb. I didn't find it though.....

Stars: three a half, a fun read but a one off only for me.

ARC via Netgalley and publishers

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Ryder meets Lily by chance - she doesn't remember him due to libation at her cousin's wedding. But, oh, he remembers her. Ryder is an artist who goes commercial. It is brought to Lily's attention that she is an exact likeness of the woman Ryder always depicts in his paintings. Finally, Lily, who works as an auto mechanic, decides to go to a convention that Ryder will be attending. She is not sure if she is flattered or feels used.

Eventually, Ryder and Lily become an item. They bare their souls to each other. Except Lily lies about her job.

When their romance really heats up, the tabloids get ahold of the famous painter and his "muse". Naturally, the reporters dig into Lily's past (she is dubbed the modern Mona Lisa - and of interest to the readers!) and find out where she works. Since she had been lying (instead, saying that she was in marketing) Ryder confronts her.

This is a sweet, if not predictable, story of young love and the consequences of a "little white lie"

A fun read!!!

Many thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for a good read!

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Mona Lisa's and Little White Lies is a fun romance story. Lily is an auto mechanic. She is unaware that she has become a muse for a painter and her image is now everywhere. Ryder is the painter who saw Lily,by chance, and felt compelled to paint her. This puts Lily in the spotlight where she never wanted to be. Is it right for someone to paint an image of a stranger without permission? Are Lily and Ryder developing feelings for each other? I think it's a question of ethics and Ryder has none. Lily is a sympathetic likeable character. The premise is unique, and the story is engaging, entertaining and well written. I recommend for a fun light read. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

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Wow! Mona lisas and Little White Lies by John Herrick was the perfect book to read by the fire this weekend. Herrick has a way with characters, there is so much depth to them, that I am sorry to give them up. I won't retell the story here as I could never do it justice. Instead, I urge you to give this book a try. You will not be disappointed.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author of this book for giving me access to this arc in return for an honest review.

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Loved this book. Great read. Kept me interested until the end. Really liked the story. Thank you for allowing me to read this book.

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Received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 
The plot was very unique, if only a bit far-fetched. The writing was so beautiful that I went back and read many paragraphs again and again. Ryder's paintings and his reasoning behind them were poetic. He could have been portrayed a little less sappy though!
Lisa was totally relatable and I was able to understand her predicament better than I thought I would. Everything is fair in love and war, eh? I liked the marketing guy she dated better than Ryder. He seemed genuinely interested in her than some version of her he created in his mind and idolized. And her bestfriend Aaron's story seemed like a weak link to the storyline.
3.5 stars for this one of a kind romance with a fairy tale touch. Perfect read for a warm summer day!

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Mona Lisa and Little White Lies
John Herrick
Description
She’s America’s hottest new celebrity. But her identity remains a secret.
Lily Machara is a wisecracking auto mechanic. She’s never cared for glitz or drama. But when Ryder Flynn, a rising star in the world of commercial art, adopts Lily as his muse after a random sighting, Lily discovers herself painted into his hot new pieces ... and becomes America’s newest — anonymous — celebrity. The only problem: The woman Ryder imagines isn’t the true Lily.
Or is it?
Now, as Lily and Ryder give in to mutual curiosity and a budding romance, Lily’s life — secrets and all — fall victim to pop culture with one question on its mind: Who is the woman in Ryder Flynn’s art?
In the spirit of Cyrano de Bergerac and Pretty Woman, MONA LISAS AND LITTLE WHITE LIES is a delightful new romantic comedy from John Herrick, author of Beautiful Mess, From the Dead, and 8 Reasons Your Life Matters. A character-driven page turner and the feel-good story of the year, in the tradition of Nicholas Sparks, Jodi Picoult, Emily Giffin, and Elin Hilderbrand. Available as a Kindle Unlimited title.

Lily and Ryder are the year's rom-com. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Fun and sweet. No need to go into spoilers, I recommend you read this on a weekend and enjoy as I did.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

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This was a fun romance and a light read. Lily is not aware that her image is being used in paintings. Ryder is the artist. Will they develop feelings for each other? Thanks to BooksGoSocial and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Unbeknownst to her, Lily Machara, a witty auto mechanic, becomes the muse of an upcoming artist named Ryder Flynn after an encounter they had at a hotel. Fast forward six years, Ryder has become a famous artist for his beautiful depictions of a mystery woman. Everyone wants to know who is the modern Mona Lisa in his paintings. Lily’s and Ryder’s paths collide again. While they give in to an electrifying romance, reporters are set on finding who is the real Lily Machara who has captured the handsome artist’s heart. Insecurities, little white lies, and public scrutiny could bring this celebrity couple down.

Written by John Herrick, the author of Beautiful Mess, Mona Lisas and Little White Lies is a romantic comedy novel consisting of 338 pages. It is an ideal pick to read during a lazy Sunday and spring or summer break.

The forte of the story is the development of the romantic relationship between Lily and Ryder. Lily is a woman with insecurities and a sarcastic sense of humor. She is not aware of her beauty and feels like an outsider in a fancy environment. Meanwhile, Ryder is a kind and confident man who possesses the artistic ability to capture the essence of things. For their relationship to work, they need to deal with issues of image, self-esteem, and reality.

My favorite character was Ryder Flynn. His sensibility makes him is a rarity among men. Reading about his paintings and the meaning behind them was pleasant. I was not a fan of Lily’s character. Her constant insecurities were a bit annoying. After I read about the root cause of her self-esteem problems, I understood her better. However, I expected more confidence from a woman who works as a mechanic at an auto shop.

The downside of the story is that the reader is left wanting to know more about what happened between Lily and Aaron. Why their relationship did not work? What was his secret? Also, I thought that the climax of the novel was predictable and the ending was somewhat clichéd.

I would recommend this book to those readers who enjoy romantic comedy, romance, and chick-lit novels. Segue Blue will publish Mona Lisas and Little White Lies on March 19, 2019.

Thanks to NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book so I could write an honest review. All the opinions are my own.

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Despite her beauty, Lily is deeply insecure due to an event that happened in her early twenties. I found it frustrating that she was played as more of a immature person in the beginning when she was wary of a "nice" restaurant, a successful man talking to her, and her job. It is only when she began to see herself in the way Ryder painted her that she truly evolved and loved. As a St. Louisian, the author accurately portrayed the city.

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Lily is an auto mechanic with some serious confidence issues. She's never seen herself as beautiful before. That is until she sees a piece of art by Ryder Flynn, featuring her look alike. She's never been one to take a chance and step out of her comfort zone. But what if it were for a chance at love?

I'm giving this book four stars simply because I wasn't in love with the characters. The characters did not relate to me as some of my favorite books have. Besides the lack of connection I had with the characters, this book was delightful. It's a story about love and waiting and finding your passion. It's a classic romantic comedy and a feel-good book. It's slow at times, but picks up quite quickly.

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Well this was unexpected. I read this book expecting to love it, but I FELL in love with it. It’s wonderful and I will definitely be purchasing a copy for my friends.

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I enjoyed this book. It quickly drew me in, and kept me wanting more. I enjoyed the shorter chapters being as I am a busy mom of 4 who often times gets pulled away from my books. This made it easy to tell the kiddos let me finish the chapter and I could help them.

The characters were developed, and I enjoyed seeing how the story moved from start to finish. I didn't feel that the story was rushed nor did it drag at any part. It's nice to see a woman in a manly job role for a change, and not chasing after some mega hunk who was rich and powerful. I will be looking for more books from this author.

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Enjoyed this book very much. Loved the characters of Ryder and Lily... The romance and the twists were great. I applaud John Herrick for this delightful book and hope to read more soon.

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What a fun and light romantic read!!

Ryder, an artist, sees Lily from a distance and is fascinated with her to the point that he begins painting her likeness into everything he does for years. His works of art become quite popular and therefore, her face starts to appear everywhere as Lily is now his unknowing "muse." In reality, Lily works in an auto garage and isn't the elegant and put together woman portrayed in many of Ryder's artistic renderings.

Eventually, people start telling Lily they are seeing her face everywhere and it leads to her meeting Ryder and ultimately falling "in love." Lily and Ryder's characters were both a little insecure but they seemed to fit well together. Everything is going well but there are some issues that are unresolved waiting to surface at some point and cause some drama. Lily and Ryder will have to figure out how to overcome their trust issues and acknowledge how they truly feel about one another. To see how it all plays out, you'll have to read the book.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Mona Lisas and Little White Lies captures the tale of Ryder, an artist in his prime and picking up speed in his career, and Lily, a female mechanic that captured his heart in a chance meeting years ago. It is a sweet story: their paths crossed briefly, but her image just wouldn't leave him. The idea is romantic and Herrick's use of detail is key as he, like Ryder, paints us a picture of their story. Readers get to watch their love blossom due to a fairy tale scenario, while facing real problems like if their worlds are too far apart (he a celebrity, and she is... not) and how to fix a situation once you have lied. These elements made the story relatable.
I liked the story overall, but I didn't really like Lily. Her lack of confidence became infuriating, from constantly worrying about what she ate and her "figure" as her only selling feature, to being embarrassed about her life once Ryder came into it. Thankfully, the plot of the story and the various little conflicts kept the story moving forward without these character flaws becoming too much of a concern.

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This was a light-hearted easy, romantic read, perfect for a summer holiday break. Lily and Ryder’s ‘meet cute’ is original, and their story enduringly sweet and tender. Really recommend this for a bit of escapism.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
After a chance encounter when Ryder, a starving artist, rescues a drunk Lily at her cousin's wedding, he can't get her face out of his mind. She becomes his muse in everything from his own personal paintings to magazine and billboard advertisements.
Lily, an auto mechanic, has become a celebrity without even knowing it and everyone is clamoring to find out who the woman in the paintings really is. When she finds out, she tracks Ryder down to confront him but ends up falling in love with him. She only wants to be the glamorous woman he's created on canvas. One little white lie about her job won't hurt. But when the truth hits the tabloids, everything falls apart.
I thought this was a different twist on the Cinderella story. Like the Prince in the fairy tale only having a shoe to find his true love, Ryder has only a first name and the memory of her face. Cute story.

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It's been a while since I've read a good old fashioned romance. This book was for me like a modern day Cinderella. Lily who is an auto mechanic is seen by Ryder as the love of his life and by painting her he keeps her image alive for him. It is when they initially meet that some sparks fly. I really loved the story as well as the characters. The author has the ability to keep you as the reader glued to the pages until the very end. I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for a bit of romance.

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A very good book, reminds me of sliding doors the film at times. A romantic story where lovers met from afar and their memory stays forever in the mind. An artist painting the same girl he saw long ago. Lovely to see happy endings.

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Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

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This was an extremely quick read. I enjoyed it though there wasn't anything new and exciting about it. Very predictable but it puts a smile on your face. It was your standard easy beach read/chick lit.

The big climax I thought was a little dramatic and got a little sloppy in my opinion. The whole thing with her guy friend ended up confusing me a little bit. But still enjoyed it.

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I just loved this book. I admit I'm a sucker for a good romance, and this fit the bill.

The story was told from both points of view, which I love. It was a wholesome romance without being overly sweet. I was drawn into the characters and their lives.

This was my furs t book by this author, but it won't be my last. In fact, I'm off to find another book by him....

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Ooo I loved this book! It definitely surprised me for most of it. I was not sure what it would be like but I am so glad I was able to read it!I recommend this one to others! Especially if you like a good story line!

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A very cute Ron-Com! It did take me a few days to read because of my life being so crazy but I think this book is worth the read. The concept was very cute. I think It is worth a read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the review copy.

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Honestly, I was captivated by the cover. For start, I liked the fame theme. The fact is about a painter and his muse and the fame around them it fascinates the reader. Fame can be so complicating, people just want to live their life but what about the housewife that needs to know who that person is dating, I mean that fact is not gonna improve their life. People react differently to fame and in the story we get to see their perspective.
Lily was a fascinating character for me since the beginning. Right away her career, that can be unusual for a woman, shows that woman can have passion for things supposedly are for men. Another thing that captivated me was Lily insecurities, how she clearly demonstrates the unfitting in society as a woman. But when comes to Ryan, I didn’t like that much his personality. He seems a nice guy but at the same time a little trivial, he didn’t think of the consequences of his acts. Apart from the main characters, their friends are okay.
The story was appealing since the beginning, still weird the way Ryan falls for her but interesting for the fact she turns to be his muse.Their romance was something. Nothing too much physical attraction, the feeling of getting to know each other and learn about the small things is engaging and with the different POVs, the reader can see the whole picture.

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Love is patient... this quote defines the whole point of this book. Or I just might be a sucker for happily everafter stories.
Mona Lisas is a modern fairytale for those of us who still believe in love conquers all and 'love will find you when the time is right'.
Meet a talented painter and quirky auto-mechanic. They've met by accident. They've met again. They fell in love. They broke up. They... Well, you will have to read the book. The catch being, they meet and date on canvas before they do it in real life. How they come together... is the whole point of the story.
The language of the book is very easy and flowing. It feels like girlfriends got together and are sharing stories of successful and broken relationships. There is enough glitz and glamour of high end art and descriptions of food, dresses and painting to make you feel like a princes watching from afar.
All in all, I enjoyed the book and read it quickly as I really wanted to know all the mona lisas' secrets.

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First, i have to say Ryder Flynn is a fantastic name and seems to have been stolen from the movie Tangled!

Overall, I love books like this! It is a fantastic book to read on a sunny day when you dont have anything else going on. I love the "hidden identity" drama in this book.

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I absolutely adore novels where a 'normal' human being becomes famous, it's my dream to one day become famous for something and show all of the other celebrities how it is done by not letting fame go to my head! This was an uproariously funny novel, and I loved the two leads.

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This was quite a fun read. Enjoyable characters and easy to read.

Can’t wait to read more from this author.

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