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Blood Secrets #2

Inherent Lies

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A woman with a haunted past…
An agent with a dangerous secret…
A madman with a twisted sense of revenge…

While honing her gifts as a cold-case consultant with the Dublin Garda, Liv Sullivan uncovers a personal connection to the spirits who seek her help. Faced with a chance to bring peace to the living, rather than the dead, Liv can’t resist. Even if it means working alongside the man who broke her heart.

Special Agent Ridge McCaffrey chose duty over desire, a mistake that nearly ended Liv Sullivan’s life. So, when a missing person’s investigation exposes a link to Liv, Ridge vows to bring her home, hoping for a second chance with the Bureau’s most valuable asset.

As they rekindle their relationship, an enemy from Ridge’s past looms dangerously close. And when Ridge’s sister is abducted, Liv makes the ultimate sacrifice, placing herself in the crosshairs between a corrupt psychic intelligence operation and an ex-agent with a score to settle.

Can Liv stop a killer before death becomes her only escape?

Inherent Lies is the compelling second book in the Blood Secrets psychological suspense series. If you like flawed heroines and complex plots laced with a hint of romance, then you’ll love this second installment of Alicia Anthony’s award-winning thriller.

372 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 17, 2020

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About the author

Alicia Anthony

4 books603 followers
Alicia Anthony is the award-winning author of the Blood Secrets psychological suspense series. Although her first novels were illegible scribbles on the back of her truck driver father's logbook trip tickets, she’s since graduated from scribbles to laptop, and now pens novels of suspense in the quiet of the wee morning hours. A full-time elementary school Literacy Specialist, Alicia hopes to pass on her passion for books and writing to the students she teaches.

A Silver Quill Award winner and two time finalist for both the Claymore and Golden Heart®, Alicia finds her inspiration in exploring the dark, dusty corners of the human experience. She is a graduate of Spalding University's School of Creative & Professional Writing (MFA), Ashland University (M.Ed.) and THE Ohio State University (BA). Go Bucks! She lives in rural south-central Ohio with her amazing family, two dogs, three horses, a plethora of both visiting and resident barn cats, and some feral raccoons who have worn out their welcome.

When she's not writing or teaching, Alicia loves to travel and experience new places. Connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, or at www.AliciaAnthonyBooks.com. She’d love to hear from you.

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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Profile Image for Cathy Geha.
3,934 reviews106 followers
March 14, 2020
Inherent Lies by Alicia Anthony
Blood Secrets #2

This is book two in a series and you really should read Inherent Truths before reading this book to have the full context of the story. That said, having just finished book two, I really wish I had book three in hand to begin reading right now because...I want to know the bits that have yet to be told.

In book two we find Liv Sullivan in Ireland working with Michael, an Irish cop, to solve cold cases while also spending some time with Ashlyn, the sister she did not grow up with. She is still seeing visions of the dead, has big questions about more than one thing that has and is happening in her life and is missing her love interest from book one, Ridge. Why is she missing him is a mystery in some ways as he disappeared when she needed him most and hasn’t been in touch for months. In addition to Ashlyn and Michael there is Herman, a man that helps her with her paranormal abilities..

When Ridge is made aware that Liv is in danger he heads out to try to make amends and bring her back to the USA to keep her safe. She does head back eventually but whether or not she will remain safe is questionable. We learn more about both Liv and Ridge and a bit more about GenLink and the reason it was set up by the US government and we also learn who might want to cause harm to the program and its assets.

What I liked:
* Liv: smart, strong, resilient, focused and eager to find out more about the mysteries that surround her. I did think her paranormal abilities must have been involved in her falling so hard for Ridge in that she could “feel” his intention in spite of his behavior.
* Ridge: When he was open and honest...but that was rare. I did like that he loves Liv but his way of showing it was iffy more often than not.
* The writing
* The twists and turns
* The not knowing for sure who was good and who was bad
* Finding out more about GenLink
* The supporting characters
* The writing

What I wanted to know more about:
* The “father” or priest met in the beginning that Liv picked up negative vibes from
* O’Malley’s backstory
* The other assets
* Why Ridge was so “by the book” and willing to believe his boss over the woman he professed to love
* The Irish contingent (perhaps Ashlyn will get a book?)

What I did not like:
* The evil-doers and their nefarious actions – wicked indeed
* Having to wait to find out how this will all be resolved

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in the series? Yes

Thank you to the author who bequeathed me an ARC to read and review – This is my honest review.

4.5 Stars
Profile Image for Read All About It.
1,646 reviews24 followers
March 17, 2020
This is the second book in this series. I had the hardest time getting into this book. There is a lot going on in this installment sometimes a little to much. Liv is trying to uncover the truths of the past that her mother was obsessed with. Government conspiracy and cover ups are front and center. Secrets are everywhere. There were times I didn’t like Ridge at all. Everyone wants to exploit Liv’s powers which are growing. We’ll see what happens in the next book.
Profile Image for Cath.
951 reviews15 followers
March 22, 2020
This is book two of the Blood Secrets series and sees Liv Sullivan now working with the Irish Garda, to help solve cold cases and being helped by her sister and others to train her empath senses further. Back in her home town in the States, FBI Special Agent Ridge McCaffrey is back to work undercover as a police detective with the local police station. His job was to keep Liv safe, but others have twisted the path she was following and he was ordered away. He was unable to see her when she was injured and needed him most, and hasn’t seen her in over six months. He has been ordered to keep away, but when her life is in danger, he can’t.

Liv has been given evidence her birth mother drew of people in trouble from her visions and Liv has been having dreams of one of them. It all leads back to her birth mother and where she was brought up and others in the same place. Many disappeared and a fire at a home ties many of the matters together. The chance to perhaps save a living person, rather than only see peoples deaths, bring Liv back to the States with Ridge, but not before someone tries to kill her or get rid of evidence. She is getting too close to something, but she doesn’t have all of the pieces to put it together yet.

Ridge has been keeping a lot about his work and his true purpose in her home town, secret from Liv all this time, but now there is an even bigger secret that will possibly explode any chances of their relationship ever being rekindled. A high profile missing person case is what they both have to work on now, and they start to get close once again, but trust is something that will take time. Liv meets Ridge’s father George and sister Skylar, when they come to visit him, but peace is soon destroyed when Skylar is abducted by someone with an axe to grind against Ridge apparently. An enemy from the start of his FBI career is thought to be responsible for many of the missing assets and is coming for those closest to him, to hit him where it will hurt him the most.

Liv volunteers to be a pawn in the FBI’s plan to capture this man, without Ridge’s knowledge. An operation fraught with danger as a now corrupt psychic intelligence operation of the FBI’s and a former FBI trainee and colleague of Ridge’s clash for the power within Liv’s genes. One wants an asset to use for intelligence purposes and the other is thought to want her to produce a chemical equivalent of her psychic talents to make anyone an asset. One is a killer and Liv is placing herself in their direct line of sight, to save Skylar and hopefully to stop them. But matters are far more complex and twisted than she or any of those around her know.

A storyline filled with twists and turns, with surprises at every corner. Nothing dull about this storyline and the good that Liv and others like her can give to the police and FBI, but also to the families of the missing and their final peace of mind on identifying the dead, is great to see. There is not quite as much romance in this instalment, it comes from a slightly different angle, and is also tempered with distance and a lack of trust, hampering its rekindling. The plot is definitely complex and some of it you won’t see coming! A fantastic read and now I’m left waiting for the next book to see what happens to the main characters. I can’t wait! If you like a realistic crime procedural, with a bit of the paranormal and some romance chucked in, then this is the series for you. You will come to love the main characters as I have! I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
793 reviews3 followers
March 28, 2020
First of all, definitely read the first book before this one! It won't make very much sense if you don't. I had a bit of a difficult time getting into the flow of this book, but it had a lot of really good mystery and intrigue that will make you want to stick it out to the end. When Special Agent Ridge McCaffrey discovers a link in the missing person's investigation that will endanger Liv, he rushes to her side, hoping for more than to just keep her safe. Can he truly protect her if his own past gets in the way? The hardest part of when you get there will be to have to wait for book 3, but I am curious to see what else Alicia Anthony shows us in her continuation.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Debbie Loader.
1,037 reviews
January 10, 2020
A very enjoyable tale with a decent storyline. Good characters, just one or two you just don't want to like. Lots of references to previous activies that made me wish I had read book 1 first then I discovered it hadn't been released yet!

I would of given five stars but there were some inconsistencies that bugged me, including the bible becoming a diary and Liv taking her bag off Ridge's shoulder when she was already carrying it!

I have ordered book 1 and look forward to learning more about Ridge and Liv. With thanks to #NetGalley and Drury Lane Books for the preread.
699 reviews1 follower
March 18, 2020
This is the second book in the series. It was another suspenseful read that kept me on the edge of my seat. Honestly, I almost stopped reading this book half way through. There are constant lies and deception between the two main characters. He constantly lied to her and put his job above her. Even when she almost died and was in the hospital for a month he did what his boss wanted and did not call or see her once. I don't think he is redeemable. I want to read the next book to see how it ends but, this one was a disappointment.
179 reviews
April 26, 2023
Wonderful Fast Paced Thriller

Inherent Lies, written by Alicia Anthony, is the second book in the Blood Secrets series. Where some authors are unable to create a satisfying and engrossing sequel, Ms. Anthony has succeeded in continuing to further develop the main characters, add additional characters, expand her world building, thicken the plot with more twists and turns, answer questions that were left unanswered in the first book, create new questions, and leave me ready to immediately begin reading the third book in the series. For me, she delivered with flying colors!
Profile Image for Denise.
4,123 reviews12 followers
March 18, 2020
This one was just as able to as I remember to pull me into the intrigue and mystery that carries a reader along till the surroundings they are in disappear. We are able to continue along side of Liv. We are also in for a treat because there is still agent Ridge also to gives us more in this story. As things grow and repair the danger also leaks in. We will be pulled and the tension will spike but this is one that will carry us fast because we want the whole picture and soon.
Profile Image for Alisha Nolan.
25 reviews2 followers
March 28, 2020
If you haven't read the first of this series stop reading this review and go read it! This is the second of the series and it does not disappoint. Ridge and Liv have so many lies between them and internal struggles that you start doubting your own assumptions of them. Again I thought I knew who couldn't be trusted and again I was so wrong. You will not want to put the book down and when you have to because you are finished you will not be disappointed.
510 reviews1 follower
March 23, 2020
I highly recommend you read book 1 before you read Inherent lies. Liv and Ridge are in for the ride of their lives. What with spirits roaming and danger lurking in the shadows, Ridge will need every ounce of strength to bring Liv home . . .

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for L.V. Pires.
Author 16 books41 followers
March 21, 2020
A great read with lots of twists and turns. Liv Sullivan's paranormal gift gives the story an additional layer of intrigue and mystery. I also loved the Irish setting and details. The story definitely keeps you on your toes until the end. I look forward to reading Book 3.
Profile Image for Emily Dickson.
1,076 reviews7 followers
January 17, 2021
I need more!

Second book in this series and I am hooked. More secrets and lies with suspense and surprises. Luv is fantastic as a character and I look forward to reading the next book! Loved it!
Profile Image for Deb  pearsall.
23 reviews2 followers
August 26, 2021
I picked up the first in this series only because my book club was going to read it. It sounded too far out for my tastes. I was so wrong I am absolutely loving reading these! Couldn’t hardly put it down! Can’t wait to grab #3!
Profile Image for Nikki Burnette.
22 reviews5 followers
July 18, 2023
The twists and turns in this one had me not wanting to put it down! I can't wait for the next one. Really enjoying this series so far.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews

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