Release Day Review ~ Family Ties and Family Lies (Rose and Thorne: Book Three) by Julie Lynn Hayes

Release Day Review ~ Family Ties and Family Lies (Rose and Thorne: Book Three) by Julie Lynn Hayes

Title: Family Ties and Family Lies
Series: Rose and Thorne: Book Three
Author: Julie Lynn Hayes
Release Date: November 23, 2016
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 135

Dreamspinner ~ GoodReads

Secrets is a dirty word when it comes to relationships. What you don’t say can not only hurt you, it can bite you in the butt.

After almost five years together, Vinnie and Ethan have a policy of don’t ask, don’t tell. But unspoken questions between them are a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode. An innocent remark by a friend starts an insecure Vinnie wondering about things he never considered before… such as why he hasn’t met Ethan’s family. Is he the love of Ethan’s life or just his dirty little secret? And what hasn’t he told Ethan about his own past?

An emergency phone call from Ethan’s twin sister sends them rushing to Georgia. In order to be with Ethan, Vinnie conforms to what Ethan’s family expects by being something he is not. Not everything is what it seems as Vinnie and Ethan work to redefine what family means to each of them.

Sometimes the ties that bind are the ones that might just break you.

The author is donating 10% of the royalties from this book to No Kid Hungry. Visit nokidhungry.orgfor more information about this organization.

***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.***

I've been a fan of this series (and of Vinnie and dreamy Ethan) since the first book and Family Ties and Family Lies was a fantastic addition to it! Please note that this is more of a serial, so I really recommend you to pick up the first two books before you read this one. You won't regret it.

In this installment, Ethan receives a phone call from his twin sister (of whom Vinnie didn't even know about) and after learning that Ethan's mom suffered a stroke, Vinnie decides dressing up as Ethan's girlfriend might be worth it if he can be with his partner when he needs him the most. Meeting Ethan's family makes Vinnie realize the reason why Ethan has kept the fact that he is in a relationship with a man a secret all these years. It's not like Vinnie hasn't been keeping up some secrets himself, and it might just be time for full disclosure if they're to move past this. But first, they'll have to survive this visit.

Vinnie and Ethan were as fabulous as ever, but the difference from other books was that Julie Lynn Hayes actually focused on their relationship this time around and not on one of their cases and it was great to see them in a different environment, but just as in love and willing to work in their relationship as ever. It was nice seeing a softer side of Vinnie, seeing how hurt he was at first when asked if he'd met Ethan's parents and it was even nicer to see Ethan finally explaining that he never thought of him as his dirty little secret, but more that he was protecting him from his pastor father and creepy brother. 

It was a neat change that it was Vinnie who suggested dressing up as a woman this time around and even more so when he disclosed that he was willing to do that and more so he could be with Ethan during his trip to Georgia. 

I loved Ethan's sister and his mother, they were amazing. And I absolutely hated Ethan's brother and his wife. I'm kind of ambivalent regarding Ethan's father, but at least he made a bit of an effort in the end. 

While this book was a bit angstier than the other two, it was still very entertaining and had many fun parts. It's well-written, fast-paced and very enjoyable! You just can't go wrong with this series. 

Rating: 4.5 Stars!!!