One Little Lie by Avery Maxwell - Book review

Published: 5 November 2021
Series: The Westbrooks: Family Ties #2
Pages: 342
Warnings: Language

She’s the only one I’ll ever love, but I had to let her go.
Rylan Maroney is the biggest lie I’ve ever told, and it nearly destroyed everyone in my life. No matter how much it hurts, I can never have her again.

He broke my heart and walked away, but he hasn’t let me go.
Halton Westbrook has haunted my life from four thousand miles away for the last eight years. I’ve tried to move on, but he makes it impossible.

No one knows about us or why I ran away, but he’s gone too far this time, and I have to take a stand.

When I return home, he’ll have to decide, keep me, or let me go forever.

I’m not sure we’ll survive either way.

What you need to know:

Small Town
Brother’s Best Friend
All The Feels
Troubled Hero
Determined Heroine
Meddling Family & Friends Who Become Family

Halton and Rylan grew up together and have known each other almost their whole lives. And they have been in love almost that long too. But the path to happily ever after has been anything but smooth for these two.

One Little Lie follows the journey of Halton and Rylan as they are separated by what begins with circumstance and good intentions and ends with two broken hearts. These two will do whatever it takes to take care of the ones they love, even if it is at the cost of their own happiness.

One Little Lie (which probably wasn’t really that little) shows just how far that one well intentioned lie can spread and how much of an effect it can have. In this case, it broke two hearts and the effect lasted for years.

Halton and Rylan grew up together and loved each other for just about as long as they can remember. But circumstance and insecurities have gotten in the way and kept the two of them from each other.

Rylan is very strong, as she manages to love Halton through events that would have ended things for many. But she still knows there’s a future there for the two of them, if they can just work things out.

Halton has acted in what he believes is the way that is best for his family, but at the cost of his own heart. He struggles a lot with the ethical side of cementing a relationship with Rylan.

Avery Maxwell has handled this story so sensitively. The specter of anxiety is a prevalent theme in the book and it is managed really well. I am fortunate enough to have not experienced anxiety personally, but after reading One Little Lie I felt as if I had gained a better understanding.

This is a lovely romance with very real characters and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Thank you to Avery Maxwell for my copy of this ebook.

Banner on green background with stars to highlight, saying 'about the author'

Avery Maxwell is an American Romance Author who loves wine, sexy stories, pizza, and her family.

Avery is a hot mess of a mom to four wildly sweet mini-humans and two fur babies. She spends far too much time in her pj’s and trips over herself multiple times a day. Accident-prone is probably a fair assessment.

Having grown up in small-town Vermont, Avery often jokes about being the most naïve person in the room. Luckily, she’s used that small-town charm to write character-driven contemporary romances that have you laughing one minute, and crying the next.

When she isn’t refereeing (three little boys require a lot of whistle blowing), or cuddled up with her real-life Prince Charming, you can find her tucked away with a bottle of wine (because those steamy scenes don’t write themselves!), or coaching her daughter’s basketball team.

Avery now lives in North Carolina where she brings life, love, and a happily ever after to every character she writes.