Gina Rae Mitchell

Only One Lie by Audrey J. Cole | Book Review ~ Excerpt ~ Giveaway | WW2 Mystery Thriller

A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me with the information for this tour.

Book Details

Only One Lie by Audrey J. Cole
Published by Rainier Publishing on 12/27/2022
Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Historical
Format: Audiobook, eBook, Hardcover, Paperback
Pages: 320

From the author of The Pilot’s Daughter and The Final Hunt comes a thrilling, suspense-driven mystery set in World War II-era Seattle.

Seattle, 1942. News of the war is interrupted by the kidnapping of young Max Ellis, heir to the wealthiest banking family on the west coast. When the boy’s parents comply with the ransom demands, the kidnapper is found dead and their son remains missing. For newlywed Vera Chandler, the story hits close to home—her husband Hugh is just six months into his job as the Ellis’s private pilot.

Within days, Hugh is deployed to the Pacific as a navy pilot, while Vera’s flying instructor and best friend joins the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron. Left alone, her parents’ words haunt her: If you really wanted to serve your country, you wouldn’t have dropped out of nursing school.

In an exchange for a favor that Vera can’t refuse, she is pulled into the Ellis family affairs by the desperate mother of the missing child. The Ellis family, Vera learns firsthand, is as dangerous as they are rich.

Soon, she is in a race to save the child’s life, and it could be the only way she can save her own.

Source: Goddess Fish Promotions, Received from the author or publisher for review.

 

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Excerpt from Only One Lie

Priscilla put her hand on the wool trousers covering the limp legs of the man she had tripped over. She shook the pants leg, but there was no movement. She heard Vincent’s footsteps flying up the path.

“Max!” she yelled out again.

Her cry was met with nothing but silence. The light from Vincent’s flashlight illuminated the body next to her when he reached her side. Priscilla shrieked and jumped to her feet. She impulsively took her husband’s arm and stared down at the man.

“Oh, no! Oh, dear God! This can’t be happening!”

A bullet hole marked the middle of the blond man’s forehead. Blood and brain matter speckled with gunpowder seeped into his hairline. Another bullet had pierced his chest just below his neck. A deep red stain flowed beneath the collar of his shirt. His blank eyes stared at her.

“Max!”

Vincent aimed his flashlight around the surrounding park as Priscilla continued to call out for their son. But there was no movement and no response.

“Max!”

“I know this man!” Vincent pointed to the bloodied corpse. “It’s Howard Mills—the man Rex fired for stealing! The guy we called the police on!”

Only three weeks ago, this same man had appeared at their home like a raging maniac, banging on their front door and complaining that Rex had unfairly fired him.

“I remember—but Vincent!” She gripped the sleeves of his overcoat and spun him toward her.

“Where’s our son?”

Excerpt provided by the author/publisher for use in this post.

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Purchase Links for Only One Lie

Amazon – OneLink for every country     Bookshop/IndieBound

Only One Lie: A NovelShop on Amazon

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My thoughts on Only One Lie

Only One Lie by Audrey J. Cole is an amazingly detailed historical fiction/mystery/thriller.

One of the things I love most about historical fiction is learning new facts about the era. The book seems exceptionally well-researched. You can tell the author has an affinity for the time period, the planes, and the women pilots serving their country during the war. I definitely need to learn more about this somewhat forgotten part of history.

Vera is a trailblazer, defying her parents to become a pilot. When her husband is deployed to Hawaii, she takes over his job as a private pilot to the wealthy banking family headed by Ruth Ellis. While this seems innocuous enough, she is soon drawn into the mystery, mayhem, and murder surrounding the family.

Risking life and limb to rescue kidnapped three-year-old Max Ellis, Vera encounters lie after lie until she is unsure who to trust. It seems that everywhere she turns, someone is threatening her very life.

Will she discover the threads of truth to rescue Max and survive herself? Read the book! You need to absorb this one for yourself.

I held my breath through entire chapters at the life-threatening predicaments Vera encountered. And my heart broke at the travails, loss of life, and lack of respect for these amazing women who put it all on the line for their country.

Many of the characters are wholly unlikeable, which is balanced by the depth of friendship and camaraderie displayed by others.

I found this book to be gripping and satisfying. I kept reading page after page, and chapter after chapter, always racing to figure out who was behind this terrible plot to kidnap Max and institutionalize his mother.

Aside from the excitement of the story, I also got a feel for the plight of women during the 1940s. With unequal pay, benefits, and human rights, the story presents many discussion topics.

If you enjoy reading about the WW2 era, particularly women in flight, grab your copy of this thrilling novel today.

I received a digital copy of the book for a virtual book tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

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I love my Amazon Kindle Unlimited Subscription. So many books, so little time!

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Purchase Only One Lie online from a local bookstore.

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Amazon – OneLink for every country   

If the above link does not take you to your country, here are a few more:

Amazon – Canada

Amazon – UK

Amazon – France

Amazon – Germany

Please send me a note if your country isn’t listed and you would like to purchase using my links. Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a very small amount out of their share. 

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Giveaway!

Audrey J. Cole will award a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Visit more stops on this Goddess Fish tour for extra chances to win!

Official Tour Page for Only One Lie

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Full Tour Schedule:

December 26: The Faerie Review
January 2: Gina Rae Mitchell
January 2: Locks, Hooks and Books
January 9: Enchanting Reviews
January 9: Guatemala Paula Loves to Read
January 16: Sandra’s Book Club
January 16: Paws.Read.Repeat

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