I jumped around a bit with my opinions on this book. Which always feels mean to say. But it didn't hold me to it at certain moments. Some details I needed more of and some a bit less.
But it could've just gone over my head because of my lack of knowledge of the arts.
It's a good thriller with a teased and tense bit of romance too. I'm up in the air on this one. Gripping no, but I'd not regret reading it if asked to do so again.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Mallory had a tough childhood and then she married an abusive man - when he dies she swears no more men!
She poses as an art dealer and finds herself in the art fraud world- her target- Dylan- who she finds herself falling in love with. Can she trust him? Can he trust her?

The Lies That Blind Us is a thrilling blend of romance and suspense that kept me turning pages! Mallory Storm is a protagonist with layers—fierce and determined, yet scarred by her past. Her journey to Italy is more than an escape; it’s a plunge into the dark, seductive world of art fraud. The chemistry with Dylan Hyde is electric, and their dynamic is as tense as it is tantalizing. Amora Sway does a fantastic job balancing Mallory's inner turmoil with the high-stakes plot. While I think the ending was a bit drawn out, I still think this book is great for fans of romantic suspense looking for a dose of art-world intrigue!

Thank you Amora Sway, Victory Editing, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Overall I think this book is a good choice for lovers of art and Europe who are looking for a small thriller. If youre a lover of major thrills, this book may not fulfil that need for thrill like most thriller books. The descriptions of Europe and art history is in great detail. I may not be the perfect audience for this book because I think these details went over my head as I am not familiar with art history. So I couldn't appreciate the details and types of paintings they were viewing.

Synopsis: You follow Mallory's journey on uncovering Dylan's possible art fraud in Europe after she was accused of her husband's murder in the states. She is an art appraiser in New York who is over the moon excited about this opportunity, but it may soon become more than she bargains for as there is more to the art fraud, and Dylan, then she was briefed on. You follow her internal struggle of completing the mission she came for and being love struck for this possibly dangerous man. You learn of Mallory's past and some of Dylan's past on this journey as well. There is some light spice, action, and thrill/mystery. Toward the end you get chapters in her POV and his POV as well.

I agree with other reviews that it does seems to jump around a lot. It almost feels like something was missed, but then at other times it felt like the details dragged on so long. I also had a hard time feeling for and being attached to the characters like I do in most books. The use of large "fancy" vocabulary seemed forced and unnecessary as well. Simple descriptions would have had the same or better impact.

As for the thrill and mystery, I agree with others it seems light compared to most books classified as thrillers. About half way into the book I could already tell what most of the ending would be, however there was one twist at the end I didnt see coming. However, that ending isnt something uncommon to books and I feel like it was an easy way to tie the end. But, to not spoil too much, if you do read the whole book I think the ending is sweet in a way because I think its a way for the traumas of the past to be healed. So its likely that ending was intentional due to the pasts mentioned.

Thank you to the author and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this e-ARC.
I hope this review is helpful to those looking to read "The Lies That Blind Us: A Thriller" and as always, these are my opinions. You may find my review does not match your thoughts on the book so its always good to give a book a try if it peaks your interests and make your review as well for others because not everyone's tastes are the same!

I didn’t enjoy this book the plot and description lead me to want to read this book and it is a short easy read book, however for a person who reads alot of thriller books I unfortunately predicted a lot of the premise of the book. I found parts of the book jumping scenes and not giving context

Sent to Italy to uncover an Art fraud Mallory Storm finds she will be incovering a lot more.

Her abusive husband has died and soon after she is accused of his murder.

I loved this book. It is an exciting read and very descriptive, I was whisked to Italy in an instant and it was as though i was through the streets with Mallory.

It is a well developed story and the storytelling is brillaint, I do hope there is a follow up.. it's one of those books I want more from and I didn't want it to end..

Oh my this book was a fantastic read it kept me wanting more lots of excitement from start to finish.
I really hope there is going to be a follow on to this book I really need to know if her new husband to be is safe or in danger from this woman

Mallory Storm’s life was supposed to calm down after her abusive husband’s death—but “calm” goes out the window when she’s accused of his murder. Escaping to Italy on an undercover gig in the art world, Mallory’s tasked with catching a major fraud player, only to find herself entangled with Dylan Hyde: dangerously charming and possibly plotting against her.

While the setup promises a blend of art, suspense, and steamy tension, I found the story didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Mallory’s heart-wrenching paranoia and whirlwind romance with Dylan had intrigue, but the execution left me a bit unsatisfied. If you’re into high-stakes romance with a twist of mystery, it might be worth a try—just not my favorite.

I started this book with such high hopes! I really enjoyed the descriptive writing. It really felt like I was experiencing Italy and traveling with Mallory on an art tour and who doesn't enjoy a secretive adventure full of action, romance and treasure?

I could not find it in myself to like our main characters however. Something about them never caught my attention or interest and I found myself wanting to get back to the adventure instead of focusing on their stories.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Mallory Storm, an art appraiser in New York, travels to Italy posing as an art buyer to expose a man suspected of passing off counterfeit paintings as real works of art. When she meets the man in question, the seductive and mysterious Dylan Hyde, she wonders whether she wants to bring him down. When desire and danger blend together Mallory questions if she can trust Dylan or will that lead to her ultimate demise.

The Lies that Blind Us was a quick read. Amora Sway did a great job transporting the reader to Italy. I could often picture the beautiful settings while reading. I enjoyed that the book was written from the perspectives of both Mallory and Dylan.

The plot summary piqued my interest, but the story left me indifferent. I could predict the twists ahead of time, which made the book less enjoyable for me.

The pacing of the story was uneven. Sometimes I had to scroll back to ensure I didn’t accidentally skip a page, but that wasn’t the case. Some scenes ended abruptly and then it was on to the next thing. I found myself wanting more from parts of the book, while at times the story dragged.

I struggled to care about Mallory. She came across as a lovestruck teenager who needed constant validation. Considering her backstory, I can see why she is that way, but I found the character exhausting.

If you’re new to thrillers, The Lies That Blind Us could be a good choice. Dedicated readers of the genre may find it very underwhelming.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Lies That Blind Us. To preface, I did DNF this at 50% after realizing I was not the intended audience.

The Lies That Blind Us is about Mallory Storm as she becomes a suspect in the death of her abusive husband. She decides to embark on a risky undercover role as an art dealer in Italy, sent to spy on a person of interest, the mysterious and handsome Dylan Hyde. Mallory becomes entangled in the world of art fraud and, running for her life, she is torn between her mission and her lust for Dylan, who may or may not be trying to harm her.

The premise of this novel was promising as I anticipated complex themes of art and personal struggle, but it fell short because of its overly simplistic narrative. The writing tends to detail the characters' actions in a way that lacks depth and nuance. For instance, Mallory often recounts her actions linearly, which feels almost step by step, diminishing the weight of her experiences.

While the theme of art within the story is a strong element that I did enjoy as it showcased the characters' knowledge and passion for the subject, the narrative did not hold my interest. Mallory's lust for Dylan felt rushed and one-dimensional, undermining the gravity of her situation. I believe there is promise in the novel, but the execution of the narration needs refinement to resonate with me. However, I think other readers who like forbidden love tropes and lust vs love concepts alongside an action-filled thriller would enjoy this.