The Lie :

Rating:
Summary: Just keeping it REAL...
Review: How far are you willing to go to get what you want? Constance Pointer had always dreamed of finding a special man who would give her a better life. She grew up in a poor dysfunctional family in which her mother Sarah hated her and took delight in belittling her. Even though Constance was a beautiful young woman with long blonde hair, her self-esteem was at its lowest point because of the physical abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother.

Sharon Fletcher, a beautiful African-American transsexual, was Constance's best friend and mentor. One day while stranded on the freeway, Constance meets Victor Levesque, a handsome medical student. Sharon encourages Constance to date Victor. They began a relationship and fall madly in love. The relationship moves fast but Constance knows that Victor is everything she wants in a man. He is her dream come true. To hold on to Victor she tells him a lie that will change their lives forever. He is hurt and angry when he finds out that she is not the woman he thought she was.

The Lie is a fast paced novel packed with sexy scenes, family drama, and real life issues. Pamela Hayes writing style is witty. The characters stand out and make the reader think that these are people that you know. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to read a good novel.

Reviewed by Dorothy Cooperwood

Rating:
Summary: The truth will set you free
Review: How far are you willing to go to get what you want? Constance Pointer had always dreamed of finding a special man who would give her a better life. She grew up in a poor dysfunctional family in which her mother Sarah hated her and took delight in belittling her. Even though Constance was a beautiful young woman with long blonde hair, her self-esteem was at its lowest point because of the physical abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother.

Sharon Fletcher, a beautiful African-American transsexual, was Constance's best friend and mentor. One day while stranded on the freeway, Constance meets Victor Levesque, a handsome medical student. Sharon encourages Constance to date Victor. They began a relationship and fall madly in love. The relationship moves fast but Constance knows that Victor is everything she wants in a man. He is her dream come true. To hold on to Victor she tells him a lie that will change their lives forever. He is hurt and angry when he finds out that she is not the woman he thought she was.

The Lie is a fast paced novel packed with sexy scenes, family drama, and real life issues. Pamela Hayes writing style is witty. The characters stand out and make the reader think that these are people that you know. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to read a good novel.

Reviewed by Dorothy Cooperwood

Rating:
Summary: Learning to love self
Review: Pamela Hayes's The Lie is a well written, thought provoking book
about love, friendship and insecurities. She brings her characters
alive and captivating, making you want to read more.

Because of Constance Pointer's impoverished childhood and negative
relationship with her family she finds herself full of insecurities.
She subconsciously believes the only real happiness comes from a man
who comes from a family that is financially secure.

Constance's best friend and confidant, Sharon Fletcher is an African
American self-assured transsexual. Sharon is comfortable with her
lifestyle and tries to help Constance rid herself of the inadequacies
that she feels. When Constance meets her Mr. Right, future doctor
Victor, she creates a lie to hold on to him to secure her future.
However, her deception leads to her loosing the one thing she holds
dear, which is her future. She decids to run to a new city.

Depression had taken over Constances's life, until her friend Sharon
suggested she go back to school and educate herself and get a life
that doesn't consist of her relying on a man for her happiness.
Constance chooses English as her major, and in turn it leads her to
becoming a soap opera writer. She realizes that she can take care of
herself and she doesn't need a man to validate her existence or her
self worth.

Pamela Hayes has crafted a great story that is well written with
hilarious and erotic scenes that keeps the attention of her reader.
This book is definitely a must read.

Stacy Campbell

Rating:
Summary: More than a romance, The Lie is a well-crafted tale
Review: The Lie is a romance to be sure, in the tradition of...well, romance novels. There's a beautiful woman and a handsome man who were meant to be together. It's love at first sight, and then this little thing called a lie interrupts the romance. So then what? Well, The Lie is also a well crafted tale of people who learn what the meaning of real love is and what is important in life, what is ephemeral and what is lasting. Pamela Hayes has produced a delectable tale with surprising plot twists, even more surprisingly deep characters with many facets. Through it all is the friendship of two women: Constance, blonde, blue-eyed and beautiful, and Sharon, a beautiful African American transsexual. Where Constance fails at self-confidence and drive, Sharon is there to show her what's possible. Where Sharon is sometimes dismayed at people's unkind attitude toward transsexuals, Constance's steady friendship eases the pain. In short, The Lie is more than a romance novel and should appeal to a wide variety of readers who want more than conventional fare. This is a well written, highly entertaining, and witty book. --Ronald L. Donaghe, author of Uncle Sean, Lance, and All Over Him.

Rating:
Summary: Just keeping it REAL...
Review: There's nothing to say. Lots of REAL LIFE situations throughout the entire book. It's a great book to read and enjoy. It makes you feel like you know the characters personally. It kind of reminds me of my own family. Looking forward to the next novel.

Rating:
Summary: A Rare Gem
Review: Very well written. Rarely do I find a novel that seems so real. The characters, dialogue, even her descriptions of the sounds, aromas, and atmosphere allow us to almost live the story.

And yet, the romantic tale filled me with the characters' hopes and disappointments and held me through to the end.

Pamela Hayes' style is fresh and unique, and often hilariously funny.

Constance comes from a poor family who hates her, and she wishes for a far better life. She almost has it, yet she tells "the lie" that threatens to undo it all. With friends, such as the lively Sharon, she learns self-confidence, which was much needed in her neglected life.

Ms. Hayes portrayal of Sharon, a transsexual, is also welcome-we see her as a real human who successfully deals with the discrimination that transsexuals often endure, and becomes the successful woman that she deserves. Indeed, a theme in this book seems to be self-esteem.

"The Lie" is my favorite Romance novel. I look forward to her next book.

Rating:
Summary: Can we survive the lie?
Review: What happens when a beautiful girl who grew up poor and raised by an ignorant mother named Sarah Pointer, meets Victor Levesque a medical student, who comes from a loving educated family? Do they have anything in common with one another? Can their love survive a devastating lie?

Throughout her life, words like "you're no good" or "you're too
stupid to do anything" flowed freely from her mother's mouth,
slicing Constance's heart with every word. Her low self-esteem never afforded her the luxury of believing she had what it took to be a success. Constance thought a man could make her successful.
Thank goodness for her bold, and straight to the point, friend Sharon Fletcher, a transsexual familiar with the cruelties of others. Sharon is the voice of reason in Constance's unreasonable world.

After prompting Constance to accept a date with Victor,
things heat up. The relationship starts fast and ends even
faster. Insecurities, fear, and an ex-lover cause a fatal lie to be told that knocks the relationship off its axis. Can Victor and Constance's relationship survive this blow? Will their love get them through it?

The Lie is a fast paced read. The characters are colorful and the plots are very realistic. Pamela Hayes' writing style is fluid and fresh. If you're looking for a change of pace, The Lie can definitely give you that.

Missy
APOOO BookClub

Rating:
Summary: Can we survive the lie?
Review: What happens when a beautiful girl who grew up poor and raised by an ignorant mother named Sarah Pointer, meets Victor Levesque a medical student, who comes from a loving educated family? Do they have anything in common with one another? Can their love survive a devastating lie?

Throughout her life, words like "you're no good" or "you're too
stupid to do anything" flowed freely from her mother's mouth,
slicing Constance's heart with every word. Her low self-esteem never afforded her the luxury of believing she had what it took to be a success. Constance thought a man could make her successful.
Thank goodness for her bold, and straight to the point, friend Sharon Fletcher, a transsexual familiar with the cruelties of others. Sharon is the voice of reason in Constance's unreasonable world.

After prompting Constance to accept a date with Victor,
things heat up. The relationship starts fast and ends even
faster. Insecurities, fear, and an ex-lover cause a fatal lie to be told that knocks the relationship off its axis. Can Victor and Constance's relationship survive this blow? Will their love get them through it?

The Lie is a fast paced read. The characters are colorful and the plots are very realistic. Pamela Hayes' writing style is fluid and fresh. If you're looking for a change of pace, The Lie can definitely give you that.

Missy
APOOO BookClub --This text refers to the Paperback edition