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The First Lie

Shadows of Deception, Book 1

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The First Lie

By: N. H. Steele
Narrated by: Jake Mahler
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One audit. Two men. And a dangerous obsession that will change everything.

Olivia Hart thought landing a job at Sterling Enterprises was her big break. But when a routine audit uncovers financial irregularities, she’s pulled into a world where nothing—and no one—is what they seem.

Ethan Sterling, the powerful and magnetic heir to a billion-dollar empire, quickly becomes fixated on Olivia. His attention is intense, relentless… and impossible to ignore. What begins as unease soon turns into something far more complicated as Olivia is drawn deeper into his world of power, control, and desire.

At home, her husband offers stability—but even that begins to crack under the weight of secrets she can’t explain.

Caught between two men and a web of lies that grows more dangerous by the day, Olivia must navigate a path where trust is fragile, loyalty is tested, and every choice has consequences.

As the truth begins to unravel, Olivia is forced to confront what she really wants… and what she’s willing to risk to get it.

A dark, emotionally charged psychological suspense filled with obsession, betrayal, and impossible choices.

The First Lie is Book 1 in the Shadows of Deception trilogy and ends on a dramatic cliffhanger. The story continues in Book 2.

©2025 Melissa Marie Sovak (P)2026 A Novel Idea Publishing, LLC Domestic Thrillers Genre Fiction Psychological Thriller & Suspense Emotionally Gripping Marriage
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Very slow burner, not for me. A few hours I’ll never get back. It felt very unbelievable

Good narration

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I disliked how the author gave the lead woman one brain cell and her husband no brain cells...totally unbelievable story!!!
just too incredulous and far away from the real world

silliness of the story

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I was waiting for it to get going, waiting, waiting and waiting.
An over exaggerated alpha male and a wallflower as the main characters.
When I thought we were getting somewhere, the book ended.
I definitely won't be going for book 2.

Story going nowhere!

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I was quite enjoying this book until it randomly ended pretty much mid-sentence. I can safely say I've never listened to a book that had zero ending at all. It was the equivalent of when a child is writing a story, play time is called, and so they write "the end". Done.

Where's the rest of the book?

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I couldn't understand what was the point of something so unbelievable.
Very disappointed that this was part 1 so what a waste of my time listening.

strange

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