REVIEW: 'Lying Eyes' by Robert Winter
Title: Lying Eyes
Author: Robert Winter
Published: July 7, 2017
Publisher: Self-Published/Robert Winter Books
Cover Artist: Dar Albert/Wicked Smart Designs
Genre: Contemporary Romance; Erotic Romance
Length: 239 Pages
Tags: Gay; M/M; D/s; BDSM; Mystery; Suspense; Law Enforcement; HFN; CW: Infidelity
About Lying Eyes
This bartender’s art lies in more than mixing drinks …
Randy Vaughan is a six-foot-three mass of mysteries to his customers and his friends. Why does a former Secret Service agent now own Mata Hari, a successful piano bar? Where did a muscle daddy get his passion for collecting fine art? If he’s as much a loner as his friends believe, why does he crave weekly sessions at an exclusive leather club?
Randy’s carefully private life unravels when Jack Fraser, a handsome art historian from England, walks into his bar, anxious to get his hands on a painting Randy owns. The desperation Randy glimpses in whiskey-colored eyes draws him in, as does the desire to submit that he senses beneath Jack’s elegant, driven exterior.
While wrestling with his attraction to Jack, Randy has to deal with a homeless teenager, a break-in at Mata Hari, and Jack’s relentless pursuit of the painting called Sunrise. It becomes clear someone’s lying to Randy. Unless he can figure out who and why, he may miss his chance at the love he’s dreamed about in the hidden places of his heart.
Note: Lying Eyes is a standalone gay romance novel with consensual bondage and a strong happy ending. It contains potential spoilers for Robert Winter’s prior novel, Every Breath You Take.
5 HEART READ
REVIEW: Lying Eyes is the story of Randall Vaughan, a retired Secret Service agent and current owner/bartender of a popular gay bar in Washington DC. Randy is initially introduced in Robert Winter’s novel Every Breath You Take. It isn’t necessary to read the earlier novel first to enjoy this one, but the characters do cross over between the two stories so there will be a few spoilers.
Lying Eyes is 100% spectacular and has everything I love in a great story.
There is a clever mystery, with all kinds of interesting facts about the art world. There’s a hot and spicy romance with art historian Jack Fraser. And first and foremost is the study of the main character, Randy Vaughan. Winter delves deep into the psyche of this man, and it is fascinating as the issues of his past are revealed and shape the story.
Randy is a loving, generous, and honorable man and caring for others is ingrained in his soul. At 51, he has spent recent years closed off, lonely and unfulfilled, due to some regrettable events in his past. As the story unfolds, Randy realizes in order to live the life he wants now, he must comes to terms with his past and return to his core values.
When Jack walks into Randy’s bar their initial attraction is intense.
Cautious and defensive, Randy is suspicious of Jack and unwilling to trust him. There is some wonderful dialogue between the two and it seems, despite their attraction, they can’t overcome their animosity. When Randy runs into Jack at a local event… oh holy hot damn, if I say any more I’ll spoil it and Winter has everything set up so beautifully I don’t want to take away from that wonderful scene.
The writing in this story is very clever.
Winter creatively weaves in references to ‘eyes’, how many emotions and expressions are conveyed through eyes. I also enjoy the message about the private person and the public person, the two sides to each of us, Randy and Jack are perfect examples of this.
The mystery in Lying Eyes evolves slowly and builds in interest as more details unfold. I enjoy the pace Robert Winter sets, the slow reveal, but when stuff starts to heat up, watch out! I sincerely hope this is not the last we see of Jack and Randy. At the very least I hope Winter gifts us with a few shorts… possibly involving a certain police officer’s uniform? Well you’ll have to read the book to find out what I mean, and I hope you do.
A copy of Lying Eyes was provided to Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, by Robert Winter, at no cost and with no expectations in return. We offer our fair and honest opinion on behalf of our readers.
Amazon/KU
Meet the Author
Robert Winter is a recovering lawyer who likes writing about hot men in love much more than drafting a legal brief. He left behind the (allegedly) glamorous world of an international law firm to sit in his home office and dream up ways to torment his characters until they realize they are perfect for each other.
Robert divides his time between Washington, DC, and Provincetown, MA. He splits his attention between Andy, his partner of fifteen years, and Ling the Adventure Cat, who likes to fly in airplanes and explore the backyard jungle as long as the temperature and humidity are just right.
For more from Robert be sure and visit his website.
