R&B superstar Journey has it all—the adoring fans, the abusive husband, the mooching friend, the protective bodyguard. Is it a wonder she's unhappy with her life? Every attempt she makes to connect with her husband on some level other than business is rebuffed. When Journey can't take it anymore, with her bodyguard in tow, she runs off to Paris and a new chance at having the life she desires. When she falls in love with a fan, then finds him to be just more of the same, Journey returns home. A tragic accident leaves her at a crossroads, needing to decide what path her young life will take.

LOVER AND LIARS is Ms. Denine's sophomore novel. I wish I could say I enjoyed it as much as her debut, but I can't. As they say, I just wasn't that into it. Many of the people and situations seemed clichéd, perhaps drawn from the headlines. I kept hoping for a twist, something to pique more than tepid interest, but I found none. Even Journey's injury didn't offer much. Part of the problem was, as much as Ms. Denine wants the reader to understand Journey, she keeps distance between the reader and the character by way of a somewhat passive writing style. I felt like someone was giving me an account of Journey's story rather than being transported into the story. I wanted to get deeper into her head.

I didn't dislike the story. For me, LOVERS AND LIARS was just okay.