5+ stars for Well Dressed Lies by Carrie Hayes #historicalromance #romance #bookreview
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  • N. N. Light
    • Oct 19, 2023
    • 2 min read

5+ stars for Well Dressed Lies by Carrie Hayes #historicalromance #romance #bookreview



Title: Well Dressed Lies

Author: Carrie Hayes

Genre: Historical Romance


Book Blurb:


London, 1877.


Retired suffragists, VICTORIA WOODHULL and TENNESSEE CLAFLIN are shrewd, attractive, and looking for husbands. But their backgrounds are sketchy. No one knows they've been paid - some might say bribed - a fortune to leave New York. That they've been accused of intrigue, blackmail and worse are details best left alone. But when Victoria finds the love of her life, her prospects are threatened by a striking resemblance to a character in a story by Henry James.


Frantic to whitewash their past, she seeks Tennessee's help, unaware that Tennessee is in the midst of her own struggle, consumed by an illicit affair with a Duchess who is not only married, but is also mistress to the Prince of Wales.


My Review:


Can two sisters navigate the Ton’s rules and find themselves husbands without exposing their pasts? I thoroughly enjoyed Victoria and Tennessee in Carrie Hayes’ debut novel, Naked Truth. I had high expectations for Well Dressed Lies and it was brilliant, naturally. Carrie Hayes’ writing style makes for an intoxicating historical romance. The lush backdrop of London in 1877 blends with the characters and the descriptive narration. Well Dressed Lies is an unputdownable read.


Let’s start with the setting and descriptive narration. The setting is London, England in the late 19th century. Carrie Hayes creates a setting so lush and beautifully detailed, it’s a feast for the senses. She takes her time describing everything, all while keeping the historical accuracy front and center. I found myself absorbed in the story while reading. Stunning narration.


The characters are written with depth of feeling not often found in literature today. I connected with the sisters and many of the secondary characters. It was quite the reading experience to watch Victoria and Tennessee navigate through the Ton to find husbands.


If you’re like me and love historical romance, you’ll enjoy Well Dressed Lies. The realism vibe is layered throughout the tale. Highly recommended!


My Rating: 5+ stars


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Author Biography:


Carrie Hayes writes historical fiction that focuses on issues many of us still wrestle with today. She lives with her family in New Jersey. You can find her on Medium.com, Substack.com and on her upcoming podcast, Angry Dead Women.


Social Media Links:



Reviewed by: Nancy

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