*Feature Friday ARC Review is a meme hosted by The Tattered Page to feature YA books that have not yet been released by reviewing them.*

*Warning: This review may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication date: November 10, 2015

Pages: 400

Source: ARC

The Story:

A teen is forced to make a fresh start after witnessing a violent crime—but love and danger find her anyway in this novel from Becca Fitzpatrick, the New York Times bestselling author of the Hush, Hush saga.

Stella Gordon’s life is a lie.

She does not belong in Thunder Basin, Nebraska. As the star witness in a murder trial against a drug dealer, Stella is now in the Witness Protection Program. The small town locals can never know who she really is. Not even Chet Falconer, the one boy who makes her want to reveal her true self. She knows that telling the truth will only bring violence to this safe haven.

Despite how hard Stella tries to stay under the radar, danger is fast-approaching. Criminals have a way of getting rid of witnesses, and Stella may have made the one mistake that could lead the cold-blooded men hunting for her right to her doorstep.

- via Amazon

Rating: THREE Gold Stars!!!!

My Review:

I am a big Becca Fitzpatrick fan - ever since her Hush, Hush series. I read Black Ice last Fall and enjoyed it. So, when I managed to snag Dangerous Lies in a #BooksFortrade I was completely stoked . . .

Tag Line:

Stella Gordon's life is a lie.

Opening Line:

An angry rap shook the motel room door.

Plot:

The premise of Dangerous Lies sucked me in -- that and the fact the story was written by Becca Fitzpatrick. Teen girl witnesses a murder by a notorious drug dealer and must enter the Witness Protection Program, restarting in Nebraska with an entirely new identity. And learn to adjust to life without privilege, her druggy mother and her boyfriend, Reed.

The pacing was a little slow for a thriller, I think. But it would not have been so bad if there were more action. I expected more doors kicked down, guns blazing, bullets flying, on the run action with some more steamy, double-faced love triangle drama. Now that would have sped along the plot. Seriously, what is a thriller without, well, suspense? Not to mention the ending. All of a sudden the story was over.

“I couldn’t shake the picture of Danny Balando’s dark eyes as I slipped into restless sleep.” – Stella

Simple but intriguing, I always enjoyed Fitzpatrick's writing. And with Dangerous Lies that still stood. What I appreciated most about Fitzpatrick's writing in this story -- compared to her other books -- is the higher notches of spicy. In Dangerous Lies, Fitzpatrick was not as conservative with her willingness to have heated scenes between her characters as she was before. While she did not completely let it all hang out, I can acknowledge her opening a few top buttons of the story.

Character Breakdown:

The overall character dynamic was strong. There was growth, and solidity between the characters. A highlight of Dangerous Lies was the dynamic between Stella and WITSEC guardian, ex-cop Carmina.

Stella Gordon - Her character was real, believable and not pure, not a goody-too-shoes. Stella had spunk, real problems which she responded to in a real way -- ways I would have done myself.

Meet the Author:

Becca Fitzpatrick is the author of Black Ice, Dangerous Lies, and the Hush, Hush saga, including Hush, Hush; Crescendo; Silence; and Finale—all of which debuted as New York Timesbestsellers. She graduated college with a degree in health, which she promptly abandoned for storytelling. When not writing, she’s most likely running, prowling sales racks for shoes, or watching crime drams on TV. She lives in Colorado with her family. Find out more at BeccaFitzpatrick.com.

***Check out Becca Fitzpatrick's website for more information about her and Dangerous Lies: HERE

Happy Reading!