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Synopsis
Next-door neighbor.
And apparently… my new gynecologist.
I’m a widow. A single mom. And the new girl in a small town.
I’m also in the midst of the most important battle of my life—fighting my in-laws for custody of my son.
The circumstances that brought me to Calloway Creek come with perks. A new employer, a company house, and a gorgeous neighbor who is the perfect distraction from my heartache.
The problem with this distraction? The whole town has warned me away from Hudson McQuaid. But I don't see the side of him everyone else sees.
When flirtation turns into feelings, lines get crossed. And the consequences could derail my security, my job, and everything I’ve worked so hard for.
No Simple Lie is a standalone novel in the McQuaid Brothers series. It's a sexy neighbors-to-lovers romance about a filthy rich doctor, the new girl next door, and one meddling, conniving, billionaire grandfather.
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There may be topics in this novel that would be upsetting or painful for some. For a full list of TWs see the author's website.
Release date: October 27, 2023
Print pages: 324
Reader says this book is...: emotionally riveting (2) entertaining story (3) heartwarming (3) plot twists (1) realistic characters (3) rich setting(s) (1) satisfying ending (3) sex scenes (1) unputdownable (2) escapist/easy read (1) funny (1) happily ever after (1) strong chemistry (1) strong heroine (1) swoon-worthy (1) tearjerker (1) terrific writing (1) triggers (1)
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No Simple Lie
Samantha Christy
Chapter One
Hudson
Depositing my gift on the table at the front of the restaurant, I walk over to Mom, lean in, and plant a kiss on her cheek. “Happy birthday.”
“Thanks, sweetie.” She smiles brightly. “I’m so happy all my kids could be here tonight.”
I raise a brow and look around the restaurant. “Holland is here?”
“In the back with Addy.”
“You mean Holland’s drillmaster boss actually let her leave the city for the night?”
“I hear her boss isn’t the only one who runs a tight ship.” Mom gives me a hard look. “Nurses talk, Hudson. You should go easy on them. You don’t want to go getting a bad reputation as someone who’s hard to work with. Especially when you’re already known as a man who’s hard to…” She goes quiet and shakes her head.
“Hard to what, Mom?”
“You’re not actually going to make me say it, are you?”
“One: I’m not a hardass boss. I just became an attending. I have to prove myself, especially given my age. I like things done right, is all. If that’s wrong then sue me. And two: just because I don’t want to settle down with one woman and have a gaggle of snotty-nosed kids doesn’t make me a deplorable person.”
“Tell that to the three women in the booth over there who’ve been staring daggers at you for the last five minutes.”
I turn to see Lynda Graves, Elsa Truman, and—I have to think hard on it—Krista or Kristin something or other, all watching me like I kidnapped their children and sold them for parts. I roll my eyes. “I thought this was a private party.”
“I didn’t want them to turn away any paying customers just for little old me.”
I watch Cooper Calloway, one of the managers here at Donovan’s Pub, deliver drinks to the brooding trio. He stops to wish my mother a happy birthday on his way back. Then he holds his hand out to me. I chuckle as I shake, knowing that not even a year ago, Cooper and his brothers, Tag and Jaxon, were the archenemies of my brothers and me. We grew up hating each other for sport because of a bet made by our ancestors. “Hey, man, what’s up?”
He tosses a look over his shoulder. “Might want to steer clear of that side of the room.”
“Noted,” I say as he hurries off to another table.
A hand claps my shoulder. I turn to see Hunter holding his two-month-old son, Myles—the baby I personally delivered. And although I never plan to have children of my own, I’m happy being an uncle to his. Next to Hunter is our oldest brother, Hawk, holding twenty-month-old Rivi.
Mom fawns over their kids as she does all the children here. Being a grandmother, aunt, mom, and stepmom is her entire life. The baby starts fussing, and Mom takes him just as her husband, Jonah Calloway—the man she left our father for (enter another reason we hated the Calloways)—comes up next to us.
“Heather, my love, what do you think?” he says, his eyes bouncing between both kids. “Do you think we should have another one of these?”
She giggles. “I’m flattered you still see me as someone young enough to do that.”
He kisses her cheek. “You look twenty-nine to me.”
“Get a room,” Hawk says jokingly.
Jonah laughs. “We might just do that.”
Dani, my fourteen-year-old half-sister, butts in, saving us all from the rest of that conversation. “Mom, have you seen the pile of presents? It’s huge.”
Mom doesn’t bother looking at the gift table, but her eyes sweep the rest of the room. “I’m very fortunate to have a lot of family and friends, aren’t I? Speaking of that, I’d better go make the rounds.” She hands Myles off to me. Not back to Hunter. Me.
I’m so tired of this shit. I get it. I’m the third and youngest McQuaid brother. The only one who hasn’t been broken, bribed, and manipulated by our rich-as-shit grandfather, Tucker. What nobody seems to get is that I won’t be. I can’t be. I’m different. I have a career I love and no desire to end up pussy-whipped like my brothers.
“Well, would you look at this,” a stilted feminine voice sneers behind me. “Hudson McQuaid holding a baby, looking like a perfect little family man when we all know he’s nothing more than a lying, cheating, pig.”
I turn to see Krista, or Kristin, or whoever, glaring at me. Her two friends stand in solidarity behind her, arms crossed as if going to battle. I hand Myles off to his dad. “Listen, Krista.”
Lynda steps forward. “It’s Krystal, you bastard. How easily you forget the name of the woman you cheated on me with.”
“You’re kidding, right? First off, we weren’t in a relationship, Lynda. We fucked. And secondly, if you’re so pissed about it, what are you doing here with her? She was obviously a willing participant.”
“We didn’t know each other very well until it happened,” Krystal says. She locks arms with the other two. “We’re all friends now. Along with Julianne Hubbard, Olivia Madsen, Linney Granger—”
“What the hell?” I say, hearing her run off a list of the women I’ve slept with. “Have you formed a club or something?”
“Or something,” Elsa says, getting in my face.
Elsa is gorgeous with a banging hot body that’s difficult to forget. She’s a former patient of mine, as are some of the others mentioned. Which means I know her very well, inside and out. Okay, so yeah, technically I shouldn’t go around screwing former patients. But being one of about six OB/GYNs in Calloway Creek, I’d have to rule out a shit ton of women if I didn’t. I’m not stupid. I’ve never propositioned a patient. And I don’t actively seek them out. But there’s nothing wrong with me hooking up with them if they’ve moved on to another doctor. Which, okay, I may have suggested they do once or twice before boning them so I wouldn’t get brought up on charges after.
Elsa smells like oranges. She did back then, too. Must be something she washes her hair with. My dick twitches when I close my eyes and remember that smell as she sucked me off. Oh, that mouth. It’s one for the books.
My eyes fly open when she slaps my face, the sting of it turning a happy memory to exasperation.
“What the hell did you do that for?” I yell.
I don’t miss the fact that my brothers have taken the children across the room, and that the place has gone silent.
“We’re boycotting you, Hudson McQuaid.”
“Boycotting me? So you really have started a club.” I laugh and rub my cheek. “What’s it called, the I fucked Hudson and now I’m sad he won’t marry me and give me all his money club?”
Another slap heats up my face.
“Jesus.” I step back, out of range. “It’s not like I led any of you on. You knew the score. I don’t do relationships. Get over yourselves already.”
Lynda sidles up next to Elsa. “You’re going to be hard pressed to find a woman in this town who will fall for your misplaced charm, Hudson. It’s a small town. By the time we’re done, your balls will be so blue, the only thing you’ll be fucking is your right hand.”
“Now, see—that’s where you’re wrong. I’m left-handed.”
Chuckles come from behind me. Probably from my brothers.
The three women turn in unison and walk out of the restaurant. Who do they think they are, butting in on Mom’s birthday and laying into me like that? They’re the ones with the problem, not me. Every chick in this town knows I’m not looking for a wife, a girlfriend, or even a long-term lover. And they may think they come off as high and mighty, but everyone knows all they really want is a meal ticket. They know who I am, what I come from, and how much money sits in my trust fund. And they’re just pissed their name isn’t on it too.
I, for one, know the numbers in said fund are enough to lure a lot of girls away from their so-called ‘club’ and into my arms, even if only for a night. Because sooner or later, they all think they could be the one to land me. Especially since my brothers, who were also certified bachelors, have both recently been ‘landed.’
Finally, the silence is broken when Hawk’s fiancée, Addy, and my sister, Holland, come out from the back holding a cake with a crap ton of candles aflame on top. The whole place breaks out in an off-key version of ‘Happy Birthday.’ Everyone in the entire restaurant is singing. Everyone but me and one other person.
Pappy stares me down from across the room, his eighty-six-year-old eyes boring into me. I curse the three girls who left, knowing they’re the reason he’s not going to leave until he opens a can of whoop ass and pours it all over my goddamn head.
~ ~ ~
Mom thanks everyone for their presence and their generosity and people start filing out the door. My brothers and I are carrying her gifts to the car when a sound coming from the shadows makes me physically gag. It’s the distinct phlegmy sound only a really old man can make when clearing his throat. And I know I’m being watched, scrutinized, and judged by my older-than-dirt grandfather.
“Here it goes,” Hunter says, standing back and leaning against Jonah’s SUV.
Hawk settles next to him, an amused look on his face.
I put the last of the gifts in the trunk and shake my head at them. “Both of you can fuck off.”
Hunter holds up his hands. “Hey, I’m just here for the show.”
“There isn’t going to be any show,” I huff. “I’m not like you sorry saps. I won’t be manipulated into doing shit for that fossil.”
Both of them just stare as footsteps approach me from behind.
“Hudson,” Pappy says. “A word?”
I thumb to my car. My sleek red Maserati parked at the end of the row so it doesn’t get dinged by any of the cut-rate used cars in this sleepy little town. “Actually, I’ve got to get going.”
“Someone waiting on you?” he asks. “A date perhaps.”
I don’t bother answering. We both know he’s posturing. My grandfather is old and well past his prime, yet he can somehow command all the attention in every room. Some would say he earned respect by building his empire from the ashes left by his father. I say it’s because he’s richer than God and people bow to money like it’s a deity.
“Why don’t we head back inside,” he says. “I’ll buy you a scotch.”
“I’m on call tonight.”
“Well, then, I’ll buy you a club soda.”
“I need to go home and get in a few hours of sleep.”
“In the morning then. I’ll come by your house. I’ll bring breakfast.”
“Like I said, Pappy, I’m on call. I’ll most likely not even be there. Whatever you have to say, say it now.”
He looks over my shoulder at my brothers. I just know they’re holding in laughter waiting to hear what ultimatum I’m about to be given. A threat of disinheritance. A bribe maybe. Something to make me fall in line and become a better person.
Our grandfather is a hypocrite. He was a lying, cheating husband until well into his seventies. Yet now he stands here and pretends like none of that meant anything because he’s somehow been reformed. And he thinks all of his descendants need to be like him. Well, maybe not all. I never see him wasting time on my father. Could be he thinks he’s a lost cause. Or maybe it’s because Dad already has a good share of Pappy’s money. Maybe he thinks since he still controls my trust fund he controls me too. Well, think again, old timer.
“I was just thinking what an embarrassment it must have been for Heather when those women confronted you.”
“Mom didn’t even notice.”
“Oh, she noticed, boy. And the look on her face said everything. You claim you want to be a highly respected physician, yet you treat women the way you do. The two can’t go hand in hand, Hudson.”
“What I do in my private life is not your concern.”
He steps closer, the white whiskers of his wiry beard poke at my ear. “Everything you do concerns me, boy,” he grumbles.
“What are you going to do, Pappy? Cut me off? Blackmail me like you did my brothers? It isn’t going to work. You can’t banish me to the city with a few thousand dollars—I have a job. You can’t force me to raise a kid—because, oh, wait… I don’t have one. You can threaten to take away my trust fund, but we all know when it comes down to it you won’t really do it. And, come on, I’m your only grandson who’s even done something worthwhile with my life. I graduated from college early. Got through med school on an accelerated program. I’m twenty-eight fucking years old and am an attending physician. I’m like the golden child. So I like women. In the overall scheme of things, is it really that bad that I only choose to like them for an hour or two at a time?”
He gathers the material on the front of my shirt with his fist. “Watch your tone around me, boy. I may be old, but I’m not above giving you a whoopin’.”
My pager goes off. Pappy releases my shirt, and I smooth it down before fishing my pager out of my pocket. I smirk as I hold it up to him. “I guess you could say I’m saved by the bell. Duty calls.”
“We’re not done,” he says with a curl of his lip. “We’re not nearly done.”
“Let me save you the trouble, Pappy. We are done. I am who I am, and if that’s not good enough for you, then take your damn trust fund back. I’m making good money. I’ve got the house, my car, my family, my investments. I’ll be rich enough without you or your money.”
As I start to walk away, I see the fire in his eyes simmer. It’s a look I rarely see from the great Tucker McQuaid. It reeks of defeat.
And I know I’ve won.
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This book right here consumed me. Envision me on a cruise ship, toosh parked on a lounge chair that happens to be right beside the entrance to the slide, excited kids a constant, and me…not phased in the least because I was so deep into the world of Hudson & Dakota that nothing else mattered.
Hudson McQuaid is the one brother who is accomplished, self sufficient, and somehow thinks he’s untouchable when it comes to the trials and manipulations of Tucker McQuaid, his grandfather. But even though Hudson is the youngest atten...
This book right here consumed me. Envision me on a cruise ship, toosh parked on a lounge chair that happens to be right beside the entrance to the slide, excited kids a constant, and me…not phased in the least because I was so deep into the world of Hudson & Dakota that nothing else mattered.
Hudson McQuaid is the one brother who is accomplished, self sufficient, and somehow thinks he’s untouchable when it comes to the trials and manipulations of Tucker McQuaid, his grandfather. But even though Hudson is the youngest attending physician at the gynecologic clinic, he certainly is not invincible.
Dakota Daniels is a shattered woman who’s story is beyond heartbreaking. There’s no way that you can’t completely sympathize with her situation & just pray that things turn around for her. But a “chance” meeting with Tucker McQuaid has so much more possibility than she could ever fathom.
Hudson & Dakota, now neighbors, find a rather intense draw to each other. Even without words, the people of Calloway Creek can sense a connection. I love the way that the whole town completely embraces Dakota because they know she’s now one of their own. Hudson’s intense need to help & protect her shows his true nature. Though his reputation precedes him, deep down, he’s not the playboy that he appears to be. He just needs the right woman in the right circumstance to make him slow down, take a breath, & fall.
The secrets & the plot twist added a nice layer of mystery, suspense, & heartbreak to the story. But it also upped the swoon factor when the secrets were revealed. Watching these two fall in love while also navigating personal growth, balancing a “new normal”, emotional healing, and finding strength to fight for what matters most had me completely engrossed in the words on the page. And just when my heart had become so heavy from the circumstances they were facing, these two were able to hold tight to their love, fight, and completely earn their HEA.
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Dakota gets a helping hand when at the most needed moment in her life. Having lost so much, she is at her lowest point when Tucker finds her. Determined with one goal in mind and to show her gratitude, Dakota will do anything to be worthy. Tucker’s help, her new job and getting back the most precious and i...
Dakota gets a helping hand when at the most needed moment in her life. Having lost so much, she is at her lowest point when Tucker finds her. Determined with one goal in mind and to show her gratitude, Dakota will do anything to be worthy. Tucker’s help, her new job and getting back the most precious and important thing in her life.
As she and her new neighbor, Hudson, become closer, her life becomes both more worthy living and more complicated.
Because she has secrets Hudson doesn’t know about and she isn’t sure he will want her complicated life in his. And both of them don’t know the biggest secret that is yet to be discovered.
When Hudson finds out some of it by chance, he jumps to the wrong conclusions and ends up hurting Dakota in the most painful way.
Dakota had my full empathy and support. Her story was so heartbreaking and sad that it literally made me cry. But she never gave up and fought for her right. She wasn't deliberately holding back, she was just scared and hesitant. Always trying to do the right thing for everyone. Never disappointing or hurting anyone.
Hudson could not cope well with his newly developed feelings. He simply didn't know what to do. His heart meant so well and he gave it his all, but he's not a patient man and he's not very good at not getting his way.
But he tried and slowly changed, and that was what counted. Only his bad temper at one point was breathtaking and hurtful.
I was glad that Dakota was able to forgive him and that they had a happy ending with more surprises than anyone could have expected.
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Samantha Christy always brings all the feels when she writes her books. I devoured this one and love the characters and the story.
This is the story of Hudson McQuaid, and you will love him! I knew he would make me swoon, and I adored him.
Dakota is down on her luck until a stranger gives her a little hope on the worst day of her life.
These two are amazing together and have so much chemistry and bond that was a joy to read. I loved getting thi...
Samantha Christy always brings all the feels when she writes her books. I devoured this one and love the characters and the story.
This is the story of Hudson McQuaid, and you will love him! I knew he would make me swoon, and I adored him.
Dakota is down on her luck until a stranger gives her a little hope on the worst day of her life.
These two are amazing together and have so much chemistry and bond that was a joy to read. I loved getting this story and seeing Hudson get his HEA!
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This book has it all single mum, widow, millionaire playboy confirmed bachelor, neighbours to lovers, dual pov.
The story starts with Dakota losing custody of her son to her ex in laws and her lawyer telling her she needs to pay $10,000 to continue fighting her ex in laws.
She then so happens to meet Tucker McQuaid. He insists on taking her for a coffee to find out what has happened to her. She has no idea who Tucker is and she is very surprised to find out the n...
This book has it all single mum, widow, millionaire playboy confirmed bachelor, neighbours to lovers, dual pov.
The story starts with Dakota losing custody of her son to her ex in laws and her lawyer telling her she needs to pay $10,000 to continue fighting her ex in laws.
She then so happens to meet Tucker McQuaid. He insists on taking her for a coffee to find out what has happened to her. She has no idea who Tucker is and she is very surprised to find out the next day she is offered an amazing opportunity to work for his Fortune 500 company which comes with corporate housing and perks including an advance on her salary which she can use to appeal custody decision.
Hudson, is Tuckers youngest grandson, and Dakota’s new house is right next door to his property. He is a doctor who is fairly financially independent and thinks he is free from his grandfather’s meddling! He also is being avoided by all the woman in the town as he is branded a cheat!
Hudson and Tucker don’t always see eye to eye and Tucker warns Hudson not to get involved with Dakota. Hudson tries to stay away but just can’t, he is not sure if it because his grandfather has told him to stay away or the fact that he is very attracted to this woman!
They are both drawn to each other but want to stay away so she can concentrate on winning her son back before she will allow herself to have happiness in a relationship and he knows his grandfather will not be happy!
You must read this story as there is a real twist that I never saw coming.
Another brilliantly written story from Samantha. I cannot wait to see what she write next!
I read this as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.
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