Numbers Never Lie

by Shelley K. Wall

Sophie Henderson, manager of a software-development team, starts what appears to be a routine project at work. She ends up hiding from her staff, her friends, and the person who is trying to stop her from delving further into discrepancies in the accounting system. Trevan Prater (AKA Trevor Adams) has been assigned to delve into an embezzlement scheme at a large government contractor. As an FBI investigator, he's used to working such cases. A chance encounter lands him front and center with Sophie, one of the lead suspects. Now he's not only investigating her, but also pretending to be the consultant from whom she needs help. The more his team digs into the data she gives him, the guiltier she appears. Unfortunately, the longer he's with her, the more attracted he becomes. Sensuality Level: Sensual

Genres: Romantic Suspense

226 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

Shelley grew up in Missouri, graduated from Oklahoma State University, and took post graduate courses from OSU and the University of Wyoming.

She's a member of RWA, Sisters In Crime (SinC), and Houston Literary Guild. She writes daily, striving to perfect a voice that supplies enjoyable and memorable reads.

She has yet to meet a person she doesn't like or a job that's not worth enjoying. She writes with humor, drama, and a desire to share life's precious moments.

Shelley currently lives in Texas with her family.

Reviews

[Amanda Shalaby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Numbers Never Lie is a satisfying read that had me hooked from the start. Shelley K. Wall offers a clever plot with the right blend of suspense, mystery and romance. Trev and Sophie, as hero and heroine, are genuinely likeable, believable and you quickly grow to care about them – not to mention the romantic tension between them that makes the novel unputdownable. I read this novel in two days, and would have finished it much quicker but for weekend obligations. An entertaining page turner, I give the author credit for some surprising twists and turns along the way that I was not able to figure out ahead of time.

Note: I was provided an ARC for review as a professional courtesy. No monetary or other compensation was involved.

[Warren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I got a copy of this book in exchange for this review. No other payment or endorsement should be implied.

So there was this contest to get a free book. I looked at the synopsis of the book rather quickly and thought "Cool! Computer crime stuff! I wonder how accurate it is?"

What I didn't realize was that Numbers Never Lie was also a romance novel. Clearly not my favorite genre, considering I'm a guy and all. But, I decided to read it anyway, just so that I'd be square with Ms. Wall and everything.

Trevor (Trevan) is an FBI agent investigating computer fraud, and the suspect that the FBI (but not Trevor!) has in mind is a beauty named Sophie Henderson. He sort of stages a meeting with her, and she ends up using his bodaciousness to get a stalker to leave her alone at a club.

Sophie knows that there is computer fraud going on at her workplace too, so she asks Trevor/van to look at some files, thinking that he's just a freelance computer hotshot looking to help a lady out.

Now here's where I have to say that I *work* in the computer field, and with the exception of myself there aren't exactly a lot of awesomely hot studs hanging around the office. But anyway....

So the book follows a somewhat predictable path, and the star-crossed couple become lovers. Not like a book that would embarrass your mother, but respectable-like.

You can probably guess the ending, because the whole book was set up like a movie. And you know how movies always end (except for the "original" ending of Clerks- I didn't see that one coming!)

So remember when I told you three paragraphs ago that I'm a computer dude? I was wondering how realistic the book was, and I was pleasantly surprised... it turns out that much like the novel "Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter" this could also potentially happen! There are no extreme flights of fancy, it could really happen!

One thing that I didn't really care for... the book models don't even passingly resemble the characters as described in the book. Although (and I did not think of this angle until just now as I type this) perhaps the cover people are actually ancillary characters; like "girl in street wearing handcuffs", and "stoic soap opera dude".

I didn't despise this book, and I actually have read far, far worse in the past year (I'm looking at you, Te of Piglet! So it earns three stars.

[Nancy Crocker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author. I enjoyed the suspense and romance!

Trev " Hero " works for the FBI, and they are following leads and have Sophie " Heroine " under surveillance thinking she is the one who has been embezzling millions from the company she works for. When she first meets him during a thunderstorm, his other partner thinks his cover is blown but it wasn't. Then after someone breaks into Sophie's apartment he decides to keep her close to him and of course the attraction they have both been feeling takes over.

When Sophie is brought in for questioning to the FBI, after bank deposits are found in an account in her name. She is totally devastated, as she learns Trev is an FBI agent. Because she feels not only did he lie to her but she now believes that he slept with her to get information. She also is not happy when she finds out she will need to stay with him 24/7 until they get to the bottom of this and arrest the people behind the embezzlement.

There is also another underlining story I did not see coming until the end. Nice story!

[Sara HarlequinJunkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewd by: HarlequinJunkie Romance Reviews

This was one of those reads that had it all; a heavy dose of suspense that kept me glued to the edge of my seat, enough action to make me want to scream out load and a lovely touch of mystery and romance.

Having never read a book by this author before but being a fan of suspense novels I took the bait when asked to review this one. The characters were fun and I really liked reading about them. The author captured my attention from the start and did a stunning job at keeping it.

When asked to describe this one there are many words that come to mind action packed, passion filled, stunning, fabulous the list goes on and on and yet none of those feel like they do the book justice.

I recommend this one for everyone and anyone, you will not be disappointed. Think John Grisham meets romance with a twist with a touch of Mission Impossible! :)

[Micah Persell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Numbers Never Lie is a great blend of legal thriller and romance. I loved the hero, Trev, who portrayed himself as a controlled, take-charge man, but who quickly became an uncontrollable, take-charge man around the heroine, Sophie. This book had shades of John Grisham tinged with the passion that a shared, intense experience can bring two people.
Note: I was provided an ARC for review as a professional courtesy. No monetary or other compensation was involved.

[Janeiowa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shelley Wall is a new-to-me author. I'll be looking for more titles by her, based on Numbers Never Lie! Her characters are well-drawn and her plot has some meat to it. It was a most enjoyable read.

[R.T. Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shelly Wall’s Numbers Never Lie romantic suspense is a sit back and kick up your heels novel. I can picture a reader sitting pool side or along a beach as they read this story of the humble Sophie and laid-back Trev. They are caught up in a twist of who-is-the-bad guy. If you are a reader who often finds their mind wandering or missing the details in the stories you read, Wall’s style is thorough and will give you a number of chances to catch the meaning of her scenes (pun intended). The tenderness is a breath of fresh air.

An adorable beach read-romance that mixes sweet with suspense.

R.T. Wolfe,
Author of Black Creek Burning (Crimson Romance, September 2012)

[Lisa White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good romantic suspense and Shelley K. Wall is now on my list of favorites. Numbers Never Lie has intriguing plot twists sprinkled with romance and is the definition of a page-turner. Sophie and Trev are loveable characters who pull you into their world – and when the book ends, you don’t want to leave. If you want a great romance with lots of “what-ifs”, this book is for you. Note: I was provided an ARC for review as a professional courtesy. No monetary or other compensation was involved.

[Galen Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Federal agent Trevan thought he had it all under control. That is until he had to keep an eye on suspected embezzler Sophie Henderson. He tries to keep his distance but before too long she is getting under his skin in more ways then one. The heat keeps going up between them as he works hard to prove if she is guilty or innocent. I really enjoyed this book, it had great suspense and the chemistry between Trev and Sophie is HOT!

[Lesley Esposito · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read, fast paced. There were a few time lapses that could have used more then a regular paragraph break otherwise I enjoyed the story.