Life hasn't settled down much for Ellie Ames. The rogue members of St. Felicity's Shelter are still at large leaving her in danger. Life gets even more complicated when a member of her old "family" comes to see her because he's concerned that her father is in a con way over his head. Ellie would still like to get the FBI off her back and get her mother out of prison but that requires that she find a way to let them catch her father in a compromising position.

Since her father's current scam is centered in New York City, she finds herself taking part in a between terms field trip to New York City with some of her Holden Prep classmates. She doesn't get much change to participate in those cultural activities as she tries to figure out what her father's scam is. Seems he's doing something with the mafia. Miles is on his trail too. Yes, the same Miles who is her boyfriend but who dropped off the grid leaving her very worried about him.

This was a really twisty story with cons inside cons and most people not who they appeared to be. Ellie and Miles almost reach a crisis when she learns that he has joined St. Felicity's Shelter - a group of noble assassins - in order to track down the rogues and fulfill his promise to his best friend Simon. Ellie is hurt that Miles' first loyalty needs to be to St. Felicity's. She was hoping that he would put her first.

Ellie also learns more about her father's reasons for getting involved in this whole scam which changes the way she has been thinking about him since she ran from him to be with her sister.

This was an action-packed story with a lot of emotional intensity. I liked the plots within plots. I also liked the way Ellie and Miles' relationship is going. ( )

Phew!

Once again, Ellie and friends lead us on a non-stop ride with twists and turns that no one can possibly see coming. Don't plan on doing anything until this one's done--seriously, it's pretty much un-put-downable. Who's really on which side? What, exactly, are the sides? Who can Ellie truly trust? Where is Miles, and what has he been doing?

Gah! So. Many. Questions.

So. Much. Stress.

It's definitely a good idea to read this book with the events of book one ( Chasing Truth ) fresh in you mind, because a lot of what happens here is connected to previous events. Since I've literally read dozens of books since I read that one, those events were a bit fuzzier in my mind than I would have liked, kind of like that dream you vaguely remember but can't quite grasp the details of...even so, this book kept me turning the pages. If you haven't yet read Chasing Truth, though, I absolutely recommend taking the time to read it before tackling this one.

Ms. Cross left Ellie (and Miles--thank goodness!) in a good spot at the end, but there's certainly room for another book if she is so inclined...and I for one will be early in line for it if she does, because Eleanor Ames! (I'd prefer not to wait another whole year, though. Just sayin' ;))

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. ( )

3.5 Stars

Hiding Lies takes us into Ellie's old live when her dad and "family" go to pull a con in the same city as her school trip. There's just as much excitement, intrigue, and suspense in this one as there was in Chasing Truth.

With Miles no longer at Holden Prep, Ellie has a surprising new ally, Dominique, to help her along with task: taking down her dad in exchange for her mom getting released from prison. I worried this meant we wouldn't see Miles, but I needed not to be alarmed. He shows up in plenty surprising places and the chemistry Ellie and Miles had in book one is still present.

This is fast paced with some twists along the way and not everything is always what it seems. A great sequel to Chasing Truth, I am eager to see if there will be more books in the series. ( )