Review: Beneath the Truth by Meghan March (Beneath #7)

August 08, 2017

Note: This ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

That was when it dawned on me—all these years, I’d kept Rhett Hennessy on a pedestal, untouchable and unattainable. And now, he was real to me. He was a man, flesh and blood with hopes and fears, victories and disappointments. The shift in perspective was groundbreaking and rocked my world. This Rhett, the real Rhett, was better than I’d imagined.

The first Meghan March novel I ever read was Beneath This Mask in January of 2015, and it was the beginning of my love affair with her writing in general and the Beneath series in particular. Now, like all love affairs, there have been ups and downs, but there was one constant--I was desperate for Rhett Hennessy's story to be told. Heck, when he first came along, he was simply known by his last name and seen as the law enforcement officer who played by the rules, even if it meant coming up against certain intimidating alpha males in his hometown of New Orleans. And then one devastating revelation causes Rhett's world as he knows it to shift, leading him to leave everything behind. With one phone call, though, he knows the time has come to make his way back home, and this time, through all the loss and lies, Rhett is intent on finding answers. What Hennessy doesn't expect to find is love.

I won't get too much into the story because I don't want to inadvertently mention a spoiler or two. If you're familiar with the series, then Rhett Hennessy should be no stranger as is what led him to hand in his badge and service firearm when he left the police department. You'll also remember how his connected with the rest of the Beneath crew, especially when it comes to Beauregard "Rix" Hendrix and his now-wife Valentina. Suffice it to say that I'm glad Rhett finally finds that one person that was always meant to be his--Ariel Sampson, his best friend's younger sister, three years their junior. This wasn't your usual falling-for-your-best-friend's-sibling story either. The author employed, once again, that perfect mix of romance, sex, mystery, and suspense that's made this series such a favorite with fans and readers alike. Throw in a well-loved trope and giving that March touch and you have magic.

As someone who's read all of March's books, she knows her readers well, giving them alpha male characters that are strong but have that sensitive side waiting to be unearthed. And that's where the strong females come in. While they may have trouble nipping at their heels, the women of these series are neither helpless nor hapless. With Rhett and Ariel, you get those expected elements along with a quirk or two to make them uniquely Beneath. I loved how geeky yet confident Ariel was and how stoic yet sweet my dearest Rhett was. Yes, MY Rhett. He piqued my curiosity when he first appeared in Beneath This Ink and I've had a thing for the guy since then. Meghan March gave him--and Ariel--a story I couldn't put down, knocked me for a loop with her plot twists, and ultimately, gave this wondrous series the five-plus-star send-off it deserves. Can YOU handle the truth? Beneath the Truth, that is. ♥

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Read my reviews for the Beneath series: