Book Reviews

Book Blurb

By day Ashley Stevens is a dedicated nurse; by night he runs multiple social media sites for his crush and all-time favorite actor, Sebastian Gray. After a particularly grueling day at work, Ashley drinks away his misery while dreaming about being with Sebastian—only to realize it’s no dream when Sebastian actually contacts him.

Sebastian asks him to officially run his sites and Ashley is thrilled—right up until Sebastian makes it clear that he thinks Ashley is a girl. And maybe it’s the wine, or maybe it’s a fear that if Sebastian knew the truth, he wouldn’t want him, but Ashley never sets him straight. But keeping the secret becomes a nightmare as Ashley and Sebastian talk online night after night, forging a true connection. And the longer Ashley waits to tell the truth, the more tangled the lies become.

A plane ticket from Sebastian along with an invitation to meet in New York City for a fan event brings it all to a head. Ashley must face Sebastian and tell all, but he might not be the only one keeping secrets.  

Book Review

“Oh, what a tangled web we weave...when first we practice to deceive.” ~ Sir Walter Scott

When Ashley Stephens, of 'Tangled Web' by S. A. Ozment, begins an online chat with Sebastian Gray - his favorite actor and subject of many blogs Ashley facilitates with him as the subject of discussion - he's so overwhelmed and so desperate to stay in contact with Sebastian that he lies by omission, letting Sebastian think Ashley is a girl. In essence, he weaves a tangled web of lies while communicating on the web. Ashley reasons that no harm can come from the deception because they will never meet. He relies on the Internet's anonymity to guard his white lies.

What he doesn't count on is the growing affection and intimacy that develops between him and Sebastian over time. Ashley has to be careful to remember his previous lies and it wears on him. They truly enjoy each other's chats, sharing, support, and affection. The closer they get, the more guilty Ashley feels. When Sebastian wants to meet Ashley in person, he avoids the subject as long as he can.  But then Sebastian comes to Ashley's city to film a movie, and Ashley knows he can't avoid the truth any longer. Ashley accepts Sebastian's invitation to a party where he knows he will have to confront Sebastian and tell him the truth, expecting the worst and hoping for the best.

This short story makes me think of the saying “Honesty is the best policy”. No matter what your reasons for lying, no lie is completely harmless. There are always consequences to lying, some can be overcome and some can't. In this case, Sebastian and Ashley were both able to admit their part in the deception, but that doesn't always happen. Thanks, S.A., for reminding me that telling the truth is easier than lying, if for no other reason than you don't constantly have to remember what you said before.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novella, 56 pages/17647 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	18-May-2016
Price	$3.99 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/tangled-web-by-sa-ozment-6842-b