Heart of Lies by M.L. Malcolm (Book Review and Giveaway!)

Title: Heart of Lies
Author: M.L. Malcolm
Publisher: Harper Collins

My synopsis/thoughts: This book starts way back in 1919 in Budapest.  Leo Hoffman is working at a hotel when he finds out that his adopted family has been killed for ties to the Communist Party.  He is warned to not go home or he will meet the same fate.  He is only 19 years old.  We rejoin him six years later, still working at the same hotel.  He has been noticed by certain people in power because of his gift for languages.  He is proficient in five and has a certain way of reading people's body language that enables him to charm just about anyone. 

These people entice him to go to Paris under the ruse that he is just supposed to be an interpreter and also to listen in on wire-taps as an informant.  While in Paris he has a chance meeting with a young girl on a vacation from college. Her name was Martha Levy and she was from Germany.  It was love at first sight.  Before the next 48 hours are over, he has broken her heart and is on the run from the police.  He is forced to leave Paris, but cannot return to Budapest because of his crime.  He makes his way to Shanghai as he has heard that many people go there to start new lives. 

He is able to establish himself within a year and has sent word to Martha that he wants her to join him.  She had almost given up hope, but soon is on her way to Shanghai.  They are married quickly and begin their new life together. 

I don't want to tell you any more about the book and have tried to be vague about his Paris dealings as I don't want to give anything away.  I never knew what was going to happen next but truly loved this book.  There was something about Leo that made me overlook all the bad things that had happened/he had done - and just kept me rooting for him.  This book dealt with a lot about forgiveness - both having to forgive others and having to forgive yourself.  I was even more excited upon reading the author interview at the end because it sounds like there is going to be a second book!  I am very much looking forward to reading it.  I have to include this paragraph to show a little of the writing:

One night. A volcano erupts and destroys an entire countryside in one night. A hurricane rushes ashore and destroys an entire island in one night. An earthquake hits and destroys an entire city in one night. Her love for Leo had the power of a volcano, a hurricane, an earthquake. She could not just go on with her life as if she had not met him. She had to believe that he'd meant what he said. She had to believe that he would find her. (p60, Heart of Lies)

Readers can log onto MLMalcolm.com for more information about HEART OF LIES and M.L. Malcolm, including:


-M.L. Malcolm's bio: http://www.mlmalcolm.com/author_info.html
-A Q&A with M.L. Malcolm: http://www.mlmalcolm.com/conversation.html
-A Reading Group Guide: http://www.mlmalcolm.com/reading_group.html
-About Shanghai: http://www.mlmalcolm.com/shanghai.html
-About Budapest: http://www.mlmalcolm.com/budapest.html

GIVEAWAY!

Thanks to Harper Collins and Authors on the Web I have 2 copies of this book to giveaway! 
Simple Summer Rules still apply! Just leave your comment with an email address.  Spread the word about how easy it is to enter my summer giveaways! 
This giveaway is only open to U.S./Canada and will end on July 25.

~I received a copy of this book from Authors on the Web in exchange for my review.~ 

Heart of Lies

Publisher/Publication Date: Harper Collins, June 8, 2010

ISBN: 978-006-196218-9

318 pages