What do you think?
Rate this book
Innocent Deceptions
The Truth Can Be The Hardest Thing To Tell
June 26, 1862
Charlotte Randolph isn't sure she can go on with her deception, no matter what her brother says or how noble the cause. How can she tell him that it seems her own name has come to mean "liar" and "traitor"? She is supposed to be a good Southern woman, spying for the Confederate cause, and yet ever since Union soldiers took over her home, it's been difficult to remember that they're the enemy. She knows that Captain Ben Chandler, the general's aide-de-camp, suspects that she has secrets. What if he discovers the truth about little Alexander? What if he finds out that Charlotte's taking information to the Rebels? And what if he realizes that her interest in him is far more than polite? Secretly engaged to three different Union officers, it's impossible to deny--she has fallen in love with the only one who can destroy her...
June 26, 1862
Charlotte Randolph isn't sure she can go on with her deception, no matter what her brother says or how noble the cause. How can she tell him that it seems her own name has come to mean "liar" and "traitor"? She is supposed to be a good Southern woman, spying for the Confederate cause, and yet ever since Union soldiers took over her home, it's been difficult to remember that they're the enemy. She knows that Captain Ben Chandler, the general's aide-de-camp, suspects that she has secrets. What if he discovers the truth about little Alexander? What if he finds out that Charlotte's taking information to the Rebels? And what if he realizes that her interest in him is far more than polite? Secretly engaged to three different Union officers, it's impossible to deny--she has fallen in love with the only one who can destroy her...
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2002
36 people are currently reading
218 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 8, 2012
"The things she’d said felt nothing like innocent deceptions; they felt instead like wicked lies.
Memphis, 1862. The Randolph men are off fighting for the Confederates and Charlotte is home minding the family mansion and her younger brother Alexander. Believing the Randolph home to be deserted, the Union soldiers take possession for use as a headquarters. Charlotte flees with Alexander, but her older brother convinces her to return so she can spy for them. Charlotte does her best to bat her eyelids and charm the young officers to spill the beans, but Captain Ben Chandler doesn't fall for it and he's determined to get to the truth. This being a romance novel and all I don't think it's any surprise that the one man who isn't fooled is the one Charlotte falls in love with - and by this time she's fairly torn over the consequences of her actions spying for the Confederacy - men may die because of what she's passed on.
I found this an OK novel, not great but not bad either. I had a hard time accepting that a gently bred unmarried woman would allow herself to live without a chaperon in a house filled with soldiers, yet no one raised an eyebrow over it. According to the blurbs I've seen Charlotte's story is based upon a real female spy, but I didn't find any author's notes in my Kindle edition and couldn't find anything remotely similar to Charlotte's situation so I have no idea how close to "history" her story really is. It also seemed a bit of a stretch how easily the Union officers fell for Charlotte's wiles and spilled all the beans about troop activity. I thought giving Ben a disability a nice change from the ever perfect male hero (he lost part of his leg in battle), but there again, I just didn't pick up on much chemistry between the two. A fairly decent story for fans of Civil War romances, but I wouldn't go out of my way to hunt it down. Thankfully I picked this one up as a freebie.
Memphis, 1862. The Randolph men are off fighting for the Confederates and Charlotte is home minding the family mansion and her younger brother Alexander. Believing the Randolph home to be deserted, the Union soldiers take possession for use as a headquarters. Charlotte flees with Alexander, but her older brother convinces her to return so she can spy for them. Charlotte does her best to bat her eyelids and charm the young officers to spill the beans, but Captain Ben Chandler doesn't fall for it and he's determined to get to the truth. This being a romance novel and all I don't think it's any surprise that the one man who isn't fooled is the one Charlotte falls in love with - and by this time she's fairly torn over the consequences of her actions spying for the Confederacy - men may die because of what she's passed on.
I found this an OK novel, not great but not bad either. I had a hard time accepting that a gently bred unmarried woman would allow herself to live without a chaperon in a house filled with soldiers, yet no one raised an eyebrow over it. According to the blurbs I've seen Charlotte's story is based upon a real female spy, but I didn't find any author's notes in my Kindle edition and couldn't find anything remotely similar to Charlotte's situation so I have no idea how close to "history" her story really is. It also seemed a bit of a stretch how easily the Union officers fell for Charlotte's wiles and spilled all the beans about troop activity. I thought giving Ben a disability a nice change from the ever perfect male hero (he lost part of his leg in battle), but there again, I just didn't pick up on much chemistry between the two. A fairly decent story for fans of Civil War romances, but I wouldn't go out of my way to hunt it down. Thankfully I picked this one up as a freebie.
June 3, 2013
The civil war took its toll on everyone, Charlotte was no exception. Growing up in the south was the only thing she knew until the union soldiers invaded her town, along with them the injured captain. While her feelings were changed so was her mind.
I loved the characters in this book and I especially love reading about anything that has to do with the civil war. This book was a very good characterization of what people had to go through and what life was like being on both sides. Charlotte was strong and confident and I loved Alexander dearly. This was a great read and I am looking forward to more stories by this author.
Note: I received this book free from amazon and get this review my honest opinion.
I loved the characters in this book and I especially love reading about anything that has to do with the civil war. This book was a very good characterization of what people had to go through and what life was like being on both sides. Charlotte was strong and confident and I loved Alexander dearly. This was a great read and I am looking forward to more stories by this author.
Note: I received this book free from amazon and get this review my honest opinion.
January 5, 2013
I have sort of mixed feeling about this book. It was interesting & engrossing enough that I read it all the way through in one sitting, yet I doubt i'd ever want to read it again. Plus I realized afterwards, I didn't really like the characters. It wasn't exactly poorly written, though most of the story was slightly slow. Then at the end there's a very fast string of coincidences before an abrupt, anti-climactic conclusion. Occasionally there were little jumps as if a scene or conversation was left out, which was disconcerting. Finally, I felt it lacking in description so I never felt like a complete picture was drawn.
But what bothered me the most was the main character, Charlotte. While I could understand her actions, it doesn't mean I liked her. The author made her a spy but seemed to still want her to be virtuous & innocent, so she ends up mainly being a victim with no idea what she is doing or saying. Things just "happen" to her. I'm paraphrasing but there were several times you read "she saw to glass thrown against the wall & was surprised to realize she threw it" or "she heard a yell and was surprised after that it was her voice." After 4-5 of these she almost seems mentally ill, she's so detached. Again, one could almost argue that's a common reaction to trauma & war. And again, that doesn't mean I have to like her & what she does.
She also spends most of the book lying to just about everyone about everything, yet she gets very offended & angry when someone considers her a liar or untrustworthy. She also manipulates the emotions of certain people with almost no guilt for what she is doing. When she does feel guilt, well - nothing she does is her fault. She was forced to do everything. She's eternally a victim of circumstance.
Ben, the hero, is slightly better. He has a few more morals & more backbone. Although much of what he does for Charlotte makes him seem stupid & unprofessional as a soldier. But it's supposed to be ok because the reader knows they're supposed to be together. So who cares? Of course there are the usual out-of-character & not accurate for the time sex scenes.
Lastly, there are some very obvious "secrets", one bigger that the rest, that were tedious to read about. Literally at the moment the author mentions someone has a secret, you know what it is. Yet you know there are pages & pages of "hints" to get through before it's comes out. I suppose the author figured on a shocking reveal or twist but instead they're sort of laughable.
Again, it's strange because the book was entertaining enough for a quick read, definitely better than a lot of other books. But it leaves a bad after taste.
But what bothered me the most was the main character, Charlotte. While I could understand her actions, it doesn't mean I liked her. The author made her a spy but seemed to still want her to be virtuous & innocent, so she ends up mainly being a victim with no idea what she is doing or saying. Things just "happen" to her. I'm paraphrasing but there were several times you read "she saw to glass thrown against the wall & was surprised to realize she threw it" or "she heard a yell and was surprised after that it was her voice." After 4-5 of these she almost seems mentally ill, she's so detached. Again, one could almost argue that's a common reaction to trauma & war. And again, that doesn't mean I have to like her & what she does.
She also spends most of the book lying to just about everyone about everything, yet she gets very offended & angry when someone considers her a liar or untrustworthy. She also manipulates the emotions of certain people with almost no guilt for what she is doing. When she does feel guilt, well - nothing she does is her fault. She was forced to do everything. She's eternally a victim of circumstance.
Ben, the hero, is slightly better. He has a few more morals & more backbone. Although much of what he does for Charlotte makes him seem stupid & unprofessional as a soldier. But it's supposed to be ok because the reader knows they're supposed to be together. So who cares? Of course there are the usual out-of-character & not accurate for the time sex scenes.
Lastly, there are some very obvious "secrets", one bigger that the rest, that were tedious to read about. Literally at the moment the author mentions someone has a secret, you know what it is. Yet you know there are pages & pages of "hints" to get through before it's comes out. I suppose the author figured on a shocking reveal or twist but instead they're sort of laughable.
Again, it's strange because the book was entertaining enough for a quick read, definitely better than a lot of other books. But it leaves a bad after taste.
Want to read
February 15, 2016320pgs, Civil War, she is a spy for the confederates. Secretly engaged to three different Union officers, she has fallen in love with the only one who can destroy her...
320p June 26, 1862 Charlotte Randolph isn't sure she can go on with her deception, no matter what her brother says or how noble the cause. How can she tell him that it seems her own name has come to mean "liar" and "traitor"? She is supposed to be a good Southern woman, spying for the Confederate cause, and yet ever since Union soldiers took over her home, it's been difficult to remember that they're the enemy. She knows that Captain Ben Chandler, the general's aide-de-camp, suspects that she has secrets. What if he discovers the truth about little Alexander? What if he finds out that Charlotte's taking information to the Rebels? And what if he realizes that her interest in him is far more than polite? Secretly engaged to three different Union officers, it's impossible to deny--she has fallen in love with the only one who can destroy her...
320p June 26, 1862 Charlotte Randolph isn't sure she can go on with her deception, no matter what her brother says or how noble the cause. How can she tell him that it seems her own name has come to mean "liar" and "traitor"? She is supposed to be a good Southern woman, spying for the Confederate cause, and yet ever since Union soldiers took over her home, it's been difficult to remember that they're the enemy. She knows that Captain Ben Chandler, the general's aide-de-camp, suspects that she has secrets. What if he discovers the truth about little Alexander? What if he finds out that Charlotte's taking information to the Rebels? And what if he realizes that her interest in him is far more than polite? Secretly engaged to three different Union officers, it's impossible to deny--she has fallen in love with the only one who can destroy her...
November 30, 2012
An insightful look at a woman caught between family loyalty, history, and knowledge, and a growing awareness that deceptions are never innocent during war. This book is an emotional look at the life of a young woman, raised on a southern plantation after the Civil war breaks out and the males of her family all enlist in the Confederate army. The progression of the heroine's understanding of the concept of slavery is masterfully illustrated.
This is not an innocent book however- sex and sexuality are part of the tools of manipulation used by the heroine and the antagonists. However, her emotions at being forced to use these tools are also there to be examined. This isn't sex for the sake of interest, it is something that adds to the story and provides an emotional, if not romantic, take on the role a woman could play in this era.
I recommend the book as long as the reader understands that it will get a little gritty.
This is not an innocent book however- sex and sexuality are part of the tools of manipulation used by the heroine and the antagonists. However, her emotions at being forced to use these tools are also there to be examined. This isn't sex for the sake of interest, it is something that adds to the story and provides an emotional, if not romantic, take on the role a woman could play in this era.
I recommend the book as long as the reader understands that it will get a little gritty.
January 15, 2013
I suppose my own expectations kept me from fully enjoying this book. It is set in Memphis in the days just after the Naval battle led to its occupation by Union soldiers. Having lived in Memphis for 11 years, I was excited to read historical fiction set in this time and place. Aside from a few mentions of the grand street of houses and one brief scene at the Mississippi River, the story takes place almost entirely in the protagonist's home, and could have been set anywhere in the south.
Otherwise, Ms. Atlee has written a good love story with plenty of deception and misunderstanding. It was certainly entertaining, though I found the ending extremely abrupt. There are a handful of typos scattered throughout the book, but nothing serious enough to be any real distraction. There are two sexual encounters which may be a bit much for some readers who prefer a squeaky clean book.
All in all, a fun read when you're ready to take a break from headier stuff.
Otherwise, Ms. Atlee has written a good love story with plenty of deception and misunderstanding. It was certainly entertaining, though I found the ending extremely abrupt. There are a handful of typos scattered throughout the book, but nothing serious enough to be any real distraction. There are two sexual encounters which may be a bit much for some readers who prefer a squeaky clean book.
All in all, a fun read when you're ready to take a break from headier stuff.
March 19, 2013
A young woman in the midst of a civil war. Her loyalty to the family, and being a spy to the "Union" was a conflicting act that she couldn't abide. When Charlotte's father, and brother left home to serve the "Confederacy" she and her son Alexander was left alone in the Villa.
Meanwhile, the Union soldiers has took possession of her family's mansion. Charlotte, and Alexander tried to run-away, but her brother Captain Michael Randolph of Confederacy wanted her to undercover for him, and intercept an important messages from the Union called "The Anaconda Plan". Throughout the fight between the North and South all Charlotte's wanted to do was to keep her son safe from harm until the civil war ended. Is Charlotte inclined to lie for the sake of her son's safety?
Meanwhile, the Union soldiers has took possession of her family's mansion. Charlotte, and Alexander tried to run-away, but her brother Captain Michael Randolph of Confederacy wanted her to undercover for him, and intercept an important messages from the Union called "The Anaconda Plan". Throughout the fight between the North and South all Charlotte's wanted to do was to keep her son safe from harm until the civil war ended. Is Charlotte inclined to lie for the sake of her son's safety?
July 4, 2016
Very enjoyable book
I liked all the characters, the story line and everything about this book. I had a hard time putting it down. I finished it in three days! This is not my usual genre of reading material and I was very happy with this as my choice for a break. I am going to choose another of her books now.
I liked all the characters, the story line and everything about this book. I had a hard time putting it down. I finished it in three days! This is not my usual genre of reading material and I was very happy with this as my choice for a break. I am going to choose another of her books now.
February 17, 2012
I typically do not go for historical set suring the Civil War but I did like the characters. I, for the most part. part about their struggles and feelings. It was a happily ever after (which I like).
August 17, 2012
This was a decent read, but I think it'll just be another forgotten book. The main character faces many hardships & traumas, but there was nothing heart wrenching or tear jerking. The ending felt a little too abrupt & I was thankful for the epilogue.
September 23, 2010
A good southern romantic for civil war days.
February 20, 2012
Civil War romance set in Memphis, Tenneessee in 1862.
July 10, 2012
Love story set during the Civil War. Liked the twist & turns.
November 4, 2015
An okay romance novel. Takes place during the civil war. Heroine, Charlotte. Alexander, her son who thinks Charlotte is his sister. Ben, the soldier who wins her heart.
March 27, 2017
If I could, I'd be scoring this 3 1/2 stars
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews