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Misconception

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An innocent wife. A desperate husband. A no-win situation.

When suburban Atlanta stay-at-home mom, Pace Kelly, finds out she’s pregnant three years after her husband Jason’s vasectomy, her once happy marriage is pushed to the breaking point. Forced to put his dream of opening his own architecture firm on hold, Jason Kelly tries to get excited about another baby. But a trip to the urologist leaves him staggered. Despite Pace’s insistence that she hasn’t cheated, Jason is left to wonder if his blueblood wife has finally grown tired of his humble background and their middle class lifestyle. Unable to chalk it up to an error, Jason does the unthinkable. But the truth he discovers is a heavier burden to carry than the innuendo that was eating him alive. Now the tables are turned and he’s left holding a smoking gun. When the smoke clears, will their marriage survive?

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

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249 people want to read

About the author

Christy Hayes

30 books195 followers
Christy Hayes is a USA Today Bestselling author. She grew up along the southeastern seaboard and received two degrees from the University of Georgia. An avid reader, she writes romance and women’s fiction. Christy and her husband have two grown children and live with a houseful of dogs in the foothills of north Georgia. 

Website: christyhayes.com
Facebook: ChristyHayesAuthor
Twitter: SeaHayes
Goodreads: Christy Hayes
BookBub: Christy Hayes
Instagram: @christyhayesauthor

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5 stars
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77 (25%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for Debbie DiFiore.
2,749 reviews317 followers
June 16, 2019
Heartbreaking but I loved the message

I don't know why but this story really was good for me. I think it was The message of trust and faith in one another. It was being questioned by everybody in this book. In Pace and Jason's story and in the her parents story. There were two parallel stories. Both couples had trust issues and lack of faith in their marriage. While her Mother buried her head in the sand, Pace took charge of her marriage and her husband's lack of trust. I loved her. She saved herself and her marriage by being strong, confronting the issue, taking steps to get back to their true love, while the Mother kept her mouth shut, and pretended she didn't know that her husband was a cheating pig. I loved her at the end and I hope she never goes back to the slimy jerk. Having Pace stand by her side was empowering for her and she finally took a stand. I loved how the whole story played out. I hate cheating so much but luckily the hero and heroine were true to each other but each of them had underlying trust issues that led to both of their 'misconceptions ' of each other's actions. I personally loved when Jason punched the ex slime ball Trey. I hate that name. In the end, their marriage was stronger, they trusted more and her Mother was way better off alone than she had been in her marriage. And it was just a really good read for me.
Profile Image for Sometime.
1,718 reviews172 followers
July 30, 2019
Knowing the genre of the book you read sure helps when it's a cheating book. This was listed (appropriately) as women's fiction and was a very interesting story about a young couple who have to regain trust after suspicions of cheating. There is no way to prove it did or didn't happen, so the couple has to just dig deep and work it out. It was heartbreaking at times. I really appreciated that the couple sought marriage counseling although I wish they had both seen it through more consistently. This is not a romance, although I enjoyed reading about the breakdown and rebuilding of their relationship.

There is a secondary story about the h's mom, married to a Senator who has cheated on her off and on for years. This poor lady just keeps eating the crap he continues to feed her. It was nice to watch her finally stand up for herself.

There were some very good plot twists having to do with both stories that tied the ending up nicely. I got this for $.99 and am glad I read it.
Profile Image for Lu Bielefeld .
4,304 reviews642 followers
September 19, 2019
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Liked it!
===================
The story absorbed me so much that when I noticed it was already morning and spent the night reading.
Family conflicts and cute couple facing problems.
Like it, this was my first reading from the author.
Profile Image for Jinny.
540 reviews28 followers
July 13, 2011
This review is cross posted at SkyInk.net:

I received this book free of charge in exchange for a review. It’s the first time I’ve ever read a book by a self-published author and I was actually kind of excited about it. While I admit I didn’t end up exactly gushing over this book after I finished, I feel like I’ve been introduced to a new world of books and I think I might be interested in reading more self-published works in the future.

Misconception centers around the Kelly family: a wife, husband and two boys. The story kicks off quickly and we encounter the main conflict of the book quickly: Pace Kelly is pregnant despite her husband, Jason, having gotten himself a vasectomy three years ago. However, despite the evidence, Pace really didn’t cheat on Jason. Jason finds it very hard to believe Pace though, because after getting his vasectomy checked out, it’s confirmed that there’s nothing wrong and he shouldn’t be producing any babies. The relationship between Pace and Jason steadily spiral into a depressing state, with both sides having serious trust issues.

Pace and Jason’s relationship is the bread and butter of this story, and it’s their drama that kept me turning the pages (figuratively; it was an eBook so I suppose I should say scrolling the pages? Hehe). I personally think it would have been more interesting if the third person narrator was less invasive in the characters’ thoughts, because I think it would have been intriguing if the reader wasn’t sure if Pace actually cheated or not. I think the “mystery” would have been great incentive for readers to glue themselves to the pages … or maybe that’s just me. I enjoyed reading about their drama-filled relationship for the most part, what with the accusations being thrown around, the e-mail snooping and the classic hiring of a private detective to spy on the spouse. I love, love, love drama (probably why I devour Jodi Picoult books like there’s no tomorrow) and I think Misconception pulled it off without being too unbelievable and making eyes roll.

Besides the Kellys, Pace’s parents, Colin and Tori, are also central characters in this book. Colin is a famous senator and Tori is, well, his trophy wife, I suppose you can call her. Tori was my least favourite character however. Not because of her person, but more because of her character. There was something inconsistent in her character, I felt. I think it is especially noticeable when the narrator narrates from Tori’s perspective, then switches and narrates from another character’s perspective but Tori is still in the scene. She felt like two different characters sometimes.

The plot is drama-filled and moves along at a good pace, which I liked. There is one thing about the plot that kind of threw me off a bit though. I could be wrong, but to me, Pace and Jason’s relationship is the main focus of the story. So I was a little thrown off that the climax of the story dealt primarily with Colin and Tori, while Pace and Jason just kind of made up in the background. With that said though, I did actually quite like the ending. I am a little confused as to why the focus was on Pace’s parents instead — but that may be because I misinterpreted Colin and Tori’s importance in the story. Okay, I admit it, I didn’t find them that important. But back on track, I did like the ending. I thought it was fitting and climatic and didn’t have a denouement that overstayed its welcome (which is something that really bothers me in books haha, but I’m glad I didn’t have that issue here).

There are some technical things like typos (rare) and awkward sentences, so I think Misconception could benefit from a thorough editing, but I didn’t want to be all nitty-gritty. Overall, this is an okay book. I feel a bit mixed about it, but it’s really not bad. I think if you like family drama sort of books, you should check it out (the author’s website shows the places where you can purchase it).
Profile Image for Dr. Bronwyn Ph.D of Smutology.
425 reviews
December 26, 2012
When you've accused someone of something they haven't done do you say sorry?

I hope you answer yes, because this book was missing a whopper of an apology. I didn't find any of the characters particularly endearing and while the book itself was well written it was kind of convoluted and the jumping between story lines (we have the POV's of the hero, heroine, and the heroine's mother) didn't help.
Profile Image for Michelle Kampmeier.
Author 45 books78 followers
September 19, 2011
I received this book from the author in exchange for a review. Here are my honest thoughts:

3.5 stars

I have to start out this review by saying that I wasn't sure what the main point of this book was. After reading the summary, I thought this would be about the whole pregnancy thing with Pace and Jason, but that blew over much sooner than I thought it would. Pace's mom and dad are also in this from the beginning and there is no mention of them in the description of this novel. So I was a little confused but it all plays out. So don't fear. I guess I just feel like the description is a tad misleading. Like it's missing some key points. Doesn't mean this book was bad! Let's take a closer look.

Pace gets a call from her doctor after an appointment and finds out she's pregnant. She knows this is a mistake because her husband Jason had a vasectomy three years ago. This drama gets dragged out because she can't just go to the doctor to get an ultrasound to find no baby. Instead, then she gets her period and her doctor thinks it's a miscarriage. She lies to Jason and now Jason thinks she cheated. In the meantime, Pace's mother Tori has a private detective follow Colin, her husband and Pace's father, because she thinks he's cheating too. He has in the past, so she's sure he is now.

This all gets introduced fairly quickly, and the two story lines don't always blend well. They come together by the end, and they're both interesting, so it works out. It's just a little confusing at first. Once you get past the separateness of the two stories, they finally link and make more sense. The whole time I was wondering about the two different marriages and how they were going to work out in the end. By the time I was less than halfway through I felt like I had to finish it and know what happens! I just about sped-read the last 100 pages. I did call one of the shockers at the end, but it was all very satisfying. The epilogue made me laugh, too!
Profile Image for Ruth.
992 reviews56 followers
March 14, 2017
Pace has just discovered that she is pregnant. The problem is not just that they decided that their two sons were enough children but her husband had a vasectomy three years before. Now her husband thinks that she was cheating on him after he has a retest and finds that he is indeed sterile. With trust issues on both sides, Pace wonders how they will be able to stay together.

As they struggle to find their way, Jason does something he never thought that he would do and as a result gains information that he wishes he didn't have. The burden threatens to blow the family apart. Can they survive their current issues and get back to the strong love that has bound them together since the day they met?

Hayes has a strong plot with very relatable characters. I found this book through an online review and would certainly be open to reading other books that have been written by Hayes.
Profile Image for Shelleyrae at Book'd Out.
2,626 reviews561 followers
March 3, 2012
When Pace complained of feeling ill she was not expecting a blood test to show she was pregnant, especially when her husband had a vasectomy three years before. While Pace is convinced it is all a mistake, Jason's faith in his wife is shattered, especially when she lies about the doctor's report. In short order, their happy marriage begins to disintegrate into a morass of suspicion and resentment.
While Pace and Jason don't believe their relationship can survive without trust, Pace's mother is trying to ignore yet another of her husband's infidelities. Victoria has long ago lost trust in her husband but clung to the marriage for the security it offered her. His latest fling though is a 20 year old intern, the daughter of a friend, and when Colin's secret becomes public, Tori is finally forced to make a choice, but can she trust herself?
Misconception is an emotional domestic drama exploring the issues of trust, communication and fidelity in a marriage. Hayes contrasts the relationship between Pace and Jason with that of Pace's parents, examining the issues the couples face and the differences in how they choose to deal with them.
Pace and Jason are characters that are easy to relate to, married for a few years they are happy but under pressure with children and work and the intimacy of their relationship is a casualty. Realistically, I think Jason's reaction to Pace's unexpected pregnancy is understandable, even in the most ideal of marital circumstances and Hayes captures the doubts, fears and resentments caused by the situation perfectly.
The relationship between Victoria and Colin also has the ring of truth and I thought Hayes demonstrated Tori's conflict about the state of her marriage credibly. There is no mention of this plot in the blurb which is a bit odd since it does have quite a lot of significance. While the two plots intersect nicely, I think they could have perhaps been meshed a little more.
The writing is solid and Hayes demonstrates a good grasp of realistic dialogue. There were a few minor errors in the text but they are barely worth mentioning. The pace is good and I found it an easy and fairly quick read. I must mention that the title is an inspired choice with it's dual reference.
Overall, Misconception was a pleasant read with an interesting scenario that had me considering what my reaction would be in similar circumstances. Commitment is just a concept until it is truly tested.
Profile Image for Liz Davis.
Author 10 books51 followers
September 6, 2012
Misconception was beautiful but very hard to read at times.

Pace Kelly, a stay-at-home mom, falls pregnant even though her husband had a vasectomy a few years back. There seemed to be only one explanation, that she had cheated. The thing is, she loved her husband more than anything and vehemently denied sleeping with another man. Jason refused to believe her. Instead, in his pain, he distanced himself from his marriage and hired a detective to follow Pace.

What he discovers is something so much worse. A painful discovery that could shatter everything his wife believes in.

I loved it. I'm sure you will too.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
39 reviews
December 18, 2013
The brief summary that I read was a bit different than the focus of the book. Good story but not expected.
Profile Image for Izzie d.
4,309 reviews362 followers
July 24, 2019
It's an interesting scenario.
The husband believes the wife has cheated and she has no way to prove she didn't other than her word.
It examines the issues of trust and effects of cheating between the couple but also another couple have a story within the book as in their situation the husband is cheating so does the wife leave or put up with it.
The issue of the misdiagnosed pregnancy is not revealed until the last few paragraphs.
No intimate scenes with anyone other than the Hero and heroine.
Accusation of cheating.
Other man drama and other woman drama, opportunities for both to be with others if they chose.
HEA.
Profile Image for Debra.
3,467 reviews13 followers
July 26, 2019
Misconception

This story revolves around two people who were married with two boys. When the doctor's office called her to inform her she was pregnant she was unprepared. Her husband had a vasectomy three years before. That marriage hit ruff grounds because of that diagnosis. Can any marriage be able to bounce back from the crisis? There was a side story about her parents and the fact of her fathers high profile life and secrets that could explode when came to light. What happens when both marriages come under attack from within and out? Who will be left standing?
Profile Image for Leslie.
173 reviews2 followers
August 5, 2019
I purchased this book as a result of a Bookbub promotion. I’d never heard of this author or this title. The storyline was intriguing and I had to read it to know how this obvious conflict of information would be resolved.
The author’s writing style is straightforward - even a bit simple - and in a current cultural tone. The characters are not all that deeply developed, but they feel real enough to be relatable/identifiable and believable.
You will naturally cheer for Pace Kelly and her hubby, Jason, to reconcile - and for Tori Whitfield to stand up to her fraternizing hubby, Colin.
Overall, this feels to me like a long PEOPLE article or, potentially, a women’s cable channel movie storyline.
Profile Image for Paula Bothwell.
1,642 reviews44 followers
February 9, 2020
Misconception-R
Violence: fisticuffs
Language: ~170 including deity and FBombs ~20
Sex: married people fooling around, few details, easily skipped
What a roller coaster! I'm still thinking about this book even months after reading it. The rating is for the language. The heroine is so strong and the storyline is FANTASTIC. So clever and intriguing. I'll read more from this author.
1,321 reviews
August 3, 2019
Mistrust

A story about trust in your marriage partner no matter what. This story follows Pace and her husband, Jason as they try to out their marriage back together after a mistaken pregnancy test. It also follows Pace's parents going through infidelity, too.
Profile Image for Tiffany.
1,176 reviews9 followers
September 17, 2017
4 Stars

This book was do good, it was hard to put down. The main character Pace was such a good person, I was happy for her at the end.
Profile Image for Sirilee.
157 reviews
July 29, 2019
Not bad in the easy-reading category, plot is quite interesting - though some characters’ actions at times maybe not quite believable. Fairly well written, could be given 3.5 stars if that existed.
375 reviews2 followers
July 30, 2019
Very good

Well written.-the characters as well as the story. Good lessons about marriage, trust and character. I would recommend it for a good read.
Profile Image for Carol Kopar.
101 reviews
June 8, 2020
Don’t be put off by the number of pages, this is a very quick read. More like 3.5 stars. Trust and communication are key issues the characters have to deal with.
1,243 reviews3 followers
January 5, 2022
Ok book

A book about a marriage who lost there trust and knowing love just isn't enough some times. Ok book the husband was an ass.
Profile Image for wrkatreading.
1,248 reviews27 followers
January 13, 2023
2 stars

Way to much drama. The MMC was so whiny. I get where you’d be worried but 200 pages. Jealousy was almost his destruction.
Profile Image for Katie.
455 reviews
December 4, 2013
WOW!! That was my first thought when I finished this book. It was absolutely wonderful.

Pace Kelly has just been handed a complete curve ball. Her doctor has just informed her that she's pregnant. But that's not possible. While she and her husband share a healthy sex life, he has a vasectomy three years prior. There's just no way. After she tells her husband, Jason, he decides to visit his own doctor and find out how his vasectomy could have been reversed. After accusing his wife of an affair, Jason goes to great lengths to prove his case. The issues of trust and the deceit from both parties leads to their family falling apart.

While Pace and Jason face their own issues, Tori and Colin, Pace's parents are facing their own set of issues. Tori is the perfect wife. She's stood by her husband for years through his career as state Senator and ignored all his side affairs with one woman after the other. Tori has sheltered Pace from her father's indiscretions, and by doing so, has pitted her own daughter against her. After finding out about her husbands latest affair, Tori struggles with the back and forth of whether she should continue to ignore her husbands dalliance and stand by him or leave him. She chooses to stay.

This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It took everything I had not to skip to the end to see how everything turned out. Since some of the narration was from Pace, I knew she didn't have an affair, and I wondered about 1/3 of the way through if she actually had some kind of health problem that could have caused a positive pregnancy test even though she never was. Hearing from Jason was probably my favorite. I enjoyed getting his perspective. The back and forth and the up and down feelings. What else was he supposed to think when his wife of 12 years ends up pregnant, but there's no possible way he could be the father? What would have surprised me had I not read reviews was Tori's narration. There was no mention of it in the description so that would have definitely thrown me for a loop. But I enjoyed her point of view as well. The author really should put something about her in there. It might appeal to more people.

I really loved the title of the book. It held more than one meaning in this book. Great writing, great book!! I'll be reading more from this author!!!
Profile Image for ѦѺ™.
447 reviews
October 5, 2011
Love and pregnancy and riding on a camel cannot be hid. - Arabic Proverb



Pace Kelly did not expect nor want to believe that she could be pregnant again. after all, her husband Jason had a vasectomy three years ago but her recent medical record says otherwise. Jason submits to another examination and he turns up sterile. how did Pace end up pregnant then and who was the man responsible?
this novel is about a happy marriage gone sour because of an unanticipated pregnancy. it also examines further how this scenario affects relationships between couples, their children, their neighbors, friends and immediate family members.
Pace's predicament is complicated when Jason loses trust and feels betrayed despite her claims of innocence. as a counterpoint to their situation, readers will read about Pace's father who is having an affair and about her mother who carries on as if nothing has happened.
we have here two families facing their respective marriage's darkest hours and it was interesting to read how the story progressed from each family's perspective. the characters are well developed with personalities that are shaped by their social status, background and experiences.
drama and a bit of mystery added tension to the whole book and i found myself hoping for a peaceful resolution and closure for each of the protagonists. the revelations at the end, however, were totally unexpected. for me, these unforeseen disclosures were simply brilliant.
i commend author Christy Hayes for beginning her book with a conundrum that puzzled me, generating scenes and emotions that sustained my interest and giving it an ending that is worth discussing!



Disclosure of Material Connection: i purchased a copy of Misconception through a coupon provided by the author. i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was i obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,085 reviews101 followers
November 2, 2011
When Christy sent me the book's blurb and cover back in July, I jumped at the chance to read and review it. I've only just got to it now, but I have thought about dropping everything, skipping my carefully prepared lists and reading it right away. I did just that last week and I'm so glad I did. I love this story.

When I made notes about what I wanted to say in my review, I started with just three words: wow, powerful, emotional. Now I will try to expand on them because that doesn't really say much.

I really felt for Pace, much more so than Jason. Yes, it was easy to feel sorry for a guy who is committed to his family and relationship, and who knows he couldn't have fathered another child with his wife, but his behaviour was not something I can condone.

Pace on the other hand really tore at my heartstrings. How do you prove that you didn't cheat on your husband? How do you cope with the fact that he thinks you did? How do you both move on and rebuild your relationship. These are the questions the book deals with.

There was a scene where Pace and Jason are talking to their kids and trying to explain why things are so tense between them. Their youngest son tells Pace to simply apologize to Daddy because she obviously did something to make him mad. It made me want to cry. It was so heartbreaking.

My review is making this book sound sad. But while there are some sad scenes, the overall feel of the book is not negative. The ending leaves you feeling happy and wishful for a good future. And yes, the pregnancy question is answered. I was so happy to actually get an answer. It seems to be rare to have all loose ends tied up, but this one was very satisfying.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book. It is a quick read, yet very powerful. It definitely met all the expectations that were building in my head every time I glanced at my TBR list.
Profile Image for Andrea.
142 reviews
December 4, 2013
This is another book that I feel like I should send the author more than the $.99 I paid for it. To say that I like it isn't quite right; I more than liked it. I related to it. I understood every emotion that both Jason and Pace were feeling. I found it was a realistic portrait of what happens in a long-term relationship when the trust has been broken. You go through so many emotions. One minute you hate your significant other because of the betrayal and the next minute you're longing to just be next them because you can't fathom a life without them in it. Both Pace and Jason felt this at different times and for different reasons, and it takes a lot of hard work to make it through these times and come out stronger than before.

What makes this story unique is that Pace didn’t actually cheat, although the evidence pointed in the direction of her being guilty. Despite her pleas to Jason that she was innocent, he still had doubts, rightfully so, but I think deep down he knew that she wouldn’t and that she wasn’t unfaitful. But, in his doubting her, that caused her to mistrust him and it was a very dangerous cycle for them to be in. I was glad they sought out help, begrudgingly on Jason’s part, and that they were able to work through everything crazy that was thrown at them.

Great, realistic story.
Profile Image for Meg - A Bookish Affair.
2,484 reviews220 followers
October 4, 2011
This book is sort of a case study of what happens when we don't talk to our loved ones. Jason and Pace are sort of happily married but they have a little bit to work on, including talking to each other to make sure their relationship doesn't go astray. While I reading this book, I happened to also be taking a communication training class. I felt that Jason and Pace would have done well to take a class like that. They definitely would avoid some of the issues they faced in the book. Mis-communications can happen though, especially in relationships even those that we've been in for a long time. We don't say what we need to say or we're afraid to ask the tough questions. In that way, I thought the book was really realistic.


Pace's dad is a U.S. Senator and while the book takes place in Atlanta, you can get a little taste of that DC flavor, which I really liked.


This book is well written and really pulls you in. I found myself rooting for the characters and hoping that everything turns out okay. It's not a high brow book but the characters are really realistic and relatable.


Bottom line: This is a good quick read.
Profile Image for Ginger.
937 reviews
February 4, 2012
This is my first book by this author, but I will be finding more of her books! I just couldn't imagine the emotions Pace and Jason went through. I don't know if I would've gone to the lengths they did, but who knows what one would do unless they are in a similar situation??
This book inspired a lot of emotions in me & was very thought provoking. It was one of those books that really make you stop & think. Just how strong is your marriage and commitment to each other?? Well written book and not just one for the ladies!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews

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