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Lies That Bind
President Jake Jaconovich is the second president elected under the new constitution of an emerging nation. He and his party are working to bring rule of law, human rights and economic stability to a country formerly run on a system of extortion, exploitation, bribes and gang warfare. Problems with rioters and terrorism are epidemic in his country extending even into his own household. Everything he says in private, every random thought or jest gets blown out of proportion and reported to the worst of the opposition press.
Celia Louise Jones-McKinsey is an ex-schoolteacher. She has become a hostage in her own home as she cares for a husband with dementia. She knows she is exhausted from taking care of others. She was a caregiver long began long before her husband became ill as she raised his son with multiple disabilities. She is beginning to think that her life of caring for others is destroying her body and soul. What Celia fails to realize is that her web site on caring for dementia patients has come to the attention of President Jake.
The story opens when President Jake makes a special stop in Victoria BC to visit Celia. After the initial awkwardness of their first meeting Jake and Celia find that they have much in common including a mutual physical attraction. When Celia is finally free for a week to visit Jake's country, he seduces her into bringing her senile husband and moving to his country by introducing her to the plight of the children orphaned by the recent economic crash. Celia leaves her home to escape her life and family and to be with Jake. When she settles into her new home she finds one hundred six children, nine puppies, a serial bomber, numerous rioters, a snitch, a slave trader, a passion for football, a plethora of helicopters and a host of characters to keep things lively.
At one point Celia asks Jake if their lives will ever be ordinary. He answers, "We've had the occasional breakfast together or dinner in our rooms that is ordinary."
"And between breakfast and dinner?" Celia asks.
"All hell breaks loose." Jake acknowledges.
Celia Louise Jones-McKinsey is an ex-schoolteacher. She has become a hostage in her own home as she cares for a husband with dementia. She knows she is exhausted from taking care of others. She was a caregiver long began long before her husband became ill as she raised his son with multiple disabilities. She is beginning to think that her life of caring for others is destroying her body and soul. What Celia fails to realize is that her web site on caring for dementia patients has come to the attention of President Jake.
The story opens when President Jake makes a special stop in Victoria BC to visit Celia. After the initial awkwardness of their first meeting Jake and Celia find that they have much in common including a mutual physical attraction. When Celia is finally free for a week to visit Jake's country, he seduces her into bringing her senile husband and moving to his country by introducing her to the plight of the children orphaned by the recent economic crash. Celia leaves her home to escape her life and family and to be with Jake. When she settles into her new home she finds one hundred six children, nine puppies, a serial bomber, numerous rioters, a snitch, a slave trader, a passion for football, a plethora of helicopters and a host of characters to keep things lively.
At one point Celia asks Jake if their lives will ever be ordinary. He answers, "We've had the occasional breakfast together or dinner in our rooms that is ordinary."
"And between breakfast and dinner?" Celia asks.
"All hell breaks loose." Jake acknowledges.
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First published July 25, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 11, 2013
An epic and engrossing story. Even though it is fiction, it had such a sense of realism. I have read that others thought it was pure fantasy, but I came away with a different sense. When I read, I want to be transported. Maybe it was a story-book relationship. It had enough action and familial plots, that it could be made into a mini-series. This was also my first romance novel. I have to honestly admit, that I jumped into the deep end of the pool. Thanks Delinda for realistic characters, and making my first romance novel exciting and entertaining. The 6 years plus with Popkin and Jake were well worth it.
July 26, 2012
Lies That Bind
By Delinda Mccann
Xlibris Corporation
Celia McKinsey never dreams that the e-mail friend she agrees to meet at a hotel is President Jake Jaconovich, and surrounded by armed guards for protection. Jake never expects the beautiful, exotic Celia to be other than fat with a cancer scar on her face. Upon learning that her e-mail friend is president of another country, Celia is awestruck.
They enjoy a delectable tea and a short shopping trip, and then Jake tells her that this will be their last visit. He's married and has to keep a clean reputation for the people of the country he loves. Celia has to remain caretaker for her once successful husband Kevin, who is now incapacitated and demented. Celia took a chance leaving him for her four-hour visit with Jake, but the church volunteer makes it clear he will never try to handle Kevin again. Yet their e-mail friendship continues on a friendly basis, and accelerates when Jake sends her a private cell phone so they can speak to each other. It isn't long before Jake and Celia become lovers and they complete each other, giving what each of them what has been needed for so long. Their growing passion seems to know no bounds.
Jake takes Celia first to Paris and then to his country for a week. She visits in the guise of advisor and specialist for the welfare of the country's orphans. She meets Leah, his wife, who seems to have no interest in Jake, politics or their three children. Celia hates to leave the man she's grown to love and his country, but her responsibility as caregiver to her husband is her priority. Jake's government gives Celia enough money, a huge sum, as payment for her advice on handling the orphan situation. With this she is able to give Kevin the care he needs, and return with Jake. They take a trip by ship to Cuba where they meet the ailing Fidel Castro and his brother who is now running the country. They travel on to other countries, some not friendly with Celia's Canadian nation. Each time and place they visit, she is trusted with the respect due to her as part of Pres. Jake's political party.
Jake and Celia's lives change abruptly when alleged terrorists bomb the presidential Compound, nearly killing Jake's two daughters, and causing Jake to suffer mild to serious burns. Leah, as usual is not there. Jake sends the children to Celia's home for their safety, along with trusted security guards. After a brief stay at Celia's home everyone returns to the Compound, which has been changed to tighter security to prevent another event. Celia, a woman of many talents, gets herself a security device before leaving. Instead of feeling secure in her new bedroom, she finds multiple listening devices picked up by her own detector. It seems that no place is safe. More devices are found in Jake's sitting room, but he insists upon leaving them there. Peter, the burly security guard, enamored by Celia's detection device," borrows" it to check out the palace. Jake and Celia make tender love, due to Jake's burns from the fire. They are together again and all is well — or so they hope. Jake tells Celia that the real suspect for the bombing is Leah — how could she endanger her own children in the attempt to kill her husband? Does she know about Celia? Does she care? Celia is now an official security agent eager to help track down the assassins.
Author Delinda McCann’s story is filled with memorable characters, some bringing hilarity to the story, others peril, but none could ever be called boring. She spins a romantic and fascinating tale of two unlikely lovers caught up in political intrigue and espionage. Will their deeply passionate love for each other survive the ongoing dangers which beset them with terrifying consistency? “Lies That Bind” is a story of love and passion between a man and a woman whose destiny seems determined to keep them apart.
Reviewer: Micki Peluso, writer, journalist and author of . . . And the Whippoorwill Sang
By Delinda Mccann
Xlibris Corporation
Celia McKinsey never dreams that the e-mail friend she agrees to meet at a hotel is President Jake Jaconovich, and surrounded by armed guards for protection. Jake never expects the beautiful, exotic Celia to be other than fat with a cancer scar on her face. Upon learning that her e-mail friend is president of another country, Celia is awestruck.
They enjoy a delectable tea and a short shopping trip, and then Jake tells her that this will be their last visit. He's married and has to keep a clean reputation for the people of the country he loves. Celia has to remain caretaker for her once successful husband Kevin, who is now incapacitated and demented. Celia took a chance leaving him for her four-hour visit with Jake, but the church volunteer makes it clear he will never try to handle Kevin again. Yet their e-mail friendship continues on a friendly basis, and accelerates when Jake sends her a private cell phone so they can speak to each other. It isn't long before Jake and Celia become lovers and they complete each other, giving what each of them what has been needed for so long. Their growing passion seems to know no bounds.
Jake takes Celia first to Paris and then to his country for a week. She visits in the guise of advisor and specialist for the welfare of the country's orphans. She meets Leah, his wife, who seems to have no interest in Jake, politics or their three children. Celia hates to leave the man she's grown to love and his country, but her responsibility as caregiver to her husband is her priority. Jake's government gives Celia enough money, a huge sum, as payment for her advice on handling the orphan situation. With this she is able to give Kevin the care he needs, and return with Jake. They take a trip by ship to Cuba where they meet the ailing Fidel Castro and his brother who is now running the country. They travel on to other countries, some not friendly with Celia's Canadian nation. Each time and place they visit, she is trusted with the respect due to her as part of Pres. Jake's political party.
Jake and Celia's lives change abruptly when alleged terrorists bomb the presidential Compound, nearly killing Jake's two daughters, and causing Jake to suffer mild to serious burns. Leah, as usual is not there. Jake sends the children to Celia's home for their safety, along with trusted security guards. After a brief stay at Celia's home everyone returns to the Compound, which has been changed to tighter security to prevent another event. Celia, a woman of many talents, gets herself a security device before leaving. Instead of feeling secure in her new bedroom, she finds multiple listening devices picked up by her own detector. It seems that no place is safe. More devices are found in Jake's sitting room, but he insists upon leaving them there. Peter, the burly security guard, enamored by Celia's detection device," borrows" it to check out the palace. Jake and Celia make tender love, due to Jake's burns from the fire. They are together again and all is well — or so they hope. Jake tells Celia that the real suspect for the bombing is Leah — how could she endanger her own children in the attempt to kill her husband? Does she know about Celia? Does she care? Celia is now an official security agent eager to help track down the assassins.
Author Delinda McCann’s story is filled with memorable characters, some bringing hilarity to the story, others peril, but none could ever be called boring. She spins a romantic and fascinating tale of two unlikely lovers caught up in political intrigue and espionage. Will their deeply passionate love for each other survive the ongoing dangers which beset them with terrifying consistency? “Lies That Bind” is a story of love and passion between a man and a woman whose destiny seems determined to keep them apart.
Reviewer: Micki Peluso, writer, journalist and author of . . . And the Whippoorwill Sang
January 28, 2012
Okay, full disclosure, this was written by my mother. That said, I have read Lies that Bind twice and found myself absorbed in the story each time. It isn't a genre I usually read--it's been described as a Techno-thriller without the tech--nor is the style remotely like my own.
When Celia starts an internet support group for people caring for spouses or parents with crippling dementia, she has no idea that the "Jake" who adds such astute observations to the group is the newly-elected president of an emerging nation struggling out from under the yoke of its moneyed ruling families.
Celia is virtually a prisoner in her home struggling to care for her husband with absolutely no help from family or friends, and unable to sleep, much less go to the grocery store, lest Kevin become confused and run away from home or burn the house down with Celia in it.
When Jake and Celia finally meet, their love affair changes the world.
Delinda McCann is a social psychologist who has spent the last twenty years advocating for children with disabilities and educating families and lawmakers about the enormous costs of Fetal Alcoholism on society and taxpayers. She has advised governments around the world and in Washington State, been threatened by liquor lobbyists and received letters of thanks from world leaders like Nelson Mandela and Hillary Clinton.
Lies that Bind tackles difficult questions about marriage (when your spouse doesn't know what a wife is much less who you are, or were, to him, is that still a marriage?) Many churches are beginning to look seriously at this question (There is, by the way, no question that one is obligated to care for one's spouse with dementia; the question is whether one should be obligated to destroy one's health and cripple oneself in the effort).
The book addresses the disintegration of human rights under the oligarchy of money, and the obligations of government toward the weakest members of society--the elderly, the handicapped and the children.
There's a little something here for everybody. It's got puppies, children, babies, romance, sex, weddings, football, kidnappings, betrayal, mysteries, assassinations, martial arts, black helicopters and an occasional bomb just to keep things lively.
It's as much a commentary about current events in the US as it is about the politics of emerging nations, so check it out on Amazon today.
When Celia starts an internet support group for people caring for spouses or parents with crippling dementia, she has no idea that the "Jake" who adds such astute observations to the group is the newly-elected president of an emerging nation struggling out from under the yoke of its moneyed ruling families.
Celia is virtually a prisoner in her home struggling to care for her husband with absolutely no help from family or friends, and unable to sleep, much less go to the grocery store, lest Kevin become confused and run away from home or burn the house down with Celia in it.
When Jake and Celia finally meet, their love affair changes the world.
Delinda McCann is a social psychologist who has spent the last twenty years advocating for children with disabilities and educating families and lawmakers about the enormous costs of Fetal Alcoholism on society and taxpayers. She has advised governments around the world and in Washington State, been threatened by liquor lobbyists and received letters of thanks from world leaders like Nelson Mandela and Hillary Clinton.
Lies that Bind tackles difficult questions about marriage (when your spouse doesn't know what a wife is much less who you are, or were, to him, is that still a marriage?) Many churches are beginning to look seriously at this question (There is, by the way, no question that one is obligated to care for one's spouse with dementia; the question is whether one should be obligated to destroy one's health and cripple oneself in the effort).
The book addresses the disintegration of human rights under the oligarchy of money, and the obligations of government toward the weakest members of society--the elderly, the handicapped and the children.
There's a little something here for everybody. It's got puppies, children, babies, romance, sex, weddings, football, kidnappings, betrayal, mysteries, assassinations, martial arts, black helicopters and an occasional bomb just to keep things lively.
It's as much a commentary about current events in the US as it is about the politics of emerging nations, so check it out on Amazon today.
July 24, 2012
After reading reviews posted by others, I find that they have done a good job of describing the plot of this saga. So I’ll just add a couple of things that resonated most with me.
Ms. McCann did a wonderful job showing the attitudes of many people toward caregivers by describing the reality of Celia’s day-to-day life. She is trapped inside her home, unable to leave her husband, who suffers from dementia. Even trips to the grocery store are major outings for her. Yet her family members are quick to criticize when she asks for help and are never available to assist her in her husband’s round-the-clock care. In spite of this burden, as well as having raised a stepson with autism and fetal alcohol syndrome, Celia has a positive attitude and is able to embrace love when it comes her way. Delinda did a superb job of revealing the character’s reality and caused me to be more mindful of the stresses caregivers must endure.
I also enjoyed Delinda’s descriptions of settings -- everything from the President’s palace to the orphanages Celia visited. I felt as if I stood looking over her characters’ shoulders, eavesdropping on their dialogue, seeing what they saw. Her writing is vivid and compelling.
Though Lies That Bind is long, it is rich in detail and meaning, and reading it is a worthwhile investment of time. I’m looking forward to Delinda’s next creation.
Ms. McCann did a wonderful job showing the attitudes of many people toward caregivers by describing the reality of Celia’s day-to-day life. She is trapped inside her home, unable to leave her husband, who suffers from dementia. Even trips to the grocery store are major outings for her. Yet her family members are quick to criticize when she asks for help and are never available to assist her in her husband’s round-the-clock care. In spite of this burden, as well as having raised a stepson with autism and fetal alcohol syndrome, Celia has a positive attitude and is able to embrace love when it comes her way. Delinda did a superb job of revealing the character’s reality and caused me to be more mindful of the stresses caregivers must endure.
I also enjoyed Delinda’s descriptions of settings -- everything from the President’s palace to the orphanages Celia visited. I felt as if I stood looking over her characters’ shoulders, eavesdropping on their dialogue, seeing what they saw. Her writing is vivid and compelling.
Though Lies That Bind is long, it is rich in detail and meaning, and reading it is a worthwhile investment of time. I’m looking forward to Delinda’s next creation.
November 18, 2012
An intricate, well developed storyline with rich character development. It was a book I had trouble putting down. It is a solid tale with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing until the final pages. I thoroughly enjoyed it despite the unnecessary length and typos. It is a book that could benefit from some serious editing and cropping of bulk. There are sections that are painfully slow and not necessary to the overall story.
Ms. McCann's social conscious is apparent in her treatment of characters with disabilities. She carries the reader into their world displaying their difficulties and successes. She peppers the book with mystery, intrigue and mildly sexual scenes that add depth to the story. Overall it is an enjoyable book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews