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Deceptions of the Heart
Surviving as Jennifer Cristobal isn’t easy for Rhonda Prentiss. Three years ago, a sudden, fatal trauma stripped Rhonda of her middle-class, stay-at-home-mom existence. A brand new shock prompts Rhonda’s essence to invade Jennifer’s soul, suppressing the other woman’s memories and replacing them with her own. When Jennifer’s heart transplant surgeon, Dr. Crane, can’t—or won’t—help her understand her unusual body-swapping dilemma, she turns to the only man she can trust. But can she fully trust Jennifer’s husband, Anson? Rhonda’s memory proves faulty—and sugarcoated. Multiple threats from her past shake her fragile hold on mental stability. If one of her enemies succeeds, he will kill Rhonda’s soul… or Jennifer’s body… or both.
163 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 23, 2012
3 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Denise Moncrief
41 books99 followersSuspense, She Writes
Where the road to happily ever after takes a suspenseful detour.
Denise has lived in Louisiana all her life, and yes, she has a drawl. She has a wonderful husband and two incredible children, who not only endure her moods but also encourage her to indulge her writing passion. Accounting is a skill she learned to earn a little money to support her writing habit. Besides writing paranormal suspense, she holds a part-time job in public accounting and enjoys traveling, reading, and scrapbooking.
She wrote her first story when she was a teen, seventeen handwritten pages on school-ruled paper and an obvious rip-off of the last romance novel she had read. She's been writing off and on ever since, and with twenty-two stories already published and fourteen still available for purchase, she plans to continue releasing new books for years to come. In 2015, her Haunted Hearts series sold over 19,000 copies, placing the series on Amazon's best-seller list of ghost thrillers for over a year.
Where the road to happily ever after takes a suspenseful detour.
Denise has lived in Louisiana all her life, and yes, she has a drawl. She has a wonderful husband and two incredible children, who not only endure her moods but also encourage her to indulge her writing passion. Accounting is a skill she learned to earn a little money to support her writing habit. Besides writing paranormal suspense, she holds a part-time job in public accounting and enjoys traveling, reading, and scrapbooking.
She wrote her first story when she was a teen, seventeen handwritten pages on school-ruled paper and an obvious rip-off of the last romance novel she had read. She's been writing off and on ever since, and with twenty-two stories already published and fourteen still available for purchase, she plans to continue releasing new books for years to come. In 2015, her Haunted Hearts series sold over 19,000 copies, placing the series on Amazon's best-seller list of ghost thrillers for over a year.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 5, 2013
Denise Moncrief has done it again, she kept me completely enthralled all the way through this book. Deceptions of the Heart is full of so many twists & turns that the drama keeps you turning pages very quickly. The concept behind this story is so interesting I was completely hooked from page one.
Rhonda Prentiss wakes up one morning in a bed she has never seen, with a husband she doesn't know, in a house she has no memory of living in, with people she has never meet in her life, and a face in the mirror she has never seen. She soon discovers that she is living the life of Jennifer Cristobal. However she has no memories that belong to Jennifer and only remembers Rhonda's life. She finds herself in a lot of dramatic situations and very unsure who she can trust. Who are these people in Jennifer's life and are they trying to kill her on purpose? Can she return to Rhonda's life and get help there? Can she trust Jennifer's husband and her step daughter to help her? Can she trust the doctor that has been treating Jennifer?
She figures out that Rhonda has passed away and Jennifer has received her heart via a heart transplant. Somehow this has caused Rhonda's memories to be trapped in Jennifer's body. Like I said the concept behind this book really kept me interested. This is such an interesting concept. Could this really happen?
I really enjoyed this book and could not stop reading. I could not wait to see what was going to happen to Rhonda/ Jennifer and who's memories were actually going to stay with Jennifer's body.
I would recommend this book to all those out there that enjoy mystery with a little romance. If you like some interesting twist with your story I think the twists and turns in Deceptions of the Heart will keep you reading.
Rhonda Prentiss wakes up one morning in a bed she has never seen, with a husband she doesn't know, in a house she has no memory of living in, with people she has never meet in her life, and a face in the mirror she has never seen. She soon discovers that she is living the life of Jennifer Cristobal. However she has no memories that belong to Jennifer and only remembers Rhonda's life. She finds herself in a lot of dramatic situations and very unsure who she can trust. Who are these people in Jennifer's life and are they trying to kill her on purpose? Can she return to Rhonda's life and get help there? Can she trust Jennifer's husband and her step daughter to help her? Can she trust the doctor that has been treating Jennifer?
She figures out that Rhonda has passed away and Jennifer has received her heart via a heart transplant. Somehow this has caused Rhonda's memories to be trapped in Jennifer's body. Like I said the concept behind this book really kept me interested. This is such an interesting concept. Could this really happen?
I really enjoyed this book and could not stop reading. I could not wait to see what was going to happen to Rhonda/ Jennifer and who's memories were actually going to stay with Jennifer's body.
I would recommend this book to all those out there that enjoy mystery with a little romance. If you like some interesting twist with your story I think the twists and turns in Deceptions of the Heart will keep you reading.
January 28, 2013
Deceptions of the heart is indeed an entandre of words! Jennifer wakes up one day and has no idea who she is because in fact it is Rhonda. As the world come rushing back to her she realizes all of the errors in judgement she's made and determines it is time to right all her wrongs. Only problem - no one believes her!
Denise has written a story that is brilliantly constructed so that the reader not only goes along for the ride, but feels every emotion this woman is having. I finished the book in two days and was completely surprised by the ending. There is a fuzzy line between good and evil here and Denise does a wonderful job of weaving the tale in such a way that when the book is finished you have to ask yourself... "Could that really happen?"
This is the first of Moncrief's books that I have read... but it most certainly won't be my last! I highly recommend picking up a copy and immersing yourself into Deceptions of the Heart!
Denise has written a story that is brilliantly constructed so that the reader not only goes along for the ride, but feels every emotion this woman is having. I finished the book in two days and was completely surprised by the ending. There is a fuzzy line between good and evil here and Denise does a wonderful job of weaving the tale in such a way that when the book is finished you have to ask yourself... "Could that really happen?"
This is the first of Moncrief's books that I have read... but it most certainly won't be my last! I highly recommend picking up a copy and immersing yourself into Deceptions of the Heart!
February 8, 2013
This is one of those books I said not long after starting, 'Damn. Wish I'd thought of this premise.'
'Course, I'm no thriller / contemporary romance writer. When it comes to twists, mysteries, and intrigue, I'm a total loser. Ms. Moncrief, however, rocks it.
There were a few times I was a little confused about what was going on, so I made a point to re-read those sections that had me furrowing my brow. Hey - mommy brain gets the best of me more often then not.
Well written with engaging, empathetic characters, Deceptions of the Heart is a nail-biter that will keep you guessing until the end.
'Course, I'm no thriller / contemporary romance writer. When it comes to twists, mysteries, and intrigue, I'm a total loser. Ms. Moncrief, however, rocks it.
There were a few times I was a little confused about what was going on, so I made a point to re-read those sections that had me furrowing my brow. Hey - mommy brain gets the best of me more often then not.
Well written with engaging, empathetic characters, Deceptions of the Heart is a nail-biter that will keep you guessing until the end.
October 5, 2013
Could you imagine waking up one morning not knowing who or where you were? You “know” that you are Rhonda Prentiss, a stay at home mom, but when you call home you find out that you/she died three years ago. You don’t recognize the man that just got out of your bed, but as the day wears on, you find out he is your husband and your name is Jennifer Cristobal – the recipient who received Rhoda’s heart, three years ago.
A shady person from Rhonda’s past appeared in Jennifer’s present which was the catalyst which caused Rhonda’s memories to invade Jennifer’s mind. As Jennifer tries to figure out what is actually happening and who she really is, she finds that no one in her life is who they seem to be. She flees across the country to California trying to find answers. The surgeon who did the transplant can’t or won’t help try to figure out what is happening. And to make matters worse, he seems to be in cahoots with Rhonda’s husband.
Jennifer / Rhonda don’t know who to trust. Everyone seems to be keeping secrets, telling lies, or giving her half-truth, and each day that passes Jennifer / Rhonda find themself in increasing danger. Realizing the only way to save them is to find out the truth, Jennifer / Rhonda turn to Jennifer’s husband to assist…. But was that the right decision?
When I read, Deceptions of the Heart, I couldn’t wait to find out. Every page I turned peaked my curiosity and questioned my hunches. Well written and faced paced, this is the perfect book to curl up with and take your mind off life for a while….
A shady person from Rhonda’s past appeared in Jennifer’s present which was the catalyst which caused Rhonda’s memories to invade Jennifer’s mind. As Jennifer tries to figure out what is actually happening and who she really is, she finds that no one in her life is who they seem to be. She flees across the country to California trying to find answers. The surgeon who did the transplant can’t or won’t help try to figure out what is happening. And to make matters worse, he seems to be in cahoots with Rhonda’s husband.
Jennifer / Rhonda don’t know who to trust. Everyone seems to be keeping secrets, telling lies, or giving her half-truth, and each day that passes Jennifer / Rhonda find themself in increasing danger. Realizing the only way to save them is to find out the truth, Jennifer / Rhonda turn to Jennifer’s husband to assist…. But was that the right decision?
When I read, Deceptions of the Heart, I couldn’t wait to find out. Every page I turned peaked my curiosity and questioned my hunches. Well written and faced paced, this is the perfect book to curl up with and take your mind off life for a while….
November 26, 2012
Readers of romantic mysteries will enjoy this twisting tale by romance author Denise Moncrief.
Heart transplant survivor Rhonda Prentiss wakes up one day not recognizing the woman staring back at her in the mirror. Nor can she quite place the man coming out of the shower. Who is he? Who is she?
As Rhonda begins her life as this new person, she is forced to bluff her way through interactions with people she doesn't know, but who seem to be well-acquainted with her. Her identity soon becomes clearer: she is Jennifer Cristobal, a privileged woman despised by most people who know her. Why do they hate her so? What can Rhonda do to escape from Jennifer's nightmare existence and return to her own sedate life on the other side of the country?
When someone makes an attempt on her life, answers become imperative. But the answers only lead to more questions as Rhonda/Jennifer desperately seeks to understand the most fundamental question: When a woman cannot trust her heart, where can she turn to for the truth?
Heart transplant survivor Rhonda Prentiss wakes up one day not recognizing the woman staring back at her in the mirror. Nor can she quite place the man coming out of the shower. Who is he? Who is she?
As Rhonda begins her life as this new person, she is forced to bluff her way through interactions with people she doesn't know, but who seem to be well-acquainted with her. Her identity soon becomes clearer: she is Jennifer Cristobal, a privileged woman despised by most people who know her. Why do they hate her so? What can Rhonda do to escape from Jennifer's nightmare existence and return to her own sedate life on the other side of the country?
When someone makes an attempt on her life, answers become imperative. But the answers only lead to more questions as Rhonda/Jennifer desperately seeks to understand the most fundamental question: When a woman cannot trust her heart, where can she turn to for the truth?
February 12, 2014
Very entertaining book. Moncrief really knows how to write a romance intertwined with a whodunit. It kept me guessing from beginning to end.
The main character, Jennifer, wakes up (beginning of book) and doesn't know where she is, who the man is in the bedroom with her, what house she's in, and worst of all, it's not her face staring back at her in the mirror. And it only grows worse as the day progresses. She chooses to try and bluff her way through it until she can figure it out. What is extra troubling is that the more people she meets, the longer the list grows of people who don't like her--in fact dislike her to the point that someone is trying to kill her. Almost everyone in the book is suspect at one time or another.
Though largely plot-driven, the book doesn't lack in character development. Moncrief has the reader hit the ground running, and never lets up.
Good read, hard to put down.
The main character, Jennifer, wakes up (beginning of book) and doesn't know where she is, who the man is in the bedroom with her, what house she's in, and worst of all, it's not her face staring back at her in the mirror. And it only grows worse as the day progresses. She chooses to try and bluff her way through it until she can figure it out. What is extra troubling is that the more people she meets, the longer the list grows of people who don't like her--in fact dislike her to the point that someone is trying to kill her. Almost everyone in the book is suspect at one time or another.
Though largely plot-driven, the book doesn't lack in character development. Moncrief has the reader hit the ground running, and never lets up.
Good read, hard to put down.
August 23, 2013
I can usually solve a mystery before it is revealed either in a book or a movie, but I must admit I didn't figure this one out ahead of time. I hate spoilers so I won't write one here, but I will say Denise's character, Jennifer Cristobal's fear and fog from losing herself to the memories of her heart donor, Rhonda Prentiss twisted my smug assumptions I would have everything figured out by the third chapter into a frayed knot. It is a great read and a mystery roller coaster ride I highly recommend.
October 2, 2013
This was my first Denise Moncrief book, but it won't be my last. Compelling topic and great story-telling.
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September 10, 2013Review to come...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews