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DeLande Saga #1
Betrayal
BETRAYAL is set in an exotic, violent world where storms crash in from the Gulf, where crushing vines of wisteria are drenched with pungent lavender, where gators growl by night in brackish waters full of secrets. A suspense-filled tour de force about a woman who defies a threat honored through the generations.
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1994
34 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 4, 2013
A really compelling book to read. Couldn't put it down.The sex violence was a bit confronting but really important for the story.
November 22, 2019
You don’t see it coming at you, it’s horrifyingly believable.
October 10, 2013
This is one of my all time favorite books. I stumbled upon it in a book store one day and I could not put it down. I lived in New Orleans for two years and have friends and family that are Creole so I could relate to what she was saying. The way she explained Nicolette's family history was well written and she did it with such style. I have bought this book five times and every time I loaned this book out I never got it back! I highly recommend this book.
August 7, 2008
Just as engrossing the second time through, even when I already pretty much remembered what happens.
July 17, 2023
The book started slow, humid, sun-drenched, and redolent with smells and sounds of the nature of the deep South. One of the handful of states I haven’t traveled to, yet. A world of its own. A world of a rigid social structure and perfect manners and old-word money. A world where girls are expected to be pliant and accommodating. Marry early and live their lives, absolutely devoted to their rich, upper class, husbands. And abuse. The type that won’t be shown on their faces, only in hollowness of they eyes and brittle smiles. Polite, beautiful, dripping in diamonds. Yes, it triggered things what were hidden from the sight in a similar box, deep inside, like Collie’s. A box, hiding the ugliness, the fear, and shame. And punishments. Inventive, psychological violations, leaving invisible scars, breaking you down, deep inside. Until you’re just a shadow, waiting for the next round of torture.
The novel is slow in the beginning, but it gathers up the steam, like an avalanche… until you’re so deep in the horror, you can’t escape. This nauseous feeling deep inside, demanding you go wash yourself, to get rid of this disgust and revulsion. This perversion called a family, rich, powerful, untouchable.
The problem, for me, is the ending. I do understand why Collie was found not guilty in the murder of her husband. Yes, once all the dirty laundry of this sick family were aired in a courtroom, her acquittal makes sense. But then, she rushes into the bayou and a dangerous swamp to set up a trap for the three remaining DeLonde brothers. Yes, she needs to solve the problem they represent to her and her children once and for all. But… the whole thing just didn’t resonate with me. She’s not a natural killer, so she makes mistakes. She should’ve been dead, taking them with her. But no, she survives and makes a deal with the youngest brother. The last part of the book just didn’t jive with me.
I won’t be reading other books in the series. I’m done with it. I strongly dislike new characters introduced in consecutive books (reminds me of romance series, which I have zero interest in). So 3.5 stars…
The novel is slow in the beginning, but it gathers up the steam, like an avalanche… until you’re so deep in the horror, you can’t escape. This nauseous feeling deep inside, demanding you go wash yourself, to get rid of this disgust and revulsion. This perversion called a family, rich, powerful, untouchable.
The problem, for me, is the ending. I do understand why Collie was found not guilty in the murder of her husband. Yes, once all the dirty laundry of this sick family were aired in a courtroom, her acquittal makes sense. But then, she rushes into the bayou and a dangerous swamp to set up a trap for the three remaining DeLonde brothers. Yes, she needs to solve the problem they represent to her and her children once and for all. But… the whole thing just didn’t resonate with me. She’s not a natural killer, so she makes mistakes. She should’ve been dead, taking them with her. But no, she survives and makes a deal with the youngest brother. The last part of the book just didn’t jive with me.
I won’t be reading other books in the series. I’m done with it. I strongly dislike new characters introduced in consecutive books (reminds me of romance series, which I have zero interest in). So 3.5 stars…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2021
Eine Hammer Geschichte bei der es um Macht, Geld, Kindes Missbrauch Gewalt in der Ehe und vieles Mehr geht. Die Geschichte hat mich schon etwas erschüttert. Sie beginnt schon wirklich krass mit den Zeilen ich heiße Nicolette… und ich bin eine Mörderin
Nicolette ist eine schöne junge Frau, aber in der sogenannten besseren Südstaaten Gesellschaft ein Nichts, Zwar ist Ihr Vater ein guter Tierarzt, aber das war es auch schon, aber dennoch oder vielleicht auch deswegen verliebt sich Montgomery DeLande
Ein Erbe der mächtigen Familie von Loisana. Er vergöttert seine Frau und betet sie an, sie schenkt ihm drei Kinder aber schon vorher zeigt das Glück tiefe Risse, es beginnt als er Sie ihrer Familie Vorstellt. Die dunkle Seite seine dunkle Seite bricht aus
, er vergewaltigt seine Frau tut ihr weh im Hause seiner Familie. Danach auf dem Heimweg und wieder zu Hause tut er als ob nichts geschehen ist, Er hatte sich zu einem grausamen Sadisten gewandelt urplötzlich und zack wieder zurück als ob nichts geschehen war.
Er behandelt Nicolette als sein persönliches Eigentum. Ich hätte Montomery echt am liebsten eine geballert wenn er seine Frau so behandelt hatte. Als er sich dann auch noch an seinen Kindern vergreift, war ich mehr als schockiert, er hatte es als Spiel bezeichnet, Für Ihn war es normal das er sich an seinen Kindern bedient, wenn seine Frau nicht verfügbar war. Als ich noch lesen musste das auch seine Brüder sich an den Kindern vergriffen haben, war das Maß voll, Nicolette musste handeln so schnell es geht, zum Wohle ihrer Kinder
Um ihre Kinder zu schützen hat Nicolette gekämpft wie eine Löwin und sie hat den Kampf zwar gewonnen, aber zu welchem Preis. Ich habe das Buch fast in einem Haps durch gelesen ich konnte es nicht aus der Hand legen so geflasht war ich was als nächstes passiert. Für mich war es echt lesenswert aber dennoch brutal und erschreckend.
Nicolette ist eine schöne junge Frau, aber in der sogenannten besseren Südstaaten Gesellschaft ein Nichts, Zwar ist Ihr Vater ein guter Tierarzt, aber das war es auch schon, aber dennoch oder vielleicht auch deswegen verliebt sich Montgomery DeLande
Ein Erbe der mächtigen Familie von Loisana. Er vergöttert seine Frau und betet sie an, sie schenkt ihm drei Kinder aber schon vorher zeigt das Glück tiefe Risse, es beginnt als er Sie ihrer Familie Vorstellt. Die dunkle Seite seine dunkle Seite bricht aus
, er vergewaltigt seine Frau tut ihr weh im Hause seiner Familie. Danach auf dem Heimweg und wieder zu Hause tut er als ob nichts geschehen ist, Er hatte sich zu einem grausamen Sadisten gewandelt urplötzlich und zack wieder zurück als ob nichts geschehen war.
Er behandelt Nicolette als sein persönliches Eigentum. Ich hätte Montomery echt am liebsten eine geballert wenn er seine Frau so behandelt hatte. Als er sich dann auch noch an seinen Kindern vergreift, war ich mehr als schockiert, er hatte es als Spiel bezeichnet, Für Ihn war es normal das er sich an seinen Kindern bedient, wenn seine Frau nicht verfügbar war. Als ich noch lesen musste das auch seine Brüder sich an den Kindern vergriffen haben, war das Maß voll, Nicolette musste handeln so schnell es geht, zum Wohle ihrer Kinder
Um ihre Kinder zu schützen hat Nicolette gekämpft wie eine Löwin und sie hat den Kampf zwar gewonnen, aber zu welchem Preis. Ich habe das Buch fast in einem Haps durch gelesen ich konnte es nicht aus der Hand legen so geflasht war ich was als nächstes passiert. Für mich war es echt lesenswert aber dennoch brutal und erschreckend.
May 23, 2021
Four and a half stars!
A twisted love story of a fairytale romance followed by a dream wedding. The honeymoon was wonderful until she met his family. Her husband turned into a sadist in front of her eyes but became warm and loving again when he took her to her new home. The love struck bride put the emotional episode behind her, locked in a secret box in her mind. Thus the years flew by and that secret box held more hidden episodes until it nearly burst at the seams.
A twisted love story of a fairytale romance followed by a dream wedding. The honeymoon was wonderful until she met his family. Her husband turned into a sadist in front of her eyes but became warm and loving again when he took her to her new home. The love struck bride put the emotional episode behind her, locked in a secret box in her mind. Thus the years flew by and that secret box held more hidden episodes until it nearly burst at the seams.
March 18, 2019
Gothic South
Well written and interesting characters. Definitely A gothic horror tale with human villains. Nicely atmospheric with lots of bayou details, especially the skills Collie learned from her dad. Speaking of her dad, it seems strange that he just dropped out of the picture since she had been so close to him growing up.
Well written and interesting characters. Definitely A gothic horror tale with human villains. Nicely atmospheric with lots of bayou details, especially the skills Collie learned from her dad. Speaking of her dad, it seems strange that he just dropped out of the picture since she had been so close to him growing up.
December 15, 2020
So f-ing. Awesome
I love this writer in all her guises. This story is about how women fall into becoming wives and mothers. The things we don’t see and the things we put up with and the things we ignore and forget just to be wives and mothers. But, this book is much more intense. If the main character isn’t careful she will lose everything that ever mattered and then her life.
I love this writer in all her guises. This story is about how women fall into becoming wives and mothers. The things we don’t see and the things we put up with and the things we ignore and forget just to be wives and mothers. But, this book is much more intense. If the main character isn’t careful she will lose everything that ever mattered and then her life.
August 5, 2021
5 gold ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Betrayal was one of my first thrillers. From the first line to the last, I was hooked.
It satisfied something deep within me that has always wanted victimized women to win, to become the hunter and not the prey. I read this novel in my earliest teen years and read it more than ten times. It will always hold a special literary place in my mind.
Betrayal was one of my first thrillers. From the first line to the last, I was hooked.
It satisfied something deep within me that has always wanted victimized women to win, to become the hunter and not the prey. I read this novel in my earliest teen years and read it more than ten times. It will always hold a special literary place in my mind.
June 4, 2023
Psychological thriller. Gut wrenching.
Trigger warning: incest, spousal abuse, child abuse, severely dysfunctional family.
That said. For as much as this was gut wrenching, it also was uplifting. Not everyone who experiences abuse (in whatever form) ends up a victim forever.
But if you're not ready for it, this book can knock the wind out of you.
Trigger warning: incest, spousal abuse, child abuse, severely dysfunctional family.
That said. For as much as this was gut wrenching, it also was uplifting. Not everyone who experiences abuse (in whatever form) ends up a victim forever.
But if you're not ready for it, this book can knock the wind out of you.
March 10, 2019
Extremely well written, powerful story. Very disturbing, lots of trigger warnings, but excellent.
February 22, 2022
Betrayal
Good book. Very, very dark. It has all the brutality you would expect from families who hurt each other. This is a difficult book to read. But an excellent story.
Good book. Very, very dark. It has all the brutality you would expect from families who hurt each other. This is a difficult book to read. But an excellent story.
July 26, 2023
thanks for the survival skills🫱🏽🫲🏽
May 14, 2020
This is one of my all time favourite books. Kept me engaged from start to finish with twists and turns. Every person I have leant this book to has loved it. I have reread it many times and still love it.
February 2, 2016
Not a bad background
I originally started this series by reading book 2 years ago and it was a favorite of mine. When I recently realized there was a trilogy I immediately bought the other 2 books. I was disappointed by this book. It almost seems like it was written by a different person. I missed the details that make the second book in the series so rich. The characters seemed flat and their relationships are never really explained. While Nicole says she instantly wanted to marry Montgomery, their courtship is completely glossed over. Sofia goes to great lengths for Nicole and yet it never really goes into what made them so close. It lacked a lot but it did give me a little more reference for the second book. I am hopeful that the final book in the trilogy resembles the second more than the first
I originally started this series by reading book 2 years ago and it was a favorite of mine. When I recently realized there was a trilogy I immediately bought the other 2 books. I was disappointed by this book. It almost seems like it was written by a different person. I missed the details that make the second book in the series so rich. The characters seemed flat and their relationships are never really explained. While Nicole says she instantly wanted to marry Montgomery, their courtship is completely glossed over. Sofia goes to great lengths for Nicole and yet it never really goes into what made them so close. It lacked a lot but it did give me a little more reference for the second book. I am hopeful that the final book in the trilogy resembles the second more than the first
January 27, 2010
Difficult to read at times but one of the most gripping books I've encountered.
April 22, 2014
Loved loved
May 26, 2015
A dark book of the best kind. A Betrayal was an apt name. Scary.
November 1, 2015
good book, rough content
March 24, 2022
Read this book some time ago, and it is one of my all-time favourites! It's a very dark and suspenseful page-turner. I especially loved the atmospheric description about the bayou.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews