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Sisters by Choice #1
Deception
Twins are supposed to have an unbreakable bond, but Patti and Jamie have serious relationship issues. They haven't spoken since Jamie ruined Patti's upcoming nuptials years ago. When a niece she knows nothing about telephones, Patti must unravel the yarn of Jamie's life and her mysterious disappearance. Detective Carter Caldwell takes his job seriously, and it's his job to keep Patti and her niece safe. But Patti is determined to help find her sister. As the investigation grows more dangerous, Carter begrudgingly admits the safest place for Patti is at his side. Each step in their journey leads them closer to the truth but pulls them further down a road filled with danger and deception, where each will battle for survival and the lives of countless Americans.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
38 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Lillian Duncan
51 books172 followersLillian lives in a small town in Ohio with her husband. She writes the type of books she loves to read--mystery and suspense with a touch or two of romance!
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 29, 2014
Took me a while to get into the story, but I loved the ending, so to me, it was worth it. The “identical twin masquerading as her sister” concept was interesting to watch unfold. The suspense was tight and the story was solid.
April 7, 2018
Ms. Duncan is definitely a great story teller. I loved reading this book, and when I had to put it down because of responsibilities, I couldn't wait to get back to reading.
I loved the way the characters interacted together throughout the book. Patti was spunky and faithful to her twin sister, Jamie, even though they had not spoken for several years. The love and concern Patti showed her sister’s little girl, Sabrina, whom she knew nothing about, was evident and touching.
My favorite thing about the entire book was the suspense. It built for a while, and then Ms. Duncan allowed you to get a breath briefly before the suspense captured your attention once more. The ending of this book was awesome!
Over all, I give this book five stars and highly recommend it to anyone loving suspense with a touch of romance thrown it.
I loved the way the characters interacted together throughout the book. Patti was spunky and faithful to her twin sister, Jamie, even though they had not spoken for several years. The love and concern Patti showed her sister’s little girl, Sabrina, whom she knew nothing about, was evident and touching.
My favorite thing about the entire book was the suspense. It built for a while, and then Ms. Duncan allowed you to get a breath briefly before the suspense captured your attention once more. The ending of this book was awesome!
Over all, I give this book five stars and highly recommend it to anyone loving suspense with a touch of romance thrown it.
July 1, 2018
Deception, is the first book I have read by Lillian Duncan. It is full of non-stop action, danger and suspense with a little romance included. A missing sister and an unknown niece start the adventure. Can Patti discover what is going on? Great plot and characters. Will definitely look for more books by Ms. Duncan.
I received this book from NetGalley and all opinions are my own.
I received this book from NetGalley and all opinions are my own.
April 11, 2018
A good mystery.
This is my first book by this author and found it a good read. Interesting characters and lots of action. I am sure I will be racing more of her books in the near future.
This is my first book by this author and found it a good read. Interesting characters and lots of action. I am sure I will be racing more of her books in the near future.
May 1, 2019
Keeps you going!
This is action packed from start to end...shows you can have a murder, terrorist, evil and just clean read by this Christian Author! Can’t wait to start on Betrayed....dhg
This is action packed from start to end...shows you can have a murder, terrorist, evil and just clean read by this Christian Author! Can’t wait to start on Betrayed....dhg
June 3, 2019
A great read
I really enjoyed this book - the characters, the plot, and the suspense. Well written. Thank you for writing it.
I really enjoyed this book - the characters, the plot, and the suspense. Well written. Thank you for writing it.
February 3, 2014
Patti Jakowski’s life is super boring, until she gets a phone call from a terrified four-year-old claiming to be her niece. Although Patti feels for the little girl, she believes the claim is preposterous. She hasn’t seen her twin sister in years, but even so, she feels that if she had a niece she would’ve known about it. So, the child must be mistaken. The author’s skill comes through at the outset, as this phone call between Patti and the frightened child is both tender and heartwarming, but also heart wrenching.
This single phone call changes the direction of Patti’s life, as she determines she must go to the child to find out for herself what is going on. She learns that indeed, little Sabrina is her niece and that her identical twin sister Jamie is missing. When Sabrina’s nanny gives Patti the guided tour of Jamie’s house, which in reality is more like a mansion, Patti realizes her sister is a very wealthy woman. Patti remembers Jamie as the flighty and irresponsible, always getting into one scrape or another while growing up and living in New York City in an apartment with roaches. She can’t help but wonder if Jamie came by all this wealth illegally. When she finds her sister’s purse, she knows Jamie didn’t leave the house willingly. A woman doesn’t leave of her own accord without taking her handbag.
It’s not long before a handsome sergeant from the local police force is involved in the case. Sgt. Carter Caldwell is initially skeptical. Jamie’s job takes her out of town frequently and he’s sure she’ll turn up on her own sooner or later…though he’s got this niggling feeling in his gut that something’s amiss somewhere. Initially Pattie is furious with the police sergeant and doesn’t understand why he can’t see what’s as plain as the nose on his face…her sister is in big trouble.
In short order, an FBI agent friend of Jamie’s gets involved and Patti learns Jamie has been doing dangerous undercover work for the federal agency…thus explaining the title DECEPTION. As it turns out Sabrina’s father is involved with a terrorist cell and Jamie volunteered to help implicate him in terrorist activities. The FBI wants to find Jamie just as much as Patti does.
Pattie is nearly accosted by a jogger on the beach near Jamie’s house. Pattie finds her sister’s Bible and realizes Jamie is a believer. Pattie falls asleep that night reading her twin’s Bible. When the jogger assaults the nanny and tries to kidnap Sabrina, a full court press is on by both the FBI and Sgt. Caldwell to find Jamie. Of course, Patti insists on becoming part of the investigation. The plot takes quite a few twists and turns. The bad guys turn out to be very bad indeed, something I like in a suspense novel.
The main characters and a few of the important subordinate characters are Christians. As the story goes forward and Patti and Carter grow closer, beginning a romance, their faith also deepens. Ultimately, it is a story about the importance of strong family relationships and also about never giving up on the people you love.
This is the second novel by Lillian Duncan I’ve read in the romantic suspense genre. The first was PURSUED. I recommend both of them. This is a very talented writer.
This single phone call changes the direction of Patti’s life, as she determines she must go to the child to find out for herself what is going on. She learns that indeed, little Sabrina is her niece and that her identical twin sister Jamie is missing. When Sabrina’s nanny gives Patti the guided tour of Jamie’s house, which in reality is more like a mansion, Patti realizes her sister is a very wealthy woman. Patti remembers Jamie as the flighty and irresponsible, always getting into one scrape or another while growing up and living in New York City in an apartment with roaches. She can’t help but wonder if Jamie came by all this wealth illegally. When she finds her sister’s purse, she knows Jamie didn’t leave the house willingly. A woman doesn’t leave of her own accord without taking her handbag.
It’s not long before a handsome sergeant from the local police force is involved in the case. Sgt. Carter Caldwell is initially skeptical. Jamie’s job takes her out of town frequently and he’s sure she’ll turn up on her own sooner or later…though he’s got this niggling feeling in his gut that something’s amiss somewhere. Initially Pattie is furious with the police sergeant and doesn’t understand why he can’t see what’s as plain as the nose on his face…her sister is in big trouble.
In short order, an FBI agent friend of Jamie’s gets involved and Patti learns Jamie has been doing dangerous undercover work for the federal agency…thus explaining the title DECEPTION. As it turns out Sabrina’s father is involved with a terrorist cell and Jamie volunteered to help implicate him in terrorist activities. The FBI wants to find Jamie just as much as Patti does.
Pattie is nearly accosted by a jogger on the beach near Jamie’s house. Pattie finds her sister’s Bible and realizes Jamie is a believer. Pattie falls asleep that night reading her twin’s Bible. When the jogger assaults the nanny and tries to kidnap Sabrina, a full court press is on by both the FBI and Sgt. Caldwell to find Jamie. Of course, Patti insists on becoming part of the investigation. The plot takes quite a few twists and turns. The bad guys turn out to be very bad indeed, something I like in a suspense novel.
The main characters and a few of the important subordinate characters are Christians. As the story goes forward and Patti and Carter grow closer, beginning a romance, their faith also deepens. Ultimately, it is a story about the importance of strong family relationships and also about never giving up on the people you love.
This is the second novel by Lillian Duncan I’ve read in the romantic suspense genre. The first was PURSUED. I recommend both of them. This is a very talented writer.
Read
February 16, 2012i love reading about twins...they have a close bond that most of us have never experienced. Jamie and Patti are identical twins, which makes them even more unique. From the very first scene where a phone call introduces an unheard of niece to Patti - right to the epilogue, Lillian drew me into the novel of suspense and intrigue. The imagery she uses as Patti slips into heart stopping situations puts the reader right there.
Patti is a strong individual (and sad to say, I can see myself in this character at times) pushing her way forward. Strong as she is, she is also loveable, believable and vulnerable as she cares for her sister daughter, and searhes for the truth. It is through Patti's thoughts that we learn of their past history. Carter is also a strong in his convictions, and in his calling, but love bends his path. Together Patti and Carter face a world of unknowns, keeping Sabrina and those around them safe.
I found it extremely difficult to leave this novel to go do things I needed to do, and finished this in one day. Superbly well done, and I will be reading more of her novels and recommending them to you and all other friends. I give this novel 5 stars out of 5.
Patti is a strong individual (and sad to say, I can see myself in this character at times) pushing her way forward. Strong as she is, she is also loveable, believable and vulnerable as she cares for her sister daughter, and searhes for the truth. It is through Patti's thoughts that we learn of their past history. Carter is also a strong in his convictions, and in his calling, but love bends his path. Together Patti and Carter face a world of unknowns, keeping Sabrina and those around them safe.
I found it extremely difficult to leave this novel to go do things I needed to do, and finished this in one day. Superbly well done, and I will be reading more of her novels and recommending them to you and all other friends. I give this novel 5 stars out of 5.
June 28, 2013
A mysterious phone call from a little girl sends Patti Jakowski packing and on a flight out of town. Soon after, with the help of a friendly cop, Patti sets out to find her missing twin sister. A dangerous game of deception ensues.
Deception truly is the perfect title for this fast-paced romantic suspense novel written by Lillian Duncan and published by Harbourlight Books. A quick read, it was hard to put the book down.
Lillian did a good job of describing the scenes, and there were several settings in this story. Having lived in each of the states mentioned, it made the story all the more interesting.
This novel should appeal to women of all ages and men who like to read suspense with a touch of romance.
*Please note that I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my review. However, I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
Deception truly is the perfect title for this fast-paced romantic suspense novel written by Lillian Duncan and published by Harbourlight Books. A quick read, it was hard to put the book down.
Lillian did a good job of describing the scenes, and there were several settings in this story. Having lived in each of the states mentioned, it made the story all the more interesting.
This novel should appeal to women of all ages and men who like to read suspense with a touch of romance.
*Please note that I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my review. However, I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
March 13, 2013
This is a suspenseful and sweet story that I couldn't put down. I'm always drawn to a book that involves twins, especially if one is in trouble. Deception didn't disappoint. Right from the get go I was drawn into the plot. Patti makes for a strong heroine. She has to face her past, and also find her sister.
Lillian Duncan is an author to watch. She spins tales of mystery and drama with characters that you can relate to. They are believable and bring the pages to life with the dialogue and action.
If you like a mix of suspense and inspirational fiction, Deception is a book filled with that and much more.
Lillian Duncan is an author to watch. She spins tales of mystery and drama with characters that you can relate to. They are believable and bring the pages to life with the dialogue and action.
If you like a mix of suspense and inspirational fiction, Deception is a book filled with that and much more.
June 16, 2014
This book is easy to read in a few hours. It is a well written Suspense with a hint of Romance woven in, too. I really liked the poem Patti found in her twin sister's journal titled "The Master Gardener."
February 18, 2016
good for a short suspense book.
Read
July 6, 2018I really enjoyed “Deception” by Lillian Duncan. This book hooked me from the first page and continued throughout the whole book. It had me guessing what was really going on, and it definitely had twists and turns throughout.
This book centered around Patti and Jamie, twins, who haven’t seen each other for years. Along with a lot of suspense, this book had a little romance and faith thrown in. I like the way Lillian shared the gospel message without being preachy.
I highly recommend this book and any book by Lillian Duncan.
I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley for my honest opinion.
This book centered around Patti and Jamie, twins, who haven’t seen each other for years. Along with a lot of suspense, this book had a little romance and faith thrown in. I like the way Lillian shared the gospel message without being preachy.
I highly recommend this book and any book by Lillian Duncan.
I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley for my honest opinion.
July 28, 2018
Deception by Lillian Duncan
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Lillian Duncan begins her Sisters by Choice series with a story that will have readers holding their breathe and wishing the story lasted longer.
I started this series out of order as I was offered the second book in the series to review before this one but other than discovering more about another character in the later pages of this story it didn’t matter all that much. I do believe I will be adding Ms. Duncan to my “To-read authors” list after reading this particular book. I loved the way she created fairly in depth characters and plot lines given the short length of the book. This was clearly meant to be a novella style book and while it was nice to have a shorter story to read for once, I wish she had given everything more page time. I would have loved to see a little more background from Carter and Patti as I found them to be very good characters. The story begins with Patti answering the phone at her home – a call that will literally change her life. Apparently the twin sister she is estranged from has a daughter named Sabrina who decided to follow Jaime’s instructions and call Patti if Jaime disappeared. Reeling from the news of a unknown niece and fearful the child has been left alone at home, Patti calls the police and is connected to a detective in Florida by the name of Carter Caldwell, who vows to find out what has happened. When Jaime fails to make an appearance within a week, Patti heads to Florida herself to find out what her sister has been doing since they last spoke. Patti has still not forgiven Jaime for ruining her wedding years before by causing Patti’s former fiancé to fall in love with her. But she cannot ignore a child who seems to be alone in the world with the exception of a housekeeper/nanny who is watching her. As she begins to learn more about the life her sister has been leading, Patti is shocked to see how wealthy her “flighty” twin has become. With a sprawling home that is furnished with the best of items and a wardrobe straight from the most expensive brand lists, Jaime appears to have found a job that has afforded her great success. But no one seems to know what Jaime does for a living, and Patti is not sure she really wants to find out. As more and more of Jaime’s secret life comes to light, Patti reaches out to Carter to discover what has happened to her sister. A race against time begins as they delve further into Jaime’s life and employment. And there will be more at stake than just Jaime’s life and hundreds more will be in danger if Patti and Carter do not find a way to stop a secret terrorist cell from carrying out deadly and devastating plans. They might also find the true love they’ve been searching for in the most unexpected place – each other. As I said before, I wish this story had been given more page time as it could have been expanded much more and really been amazing. As it was, I loved the carefully crafted plot and the characters that were very life-like in their actions. Patti was a heroine I could root for as she was not content to just let life happen to her, rather she took it “by the horns” and did all in her power to ensure her sister came home safe. Carter too, was a really nice guy who strove to do his job with all his knowledge and experience. Together they made a good couple that I was thrilled to see come together for more than just working on a case. I loved the quiet but powerful elements of faith that were woven into the story as well. Ms. Duncan did not pull her punches as she carefully but firmly corrected the idea that Jaime had been out to hurt Patti with her fiancé, rather, she had been trying to help show his true colors to Patti. I also liked how Carter had to return his trust to God that he had taken away after his wife had been killed. It was good to see that both characters had some growing to do throughout the story so that they were developed alongside the plot. It’s hard to connect with characters that remain the same so Ms. Duncan did an excellent job by showing their growth in the pages of the story. I so wanted to give this story 5 stars but couldn’t because I felt that it was a bit too rushed to be truly believable, especially the ending. If there had been a little more page time given to the last few chapters, I would have given it 5 stars with pleasure. I am greatly looking forward to reading more books from this author. I will certainly be keeping an eye out for newer works available for review so I can really get a feel for her writing style and character voices. I will certainly recommend this book and series to others as I have really enjoyed the stories I have read thus far.
I received this E-book free of charge from Pelican Book Group via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Lillian Duncan begins her Sisters by Choice series with a story that will have readers holding their breathe and wishing the story lasted longer.
I started this series out of order as I was offered the second book in the series to review before this one but other than discovering more about another character in the later pages of this story it didn’t matter all that much. I do believe I will be adding Ms. Duncan to my “To-read authors” list after reading this particular book. I loved the way she created fairly in depth characters and plot lines given the short length of the book. This was clearly meant to be a novella style book and while it was nice to have a shorter story to read for once, I wish she had given everything more page time. I would have loved to see a little more background from Carter and Patti as I found them to be very good characters. The story begins with Patti answering the phone at her home – a call that will literally change her life. Apparently the twin sister she is estranged from has a daughter named Sabrina who decided to follow Jaime’s instructions and call Patti if Jaime disappeared. Reeling from the news of a unknown niece and fearful the child has been left alone at home, Patti calls the police and is connected to a detective in Florida by the name of Carter Caldwell, who vows to find out what has happened. When Jaime fails to make an appearance within a week, Patti heads to Florida herself to find out what her sister has been doing since they last spoke. Patti has still not forgiven Jaime for ruining her wedding years before by causing Patti’s former fiancé to fall in love with her. But she cannot ignore a child who seems to be alone in the world with the exception of a housekeeper/nanny who is watching her. As she begins to learn more about the life her sister has been leading, Patti is shocked to see how wealthy her “flighty” twin has become. With a sprawling home that is furnished with the best of items and a wardrobe straight from the most expensive brand lists, Jaime appears to have found a job that has afforded her great success. But no one seems to know what Jaime does for a living, and Patti is not sure she really wants to find out. As more and more of Jaime’s secret life comes to light, Patti reaches out to Carter to discover what has happened to her sister. A race against time begins as they delve further into Jaime’s life and employment. And there will be more at stake than just Jaime’s life and hundreds more will be in danger if Patti and Carter do not find a way to stop a secret terrorist cell from carrying out deadly and devastating plans. They might also find the true love they’ve been searching for in the most unexpected place – each other. As I said before, I wish this story had been given more page time as it could have been expanded much more and really been amazing. As it was, I loved the carefully crafted plot and the characters that were very life-like in their actions. Patti was a heroine I could root for as she was not content to just let life happen to her, rather she took it “by the horns” and did all in her power to ensure her sister came home safe. Carter too, was a really nice guy who strove to do his job with all his knowledge and experience. Together they made a good couple that I was thrilled to see come together for more than just working on a case. I loved the quiet but powerful elements of faith that were woven into the story as well. Ms. Duncan did not pull her punches as she carefully but firmly corrected the idea that Jaime had been out to hurt Patti with her fiancé, rather, she had been trying to help show his true colors to Patti. I also liked how Carter had to return his trust to God that he had taken away after his wife had been killed. It was good to see that both characters had some growing to do throughout the story so that they were developed alongside the plot. It’s hard to connect with characters that remain the same so Ms. Duncan did an excellent job by showing their growth in the pages of the story. I so wanted to give this story 5 stars but couldn’t because I felt that it was a bit too rushed to be truly believable, especially the ending. If there had been a little more page time given to the last few chapters, I would have given it 5 stars with pleasure. I am greatly looking forward to reading more books from this author. I will certainly be keeping an eye out for newer works available for review so I can really get a feel for her writing style and character voices. I will certainly recommend this book and series to others as I have really enjoyed the stories I have read thus far.
I received this E-book free of charge from Pelican Book Group via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews