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Deceit and Seduction
What does an unforgiving, golden-eyed girl do when her father’s killer walks away unscathed? She never forgets.With the stolen name, “Anna Kendrick”, this scorned woman journeys from Colorado territory to New York plotting revenge against aristocrat, Samuel Brenner, the man who pulled the trigger. With her skill in manipulation, she marries into a life of wealth and sets about to destroy everything he holds dear. But it is Anna’s heart that is manipulated as she finds herself drawn to her new husband, Nicholas. Still, she dismisses her feelings for him as nothing more than infatuation. After all, no woman could ever fall in love with her enemy’s son.Nicholas Brenner is an unfulfilled aristocrat haunted by memories of his first wife’s betrayal. Unwilling to be fooled into love again, he vows his marriage to Anna will be solely for companionship and heirs. Yet he soon finds his mysterious bride is too intriguing to ignore, and from the moment she steps off the train, his family is surrounded by lies, blackmail, and murder. But before his life can return to order, Nicholas must first confront his father’s buried past, the truth about Anna and the unwanted desire he feels for her.Set in late 19th century New York City, this historical romance takes readers through a page-turning drama as Nicholas and Anna try to find love among the secrets that can destroy them.
403 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 16, 2018
41 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Ryan Campbell
14 books18 followersAward-winning Author, Lisa Ryan Campbell began writing as a small child using her mother's pink typewriting paper. Years later, she decided it was important to get a "real job" and attended Arizona State University to major in English with the goal of continuing on for both a Master's and Doctorate degrees in English and teach at the college level.
In 2002, Lisa graduated with a Bachelor's degree in English Literature and an Ancient Egyptian romance novel she wrote in her spare time. She decided then she would not be continuing on to graduate school, but instead joined Romance Writers of America and focused on her true love.
Lisa is an avid traveler and has seen many of the world's treasures in Egypt, Peru, Spain, France, Morocco, England, Mexico and the Caribbean. She spends her time mostly at her home in Phoenix writing, reading and watching 1940's noir movies.
Sign up for Lisa’s newsletter and find out more about her books at www.Lisaryancampbell.com
and connect with her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
In 2002, Lisa graduated with a Bachelor's degree in English Literature and an Ancient Egyptian romance novel she wrote in her spare time. She decided then she would not be continuing on to graduate school, but instead joined Romance Writers of America and focused on her true love.
Lisa is an avid traveler and has seen many of the world's treasures in Egypt, Peru, Spain, France, Morocco, England, Mexico and the Caribbean. She spends her time mostly at her home in Phoenix writing, reading and watching 1940's noir movies.
Sign up for Lisa’s newsletter and find out more about her books at www.Lisaryancampbell.com
and connect with her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 1, 2020
Good Ending
*****Spoilers*****
Lots of twists and turns though some of the revelations weren't surprises for me. Vivian whom we only knew by Anna the entire book spends so much time trying to avenge her father's death, she almost misses out on being with Nicholas who despite his determination not to love again, falls for his wife. The plan from the beginning had so many holes I was shocked that Vivian got as far as she did and went so long without being found out. I kept wondering when it would happen but it didn't happen until the end. For most of the book I cringed at Vivian's scheme but also her demeanor, sometimes rolling my eyes at how some of the circumstances and reactions weren't believable or realistic. One thing for certain though, the book is a page turner all the way through the end.
Some things I didn't like were the letters, points if view that weren't part of the story, the multiple flash backs in time, some details were off Julie and Julia were used for the same character, it was hard to figure out whose perspective I was reading at times until a couple of paragraphs in, and the deception with intent to do harm. All I could think was "Vivian is falling for Nicholas but doesn't she realize she's hurting him in the process?".
*****Spoilers*****
Lots of twists and turns though some of the revelations weren't surprises for me. Vivian whom we only knew by Anna the entire book spends so much time trying to avenge her father's death, she almost misses out on being with Nicholas who despite his determination not to love again, falls for his wife. The plan from the beginning had so many holes I was shocked that Vivian got as far as she did and went so long without being found out. I kept wondering when it would happen but it didn't happen until the end. For most of the book I cringed at Vivian's scheme but also her demeanor, sometimes rolling my eyes at how some of the circumstances and reactions weren't believable or realistic. One thing for certain though, the book is a page turner all the way through the end.
Some things I didn't like were the letters, points if view that weren't part of the story, the multiple flash backs in time, some details were off Julie and Julia were used for the same character, it was hard to figure out whose perspective I was reading at times until a couple of paragraphs in, and the deception with intent to do harm. All I could think was "Vivian is falling for Nicholas but doesn't she realize she's hurting him in the process?".
June 29, 2021
Complex tale, confusing aspects
Really enjoy Ms. Ryan Campbell's works and this is the last of her published works I've read. I'm thinking it is the first she may have published based on the bumps below. This takes place in the 1800's and the cover features a woman appearing to be Black. So that is what you think as the story progresses. But unlike her contemporary stories, it isn't reasonable to believe that race isn't an issue raised and confronted in the 1800's USA, even in NYC and The West in Denver. But that is how the story progresses, to the point you have to conclude that the characters--all the characters are Caucasian. So what's with the cover contradicting the whole story? One star subtracted. I also struggled with the 21century woman mindset, attitude and behavior on display in an 19th century setting. It is somewhat necessary to make the story work, but it doesn't work for the time period--and impossible for a Black woman, if you labor under that assumption because of the cover-- and it made it more difficult to suspend disbelief. Not worth subtracting a star for. The complexity of the secrets in the story are great. There is incredible levels of forgiveness given in this story. Something worth pondering.
Really enjoy Ms. Ryan Campbell's works and this is the last of her published works I've read. I'm thinking it is the first she may have published based on the bumps below. This takes place in the 1800's and the cover features a woman appearing to be Black. So that is what you think as the story progresses. But unlike her contemporary stories, it isn't reasonable to believe that race isn't an issue raised and confronted in the 1800's USA, even in NYC and The West in Denver. But that is how the story progresses, to the point you have to conclude that the characters--all the characters are Caucasian. So what's with the cover contradicting the whole story? One star subtracted. I also struggled with the 21century woman mindset, attitude and behavior on display in an 19th century setting. It is somewhat necessary to make the story work, but it doesn't work for the time period--and impossible for a Black woman, if you labor under that assumption because of the cover-- and it made it more difficult to suspend disbelief. Not worth subtracting a star for. The complexity of the secrets in the story are great. There is incredible levels of forgiveness given in this story. Something worth pondering.
August 9, 2019
This is an engaging intricate story about one woman’s desire for revenge against the man who murdered her father. Unfortunately, no matter how much she may hate the murderer her plot led her to marry his son whom is nothing like his father. Anna and Nicholas marry for convenience and not for love, neither one of them wants love, however they have a struggle to try to keep their aloofness. This is the third book I have read by this author and I chose to read this directly following the previous two. This story is set in a different period than the previous ones I’d just read, and it shows that the author is very capable of writing an amazing story regardless of the time period that it is set in. I love the depth that she gives to her characters and the mystery and suspense that she includes as she weaves the plot and presents it in a very easy to read and intriguing manner. This is a must-read author!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 7, 2020
Loved it
Ok so I didn't like her for what she did to Nickolas and his mother i understood but I didn't care for her Nickolas really did love her but she couldn't see past her pain to love him enough to let go. I didn't think it was the uncle at all I didn't see that happening 😕 🤔 and glad Julia came to her senses.... I was wondering what her name was it was crazy 😜 not once was it mentioned. Glad she got the closure 🙌 😌 she needed to let her pain go and love Nickolas whole heartily in the end......❤ 🤍 💙 🧡
Ok so I didn't like her for what she did to Nickolas and his mother i understood but I didn't care for her Nickolas really did love her but she couldn't see past her pain to love him enough to let go. I didn't think it was the uncle at all I didn't see that happening 😕 🤔 and glad Julia came to her senses.... I was wondering what her name was it was crazy 😜 not once was it mentioned. Glad she got the closure 🙌 😌 she needed to let her pain go and love Nickolas whole heartily in the end......❤ 🤍 💙 🧡
August 4, 2019
This is the first book by this Author that I have read. “Anna Kendrick” is a woman bent on revenge so she marries Nicholas Brenner the son of the man she wants to destroy. But does she have her facts correct? This story kept me turning pages. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 4, 2023
False advertisement.
The cover features a black female model, but the book is not black female protagonist.
The cover features a black female model, but the book is not black female protagonist.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews