What do you think?
Rate this book
Inevitable Desires: First Love
When her boyfriend goes missing without a trace, Hedwig Sanzi Joe is not prepared to face the reality. As she tries to understand what really happened, she is drawn into a vortex of a dark past, secrets, and betrayal.
Every step she makes, everything she does, is a terrible mistake with catastrophic outcomes in her life.
As she navigates through the murky waters of her new life, her dead boyfriend comes back to life at a time her marriage has hit the rocks. Hedwig has a fierce battle to fight—desires of her heart and the ticking bomb that’s her marriage.
Every step she makes, everything she does, is a terrible mistake with catastrophic outcomes in her life.
As she navigates through the murky waters of her new life, her dead boyfriend comes back to life at a time her marriage has hit the rocks. Hedwig has a fierce battle to fight—desires of her heart and the ticking bomb that’s her marriage.
346 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2019
About the author
Vincent de Paul
17 books72 followersBorn Samuel Vincent de Paul(שְׁמוּאֵל), Vincent de Paul, is a Kenyan freelance writer, author, blogger, and poet.
Vincent is the author of the bestselling collection of flash fiction stories series, Flashes of Vice. He has written sensational love poetry, and he blogs at:
1. http://www.poeticjustnes.com
2. http://www.flashesofvices.com
3. http://www.elovepoetry.wordpress.com.
Awards
Storymoja Africa 30+ Years Ago Competition, 2015 - Won
Storymoja Africa Competitions, 2014 - short listed
Chika Unigwe Best Short Short Story Competition, 2013 - Shortlisted
Nairobi International Book Fair (NIBF) Literary Awards, 2010 - Won
Vincent is the author of the bestselling collection of flash fiction stories series, Flashes of Vice. He has written sensational love poetry, and he blogs at:
1. http://www.poeticjustnes.com
2. http://www.flashesofvices.com
3. http://www.elovepoetry.wordpress.com.
Awards
Storymoja Africa 30+ Years Ago Competition, 2015 - Won
Storymoja Africa Competitions, 2014 - short listed
Chika Unigwe Best Short Short Story Competition, 2013 - Shortlisted
Nairobi International Book Fair (NIBF) Literary Awards, 2010 - Won
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 5, 2020
When I first read this book I felt that for once there exists a contemporary prose writer who can tell today's happenings with a taste of the present .The author ventures into topical themes such as: police brutality , stinking corruption, dark deals in religion ,student's sexual abuse by their teachers among others in a way that it feels as if you are watching news .
"There had been an increase on missing persons' reports almost everywhere.
.missing bodies found dumped in some grimy place while others were never found ..."pg18
By using cataphora which refers forward. The author does manage to keep the reader in suspense as to who is being talked about.
Cataphora is a stylistic choice in which more usually, the noun that the pronoun links forward to follows soon after."
The choice of literary devices tells that the author is apt .By use of flash backs and flash forwards the story flows with ease .
The use of symbolism especially where nature coincides with the present state of a character to give the omnic feeling that what is going to happen is really scary does intensify the suspense.
Hedwig Joe ,a woman in her early twenties is waiting for her boyfriend Ken to return and break her virginity ,she is expecting an exciting experience, she is dressed ready for the occasion. Before he left Ken had said ..
"...My mind is made up, you are mine and I am yours .Why not just do it ?" Pg46
The ready girl waits for hours and wonders what had happened to Ken ,he was to return in a short while, so scared she says ..
“my eyes wondered in the darkness .They explored the night sky.The stars above shone dimly, I prayed to them to illuminate the way for Ken back home if he was stuck somewhere in the night and didn't know what to do ...The wind began to blow .Clouds moved ,blowing themselves up like froth .It seemed as though it was going to rain .It got darker and darker. Then the clouds formed a dragon- like monster cloud that went across the night sky swallowing other clouds up
I watched the dragon in the sky eat everything on it's way...At last i gave way to the agony and wailed into the night .....Give me back my love "Pg50
She sleeps on the couch and dreams of their wedding only to wake up and find a burly man in a blue police shirt .
The image of the sky ,clouds and dragon foretell of what will befall Ken .
Did Ken break Hedwig's virginity? It's up to you to read and find out.
This is a book I recommend to all readers without reservations.
"There had been an increase on missing persons' reports almost everywhere.
.missing bodies found dumped in some grimy place while others were never found ..."pg18
By using cataphora which refers forward. The author does manage to keep the reader in suspense as to who is being talked about.
Cataphora is a stylistic choice in which more usually, the noun that the pronoun links forward to follows soon after."
The choice of literary devices tells that the author is apt .By use of flash backs and flash forwards the story flows with ease .
The use of symbolism especially where nature coincides with the present state of a character to give the omnic feeling that what is going to happen is really scary does intensify the suspense.
Hedwig Joe ,a woman in her early twenties is waiting for her boyfriend Ken to return and break her virginity ,she is expecting an exciting experience, she is dressed ready for the occasion. Before he left Ken had said ..
"...My mind is made up, you are mine and I am yours .Why not just do it ?" Pg46
The ready girl waits for hours and wonders what had happened to Ken ,he was to return in a short while, so scared she says ..
“my eyes wondered in the darkness .They explored the night sky.The stars above shone dimly, I prayed to them to illuminate the way for Ken back home if he was stuck somewhere in the night and didn't know what to do ...The wind began to blow .Clouds moved ,blowing themselves up like froth .It seemed as though it was going to rain .It got darker and darker. Then the clouds formed a dragon- like monster cloud that went across the night sky swallowing other clouds up
I watched the dragon in the sky eat everything on it's way...At last i gave way to the agony and wailed into the night .....Give me back my love "Pg50
She sleeps on the couch and dreams of their wedding only to wake up and find a burly man in a blue police shirt .
The image of the sky ,clouds and dragon foretell of what will befall Ken .
Did Ken break Hedwig's virginity? It's up to you to read and find out.
This is a book I recommend to all readers without reservations.
November 15, 2018
Upon the backdrop of his debut thriller, Twisted Times: Son of Man, Vincent de Paul who's not relenting on his oars serves us another literary dish garnished with all the requisite ingredients that would leave the reader famished for more like an Oliver Twist. While reading Inevitable Desires: First Love, which is a continuation of the story of the repentant villain, Kennedy Paul Maina, I thought it was going to be another clichéd love story but boy was I wrong.
Over a decade later after Ken met Hedwig Sanzi Joe as a teenage school girl in the Thika Catholic church where he served as a sacristan, they were now lovers. Heddie fresh out of college got a job as a journo with the Imperial Media Services in Kenya, on the other hand Ken her love interest got kicked out from the Catholic church. He got another job as a chauffeur to the Parish Council Chairman, Richard Ondieki.
Things soon went south when Ken got arrested, he was the prime suspect for the murder of Justin Otieno, a KRA (Kenya Revenue Agency) staff and part of the Catholic church finance committee alongside Ken who was involved in the committee unofficially.
Heddie was scandalized and heart broken when she found out about Ken's notorious criminal past from Terry, the lawyer in charge of Ken's trial who knew him while they were in the university. Heddie couldn't come to terms with Ken's crimnal past, she was crossed at him for leaving her in the dark this made her to doubt his innocence in the crime he was accused of.
She later got married to Joram, The Permanent Secretary to the Minister of State for Finance just to get over Ken. Turned out her wedlock to the PS wasn't a bed of roses as she had envisaged, she later found out her beloved hubby was screwing her Bestie, Liz, behind closed doors.
While things were falling apart for Heddie, Ken got lucky, Mary Ondieki the wife to his former boss who framed him up came forward to testify against her husband in court. Her testimony plus the evidence she presented in court was enough to get Ken acquitted of the charges levelled against him.
When Heddie learned of Ken's innocence in the murder trial, and discovered her husband was also involved in the shenanigans that led to Ken's incarceration coupled with the heartbreak and betrayal he caused her by cheating with her best friend, she decided to take revenge on all those involved.
As much as I enjoyed reading Inevitable Desires, there were some flaws I observed in the narrative. I feel the second part of the book which is a throwback narrated by Heddie was a tad overstretched and it sort of slowed down the pace of the novel, an occasional flashback here and there could have been better while the pace of the story was maintained so the reader doesn't get bored.
I also observed the characters in the novel didn't sound like Kenyans rather they sound so American that one might think the story was set in the States in lieu of Kenya. A little bit of code mixing would have added some flavour and indigenous verisimilitude to the story.
Well despite these flaws the story is still a very interesting read, kudos to the writer Vincent de Paul, he deserves some accolades.
Over a decade later after Ken met Hedwig Sanzi Joe as a teenage school girl in the Thika Catholic church where he served as a sacristan, they were now lovers. Heddie fresh out of college got a job as a journo with the Imperial Media Services in Kenya, on the other hand Ken her love interest got kicked out from the Catholic church. He got another job as a chauffeur to the Parish Council Chairman, Richard Ondieki.
Things soon went south when Ken got arrested, he was the prime suspect for the murder of Justin Otieno, a KRA (Kenya Revenue Agency) staff and part of the Catholic church finance committee alongside Ken who was involved in the committee unofficially.
Heddie was scandalized and heart broken when she found out about Ken's notorious criminal past from Terry, the lawyer in charge of Ken's trial who knew him while they were in the university. Heddie couldn't come to terms with Ken's crimnal past, she was crossed at him for leaving her in the dark this made her to doubt his innocence in the crime he was accused of.
She later got married to Joram, The Permanent Secretary to the Minister of State for Finance just to get over Ken. Turned out her wedlock to the PS wasn't a bed of roses as she had envisaged, she later found out her beloved hubby was screwing her Bestie, Liz, behind closed doors.
While things were falling apart for Heddie, Ken got lucky, Mary Ondieki the wife to his former boss who framed him up came forward to testify against her husband in court. Her testimony plus the evidence she presented in court was enough to get Ken acquitted of the charges levelled against him.
When Heddie learned of Ken's innocence in the murder trial, and discovered her husband was also involved in the shenanigans that led to Ken's incarceration coupled with the heartbreak and betrayal he caused her by cheating with her best friend, she decided to take revenge on all those involved.
As much as I enjoyed reading Inevitable Desires, there were some flaws I observed in the narrative. I feel the second part of the book which is a throwback narrated by Heddie was a tad overstretched and it sort of slowed down the pace of the novel, an occasional flashback here and there could have been better while the pace of the story was maintained so the reader doesn't get bored.
I also observed the characters in the novel didn't sound like Kenyans rather they sound so American that one might think the story was set in the States in lieu of Kenya. A little bit of code mixing would have added some flavour and indigenous verisimilitude to the story.
Well despite these flaws the story is still a very interesting read, kudos to the writer Vincent de Paul, he deserves some accolades.
November 1, 2018
Bad boy gone good -Ken is back from Israel. As a reformed convict, he is back to let the past slide and the church is his solace. Love comes knocking when he falls over heels with Heddie, the editorial manager of Moonbeam newspaper who accepts his past and lives only to love him not until the devil in sheep clothing-Joram comes to snatch that away. Money laundering by men of cloth puts Ken as the blame dog (murder charges) bearing anger, hatred in Heddie’s life. Operation Fox Hound makes her uncover bitter truths that of her marriage to Joram who has been behind criminal acts. What else will she uncover?
Will she forgive Ken and let first love rule or will she go by Ty Dolla Sign words:
Would you ride for a nigga or nah?
Would you die for a nigga or nah?
Would you lie to a nigga or nah or nah?
This is a thrilling action filled novel where love, betrayal, hatred, secrets and justice prevails.
Will she forgive Ken and let first love rule or will she go by Ty Dolla Sign words:
Would you ride for a nigga or nah?
Would you die for a nigga or nah?
Would you lie to a nigga or nah or nah?
This is a thrilling action filled novel where love, betrayal, hatred, secrets and justice prevails.
November 4, 2018
I first want to mention how excellent the author is in vivid description. The reader gets to understand the character and the events more, as the author leaves nothing to the imagination. I could picture everything when the narrator talked about Ken’s house. I visualized every character’s image when the author took to describing them. The story is well written, with a flowing plot that had me enjoy every part of the book.
Meet Hedwig, or Heddie, a girl in love who in her words, ” loved as though her heart was on a lease”. She is focused, hardworking and a go-getter. I liked her from the beginning of the book. her beau ken is also an interesting character. Starting off, the reader is introduced to and told about Ken. Reading further, I came to know that Ken was also known as Paul. This was confusing for me as it was for Heddie. Had she been seeing a man who had two personalities?
What did Ken do when he went by the name Paul? I needed to know the real ken as much as Hedwig needed to. I loved the air of suspense that hovered around me when reading that. Ken himself was not making it easier for me, as he was hesitant on explaining his past, the past that was Paul. I read on to get the whole story. His story was hair-raising.
Heddie and ken were lovely partners. I so much enjoyed their conversations. Their talk seemed so real and natural. Nothing read like a fantasy world, all was real. I sometimes felt like a third wheel whenever the two were conversing or just chilling out. I enjoyed Heddie’s honesty and openness. The love she had for ken was truly amazing. Their love life wasn’t all smooth though, they faced challenges and had to overcome a few hardships. They however thrived.
I wasn’t ready for the twist that came later in the book. I could not foresee it. The author had me a good one. The drama, adventure, trouble, twists and turns the twofaced made reading the book fun. The disappearance of Ken, betrayal by friends like Liz and facing difficulties alone made me empathize with Heddie.
“Inevitable desires-firs love-” is a great book. There are a lot of characters to cherish, and a few lessons to learn. It is generally entertaining and pleasing to read. Vincent De Paul did not disappoint with the diction, the literature stylistic devices used and the plot are impressive. I love me a good book. I’d definitely read the sequel
Meet Hedwig, or Heddie, a girl in love who in her words, ” loved as though her heart was on a lease”. She is focused, hardworking and a go-getter. I liked her from the beginning of the book. her beau ken is also an interesting character. Starting off, the reader is introduced to and told about Ken. Reading further, I came to know that Ken was also known as Paul. This was confusing for me as it was for Heddie. Had she been seeing a man who had two personalities?
What did Ken do when he went by the name Paul? I needed to know the real ken as much as Hedwig needed to. I loved the air of suspense that hovered around me when reading that. Ken himself was not making it easier for me, as he was hesitant on explaining his past, the past that was Paul. I read on to get the whole story. His story was hair-raising.
Heddie and ken were lovely partners. I so much enjoyed their conversations. Their talk seemed so real and natural. Nothing read like a fantasy world, all was real. I sometimes felt like a third wheel whenever the two were conversing or just chilling out. I enjoyed Heddie’s honesty and openness. The love she had for ken was truly amazing. Their love life wasn’t all smooth though, they faced challenges and had to overcome a few hardships. They however thrived.
I wasn’t ready for the twist that came later in the book. I could not foresee it. The author had me a good one. The drama, adventure, trouble, twists and turns the twofaced made reading the book fun. The disappearance of Ken, betrayal by friends like Liz and facing difficulties alone made me empathize with Heddie.
“Inevitable desires-firs love-” is a great book. There are a lot of characters to cherish, and a few lessons to learn. It is generally entertaining and pleasing to read. Vincent De Paul did not disappoint with the diction, the literature stylistic devices used and the plot are impressive. I love me a good book. I’d definitely read the sequel
April 21, 2020
A story of boundless love, secrets, and betrayal that has plagued today's world. While I wrote this book in two weeks 13 years ago, it has taken a special place in my heart over the years as I finessed it from time to time. Now, in two month's time I will see it birthed, it is a story to intrigue and take you to the edge of suspense.
September 13, 2024
This novel is exceptionally well-written, offering a powerful and immersive story that captures the complexity of love and loyalty.
Hedwig's love is genuine, yet impatient, and the strain of waiting nine years brings unexpected challenges to their once-strong bond—especially when the past resurfaces. The characters are relatable, and the plot is masterfully crafted, keeping the mystery alive until the very end.
However, while the story was engaging, I found it necessary to re-read parts of it to fully grasp the timeline. The lack of clear dates, especially in the flashbacks, made it difficult to follow at times, despite chapters being dedicated to certain characters.
The novel also delves into political power and the dark, occult-like practices of some politicians, adding another layer of intrigue. Though I would have given it five stars, the timeline confusion slightly hindered my experience.
Hedwig's love is genuine, yet impatient, and the strain of waiting nine years brings unexpected challenges to their once-strong bond—especially when the past resurfaces. The characters are relatable, and the plot is masterfully crafted, keeping the mystery alive until the very end.
However, while the story was engaging, I found it necessary to re-read parts of it to fully grasp the timeline. The lack of clear dates, especially in the flashbacks, made it difficult to follow at times, despite chapters being dedicated to certain characters.
The novel also delves into political power and the dark, occult-like practices of some politicians, adding another layer of intrigue. Though I would have given it five stars, the timeline confusion slightly hindered my experience.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews