The Deceived

by Kelly Harrel

My dream is to be a screenplay writer. When my characters come alive, so do I. Writing is like air to me; take that away and I’ll suffocate. My dad’s dream is for me to play professional baseball. I hate baseball, but I’m really good at it. And if I play the game right, I can use it to get a full-ride scholarship to my dream film school. That’s the plan, anyway. As long as I don’t mess up. But the other thing I’m really good at? Messing up. Don’t believe me? The girl who likes me is an atheist. I have to out drink my teammates at parties so they know to take me seriously. I’m pretty sure I’m addicted to pain pills. I made an absolute fool of myself during the most important game of the year. Obviously God hates me. Why else would He stick me with an overbearing father who’s only happy if I’m the best of the best—on field and off? Why else would He take away my one chance to live my dream? Hi, my name’s Danny Morton. Welcome to my messed up life and the start of how God saved me.

311 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 26, 2019

About the author

Passionate to inspire others into a deeper faith, Kelly Harrel writes inspirational fiction and Christian romance that deals with real-life struggles in the light of God’s love and grace.
Anorexia, alcoholism, and family relationships are explored in the Walking the Walk series. The Lauren Drake series not only shows the reader what depression looks like but also how to overcome it. Her most recent release, the Once Lost series, displays the pressures and
temptations today’s teens as well as the importance of living an authentic faith.
After several decades in education, leading a multigenerational women’s ministry, and having seven novels published, Kelly still claims her biggest accomplishment as homeschooling her children. She resides in Southern California with her husband, two teens, and desert tortoise named George.

Reviews

[MJSH · Rating 4 out of 5]

A refreshingly honest first person point of view from a teenage boy under tremendous pressure from baseball, school, church, and family who falls into addiction. It’s not usually the type of book I read and I must admit that parts of the book made me uncomfortable since I’m a mother of several teenagers but I’m glad I read the book. It expanded my horizon and made me appreciate the thought processes of a teenager. We try so hard as parents to do the “right thing” - encouraging their gifts, faith, attending and serving at church, etc. - but heart matter is a completely different thing altogether. Im looking forward to following Danny’s life trajectory in the subsequent books. I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit Publishing and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

[Deana Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is one that could be heard from teens all around us as they fall into peer pressure. Danny is a young teen who has grown up in a family that is tight knit at times. The father is overbearing and puts pressure on Danny to be the best and to make sure he fits in. That is a sure fire way to make a kid make wrong choices. I can't blame his father for everything, because the brutal truth is Danny makes his own choices.

The relationship Danny has with his father is one I found very compelling. A father wants his child to succeed, but Danny's father expected nothing less than perfect at everything he did. I wondered why his father was so hard on him. The explosive fight Danny and his dad have one night is powerful. It is well written and so realistic. How many families endure a domineering parent? There is one bright star in Danny's life and that is his sister Lydia. She and Danny are very close and she is always watching out for him.

As Danny starts to be rebellious he turns to the wrong crowd and slowly forgets about God. It was not a huge surprise that he started doing drugs because the kids he was hanging around were all doing it. Danny is desperate to be accepted and the story shows us how easy a person can fall into a trap thinking they are cool hanging out with the wrong type of person. Danny's story is no different than a lot of kids today. They feel rejected by their family and seek out something to make them feel better. It's easy to see that Danny has checked out and is slowly spiraling down a road to destruction.

There is a lot of references to drug use and sex among teens in the book. It is a reality that faces youth today. The author paints a realistic picture of a teen who turns his back on God and follows a path that will lead him into lies, drugs and away from his faith. One of the most powerful parts of the story for me is when Danny's sister shares her testimony at youth on a Wednesday night. It's very emotional and for just a bit, Danny's eyes are opened to what his sister had gone through. Can Lydia's testimony break through Danny's hardened heart?

The book is good and really captures the struggles of a teen, how peer pressure can influence their decisions and what happens when a parent expects too much from their child. I can't wait to read what happens next in this emotional journey with Danny.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

[jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for everyone

This was a great book in an older adults mother of two adult children but I could still relate to the character s in this story Kelly did a great job writhing a story that the whole family can read and come away with something

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever read a book that made you angry but you kept reading it because it was such a good book? That describes The Deceived for me. All Danny wants is to be a writer. Danny feels insecure in his family. He is the youngest of the family. Oldest sister Mary is smart, middle sister Anna is a “Bible thumper,” and the youngest sister Lydia is sweet and a peacemaker. Mom has given up her desires to please her husband. Dad is a sporting goods store owner who was injured and couldn’t live out his dream in the major leagues. All his dad wants is for Danny to be a big league baseball player, a goal Danny doesn’t share. He even moved the family to a different state so that Danny could go to the high school with the best baseball program. Dad does not appear to care about Danny only about living out his failed dreams through Danny. Danny makes the varsity team as the starting shortstop and Dad tells him to do whatever it takes to fit in. Dad even seems to encourage the underage drinking that occurs at the baseball parties, Danny is 14 at the start of the book. Danny is injured and gets hooking on pain killers, moves on to marijuana and cocaine.

Author Kelly Harrel did an excellent job of character development – for the whole family. Readers will be drawn emotionally into story and will empathize with Danny at every turn of events. Anger at the dad for not really listening to his son. Anger at Danny for the stupid things he does which have the potential to ruin his life. Love for Lydia and the way she attempts to run interference between Dad and Danny. It is also a book about failures – failure to live up to parental expectations as well as Biblical expectations. And it is a book about dysfunctional family dynamics. I found myself asking time and again – Are there really “Christian” families like this out there? Unfortunately I know that the answer is yes. Deceived is a great book for teens, parents, youth workers, and teachers to read, a reminder to examine our relationships with each other and with the Lord. Kelly Harrel really seems to understand the mindset of kids like Danny.

The Deceived is book one in the Once Lost series.The book ends with a cliff hanger ending which leaves the reader hoping that Kelly Harrel gets the next book out before January 2020. I’m not sure I want to wait that long for book 2 in the series The Beloved.

Potential problem areas – minced oaths are used which might cause a problem for some audiences. They are used minimally and seem to be needed to portray the emotion at the time. There is also reference to cussing and swearing but the actual words are not included int he book.

I will not hesitate to add this book to my K-12 library although I will probably have it labeled for high school only.

I received a complimentary e-copy of the book from the author. This is my honest review.

[Florence Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting that anyone who reviews this focuses on the all the temptations of being a teen, BUT what I saw was a fairly nice kid, who really wanted to do the right thing and a father who was a very bad man, pushy, cold, obnoxious, pressing his son into his own personal dream, because he couldn’t be a successful ball player. He pressured his son into it. Danny saw right through the his Dad’s facade. He saw the hypocrite. He saw the ugly, wickedness of his dad trying to live through him and wanting to control every aspect of his life. It’s a classic story of horrible parents pushing their kids over the edge. Even though this is a YA story, I think it’s a story parents who are overbearing and pushing their kids too hard should read. BUT sadly, those types of parents won’t because they don’t see their own sin, until it’s too late. Like their child commits suicide or is nearly killed in drunk driving accident or overdoses so badly the truth of the matter finally comes out. It’s truly a gut wrenching story.

In all honesty, until ALL the books in the series come out, I would not recommend it for a young person to read. There is no redemption in this first book. There is no retribution for wickedness, no repentance about sin being commited. OR if it is read by young people, then they should read it under the supervision of an adult, in order to discuss it. I don’t think there was anything exaggerated about the youth group kids. Some were good kids, who meant well, a bunch were just spiritually dead. Pretty typical youth group. The reality in it all was incredible.

Looking forward to the next book, hope to see some light coming into the story. While it ended abruptly, I am glad it didn’t end with a quick fixit and “all’s well”. Life just isn’t like that.

[Jemimah “Stories and Scribes” · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay I must say that reading this book was for me as a mixture of so many emotions and it got me real good.

As a teen i was always in my head most of the time and when i started the journey in Danny's mind i was like noooooo! don't go there and if you are there, don't stay there. It kind of reminded me of Osmosis Jones where we were privy to the workings of the inner gut of a man but this was Danny's mind.

Gosh! so many lessons and so many thoughts.

There will come a time in our christian walk when our inner turmoil and what the word says conflict or we are open to another experience where e can see the hypocrisy of man, and allow us runaway from truth in a bid to find truth.

Danny dealt an identity crisis which was muddled up in an acceptance crisis and trying to balance who he is, hat he ants and the expectation of his father. He experienced a mum who didn't have a voice, sisters who seemed perfect and had no idea of their personal stories.

The idea that "unbelievers" understood better and begun to find solace in and with them,which led him further down the rabbit hole. His soul yearned for freedom to become and be. Further down the rabbit hole, a lone soul and a very busy mind.

In reading this book, i get the titled "The Deceived" because in his own estimation all his choices were not really choices but more like he was forced to do them which in itself was the entry point of deception.

Oh I cried with Danny, understood with him, shouted on him, was angry with him, i even prayed with him, pitied him and finally trusted Danny to Gods hand, that how the book got to me.

Kelly did me in with this story and the sequel is one I looked forward too

[Patti Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say this was a book that took me a while to get into reading. While I initially liked Danny, through the pages of the book, I found myself disliking the choices he was making as he spiraled deeper and deeper into self-destructive patterns, including drinking and drugs. However, the one thing I was glad of was how he avoided going down the path of sexual misconduct.

The other thing I really disliked about this book with a passion was the abrupt way the book ended. I understand it is only the first installment of the series, but I would have liked some more closure.

The relationship between Danny and his father creates a lot of drama and friction. I could relate to what Danny must have felt like when his father talked down to him. At the same time, I loved his relationship with his youngest sister (who was still older than him). Danny’s other two sisters were examples of what the “smart sibling” and the real “Christian” siblings would act like in my mind. It really came across through the pages of the book of how much the four siblings loved each other, even when they were not getting along.

Having never played sports, I can not relate to Danny’s involvement with baseball. But I can relate to him wanting to do something other than what his father wants him to do. I also could relate to the pressure parents can put on their children to be successful.

So if you want to read a book with true grit and that really dives into the issues facing youth today, check out this book for yourself.

[Jennifer J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to put down this absorbing narrative; with its deeply affecting storyline, and characters so believable. At times heartbreakingly honest, Kelly Harrel has done an extraordinary job of creating a story that digs deep and carries a lasting message.
Should be required reading for all junior and high school students, parents, teachers, pastors and coaches. Yes, it’s that good! I highly recommend this fearless, real and penetrating novel!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A favorable review was not required, no compensation was received, and all views expressed are my own.