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The Perfect Lie
CIA Agent Jonah Slade returns from undercover work to find that the woman he loved and lost years ago has been murdered and her 15-year-old son kidnapped. Her sister, Macie Blaine, informs Johan the missing boy is his son, and asks for his help in the search.
377 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 2003
243 people are currently reading
617 people want to read
About the author
Dinah McCall
20 books162 followersDinah McCall is a pseudonym for author Sharon Sala.
It was a job she hated that drove Sharon Sala to put the first page of paper in an old typewriter, but it was the love of the craft that kept her writing. Her first efforts at writing came in 1980 when she began a book that wound up under her bed. A second book followed in 1981 and suffered a similar fate, but she claims the writing bug had bitten hard. However, she let life and the demands of a growing family delay her from continuing until a tragedy struck.
Her father died in May of 1985 after a lingering illness, and then, only two months later, her only sister died unexpectedly. She vowed then and there that she was not going to wind up on her deathbed one day with regrets for not following through on her dreams.
She joined writers' groups and attended conferences, and she slowly learned her way around the written page. By 1989, she decided she had come far enough in her writing to attempt another try at book-length fiction and began a book that would later be entitled Sara's Angel. As fate would have it, the first publisher she sent it to bought it, and she hasn't looked back.
As a farmer's daughter, and then for many years a farmer's wife, Sharon escaped the drudgeries of life through the pages of books, and now, as a writer, she finds herself often living out her dreams. Through traveling and speaking and the countless thousands of fan letters she has received, Sharon has touched many lives. One faithful reader has crowned her the "Reba of Romance," while others claim she's a magician with words.
Her stories are often dark, dealing with the realities of this world, and yet she's able to weave hope and love within the words for the readers who clamor for her latest works.
Her books repeatedly make the bestseller lists, including those of The New York Times, USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly, and the Waldenbooks mass market fiction list, and she's been nominated for a RITA® Award seven times, which is the romance writer's equivalent of having an Oscar or an Emmy nomination.
Always an optimist in the face of bad times, she finds that many of the stories she writes come to her in dreams, but there's nothing fanciful about her work. She puts her faith in God and still trusts in love and the belief that, no matter what, everything comes full circle.
It was a job she hated that drove Sharon Sala to put the first page of paper in an old typewriter, but it was the love of the craft that kept her writing. Her first efforts at writing came in 1980 when she began a book that wound up under her bed. A second book followed in 1981 and suffered a similar fate, but she claims the writing bug had bitten hard. However, she let life and the demands of a growing family delay her from continuing until a tragedy struck.
Her father died in May of 1985 after a lingering illness, and then, only two months later, her only sister died unexpectedly. She vowed then and there that she was not going to wind up on her deathbed one day with regrets for not following through on her dreams.
She joined writers' groups and attended conferences, and she slowly learned her way around the written page. By 1989, she decided she had come far enough in her writing to attempt another try at book-length fiction and began a book that would later be entitled Sara's Angel. As fate would have it, the first publisher she sent it to bought it, and she hasn't looked back.
As a farmer's daughter, and then for many years a farmer's wife, Sharon escaped the drudgeries of life through the pages of books, and now, as a writer, she finds herself often living out her dreams. Through traveling and speaking and the countless thousands of fan letters she has received, Sharon has touched many lives. One faithful reader has crowned her the "Reba of Romance," while others claim she's a magician with words.
Her stories are often dark, dealing with the realities of this world, and yet she's able to weave hope and love within the words for the readers who clamor for her latest works.
Her books repeatedly make the bestseller lists, including those of The New York Times, USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly, and the Waldenbooks mass market fiction list, and she's been nominated for a RITA® Award seven times, which is the romance writer's equivalent of having an Oscar or an Emmy nomination.
Always an optimist in the face of bad times, she finds that many of the stories she writes come to her in dreams, but there's nothing fanciful about her work. She puts her faith in God and still trusts in love and the belief that, no matter what, everything comes full circle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
January 19, 2025
Just very meh. The kidnapping happens in chapter 2, and then no other action happens until the final chapter… The rest of the book is about our protagonist trying to get with his recently murdered, former girlfriend’s sister. It was just very bland and icky.
July 7, 2008
This is my first Dinah McCall book. I had left it on my TBR pile after discovering my usual book review site gave it a 'D' rating.
I am so glad I picked it up anyway. I found it very entertaining and did not agree with any of the criticisms except those of Macie, the heroine. I not only fully agree she was put there just for 'girlfriend' material, I find it hard to accept any hero finding her alluring! Macie is sweet and caring, a paragon of virtue almost, but she is so ignorant and clueless I ended up clueless myself about why McCall even wrote her into the story. Fortunately, Macie is not one of those TSTL heroines because she didn't get in the way and she did whatever the hero told her to do so I didn't have to worry about those TSTL moments romance writers must think readers enjoy (why else why would there be so many?).
Macie reminds me of one of my elderly spinster aunts - she doesn't know what 'intel' means and Jonah has to explain. Hey, this was written post 9/11! Macie's excuse for not knowing is that she 'wasn't thinking'. Well, she is this 'duh' woman from start to end but apart from her, I enjoyed the action, the pace and liked Evan, the kidnapped son. I am looking for more of McCall's titles now but hope these wallpaper heroines are not the usual fare.
I am so glad I picked it up anyway. I found it very entertaining and did not agree with any of the criticisms except those of Macie, the heroine. I not only fully agree she was put there just for 'girlfriend' material, I find it hard to accept any hero finding her alluring! Macie is sweet and caring, a paragon of virtue almost, but she is so ignorant and clueless I ended up clueless myself about why McCall even wrote her into the story. Fortunately, Macie is not one of those TSTL heroines because she didn't get in the way and she did whatever the hero told her to do so I didn't have to worry about those TSTL moments romance writers must think readers enjoy (why else why would there be so many?).
Macie reminds me of one of my elderly spinster aunts - she doesn't know what 'intel' means and Jonah has to explain. Hey, this was written post 9/11! Macie's excuse for not knowing is that she 'wasn't thinking'. Well, she is this 'duh' woman from start to end but apart from her, I enjoyed the action, the pace and liked Evan, the kidnapped son. I am looking for more of McCall's titles now but hope these wallpaper heroines are not the usual fare.
April 24, 2020
I gave this book a two only because I finished it. It was not very good. It was cliché. It was entirely predictable. It was simplistic. The relationships were totally unrealistic. The writing lacked richness and interest. I don’t recommend it.
August 30, 2018
It was just OK. Not to exciting but good enough to find out how it ends.
September 26, 2018
Typical ‘airport read’, I think that that phrase was invented for this book. That said, it is not a bad book, yes you can see the end coming a mile away and yes it does end, well as you would think it to end - but I guess that is just to be expected. On the other hand, not all of the characters are gloopy, although Marcie is (again) written in a very one dimensional way - sloppy girl, relies on men, comes through good in the end, plus of course the staple ‘good guy goes bad’ it is very same old same old. Some characters are written well, and I could easy see Slade in other stories (maybe the problem is I have thousands of times!!!). But I did enjoy it, it was an easy read, and it kept me hooked. Yes, okay there is nothing that is going to go “wow, I didn’t see that coming”, however on the other hand it will not leave you disappointed and empty.
All in all this was a nice quick ‘leave your brain by the door read’, good for reading on a beach (or in an airport!!!) or just as a break between meatier works.
All in all this was a nice quick ‘leave your brain by the door read’, good for reading on a beach (or in an airport!!!) or just as a break between meatier works.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2018
Not to my taste. The concept was good, but the insta-love in the middle of this situation was a bit much. As was the hero saying that if he'd just realized that the female lead had been in love with him - back when she was thirteen and he was in his twenties and dating then being devastated by her older sister - that he'd have waited for her. Right. He was furious, wanted nothing more to do with the family, but if he'd realized the barely teenager was in love with him, he'd have figured it was True Love and hung around till she was older.
This felt very much like a teenager wrote it - and if it *had* been, I'd have been pretty impressed. But an adult? Still, it's an early book and the plot definitely had potential, so I would consider reading a later book of hers.
This felt very much like a teenager wrote it - and if it *had* been, I'd have been pretty impressed. But an adult? Still, it's an early book and the plot definitely had potential, so I would consider reading a later book of hers.
May 20, 2022
Dinah McCall did it again. A great edge of your seat book!!!!!
December 10, 2019
Formulaic good guys vs bad guys with a love story included.
This could have been written by a teenager it was that basic. I new who the mole was well before he was unveiled.
This could have been written by a teenager it was that basic. I new who the mole was well before he was unveiled.
January 8, 2025
One of my favorites
Sharon Sala is probably my very favorite author. Although she does have a couple that I don’t read anymore, most of her books I have read several times and this is one of them. There are parts of this book that make me cry, but most of it is very heartwarming. Here is a man who thought that his son had been aborted so he went into the CIA. He finds out that his son is alive only after his son has been kidnapped. Most of the book is about him trying to find a way to cope with the FBI trying to find his son. He finally decides that it’s up to him to go find him. With help from his son‘s aunt, he goes into the “lions den”. The traitor that you don’t find out about until the end is pretty predictable, but probably not for someone who hasn’t read a lot of these type of stories. This is one that you have to read if you enjoy these types of books. Keep them coming S.S.
Sharon Sala is probably my very favorite author. Although she does have a couple that I don’t read anymore, most of her books I have read several times and this is one of them. There are parts of this book that make me cry, but most of it is very heartwarming. Here is a man who thought that his son had been aborted so he went into the CIA. He finds out that his son is alive only after his son has been kidnapped. Most of the book is about him trying to find a way to cope with the FBI trying to find his son. He finally decides that it’s up to him to go find him. With help from his son‘s aunt, he goes into the “lions den”. The traitor that you don’t find out about until the end is pretty predictable, but probably not for someone who hasn’t read a lot of these type of stories. This is one that you have to read if you enjoy these types of books. Keep them coming S.S.
January 24, 2022
Sharon Sala at Her Best in A 😀 Perfect Lie!the
This is my second read. I don't remember titles so it wasn't until a chapter in that I realized I had read it previously. and enjoyed it more the second time around. Jonah is told that the 15 year old son he never knew he had has been kidnapped by the cartel Jonah had been working with undercover before finding it necessary to kill a son of the Calderon. His effort to escape has splinters under his fingernails and blood where the tips of his fingers should be.
The Calderon plans to force Jonah watch as they slowly mutilate his son. Read the families determination to recover him and his assistance toward that recovery.
This is my second read. I don't remember titles so it wasn't until a chapter in that I realized I had read it previously. and enjoyed it more the second time around. Jonah is told that the 15 year old son he never knew he had has been kidnapped by the cartel Jonah had been working with undercover before finding it necessary to kill a son of the Calderon. His effort to escape has splinters under his fingernails and blood where the tips of his fingers should be.
The Calderon plans to force Jonah watch as they slowly mutilate his son. Read the families determination to recover him and his assistance toward that recovery.
November 10, 2017
This is a great book. It's a story of love gone wrong and true love that waits. It is also a story of the unconditional love of a parent and proves that no matter what, there is always someone out there who your actions will affect. There is also no such thing as a perfect lie. All lies come out in the wash.
Ms. McCall does a marvelous job with this novel. She captures and describes emotions that most of us wouldn't know how to put into words. She spins a captivating tale that you will not be able to walk away from. Don't start this book late at night because if you are like me you will be in for the duration. Enjoy! I know I did.
Ms. McCall does a marvelous job with this novel. She captures and describes emotions that most of us wouldn't know how to put into words. She spins a captivating tale that you will not be able to walk away from. Don't start this book late at night because if you are like me you will be in for the duration. Enjoy! I know I did.
November 20, 2022
CIA agent Johan Slade kills a drug lord's son, blowing his cover. From his prison cell Calderone plans escape and revenge. Jonah's former girlfriend from sixteen years earlier is killed, her father almost killed, and her son kidnapped. The Blaine's youngest daughter seeks out Jonah's help and is shocked to learn the boy is his. Plenty of action to offset the boring romance stuff. Two problems: 1. How did editors not catch the rat going from Howard to Harold? 2. I find it unbelievable that two people need to fuck so badly they postpone looking for a kidnapped boy to do it. Seriously, she they literally say that, go find Evan, but let's fuck first.
May 17, 2022
When I’m in need of a great book and I know I’ll never be disappointed, I gravitate toward Sharon Sala. She is an amazing author who intertwines, mystery, real life situations, along with spectacular romance.
The Perfect Lie is such a riveting novel that kept me on edge from the beginning to the end. I highly recommend this book to everyone, it’s a phenomenal book of deception, regrets, humility, and the power of love.
The Perfect Lie is such a riveting novel that kept me on edge from the beginning to the end. I highly recommend this book to everyone, it’s a phenomenal book of deception, regrets, humility, and the power of love.
May 8, 2020
Jacob Slade is a CIA undercover agent who has just returned from an assignment infiltrating a drug cartel. The drug lord is in jail and seeks revenge. Jacob does not know he has a fifteen year old son as his former girlfriend claimed she aborted the baby. His son has been kidnapped as retaliation.
This book is full of twists and turns and a father trying to save the son he didn't know he had.
This book is full of twists and turns and a father trying to save the son he didn't know he had.
December 1, 2024
Excellent!
Drug lords equal murders, lots of them! Undercover CIA Jonah Slade lived his life in so deep, he forgot what safe felt like. Trying to stop another madman from ending the US President's life, he sealed his unknown family's fate! Riveting, suspenseful, betrayal of the worst kind, hot romance, and mysterious! A great page turner!
Drug lords equal murders, lots of them! Undercover CIA Jonah Slade lived his life in so deep, he forgot what safe felt like. Trying to stop another madman from ending the US President's life, he sealed his unknown family's fate! Riveting, suspenseful, betrayal of the worst kind, hot romance, and mysterious! A great page turner!
August 18, 2019
This book was awesome
Couldn't put it down had to finished it. Wow what a great well written book. Love Macie and Jonah. Evan's was tough, had to be in order to withstand his kidnappers.
Couldn't put it down had to finished it. Wow what a great well written book. Love Macie and Jonah. Evan's was tough, had to be in order to withstand his kidnappers.
January 31, 2024
Pretty good read
Enough action to keep interest throughout the book. I have trouble with people falling into bed in the first couple of chapters. What a perfect man Jonah is. The is a surprise at the end of the book
Enough action to keep interest throughout the book. I have trouble with people falling into bed in the first couple of chapters. What a perfect man Jonah is. The is a surprise at the end of the book
December 24, 2024
Sometimes when you find a book it just clicks. Be wary of the negative reviews. I am an author and find the book has a great story and the twists and turns are appropriate .
The story is never about Macie but recovering Evan her nephew. I think the plot is right where it needs to be. Enjoy!
The story is never about Macie but recovering Evan her nephew. I think the plot is right where it needs to be. Enjoy!
September 14, 2017
Excellent from first page to last. The writing was so good I got jealous. And I learned a lot about structure and pacing.
June 28, 2018
Excellent
This book is excellent, I recommend it who likes a good mystery. In fact I’ve already contacted my family and friends to read it.
This book is excellent, I recommend it who likes a good mystery. In fact I’ve already contacted my family and friends to read it.
October 27, 2018
Good read!
Sharon Sala never disappoints!! This books proves - when you lie, people get hurt.
And love wins again! Good reading!
Sharon Sala never disappoints!! This books proves - when you lie, people get hurt.
And love wins again! Good reading!
October 4, 2019
The Perfect Lie
From the very first, this book kept me interested and turning pages as fast as I could. Loved the unknown father/child storyline.
From the very first, this book kept me interested and turning pages as fast as I could. Loved the unknown father/child storyline.
January 20, 2020
A good distraction from heavier novels. A quick read that I very much enjoyed.
February 28, 2020
Great
Such a great book hard to put down. It will keep you interested all the through it to the very end.
Such a great book hard to put down. It will keep you interested all the through it to the very end.
August 23, 2020
The Perfect Lie
Jonah did not know that he had a son until he was 15 years ago and kidnapped by the cruelest drug buster in South America. Kathleen Ryan
Jonah did not know that he had a son until he was 15 years ago and kidnapped by the cruelest drug buster in South America. Kathleen Ryan
November 5, 2020
Another good read by this author, my opinion.
April 14, 2021
Good read.
Great book by Sharon Sala. The main characters love developed a bit fast, I would have like to have seen that part been more detailed, but all in all a good read.
Great book by Sharon Sala. The main characters love developed a bit fast, I would have like to have seen that part been more detailed, but all in all a good read.
October 24, 2021
a good solid story
April 18, 2022
Wonderful
As always Sharon Sala strikes true. Another spot on thriller . Exciting and quick paced. Highly recommend. Three more words
As always Sharon Sala strikes true. Another spot on thriller . Exciting and quick paced. Highly recommend. Three more words
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews