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Escaping Pretense
"She walked out of the towers on 9/11—and into a life she was never meant to live."
From the author of The Essence of Shade comes Deborah Jean Miller’s Escaping Pretense—a gripping tale of deception, survival, and unexpected redemption. At its center is a woman who has perfected the art of manipulation—unlovable, calculating, and dangerously adept at bending others to her will. When her schemes of embezzlement threaten to unravel, fate intervenes in the most unimaginable way: she walks out of the burning towers on 9/11 and vanishes into the chaos.
With the world believing she perished that day, she seizes the chance to become someone new. Far from New York, in a foreign land, she struggles to reconcile her past sins with the fragile life she has built. As layers of her hardened exterior begin to crack, compassion—once foreign to her nature—quietly takes root, forcing her to face questions she has long buried: Can a heart trained in deception learn to love? And is true forgiveness ever possible for a soul steeped in betrayal?
From the author of The Essence of Shade comes Deborah Jean Miller’s Escaping Pretense—a gripping tale of deception, survival, and unexpected redemption. At its center is a woman who has perfected the art of manipulation—unlovable, calculating, and dangerously adept at bending others to her will. When her schemes of embezzlement threaten to unravel, fate intervenes in the most unimaginable way: she walks out of the burning towers on 9/11 and vanishes into the chaos.
With the world believing she perished that day, she seizes the chance to become someone new. Far from New York, in a foreign land, she struggles to reconcile her past sins with the fragile life she has built. As layers of her hardened exterior begin to crack, compassion—once foreign to her nature—quietly takes root, forcing her to face questions she has long buried: Can a heart trained in deception learn to love? And is true forgiveness ever possible for a soul steeped in betrayal?
392 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 22, 2022
7 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 19, 2022
According to the blurb, Escaping Pretense is a heist crime thriller, but I'm inclined to disagree with that. I'd say it's more contemporary or women's fiction. It certainly has its share of drama. That said, I don't particularly care about the genre so much as the content, and this one's content makes it a thoroughly compelling read.
Depending on the story, I don't always need to like the main character to like the book, and to be honest, I wasn't sure which way this one was gonna go in the beginning. I did not like Pretense at all for quite a way into this one. I felt like she may have had a bad start in life, but she had overcome it to find success. Then, we find out exactly what her life was like as she was growing up, and then she started to grow as a person, and my opinion started to change.
Other than a couple of unfortunate names that had me rolling my eyes a few times, this whole book held me in its grip. In my opinion, Deborah Jean Miller is a gifted storyteller, and she has a talent I don't see as often as I'd like. She's taken a character who isn't a good person, one who isn't even a remotely nice person unless it suits her purposes, and shown some tremendous personal growth, and she's made it feel real. Yes, it's a little farfetched at times, but when you're in the midst of it, the story doesn't feel that way. By the time I got to the last quarter or so of the book, I was team Pretense all the way, and I genuinely wanted her to find that happiness she'd been so long without.
I feel like I need to explain something here - there were so many things about this book that led me to rate it so highly, but the thing that convinced me was the writing. Even when I didn't like Pretense and felt like she needed a great big attitude adjustment, I couldn't just set this one aside. I mentioned the word compelling earlier, and it's really the most accurate word to describe this whole story. I just felt like I had to know what would happen next and how things would all play out.
Depending on the story, I don't always need to like the main character to like the book, and to be honest, I wasn't sure which way this one was gonna go in the beginning. I did not like Pretense at all for quite a way into this one. I felt like she may have had a bad start in life, but she had overcome it to find success. Then, we find out exactly what her life was like as she was growing up, and then she started to grow as a person, and my opinion started to change.
Other than a couple of unfortunate names that had me rolling my eyes a few times, this whole book held me in its grip. In my opinion, Deborah Jean Miller is a gifted storyteller, and she has a talent I don't see as often as I'd like. She's taken a character who isn't a good person, one who isn't even a remotely nice person unless it suits her purposes, and shown some tremendous personal growth, and she's made it feel real. Yes, it's a little farfetched at times, but when you're in the midst of it, the story doesn't feel that way. By the time I got to the last quarter or so of the book, I was team Pretense all the way, and I genuinely wanted her to find that happiness she'd been so long without.
I feel like I need to explain something here - there were so many things about this book that led me to rate it so highly, but the thing that convinced me was the writing. Even when I didn't like Pretense and felt like she needed a great big attitude adjustment, I couldn't just set this one aside. I mentioned the word compelling earlier, and it's really the most accurate word to describe this whole story. I just felt like I had to know what would happen next and how things would all play out.
February 1, 2022
Escaping Pretense by Deborah Jean Miller is a powerful contemporary novel about love and life and family. I absolutely adored it.
Everyone deserves to be loved – but within the book we meet a character who doesn’t think this applies to her. Every time someone gets close to her, she pulls away, believing her past disqualifies her from being loved. She doesn’t think she deserves love and this is heartbreaking. Deep down she is a good person, and this goodness is spotted by the young and the vulnerable in society who gravitate towards her kind heart.
We meet a loving family. They do life together and also reach out to those on the margins of society. “She wondered what a life like that would have felt like. To feel the closeness of a loving family, secure in each other’s company.” The reader’s heart breaks for a woman who has never known love, only pain.
There are the difficult topics of child abuse and rape. Choices were taken away from the victim but it is she who must live with the consequences. “I think you are a good person but you’ve been broken.” A character needs to change her way of seeing herself – she is worthy of love and kindness.
Knowing God and being part of His family brings forgiveness and healing. When we forgive ourselves, our pain begins to mend. “God’s grace is not something you achieve – it’s something you receive.” God’s grace is a gift freely given.
The novel shows a journey of redemption. It is beautiful to watch it unfold. A character moves from ‘I deserve…’ to ‘what can I give?’ Only through the love of God and others can this be achieved.
The characters are well drawn and likable. The tone is light-hearted in spite of some very serious themes. It is also amusing at times due to the clumsiness of a character and a rather crazy cat.
I thoroughly enjoyed Escaping Pretense with its powerful themes and a love that shines throughout.
I received a free copy from the author. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
Everyone deserves to be loved – but within the book we meet a character who doesn’t think this applies to her. Every time someone gets close to her, she pulls away, believing her past disqualifies her from being loved. She doesn’t think she deserves love and this is heartbreaking. Deep down she is a good person, and this goodness is spotted by the young and the vulnerable in society who gravitate towards her kind heart.
We meet a loving family. They do life together and also reach out to those on the margins of society. “She wondered what a life like that would have felt like. To feel the closeness of a loving family, secure in each other’s company.” The reader’s heart breaks for a woman who has never known love, only pain.
There are the difficult topics of child abuse and rape. Choices were taken away from the victim but it is she who must live with the consequences. “I think you are a good person but you’ve been broken.” A character needs to change her way of seeing herself – she is worthy of love and kindness.
Knowing God and being part of His family brings forgiveness and healing. When we forgive ourselves, our pain begins to mend. “God’s grace is not something you achieve – it’s something you receive.” God’s grace is a gift freely given.
The novel shows a journey of redemption. It is beautiful to watch it unfold. A character moves from ‘I deserve…’ to ‘what can I give?’ Only through the love of God and others can this be achieved.
The characters are well drawn and likable. The tone is light-hearted in spite of some very serious themes. It is also amusing at times due to the clumsiness of a character and a rather crazy cat.
I thoroughly enjoyed Escaping Pretense with its powerful themes and a love that shines throughout.
I received a free copy from the author. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
March 9, 2022
Another good read by Deb Jean Miller!
Pretense Abdicator is a clever woman and very good at her job but when passed over for promotion, something snaps inside her and she makes the decision not to get mad, but to get even. She sets in place a plan which will see her enjoying the rest of her life in the kind of place we would all like to live and with a healthy enough bank balance to see out the rest of her days. However, even the best laid plans can go awry and Pretense finds herself rumbled but, as luck would have it, she finds a way out. The question is, will her conscience allow her to enjoy her spoils?
Having enjoyed The Essence of Shade – this author’s previous novel – very much, I was delighted to be given the opportunity to read and review this one. From the very beginning I had a fondness for Pretense and as her story developed so did her character, although her past is revealed only in a timely manner. This is a tale of a realistic scenario and clever writing keeps the reader engaged throughout. I really enjoyed reading this one but I did wonder, upon reflection, what are the chances of things all working out so well? That, of course, was just my thoughts and doesn’t take anything away from an excellent story. I appreciated that the epilogue tied everything up nice and tightly, leaving no unanswered questions to niggle at me in a quiet moment. A well-written, interesting novel and one I’m happy to recommend. 4.5*
Pretense Abdicator is a clever woman and very good at her job but when passed over for promotion, something snaps inside her and she makes the decision not to get mad, but to get even. She sets in place a plan which will see her enjoying the rest of her life in the kind of place we would all like to live and with a healthy enough bank balance to see out the rest of her days. However, even the best laid plans can go awry and Pretense finds herself rumbled but, as luck would have it, she finds a way out. The question is, will her conscience allow her to enjoy her spoils?
Having enjoyed The Essence of Shade – this author’s previous novel – very much, I was delighted to be given the opportunity to read and review this one. From the very beginning I had a fondness for Pretense and as her story developed so did her character, although her past is revealed only in a timely manner. This is a tale of a realistic scenario and clever writing keeps the reader engaged throughout. I really enjoyed reading this one but I did wonder, upon reflection, what are the chances of things all working out so well? That, of course, was just my thoughts and doesn’t take anything away from an excellent story. I appreciated that the epilogue tied everything up nice and tightly, leaving no unanswered questions to niggle at me in a quiet moment. A well-written, interesting novel and one I’m happy to recommend. 4.5*
May 16, 2022
Escaping Pretense is a fictional story about Pretense Abdicator, who decides to make a plan to steal from her well-endowed financial clients and make a run for it. She works for a prestigious financial firm and works with the wealthiest clients who can make this happen for her. Her plan? Get a new identity and flee.
What happens, though, is something different from what Pretense plans. As she gets confronted by the FBI and her workplace at the World Trade Center on September 11th, a plane crashes into the building, and she makes a run for it.
I found the story pretty exciting to read. Pretense’s personality was enjoyable to read. Her character was interesting, and you couldn’t help but want her to succeed even though you knew what she was doing was wrong.
I recommend this story to those who like to read self-discovery stories and fictional takes.
What happens, though, is something different from what Pretense plans. As she gets confronted by the FBI and her workplace at the World Trade Center on September 11th, a plane crashes into the building, and she makes a run for it.
I found the story pretty exciting to read. Pretense’s personality was enjoyable to read. Her character was interesting, and you couldn’t help but want her to succeed even though you knew what she was doing was wrong.
I recommend this story to those who like to read self-discovery stories and fictional takes.
February 5, 2022
Great read! I was very intrigued with this crime story as I have had the sad experience of dealing with a person like this. It is spot on as far as behavior and personality goes. This is the second book I’ve read by this author. She apparently does her homework when writing, making it all very real! And all the while she tells a tale that keeps you from wanting to put the book down.
May 1, 2022
A story of redemption!
I loved this novel! Deborah Jean Miller writes to keep her readers on the edge of their seat. Both of her novels are page turners and filled with the message of Gods love and redemption.
I loved this novel! Deborah Jean Miller writes to keep her readers on the edge of their seat. Both of her novels are page turners and filled with the message of Gods love and redemption.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews