Customer Reviews

Deception's Legacy

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In 1966, a fully loaded B-52 bomber collides with the refueling plane over Spain. The B-52 was carrying 4 nuclear bombs and the clean up is massive as the US attempts to remove the radioactive materials. A black pilot, one of the few the US has, is injured in the crash and is helped by a young, pregnant Jewish girl who is hiding from her tormentor. She has a young boy with her who is also helpful. The story skips ahead to the year 2030 where Skye, a former DEA agent, discovers some family secrets that she must unravel. Her son, Tristan, also a DEA agent, is now in Spain, attempting to halt the Spanish drug trafficking. She is secretly in touch with the DEA, making sure her son has the support he needs. To explain the Spain of 2030, the past must be explored even the Spanish Inquisition, where Jews and Muslims were killed because of their religious beliefs is a necessary component. Some of the same torturers from the Inquisition, have descendents who are now involved in the drug business and are still murdering Jews and Muslims.

DECEPTION'S LEGACY by Jacqueline G. Randolph is an action-packed tale filled with historical references, as well as romance. It is well-written and even though I have not read the two preceding books, I fell right into the story line. The characters are understandable, have their own flaws, and yet also have qualities about them that make you love them. It was indeed a fascinating trip from the distant past to the future. It is a book well worth reading.

Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

What connection does the Spanish Inquisition in the 1400s have to a collision between a B-52 bomber and a KC-135 tanker while refueling over the village of Palomares, Spain in 1966? You will have to read Deception's Legacy to find out. Be forewarned! You are in for quite a surprise by the time you come to the ending of this book.

This novel revolves around many time periods from the Spanish Inquisition of the 1400's to the B-52 bomber crash of 1966 and the current timeframe of 2030.

During the Spanish Inquisition, Queen Isabella got permission from Pope Sextus IV to rid her country of all non-Catholics. The methods included brutality, theft, torture and murder.

In this novel, Skye and Rhys are now much older. They have a grandchild, Meadow, given to them by one of their sons, Jon.

Their son, Tristan, is now an agent for the DEA. Rhys and Skye are very concerned because he was now on his first mission in Spain. Gabe, Skye's boss is no longer living. However, he did tell Tristan many stories and got his imagination going until he decided to become a DEA agent. Skye and Rhys really tried to discourage Tristan from following in his mother's footsteps.

Tristan's main assignment in Spain involved drug smuggling activities. As part of his assignment, one of the things Tristan had to do was to search the castle of Don Cristobal. It is here that he discovered the terrible things that had happened to people because of their religion.

What happens to Tristan?

Jacquelyn Randolph does an excellent job of combining historical information with fiction and does it in such a smooth fashion that the reader will feel like everything they are reading is real. Deception's Legacy is action packed and will make the reader want to turn the pages as quickly as possible to find out what happens next. The author introduces us to some new characters and at the same time, the reader will see Skye and Rhys age through the three books. As I mentioned, you are in for a big surprise at the end but that is not the only one - you will find several surprises throughout this book.

Even though the three books: Deception's Guard, Deception's Fury and Deception's Legacy are a series, each one can really be read as a stand-alone novel. However, it is my recommendation that you read them in the above order to enjoy the full and exciting impact of these books. I have read all three books in this order and can tell you each one (although they are all excellent) gets better than the last one.
Remember the name Jacquelyn Randolph. I am sure we will see a great deal from this author in the future. After reading these three books, I can see she is headed for much success. Be sure to add the "Deception" series to your reading list. You will be glad you did! The Deception Series would make an excellent movie.

The Matthews-Wielde family leads an exciting life. Skye Matthews is not your typical mom. She's a pilot, a former DEA agent and a superb actress. Her grown kids remember her teaching them self defense moves. Skye has managed to balance her career and her family; she's an active part in her children's lives.

Rhys Wielde is CEO of a bioinformatics research and development company. He tempers Skye's desire to gain justice at any cost. Rhys has also unofficially been involved in a few DEA investigations. Their children have started their own lives: Jonathan is a music teacher and musician. He's happily married to Celene and they have a daughter, Meadow, Sierra is a medical student and future CEO of the family company. Tristan is a rookie DEA agent.

In Deception's Legacy, hidden family secrets are revealed. What really happened in 1966 in Palomares, Spain? Skye knows the historical events: a US nuclear aircraft carrying four B28 bombs crashed over Palomares Spain. Three B28 bombs landed on shore. Two of the bombs had detonated and spread plutonium dust on several hundred acres. The fourth bomb remained missing for 80 days.

However have some events purposely been omitted? Tristan is currently on a mission in Palomares investigating Don Cristobal, who may be a local drug lord. Don Cristobal's family was involved in the ethnic cleansing of the Jews and Muslims during the Spanish Inquisition and has a history of violence. Will Tristan be able to maintain his objectivity or will he be blinded by his desire to have someone pay for the heinous crimes?

Deception's Legacy has a riveting plot and a satisfying conclusion. This multilayered thriller successfully transports the reader from 1966 to 2030. As I finished each chapter, I enjoyed gathering the clues and finding out what happens next.

This is the third book in the Deception series. It also works as a stand alone novel. However, you may be like me and enjoy the story and characters so much that you'll want to go back and read the series in order.

Author Randolph is as dynamic as her main character. She's a U.S. Air Force Officer, pilot, author, business owner and missionary.

Armchair Interviews says: A well-done story.

Randolph's latest book in her "Deception" series, Deception's Legacy, is a stunning complementary addition! In fact, in many ways, it surpasses her first two books, Deception's Guard and Deception's Fury, in this reviewer's opinion. And that is saying something!

In addition to action-packed adventure, Deception's Legacy, brings us significant historical information and a major surprise in the life of one of our main characters, Skye, who, even in her 70s is actively involved in her family and in her former career as a DEA agent.

Set in two primary time periods--1966 and 2030--the story also takes readers back to the time of the Spanish Inquisition. And there is where I would like to begin in sharing the story.

Evil people use whatever they can to justify hatred and prejudice. During the Spanish Inquisition, which was instigated by Queen Isabella and sanctioned by Pope Sixtus IV, in 1483, theft, torture, and murder were routinely committed against all those in Spain whose only crime was that their faith and belief was not sanctioned by the Catholic Church!

In Palomares, Spain, these outrages were planned and executed by "Don Cristobal," which represented both a family as well as the nobility who held the title at any given time. These men were thrilled to use religion to cover their lusts and they were quite willing to choose Marranos--Jews and Muslims especially--as their victims. Each generation excitedly considered how to "improve" and "surpass" the atrocities of the previous Don Cristobal.

Using this background, Randolph moves between 1966 and 2030, presenting two exciting storylines, separately but ultimately connected in an explosive confrontation that is truly unforgettable!

Jim, a training instructor, was commanded to fill a last-minute staffing problem and fly as standby pilot on a nuclear airlift mission--Chrome Dome. In 1966 the last missions were flown which carried nuclear bombs over Palomares, Spain. This novel recounts the horrific nuclear accident that occurred during the ill-fated mid-air refueling.

But there in the midst of tragedy, a wondrous love story began.

Rosita had found Jim after he had parachuted/crashed; using that parachute, she was able to finally pull him into a cave in which she had been hiding. When Jim finally awoke, dazed, he saw her--she was bruised and bleeding, almost as badly hurt as he was. His first thought was that one of the nuclear bombs had exploded and it was already too late--she was evidence of what had happened.

Rosita cradled the black man in her arms. She did not know that Jim was one of the few African-American pilots; all she knew was that he was hurt and she tried to comfort him. As time passed, a young boy, Rosita's friend, came to bring food to her. Finding the stranger, he stayed and when the man awoke, he used what little English he knew to try to communicate.

The nuclear bombs had not exploded; Don Cristobal, to whom she belonged, had hurt Rosita. She was pregnant, her third, for Rosita was a Marrano, and Don Cristobal could not allow another Marrano to be born, so he would beat her until each baby died! He was looking forward to killing her third child, still joyously following the commands established so long ago. Rosita had escaped to protect her baby.

Jim knew, however, that neither he nor Rosita would live if they didn't get help. Finally, he was able to make Rosita understand that she must go for help; he sent her with evidence of his existence and she looked until she finally found the one other black man who was stationed in Spain, thinking that would be who would help them.

Knowing that Rosita would be killed if he didn't further help her, Jim claimed that Rosita was his wife and that she was carrying his child. What appeared to them to be a miracle resulted in Rosita later being on the plane that was carrying Jim back to the States. Decades passed before how they escaped was revealed--what a story!


Although Skye had tried to dissuade him, her son Tristan had followed in her footsteps and joined the DEA. In 2030, Tristan was assigned to Spain and was quickly immersed in a major effort to trace drug smuggling activities. The assignment required Tristan's search of the ruling Don Cristobal's castle. There he found the hideous evidence of what these men had done, and were still doing, in the name of the Catholic Church. Unbelievable perversions had been documented--each generation trying to be more heinous than the one before! Now they were using drugs as one of the latest methods by which Marranos were murdered. Now they were not really too careful whether it was just Marranos that were affected!

Tristan encounters include fun impersonations, exciting near-death experiences (when his parents come to his rescue) and, finally, in his finding his own soul mate. Surprise after surprise keeps the reader turning pages, striving to keep up with what is being revealed! There is NO way I'm going to even hint at what happens at the end!

Needless to say, Randolph gets better and better! Her third novel in the Deception series is excitingly new and historically significant. Randolph continues as one of my favorite and MUST-READ authors. If this book sounds interesting, trust me...get the first two books and start at the beginning of this unique family saga!