The Great Pretender [Paperback]

Millenia Black (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2002

ONE MAN… TWO LIVES…

For over six years, Reginald Brooks has managed to pull it off. Having two families, leading two lives.

Now, the pretending must stop.

But how?

THE GREAT PRETENDER…an electrifying tale of how one man tries to untangle his life, setting a full-fledged arena of wife against husband, lover against lover, friend against friend, and family against family.

Once you begin this engaging tale, you will witness how one man’s decision to pretend ricochets through the lives of several people. For some, escape could seem to be a most welcome solution…

Reginald Brooks—a polished marketing VP who shrewdly built a dual life around his work. But without warning, that life begins to come apart at the seams and Reginald makes a decision that could threaten his very future, and the lives of those he loves most…

Tracy Brooks—Reginald’s wife of nearly 20 years. While the cat’s away, the mice will play. She’s got secrets of her own to protect…

Renee Jameson—the younger woman with the killer body who managed to turn Reginald’s head long enough to become pregnant…

Franklin Bevins—a UPS executive and Reginald’s best friend since the carefree days of childhood. Reggie has never made a life-changing decision without Frank’s input; a practice they may soon live to regret…

Olivia Brooks—Reginald and Tracy’s eldest daughter. Family isn’t very high on Olivia’s list of priorities. With her primary focus on a man, Olivia seems nonchalant about the significant changes in her family’s life until a shocking demand gets her full attention…

Valerie Brooks—the younger of Reggie and Tracy’s two daughters. A curious teen on the verge of adulthood when a hard knock lesson brings her questionable habits to a screeching halt.

From the plush streets of Miami to the glamour of New York City, follow the families of Reginald Brooks as their lives of sex, love, hate and surprise unfolds to an agonizing climax!

This debut novel by Millenia Black is anticipated to spark a tantalizing blend of emotions, and may even leave you wondering if perhaps you know someone who might be…THE GREAT PRETENDER.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...It’s a real page-turner! I was involved from beginning to end." -- Judith Henry Wall, author of THE GIRLFRIENDS CLUB and MY MOTHER'S DAUGHTER

About the Author

Millenia Black gets great joy from the art of intriguing storytelling, but she is also an avid reader. The Great Pretender is her debut novel.

When she's not writing, she has several hobbies, but the ones that bring her the most pleasure are enjoying the music of Nat King Cole and Judy Garland, and watching old Hollywood classics.

She was born and raised in South Florida, where she still resides today. Millenia is currently at work on her second captivating novel, so visit her on the web and join the mailing list to receive all announcements!

Millenia loves to hear from her readers!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 303 pages
• Publisher: Infinity Publishing (PA) (September 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0741412780
• ISBN-13: 978-0741412782
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (157 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,759,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Millenia Black is the bestselling author of the novels THE GREAT PRETENDER and THE GREAT BETRAYAL. She loves to tell a compelling story and is an avid reader. Heralded as a double life and relationship expert, she's been a featured guest on radio shows across the country.

Millenia is an alumni of Keiser University and was born and raised in Florida, where she still resides today. She is currently working on RAINDROPS ON ROSES, book one in her highly anticipated FAVORITE THINGS trilogy!

Millenia is currently unmarried and has never dated anyone living a double life...

She thinks.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 94 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars When we practice to deceive., January 31, 2004

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Pretender (Paperback)

In this captivating tale of deceit and betrayal, we are introduced to Reginald Brooks who has seemingly mastered the art of living a double life. On one hand, he is a devoted family man with a wife of 18 years and two children. On the other hand, he lives with his much younger girlfriend and their six-year-old daughter.

After six years, the stress of trying to keep both lives separate is eating away at Reginald, so he decides it's time to choose which life he wants to live. After making his decision, he comes to realize that exposing his secret does not bring the peaceful resolution he was expecting. Instead, it opens up a chasm of lies and deceit so deep that it's anybody's guess who, if anyone, will escape unscathed.

Like an F5 tornado, THE GREAT PRETENDER sweeps you deep into its vortex, drawing you into this enthralling tale of secrets, secrets and even more secrets. With a surprise ending that is so intense, you will be left slack-jawed and wondering why you didn't see it coming.

Look out literary world! Millenia Black, a very prolific mystery writer, has hit the scene as a force to be reckoned with. THE GREAT PRETENDER is a wonderful debut novel and I highly recommend this to readers everywhere.

Reviewed by Renee Williams
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

71 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a Tangled Web We Weave..., February 7, 2004

By 

Geena Brighton "Sherrington Columnist" (Cheyenne, WY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Pretender (Paperback)

What a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive. Mr. Brooks traveled from Miami to Orlando for 10 years and had an outside child for 6 of them with a woman his wife didn't know existed. The mother of this child also knew nothing about Mr. Brook's wife and two daughters that existed long before she did. What a roller coaster ride we have here. No stone goes unturned when all the chips fall and it is too good to put down when it reaches the climax. I was shocked by what the ramifications were in the end, but could definitely see such a result in a situation like this. No one can win. I recommend this book because it is a pageturner and the storyline is not overdone or trite as so many fiction books I've come across in recent months.

Geena Brighton, columnist for Sherrington

87 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The PERFECT Pageturning Story, February 23, 2004

By 

"bspire" (Sacramento, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Pretender (Paperback)

I loved everything about this book! I relate well to Reginald's wife Tracy, she's the type of woman that most of us women find ourselves becoming at some point when we feel distanced from our mates.

The book is exciting, dramatic, mysterious and clever. The characters are interesting. Completing this book will leave you feeling the need to write the author and DEMAND a follow up of some sort!

I would also LOVE to see a movie! I would be so eager and happy to see how well the actors would portray these very complex characters and make them come to life! I could see it being a movie to watch over and over again, it would probably be just as addicting as Millenia Black's spicy book! If you read ANY book, THIS is the one to read! --.