Customer Reviews

Sweet Deception

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The first question she asked NY Times best- selling author Ronald Montgomery rendered him speechless. He thought, "How dare she be so forward;" yet, she turned him on at the same time. There was something about Cleopatra Sinclair. Cleopatra was tall and sexy with a husky voice that pulled him in ways no other woman had ever done. In her first contemporary romance novel, Sweet Deception, Patricia Sargeant gives readers a story that is certain to be discussed by many.

Ronald soon learned that Cleopatra was really Joan Brown, an erotic romance writer. Intrigued by her mystery, he left his New York home to find her. Joan was completely different than her alter ego, Cleopatra. She was the middle daughter of Reverend K. Howard Brown. Joan and her sisters maintained a certain standard for the church and their family. How could she be this erotic romance author?

Ronald and Joan realized that they had a lot in common. He encouraged her to face her fears and her family. With Ronald, Joan learned to embrace her dreams. Ronald, with Joan's strength, realized that he did not need approval from those he cared about the most to be successful.

Sargeant has written a very unique romance novel. It was sexy and erotic in all the right places. However, the story also embraced hints of Christian Fiction. Ronald and Joan worked through issues with family, faith, acceptance and love. This was the first novel by Sargeant that I have read and it will not be the last. This book is highly recommended for book clubs because it will generate lots of conversation and fun.

Priscilla C. Johnson
APOOO BookClub

"Sweet Deception" is an INTRIGUING concept...I was totally CAUGHT UP in the budding romance of Joan and Ronald...Mrs. Sargeant weaves an ENGAGING tale...with a cast of well-developed and UNFORGETTABLE characters...the conflict and drama that the characters, (main and secondary) struggles with make this novel that much more compelling and entertaining...she creates quite a CAPTIVATING grown & sexy romance about personal and professional growth, love and life, and the UNFORTUNATE dysfunctional dynamics that some families experience...the whole church, family and erotic romance writing situation will quite possibly make for some interesting discussions among book club members.

I really really enjoyed this book. Great storyline, realistic characters and well written. This one is a keeper!

I just finished this book after receiving it earlier this afternoon. I think I may have found a new favorite author. I wasn't sure I was going to like this book at first because of the Christian aspect but I was very pleased to find out this book does not lack in the hot and steamy department. All of the characters really came to life and I cried when Joan finally saw herself for who she really was. It was a long battle for Ron and Joan to get their families to understand their feelings but when they finally do you can't help but be happy for them. I really think anyone who enjoys a great read about self discovery and how family dynamics can hinder that will enjoy this novel.

In this exhilarating story of love and power struggles, Patricia Sargeant delivers family fueled drama. Sweet Deception introduces the reader to lust and loneliness through the connection of romance author Cleopatra Sinclair (Joan) and best selling author Ron Montgomery. Joan, driven by the forbidden fruits of the pastor's child creates her Cleopatra alter ego morph into a young woman that is confident, intriguing, and sexy. Ron hides behind the success of his thriller novels to overshadow the pain of family neglect and rejection. This passionate couple ruffles the feathers of their families; in the process both Ron and Joan mature, by confronting their parents. Sargeant does an excellent job developing the characters. Emotion leaps off of the page when relationship dynamics reach their peak. Additionally, the author highlighted several issues that are rarely written about in the black community. She captures the stresses of the first family of the church, arranged marriages, the burden of being successful, sibling rivalry, etc. Moreover, the author accomplishes this without sacrificing health and love, necessities for human survival. The author could have developed some of the settings more. For example, I had a clear visual of Ron's Brooklyn apartment, but not Joan's parents' house. Also, the dialogue between Joan and her older sister did not flow as naturally as with her younger sister, but perhaps that was a reflection of their relationship.
Great piece, the beginning grabs your attention and the ending makes you yearn for more; looking forward to the next.


Natasha R. Hines
AAMBC Reviewer

This book is so surreal that all my emotions were pulled back and forward with all the characters. It takes place in Columbus and New York, now Joan stays in Columbus and Ron stays in New York. But the love is so strong until it brings the distance between them together.

Joan is living a double life as the preacher daughter/Romance author known as Cleopatra Sinclair. When she meets Ronald/ best seller she introduces herself as AKA Cleopatra. The jump off was incredible between the two that brings the two worlds to its knees.

Joan comes from a controlling family/father that is determine to make sure his girls live and be taken care of by men's he picks out for them all. But Joan is not going for it, can't say the same for the other two sisters. Joan is brave enough to talk up to her father about picks of guys but too scared to tell her family about her writing career. But once she did tell her family all hell brakes loose.

Ronald comes from a dysfunctional family where he's caught up in a roller coaster of lies and decent. His mother is a protector of her sons but she's protecting the wrong son. Ronald finds himself face to face with his brother and fiancé in his bed. The jump off between the brother, mother, father and Joan is a golden moment full of drama.

I recommend this book to all Book Clubs

Talk about a literary buffet with all the best ingredients: romance, family drama and the search for one's true desires. This is what bestselling author Patricia Sargeant has given us with the newest book SWEET DECEPTION. Once again men and women can come together after a nice dinner and talk about a book that has something for all palettes. The characters ring true to so many of the struggles we know all too well, and the author draws us in with her realness and search for the answer to the age-old question: What part of yourself are you willing to give up in order to feel whole?

Sweet Deception is an enjoyable read. Ms. Sargeant does a wonderful job taking readers into the lives of Joan and Ron. Yes, the passion was heated. However, what was so refreshing for me about this story was that this couple's love went beyond the physical. Early on in the relationship Joan and Ron challenge each other to face their greatest obstacle...their families. Joan is totally devastated when her religious family practically disowns her after finding out her secret. Ron is drowning in a sea of anger and bitterness when his irresponsible brother tells a damaging lie. It is Joan and Ron's genuine friendship which gets them through difficult trying times as they explore their love for one another.

If you want a read that will keep you totally engaged then Sweet Deception is for you.

Sweet Deception by Patricia Sargeant is a unconventional romance that is filled with passion and conflict.

Joan Brown aka erotic writer Cleopatra Sinclair meets a compelling man at a writer's conference. Since she is far away from home she decides to let her hair down and give into her desires. Once she is back home in Ohio safe and secure at her art store she can only remember the searing passion she had with Ron Montgomery.

Thriller writer Ronald Montgomery was intrigued from his first meeting with Cleopatra Sinclair. One night with her was not nearly enough. He finds out her real name is Joan Brown and lives in Columbus, Ohio. As luck would have it he offered a teaching position for the summer in Columbus. The woman he sees is so different from Cleo he remembers but Ron is still enthralled by Joan Brown.

Joan is shocked by Ron's reappearance in her world. Her real life as a minister's daughter is worlds away from her writing. She can't let these worlds collide Ron has his own family issues that follow him to Columbus. Can these two new lovers overcome their family's interference?

Patricia Sargeant books are rich in passion and connections between the characters. I had enjoyed Patricia's stories in several anthologies and went and bought her single titles. I am glad I did, they are all first rate romances.

What does the daughter of a preacher and an erotic romance writer have in common? In Sweet Deception, they are one in the same person. Joan Brown had written two erotic novels under the pseudonym Cleopatra Sinclair without her family's knowledge. When she meets fellow author Ron Montgomery at a writers convention, she allows herself to become Cleopatra, the strong self confident woman that Joan does not think she is. When she and Ron engage in a one night stand, she thinks she will never see him again. A summer teaching position puts Ron right where he wants to be...with Joan. This summer, Joan and Ron will help "save" each other.

Sweet Deception is a romance with a family twist. Both of the main characters have family issues that have shaped them into the people that they are. Patricia Sargeant does a wonderful job with incorporating the past with the present. By doing this, it gives great insight as to why the characters are who they are. There were also several subplots taking place along with the main plot. Sargeant does a good job of incorporating them all together.

Reviewed by Tenecia
for Urban Reviews