Title: Deceit Times Two
Author: Cissy Hassell
Published in 2005 by Rose Heart Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 0-9767634-2-7
Other Books by Cissy: (1) Nowhere (2) The Bringer Of Rapture
For three years, Guthrie Cavanaugh has been in a marriage where no love ever exited. The marriage was basically only for show for the world to see as a happy couple and for Alicia to have enough money to buy anything her heart desired. There was no mutual respect between them, no searing feelings for the other and he finally was fed up being her sugar daddy. With nothing there making them a happily married couple, he wants a divorce. He never expected the surprise that Alicia had to tell him. They are going to have a baby. But it doesn’t stop there. Alicia is determined to make Guthrie feel deep heartache and sorrow. Now eight years later, he finds out how downright despicable Alicia really was. She didn’t have one baby, she had twins. And to really push the knife a little deeper in his heart, Alicia took one of the twins and gave her up for adoption immediately afterward. What better way to stick it to him inflicting a bit more blood to seep through his heart?
Guthrie has evidence that Marissa Harrington is the one that adopted his daughter eight years ago. When he learns that she is a woman in business, he is intrigued, until he hears her business is a petting zoo. A small business person is not what he expected, and to hear that the woman has adopted his other daughter, calling her Miranda, he knows he has to get his daughter back in his home, no matter what it costs. He had no idea that his child even exited or he would have never allowed her to be adopted. He will stop at nothing to get her back. He was betrayed when his ex-wife took his child away and discarded her as if she was nothing. He has been deceived in the worse way and his heart will never forget and now that he knows the truth, someone will pay. Marissa Harrington has no idea who she is dealing with. When Guthrie sees that their bitter battle is going nowhere, he gives her one ultimatum. She can either give him his child or continue in a war that will only cause them both more hurt, or accept his compromise by marrying him. She can either lose everything that matters to her or be a mother to both his children. In time he soon sees Marissa for the loving mother that she is. If only they could be attracted to each other things would work out much better. Can two seven-year-olds have a solution that will bring the couple together?
Marissa Harrington doesn’t know what to do. She lost her husband a few months ago in an airplane crash not long after they adopted Miranda. She has no one in her life and now Guthrie Cavanaugh approaches her with news that Miranda is his and he has all intentions of gaining custody of his daughter. She can only imagine the pain that he feels learning that he has another child. She loves Miranda and doesn’t want to give her up. She had no idea that the child already had a mother and father. She had no idea that any wife could be so deceitful in her actions toward her ex-husband. That still doesn’t mean that Guthrie can be so hateful to her. This is the child that she has cared for all these years. She just can’t give her up at the drop of the hat. Both have a giant problem to deal with and it will most likely grow worse before it gets better. The steps that he has taken to try to get his daughter back have been very hurtful for Marissa.
Nothing seems to go right and the way Marissa sees it, Guthrie is only making it worse for the both of them. She will not give the child that she calls her own up without a fight. When he insists the only solution is for them to marry, she doesn’t quite know how to react. After she hears how the poor man was betrayed with deceit and treachery surrounding the adoption, it touches her deeply. She still finds it hard to believe that a mother could be that ruthless to give one of her daughters up for adoption. She suddenly feels a soft spot in her heart for him. But when Guthrie sees that he has touched a nerve where her heart is concerned, will she fall prey to his victory? What becomes a feud with powerful dislike soon turns into intense yearning for Marissa and Guthrie. He has her on an emotional roller coaster that has her wondering what course to take. She begins to question if this proposal of marriage is something that he was using just to offset her then when she isn’t suspecting anything, instantly turn on her. The only marriage she ever considered entering into is the old-fashioned kind. Yet tempers do blaze and sometimes their debates seem to be going nowhere until two seven-year-olds suddenly take matters into their own hands. And when she falls into Guthrie’s arms, the whole scent of him lures her into his web.
Deceit Times Two is a story that is not only emotionally tender but has fighting words. And when it comes to a child being separated from the parent at birth, the reader can expect banter to fly between the parent and the adoptive parent in this magnificent read. I could practically feel the emotions that the characters were experiencing. The author did an excellent job in her description of Guthrie. He was good at showing anger, then a tender side to him that made your heart melt with his grief. She takes Marissa’s character and shows us a strong-willed woman who will stop at nothing to protect what belongs to her whether the child is adopted or not. I also liked the way it was brought up how the other twin, Cassidy, felt as if something was missing in her life. This had a touch of reality. This story is so mesmerizing that the reader can’t help but feel the characters helplessness and pain. If you are looking for a wonderful story that reaches in and really warms the heart, then this is it. Deceit Times Two is a splendid read.
Cissy Hassell takes two characters and creates a fantastic read. She instills life into the story that draws the reader’s attention until the last page. It’s amazing how she gives Guthrie so much determination to get his child back. I found myself cheering for the couple to find a path to each other and have a happy ending. It was a picture perfect family but needed some gentle persuasion to make it one that was ever lasting. This was an incredible read that really made my heart leap for joy. Ms. Hassell has a winner with this book. Be sure to check out Cindy’s site and read more about her other books and projects that she is working on. www.cissyhassell.com www.cissyhassell.com/books.html and Cissy's July 2005
Sincerely good reading,
Linda
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