Secrets and Deceptions

by Lorelei Confer

When Avri Lawrence’s high school sweetheart answers a calling to join the military, she’s left behind to nurse a broken heart and try to move on but when he returns years later, her attraction to him is stronger than ever. Now, she has a big secret, one she’s not ready to share.

Dillon Davidson, to prove himself, enlists in the Army but fails to predict the magnitude of required sacrifice. After he’s captured and tortured while on a mission, he escapes and returns home hoping for forgiveness.

The years of separation have taken their toll, testing the strength of their love. Will she take the risk of revealing her secret? Can he leave the horrors of battle behind?

Genres: Romance

Unknown Binding

First published October 1, 2016

About the author

Amazon bestselling author of romantic suspense, Lorelei Confer, has been writing since the fourth grade. She lives on the Gulf Coast of Florida with her husband and AJ, a longhaired Chihuahua, who are both her constant companions.

In 2010, her first novel, Deadly Deception was published, the first in the Deadly series. Another series, Saddle Creek, began with the first release, Rustlers and Romance in 2016. This series is set in the shadows of the Grand Teton mountains in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Mentoring children years ago led to helping aspiring authors set goals, and generally, meet their objective to finish the book. She practices her own discipline every day.

After six years as a copy editor and two years as an editor at The Wild Rose Press, she ventured out on her own as an indie author.

Sign up for her newsletter at https://www.loreleiconfer.com/subscribe to receive exclusive excerpts and bonus material, receive alerts when books are released, and take part in great giveaways.

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

SECRETS AND DECEPTIONS by Lorelei Confer is a well-written romantic suspense novel and is book three in the Saddle Creek series. It worked well as a stand-alone novel.

This story takes place in and around Saddle Creek, Wyoming. Avri Lawrence and Dillion Davidson were high school sweethearts. While Avri heads to college to become a lawyer, Dillion enlists in the military and leaves her broken-hearted despite his promise to return. He returns four years later and they are still attracted to each other, but both of them have also changed and both have secrets. However, when Avri’s life is threatened, she wonders if Dillion will help her.

Avri and Dillion are compelling and complex characters and definitely a couple you can root for. They felt real and three-dimensional and both had flaws and virtues. Their motivations were believable and the secondary characters were well-rounded and contributed to the story rather than detracting from it. The story has a lot of tension and several intense scenes.

Themes weaved into this novel include PTSD, picking up relationships after several years, feelings of betrayal and abandonment, trust, long-term friendships, communication, and much more.

Overall, I was fully engaged from the beginning and hoping for a happily ever after ending. Does it happen or do they go their separate ways?

I recommend this book to those that enjoy their romance with some suspense. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Thanks to Backlit PR and Lorelei Confer for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read/get reviews: http://www.goodbookswithtea.blogspot.com
Perfect Ending To The Perfect Build
This story is the real deal when it comes to the saying "page turner"!
Secrets and deceptions is an excellent source of thrill and suspense! Lovers Avri and Dillon reunite after fours years of separation. Their love for one another is quickly rekindled, (Kind of like a slap in the face, really. The reunion, itself, was suspenseful and brought on several questions that would later be answered.) but at what cost? What's real? What's a lie? Do they even know each other, anymore?
Both have secrets they're keeping from one another, but neither can hold onto them for long. Eventually, the truth is gonna come out.
I thought the concept and play out of this story was very realistic. People have secrets and as time goes on, those secrets/happenings change people. I'm glad a writer explored the affects lies can have on a relationship, romantic or otherwise. It creates uncertainties, as well as misunderstandings.
It's clear Avri and Dillon still love each other deeply, so of course readers want these two darlings to open up and just spill the guts (oops. Spoiler?) already, but the suspense was well played!!
I honestly think this is the fastest I've ever read a novel of this length!
The pacing of this story teeters back and forth from nice, steady, slow builds to fast, adrenaline pumping scenes and developments. There's really a lot going on here what with the past/present plots (and fantasies/night terrors) of two characters on their own as well as together, but it's nicely explored. I never felt lost in the text.
This author does an excellent job of keeping the reader's attention on the book in hand! Because, really, ya gotta know if they're gonna make it!
Read and/or get reviews at- http://www.goodbookswithtea.blogspot.com

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really good. It’s well written, the storyline flows well, and it has just the right amount of heat and suspense. Avri was definitely frustrating at times and there were a few times where I wanted to tell her to stop being childish and selfish. This is book three in the Saddle Creek series. You can read this book as a standalone, but I recommend you read books one and two because they’re good books.

Avri and Dillion are high school loves. A few years after high school Dillion joins the military and leaves Avri behind. Thanks to miscommunication neither one of them gets in contact with the other. It’s been four years and now Dillion is back home in Saddle Creek only now he’s brought with him some internal demons he’s fighting. He was captured and tortured for eighteen months before he was finally able to escape. Now Dillion is out of the military and hoping to pick back up with Avri. Unfortunately, it appears that there is someone out to harm Avri and she has a secret she’s keeping from Dillion. Can they finally communicate with each other and find their happy ending?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angel Hatfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Avri Lawrence’s high school sweetheart leaves her to enlist in the military, she nurses a broken heart. When Dillon returns four years later, their attraction to each other is stronger than ever, but life’s experiences has changed them. When her life is threatened she’s not sure he’ll come to her rescue or like what he finds. She has secrets and she’s not ready to share. Dillon Davidson wants to advance in his military career but didn’t plan on having to kill so many people to do so. On a Special Opps mission he’s captured and tortured for eighteen long months. After his escape, he ends his four-year career in deception. He wants to start over with his soul mate, Avri in Saddle Creek, Wyoming. But are there too many years of separation, too many secrets, and too many memories between them for them to overcome?
This was a decent read. It was a quick to read. The characters were likable and the overall plot was good. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

[Ronel Olver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once you look past the unrealistic notion that a whole town can keep a pregnancy secret, the story has merit. The book has great character building and I loved Drew, he was a sweet little boy. The suspense and action with the criminal element adds a bit of action to the book. Avri believes that Dillon walked out not caring about her and never looked back. Dillon can't understand why Avri never reached out and wrote to him as he left her his address in a note. They still had chemistry and I was definitely rooting for them, wishing they would sit down and be honest with each other and share their secrets. well written and a must read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Saddle Creek series. It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend you read the first two books as they are both enjoyable reads as well. Avri and Dillon are high school sweethearts. Dillon joins the military and leaves Avri behind. Because of some misunderstandings and miscommunications, they lose touch with each other. He comes back four year later, but both are changed people. Will they be able to reconnect and find their happy ending? An enjoyable story filled with romance, suspense, and mystery, this is a great addition to the series!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avri and Dillion make such a great couple in this book and I couldn’t put it down. Packed full of fun romance and plenty of suspense, I was greatly disappointed when I got to the last page and had to put it down. As the third book in this series, I think that it made a wonderful addition and I can’t wait for the 4th one to come out!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story with Arvi and Dillion who were high school sweethearts until he up and left for the military without explanation. Years later he returns to find she has become a lawyer but also has someone threatening her life. Loved these characters with great chemistry and friendship but she has secret that he does not know about and about those who are after her.

[Karen Roma · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 Star Review....

Secrets and Deceptions is the third book in Lorelei Confer’s Saddle Creek series and packed with intrigue and suspense. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of this storyline and the lies and deceit that threaten innocent people and their freedom. However, while this is a great story and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout, I found the concept of an entire small town maintaining such a profound secret, a little hard to swallow. Overall, it’s a good story, and Avro and Dillon earn a hrd fought HEA.

“I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review”

[Elvira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found lots to enjoy in this well written storyline. The characters are well developed and engaging and the chemistry is undeniable throughout the pages.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Neena Christianson Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The past is about to come up and slap the whole town in the teeth. Avri and Dillon were high school sweethearts, then he left for the service, leaving Avri high and dry, with no goodbye note or explanation, or did he? Someone wants something they think Avri has, and Dillon is set up as the scapegoat in a murder. Some of the plot was spot on, but some of it was a little too hard to swallow. Having grown up in a small town, I know there is always someone just raring to let secrets out, so the idea that a whole town would keep one from Dillon struck me as implausible. All in all a good story, with a hard earned HEA.

[Romina Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE WON'T JUST LEAVE A PAGE HANGING

Wow! I just can't believe that a striking fiction story like this can be packed within 201 pages.

Secrets and Deceptions told a story that is factual and practical. It was written perfectly. I just can't leave a page hanging. Though this was told in every detail a thing can be described, its progression is still unfailing to give a real mystery.

I was impressed that this story was able to gradually increase its tension all throughout. What more amazed me is Lorelei Confer's style of delivering each of different persona's actions per certain passages. There were many scenes when both Avri and Dillon's perspective were told for the same moment. Conventionaly, some books had done this but they'd bored me to death. Secrets and Deceptions was an exception.

In addition, the casual way she revealed some of relevant events left me stunned and reflect for a few seconds. This is a real jaw-dropper.

I both loved Avri and Dillon after putting the book down. Unique name choices in addition, too. I just hoped there was more with regards to the 'Boss'.

This is one story I will excitedly have read all over in the future. Looking forward to read more from the author.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secrets and Deceptions is book 3 in the Saddle Creek series by Lorelei Confer. This book stood alone as I have not read the other books in the series and didn’t feel that I had missed anything. I do think Chase’s story would be great.

This is a book of high school sweethearts finding their way back together after several misunderstandings. Dillon enlists in the military to find his way right after high school. Dillion ends up in special forces and on missions that are classified. He was captured and help hostage for 18 months. After escaping he gets out of the service to come home to Avri.

Avri has put herself through law school and is now a successful lawyer. She has been waiting for Dillion to come home and has not understood why he never wrote her. She has some secrets of her own.

They come together when her life is being threatened.

You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

[Cricket King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE this book! Great characters and a storyline that grabs you from the first page and keeps you wrapped until the last! It's got a little bit of everything from love to war, mobsters and murder! I definitely recommend this book and will be on the lookout for everything else by Ms. Confer!

[E.]

The challenges of Reconnecting

3.5 stars

“Secrets and Deceptions” by Lorelei Conifer is a contemporary romantic suspense story that centers around war veteran Dillon Davidson, who returns to his hometown after a four-year absence a very different man from when he left. While trying to pick up the relationships he has left dangling, Dillon makes an effort to come to terms with the pain and betrayal he feels about his former lover Avri, who has built a life without him. Avri has had to work through her own sense of abandonment, and although she has achieved some of her dreams, it seems that everything is about to crumble, especially when violence escalates around her. She will have to decide what role she is willing to accept for Dillon, and whether she can trust him with her secrets, or her heart, once again.

This contemporary romantic suspense story has several elements that appeal to me—a returning military man dealing with personal demons, an intense love affair, and longstanding friendships that persist despite misunderstandings. I thought things got off to a good start and I liked the mystery that was slowly being unraveled, but I became frustrated by the lack of communication that permeated the story.

The initial premise that led to the estrangement is a little disingenuous to me and I was willing to discount that, but the subsequent actions were frustrating to me. This man is obviously still suffering from significant PTSD yet doesn’t think that any further counseling or treatment is needed; Avri is an intelligent and educated woman yet is about to end up in the same situation by giving in to the heat and attraction; certain clues are ignored by a man who ostensibly has been trained by Special Forces; and I was bemused by the potential conflict of interest that was blithely ignored. Those who have triggers should be aware there is graphic violence in the story.

Despite all of the aforementioned reservations, I still found this to be an entertaining story. I loved little Drew, there are great sizzling encounters between Avri and Dillon, and the suspense definitely escalates. This is an enjoyable light read that is evidently part of a series yet works fine as a stand-alone story.


A copy of this story was provided to me by Reading Alley for review.