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Perception and Deception
Felix Jaynes is a special agent for the Real Life Immersion Program (also known as RLIP). A few months earlier, she had a traumatic experience that caused her to go from a confident agent who was a phenomenal expert in her field, to suddenly doubting her career. She has recently been sent to an extremely rural town called Toselville; playing the part of a young nature photographer. Everyone has their cliques in Toselville. As a twenty-one-year-old, she finds herself having to network with the younger people in town. Her mission: find the middle aged son of two weapons designers who created blueprints for the United States government. As time goes on, she befriends Ashton Mathis, the owner of the only grocery shop in town, and his best friend/employee. Ashton instantly becomes enamored with Felix's beauty and kindness she shows towards them and he begins to pursue her while she is in the midst of working on an incredibly dangerous mission.
RLIP agents have partners who talk to them through their small earpieces that cannot be seen. These agents are not allowed to see their partners or even know their names. Felix has had many partners who are generally cold and over-professional. But Felix has been assigned to Wolf, an older gentleman who becomes a sort of wise father figure to her. After going with Ashton and his friends to the town bowling alley, Felix finds that she is starting to get into a clique of her own. Ashton is there to hopefully win Felix's heart, and Felix is there strictly on business, hoping to get information for her case...or so she keeps telling herself. Against Wolf's initial words of wisdom, Felix finds herself thinking about Ashton and accepts his invitation to go out on a date. But Felix accidentally blows her cover, and soon, Ashton is attacked. Felix was able to save him once, but now her enemies will stop at nothing to get to them. Felix is reassigned to a new mission...witness protection for Ashton and herself. Their budding romantic relationship comes to a sharp halt as they now have to focus on working together to survive. They can run, but they know their enemies are never far behind. Their only option to save themselves is to solve this case. And it is not going to be easy.
RLIP agents have partners who talk to them through their small earpieces that cannot be seen. These agents are not allowed to see their partners or even know their names. Felix has had many partners who are generally cold and over-professional. But Felix has been assigned to Wolf, an older gentleman who becomes a sort of wise father figure to her. After going with Ashton and his friends to the town bowling alley, Felix finds that she is starting to get into a clique of her own. Ashton is there to hopefully win Felix's heart, and Felix is there strictly on business, hoping to get information for her case...or so she keeps telling herself. Against Wolf's initial words of wisdom, Felix finds herself thinking about Ashton and accepts his invitation to go out on a date. But Felix accidentally blows her cover, and soon, Ashton is attacked. Felix was able to save him once, but now her enemies will stop at nothing to get to them. Felix is reassigned to a new mission...witness protection for Ashton and herself. Their budding romantic relationship comes to a sharp halt as they now have to focus on working together to survive. They can run, but they know their enemies are never far behind. Their only option to save themselves is to solve this case. And it is not going to be easy.
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About the author
Andrea Hintz
28 books91 followersAndrea Hintz has loved writing her whole life. She began college at the age of thirteen and graduated at seventeen with a Bachelor's in Public Management and Administration. Having endless stacks of books, she has a particular interest in fiction genres that contain lots of adventure and take her to other places of the world. She has written many books including the books in The Tesoro Series, the Perception and Deception series, additional short stories, guest articles for writing blogs and literary magazines, as well as a short guide for beginning authors. Andrea also plays the guitar, sings, and has written notebooks and notebooks full of songs and book ideas. Her favorite books were very special to her growing up, and she believes that if at least one reader feels that way about her work, she will have successfully done her job as an author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
December 30, 2017
"A taut, suspense-filled thriller with a touch of modern-day romance!"
Felix Jaynes is a young woman with an education in criminal justice. It's a field she chose to follow the steps of her parents who had been part of an ultra-secret organization similar to the FBI called Real Life Immersion Program. Their job is to protect the innocent and they utilize top modern-day gadgets to fulfill their mission.
Her latest assignment sends her to a rural town where her cover is to be a photographer. Her assignment is to locate the person who may possibly possess blueprints for a new weapons development program. She makes contact with a young man named Ashton, who takes a liking to her. But Felix's superiors do not approve of personal relationships with civilians who may be drawn into the thick of the fray. Felix is a professional, and moves through the town with ease, making acquaintances and small friendships, but always keeping them at arm's length. However, she feels she's been missing something in life and begins to succumb to her personal feelings for Ashton.
Meanwhile, RLIP (Real Life Immersion Program) agents inform Felix that an underground organization is onto their mission and want the same blueprints they're after. Felix discovers the name of a man she believes fits the identity of who may be their person of interest, and works hard to get close to this man. To do this she must engage in close relationships with the townsfolk, but she's reluctant to do so when agents of the opposing force demonstrate they will stop at nothing to get what they want.....Even kill for it!
With the support of RLIP agents, Felix is determined to not only accomplish her mission, but keep the people she's grown fond of from getting themselves killed. The catch is not getting herself killed in the process.
This book is a definite page-turner. It has suspense, romance, intrigue, action. I was amazed by the research the author has done in describing how a secret organization with authorization to protect innocent civilians may possibly exist. I wouldn't be surprised if this is a fiction-based-on-fact type of novel. The hi-tech gadgets at peoples' disposal is real enough, and so is the personal relationships intertwined with the characters. There are tender scenes of love as Felix and Ashton are drawn with one another, and deep concern from close friends such as a local townswoman named Janice helps Felix settle in. Then there is the action of Felix determined to succeed in her mission and at the same time protect the people now close in her life. This is a book I recommend for people who enjoy reading for the simple joy of reading.
Felix Jaynes is a young woman with an education in criminal justice. It's a field she chose to follow the steps of her parents who had been part of an ultra-secret organization similar to the FBI called Real Life Immersion Program. Their job is to protect the innocent and they utilize top modern-day gadgets to fulfill their mission.
Her latest assignment sends her to a rural town where her cover is to be a photographer. Her assignment is to locate the person who may possibly possess blueprints for a new weapons development program. She makes contact with a young man named Ashton, who takes a liking to her. But Felix's superiors do not approve of personal relationships with civilians who may be drawn into the thick of the fray. Felix is a professional, and moves through the town with ease, making acquaintances and small friendships, but always keeping them at arm's length. However, she feels she's been missing something in life and begins to succumb to her personal feelings for Ashton.
Meanwhile, RLIP (Real Life Immersion Program) agents inform Felix that an underground organization is onto their mission and want the same blueprints they're after. Felix discovers the name of a man she believes fits the identity of who may be their person of interest, and works hard to get close to this man. To do this she must engage in close relationships with the townsfolk, but she's reluctant to do so when agents of the opposing force demonstrate they will stop at nothing to get what they want.....Even kill for it!
With the support of RLIP agents, Felix is determined to not only accomplish her mission, but keep the people she's grown fond of from getting themselves killed. The catch is not getting herself killed in the process.
This book is a definite page-turner. It has suspense, romance, intrigue, action. I was amazed by the research the author has done in describing how a secret organization with authorization to protect innocent civilians may possibly exist. I wouldn't be surprised if this is a fiction-based-on-fact type of novel. The hi-tech gadgets at peoples' disposal is real enough, and so is the personal relationships intertwined with the characters. There are tender scenes of love as Felix and Ashton are drawn with one another, and deep concern from close friends such as a local townswoman named Janice helps Felix settle in. Then there is the action of Felix determined to succeed in her mission and at the same time protect the people now close in her life. This is a book I recommend for people who enjoy reading for the simple joy of reading.
February 8, 2017
* I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest, unbiased review *
The synopsis immediately grasped my attention because there aren’t many good YA spy novels, except the obvious and legendary Anthony Horowitz, Alex Rider series. I had zero expectations going into this and I can honestly say that I am incredibly impressed. This book was action packed yet mysterious and despite there being lots of aliases, the character development was great!
The plot grasped my attention right from the start and the hints and secrets about our protagonist - Felix’s past kept me intrigued and made me want to keep reading. I love the use of gadgets and idea of secret agents, so Wolf… the mysterious partner was an interesting character throughout the novel. He was a constant reminder of the fact that Felix was in fact a young girl and he was a strong parental figure.
Felix was an interesting character that seemed to find a perfect balance between being a spy and doing her job whilst also indulging in the fact that she was a teenager experiencing her first love. Thankfully, I didn’t find her annoying as I do with mst female protagonists, which as pleasantly surprising. She was a very relatable character despite her career choice.
The romance could have been expanded on, however there weren’t any love triangles so there isn’t all that much to complain about. Ashton was a pretty straightforward and a typical ‘small town’ guy with big dreams. The rest of the characters really fit the ‘small town’ personna with the cliques and gossip but it made the novel very realistic.
Overall, It was a surprisingly pleasant read that has it’s ups and downs but in general is a good piece of fiction. I would recommend this to anyone that is interested in this genre or just want to try something new. Lot’s of YA novels are too similar nowadays and this was a unique and refreshing read.
The synopsis immediately grasped my attention because there aren’t many good YA spy novels, except the obvious and legendary Anthony Horowitz, Alex Rider series. I had zero expectations going into this and I can honestly say that I am incredibly impressed. This book was action packed yet mysterious and despite there being lots of aliases, the character development was great!
The plot grasped my attention right from the start and the hints and secrets about our protagonist - Felix’s past kept me intrigued and made me want to keep reading. I love the use of gadgets and idea of secret agents, so Wolf… the mysterious partner was an interesting character throughout the novel. He was a constant reminder of the fact that Felix was in fact a young girl and he was a strong parental figure.
Felix was an interesting character that seemed to find a perfect balance between being a spy and doing her job whilst also indulging in the fact that she was a teenager experiencing her first love. Thankfully, I didn’t find her annoying as I do with mst female protagonists, which as pleasantly surprising. She was a very relatable character despite her career choice.
The romance could have been expanded on, however there weren’t any love triangles so there isn’t all that much to complain about. Ashton was a pretty straightforward and a typical ‘small town’ guy with big dreams. The rest of the characters really fit the ‘small town’ personna with the cliques and gossip but it made the novel very realistic.
Overall, It was a surprisingly pleasant read that has it’s ups and downs but in general is a good piece of fiction. I would recommend this to anyone that is interested in this genre or just want to try something new. Lot’s of YA novels are too similar nowadays and this was a unique and refreshing read.
November 2, 2017
This book starts off as something of a sweet romance. Only, the girl- Felix- is a spy. Not only that, but she is a spy on a mission- perhaps her last mission before she retires. Or before she gets taken out. That's always that possibility.
But when her seemingly quiet, uncomplicated case takes a sudden turn, danger is on all sides and she has to go on the run. Twists and turns seem to be on every turn, and Felix can never be too sure whether she can trust those around her. Not her kind, grandfatherly partner. Not the sociopath nerd technical help. And most certainly not Ashton, the boy she accidentally brought into this whole mess. Or did she?
With secrets and danger on every turn, it's up to Felix to make the right moves to complete her mission and maybe, just maybe, survive long enough to retire.
But when her seemingly quiet, uncomplicated case takes a sudden turn, danger is on all sides and she has to go on the run. Twists and turns seem to be on every turn, and Felix can never be too sure whether she can trust those around her. Not her kind, grandfatherly partner. Not the sociopath nerd technical help. And most certainly not Ashton, the boy she accidentally brought into this whole mess. Or did she?
With secrets and danger on every turn, it's up to Felix to make the right moves to complete her mission and maybe, just maybe, survive long enough to retire.
August 12, 2021
~I'd like to thank the awesome author for sending me a free copy in exchange for my honest review!~
*fangirl scream* I loved this book to pieces!! The plot, the characters, everything!
When I read the first chapter of this book, I was like "I HAVE to keep going and see how this is going to turn out!!". I was hooked from the first page. All throughout the book were twists and turns, it was always unpredictable.
The characters were so fun to get to know! (I don't know if I have a favorite though XD) They all had such upbeat personalities, and I loved them all.
In conclusion, this was an amazing spy novel, and I CAN NOT wait to read the rest of the series!!
Definitely recommended!
~Full Review To Come~
*fangirl scream* I loved this book to pieces!! The plot, the characters, everything!
When I read the first chapter of this book, I was like "I HAVE to keep going and see how this is going to turn out!!". I was hooked from the first page. All throughout the book were twists and turns, it was always unpredictable.
The characters were so fun to get to know! (I don't know if I have a favorite though XD) They all had such upbeat personalities, and I loved them all.
In conclusion, this was an amazing spy novel, and I CAN NOT wait to read the rest of the series!!
Definitely recommended!
~Full Review To Come~
May 14, 2021
There's no way you can put this book down once you start! You are grabbed from the first pages and never let go. We are treated to a great protagonist, Felix who is following in her parents' footsteps by being an undercover agent for a clandestine arm of the FBI called called the Real Life Immersion Program or RLIP. With this mission possibly being her last, she is sent to the rural small town of Toselville as a nature photographer where she is supposed to find and protect the person in possession of some old blueprints of weapons. Apparently her group is not the only ones looking for the blueprints and this mission becomes very dangerous. We are dealing with her handler, Wolf who treats her with compassion, yet he keeps her on task, Ashton the owner of the local grocery store who complicates things for Felix since he is a civilian, not involved in the case, but she takes a liking to him, and he to her and a secluded former field agent. With Felix saying this is her last mission, due to a bad accident in the past, she loses focus at times and longs to be normal. With fast paced action, dangerous twists and turns we are taken on a wonderful ride through this book with a little added romance between Felix and Ashton. I revived an ARC of this book but opinions expressed here are strictly my own!
July 7, 2021
Perception and Deception by Andrea Hintz has it all....action, great characters, romance, a secret agency....I couldn't put it down!
It starts off as a seemingly normal romance...Ashton and Felix meet and start to fall in love. Then everything is upended when it turns out Felix is undercover as part of a secret agency! Non-stop action enuses.
The great thing is that the romance is still written believably within the action sequences (of which there are plenty). In addition to the danger, the couple also has to battle Felix's agency policy of spies not getting involved with civilians. It was interesting to see the relationship grow in spite of these obstacles.
The action plot was also great....there was always something exciting going on, and I had to keep reading to see what happened next, and how the characters would get through the latest crisis.
Highly recommended!
It starts off as a seemingly normal romance...Ashton and Felix meet and start to fall in love. Then everything is upended when it turns out Felix is undercover as part of a secret agency! Non-stop action enuses.
The great thing is that the romance is still written believably within the action sequences (of which there are plenty). In addition to the danger, the couple also has to battle Felix's agency policy of spies not getting involved with civilians. It was interesting to see the relationship grow in spite of these obstacles.
The action plot was also great....there was always something exciting going on, and I had to keep reading to see what happened next, and how the characters would get through the latest crisis.
Highly recommended!
March 30, 2020
Andrea Hintz takes us on an adventure from groceries to spycraft in Perception and Deception! Ashton Mathis leads a quiet life running a grocery store in a small town, until a stranger named Felix shows up. Suddenly, Ashton is flung into a world of spies and criminals as he must run for his life, all while trying to win the heart of the woman whose cover he’s blown. I really loved both Ashton and Felix and the dynamic between them! Hintz has set up a great spy romance which I was very sad when it ended. Can’t wait for the next one!
January 13, 2017
Felix Jaynes works as a Real Life Immersion Program Agent handling cases that the FBI cannot. Work is demanding, lonely and challenging especially as Felix is still reeling from an incident that has seriously affected her and has her doubting her career choice. The young agent struggles with ever changing partners with whom who she has no relationship, as they are merely a clinical though professional voice in her ear piece. These dynamics are altered when she is partnered with Wolf!
Tasked with locating the son of weapons designers Felix immerses herself in the rural town of Toselville, making friends and falling for Ashton Mathis. An innocent trip to the bowling alley results in Felix's life being on the line, her position severely compromised, the chaos really begins in this dynamic and exciting read full of plot twists, betrayal, drama and very read danger!
This crime fiction was was a treat to read which I enjoyed immensely the series
could easily develope into a modern day heart to heart. That said I am sure that Andrea Hintz could develop this in a number of different ways and I look forward to reading more in the Perception and Deception Series.
I signed up to read this young adult fiction novel for free in exchange for an honest review.
Tasked with locating the son of weapons designers Felix immerses herself in the rural town of Toselville, making friends and falling for Ashton Mathis. An innocent trip to the bowling alley results in Felix's life being on the line, her position severely compromised, the chaos really begins in this dynamic and exciting read full of plot twists, betrayal, drama and very read danger!
This crime fiction was was a treat to read which I enjoyed immensely the series
could easily develope into a modern day heart to heart. That said I am sure that Andrea Hintz could develop this in a number of different ways and I look forward to reading more in the Perception and Deception Series.
I signed up to read this young adult fiction novel for free in exchange for an honest review.
June 4, 2021
Felix Jaynes has just arrived in Toselville, a small town in Vermont, to work undercover for a division associated with the FBI. Felix has been tasked with locating and protecting the man who is in possession of a set of blueprints that the government does not want to fall into the hands of criminals. While Felix is trying to track down the unidentified man, a mutual attraction develops between Felix and Ashton Mathis. Things become complicated when Felix’s cover is blown, and Ashton is caught up in the mission. Juro, an agent with field experience, is recruited to partner with Felix, in fulfilling the mission. However, the bad guys are in hot pursuit and always one step ahead in this deadly game of cat and mouse. Get ready for a bumpy ride as Andrea Hintz keeps readers on the edge of their seats wondering the outcome. Will the agents succeed in their mission, or will the criminals overpower them?
Book One of the Perception and Deception: A Spy Series is an exciting story of intrigue that includes subterfuge, betrayal, trust and loyalty and reliability issues, lies, violence, kidnapping, unethical hacking, a budding relationship that hits rough spots, personal and professional angst, and the influence of past events on life choices. All the characters are interesting and add their own drama and contrast to the story. Book One is a great start to a new spy series with the right amount of twists and turns that keep readers turning the pages as the tension and suspense mounts throughout the story until reaching its climactic final moments. Hintz has a cinematic audiobook in the works for Book One in the series, and she has provided a link to the website with up-to-date information on when it is to be released and how to get a chance to win a free copy. I enjoyed this story and plan to read books two through four that have already been published. A fifth book is in the pipeline.
Book One of the Perception and Deception: A Spy Series is an exciting story of intrigue that includes subterfuge, betrayal, trust and loyalty and reliability issues, lies, violence, kidnapping, unethical hacking, a budding relationship that hits rough spots, personal and professional angst, and the influence of past events on life choices. All the characters are interesting and add their own drama and contrast to the story. Book One is a great start to a new spy series with the right amount of twists and turns that keep readers turning the pages as the tension and suspense mounts throughout the story until reaching its climactic final moments. Hintz has a cinematic audiobook in the works for Book One in the series, and she has provided a link to the website with up-to-date information on when it is to be released and how to get a chance to win a free copy. I enjoyed this story and plan to read books two through four that have already been published. A fifth book is in the pipeline.
July 11, 2018
Exhilarating story! It consumed my attention throughout the entire story. I couldn't force myself to put it down. The twists really helped to hold my attention. Everyone will enjoy reading this book!
I received this book free with the intention to review this did not in any way alter my opinion of this book.
I received this book free with the intention to review this did not in any way alter my opinion of this book.
January 21, 2021
Quick-paced read. Likable characters with a suspenseful mystery...I will read the rest and reccomend it to anyone who enjoys a good, new adult spy book.
January 6, 2021
1/2/2021 review.
I loved this book. I first read this book before it officially came out and loved it. I've read it so many times after now. I love the plot with a young girl being a RLIP agent. Felix is strong and determined and brave and very good at what she does. I love how she meet Ashton on her first day in Toselville. I love how they begin to form a relationship and get to know each other and eventually fall in love. I hate how it ended up being Gary that betrayed them both. I loved Wolf and I love how he was sort of a grandpa to Felix. I love how Ashton doesn't want to leave her even after he finds out how dangerous her job is. This was as always a great read. 10 stars!!!
I loved this book. I first read this book before it officially came out and loved it. I've read it so many times after now. I love the plot with a young girl being a RLIP agent. Felix is strong and determined and brave and very good at what she does. I love how she meet Ashton on her first day in Toselville. I love how they begin to form a relationship and get to know each other and eventually fall in love. I hate how it ended up being Gary that betrayed them both. I loved Wolf and I love how he was sort of a grandpa to Felix. I love how Ashton doesn't want to leave her even after he finds out how dangerous her job is. This was as always a great read. 10 stars!!!
June 5, 2021
This is a different little spy book, but definitely entertaining. Some of the twists aren’t very realistic, but wow—the creativity. I enjoyed Felix, the main character, although she seems pretty naive in friendship and love for even a young spy. I am intrigued that this is the first in a series and definitely intend to read more in the series. I was provided an arc, but these opinions are my own.
May 9, 2021
I really enjoyed Perception and Deception! It kept me engaged and rooting for the main characters as the twists in the plot turned this way and that! A good read!
September 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW: Perception and Deception
Genre: Mystery Fiction.
‘Perception and Deception’ is one amazing story of crime mystery with a pinch of romance. It’s a story of a young girl named ‘Felix’, who started working as secret detective from young age. She goes to a town for her mission, where she met ‘Ashton’ a young smart guy and his best friend ‘Gary’, ‘Janice’ and many other people, good as well as bad. But how many of them are trustworthy? What are the problems she faced during her mission? Was she able to complete the mission?
Author bound the readers to the story from start till end, with constant twist and turns. This story cast spell making it hard to stop or leave it in mid. At parts the story goes little slow, which decreases the thrill. But the curiosity to know, ‘what is going to happen next?’ never dies. Which leaves the readers hungry for more! The narration style is simple yet elegant which succeeds in moving the readers mind.
Overall definitely worth your time and consideration.
Favourite Quotes:
‘The walls were closing in and felt as though I needed to make a change.’
‘What am I supposed to do with my life? ………. Perhaps the answer is right around the corner, living down the street for all I know.’
“It’s up to you to decide when you’re ready to realize that you need to stop looking back.” - Juro
Cover – ⅗
Story Narration – 3.5/5
Characters – ⅘
Overall Rating – 4/5
Genre: Mystery Fiction.
‘Perception and Deception’ is one amazing story of crime mystery with a pinch of romance. It’s a story of a young girl named ‘Felix’, who started working as secret detective from young age. She goes to a town for her mission, where she met ‘Ashton’ a young smart guy and his best friend ‘Gary’, ‘Janice’ and many other people, good as well as bad. But how many of them are trustworthy? What are the problems she faced during her mission? Was she able to complete the mission?
Author bound the readers to the story from start till end, with constant twist and turns. This story cast spell making it hard to stop or leave it in mid. At parts the story goes little slow, which decreases the thrill. But the curiosity to know, ‘what is going to happen next?’ never dies. Which leaves the readers hungry for more! The narration style is simple yet elegant which succeeds in moving the readers mind.
Overall definitely worth your time and consideration.
Favourite Quotes:
‘The walls were closing in and felt as though I needed to make a change.’
‘What am I supposed to do with my life? ………. Perhaps the answer is right around the corner, living down the street for all I know.’
“It’s up to you to decide when you’re ready to realize that you need to stop looking back.” - Juro
Cover – ⅗
Story Narration – 3.5/5
Characters – ⅘
Overall Rating – 4/5
February 9, 2020
I was gifted this book by the author. This was a fast paced thriller with interesting plot and well crafted characters. I read it really quickly as I was enjoying the plot which is always a good thing. Some typos but they weren't that distracting. The romance between the two main players was sweet and romantic. Ideal young persons read as violence was not graphic and sex and bad language was non existent.
January 7, 2022
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I thought the format was a little off (the copyright doesn’t need to be on every page - just once in the beginning. It was a little slow at first, but once the mystery started I was pretty invested in this! Overall I liked it and if you’re into mystery books you should give this one a chance!
September 15, 2019
Perception and Deception is a little outside the genres that Terry Talks Fiction generally looks at, being a thriller/romance with no Science Fiction or Fantasy elements. Instead, I was drawn to the key theme of the novel: deception, and the tension between what Felix thinks she knows, and what events actually turn out to be.
Overall, the novel delivers… satisfactorily on this central element. There are some moments of excellent tension, and Hintz does a phenomenal job of instilling a true sense of unease in the reader—we’re never quite sure who Felix can trust and who's lying to her, even right up to the concluding acts of the novel.
Sadly, a lot of the twists that resolve this tension fizzle out. It feels like there are a lot of missed opportunities in the book; a lot of places where the anticipation of the reader is greater than the catharsis of the resolution. I was fairly disappointed to find some of the twists I thought were coming instead turned out to be simply what they appeared to be on the surface. As far as red herrings go, there was little sense of cleverness to these moments; they felt more like aborted plot points than they did deliberate choices by the author.
Part of this may simply lie in their execution, however. Although well handled from a thematic standpoint, the writing is not terribly engaging at a micro level, and reads more like a manuscript still in a drafting phase than it does a completed novel. The story has a tendency to be repetitive between dialogue and narration, and the prose in general reads as stilted and inelegant. Nevertheless, the characters themselves are relatively well-drawn and engaging, and the aforementioned unease was enough to keep me engaged throughout the novel.
Coming from a genre background, I found the worldbuilding—specifically, the institution of the Real Life Immersion Program (RLIP)—poorly handled. The entire operation feels horribly inefficient, bordering on criminally negligent. On the surface, the idea of a pseudo-governmental organisation that places undercover agents throughout America, carrying out a range of secret missions for the FBI sounds exciting. But the RLIP is written with incompetence that strains credulity beyond acceptable limits, and their entire conceit in this novel seems far more complicated than it needs to be. Having also worked as a project manager for private enterprise, I shudder at the thought of how much this operation would cost, let alone trying to balance that out against the possible value of success when actual, cheaper and far more efficient alternatives to the RLIP model exist in the real world. It’s by far the weakest element of the novel.
Once one acclimates to the writing style and accepts these limitations, Perception and Deception remains an enjoyable read, best suited for a young adult reading audience with an interest in a Mission: Impossible-type adventure and a dash of G-rated romance.
Overall, the novel delivers… satisfactorily on this central element. There are some moments of excellent tension, and Hintz does a phenomenal job of instilling a true sense of unease in the reader—we’re never quite sure who Felix can trust and who's lying to her, even right up to the concluding acts of the novel.
Sadly, a lot of the twists that resolve this tension fizzle out. It feels like there are a lot of missed opportunities in the book; a lot of places where the anticipation of the reader is greater than the catharsis of the resolution. I was fairly disappointed to find some of the twists I thought were coming instead turned out to be simply what they appeared to be on the surface. As far as red herrings go, there was little sense of cleverness to these moments; they felt more like aborted plot points than they did deliberate choices by the author.
Part of this may simply lie in their execution, however. Although well handled from a thematic standpoint, the writing is not terribly engaging at a micro level, and reads more like a manuscript still in a drafting phase than it does a completed novel. The story has a tendency to be repetitive between dialogue and narration, and the prose in general reads as stilted and inelegant. Nevertheless, the characters themselves are relatively well-drawn and engaging, and the aforementioned unease was enough to keep me engaged throughout the novel.
Coming from a genre background, I found the worldbuilding—specifically, the institution of the Real Life Immersion Program (RLIP)—poorly handled. The entire operation feels horribly inefficient, bordering on criminally negligent. On the surface, the idea of a pseudo-governmental organisation that places undercover agents throughout America, carrying out a range of secret missions for the FBI sounds exciting. But the RLIP is written with incompetence that strains credulity beyond acceptable limits, and their entire conceit in this novel seems far more complicated than it needs to be. Having also worked as a project manager for private enterprise, I shudder at the thought of how much this operation would cost, let alone trying to balance that out against the possible value of success when actual, cheaper and far more efficient alternatives to the RLIP model exist in the real world. It’s by far the weakest element of the novel.
Once one acclimates to the writing style and accepts these limitations, Perception and Deception remains an enjoyable read, best suited for a young adult reading audience with an interest in a Mission: Impossible-type adventure and a dash of G-rated romance.
November 12, 2021
Felix is an agent for the Real-Life Immersion Program (RLIP), in other words the backup program for the FBI. Her mission: to find and protect a man whose parents left blueprints of weaponry that would be detrimental to the nation if put in the wrong hands. So, with the help of her team, she goes undercover in the small town of Toselville, Vermont.
Then she meets Ashton and the connection between them is unmistakable. Fearful of putting her new found love in danger, she struggles to decide what to do. Will this end up being her final assignment, or will she continue to live in solitude for the organization?
Get ready to fall in love with Felix, Ashton, Wolf, and Juro in Andrea Hintz’s Perception and Deception: A Spy Series. From the first sentence the reader is invited into the characters’ domain and becomes a part of the action, adventure, and mystery. Toss in a slow burn romance and one craves a prolongation.
Not to mention the lack of profanity, sexual content, as well as spelling nor grammatical errors and the competence behind Andrea’s writing is undoubtable. A rating of 5 out of 5 stars is the least this book merits.
Please keep in mind, this is a spy novel, so there are some activities that could cause distress. If the following may aggravate you, read with caution: deceit, hand to hand combat, gun violence, physical threats (ex: knife to throat), sabotage, poisoning, robbery (including house break in), vandalism, and bullying.
All in all, a mesmerizing start to the Perception and Deception Series that you do not want to conclude. Luckily the next book has already been released, so look for the second book’s review to come soon.
Thank you to #VoraciousReadersOnly, #PerceptionandDeception, #SpecialAgentPublishingHouse, and #AndreaHintz for the opportunity to read this book and give my honest review.
Original Post found at: https://www.literarylioness.net/post/...
Then she meets Ashton and the connection between them is unmistakable. Fearful of putting her new found love in danger, she struggles to decide what to do. Will this end up being her final assignment, or will she continue to live in solitude for the organization?
Get ready to fall in love with Felix, Ashton, Wolf, and Juro in Andrea Hintz’s Perception and Deception: A Spy Series. From the first sentence the reader is invited into the characters’ domain and becomes a part of the action, adventure, and mystery. Toss in a slow burn romance and one craves a prolongation.
Not to mention the lack of profanity, sexual content, as well as spelling nor grammatical errors and the competence behind Andrea’s writing is undoubtable. A rating of 5 out of 5 stars is the least this book merits.
Please keep in mind, this is a spy novel, so there are some activities that could cause distress. If the following may aggravate you, read with caution: deceit, hand to hand combat, gun violence, physical threats (ex: knife to throat), sabotage, poisoning, robbery (including house break in), vandalism, and bullying.
All in all, a mesmerizing start to the Perception and Deception Series that you do not want to conclude. Luckily the next book has already been released, so look for the second book’s review to come soon.
Thank you to #VoraciousReadersOnly, #PerceptionandDeception, #SpecialAgentPublishingHouse, and #AndreaHintz for the opportunity to read this book and give my honest review.
Original Post found at: https://www.literarylioness.net/post/...
October 5, 2021
This story is about an agent undercover sent to a small town to find and protect a civilian that bad guys are after. When Felix gets to the town she meets Ashton and the two seem to hit it off right away.
As Felix and Ashton get closer Felix’s position gets compromised through some deceit and betrayal and some sketchy civilians she meets along the way in the small town.
The rest of the story continues with Felix and Ashton on the run for their lives.
I thought this story was good. I was intrigued by the plot and the writing, while simplistic, helped move the story along quickly even though the first third of the book seemed rather slow.
I wish there had been more chemistry between the main characters. It all seemed kind of surface level and happened very fast.
Felix’s chapters are written in a first person pov where Ashton’s are written in third which I found odd but it was still enjoyable. And another character is introduced and we get his pov in a third person writing as well which was a fun addition.
There was a lot of suspense and action and questioning of motives which kept the story really interesting. I thought the ending was a bit abrupt but still a good read overall!
*I received a free copy of this book for an honest review*
As Felix and Ashton get closer Felix’s position gets compromised through some deceit and betrayal and some sketchy civilians she meets along the way in the small town.
The rest of the story continues with Felix and Ashton on the run for their lives.
I thought this story was good. I was intrigued by the plot and the writing, while simplistic, helped move the story along quickly even though the first third of the book seemed rather slow.
I wish there had been more chemistry between the main characters. It all seemed kind of surface level and happened very fast.
Felix’s chapters are written in a first person pov where Ashton’s are written in third which I found odd but it was still enjoyable. And another character is introduced and we get his pov in a third person writing as well which was a fun addition.
There was a lot of suspense and action and questioning of motives which kept the story really interesting. I thought the ending was a bit abrupt but still a good read overall!
*I received a free copy of this book for an honest review*
August 26, 2017
I was given this book to read by the author for an honest review. I will have to admit this was an "ok" book. It started out slow but I continued and hoped it would get better. It didn't. The characters could have been given more detail. We never found out what Felix's previous mission was about that caused her to want to quit. The ending was poorly written. There could have been so much more. I wanted this to be a good book but it was just mediocre. Also, what was with the character Juro? His character could have been given more depth and more background. Ashton was about the only character that we ever got to really know his full story. I can usually read a book in about 2 days if it is good. I like a book where I don't want to put it down until I'm finished. I have to admit, I would only read about 20 minutes at a time before I wanted to put it down. I hope that if there are more books in this series, there is a better plot and more character detail.
February 1, 2017
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
The book needs work. Character development isn't where it should be, with the characters mostly flat and one-dimensional and unlikeable (Ashton in particular struck me as very whiny and immature).
The conversation flow was disjointed and too formal, with very few contractions that would have made it smoother.
A personal annoyance is the use of "anyways" instead of "anyway" - I know 'anyways' is colloquial and fine to use but it's just a weird thing that bothers me if it's over-used, which it was in this book.
And the ending was disappointing and didn't answer any of my questions.
There's potential there but it needs a lot of work.
rating: 2 stars
The book needs work. Character development isn't where it should be, with the characters mostly flat and one-dimensional and unlikeable (Ashton in particular struck me as very whiny and immature).
The conversation flow was disjointed and too formal, with very few contractions that would have made it smoother.
A personal annoyance is the use of "anyways" instead of "anyway" - I know 'anyways' is colloquial and fine to use but it's just a weird thing that bothers me if it's over-used, which it was in this book.
And the ending was disappointing and didn't answer any of my questions.
There's potential there but it needs a lot of work.
rating: 2 stars
July 29, 2021
Perception and Deception is a different take on a romance novel. The first half of the book was a bit slow going, where the main female protagonist acts out of character for a spy, focusing on romance over her mission. Towards the middle and the end, it had more of a spy feel, though she still thought and acted differently than how a veteran spy would have thought and acted.
The book was engaging, especially if you approach it more as a romance novel instead of a spy one. I received this book for free, and I am voluntarily writing this review.
The book was engaging, especially if you approach it more as a romance novel instead of a spy one. I received this book for free, and I am voluntarily writing this review.
December 28, 2021
I received this free eBook through The Fussy Librarian in exchange for a fair review.
At the beginning of this book, the plot looks very promising, a young single female spy moving in a small town to solve a mystery. The book has interesting characters, suspense, and a plot with lots of twists and turns. It is an entertaining and a fun book to read. However the author would benefit from learning more about the police policy and procedures as well as how the confidential, critical, and top-secret information is handled in the institutions.
At the beginning of this book, the plot looks very promising, a young single female spy moving in a small town to solve a mystery. The book has interesting characters, suspense, and a plot with lots of twists and turns. It is an entertaining and a fun book to read. However the author would benefit from learning more about the police policy and procedures as well as how the confidential, critical, and top-secret information is handled in the institutions.
October 24, 2018
Sometimes it felt a little hurried to me and other times the descriptions seemed to never end, but I still enjoyed reading it! A few times I thought that it seemed a little a bit naive as far as "spy work" actually goes. I am sure none of us actually have enough experience to know much about it though so it didn't ruin for me. It was sweet, good book.
April 10, 2021
Poorly written...
And even worse editing. I think my IQ lost about 10 points. Character development is nearly non-existent. Having chapters one or two paragraphs long is strange too. Thankfully this book was free but I wouldn't read any more of the series even if they were free as well.
And even worse editing. I think my IQ lost about 10 points. Character development is nearly non-existent. Having chapters one or two paragraphs long is strange too. Thankfully this book was free but I wouldn't read any more of the series even if they were free as well.
November 12, 2021
An interesting take on the secret activities by government agencies. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much from this book but am happy to be wrong. I really enjoyed reading this. Lots of twists and turns and the characters were slowly revealed throughout. It will make you wonder if there's really something like that out there... Will be looking out for future books
August 5, 2023
I listened to a full cast audio drama of Perception and Deception: A Spy Series! by Andrea Hintz (that I received for free in exchange for an honest review) and really enjoyed it! The sound effects and all the different characters made the story very immersive, and it makes me want to listen to other full cast audio dramas! If you are sensitive to sounds or if you are driving this might not be for you, but I thought it was great! You follow a young female special agent, Felix, who is sent to a small town to perform an investigation. There’s twists and turns, suspense and a touch of romance all wrapped up into a complete story. It was very cozy as there wasn’t too much violence or spice and I hope to continue on with the series, hopefully by listening to the full cast audio drama!
September 20, 2020
I received a copy of this book from the author through VRO & loved it. Small town intrigue & life decisions! Really liked the characters & enjoyed this book so much I’m about to dive into the second one!
December 5, 2020
What a great adventure! I love the characters and their development in this series! I could not put it down.! I also love how easily the writing flows. Great writing. Great adventure! Great suspense! And I feel like I am part of the action! I didn't want it to end! Thank you!
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