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Intricate #1
Intricate Deceptions
Waking up in a desolate cell, Gaia realizes that she has been kidnapped by a human trafficking organization, doomed to be sold to the highest bidder and unable to remember anything before her capture.
An opportune rescue by Raoul, the Prince of Kayamato, saves Gaia from a gruesome future, and she is thrown into a world of luxury and privilege. As she struggles to regain her memory, Gaia learns that her rescue was no accident and finds herself in even more danger, hunted by a powerful drug lord, targeted by a thrill seeking pirate, and betrayed by those she thought closest to her.
Fighting for sanity and survival, she works to unravel the truth behind her capture, each revelation more shocking than the last. The intricate web of deceptions spun around her family will shatter her world, leaving her unsure if she will ever trust again.
Through it all, she must survive to save a friend before it’s too late…
An opportune rescue by Raoul, the Prince of Kayamato, saves Gaia from a gruesome future, and she is thrown into a world of luxury and privilege. As she struggles to regain her memory, Gaia learns that her rescue was no accident and finds herself in even more danger, hunted by a powerful drug lord, targeted by a thrill seeking pirate, and betrayed by those she thought closest to her.
Fighting for sanity and survival, she works to unravel the truth behind her capture, each revelation more shocking than the last. The intricate web of deceptions spun around her family will shatter her world, leaving her unsure if she will ever trust again.
Through it all, she must survive to save a friend before it’s too late…
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First published November 16, 2013
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750 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Rayes
4 books259 followersJennifer Rayes is a Lebanese-American author, born in Michigan, and raised in the mountains of Lebanon. She is the author of Intricate Deceptions, Intricate Intentions, and Intricate Obsessions, the first three books in the Intricate Series; as well as From Within, a compilation of poetry pieces from her earlier years.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 484 reviews
December 9, 2020
I feel like this one had so much potential, but fell just a smidge (or two smidges) short.
Gaia (our heroine) wakes up with absolutely no memory of who and where she is.
She shares a small cell with a young girl (Emily) and soon they discover that they're prisoners in a sex trafficking ring.
She wakes up in a palace and is quickly informed that 1) she was saved by the prince, 2) she is a lost princess and 3) Emily was left to rot in the hands of pedophilic sex traffickers.
But with Gaia barely able to remember who she is, every potential friend could be a foe. How can she save anyone when she has no idea of who she is?
For the most part, I enjoyed this one. It was fast paced and the side characters (especially Esmerlda) held my attention. The plot had enough twists and turns to keep me from predicting anything.
However, there were a few things that threw me out of the book - namely personality inconsistencies, the romance and the setting.
Personality Inconsistencies
One minute Gaia would vehemently promise with every bone in her body to save Emily but just as quickly, she'd let the matter drop.
The Romance
In addition, the romance aspect really hit one of my pet peeves. All of the men essentially did the same thing - immediately become extremely "alpha male" once around Gaia (aka controlling, possessive, etc)...but it was totally okay if the guy was hot.
After all, only ugly people are dangerous.
For example, after only knowing her (at most) a few days, the Prince Raoul would say something like this:
Not every interaction was like that - there were plenty of moments where Raoul did act as sweet as Gaia thought he was.
The Setting
I was completely thrown by the time period.
We have princesses and castles and horseback riding....and then Gaia would go to the castle kitchen and open the fridge.
She was stolen by pirates and sailed across the sea...but later takes a plane ride and shoots a gun.
I just couldn't settle on when this story happened and that kept distracting me from the plot.
Overall
It was a rather interesting novel. It was just a bit unfortunate that my pet peeves were all present in one book but other than that, I enjoyed reading this one.
With thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Gaia (our heroine) wakes up with absolutely no memory of who and where she is.
She shares a small cell with a young girl (Emily) and soon they discover that they're prisoners in a sex trafficking ring.
“Aren’t you a pretty thing.” He dragged his leering gaze over her body and walked towards her, grinning wider with every step.Gaia, frightened and confused, is about to be violently raped but is saved in the nick of time.
She wakes up in a palace and is quickly informed that 1) she was saved by the prince, 2) she is a lost princess and 3) Emily was left to rot in the hands of pedophilic sex traffickers.
But with Gaia barely able to remember who she is, every potential friend could be a foe. How can she save anyone when she has no idea of who she is?
For the most part, I enjoyed this one. It was fast paced and the side characters (especially Esmerlda) held my attention. The plot had enough twists and turns to keep me from predicting anything.
However, there were a few things that threw me out of the book - namely personality inconsistencies, the romance and the setting.
Personality Inconsistencies
One minute Gaia would vehemently promise with every bone in her body to save Emily but just as quickly, she'd let the matter drop.
“I’ll look into the matter, see what I can do,” Raoul offered kindly.But how did she know he wasn't lying to her face? Gaia felt far too trusting considering she just lost her memory and she's a missing princess.
“As long as you promise to let me help you.” Gaia nodded, she felt better knowing he’d investigate.
The Romance
In addition, the romance aspect really hit one of my pet peeves. All of the men essentially did the same thing - immediately become extremely "alpha male" once around Gaia (aka controlling, possessive, etc)...but it was totally okay if the guy was hot.
After all, only ugly people are dangerous.
For example, after only knowing her (at most) a few days, the Prince Raoul would say something like this:
“You smell so good,” he murmured. “I could stand here and breathe you in all day.” His soft lips skimmed the back of her neck.or this
Raoul went insane with the need to touch her, to put his hands everywhere and have his way with her. He was addicted, to her touch, to her smell, to every sound that came out of her.If I was in that situation, I would be beyond creeped out. Yes, he's hot. But he's sniffing me and tasting my neck . I've been with my fiance for nearly a decade and we have yet to reach the romatic neck-sniffin phase.
Not every interaction was like that - there were plenty of moments where Raoul did act as sweet as Gaia thought he was.
The Setting
I was completely thrown by the time period.
We have princesses and castles and horseback riding....and then Gaia would go to the castle kitchen and open the fridge.
She was stolen by pirates and sailed across the sea...but later takes a plane ride and shoots a gun.
I just couldn't settle on when this story happened and that kept distracting me from the plot.
Overall
It was a rather interesting novel. It was just a bit unfortunate that my pet peeves were all present in one book but other than that, I enjoyed reading this one.
With thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
July 5, 2018
I received an electronic copy of this book from the author "Jennifer Rayes" in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
My normal genre of choice is sci-fi with a smattering of classics, biographies, detectives and thrillers, so I was surprised at being contacted by Jennifer to review a book that on first viewing looked a bit "romance-y" for me.
However never let it be said I am not open to new ideas, so thought I'd give it a go. I read some of the other reviews and the blurb and I was still not sure, but hey ho.
And my verdict, well it's not Jane Austen or even Isaac Asimov for that matter, but i'll tell you what is, it is a fun rollercoaster of a read, encompassing royalty, pirates and palaces, as well as drugs, prostitution and human trafficking. Deep and meaningful, erm probably not, a book worth reading to just enjoy, most certainly. And if you need any greater recommendation I seriously want to find out what happens next in book 2.
I have considered how many stars to give it and eventually decided that 4 is a fair marking. I have a lot of 4 star reads and whilst this is not the best of those, it certainly deserves that number
Thanks Jennifer
My normal genre of choice is sci-fi with a smattering of classics, biographies, detectives and thrillers, so I was surprised at being contacted by Jennifer to review a book that on first viewing looked a bit "romance-y" for me.
However never let it be said I am not open to new ideas, so thought I'd give it a go. I read some of the other reviews and the blurb and I was still not sure, but hey ho.
And my verdict, well it's not Jane Austen or even Isaac Asimov for that matter, but i'll tell you what is, it is a fun rollercoaster of a read, encompassing royalty, pirates and palaces, as well as drugs, prostitution and human trafficking. Deep and meaningful, erm probably not, a book worth reading to just enjoy, most certainly. And if you need any greater recommendation I seriously want to find out what happens next in book 2.
I have considered how many stars to give it and eventually decided that 4 is a fair marking. I have a lot of 4 star reads and whilst this is not the best of those, it certainly deserves that number
Thanks Jennifer
April 7, 2018
Intricate Deceptions was an exceptional start to an exciting series.
This novel was far better than I expected it to be. At the beginning, I was a little put off by the start (loss of memory/amnesia as an intro hasn't boded well for me in my readings) but it turned out to blow my mind! I'm really impressed with Jennifer Rayes's story telling and I am desperate to get the next novel in this book now!
Anywho, my opinions:
1. The start felt like an adult novel 100%, but as the story went on it felt closer to a New Adult novel. It is definitely R rated for some of the content (human trafficking), but some of the conversations felt more YA like (the romance).
2. Without spoiling, some of the plot points seem to happen "just in time" or to fit the narrative, rather than the story unfolding in a timely manner to get to those sections. I would have loved this book to be a little bit longer and come to the conclusions on their own, but the plot still worked.
3. CLIFFHANGER. Jennifer, why did you do this to me? Now I NEED the second book!
4. Difficult content - Human trafficking, prostitution, kidnapping... Some of this content may be difficult to read for some people. Keep that in mind when you want to read this book! I did think Jennifer did a great job in this book with how she addressed the tough/harsh issues of the world. It'd be very difficult to have a book be light-hearted at some moments, but harsh at others yet Jennifer managed to keep the tones perfect and at the right timing.
5. Time period - I'm kind of confused on what the time period is. At the beginning, it felt like early times monarchy but as I moved forward it felt like a modern story without cellular devices. That confused me the most with this book, but once I got past that and just let myself enjoy the book it was no problem at all. I probably missed the cues somewhere (gotta love exam time). In the next book, I'd love to see this expanded on more. Maybe I could learn more about the history of this magical world we've dove into in this novel?
6. Characters seem to disappear for a while at the beginning of the book, but they do come back! I was worried that characters were being introduced for no reason, but Jennifer did tie them back into the story. I hope more of them make appearances in further novels!
Overall, I really liked this book! When you look past the small continuity errors, this book is an exciting ride that I want to continue! Hopefully I'll be able to get my hands on a copy of the second book!
Four out of five stars!
Jennifer Rayes requested a review for this book and sent me a free copy. This had no impact on my review, this is my honest opinion.
This novel was far better than I expected it to be. At the beginning, I was a little put off by the start (loss of memory/amnesia as an intro hasn't boded well for me in my readings) but it turned out to blow my mind! I'm really impressed with Jennifer Rayes's story telling and I am desperate to get the next novel in this book now!
Anywho, my opinions:
1. The start felt like an adult novel 100%, but as the story went on it felt closer to a New Adult novel. It is definitely R rated for some of the content (human trafficking), but some of the conversations felt more YA like (the romance).
2. Without spoiling, some of the plot points seem to happen "just in time" or to fit the narrative, rather than the story unfolding in a timely manner to get to those sections. I would have loved this book to be a little bit longer and come to the conclusions on their own, but the plot still worked.
3. CLIFFHANGER. Jennifer, why did you do this to me? Now I NEED the second book!
4. Difficult content - Human trafficking, prostitution, kidnapping... Some of this content may be difficult to read for some people. Keep that in mind when you want to read this book! I did think Jennifer did a great job in this book with how she addressed the tough/harsh issues of the world. It'd be very difficult to have a book be light-hearted at some moments, but harsh at others yet Jennifer managed to keep the tones perfect and at the right timing.
5. Time period - I'm kind of confused on what the time period is. At the beginning, it felt like early times monarchy but as I moved forward it felt like a modern story without cellular devices. That confused me the most with this book, but once I got past that and just let myself enjoy the book it was no problem at all. I probably missed the cues somewhere (gotta love exam time). In the next book, I'd love to see this expanded on more. Maybe I could learn more about the history of this magical world we've dove into in this novel?
6. Characters seem to disappear for a while at the beginning of the book, but they do come back! I was worried that characters were being introduced for no reason, but Jennifer did tie them back into the story. I hope more of them make appearances in further novels!
Overall, I really liked this book! When you look past the small continuity errors, this book is an exciting ride that I want to continue! Hopefully I'll be able to get my hands on a copy of the second book!
Four out of five stars!
Jennifer Rayes requested a review for this book and sent me a free copy. This had no impact on my review, this is my honest opinion.
August 17, 2018
This is another one of those times that I've been disappointed by the blurb.
It sounded so exciting and dynamic, and there are some great ideas here, but it's poorly executed and relies on too many cliches.
Here's the story: Gaia wakes up in a cell, having been kidnapped by bad guys. Her cell mate is a girl called Emily who she befriends almost instantly, but they're torn apart when Gaia is rescued but Emily is left behind.
Gaia is taken to the palace of Prince Raoul, who gets a bad case of insta-love, and romantic hijinks ensue while Gaia tries to figure out who she is.
So firstly, there's a weird blend of modern and fantasy, because we have trafficking rings and drug cartels and normal hospitals and paramedics but as soon as you introduce a prince from a made-up land I'm thinking fantasy. So I had a really hard time figuring out the setting, and even though there was absolutely zero mention of it, I felt like there were spaceships involved. I don't know why my mind went there - it does weird things, sorry. But I would attribute my over-active imagining in this case to a lack of exterior details. I found it all really confusing because nothing was really described beyond cells and palaces. What world was this set in, exactly?
Second, the plot weaved all over the place. I was hoping for dramatic action (that blurb really talks it up!) but, even though there is a lot happening, it races through the action to focus on the romance and that bugged the crap out of me. Gaia is rescued and lives in a palace for a bit while she tries to remember who she is. Then she's told who she is. But through it all we learn very little about how she's dealing with everything - ptsd from being captured, anxiety from not knowing her past, not knowing who she can trust, who anyone is, living this life of luxury after being kidnapped - none of this rates because she's too busy getting all flustered over boys.
Now let's talk about that romance, shall we?
I'm guessing the author is a big reader herself, because I read a lot of scenes in this that I've definitely read elsewhere. Unfortunately, because these weren't uniquely created moments, they were delivered poorly. Let me also talk about one scene in particular that gets my blood boiling.
There's a deserted passageway Gaia is sneaking through. A Hot Boy approaches. He is intimidating, but Gaia finds him instantly attractive and it doesn't matter if he says douchey things because he's hot. For some reason, Hot Boy pushes Gaia against a wall and kisses her, against her will. Gaia is horrified but her body responds and she really enjoys this unwarranted kiss. Finally she snaps to her senses and pushes him away, he says something totally creepy that makes her weak at the knees, and then he departs, leaving her all flustered.
Firstly, women being all over this non-consensual stuff in fiction bothers me SO MUCH because THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. No woman wants to be violated against her will! And it doesn't suddenly become okay because he's attractive. No. This is just such harmful trope and it sickens me that people think this makes for romantic fiction. And I say people because this is not the first author to create this scene. It is rampant in fiction and bothers me every single time I read it. I'm gonna put it here in big, bold letters for anyone who might be confused: IT IS NEVER OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE AGAINST THEIR WILL. So yeah, I took major issue with the 'romance' in this book, because it reads more like what women fantasize about but would actually hate to experience. Sure, maybe you fantasize about that super-attractive person coming up and randomly planting one on you, but I can tell you that if it were to actually play out in real life, there's a high chance you'd feel pretty violated by the experience.
Sorry, I think I'm done ranting now.
Conclusion: the romance in this story is unrealistic and full of cliches and absolutely ruined this book for me.
The fact that I read through til the end suggests the story was still interesting enough. A lot of it was trash - but it was all the stuff that was trying to be other authors' ideas. The unique directions the story took actually kept me interested, so my main problem with this book was the taint of trying too hard to be like everyone else.
The author has talent and unique ideas, so I think if she focuses more on her own voice there's the potential to create some really strong stories in the future. With more attention to world-building and unique storytelling, this could be a real winner. Just needs to dial back the rubbish romance, create more believable characters and spend some more time crafting a dynamic plot.
This book was reviewed at the author's request. Many thanks for my e-copy.
It sounded so exciting and dynamic, and there are some great ideas here, but it's poorly executed and relies on too many cliches.
Here's the story: Gaia wakes up in a cell, having been kidnapped by bad guys. Her cell mate is a girl called Emily who she befriends almost instantly, but they're torn apart when Gaia is rescued but Emily is left behind.
Gaia is taken to the palace of Prince Raoul, who gets a bad case of insta-love, and romantic hijinks ensue while Gaia tries to figure out who she is.
So firstly, there's a weird blend of modern and fantasy, because we have trafficking rings and drug cartels and normal hospitals and paramedics but as soon as you introduce a prince from a made-up land I'm thinking fantasy. So I had a really hard time figuring out the setting, and even though there was absolutely zero mention of it, I felt like there were spaceships involved. I don't know why my mind went there - it does weird things, sorry. But I would attribute my over-active imagining in this case to a lack of exterior details. I found it all really confusing because nothing was really described beyond cells and palaces. What world was this set in, exactly?
Second, the plot weaved all over the place. I was hoping for dramatic action (that blurb really talks it up!) but, even though there is a lot happening, it races through the action to focus on the romance and that bugged the crap out of me. Gaia is rescued and lives in a palace for a bit while she tries to remember who she is. Then she's told who she is. But through it all we learn very little about how she's dealing with everything - ptsd from being captured, anxiety from not knowing her past, not knowing who she can trust, who anyone is, living this life of luxury after being kidnapped - none of this rates because she's too busy getting all flustered over boys.
Now let's talk about that romance, shall we?
I'm guessing the author is a big reader herself, because I read a lot of scenes in this that I've definitely read elsewhere. Unfortunately, because these weren't uniquely created moments, they were delivered poorly. Let me also talk about one scene in particular that gets my blood boiling.
There's a deserted passageway Gaia is sneaking through. A Hot Boy approaches. He is intimidating, but Gaia finds him instantly attractive and it doesn't matter if he says douchey things because he's hot. For some reason, Hot Boy pushes Gaia against a wall and kisses her, against her will. Gaia is horrified but her body responds and she really enjoys this unwarranted kiss. Finally she snaps to her senses and pushes him away, he says something totally creepy that makes her weak at the knees, and then he departs, leaving her all flustered.
Firstly, women being all over this non-consensual stuff in fiction bothers me SO MUCH because THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. No woman wants to be violated against her will! And it doesn't suddenly become okay because he's attractive. No. This is just such harmful trope and it sickens me that people think this makes for romantic fiction. And I say people because this is not the first author to create this scene. It is rampant in fiction and bothers me every single time I read it. I'm gonna put it here in big, bold letters for anyone who might be confused: IT IS NEVER OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE AGAINST THEIR WILL. So yeah, I took major issue with the 'romance' in this book, because it reads more like what women fantasize about but would actually hate to experience. Sure, maybe you fantasize about that super-attractive person coming up and randomly planting one on you, but I can tell you that if it were to actually play out in real life, there's a high chance you'd feel pretty violated by the experience.
Sorry, I think I'm done ranting now.
Conclusion: the romance in this story is unrealistic and full of cliches and absolutely ruined this book for me.
The fact that I read through til the end suggests the story was still interesting enough. A lot of it was trash - but it was all the stuff that was trying to be other authors' ideas. The unique directions the story took actually kept me interested, so my main problem with this book was the taint of trying too hard to be like everyone else.
The author has talent and unique ideas, so I think if she focuses more on her own voice there's the potential to create some really strong stories in the future. With more attention to world-building and unique storytelling, this could be a real winner. Just needs to dial back the rubbish romance, create more believable characters and spend some more time crafting a dynamic plot.
This book was reviewed at the author's request. Many thanks for my e-copy.
April 23, 2020
Intricate Deception is a fantasy kind of book which has hidden agenda with ulterior motives with lots of plots. The story is incredibly poignant and can be harsh at times. The characters seems messy and their actions seems confusing. I cannot connect with them. The story has a compelling nature which has me curious to know the next book.
Garia was at loss when she wakes up in a cell with no accounts on how she came there and no idea of who she was. Her cell mate Emily, her only company for whom she was protective. She soon realises that they were both kidnapped and sold. After Gaia and Emily were forcefully separated Gaia was almost raped when Prince Raoul saves her when he heard her cries. As Prince Raoul chances on Gaia her identity comes out. When divulging the information we know Gaia as a princess who was lost. Gaia starts to piece together what was going on. Betrayal and hidden motives stand as obstacles. Her family is not as they seem. Gaia's journey to find out answers and to take her rightful place on the throne unfolds us in an entertaining traverse.
***This author provided me with an e-copy. Thank you for choosing me and giving me an opportunity to read this.***
Garia was at loss when she wakes up in a cell with no accounts on how she came there and no idea of who she was. Her cell mate Emily, her only company for whom she was protective. She soon realises that they were both kidnapped and sold. After Gaia and Emily were forcefully separated Gaia was almost raped when Prince Raoul saves her when he heard her cries. As Prince Raoul chances on Gaia her identity comes out. When divulging the information we know Gaia as a princess who was lost. Gaia starts to piece together what was going on. Betrayal and hidden motives stand as obstacles. Her family is not as they seem. Gaia's journey to find out answers and to take her rightful place on the throne unfolds us in an entertaining traverse.
***This author provided me with an e-copy. Thank you for choosing me and giving me an opportunity to read this.***
September 23, 2020
*The Author ever so kindly sent me this book in exchange for an honest review*
Oh, wow!!! I didn’t expect all that from a fairly new Author. This book had me hooked from the first chapter.
It starts with a girl in a desolate cell. Then comes a prince to the rescue. But it’s just the start. The story takes you to a palace and a masquerade ball. Oh wait, there is more. Pirates come for the missing princess, too.
The plot of the story was thoroughly planned. With a good amount of romance and family drama. Meticulous details and suspense were a cherry on the top. And the cliffhanger in the last chapter left me buzzing for the next book in the series. The best part was how she adamantly stood against the wrong and saved the girls from vicious people.
Oh, wow!!! I didn’t expect all that from a fairly new Author. This book had me hooked from the first chapter.
It starts with a girl in a desolate cell. Then comes a prince to the rescue. But it’s just the start. The story takes you to a palace and a masquerade ball. Oh wait, there is more. Pirates come for the missing princess, too.
The plot of the story was thoroughly planned. With a good amount of romance and family drama. Meticulous details and suspense were a cherry on the top. And the cliffhanger in the last chapter left me buzzing for the next book in the series. The best part was how she adamantly stood against the wrong and saved the girls from vicious people.
October 2, 2019
Thank you for reaching out and giving me an ARC Jennifer!!!
4 solid stars!
This is my first read by this author and as you can see I am all ready on to the second book. This book has a lot of twist and turns. This would have been a five star for me if it wasn't for Gaia being so trusting when she had no idea who or what she was. One minute she is wanting to kill anyone standing in her way from getting Emily to just trusting the word of someone she just met. She does however make up for it!! I don't know what to make of Raoul just yet, on one hand I like his protective bossy way but on the other I think he is hiding something. I love Dominique and can't wait to read more on him. He seems to really be on Gaia side. I love the other side characters like John and Mella :) This does end in a huge OMG cliffhanger!! Great job Jennifer!!! On to the next book!
4 solid stars!
This is my first read by this author and as you can see I am all ready on to the second book. This book has a lot of twist and turns. This would have been a five star for me if it wasn't for Gaia being so trusting when she had no idea who or what she was. One minute she is wanting to kill anyone standing in her way from getting Emily to just trusting the word of someone she just met. She does however make up for it!! I don't know what to make of Raoul just yet, on one hand I like his protective bossy way but on the other I think he is hiding something. I love Dominique and can't wait to read more on him. He seems to really be on Gaia side. I love the other side characters like John and Mella :) This does end in a huge OMG cliffhanger!! Great job Jennifer!!! On to the next book!
May 13, 2018
Actual rating 4.5
I received this e-book from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
After a long time, I completed a book in one day, It was a fast pace book and interesting one.
One day Gaia woke up and found her at an unknown place and her memory is lost she can't remember anything. She met with Emily there who told her they are taken by some human traffic organisation. Gaia was sold to someone but rescued by Prince Raoul who told her she is a princess after that then story proceeds fast enough to not get bored. All the political drama, Pirates, Raoul Gaia's chemistry, Gaia Esmeralda Friendship.
Gaia, is a strong and brave girl and after becoming Queen let's see how she'll end this human trafficking organisation.
Raoul, is good but bound with his responsibilities and reasons.
Salim, I wanna know how far he'll go in his lust of power.
The story has many twists and all are interesting.
The book ends on a cliff-hanger and I was like WHAT? it ended, I was totally hooked can't wait to read the second book.
I received this e-book from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
After a long time, I completed a book in one day, It was a fast pace book and interesting one.
One day Gaia woke up and found her at an unknown place and her memory is lost she can't remember anything. She met with Emily there who told her they are taken by some human traffic organisation. Gaia was sold to someone but rescued by Prince Raoul who told her she is a princess after that then story proceeds fast enough to not get bored. All the political drama, Pirates, Raoul Gaia's chemistry, Gaia Esmeralda Friendship.
Gaia, is a strong and brave girl and after becoming Queen let's see how she'll end this human trafficking organisation.
Raoul, is good but bound with his responsibilities and reasons.
Salim, I wanna know how far he'll go in his lust of power.
The story has many twists and all are interesting.
The book ends on a cliff-hanger and I was like WHAT? it ended, I was totally hooked can't wait to read the second book.
December 3, 2018
Finally finished the book! Even though I will have to admit that I have been extremely late in finishing it. Jennifer gave me the book ages ago, but my computer crashed so it was sitting in my email for download.
Finally I downloaded it and utilized my August break to read it and now here is the review for you:
Well, if you ask me to define it I will call it a dark romance. It certainly is sort of like a crime thriller with dash of fairytale romance, though it will leave you really wondering at the end, which was really abrupt- about the “romance” part.
It was quite a roller-coaster ride, very dark in the beginning, really dark and not at all my type of read and I was happy when that part ended, then came the fairy tale part, followed by thriller part and lot of layers, sub-layers were exposed in the run. But Jennifer handled them well.
Well, if you ask my opinion I will say it is worth reading, cant label it as “enjoyable” because of its truly dark undertone, as I humbly admitted before that not at all my type of book, had it not been gifted with hope of review I would not have read it. But most people are not as touchy feely about the topic I am talking about, sex trade, at least the money movies based on women tormented by this trade earn truckloads of money in box office so I will say I am one of those who shun torture on human beings by other human beings from heart, if you are not as hypersensitive as me about these issues you can give the book a try, because that topic is not all over the book, only in pieces.
The remaining part is quite large! I won’t spoil it by sharing pieces, because the book is quite short, so you can try it and I am quite sure you won’t regret it. Because it may be dealing with a grim topic for a brief period of time it is very well written.
The only thing I will share is it is the story of a young girl and a bizarre set of events that happened in her life, and she certainly was quite a brave, courageous girl! A true friend, daughter and lover.
The only complain I have is the absolutely abrupt and unexplained ending. A tad explanation to soothe our nerves would have been nice. You will know why when you read the book and do share with me what you thought about the ending! If you understood it clearly please share!
I wonder if Jennifer has already published its part 2 and that is this story’s continuation; if not it will be even more confusing for me!
Finally I downloaded it and utilized my August break to read it and now here is the review for you:
Well, if you ask me to define it I will call it a dark romance. It certainly is sort of like a crime thriller with dash of fairytale romance, though it will leave you really wondering at the end, which was really abrupt- about the “romance” part.
It was quite a roller-coaster ride, very dark in the beginning, really dark and not at all my type of read and I was happy when that part ended, then came the fairy tale part, followed by thriller part and lot of layers, sub-layers were exposed in the run. But Jennifer handled them well.
Well, if you ask my opinion I will say it is worth reading, cant label it as “enjoyable” because of its truly dark undertone, as I humbly admitted before that not at all my type of book, had it not been gifted with hope of review I would not have read it. But most people are not as touchy feely about the topic I am talking about, sex trade, at least the money movies based on women tormented by this trade earn truckloads of money in box office so I will say I am one of those who shun torture on human beings by other human beings from heart, if you are not as hypersensitive as me about these issues you can give the book a try, because that topic is not all over the book, only in pieces.
The remaining part is quite large! I won’t spoil it by sharing pieces, because the book is quite short, so you can try it and I am quite sure you won’t regret it. Because it may be dealing with a grim topic for a brief period of time it is very well written.
The only thing I will share is it is the story of a young girl and a bizarre set of events that happened in her life, and she certainly was quite a brave, courageous girl! A true friend, daughter and lover.
The only complain I have is the absolutely abrupt and unexplained ending. A tad explanation to soothe our nerves would have been nice. You will know why when you read the book and do share with me what you thought about the ending! If you understood it clearly please share!
I wonder if Jennifer has already published its part 2 and that is this story’s continuation; if not it will be even more confusing for me!
January 8, 2020
I was asked by the author to read and give and honest review of this book. I warned her I was not kind to romance novels and asked if she really wanted me to review it - she did, so I have.
1 star was generous for this book. I think the reason there are so many 4 star and any 5 star reviews is because often, when approached by an author, a real live person, people feel like they don't want to hurt any ones feelings.
I hate giving bad reviews when an author approaches me but this book is SO BAD, I cannot give it more than one star.
To start off with the book gives you no background and you have to assume this woman has been taken. and of course her name is "Gaia" (Gaia= the ancestral mother of all life: the primal Mother Earth goddess. She is the mother of Uranus (the sky), from whose sexual union she bore the Titans (themselves parents of many of the Olympian gods) and the Giants, and of Pontus (the sea), from whose union she bore the primordial sea gods.) GAAAAAAA!
And the girls are being sold into sexual slavery!
Then when the rescuing prince Raoul renames her "Syeira" it means "Princess" in Gypsy. okay then.
Stupid paragraphs like "There they stood, in the middle of paradise, before the largest statue Gaia had ever seen. The goddess Venus in all her naked splendor. The statue caught the qualities of love, beauty and pleasure in such a realistic way, it almost frightened her." Okay so you were in a garden and there was a big naked statue. How does this add anything to the story and 2 seconds later an assassin kidnapper moron grabs her and she thinks "again?!?!?"
have no fear Raoul comes back and saves her again.
Then she sees an attractive stranger in a secluded staircase and this guy grabs her and kisses her and is rough and illiterate and she gets all hot and bothered.
I have never even heard of a woman that would get excited by a crude stranger grabbing her and fording himself on her. Made me sick to even read the reaction that Gaia had.. more like the mother of idiocy. "“Baby, in my line of work, ethics aren’t part of the job description. So if I were you, I’d still make a run for it, while I could.” Gaia’s traitorous body responded to the stranger’s..."
Horrible book, lousy story, idiotic characters and stupid.
1 star was generous for this book. I think the reason there are so many 4 star and any 5 star reviews is because often, when approached by an author, a real live person, people feel like they don't want to hurt any ones feelings.
I hate giving bad reviews when an author approaches me but this book is SO BAD, I cannot give it more than one star.
To start off with the book gives you no background and you have to assume this woman has been taken. and of course her name is "Gaia" (Gaia= the ancestral mother of all life: the primal Mother Earth goddess. She is the mother of Uranus (the sky), from whose sexual union she bore the Titans (themselves parents of many of the Olympian gods) and the Giants, and of Pontus (the sea), from whose union she bore the primordial sea gods.) GAAAAAAA!
And the girls are being sold into sexual slavery!
Then when the rescuing prince Raoul renames her "Syeira" it means "Princess" in Gypsy. okay then.
Stupid paragraphs like "There they stood, in the middle of paradise, before the largest statue Gaia had ever seen. The goddess Venus in all her naked splendor. The statue caught the qualities of love, beauty and pleasure in such a realistic way, it almost frightened her." Okay so you were in a garden and there was a big naked statue. How does this add anything to the story and 2 seconds later an assassin kidnapper moron grabs her and she thinks "again?!?!?"
have no fear Raoul comes back and saves her again.
Then she sees an attractive stranger in a secluded staircase and this guy grabs her and kisses her and is rough and illiterate and she gets all hot and bothered.
I have never even heard of a woman that would get excited by a crude stranger grabbing her and fording himself on her. Made me sick to even read the reaction that Gaia had.. more like the mother of idiocy. "“Baby, in my line of work, ethics aren’t part of the job description. So if I were you, I’d still make a run for it, while I could.” Gaia’s traitorous body responded to the stranger’s..."
Horrible book, lousy story, idiotic characters and stupid.
October 18, 2020
I am of two minds about this book:
My literary snob mind is horrified. The writing is similar to the books that older elementary kids read, except that the contents are aimed at adults. I mean, princes, princesses, pirates...🙄. The grammar and punctuation are noticeably and frequently wrong. The author uses words like “anyways.” The sexuality is on the level of those old Harlequin romances. The main character is inexplicably turned on by men whose morals are opposed to her. One is a spoiled prince who doesn’t bother to intervene in the horrific underground of his country and the other is a pirate dealing illegal drugs. I mean, if you’re going to ignore ethics, I say just throw down on the sexy pirate!
On the other hand, the characters (inconsistently written though they may be) seemed to come alive. The pages kept turning, and I had no desire to quit the book. The action was good, the relationships developed at pace, and the story had good flow. I’ll admit I confused myself by enjoying it.
The ending was just stupid. It is supposed to be a cliffhanger to take you to the second book, but it doesn’t work. I think this author could write good stuff if she just had a good editor.
#athrillerbyaBIPOCauthor
#creepinitrealreadathon
My literary snob mind is horrified. The writing is similar to the books that older elementary kids read, except that the contents are aimed at adults. I mean, princes, princesses, pirates...🙄. The grammar and punctuation are noticeably and frequently wrong. The author uses words like “anyways.” The sexuality is on the level of those old Harlequin romances. The main character is inexplicably turned on by men whose morals are opposed to her. One is a spoiled prince who doesn’t bother to intervene in the horrific underground of his country and the other is a pirate dealing illegal drugs. I mean, if you’re going to ignore ethics, I say just throw down on the sexy pirate!
On the other hand, the characters (inconsistently written though they may be) seemed to come alive. The pages kept turning, and I had no desire to quit the book. The action was good, the relationships developed at pace, and the story had good flow. I’ll admit I confused myself by enjoying it.
The ending was just stupid. It is supposed to be a cliffhanger to take you to the second book, but it doesn’t work. I think this author could write good stuff if she just had a good editor.
#athrillerbyaBIPOCauthor
#creepinitrealreadathon
June 12, 2018
I received a free copy for an honest review.
I accepted this ARC for review from the author because I saw potential in the story from what I read in the synopsis, and after I finished the book, I still stand by that statement.
More often than not, not-the-best (I’m not going to say bad right now) books are more likely to be caused by bad execution rather than actual bad ideas.
The weird thing about this book though, aside from how much potential the story itself held, is that I kept seeing glimpses of good writing techniques throughout the book. There were actually really good techniques used to build suspense and mystery throughout the book. For example, one thing I really liked was how the author used unnamed narratives so the reader knows what’s going on, but at the same time maintained the mystery and fear of who it actually is. That was really clever and it is good writing.
It really is a shame because the story itself was really interesting, but it really could’ve been executed better. I feel like I’m going to say this word a lot in this review (potential), but it’s because it really is an accurate word to describe this book. Everything about this book had so much protentional. It could’ve had an out-of-the-world world building (ha, get it?), superb story and an excellent romance. But it was unfortunately ruined by the bad executions, which are specifically the awkward dialogues as well as the pace.
These two are the main factors in this book that ruined the potential it originally held. There were so many bad dialogues, and even the acceptable ones could’ve been done way better. This book also has a really bad syndrome of “tell not show”, resulting it to ruin a lot of the original built up suspense.
In my opinion, this book was also pretty fast paced (especially in the begging), but not in a good way. It feels more rushed, and it mess up the story even more (because the book was already extremely underdeveloped), so rushing so much only made everything feel extremely shallow (and those cringy dialogues were not helping). Basically, you just get the feeling that the book only scraped the surface in every area, and did not truly develop in anything.
Gaia was fine. But her over-emotional attitude was kind of getting on my nerves. She gets attached to people, sad, angry, and happy so quickly, it feels like her emotions are being controlled by switches. Not to add on she officially falls into one of my absolute most hated tropes, and that is overly kind to-the-unrealistic-point heroines.
I’m not even going to talk about Gaia and Raoul’s. It’s instant love.
(That should be enough to summarize that part).
Basically, to sum up, this book is a wasted potential. But the author definitely has potential herself, and it shows in the book. So I do encourage her to keep writing, but please, please work on your dialogues and the development in your story overall (especially the dialogues).
I accepted this ARC for review from the author because I saw potential in the story from what I read in the synopsis, and after I finished the book, I still stand by that statement.
More often than not, not-the-best (I’m not going to say bad right now) books are more likely to be caused by bad execution rather than actual bad ideas.
The weird thing about this book though, aside from how much potential the story itself held, is that I kept seeing glimpses of good writing techniques throughout the book. There were actually really good techniques used to build suspense and mystery throughout the book. For example, one thing I really liked was how the author used unnamed narratives so the reader knows what’s going on, but at the same time maintained the mystery and fear of who it actually is. That was really clever and it is good writing.
It really is a shame because the story itself was really interesting, but it really could’ve been executed better. I feel like I’m going to say this word a lot in this review (potential), but it’s because it really is an accurate word to describe this book. Everything about this book had so much protentional. It could’ve had an out-of-the-world world building (ha, get it?), superb story and an excellent romance. But it was unfortunately ruined by the bad executions, which are specifically the awkward dialogues as well as the pace.
These two are the main factors in this book that ruined the potential it originally held. There were so many bad dialogues, and even the acceptable ones could’ve been done way better. This book also has a really bad syndrome of “tell not show”, resulting it to ruin a lot of the original built up suspense.
In my opinion, this book was also pretty fast paced (especially in the begging), but not in a good way. It feels more rushed, and it mess up the story even more (because the book was already extremely underdeveloped), so rushing so much only made everything feel extremely shallow (and those cringy dialogues were not helping). Basically, you just get the feeling that the book only scraped the surface in every area, and did not truly develop in anything.
Gaia was fine. But her over-emotional attitude was kind of getting on my nerves. She gets attached to people, sad, angry, and happy so quickly, it feels like her emotions are being controlled by switches. Not to add on she officially falls into one of my absolute most hated tropes, and that is overly kind to-the-unrealistic-point heroines.
I’m not even going to talk about Gaia and Raoul’s. It’s instant love.
(That should be enough to summarize that part).
Basically, to sum up, this book is a wasted potential. But the author definitely has potential herself, and it shows in the book. So I do encourage her to keep writing, but please, please work on your dialogues and the development in your story overall (especially the dialogues).
Want to read
April 21, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/21/2019)! 🎁
June 20, 2020
A dynamic romantic adventure narrated perfectly by Elizabeth Kelly.
January 17, 2020
The author was kind enough to send me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book follows the story of a princess named Gaia who has lost her memory after being kidnapped by a human trafficking organization. After she is rescued, she tries to remember her previous life while also dealing with current affairs. This book isn't normally one I would read but this book had me hooked from the very first page. Jennifer Rayes did an amazing job at describing scenes and I felt as though I was in their world. The secondary characters were also a great touch to the story and I hope to see more of Esmeralda and Jared. My only complaints for this book was that some of the dialogue was cringy — mostly in scenes with Raoul. I hope we get some more scenes with Gaia and Dominique because I thought they were cute together. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can't wait to delve into the other two books in this series.
December 9, 2019
3,5 stars!
Book kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
“I don’t trust you around stairs,” she joked halfheartedly. Dominique’s chest shook against her as he chuckled at their inside joke. “Don’t worry, I don’t intend on ravaging you. Yet,”
Before I dive into my review, I would really love to thank author Jennifer Rayes for choosing me to read and review her babies.
I don't really know where to begin with this one, because as much as Intricate Deceptions was a beautifully written story, the characters and the dramatic events were a little bit too much for me to handle in one book.
I know that the whole idea of the story is about secrets and deceptions but I felt so out of it that I didn't know the friend from the foe or who is to trust and who is not.
I don't know if this book was a love story because as much as there was a hint of the presence of a love triangle our heroine was giving mixed frustrating confusing signals that made it impossible for the reader to guess who she would choose. I know everything is about the mystery but I needed to see where her feelings were going so that I would be prepared to love and support her choice...
Out of the three main characters in Intricate Deceptions, I will be always team Dominique because I loved his personality and felt deep in my heart that he_is_the_one. (I hope there will be no shocking events in the coming book because there is NoWay I'm choosing Raoul).
Back to our queen!!! Gaia made it impossible for me to like her. I REALLY wanted to!!
For someone who woke up in a basement of a human trafficking gang with zero memory and the realization that she was sold as a prostitute to the highest bidder, she was too trusting for my own good that it felt unbelievable if not stupid. She needed to stop wandering around and freaking start using a bodyguard.
I hope that book two will be more focused on her reign, her feelings and her decisions as a REAL queen, though the cliffy opened a box of unanswered questions that would lead to more secrets betrayals and deceptions.
Book kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
“I don’t trust you around stairs,” she joked halfheartedly. Dominique’s chest shook against her as he chuckled at their inside joke. “Don’t worry, I don’t intend on ravaging you. Yet,”
Before I dive into my review, I would really love to thank author Jennifer Rayes for choosing me to read and review her babies.
I don't really know where to begin with this one, because as much as Intricate Deceptions was a beautifully written story, the characters and the dramatic events were a little bit too much for me to handle in one book.
I know that the whole idea of the story is about secrets and deceptions but I felt so out of it that I didn't know the friend from the foe or who is to trust and who is not.
I don't know if this book was a love story because as much as there was a hint of the presence of a love triangle our heroine was giving mixed frustrating confusing signals that made it impossible for the reader to guess who she would choose. I know everything is about the mystery but I needed to see where her feelings were going so that I would be prepared to love and support her choice...
Out of the three main characters in Intricate Deceptions, I will be always team Dominique because I loved his personality and felt deep in my heart that he_is_the_one. (I hope there will be no shocking events in the coming book because there is NoWay I'm choosing Raoul).
Back to our queen!!! Gaia made it impossible for me to like her. I REALLY wanted to!!
For someone who woke up in a basement of a human trafficking gang with zero memory and the realization that she was sold as a prostitute to the highest bidder, she was too trusting for my own good that it felt unbelievable if not stupid. She needed to stop wandering around and freaking start using a bodyguard.
I hope that book two will be more focused on her reign, her feelings and her decisions as a REAL queen, though the cliffy opened a box of unanswered questions that would lead to more secrets betrayals and deceptions.
January 30, 2021
I loved this book!
Primarily for the characters. I adore Gaia, she’s so strong willed and fights for what she believes in, even after experiencing trauma. There’s nothing better than a strong female protagonist, and she fits the bill.
Next there’s the love triangle... I was so jealous of her when she was doted on by a prince and a pirate. Raul is charming and Dominique is daring, and I may or may not be totally in love with both of them them. But Gaia, the queen that she is, doesn’t through herself at either of them, going as far as to halt their advances, which only makes me admire her more.
Often in books and tv we see female friendships portrayed in such a toxic way, which is why I appreciated her relationship with both Marbella and Mella. Girlfriends can exist without jealousy and spite!
But then there’s the constant suspense of being a queen, and not knowing who to trust; will one of them betray her? Will Marbella or Mella? Having been deceived by one friend already, is she willing to trust them?
The story is a complex web of lies and secrets, and I can’t wait until the next book, especially after that cliff hanger!
The reason I gave it four stars rather than five was the writing style. It was basic and simple, and sometimes lacking. While it wasn’t hard to overcome that and get wrapped up in the story, a few things stood out to me that had potential to be more. First off was at the very start, when she awoke having no recollection of her previous life. Listen, amnesia is rarely a topic that’s handled well in books and unfortunately, this one isn’t that different. Having never experienced that myself, I can’t say for sure what I’d do, but she just seemed so okay with it all. I would have thought she might be in her head more. Next thing that annoyed me was when her memories came back all at once, all of a sudden. Would they not have come back sporadically? Possibly at inconvenient times, for dramatic reasons?
Alas, it is easy to hate on someone else’s work and point out the things we would do differently, but I truly did enjoy the story line, characters and relationships and as I said before, it didn’t really take away from the story. I am anxious to begin the next book, to see the results of that deliciously cruel ending!
Primarily for the characters. I adore Gaia, she’s so strong willed and fights for what she believes in, even after experiencing trauma. There’s nothing better than a strong female protagonist, and she fits the bill.
Next there’s the love triangle... I was so jealous of her when she was doted on by a prince and a pirate. Raul is charming and Dominique is daring, and I may or may not be totally in love with both of them them. But Gaia, the queen that she is, doesn’t through herself at either of them, going as far as to halt their advances, which only makes me admire her more.
Often in books and tv we see female friendships portrayed in such a toxic way, which is why I appreciated her relationship with both Marbella and Mella. Girlfriends can exist without jealousy and spite!
But then there’s the constant suspense of being a queen, and not knowing who to trust; will one of them betray her? Will Marbella or Mella? Having been deceived by one friend already, is she willing to trust them?
The story is a complex web of lies and secrets, and I can’t wait until the next book, especially after that cliff hanger!
The reason I gave it four stars rather than five was the writing style. It was basic and simple, and sometimes lacking. While it wasn’t hard to overcome that and get wrapped up in the story, a few things stood out to me that had potential to be more. First off was at the very start, when she awoke having no recollection of her previous life. Listen, amnesia is rarely a topic that’s handled well in books and unfortunately, this one isn’t that different. Having never experienced that myself, I can’t say for sure what I’d do, but she just seemed so okay with it all. I would have thought she might be in her head more. Next thing that annoyed me was when her memories came back all at once, all of a sudden. Would they not have come back sporadically? Possibly at inconvenient times, for dramatic reasons?
Alas, it is easy to hate on someone else’s work and point out the things we would do differently, but I truly did enjoy the story line, characters and relationships and as I said before, it didn’t really take away from the story. I am anxious to begin the next book, to see the results of that deliciously cruel ending!
February 27, 2018
Intricate Deceptions by Jennifer Rayes
Title - Intricate Deceptions
Author - Jennifer Rayes
Published - Dec '17
Publisher - Independently Published
Pages - 222
Price on Amazon - Paperback - £ 4.96 Kindle - £2.12
ISBN - 1973467925
When Gaia wakes up in a cell she soon realises she's been kidnapped by a human trafficking ring, with no memory of her life or who she is, things seem impossible. Suddenly Gaia is rescued by a mysterious man, who turns out to be a prince, Can Gaia regain her memory and figure out who she is before its too late?
This book was a little slow to start with but once it got going, I really enjoyed it. I found the plot to be really interesting. I found the relationship between Gaia and Raoul to be really good, I enjoyed the build-up of their relationship and I especially liked the plot twist with the pirate. I found this book to have several plot twists which really added to the plot, making the reader really want to read on to find out what happens next.
This book finished with a cliffhanger, leaving me seriously desperate to read more. I seriously cannot wait for the next book to come out.
Thank You to Author for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Rating - Four out of Five Stars
Would I Read Again? - Yes
Would I Recommend? - Yes
Would I read other books by the same author? - Yes
Reviews for this book can be found on:
Amazon under Lu's Reviews
Goodreads,
Net Galley (If a NetGalley Book)
My Blogs at www.lu-ellensreadingandreviewingblog....
www.lusreviewsblog.wordpress.com
SmashWords (LusReviews)
Barns & Noble (Lus-Reviews)
Links to this review can be found at:
Twitter: @lusreviews
Facebook: @lusreviews
Instagram: lusreviews
Title - Intricate Deceptions
Author - Jennifer Rayes
Published - Dec '17
Publisher - Independently Published
Pages - 222
Price on Amazon - Paperback - £ 4.96 Kindle - £2.12
ISBN - 1973467925
When Gaia wakes up in a cell she soon realises she's been kidnapped by a human trafficking ring, with no memory of her life or who she is, things seem impossible. Suddenly Gaia is rescued by a mysterious man, who turns out to be a prince, Can Gaia regain her memory and figure out who she is before its too late?
This book was a little slow to start with but once it got going, I really enjoyed it. I found the plot to be really interesting. I found the relationship between Gaia and Raoul to be really good, I enjoyed the build-up of their relationship and I especially liked the plot twist with the pirate. I found this book to have several plot twists which really added to the plot, making the reader really want to read on to find out what happens next.
This book finished with a cliffhanger, leaving me seriously desperate to read more. I seriously cannot wait for the next book to come out.
Thank You to Author for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Rating - Four out of Five Stars
Would I Read Again? - Yes
Would I Recommend? - Yes
Would I read other books by the same author? - Yes
Reviews for this book can be found on:
Amazon under Lu's Reviews
Goodreads,
Net Galley (If a NetGalley Book)
My Blogs at www.lu-ellensreadingandreviewingblog....
www.lusreviewsblog.wordpress.com
SmashWords (LusReviews)
Barns & Noble (Lus-Reviews)
Links to this review can be found at:
Twitter: @lusreviews
Facebook: @lusreviews
Instagram: lusreviews
August 12, 2018
This review first published on Oh Just Books.
So I sometimes write points down after I immediately finish a book if I want to get it all down on paper because that's just how I work better. For this book, it was so emotionally fraught, that I had to get it down immediately. I revisited this after a few days and decided the present this review in all it's unedited glory.
Ended on a cliffhanger desperately waiting for part 2
Want to know what happens to Gaia
Amazing character
Great storyline
Don't know whom to trust
Some characters trustworthy but maybe not
But Dominique so roguishly nice want to like him
Can trust Raoul? yes? no???
Extremely well crafted story
One of the best I've seen from a self published author in a long time
Yes there are a couple of descriptions of graphic violence which are hard to read
But just when you think things are going right
BAM
Another new issue crops up that has to be dealt with
Everyone has secrets
Deep dark secrets
Who can you trust? No idea
Read the rest of the review here.
So I sometimes write points down after I immediately finish a book if I want to get it all down on paper because that's just how I work better. For this book, it was so emotionally fraught, that I had to get it down immediately. I revisited this after a few days and decided the present this review in all it's unedited glory.
Ended on a cliffhanger desperately waiting for part 2
Want to know what happens to Gaia
Amazing character
Great storyline
Don't know whom to trust
Some characters trustworthy but maybe not
But Dominique so roguishly nice want to like him
Can trust Raoul? yes? no???
Extremely well crafted story
One of the best I've seen from a self published author in a long time
Yes there are a couple of descriptions of graphic violence which are hard to read
But just when you think things are going right
BAM
Another new issue crops up that has to be dealt with
Everyone has secrets
Deep dark secrets
Who can you trust? No idea
Read the rest of the review here.
March 7, 2021
I received an electronic copy of this book from the author, Jennifer Rayes, for my honest review. Thank you for this opportunity!
I give this book a 3.5 star rating! I’ve gotta say, it’s been a while since I’ve read a well written book. I’ve got to hand it to Jennifer, she has a way with words, her writing style is exceptional. At first I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into as I started reading. Gaia, the heroine is part of a human trafficking ring, which readers will find out right off the bat. There was definitely some hard situations through the book, but ultimately I was there for the ride. The plot twists are what kept me reading on. One thing I couldn’t quite comprehend was the fact that I couldn’t tell what time period this took place, I was a bit confused, but other than that, I’ve gotta say, bring on the next book!
I give this book a 3.5 star rating! I’ve gotta say, it’s been a while since I’ve read a well written book. I’ve got to hand it to Jennifer, she has a way with words, her writing style is exceptional. At first I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into as I started reading. Gaia, the heroine is part of a human trafficking ring, which readers will find out right off the bat. There was definitely some hard situations through the book, but ultimately I was there for the ride. The plot twists are what kept me reading on. One thing I couldn’t quite comprehend was the fact that I couldn’t tell what time period this took place, I was a bit confused, but other than that, I’ve gotta say, bring on the next book!
July 2, 2025
I admit, I had never heard of this series or this author until someone reached out to me and brought it to my attention. I decided to give it a go! I went in nearly completely blind, short of reading the blurb about it on Amazon. I still have no idea what to expect from the other books! To keep myself in suspense, I won't even read the other descriptions. I'm just going to dive into book two once I finish this review!
Let's start off the fact that the moment you begin reading "Intricate Deceptions," you're jumping into things with both feet. We have no idea about what's going on, just that a woman named Gaia is clearly being held against her will. Conveniently for us, she ALSO has no idea what's going on, so we're learning right along with her. At some point, she got amnesia, so she remembers nothing but her name before we join her on her journey.
She is rescued right in the knick of time by an unknown man whose identity is revealed a short time later. He also reveals who he believes she is. This doesn't make her life any easier, unfortunately. As the name of the book implies, there seems to be deception everywhere you look. Gaia is forced to hide her true identity from others since it's unknown who can be fully trusted. There are spies, traitors, and other people with less than good intentions that are found out throughout the book. Oh, the webs that have been spun by so many!
I did read a few reviews about this book before I got started. One person mentioned that they got a bit confused by all of the different people's point of view. Personally, I found that I enjoyed it. It's unique. You can find out what other people are thinking and seeing from their own perspectives, even when the main characters aren't around. You also get a bit of info from them that you wouldn't have, otherwise. I also enjoy that it adds a bit of a twist to it. Since various people give their POVs, you actually don't know who is going to be the *main* character along with Gaia. Is she going to end up with a love interest? Will she end up with multiple? Is everyone who has a POV going to make it to the end of the book or the end of the entire series? I have no idea! I love it!
If a bit of a contemporary royalty type read sounds intriguing to you, I recommend checking this book out so far. I'm diving into the second book now, and I'll come back with more for my next review!
** Warning: There are a couple of pretty serious subjects brought up in this book, such as trafficking and attempted "grape." If you have triggers, check out the warnings! **
Let's start off the fact that the moment you begin reading "Intricate Deceptions," you're jumping into things with both feet. We have no idea about what's going on, just that a woman named Gaia is clearly being held against her will. Conveniently for us, she ALSO has no idea what's going on, so we're learning right along with her. At some point, she got amnesia, so she remembers nothing but her name before we join her on her journey.
She is rescued right in the knick of time by an unknown man whose identity is revealed a short time later. He also reveals who he believes she is. This doesn't make her life any easier, unfortunately. As the name of the book implies, there seems to be deception everywhere you look. Gaia is forced to hide her true identity from others since it's unknown who can be fully trusted. There are spies, traitors, and other people with less than good intentions that are found out throughout the book. Oh, the webs that have been spun by so many!
I did read a few reviews about this book before I got started. One person mentioned that they got a bit confused by all of the different people's point of view. Personally, I found that I enjoyed it. It's unique. You can find out what other people are thinking and seeing from their own perspectives, even when the main characters aren't around. You also get a bit of info from them that you wouldn't have, otherwise. I also enjoy that it adds a bit of a twist to it. Since various people give their POVs, you actually don't know who is going to be the *main* character along with Gaia. Is she going to end up with a love interest? Will she end up with multiple? Is everyone who has a POV going to make it to the end of the book or the end of the entire series? I have no idea! I love it!
If a bit of a contemporary royalty type read sounds intriguing to you, I recommend checking this book out so far. I'm diving into the second book now, and I'll come back with more for my next review!
** Warning: There are a couple of pretty serious subjects brought up in this book, such as trafficking and attempted "grape." If you have triggers, check out the warnings! **
January 11, 2021
Intricate Deceptions is a gripping story that held my attention from the first chapter to the unbearable cliffhanger.
It's a world build of fantasy in nowadays settings , with princesses and kings, with mysteries and suspense and so many twists and unexpected turns. Gaia is an interesting heroine that has amnesia after an unfortunate scene and she is brought back to her family and made queen.
Her expectations and deceptions are always hand in hand and this tale proves how much of a strong heroine she is and also emotional and caring for the unexpected future.
On to read book 2 now.
It's a world build of fantasy in nowadays settings , with princesses and kings, with mysteries and suspense and so many twists and unexpected turns. Gaia is an interesting heroine that has amnesia after an unfortunate scene and she is brought back to her family and made queen.
Her expectations and deceptions are always hand in hand and this tale proves how much of a strong heroine she is and also emotional and caring for the unexpected future.
On to read book 2 now.
May 22, 2025
Part way into this I realized I had read the book when it first released in 2013. It was nice to go back and reread because it is definitely a twisted web of plot lines that keep you guessing.
Definitely some triggers for some since this starts with the FMC kidnapped with amnesia in a sex trafficking den. She is rescued but then there is more mystery and action involving all sorts of characters from royalty to pirates. Unfortunately most of the men start as alphas in a one dimensional way and are dismissive of the FMC but there is some growth in their characters.
It ends on a cliff hanger which I know many dislike but having read the entire series before it is worth reading.
Definitely some triggers for some since this starts with the FMC kidnapped with amnesia in a sex trafficking den. She is rescued but then there is more mystery and action involving all sorts of characters from royalty to pirates. Unfortunately most of the men start as alphas in a one dimensional way and are dismissive of the FMC but there is some growth in their characters.
It ends on a cliff hanger which I know many dislike but having read the entire series before it is worth reading.
April 8, 2021
So intriguing... I started this series and I found out fourth book isn't out yet.... I'm going to wait to start the other two until the last book comes out....
January 1, 2021
A brilliant story full of shocking twists and turns with a brave and intelligent female lead, who stands for what she belives in ,no matter what. Gaia wakes up in a cell and realized that she is kidnapped by human trafficking organization but she doesn't remember her past life , just her name. She was rescued by Prince Raoul, the Prince of Kayamato. Her struggle to find her memories put her in danger again and again. She don't know how to trust someone when everyone has a different agenda of their own. Story follows deep into human hearts ,their perceptions and their unique inside struggles. Told from multiple point of views gives us a chance to understand the characters much better.
And the cliffhanger!!! WoW, I just can't wait to read next book.
As she struggles to regain her memory, Gaia learns that her rescue was no accident and finds herself in even more danger.
And the cliffhanger!!! WoW, I just can't wait to read next book.
As she struggles to regain her memory, Gaia learns that her rescue was no accident and finds herself in even more danger.
May 12, 2018
Intricate Deceptions is a suspense novel set in an imaginary kingdom which is plagued by many of the problems common in today’s world. The plot unravels smoothly as the main character, Gaia, struggles to overcome the obstacles life has thrown at her. Surrounded by threat and deception, Gaia has to grow up fast and assume the responsibilities which come with her rank. The novel ends in a cliffhanger which makes the reader eager to find out what's going to happen in the next book.
March 21, 2021
This book started off really strong. We find our MC kidnapped and stuck in a holding cell with other kidnapped girls, waiting to be sex trafficked. She develops a friendship with her cellmate, and we can only hope they both survive what comes next. Our MC is rescued and wakes up in a palace. And this is where things got interesting and more confusing.
At first, there is almost no information about the world that our MC is from, so it was hard for me to tell if it was a fictional world, a fantasy world, present time or past time. I think there were enough clues for me to piece together that the world was set in modern times, but in a fictional place. I feel that the story may have had more impact for me if the setting was real, but the palace in the fictional kingdom does sound beautiful and serene.
Throughout, I had trouble discerning if the story was meant to be reverse harem, forbidden love with one person, or a love triangle or square? The MC is presented with several handsome and capable candidates, and she has good chemistry with all of them. I knew my pick of the bunch, but by the end of the book, she hasn't decided, nor has she had any steamy moments with any of them. I was really hoping for more steam, even though it was the first book.
The story was a bit hard to follow in determining who was trying to double cross whom, and who was, in fact, responsible for the MC's kidnapping. It did smooth out by the end, when the villain is finally revealed, and some events, brought to light through flashbacks, helped firm up the plot twists a little more. I really loved Dominique and hope to see more of him in the following books!
At first, there is almost no information about the world that our MC is from, so it was hard for me to tell if it was a fictional world, a fantasy world, present time or past time. I think there were enough clues for me to piece together that the world was set in modern times, but in a fictional place. I feel that the story may have had more impact for me if the setting was real, but the palace in the fictional kingdom does sound beautiful and serene.
Throughout, I had trouble discerning if the story was meant to be reverse harem, forbidden love with one person, or a love triangle or square? The MC is presented with several handsome and capable candidates, and she has good chemistry with all of them. I knew my pick of the bunch, but by the end of the book, she hasn't decided, nor has she had any steamy moments with any of them. I was really hoping for more steam, even though it was the first book.
The story was a bit hard to follow in determining who was trying to double cross whom, and who was, in fact, responsible for the MC's kidnapping. It did smooth out by the end, when the villain is finally revealed, and some events, brought to light through flashbacks, helped firm up the plot twists a little more. I really loved Dominique and hope to see more of him in the following books!
October 19, 2020
***I was asked by Jennifer to give an honest review***
I want to start by saying that this book could cause a few triggers, so please be warned.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I loved how fast-paced it was, and there were not a lot of fillers (I don't particularly appreciate when authors go on and on to add more pages when it could have been so much shorter). It is dark and tragic at times, but I love books like that. It was right up my alley.
The story is based in a fantasy world, where humans live in Monarch societies.
I have to say, Gaia is now added to the list of my favourite female leads in a book. She's strong, determined, and a badass. I just loved her. She didn't let her fears or life tragedies stop her from helping others.
There were a few other side characters and leading men. I'm not sure how I feel about them yet. As there are more books, I hope to learn more coming up. I did like Dominique a lot more than Raoul.
Raoul just rubbed me the wrong way. It could be how he didn't rush to help find Emily. Dominique, on the other hand, was charming and didn't hide who he was - much ;)
I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 due to the random point of view of the side characters, like the one-page chapter. It didn't need to happen, or Jared's point of view before being introduced. It took away from the story, and it just confused me.
Overall I truly enjoyed it, and I am looking forward to continuing the story and development of the characters. Also, I want to know what happens next!!!
Thank you, Jennifer, for bringing your book to my attention!
I want to start by saying that this book could cause a few triggers, so please be warned.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I loved how fast-paced it was, and there were not a lot of fillers (I don't particularly appreciate when authors go on and on to add more pages when it could have been so much shorter). It is dark and tragic at times, but I love books like that. It was right up my alley.
The story is based in a fantasy world, where humans live in Monarch societies.
I have to say, Gaia is now added to the list of my favourite female leads in a book. She's strong, determined, and a badass. I just loved her. She didn't let her fears or life tragedies stop her from helping others.
There were a few other side characters and leading men. I'm not sure how I feel about them yet. As there are more books, I hope to learn more coming up. I did like Dominique a lot more than Raoul.
Raoul just rubbed me the wrong way. It could be how he didn't rush to help find Emily. Dominique, on the other hand, was charming and didn't hide who he was - much ;)
I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 due to the random point of view of the side characters, like the one-page chapter. It didn't need to happen, or Jared's point of view before being introduced. It took away from the story, and it just confused me.
Overall I truly enjoyed it, and I am looking forward to continuing the story and development of the characters. Also, I want to know what happens next!!!
Thank you, Jennifer, for bringing your book to my attention!
April 9, 2025
4.5 stars: I was surprised to enjoy this book as much as I did. Honestly, I couldn’t put it down, devouring it in one day. The general themes mentioned in other reviews didn’t interest me: human trafficking, rescue by a prince, pirates, and lastly, romance (gag, puke- as a twice divorced female, I’m way too cynical for romances). But since the author provided me a free copy in exchange for an honest review, with a slight sense of dread, I opened to page one and hoped for the best. I was rewarded with an adventure worthy of a mini series, even a movie (and thankfully this is the first of 3 books). This is a great lighter read, an escape into a world of adventure with real life themes and troubles tossed in. There’s nothing that will make you cry, nothing to make you put your hand to your heart and sigh, nothing to make you clutch your pearls – and that is precisely where the beauty of this book lies. There is a time and place for heavy reads, but I was in a place where I needed something fun – and this was perfect. If I had to classify this book, it would be as an adventure. Every time I thought the book would wrap, along came another twist. It was delicious! I’m 43 but can see this book appealing to ages upper teen and above. (Since human trafficking is involved, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to younger teens.) I’m hoping this review encompasses everything I intend, because I’m itching to move on to the second book in the series, Intricate Intentions.
November 4, 2020
Well, I never expected what was in this book. It's a good thing, sometimes I like books that keeps me in the dark. And there's 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 to it than a girl who has amnesia. You'd think this book is predictable, it is in some cases, but you'd be surprised by how many times you'll go, "𝑾𝑻𝑭."
Intricate Deceptions got me interested from the middle of the book to the end. 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔. The beginning is kinda 𝑚𝑒ℎ for me, glad it got better as I read further.
It has royalties, pirates, human trafficking, drug cartels and prostitution that makes the plot interesting. Can't wait for the last three to be taken down by our heroine.
And boy, the romance. This is probably the first time I wasn't annoyed by the love triangle. I am having a hard time choosing who I want Gaia to end up with. Both are protective of her, their fight over her actually makes me laugh. Lol.
But I think I'm more Team Dominique than Team Raoul. It can change, of course. Though I don't fully trust them yet, you can't really trust anyone in this book lol.
I like that it doesn't focus on romance, that Gaia doesn't think of the boys every freaking time sighing and daydreaming. She knows her priorities and responsibilities, relationships can wait.
Jared is my favorite character, please take care of him. Poor Emily deserves everything in the world.
Intricate Deceptions got me interested from the middle of the book to the end. 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔. The beginning is kinda 𝑚𝑒ℎ for me, glad it got better as I read further.
It has royalties, pirates, human trafficking, drug cartels and prostitution that makes the plot interesting. Can't wait for the last three to be taken down by our heroine.
And boy, the romance. This is probably the first time I wasn't annoyed by the love triangle. I am having a hard time choosing who I want Gaia to end up with. Both are protective of her, their fight over her actually makes me laugh. Lol.
But I think I'm more Team Dominique than Team Raoul. It can change, of course. Though I don't fully trust them yet, you can't really trust anyone in this book lol.
I like that it doesn't focus on romance, that Gaia doesn't think of the boys every freaking time sighing and daydreaming. She knows her priorities and responsibilities, relationships can wait.
Jared is my favorite character, please take care of him. Poor Emily deserves everything in the world.
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