Deception

Lane is a truly fascinating woman. Since high school she has known exactly what she wants and what she needs to do to get it. Her entire existence is driven toward one career goal to the exclusion of any outside pursuits. Bryce Clayton is a thirty something Texas millionaire rancher, and highly respected business woman. She lives at home with her parents, her father is also a hugely successful rancher. Her whole life Bryce has lived as a recluse and carries a secret desires that she abhors. Both father and daughter have made enemies of the unscrupulous people around them and these interactions result in an intense murder investigation. Can Lane be the salvation that Bryce and her father hope she is? And what about Lydia? Where does she fit in? And Monty, the high profile lawyer who has just brought Lane in to be his partner, is he all that he appears to be? What about Sheriff Joe Don how far will he go to hurt the Clayton family?

Lane Cuthbert has made a calculated move to a small-town in Texas to practice her skills as an attorney. She gets more than she bargains for when she takes on the case of Bryce Clayton, a local rancher who is accused of murdering one her arch enemies. From the prosecutor's point of view, the case is a slam dunk. However, Lane is convinced her client is innocent and is determined to prove it. This is, after all, the kind of case she was hoping to land to put her on the proverbial map. At some point, Lane's interest in the case becomes very personal. And when it's over, will it really be over? I gave this one 4 stars because the characters, although likable, aren't fully developed. In addition, the story is choppy in places. That said, this is one of O'Reilly's best offerings to-date.

Lane Cuthbert has had a plan for her life since she was very young. Not satisfied to simply inherit a position in her father's successful law firm, she has calculated every move she has made, from the college she attended to the jobs she's accepted, to move her in the direction of achieving her goal of being a legal commentator for a major TV network. All she needs now is one big, high profile case to catapult her to the fame she needs. Bryce Clayton is a reclusive, but very successful and powerful businesswoman. She's known for being difficult to get along with, but she's also fair, honest and drawn to take care of people who are in trouble. Her nemesis is Preston Garrett, a big bully of a rancher, who fights with Bryce every chance he gets and makes it clear to everyone in town that he intends to destroy her. When Garrett is murdered, the police don't consider anyone a suspect except Bryce and Lane has the case she believes will make her future. Bryce is as difficult a client as she is a person because she refuses to reveal where she was at the time of the murder. She's decided it's worth sitting in prison for twenty-five years to keep some secrets hidden. Lane will need all of her skills to keep that from happening, especially when she begins to realize that Bryce is more to her than just a client. As the case develops, Lane finds herself reevaluating her goals and Bryce discovers someone who may help her understand that her "secret" doesn't have to stay hidden. O'Reilly has created two very strong women, neither of whom feels any reason to be weak so that the other one can dominate. She's surrounded them with a cast of engaging characters and a plot that is well put together. O'Reilly works the case with a strong sense of reality. No witness breaks down on the stand or suddenly loses control and admits to being the true murderer. Lane has to work her way through the trial using her skills and refuting the evidence as it is presented. Bryce stays true to her character throughout the book, avoiding the personality "change" that is so frequent in romances. The mystery of the murder is left hanging until the very end of the book and there is a dramatic scene at the end of the trial that will surprise readers. Deception has the characteristics that make a book pleasurable to read and a good way to spend a few hours.

Erin O'Reilly has wriiten an a very interesting book, one that doesn't have the characters change their entire personalities by the end of the book. There is definite growth within Lane and, most certainly, Bryce but the "and love cures all" element does not happen. The book is intense as pain and fear are present in many of the characters but is handled well and by the end of the book, you get a real feel of where these emotions flowed from. This is another well written book by this author. If you enjoy this book, make sure you read New Beginnings, which was co-written with JM Dragon. Both of these authors know how to write books that will stay with you after you finish.