Thread of Deceit

All the reviewers who rated this book before me and gave it 1 star are actually reviewing the book "THE AFFECTIONATE ADVERSARY", which I found to be pretty boring. In fact all but three of the other reviewers were rating that book. "Thread of Deceit" has a contemporary setting and deals with child abuse. The other book is set in the victorian era.

Please note that at the time I write this, many of the reviews on this page are for a different Catherine Palmer book that apparently many people were not fond of. Please don't let them make you shy away from reading this book. Thread of Deceit is easily one of the best books I have ever read, and I am a voracious reader. Without giving too much of the book away, let me say that this is a story you will feel deeply. The overall subject matter is a serious one, though there are definately light and funny moments throughout the book. It is an emotional read; one that will move you and stick with you. I initially read Thread of Deceit only as a "prequel" to Palmer's next Haven book "Stranger in the Night" and found that this book was FAR better than the description made it sound. The characters are believable, lovable despite some obvious quirks, and their past pain is palpable without being overdone. On a side note, I was able to figure out quite early on who the "bad guy" of the book really was, but this in no way really detracted from this very moving story. I was up until 2 AM last night because I couldn't put the thing down. It is written from a Christian perspective, and mentions of God and church are woven seamlessly throughout the story. For those of you against such things, I would encourage you to not let that stop you from what really is a great read and very, very moving story.

This book is a departure from Catherine Palmer's Victorian style, and it is fantastic!! The storyline deals with a reporter assigned to do a story, and how she ends up solving a mystery, saving a little girl, and falling in love. The author shows how sometimes a child knows who is trustworthy better than adults do, and the pitfalls of making assumptions without having all the facts. She also shows how trust, once lost, is not easy to regain, even between good friends. Even with all the struggles the characters face, good does triumph and the guy gets the girl. This is one of Cathy's best books!

This story, complete with pirates, English fortune, and 19th century marriage expectations is a joy to read! I couldn't put it down.

I think the thing I like most about Catherine Palmer's books are the spiritual challenges she skillfully weaves into each one. She shares her spiritual journey with us the reader and I am very grateful. This story is about a woman, Sarah, who has found riches to be the source of great trial and loneliness. She has been a pawn all her life , unable to trust anyone because of it. She really wants to please God and to find joy in her life but her efforts to follow Him have been a little misguided (can't we all relate to that?) .I think one of the most pinnacle moments in the book for me was when Charles finds out who Sara really is and greed rears its ugly head and Charles sees its allure and flees because he no longer can trust that it doesn't cast a shadow over even his love for her. The characters and their growth is real, its painful and I for one am glad to have been priviledged to go along for the ride! The only thing that did annoy me was when Sarah left for Brighton (or wherever toward the end of the book). Few books are perfect after all!!