The Great Pretender

By Millenia Black

Book Overview

"What a story It made me wonder if I can install a Lo-Jack on my husband before his next business trip. Do they make one for men?" -Lisa Earle McLeod, bestselling author of The Triangle of Truth

The #1 Internationally Bestselling Family Drama You Simply Can't Put Down

ONE MAN. TWO LIVES.

For over six years, Reginald Brooks pulled it off. Having two families, leading two lives. Now, the pretending must stop. But how?

The Great Pretender is an electrifying tale of how one man tries to untangle his life, setting a full-fledged arena of wife against husband, lover against lover, friend against friend, and family against family. Once you begin this engaging tale, you witness how a decision to pretend ricochets through the lives of several people.

Meet the Players...

Reginald Brooks - a polished marketing VP who shrewdly built a dual life around his work. But without warning, it begins to come apart at the seams and Reginald makes a decision that could threaten his very future, and the lives of those he loves most

Tracy Brooks - Reginald's wife of nearly 20 years. While the cat's away...She's got secrets of her own to protect...

Renee Jameson - the younger woman with the killer body who managed to turn Reginald's head long enough to become pregnant...

Franklin Bevins - a UPS executive and Reginald's best friend since the carefree days of childhood. Reggie has never made a life-changing decision without Frank's input; a practice they may soon live to regret.

Olivia Brooks - Reginald and Tracy's eldest daughter. Family isn't very high on her list of priorities. Primarily focused on a man, Olivia seems nonchalant about the significant changes in her family's life until a shocking demand gets her full attention...

Valerie Brooks - the younger of Reggie and Tracy's two daughters. A curious teen on the verge of adulthood when a hard knock lesson brings her questionable habits to a screeching halt.

From the plush streets of Miami to the glamour of New York City, follow the families of Reginald Brooks as their lives of sex, love, hate and surprise reach an agonizing climax Millenia Black's debut is anticipated to spark a tantalizing blend of emotions, and may even leave you wondering if someone you know could be...THE GREAT PRETENDER.

Praise for The Great Pretender

"Millenia Black's first novel is a compelling, fast-paced story with intriguing, believable characters. It's a real page-turner I was involved from beginning to end." -Judith Henry Wall, bestselling author of Family Secrets and The Girlfriends Club

"...an original and deftly written novel...warmly recommended as an emotionally charged, superbly presented saga of human failings and frailties-and the need to measure up and transcend the habit-forming lies of the past." -Midwest Book Review

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1453697748
• ISBN13: 9781453697740
• Release Date: July 2010
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 372 Pages
• Weight: 0.93 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Relationship and Family Drama

From page one I was engrossed in the lives of the characters. I wholehartedly wished that Reginald had been honest with Renee from the beginning. I kept wondering why her family never called him on their suspicions, especially since they all felt so strongly. Renee's mom wanted to be supportive but knew deep down something wasn't right about Reginald. As the old saying goes, "Mother knows best". I have recommended this book to several of my book clubs and friends. I'm so proud of you Millenia, you have an unique writing style. I eagerly await your next release. Blessings...

A clever first novel; proof of a major new talent

I loved this book. The story is certainly clever and unique. I especially identified with the state of mind of the naive girlfriend Renee after Reginald "confessed" about being in a long marriage, and I understood the difficulties and why should couldn't let go. Through the indiscretions of the characters, this story highlights the importance of honesty, integrity, and trust, and without being the least bit sappy or sentimenal it offers an unmistakable moral. It is also very straightforward and gripping. I look forward to a follow up very much. Millenia Black is definitely a major new writing talent and I hope her next book will be out soon. PVG

The PERFECT Pageturning Story

I loved everything about this book! I relate well to Reginald's wife Tracy, she's the type of woman that most of us women find ourselves becoming at some point when we feel distanced from our mates. The book is exciting, dramatic, mysterious and clever. The characters are interesting. Completing this book will leave you feeling the need to write the author and DEMAND a follow up of some sort! I would also LOVE to see a movie! I would be so eager and happy to see how well the actors would portray these very complex characters and make them come to life! I could see it being a movie to watch over and over again, it would probably be just as addicting as Millenia Black's spicy book! If you read ANY book, THIS is the one to read! --.

What a Tangled Web We Weave...

What a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive. Mr. Brooks traveled from Miami to Orlando for 10 years and had an outside child for 6 of them with a woman his wife didn't know existed. The mother of this child also knew nothing about Mr. Brook's wife and two daughters that existed long before she did. What a roller coaster ride we have here. No stone goes unturned when all the chips fall and it is too good to put down when it reaches the climax. I was shocked by what the ramifications were in the end, but could definitely see such a result in a situation like this. No one can win. I recommend this book because it is a pageturner and the storyline is not overdone or trite as so many fiction books I've come across in recent months.Geena Brighton, columnist for Sherrington

When we practice to deceive.

In this captivating tale of deceit and betrayal, we are introduced to Reginald Brooks who has seemingly mastered the art of living a double life. On one hand, he is a devoted family man with a wife of 18 years and two children. On the other hand, he lives with his much younger girlfriend and their six-year-old daughter. After six years, the stress of trying to keep both lives separate is eating away at Reginald, so he decides it's time to choose which life he wants to live. After making his decision, he comes to realize that exposing his secret does not bring the peaceful resolution he was expecting. Instead, it opens up a chasm of lies and deceit so deep that it's anybody's guess who, if anyone, will escape unscathed. Like an F5 tornado, THE GREAT PRETENDER sweeps you deep into its vortex, drawing you into this enthralling tale of secrets, secrets and even more secrets. With a surprise ending that is so intense, you will be left slack-jawed and wondering why you didn't see it coming. Look out literary world! Millenia Black, a very prolific mystery writer, has hit the scene as a force to be reckoned with. THE GREAT PRETENDER is a wonderful debut novel and I highly recommend this to readers everywhere. Reviewed by Renee Williamsof The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers