The Great Pretender

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Summary: The Great Pretender
Review: Wow!!!! What a great book! Very reminescent of Jackie Collins! Millenia Black paints a vivid portrait of betrayal and raw emotion in this electically charged novel of a man falling from grace for leading a double life! The charcters are rich and full of rampent emotions, the book itself is fast-paced and a page-turner. I couldn't put it down and loved the ending, which I feared was enevatable. I can't wait to see another page-turner from this author!

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Summary: The Best Characters You Love to Hate
Review: In "The Great Pretender," Reginald Brooks has it all -- a wife and family in Miami and a girlfriend and daughter in Orlando -- until he decides to drop all his pretenses. Unfortunately, things don't go as he'd planned when he discovers his wife has been cheating, too, and his girlfriend has plotted the perfect payback. Ms. Black's debut novel has a cleverly crafted cast of characters you love to hate. Highly recommended.

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Summary: An emotionally charged, superbly presented saga
Review: The Great Pretender by Millenia Black is an original and deftly written novel about Reginald Brooks, a bigamist who for over six years, has successfully concealed his secret of having two separate families. But now the deception is beginning to unravel and it seems that the truth must win out. The Great Pretender is 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.

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Summary: A debut winner
Review: Millinia Black's debut novel is wonderful book that will keep the reader turning pages until it comes to an end. The storyline, characters, and grande finale ending were written wonderfully! I read this book in one sitting and when I finished I wanted more!!! I can't wait for this debut author's second book to be released.
Ruth in New Hampshire

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Summary: Unmasking the great pretender for who he is.
Review: The Great Pretender is the premier novel written by Millenia Black. This book clutched my emotions from many aspects. For starters,the jacket illustrates wedding bands aflame, which in my opinion represents four lives, two couples burnt by infidelity.
Additionally this reader was shocked with such an explosive ending, I had to stop and gain my composure.

Millenia did an excellent job of keeping her secondary character in place while some of her actions made me feel her as much or more than the primary ones. The storyline was one we do not read about very often, but it certainly warrants the many expletives expressed while reading The Great Pretender.

For six of the ten years Reginald Brooks was married to Tracy, he lived another life. Two weeks of every month he traveled to Orlando to play house with Renee and their six-year-old daughter Denise. Then he would migrate back to Miami to nestled into his somewhat strained existence there. His spouse Tracy had been sleeping with his best friend Franklin Bevin; his oldest daughter Olivia believes she hates her father. Her last attempt to prove her hatred of him threatens to break
the last thread that holds this family and her parents marriage together and then we have Valerie, my favorite character. Valerie is daddy's little girl; she kept the balance as best she could in her teenage way.

When mom began to stray from home at different times Valerie was
devising a plan to find out the why; when her sibling Olivia started dating Sean again, her no good boyfriend she brought the issue to the table to make her aware that she knew; for Valerie daddy could do no wrong.

Ms. Black is a storyteller of adult stories, if you are looking for a new topic, great storyline and a book that makes good on its promise this is the one. Millenia Black is definitely an author to look out for.

Reviewed by Missy
APOOO BookClub

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Summary: A Page Turner
Review: I agree with the opinion that these are characters you will love to hate - even though everyone will have different hates! My friend read it and felt sorry for Reggie, whom I hated. It's like a soap opera on paper; you can't wait until the next chapter to find out who is doing what. These people and their lives are believable and will have you wondering until the end. A definite read - don't miss it!

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Summary: Look no further for a great page-turner!
Review: The Great Pretender is a book that pulls you in from the first page. It is truly a page-turner. I read it in one day. The characters are well-developed and the kind you love to hate. The storyline keeps you going til the last page. I will be looking forward to the next book by Millenia Black.

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Summary: I can't wait for her second book!!
Review: What a wonderful novel by a new author! I was captivated from the very first page and couldn't put it down - I read it in two days!

The engrossing tale of Reginald and his double life. When he tries to right the wrongs he has created his life unravels before his very eyes. The entire cast of characters is interesting and truly makes the book what it is - superb.

A true page turner from beginning to end. Ms. Black has grabbed me by the shirt and hasn't let me go. I can't wait for her follow up book!!!

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Summary: Makes you wonder about your relationship
Review: I could not put down this book until was done reading it. It makes me want to keep a closer eye on my husband. The author did a great job with this book, the ending was a complete surprise!

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Summary: Excellent first novel!
Review: This is one of the most impressive first novels I've read in awhile! I'm so glad I picked up this book on amazon, seeing as I couldn't find it anywhere else.

This story is not just about 1 marriage or two people. This story is about all of those who become involved in the web of this families lives, the children, the lovers, the friends. Even though you watch these characters make mistake after mistake, because of the great way the author has of putting us inside their heads, you LIKE them. Even if you hate what they do. Now that's amazing!

The Great Pretender was hard to put down. On every page there was another part of one of the stories: Reggie who's the main pretender- juggling two women and 3 children, Tracy his wife of 18 years who has a secret of her own that she'd do anything to protect, Olivia their oldest daughter who thought she found love in a man- only to be betrayed, Valerie their youngest who is struggling with adolescene, sexuality and her parents, Renee who is the "other woman" and a bit unstable, Denise the child who has kept them together for 6 years, but suffering for it and Frank who is Reggies best friend who not only keeps Reggies secrets, but a few of his own, including his true feelings for Reggie.

I highly recommend this book. It's well-worth the money spent. I think not only do you enjoy the read, but you also learn a bit along the way. Written very simply and eloquently, The Great Pretender is destined to be a hit and it's author Millenia Black to be a success!