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jinny89's review against another edition
2.0
This review is cross posted at SkyInk.net:
I received this book free of charge in exchange for a review. It’s the first time I’ve ever read a book by a self-published author and I was actually kind of excited about it. While I admit I didn’t end up exactly gushing over this book after I finished, I feel like I’ve been introduced to a new world of books and I think I might be interested in reading more self-published works in the future.
Misconception centers around the Kelly family: a wife, husband and two boys. The story kicks off quickly and we encounter the main conflict of the book quickly: Pace Kelly is pregnant despite her husband, Jason, having gotten himself a vasectomy three years ago. However, despite the evidence, Pace really didn’t cheat on Jason. Jason finds it very hard to believe Pace though, because after getting his vasectomy checked out, it’s confirmed that there’s nothing wrong and he shouldn’t be producing any babies. The relationship between Pace and Jason steadily spiral into a depressing state, with both sides having serious trust issues.
Pace and Jason’s relationship is the bread and butter of this story, and it’s their drama that kept me turning the pages (figuratively; it was an eBook so I suppose I should say scrolling the pages? Hehe). I personally think it would have been more interesting if the third person narrator was less invasive in the characters’ thoughts, because I think it would have been intriguing if the reader wasn’t sure if Pace actually cheated or not. I think the “mystery” would have been great incentive for readers to glue themselves to the pages … or maybe that’s just me. I enjoyed reading about their drama-filled relationship for the most part, what with the accusations being thrown around, the e-mail snooping and the classic hiring of a private detective to spy on the spouse. I love, love, love drama (probably why I devour Jodi Picoult books like there’s no tomorrow) and I think Misconception pulled it off without being too unbelievable and making eyes roll.
Besides the Kellys, Pace’s parents, Colin and Tori, are also central characters in this book. Colin is a famous senator and Tori is, well, his trophy wife, I suppose you can call her. Tori was my least favourite character however. Not because of her person, but more because of her character. There was something inconsistent in her character, I felt. I think it is especially noticeable when the narrator narrates from Tori’s perspective, then switches and narrates from another character’s perspective but Tori is still in the scene. She felt like two different characters sometimes.
The plot is drama-filled and moves along at a good pace, which I liked. There is one thing about the plot that kind of threw me off a bit though. I could be wrong, but to me, Pace and Jason’s relationship is the main focus of the story. So I was a little thrown off that the climax of the story dealt primarily with Colin and Tori, while Pace and Jason just kind of made up in the background. With that said though, I did actually quite like the ending. I am a little confused as to why the focus was on Pace’s parents instead — but that may be because I misinterpreted Colin and Tori’s importance in the story. Okay, I admit it, I didn’t find them that important. But back on track, I did like the ending. I thought it was fitting and climatic and didn’t have a denouement that overstayed its welcome (which is something that really bothers me in books haha, but I’m glad I didn’t have that issue here).
There are some technical things like typos (rare) and awkward sentences, so I think Misconception could benefit from a thorough editing, but I didn’t want to be all nitty-gritty. Overall, this is an okay book. I feel a bit mixed about it, but it’s really not bad. I think if you like family drama sort of books, you should check it out (the author’s website shows the places where you can purchase it).
I received this book free of charge in exchange for a review. It’s the first time I’ve ever read a book by a self-published author and I was actually kind of excited about it. While I admit I didn’t end up exactly gushing over this book after I finished, I feel like I’ve been introduced to a new world of books and I think I might be interested in reading more self-published works in the future.
Misconception centers around the Kelly family: a wife, husband and two boys. The story kicks off quickly and we encounter the main conflict of the book quickly: Pace Kelly is pregnant despite her husband, Jason, having gotten himself a vasectomy three years ago. However, despite the evidence, Pace really didn’t cheat on Jason. Jason finds it very hard to believe Pace though, because after getting his vasectomy checked out, it’s confirmed that there’s nothing wrong and he shouldn’t be producing any babies. The relationship between Pace and Jason steadily spiral into a depressing state, with both sides having serious trust issues.
Pace and Jason’s relationship is the bread and butter of this story, and it’s their drama that kept me turning the pages (figuratively; it was an eBook so I suppose I should say scrolling the pages? Hehe). I personally think it would have been more interesting if the third person narrator was less invasive in the characters’ thoughts, because I think it would have been intriguing if the reader wasn’t sure if Pace actually cheated or not. I think the “mystery” would have been great incentive for readers to glue themselves to the pages … or maybe that’s just me. I enjoyed reading about their drama-filled relationship for the most part, what with the accusations being thrown around, the e-mail snooping and the classic hiring of a private detective to spy on the spouse. I love, love, love drama (probably why I devour Jodi Picoult books like there’s no tomorrow) and I think Misconception pulled it off without being too unbelievable and making eyes roll.
Besides the Kellys, Pace’s parents, Colin and Tori, are also central characters in this book. Colin is a famous senator and Tori is, well, his trophy wife, I suppose you can call her. Tori was my least favourite character however. Not because of her person, but more because of her character. There was something inconsistent in her character, I felt. I think it is especially noticeable when the narrator narrates from Tori’s perspective, then switches and narrates from another character’s perspective but Tori is still in the scene. She felt like two different characters sometimes.
The plot is drama-filled and moves along at a good pace, which I liked. There is one thing about the plot that kind of threw me off a bit though. I could be wrong, but to me, Pace and Jason’s relationship is the main focus of the story. So I was a little thrown off that the climax of the story dealt primarily with Colin and Tori, while Pace and Jason just kind of made up in the background. With that said though, I did actually quite like the ending. I am a little confused as to why the focus was on Pace’s parents instead — but that may be because I misinterpreted Colin and Tori’s importance in the story. Okay, I admit it, I didn’t find them that important. But back on track, I did like the ending. I thought it was fitting and climatic and didn’t have a denouement that overstayed its welcome (which is something that really bothers me in books haha, but I’m glad I didn’t have that issue here).
There are some technical things like typos (rare) and awkward sentences, so I think Misconception could benefit from a thorough editing, but I didn’t want to be all nitty-gritty. Overall, this is an okay book. I feel a bit mixed about it, but it’s really not bad. I think if you like family drama sort of books, you should check it out (the author’s website shows the places where you can purchase it).
izziede's review against another edition
3.0
It's an interesting scenario.
The husband believes the wife has cheated and she has no way to prove she didn't other than her word.
It examines the issues of trust and effects of cheating between the couple but also another couple have a story within the book as in their situation the husband is cheating so does the wife leave or put up with it.
The issue of the misdiagnosed pregnancy is not revealed until the last few paragraphs.
No intimate scenes with anyone other than the Hero and heroine.
Accusation of cheating.
Other man drama and other woman drama, opportunities for both to be with others if they chose.
HEA.
The husband believes the wife has cheated and she has no way to prove she didn't other than her word.
It examines the issues of trust and effects of cheating between the couple but also another couple have a story within the book as in their situation the husband is cheating so does the wife leave or put up with it.
The issue of the misdiagnosed pregnancy is not revealed until the last few paragraphs.
No intimate scenes with anyone other than the Hero and heroine.
Accusation of cheating.
Other man drama and other woman drama, opportunities for both to be with others if they chose.
HEA.
mrsjkamp's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book from the author in exchange for a review. Here are my honest thoughts:
3.5 stars
I have to start out this review by saying that I wasn't sure what the main point of this book was. After reading the summary, I thought this would be about the whole pregnancy thing with Pace and Jason, but that blew over much sooner than I thought it would. Pace's mom and dad are also in this from the beginning and there is no mention of them in the description of this novel. So I was a little confused but it all plays out. So don't fear. I guess I just feel like the description is a tad misleading. Like it's missing some key points. Doesn't mean this book was bad! Let's take a closer look.
Pace gets a call from her doctor after an appointment and finds out she's pregnant. She knows this is a mistake because her husband Jason had a vasectomy three years ago. This drama gets dragged out because she can't just go to the doctor to get an ultrasound to find no baby. Instead, then she gets her period and her doctor thinks it's a miscarriage. She lies to Jason and now Jason thinks she cheated. In the meantime, Pace's mother Tori has a private detective follow Colin, her husband and Pace's father, because she thinks he's cheating too. He has in the past, so she's sure he is now.
This all gets introduced fairly quickly, and the two story lines don't always blend well. They come together by the end, and they're both interesting, so it works out. It's just a little confusing at first. Once you get past the separateness of the two stories, they finally link and make more sense. The whole time I was wondering about the two different marriages and how they were going to work out in the end. By the time I was less than halfway through I felt like I had to finish it and know what happens! I just about sped-read the last 100 pages. I did call one of the shockers at the end, but it was all very satisfying. The epilogue made me laugh, too!
3.5 stars
I have to start out this review by saying that I wasn't sure what the main point of this book was. After reading the summary, I thought this would be about the whole pregnancy thing with Pace and Jason, but that blew over much sooner than I thought it would. Pace's mom and dad are also in this from the beginning and there is no mention of them in the description of this novel. So I was a little confused but it all plays out. So don't fear. I guess I just feel like the description is a tad misleading. Like it's missing some key points. Doesn't mean this book was bad! Let's take a closer look.
Pace gets a call from her doctor after an appointment and finds out she's pregnant. She knows this is a mistake because her husband Jason had a vasectomy three years ago. This drama gets dragged out because she can't just go to the doctor to get an ultrasound to find no baby. Instead, then she gets her period and her doctor thinks it's a miscarriage. She lies to Jason and now Jason thinks she cheated. In the meantime, Pace's mother Tori has a private detective follow Colin, her husband and Pace's father, because she thinks he's cheating too. He has in the past, so she's sure he is now.
This all gets introduced fairly quickly, and the two story lines don't always blend well. They come together by the end, and they're both interesting, so it works out. It's just a little confusing at first. Once you get past the separateness of the two stories, they finally link and make more sense. The whole time I was wondering about the two different marriages and how they were going to work out in the end. By the time I was less than halfway through I felt like I had to finish it and know what happens! I just about sped-read the last 100 pages. I did call one of the shockers at the end, but it was all very satisfying. The epilogue made me laugh, too!
shelleyrae's review against another edition
3.0
When Pace complained of feeling ill she was not expecting a blood test to show she was pregnant, especially when her husband had a vasectomy three years before. While Pace is convinced it is all a mistake, Jason's faith in his wife is shattered, especially when she lies about the doctor's report. In short order, their happy marriage begins to disintegrate into a morass of suspicion and resentment.
While Pace and Jason don't believe their relationship can survive without trust, Pace's mother is trying to ignore yet another of her husband's infidelities. Victoria has long ago lost trust in her husband but clung to the marriage for the security it offered her. His latest fling though is a 20 year old intern, the daughter of a friend, and when Colin's secret becomes public, Tori is finally forced to make a choice, but can she trust herself?
Misconception is an emotional domestic drama exploring the issues of trust, communication and fidelity in a marriage. Hayes contrasts the relationship between Pace and Jason with that of Pace's parents, examining the issues the couples face and the differences in how they choose to deal with them.
Pace and Jason are characters that are easy to relate to, married for a few years they are happy but under pressure with children and work and the intimacy of their relationship is a casualty. Realistically, I think Jason's reaction to Pace's unexpected pregnancy is understandable, even in the most ideal of marital circumstances and Hayes captures the doubts, fears and resentments caused by the situation perfectly.
The relationship between Victoria and Colin also has the ring of truth and I thought Hayes demonstrated Tori's conflict about the state of her marriage credibly. There is no mention of this plot in the blurb which is a bit odd since it does have quite a lot of significance. While the two plots intersect nicely, I think they could have perhaps been meshed a little more.
The writing is solid and Hayes demonstrates a good grasp of realistic dialogue. There were a few minor errors in the text but they are barely worth mentioning. The pace is good and I found it an easy and fairly quick read. I must mention that the title is an inspired choice with it's dual reference.
Overall, Misconception was a pleasant read with an interesting scenario that had me considering what my reaction would be in similar circumstances. Commitment is just a concept until it is truly tested.
While Pace and Jason don't believe their relationship can survive without trust, Pace's mother is trying to ignore yet another of her husband's infidelities. Victoria has long ago lost trust in her husband but clung to the marriage for the security it offered her. His latest fling though is a 20 year old intern, the daughter of a friend, and when Colin's secret becomes public, Tori is finally forced to make a choice, but can she trust herself?
Misconception is an emotional domestic drama exploring the issues of trust, communication and fidelity in a marriage. Hayes contrasts the relationship between Pace and Jason with that of Pace's parents, examining the issues the couples face and the differences in how they choose to deal with them.
Pace and Jason are characters that are easy to relate to, married for a few years they are happy but under pressure with children and work and the intimacy of their relationship is a casualty. Realistically, I think Jason's reaction to Pace's unexpected pregnancy is understandable, even in the most ideal of marital circumstances and Hayes captures the doubts, fears and resentments caused by the situation perfectly.
The relationship between Victoria and Colin also has the ring of truth and I thought Hayes demonstrated Tori's conflict about the state of her marriage credibly. There is no mention of this plot in the blurb which is a bit odd since it does have quite a lot of significance. While the two plots intersect nicely, I think they could have perhaps been meshed a little more.
The writing is solid and Hayes demonstrates a good grasp of realistic dialogue. There were a few minor errors in the text but they are barely worth mentioning. The pace is good and I found it an easy and fairly quick read. I must mention that the title is an inspired choice with it's dual reference.
Overall, Misconception was a pleasant read with an interesting scenario that had me considering what my reaction would be in similar circumstances. Commitment is just a concept until it is truly tested.
izziede's review
3.0
It's an interesting scenario.
The husband believes the wife has cheated and she has no way to prove she didn't other than her word.
It examines the issues of trust and effects of cheating between the couple but also another couple have a story within the book as in their situation the husband is cheating so does the wife leave or put up with it.
The issue of the misdiagnosed pregnancy is not revealed until the last few paragraphs.
No intimate scenes with anyone other than the Hero and heroine.
Accusation of cheating.
Other man drama and other woman drama, opportunities for both to be with others if they chose.
HEA.
The husband believes the wife has cheated and she has no way to prove she didn't other than her word.
It examines the issues of trust and effects of cheating between the couple but also another couple have a story within the book as in their situation the husband is cheating so does the wife leave or put up with it.
The issue of the misdiagnosed pregnancy is not revealed until the last few paragraphs.
No intimate scenes with anyone other than the Hero and heroine.
Accusation of cheating.
Other man drama and other woman drama, opportunities for both to be with others if they chose.
HEA.
abookishaffair's review
4.0
This book is sort of a case study of what happens when we don't talk to our loved ones. Jason and Pace are sort of happily married but they have a little bit to work on, including talking to each other to make sure their relationship doesn't go astray. While I reading this book, I happened to also be taking a communication training class. I felt that Jason and Pace would have done well to take a class like that. They definitely would avoid some of the issues they faced in the book. Mis-communications can happen though, especially in relationships even those that we've been in for a long time. We don't say what we need to say or we're afraid to ask the tough questions. In that way, I thought the book was really realistic.
Pace's dad is a U.S. Senator and while the book takes place in Atlanta, you can get a little taste of that DC flavor, which I really liked.
This book is well written and really pulls you in. I found myself rooting for the characters and hoping that everything turns out okay. It's not a high brow book but the characters are really realistic and relatable.
Bottom line: This is a good quick read.
Pace's dad is a U.S. Senator and while the book takes place in Atlanta, you can get a little taste of that DC flavor, which I really liked.
This book is well written and really pulls you in. I found myself rooting for the characters and hoping that everything turns out okay. It's not a high brow book but the characters are really realistic and relatable.
Bottom line: This is a good quick read.
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