Review of Deceptive Calm

[patricia MGBEMENA]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Deceptive Calm" by Patricia Skipper.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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"History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again." - Maya Angelou. While reading Patricia Skipper's Deceptive Calm, I was impressed by the author’s vast knowledge and engaging plot.

The story begins with the declaration of martial law by the governor of South Carolina, and a bus carrying Gordy, Trisha, Barry Hale, Vanessa, and other students was attacked by the Klan. This attack left Trisha with a serious injury, and she was rushed to Cannon Street Hospital.

As events unfold, we get a closer picture of the characters' lives and meet a young girl, Vanessa, who was abandoned in Saint Paul Orphanage, South Carolina. Barry, the son of Dr. Hale, is in love with Vanessa, and this relationship leads to both heartwarming and heartbreaking chapters. Along the way, Vanessa loses her mother, Sister Rosalie, and decides to change her identity and start a new life. Readers of this engaging book, Deceptive Calm, will learn how this bold step ends for her.

Deceptive Calm is a book that stands out in many aspects and explores history, love, family heartbreak, and many more themes. The author does a good job of expressing the naivety of the character Vanessa, and I enjoyed the aspect of the book that discusses her life. Sister Rosalie was another character who helped make the plot lively, and I commend the author on this creative addition. This book also contains a wealth of knowledge on the history of the United States of America, and this makes the book very enlightening. Another interesting aspect of this book is how it describes issues on various topics like racism, marital matters, abortion laws, and many more.

I recommend this book to individuals who enjoy historical fiction, particularly books with American history and romance. I have no dislike for this book and rate it 5 out of 5 stars. I encountered errors while reading it, which shows that it was professionally edited.

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Deceptive Calm
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[Gerry Steen]

I read and enjoyed this book. I agree with everything you wrote in your review. Sister Rosalie was my favorite character. She was boisterous, colorful, and caring. Great review!

[Hills Christopher Albert]

What a powerful and beautifully written review. I love how you connected the story’s themes to Maya Angelou’s quote—it really highlights the emotional depth and historical significance of Deceptive Calm. Vanessa’s journey, in particular, sounds both heartbreaking and inspiring. It’s clear this book doesn’t shy away from tough topics like racism and identity, and I appreciate that you mentioned how the author handles these with sensitivity and insight.

[Sarah Gregory 1]

This is a great review of a book that kept me up at night, just the way I like it. I felt emotionally invested in the outcomes with beloved characters, and I feel like everyone should have a Sister Rosalie in their lives.