Review of Deceptive Calm

[Chuks Daniel 1]

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

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5 out of 5 stars

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Patricia Skipper's "Deceptive Calm" is a romance novel that tells a complicated story of racism, love, and betrayal.

The story focuses on Venessa (a Black orphan considered "too white" to be Black), Trisha, and Barry, three seemingly normal friends in the 1960s when racism and race-associated violence were on the rise. Their lives take an interesting turn after their school bus is attacked by the Ku Klux Klan and Trisha gets mortally wounded. With time being the deciding factor, she is rushed to a hospital meant for Blacks even though she is white. This event serves as a key pivot to the future these teenagers will grow up to have.

One of the reasons I enjoyed the book was the humour and sarcastic elements carefully woven into the story to keep readers captivated. A perfect example was when Dr. Hale told Sister Roe that if they had a psychiatric ward, he'd name a wing after her. This one out of many jokes helps dampen the effects of some of the tragic realities the characters in the book had to face. Another reason I enjoyed the book was the excellent storytelling; the author expertly crafted a story that perfectly blended the harsh realities of racism, complicated love, and a strained friendship; these elements served as a foundation to tell a captivating story. I also liked the pacing of the book and the character development. The book wasn't too long to make it feel dragged out and wasn't too short to feel rushed.

I had no dislikes whatsoever for the book. Although I did find some grammatical and spelling errors, they weren't enough to warrant a star deduction. The sexual content and violence might make the book a bit unsuitable for younger readers.

Overall, I'd rate Patricia Skipper's "Deceptive Calm" 5 out of 5 stars for its excellent plot, character development, and expertly woven comedic elements. I'd recommend the book to adults and young adults who enjoy romance and historical novels.

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Deceptive Calm
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