Deceptive Calm Audiobook By Patricia Skipper cover art

Deceptive Calm

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Deceptive Calm

By: Patricia Skipper
Narrated by: Tanya Reuter
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About this listen

Against the turbulent backdrop of declared martial law in South Carolina, a stunning light-skinned beauty, Vanessa, lives in a Catholic orphanage for Blacks. After a series of racial traumas, Vanessa obtains the birth certificate of a deceased white baby and uses this document to assume the child's identity. She moves to California and enrolls at UC Berkeley under her newly acquired name.

Vanessa marries into one of California's wealthiest families. Her charmed life abruptly ends eighteen months after the birth of her first child who is diagnosed with sickle cell trait. Discovering that the woman he married is Black, as is his toddler son, Vanessa's ruthless husband plots his revenge but they both survive. The police investigation that follows seems pretty clear-cut until a curious, young detective uncovers some clues to her private life where nothing is as it appears. The aftermath of the discovery brings down a pillar of San Francisco society.

©2023 Patricia Skipper (P)2024 Patricia Skipper
Crime Thrillers Drama & Plays Fantasy

What listeners say about Deceptive Calm

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

My view on racism changed

Deceptive Calm by Everand is an enthralling novel that takes readers on a wild ride filled with twists and turns. Set against a backdrop of privilege and power, the story follows two young girls as they navigate a world of deceit and resilience. The intricate plot and well-developed characters kept me on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning the pages to see what would happen next. Despite some graphic scenes, the book's unique perspective on racism through the eyes of its characters added depth to the story. I was completely invested in the lives of these characters and found it hard to put the book down. Overall, Deceptive Calm is a must-read for anyone looking for a captivating and thought-provoking novel that will keep them hooked until the very end.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

I love the book, hate the narrator

Deceptive Calm by Skipper Penny is a very unique drama filled novel. The way the author takes you through the lives of the characters, gives you a very indepth view of who they are and how they function. The first few chapters allow you to connect with them and the trials they go through in their personal lives and give a proper precurser to their personalities.

The author takes you through a time in American history where you can imagine the fear and hope that black people had during Civil rights. There are many racial slurs used to depict this. It also helps you empathize with the struggle of what it was to want to be who you are, but not be able to due to the prejudices of that time.

The author gave the main characters a sisterly feel but made sure they had extremely separate identiites. I felt the author provided two points of view to allow the reader to choose whom you could relate to more. The book also allowed you to envision the pros and cons of each character as well. Not making either character more likeable than the other by having them both go through conflicting and controversial storms in their lives.

The book says it's romance. I don't see romance. I see more of trauma. I think this book should have a trigger warning for Spousal SA and coercion. However, this trigger warning did not affect my opinion of the book. It actually did the opposite and engulfed me to feel something different and want to read more to get to the end.

I give this book a 3.5. I purchased the book on amazon audible and did not enjoy the narrator. But the book is so well written that I continued to listen. There was no inflection or feeling in the narrators voice so it took away from the suspence and emotion readers should be feeling. I also felt that while the ending was beautiful it was too abrupt and anticlimactic. I would have continued to listen to more had there been more.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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the racist comments

it was uncomfortable to read and do not recommend to pple that dnt like rasim

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Nothing really stood out.

The story just didn't involve any strong emotions in me. It was a cool story but rather bland.

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A romantic book with a wonderful story

The book of Deceptive Calm follows the life of a light-skinned woman named Vanessa, who struggles with identity after traumatic events take place in her life, causing her to move away. She moved across the country with a new identity and was looking for a fresh start. With her new identity, she becomes the first female lead in broadcasting. She finds love and is living a dream that everyone wanted. However, her deceptions catch up to her, turning her life upside down. 

The book highlights Vanessa's resilience, love, relationships, betrayal, marriage, and loyalty. I loved how the author depicted the difference in her love life. The love she got in marriage was not as strong as the love she had at home with her true love. The romance was well-written and gives you a different perspective on what love truly is and how it should feel. The flow was smooth. There was suspense, but it was overbearing in the last two chapters. The ending plot was the best part of the book. The characters were relatable and historical. Overall, the book was amazing and a wonderful story. 

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Decent Read

Deceptive Calm started out a bit slow for my taste. it was a fairly decent read, however I could have done without all of the unnecessary cursing and soft porn. I believe the overly descriptive nature of the sex scenes was more graffic than it needed to be. Most of all I was very disappointed with the end of the story. The fact that the end seems to suggest Barry was going to be with Vanessa in any capacity was stupid and unrealistic. Definitely not what I would consider a proper ending.

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  • Overall
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    4 out of 5 stars

A striking story that delivers a powerful dose of reality

Deceptive Calm by Patricia Skipper is a powerful and emotional story of resilience. It follows Vanessa, a light-skinned Black woman, as she navigates nearly 40 years of challenges in a society shaped by racism, sexism, and inequality. Set in post-martial-law South Carolina, Vanessa’s journey highlights the struggles of women who face discrimination on multiple fronts. Yet, beneath her calm and composed exterior lies a fierce and determined heart.

One of the most striking parts of the story is when Vanessa gets a chance to completely reinvent herself. With the birth certificate of a deceased White baby, she creates a new identity and steps into a life of new challenges and opportunities. This pivotal moment shows her strength and her willingness to redefine her future despite the weight of her past.

Patricia Skipper’s storytelling is heartfelt and clear, making the emotional struggles and societal pressures feel very real. The book also celebrates Vanessa’s determination, her relationships, and her personal growth, showing how the people and places in her life shape her.

While the pacing can feel uneven at times, and the open-ended conclusion leaves some questions unanswered, the story’s focus on Vanessa’s resilience and strength is deeply inspiring. Deceptive Calm is a thought-provoking and moving read, especially for women who may see pieces of their own experiences reflected in Vanessa’s story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

It’s an emotionally powerful read!

Deceptive Calm is a heart-wrenching, uplifting, and provocative story that explores the emotional rollercoaster of life. From the beginning, it felt as if the story jumped straight into the middle of something, creating an immediate sense of intrigue. The protagonist experiences every imaginable emotion—love, disappointment, heartbreak, joy, and ecstasy—which makes her journey incredibly relatable and intense.

The central theme of the story focuses on the different types of people who come into our lives, each with their own purpose. Some people build us up, others love us, some challenge us, and some break us down. The way the author explores this idea adds layers to the story, showing the complexity of relationships and human connections.

At times, I found myself completely captivated by the drama unfolding in the book. There were days when I couldn't put it down, eager to know what would happen next. However, there were also moments when the emotional weight of the story became overwhelming, and I had to take breaks to process everything. This emotional push and pull made for a very engaging, though at times taxing, reading experience.

Despite its many strengths, I did find that the pacing in the beginning was a bit confusing. The first two chapters were especially difficult to follow, and I had to reread them multiple times to catch up with the story. While this did slow me down initially, once I found my footing, the book flowed more smoothly.

One of the aspects I appreciated most was how the author depicted life from a pure, almost innocent perspective. The protagonist’s experiences often teach her hard lessons, and her journey toward understanding who people really are, beyond their masks, felt poignant. It's a reminder that we often don't understand certain aspects of life until we are taught or experience them ourselves.

However, there were some aspects of the characters and their relationships that left me questioning their motivations. For example, the protagonist’s love interests, Barry and later her husband, came across as overly aggressive, which sometimes made the protagonist seem unsure of herself. She often seemed to flock to people who showed her interest, rather than sticking to her own principles, which was a bit frustrating.

It’s an emotionally powerful read, full of drama and real-life lessons. The story would likely translate well into a TV show, as it has the perfect mix of emotional intensity and intrigue. While there were some minor pacing issues and moments of confusion, the story's depth and emotional journey make it worth the read.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A southern childhood sweetheart

I really loved this book. The main character was a favorite. Her story was full of love, sadness and adventure. A must read for women

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