Recently I discovered some of Michelle Griep’s earlier books that I hadn’t read. A Heart Deceived is a gripping Gothic regency, much along with the style of her latest, Lost in Darkness. In fact, A Heart Deceived could easily be a part of Griep’s newest series, Of Monsters and Men. Maybe not the physical type of monster, but a monster, nonetheless.

I loved poor, conflicted Miri Brayden. She is torn between fearing and loving her brother, who alternates between treating her hatefully and regressing into partial insanity. Can she keep him safe and both of them housed and respected? What will the arrival of Ethan Goodwin do to her physical and emotional stability?

I loved Ethan because he is both despicable and charming. God gets ahold of his life through John Newton and transforms his desires. But will it be soon enough to salvage his character and keep him from reaping the whirlwind his wastrel life has sown?

Best supporting actor award goes to John Newton, whom we meet as an older, merciful clergy who understands depravity, grace, and faith. He is not afraid to present God to the basest of society. He does so with such humor, love, directness, and confidence that one can’t help but like him. If Griep portrays him correctly, what a transformation God made in his life! Newton’s goal is then to transform as many other lives for the kingdom as possible, but he is so winsome and positive about it!
“God believes in you. Your belief or lack of it doesn’t change His existence.” “When we are at our weakest, God’s at His strongest.”

Michelle Griep had me smiling so many times, even as she wrote about very serious topics. Her ability to turn a phrase at a precise moment gave comic relief to extremely suspenseful scenes. I love that! “‘Your brother treads in dangerous waters, Miss Brayden. Dangerous and deep. See if you can talk some sense into the man.’
Miri dipped a curtsy. She might more easily talk a chicken into giving milk. “And I chortled at, “Why did it never fail that her most wicked thoughts crept out in the holiest of places?”

Jails and insane asylums were horrible places in the regency era, and Griep provides an accurate, eerie look at both. You will think you are in either location with our hapless characters.

The climax and resolution of this wonderful novel are superb, just like the rest of the book. The action is very quick.

A Griep book is always full of “Notable Quotables,” treasures of words, often Biblically-based, that transcend the time into our present lives. How I love this feature of Griep’s books!

If you haven’t discovered this early Griep work, the time to change that omission is now! Most highly recommended!! ( )

This is a terrific read. Reminded me of the gothic romances I loved to read when I was younger, but with a truly redemptive thread (not preachy). At times very gritty, yet eloquently written. This author knows how to open scenes with dynamic punch. And talk about making things worse and worse for her characters. I can't imagine things getting any worse for a hero and heroine. Read it, you'll love it. If you're a writer, study her style. ( )

A Heart Deceived breaks rather new ground for author Michelle Griep. A regency as you likely have not seen it before. Little in the way of bonnets and balls here, rather this story opts for darker and more difficult subject matter including drug addiction, corruption, madness and even murder, but also redemption and a hint of romance.

The central characters Miri and Ethan were certainly interesting and well- drawn, though Ethan’s ‘journey’ and struggles are perhaps more poignant and his story perhaps a little more complete.

The romantic elements also seem to be generally done well, except some passages I did not like for their seeming to border on suggestiveness or sensuality, like Miri just happening to meet Ethan when he had is shirt collar loosened, and them ending up almost doing something inappropriate, when I doubt any gentleman would dare to repsent himself to a Lady in such a way.

The central theme of the story appears to be that of deceit and its impact upon the characters’ lives and story, in which the actions and deeds that have sought to run away from or hide from others both threaten to destroy them.

Whilst it is easy for the characters to grow attached to the protagonists, and vouch for them through their struggles, their exact circumstances may not be such as most readers could relate to. Most people don’t have to conceal their siblings’ descent into violent lunacy after all, though the hopelessness of a life without God, and the necessity of trusting in him are themes which could speak to many.

Yet, maybe somehow there were aspects of the story which were lacking. I felt for instance that as much as the author wanted to make this book ‘grittily’ realistic, it had some of the same problems as her previous titles in this regard.

I’m not really familiar with this period at all, but I did feel that is that the nastiness and unpleasantness of the setting and circumstances sometimes seem a little exaggerated and overdone, especially in the later part of the story.

18th century London may have been an unpleasant place to live for the poor, but I don’t think all the poor areas were entirely squalid, vermin infested slums, and the period was that of the Enlightenment so I found the descriptions of the conditions and treatment of inmates in the asylum to be a little implausible.

And would people with facial disfigurements really have been consigned to an insane asylum? And the villain seemed to be able to get away a little too easily with unlawful acts like having someone imprisoned indefinitely without charge which has been prohibited even in the Magna Carta. I mean could everyone be so easily bribed?

On a spiritual level, the Christian theme was well done, but the treatment of the gospel message and those who delivered it was not something I always felt entirely comfortable with.

It was Miri’s mad murderous brother, and other unsavoury characters who were depicted as delivering a message on sin and condemnation, but the ‘good guys’ who gave one focusing more on mercy and love. This did seem a little like watering down, or as though the former was presented as a ‘bad’ way of preaching what is an integral part of the gospel.

Altogether, Heart Deceived is a worthwhile read with an original plot, despite some shortcomings and reservations I would recommend it.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for review. All opinions expressed in it are my own. ( )

This book is a story of flawed people who learn to put their faith in God, but not without going through many trials. Miri Braydon is dependent upon her older brother, who is seriously mentally ill. She must disguise his illness so that they will have a place to live, but his outbursts are becoming more noticeable. Ethan Goodwin is a drug abuser who lives on the streets in London. His best friend, Miri's younger brother, Will, is killed by jumping in front of the knife intended for him. Will dies telling Ethan to find Miri; that she will help him. This story tells of a woman's necessary dependance on her male relatives (due to the time period) and a man's struggle to change his life for the better. There are the added problems of a missing minister, Will's demise as well as the mental illness of Miri's brother, Roland. Though it is a Christian romance, it was not preachy. I have not been compensated in any way (other than being given a copy of this book to review) and my opinion on the book is entirely my own. ( )