Love's Deception (Arabesque) [Mass Market Paperback]

Carissa poses as Travis' fiance to gain access to his hospital room to seek forgiveness for her actions in what she blames as her doing. Carissa's guilt comes from not going to the bedside of her dying father, C. J. Cartel, eighteen years earlier. However, Carissa has taken on the crude business qualities of C.J. Carissa is a lonely and cold-hearted young woman.

Carissa not only has isolated her friends, but she has also isolated her employees. When her secretary, Liz, gives Carissa a dancer ballerina figurine for her birthday, Carissa is upset and cannot express her appreciation for the gift. It is not because Carissa does not like the gift, but because the figurine reminds Carissa of what she gave up earlier in order to please her father. Carissa wanted to be a dancer, but instead, chose the life that was similar to her father.

While Nathan is awaiting for his father's recovery, Nathan and Carissa spend a lot of time together. Nathan assumes Carissa is his father's fiance' and Carissa has assumed another name because she is unable to admit her role in Nathan's father's illness. It is during this time, that Carissa's and Nathan's feelings develop into something stronger -- love. Both have been hurt by others in their lives and are hesitant to reach out and enjoy what life is offering them. Also, there is Carissa's secret that she is hiding and has a hard time admitting to Nathan. However, with all secrets, nothing actually stays hidden forever. Carissa has some tough decisions to make, but will the decisions be made in time? Will the decisions be worth the emotional turmoil she and Nathan endure?

Congratulations, Ms. Byrd. This is another winner.

In the works to complete a hostile takeover of Edwards Electornics, Carissa is surprise when the president of the company comes to her office. She is also surprise when after their heated agrument he has a stroke and goes into a coma.

Struggling with the thought of how she did her father when he was on his sick bed. Carissa strives to do right by visiting Travis Edwards until she meets his son Nathan.

Nathan has not had a good relationship with his father because his father left him and his mother when he was a boy. Believing that his father doesn't care for him, Nathan doesn't know why he evens bothers to go to the hospital.

When he arrives he meets Carissa which he is told is the fiancee' of his father. Their relationship starts of bad. But as they get to know one another they are able to help heal old wounds. Although there is one main secret between them they fall in love with one another.

I really love this book, there was so much suspense and love. You may get impatient with waiting for the truth to be revealed(I did). But it was well worth the wait. All die hard romance readers will love this book. The secondary characters help bring everything together.