I want substance in books I read, and I found it in John Patrick Lamont's Betrayals of the Heart. The depth of characterization and richness of detail in the novel are striking and delightful. Lamont's insurance agents and the board of Titanic Insurance of Kansas are realistic and memorable; I liked learning about insurance while reading a great story and watching the plot unfold.
Read Betrayals of the Heart, and you'll want to read its predecessor, The Worst Kind of Lies. A sequel, Fall From Grace, is eagerly awaited.
Five stars, emphatically.
Hulda Sorensen
It keeps getting better!
It has been a year since I finished the first book of this trilogy but it could have easily been only a day. The characters were fresh and the storyline was right where it needed to be, in the front of my mind. Lamont seamlessly guided me into the next phase without re-hashing plots and re-introducing characters. I was immediately drawn in where I had been left off... wanting more.
Because the foundation had been previously established in part-one, the pace of this story is much quicker. The old characters provided a comfortable familiarity while the new characters added unexpected twists and turns that held my interest to the end. The story is far from predictable and reader is rewarded with surprises throughout. I was very pleased with the depth of the plot and the masterful way in which the pieces of the puzzle were revealed. I couldn't help but think, "If Mr. Lamont plays chess like he writes, I would lose every time because he was always three moves ahead of me."
This story ended the same way as the first... with me wanting more. Again I say, "Well done Mr. Lamont!" Keep up the good work.
DWK (Green Bay)
Rating: 5 of 5 Stars 12/14/2010
Don't Miss This One
This is the sophisticated, riveting sequel to John Patrick Lamont's "Sum Of Life....The Worst Kind of Lies". In this second book, the author develops his characters and again makes them "our" characters!!! Betrayals of the Heart" is populated with the most amazing cast of people....people you've met in your life; come across in your businesses. Filled with complex characters.....flawed heroes and unlikely heroines, Lamont's style is fluid and extremely 'readable'. He makes the point...tells his story in a 'can't put this down' manner.
I would recommend getting the first book in the trilogy as it gives the 'meat and potatoes' background of his subject, though this could also be a stand alone purchase. (But....why deny yourself the pleasure!) Be sure to notice the subtleties of Lamont's style....including especially how he names his characters! It will make you want to go back and do an "ah ha!". The author piques one's interest, curiousity and literary background on a regular basis!
JP Lamont explores age old themes of morality.....personal choice....and 'good vs evil' in this modern morality tale. It is the best combination of mystery, intrigue...romance and redemption.
Am anxiously awaiting the 'rest of the story' in the third and last installment....
Treasure Hunter "bon's views"
(Midwest)
Rating: 5 of 5 Stars 05/18/2010
Another great
I just finished reading John Patrick Lamont's BETRAYALS OF THE HEART and was struck by the depth of characterization and richness of detail. There is substance to the book and its predecessor, THE WORST KIND OF LIES, that makes a very satisfying story. I eagerly await the third volume in the SUM OF LIFE trilogy, FALL FROM GRACE.
Lamont's insurance agents and the board of the Titanic Insurance of Kansas are as real as people you may meet in any walk of life; they act and react with each other in unexpected but thoroughly human ways. The author's underlying psychological insights and subtle humor are added delights.
Do read BETRAYALS OF THE HEART and—if you haven't yet—THE WORST KIND OF LIES and you will look forward to what happens to the people of the Titanic Insurance Company of Kansas.
James V.
Rating: 5 of 5 Stars 01/22/2011
Highly recommended
The second book, "Betrayals of the Heart," in JP Lamont's trilogy is fast-paced and the reader can see the plot thickening with every turn of the page. Like a good radio station, there is a mix of the fast pace and the slower bits needed so the reader can take a breath and lean back in their chair. I read quite a bit while on the road and it made the trip seem a lot shorter! This book is both hard to put down and easy to pick back up again if you have a busy lifestyle. There are several plot lines and many characters but the organization makes the story easy to follow. The characters are three dimensional and realistic. The book is written for readers with a variety of interests and leads to new discoveries along the way. Definitely recommend the book.
Happy Reader
Rating: 5 of 5 Stars 12/30/2010