The Second Deception

Shadows of Deception, Book 2

By: N.H. Steele

Narrated by: Jake Mahler

One pregnancy. Two potential fathers. A web of lies that threatens to destroy everything.

Olivia Hart's world is turned upside down when she discovers she's pregnant – and the father could be either her husband Daniel or her obsessive pursuer, billionaire Ethan Sterling. As her high-risk pregnancy forces her to make impossible choices, Olivia finds herself moving into Ethan's mansion, ostensibly for her health.

Ethan's possessiveness intensifies, his manipulations becoming more intricate as he strives to claim both Olivia and the baby as his own. Meanwhile, Daniel struggles to hold onto his marriage and sobriety, fighting against Ethan's machinations and his own insecurities.

Caught between two men and two lives, Olivia must navigate a minefield of emotions, lies, and divided loyalties. As the truth about the baby's paternity looms, she's forced to confront her own desires and the devastating consequences of her choices.

In this gripping sequel, the stakes are higher, the emotions rawer, and the deceptions deeper. Olivia must decide not just who she can trust, but who she truly wants – all while protecting the innocent life growing inside her.

The Second Deception is a heart-pounding tale of love, obsession, and the lengths people will go to possess what they desire. In a world where every choice has life-altering consequences, will Olivia find redemption, or will the web of lies finally ensnare her completely?

Listen now to unravel the second deception today.

©2025 Melissa Marie Sovak (P)2026 A Novel Idea Publishing, LLC

Annoyingly repetitive

I’m hanging in there punishing myself to see what happens but if I have to hear the phrase with his or her “features pinched” I’m going to scream! Just so repetitive in general but yet I’m still listening. Ugh.

Stupid!

There is no way anyone is this dumb and naive! It’s too frustrating to finish.

Bad Lifetime meets adolescent sounding AND acting narrator.

Book 1 great premise. Narrator sounds like a geeky 19 something scared of his shadow kid. But got through it. Book 2 a new soap opera high! Terrible!

Just don’t

Besides the point that nobody is this naive, did the editors even try? The word incredulous was used every few minutes. The characters fluttered their eyelashes constantly. Do men flutter their eyelashes? They could’ve used the term “rolling eyes”. I just can’t get over how many times the work incredulous was used and not even properly at times. Didn’t finish. Don’t bother.

I sense a big plot twist coming

Good story overall but Olivia is an idiot. What a doormat.
The narrator didn’t change voices for the characters so they all sounded the same. The story was good but would have been miles better if the narrator distinguished between characters.