Introduction

Imagine lonely people searching for love, romance or a lifetime partner on an online dating site, at a social function, through a pen pal service, on a social network or through a chance meeting and believe they have found true love and happiness, only to discover that they have been deceived by heartless con artists.

Shades of Deception is a collection of ten fictional short stories centering on diverse men and women who in their speedy search for love, romance and bliss, become the targets and victims of deceit, betrayal, fraud, revenge and scandal. Each chapter tells a story as to how ordinary citizens who are sophisticated, successful and financially smart fall prey to insightful predators that use love, romance, lust and money as embellishments to destroy lives.

The characters are as dynamic as the stories themselves.
Enoff is a business owner who is eager to find someone.
Passion, a pastry chef always sees the good in people.
Marsha is the devoted and clueless wife.
Tawney, a computer developer plans to marry a man she has only known for 24 hours.
Shaun, an ordained marriage and wedding officiant, longs to find a woman with whom to share his accomplishments.
Lea, the caterer, sets out to take her best friend’s man.
Mark, the well-respected and retired math teacher will soon become the subject of scandal in his community.
Kamani, a thriving business owner thinks going the distance to find someone is the answer.
Nia, a top negotiator at a major New York brokerage firm thinks the men she keeps meeting are boring, and
Jamo, a cunning college student, is about to obtain a large trust fund, which he will never get to enjoy.