Review of Secret and Deception, books by Remi Togun-Akinola

The Secret is the heartwarming story of Dr. Teniola and Adeife's journey to love and marriage. However, the book starts with the love story of Adeife’s parents, Lucas and Princess Tife. Their romance begins at the University of Ibadan and ends in marriage after obtaining their Master's Degree in Finance. Adeife is their only child and was raised in a controlled academic environment because his father was grooming him to take over his multimillion-naira realtor's business.

The story shifted to the parents of Teniola, Ambassador Jaiyeoba, a retired Nigerian Ambassador to France and his French wife Susan, who died later in the story. Teniola got pregnant at fourteen while still in SS2. They withdrew her from school and flew her abroad to have the baby.

Twelve years later, she became Dr. Teniola, a General Practitioner at Rubik Medical Centre at Lekki. It was at this medical facility that she crossed paths with Adeife, who had come in for a routine checkup. Her compassionate care towards him served as the catalyst for their connection, and their love blossomed. Their families were delighted with their union, realising that they had been longtime friends.

Dr. Teniola and Adeife were both successful in their chosen careers. Adeife inherited his father’s realtor business while his father went abroad with his wife to enjoy their old age. Teniola also inherited her late mother’s assets worth millions of dollars. She used part of it to build a maternity hospital in honour of her mother.

They eventually get married and live happily. However, there is a dark cloud in the skyline of their marriage. Three years later, the cloud becomes denser and tears them apart. Teniola left the country back to France and stayed away for five years. A divorce letter from Adeife and the news of another woman going after her husband brought her back. On her arrival, the secret of her previous life, her concealed pregnancy, and the truth about her child was disclosed, leaving everyone, including Teniola, astounded. 

The story is a captivating narrative, full of suspense that grips the reader until the very end. While it excels as a romance tale, certain scenes lack the emotional finesse required to evoke the desired impact to help readers better understand the setting and create a more immersive experience. And some plotlines appear feeble. 

Deception

Deception is a story that captures the sad consequences of betrayal, lack of trust and acts of immaturity. Michael Johnson and Itunu Ayodele meet and fall in love and coincidentally enrol in the same school and department. Itunu got pregnant and was afraid to tell Michael because he would ask her to abort the baby since they were still in school.

Their love story takes a harrowing turn when Itunu confides in her friend. Lara, being Itunu's closest confidante, becomes privy to her pregnancy and her apprehension in revealing it to Michael, a secret entrusted solely to her. Fuelled by jealousy, Lara clandestinely betrays her friend by disclosing this secret fear to Michael. Filled with anger and betrayal, Michael abruptly terminates their four-year-long relationship.

Left emotionally shattered and carrying a three-month-old pregnancy, Itunu turns to her uncle, her sole relative and benefactor since her parent's demise. Her uncle supports her decision to keep the child and reaches out to his wife's junior sister, Dr Mrs Jones, a lecturer at Legon University in Ghana. Dr. Mrs. Jones extends her home to Itunu and facilitates her continued education in Ghana.

As Michael eventually realises his grave mistake and embarks on a quest to locate Itunu, she has already departed from the school. Itunu's uncle thwarted all Michael’s attempts to find out about his niece's whereabouts and vehemently refused to welcome him into his home. Later, through Lara, Michael learns of Itunu's tragic demise during childbirth. For years, the weight of his grief and the repercussions of his heartless actions haunt him, rendering him emotionally incapacitated and unable to pursue romantic relationships.

Meanwhile, amid Itunu's trials and tribulations, Dr. Teni Jones, her uncle's sister-in-law, adopts her as her own, renaming her Mariam Ayodele-Jones. Itunu, now Mariam, gives birth to twin boys and finds a loving home with her adopted mother.

However, fate, the master orchestrator, has more in store for these star-crossed lovers. A twist of destiny reunites Michael and Itunu when he accepts a career opportunity in Ghana through his American company, where Itunu works as an engineer. His decision is fueled by the need to reconcile his dreams with reality, aiming to extricate Itunu and their twins from his haunting past.

Their love rekindles, but Michael remains oblivious that Itunu and Mariam are the same girl he mourned as dead. On the other hand, she guards this secret closely, torn between revealing the truth and the overwhelming power of their love.

Deception is a captivating romance narrative that takes readers on an emotional odyssey of abandonment and survival. The novel reveals the intricate facets of love and the indomitable resilience of the human spirit, proving that love can defy even the most formidable odds to flourish.

The author

Remi Togun-Akinola was born in Osun State,Nigeria. She is an accomplished Educationist and Seasoned School Administrator.

She worked for the Lagos State Government as a Secondary School Teacher for almost thirty-five years and retired as a Principal and a Director.

She is also an Emotional Health Manager and Counselor.

She lives in Lagos State, Nigeria, with her husband and Children.

She is the author of Greater Love, Enduring Heart and Bittersweet.