Illusions

by Sheryl Hames Torres

Protecting her six children and her wheelchair-bound grandmother is the core around which Lily Cabot's life revolves. She will endure whatever tortures her abusive and estranged husband doles out in order to keep them safe. Enter the kids' enigmatic teacher, Alex Anderson, who wants to be a part of Lily's life, and of the children's lives. He longs to protect them, and take away their pain and fear; but Alex has a secret that could unravel the gossamer thread that binds them. It's time all their illusions were ripped away.

303 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 23, 2011

About the author

Sheryl Hames Torres started making up stories as a girl to keep her five younger siblings entertained. She started writing them down to keep the voices in her head from having her committed. Vibrant settings and dashing heroes soon turned into real life when her family moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where she met and married her very own Prince Charming. He taught her that sometimes reality is the fairy tale. Now, after more than thirty years, she and Mark have reared one daughter--an artist and writer--and a son--a musician, mechanic and an automotive "restorer". With a house filled with love and laughter, music and beautiful creations, lots of shedding fur from a ferociously friendly dog and a temperamental cat who thinks HE rules the roost, Sher lives out her fairy tale every day. The Torres’ make their home in Northeast Georgia within a forty-five minutes of her parents and three of those five siblings, where Sher divides her time between her family and friends, writing, restoring antique needlework.

And, of course, a lot of daydreaming…

Reviews

[Nancy Carty Lepri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily Cabot is raising six lovable, well-behaved children while keeping Peter, her abusive ex at bay. She fearful of him, and her kids hold him in contempt, also, wanting no part of him.

Living with her wheelchair-bound grandmother and caring for the needs of seven, not to mention herself, Lily is selfless and strong, determined to create a happy family environment.

The young man she once loved, Zandie Anderson is but a memory, though she still has a soft spot for him in her heart. If only, she thinks...but if only never happened, so she deals with the cards she's been dealt. Not only deals with them, but does an excellent job, too. She encounters many stumbling blocks, though they do not deter her determination for a better life for her young ones.

Zandie, now going by Alex, teaches music for the local school system. His appearance is very different from the Zandie Lily once adored. He offers lessons to her children--drawn to the rowdy, but lovable brood--though more so to the girl he still loves. Attracted to him, Lily perceives something familiar in him, but cannot discern what, for he is not recognizable from the boy she had known. However, a relationship is impossible. She has her young ones and grandmother to care for, and her worry of reprisals from Peter keeps her from enjoying a life of her own.

Can Lily ever escape the bonds that bind her and find the true love she deserves, or will she continue to live in fear?

Ms. Hames Torres pens her novel with flair and wit. Though tackling the difficult subject of domestic violence, her protagonist proves to be a tough, independent woman who is doing an extraordinary job raising her six precocious kids while living with her grandmother, a feisty individual in her own right. Humor mixed with the issue of brutality offers a light-hearted, delightful read plus the anticipation of more in this same tone from this author.