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Bay of Dreams Series #2
An Illusion of Trust
An alternative cover for this ASIN can be found here
In this sequel to The Brevity of Roses, Renee Vaziri discovers that even when your dreams come true your nightmares remain.
When Renee Marshall locked the door on her dark past and married Jalal Vaziri, she hoped for a quiet life in a California coastal town. Now, with a sexy, adoring, wealthy husband, one beautiful child and another on the way, she dares to believe happily ever after could be her future. But doors don’t always stay locked. As the stress of living in Jalal’s high-society world increases, the traumas of Renee’s past begin to poison the present and threaten to destroy everything she treasures.
Is it her imagination or is Jalal keeping a secret that will end their marriage and rip her children from her life? And could it involve Diane, the woman who reminds Renee too much of Jalal’s beloved first wife?
In this sequel to The Brevity of Roses, Renee Vaziri discovers that even when your dreams come true your nightmares remain.
When Renee Marshall locked the door on her dark past and married Jalal Vaziri, she hoped for a quiet life in a California coastal town. Now, with a sexy, adoring, wealthy husband, one beautiful child and another on the way, she dares to believe happily ever after could be her future. But doors don’t always stay locked. As the stress of living in Jalal’s high-society world increases, the traumas of Renee’s past begin to poison the present and threaten to destroy everything she treasures.
Is it her imagination or is Jalal keeping a secret that will end their marriage and rip her children from her life? And could it involve Diane, the woman who reminds Renee too much of Jalal’s beloved first wife?
353 pages, ebook
First published March 19, 2013
4 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
About the author
Linda Cassidy Lewis
13 books122 followers
Linda Cassidy Lewis believes that life is all about relationships, and her fiction reflects that belief. Indiana born and raised, she now lives with her husband in California, where she writes versions of the stories she held in her head during the years their four sons were growing up. Her home is in the city, so she's thankful for the gift of imagination that whisks her away to sea or mountain or countryside whenever she wishes.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 2, 2013
AN ILLUSION OF TRUST – poignant, sensitive, and heartwarming
After a rocky and passionate relationship which began in THE BREVITY OF ROSES, the prequel to the current book, Renee and Jalal have tied the knot. Renee still can’t believe her luck. Here she is married to this handsome, sexy, charming, intelligent man who also happened to be rich. Coming from a background of having to struggle for every penny, a miserable childhood and young adulthood, Renee is finally able to enjoy love and security. But the trauma of her past, which she stubbornly tries to push away, doesn’t just dissolve in this seemingly idyllic environment. And that past keeps erupting, making her feel insecure and inadequate, making her doubt the love of her family, the love of her husband, and her capacity as mother to her two children. And Jalal, though a loving husband and doting father, seems to have a whole bunch of secrets he doesn’t want to share with his wife, increasing her insecurities and fears. All of this leads to an emotional explosion, and we begin to wonder if the two will ever be happy together again.
I loved the author’s first book, THE BREVITY OF ROSES, and was eagerly awaiting the sequel. I was not disappointed. Linda Cassidy Lewis once again presents us with a sensitive and psychologically profound work, full of vivid details. Her main character, Renee, is a troubled woman and her behavior seems often unreasonable. I sometimes felt like smacking her. But the author does an excellent job of showing her vulnerability and her basic good heart and we keep hoping and rooting for her. Wonderful story!
After a rocky and passionate relationship which began in THE BREVITY OF ROSES, the prequel to the current book, Renee and Jalal have tied the knot. Renee still can’t believe her luck. Here she is married to this handsome, sexy, charming, intelligent man who also happened to be rich. Coming from a background of having to struggle for every penny, a miserable childhood and young adulthood, Renee is finally able to enjoy love and security. But the trauma of her past, which she stubbornly tries to push away, doesn’t just dissolve in this seemingly idyllic environment. And that past keeps erupting, making her feel insecure and inadequate, making her doubt the love of her family, the love of her husband, and her capacity as mother to her two children. And Jalal, though a loving husband and doting father, seems to have a whole bunch of secrets he doesn’t want to share with his wife, increasing her insecurities and fears. All of this leads to an emotional explosion, and we begin to wonder if the two will ever be happy together again.
I loved the author’s first book, THE BREVITY OF ROSES, and was eagerly awaiting the sequel. I was not disappointed. Linda Cassidy Lewis once again presents us with a sensitive and psychologically profound work, full of vivid details. Her main character, Renee, is a troubled woman and her behavior seems often unreasonable. I sometimes felt like smacking her. But the author does an excellent job of showing her vulnerability and her basic good heart and we keep hoping and rooting for her. Wonderful story!
September 10, 2013
This is the follow-up to "The Brevity of Roses" and I read the books back-to-back. I also finished this novel in record time, it took me 1.5 days to do so.
This novel takes up a short time after "The Brevity of Roses" has finished and is told completely from the point of view of Renee, who is now married to Jalal. At the beginning of the novel she visits Meredith's grave to tell her that she and Jalal are going to have a baby.
Fast forward a few years. Renee and Jalal are the proud parents of Adam, who is everything to them. Renee is pregnant for the second time and she and Jalal are going to be the proud parents of a daughter this time.
They still live in Bahia, but their beach house is getting too small for their extending family. So, the house in Coelho where Jalal and Meredith once lived is undergoing a serious overhaul, just in time before the holidays and the birth of their daughter.
But once living there, Renee is not happy in Coelho and her past comes back to haunt her...
I read reviews of this novel by others saying that they liked it even more than "Brevity". The novel tells about Renee's and Jalal's marriage, at first, and everything is hunky-dory. Not a cloud in sight. Therefore, I considered it as your run-of-the-mill romance at first.
Completely the wrong thing to do...
On her son's second birthday, Renee experiences a psychotic episode and finds out that because her brother and sisters were taken away from her, she is deadly afraid the same will happen with her children. More over, she has doubts that her children love her and that Jalal still loves her or has ever loved her. Still, she pretends nothing out of the ordinary is happening and soldiers on. Even though her friend Jennie tells her that she is no longer the old, sassy Renee and it's time she comes back.
On top of that, Renee is convinced Jalal is having it off with another woman and when she gets what she thinks is proof, she shuts down completely and flees once again.
There's also another story-line, where Jalal hires a private detective to find out what became of her brother and sisters. This one has a sad tinge to it, but also a very happy one.
This novel is indeed even better than "Brevity". I already liked Renee in "Brevity", but in "Illusion" she became more human to me, with all her doubts and her fears. I could really understand what was going on in her mind. From a tough cookie she turns into a woman who is afraid that no-one really loves her, because she considers herself to be unlovable. Her story felt really true to me.
I also gave this novel 4 stars, but that is because I hardly ever give 5 stars. If I could have given this novel 4.5 stars to show that I liked it even better than "Brevity", I would have done so.
Again, if you like to submerge yourself in a novel and not come up for air until several hours later, I recommend Linda Cassidy-Lewis's "An Illusion of Trust"!
This novel takes up a short time after "The Brevity of Roses" has finished and is told completely from the point of view of Renee, who is now married to Jalal. At the beginning of the novel she visits Meredith's grave to tell her that she and Jalal are going to have a baby.
Fast forward a few years. Renee and Jalal are the proud parents of Adam, who is everything to them. Renee is pregnant for the second time and she and Jalal are going to be the proud parents of a daughter this time.
They still live in Bahia, but their beach house is getting too small for their extending family. So, the house in Coelho where Jalal and Meredith once lived is undergoing a serious overhaul, just in time before the holidays and the birth of their daughter.
But once living there, Renee is not happy in Coelho and her past comes back to haunt her...
I read reviews of this novel by others saying that they liked it even more than "Brevity". The novel tells about Renee's and Jalal's marriage, at first, and everything is hunky-dory. Not a cloud in sight. Therefore, I considered it as your run-of-the-mill romance at first.
Completely the wrong thing to do...
On her son's second birthday, Renee experiences a psychotic episode and finds out that because her brother and sisters were taken away from her, she is deadly afraid the same will happen with her children. More over, she has doubts that her children love her and that Jalal still loves her or has ever loved her. Still, she pretends nothing out of the ordinary is happening and soldiers on. Even though her friend Jennie tells her that she is no longer the old, sassy Renee and it's time she comes back.
On top of that, Renee is convinced Jalal is having it off with another woman and when she gets what she thinks is proof, she shuts down completely and flees once again.
There's also another story-line, where Jalal hires a private detective to find out what became of her brother and sisters. This one has a sad tinge to it, but also a very happy one.
This novel is indeed even better than "Brevity". I already liked Renee in "Brevity", but in "Illusion" she became more human to me, with all her doubts and her fears. I could really understand what was going on in her mind. From a tough cookie she turns into a woman who is afraid that no-one really loves her, because she considers herself to be unlovable. Her story felt really true to me.
I also gave this novel 4 stars, but that is because I hardly ever give 5 stars. If I could have given this novel 4.5 stars to show that I liked it even better than "Brevity", I would have done so.
Again, if you like to submerge yourself in a novel and not come up for air until several hours later, I recommend Linda Cassidy-Lewis's "An Illusion of Trust"!
August 29, 2016
This story picks up where the first one left off. At the end of the first book, The Brevity of Roses, a new character was introduced, and under the circumstances I was not happy to meet her at first. In An Illusion of Trust she plays a major role. In fact, this story is told from her voice, her perspective, and it was cleverly done.
Renee is young, much younger than the women she now socializes with because of her marriage. Although her wealthy older husband professes to deeply love her, Renee is insecure and suspicious. A few times I was very annoyed with Renee, but I understood her insecurity and lack of confidence. She believes her husband is keeping secrets from her, and there is one woman in their circle whose attention to him adds to her suspicions.
Renee has secrets of her own, a past she doesn’t want known, and people she can’t forgive. Her tormented mind is reaching the breaking point, threatening her marriage, her children’s happiness, her own sanity. Combined with the pressures she feels from her new life – something has got to give. And it does!
An Illusion of Trust is a strongly written novel. Linda Cassidy Lewis is so convincing in her characters, bringing them to life in a very believable way, that it is easy for the reader to get pulled into their lives. This sequel to The Brevity of Roses is definitely not a disappointment. If you did not read The Brevity of Roses it is possible to read An Illusion of Trust and not have trouble following it, even though it is the sequel. Having said that, I would urge you to do yourself a favour and read both books, starting with The Brevity of Roses. Simply for the pleasure of it.
Renee is young, much younger than the women she now socializes with because of her marriage. Although her wealthy older husband professes to deeply love her, Renee is insecure and suspicious. A few times I was very annoyed with Renee, but I understood her insecurity and lack of confidence. She believes her husband is keeping secrets from her, and there is one woman in their circle whose attention to him adds to her suspicions.
Renee has secrets of her own, a past she doesn’t want known, and people she can’t forgive. Her tormented mind is reaching the breaking point, threatening her marriage, her children’s happiness, her own sanity. Combined with the pressures she feels from her new life – something has got to give. And it does!
An Illusion of Trust is a strongly written novel. Linda Cassidy Lewis is so convincing in her characters, bringing them to life in a very believable way, that it is easy for the reader to get pulled into their lives. This sequel to The Brevity of Roses is definitely not a disappointment. If you did not read The Brevity of Roses it is possible to read An Illusion of Trust and not have trouble following it, even though it is the sequel. Having said that, I would urge you to do yourself a favour and read both books, starting with The Brevity of Roses. Simply for the pleasure of it.
May 4, 2013
Love! Love! Love! :-)
Oh how I love Linda’s writing and her characters! I get so lost in her books and love it. I loved the prequel, The Brevity of Roses, so I knew I would love this one. I was right.
In the first book I grew to love Meredith so much that I had a hard time liking Renee. Not because Renee wasn’t a great person, just I loved Meredith so much it was hard to let go of her.
Not to worry though in this second installment. Renee won me over, and fast. I loved her right from the start and felt so deeply for all of her faults. She is the product of a hard life, one that she still has yet to come to terms with. Because of her upbringing, and Meredith’s ghost, she has a hard time accepting her new life as Mrs. Vaziri.
I still loved Jalal from the first book, but at times in this book I wanted to jump through the pages and smack the back of his head. Men! But that’s what made this book so wonderful. The characters are so real. Renee is such a deep, passionate, and troubled character that she really resounded with me. I felt myself going on the same rollercoaster ride with her. I even found myself crying for her at times.
And I can’t forget the writing. I love Linda’s way with words, her way of bringing life to the story. I can’t wait to read what she has in store for us next!
Oh how I love Linda’s writing and her characters! I get so lost in her books and love it. I loved the prequel, The Brevity of Roses, so I knew I would love this one. I was right.
In the first book I grew to love Meredith so much that I had a hard time liking Renee. Not because Renee wasn’t a great person, just I loved Meredith so much it was hard to let go of her.
Not to worry though in this second installment. Renee won me over, and fast. I loved her right from the start and felt so deeply for all of her faults. She is the product of a hard life, one that she still has yet to come to terms with. Because of her upbringing, and Meredith’s ghost, she has a hard time accepting her new life as Mrs. Vaziri.
I still loved Jalal from the first book, but at times in this book I wanted to jump through the pages and smack the back of his head. Men! But that’s what made this book so wonderful. The characters are so real. Renee is such a deep, passionate, and troubled character that she really resounded with me. I felt myself going on the same rollercoaster ride with her. I even found myself crying for her at times.
And I can’t forget the writing. I love Linda’s way with words, her way of bringing life to the story. I can’t wait to read what she has in store for us next!
April 14, 2013
This long awaited sequel to The Brevity of Roses, is a must read. It is a story about how the past can destroy the future, if allowed to. Renee Marshall has done well for herself; a gorgeous, sexy husband, two adorable children, in-laws who provide the family she always longed for, a healthy bank account and a fabulous house in a privileged community. Then why isn’t she happy? She can’t seem to get rid of a past that haunts her and is bound to destroy her and everything she cherishes. This well written story is raw with emotions and seasoned with believable characters. I could not put this book down as I needed to know, will Renee be able to confront the past and make peace or will she lose everything? Thanks for writing this book, Ms Cassidy Lewis. It was worth the wait!
August 26, 2013
Linda Cassidy Lewis is a dear friend of mine. We’re practically neighbors, too, and I can’t wait to sit down with her and chat about writing. In any event, it was not difficult at all to get me to grab my copy of this book. Lewis’ writing is top notch and I really enjoyed this book. I wanted to strangle Lewis’ character Renee a few times, but her struggles are integral to the story and make perfect sense once you’ve taken this continued journey with her. Lewis spins a fine tale and I hope she continues to pick up her mighty pen and blaze trails like this one. I fear Lewis is uncertain of the talent she has, but she shouldn’t. Her writing is as good as anything out there in the market place.
March 21, 2013
I read The Brevity of Roses back when it first came out so was eager to get my hands on this book. Linda has a really gentle, lush style which envelops you, draws you into the story, and doesn't let go. This felt like a very intimate story and I was kept hoping, but not knowing, that things would work out okay - are Renee's worries accurate? Are the concerns her family has for her valid? The nervous feelings didn't leave my gut until I'd finished the book. If you read the first one, definitely pick this up, and if you haven't read Brevity yet, go and read it now!
May 19, 2013
Loved the book!!! It is a fitting sequel to The Brevity of Roses!
The first book consisted of multiple povs but this one is completely written in Renee's pov
In this one Linda shows that life does not consist of Happily Ever Afters!
This books takes on the life of Jalal and Renee after marriage.. Just when they think they have found true happiness Jalal find themselves facing doubts and troubles brought on by their pasts
This book shows how they cross all these obstacles... Definitely worth a read!!!
The first book consisted of multiple povs but this one is completely written in Renee's pov
In this one Linda shows that life does not consist of Happily Ever Afters!
This books takes on the life of Jalal and Renee after marriage.. Just when they think they have found true happiness Jalal find themselves facing doubts and troubles brought on by their pasts
This book shows how they cross all these obstacles... Definitely worth a read!!!
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February 16, 2017I wrote this book, so I won't rate it, but I will tell you I love it and I hope you will too.
To those who read this book, I thank you for giving me precious hours of your reading time. I'm honored.
If you took the next step and wrote a review, I thank you again, no matter what you said or how many stars you gave it. I value your opinions.
I wish you many pleasant hours of reading in your future.
To those who read this book, I thank you for giving me precious hours of your reading time. I'm honored.
If you took the next step and wrote a review, I thank you again, no matter what you said or how many stars you gave it. I value your opinions.
I wish you many pleasant hours of reading in your future.
March 23, 2013
As well written as her first novel, Brevity of Rose. Illusion is a marital saga whose main character's insecurities and past baggage threaten her marriage and her mental health. The line between real or perceived blurs as an internal struggle for the woman who would otherwise have it all. Much recommended.
April 13, 2013
As well written as Lewis' first novel, The Brevity of Roses. Illusion is about the main character's insecurities and how her past threatens her marriage and her mental state. Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews