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Illusions #2
Deeper Illusions
Iris and her beautiful Prince Charming, Ryan, are now married. But the issues facing the two only get more complicated and dark. Iris is finding that being married to a man with such a dark past keeps threatening her present and the couple's future.
But the issues from the past do not compare to the devastating issues in the present. A tragic chain of events leads to a possible end of the fairytale...
But the issues from the past do not compare to the devastating issues in the present. A tragic chain of events leads to a possible end of the fairytale...
372 pages, Paperback
First published June 23, 2013
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739 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
September 13, 2016
Four eye-rolling, coo-coo-for-cocoa-puffs, 'you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me', over-the-top stars
I thought Part One was pretty crazy. But Part Two went above and beyond and sailed into insanity--a realm of insanity I didn't know existed.
Do you like soap operas? Do you like feeling as if your favorite characters can't cut a break? Do you love that just when you thought you've seen the pinnacle of bizarre, there's more waiting around the corner? If the answer is "Yes", then get this trilogy. There's no commercial breaks and no hovering in suspense waiting for Monday to come back around and pick up where they left off. And, best of all, no annoying special-news-break interruptions. If you are like me, you are going to have a hard time putting it down and sleeping--even when you are at your wits-end and completely pissed at every character. You are going to yell out "What the EFF?!", or "You supreme dumb-ass!", but nothing will stop you from finishing. You will have to know. You can't not know.
In this installment, our heroine, Iris, has drifted into being a little less likable. But not by much. She's still understanding and sweet-natured. But tragic circumstances have made her lose her previous humor. Being with Ryan is taking it's toll on her. And what a toll! She's still reeling from and dealing with the insanity from Part One, only to be, yet again, the victim of lunacy.
Ryan, too, has lost some of his luster for me. Yes, he loves Iris to distraction and none of the bad things that happened are truly his fault. But tragedy aside, Ryan needs to man up and quit letting his need for love turn him into a pansy. Nat, Nate, Alexis, his Dad... they all need to be cut off. Oddly enough, the one person in all of this I was really worried about from the beginning--Nick--is the one who is (so far) normal and benign. A little self-centered and judgmental, but he's not money-grubbing or out of his mind. That's a plus.
This whole series is bat-shit crazy. Early on in this book there's a scene where the news media has latched on to all the sordid details of their lives and Iris and Ryan have this conversation:
"But honey, everybody now knows that you're married to a self-mutilator who attempted suicide."
"And everybody now knows that you're married to a bisexual drug addict who was forced to participate in sex parties at the age of 13. As I see it, you have the shorter end of the stick here."
And that's just the tip of the iceberg. It gets even more dramatic and twisted from there. Despite the eye-rolling I'm doing, I'm completely gleeful to start Part Three. Bring on the Wackadoodles! I'll suspend disbelief for a few more hours. I'm invested in Iris and Ryan and have to know how everything gets resolved.
*I would recommend that Parts 2 & 3 be read close together. Part 2 ends on a major cliffhanger and Part 3 is not as long and wraps everything up.
**Also, those who are sensitive to the subject of sexual violence may want to beware.
I thought Part One was pretty crazy. But Part Two went above and beyond and sailed into insanity--a realm of insanity I didn't know existed.
Do you like soap operas? Do you like feeling as if your favorite characters can't cut a break? Do you love that just when you thought you've seen the pinnacle of bizarre, there's more waiting around the corner? If the answer is "Yes", then get this trilogy. There's no commercial breaks and no hovering in suspense waiting for Monday to come back around and pick up where they left off. And, best of all, no annoying special-news-break interruptions. If you are like me, you are going to have a hard time putting it down and sleeping--even when you are at your wits-end and completely pissed at every character. You are going to yell out "What the EFF?!", or "You supreme dumb-ass!", but nothing will stop you from finishing. You will have to know. You can't not know.
In this installment, our heroine, Iris, has drifted into being a little less likable. But not by much. She's still understanding and sweet-natured. But tragic circumstances have made her lose her previous humor. Being with Ryan is taking it's toll on her. And what a toll! She's still reeling from and dealing with the insanity from Part One, only to be, yet again, the victim of lunacy.
Ryan, too, has lost some of his luster for me. Yes, he loves Iris to distraction and none of the bad things that happened are truly his fault. But tragedy aside, Ryan needs to man up and quit letting his need for love turn him into a pansy. Nat, Nate, Alexis, his Dad... they all need to be cut off. Oddly enough, the one person in all of this I was really worried about from the beginning--Nick--is the one who is (so far) normal and benign. A little self-centered and judgmental, but he's not money-grubbing or out of his mind. That's a plus.
This whole series is bat-shit crazy. Early on in this book there's a scene where the news media has latched on to all the sordid details of their lives and Iris and Ryan have this conversation:
"But honey, everybody now knows that you're married to a self-mutilator who attempted suicide."
"And everybody now knows that you're married to a bisexual drug addict who was forced to participate in sex parties at the age of 13. As I see it, you have the shorter end of the stick here."
And that's just the tip of the iceberg. It gets even more dramatic and twisted from there. Despite the eye-rolling I'm doing, I'm completely gleeful to start Part Three. Bring on the Wackadoodles! I'll suspend disbelief for a few more hours. I'm invested in Iris and Ryan and have to know how everything gets resolved.
*I would recommend that Parts 2 & 3 be read close together. Part 2 ends on a major cliffhanger and Part 3 is not as long and wraps everything up.
**Also, those who are sensitive to the subject of sexual violence may want to beware.
June 22, 2015
After reading the first book in this series, I didn't think I could handle another book. The story lines are just absolutely ridiculous. First thing that bothers me is how Ryan and Iris supposedly made love for hours...11 hours straight, no less. Give me a break! No woman wants a minute man but you definitely don't want to go on for hours! who can stay turned on that long?!? Second thing that bothered me was the Iris being raped. I feel like there was already a ridiculous amount of drama and trauma and this ordeal was overkill. The rape just came out of nowhere. There was never any indication he was maybe a little bit crazy. The third thing that irritated me was how she just disappeared for two weeks and decided she was going to turn into a junkie. Fourth thing was her running off after she found out she was pregnant and deciding to live like a pauper when she had access to millions. What kind of mother does that? Working at whole foods? Really? Fifth thing was how easy it was for Ryan and Iris to forgive each other and starting making love for hours on end....again. She didn't tell you about the baby but after an hour with the shrink, you're ready to have sex again?? Are you serious? The situation with Nat and the baby almost had me ready to throw in the towel on this book. I figured when the author made a point to say Ryan came inside her that a pregnancy would follow. I hate Alexis. Nick is a bully in this novel. And the thing that probably really irritates me more than anything else is how easy it was for Sarah and Ryan to forgive their father after everything he did and then all of a sudden he starts to make a miraculous recovery after being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer!!!I just kept yelling "Really?!?" because I could barely believe what I was reading. I feel like the author is just bombarding us with trauma. It's just one thing after another after another. Honestly, I don't think there's enough love in the world to keep a lot of women in a relationship where they are constantly in some kind of danger or just experiencing traumatic experiences because of the past of their significant other. It's too much!!!!!!! And the last thing....the baby talking at 4 months had me wanting to throw my iPad across the room. This particular author definitely has a flair for the dramatic. I am going to read the third book even though it will probably disappoint me. I need to know what happens though...ridiculous as it may be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2015
Huge spoilers so don't read if you don't want to know... But you know you want to....
I hate everyone in this book! Iris is a doormat. Nick pushes Ryan into things he knows will cause trouble for him and iris, making him responsible for other women and guilting him into it. Alexis is her own problem, not Ryan's. Ryan doesn't consider iris at all! The deposition? He let her go by herself while he and nick took Alexis to the treatment center. Not his fucking problem! But he's an asshole and so is nick! Not to mention he made Iris live with Nat while when she came back with his REAL child. Um DNA test asshole. God he was just such an asshole to her this whole time. Why is she still with him?????? He puts her last in everything. He kissed Nick while he was with her, he fucked Nat and possibly got her pregnant while Iris was held up in a drug house after being RAPED by a body guard he FORCED on her. What the hell else has to happen here? Now he's going to let Alexis live with them?! WTF?!?! Is he that much of a fucking asshole or just literally the dumbest motherfucker on earth? What is wrong with you? All of you, every character in this book is an asshole and ridiculous. I hate a weak h and this one takes the cake. She's willing to let her husband give his best friend blow jobs? Who are you right now? What is wrong with you? Ugh, I have a headache.
I hate everyone in this book! Iris is a doormat. Nick pushes Ryan into things he knows will cause trouble for him and iris, making him responsible for other women and guilting him into it. Alexis is her own problem, not Ryan's. Ryan doesn't consider iris at all! The deposition? He let her go by herself while he and nick took Alexis to the treatment center. Not his fucking problem! But he's an asshole and so is nick! Not to mention he made Iris live with Nat while when she came back with his REAL child. Um DNA test asshole. God he was just such an asshole to her this whole time. Why is she still with him?????? He puts her last in everything. He kissed Nick while he was with her, he fucked Nat and possibly got her pregnant while Iris was held up in a drug house after being RAPED by a body guard he FORCED on her. What the hell else has to happen here? Now he's going to let Alexis live with them?! WTF?!?! Is he that much of a fucking asshole or just literally the dumbest motherfucker on earth? What is wrong with you? All of you, every character in this book is an asshole and ridiculous. I hate a weak h and this one takes the cake. She's willing to let her husband give his best friend blow jobs? Who are you right now? What is wrong with you? Ugh, I have a headache.
December 17, 2020
Fuck, the homophobia was intense in this series.
The writing is terrible with no real flow.
The characters are awful, horrible people.
The drama is telenova levels of insane.
The six month old baby that talks.
The plot strung along with little sense.
The “hours long” sex romps were hysterical. No deets, but 7 and 11 hours long??? One time it was literally 24 hours long with one switch in venues...LOL.
I just can’t go on with this review.
PS - I thought it was shitty she didn’t set the friend up in SF who helped her. Both were single moms scraping by as clerks at Whole Foods. So much for charity. The h could’ve thanked her by changing her life. They had a convo that should have driven the h to do that.
Quotes—
“I had a keen ability to read people. That had always been a talent of mine.” —says the H. If he did he’d have known his first wife fucked everything that moved and that the bodyguard hired for the h was a rapist. Just sayin’
“It’s just so far-fetched. So daytime soap opera-ish.” —No. Shit.
“We made love like that, slowly, tenderly, leisurely, into the morning. The sun came up when we finally disentangled and tried to get caught up on some much-needed sleep.” —ROFLMAO
“...Nick was threatening to break up with [H’s ex-wife], but he confessed to Ryan that he couldn’t cut the cord completely because “the sex was just too good.”
“Yeah,” Ryan said. “When she’s manic, it usually is good. But the mania brings out all sorts of other goodies from her as well. Just wait. You’ll be begging to leave in a matter of days.” —sex was good with ex-wife...WOW.
The writing is terrible with no real flow.
The characters are awful, horrible people.
The drama is telenova levels of insane.
The six month old baby that talks.
The plot strung along with little sense.
The “hours long” sex romps were hysterical. No deets, but 7 and 11 hours long??? One time it was literally 24 hours long with one switch in venues...LOL.
I just can’t go on with this review.
PS - I thought it was shitty she didn’t set the friend up in SF who helped her. Both were single moms scraping by as clerks at Whole Foods. So much for charity. The h could’ve thanked her by changing her life. They had a convo that should have driven the h to do that.
Quotes—
“I had a keen ability to read people. That had always been a talent of mine.” —says the H. If he did he’d have known his first wife fucked everything that moved and that the bodyguard hired for the h was a rapist. Just sayin’
“It’s just so far-fetched. So daytime soap opera-ish.” —No. Shit.
“We made love like that, slowly, tenderly, leisurely, into the morning. The sun came up when we finally disentangled and tried to get caught up on some much-needed sleep.” —ROFLMAO
“...Nick was threatening to break up with [H’s ex-wife], but he confessed to Ryan that he couldn’t cut the cord completely because “the sex was just too good.”
“Yeah,” Ryan said. “When she’s manic, it usually is good. But the mania brings out all sorts of other goodies from her as well. Just wait. You’ll be begging to leave in a matter of days.” —sex was good with ex-wife...WOW.
August 1, 2013
I'm going to have to call in sick tomorrow at work because I CAN'T PUT THIS BOOK DOWN!
July 12, 2013
I would have never started this series if I had know it was a trilogy...other than the damn cliffhanger, it was a very emotional read. I real roller coaster. Now I have to wait until the next book!
February 23, 2016
Unfortunately a very stupid story
I can't understand why I read this entire trilogy. The characters had to be the most stupid people alive. The writing was unbelievably stupid."i put my thumb and finger showing a small space between them to mean a s m all amount" . Really ! Is that what it means? It was written like a recipe instruction. Always explaining what it meant. The crap these characters went through was unbelievable. And I really wanted to smack some sense into them because they were just waiting for the next bomb to drop and handle it in the worst way. Don't bother with this book because you will be angry you wasted you time.
I can't understand why I read this entire trilogy. The characters had to be the most stupid people alive. The writing was unbelievably stupid."i put my thumb and finger showing a small space between them to mean a s m all amount" . Really ! Is that what it means? It was written like a recipe instruction. Always explaining what it meant. The crap these characters went through was unbelievable. And I really wanted to smack some sense into them because they were just waiting for the next bomb to drop and handle it in the worst way. Don't bother with this book because you will be angry you wasted you time.
October 18, 2017
Deeper
I am going to continue with the series but geez. There is too much dialogue and they drag it on and on. Still a good story.
I am going to continue with the series but geez. There is too much dialogue and they drag it on and on. Still a good story.
March 7, 2014
Ok I have done it again, I have read all 3 books right in a row and did not review after each one. Now I can not single out which events happened in each book. I enjoyed this series. That was a shit ton of drama and craziness, a lot of ups and downs and a lot of wtf moments but over all I liked this series. I did find a few times there were some incorrect items or statements but it was not really an issue. I seem to always notice when these things happen in books because I am a details person but they did not detract from the story. As I have done before I am putting the same review on all three books since I can not remember where one ended and the next began. Iris was sweet and crazy and forgiving and all over the place. Ryan was doting and sweet and kind and crazy. Alexis was a nut case but still loved her in all her crazy glory. Nick..... kinda yummy and mean and sweet all at the same time. Enjoyable series over all!
July 24, 2013
I just don't know how to best put this. I love the premise of the story. I actually liked parts of this story but the main characters tick me off!!! Thirty something professionals that act like young teens was very frustrating for me. I kept asking myself what adult would act like this and say things like this??? There is a lot of heavy emotional stuff in this story line from this book and book one and with both books I was tempted to just quit because of the fact I kept saying WTF!!!?!!!?! Huge emotional and traumatic events were handled poorly and I get that is part of the character flaw(s) but damn things were too far fetched at times. I did finish the book and I'm hanging with the ending thinking to myself do I want to go through this again to know how it all ends?? I'm just not sure.
May 23, 2014
I didn't really think I'd like this book or this series! However, I think I liked this one better than the 1st. It's not my usual naughty girl book but good.
I really wanted to slap Iris for leaving Ryan while pregnant! I don't blame her for checking out after being raped. That's a hard thing for any woman to over come! But if she loved Ryan so much, she should of stayed around to work through the issues!
Nat, I was ready to beat! I knew it was her when Ryan was hallucinating.
I wanted it to end happy! Because I can't get the 3rd book on my nook just yet. But I will soon & finally be able to read the 3rd.
I love Ryan! He's sweet, compassionate, caring, wonderful & totally in love with Iris! What girl wouldn't want all that.
I really wanted to slap Iris for leaving Ryan while pregnant! I don't blame her for checking out after being raped. That's a hard thing for any woman to over come! But if she loved Ryan so much, she should of stayed around to work through the issues!
Nat, I was ready to beat! I knew it was her when Ryan was hallucinating.
I wanted it to end happy! Because I can't get the 3rd book on my nook just yet. But I will soon & finally be able to read the 3rd.
I love Ryan! He's sweet, compassionate, caring, wonderful & totally in love with Iris! What girl wouldn't want all that.
February 12, 2014
This book picks up right where the first one ended. Ryan and Iris are now married and very happy. It's only a matter of time before things blow up in their face again. It seems like they are destined to no have a happy life together. I hate posting spoilers, so it makes writing this review hard. There is a lot going on in this book, just like in the first. It does end in a cliff hanger, I will be starting the third book tonight. Can't wait to see if Ryan and Iris will end up with their happily ever after or not.
October 9, 2014
Iris and Ryan are married and doing good. But that doesn't last for long. Now she has to deal with her past and rochelle is still after her. So Ryan hires a bodyguard for her but then he attacks her. She goes off the deep end and leaves Ryan. This book has so much raw emotion it is hard to put down. I still keep hoping for Iris and Ryan to get their happy ever after but it just doesn't happen. Now to read the third story. Hopefully Iris and Ryan can finally find some peace and raise their daughter.
July 31, 2013
You have got to be kidding me with this ending!!! There is so much drama and trauma and yet their love for each other, but then this huge cliff hanger ending and almost none of the story lines being resolved just killed me! When is the next book?! I got so absorbed in these books, reading them both in 1 day only to yell out upon finishing the second one. And I got to say, sadly, as much as I tried I just havent really warmed up to the character of Nick.
August 22, 2015
The first was poorly written but had a few hi lights. The second, "Deeper Illusions" was better in many ways. The conversations between the characters was more grownup (I felt the conversations were between teenagers in the first book), and the plot was much better. The story seemed more sewed at the seams and I must admit that I gasped at the plot twists and even cried at some points in the story.
March 23, 2016
What the heck happened? I was all over book one. I could not wait to read book two. Big mistake! What the crap happened to Iris? Even with her insecurities about her body and not being crazy about her job, she was the most stable character in the book. Now all of a sudden she's giving Ryan a run for his money in the issues department. Really?
Talk about a good series going totally off the rails! You have to wonder what the author was thinking...or smoking...
Talk about a good series going totally off the rails! You have to wonder what the author was thinking...or smoking...
July 20, 2014
This book was an emotional roller coaster. The trauma that Iris endures is heartbreaking. The love the two have for each other is refreshing. The book has several twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. My only complaint is that the book needs better editing, but still an awesome read and I look forward to the 3rd book.
September 6, 2014
Further down the rabbit hole we go.
When I thought that all the major twist were already out in the open this book has surprised me with each new turn and parade of skeletons walking out of the closets.
I absolutely loved it and found it well deserving of 5 stars and more.
Now off to see how it all ends.
When I thought that all the major twist were already out in the open this book has surprised me with each new turn and parade of skeletons walking out of the closets.
I absolutely loved it and found it well deserving of 5 stars and more.
Now off to see how it all ends.
October 23, 2015
Gosh I'm so glad to be done with this. I started reading Broken and when I realized it had characters from this series, I bought the 2nd two books to read. What a ridiculous plot- could it be more soap opera-ish? Just completely unrealistic and I couldn't wait for it to end. Dreading reading the last book but I've paid for it now so I'll at least skim it.
February 25, 2014
I put off reading this follow up to Beautiful Illusions only because I was content with the way that the first book ended. But finally I sat down and read this, I couldn't put it down. OMG the freaking ups and down, I am going right into End of Illusions.
December 25, 2014
OK, now I'm truly sucked into this life of Iris and Ryan. I read the first book not realizing it was a series. I couldn't put book two down. Jocoby has this way of writing that is all consuming. I feel I'm living with the pain and heartache and joy along with the characters. A very good read.
January 9, 2014
The things that happen in this book really shows how much one person can handle at a time before you go nuts. Iris and Ryan still having problems that are out of control but still try to work things out. Time for the next one. Can't wait.
June 11, 2014
I'm not sure the author did justice for the characters. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed reading all 3 but somehow the characters actions started to become unreal. Many things didn't add up in the book. I'm not sure I would have chosen some of the paths for these characters.
November 9, 2013
Iris and Ryan are now married but there are still so many that neither of them have revealed. But somehow they must get all of their secrets out so they can truly be happy.
November 12, 2013
Best of the three
November 20, 2013
How many bad things can happen to two people???!!!??? I'm exhausted!!!
December 3, 2013
Oh the drama! I love it. This was a better installment than the first book.still needs some editing though.
December 31, 2013
WOW! This series has it all! I was hooked from the beginning and can't wait to finish the series! I loved the characters!
June 3, 2014
Omg this book rocked. After the first book didn't think it could get any better but I was wrong. It was awesome. Couldn't wait for last book. You rock Annie
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