Illusions

by TH Forest

Matt and Ollie are back and not everything is as it seems.

Matt’s SEAL buddies come to the Cape and Ollie gains new insight into Matt’s motivations. Instead of pushing them apart, it strengthens their bond and turns up the heat in the bedroom (and the home office, and the boat and the shower and the beach house….)
Meanwhile, Finn, no longer dating Ollie’s cousin, Guy, is approached by the FBI to translate an unknown language which sets off a series of events that change Matt and Ollie’s lives forever.

Illusions is the third book in the Appearances series. It is best read in order but definitely must be read after Foundations (if you can’t take how toxic Matt is in book 1: Appearances). Expect a lot of spice, closeted men, brief homophobia, head-strong, former special forces rivals who beat on each other, and a lot of Matt being Matt.

Hardcover

Published April 5, 2025

About the author

I write heartfelt queer romance and coming of age stories. I have been an avid reader since age 4 and am currently obsessed with MM Romance :-) Book 3 of my Matt & Ollie series was released in April, and the book that started it all, Descendants of the Gods, the very first book I wrote, will be released later this year!

Reviews

[Ali · Rating 1 out of 5]

Spoilers. I’m writing this review because I wish someone else had. I would never have started this series. I was invested in Appearances and quite enjoyed it. I read about 50 pages of Foundations and something occurred to me. I thought Matt isn’t going to change is he?. He’ll stay in the closet, and by association Ollie would too, and only be out to his close circle of friend, Finn, and some family members. I skimmed some of this book and read the some of the last 40 pages. Matt doesn’t change he’s still the same controlling b*stard he’s always been. I’m 99% sure that even Cassie, Ollie’s sister still doesn’t know they are together. I could be wrong as I said I’ve not read much of this book. His friends don’t know who Ollie’s partner is they just know he’s a man. Ollie talks of Matt as his “boss” only. Poor Ollie never gets to be the partner he should have been. Yes they love each other but what sort of a life is it where you’re living a lie?. They will go into their retirement years exactly the same. Some people will be fine with the series, after all they are together and love each other, but, for me I’m left impotent, bereft, cheated and empty. I become emotionally involved in the books I read. I’ve wasted my time and psyche. This series needs another book where Ollie stops putting up with the empty life they have and Matt comes to his bloody senses. A totally frustrating series. If there was a book 4 and they were both out of the closet to EVERYONE I’d start back up with Foundations and complete the series. My reviews and * would change too.

[Sasha Avice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eyebrows were raised

There’s one scene in this book that literally raised my eyebrows. Ah, Matt, still flying more red flags than a Sydney Swans football game. But, like with Book 2, Ollie is pushing back more and more. He acquiesces pretty readily, but that’s believable for how in love he is and how young he is. I also feel like he’s not just letting it go in his thoughts—Matt’s outrageous behaviour plagues him. Don’t get me wrong—Matt is good to him too, but sometimes… wow, just wow. Eyebrows at hairline levels of wow. But we’re heading for a doozy between these two, I can feel it. And Forest has set us up perfectly for Finn’s book! There are way more questions than answers in this one on that front, as there should be. Another five stars for Matt because I don’t think anyone else could be this problematic and STILL be a romantic hero.