Illusions

Appearances #3

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.

[Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to first apologize about my review. I am not good with words and probably a little all of the place!
I am going to write this review on the series as a whole. I really am not sure what to say because honestly, I am pissed off by the whole series. If you are going to start this and hope for some growth in any of the characters in the book, just walk away from it now. There is none. Not with Matt, who is the biggest asshole. He is controlling, abusive... He... I am not sure I have disliked a character more. I wanted to have some empathy for him with how he was raised and his father. So much internal homophobia. It was so ingrained in who he is.. he will never change and will always keep Ollie hidden. Gosh, and Ollie. He has to sit in the shadows, watching the man he loves, while acting like they are nothing but friends/co-workers. Watch Matt with Finn. I just hoped as the series progressed that there were be growth but they all remained so stagnant. Then with the baby and Finn. All three books are basically the same book. I have seen some reviews saying that Ollie pushed back more and more each book, but really.. he doesn't. Especially in this book. He has no input on the new house or even any true say on moving. He just agrees because Matt controls the whole situation. He has to live apart from Matt while Matt and Finn make decisions regarding the house. Matt is the biggest walking red flag and most definitely not a romantic hero. He may love bomb and throw his money at Ollie but there are parts were he makes sure Ollie doesn't forget it, even though Ollie is an integral part of the company. Ollie deserves better. His family knows he deserves better even though they act just as passive about the whole thing. I won't read any other books related or beyond this last book. I also wasn't interest in the sort of Supernatural turn the book took, though I guess it was always there with them being "destined by the Gods" or whatever.
I will say. The books are written well but I can't get passed Matt - Ollie just wanting to be with Matt so much that he will settle for nothing. His sister doesn't even know. His friends. It's all really so sad.

[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.