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Illusions Duet #1
Art of Sin
Gideon Masters is a wild god.
Worshipped for his bold paintings as much as his divine looks, he’s the art world’s biggest celebrity. Under normal circumstances, our paths would never cross.
But when his extracurricular activities threaten a high-profile business deal, I’m forced to take him as a client. My task : keep him out of the tabloids for six months. Jobs, including mine, hang in the balance.
But Gideon doesn’t want a publicist.
He wants a new muse.
As I fall deeper under his sinful spell, a lifetime of secrets and carefully crafted lies unravels. Too late, I remember the sinister truths they protect:
I am already someone’s masterpiece.
And the original artist wants me back.
*Art of Sin is book one of a duet and ends on a cliffhanger. But don't worry, book two, Sin of Love will be released March 28th!
*This duet takes place in the world of the Vision Series but can be read as a standalone.
Worshipped for his bold paintings as much as his divine looks, he’s the art world’s biggest celebrity. Under normal circumstances, our paths would never cross.
But when his extracurricular activities threaten a high-profile business deal, I’m forced to take him as a client. My task : keep him out of the tabloids for six months. Jobs, including mine, hang in the balance.
But Gideon doesn’t want a publicist.
He wants a new muse.
As I fall deeper under his sinful spell, a lifetime of secrets and carefully crafted lies unravels. Too late, I remember the sinister truths they protect:
I am already someone’s masterpiece.
And the original artist wants me back.
*Art of Sin is book one of a duet and ends on a cliffhanger. But don't worry, book two, Sin of Love will be released March 28th!
*This duet takes place in the world of the Vision Series but can be read as a standalone.
Unknown Binding
First published March 7, 2019
349 people are currently reading
1116 people want to read
About the author
L.M. Halloran
22 books1,086 followersWhen she's not reading or writing, the author enjoys walking barefoot and chasing her spirited daughter. She's a rabid fan of coffee, moongazing, and small dogs that resemble Ewoks. She lives in Portland, OR.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
August 30, 2020
Deirdre Moss works in a PR agency and she's the perfect doll - on the outside she looks like a woman who knows exactly what she's doing, but it's just a mask. She carries a heavy burden, which she denies in order to survive - and with the help of sleeping pills, she manages to live.
But then came ... Gideon. 💥
📚 "𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝐃𝐞𝐢𝐝𝐫𝐞, 𝐬𝐨 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬.” 📚
Deirdre was hired as a publicist by Gideon Masters - the arrogant, privileged and wild artist who decides to peel off all her layers and find out who she really is. 🎨
At each encounter, Gideon cracks another part and discovers what colors she is hiding deep inside. But as they are going to find out - sometimes there are things that are better left in the past... 💥
📚 “𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐈 𝐚𝐦? 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐞.?”
𝐇𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧, “𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭.” 📚
The story is suspenseful, the plot is original, realistic and complex, the characters are developed - but I did not expect the events that happened in the second half of the first book, and because of its excellent start I was a little taken aback by the direction the plot progressed to. However, after overcoming the shock, I completely saw the beauty in it - and read the second book until the wee hours of the night. 💥💥💥
📚 “𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡, 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞. 𝐈’𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤.” 📚
There were some things I did not like (like the MFM scene that did not fit the story) but they did not stop me from enjoying - except for two things: Towards the end of the first book, Gideon's character took a turn and from powerful and mysterious, he became a wimp, which did not suit him (and ME!!!! 😂) And most importantly... if their love story was not insta-love and they had more time to get acquainted before the "crazy love they had never felt before" this story would have been fucking PERFECT! (wimp or not) 😂😂😂
This duet will not suit everyone, it is not a sweet love story... it's unexpected, thought-provoking and a bit scary (dark, with light descriptions of violence) - but it will make you chew your nails and think about it every time you take a break! 👏💥
Note: This is a sequel to the 'Vision' duet, but you can only read them (like me, I do not like BDSM books and did not feel I lacked information).
Art of Sin: 4 STARS.
Sin of Love: 4.5 STARS.
***𝕀 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕕𝕦𝕖𝕥 𝕚𝕟 ℍ𝕖𝕓𝕣𝕖𝕨 - 𝕀 𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕖𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕕 𝕒 𝕔𝕠𝕡𝕪 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕒𝕟 𝕠𝕓𝕛𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨***
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📖 ᖴOᒪᒪOᗯ ᗰE Oᑎ IᑎᔕTᗩGᖇᗩᗰ: https://www.instagram.com/the_romanti...
📖 ᐯIᔕIT ᗰY ᗷᒪOG ᖴOᖇ ᗰOᖇE ᖇEᐯIEᗯᔕ: https://books-romance.com/
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💕 לקריאת הסקירה בעברית, כנסו לבלוג: https://books-romance.com/ 💕
February 28, 2019
My goodness...just when I think this author's writing can't get any better, she ups her game. This book was BEYOND amazing. I'd give it 50 Stars if I could (lol). The writing was superb. It was paced well. The plot was was intense. Heartbreaking. Sensual. Well developed. Dark. Mysterious. Intricate. The story was told from Dierdre's POV with some flashbacks that give us glimpses into Dierdre's past and that help set up the mystery angle. Which I assume will be in the forefront in book two. 
Both the main characters were super intriguing. Gideon was sexy as f-ck (even if he was a ginger *lol*). He had a bit of a bad boy mystery thing going on even though he was the more straightforward of the two mains. He wore his heart on his sleeve with Dierdre though. Dierdre was really the star of this book. The author mentioned in a post she made that she thought Dierdre was the "alphahole" here, so I admit I was a little scared as I am not a fan of that type of heroine, but "I" didn't find her an alphahole at all. She was strong, but also vulnerable. She was feisty, but also sweet. I thought she was a great heroine. However, I share Gideon's worry...“If someone does come back, it won’t be her. It won’t be Deirdre.”
This was a fairly slow burn romance. No sex until almost 70% into the book, but this couple had OUT OF THIS WORLD sexual chemistry. There wasn't any OW or OM drama. However, the heroine sees the hero getting a BJ at a sex club. It isn't overly detailed and you find out it happened three years before the start of this book. I will also add a spoiler because there is something in this book that I know some people are not fans of --> This book also had some great secondary characters. We briefly see Dominic and London again from PERFECT VISION. I also loved both Finn and Nate and hope we get to see more of them in book two (and beyond?) Last, it was all wrapped up on a heartbreaking cliffhanger. Luckily for ME book two landed on my tablet a couple days ago...woot! (lol)
nope
May 3, 2021My type of hero wouldn't share his woman. Therefore, despite it being a consensual sharing, I wouldn't like it.
Also someone deciding to be the martyr to save others and thus ruining their own life doesn't sit well with me.
Because of the reasons above, I should stay away from this duet no matter how appealing the blurb sounds.
Also someone deciding to be the martyr to save others and thus ruining their own life doesn't sit well with me.
Because of the reasons above, I should stay away from this duet no matter how appealing the blurb sounds.
November 8, 2020
"Wherever you go, you’ll come back to me. I’m inside you, Deirdre Moss. We belong to each other. We are each other’s cornerstones.”
“Whatever you’ve come from, whatever you’ve lived through, I don’t care. I’m not afraid of your dark.”
"But what if I am? Afraid of the darkness inside me?”
"Then I’ll set the world on fire to bring you light."
My Thoughts: The following are my thoughts about this book:
General:
- Trigger warning-abusive childhood (mostly off page), kidnapping and held for years (mostly off page), ménage/sharing
- Setting: San Bernardino, CA, USA
Characters:
- Gideon (age: early 30’s, occupation: famous artist)
- On the outside it looks like Gideon was raised with a silver spoon in his mouth. He’s from a wealthy family, has a Philosophy degree from Harvard and is recently divorced. Although not abused, he has some family secrets that have put a rift between him and his father. His mother died when he was 12.
- The following words/phrases were used to describe hero: wild, untamed, hard, sensuous, a man on the edge, Complex, highly intelligent, perceptive, unpredictable, impossible to read, arrogant, entitled, wildly talented
- Deidre (age: late 20’s, occupation: publicist):
- Deidre grew up in an abusive home and was an orphan and living on the streets by the time she was 14. She was kidnapped and held in captivity for 4 years. Most of the abuse suffered during captivity is off page.
- The following words/phrases were used to describe Deidre: strong, resilient, vulnerable, frigid and at the same time filled with fire, soft yet hard, independent, broken, survivor
- "Kidnapped off the streets at fourteen and fifteen, physically and mentally conditioned for a year, then pimped out for nearly three more to high-rolling criminals, politicians, foreign businessmen… anyone with cash and a need for secrecy."
“I’m not afraid of your dark any more than you’re afraid of mine."
The story:
- childhood abuse is always difficult to read. My heart hurt for all she endured up to the point she finally escaped.
- the flashbacks between childhood, captivity and now didn't bother me. It helped establish Deidre's background and didn't feel disruptive to the flow of the story.
- The transition form enemies to wanting more was missing something. One minute Dee despised Gideon and then somewhere along the line she began to crave his presence. Something was lacking in the execution of this change
- Once the attraction became evident though, then I did feel the chemistry between them. They were each other’s “safe place” and that came through loud and clear.
- A hole: I feel like I missed a little backstory of how Deidre actually went from being held in captivity and abused for years to being a very successful publicist. She escaped and then what.....went to college with no money? Or did she work her way up from the bottom of the company? I’m not sure and that felt like a hole that needed to be filled.
- Although I’ve read captivity stories before, they are all different due to the nature of captivity. The “pretty little doll” angle truly made the kidnapper creepy and someone that I feared.
- I was not a fan of the ménage/sharing aspect. It didn’t really fit the story and where the characters were at the time.
- There are characters from other books but there was enough commentary to know they went through some sh*t but that crap was unrelated to this story. Therefore, I connected with them and felt they added to the story. On the flip side, they weren’t present enough in the story that I felt like I should have read the other books. I will say I’m intrigued with Dominic and London though and will probably go back and read their story.
- The writing was great and sucked me in completely.
Overall, I enjoyed Book 1. It ends on a cliffy so have Book 2 ready to go.
Overview:
- Do you need to read previous books in series?: no
- POV: dual POV
- H likable? Yes
- h likable? Yes
- h virgin? no
- First time they kiss: 64%
- First time they sleep together: 68%
- First time they say I Love You him: 81%; her 90%
- steamy? Yes
- OW/OM drama? Not really. Gideon has an ex and she makes a small appearance
- H/h cheat? consensual sharing
- Time apart? no
- Did I skip pages? No
- Big secrets? Gideon shares some stuff about his mom at 43% but they didn’t have big secrets from each other that caused a rift
- Did I cry? no
- Did I laugh? no
- Cliffhanger? yes
- HEA? not in this book
- Epilogue? not in this book
- Recommend? yes
Quotes
"Only looking back can you see what you’ve lost."
"When I was a child and couldn’t sleep because of the noises in the trailer, I would imagine myself encased in the roots of a gigantic tree. Deep in the earth, my cocoon would keep me warm and safe."
"Ignorance can be bliss, but does that ignorance make it any less blissful?"
“We learn to distrust what we can’t see or understand.”
"There’s no shame in taking comfort in darkness. After all, life begins and ends with it. Darkness isn’t inherently evil any more than a squirrel wandering in the night is a monster.”
"I’m not sure I was alive at all until I met you. You shocked my system, my entire world.”
“Do you know why I think we’re still here, Dee? Because despite everything we went through, all the physical and emotional abuse and victimization when we were young, we have something to offer the world. Something unique. We understand true suffering. I wish you believed that it means we deserve to know true happiness.”
“Your mom was wrong. You’re God’s creature, not the Devil’s. And there’s no way you’ve been brought this far to fall.”
"The longest distance in the world is the eighteen inches between the head and the heart."
“Whatever you’ve come from, whatever you’ve lived through, I don’t care. I’m not afraid of your dark.”
"But what if I am? Afraid of the darkness inside me?”
"Then I’ll set the world on fire to bring you light."
My Thoughts: The following are my thoughts about this book:
General:
- Trigger warning-abusive childhood (mostly off page), kidnapping and held for years (mostly off page), ménage/sharing
- Setting: San Bernardino, CA, USA
Characters:
- Gideon (age: early 30’s, occupation: famous artist)
- On the outside it looks like Gideon was raised with a silver spoon in his mouth. He’s from a wealthy family, has a Philosophy degree from Harvard and is recently divorced. Although not abused, he has some family secrets that have put a rift between him and his father. His mother died when he was 12.
- The following words/phrases were used to describe hero: wild, untamed, hard, sensuous, a man on the edge, Complex, highly intelligent, perceptive, unpredictable, impossible to read, arrogant, entitled, wildly talented
- Deidre (age: late 20’s, occupation: publicist):
- Deidre grew up in an abusive home and was an orphan and living on the streets by the time she was 14. She was kidnapped and held in captivity for 4 years. Most of the abuse suffered during captivity is off page.
- The following words/phrases were used to describe Deidre: strong, resilient, vulnerable, frigid and at the same time filled with fire, soft yet hard, independent, broken, survivor
- "Kidnapped off the streets at fourteen and fifteen, physically and mentally conditioned for a year, then pimped out for nearly three more to high-rolling criminals, politicians, foreign businessmen… anyone with cash and a need for secrecy."
“I’m not afraid of your dark any more than you’re afraid of mine."
The story:
- childhood abuse is always difficult to read. My heart hurt for all she endured up to the point she finally escaped.
- the flashbacks between childhood, captivity and now didn't bother me. It helped establish Deidre's background and didn't feel disruptive to the flow of the story.
- The transition form enemies to wanting more was missing something. One minute Dee despised Gideon and then somewhere along the line she began to crave his presence. Something was lacking in the execution of this change
- Once the attraction became evident though, then I did feel the chemistry between them. They were each other’s “safe place” and that came through loud and clear.
- A hole: I feel like I missed a little backstory of how Deidre actually went from being held in captivity and abused for years to being a very successful publicist. She escaped and then what.....went to college with no money? Or did she work her way up from the bottom of the company? I’m not sure and that felt like a hole that needed to be filled.
- Although I’ve read captivity stories before, they are all different due to the nature of captivity. The “pretty little doll” angle truly made the kidnapper creepy and someone that I feared.
- I was not a fan of the ménage/sharing aspect. It didn’t really fit the story and where the characters were at the time.
- There are characters from other books but there was enough commentary to know they went through some sh*t but that crap was unrelated to this story. Therefore, I connected with them and felt they added to the story. On the flip side, they weren’t present enough in the story that I felt like I should have read the other books. I will say I’m intrigued with Dominic and London though and will probably go back and read their story.
- The writing was great and sucked me in completely.
Overall, I enjoyed Book 1. It ends on a cliffy so have Book 2 ready to go.
Overview:
- Do you need to read previous books in series?: no
- POV: dual POV
- H likable? Yes
- h likable? Yes
- h virgin? no
- First time they kiss: 64%
- First time they sleep together: 68%
- First time they say I Love You him: 81%; her 90%
- steamy? Yes
- OW/OM drama? Not really. Gideon has an ex and she makes a small appearance
- H/h cheat? consensual sharing
- Time apart? no
- Did I skip pages? No
- Big secrets? Gideon shares some stuff about his mom at 43% but they didn’t have big secrets from each other that caused a rift
- Did I cry? no
- Did I laugh? no
- Cliffhanger? yes
- HEA? not in this book
- Epilogue? not in this book
- Recommend? yes
Quotes
"Only looking back can you see what you’ve lost."
"When I was a child and couldn’t sleep because of the noises in the trailer, I would imagine myself encased in the roots of a gigantic tree. Deep in the earth, my cocoon would keep me warm and safe."
"Ignorance can be bliss, but does that ignorance make it any less blissful?"
“We learn to distrust what we can’t see or understand.”
"There’s no shame in taking comfort in darkness. After all, life begins and ends with it. Darkness isn’t inherently evil any more than a squirrel wandering in the night is a monster.”
"I’m not sure I was alive at all until I met you. You shocked my system, my entire world.”
“Do you know why I think we’re still here, Dee? Because despite everything we went through, all the physical and emotional abuse and victimization when we were young, we have something to offer the world. Something unique. We understand true suffering. I wish you believed that it means we deserve to know true happiness.”
“Your mom was wrong. You’re God’s creature, not the Devil’s. And there’s no way you’ve been brought this far to fall.”
"The longest distance in the world is the eighteen inches between the head and the heart."
March 26, 2019
**SPOILER FREE DUET 4.5 STAR REVIEW**
“Whatever you’ve come from, whatever you’ve lived through, I don’t care, I’m not afraid of your dark.”
Trapped in his gaze, I whisper, “But what if I am? Afraid of the darkness inside me.?”
He kisses my forehead, murmuring against my skin, “Then I’ll set the world on fire to bring you light.”
Tick. Tock. Didn’t this duet give our hearts and nerves a run for their money! L M Halloran led us into the darkness, taking us on a suspenseful, raw and gritty rollercoaster of emotions, into a world of duplicity, passion, and a haunting past kept us on our toes, guts churning. A love story against the odds kept our romantic hearts beating. Captivating and intelligent storytelling kept us turning the pages.
‘Life is a fucking magic carpet and we’re standing beneath it. All we see is broken threads and horrendous knots. Weirdness. Darkness. Chaos. But that’s because we can’t see the top. The pattern.
And it’s beautiful up there, I’m sure of it.’
Although some characters from the Vision Duet make appearances, it’s not necessary to have read these before diving into the Illusions Duet, though, for us, it was fabulous to catch up with Dominic, London, and Liam, the Irish man of mystery! We loved the banter between Liam and Gideon, two men from very different worlds with one heart-stopping suspenseful goal!
Deirdre Moss is the renowned hard arse PR Shark. On the surface, she appears put together, ruthless and professional. A cool customer but dig beneath the surface and we find a woman with a violent and horrific past, who has the emotional and physical scars to prove it.
“Tell me a story…. Tell me a story, Deidre, so I can paint something beautiful with your words.”
Gideon Masters is the son of the CEO of a massive tech company, however, Gideon is a man who marches to the beat of his own drum. He’s the darling of the LA art community, who, following the breakdown of his marriage is on a bit of a freefall.
Whilst Deirdre is put together and tough as nails, Gideon is wild and untamed. Opposites in so many ways, yet with a dark past that haunts them both. Gideon is a man on the edge and it’s Deirdre’s job to get him back on the straight and narrow.
“I don’t want to save you, Deidre. I want you to save me.”
Gideon has a reputation for wanting to save broken women, and they don’t come more broken than Deidre, yet maybe Gideon also needs saving, and despite her own darkness, maybe Deirdre can enter his. There’s a connection between the pair with Deirdre opening up to Gideon more than she has to anyone in her life, with the exception of her best friend, Nate, her ‘brother’ who lived through a childhood nightmare with Deidre. Their pasts carry an omnipresent cloud over the story, making sure we could never rest, waiting for the strike. When it came it was gut-churning!
“You may be beautiful when you smile, Ms. Moss, but you’re a vision when you’re enraged."
Deirdre was a strong harsh character, and despite what she’d been through, we didn’t feel any vulnerability in her, in Art of Sin book one, which is told in her pov. She showed no softness and her voice felt quite masculine and severe. Though we empathised with her, sadly, Deidre was possibly one of our least favourite L M Halloran heroines. We found it difficult to connect with her in book one, though we warmed to her more in the second book which is told in both Gideon and Deirdre’s pov, maybe his voice added the softness and vulnerability we missed in Art of Sin.
Gideon was a revelation. At first, coming across as grumpy and detached, and lacking a filter, once his true personality and heart broke free, he was sweet, seductive and vulnerable, a man who cared beautifully and passionately for Deirdre. This man had honesty and strength of character, never shying away from being drawn into Deirdre’s darkness to free her from herself.
“Whatever you’ve come from, whatever you’ve lived through, I don’t care. I’m not afraid of your dark.”
L M Halloran is one of our favourite authors. She’s a lady who never fails to weave an emotional, passionate and gripping story, with her talent for painting a picture with her exquisite and intuitive storytelling leaving us spellbound. The Illusions Duet was emotional, sensual and erotic yet the sex didn’t overshadow the flow, intensity or grittiness of the story. Instead, it served as a sexually charged enhancement rather than a page filler. A mesmerising epilogue capped off another fabulous read! Now…we need Finn’s book! We desperately need his story!
‘Memories are magicians. Every time you look at them, they change a little. A tweak here, a smudge there, a new color or shape. Because of this, your best and worst memories, the ones you think of most often have changed so many times, they aren’t even memories anymore.’
Art of Sin (Illusions Duet Book 1)
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Sin of Love (Illusions Duet Book 2)
Amazon US
Amazon UK
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January 4, 2024
3.75 stars From the beginning This was beautifully written and I thought it would be a 5 star read for me….but it fizzled out after 60%… it’s like it got bogged down and boring to make way for part 2… I think there would be alot more 5 star reads if every author didn’t write a duet or a trilogy.
March 1, 2019
4.5 STARS
Wasn’t that exciting and stimulating?!?!?!?!?!!???!!!! The sexual tension abounds in this and leaps from the pages.
I absolutely love it when a book exhilarates you and gives you chills all over. The blurb honestly doesn’t do it justice at all. This has depth, substance, heart, and especially soul. It’s damn near perfect. Laura has delivered a deliciously sensual and edgy story. The caliber of writing is impeccable and exquisite. Her intellect and brilliance comes through in her writing - it’s almost indulgent….. decadent even.
Laura has certainly set herself apart with this one. Not only is the writing on another level, but the story itself is as well. Everything is sharp, crisp, and refined - it’s almost impossible to articulate just how up level it all is – from her writing style to the characters and their development right down to the story line. Gideon is the definition of sensual and erotic. It is so atmospheric and hypnotizing you almost get lost in Gideon and Deirdre’s world. It feels almost forbidden peering into someone else’s private world that isn’t meant for public consumption – it’s very personal and intimate with so many secrets and private thoughts.
Although it’s a “cliffhanger”, in this case I welcome it. Gideon and Deirdre’s story is so intense, I need a little time to breathe again.
An advance reading copy was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.
Wasn’t that exciting and stimulating?!?!?!?!?!!???!!!! The sexual tension abounds in this and leaps from the pages.
I absolutely love it when a book exhilarates you and gives you chills all over. The blurb honestly doesn’t do it justice at all. This has depth, substance, heart, and especially soul. It’s damn near perfect. Laura has delivered a deliciously sensual and edgy story. The caliber of writing is impeccable and exquisite. Her intellect and brilliance comes through in her writing - it’s almost indulgent….. decadent even.
Laura has certainly set herself apart with this one. Not only is the writing on another level, but the story itself is as well. Everything is sharp, crisp, and refined - it’s almost impossible to articulate just how up level it all is – from her writing style to the characters and their development right down to the story line. Gideon is the definition of sensual and erotic. It is so atmospheric and hypnotizing you almost get lost in Gideon and Deirdre’s world. It feels almost forbidden peering into someone else’s private world that isn’t meant for public consumption – it’s very personal and intimate with so many secrets and private thoughts.
Although it’s a “cliffhanger”, in this case I welcome it. Gideon and Deirdre’s story is so intense, I need a little time to breathe again.
An advance reading copy was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2019
**SPOILER FREE DUET 4.5 STAR REVIEW**
“Whatever you’ve come from, whatever you’ve lived through, I don’t care, I’m not afraid of your dark.”
Trapped in his gaze, I whisper, “But what if I am? Afraid of the darkness inside me.?”
He kisses my forehead, murmuring against my skin, “Then I’ll set the world on fire to bring you light.”
Tick. Tock. Didn’t this duet give our hearts and nerves a run for their money! L M Halloran led us into the darkness, taking us on a suspenseful, raw and gritty rollercoaster of emotions, into a world of duplicity, passion, and a haunting past kept us on our toes, guts churning. A love story against the odds kept our romantic hearts beating. Captivating and intelligent storytelling kept us turning the pages.
‘Life is a fucking magic carpet and we’re standing beneath it. All we see is broken threads and horrendous knots. Weirdness. Darkness. Chaos. But that’s because we can’t see the top. The pattern.
And it’s beautiful up there, I’m sure of it.’
Although some characters from the Vision Duet make appearances, it’s not necessary to have read these before diving into the Illusions Duet, though, for us, it was fabulous to catch up with Dominic, London, and Liam, the Irish man of mystery! We loved the banter between Liam and Gideon, two men from very different worlds with one heart-stopping suspenseful goal!
Deirdre Moss is the renowned hard arse PR Shark. On the surface, she appears put together, ruthless and professional. A cool customer but dig beneath the surface and we find a woman with a violent and horrific past, who has the emotional and physical scars to prove it.
“Tell me a story…. Tell me a story, Deidre, so I can paint something beautiful with your words.”
Gideon Masters is the son of the CEO of a massive tech company, however, Gideon is a man who marches to the beat of his own drum. He’s the darling of the LA art community, who, following the breakdown of his marriage is on a bit of a freefall.
Whilst Deirdre is put together and tough as nails, Gideon is wild and untamed. Opposites in so many ways, yet with a dark past that haunts them both. Gideon is a man on the edge and it’s Deirdre’s job to get him back on the straight and narrow.
“I don’t want to save you, Deidre. I want you to save me.”
Gideon has a reputation for wanting to save broken women, and they don’t come more broken than Deidre, yet maybe Gideon also needs saving, and despite her own darkness, maybe Deirdre can enter his. There’s a connection between the pair with Deirdre opening up to Gideon more than she has to anyone in her life, with the exception of her best friend, Nate, her ‘brother’ who lived through a childhood nightmare with Deidre. Their pasts carry an omnipresent cloud over the story, making sure we could never rest, waiting for the strike. When it came it was gut-churning!
“You may be beautiful when you smile, Ms. Moss, but you’re a vision when you’re enraged."
Deirdre was a strong harsh character, and despite what she’d been through, we didn’t feel any vulnerability in her, in Art of Sin book one, which is told in her pov. She showed no softness and her voice felt quite masculine and severe. Though we empathised with her, sadly, Deidre was possibly one of our least favourite L M Halloran heroines. We found it difficult to connect with her in book one, though we warmed to her more in the second book which is told in both Gideon and Deirdre’s pov, maybe his voice added the softness and vulnerability we missed in Art of Sin.
Gideon was a revelation. At first, coming across as grumpy and detached, and lacking a filter, once his true personality and heart broke free, he was sweet, seductive and vulnerable, a man who cared beautifully and passionately for Deirdre. This man had honesty and strength of character, never shying away from being drawn into Deirdre’s darkness to free her from herself.
“Whatever you’ve come from, whatever you’ve lived through, I don’t care. I’m not afraid of your dark.”
L M Halloran is one of our favourite authors. She’s a lady who never fails to weave an emotional, passionate and gripping story, with her talent for painting a picture with her exquisite and intuitive storytelling leaving us spellbound. The Illusions Duet was emotional, sensual and erotic yet the sex didn’t overshadow the flow, intensity or grittiness of the story. Instead, it served as a sexually charged enhancement rather than a page filler. A mesmerising epilogue capped off another fabulous read! Now…we need Finn’s book! We desperately need his story!
‘Memories are magicians. Every time you look at them, they change a little. A tweak here, a smudge there, a new color or shape. Because of this, your best and worst memories, the ones you think of most often have changed so many times, they aren’t even memories anymore.’
Art of Sin (Illusions Duet Book 1)
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Sin of Love (Illusions Duet Book 2)
Amazon US
Amazon UK
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March 7, 2019
ARC received for an honest review
This book is an exquisite work of art. Right from the beginning I was dragged into Gideon and Deirdre's world, and I didn't want to leave.
I was swept away by this dark, sensual story. I couldn't wait to turn each page and find out what was happening next. Gideon is one of those characters that you kind of want to hate, but he worms his way into your heart and you can't help but adore him.
I love that Deirdre is force of nature, and doesn't let Gideon walk all over here
They are the light to each others dark, and you can see them opening up to each other.
Until we are cliffied - however it was to be expected since this is a duet.
We don't have long until the next installment, and I will be diving right in as soon as it is available.
This book is an exquisite work of art. Right from the beginning I was dragged into Gideon and Deirdre's world, and I didn't want to leave.
I was swept away by this dark, sensual story. I couldn't wait to turn each page and find out what was happening next. Gideon is one of those characters that you kind of want to hate, but he worms his way into your heart and you can't help but adore him.
I love that Deirdre is force of nature, and doesn't let Gideon walk all over here
They are the light to each others dark, and you can see them opening up to each other.
Until we are cliffied - however it was to be expected since this is a duet.
We don't have long until the next installment, and I will be diving right in as soon as it is available.
March 28, 2019
Wow this whole book is just wow. Very quickly I was immersed in the sensual world of Deirdre and Gideon. There is an element of intrigue running throughout the story. Both main characters have a dark past and have secrets. The author very effectively writes in such a way that as each layer is revealed it only pulls you in more. It's great to read a book with such a strong woman for me she's the star of the book. The ending sets up so many possibilities for book two.
Reviewed by United Indie Book Blog
Reviewed by United Indie Book Blog
July 26, 2019
★ 4 STARS ★
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March 3, 2019
A review is supposed to be about the book and the skill of the author who wrote it. This author always delivers authentic, endearing, multi-faceted characters and an evocative, poignant storyline, but after reading the last word of this one, I’m at a loss like I’ve never been before upon finishing a book. Confused. Dazed. Dumbfounded. Gob smacked. Awed.
This is the part where I usually tell potential readers a little about the characters. Deirdre is a publicist and Gideon is an artist, and also Deirdre's latest unruly, complicated client. But these descriptions are only a cheap mask or flimsy garments adorning these two characters. It’s like describing a tsunami as a gentle wave or a category four hurricane as a refreshing summer breeze.
Both are profoundly complex and deceptively deep, but with Gideon, the depth of his still waters and his ability to see beyond the façade and break through walls make it easy to love the man behind the devil-may-care attitude, ruthlessness and bad behavior. Deirdre has survived things no animal should have to endure, much less a young girl. She has her past firmly locked away and has created a strong, successful woman since those days. Gideon puts some dents in her armor, but when the past intrudes, Deirdre finds out how fragile the ephemeral illusion she's created really is. She's beautifully, devastatingly broken and holds tightly to that girl who was unworthy of love, but Gideon sees beyond her barriers to the depth of her soul and the precious gem she truly is.
If the amount of highlights in the read copy is any indicator of a book's brilliance, this one is easily worthy of five stars. If the beauty, depth, complexity and poetry of the words is a gauge, it’s worthy of far more than that. Halloran always gives us characters who are equally devastated and devastating, but she broke the mold with Deirdre and Gideon. They have so many layers, and their story has such depths, that even reading it a dozen times, I may not uncover all there is to learn, understand and experience. Deirdre and Gideon are truly unforgettable. Their dark story to this point lacks the typical hearts and flowers, and this book ends on a heartbreaking low, but that just sets up the next book to be even more phenomenal. These characters will live forever in my heart, and I can’t wait to read their stunning conclusion!
*I reviewed an advance copy of this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.
This is the part where I usually tell potential readers a little about the characters. Deirdre is a publicist and Gideon is an artist, and also Deirdre's latest unruly, complicated client. But these descriptions are only a cheap mask or flimsy garments adorning these two characters. It’s like describing a tsunami as a gentle wave or a category four hurricane as a refreshing summer breeze.
Both are profoundly complex and deceptively deep, but with Gideon, the depth of his still waters and his ability to see beyond the façade and break through walls make it easy to love the man behind the devil-may-care attitude, ruthlessness and bad behavior. Deirdre has survived things no animal should have to endure, much less a young girl. She has her past firmly locked away and has created a strong, successful woman since those days. Gideon puts some dents in her armor, but when the past intrudes, Deirdre finds out how fragile the ephemeral illusion she's created really is. She's beautifully, devastatingly broken and holds tightly to that girl who was unworthy of love, but Gideon sees beyond her barriers to the depth of her soul and the precious gem she truly is.
If the amount of highlights in the read copy is any indicator of a book's brilliance, this one is easily worthy of five stars. If the beauty, depth, complexity and poetry of the words is a gauge, it’s worthy of far more than that. Halloran always gives us characters who are equally devastated and devastating, but she broke the mold with Deirdre and Gideon. They have so many layers, and their story has such depths, that even reading it a dozen times, I may not uncover all there is to learn, understand and experience. Deirdre and Gideon are truly unforgettable. Their dark story to this point lacks the typical hearts and flowers, and this book ends on a heartbreaking low, but that just sets up the next book to be even more phenomenal. These characters will live forever in my heart, and I can’t wait to read their stunning conclusion!
*I reviewed an advance copy of this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.
March 28, 2019
First I have to say that I have never read a book like this. It was so intimate and romantic that I felt like I was right there with Dierdre and Gideon. I felt like I was living out their lives through the reading and it was beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time. It was just simply amazing and PHENOMENAL and everything in between. I felt like I was on a roller coaster of emotions and Gideon and Dierdre were driving and I was riding along side them.
Dierdre meets Gideon after he has made a mistake and needs to be kept out of the medias eyes. She has to make sure he is portrayed as the master of art that he is but that is no easy thing when all Gideon wants is a new muse to help him get back on top of his game.
What they never thought was that they would fall for each other and the secrets and lies that Gideon keeps comes back to haunt him and Dierdre must decide whether she will keep this professional or will she give in to her heart and make it romantic?
Dierdre meets Gideon after he has made a mistake and needs to be kept out of the medias eyes. She has to make sure he is portrayed as the master of art that he is but that is no easy thing when all Gideon wants is a new muse to help him get back on top of his game.
What they never thought was that they would fall for each other and the secrets and lies that Gideon keeps comes back to haunt him and Dierdre must decide whether she will keep this professional or will she give in to her heart and make it romantic?
January 29, 2020
3.5 to 4
Ok I loved this book right till the end. The chemistry was hot between them and it was a very good read till about 85%. Then the main character does something that I detest... decides for everyone to be a martyr instead of getting help from those around her that love her and have her back. She just walks into the fire because she “deserves it “ “ can’t risk the ones she loves”. Total garbage and always turns out bad, always.
Not sure I will read the second book. It is all going to be oh so horrible for the martyr and then she realizes her mistake and needs rescuing by the hero who has felt used unloved mad and resentful. Don’t think I am up for it.
Ok I loved this book right till the end. The chemistry was hot between them and it was a very good read till about 85%. Then the main character does something that I detest... decides for everyone to be a martyr instead of getting help from those around her that love her and have her back. She just walks into the fire because she “deserves it “ “ can’t risk the ones she loves”. Total garbage and always turns out bad, always.
Not sure I will read the second book. It is all going to be oh so horrible for the martyr and then she realizes her mistake and needs rescuing by the hero who has felt used unloved mad and resentful. Don’t think I am up for it.
October 29, 2022
אני מופתעת מכמה שהספר עניין אותי
ואשכרה אהבתי
ואשכרה אהבתי
March 7, 2019
Hot, dark, sexy and full of suspense is what you can expect from Art of Sin by L.M. Halloran. And this is only the first book! So yes we’re left with a cliffhanger. Unlike a lot of people, I love a good cliffhanger because I know I’m going to get one hell of an ending and L.M. Halloran doesn’t disappoint.
Deidre is a surviver, she’s lived a life most couldn’t and always looking over her shoulder. Never trusting anyone until Gideon.
Gideon is an artist who is mysterious and refuses to take no for an answer. He knows what he wants and he wants Deidre.
But when her past catches up with her can the survive?
Omg thank god book 2 isn’t that far away, because this girl needs answers!!
Love L.M Halloran and love every word she writes! One clicking is a no brainer!!
Deidre is a surviver, she’s lived a life most couldn’t and always looking over her shoulder. Never trusting anyone until Gideon.
Gideon is an artist who is mysterious and refuses to take no for an answer. He knows what he wants and he wants Deidre.
But when her past catches up with her can the survive?
Omg thank god book 2 isn’t that far away, because this girl needs answers!!
Love L.M Halloran and love every word she writes! One clicking is a no brainer!!
March 8, 2019
5+++ Stars ---> An absolute must read!!!
I always have insanely high expectations when it comes to LM Halloran’s books. From my first taste of her writing in Breaking Giants, I knew I’d finally found an author who, unwittingly, ticked all of my boxes when it comes to my reading sensibilities. Knowing that I had put the author on an almost insurmountable pedestal, I tentatively read another of her works. This next book was also like a breath of fresh air and I realised that she was most definitely not a one trick pony. With each subsequent book, I found myself savouring each and every word the author had written, even in genres and tropes that I tend to avoid.
When I heard about, and read the synopsis for, the Illusions Duet, I knew the story was bound to be another resounding success. When I read the first chapter in the author’s reader group, I was left in a state of unrest awaiting the anticipated review copy to arrive in my inbox.
From the start of the book, I did something very rare for me. I read the book non-stop cover to cover. I am not a patient person and can easily become sidetracked but surprisingly, I found myself 100% entranced by the characters and the storyline.
The first line in the book told me Gideon and Deirdre were going to ensnare me and by the end of the first chapter, I had so many unanswered questions. Quite often in books, one character dominates the other, in the literary sense, but in this story, each character equally captured, intrigued, and fascinated me leaving me in awe of their strengths and attributes when it came to the parts they played in the storyline.
The art angle was unique in this book and added a further layer to what is a sexually inspired piece of fiction. The sexual undercurrents between Deirdre and Gideon were tangible from the first page and only built as the story progressed. Deirdre is openly curious about experiencing sex with multiple partners and Gideon is just the man to satisfy her needs and boy does he satisfy them. Enter Finn! Gideon and Finn together could send anyone’s emotions into orbit, including mine!
Despite the erotic theme to this story, the book offers readers an insight into the mind of an artist and adds a juxtapose position when the corresponding mind is that of a publicist. Deirdre is less bohemian in her approach to life compared to Gideon despite both having had their futures carved out for them as a result of their pasts. It’s Deirdre’s past, however, that adds the suspense element to the story and when it becomes apparent that her past has been resurrected, there is only one person who can help her, Gideon. Having protected those closest to her her whole life, the question is will Deirdre trust her instincts in order to deal with her past once and for all or will she do what she has always done and face her demons alone?
It is at this point that Art of Sin pauses to take a much-needed breath and to enable its readers to return to reality. Fortunately, the finale to this duet is right around the corner. I for one can’t wait.
This ebook was kindly provided by the author prior to release in return for an honest and unbiased review.
We are proud to provide honest and unbiased reviews written from the heart.
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I always have insanely high expectations when it comes to LM Halloran’s books. From my first taste of her writing in Breaking Giants, I knew I’d finally found an author who, unwittingly, ticked all of my boxes when it comes to my reading sensibilities. Knowing that I had put the author on an almost insurmountable pedestal, I tentatively read another of her works. This next book was also like a breath of fresh air and I realised that she was most definitely not a one trick pony. With each subsequent book, I found myself savouring each and every word the author had written, even in genres and tropes that I tend to avoid.
When I heard about, and read the synopsis for, the Illusions Duet, I knew the story was bound to be another resounding success. When I read the first chapter in the author’s reader group, I was left in a state of unrest awaiting the anticipated review copy to arrive in my inbox.
From the start of the book, I did something very rare for me. I read the book non-stop cover to cover. I am not a patient person and can easily become sidetracked but surprisingly, I found myself 100% entranced by the characters and the storyline.
Gideon Masters is a man on the edge, and it's now my job to bring him back to safe ground.
The first line in the book told me Gideon and Deirdre were going to ensnare me and by the end of the first chapter, I had so many unanswered questions. Quite often in books, one character dominates the other, in the literary sense, but in this story, each character equally captured, intrigued, and fascinated me leaving me in awe of their strengths and attributes when it came to the parts they played in the storyline.
This man is a black hole; fascinating from far away, deadly if you get too close.
The art angle was unique in this book and added a further layer to what is a sexually inspired piece of fiction. The sexual undercurrents between Deirdre and Gideon were tangible from the first page and only built as the story progressed. Deirdre is openly curious about experiencing sex with multiple partners and Gideon is just the man to satisfy her needs and boy does he satisfy them. Enter Finn! Gideon and Finn together could send anyone’s emotions into orbit, including mine!
He's burned onto the backs of my eyelids, a light so brilliant I won't see the darkness at its core until it's too late.
Despite the erotic theme to this story, the book offers readers an insight into the mind of an artist and adds a juxtapose position when the corresponding mind is that of a publicist. Deirdre is less bohemian in her approach to life compared to Gideon despite both having had their futures carved out for them as a result of their pasts. It’s Deirdre’s past, however, that adds the suspense element to the story and when it becomes apparent that her past has been resurrected, there is only one person who can help her, Gideon. Having protected those closest to her her whole life, the question is will Deirdre trust her instincts in order to deal with her past once and for all or will she do what she has always done and face her demons alone?
I won't be any man's puppet. Not ever again.
It is at this point that Art of Sin pauses to take a much-needed breath and to enable its readers to return to reality. Fortunately, the finale to this duet is right around the corner. I for one can’t wait.
We have to let the animals inside us off the leash or bad things happen.
This ebook was kindly provided by the author prior to release in return for an honest and unbiased review.
We are proud to provide honest and unbiased reviews written from the heart.
Email: jezabellgirlandfriends@gmail.com
Web: http://jezabellgirlandfriends.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/jezabellgirlandfr...
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Jezabell_girl
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April 11, 2019
Art of Sin is FANTASTIC! What a book. My first from L.M. Halloran and she clearly knows how to write! A story so intense I just couldn't stop reading it. I found myself so thoroughly engaged that I'm surprised I could take a break to write this review before jumping into book 2. Yeah it's that good.
Halloran gives us two very potent, very complicated characters in Gideon Masters and Deirdre Moss. She becomes this well-acclaimed artist's publicist and soon they find themselves not only at odds with each other but intensely attracted as well. There's this low simmering steam that can't help but make itself known as they get to know each other and Gideon asks for 6 months of dedicated attention, being Deirdre's only client. Both have tales to tell yet Deirdre's past keeps her in a wave of darkness that perhaps only Gideon can enlighten. He is so subtle about his motives, about his desire to free of her of the tortured chains that continue to keep her prisoner. But he's also got this unmistakable charm. A true rogue that is completely irresistible.
Deirdre is as fierce a warrior as I've ever read. She manages her team of junior publicists like a well-oiled machine, which has a unforeseen kink that is not only her client in Gideon, but her past rearing its ugly head once more. I love her spirit. Her capability to keep many plates in the air even when they are so close to falling. I admire her for not only realizing she has weaknesses, mainly for her talented painter, but for knowing when she needs to truly kick a$$ and keep those she cares about, safe for good. She is smart. She is determined. Yet at the hands of Gideon, she is all woman and their sexy rendezvous are incredibly erotic.
This is a book that combines intrigue with lust, mystery with true love, beautifully. I can't get enough of these characters and now I'll be diving right into Sin of Love to find out how this adventure ends.
A truly wonderful read that has me on the edge of my seat, even while squirming in it from all the sexual tension between Deirdre and Gideon, I happily give Art of Sin a huge 5+ stars!!
Halloran gives us two very potent, very complicated characters in Gideon Masters and Deirdre Moss. She becomes this well-acclaimed artist's publicist and soon they find themselves not only at odds with each other but intensely attracted as well. There's this low simmering steam that can't help but make itself known as they get to know each other and Gideon asks for 6 months of dedicated attention, being Deirdre's only client. Both have tales to tell yet Deirdre's past keeps her in a wave of darkness that perhaps only Gideon can enlighten. He is so subtle about his motives, about his desire to free of her of the tortured chains that continue to keep her prisoner. But he's also got this unmistakable charm. A true rogue that is completely irresistible.
Deirdre is as fierce a warrior as I've ever read. She manages her team of junior publicists like a well-oiled machine, which has a unforeseen kink that is not only her client in Gideon, but her past rearing its ugly head once more. I love her spirit. Her capability to keep many plates in the air even when they are so close to falling. I admire her for not only realizing she has weaknesses, mainly for her talented painter, but for knowing when she needs to truly kick a$$ and keep those she cares about, safe for good. She is smart. She is determined. Yet at the hands of Gideon, she is all woman and their sexy rendezvous are incredibly erotic.
This is a book that combines intrigue with lust, mystery with true love, beautifully. I can't get enough of these characters and now I'll be diving right into Sin of Love to find out how this adventure ends.
A truly wonderful read that has me on the edge of my seat, even while squirming in it from all the sexual tension between Deirdre and Gideon, I happily give Art of Sin a huge 5+ stars!!
July 19, 2019
A first read of this author.
I went into this with much anticipation based on the synopsis and the many 5 star reviews.
Described for the thrill seeking romance reader who is not afraid to dip into the dark, sample heartache and emotion. I got some of that but didn't think this was a particularly dark read.
L M Halloran provided a story with multi faceted characters BUT throughout the book I thought that t further validation was needed about the characters and the storyline.
Gideon Masters is an anomaly. He is king of the art world but also a complex, nuanced direct man. Highly intelligent and perceptive BUT by the time I finished the book I didn't feel that I got to know the character.
Deirdre is a publicist who takes on Gideon as her client. She is also a complex character. Survival is her mantra. Gideon blazes into her life like a comet, turning her habits and her orderly world on its head. He highlights things she doesn't want to think about her past and the emptiness of her present.
There were a number of times in this story I couldn’t grasp both characters. Gideon's bad guy persona didn't match his personality and I felt his character was inconsistent. There were also times I didn't get the connection with Deirdre - the sexual spark between them was vacant especially when they got together with Finn. I can also say the same for Deirdre. There was something more needed to expand her character.
As with most two parters, this ends on a cliffhanger. So will Karma reaps its revenge and avow Deirdre's past? Let's see what book 2 gives us.
I went into this with much anticipation based on the synopsis and the many 5 star reviews.
Described for the thrill seeking romance reader who is not afraid to dip into the dark, sample heartache and emotion. I got some of that but didn't think this was a particularly dark read.
L M Halloran provided a story with multi faceted characters BUT throughout the book I thought that t further validation was needed about the characters and the storyline.
Gideon Masters is an anomaly. He is king of the art world but also a complex, nuanced direct man. Highly intelligent and perceptive BUT by the time I finished the book I didn't feel that I got to know the character.
Deirdre is a publicist who takes on Gideon as her client. She is also a complex character. Survival is her mantra. Gideon blazes into her life like a comet, turning her habits and her orderly world on its head. He highlights things she doesn't want to think about her past and the emptiness of her present.
There were a number of times in this story I couldn’t grasp both characters. Gideon's bad guy persona didn't match his personality and I felt his character was inconsistent. There were also times I didn't get the connection with Deirdre - the sexual spark between them was vacant especially when they got together with Finn. I can also say the same for Deirdre. There was something more needed to expand her character.
As with most two parters, this ends on a cliffhanger. So will Karma reaps its revenge and avow Deirdre's past? Let's see what book 2 gives us.
February 28, 2019
Wow! I am speechless! I loved this book! I couldn't read it fast enough! L.M. Halloran has quickly become one of my favorite authors. She has a wonderful way with her words. This book is dark, sexy and completely captivating. Gideon and Deidre have so much depth and I love watching them peel back each other's layers. This book ends in a cliffhanger but I promise it will be so worth it.
May 22, 2019
2.5 rounded up
They were together before I even knew they were interested in each other. Also not a big fan of lack of communication causing drama.
They were together before I even knew they were interested in each other. Also not a big fan of lack of communication causing drama.
December 3, 2020
‘Memories are magicians. Every time you look at them, they change a little. A tweak here, a smudge there, a new color or shape. Because of this, your best and worst memories, the ones you think of most often have changed so many times, they aren’t even memories anymore.’
I just love l. m halloran's writing.
I love how I start reading a book expecting a pattern and she surprises me
I love how she reveals the characters layer by layer, the complicity of the characters, the way she uses ideas that we know – like the seven sins and combines them in the story
Deidre has been through so much and she still fights for those she loves and Gideon is a real-life force
They are both strong and they are both survivors of their past and their present and yet with each other they can also be just themselves.
It is hot. Dark. Steamy, heart breaking and mind-blowing story
Just read!
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April 8, 2019
L.M. Halloran is fast becoming one of
my favorite authors, and she didn't disappoint
with this duet. This is a dark story that
made my heart actually hurt for Dierdre.
You like tough as nails heroines, but with
a soft core, then you will love her. She
has had to fight her entire life for her
self, and for her friend Nate. Gideon
is the type of man that is literally
swoon worthy. He has so many layers,
and such blind faith in Dierdre. He
sees her, really sees her, scars and
all. I loved how steadfast he was, he
was just perfect for Dierdre. They
are soulmates. Gideon fought for
his future and he fought for Dierdres
future, and I loved that about him
the most. He saw the Dierdre that
she didn't thnk anyone would ever
see. This book ends on a cliff, but
trust me. It is worth the wait.
my favorite authors, and she didn't disappoint
with this duet. This is a dark story that
made my heart actually hurt for Dierdre.
You like tough as nails heroines, but with
a soft core, then you will love her. She
has had to fight her entire life for her
self, and for her friend Nate. Gideon
is the type of man that is literally
swoon worthy. He has so many layers,
and such blind faith in Dierdre. He
sees her, really sees her, scars and
all. I loved how steadfast he was, he
was just perfect for Dierdre. They
are soulmates. Gideon fought for
his future and he fought for Dierdres
future, and I loved that about him
the most. He saw the Dierdre that
she didn't thnk anyone would ever
see. This book ends on a cliff, but
trust me. It is worth the wait.
January 28, 2022
Me lo leí en un día..
Maravilloso simplemente maravilloso. Me ha gustado el libro me he quedado pegada con la escritora. Que clase de final... que está pasando. Reafirmo mis pensamientos, esta escritora tiene una manera singular de tocar temas dolorosos, que te parten el corazón pero te vuelve a unir las partes. A medida que vas avanzando te quedas pegada en el libro para ver que tal queda la historia. DEIRDRE es una sobreviviente me duele el corazón cada que recuerda lo que vivió en el pasado, es doloroso la forma como todavía está atada a esas cadenas me ha gustado la evolución de su personaje y como unió su oscuridad a un ser que le da luz. Seguiré con la segunda parte con la ansiedad de saber como queda. Siempre hay luz en la oscuridad.
Maravilloso simplemente maravilloso. Me ha gustado el libro me he quedado pegada con la escritora. Que clase de final... que está pasando. Reafirmo mis pensamientos, esta escritora tiene una manera singular de tocar temas dolorosos, que te parten el corazón pero te vuelve a unir las partes. A medida que vas avanzando te quedas pegada en el libro para ver que tal queda la historia. DEIRDRE es una sobreviviente me duele el corazón cada que recuerda lo que vivió en el pasado, es doloroso la forma como todavía está atada a esas cadenas me ha gustado la evolución de su personaje y como unió su oscuridad a un ser que le da luz. Seguiré con la segunda parte con la ansiedad de saber como queda. Siempre hay luz en la oscuridad.
January 20, 2021
Heartbreaking and Beautiful
This book reads like a poem. It lulls you into the dark and doesn’t let go. Deirdre is so much more than she knows, and I loved her character. I wanted to scream at her at the end, but she wouldn’t have listened. Gideon is devastatingly charming, and I adore him. My heart breaks for these characters, and I can’t wait to dive into book 2 to get some answers. Highly recommend this book!
This book reads like a poem. It lulls you into the dark and doesn’t let go. Deirdre is so much more than she knows, and I loved her character. I wanted to scream at her at the end, but she wouldn’t have listened. Gideon is devastatingly charming, and I adore him. My heart breaks for these characters, and I can’t wait to dive into book 2 to get some answers. Highly recommend this book!
March 6, 2019
Full review to come.
March 24, 2019
Wow I need book two ASAP
January 2, 2020
Loved this. Diving in to book 2 praying for a good ending.
March 18, 2019
I swear to you, this authors books just keep getting better!!! I read this book in one sitting, unable to put it down!
The angst and chemistry between Gideon and Deirdre is all consuming. The story of these two just as intriguing. Two lost souls have finally found each other.
Gideon is a hot af artist, who doesn’t give a crap what anyone thinks. He does his own thing, consequences be damned. He doesn’t want a publicist, but Deirdra peaked his interest. She’s different, she doesn’t want anything from him, other than staying out of the spotlight.
Deirdra hasn’t had it easy, by any means. She’s had a horrible childhood only to have her teenage years be horrific. She has reinvented herself. Went to college. Got a degree. Needless to say, she is less than thrilled about working with Gideon. Now, the past is back to collect her and.....that’s pretty much where this book ends.
Art of Sin is part one of the duet. Sin of Love releases on March 28th.
So, Deirdra, girl you’ve got this 👊🏻! You are courageous and stronger than you think! I just want to reach through my kindle and hug 🤗 you so hard! Gideon, you’d better be there to catch her when she falls!!
The angst and chemistry between Gideon and Deirdre is all consuming. The story of these two just as intriguing. Two lost souls have finally found each other.
Gideon is a hot af artist, who doesn’t give a crap what anyone thinks. He does his own thing, consequences be damned. He doesn’t want a publicist, but Deirdra peaked his interest. She’s different, she doesn’t want anything from him, other than staying out of the spotlight.
Deirdra hasn’t had it easy, by any means. She’s had a horrible childhood only to have her teenage years be horrific. She has reinvented herself. Went to college. Got a degree. Needless to say, she is less than thrilled about working with Gideon. Now, the past is back to collect her and.....that’s pretty much where this book ends.
Art of Sin is part one of the duet. Sin of Love releases on March 28th.
So, Deirdra, girl you’ve got this 👊🏻! You are courageous and stronger than you think! I just want to reach through my kindle and hug 🤗 you so hard! Gideon, you’d better be there to catch her when she falls!!
August 5, 2019
I’ll feel better reviewing once I read second book. Was in okay story so far.
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