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Honeysuckle Island #4
False Illusions
Is he the answer to her troubles or an intoxicating illusion that could turn deadly?
Single mom Olivia Burkhart struggles to rebuild her life after the murder of her fiancé, Brent Allen, a deputy on Honeysuckle Island. She vows to never get involved with another cop, and then Flynn Yates enters her life with his playful smile and penetrating blue eyes.
As Olivia tries to come to terms with her feelings for Flynn, life delivers some hard blows that resurface her fears with a vengeance.
Then fate gives her the chance to work six weeks at an exclusive art gallery in charming and quaint Carmel, California by the sea.
When Olivia catches the eye of world-renown artist Xavier Kipling, a brooding and handsome widower, she finds herself drawn into a sophisticated world of wealth beyond anything she’d ever imagined.
A strange painting gives way to unsettling events, making Olivia question if her aching heart can discern between illusion and reality.
Is the Kipling mansion an idyllic haven, or a hiding place for deadly secrets?
Single mom Olivia Burkhart struggles to rebuild her life after the murder of her fiancé, Brent Allen, a deputy on Honeysuckle Island. She vows to never get involved with another cop, and then Flynn Yates enters her life with his playful smile and penetrating blue eyes.
As Olivia tries to come to terms with her feelings for Flynn, life delivers some hard blows that resurface her fears with a vengeance.
Then fate gives her the chance to work six weeks at an exclusive art gallery in charming and quaint Carmel, California by the sea.
When Olivia catches the eye of world-renown artist Xavier Kipling, a brooding and handsome widower, she finds herself drawn into a sophisticated world of wealth beyond anything she’d ever imagined.
A strange painting gives way to unsettling events, making Olivia question if her aching heart can discern between illusion and reality.
Is the Kipling mansion an idyllic haven, or a hiding place for deadly secrets?
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2022
395 people are currently reading
844 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Youngblood
186 books793 followersJennifer loves reading and writing clean romance. She believes that happily ever after is not just for stories. Jennifer enjoys interior design, rollerblading, clogging, jogging, and chocolate. In Jennifer’s opinion there are few ills that can’t be solved with a warm brownie and scoop of vanilla-bean ice cream.
Jennifer grew up in rural Alabama and loved living in a town where “everybody knows everybody.” Her love for writing began as a young teenager when she wrote stories for her high school English teacher to critique.
Jennifer has a BA in English and Social Sciences from Brigham Young University Hawaii where she served as Miss BYU Hawaii. Before becoming an author, she worked as the owner and editor of a monthly newspaper named The Senior Times.
She now lives in the Rocky Mountains with her family and spends her time writing and doing all of the wonderful things that make up the life of a busy wife and mother.
Jennifer grew up in rural Alabama and loved living in a town where “everybody knows everybody.” Her love for writing began as a young teenager when she wrote stories for her high school English teacher to critique.
Jennifer has a BA in English and Social Sciences from Brigham Young University Hawaii where she served as Miss BYU Hawaii. Before becoming an author, she worked as the owner and editor of a monthly newspaper named The Senior Times.
She now lives in the Rocky Mountains with her family and spends her time writing and doing all of the wonderful things that make up the life of a busy wife and mother.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 16, 2022
I love a good romantic suspense and as an added bonus, this one was a bit on the creepy side. Flynn and Olivia had a fun first meeting and I loved how their relationship quickly evolved, even though it came to a screeching halt due to past trauma. This story was full of drama, mysterious suspense, and love.
I loved the way this book took place in two locations and the characters were all great. There were so many things to unravel and the story gripped me as I tried to figure out what was really going on. I love both character driven and plot driven books and this one felt like it was on equal footing. The artist and the hot cop gave it a fun vibe but the things that they became embroiled in were crazy!
Youngblood did a great job in drawing the reader right into the story.
Content: mild romance; talk of death, mild violence; very mild religion
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
I loved the way this book took place in two locations and the characters were all great. There were so many things to unravel and the story gripped me as I tried to figure out what was really going on. I love both character driven and plot driven books and this one felt like it was on equal footing. The artist and the hot cop gave it a fun vibe but the things that they became embroiled in were crazy!
Youngblood did a great job in drawing the reader right into the story.
Content: mild romance; talk of death, mild violence; very mild religion
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
March 20, 2024
The impeccable height of suspense in this fascinating story, falls softly into a perfect proposal.
September 30, 2022
This is the first book I’ve read in the Honeysuckle Island series and I was completely drawn into the story. The first part was a bit confusing, but I think that’s because I wasn’t familiar with the previous books. Once I got into the story, it was hard to put down. The characters were engaging and the mystery was good.
Olivia’s life has been difficult ever since her law enforcement fiancé was murdered. When she meets Flynn during a routine traffic stop, there’s an immediate attraction, however she’s not looking to get involved with another cop, especially with a two year old son to think of. Her friend Arden talks her into going out with him though. Fast forward a year later, and things are definitely serious.
When her family’s art gallery is in trouble, a wealthy artist offers a financial rescue if Olivia agrees to come to California and work for him for just 6 weeks. Olivia reluctantly goes for her family’s sake, but things between her and Flynn are strained.
When she arrives in California, she’s upset to learn that instead of having her own apartment, she’s staying in the family’s mansion and doesn’t have access to a car. Everything is provided for her. When she meets Xavier, she’s stunned to learn she could be an identical twin to his dead wife. As Xavier behaves more and more strangely towards her, she doesn’t know if it’s just his grief, or something more sinister. There are a series of disturbing events & misunderstandings with several characters who may not be all they seem. The ending is definitely heart-pounding.
I enjoyed Olivia’s relationship with Flynn. Their meet cute was so fun! I did grow a little frustrated with Flynn’s inability to understand Olivia’s POV and Olivia’s reluctance to commit. Because of how her previous fiancé died, it’s completely understandable. I just wish they would have communicated better. I did like the way they each grew while Olivia was away.
I enjoyed the story and the mystery. One thing I found confusing is there’re a few jumps in the timeline. At one point, the book skips to one year later, but then later on we’re reliving Olivia’s first date with Flynn. It’s explained later, but at first I found it a little jarring. There were also some phrases I found unusual like “laughter slurped from her lips.”
Then there’s Xavier. He is one creepy dude. Though he’s extremely wealthy, he gives off that stalker vibe and it’s hard to know if his moods and attraction to Olivia are because he’s missing his wife or if he really has some major issues. The side characters Merla and Ingrid add to the drama and mystery. The conclusion was extremely suspenseful.
All things considered, an enjoyable mystery & clean romance. I’m definitely going to read the other books in the series. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher through Book Sirens. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review. 3 1/2 stars raised to 4.
Olivia’s life has been difficult ever since her law enforcement fiancé was murdered. When she meets Flynn during a routine traffic stop, there’s an immediate attraction, however she’s not looking to get involved with another cop, especially with a two year old son to think of. Her friend Arden talks her into going out with him though. Fast forward a year later, and things are definitely serious.
When her family’s art gallery is in trouble, a wealthy artist offers a financial rescue if Olivia agrees to come to California and work for him for just 6 weeks. Olivia reluctantly goes for her family’s sake, but things between her and Flynn are strained.
When she arrives in California, she’s upset to learn that instead of having her own apartment, she’s staying in the family’s mansion and doesn’t have access to a car. Everything is provided for her. When she meets Xavier, she’s stunned to learn she could be an identical twin to his dead wife. As Xavier behaves more and more strangely towards her, she doesn’t know if it’s just his grief, or something more sinister. There are a series of disturbing events & misunderstandings with several characters who may not be all they seem. The ending is definitely heart-pounding.
I enjoyed Olivia’s relationship with Flynn. Their meet cute was so fun! I did grow a little frustrated with Flynn’s inability to understand Olivia’s POV and Olivia’s reluctance to commit. Because of how her previous fiancé died, it’s completely understandable. I just wish they would have communicated better. I did like the way they each grew while Olivia was away.
I enjoyed the story and the mystery. One thing I found confusing is there’re a few jumps in the timeline. At one point, the book skips to one year later, but then later on we’re reliving Olivia’s first date with Flynn. It’s explained later, but at first I found it a little jarring. There were also some phrases I found unusual like “laughter slurped from her lips.”
Then there’s Xavier. He is one creepy dude. Though he’s extremely wealthy, he gives off that stalker vibe and it’s hard to know if his moods and attraction to Olivia are because he’s missing his wife or if he really has some major issues. The side characters Merla and Ingrid add to the drama and mystery. The conclusion was extremely suspenseful.
All things considered, an enjoyable mystery & clean romance. I’m definitely going to read the other books in the series. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher through Book Sirens. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review. 3 1/2 stars raised to 4.
June 10, 2022
I’ve loved reading this series by Jennifer Youngblood so much! Reading this series in order might make more sense than reading out of order. There are so many things you wouldn’t understand if you read them out of order.
I loved that we get to see Olivia in this book. And that the reader gets to see that she moves on with her life after her fiancé, Brent, had been killed. Olivia is a great mom, and a great daughter too. She goes to a lot of trouble for her parents and the business they share. One thing about her is that she is scared to fall for Flynn and allow things to progress. But we all have to work through things.
There were a ton of things about this one that make it un-putdownable. I loved the way it’s really suspenseful. The author did a great job with the plot. And the characters.
This is such a great book! I can’t wait for the next one.
I loved that we get to see Olivia in this book. And that the reader gets to see that she moves on with her life after her fiancé, Brent, had been killed. Olivia is a great mom, and a great daughter too. She goes to a lot of trouble for her parents and the business they share. One thing about her is that she is scared to fall for Flynn and allow things to progress. But we all have to work through things.
There were a ton of things about this one that make it un-putdownable. I loved the way it’s really suspenseful. The author did a great job with the plot. And the characters.
This is such a great book! I can’t wait for the next one.
November 23, 2024
This book was really good!
June 15, 2022
Quick Summary: Dark, disturbing, and...oddly sweet.
My Review: False Illusions by Jennifer Youngblood was strangely peculiar but not in a bad way. There was an element of dark mystery and disturbing suspense weaved into this story that was, quite frankly, mind-boggling. Youngblood did an incredible job painting the villain. He was frightening. When he was revealed, it shook me. I couldn't see him until he was fully present with all of his crazy. On the flipside, O and F's romance was sweet. Although the circumstances that led O to feel the way she felt were understandable, it was nice to see them progress forward and to see that love overcame the fear.
There were some things that I did not care for in this story. With that said, these things were so well written that they achieved what they should, I suppose.
- I did not like the way O's father was pushy. He seemed to be more concerned with what he wanted to accomplish with the gallery than making sure his daughter was happy. He expressed his love, then he would use faith talk to finish his point regarding the business. It came across like manipulative pressure. Also, he did not include O in the decision making process about the future of the business.
- I thought O's mother came across a bit fluffy. Particularly, I felt that she could have done more when it came to the business decision and what was in the best interest of her daughter, not to mention R. She, too, went along with the faith talk and seemed to care about the arrangement more so than what was for the good of her daughter and her grandchild.
- Lastly, there were parts of O's character that seemed baffling. To be so aware and intelligent, there were times when she was clueless to what was happening. She made excuses far too often when evidences showed harsh truths. It made her seem one dimensional, in a way.
There were many things that I really liked about this book.
- The prologue was genius. It was a curious thing to see into the past-present like that. I was immediately hooked.
- Initially, I did not understand this book to be part of a series. Had I known, mayhaps, I would have better understood B's death. Was it tied into the other stories somehow? Because of that death/murder, I was puzzled. The story drew me in all the more.
- The two meet-cutes were priceless.
- R and his cute toddler language were gold.
- A, L, and I proved to be defiant warriors. I liked that O had allies around her.
- The antagonist was an evil charmer. He was so well written. He brought the heebie-jeebies. His creepiness almost convinced me that he would find a way to ruin the HEA of O and F.
My Final Say: Overall, this book was a page-turner. It captured my attention and kept it. It started at a place of intrigue and ended in a sweet spot.
Rating: 4.25/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher, and to NetGalley, who provided access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own and have not been influenced by the aforementioned in any way.
My Review: False Illusions by Jennifer Youngblood was strangely peculiar but not in a bad way. There was an element of dark mystery and disturbing suspense weaved into this story that was, quite frankly, mind-boggling. Youngblood did an incredible job painting the villain. He was frightening. When he was revealed, it shook me. I couldn't see him until he was fully present with all of his crazy. On the flipside, O and F's romance was sweet. Although the circumstances that led O to feel the way she felt were understandable, it was nice to see them progress forward and to see that love overcame the fear.
There were some things that I did not care for in this story. With that said, these things were so well written that they achieved what they should, I suppose.
- I did not like the way O's father was pushy. He seemed to be more concerned with what he wanted to accomplish with the gallery than making sure his daughter was happy. He expressed his love, then he would use faith talk to finish his point regarding the business. It came across like manipulative pressure. Also, he did not include O in the decision making process about the future of the business.
- I thought O's mother came across a bit fluffy. Particularly, I felt that she could have done more when it came to the business decision and what was in the best interest of her daughter, not to mention R. She, too, went along with the faith talk and seemed to care about the arrangement more so than what was for the good of her daughter and her grandchild.
- Lastly, there were parts of O's character that seemed baffling. To be so aware and intelligent, there were times when she was clueless to what was happening. She made excuses far too often when evidences showed harsh truths. It made her seem one dimensional, in a way.
There were many things that I really liked about this book.
- The prologue was genius. It was a curious thing to see into the past-present like that. I was immediately hooked.
- Initially, I did not understand this book to be part of a series. Had I known, mayhaps, I would have better understood B's death. Was it tied into the other stories somehow? Because of that death/murder, I was puzzled. The story drew me in all the more.
- The two meet-cutes were priceless.
- R and his cute toddler language were gold.
- A, L, and I proved to be defiant warriors. I liked that O had allies around her.
- The antagonist was an evil charmer. He was so well written. He brought the heebie-jeebies. His creepiness almost convinced me that he would find a way to ruin the HEA of O and F.
My Final Say: Overall, this book was a page-turner. It captured my attention and kept it. It started at a place of intrigue and ended in a sweet spot.
Rating: 4.25/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher, and to NetGalley, who provided access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own and have not been influenced by the aforementioned in any way.
April 25, 2024
Olivia and Flynn
Olivia still can't believe Brent has been gone for almost four years. Ryan never got a chance to meet his daddy. Sadie has been such a great aunt to Ryan. Thankfully, they were able to find Brent's body and gave him a proper funeral. Now she is with her best friend Arden, trying to finish getting the food for Arden's book signing when she gets pulled over by one of the new policemen. Will he really give her a ticket? Will he come to the book signing? Then there's her parents, Isiah and Connie. They have been great, letting her and Ryan move into their home. They are getting along well, but with the newer art gallery giving a run for their money, things have gotten a little tight. Then there's the fire in the kitchen of their gallery. Also, when Flynn answers a call about a break-in and gets shot in the leg. Things had been going well until then. Her dad is talking to Mr. Kipling, and he wants her to come and work in his nephew Xavier's gallery for six weeks until they can hire someone at triple the wage in Carmel. How can she refuse? She knows Ryan will be very well taken care of by her parents. So why is she so reluctant to take the job? Her parents need the money for the gallery, and she will learn some very good tips on how to make sure things go well at the gallery when she returns. Merla is crazy. She expects Olivia to pick up everything with no problem. Olivia thought she was doing great in putting in the new shipment when Merla saw where she's put it. It seems that Xavier likes to lie to her. What about? Only one way to find out is to read this great story by Jennifer Youngblood. The ending will definitely surprise you.
Olivia still can't believe Brent has been gone for almost four years. Ryan never got a chance to meet his daddy. Sadie has been such a great aunt to Ryan. Thankfully, they were able to find Brent's body and gave him a proper funeral. Now she is with her best friend Arden, trying to finish getting the food for Arden's book signing when she gets pulled over by one of the new policemen. Will he really give her a ticket? Will he come to the book signing? Then there's her parents, Isiah and Connie. They have been great, letting her and Ryan move into their home. They are getting along well, but with the newer art gallery giving a run for their money, things have gotten a little tight. Then there's the fire in the kitchen of their gallery. Also, when Flynn answers a call about a break-in and gets shot in the leg. Things had been going well until then. Her dad is talking to Mr. Kipling, and he wants her to come and work in his nephew Xavier's gallery for six weeks until they can hire someone at triple the wage in Carmel. How can she refuse? She knows Ryan will be very well taken care of by her parents. So why is she so reluctant to take the job? Her parents need the money for the gallery, and she will learn some very good tips on how to make sure things go well at the gallery when she returns. Merla is crazy. She expects Olivia to pick up everything with no problem. Olivia thought she was doing great in putting in the new shipment when Merla saw where she's put it. It seems that Xavier likes to lie to her. What about? Only one way to find out is to read this great story by Jennifer Youngblood. The ending will definitely surprise you.
May 10, 2022
Riveting, keeps you guessing, complete with a happy ending
This is a great edition to the series! What started as a quick perusal ended up in me not being able to put the book down until I’d read it cover to cover. The prologue is such a teaser, right from the start you don’t really know what is the truth and who’s side to believe. As the story continues and coincidences keep adding up, I was gripping a pillow trying to figure out where the story going to go. It was really thrilling unraveling the mystery.
The story takes place in both Honeysuckle Island and Carmel, CA. I liked that this story was different from the previous in the series. Olivia, an artist too busy to make her own art while raising her son and coordinating the family’s art gallery, finds love. Only she’s too afraid of letting it into her life. Flynn is a cocky cop who is very lovable but ready to be “all in” and move their relationship to the next level. But after a year of dating Olivia still doesn’t want either of them to say the “L” word. Yes, that’s how afraid she is.
It’s a riveting story with action, shooting, mysterious death, and about learning to have courage to go after your heart’s desire.
All the women in this series have been realistically flawed and undergo trials that lead them to love and help them become stronger, more fierce women.
Rating: PG, action scenes but nothing too intense, clean, no language, no sex, just a few kisses.
This is a great edition to the series! What started as a quick perusal ended up in me not being able to put the book down until I’d read it cover to cover. The prologue is such a teaser, right from the start you don’t really know what is the truth and who’s side to believe. As the story continues and coincidences keep adding up, I was gripping a pillow trying to figure out where the story going to go. It was really thrilling unraveling the mystery.
The story takes place in both Honeysuckle Island and Carmel, CA. I liked that this story was different from the previous in the series. Olivia, an artist too busy to make her own art while raising her son and coordinating the family’s art gallery, finds love. Only she’s too afraid of letting it into her life. Flynn is a cocky cop who is very lovable but ready to be “all in” and move their relationship to the next level. But after a year of dating Olivia still doesn’t want either of them to say the “L” word. Yes, that’s how afraid she is.
It’s a riveting story with action, shooting, mysterious death, and about learning to have courage to go after your heart’s desire.
All the women in this series have been realistically flawed and undergo trials that lead them to love and help them become stronger, more fierce women.
Rating: PG, action scenes but nothing too intense, clean, no language, no sex, just a few kisses.
October 18, 2022
False Illusions is a sweet romance with a bit of suspense set in a cute little town. It pulls you in and makes you care about the characters. Olivia is married to Brent, a policeman on Honeysuckle Island, and is pregnant with his child when he is killed in the line of duty. She moves back in with her parents and has Ryan who she raises with the help of her parents. Olivia is an artist and is running a gallery with her parents. She meets another officer, Flynn Yates, who makes her heart rate accelerate. She tries not to get involved because she could never survive if something happened to Flynn like what happened to Brent. Things are heating up fast though, so when given the chance to leave town for a while and spend time in an upscale gallery in Carmel, CA, she takes the chance of losing Flynn. She meets multimillionaire, Xavier, another artist, who is hard to read. He also lost his spouse. When Olivia finds him telling a multitude of lies and feels uncomfortable with his unwanted attention she finds herself in a situation she is not sure she can get out of. This is the 1st of this series that I have read but the fourth book. It felt like a stand alone but I am now going to go back to read the first three. I received this novel as an ARC but all thoughts are my own. I recommend this novel!
May 16, 2022
I so enjoyed this romantic mystery with a very slight gothic vibe. Olivia Burkhart is raising her young son, Ryan, alone after the death of his police officer father. She has help from her parents and her job at their gallery. Finances are always a concern and she hopes her six-week tenure at a prestigious gallery in California will help her family. Her “cute meet” (as her friend Arden says) with Officer Flynn Yates is not what she was looking for. Although he is attractive and attracted to her, how can she take a chance on another officer who faces danger every day? Arriving at the mansion owned by Xavier Kipling, an artist and owner of the gallery, she learns that his wife died a year ago. Although she feels empathy for him, her resemblance to his deceased wife and his pursuit is alarming. Rumors swirl that his wife killed herself…or did he kill her? When she learns that Flynn has been shot, she realizes that she truly loves him and needs to return to him, but Xavier has no plans for her to leave, to leave him. Will she get away or share the same fate as his wife? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation from the author for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)
September 4, 2022
After Olivia's fiance was killed in the line of duty as a cop, she vows never to get romantically involved with a policeman again. So when she's stopped by a good-looking cop for speeding, she tries her best not to flirt with him. But good intentions don't always keep, and she eventually finds herself falling in love with the cop named Flynn. So why does she avoid Flynn's marriage proposal? When Flynn is wounded while investigating a possible burglary, Olivia is reminded of what she lost when her former fiance was killed--does she want to go through the chance of that occurring again with Flynn? And so they break up.
Trying to figure out her true feelings, Olivia receives a reprieve when she travels to California to intern at a famous artist's art gallery and try to help rescue her family's business from bankruptcy. But as soon as she arrives at the art gallery in CA, people look at her oddly, strange things happen, and Olivia isn't sure of much, except how much she misses Flynn. Can she win him back?
A fast-paced mystery with plenty of twists and turns that held my interest from start to finish!
I received a complimentary ARC of this book and have voluntarily given my honest opinion in this review.
Trying to figure out her true feelings, Olivia receives a reprieve when she travels to California to intern at a famous artist's art gallery and try to help rescue her family's business from bankruptcy. But as soon as she arrives at the art gallery in CA, people look at her oddly, strange things happen, and Olivia isn't sure of much, except how much she misses Flynn. Can she win him back?
A fast-paced mystery with plenty of twists and turns that held my interest from start to finish!
I received a complimentary ARC of this book and have voluntarily given my honest opinion in this review.
June 7, 2022
This book was unexpected. I have read other books by this author which fell more into one category (romance or mystery or intrigue….). This book was a small town romance, plus a mystery, plus a protector story. While I enjoy all of these I felt at times that this story lacked a bit of direction as to what it was . However even with that, the author did a great job of keeping me interested until the end.
This is the story of Olivia and Flynn. Olivia works for her family's art gallery and Flynn is a local cop. Olivia has a child from a prior relationship, where the father who was a cop was killed in the line of duty. She's a bit fearful of her relationship with Flynn given his occupation. Due to family circumstances she's requested to work for another gallery to gain experience and to possibly represent a well known artist. The artist, Xavier, also has a complicated history, but to add to the complications Olivia looks like Xavier's deceased wife. Mind games are played, but ultimately the truth comes out and good wins out.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is the story of Olivia and Flynn. Olivia works for her family's art gallery and Flynn is a local cop. Olivia has a child from a prior relationship, where the father who was a cop was killed in the line of duty. She's a bit fearful of her relationship with Flynn given his occupation. Due to family circumstances she's requested to work for another gallery to gain experience and to possibly represent a well known artist. The artist, Xavier, also has a complicated history, but to add to the complications Olivia looks like Xavier's deceased wife. Mind games are played, but ultimately the truth comes out and good wins out.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 22, 2022
A clean suspense with great potential.
3.5⭐ Read
"False Illusions" was an intriguing story following Olivia Burkhart and her challenging life. Having not read any of the previous books in this series, I was still able to follow the story and its cast of characters without difficulty.
The Prologue drew me in and helped fan my doubt and suspicion about what was real or false from the get-go - something I appreciated as a reader. However, I struggled to get through the middle of the story and put the book down for a day to see if my interest would be piqued again. I'm not a fussy reader by any stretch of the imagination, but I wished the story had moved a little faster and the characters didn't "overact".
This being said, I appreciated all the story threads being pulled together in a pretty bow by the end of the book. Some of the characters weren't believable but by the time the Epilogue rolled along, I enjoyed the symmetry to the story.
NB I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley.
3.5⭐ Read
"False Illusions" was an intriguing story following Olivia Burkhart and her challenging life. Having not read any of the previous books in this series, I was still able to follow the story and its cast of characters without difficulty.
The Prologue drew me in and helped fan my doubt and suspicion about what was real or false from the get-go - something I appreciated as a reader. However, I struggled to get through the middle of the story and put the book down for a day to see if my interest would be piqued again. I'm not a fussy reader by any stretch of the imagination, but I wished the story had moved a little faster and the characters didn't "overact".
This being said, I appreciated all the story threads being pulled together in a pretty bow by the end of the book. Some of the characters weren't believable but by the time the Epilogue rolled along, I enjoyed the symmetry to the story.
NB I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley.
May 6, 2022
Single mother Olivia isn't ready for hot cop Flynn to ask her to marry him. Olivia loves him, but is fearful that Flynn will die on the job like her former fiancé. With her family's art gallery barely paying the bills, her parents want her to accept a well-paying temporary position at an art gallery in California. Olivia doesn't want to be separated from her son or from Flynn for six weeks. Unexpected events prioritize Olivia taking the temporary position. Olivia leaves town with mixed feelings. The California job, housing and transportation setup is not what she expected. The owner of the art gallery Xavier is handsome and wealthy, but he is not Flynn. I received a free copy of this ebook from the author. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. The romance and the feelings of the main characters are very realistic. I love how this story has a slightly gothic feel and how the suspense builds. I didn't want to put this book down and read it in one day.
May 26, 2022
Although I’ve read several of Jennifer Youngblood’s romance novels, this was my first of her romantic suspense novels. Even though it is the fourth in the Honeysuckle Island series, it can easily be read as a standalone.
The first section of the book deals primarily with Olivia’s relationship with Flynn, a police officer in the area. Her three-year-old son, Ryan, lost his father, Brent, when he was shot in the line of duty before Ryan was born, so Olivia isn’t sure she wants a long-term relationship with another cop.
She goes to Carmel to work in an art gallery there run by the Kipling family for six weeks, to help her parents out when their art gallery is destroyed by fire.
The middle drags a bit as we anticipate the entry of Xavier Kipling, artist and owner of the mansion where Olivia stays while working in Carmel. But, the action picks up after he comes on scene and it builds to an exciting end.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The first section of the book deals primarily with Olivia’s relationship with Flynn, a police officer in the area. Her three-year-old son, Ryan, lost his father, Brent, when he was shot in the line of duty before Ryan was born, so Olivia isn’t sure she wants a long-term relationship with another cop.
She goes to Carmel to work in an art gallery there run by the Kipling family for six weeks, to help her parents out when their art gallery is destroyed by fire.
The middle drags a bit as we anticipate the entry of Xavier Kipling, artist and owner of the mansion where Olivia stays while working in Carmel. But, the action picks up after he comes on scene and it builds to an exciting end.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 12, 2022
False Illusions
This series just keeps getting better and better. Olivia lost her first love when he was killed in the line of duty. She never expected to fall for anyone else, especially a cop. When Flynn pulled over Olivia for speeding in a school zone he never intended to fall in love. He had been strung along by another woman who ended up leaving him only to marry a wealthy man. Olivia has been offered an opportunity to work in an art gallery across the country in order to help her family art gallery. When she arrives she meets Xavier and becomes entangled in a mystery that sounds bazaar. She doesn’t know what or who to believe. Will Xavier manage to woo her away from Flynn?
This series just keeps getting better and better. Olivia lost her first love when he was killed in the line of duty. She never expected to fall for anyone else, especially a cop. When Flynn pulled over Olivia for speeding in a school zone he never intended to fall in love. He had been strung along by another woman who ended up leaving him only to marry a wealthy man. Olivia has been offered an opportunity to work in an art gallery across the country in order to help her family art gallery. When she arrives she meets Xavier and becomes entangled in a mystery that sounds bazaar. She doesn’t know what or who to believe. Will Xavier manage to woo her away from Flynn?
May 18, 2022
Olivia Burkhart is a single mom struggling to keep her family art gallery on Honeysuckle Island open with such elite clientele. After the death of her fiance, Brent Allen, shot in the line of duty, she struggles with fear and loneliness while raising Brent's son, Ryan. When she is stopped by police officer Flynn Yates, the attraction is immediate but her fear of losing another loved one makes her hesitant at best. When Flynn gets shot in the line of duty, Olivia flees to Carmel CA to be trained in an exclusive art gallery owned by famed artist Xavier Kipling but when clients are all shocked at how much she looks like Xavier's dead wife, the suspense kicks up and the story takes many twists and turns. I couldn't put it down!
February 1, 2023
This was a fantastic book. The story is clean without descriptive sex scenes or foul language. It had romance, suspense, intrigue, drama, attempted murder, evil and a happy ending and lots more in between.
I absolutely loved Flynn. He was the perfect book boyfriend. He was patient and handsome and perfect. When Olivia accepts an opportunity to go to Carmel, California, to work in an upscale art gallery to help her family's financial situation, she is thrust into the crosshairs of a crazy man determined to wreak havoc in her life. At the end of her time, she learns that all is not as it appears, except for her relationship with Flynn, which is solid. There is a wonderful happy ending, too.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
I absolutely loved Flynn. He was the perfect book boyfriend. He was patient and handsome and perfect. When Olivia accepts an opportunity to go to Carmel, California, to work in an upscale art gallery to help her family's financial situation, she is thrust into the crosshairs of a crazy man determined to wreak havoc in her life. At the end of her time, she learns that all is not as it appears, except for her relationship with Flynn, which is solid. There is a wonderful happy ending, too.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
June 22, 2023
Read my full review here: https://onreviewbysara.com/2023/06/22...
I was given this ARC as a gift from the author on BookSirens. My opinions and thoughts of the book are mine alone.
My Rating: I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The twists and turns are perfect and I couldn’t guess what the ending would be. I am the type of reader that always likes to guess what the ending would be. I want to know how things happen and who did what, but I do not want to know who it is in the first couple of chapters. I thought I knew the answer and, in the end, knew nothing. I was shocked and I was not let down. Read this book if you love to guess until the very last sentence of the book.
I was given this ARC as a gift from the author on BookSirens. My opinions and thoughts of the book are mine alone.
My Rating: I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The twists and turns are perfect and I couldn’t guess what the ending would be. I am the type of reader that always likes to guess what the ending would be. I want to know how things happen and who did what, but I do not want to know who it is in the first couple of chapters. I thought I knew the answer and, in the end, knew nothing. I was shocked and I was not let down. Read this book if you love to guess until the very last sentence of the book.
July 24, 2023
Art and and a crazy billionaire
This story has elements of Gaslight, Rebecca, Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde balanced by normal people with regular jobs. A single mom whose parents own a struggling eastern seacoast art gallery is afraid to get involved with a handsome cop because her first love, also a cop, was killed while on duty. She takes a high-paying temporary job in a gallery in Carnel, California, in return for the owner's investment in her family's art gallery, which is recovering from a fire. This perfect solution to their financial challenges turns out to be not so perfect.
This story has elements of Gaslight, Rebecca, Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde balanced by normal people with regular jobs. A single mom whose parents own a struggling eastern seacoast art gallery is afraid to get involved with a handsome cop because her first love, also a cop, was killed while on duty. She takes a high-paying temporary job in a gallery in Carnel, California, in return for the owner's investment in her family's art gallery, which is recovering from a fire. This perfect solution to their financial challenges turns out to be not so perfect.
July 5, 2024
predictable non stress reading
Very predictable you already know who did it when how where whatever story of romance and that’s basically what you’re reading is a romance story and there is not a lot of fluff drive or anything else to go into it or in depth literature that I can share with you because it doesn’t exist here but it is something to read and it’s not stressful and a lot of times instead of turning on the TV set. I want to read something that is exactly this so this is perfect. It’s getting a three star rating for me for the wholewhole series because they’re pretty much all the same
Very predictable you already know who did it when how where whatever story of romance and that’s basically what you’re reading is a romance story and there is not a lot of fluff drive or anything else to go into it or in depth literature that I can share with you because it doesn’t exist here but it is something to read and it’s not stressful and a lot of times instead of turning on the TV set. I want to read something that is exactly this so this is perfect. It’s getting a three star rating for me for the wholewhole series because they’re pretty much all the same
July 27, 2022
Falling for a Cop
Olivia had lost her son's father when he was shot on duty. She was falling for Flynn, but he was also a cop. Jennifer Youngblood has written a thrilling suspense story set in Carmel by the Sea, CA. She's gone there to work for a gallery carrying the stunning art work of a billionaire who wants to use her art gallery in NC to carry his paintings exclusively. But odd things start to happen when she reaches his mansion at the top of a cliff overlooking the turbulent Pacific. A must read.
Olivia had lost her son's father when he was shot on duty. She was falling for Flynn, but he was also a cop. Jennifer Youngblood has written a thrilling suspense story set in Carmel by the Sea, CA. She's gone there to work for a gallery carrying the stunning art work of a billionaire who wants to use her art gallery in NC to carry his paintings exclusively. But odd things start to happen when she reaches his mansion at the top of a cliff overlooking the turbulent Pacific. A must read.
May 9, 2022
False Illusions is so good! You will love Flynn, Olivia and the gothic feel to this remarkable romantic suspense tale. A couple of times I caught myself screaming at Olivia "No, don't!" Allow sufficient time to finish before starting to read and you will not still be up after 2 am like me. You will not be able to put this one down! This well written tale has a diabolical villain, romance, intrigue, glamour and glitz - all In Ms. Youngblood's signature style!
May 24, 2022
Exceptionally well written and captivating! I was so intrigued as I was reading the mystery in this story. It was impressive to me how 2 very plausible explanations were given for so much of the storyline. Youngblood's talent at weaving the mystery sucked me right in. Olivia and Flynn were so much fun together. Terrific supporting characters added depth to the story. This is a terrific addition to the Honeysuckle Island Series. I can't wait for the next one!!!!
May 26, 2022
False Illusions is Book 4 in The Honeysuckle Island Series by Jennifer Youngblood. This romantic suspense is outstanding! The characters are believable and well written. I thought that the story was built from a sweet romance to an intense situation. I couldn't put the book down. I believe that False Illusions is a must read. I am looking forward to read book 5, To Steal a Heart, which is Arden's story. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
May 15, 2022
She looks JUST like his deceased wife
She takes a job to help her family with their finances . . . not realizing that the reason she was chosen is because she looks like his deceased wife. WOW - what a twisted story this turns out to be. BUT with God’s grace . . . .totally loved this book!!! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
She takes a job to help her family with their finances . . . not realizing that the reason she was chosen is because she looks like his deceased wife. WOW - what a twisted story this turns out to be. BUT with God’s grace . . . .totally loved this book!!! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 18, 2022
full of intrigue and love.
I throughly enjoyed this book and the other three in this series. I loved the plot twists and the different characters. I just wish I didn’t have to wait so long for the next one. I always enjoy reading this author’s books. Highly recommend this to everyone.
I throughly enjoyed this book and the other three in this series. I loved the plot twists and the different characters. I just wish I didn’t have to wait so long for the next one. I always enjoy reading this author’s books. Highly recommend this to everyone.
May 19, 2022
Excellent book
This book was an excellent story about an artist and her police officer boyfriend. She ends up working for an art gallery in Carmel, CA and the artist who owns the gallery ends up falling for her because she looks like his dead wife. This was a good book and you should read it.
This book was an excellent story about an artist and her police officer boyfriend. She ends up working for an art gallery in Carmel, CA and the artist who owns the gallery ends up falling for her because she looks like his dead wife. This was a good book and you should read it.
October 15, 2022
can't Stop Reading Good '
There was so much suspense and nail biting in this book for me. Only in the last 3 years did I gain a true knowledge of gaslighting. /Jennifer Youngblood did an excellent job in in describing the ugliness and fear that goes with the person who is faced with being gaslighted.
There was so much suspense and nail biting in this book for me. Only in the last 3 years did I gain a true knowledge of gaslighting. /Jennifer Youngblood did an excellent job in in describing the ugliness and fear that goes with the person who is faced with being gaslighted.
May 7, 2022
You've got to love Olivia and Flynn. They are so good for each other. I loved all the mystery and suspense. This story is so good I had to stay up all night to finish it! This is a really exciting, fast moving story full of sweet, clean romance.
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