Customer Reviews

Honest Illusions

5 star:		(61)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As an avid fan of Nora Roberts, I tend to buy and read almost any book of hers I can find! I have to say, this one didn't disappoint! Interesting characters with interesting jobs, decent plot, great romance... what more could you ask for? I liked it so much that I read it in once sitting - I could not put this book down!

The basic storyline is Max Nouvelle and his 9 year old daughter Roxanne are magicians in a travelling carnival when they meet 12 year old runaway and pickpocket, Luke Callahan. Luke is mesmerized by Max and by his magic tricks and eventually joins the family and becomes a magician too. The story progresses as the two children grow up and eventually fall in love. Eventually the bad guy pops up, Sam Wyatt, who threatens to destroy the life that Luke has built for himself, and destroy the Nouvelle family.

Luke and Roxanne are two of the best characters ever in a Nora Roberts novel. It's hard not to get caught up in the story and in their romance, they are so well written they're almost real! The only disappointment in the book is I think Nora spent too much time on the childhood and not enough time on Luke and Roxy when they were adults. I don't think their romance even really starts until page 250+. Even so, the book was entertaining and really fun to read. I highly recommend it!

If I could give this book 10 stars, I definitely would. This is the BEST that Nora's written. I've read this book three times and fall in love with the story and the characters all over again each time I read it. I love how Max teaches Luke to trust again after his unhappy childhood. I love how they don't want to steal from the people on the cruise because they fall in love with them, too. This is one book I didn't want to end. I just adored every minute of this book. I wish it could be a movie -- how charming.

This is definatly one of my three favorite books by Nora Roberts, and I've read quite a few.
It is a story about a young boy, Luke, who is twelve years old at the beginning of the story. He is an abused child who has ran away from home, and pick-pockets for a living. He is at a carnival one day, and goes to see the magic show, where the magician, Max, sees him pick-pocketing the audience. Instead of calling the cops, Max takes him in as a son, and teaches him magic. Max has a daughter of his own, Roxanne, who is eight at the beginning. The book follows Luke and Roxanne through childhood, and grows into a really great love story between the two. There is also a second love story between Max, and Lilly, a woman who is a mother to Luke and Roxanne, and is also part of the magic show. The book has several exciting twists, and you never know quite what to expect. I don't want to give away the ending, so all else I'll say is . . . If you like romance stories, love Nora Roberts, or just want to read a really good book, then this would definatly be a good pick.

(SPOILERS)

There are a lot of 4 and 5 stars reviews for this book but I just don't see it. The first part of the book seems to go on and on. I thought that after that the book would pick up during the second part and it did but then the story turned to the h constantly either fighting with the H or throwing herself at him. I am not a big fan of books where the h chases the H and the H constantly rejects her and sleeps with other woman. This is even more frustrating when the author is clearly trying to make the h a strong female, strong females just do not put up with that! It also bothered me how many other woman the H had sex with. The fighting, the other woman, the constant pushing the h away created a very cold relationship to me, not at all tender and loving. IMO the relationship between the H and h felt more brother/sister where they shared their childhood and were defiantly there for each other when things were bad but whose relationship was more antagonistic than a sweet.

By the third part of the book I was determined to finish it simply because I had already invested so much time into this story. Even though I think the last part of the story was better, it really annoyed me that after only two weeks of the H coming back the H and h were back together as though all was fine. Shortly after that he and his son had the perfect relationship. The resolution between the characters was simplistic and lacked any depth. After such a cold abandonment and a five year absence, I doubt that the h would be fine with an explanation, a few "sorry" and a good cry. It seemed even more unrealistic because the h was feeling resentful to her family for welcoming the H back as though he had not abandoned them in such a short time, yet shortly after that she is welcoming him back just as easily?

The only redeeming characters in the book were Lily and Max. The author conveyed a tender, romantic relationship between these characters which she failed to convey with the H and h. This book got a lot of 4 and 5 star reviews so I know I am in the minority on this one but I just felt this book needed a little more love and redemption in the love story.

I read the reviews and was so anxious to read the book but I forgot to order it, but luck came my way a week ago and tonight I just finished it, and had to give to give it 5 stars. Fantastic characters, great plot, fantastic buildup and last but certainly not least a very smooth landing and great ending. No murders, just certain people getting their due justice. I will read one of Nora's books any day, but I'm waiting now for Three Fates to come out in paperback. Keep on writing fantastic books Nora because I will be reading them. This review was based on the trade paperback.

oh my gosh, this was so good. I think this was one of her best work. Along with (Carolina Moon, Hidden riches, Private scandals, river's end and The reef)

It is difficult to find books in this genre that have a new flare to them. Usually the story lines are similiar as well as the characters. This had some of that, but the magical part of it, made for a new twist to the average story line.
It takes a little bit of reading to really get into the book though. The beginning catches your attention, but then it quickly jumps back in the past and you have to learn about how the characters grew up together and fought until they reached adulthood. That part of it is a bit slow. By the time they do grow up, it gets much more interesting and even touches the heart strings a bit. Not my favorite by Nora Roberts, but it was alright as a contemporary romance.

This book is the most touching of NR I have ever read. I dont know, maybe because this is my first Nora Roberts to ever read, but this one always stands out in my mind as the best. Roxy and Luke are great. Personally, Luke is my favorite character. He just touches the heart from the first chapter of the book. Max and Lily are great too. If you love emotional books...READ THIS ONE.You won't be dissapointed

Just finishing Honest Illusions, I have to say that it is probably one of my favorite Nora Roberts book now. I fell in love with the Nouvelle family (including Mouse and LeClerc) from the very first chapter. Luke and Roxy were great together, you could feel the connection between them from the time Luke joined the family, as a young boy. I found myself close to tears at times, sitting on the edge of my seat plenty, and laughing quite a lot. Honest Illusions is a wonderful, magical read, you will just fall in love with it!

Just discovered this gem. I listened to it, and that was a way to stretch it out for a long time. The story appealed to me because of the relationships between the main characters, of which there are three. There is a good number of secondary and even tertiary as well, whose actions greatly impact the main ones. Max Nuvelle, the father, Roxy his daughter, and Luke, the boy the Nuvelle's take in when he was almost a teen are the three who the story revolves around.

What I found really fascinating was Robert's ability to have us not just like, but root for the Nuvelle family, even though they are thieves. When an interloper threatens them and steals as well, he is ostracized and removed from the family dynamic. Max justifies his thefts as sort of a Robin Hood mentality, never stealing from those who are in need or those who they know well. This code of ethics is returned to multiple times in the book as the characters grapple with it themselves.

Roxy and Luke have the main romantic relationship and it does sizzle, though it takes a while for it to occur. Luke is a bit of a womanizer and I did not care for that aspect of his personality. Roxy is portrayed as wild yet smart around men, and it is a bit of a double standard. The other area that is unrealistic are some of the magic tricks. They are described in some detail but not enough to give away any trained secrets. Therefore, it is hard to know if some of them can really happen or as spectacular as portrayed.

Fans of older Roberts books - the romances with a little angst, will like this book. It is a good bridge from her full romances to the independent books that are full of mystery, murder, and suspense. It is very dated too, so that was fun to listen to. I wonder if the plot would have to significantly change in today's world, with the internet and cell phones.