The riveting conclusion to the Illusions Duet…GIDEONShe took me with her when she left.A day.A thousand days.It doesn’t matter.She blew out the flame inside me and nowI’m in the dark.DEIRDRESuffering is the cloak that shelters. The mask that protects fragile skin. And happiness is something for those who have suffered less.Happiness doesn’t live here,in the house of broken dolls.Only sin.…
who have suffered less.
Happiness doesn’t live here,
in the house of broken dolls.
Only sin.
Author’s Note: This duet takes place in the world of the Vision Series but can be read as a standalone. Mature themes. HEA guaranteed.
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4.5 Stars
As soon as I finished book one with that crazy cliffy I knew I needed to dive directly into book two. Did I enjoy it? Yes. As much as book one? SO CLOSE…but not quite.
It was still a fantastic book though. Same high quality of writing. A fantastic twist I did not see coming. I liked that we got inside Gideon’s head in this one. I still adored Dierdre and how strong she was. Especially with everything she went through in this book. There was no OW drama. There was OM drama in the form of the “baddie”. There wasn’t a lot of sex in this one and when we do get some, it comes very late in the book. However, that fit with the overall plot, so I wasn’t too disappointed. What I was a teensy bit disappointed about was the lack of Nate and Finn in this book. I hope both of them get books of their own. As well as Liam, who intrigued me a lot. Last, it was all wrapped up in a super sweet ending.
I was a little scared going into this book. I just knew that it was not going to be an easy read, and boy, was I right! It was dark-so dark-and so realistic, and it made me just mourn for Deidre and ponder the realities of a life like hers. Which I wholeheartedly wish was so farfetched that no one could actually experience it, but I am sadly not that naïve. At any rate, this book shatters you, and then slowly puts you back together. We all need a Gideon in our lives. Someone who sees you-all of you with your light and your dark, your strength and your fears, and still loves all of you. What a gift that is, and it is a love worth writing, and reading, about. Experiencing Deidre as she heals, you learn about what love is, and feel privileged to go along on the journey.
I really couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book after reading Art of Sin! Thankfully, L.M. Halloran didn’t leave us hanging for long! WOW is all I’ve got say! We get sucked right back into Deirdra and Gideons worlds. I was stuck there right until the end, unable to put my kindle down. If you are looking for a darker read, this duet is a must read!!!!
I wasn’t ready. . . this book shattered me, gave me Gideon and put me back together. She left him. He was destroyed when he realized she wasn’t coming back. Then he found out the truth about her past. He couldn’t, wouldn’t let her go without fighting for her. She thought she could handle it. Take care of him in one minute and be back. It didn’t happen. We learn of all that her past was, all Julep had a part in. We watch her break. It isn’t pretty. It’s a hard dark read. This author doesn’t let us play spectator, naw that would be too easy. This story drags you in kicking and screaming. It finds your darkest thoughts and fears and uses them against you. Fear for everyone associated with you. It is ugly and yeah you can’t hide. This time escape may not come before she shatters and splinters.
This author did it to me again!!! Once again everything stopped from the time I opened and read the first line all the way through to the end. Who can you trust when people that were supposed to be your friend turn out to be your enemy. When the reality you have carefully mastered is an illusion. Is that all life is. . . an illusion. . . or is it just my world. That’s okay, as long as I have a Gideon to rescue me I will happily bask in a sea of sin and love, one or the other. . . maybe both.
Deirdre has left her carefully constructed life in LA to protect Nate & Gideon. She sacrifices herself to the devil to save them. She does not expect to return from her journey. She learns much about the trajectory of her life. It was far less random than she thought. At the same time she has become a perfect doll again, Gideon spirals into the dark. He goes on a self-destructive binge without his jewel. While he is in his destructive spiral, the others who care about him and Deirdre work to find where she has gone. But who will she be when they find her? Will she be found in time?
Dark, twisted, showing the evil that people can be capable of as well as the strength even the most broken have deep inside them. Deirdre finds herself being buried in the dark, unsure she will ever see light or breathe the clean, fresh air of the surface. Gideon is her light and he shines brightly for her in the dark, even as she tries to drive him away. He holds her broken pieces together and together they find their way out of Hades and into the spring.
Full of despair and sadness but also full of hope and love. You may start this part of the journey in the deepest, coldest, darkest corner of hell but you will end it in the highest, warmest, brightest light. LM does it again. Dark and angsty followed by the warmth and lightness of love.
I received a review copy. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Deirdre Moss feels like she has no choice. Gideon Masters is having regrets on how things ended. He may be a main character but he has more of a supporting role in this second book of the duet. Just as in the first book most of our experiences are due to Deirdre. The most I’m going to tell you about this story is how dark and painful it was. I’m not saying that you’ll need any tissue but at the very least you may cringe or even have to walk away because of what she had to endure. But you can’t stay away too long because you have to know what’s happening. Her experiences are what make this story seem so realistic.
This was one of the toughest books I’ve read to date and the hardest at not giving anything away. Having to watch/read what Deirdre had to go through was hard on the heart but it will show you how strong she actually was. It’s a great vehicle if you want to know how good our author is. If you have any triggers this could be a tough one for you to handle, unless you are able to disconnect yourself from what you read. If not, this is going to affect you in some way. But after the storm that this couple had to endure, I looked forward to seeing the sun came out and make their life a brighter place.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Sin of Love is part 2 of the Illusions Duet and omg what an amazing dark and twisted read it is! And I will say their may be some triggers. This read is definitely not for the faint hearted.
Deidre and Gideon’s story isn’t your typical light hearted love story it’s soo much more. Deidre’s strength is utterly amazing and I totally feel for Gideon when he showed his love and devotion for Deidre.
I wish I could get into more detail, but if I did I think I would give to much away. If you love dark reads then this duet is for you!
L.M. Halloran nailed this read and can’t wait to see what’s next!!
Wow!!! Just wow!! Gideon would burn the world down to get Deidre back. He’ll do whatever it takes to get her and it doesn’t matter what he has to do. What’s going to happen if he does get her back though?
I was totally invested in this book, couldn’t wait to see what would happen with these two. I fell in love with Gideon more and more!
Will definitely read more of this author.
Sin of Love exceeded my expectations for the completion of the Illusions Duet. I found myself constantly checking my reading progress, hoping it would never end. When I found myself towards the end of the book, I legitimately was scared to finish it! It was that good. I fell in love with Deirdre and Gideon in Art of Sin and then cheered for them in Sin of Love. Gideon’s desolation with Deirdre gone, her acceptance of the end to protect him…this is the stuff real HEA’s are made of.
I loved the conclusion of Deidre and Gideon’s story in Sin of Love. As you would expect from a L.M Halloran novel, the writing was exquisite and the characters where raw and real.
Writing about the events Deidre lived through isn’t easy and it’s common for writers to trivialise trauma. However this did not happen in Art of Love. I felt with Deidre and for her. I understood her journey.
All I can say is MORE PLEASE!!!!!
This second book was a doozy. It blew me away. Everything I had found lacking in the first book was made up for in spades in this second part of the duet.
Very dark, very heart wrenching. There was a particular bathtub scene that kicked me in the gut.
I highly recommend this duet. Very well done.
Video review found here: https://youtu.be/iae3UfvNQ8U?t=194
Dierdre and Gideon’s story comes to a close in Sin of Love, and this is one story I was NOT ready to finish!
I completely ate up the first book in the duet, and lost so much sleep reading this conclusion because it was just THAT good.
Dierdre leaves at the beginning of the book. She has things she needs to do, closure she needs to take care of, in order to fully move on with her life without the hauntings of her past. But of course, things are NEVER as easy as they seem. The book was full of twists and turns, things I never saw coming, and kept me on the absolute edge of my seat the entire time. I don’t even want to talk about the details, because I don’t want to risk giving anything away or spoiling something.
Getting to the final pages of this book, I was HOOKED. Just know that finding an HEA isn’t always as easy as it seems, and LM Halloran does an AMAZING job with these creative stories and bringing the characters and stories to life. LOVED it and will be a reader of LM’s for life!
Part two in the Illusions Duet continues with more intensity than Art of Sin!
Deidre makes a selfless yet questionable decision to protect those she loves. She encounters her past in the worst possible way. I was spellbound and heartbroken at times while she experienced some dire situations. I admire her determination.
Gideon was heartbroken at her disappearance and wallowed in his misery until he finally gathered the strength to search for the woman he so desperately loved. He acquired the help of the mysterious Liam and they eventually were able to learn Deidre’s whereabouts. There’s so much that happens but through it all Gideon doesn’t waver in his love and devoted patience to helping Deidre heal.
I love this even more then book one!
Where do I start!! After reading Art of Sin I couldn’t wait for the second book and this doesn’t disappoint. When Deirdre decided to face her past and her demons, she left Gideon an emotional mess with him not knowing where she went. But no one could have seen what would happen to Deirdre and if she was ever coming back to Gideon. When Gideon realizes that he can’t live without her, he takes on any means to find her. But can he save her in time? This story is so much more than just two people being in love. It is that they belong to each other body and soul and nothing and no one will stop them from being together. Their journey will take you to dark places and your heart will be stuck in your throat, but when they come to the light places, your heart will burst with love. I am truly enamored with this authors writing skills, truly magnificent. This duet is phenomenal and will utterly blow your mind. No words can fully describe how incredible it is and my emotions are all over the place. An absolutely breathtaking story!
L.M. Halloran is quickly becoming my favorite author and with duets like this it’s easy to see why. The emotions come off the pages in waves, pulling you in further with every word. This story gutted me. The heartbreak shattering and the love all encompassing. This is one of the best duets of 2019.
Sin of Love, the final chapter, the conclusion to this story has left me breathless and awestruck.
This story took me on whirlwind journey of raw emotions, heart breaking, gut wrenching moments and plunged me into to depths of darkness leaving me gasping.
Deirdre is such a strong, resilient warrior despite what has happened to her in the past and present and through the book we see her in battle.
Gideon is amazing, though he’s a bit damaged and lost, he’s tenacious and goes after the love of his life, consequences be damned.
This story is a battle, fighting for life, sanity and love.
When the smoke clears who will prevail??
Won’t give anything else away, guess you’ll have to read!
Over all L.M brings forth another amazing book which brings out all my emotions and keeps me engaged line by line until the end. Thank you!!
I was given an ARC for an honest review. With that said, I read all of LM Halloran’s books and they just keep getting better.
Deidre and Gideon stole my heart in book one and tore it to shreds in the beginning of book two, but finally mended my heart toward the end. Gideon’s love, commitment, and ability to look past Deidre’s mental and physical imperfections made me love their relationship more.
I really want more Finn in a future book!
Be warned…there maybe some rape and sexual trafficking triggers for certain audiences. However, it is presented with dignity toward the subject.
This is a great ending to this duet.
I don’t know what I was expecting from book 2. But I do know it certainly was not this. The book brought out so many emotions. Deirdre and Gideon were far from the perfect couple. They saw the flaws each other had both physical and mental. They embraced them with open arms. The book touched on so many different topics. It’s hard to focus on one. I loved it all and highly recommend this Duet to everyone.
The conclusion to the illusion duet is well worth the wait. It was a page turner that I didn’t want to end but sadly it did. I wish there was more. It was emotional, intense and loved how it all fall together in the end. Loved the personal growth and the struggles that all the character overcome it was beautiful to read. I can not wait to see what she comes up with next. I am hoping Nate is one of the next books that she writes.