Deadly Illusion

A Suspenseful Standalone (Secrets and the City, Book 1)

By: Kathy Lockheart

Narrated by: Sarah Puckett, Michael Norman Johnson

AN AMAZON TOP 25 BESTSELLER!

I was able to hide the bruises from everyone... until an MMA fighter came along. Now he'll die to protect me. Maybe even kill... He insists I stay with him for protection, but Damian is keeping his own dark secrets and warns me that anyone who gets close to him will be in danger…Worse, my assailant is determined to finish what he started.

And now, my life, along with the lives of everyone I love…… is in peril.

Can Damian and I survive and get our happily ever after?

Or will this fairy tale end in murder?

*STANDALONE, no cliffhanger

©2021 Kathy Lockheart (P)2025 KATHY LOCKHEART

Slow burn romantic suspense!

This friends to lovers, forbidden, second chance, slow burn, emotional romantic suspense was really well done. The author gives up the perspective of a domestic abuse survivor in a respective, realistic manner.

These characters were flawed, tortured, and human. Jenna and Damian had an intense, effortless connection and I really liked how their relationship developed. The plot was really good and I did not expect the plot twist.

Even though the book was written only from Jenna's POV, I really enjoyed the duet narration by Sarah Puckett and Michael Norman Johnson and felt it really added to the experience of the audiobook.

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A heavy but good read

The narrators Sarah Puckett and Michael Norman Johnson rocked their performance in Deadly Illusions. Please check the trigger warnings when listening to/reading this book, especially if you are sensitive to DV. When Jenna met Colton she thought she thought their relationship was perfect, until it wasn’. The moment he put his hands on her, she was put in a tailspin. Why would he do this? He said sorry. No one can know. It won’t happen again. Listening to Jenna’s whole story and the twists and scary turns had me on the edge. When her acquaintance, Damian helped her when her brother was injured, she looked at him and the safety he represented more closely. Colton was hella toxic and any kindness from random men given to Jenna would set him off. This story was heavy, tense, sad, frustrating but still hopeful.

Emotional Read

Deadly Illusion by Kathy Lockheart is an emotional read with themes of domestic abuse, resilience, and unexpected love. The story follows Jenna, a woman trapped in an abusive relationship, whose life takes a turn when she meets Damian, an MMA fighter with his own dark past. As Jenna’s abuser becomes more dangerous, putting not only her but also those she loves at risk, Damian steps in to protect her, offering her strength and support, even as he battles his own demons.

Lockheart portrays the complexities of abusive relationships in a way that feels both raw and heart-wrenching. Toward the end, a shocking twist adds a tragic element to the story. While the turn of events is unexpected and dramatic, it still captures the harsh realities of domestic violence and its devastating consequences. This story is not only an emotional read, but also sheds light on the impact of abuse and the immense strength it takes to break free.

Sarah Puckett and Michael Norman Johnson deliver a fantastic audiobook performance, bringing all the characters to life. Their narration captures Jenna and Damian’s struggles, making the tension, fear, and resilience feel even more real.

This was good but

For me personally, the heart break was gut wrenching in this one. Maybe I’m more sensitive or something but very few books make me actually cry or make me remember my own grief/trauma. Which is awesome for an author to be able to too, but it made me feel too much 🥲
Still recommend it, it’s just one I won’t be replaying often.

Emotional Rollercoaster

I love this book. The duet narration was excellent . I absolutely recommend people listen to this book