From that opening line, Illusions moves through the clashes that grow into attraction and then love between reclusive psychic jeweler Audra and skeptical insurance investigator Luke. He sets out to prove that she’s at least crazy, if not a crook. She sets off after a woman she’s never met but has ‘seen’ in mortal danger.

Together, in this fast-moving story, they move from Southern California into the Guatemala jungle, to buried tombs and below decks on smugglers’ boats, to Mexico, Belize, Texas and back to California. The fire that burns between Audra and Luke threatens their safety and their sanity, even while it gives them strength to keep running.

Between the protective jaguar and the family of the jungle matriarch, the violent and quarreling artifact thieves, and the police of various countries, Audra and Luke are never without added twists in the puzzle they are trying to untangle. They are kidnapped again, then swim for their lives, hike through the jungle to (relative) safety, and … but it’s not my place to tell the end of the story. You’ll need to read it for yourself.

Gini Wilson’s Illusions is a fast-paced, breath-holding suspense story masquerading as a romance between a beauty and a hunk. Or is it a breath-taking romance masquerading as a complex suspense? Whatever else it is, it’s a fine way to spend an afternoon. I look forward to many more books from this author.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Mildy sensual

Reviewer: Chas Ridley
June 25, 2003