Honest Illusions (Signet)

Product Description<br/><br/><br/>As the daughter of a world-renowned magician who is equally accomplished as a jewel thief, Roxy Nouvelle inherits her father's genius. Dashing escape artist Luke Callahan also possesses a gift for relieving the wealthy of their valuables. Brought up together, Roxy and Luke are partners first in illusion, then in crime, and finally in passion. But the shadow of his past stalks Luke, forcing him to vanish or see his loved one ruined. Years of hollow fame and lonely affluence pass before Roxy and Luke reunite to execute the most daring heist of their careers and to exact sweet revenge.<br/><br/><br/>From Publishers Weekly<br/><br/><br/>Roberts ( Hot Ice ; Sacred Sins ) combines conventional elements--sizzling sex, a cunning villain, a captivating story, some tugs at the heartstrings--then adds a twist (the good guys are criminals), and the result is spellbinding. Max Nouvelle is the patriarch of a family of magicians and jewel thieves made up of Lily, his partner in love; Roxanne, his headstrong, beautiful daughter; and Luke, the abused runaway Max had taken in years ago, now a charming young man. They join Max in elaborate performances onstage and in equally elaborate robberies. For years Roxanne and Luke battle constantly, but as young adults they finally realize they are deeply in love. Luke, haunted by the fear that his past will hurt his adopted family, is the target of coldblooded Sam Wyatt, driven by a vow of revenge on the Nouvelles. Luke returns from a forced five-year disappearance for the biggest performance of the Nouvelles' career--a simultaneously executed grand heist and act of vengeance. Although Roberts's deft narrative shows occasional excesses (mostly of description and stereotypical characterizations), none of these will deter the reader from taking this diverting journey into a world of magic, passion and mystery. BOMC featured alternate.<br/>Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.<br/><br/><br/>About the Author<br/><br/><br/>Nora Roberts is the number-one New York Times-bestselling author of more than 190 novels, including The Search, Black Hills, Tribute, High Noon, and many more. She is also the author of the bestselling futuristic suspense series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. Roberts has more than 400 million copies of her books in print.<br/><br/><br/>From AudioFile<br/><br/><br/>New Orleans is the home of the Nouvelles, a rich group of characters who are closer than family. Ostensively, their livelihood is magic. But illusion is a cover for their real vocation, high-tech jewel theft. While some of the amorous passages may have read well in print, they sound silly when spoken. Otherwise, the program is flawless. Reader Burr displays a variety of intonations and accents from kids to little ladies and old men, from Cajuns to New Yorkers and Mexicans. The reading is light and clear, with pacing that varies from sultry to suspenseful. D.W.K. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine<br/><br/><br/>From Kirkus Reviews<br/><br/><br/>Suspenseful, glamorous story of love, blackmail, and magic, set in New Orleans and Washington, D.C., about a family of high- class magicians practicing the ``time-honored profession'' of thievery. When magician Maxmillian Nouvelle adopts the 12-year-old runaway Luke Callahan, he gives him more than a family: He teaches him the secrets of blending ``what's real and what's not...giving people what they want''--and also taking what they value. For the Great Nouvelle is a master jewel-thief; stealing from the undeserving rich warms his blood like ``the anticipation of good sex,'' a passion that both Luke and Max's bratty daughter Roxanne eventually share. Thirteen years pass: As Luke practices the fine arts of larceny and ``escapology,'' Roxanne grows into a flame- haired witch who turns bell, book, and candle into smoke onstage. Offstage, she trades in her David Cassidy poster for Luke; together, they set off sparks that could make ``an innocent bystander..go up in flames.'' But Luke's invincibility, like the Great Houdini's, is deceptive: Slimy Sam Wyatt--a