ABOUT THE BOOK

When Lord Arthur Godwick learns his younger brother is up to his bollocks in debt to Regan Ferry, owner of The Pearl Hotel, he agrees to work off the tab…in her bed. Soon the handsome but troubled Arthur discovers he’s a pawn in an erotic game of revenge—and nothing, including his lover, is what it seems. 

MY REVIEW

This is my first Tiffany Reisz book and it won’t be my last. Although this is book 3 in the series, it reads as a standalone. 

Lady Regan Ferry is a tragic character. Treated horribly by her dead billionaire husband, left with an unfulfilling life, and living with a ticking time bomb, she has nothing to lose but get revenge on the rich, entitled spoiled brats of the Godwick family, namely the young heir apparent himself, Lord Arthur Godwick. But her hate turns to something else when she realizes Arthur is much more than he appears. He is wise beyond his years and follows her orders with grace and anticipation.

Arthur is self-disciplined and sensible and is biding his time to join the military. Making the deal with the beautiful widow to get his family’s prized painting back of his notorious ancestor, Lord Malcolm Godwick, is demeaning but intriguing. After all, with his military academy training, he knows how to follow orders. Not only is Regan cool and demanding when he first meets her, but he discovers her sensuality as well as her vulnerability and despair. In her company, he feels like a man for the first time.

But that is not all of the story. The deal is made, the revenge will be exacted, but the mysterious and magical painting of Lord Malcolm Godwick, has a plan of his own.

I adore the heartfelt emotions between Arthur and Regan. They are both so much more than they appear. Aloof and cool on the surface, but filled with desperation and sadness underneath. The erotic sex scenes are more sensual and passionate than I’ve seen in a while. I guess I like the idea of the man being the submissive for a change, but not so much that he appears weak. In fact, Arthur is Regan’s hero in many ways and shows his protective side when strange things start to happen. 

Supporting characters include Arthur’s willful and unruly brother, Charlie, who holds an undercurrent of hostility toward Arthur that is uncovered in the story. In addition, Regan’s assistant, Zoot, is a mischievous and intuitive young woman who needs a story of her own.

What I also liked about this book is Regan’s use of paintings, including the one of Lord Malcolm, to set the scenes of her seductions. As an artist herself, Regan explains the stories behind the paintings which are fascinating and a brilliant addition to the story. I must admit I looked up each painting on the Internet to get a feel of what was happening in the story.

This book is sensually romantic, magical, and mysterious. A jewel of a read. I recommend it highly for those who love art and enjoy the awakening of new love between an older woman and a younger man.

Thank you to Ms. Reisz and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tiffany Reisz is the USA Today-bestselling author of the Romance Writers of America RITA®-winning Original Sinners series from Harlequin’s Mira Books.

Born in Owensboro, Kentucky, Tiffany graduated from Centre College with a B.A. in English. She began her writing career while a student at Wilmore, Kentucky’s Asbury Theological Seminary. After leaving seminary to focus on her fiction, she wrote The Siren, which has sold more than half a million copies worldwide. 

Tiffany also writes mainstream women’s suspense fiction, including The Bourbon Thief (winner of the RT Book Reviews Seal of Excellence Award) and the RITA®-nominated The Night Mark.

Her erotic fantasy The Red—self-published under the banner 8th Circle Press—was named an NPR Best Book of the Year and a Goodreads Best Romance of the Month. It also received a coveted starred review from Library Journal. 

Tiffany lives in Louisville, Kentucky with her husband, author Andrew Shaffer, and two cats. The cats are not writers. 

Follow Tiffany on her website, Bookbub, Facebook, Goodreads, and Instagram.