| Title | : | The Red (The Godwicks, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1537217763 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781537217765 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 235 |
| Publication | : | First published July 11, 2017 |
| Awards | : | Golden Flogger Award Paranormal, Futuristic, Fantasy (2018) |
Just as she realizes she has no choice but to sell it, a mysterious man comes in after closing time and makes her an offer: He will save The Red if she agrees to submit to him for the period of one year.
The man is handsome, English, and terribly tempting...but surely her mother didn't mean for Mona to sell herself to a stranger. Then again, she did promise to do anything to save The Red...
The Red is a standalone novel of erotic fantasy from Tiffany Reisz, international bestselling author of The Bourbon Thief and the Original Sinners series.
The Red (The Godwicks, #1) Reviews
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4 Crazy Art Sex Stars
Tiffany Reisz, Tiffany Reisz, Tiffany Reisz...what can I say?
You can always count on her to bring something original to the table(t)...
See what I did there? ^^^ LOL
Anyshameless.
Personal tangent:
As I've said before in
other reviews, I usually stay away from books about anything that comes across to me as artsy fartsy.
Artsy fartsy is a technical term, by the way.
Not that I have anything against the artsy fartsy things of the world, mind you.
Quite the contrary, actually - I am super jealous of people who can draw, write or play music, or basically create anything tangible that's super swell - ALL qualities I lack, incidentally.
Or lack thereof.
So needless to say, it really says something about Tiffany Reisz's skill as an author and storyteller here because, not only did she make me read a story about ART for fuck sake, she made me ENJOY it.
In fact, not only did I enjoy this book, I feel more art savvy after reading it.
Because very time time a specific piece of art was mentioned, I referenced my own personal library of first edition artistry tomes.
Also known as, I fucking googled it.
In addition to feeling more art-educated, I think this book also gave me carpal tunnel, what with all the hotness that ensued.
Which is always a win.
For serious though, there was some...novel shit in here.
Mona, our lead lady here, was a super cool chick.
I always enjoy how sexually free and self aware Reisz's females MCs are. Very refreshing.
I would say more about the rest of the story and its characters, but I don't want to spoil anything for anyone.
All that said, I really enjoyed this book and I am now going to run back and finish the Original Series books that I never got to.
We all could use some more Søren in our lives, no?
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ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed The Red and it was just the fast paced, pallet cleanser I needed after reading so much high fantasy these past few months!“Long ago I made a deathbed promise. I need you to help me keep it as I’m helping you to keep yours. I promise, you will understand in time, Mona. You’ll understand it all.”
The Red stars a twenty-five-year-old girl named Mona, who owns an art gallery, The Red Gallery, which was left to her by her mother. Her mother very tragically passed of cancer, and her dying wish was for Mona not to ever part with her beloved art gallery, which is a request that Mona wants to honor more than anything, but her mother also left her half a million dollars in debt.
Mona thinks she has no choice but to sell the art gallery, until a strange, mysterious, and, let's be real, extremely handsome man shows up one night and proves he has a vast knowledge about art. After helping Mona discover she has a hidden masterpiece on her hands, he makes her an offer she gladly accepts: Mona will spend one night every one or two months with the man of mystery, where he can take or give as much pleasure as he wants from her, for an entire year. After each visit he will pay her in with an amazing work of art, and after their year is up the total of the art will accumulate to one million dollars.“The devil wants your soul. I only want your body”
The best part about this arrangement? Mona wants to blatantly have sex with this man. She even tells him that he doesn't have to pay for something they both want. This story never feels forced or rapey or like he has her backed into the corner. Mona makes this deal willingly and with a smile on her face. In fact, she can barely contain herself each month with waiting for him. I loved this touch on the story, and it really made for a much more enjoyable read than the alternative.
Oh, and each time they meet up he shows her a new painting that he would like them to recreate. Like, actual famous paintings that we know about in today's world: Olympia by Edouard Manet, Nymphs and Satyr by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, Dora and the Minotaur by Pablo Picasso, and many others. I loved this touch too much! It was so unique and I could barely contain myself from reading all the chapter titles in the table of contents!
And my absolute favorite part of this book was when Mona and her mystery man would go into her gallery's back room to recreate one of these famous masterpieces. You guys know I'm primarily a high fantasy reader, and every time Mona walked through that door to begin the reenactments it was like walking into a brand new world. All these scenes seriously read like a portal fantasy, and I was so entranced learning all about the new environment that Mona would be spending time in, whether it be a forest, or a prison, or an auction house.
I loved the discussion on safe sex. I know it's not as appealing to read erotica where the guy puts on a condom every other page, so I loved how our main protagonist discusses her fears and hesitation on not using a condom and makes sure she establishes an equal and safe playing field before she has sex. I also loved that she went to the hospital and got tested anyways afterwards. There is some really good and realistic commentary on sex in this book and I completely loved it.“You shouldn’t let a man shake your hand for less than a hundred dollars, Mona.”
There is also wonderful discussions constantly about sex work and how it is nothing to feel shame about or over. In today's world we also belittle and ridicule the women that choose to sell their bodies, not the men that are paying. It's disgusting, and I loved how this book embraced the power that women have when choosing what they want to do with their bodies, no matter what that choice is.“The art world didn’t care about young women selling their bodies. They only cared if someone dared to break their rules of composition, of acceptable subject matter. You could show a naked woman hiding her face or lying supine and limp as a wet rag. God forbid he paint a girl who dared them to look her in the eyes”
There is only one case of judgmentally slut shaming, and Mona puts that person back in their lane very quickly and rewardingly, yet it is still there. She then brings up the fragility of men's egos and how they can't accept or understand when they are not enough for a woman. The particular man in this book lashes out verbally and physically, instead of trying to learn, understand, and compensate. It was the worst part in this book, and I think this story would have been ten times better and stronger without that scene. Also, TW: physical and verbal abuse and grey area sex that can be taken or seen as rape.
Also, the word "whore" is used a lot in this book. Like, a lot a lot. It's always used as a sexy, steamy, term of endearment, except for the one dude I mentioned in the paragraph above this one, but it's still very prevalent and I can totally see how it would turn many readers off.
And for the love of all that is good in the world, please stop using the word "organ" to describe a man's penis. Like, I get it, there isn't that many good alternatives, but reading "organ" over and over and over again, sometimes three times on the same page, just was tedious and I couldn't deal. Like, I know this is also just a personal preference, but please just say dick or cock or *gasp* penis. I honestly never wish to read the word "organ" again, ever.
This all being said, I will emphasize that this book is obviously an erotic book. I'm talking E-R-O-T-I-C! Like, maybe the most erotic book I've ever read! I'm actually pretty sure that I have never read any book that has had as many different erotic elements as this book has! Like, it has it all, and I truly mean it all: contract agreement sexual relations, Dom and sub relationships, role-playing, unprotected sex, edging (orgasm control), group sex, threesomes, voyeurism, pain play, fisting, half-man and half-beast sex, sexual sacrifice/offering, nursing, breeding! So, please go into this knowing that all these elements are present, especially if anything I listed makes you uncomfortable. I will say that everything Tiffany Reisz does is very tastefully done, but I completely respect that certain things are not everyone's cup of tea, too.
The other thing I will say is that the ending sort of makes you feel... questionable. I don't want to say anything more, because this book is a fantastical mystery that is probably best to go into blind, but it left me feeling a little uneasy at the end. The ending felt rushed, forced, and like it could have been way better with an additional chapter added on to it. I still really enjoyed this story, and it was such a quick and fast paced read, that constantly made me question what is real and what is make believe, but I suppose I just felt like the ending was rather lackluster.
I read Tiffany Reisz's
The Siren (The Original Sinners #1) back in the day and absolutely devoured and loved it. Again, she pushes the envelope and plays with taboo subjects, but I completely recommend that book from the bottom of my perverted heart as well. But, I do believe that the main character of that series, Nora Sutherlin, is supposedly the writer of The Red, which is a super cool touch and makes for an even more unique reading experience.
And at this point, I will honestly read any and everything that this woman creates. I love how she writes about sex in a manner that never makes anyone feel shame or embarrassment, just embracement and power. I love reading about characters that unapologetically love sex, and Tiffany Reisz truly is the queen of this. Her stories are just so unique and a breath of fresh air from all the other erotic stories I've read lately. I truly wish more people would give her and her very different erotic romances a try, especially if you enjoy BDSM. Also, I now need to be on the lookout for an antique brass bed.
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The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication. -
Genre: Paranormal Erotica
Type: Standalone
POV: Third Person
Rating:
Mona Lisa St. James lived and breathed art since she was a little girl. Growing up in The Red, the gallery owned by her mother, she learned to appreciate her mother's eclectic erotic arts collection. After her mother's death she struggled to keep the gallery afloat and refused to sell due to her promise. Just as she's at her wits end, a man came with an offer she couldn't refuse.
Malcolm came to her at a desperate hour. The mysterious Englishman offered to save The Red in exchange of her total submission. All she had to do was gave him her trust for a period of one year and he promised to show her unimaginable pleasures beyond what she ever experienced.
I actually didn't realize this book is paranormal/fantasy until right before I read it. And what a dirty one it is :pShe’d never met a man who conformed so closely to her ideal.
I have to say, I wouldn't mind being in Mona's shoes at all haha! She might be in the cusp of losing something but she ended up gaining so much more because she was not afraid of taking extreme measures."I have no interest in love or marriage from you . Nor do I wish to take you to dinner. I simply want to fuck you in various ways that please me. It’s my preference.”
Malcolm might seem like a perfect gentleman on the surface, but he could fuck like a degenerate. I like how he had everything under control and used that directly or indirectly in keeping Mona on his leash.
Like I mentioned before, this book is dirty. Don't expect lovely, dovey romance here. It's pure filthy erotica - just the way I like :p There were plenty of sexual situations/scenes that might make some cringe but definitely with enough varieties to make anyone satisfied.He made an animalistic sound as he pumped into the girl from behind and the girl let out a girlish whimper. Mona grew wet watching, terribly wet, and she was already eager for her turn with the satyr.
What I love the most about this book is how the author used artworks in propelling the story - how the eroticism of the paintings brought to live. I'm more of a sculpture and architecture person, but I could still appreciate the paintings, especially if it's related to Greek mythology which is something I love. My favorite painting and scene is the Minotaur chapter.He’d cracked open something in her, some dormant, latent proclivity for pain and punishment and being treated like a possession. She could never go back to the way it was before.
The Red follows the sexual exploit of a woman who took chances and opened up herself to a new experience. It would appeal to readers who like their books filthy while still being classy.
Note: This book was originally published as limited edition hardcover for attendees of Shameless Book Con 2016. The Red is a novel written by dominatrix author Nora Sutherlin, the main character in the Original Sinners series. This book can be read without prior knowledge of the series but fans of the series would enjoy seeing the connections in this book.
♚ ╪ ♚ . . .(F)BR With Twinsie CC & Loyda . . . ♚ ╪ ♚
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
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Lawd help!
This was the smuttiest book I've read. All the stars!
It's my panties not my pants Phoebe!
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review
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4.5 Willing to Take The Risk Stars
* * * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
When I read Tiffany Reisz, something deep inside compels me to open my mind and allow the story to take me where Ms. Reisz wishes to go...I think it is as simple as that...For with this endeavor, I have gone places I never would have gone on my own. It is the crafting, weaving, and hints of what this is all about which kept me interested...
Oh, there were a few unusual circumstances for our Mona Lisa St. John...Raised by a very forward and free-thinking mother...always surrounded by true art, those who lived it and... all of the stories of how her wondrous mother acquired her Art pieces...some tales so outlandish, Mona never was quite sure what was real or exaggerated.
We find ourselves with Mona worrying about all the loans that are due for payment. Times have not been profitable for a while now at this Infamous Gallery, The Red. Back in the day, it was notorious for having amazing shows, special erotic art by invitation only and a place to be seen...
But now things are different. Mona's mother was struck with cancer; the time Mona had left with her mother was hard going and took most of the funds. Mona loved her mother dearly...felt lucky to have had her and all of the life lessons she gave...So when her mother made her promise on her deathbed not to let The Red go... to hold on to it by any means necessary...
She was in a perfect headspace to do just that...
To hold on...
To do whatever it took to keep The Red...
As Mona is contemplating how she can stretch what funds she has...She sees a man standing in the Gallery looking at a small painting with a discerning eye...He is quite the vision himself... Masculine, robust, and impressive... a quiet strength which became impossible to ignore the moment he looked directly at Mona.
Mona greeted him as if he was just another man who had an interest in art... This was nothing new...only the electricity in the air was startling and caused Mona to regard this stranger more carefully...
This man seems to see and know how tenuous Mona's hold is on The Red...He lays out a very specific offer to Mona...and with the love, she had for her mother coupled with the deep calling and affection Mona personally had for The Red...
She does not reject this outrageous offer outright...She is drawn to the way this man speaks and takes her in with his eyes...She thinks of her mother's independent ways and open sexuality...
And she cannot let go of her Deathbed promise...
To do whatever it takes to keep The Red...
Terms and conditions are agreed...Mona has entered into a no holds barred arrangement with this man...To be his Sexual plaything for a year...in exchange, Mona will receive valuable Master Paintings and Artwork which will save The Red.
We go on this unusual journey with Mona...All of these encounters with this mysterious man have this otherworldliness and Mona is shocked every time with her willingness to be taken over, suspend her disbelief to accept what is happening...For she is becoming addicted to these times when he comes to her with very specific scenarios in mind.
This is not a lighthearted tale... this is a tale of extreme sexuality...nothing vanilla, nothing run of the mill...But then when would Reisz ever do that... My heads up to the potential reader is to be prepared to not be prepared...It may sometimes feel like it may have gone off the rails...But hold on as all of it comes together with everything being revealed.
I admit it...I think I must be Tiffany Reisz' [email protected] this done by anyone else would not have be my jam...But with the style, mind-meld of Reisz... I wanted to follow it all the way to the end.
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
Oh to be back in the throes of Tiffany Reisz...
Doing what she does so well...
Making a Vanilla Gal turn Very, Very Naughty....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tiffany Reisz will forever be in my mind
As the creator of the Original Sinners...
From the first introduction to Nora Sutherlin...
An erotic author with a private life full of the forbidden for Vanilla Readers...
We have never been the same...
Because Ms. Reisz's talent is beyond compare...
She has the ability to take us places...
Have us experience things we would never contemplate...
And beg for more...
Ms. Reisz's career has expanded...
She has ventured successfully in other avenues of writing....
But Ah...
She has decided to give us a taste...
A tease back to maybe her first love...
Because coming to us is a piece presented as if it is written by Nora Sutherlin...
It promises to have all the passion, raw sexuality, brutal honesty...
And compelling romance at the heart of it...
Once again, I am all aflutter and cannot wait for....
The Red - July 11th 2017
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This is pure erotica, not an erotic romance!
This is certainly NOT an erotic romance as there is no romance in it. Most of the book consists of erotic fantasies graphically and explicitly described. It includes as many different erotic elements as possible such as
Real kinky stuff!
The book does not have much of a plot.
There is very little else that happens other than sex.
What is all the fuss about this book, then?
Well, it has a unique atmosphere.
- Think of some classy art such as Manet’s Olympia or The Slave Market by Jean-Léon Gérôme.
- Now turn them into some indecent and kinky fantasies.
And that’s what you will find in this book: An artsy fartsy erotica…
The book is pure porn full of crude, obscene and scandalous elements in it but it is definitely wrapped up in a pretty nice package.
Filthy but elegant at the same time…
I looked up each piece of art on the internet to better understand the fantasy described. Here are some examples:
Édouard Manet's Olympia
The Slave Market by Jean-Léon Gérôme & William-Adolphe Bouguereau’s Nymphs and Satyr
Roman Charity by Jean-Baptiste Greuze
Being a whore
The word "whore" is used very frequently in the book; being a good whore is indeed the emphasis in the story.
"You’re a very beautiful young lady,” Malcolm said. "I like very beautiful young ladies.”
" Do you?”
"I’m a connoisseur.”
"Are you? Do you have a favorite type?”
"Elegant prostitutes,” he said. "A perennial favorite.”
"You know I’m not a prostitute, yes?” she asked.
"Not yet. But I think you’ll make a fine whore.”
***
"You do like your whores, don’t you?” she asked.
"I have trouble respecting a woman who gives away for free what she could sell for good money. Whores are the only women who know their own worth. I mean that.”
In the book, the heroine prostitutes herself to our hero Malcolm, who is an enigma by himself. Mona desperately needs money to save her art gallery, "THE RED". She promised to her mother on her deathbed.
This aspect of the story is mentioned in the blurb, but what you don’t expect but will definitely find in the book is the fact that our heroine Mona embraces this role of a whore. She feels no shame or guilt; she is immensely aroused by every indecent fantasy and enjoys everything done to her. So we can say that the blurb for this book is quite understated.
The contract:
The conditions of her deal with Malcolm is that she gives a carte-blanche to him for a year, which means she allows him to do whatever he wants to her. He can use, abuse, share or hurt her body – whatever he feels like.
“You’re the devil.”
"I’m not the devil, my darling,” he said, sinking his teeth into the side of her neck again like some kind of rutting beast. "The devil wants your soul. I only want your body.”
My thoughts and feelings:
Personally, I don’t choose to read such books because I need my romance in a smut but every now and then, I venture out of my comfort zone and read a challenging novel for me. This one was a recommendation by my dear friend Bookylicious.
Although I didn’t enjoy the boundary-pushing erotica aspects of it, I don’t regret reading it. Personally, I stay away from BDSM books. I DNF’ed Fifty Shades of Grey, as well.
However, this book has a touch of paranormal in it and there is this mystery as to who or what MALCOLM is. That’s why, although I didn’t like most of the erotic elements in it, I continued to read it to learn where the book would take me as the story felt unique.
"Is it real?”
"It’s real enough.”
The ending:
Well, I had some guesses as to who/what Malcolm could be and the result was very close to what I had predicted.
My only criticism about its ending is that it feels very rushed.
I would rather not have a HEA here in this book and its forced and rushed HEA didn’t sit well with me. Maybe, I would have embraced its happy end if it wasn’t so rushed. Then, it would totally be a 4-star book for me. Now, it is 3,5 or something like that...
"Devil…” she said, and Malcolm chuckled fiendishly.
The man with the midnight eyes put his mouth at her ear. "He’s terrible, isn’t he?” he whispered. "But do you want to know something?”
"Tell me,” she said.
"I’m worse .”
She saw in his eyes he meant it, but where was the fun in taking him at his word ?
"Prove it,” she said.
Those dark blue eyes of his widened in surprise and his pupils dilated with desire. "I must be dreaming,” he said.
"Why is that?” she asked.
"Because you’re my dream girl.”
SAFETY: There is cheating, sharing and oh so many other indecent things. Well, consider all rules of safety are broken :) -
*3.5 stars*
I'm a
Tiffany Reisz fan, but this book was NOT what I was expecting.
The Red is a book that is extremely hard to review without giving away spoilers, and this is a book that can truly be spoiled by a careless review. I will try very hard not to be careless, however, I think there are some important things that potential readers should know going into this one.
1) This is NOT a romance. If you are looking for any sort of romance you are barking up the wrong tree. While there is a hint of romance near the end of the book, this book is EROTICA, plain and simple. And there is nothing wrong with that, however, it is something you should be aware of.
2) This book is KINKY. If you are squeamish about any or all of the following, stay away (some minor spoilers ahead): Group sex and/or multiple partners, pain and bruising play, anal, fisting, role play, orgasm denial, and more. I'm not generally a fan of pain play, but all the other stuff was no sweat for little kinky me.
3) This book does not have much of a plot. It just... doesn't. Most of the book is sex, sex, and more sex. There is very little else happening. It is literally all about the sex.
4) The female MC is a whore. Literally. I'm not using whore in a derogatory manner, but you should know that the female MC prostitutes herself out to the male MC (for most of the story) in order to save her store. This is basically explained in the blurb, but you should know that Mona embraces this role. There is no shame, no guilt, no barriers. There is NO safeword.
Now, I actually loved how sex-positive the female MC was. She was open and free with her body in a way that I rarely see in fiction. She was insatiable and shameless and glorious. It is one of the things I liked most about the book.
I enjoyed the sex in the book a great deal, but I was always plagued with my doubts, my logical mind interfering. I KNEW there had to be some twist, some catch, and that bothered me as I was reading. It was almost a relief once I figured it all out because I could just concentrate on the kinky stuff and let the story wash over me.
I rushed through this book in two sittings. It went very, very quickly, despite being quite long. I liked it for what it was, but I think I was expecting more romance, more plot and less sex. However, if I look at this book as simply some clever erotica, I like it more. It is clever, and it is erotica, and it is well-written. Just check my warnings and go into it with an open mind and minimal expectations.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review* -
My, my, my... Ms. Reisz! I mean...
I really liked this wtf, holy shite read! So much so that I burned the midnight oil finishing this book. I simply couldn't stop reading to be bothered with trivial things like sleep.
I must admit, I went into this read relatively blind.
I read a few reviews, but avoided any spoilers. And I have to say, the blurb for this book is quite understated. I was expecting one thing and was pretty surprised by what I ended up getting. Not in a bad way, just in an "Oh, that's not what I was expecting at all" kind of way.
My thoughts while reading were all. over. the. place.
I went from here...
To here...
Here...
Then here...
Back to here...
And here...
All the while, I'm mentally asking myself...
And then answering myself by saying...
But, that big reveal at the end though...
Damn, I thought I had it all figured out. #YouThoughtWrong
This book is not easy to review without giving too much away. So, I'll attempt to gently sidestep any of the major stuff.
I really enjoyed the author's attention to detail regarding the actual works of art discussed in this book. Google was indeed my best friend while reading this. Although the specific art pieces were perfectly described and didn't require previous knowledge of the paintings, I found myself wanting to see these beautiful works. I really do enjoy art and can spend hours at art museumsdragging my unwilling husband aroundwhile gorging myself on delicate brush strokes, the effective use of color, lines, texture and composition. Yep, I'm that person. But, rest assured, you don't have to enjoy art like I do to be able to enjoy this book.
I will note that this book is erotica and therefore, you should expect that the vast majority of this book is steamy, spicy, salacious, and deliciously sinful S.E.X. It's not going to give you a whole heap of background and depth of story... though, make no mistake, there is a storyline here. But, this book is dirty, raw, graphic, with themes of bdsm, menage, and really no hard limits. You will not find a lovey, cuddly, sweetheart story here. Take it for what it is people... It's smut. And well done.
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If you are familiar with the goddess that is
Tiffany Reisz then you are also familiar with Nora Sutherlin, one of her most well-known creations. In the multiple novels that comprise the Original Sinners series, Nora's character was developed to be a writer of erotica and she [fictionally] authored a book titled
The Red. Ms. Reisz demonstrates her love for her characters not only because she has so talently and palpably written them into life, but now she has allowed a fictional character's work to also take form. Ms. Reisz is only the second author I have seen do this and it is such a clever move. Not only does it pay tribute to an amazing character but it pays tribute to the fans. No, fictional characters aren't real but through God-given talent such as Ms. Reisz, they feel real and readers make genuine connections. It is such a joy to re-visit them at every opportunity and
The Red allowed me to do just that.
For those who have not yet met Nora, no worries! This novel stands on its own apart from the Original Sinners series. There are absolutely no prerequisites required to enjoy this story other than being open to 248 pages of erotic fantasy. But when I say “erotic”, believe me, this is some creative stuff right here. When you have elements of magical realism, fantasy, history, art (oh, the art!), and BDSM entwined with erotica, you know it's going to be an interesting ride. In my perspective,
The Red felt like the ultimate fairy tale for adults. It was dark, imaginative, and fantastical, and the erotica component will make your head spin. You know if Nora's character authored this, it's going to be out-of-the-box explicit. But it's also lovely, mysterious, and has noticeable traces of Nora's witty humor. If anything in this review sparks your interest, seriously check it out!
My favorite quote:
"She imagined the real Olympia. She must have existed, or a girl much like her. The painting had shocked viewers for the forthright way Olympia held up her head. Shameless, she was. Unapologetic. Why should she apologize? It was the men who paid her for sex. She was merely doing what she’d been told to do all her life: submit her body and will to men. How dare those men judge her? They’d created her. A woman can’t sell her body without clients to buy it. Olympia would laugh all the way to the bank and then likely spread her legs for the bank president in exchange for free checking. What a girl."
Olympia by Édouard Manet
Thank you to the following for permitting me access to an advance reader's copy (ARC) of
The Red. This generosity did not impact my honesty when rating/reviewing.
Source: NetGalley
Author: Tiffany Reisz
Publisher: 8th Circle Press, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)
Genres: Erotica, Romance
Pub Date: 11 Jul 2017
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Wow! That ending!!!
”Do anything you have to, but save The Red.”
A deathbed promise was made when Mona’s mom asked her to not sell her beloved art gallery. In Mona’s lowest point a man enters her life. ”To Mona he looked like the devil gone courting.” His offer to save The Red will involve Mona allowing Marcus to use her body the next year.
Now, here is where the story gets interesting. Marcus picks artwork to reenact the scenes that have been painted. I can safely say this book caused me to use google a ton of times so I could see all the artwork described in this story. Each time a painting was revealed for their next fantasy session I quickly did a google search to what was to come. I’m thinking I should have taken an art class back when I was in college so I could have been better educated on the artwork discussed. If you’re like me and want a visual for the artwork described make sure to have google handy.
Gah, that ending was the icing on the cake. Bravo, Ms. Reisz, another great erotica. It’s been a long time since I’ve read an erotica and Ms. Reisz is best at it.
The Red is a standalone erotica fantasy. If you’re looking for some culture while getting swept up in steamy sex scenes then one-click The Red.
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
RELEASE DATE: July 11, 2017
STANDALONE
**Complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**
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3.5 WOW – HOT – ON FIRE – STEAMY – Sizzling – Stars
I haven’t read a Tiffany Reisz book since The Siren and when I read The Siren I was a newbie dark romance reader and the stuff she wrote made me cringe. A lot has changed in five years!
The Red is a standalone and is an erotic fantasy book. Let me warn you, IF YOU DO NOT LIKE STEAM, THEN THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR YOU. I hate to put it in shout caps, but don’t go into an erotic book and be turned off by the steam.
This book is for the following people:
1.) If you like steam (which I do)
2.) If you like art. I know, its random right? Personally, I’m not much into art, but as I read more and more of the book I kept on thinking about the artists and the pieces referenced. I kind of wanted to google them so I could understand the book more. I kind of wished there were pictures in this book too.
3.) If you like Tiffany Reisz writing style. Like I said, I haven’t read a book by her in five years, but there’s no mistake in the way she writes. She writes books that will make you cringe and be sucked in. Her flow is fairly descriptive as well.
I started this book late at night right before I went into bed. From the first page I was hooked! I kept on reading because it was simply hot. Mona owns an art gallery, but she isn’t making a profit and needs money to get herself out of debt.
Mona is an interesting gal. She’s not your typical Heroine, but she’s very curious. She will do anything to save her mother’s art gallery, even sell her body for one year to a mysterious stranger.
This isn’t your typical sell-you-body romance book.
For one year, this man will come to her maybe once or every other month to use Mona’s body in ANYWAY he wants. The mysterious man is just that … mysterious. He’s a bit hard to get to know, but you will be so distracted by what he does to Mona, you kind of don’t care. I’m just being honest!
Each chapter is broken into different visits and after the first few chapters I was ready to jump my husband. YUP! I’m putting it out there for ya. This book is hot and different. There will be a lot of kinky play that will push your boundaries and each time Mona is visited you will think to yourself, what kind of mischief will she will get herself into now?
You will soon question what’s real and what’s not real.
The book is all steam, so you make want to read the book a chapter here and a chapter there, this can be easily done. I read a chapter or two before I went to bed almost each night (I kid you not) and my husband loved it (I again, kid you not).
I won’t give anything away but once I was done with the book I was really satisfied. I felt like Tiffany Reisz took me on a crazy journey where she made me question a lot of things (heck, I still have questions), but it was a good mind trip.
A Finished Copy was Provided
AMAZON
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The Red is a titillating erotic delight. Sensual, mysterious, compelling and hot as hell!!
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One extra star for all the art talk which made me search artists like Degas, Monet, and many more. Other than that this book was total crap. Few scenes she stretched too much that they're uncomfortable to read.
Skimmed read most of the book and this is not a romance as GR blog said it to be.:/ Don't think I will be reading Romance for 2-3 months now. >_< -
Thank you Monique and Ursy for recommending me to read this. ❤ I actually didn't know what I was missing! 😉
'Her mother had loved The Red Gallery so very much that her last words to Mona had been, "Do anything you have to, but save The Red.”'
Mona Lisa St. John has always loved art. Growing up she has seen her mother passionate about art and her collection of erotic paintings. Each acquired art pieces has a story told and one of them changes her life.
"You’re in the red,” he said again. "In debt, I mean.”
After her mother's death she struggled to keep the gallery afloat. When the loans are due to pay a mysterious stranger comes to her with an aura of otherworldliness. Malcolm is an enigma. Dominating and offensive he is ready to help her and in return for submission,
"I’ve given you no reason to doubt me.”
"What is it you want from me?”
"May I be blunt with you?” he asked.
"I’d prefer it.”
"I very much wish to fuck you.”
This book plays with art with ever talented demostration of erotic use on each painting. It gives us an exploitation of a woman who learns her sexual appetites. This book is filthy and classy. It's dark, fantastical and has good element of erotica. My favourite scenes are The Slave M2arket, Nymphs and the Satyr, Dora and the Minotaur, The Bleeding Man, The Luncheon on the Grass. I cannot choose among these. Although I'm not a fan of orgy I enjoyed how Malcolm as Satyr caught Mona and the Nymphs; so erotically hot.
'the devil had smirked, not smiled, because the devil does not smile.'
Malcolm has a good dedication to the whores, he makes them priceless. He doesn't reveal his identity until the end. The story period is year long. This book was stunningly done. And lastly the twist at the end of the book, I didn't realise the book was paranormal until the last part of the book. I'm in tears.
"A fine lady by day, a better whore by night. My whore.”
I highly recommend this book. You don't have to be a fan of art to like this book, it's the story, the mystery and how the author talentfully used the art. You'll simply love it. The book has BDSM and has sinfully filthy scenes. -
2.75 stars
Where to start with this book...
This book started off a little shaky, got better, then quickly headed off towards fantasyland , regained its realistic footing towards the end, and had a very rushed ending. I loved this author's writing style and appreciated the unique twist in this book, but only liked bits and pieces of this story, overall.
◆ The erotic scenes were incredibly sexy, well-written, and well-spaced.
◆ This book is perfect for erotica readers who enjoy a bit of mythology, art history, and erotic role-playing scenes!
*ARC provided via NetGalley. -
I’m prolly about to go off the reservation a little here so the nutshell version is, if you like erotica and/or Reisz’s writes, you’ll like this. If you’re a fan of neither then this isn’t the book for you.
As a fan of both, when I saw this little gem up on NetGalley I 1-clicked so hard my laptop threw me shade. The page said “read now” and I took that shit like a directive. I might’ve even saluted.
True, The Red has been on my radar for a few months now so that may have played a role in the zeal. *shrugs* I don’t always read Reisz’s non-OS works but this one caught my eye first with the cover then the blurb. There’s something alluring about the ‘sacrificing oneself for art’ theme that never fails to appeal to me. It worked for me in The Dark Collector, The Monuments Men and again here.
Mona is in debt up to her eyeballs and losing her mother’s gallery, The Red, is a very real possibility until a mysterious Englishman appears one night with an offer too good to refuse. He’ll give her the means to save the gallery if she agrees to become his whore one night a month for a year.
One of my all time favorite movies is The Wings of the Dove. The story itself is heartbreaking, yes, but the inherent emotional honesty gets me every time, though the stunning cinematography and performances don’t hurt. Their actions and reactions are a product of the repressed society in which they live and ultimately those actions end up destroying them; however, there is one scene where Kate and Milly invade the sanctity of the backroom of a library where the illicit books are kept and only men are allowed. All the men are aghast at their impropriety and they laugh at their mini-rebellion.
I think people will be aghast at this book too and that’s what makes me like it even more. At times reminiscent of the Beauty series and The Story of O, both of which are fodder for an untold number of women’s fantasies, The Red is first and foremost erotica like its scandalous predecessors. It’s only recently that either author revealed themselves which shows the tide is turning. Somewhat. Though I still think people disparage erotica for being doltish nonsense, erotica readers for being vacuous and erotica writers as being smut peddlers without substance. So kudos to Reisz for not only writing under her own name but embracing titillation for titillation’s sake, fantasy for fantasy’s sake and female desire for female desire's sake all of which are exactly what The Red is.
”You won’t do anything perverse to me?”
“I’ll do everything perverse to you. But you still shouldn’t be afraid.”
From the beginning the story is driven by the bargain struck between Mona and Malcolm, a business transaction. She should find becoming his whore insulting but doesn’t. What happens through their encounters is Mona comes face to face with desires, perversions and depravity she’d never even considered at the hands of a stranger. She does love Malcolm. How could you not love the rakehell? But I don’t think she’s ‘in love’ with him, more with what he’s made her into than anything else. There are some conversations and we learn something of them both along the way but by and large their currency is sex and kink. And through their assignations Mona comes into her own, embraces her sexuality and comes to the conclusion that she’s not going to settle for someone who doesn’t wholly value her, kinks and all.
The diversity of their assignations is what I liked best. The Red is spank bank material and just like everyone has their favorite scenes dogeared in the Beauty series or O the depravity is plentiful so if one doesn’t suit, just keep on going to the next one! You're sure to find one that'll turn you inside out. The Reisz trademark witty repartee is present and accounted for as is her always surprising storytelling. She actually stuck a little romance in there as well as her characteristic plot twist. The way she played with the whole Mona Lisa thing in different ways made me smile too.
I would say that I’d like a follow up but by the same token I think if she left it as is I’d be just as happy. With my dogeared sections.
Recommend to erotica fans.
An ARC was provided by NetGalley. -
4.5* red velvet STARS!!
Review @
Midnight Romance
One of my anticipated release for this month also the same date with my birthday. Yay!! Written as Nora Sutherlin, Tiffany Reisz brought this alive to our world. FYI, Nora is a notorious dominatrix from The Siren. She's also an erotic author who is in love with priest ;) I was beyond excited for this story.
Mona Lisa St. James is in the verge to sell her dear old gallery, The Red who is inherited from her mother. She vowed to do anything to save The Red. Voila! A mysterious handsome stranger, Malcolm came with a sinfully sexy offer that Mona couldn't refuse. She was intrigued with this man promised.“You smile like the devil,” Mona said.
“The devil doesn’t smile,” he said. “The devil smirks.”
“You speak as if you know him.”
“Would it shock you if I said I did?”
Mona is just an average girl that didn't want to look desperate. She's also hide her sex drive really well. Together with Malcolm, Mona embrace their erotic journey into new level of trust and submission. I really enjoyed Mona at first.
Malcolm looks inhuman with handsome look and dominating aura. I love the way the talks that giving me a clue about who is he. Malcolm is an enigma that I couldn't think of. He's also a dirty man. A tastefully offensive art from Malcolm's fantasy. My favorite scene are, The Slave Market and The Luncheon on the Grass. The scene made me feel all hot and bothered. Also there's a scene, Nymphs and Satyr that isn't my style .He was a god to her now, a god of sex and sin. If he could have fucked her forever, she would let him. In hell where the sins of lust were punished, they said the lascivious damned tore each other apart with their desires, and the rent and bleeding pieces still found ways to meet and mate with each other.
An erotic fantasy is a rare find to me. Tiffany Reisz really amazed me with her wicked minds and talented writing. It flowed along quite nicely and beautifully written through each chapters. My only issue is, the inner conflict with Mona that irritated me. Anyway, I really enjoyed the sex without being cheap or trashy. And there's a lot of sex if you're up for it.
When Malcolm's secrets finally came to surface, I feel cheated somehow. It wasn't what I expected. But again, Ms. Reisz managed to surprised me with another twists and turns. I wish there's more story in the end but I'm quite satisfied with the end game. The Red succeed to grab my attention for a non art lover like me. Overall, it was a quick read with a lot of sex. If there's an author who could turn an classy art into indecent fantasy, it's Tiffany Reisz.
✦ Please visit @
Midnight Romance for more reviews! ✦ -
Originally posted at
Booklovers For Life
The Red is literally the hottest book I’ve ever read in my life, and I’ve read the Original Sinners series, which you know is saying something. The Red is erotica in its purest, dirtiest, and finest form… and I wholeheartedly LOVED IT. I normally don’t get into books without a romance or love story, but by god, if Tiffany Reisz writes something, I’ll read it. I trust her to to give her readers something that will blow their mind and their panties off, and she’s yet to disappoint. The Red is a beautiful erotic story about an art gallery owner who sells her body to a mysterious man to save The Red from bankruptcy. If you love Tiffany Reisz or erotica, then you do NOT want to miss this captivating read!“You’re sitting on a goldmine, Mona. Literally”
She blushed. “I’ve never had my vagina called a goldmine before.”
“Perhaps I was referring to your arse.”
“Oh yes, hadn’t thought of that.”
Mona Lisa St. James promised her mother that she’d do anything to save her art gallery. But with The Red not doing so hot, Mona realizes it’s time to sell the place. Just when she’s about to give up, a mysterious man shows up at the gallery and offers her a deal: he will save The Red if she gives him carte blanche over her body once a month for a year. This wasn’t quite what she had in mind when she made her promise to her mother, but how can she resist the allure of the sexy man and the possibility of saving her gallery?“You were meant to do this,” he said softly. “You’ll see.”
“Why me?” she asked. “Millions of women in this country, millions in yours… why me?”
“Millions of paintings in the world. Only one Mona Lisa. Billions of women in this world. Only one you, Mona Lisa St. James.”
Mona has no idea what to expect, and neither did I for that matter. I was in no way prepared for the ridiculously dirty, filthy things that the mystery man had in store for Mona, but I sure did love it. Every month, he sends Mona a piece of artwork that reflects the kind of sex he wants from her – and there’s honestly nothing romantic about it. It’s the no-holds-barred, raw, filthy kind of sex that you can only come up with in your fantasies, but they come to life for Mona thanks to him.His money made her a whore, but his cock had made her his slave. She never wanted to taste freedom again. She only wanted to taste him.
I’ve honestly never been so turned on in my life while reading a book. I thought Tiffany Reisz succeeded with that with the Original Sinners, but it turns out I was wrong. If you’re looking for pure, decadent smut, look no further than The Red. It is the most incredible, entertaining read I’ve read in a while. I loved the twist at the end that had everything come full circle, though really, I never wanted this book to end. I can only hope Tiffany Reisz writes more books like this one!
Thanks to the author for generously providing me an ARC to review.
Quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change in the final version.
Amazon Ebook:
http://amzn.to/2qsQpnA
Amazon Paperback:
http://amzn.to/2rvRNd0
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Mona St. James in dire need of money to save her gallery from closing. Thinking of possible ways on how to come up with it left her tired and spent, that Mona decided to head home and call it a night. Just when she’s about to lock the gallery, Mona noticed a man in front of a painting, studying it. After several minutes the mysterious man turned to look at Mona and bluntly told her that he can help to solve her financial problem in exchange of intimate rendezvous, at least once or twice a month.
“You know I’m not a prostitute, yes? She asked.
“Not yet. But I think you’ll make a fine whore.”
Without so much thought, no matter how absurd it is, Mona found herself agreeing to Malcolm’s proposal.
“Excellent, just what I’ve been wanting to hear for a very long time. We’ll start tomorrow night.”
“So soon?”
“Does your cunt have a prior engagement?” he asked, his tone mocking.
Here begins the libertine journey of Mona in the hands of a mysterious man named Malcolm.
When you read a book by Tiffany Reisz every scene is like a “no holds barred”. Everything is completely unrestrained! Just when you thought she won’t write it because it’s too steamy, too sensual, erotic, brace yourself because you will be reading it without any apology. That’s why I like this author!
The Red will simply leave you breathless with scenes that are best described as sizzling. Hands down to the imagination of this writer to create a scene solely from paintings of a well-known artist. I tremendously enjoyed this well-written, kinky-paranormal-romance-historical, standalone. If you want to stimulate your carnal desires, and discover how good the author is, I highly recommend this book!
Note: ARC provided through Net Galley in exchange for a honest review. -
This is not a review but an Ode to Tiffany Reisz.
I rarely read erotica but, when I am inclined to do so there are a few authors that I gravitate towards and one of those is Tiffany Reisz. She is the mastermind behind one of a handful of series of which I have read every single book.
Tiffany served as my foray into the genre with The Original Sinners series. Even if you're not an erotica fan, which I wasn't, this series is nothing short of phenomenal.
Yes, there are graphic sex scenes, though far less than with the average erotic novel. And these scenes aren't gratuitous at all, but are a part of the story. In fact, Tiffany prefers not to categorize this series under erotica because it is SOOOOOO much more than that.
The female character is the dominant one in The Sinners series, which is unheard of in this genre as I would soon discover. This story is so fucking dark and crazy and dark and full of rich characters that you can't help but become invested in their lives and did I mention dark?
And oh my lort this woman can write. I'm not trying to debase other authors but I'm positive those authors would agree that she is a cut above the rest. Her writing is up there with all of my favorite writers, spanning all genres.
Aside from her incredible talent, she is a badass chick. So you know, if you're so inclined, check out Tiffany Reisz and in particular The Original Sinners series. It's nothing like you've ever read before.
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Alrighty...now about The Red. The Red is the first book in a new series with the second book due out this year. If you like a variety, and by variety I mean a different theme in every chapter, in your erotica then this book is for you.
There's also a fair amount of paranormal going on in this one that adds to the mystique so that was kinda cool.
Overall I found this story to be off on the sex:storyline ratio. As per usual with this author, the sex is an integral part of the narrative, I just wish there'd been more character development and less vagina pounding.
3 Stars ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ -
5 'artistic' stars
He smiled at her. His dark eyes glinted like struck flint.
"You smile like the devil,” Mona said.
"The devil doesn’t smile,” he said. "The devil smirks.”
This book is a masterpiece. It is erotica about art written by Tiffany Reisz - yes, yes, and yes. It was simply not possible that I would not love it. Everything about this book is perfect. Every word is like poetry. It is beauty and sin and pleasure incarnate.
I went into the story blind, not knowing anything about it except the blurb. And I think it is best this way if you want to get maximum enjoyment from the book. That is the reason why I will not reveal anything in my review and instead, I am going to say my love for this book in quotes and art.He was an angel of beauty and pain.
He was the devil incarnate.
Angel.
Demon.
"The things you do to me…I’d never dare dream them, much less do them. And yet, when I’m with you, there is no game I wouldn’t play, nothing of my body would I keep from you. You leave me and I go mad with waiting. You leave me and you are my every waking thought and my every sleeping dream. And if I knew when you were returning to me, I would count the minutes until I saw you again.”
"A woman with power. A woman who owned her body and wasn’t afraid to sell it. That painting is art because it terrified its first viewers. Art should be dangerous, you know. It should say something to society that society doesn’t want to hear.”
"You aren’t dreaming,” he said. "But if it were a dream, would you want to wake up?” he asked.
A good question. A fair question. A hard question, but one she answered easily. "Never.”
BR with my precious
Melanie. Thank you for the endless conversations about art. You are the best! 💖 -
DNF @ 28%
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This is a somewhat difficult review to write. First of all, Tiffany Reisz is an amazing and talented writer. (TOS is one of my all time favorite series) She brings her books to so much life with her vivid and vibrant words. She writes erotica like no other. So here is the difficult part. While I loved the premise of the story, the story had way too much sex. I know I know.....how can this be? Sex drove the story instead of the plot driving the story for me.
Mona is the owner of The Red Gallery. She is fixing to lose the gallery due to bills. But one day a mysterious man, Malcolm, enters the gallery and tells Mona he will help her save the gallery. But to save the gallery, he wants Mona to give her body to him for a year. He will show up from time to time and when he does he expects Mona to do as he says, to fully submit. Sex in exchange for saving her gallery......plain and simple, or is it?
When Malcom shows up, he incorporates his time with Mona around famous sexual paintings. They are erotic and Malcom loves to role play. Mona finds herself completely aroused and entranced by these highly sexual moments. Each time the encounters becomes more and more erotic and seemingly unreal in their environment. There is nothing wrong with these encounters except that I felt that there was not much of a connection between Malcom and Mona. Their times together were just sexual and it didn't allow me to feel what I needed from these two. It wasn't till the end that I was able to feel something for them and better understand.
And then the end came and while it was rushed, it was somewhat of a relief, if that makes sense. I did liked how the author brought the story full circle. The answers to lingering questions were answered about Dreams, Reality, Truth, Doubts, and the Mysterious Malcolm.
*advanced copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.* -
4.5 "Carte Blanche" stars
At some point, this story took me out of my comfort zone and I’m enjoyed it. It wasn’t like one of my usual read and during the reading I reminded myself that it’s not a common romance. Actually it wasn’t romance at all, at least not for me!
Mona’s mother had loved The Red Gallery so much that when she was dying, she asked Mona to do anything to save The Red! After she died, the only thing that she left was medical debt and of course the deed to the gallery. When Mona finally decided to sell the gallery, some mysterious man appears at the gallery and asks Mona to trust him for saving the gallery. But instead he wants something from her. He wants to play with her.
Some logic used in this book that even though I didn’t like them but they were true and it made me think about them! This one was a special story for me. I liked the idea of it and I really like to know how Ms. Reisz came to this idea and wrote it! Every chapter’s name is the name of a famous painting (or I think they are famous; you know I don’t know anything about art and paintings. So I googled them and see them myself) and those paintings are the theme of every chapters and the games are based on them.
The story is told from Mona’s POV, 3rd person. It’s a standalone story. It was well-written and well-paced. All in all, I liked it so much and hope you enjoy it as well! -
“Things aren’t what they seem.”
Ain't that the truth of all times !. Scandalous story of an Earl of Godwick -Malcolm Arthur Augustus Fitzroy. The Earl of Godwick. He's a man of his word. A promise on a deathbed and he's a soul hanging in limbo. He handpicks Mona to get a rightful heir and in the process , he comes alive.
Mona , is a gallery owner - The Red. Its actually going under , burdened with debts she accrued while taking care of her ailing mother. She promises her mother on her deathbed that she'd do anything to save the Gallery.
And then she meets the Devil ,Who smiles ....no he smirks! He offers to save her gallery, but she'd have to sell herself like a whore to him, for a year.
He’d made her three promises when they’d made their deal: He promised to pay her enough in art to save the gallery. He promised to tell her the provenance of the paintings. And he promised he would leave her.
During this year , He brings her hidden desires to surface. Role playing and enacting the paintings he gifts her. They're pulsating with life and she explores them under the hand of Malcolm. Are they hallucinations, dreams, enactments .....
Olympia
Dora And the Minotaur
The luncheon on the Grass
The Roman Charity
Each painting just breathes and unfolds like a theatrical play right in front of our eyes and by becoming captive IN them, Mona unlocks and frees her own inhibitions and some ancient mysteries.
The story is not written, but displayed in front of you. Words morph into visions and swirling colours and babbling Brooks and dancing nymphs and growling minotaur and swishing crops . Tiffany bleeds emotions on the paper and strikes deep into your soul . My whole being thrummed with intense aftershocks reading the passionate animalistic, raw sexual encounters.
By this time my mind is playing tricks on me. But i am beyond care.
I'm craving Malcolm as a worshipper craves her God
He was a god to her now, a god of sex and sin.In hell where the sins of lust were punished, they said the lascivious damned tore each other apart with their desires , and the rent and bleeding pieces still found ways to meet and mate with each other. How was that hell, she wondered? These theologians had never met Malcolm.
I'm amazed by the spread of Tiffanys imagination, it's an endless ocean of visions and poems. Carefully weaving and interspersing till you forget where you are, what you're reading or where you're supposed to be. You just meander in a world she creates with a candle light. You just see only what is in front of you , rest is dark and unknown. That's where the magic lies!!!
What magic was it, what sorcery that could turn an act of violence and pain into an act of adoration and affection? It was alchemy, the art of turning base things into gold.
Same could be said about Reisz !!
One of a kind story
One of a kind writer
One of a kind characters
“Millions of paintings in this world. Only one Mona Lisa. Billions of women in this world. Only one you, Mona Lisa St. James.”
And Malcolm ....what can I say about him . He could be the Devil , “The devil wants your soul. I only want your body.”
But he's just a man trying to fulfill a promise he made. He suffers because he fell in love with a woman he shouldn't have !!
"There's debauchery but no debasement " is perhaps the most profound sentence of the story.that separates Mona from all the other submissives.shes not obligated , but she's obliged.
She doesn't Fuck Malcolm for Degas, but she does because he gives her Degas..
Delve Deep ladies....theres a whole pool of light in here
I'm so enamoured by Tiffany, I'm going to drink every word she's ever written, even if it takes me a lifetime. And I won't ingest, just swirl them around in my brain so I can feel them for ages !!
And then go hunting for an antique brass bed with knobs<3
From inside his frame, the portrait of Malcolm smiled. Or was it a smirk?
5 artsy stars
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What would you do for money?
Soooo, I tried my first Tiffany Reisz and it was...interesting. A couple of years ago, I was fascinated with books that pushed the boundaries in the bedroom...I mean torture chamber. I couldn't get enough of reading them. There was a little part of me that wanted to know if what I was reading was real or believable. How could a woman love a man who took pleasure in her pain? How could a man respect a woman who allowed that level of pain, humiliation and suffering be administered? Well, I think I'm over my fascination. I was sneering and making squinty eyes at my Kindle reading The Red.
Now, I can admit that the storyline captured and held my attention until the very last page. The storyline was riveting. How far would you go to fulfil a deathbed promise? Me, I'm a little too logical. I know that if someone I loved, who loved me in return, asked me to do something that would compromise my health, safety and well-being, I wouldn't do it. Simply, I don't believe money or material goods buy you happiness.
Anyways, if I could cut out the extreme kinky and replace it with very mild kinky and a lot of steamy, The Red would have been a more enjoyable experience. I was fascinated by the art that was described and left Google open looking at all the masterpieces. Geez, it took a lot more effort (back in the day) to get your fill of nudity. Someone had to paint it instead of heading to the newsagents (for a Playboy) or their computer (for Tumblr) to see it. I guess pornography has been around a lot longer than I thought.
I've now had my Tiffany Reisz curiosity appeased, and can go back to my mildly kinky and steamy reads, with a smile on my face.
Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
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How clever to create fantasies based on a painting. And with The Red, the lines blur between fantasy and reality until you’re just not sure where one begins and the other ends.
There’s just something about a man in a three piece suit.
I love the descriptions and artwork comparisons.
Anyone familiar with Abbott and Costello’s joke who’s on first? Because ... “I hear your gallery is closing,” he said. “Closed, I said. I told you the gallery is closed. It’s almost midnight.” “You’re in the red.” “So are you. That’s the name of the gallery.” 🤣
“Have you been stalking me?” “Only watching,” he said.” -Agree to disagree than.
They speak so prim and proper (except of course when he told her he wanted to fuck her), as if being in a gallery afforded nothing less.
“You’re a very beautiful young lady,” Malcolm said. “I like very beautiful young ladies.” “Do you?” “I’m a connoisseur.” “Are you? Do you have a favorite type?” “Elegant prostitutes,” he said. “A perennial favorite.” “You know I’m not a prostitute, yes?” she asked. “Not yet. But I think you’ll make a fine whore.” -No need to sugarcoat I guess.
A Portrait of a Gentleman was pretty much everything. Stick a fork in me, in Mona, maybe even in Malcom, because we are fucking done.
I kind of liked Sebastian...
“I hope you find a fine sweet young virgin someday to marry,” she said. “And I hope she opens her cunt for your brother and your father and your best friend the minute your back is turned.” -Really that was far less than he deserved.
Haha, it got better ... “Here, you can have it.” She held it out to him. His eyes widened. “You don’t mean it,” he said. “I do.” “It’s worth thousands. It’s Degas.” “He’s your favorite, not mine. Take it.” Slowly he raised his hand and took the sketch from her. “There,” she said. “Now we’re exactly the same. You fucked me. I paid you. This is how it works.”
And than it ended in the most perfectly perfect manner that I wish it never stopped. -
Ummmmm WOW. I had no idea what this book was about when I went into it, but it was so spicy and mysterious and I absolutely loved it. The heroine owns an art gallery that is going under. A mysterious stranger shows up and offers to save her studio for one night a month together. I loved their dynamic and how the heroine became consumed by their nights together. The ending was such a surprise and I absolutely loved the direction this book took. For something completely unique, I would definitely recommend picking this up!
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Men don’t pay prostitutes for the sex itself. They pay prostitutes to leave.
Mona Lisa St. James, 25, promised her dying mother she would do anything to save The Red, her mother beloved art gallery. When things are in dire straits Mona decides to indeed do just what she promised her mother: ANYTHING, including a deal with the devil.
“May I be blunt with you?” he asked.
“I’d prefer it.”
“I very much wish to fuck you.”
The devastatingly handsome stranger who suddenly appears in her gallery, makes her a lucrative but audacious offer “In exchange for having carte blanche over your body—all three holes, thank you—I’ll save The Red”, asking him if he is not deceiving her “I’m a whoremonger, a rake, and a degenerate, my dear, but I am not a thief.”, and Mona finds herself unable to refuse “We’re in agreement.”
In the year following their deal, Mona experiences what it takes to keep the promise she made her dying mother. The art themed fantasies that Malcolm imposes on her are very explicit and awaken a side of her she did not know she had. For all her shame and fear, she was undeniably aroused as well.
While their arrangement lasts, Mona is desperate to get to know more of him but Malcolm does not reveal his true identity or where he is from.
When one of Malcolm’s mind games send Mona in a frenzy “I warned you that next time, you would hate me.” she orders him to leave “I don’t want you to ever come back.” subsequently ending the deal The game was over.
With time passing Mona realizes she missed Malcolm, terribly and in her dreams she pleads to him to come back.
Malcolm remains an enigma she is not able to solve, he only gives her riddled answers to her questions.
When their arrangement comes to an end, Malcolm kept his promise, saving The Red from bankruptcy and once more the art world was calling.
It is not until the last pages that all is revealed to Mona and it is than that she understands what her true purpose is and that it is exactly what she wants out of life.
life and death weren’t as absolute as they seemed.
The devil had smirked, not smiled, because the devil does not smile.
The Red is a stand-alone novel and an absolute page turner. It is HOT! The sex scenes will keep you on edge, it is kinky fuckery erotica in true Tiffany Reisz’s fashion. It is the kind of sweltering hot sex that we all dream to have but do not dare.
Do not expect romance and sweet lovesick scenes, if you do, than please move on from this book, otherwise I wholeheartedly recommend reading it!
“A fine lady by day, a better whore by night.”
Part of
The Godwicks Series that is best enjoyed when read in order
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
