Sportochick's Musings: Amazing 5 STAR READ Breathless by Celeste Bradley; Susan Donovan

Sportochick's Musings ~ If there was a 6 STAR rating I would give it to this intense spectacular must read love story.

Breathless

by Celeste Bradley; Susan Donovan

Find The Book At ~ Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

Publisher ~ St. Martin's Press Romance

Genres ~ Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance, Mystery

A sensuous, delightful romantic women's fiction novel from New York Times bestselling authors Celeste Bradley and Susan Donovan!

She was "the Swan." London's premiere courtesan. Men want to be with her. Women loathe her success and yet admire her beauty, her riches, her independence. But when the jealous wife of her lover moves to have the Swan banished from her home on the high seas, she winds up crashed against Spain's rocky coast with no shoes, no clothes-and no name. Taken in by a tortured, sensuous man known as The Artist, the Swan comes to know the woman she wants to be—her artist's siren.

When Art Professor Brenna Anderson is in danger of losing her post at Harvard, the rule-following, prim professor is at a loss of how to salvage the shreds of her life. But when a new painting in the mysterious Siren collection is discovered in a dusty old house in France, Brenna does the unthinkable—hops on a plane to uncover the identity of the beautiful, enigmatic woman who is the subject of the paintings.

There's just one hitch—the frustrating, irritating, bold and beautiful art hunter, Fitch Wilder, is also looking for the Siren. He's been a thorn in Brenna's professional side for years, but when their individual quests lead them to team up despite being enemies, a whole new sumptuous world of art and culture opens up for the two of them. And with it, they enter a realm of passion and love…

Stunned and emotional is how this book affected me. I was not expecting to be so emotional while reading it. It broke my heart and then healed it with hope. The main question it will leave in the reader mind is "Is it really possible to have such a great love as detailed in this book?".

I am not even sure I can review this book to give you the fullness of its impact. The opening to the book is in the past with "the Swan." London's premiere courtesan. After the reader is given the context to the story it jumps forward to present day.

For me the swan's story is heart breaking and tragic. The painter in the story who saves her is also tragic and the reader will come to love this man and realize that he made choices for the greater good which cost him everything. He suffered greatly from this and the authors writing about this time made me cry with such sorrow for him and his losses. I can't say any more about this without giving away part of the plot but let's say the ending to that part of the story still brings tears to my eyes.

The story within the story involves Art Professor Brenna Anderson and art hunter, Fitch Wilder. Their relationship is fraught with dislike for each other and their utter disregard for the others professionalism. This made a great story as it is a bit like Indian Jones type feeling as they chased down clues and the other hidden paintings. What they find when they start working together changes both of them forever and as it unfolds it also deeply impacts the reader.

This book is a memorable and impactful emotionally. Because of this I give it 5 STARS.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.