The Rose

Romance isn't one of my usual genres because it falls into the usual (albeit addictive) formulas that isn't mean to reflect real life. Okay, fine ... nobody reads romance because it reminds them of real life. I didn't read The Rose because it's supposed to resemble real life. I read it because the description sounded interesting and and the reviews were good.

And perhaps it's because I went in with little expectation that I was blown away by what a fantastic read this was.

Lia's parents throw her a graduation party. Because of her interest in Greek mythology, her father presents her with something called a Rose Kylix, a drinking vessel used in ceremonies dedicated to Eros in ancient Greece. Enters August Bowman, a wealthy art collector (Greek, of course) who has a fixation of acquiring the kylix and far more knowledge about it than anyone Lia knows. He offers to show her and off they went on a fantasy erotic escapade in mythological Greece.

At the same time, Lia had been running an escort service through university and her secret was about to be blown by someone from her past. He blackmailed her for an amount of money that she could only raise if she accepted August's offer to buy the Rose Kylix from her.

As part of the deal, she and August embarks on many, many sexy adventures with the help of the magical drinking vessel. Naturally he falls for her. Meanwhile, Lia has to come to grips with her blackmailer and their shared history.

The Rose is a next-generational follow-up to The Red (which is about how her parents met), which I had not read and am now dying to get my hands on. The Rose stands alone well, which is the better news.

Author Tiffany Reisz hits a lot of right notes with this book - engaging and endearing lead characters, great sex scenes, a device that makes your erotic fantasies come true. Escapism at its finest. The only part I rolled my eyes on was the part about Lia's past with her blackmailer, but I also keep forgetting that Lia is young enough not to be able to deal well with this scenario.

As for August Bowman, what leading man in a romance novel doesn't have a mysterious past? This takes the cake as far as any other mysterious pasts are concerned, but I was fully invested in the fantasy by the time the reveal came that I grinned rather than rolled my eyes.

A solid 5-star from me because I enjoyed it far more than I'm going to admit.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley.

Disappointing sequel to The Red. While the previous book was always offering up something new and interesting (or at least a different kind of environment), The Rose felt like the Groundhog Day of sexual encounters wrapped in a different mythological wrapper.

The Beauty of a Rose
The Rose by Tiffany Reisz published by MIRA. I was lucky enough to receive an arc of the first book The Red and it is amazing! So when I saw the arc of this one and I knew I had to read it. I have to say when I am in the mood for erotica Tiffany Reisz is my girl! I know many people are picky with the erotica but this is a must read. Anything by this author is worth the time. I would have finished this much sooner if work had not gotten in my way what a shame. I love how the author pours love into each component, character, plot and subplot and in the end this one gives you a perfect Rose. I love that the Greek history and Myths are accurate and it makes my nerdy side thrilled when my brain can be worked in between sexy pages. The blurb for this book is so spot on. Lia is gifted what she's told is a magical erotic cup, and she is believably reticent about its powers. Even when she and the male lead, August, take their first sips of wine from it and descend into the myth of Andromeda and Perseus, she chalks it up to something rational like hallucinogenic compound traces in the clay paired with hypnosis. The amount of disbelieve in this book makes Lia and August's journey with the cup such a beautiful slow burn that it is worth every minute you spend with it. Thank you to Netgalley and all parties involved for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I hope that this series continues because I am a fan through and through.