Reviewer: Holly Reckless by Saskia Walker
Publication Date: December 8th 2014
Pages: 274
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At the age of twenty-nine London art valuation expert Katrina Hammond is evolving into a stronger, more sexual woman.
When she subsequently finds herself at the center of a struggle for power and dominance between two brothers, she welcomes the darkly erotic charge the situation brings. Katrina's job is to value a collection of art objects for auction in the Catalonia villa of the Teodoro family, where Sergio Teodoro rules. Sergio is a dominant master who compels her attention. Nicolas, his younger brother - a disinherited artisan - also seeks her out.
One brother will win her heart, but danger awaits Katrina in the shadows of the Teodoro villa.As Katrina uncovers the subterfuge surrounding the collection, she finds that there is more to Nicolas and Sergio's battle than meets the eye, and more to her growing allegiances than may be good for her.
I’m not really sure what to say about this novel. I think my problem with it is that I expected one thing and got another. The blurb led me to believe two brothers who don’t get along were vying for the same woman. That isn’t really the case. As it turned out, one brother was basically the “good” brother and the other was “bad”, and not in a good way. Because of this, I think it took away from my enjoyment.
Katrina is rather staid and buttoned down. She’s working at a London auction house in her ex-fiance’s shadow and disappointing her mother. When Sergio Teodoro shows up in desperate need of someone to value his art collection for a quick auction, Katrina sees the opportunity – and her mutual attraction to Sergio – as a way to break out of her shell. She arranges to travel with him to his estate in Spain, but all is not as it seems once she arrives. Sergio begins acting strangely and Katrina is uncomfortable in the presence of his young stepmother Elaine. Then Nicolas shows up. He’s the younger, disinherited brother, and one Katrina is immediately attracted to.
As she continues her work, Nicolas plants the seed in her mind that perhaps Sergio isn’t being as honest with her as he should be about the collection. The deeper in lust she falls with Nicolas, the more she questions Sergio’s authority to actually sell the art collection. Not to mention the strange occurrences that go on in the house.
I enjoyed Katrina’s character. She decides she wants to be reckless, to break out of her shell, but she still kept the same basic character traits as the novel progressed. Considering the situation I thought she acted accordingly. Once Nicolas plants the seed in her mind that perhaps all is not as it seems, she proceeds cautiously with what she was hired to do, but doesn’t rush of thinking she can save the day or open up a mystery. It was refreshing.
I also enjoyed Nicolas’ character. Though he’s the younger son and a disappointment to his father, he’s still concerned when he hears Sergio is trying to sell his dead mother’s prized art collection. The fact that his father is being hidden from him doesn’t help.
This wasn’t really a bad story, but I think the fact that I went into it thinking one thing and got another threw me off. Sergio turned out to be far removed from what I thought he was going to be. Rather than a bit of sibling rivalry over a woman, this was more good son vs bad son. As the story unfolded I’m afraid it became rather cliched. The evil younger stepmother, the power hungry brother who needs more money, the disabled father. It just didn’t pull together for me.
I think had the author focused more on Nicolas and Katrina and less on the suspense plot this would have worked better for me.
Overall not a bad novel, but not a great one, either.
3.0 out of 5
This book is available from Berkley Heat. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
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