Review: The Pearl (The Godwicks #3) by Tiffany Reisz

Print Length: 286 pages

Publisher: 8th Circle Press (December 1, 2020)

From Goodreads.com:  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.

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My Rating: 3 stars out of 5

DISCLAIMER #1: This book contains explicit scenes of a sexual nature and therefore is unsuitable for anyone under the age of 18. 

I have mixed feelings about this story. While it is the third in the series, you do not have to read them in order. And maybe my issue with this book is that I HAVE read them in order. Please don't get me wrong, this was another beautifully written story from Ms.Reisz, but for some reason, I just didn't get as pulled into this one as I have with the others in this series. With The Red there was an element of role-play within the paintings. With The Rose that role-play was shifted to Greek mythology. And that WORKED. As odd as it sounds, the reader was able to lose themselves in those stories. 

With The Pearl? It just seemed like that element was missing. Sure there were references here and there to famous paintings, but on the whole it felt more like an Original Sinners novel instead of another installment of the Godwicks. And while this is in NO WAY a BAD THING as her Original Sinners series is my number one favorite series, it just wasn't what I wanted when I wanted to read about Lord Arthur Godwick. I expected more of the same blurred lines between fantasy and reality. Although this book is about a male coming to terms with his own submissive desires, so that on its own will appeal to a group of readers.

As always with her stories - these characters were flawed and heart-breakingly human. I started off not liking Regan AT ALL, but the more I read? The more I was able to relate to her on different levels. She had a reason for why she acted as she did. And I also enjoyed watching Arthur as he came into his own person as well. The fact that the growth happened while they were together? Only deepened my enjoyment of their story. 

The ending left me feeling a bit ..... well I don't exactly know as I did NOT expect what happened. Obviously, I will read more from this author, I'm just curious if Arthur is the last Godwick we will read about or if there will be more down the line. 

DISCLAIMER #2: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Amazon First Reads. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                                                                               The Pearl is available from Amazon.com