"enjoyable fine arts romantic suspense"

In Santa Fe, attorney Morgan Grayson delivers legal papers for a friend to highly regarded sculptor Andre Duval, but the pompous artist treats him with disdain and refuses to sign anything. When Andre's protégé Phoenix Banister enters the room, she and Morgan seem to hit it off on some level that disturbs Duval, who tells the lawyer never to come back. After Andre leaves, he warns Phoenix to stay away from the man as he is the only one she can trust.

Morgan is very attracted to Phoenix, but has no plans to see her. He is concerned that his matchmaking mom Ruth has targeted him as her second of five children needing a spouse; though he admits that his brother Luke is very happy (see UNTIL THERE WERE YOU). Still he wants to see Phoenix and to his elation she reciprocates. As they fall in love Duval pressures her to stay away from him. Morgan knows he must uncover the hold that Andre uses to keep Phoenix in line.

The Second Grayson novel is an enjoyable fine arts romantic suspense with the emphasis on the characters more so than the intrigue though the latter hooks the audience who want to know how "Svengali" controls his protégée. The lead couple belongs together, but with Duval the master puppeteer pulling the strings it looks doubtful that will occur. However, his opponent is not just Morgan, but in his corner are his college music teaching matchmaking mom and the extended family of Graysons and Falcons. Fans will enjoy Francis Ray's tale of "forbidden" love.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted February 20, 2005

Summary

The protégé of a world-renowned artist, sculptress Phoenix Banister dreams of one day taking the art world by storm. Few people know that Phoenix has a secret that could ruin her career before it even starts. To protect that secret, Phoenix lives a very quiet life-and that means no scandal and no romance. But her well-ordered world is turned upside down when she meets Morgan Grayson, a powerfully handsome attorney. Morgan isn't the kind of man a woman can ignore-no matter how hard she tries...

An avid art collector, Morgan deeply appreciates beauty-especially when it comes in the form of a woman like Phoenix. With her elegant smile and soft, toffee-colored skin, Phoenix takes Morgan's breath away the moment he sees her. But he senses that the woman he is falling in love with has something to hide-something not even his soft kisses and tender embrace can reveal. When Morgan finally discovers the truth about her past, will he still think Phoenix is the woman of his dreams?