It IS a dark romance

There were so many revelations and twists in this book, I’ll have to try and write a spoiler-free review. Let’s see.

It’s a second chance story–though the ‘chance’ part is dubious. Hazard, yes. Coincidences, certainly. Chance, meh. In high school, Olin and Gil were close friends, and a little more, though neither of them would take the leap. Gil lived in a whorehouse with his abusive father, while Olin was just neglected by her parents. They were protective of each other. Until something happened and Gilbert rejected Olin, breaking her heart in the process.

Fast forward a decade or so. Alone, in need of money and a job, Olin applies to be a model for a body painter. Who happens to be Gil. Once again, Olin wants to help him, and once again, Gil rejects her. But the attraction is too strong. And the sweet boy Olin loved in high school has become a jaded and ruthless man who takes what he wants. They can’t stay away from each other, but that puts Olin in danger.

There are chapters about the past, and chapters about the present. Though Olin and Gil in high school were kind of cute, their relationship, before and now, is toxic. As teenagers, they clung to each other because they were alone–Gil offered Olin the attention she craved as an abandoned daughter, while she took care of Gil’s basic needs, like food and money and safety. They even talk about them as family. As adults, Olin still has strong urges to protect Gil, but he has changed a lot. He desires her and this time, he has no restraint. It IS a dark romance.

Most of the book, they go around in circles. Gil pushes Olin away, she goes. He goes back to her because he wants to protect her. She sees it as a sign that he wants a relationship, but he rejects her. She goes to him a little later, and they’re right at the beginning. They can’t stay away from each other, but for different reasons–Olin because she still has feelings for Gil, Gil because he wants to protect her. They never are at the same level. It was a bit repetitive, with little variations. And communication isn’t their forte.

Be aware that there are a few triggers. Also, there’s no love making here. It’s harsh, sometimes violent. It can be disturbing.

The narration was quite good. Though the female narrator was very expressive in the dialogs, her reading was a bit dull. The male narrator was amazing, full of raw feelings. The whole thing was maybe a bit slow, but when needed, it picked up the pace.

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Intense and twisted story!

I just finished this audiobook and the performance by both narrators was fantastic. I could feel the emotion in their words. I loved both voices! This story is dark and intense with so many twists. The longing and the angst is palpable. The characters have so much tragic history together. The air almost crackles from the chemistry between them when they touch. Gil is so angry and broken. He is hiding something huge and Olin is determined to find out what that is but will it be worth hurting her own self? I loved the narration and while the story was a slow build, I do recommend this audiobook.

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Incredible

Oh Pepper Winters, what you have done to heart! This book has so much of everything in it, I could not stop listening. There is something to be said about second chance romances. The history of a couple builds that foundation and Winters masterfully lets us in on Olin Moss and Gilbert Clark's second chance. With alternating points of view, Gilbert gives us the history of their sweet, budding romance. Both from different sides of the track, yet have a common thread of dysfunctional homes. T Fast forward 7 years, and we get to hear Olin, as she encounters Gil again, answering an ad to be a living canvas for a body painter. The chemistry it palpable and Winters captures every essence of it. Olin is a strong woman, and fiercely loyal. While I love her, I at times wanted to shake her and tell her to move on already, but with that incredible connection to Gil, I just knew she couldn't walk. Gil is so broody and broken, I can fully understand Olin's draw to him. To help him, and make everything better. But there are so many secrets yet to be told. The story is heartbreaking, full of sensuality and mystery. Ending on a cliffhanger, I cannot wait to hear those secrets!!!! Winters is an amazing story teller and I am sure it is going to be mind blowing.

Choosing the narrators for this story had to be quite a mission. Gilbert is strong, passionate, broken. Will Watt finds that place with his voice that brings it all out. You can hear the pain, the frustration and the undying love he has. It's truly amazing. Olin is so optimistic, strong willed, compassionate and loving. With Charlotte Cole bringing her to life, we hear the inflections of love, the constant want in her voice to be there for Gil and just fix it all and make it better. These two narrators have a chemistry that lets us feel the story, then and now and leaves us wanting more.

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2 people found this helpful

Terrific Story & Narration🎧 Gripping & Intense!

Wow, this amazing story became my addiction, it grabbed not only my attention, but it took hold of my heartstrings and tugged and twisted them hard, practically tearing my heart out of my chest. Pepper Winters is a gifted author with a brilliant mind, or rather a brilliantly deviant mind, that knows how to build a complex story with equally complex characters that will blow your mind and take it through the wringer and have you loving it. Olin Moss and Gilbert “Gil” Clark may have been from opposite sides of the track, but that did not stop them from becoming the best of friends with the promise of being more. Gil’s home life is not good, but he does not share much of what is going on, Olin only knows it is abusive, both physically and mentally. Her home life is not the best either, she has everything she needs except the love and attention of her parents. But the two make a pact becoming each other’s family, until they are not. Fast forward to the future, by chance they meet again, Olin’s life did not turnout as planned and she is down on her luck desperately needing a job, answering an ad to be a living canvas. When she shows up for the job, it surprised her to see Gil again. Gil was not happy to see her and he wanted nothing to do with her and wanted her gone. But he goes with the job and the commission and doing what he does best, creates a piece of art on her body. Gil is a tormented man and Olin does not want to give up on him, the more he pushes her away the harder she pushes back. She knows he is hiding things from her and he refuses to tell her and when his problem becomes her problem, he must protect her from the evil in his life. This is a dark romance, the story is cleverly plotted with plenty of drama, angst, thrilling suspense, mystery, twists and turns, emotions, some heart-rending and gut-wrenching, some heartfelt, and some steamy sexy times. Pepper Winters, thank you for this mind-blowing story and the intense and sometimes wild, emotional rollercoaster ride. And that ending, OMG, why, why, why, how could you, time will tell, I am looking forward to what comes next for these two in “The Living Canvas”.

🎧📚🎧 And for the amazing narration, Pepper Winters could not have cast better narrators to bring her characters and story to life. Will M Watt and Felicity Foster are superbly talented narrators and versatile voice artists. They had a complete understanding of the characters they portrayed, gave each a voice that was a perfect fit to that character’s persona, sounding believable in every role they played and just as I pictured the characters to sound. Foster’s Olin was spot on, she grasped her every emotion and had you feeling every single one. Watt nailed it as Gil grasped his tortured soul with perfection and had you feeling his conflict and angst. Both were great performing all the secondary roles too. These entertaining storytellers set the perfect tone for the story and their narration enhanced the story to another level. Thank you for this exceptional listen.

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Why have I listened this book only now?! Amazing!!

The Body Painter - Pepper Winters
Master of Trickery Duet #1

After reading the Indebted Series, The Ribbon Duet Series, The Fable Series, I had to have more from this amazing author!

Pepper Winters is one of my favorite authors, I'll read books by her without looking at the description! That's how much I trust her❤️
So I decided to listen to the first book in the Master of Trickery Duet.
This duet was on my reading list for a long time, something about the covers and the title of the book just called my name and shouted at me to read it already!!!📢

Throughout the book I get a glimpse from 2 different pov - Olin & Gil.
The book go back and forth between the past (high school period) and the present.
Not everything that appears on the outside is true, Olin and Gil are proof of that.
Gil (Gilbert) Clark is a boy who comes from a broken home, his way of escaping reality is painting and then his eyes land on Olin.
Olin Moss is a girl who comes from a stable home, but what's all the money in the world worth if you're lonely? She wears masks until Gil enters her life and sees the truth through her.
So far it sounds like a lovely love story, but what happens when one day Gil decides to break up and disappear from Olin's life?

Years later Olin comes across a job ad for a painter and goes to a job interview, the last person she expects to meet as the artist is Gil.
And from here the mess just begins - bodies of hypocritical women are revealed, secrets, dubious people, a dark and creepy feeling wraps throughout the plot.
The only thing that bothered me was that Gil always avoided and refused to reveal the truth to Olin, it drove me crazy, I wanted to shake him so and make him reveal the truth that Olin has been begging for for years.
The book ends with crazy Cliffhanger!!!
Seriously Pepper? You trying to kill me here?
My jaw dropped and my body tingles in anticipation of knowing what the hell is going on here?!
I'm continue the second book in the duet, I promise to update!
Until then, I highly recommend this book ❤️

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1 person found this helpful

Terrifying Genius 😁

If you love dark romance, Pepper winters is for you. This novel is another brilliant journey with dark twists and broken characters. Yet still a love story. Definitely recommend 100%. 🥰

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Captivating!

This is the first book in the Master of Trickery Duet, a dark romance. Gil and Olin's second chance to love is emotionally enthralling. The are both amazing characters, well developed. Gil is such an enigmatic character, broken, hunted, angry, and protective. His history is heartbreaking, and very dark. Olin is such a wonderful character, kind, loyal, supportive, and strong. I liked her determination. Their story is passionate and compelling, filled with mystery, danger, suspense, and twists and turns. The storyline is dark, raw, intense, slow paced, and captivating. The back and forth, past to present, is well done and mesmerizing. As expected, the story ends with a cliffhanger, and I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the duet. Will M Watt and Felicity Foster brilliantly bring this story to life. They are two fantastic narrators. Their interpretation as Gil and Olin is flawless, emotional, and grippingly fascinating. This is a great team author/narrators. If you like dark romance, this one definitely is for you. I highly recommend it.

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The Body Painter

Wow, just wow.
After the Faible Of Happiness trilogy I was already hooked on Pepper's books.
So I was really curious about this one.

And it didn't disappoint.

Gil is so mysterious, in his behavior too.
Can't wait how this story continues.

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Wow

The best way that I can describe this book is to say that it's like a roller coaster that's just started to make that climb up to the top of the hill, and then as it crests the top and you think you're going to go screaming down the other side, it ends. That may sound like a complaint, but it's not!

These characters take some time to warm up to, their history full of so many twists and turns that it'll take you most of the story to truly nail down what you think of them. I won't lie, some parts are incredibly hard to get through, but once you do all you can think about is where the next book might take you.

Both narrators for this book did a phenomenal job. The amount of emotion that it takes to bring a book like this to life is high, and they nailed it from beginning to end. I could listen to either one of them talk all day, so that certainly helped, but they put on a spectacular performance for this one.

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