Review: The Rose (The Red, #2) by Tiffany Reisz

Print Length: 400 pages

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA (April 16, 2019)

From Goodreads.com: On the day of Lia’s university graduation party, her parents—wealthy art collectors with friends in high places—gift her a beautiful wine cup, a rare artifact decorated with roses. It’s a stunning gift, and one that August Bowman, a friend of her parents and a guest at Lia’s party, also has his eye on. The cup, August tells her, is known as the Rose kylix, and it’s no ordinary cup. It was used in the temple ceremonies of Eros, Greek god of erotic love, and has the power to bring the most intimate sexual fantasies to life.

But Lia is skeptical of August’s claims of the cup’s mythology and magic—after all, he’s a collector himself, and she suspects he just wants to get his hands on this impressive piece of art. So he dares her to try it for herself, and when Lia drinks from the Rose kylix she is suddenly immersed in an erotic myth so vivid it seems real—as though she’s living out the most sensual fantasy with August by her side…

Realizing the true power of this ancient and dangerous relic, Lia is even more wary of giving it up, though August insists it is only safe with him. He’s willing to pay the full value of the cup, but Lia has another type of trade in mind. One that finds them more tangled up in each other—and in fantasy—than either was prepared for.

                                                         *******************

My Rating: 3 stars out of 5

WARNING: Due to explicit sexual content, this story is for mature (18 and over) audiences only. 

I have so many mixed feelings about this story. Tiffany is hands down one my favorite authors, and normally I love everything about her stories. They are erotica yes, but there is also usually an underlying story woven throughout that makes more of an impression. With The Rose, I feel like that part of her style was missing. 

With this story, I feel as though a little too focused on the sex. And while yes, the scenes were well written, and yes I very much enjoyed the way the Greek myths were portrayed in them, I would have liked to have seen more development between August and Lia. Instead, I'm expected the believe they fell madly in love with one another because they have some interesting sex? And occasionally some conversation outside of it? I also wish there would have been more with the David story-line. He was a first class jerk, but even that seemed glossed over. 

Overall, I am certain this story will appeal to those who enjoy well-written erotica novels. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

                                                         *******************

                                
                                     The Rose is available from Amazon.com