"rich language and erotic imagery"
Autumn Maguire is painting Paris red. Well, maybe more a
tad blue, since her fiancé jilted her and she's used her
honeymoon tickets to get there. Determined to have a good
time, she answers an ad for an artist's model and
discovers how awakening for the spirit it can be to pose
nude, even if the artist is less than inspiring. While
exploring his studio though, she discovers the self-
portrait of a long dead artist and it awakens in her the
passion she thought she lacked. When the clothes come off
and a little wicked black magic folds in, Autumn finds
herself in a most unusual situation. It's a different
Paris she awakens to—the darker, naughtier side. Cue the
devilish grin. In nineteenth century Paris, Paul Borquet, a most
scandalous artist at the time, discovers a wondrous Titian-
haired beauty in his studio. Never so assured of a
masterpiece in his life, he must paint her. And never
having found so beautiful and intriguing a woman, he
entertains a riveting lust for her as well. When the
overwhelming influences of the sensual culture confound
her, Autumn flees and entrances the sexy Paul in her
wake. Concerned for her safety, he pursues. When she
catches the eye of a notorious lord, it will be all he can
do to assure she comes to no harm in the unfamiliar world
that is the baser side of Paris. No more than the first two chapters in, I felt the allure
of Ms. Bacarr's Paris, the rich language and erotic
imagery she evokes too powerful to resist. If this were
chocolate, it would be whatever the richest, most decadent
piece you've ever consumed is. And that, in a nutshell, is
what this book is—decadent. From the studios of the famous
artists to the opening days of the Moulin Rouge, Naughty
Paris embodies the sexual power that the city thrived on
at one time. Autumn discovers a part of herself that she
never knew existed and Paul recovers a piece of himself
that he'd begun to lose amongst the seedy and disreputable
back streets. Bacarr's use of the paranormal element of
time travel was cleverly done and the ill will surrounding
Autumn and Paul because of it sent chills down my spine.
Paul is a sigh-worthy hero, strong and passionate, and
certainly ranks in my top ten most memorable. This was a
late-night binge reading pleasure that I've since picked
up more than once. Glad to see this author keeping me on
my reading toes!
Reviewed by Kenda Montgomery
Posted April 29, 2007
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After being jilted by her fiancé, Autumn Maguire uses her nonrefundable honeymoon tickets to explore Paris on her own. Eager to experience the true bohemian lifestyle, she answers an ad for an artist's model. When she exchanges her clothes for the artist's lush red cloak, something strange happens—a feeling of intense sensual reawakening overcomes her. Suddenly lightning strikes and through the power of black magic she's thrust back into— —the nineteenth century where the scandalous painter Paul Borquet is insisting she become his Titian-haired muse. Between everyone's strange clothing, the claustrophobic Parisian streets and the overpowering pull of sexual desire, Autumn can't process—just where the heck is she and how did she get here? And frankly, with Paul's expert caresses imprinted on her body, does she really care about going back to present day?
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