A very well-written book with wonderfully-interesting characters. Worthy of your TBR list.

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

Perfect read. Well written with the perfect amount of character development.

Rereviewed as reviews aren't showing

I tried, hard, to enjoy this book, but it was a painful struggle. The only thing I enjoyed was the Siren, everything else gave me a headache to read.

What a fascinating book. I was impressed by the storyline and the characters were all well written and complex. Where there are complex storylines combined with intriguing characters the reader experience is magnified tremendously. To have a book that is well written as well as entertaining is a delight. Reading is about escaping your world and entering another one. The word building was phenomenal in this book. Here I forgot about my own life and was immersed in the world created by the author. I would recommend this book.

I love romance, I love historical fiction, and I love mysteries set in the art world, so I wanted to read Breathless as soon as I've seen the blurb.

I enjoyed this book as something different, yet still satisfying as a romance. It is divided into past (1827-ish) and present (current day). I picked it up with few expectations, and in general it was an enjoyable read but for some reason I had moments here and there I couldn't get through it as well as I wanted to. The book went a bit too up and down for my personal taste. It may be the 2 timelines, because I don't often read it.

I think this is definitely a book to recommend when you like 2 different timelines and historical romance in general!

Engaging and sweeping. I loved this book. Perfect for true romance fans. If you love the genre, read it. I recommend it.

I wasn't quite sure whether I'd like this book or not, but I gave it a try anyway and found out that I indeed, enjoyed this book very much. It's not the typical book I'd choose, but, it was a romance and it worked out well.

This is a beautiful love story. I highly recommend Breathless. Totally worth ☆☆☆☆☆. Thanks to Netgalley, for allowing me to review this great book.

The bouncing back and forth in this between present day and the puzzle of the lady in the portrait kept me going. I figured out she was the Siren long before the reveal, but kept going to see how things would get sorted out for her and her lover. The fact that she turned her back on the peace and anonymity of the countryside to give the best life for her child saddens me, but it explains why the prints would be lost and not matched to the artist.

Loathed by wives and loved by men the "swan" is cast out of society and forced into a type of solitude. Taken in battered and disoriented by an interesting artist she learns to love herself for herself and not for what she can get from people because of herself. She find that she can allow her heart to open even with pain. From tragedy and tragedy come a history and love never ending.

Interesting mix of historical and contemporary that overall works. The ending was a little shocking, but overall this was a very good story.

I had read Susan Donovan before and really enjoyed her romances so I was eager to read this one. I really enjoyed it! I found it a fresh and fun read. I will be looking for Celeste Bradley's work to check out now.

I was very caught up in this story! It had a great mix of present time, mixed with the historical aspect of learning the Swan's story. The journey took you over to Barcelona, London and it was a very sensual journey with Brenna and Fitch.

If you like romance, fun and exotic locales - this is a novel for you.

This story is absolutely breathtaking. It will engine every emotion you could possibly imagine as the search continues for missing paintings featuring The Siren. A beauty that was saved by the artist that would capture her heart and soul he shared his love for her with each talented brushstroke. This book was the first I have read from these authors and they wove a tale that will capture your attention from the very first page. The story flows together and throws you into the mystery and intrigue of finding pieces of the past.

Breathless is a romantic caper book - one of my most favorite by the way.

Brenna, an academic and Fitch, an art hunter with questionable motives, meet up to find a missing piece of art from a collection known as The Siren. Their relationship, according to Brenna, is a nuisance but Fitch thinks it's a hoot. When they finally agree to seriously work together to find out who the Siren was and who painted the beautiful canvases, romance and drama ensue.

I couldn't love this book more. It was fun, full of lovely information about art history and the characters were solidly portrayed. Wish there was another one coming.

I finished Breathless ages ago and I have been so swamped with work that I did not have time to actually sit down and pen this review for all of you.

I know!

I am terrible, but sadly work comes first because I am not lucky enough to be paid to read books all day long (Willing to accept job offers with that specific description!)

I have read books from Celeste before; but to be honest, I do not think I have read some of Susan’s work (I could be mistaken) but I need to go play catch up and read more from both authors.

But tell you what though, the name of this book is aptly chosen!

When I finished it, I was floored!

Outstanding and even saying that I do not think this word actually does the book justice!

Mind Blown!

Me saying all of this doesn’t help so let me tell you more…

In Breathless, we are following 2 couples in 2 different timelines…

In modern times, we have Brenna and Fitch and in the historical one, we get to know The Swan and her man The Artist.

The story starts and is centered around a series of works of art and we go on an amazing journey from there. We are looking at the story from those 2 timelines and tell you what, the writing and storytelling are utterly glorious!



I will tell you, there are moments as I was reading where I was getting strong Robert Langdon vibes and that was an added bonus for me. Breathless is an adventure.

Pretty much a treasure hunt wrapped in a romance.

I could not put it down and finished reading in one go.

It is smart, witty, touching, sad and beautiful all at the same time, and there are a couple of times where I could not help myself tearing up a little bit.

I am trying very hard here not give discuss plot points and not give you spoilers, because honestly, I would not want to take the pleasure of discovering everything with a fresh eye away from you.



Breathless is in a league of its own, and I do not think I have read anything quite like it in a while. The more I think about it, the more I want another, I would never say no to Brenna and Fitch going on researching other mysteries. I would require the first book if that was to ever happen.

Pretty please!!

So there you have it, I managed to keep all the good stuff to myself and all I can do is tell you that Breathless is bloody amazing! I am planning on going back and re-reading it again!

I am obsessed, what do you want me to tell you?

So based on all of that, you know that I am going to very highly recommend it to you all and I really hope that you fall gaga over it like I did! I definitely need more books like this one in my life!

Ladies, you have produced something amazing here, please never stop!!!

Received an ARC copy from netgalley for an honest review.
This co-writing is very pleasant to read. The two stories are individually nice to read and both couples are cute.
It’s been about ten years since I read my last historical romance and I enjoyed the historical part very much. The contemporary story has good suspense.
I have not read a lot of Celeste Bradley’s books but I’ve read all Susan Donovan.s. The style of this books is much Susan Donovan alike so go for it if you like her.

I really enjoyed this story that alternated with present and 1828 London and Cataluna. In the present, there is attraction and conflict between Fitch Wilder, art restoration expert, and Dr. Brenna Anderson, Harvard sociology professor over The Siren Series of erotic paintings. In 1828, the courtesan known as the Swan, is kidnapped by pirates and disappears from London. She washes ashore at Cataluna (Spain) and is nursed to health by an Englishman and artist living along the coastline. The authors seamlessly weave together the past with the present and slowly reveal the history and identity of the artist and his beautiful subject.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC; all opinions are my own.

Stunned and emotional is how this book affected me. I was not expecting to be so emotional while reading it. It broke my heart and then healed it with hope. The main question it will leave in the reader mind is "Is it really possible to have such a great love as detailed in this book?".

I am not even sure I can review this book to give you the fullness of its impact. The opening to the book is in the past with "the Swan." London's premiere courtesan. After the reader is given the context to the story it jumps forward to present day.

For me the swan's story is heart breaking and tragic. The painter in the story who saves her is also tragic and the reader will come to love this man and realize that he made choices for the greater good which cost him everything. He suffered greatly from this and the authors writing about this time made me cry with such sorrow for him and his losses. I can't say any more about this without giving away part of the plot but let's say the ending to that part of the story still brings tears to my eyes.

The story within the story involves Art Professor Brenna Anderson and art hunter, Fitch Wilder. Their relationship is fraught with dislike for each other and their utter disregard for the others professionalism. This made a great story as it is a bit like Indian Jones type feeling as they chased down clues and the other hidden paintings. What they find when they start working together changes both of them forever and as it unfolds it also deeply impacts the reader.

This book is a memorable and impactful emotionally. Because of this I give it 5 STARS.

Bradley and Donovan joint efforts to create a romance novel that is replete with 21st century romance mirroring romance from the nineteenth century. Fitch Wilder is a renegade treasure hunter who has just located the sixth painting in the Siren series in a Paris apartment abandoned and locked up since World War II. The subject of the paintings is known as the Siren,  a beautiful blonde woman who is also the subject of five other paintings owned by Fitch's employer, H. Winston Guilford.

Across the Atlantic in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Dr. Brenna Anderson, a sociology professor at Harvard, is in danger of losing her job after a student from a prominent family complains about her, and she decides to take a sabbatical. While on sabbatical, she travels  to Europe where she begins researching where to find the missing Siren paintings.

Though she and Fitch are enemies, they decide to join forces to find the rest of the Siren paintings. Their search takes them to Spain as together they fall under the magical spell of Barcelona and Catalonia.

The romance between the Siren and her artist is carefully juxtaposed against the present-day romance between Fitch and Brenna who not only discover that they have much in common but soon succumb to the allure of their mutual attraction enhanced by the surrounding romantic locale.

Page-turning and magnetic, this romance perfectly blends the past and the present into an alluring read complete with a centuries old love story whose secrets are revealed in the breathtaking conclusion.





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