Breathless by Celeste Bradley and Susan Donovan

Treasure hunt, romance, historical & contemporary romances, mystery and intrigue all are part of this book. The authors have seamlessly woven the life story of one woman from the past into the present and made it pertinent and real by sending Fitch Wilder and Brenna Anderson on a quest to find out more about the Swan…or is it the Siren?

I was gripped immediately by the beginning of the book and ALMOST decided to read only the portions of the book labeled PAST and skip over the PRESENT portions and pick them up later but am happy that I did not do so. Why? Because the story unfolds as it should with highs and lows that really do need to be read in order. I was not always “happy” with the Swan-Siren’s story but then neither was she. I am intrigued about what happened to her after her story ended (in the book) and wonder if perhaps Fitch and Brenna continued to pursue finding out more about her. Oh, one more thing…at a few points in the Swan’s narrative in first person I felt she told her story a bit as Fanny Hill told hers in the book with the same title.

Did I enjoy this book? Definitely
Would I read more books by these authors? Yes
Do I recommend this book? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press Griffin for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Dr. Brenna Anderson is damn good at her job. A Professor of Sociology at Harvard, she knows a thing or two about how art reflects the best and the worst in humanity. But she always thought that The Siren Series communicated so much more.

To her, the mysterious paintings are more than just art. They are a breathtaking example of feminine power and erotic heat. She would recognize the hypnotic technique of the one and only Le Artiste anywhere – even when it was hanging unexpectedly in a friend’s bathroom.

The discovery of another painting in the series sets Brenna on a path she never expected. And it also brings her face to face with only man to ever get under her skin.

“She squirmed in her seat, her breath shallow and fast. She kept staring at his lips. A smile quivered at their corners like an actor waiting for his cue. And those eyes… so intelligent and playful that she had to look away.
If Fitch Wilder were anyone else - absolutely any other man on earth - she’d drag his chiseled ass to her bed and make him her plaything.
Women likely lined up for blocks to give themselves to Fitch Wilder. Not Brenna. She was an expert on the human psycho-sexual experience. Every one of her lovers, to a man, would insist that they won Brenna through skill and dogged determination, but only because Brenna wished them to think so. In truth, she was always the seducer and never the seduced. Without exception.
But she had standards. She never seduced a man she did not respect.
“You haven’t even tasted your oolong,” Wilder said, gesturing with a half-eaten scone. “Why not loosen up, Professor? Let your hair down. Get your tea on.”
She laughed in disbelief. “You think you’re the best thing to happen to women since sitting on the dryer, don’t you?”

Fitch Wilder didn’t need a Harvard degree to know when he was looking at the work of the famed Le Artiste. After all, art is in his blood. It is his passion as well as his profession.

So when the too-beautiful-for-his-peace-of-mind Professor Anderson agrees to team up with him to solve the puzzle of The Swan, The Siren and Le Artiste, he knows it’s either going to be the best risk he’s ever taken or the worst mistake of his life.

“I … I just wanted you to know that whatever happens—wherever this treasure hunt takes us and whatever happens between us down the road—that this has been a remarkable couple of weeks. I’ve had so much fun with you, and I’ll never forget it.”
Her hand had remained on his headrest, and he now felt fingertips brush through his hair. The caress sent a rush of heat through him. He turned to her. She’d taken off her sunglasses and was gazing at him with a mix of tenderness and doubt.
“Thanks for saying that,” she said. “I feel the same.”

Breathless is a fascinating combination of tragedy, mystery and searing hot romance! Celeste and Susan take readers on a thrill ride through the past and into the present with a passion that is a feast for all of the senses.

From Victorian London to the modern coast of Spain, it’s a story of how one woman finds her true power in love and another finds a love that with her all along. And the feeling of exhilaration will last long after the final page…

This was a fun read, a mixing of past and present with a link between the two. Brenna is drawn to the history of "the Swan", a courtesan. Fitch is drawn to "the Siren" paintings. He finds them for his client. The two bump heads but find love while figure the history out. I loved the mingling of past and present. I tried to guess where the story was going but was not correct. Despite that, I enjoyed this story.

I received a copy of this story through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.

Celeste Bradley and Susan Donovan are both masters in their respective romance genres and I have greatly enjoyed their work. I had never imagined that they would get together to create such a masterpiece. A romance so unique that I can easily say that it is one of the best romances that I have read this year and I will not be forgetting it any time soon.

Whether you love regency romance or contemporary romance or even a little mystery in your romance than this is definitely the book for you!

“The Swan” was the most notorious courtesan of her time. With her dazzling beauty and wit she had every man in the ton after her and all the women loathing her. But her whole life takes an unexpected turn when she is kidnapped and wakes up to find herself in a ship. With nothing but her charms and wit to help her, she is able to survive, but when mutiny breaks in the ship, she finds herself in a boat in the middle of a storm and is swept away to the Catalan shores of Spain. What ensues is one of the most sensual and passionate love stories that you will ever read. The Swan becomes the muse of an artist and the subject of a series of paintings known as the Siren series. A collection that has captivated all who see it.

Harvard Professor Brenna Anderson is on the brink of losing her teaching position. She needs a break from the university and to prove to them her academic value. So when a new painting belonging to the Siren collection is discovered she believes that she can shed light to the mystery behind the sensual Siren. Of course the last person she expected to run into was Fitch Wilder, a man who is just as invested in the collection. A man who Brenna detests and doesn’t trust. A man that she now has to work with in order to find not only the missing paintings of the collection, but also to discover the story behind the series.

The fine line between love and hate gets blurrier by the second and Brenna soon finds herself in the sultry streets of Barcelona with a man that she can’t deny her attraction to. A man unlike any she has met. A man who lives life to the fullest, enjoying everything that it has to offer.

A beautiful story with two women who are separated by centuries and continents and yet share a very similar fate. A story that will leave you literally breathless!!!! Loved every single second of it!!!

Brenna Anderson's career as Sociology professor at Harvard has hit a rough patch, and she decides to take a sabbatical. New information has surfaced about a mysterious series of paintings featuring "The Siren," and Brenna intends to investigate. These paintings were the subject of Brenna's thesis, and she has always been fascinated by them. She also hopes to be the one to make a significant discovery about them, one that will wow her detractors at Harvard. If only the thorn in her side, Fitch Wilder, weren't also on the trail of the paintings! Fitch is a modern day treasure hunter, of sorts, and hopes to find more paintings of the Siren for the millionaire collector who covets them. When both Brenna and Fitch show up in Spain with the same goal, and each having information that the other doesn't have, they agree to form a partnership.

The sparks immediately fly between Brenna and Fitch, though she is determined to ignore them. Brenna is very closed off and controlled, choosing relationships with men who will never want anything permanent. Fitch is outgoing, a charmer, and ready to embrace all that life throws his way. He's determined to loosen Brenna up, and she's just as determined to keep him at arms' length. As their investigation proceeds, their journey takes on an eerie similarity to the story that is unfolding about the Siren and the artist who painted her.

BREATHLESS seamlessly shifts from the present to the past, telling the fascinating and heartbreaking story of the Siren, who was once known as The Swan, a notorious courtesan. When Swan crosses the wrong person, her whole glamorous life changes. Her fall from grace eventually has her washed up on a beach, badly injured, with no memory of her previous life. The man who rescues her is a disgraced soldier, living in exile from England. The soldier is also a talented painter, and as Siren recovers, he begins to paint her. Each successive portrait shows their deepening love - it's visible in the way Siren looks at the Artist, and it's obvious in the way he paints her. Their romance is so beautiful that it's almost breathtaking. These two damaged souls, both exiled from their homeland, find a home with each other, and a love that should have lasted for decades to come.

Brenna finds herself falling in love for the first time, and lets down her guard enough to let Fitch get close. She's finally going to take a chance on a real relationship. As for Fitch, he fell hard early on, and was only hoping for Brenna to give him a chance. BREATHLESS is such an amazing tale of two love stories, two centuries apart. The writing and pacing is excellent - there is never any choppiness between the present and the past. Each story is romantic and passionate, and Siren and the Artist, have a particularly poignant tale which brought me to tears. I love this book and wholeheartedly recommend it for fans of contemporary and historical romance. Kudos to Celeste Bradley and Susan Donovan for such a captivating, beautifully written story.

I received Breathless by Celeste Bradley and Susan Donovan by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. This is a past/present story that intertwines two romances and their growth.
In the past, The Swan was a premier London Courtesan until she took the wrong man as a lover. Kidnapped and forced onto a ship, she is at a loss of what to do. When a storm takes control, she ends up on Spain's coast hurt and with no past. She is taken in, and taken care of, by The Artist, who is himself a tortured soul fighting with guilt.
In the present, Art Professor Brenna Anderson is about to lose her position at Harvard for angering the wrong family. At a loss on how to regain her career, she sets out to uncover the secrets of a series of paintings known as the Siren Collection. She runs into Fitch Wilder (great name!) who is looking for more paintings for his collector buyer as well as attempting to answer the questions of who is she and who is the artist. Teaming up, the step into a culture that forces them to take a second look at each other and the attraction they have for one another.
Bradley and Donovan has done a wonderful job at drawing the reader in. With rich detail about the Coast of Spain, architect, and history, you can't help but be drawn in. This story is a continuation of their book, A Courtesan's Guide to Getting Your Man, but I have not read it so it is easy to fall into this story.
Brenna attempt to not be attracted to Fitch underlines her struggle with attachment. It strikes me that Fitch was attracted to Brenna immediately and is just buying his time until Brenna acknowledge her attraction to him. The only thing I really didn't like was that Brenna was the one to apologize both times issues arose between them and I felt that Fitch should have taken credit for a portion of the misunderstanding at least. But he never did really and also Brenna's back story was never really dealt with. It took up a paragraph but other than that, I just thought she was modern women disillusioned with men in general.
The true love affair for me was between The Swan and The Artist. Two lost persons that find each other and heal each other. A wonderful story that was the heart and soul of the story. The ending for them made me wail like Brenna and forced me to acknowledge that HEAs are not guaranteed so value every minute you have. The fact that the story really continues makes me want to read more about their future. I loved almost every minute of reading and look forward to the next story from them. #Breathless #NetGalley

4 STARS!!

OMG, this is flawless and an amazing combination of contemporary and historical romance beautifully well written!!

Breathless is an amazing story about an art teacher trying to save her job by finding out the identity of the enigmatic and beautiful woman who is the subject of the paintings in the mysterious Siren collection. However, what she doesn't know is that art hunter, Fitch Wilder is after the same thing and that is not good news for either of them.

This is a story that has it all, a journey of new beginnings and finding yourself, finding true love, passion, pain and much more. A story like no other, which I highly recommend!!

I kindly received an ARC from the publisher in exchange of my honest opinion. However, the gifting of this e-book did not affect my opinion of it.

I really liked this book. Both authors are new to me. They both have great writing skills. I will be looking for more of their books.

I have read Susan Donovan’s contemporary romance/women’s fiction in the past but not the historical romance author Celeste Bradley. Breathless is a fun collaboration between these two noted authors. Harvard professor verses art hunter is just one of the two relationships this book gives the reader, the other is in the past. However, in searching for the truth about the past a present-day couple find out so much about themselves. Wonderfully written, with a mystery to be unraveled; this is a sexy delightful read.

I really liked this read. Lots of drama, suspense and intrigue. The story takes you on an adventure in both the past and present. I really liked the characters, the past being my favorite part, as well as the story. Will Fitch and Brenna find out the truth? An entertaining read.

Breathless by Celeste Bradley; Susan Donovan is the story of Brenna Anderson and Fitch Wilder.
This book besides having two great authors it also has parallel stories with one in the present and one in the past. The present story is dealing with Brenna a college professor needing a help with her career takes her on a path to follow a painting that leads her to Fitch. Fitch deals in fine arts and he too wants the Siren Series paintings.
While reading their story we also read about The Swan / courtesan who is taken in by the Artist. I must say their story was my favorite.
Overall I really enjoyed this book an hope to read more by these two authors.

Set in two different times, this book tells the story of the time when the Swan, a famous courtesan, loses her life as she knows it only to find a better one and true love in a place where she'd never have expected it and it also tells the story of Brenna and Fitch, who are looking for the forgotten paintings of the Siren collection.
The women's lives are very different on the one hand but there are also many similarities and I really enjoyed reading about their lives and the love they find along the way. I also loved to read about Brenna and Fitch's hunt for the paintings and the story behind them.
From the first page on, this book captivated me. I really enjoyed reading this book with its interesting characters and really interesting story line.

When Brenna and Fitch set out to find the lost paintings, they have no idea that this trip will change their lives forever. Working together, well, that wasn't exactly what they'd been dreaming of considering the fact, ....uh...let's just say that it's not always a good idea to tweet when you are upset especially when you don't have all the facts. Now they'll have to work together in order to get what both of them are looking for and somehow this whole thing turns into something more. Something real and great.

And who would have thought that losing everything, even one's own name and identity, will lead to finding true love and happiness, no matter how short or how long it might last. When the Swan was driven out of the country only to end up on a journey even worse than she could ever have imagined, she had no idea what or rather who would be waiting for her at the end of this trip.

A beautiful story that I really enjoyed reading.

This is a story within a story.

Brenna and Fitch are professional rivals but now they have come together to find the history of the woman in the famous Siren Series. As a result, they hope to find any remaining portraits of the Siren.

This couple were instantly attracted to each other but Brenna is holding a grudge about some of the actions Fitch has taken in the past. With a history of untrustworthy men, she’s not open to a relationship with him. Fitch is drawn to her in every way and would love to see her let go of her professor persona and live free.

Inside Brenna and Fitch’s story is the story of the Swan, her expulsion from Europe and her rescue by her Artist. As this couple track the Swan’s history they find themselves growing closer together, sometimes their emotions mirroring that of the woman that they are hunting.

I must confess that I enjoyed the Swan’s love story more so than Fitch and Brenna’s. The Swan’s background is steep in emotion. The chemistry between her and her artist palpable. Their pasts so very heart wrenching and their love the perfect balm to heal them both.

This is a relatively fast paced read, but I must confess to skimming some due to a lot of travel guide-ish commentary. This is a me issue as I’m not a fan of in-depth descriptions of locales or historical sites. There is a heavy emphasis on art that I did enjoy as it dealt mainly with the issue this couple were working on. Secondary characters hold their own, never taking over the story but pushing it along onto the path each of the main characters needed to get to their happy ending.

Overall, this was a very pleasant read and it made me curious about any previous books that might form a series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Two titans of romantic fiction – Celeste Bradley and Susan Donovan – have come together and penned an intense, exciting, captivating and passionate tale that spans centuries and continents that will hold you Breathless!

Art Professor Brenna Anderson has worked hard to become a tenured professor at Harvard University. While her teaching methods and subject matter might not be conventional, she is passionate about her job and has thrown her heart and soul into her work. Brenna cannot imagine doing anything else, so when her position at the University is threatened, she initially begins to wonder what she could possibly do with her life if she isn’t lecturing – until news reaches her that a new painting in the mysterious Siren collection has been found in a dusty old house in France. Brenna has dedicated most of her professional life researching the Siren collection, so when her job is threatened, she decides to take a sabbatical and hops on a plane to France to uncover the real identity of the woman who has consumed and mystified generations of art critics and historians. But there is a catch: the man who is also looking into the identity of the Swan is none other than her professional arch nemesis: Fitch Wilder.

Fitch is the most infuriating and aggravating man Brenna has ever clapped eyes on. Sure, he might be attractive, charismatic and as handsome as sin, but Fitch has been a thorn in Brenna’s side for years. Fitch never once lost an opportunity to belittle and humiliate Brenna, so she is not exactly overjoyed when she finds herself having to work with him in such close proximity. But having been pushed together by fate, Brenna and Fitch find themselves stunned by the sizzling flame of desire that burns between the two of them and by the sumptuous world of art, culture, passion and seduction that opens up for the two of them.

As they begin to dig deep into the identity of the Swan, they discover a woman who had once been London’s premiere courtesan. A woman who had been desired and feted by men and despised by women who had wanted to be her, who could not help but admire her beauty, her riches and her independence. When the wife of her lover couldn’t contain her jealousy any longer, she had banished her from her house, leaving the Swan alone, vulnerable and a prisoner of the high seas. Yet, ending up unshackled from bonds that bound her to her old life was the best thing that had ever happened to her for she had finally been able to find her calling and fulfill her destiny by becoming an artist’s siren.

But will Fitch and Brenna ever discover the truth about her identity? Does their love stand any chance of surviving? And will happiness ever be within their reach?

A powerful love story, a nail-biting mystery and a spellbinding historical saga all rolled into one book, Breathless is an outstanding romantic read that will grab your attention from the very beginning and keep you gleefully turning the pages late into the night. Full of passion, pathos, and heart, Breathless is a wonderfully written tale of sins, secrets and scandals that is liberally laced with intense sensuality, searing emotion and red-hot romance.

A fantastic read from two of the genre’s most gifted and most reliable writers, Breathless is a first class romance you simply cannot miss!

Breathless by Celeste Bradley and Susan Donovan is a collaboration by two romance authors, one historical and the other contemporary. They deliver a satisfying and rich love story and a quest to learn the truth about the "Siren". A genre-crossing novel. BREATHLESS will certainly entice fans of Regency, contemporary and Women's fiction romances.
Set in 1827 and 2018, where the past and present collide. It is set in France, Spain and Catalonia. A beautiful, compelling and complex story. It follows Fitch Wilder, an art hunter and Brenna Anderson, Sociology professor, as they search for the link between the woman in the paintings, the Siren and a London courtesan known as the Swan.
An intriguing and captivating story with engaging and enjoyable characters.
These two authors have written a well crafted and well executed romance that will have readers turning pages, as they learn the secrets of the Swan and the Siren.
Fitch and Brenna are well developed characters who find love and a HEA, a long their journey to the quest for truth. Beautifully written!

"I voluntarily received a complimentary copy, however,  these are my honest opinions. I was in no way required nor compensated to write a review."

In the 1800's, the Swan was a celebrated courtesan until her fall led her to be shipwrecked in Catalan. In the present day, Dr. Brenna Anderson impulsively hops on a plane after a new painting in the Siren Series is found, hoping to determine its authenticity and finally put a name to the subject. That would help repair her reputation at Harvard, where donations are threatening to dry up if she continues to teach there despite her tenure. The only thing that throws a wrench in her plans is Fitch Wilder, the art hunter who is also following the trail of the paintings.

If you loved A.S. Byatt's Possession, this is definitely the book for you. Instead of the world of poetry, here we have modern-day scholars looking into the art world and tracing a hundred-year-old mystery. The stories of the past and present are dovetailed in the book, and we're taken from Boston to London to Spain on the hunt for the identity of the Siren and Le Artiste.

Along the way are sumptuous descriptions of the locations, as well as learning more about Brenna, Fitch, the Swan and her artist. The details are lovely and unfold in a natural kind of way so that we have romance along with the mystery that they're looking into. I was just as frustrated as Fitch was when the Swan's letters ended abruptly due to corruption in the paper over time made it difficult to transcribe. I have the benefit of reading this in a book and not doing this kind of academic search myself so I can push on to the next chapter. And the next, and the next...

Of course, the stories all come together at the end of the book: discovering the Siren's name and that of Le Artiste, the resolution of Brenna's and Fitch's relationship, as well as Brenna's thoughts about academia. While the epilogue feels a little trite, it does tie up all the loose ends and lets us see the progression of events and the growth of characters for ourselves. It's a satisfying conclusion to the journey that the authors brought us on.

Celeste Bradley and Susan Donovan collaborate to bring readers an enchanting tale. The mystery behind the Siren series, a collection of captivating paintings, is unraveled as art hunter Fitch Wilder and sociology professor Brenna Anderson search for the link between the woman in the paintings and a London courtesan known as the Swan. This story will definitely sweep you into a world where past and present collide in the most wonderful way.

I haven't had the opportunity to read many stories that blend historical and contemporary fiction together, so I was eager for Breathless. I admit it took me a few chapters to get hooked, but once Brenna and Fitch started working together to get the scoop on the Swan I couldn't put it down. I was just as captivated and curious of her story as they were. The switch between the past and present throughout the story balanced perfectly and makes it so easy to follow especially as Brenna and Fitch find clues and old letters that lead them closer to the Swan's true identity. There's no unexplainable phenomenon where characters are thrust through time and space, but readers will be transported around the world and centuries in the past nonetheless.

What I appreciate most about this story is that it's like reading two romances in one! The characters are not solely focused on digging into the past for the sake of academic success or financial gain, but they truly want to breathe life into someone's incredible story. Breathless is a well-rounded read that appeals to readers who, like myself, love both historical and contemporary romances and even to those who prefer one genre over the other. I highly recommend this aptly named story that will indeed leave you breathless!
*ARC provided in consideration for review*

A mix of contemporary romance and historical fiction, Breathless is an incredibly well-written book. The jumps between present and past are done seamlessly. Clever use of varying POVs (dual 3rd person for present and singular first person for the past) to make one time period distinct from the other.

The characterization and growth of The Swan/Siren and Fitch and Brenna were excellent. As was the keen sense of place. I was transported to every place in the book: to Paris, Boston, London, the ship, Castell de la Cala, and especially to Barcelona. The authors' use of different languages was particularly well done. They added to the authenticity of the setting.

Enemies-to-lovers is my favorite trope and the contemporary part delivered on this. I loved Fitch and Brenna's electric chemistry and I enjoyed their reluctant fall into love. Here's one of my favorite quotes:

"You're brilliant and funny. You never give up. You're a hot mess of complexity with a dab of crazy and that intrigues me."

There's humor and pathos, heartbreak and triumph, mystery and adventure. Breathless is really an entertaining book. Even if I weren't given an ARC by SMP through NetGalley, I'd buy it for myself. And buy the book before this too: Unbound.

When I first read the blurb for this book it sounded really interesting. What I didn't know is that it's a sequel and I haven't read the first book in the series. However, I don't think you need to read the first book to enjoy this one. There are two romances in this book but I was more invested in the modern day one. I did like this book and I think I'm going to pick up the first book and read it.

Harvard Professor Brenna Anderson, is someone who lives by the rules. She finds that nothing is forever when she is in danger of losing her post at Harvard.

When a new painting in the mysterious Siren collection is discovered in a dusty old house in France, Brenna does all she can think of doing at the time- she gets a plane to Paris driven by her quest to discover the woman behind the painting.

She is not the only one interested in the painting. Fitch Wilder is an Art Hunter and is also looking for the Siren. Professionally, they don't get on but the only way to discover more about the mysterious painting.

“The Swan.” London’s premiere courtesan, is a source of mixed opinion in society. Men want to be with her. Women loathe her success and yet admire her beauty, riches and independence. Banished from her sea home, she ends up on the rocky coast of Catalonia in north-east Spain with nothing. How will her life change when she is taken in by the Artist?

Breathless is a marvelous novel which entwines events in 1827 with the present and is the first book I have come across by Celeste Bradley and Susan Donovan who are both new authors to me. Spanning decades and taking us to The USA, France and Spain, it is a real historic and geographical journey for the senses. It is so emotionally raw and sensual too.

I felt the Siren's story intriguing and felt we got a good insight into Brenna's academic career and her backstory. I found the Artist's story darker and was intrigued by Fitch and Brenna's professional conflict.

Both authors have an incredible eye for detail and produce a dramatically different historical fiction novel that is laced with mystery, suspense and romance. Usually, art does not capture my interest, but the multi-layered context of this book made me wanting to delve deeper and deeper into the mystery of The Swan, The Artist and the painting.

The locations within the book had me very interested right from the start. Having been to the USA, France and Catalonia, I have a fondness for all three places especially Catalonia and anywhere in Spain. Therefore, any book with any mention of Spain will get my attention and this was no exception. It was fascinating to see these places at different periods in time.

Breathless is a very sensual book. Forget your typical historical romance set in a rambling mansion, Breathless is so much more than this. Sensual, erotic mysterious romantic historical and compelling, it is like a romantic mythical journey for the senses.

I can't think of a better title than Breathless, as this is an absolute thrill ride and a gem of a book. I have never come across a book where romance mystery interesting settings and historical aspects combine so effortlessly. On top of this, the parallel story writing approach is something that always gets my interest.

5 stars

Thanks to Celeste Bradley, Susan Donovan and St Martin's Press for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. I am honored to participate in the Breathless blog tour on the title's release day, too.

The book's pace is fast and entertaining and the story is unforgettable and unputdownable. I was especially unable to get the characters of Breena and "The Swan" and all the mystery of The Siren out of my head after I finished the book. If you do not read anything else, read Breathless!