This was the first Tiffany Reisz book I have read. I honestly wasn't expecting anything more from this book than gratuitous sex scenes but the characters of Arthur & Regan were really wonderfully written. I really cared about them & wanted them to have a happy ending. I loved the Monty Python references, the autumn London setting, the links to the artworks & the mysterious supernatural goings on surrounding Lord Malcolm's painting.

I would definitely read more by this author, especially the previous books in this series.

When it comes to erotic romance, Ms. Reisz is hands down one of the most creative and sensual. This series, "The Godwicks" is divine. This can be read as a standalone. There are a couple of references to the previous books which felt like easter egg cameos.

What can I say about this book? The imagery is lush and rich with sensual interactions between a goody two shoes Lord Arthur and a rich widow, Regan Ferry. I love the premise of this story. Ms. Reisz takes a scandalous situation and completely turns it on its head. When was the last time a man whored himself out to save a family member? And yet even in this manner, Ms. Reisz shows how a woman in power still does not always have the power. Not because she gives it away, but because men and women respond to situations differently and more devastatingly, society's rules make it a different experience.

I cannot help but think of the movies: Camille Claudel and Un Coeur en Hiver when reading this story. Regan is an angry woman. She is taking it out on the Godwicks due to a skeleton in their closet. When it is revealed, I'm a bit flummoxed. I feel like Regan has zero justification for doing what she did. However, her actions of revenge set off a nice change of events which ends up bringing about a really wonderful conclusion. I am impressed with the twist and turns in this story as I always am with Ms. Reisz.

There are so many threads of deeper meaning in this story that I wish to have it discussed in a literary fashion with other women in a book club together. The concepts of feminism, patriarchy, self actualization are blended into this erotic romance. When Ms. Reisz stated in an interview somewhere, that she wanted to write intelligent romance, she succeeds every time. I am always wowed by her artistry and I cannot wait to be seduced again. This erotic romance is highly recommended to readers who want something fresh, different and provocative.

OMG!!!! Malcom is at it again with his matchmaking in this wonderful continuation of the Godwick family. In this story we get to know Mona and Spencer's son Arthur. Arthur initially is seen as the well behaved member of the family until he let's himself admit to his secret desires with the help of the lovely Regan. There were parts of both Arthur's and Regan's stories that were heartbreaking so it was so amazing to see them overcome their pasts. I also thought it impossible to love a submissive male character more than I love Tiffany's Michael in her Original Sinners series but Arthur is a very close second. While this book didn't have quite as much magic as the other two books in the series it was still magical none the less. And the ending of this book has me wanting to know if there will be more, and very ready to fall to my knees and beg for more.

The Pearl is the first book I've read by Reisz. I didn't care for the relationship between the 2 main characters and don't have enough interest in their story to finish the book.

The Pearl - Tiffany Reisz
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The more I read from Tiffany Reisz, the more I crave her writing.

Book #3 in The Godwicks Series and of course Lord Malcolm is hard at it again. Causing mischief with a side of matchmaking and a dabble of manipulation.
Gotta love a spirit who can’t let go!

Arthur Godwick and Reagan Ferry seem like an unlikely pairing, but in true Tiffany Reisz style, all the stars align to bring you full circle in this episode of a truly wonderful series.

Tiffany Reisz writes great characters and this book is no exception. With a wonderfully tied generational theme running through the series, it’s imperative to read the books in order but by doing so, just adds another layer of witty and naughty familial humour. Yes, Lord Malcom is the epitome of naughty in this book and you can’t help but see his naughty manipulations as anything but good fun.

I’m seriously hoping that Zoot gets a story of her own and the ending of The Pearl was such a tease to this. Looking forward to something more from the Godwicks.

Loved, devoured and enjoyed every word of The Pearl.

This is my first Tiffany Reisz book. I didn't know there was supernatural twist galore in this book and it didn't bother me at the beginning, it was quite subtle to start with. The Part 1 of the book was very enjoyable even though Regan was not a very likeable character. In Part 2 she started to melt. The supernatural became more and more present in the story. The author completely lost me when the big reveal regarding their family history happened. I'm just not into that. But I'll give credits for sex scenes. They were a plenty, scorchy hot and very descriptive. Be warned.
I have heard about the other books from this series that I'm going to check out.

I voluntarily reviewed this ARC on my own voluption and the opinions expressed here are all mine.

I received a complimentary copy of The Pearl in exchange for an honest review. I didn't have a strong opinion for or against this novel or the characters. The writing style was easy to ready, but the reference to dead relatives, supernatural occurrences, and lessons in art are not themes that appeal to me. I also kept thinking this was a historical erotica novella, when it actually occured in present time.

Lord Arthur Godwick’s younger brother, Charles, has gotten himself into a mess of trouble, and Arthur must make a deal with the Lady proprietress of The Pearl, an old and aristocratic hotel and brothel, to bail him out.

This is the third tale in the saga of The Godwicks and Tiffany Reisz’ talent for thoughtful, intellectual erotica holds true. Lady Regan Ferry inherited The Pearl (Lord Malcolm’s old playground) from her late husband and is a young widow at the age of 30. Arthur is 21 and having just completed military college, will soon be deployed to the army. In an ironic twist on the familiar trope, the heir to the Godwick earldom will repay the debts to Lady Regan in carnal pleasures of her specifications. However, Regan appears to have a chip on her shoulder the size of Gibraltar. While Arthur throws himself into his work and is accommodating and protective towards her, Regan is frigid, domineering and belittling towards him.

I have to admit, as much as I have loved this series, Regan’s cold demeanour was unappealing for the first two thirds of the story. But, the steamy sex, the art history lessons, and the mysterious meddling by Lord Malcolm’s ghost kept me intrigued and engaged enough to plow through until Reagan’s secrets were revealed. At that point, my empathy built until I couldn’t help but ache for the lovers to overcome their self-inflicted barriers. This is brainy erotica and I absolutely love it!

(This is a review of an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)

Having loved The Red and enjoyed The Rose, you can imagine how delighted I was to spot The Pearl on NetGalley and receive an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expecting a similarly fantastical, erotic romp, I dove straight in. And, while it was good, IMHO this is the weakest entry into the Godwick series.

First and foremost, the fantastical elements weren't clearly defined for me. In the Red, the characters and the reader are immersed in a world that reenacts sexual situations from classical artworks. It is highly erotic and an absolute sensory delight. Likewise, in The Rose, the reader and characters fully sink into romps through Greek mythology, reenacting scenes and myths that transform the character's reality. In The Pearl, this element is out of step with the two previous books in the series. To me, it tried to blend the art and the mythology of the previous two books, by having the artworks in the heroine's home change while the characters almost relive the ghost stories they've heard about Lord Malcolm, a common ancestor for both. While I understood what was happening, it made for a less enjoyable story without those clear boundaries and an understanding of expectations.

As for the erotic elements we all know, love, and expect in a Tiffany Reisz book, well, they weren't there for me, either. Maybe it's my age, but a 30yo heroine with a 21yo hero just felt off. Given each of their personalities and personal histories, it would have been much more believable if they'd both been about a decade older. While that wouldn't work with the family's ages and series timeline, it kept me from fully enjoying the story. Also, the scene with the pearls - while hot, also left me a serious ick factor in terms of personal hygiene and risks of infection.

Last, but not least, this book did not have the lyrical voice and almost poetic writing style found in the previous installments. Repeated use of clinical terms (vulva, semen, etc), while absolutely correct, pulled me further from a story I already had a difficult time connecting with and enjoying the same way I did with The Red and The Rose.

That being said, if Zoot or Charlie get their own books, I will 100% be ready to read them.

This book just served the right amount of smut and plot for my taste, and I enjoyed every second of it. I liked the incorporation of paintings in the story and the slightly weird plot of it. I can tell the author is truly a good storyteller for how she connected everything in a weird, but interesting way. I loved the characters in this book and the growth they had on-page. I didn't see any of the twists and the ending coming that way, but I'm still happy with the trajectory of the overall story. I would definitely read more from this author and from this series about the Godwicks.

Don’t hate me because I love every word Tiffany Reisz writes. She could write out a recipe and I would give her 5 Stars. She has that spark – the gift that all writers hope for and some actually attain. Someday she may write a bad book, but right now she is at the top of her game which features snarky banter, memorable characters, and erotica with a humorous touch that will just about cause the pages to go up in flames. Her latest visit with the Godwick family, The Pearl, is no exception.

Lady Regan Ferry, owner of the Pearl Hotel is also at the top of her game. She is rich and beautiful and bent on revenge. She has something that belongs to the Godwick family. It's a much-loved painting that Lord Arthur Godwick's younger brother Charlie has used to pay off his debts. Regan doesn't need the money and she doesn't really want the painting. What she wants is ten nights of Lord Arthur's hot young body in exchange for the painting. Like a good boy who loves his family, Lord Arthur is going to take one for the team and submit to whatever Regan desires and what Regan desires is that thing I mentioned earlier – flames! I will confess I have a weakness for a good May/December romance. As an older woman, Regan is a very take-charge kind of lady and Lord Arthur is just precious as he submits to her every whim. Like the good son and brother that he is, he not only submits but does it with gusto as the woman to whom he has enslaved himself becomes more than a debt to be paid. The Pearl has less of the element of fantasy and more romance than we found in the first two books. There is also some heartwrenching angst as a woman who sometimes comes across as mean-spirited and unfeeling finally bares her heart to reveal her secrets.

"Why must love be so impossibly difficult? If she'd loved him less, she could have promised him more."

The Pearl definitely qualifies as romantic suspense as well as erotica. As the characters open themselves to each other like the petals of a flower, the mystery also unfolds. There is never gratuitous sex in Ms. Reisz's books. Every encounter between Arthur and Regan moves the storyline toward a satisfying conclusion and, of course, Lord Malcolm can't resist making his presence felt. I, for one, am hoping there will be much more to come from the Godwicks!

I think I need a break from Tiffany Reisz. I didn’t have a great reading experience with the Priest but I still finished it and I just can’t bring myself to finish The Pearl. I unfortunately had to dnf at 30%. I guess my expectations for this series were just too high because I honestly believe that the Rose is an actual masterpiece. I loved the characters, the hot sex and the magic and fantasy of it all. This one is just so mediocre and I truly can’t figure out why other than I don’t think she enjoys these main characters like she did writing other characters. I might try and pick this up again and maybe I’ll enjoy the rest of the story but in the time we are living in I just can’t push myself to finish I book a just don’t enjoy.

Book Review for The Pearl by Tiffany Reisz
Full review for this title can be found at: @fyebooks on Instagram!

This is probably my least favorite in The Godwicks series. Sadly, I didn't like the main couple partly due to not feeling the connection between them even throughout the story. Even with some heavy/emotional topics mentioned the story didn't interest me as the first two did.

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I've never read any of the other books in this series (or anything by the author.) But I still found this book to be an enjoyable, fast read.

What I thought was going to be pretty straightforward erotica took some interesting twists and turns with the references to various works of art and the unexpected ghost angle. I'm not sure I was in love with either of those choices, but I did ultimately find them entertaining. (I found it best to just kind of let go and take the ride on this one.)

The sex scenes were decent and did a nice job with demonstrating respect and consent, which is important for me, personally. I liked that these were both self-actualized characters and that avoided a lot of the common tropes found in romances. (Although, after a while I was like, "wow, we're sure hitting the pearl theme hard here.") Again, not all of the sex was my personal cup of tea, but I thought it was at least decently written.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3.5 stars

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

This book followed Arthur Godwick and Lady Regan Ferry through their compromise you settle Charlie Godwick’s debt. Arthur, although initially uneasy about Regan, can’t help but be drawn into her world and mysteries. The book moves to solidify Arthur and Regan’s relationship, while unraveling secret after secret.

Firstly, I’d like to note that sexually domineering women isn’t quite my cup of tea. Because of this, I bumped the book down a star. If concepts such as a woman ordering the man what to do and tying him down interest you— then this is the book for you!

This book did exceptionally well to develop its characters. I couldn’t help but fall in love with Regan as her story unfolded. She’s humanized in such a likable and heartbreaking way. Her character was a surprising favorite of mine. Arthur, too, had fantastic development, as him and Regan grow together for the duration of this book. You’ll fall in love with these two falling in love.

The final half star I bumped this book down by was simply a plot device that I didn’t enjoy at all--one involving familial relations. I wasn’t a fan of this reveal, although it may not bother others.

This series has been such a fun ride— each book exuding creativity in its own manner. This book was no exception. As always, it was a great experience to dip into the Godwick world!

This is the third book in the Godwick series. It is a stand alone novel.
I loved The Red and didn’t think she could better it and then came The Rose, but oh my god The Pearl takes it to another level.
Brilliant story line great romance and lots of erotica
Can’t wait to see where the Godwick clan go next.

As usual, Tiffany Reisz delivers with a mysterious, smart, and oh-so-sexy story. Ghosts, haunted art, forbidden relationships, family drama - it's all there.

The Pearl was again great mix among fantasy, art and erotica. Seeking revenge, playful submission, all kind of art that you can't do else but google while reading. And let's not forget amazingly hot scenes that bring your whole body to higher temperatures.

In the beginning I haven't liked Regan much in particular but slowly when I got to know her I've started to understand her point of view.
And I absolutely adored Archer, young but with an oid soul. Somewhat shy in die beginning but later on full of surprises.

I am glad I could live the fantasy with both characters though the pages of this wonderful book and loved every second.

The golden do-gooder son of the debauched, aristocratic Godwin family has a series of uncanny encounters that draw him in deeper and deeper to an intense sexual relationship with a moody, wealthy widow who’s obsessed with fine art. As the strange symbols and incidents pile up, the two begin to suspect his lecherous great-grandfather’s ghost may be pulling the strings.

Verdict: old-fashioned world of titled British aristocracy, with over-the-top symbolism, lots of art references, and a high degree of supernatural intervention

As with other titles I review pre-publication, I went into this without any real idea what it was about. Apparently Reisz has other books about the same fictional Godwin family – based on the references dropped in the book, I would assume our leading man Arthur’s love story was preceded by his parents’ and his older sister’s – but without knowing those, I still followed the story just fine.

There were 3 main elements of this book that I didn’t expect, none of which are my cup of tea. However, I want to clarify upfront that if the following three things appeal to you, you may find this a very worthwhile read. It’s simply that my own personal preferences normally point elsewhere.

The first is the supernatural elements. These become increasingly apparent later in the story, with an especially surreal scene where our heroine Regan enters a supposedly ghost-induced hallucination, in which she is confronted with the embodiment of her unacknowledged fears and desires. Personally, I think the unsubtle insertion of meddling ghosts is a cop-out – the kind of deus ex machina that could be resolved instead with more realism and difficulty. But if you like a good family ghost that blatantly blurs the line between reality and fantasy, this may be for you.

The second was Arthur and Regan’s sexual dynamic. This book has a lot of explicit scenes, and Arthur is a younger man who likes to be dominated by an older woman. (Regan is thirty, and Arthur supposedly twenty-one, although Regan seems at one point to think he’s twenty.)

Given the number of romance novels out there about younger women who submit to older, wealthier men, this book might be doing a service by catering to the reverse desire. Not everyone is into the more common male-dominant tropes (we all know the ones I’m talking about: hotshot billionaire takes young lady in hand, controlling Adonis with eight-pack imposes his will on pretty young thing, yadda yadda yadda).

But to be honest, even if you have a different itch, this book may or may not scratch it. I was surprised to find that Arthur clearly calling the shots for a good portion of their encounters as the book progressed further, even though they kept nominally saying Regan was the dominant one and that he belonged to her. Arthur actually takes charge, forces her to make changes, and plays her protector quite often. It left me with a vague impression that this book wants to have its cake and eat it, too. If you’re interested in both these dynamics – both man who submits and man who takes control – then perhaps this relationship will speak to you.

The third surprising element was the storytelling style. There was something old-fashioned, almost a tad removed, about the overall narrative voice. I found a certain charm in that. For the first several pages, I couldn’t tell if it was period piece. Turns out it’s not a Regency novel, although it’s an understandable mistake, given that Arthur is a very gentlemanly lord with the nickname “King Arthur.”

Although I appreciate its quaintness, the writing style is also incredibly on the nose, especially with all the art. I actually love a book that incorporates art history, and Reisz structures each chapter around a painting, which is a storytelling device I really like. But this book really knows how to take a painting and smash the reader over the head with it like a mallet. No subtlety or room for the reader to draw their own implicit parallels at all. Just explicit representations. Extremely overt symbolism and foreshadowing. For chrissakes, Regan feeds bloody bits of flesh to a pet raven named Gloom – Gloom! – who speaks in Poe quotes. Oh, and Gloom became her pet after she’d tended it as a broken bird, and the theme of chapter nine is the painting “The Wounded Dove,” which depicts a girl nursing an injured bird. We get it, jeez.

TLDR: Read if you like a man who submits to a woman in the bedroom, a charmingly old-fashioned storytelling voice despite the graphic sex, and rather unsubtle usage of ghosts, visions, and art.