A sexy romance. The cover of the book implies more of a erotic book. While the book was definitely sexy, it leaned more into the romance than the erotic.

This story has a strong emotional current running through it, basically because of the intensity of one of its protagonists, Blake, a New York artist who is succeeding with her installations and who is going to open a new exhibition in Boston

Blake and Jenny first meet in a mishap, Blake is trying to pressure the assistant curator of the museum where his exhibition is mounted, Jenny is a lawyer for a prestigious firm that does pro bono legal help for the museum, so that first meeting is going to create a great misunderstanding and mistrust between the two women, which at the same time is rejection and attraction.

Blake is of course passionate and belligerent and gruff. Jenny is calculating, calm and orderly. Nothing in common with each other. But the story is, in that respect, amazing in the way it shows what lies beneath the appearances of the two of them, mostly on Jenny's part.

I found it to be a strongly sensual and heartfelt story, surprising at times and quite well finished, in my opinion.

This was a pretty easy read. Jenny is an over worked attorney who is underappreciated and hates her boss as well as her job. Her best friend is a curator for the Boston Museum and calls her one evening because he's having issues with a client. She then meets Blake a contemporary artist. As usual they were suddenly like enemies. I thought the MC were beautiful and had great chemistry. I recommend 4 stars.

I received an ARC copy from the publisher Bella Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I quite like stories about artists. Sadly I am not at all artistic although I would like to have been.
A bit of personality clash at the beginning and some of the way through. Also later in the book a bit of dispute over intellectual property. Makes for a bit of interest and slight intrigue. The two MCs do seem to be dithery about their feelings most of the time.

Radiant by Judy Sapphire is an enemies to lovers - corporate meets art world romance. Jenny an overworked under-appreciated lawyer has a less than successful run-in with Blake an up and coming modern art artist but despite all of that there is an underlying explosive attraction.

So I do love the enemies to lovers trope quite a bit and the first half of the book did deliver that in spades. Lots of cutting remarks, misunderstandings, with a swirl of attraction - all of that tension was written really well by the author. The slow burn lead up to the eventuality and consumption of their attraction was particularly good.

I did like the introduction of the plot element which made the circumstances interesting but I think I struggled with the angst portion of this book which relied on communication or the lack of it to drive the plot forward. There’s lot of pining in this book and so even after the resolution of said angst and when they were apart, I couldn’t fathom the “why” both were keeping their distance in spite of their feelings. This was a quick and easy read and for a debut author, a really great start. 3.75🌟s

Thank you NetGalley and Bella Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Jenny is overworked attorney who doesn’t care for her boss and hasn’t been in relationship since. When she meets Blake upcoming contemporary artist who cusp of stardom is setting up a new exhibit at a Boston art museum to clear up a misunderstanding. They continue to cross path until they can’t deny the attraction to between them. I like description of art and both MC had sizzling chemistry from the start but they both grew overtime especially when they both was about to sabotage their relationship by over-thinking everything. Good read

I did not finish at 20%. It seemed too slow for me and I honestly wasn’t sure what was going on for most of it. The writing is well done but I couldn’t get into the story.

Oh, this book was fun!

Blake is an up and coming contemporary artist just breaking into art-work stardom and Jenny is an overworked, underappreciated lawyer looking for someone to share her life with. This is very much so an opposites attract kind of book - in the very best way possible. We get lots of really fun side characters and great chemistry between Blake and Jenny, all wrapped up in a love letter to Boston.

I honestly was up far too late reading this book, but it was worth it. It had a really great perspective on both of the main character's lives and careers, and really did a great job of making them both lovable and understood. Sometimes finding a balance between the serious-straight laced character and the care-free one can be a bit difficult, but this book did it well.

4.5 stars rounded up

Blake is an installation artist on the cusp of becoming famous while Jenny is a junior partner in a law firm who hates her boss and her job. They meet when she is called to the museum where Blakes has threatened to walk out and not install her creation. Jenny is sure the artist is just another diva and is ready to read her the riot act about violating contractual obligations.

Sapphire has created two intelligent and strong characters who are very nearly antisocial because they’re too busy hiding from life by overworking, whose lack of self-esteem threatens to drown them, who both want someone who truly sees them for who she is. They both deny their attraction to one another and very nearly sabotage their relationship by over-thinking everything. They finally get over themselves near the end of the book.

This book has writing that is excellent, pacing that makes reading deep into the night a delight, and a storyline that is unique.

The ending seems rushed and a bit too easy considering the amount of conflict they’ve each caused for most of the book.

However, if you enjoy books where the characters seemingly have nothing in common, but manage to fall in love anyway, this book is for you. If you love books where the conflict is more soul searching than angsty, this book is for you.

Jenny O'Toole has been working doggedly for five years as a corporate lawyer. Her demanding boss has her working evenings and weekends too. She also hasn't dated since breaking up with her ex over two years ago. Blake Harrison in a contemporary artist. Coming off a major recognition in the art world she is setting up a new exhibit at a Boston art museum. When Blake threatens to walk after a mix-up with the exhibition space Jenny is called in to help resolve the situation. Her best friend is the curator for the exhibit and Jenny does legal work pro bono for the museum. The blurb says dislike at first sight. I call it lust and miscommunication.

The story has them crossing paths until they can't deny the attraction. There is a lot of description of art that I found enthralling but others might think is too much. The author adds subtle richness like Blake sketching Jenny's ex on the subway and catching a snippet of her conversation. (Blake never knows of the connection.) There is sizzling attraction and eventual steaminess. But I never feel I know Blake as more than a stereotype impassioned genius artist. This book has a big pet peeve for me in romances. I don't like after the MCs have connected for either of them to be intimate with someone else. It might fit the character but it makes the main romance feel less sustainable. This is a strong debut novel from Judy Sapphire and I will look for future books from her. And on a personal note it makes me want to return to Boston and walk the city and visit the beautiful art museums there.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bella Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The is a great debut for Judy Sapphire. It’s hard even for more experienced authors to write chemistry but Sapphire has nailed it. You can feel the attraction between Blake and Jenny as if you were in the same room. I personally found the art part a bit too dry but that doesn’t take anything away from this book. This love story is not your standard romance although it does feature a standard the enemy to lovers trope. The non standard part comes into how the relationship develops and evolves but I won’t give any spoilers and let you read for yourself, which I recommend. 4.5 stars from me.
Thank you to Bella Books and NetGalley for this free ARC.