Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: A Madness Most Discreet
AUTHOR: Laura Lascarso
SERIES: A Midsummer Story
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 285 pages
RELEASE DATE: June 20, 2020
BLURB:
Michael D’Agostino is a bestselling mystery author suffering from writer’s block when he meets Arden Evans, a beguiling escort and catalog model attempting to write a memoir of his own.
Michael is captivated by the young man, whom he finds refreshingly honest and authentic. When Arden asks that they “keep it simple,” Michael readily obliges. Their arrangement becomes increasingly complicated, however, as Michael begins to want more from his enchanting lover.
And then there is the matter of Arden’s finances, something so fiercely personal that Arden refuses to discuss it. This same debt is what obligates Arden to his wealthy benefactor, much to Michael’s vexation.
Michael wants their love affair to last, but how do you hold onto a man whose gaze is forever fixed on the horizon?
REVIEW:
I knew within minutes that A Madness Most Discreet would be a special book. It’s elegantly crafted: lyrical, transporting, and compelling. I wish I could write this review with even a tiny fraction of the beauty with which she captures her characters and settings. I did, however like the book less as it progressed, but then came the smile-inducing ending which won me over. Then, as more time passed after finishing the book, the more I ruminated and gained a greater appreciation of Ms. Lascarso’s work. This is a very well-crafted story.
Bronzed, near-naked bodies were draped over his shoulders like flesh-colored scarves – a virtual Mount Rushmore of chiseled abs – but my eye was inevitably drawn to his eyes. A close second was that boyish grin, one that promised adventure.
Michael and Arden come from dichotomous worlds, in terms of geography, lifestyle, and economic standing. Michael is a wealthy, best-selling author in New York City. Arden is a model/prostitute originally from Florida who spent a decade living on a boat in the Caribbean with his now deceased father. From a young age, Arden learned to use his body as currency and has never stopped doing so. Where Michael and Arden do have a commonality is in being controlled by another man in their lives: Michael by his father and Arden by a benefactor.
Arden is both self-degrading and straightforward about himself: “Models shouldn’t have opinions,” “I’m a commodity,” “I’m eye candy”. I wanted to shake some self-worth into the dear man. He has so much healing to do, yet he’s trapped in a hopeless situation. And poor Michael, who’s losing Arden, it seems, from the very beginning. Michael employs patience and perseverance, though, and is playing the long game, even if Arden has other ideas.
It was dangerous for me to fall for a man like him. His “lesson” made that perfectly clear. He was unavailable, reckless, probably unstable. The red flags were all around. I should walk away. Or run.
Ms. Lascarso’s storytelling style is unique. Most of the book is broken into nine parts, each including a flashback from Arden’s early life in the form of excerpts from his future memoir, and two chapters that read like vignettes from Michael’s life with Arden, told in Michael’s first-person POV. These sections are not continuous and I feel like Michael and Arden’s relationship did much of its growing off page, which was disappointing. Arden’s life, as told in the memoir sections, is fascinating and sad in equal measures. There are, in fact, numerous heartbreaking moments, both past and present.
By and large, the secondary characters are a loathsome bunch, with the exception of Bitzy and Franco, to some degree. Michael’s friend Liam is a spiteful and cruel piece of work and I can’t fathom why Michael doesn’t cut him free.
I like to read about steamy and varied sex in a book, including safe and consensual BDSM, but there were a few scenes here that didn’t sit well with me: Arden having sex as a prostitute while in a relationship with Michael; a threesome involving a friend; and exhibitionism among the group of friends. I think the common thread here is that I don’t like my main characters sharing. There’s nothing wrong with any of these scenes, they just make me sad. I like monogamy. If you’re not bothered by any of this, you’ll find the sex quite titillating. As this is a personal preference, I won’t deduct from my rating. Be forewarned, however, if these are issues that may bother you.
I thought for sure this book was going to end on a sour note. I started ranting in my head about how romances, by definition, have an optimistic HEA or HFN, not an NGH: never gonna happen. But then, lo and behold, we are treated to a wonderful and whimsical happily ever after for Michael and Arden. Both characters come into their own happiness, independence, and contentment by following their hearts. They’re brought to a place that they can successfully be together, which would not have been possible without individual growth and introspection.
A Madness Most Discreet is an appealing novel that I can recommend to most readers. The unusual structure keeps the pace moving briskly, the main characters are fascinating, the main story arc and conflict are resolved nicely, and the hard-won happy ending is more than satisfying.
RATING: 
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