Reviewed by True
TITLE: Painted Bare
SERIES: City of Fountains #4
AUTHOR: Hayden West
PUBLISHER: Pride Publishing
LENGTH: 78 pages
RELEASE DATE: January 17, 2023
BLURB:
The canvas never lies.
Anthony Henson doesn’t do people. He prefers to be left alone with his paint, brushes, and canvas. A world that allows his mind to be at ease, without the struggle to do what is right by societal dictates. His quiet universe is sent spinning when a string of recent thefts brings a tall Irish detective into his circle.
Detective Liam Rourke has a hard, firm policy on not intermingling work and pleasure. Until now, it’s not been an issue to uphold. Enter one painter and all he wants to do is spend more time around him. The lines between professional and personal are blurred.
When everything settles, what will happen to the straightlaced detective and the one man whose messy life, doesn’t matter to him?
REVIEW:
Ahh, that was such a lovely story.
Meeting artist Anthony Henson you know he’s something special, eccentric.
He doesn’t beat around the bush, is utterly honest, and is just adorable.
Yes, when Detective Liam Rourke meets Anthony, his heart does something. Anthony doesn’t want to spill his time answering questions he doesn’t know anything about, his best and only friend slash employee Marshall will answer them. That’s a shame because Liam wants to spend more time with Anthony.
Back in his atelier, Anthony knows he has to paint that man, naked, because dang the man is glorious.
When the occasion is there, he uses it and kind of bluntly demands Liam to agree, Liam is more than willing.
Imagine what can happen behind Anthony’s atelier doors *wink*
While the development of the story is slight, there is enough depth to experience, you can breathe in the scenery and smell the scent. The crime in this story is just a side thing, the core story is about art, passion, attraction, homophobia, bullying, awful family, and love.
The writing was awesome, it was hugely charming, and the true plot was ditto, I truly wish this fascinating story was three times longer, I so enjoyed it all.
RATING: 
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