~Review: Gilded Lily (Gilded Flower #1) by Vivian Winslow ~

After catching her fiancé Jack in bed with her sister the day before her wedding, New York socialite Lily Baron escapes to Rio, her honeymoon destination—alone. There, Marcelo, the dark and sexy hotel masseur, releases a heated passion Lily had never experienced with Jack. When Lily meets handsome and powerful Brazillionaire Gustavo de Lima, she can hardly resist him. There’s just one problem. He’s married. In this uber-sensual city, will Lily’s reluctance to be with a married man, in light of her own fiancé’s betrayal, give way to her burning desire for Gustavo?

Overall Rating:  3 Rockin’ ★★★

Gilded Lilly is the first in a series of three novellas written by author Vivian Winslow.  This short story is a attempt to convey a woman's betrayal and subsequent attempt at freedom, and sexual redemption.  Although there was a promising storyline, the pros mixed tense made it a difficult read.  

The Heroine of the book, Lily, was betrayed by her fiancé and twin sister.  After choosing to call off the wedding and disowning her sister, Lily decides to take her would be honeymoon to Rio alone.  Although anyone can sympathize with that kind of rejection and hurt, the characters were not necessarily an investment that the reader could make.  There was not enough depth created in each characters actions and responses in the book.  An example of this is Lilly’s reaction when her mother said all New York‘s society followed an unwritten rule of infidelity including her father.  The only passive aggressiveness you see here is her going to Rio alone.

Even the steamy sexual encounters fell flat. They were not hot or engaging enough to keep the reader involved in the story.  The story line was anti-climactic and predictable at times.  Since this was a sexual revolution for Lilly, her journey should have been an enticing, heart pounding, erotic one.  Instead she just looks like a lost soul who is trying to find who she is after losing her Prince Charming. 

  

Hero: 3 stars

Heroine: 3 stars

Plot: 3 stars

Steam Level: 3 stars

Cliffhanger:  Yes

Would I recommend this book: Yes.  This is a book for those that know what heartbreak feels like.  It shares the journey of one woman and her search for self.

Would I recommend this author: Yes.  Ms. Winslow understands her genre and I will enjoy reading her next book in the series.

***Received an ARC of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review***