Thursday 21 December 2017

Review: Sylvain Reynard's "The Man in the Black Suit."


Synopsis: 

Acacia Santos excels at her job as concierge at the prestigious Hotel Victoire in Paris. When her superior, Marcel, is attacked in a supposed random mugging, she is tasked with serving one of the hotel’s most mysterious and attractive guests.

Nicholas Cassirer checks into the hotel under an assumed name every three months. Usually, he stays in the penthouse suite with a beautiful female companion but on this occasion, he arrives alone and is displeased in having to deal with someone new. A match of wits ensues as he tests Acacia’s expertise with a series of almost impossible demands. Her intelligence and creativity rise to the challenge, earning his respect.

They strike a tenuous accord until Acacia discovers a famous stolen painting in his suite, she contacts a former boyfriend who works for the elite BRB, a unit of French law enforcement that deals with art thefts.

Nicholas is questioned by police and released when it is revealed the painting is a reproduction. Irked with her behavior, Acacia’s supervisor demotes her threatening dismissal and the cancellation of her work permit.

But Acacia has already attracted Nicholas’s attention. Remorseful that she may lose her job on his account, he offers her a choice – she can wait until her supervisor dismisses her, or she can leave the city of lights behind and become his personal assistant.

Acacia initially refuses his offer, but Nicholas is persistent. He reveals himself as a man who quietly acquires stolen art in order to restore it to its rightful owners. Faced with mounting familial debts and the possibility of dismissal and deportation, she agrees to work for him.

Nicholas opens up a whole new world of beauty and intrigue to Acacia as they travel the globe. Soon the line between employer and assistant is blurred, and the two lonely people embark on a passionate relationship.

Review: Jo 

I had been excited about this book ever since it was announced earlier in the year, so as soon as "The Man in the Black Suit" popped up on my kindle I dived right in. What followed was an intriguing and gripping story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Yet again Sylvain Reynard has delivered a novel that has captivated me from start to finish. 

"Nicholas touched her as if she were precious, 
as if he could hardly bear for her to be physically removed from him." 

Soon after meeting the mysterious black suited male lead, I was curious to know more. I wasn't sure whether I liked him all that much, but that didn't stop me wanting to discover more about him. The heroine of the story was someone that I instantly liked and I continued to feel that way throughout the entire story. Acacia was a gutsy, strong and intelligent woman who definitely made a fearless partner to TMITBS. Their relationship started off as a bit of a slow burn but I enjoyed finding out more about each of the characters and watching the progression that they made together. By the time I reached the half way mark the couple were stepping things up a gear as their heat and chemistry grew with every page. I found myself eating up the chapters excited by what was happening. 

"I've been afraid for so many years. 
I'm not afraid anymore, not while we're together." 

As my love of the couple grew so did my feelings for TMITBS. He turned out to be a gorgeous man that I just loved more and more. Just like the couple's relationship had me hooked so did the story-line. The plot intensified to maximum levels of action and drama which had me gasping for breath. So much happened for Acacia and TMITBS, twists and turns and some passionate romance all topped off with Sylvain Reynard's brilliant writing. What more could you want from a book? It truly contained everything to make a fantastic read. 

"You have my heart, Nicholas. I don't want it back." 

This was a story of love, retribution, and hope all set in some of the most beautiful places in Europe. Sylvain never fails to enchant me with every single word. 

"The Man in the Black Suit" gets 4.5 ❤️'s from me.

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