Gun Brooke has written another original and engaging story. Our two mains have immediate chemistry and the action and mystery along with the romance kept me totally hooked!

I’m a long time fan of Gun’s work, and this premise sounded really interesting. I did enjoy this, but I felt it had too much going on and lost its way a bit.

The MCs are Tristan, whose character embodies the paranormal aspect, who runs an art restoration company, and Olivia, a 24 year old who applies for an internship at Tristan’s company.

The two have instant chemistry and attraction to each other, and Olivia quickly becomes indispensable to Tristan. That was my first issue, in that everything in this story happened quickly. I honestly think it would have been better as either a longer novel or split into two books.

Tristan’s past then rears its head, and for some random reason she decides to take Olivia with her as she works out what’s going on. Pretty much the last two thirds are spent on telling Tristan’s story and being on the run, while the MCs also fall further in love with each other.

Because this book had so much going in, this was one of those stories where I thought the sex scenes detracted from the plot, too many chapters were devoted to these when I would have preferred better explanations of what was happening/had happened.

I also felt the romance happened too quickly, I’d have preferred more time devoted to them building a relationship first so that it made sense that Olivia would go with Tristan. Both MCs are interesting, separately and together, but there not enough time to touch on some aspects of their lives due to everything else that needed to be covered. I’d have lived more info about Tristan’s past and also how their relationship affected Olivia’s relationship with her family at the end.

I also would have liked a better explanation of the paranormal aspect, it was obviously related to a specific thing that happened in the past, which is mentioned in the prologue, but no mention is made of that or the person who facilitated it after that, which I found weird.

Overall, while I enjoyed the premise and the characters, I felt the pacing could have been better. Gun fans will still likely enjoy this. 3.5 stars.

Super original, extremely interesting, and very romantic. This was a quick and entertaining read that I absolutely could not put down.

3.50 Stars. Loved the premise of the book, but felt the execution was just okay. I don’t know what is going on, but this is the second time within a week, that I have been a little blasé about a book that all my other Goodreads friends seemed to love. Now, I want to make clear that I did enjoy this book, I liked it and thought it was slightly above average, but I was not in love with it like so many others and I am a Gun Brooke fan. I think I’ve read 20 books by Gun and while I love her (sapphic) sci-fi romances, when I heard she had written a (sapphic) paranormal romance for the first time, I was so excited to read it. The fantastic cover, the mystery/immortal premise, sounded so cool I could not wait to read it, and while I do think the idea was right on, the book lost steam for me and wasn’t quite what I was hoping for.

The book starts off wonderful. After a chapter on the boat (on the cover) you then have a character who was giving off a possible ice queen vibes (but quickly lost it unfortunately) and a younger artist trying to get a job from her as an art restorer in NYC. Sparks fly instantly as these two women must work together in the intimate space over a painting, but passion is put on pause as a call brings them to Paris where their lives where never be the same again.

There is a mystery the characters are trying to figure out, but it is not one with clues that you can actual solve along with them. The few twists that are in the book were well done but the problem was most of the time there was no answers with them. They were just done, because, which I am not a fan of. Just because this is a paranormal book, doesn’t mean you don’t have to stick to the rules of the world or magic system that you build and if you don’t, you need to give a better reason than just because you say so. In the end, the best part of the mystery was the few action scenes as they kept me reading and kept me turning the pages. Otherwise, the traveling could get a bit monotonous, so the action scenes was where it was at for me.

When it came to the romance, I thought it was very fast. For reasons I can’t get into without spoiling too much, Tristian has been on guard most of her life and not let lovers get too close. So, for her to let Liv, get close in the matter of days, and spill all her secrets, and fall for her so quickly, was a little hard to believe. The made a cute couple and I was happy for them, but honestly, I didn’t really believe them as HEA couple until the last few chapters of the book.

In the end, I enjoyed this book and was entertained, but it was not one of my favorite Gun books. I would put this in the slightly above average category for my reading opinion. But I want everyone to keep in mind that this book has a high rating and very good reviews, so my 3.50 stars is actually a low outlier since everyone seemed to love this one. While this wasn’t a big hit for me, I’m still a huge Gun fan so I can’t wait to read her next one.

This was a very engaging read. The two characters had sizzling chemistry and the storyline about who was chasing them kept me on the edge of my seat. I love how versatile this author is - she is so creative and has a unique talent in building new universes and developing elements of fantasy in a way that feels relatable and never gets formulaic. I’d highly recommend this novel.

The Amaranthine law... An unusual name which certainly caught my attention. This year, I decided to read out of my comfort zone, and I'm so glad I did. I've come across some very good books this year, and The Amaranthine law is one of them. It's got a captivating storyline, action, mystery and romance.

I've given The Amaranthrine law a 4 out of 5

This book has it all, mystery, intrigue, love, and some supernatural-I picked it up for the love story and dang if I didn't get emerged in all of it- just absolutely a story bursting with hours of enjoyment..

You have Tristan with her secrets and danger following her and Olivia trying to understand what is going on and wanting to help Tristan and protect her against what though. The MCs as well as the subs are so well written you just want to reach out and get involved to help them.

There is just so much you get with this book, I have read a few other Gun Brooke books and this one is now in my top 5 of hers. When you get multiple genres in a book, MCs that you are cheering for every step of the way and beautiful descriptive environments you have a book that you won't put down until the very end.

I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, but would have written the same opinion if I had come across this author on my own.

Well written with a touch of suspense, this veteran author manages to always intrigue me. This book represents her first paranormal which does not disappoint. Thanks to the author, BSB, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The blurb caught my eye, and I'm so glad to be able to grab this ARC.

This is a lovely sapphic romance with suspense and mystery. At first, I was more focused on the romance part and was afraid everything had been revealed too fast. But then it gets better and better. In the end, it was the mystery part that kept me turning the pages. Not to mention both MCs are lovable. What a brilliant read!

Really good book. This was a really good paranormal sci-fi romance. The main characters were well written and I thought the relationship between Tristan and Olivia was great. This was a slow burn romance that has quite a bit of intrigue, drama and historical elements. The villains were some really bad people and made this an even better story. I liked all the artistic restoration descriptions throughout this book and all the supporting characters were well written and helped to move this story along. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family and I look forward to what's next from this author.

Once again Gun Brooke doesn't disappoint. This was a very emotional yet fun and exciting story with an amazing plot. The main characters were well developed and lovable. I enjoyed the story very much and it was fast paced and quite a page turner. I recommend getting a copy.
4.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a very unique story. First we have Tristan Kelly who owns a very successful art restoration company. She hires Olivia Bryce as her new intern. Tristan is immediately drawn to Olivia’s personality and takes her along on a mysterious trip to Paris to work on a damaged painting. Olivia is developing feelings for Tristan as well. Tristan has many secrets about her past and hides them from everyone. Her real reason for going to Paris is to meet an old friend from her childhood, Rosalie. Rosalie tells her that she has received threatening letters and that she is afraid for life her life and Tristan’s. Thus starts an action packed chase where Tristan and Olivia try to find out who’s threatening both of them.

This story was filled with the emotions that Tristan and Olivia have for each other. And the danger they encounter at every turn. If you can go with your imagination and suspend disbelief of the paranormal aspects, this is a wonderful book. I throughly enjoyed it.

ARC received from Net Galley for an honest and voluntary review.

more than 4 less than 5 stars rounded up
This is yet another amazing story from Gun Brooke. It's a real page turning paranormal romance with a good mystery in it, that kept me gripped all the way through.
Very interesting and rich in imagination plot with two well-developed leads. Nice love story. Mystery to solve and some action along the way. Good ending. What can be better than that. Brooke really knows how to entertain her readers. Her next book can't come soon enough. Recommended.

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

Tristan owns and runs an art restoration company but she didn’t always go by that name. When she young girl she was heading to North America with her parents in 1769 she was known then as Sarah while on the ship a illness swept most of everyone on boat but she survived along with five others young girls because they took something that not only saved their lives but it’s turns out aged them slowly. Now in the present while running her business she hires Olivia who to her surprise she intrigued by her something that hasn’t happened in a while and doesn’t want to go there because she learns the ones who survived the fever with her their death may not been accidental. Olivia is over the moon to get her dream job and working with Tristan and as they get to know each other while in Paris Olivia is surprise when she learns the truth but can they be together especially when it’s obvious someone knows Tristan secret and determined to end her life. Enjoy this read I like Olivia and Tristan they had great chemistry I like how Tristan tries to keep Olivia at arm lengths but Olivia won’t let her.

Gun Brooke’s storytelling never fails to draw me into a book, no matter what genre she is writing. Her current novel, The Amaranthine Law, had me hooked before I got to the end of the first page in the prologue.

This is a paranormal romance and mystery about a woman named Tristan Kelly. At least, that is her name in the present day. Back in 1769, when she was eight years old and immigrating to North America with her parents, she was known as Sarah. She, along with many others on the ship came down with a mysterious illness, one that took the lives of many of her shipmates. There were six young girls that did survive though, and Sarah was one of them. As the years passed, the girls realized that they began to age very slowly. After 250+ years Sarah, now Tristan, looks barely 40.

In the present day Tristan owns and runs an art restoration company, and at the start of this tale she hires a young intern named Olivia Bryce. It doesn’t take long for an attraction between the two to flare, but Tristan refuses to allow it to grow, especially since she suddenly has a stalker that seems to know exactly who she really is, and the stalker wants her dead.

I became quite invested in Tristan and Olivia’s story. Both characters are well-developed. Olivia is in her early twenties and Tristan is passing for somewhere in her forties, so no matter how you look at it, this is definitely an age gap romance. Tristan and Olivia end up traveling from North America to several places in Europe and back, so the tale also has an international setting. The mystery of the stalker is exciting, and the “who done it” has a twist I was not expecting.

I really enjoyed reading The Amaranthine Law. I recommend it to all who love their mysteries mixed with a paranormal romance.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

A mysterious illness infects passengers sailing on a ship from Europe to America. Six young girls are treated back to health by an enigmatic old woman . Tristan Kelly is one of the six. As her family ages Tristan is surprised to learn she is not growing older at the same rate as her loved ones. It is a trait all six girls now carry. 

Olivia Bryce has just landed her dream job working for Tristan Kelly at her art restoration company. She has caught Tristan’s eye for more than her expertise. On a trip to Paris to restore an old painting Tristan and Olivia are noticeably followed. The original six girls have now become two due to questionable accidents. 

There is a high paced energy especially in the latter part of the novel which drove this readers interest. Although the romance is very quickly developed and too syrupy for my taste, it is the mystery and cat and mouse chase which kept me going.

There is a yin and yang aspect with Tristan’s character reminding me of a dark and brooding vampire while Olivia is the light to show her possibilities. The plot did leave some unanswered questions which I would have liked explained but I can live with that. Overall I enjoyed this novel and recommend it to readers who enjoy romance, action and the idea of immortality.

I received an advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Here is a story slightly different from the usual ones of this author, not totally new on her part either, although in her previous fantasy and science fiction stories she has usually made series of more than one book. And this book seems to be standalone.

It is a fantasy story that, although it begins in the 17th century, takes place in modern times. Then, an inexplicable event (and ultimately inexplicable, it must be said) caused some girls from families traveling on a ship from Europe to America to be miraculously cured of fevers that caused the death of several of the other passengers.

Those girls were in a similar age range and once they reached their destination, and with the passage of time, they realized that their healing was not only miraculous, but that their wounds healed very quickly and they did not age. They were virtually inmortal.

Over the years they have been losing contact, although not completely and now several centuries have passed and it seems that only three of the girls are left alive.

One of them is Tristan, who is the owner of an art restoration company. She is physically a middle-aged woman, in her forties, imposing physically and in personality. Her circumstances have forced her to have no personal ties. But when Olivia shows up to work as an intern at Tristan's company, the attraction between them is totally and utterly irresistible, despite their age, physical and social differences.

Olivia is going to be Tristan's great help and support to clarify what is happening to the three surviving girls of the ship, which takes them to travel through several European countries deciphering the enigmas they find between the events of the past and those of the present .

It has been quite an entertaining story, it certainly has a fast pace in some of its scenes, it has hot scenes between the two protagonists, it has emotion. I had a great time reading it.

Olivia Bryce is hired as an intern for an art restoration company, learning about her chosen profession from one of the best in the business, Tristan Kelly. There is more chemistry between them than either expects from their first meeting and when Tristan takes Olivia to Paris for a job at the Louvre it ramps up even further. Tristan has a secret though and it is quickly catching up to them forcing them to run from a would be assassin.
This adventure was a lot of fun, I really liked the premise and the plot was very fast paced. The two MCs are really the main focal point through the book as side characters are fleeting on their constant journey. There are some great people who do help them on the way including Waldo, who was beyond adorable. It was also a great balance between the romantic and thriller aspects of the plot, I felt like they blended together very well. Olivia seems overly mature for her age but she has had some issues with her parents that forced her into adulthood. There was a lot of great background on Tristan's story too and it was very well done. I'd definitely recommend picking this book up, I enjoyed it enough that I will likely add it back to my TBR to be read again at some point in the future.

This was a really fascinating story with mystery and mysticism. An intriguing backstory slowly unfolds about MC, Tristan, who is a hot, mid-forties, slightly icy, art restoration expert. Olivia 24, is hired on to be an intern at the company, and an attraction sparks between the two women.

This features a sort of forced proximity plot, where the two end up in Paris working on a project, but then on the road, running and investigating the mystery of who is after Tristan and the details of her amazing past. While the connection constantly simmers.

I enjoyed the plot and the excitement it brought, but did feel it was a tiny bit predictable at times. I also would have liked a few more answers, but it also makes sense they weren't forthcoming.

I enjoyed the ending, too; the way it wraps up. It's a very readable story that worked for a rainy weekend read, to immerse myself in.

The Amaranthine Law is a strong and impressive story. As a voyage sails for America in 1761 an illness sweeps those aboard, hard hitting the children. A mystery woman has prepared a drink to help those who have nothing to lose.
Now 250 plus years later those children are still alive and age at a very slow rate. But someone knows about them and is hunting them down to kill them.
Tristan runs a business restoring paintings and has hired young Olivia as her newest employee. There is an attraction that Tristan hasn't felt in decades for this young innocent woman.
Just as they are getting to know each other another one of the ship survivors has contacted Tristan with bad news which promptly sends her to Paris along with Olivia.
Now the two are the targets of the killer and are on the run. But who is after them and why?

Gun Brooke has really written an amazing story which moves fast and is full of intrigue. I really enjoyed this and highly recommend it.