Up until the annual masked ball, Velvet Arceneaux, a photographer with the Depalma Modeling agency, rarely looked below the surface. She did her job and did it well. But when her model friend Jamie Lynn goes missing, she knows something isn't right. The deeper she delves beneath the surface of the successful company she works for, the more the seedy side becomes apparent. And with it comes danger.

Trevor Sutton, posing as an investigative reporter, has several reasons for choosing Velvet to interview. He's done his own investigations into the Depalma Modeling agency and nothing adds up. He needs to know if Velvet, who he's never forgotten after their one night together, is involved. Can he trust her?

As they dig deeper into the sordid world beneath all the glamour, they find themselves racing against time. All the while they are reacquainting themselves with the desire they once felt for each other.

Velvet Deception is a maze of intrigue and thrilling intensity that grips the reader and won't let go. It's a heady mix of suspense, eroticism, and exciting action, both in and out of the bedroom. This story is exceptional, the characters are well developed, giving the reader a complete understanding of their individual personalities and what drives them. The love scenes are beautifully written, full of sensuality, and won't be easily forgotten. I'm always impressed when a writer, especially those of erotic romance, can keep the various elements in their stories balanced. The plot or character development is not depleted by tons of sex scenes that can slow the story down. Definitely not case with this novel. It drives the story and adds to its appeal. It's definitely a keeper.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Explicit

Reviewer: Abi
October 6, 2008