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.
Susi’s Review
I am truly a fan of Sylvain Reynard’s writing so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on his latest book, The Man in the Black Suit. This romantic suspense has it all. TMitBS is intense and well paced, complete with superbly written characters, art, religion, travel, love and humanity all intricately weaved with the details of a fine tapestry. This standalone has characters that in true SR fashion, have elegance and surprising personalities that will take your breath away.
Nicholas is the male protagonist. I admit, I didn’t like him when I first started this book. However, he will surprise you and make you fall for him as I did. Don’t let the symbolism of the black suit keep you from truly understanding his intentions. Acacia is the female protagonist in this story. I loved her from the very first scenes. And, as I predicted, her strong character was one to flourish and delight me throughout the story. Secondary characters such as Kate, Luc and even Claude are also well written and add humor, suspense and additional layers to this story.
From the hotel lobby in Paris to Santorini to Dubai, you’ll travel to some of the most beautiful places on the globe. These spectacular settings along with the artwork and culture further enhanced the experiences I got to enjoy while reading. I especially enjoyed the slow build-up to this intriguing story making it another one of my favorite reads.
I do have one complaint. TMitBS is a standalone. I would love to read more about these wonderful characters and/or the secondary characters as well. Maybe you’ll consider writing more about them in the future.
I’ve tried to keep my review spoiler free so readers can truly savor the story as much as I did.
Be sure to add this 5 star read to your TBR list today.
My latest book, “The Man in the Black Suit, (#TMitBS), is a contemporary romance/suspense standalone novel, set in Paris. It released December 19th.
The final book in The Florentine Series, “The Roman,” has been released. The paperback edition has additional content. An audiobook is also available.
The second book in the series, “The Raven,” was nominated by RT Magazine as Best Paranormal Romance Suspense novel of 2015.
Recently, Huffington Post Books ranked “Gabriel’s Inferno” as the best teacher/student romance novel.
I am honoured to have had my novels appear on the New York Times and USAToday Bestseller lists.
I was a Semifinalist for Best Author in the 2011 and 2012 Goodreads Choice Awards. “Gabriel’s Inferno” was a Semifinalist for Best Romance in 2011 and “Gabriel’s Rapture” was a Finalist for Best Romance in 2012, in the Goodreads Choice Awards, as well. The final novel in The Gabriel Series, “Gabriel’s Redemption,” debuted at #6 on the New York Times Bestseller list. It was a Finalist for a 2014 Goodreads Choice Award as Best Romance.
I’m interested in the way literature can help us explore aspects of the human condition – particularly suffering, sex, love, faith, and redemption. My favourite stories are those in which a character takes a journey, either a physical journey to a new and exciting place, or a personal journey in which he or she learns something about himself/herself.
I’m also interested in how aesthetic elements such as art, architecture, food, drink, and music can be used to tell a story or to illuminate the traits of a particular character. In my writing, I combine all of these elements with the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the transformative power of goodness.
I try to use my platform as an author to raise awareness about the following charities: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation, WorldVision, Alex’s Lemonade Stand, and Covenant House.
Follow Sylvain Reynard
http://sylvainreynard.com/
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