All Things Beautiful

Casey is a struggling but talented artist who is trying to figure out how to raise her 2 year old son while elevating her creativeness and making a name for herself in the art world. Leighton Vaughn is an art atelier who is just settling into herself after a difficult divorce from her violent husband and now focusing on her daughter and teaching.

When Casey receives a scholarship to the Vaughn Atelier, she is over the moon and ready to give it her all. Upon meeting, there is an immediate attraction to one another despite the complicated situation of their teacher and student relationship. Despite their attempts to hide their feelings, they are unable to stay away and their desire for each other builds.

I really liked the intense nature of their interactions and the well-paced flow of their growing relationship. I also enjoyed the passion and execution of art processes as it felt true to the characters motivations. Both of the main characters have an admirable commitment to their children and the maturity to properly communicate through problems in a healthy way...

Lily Birks via NetGalley

Art is love and love is art. All Things Beautiful is a great example of that statement. An age gap, teacher-student, single mom story that will pull at all your heartstrings...

For Casey Norford life is going well at last. She’s the recipient of a full scholarship to Atelier Vaughn: the art school of her role model Leighton Vaughn. If she can learn how to be as good a painter as her, Casey’s future will be bright and she will finally be able to give her son Andy the life he deserves. When she steps into the atelier she didn’t expect to be swept away with both the talent of Leighton and the woman herself. While Casey works on her skills, she falls hard for her teacher and that just can’t happen.

Leighton Vaughn is making her dream a reality. After surviving an abusive marriage, Leighton worked very hard to build a safe life for her and her daughter. She’s finally at a good place in life, teaching talented young painters and running her own gallery. She is especially excited about this group of students. Well to be honest, especially excited about teaching one Casey Norford. Leighton sees a talent in her work that she rarely comes across. When she meets her protégée in person, she quickly learns Casey is much, much more than just a talented artist. Leighton’s past haunts her and made her wary of love, but can this extraordinary woman break through her defenses?

From page one you’ll want the very best for these two women. The instant thread that runs between Casey and Leighton is palpable. Because of the nature of their professional relationship they can’t do anything about it and it actually hurts to read about how they can’t be together…until their resolve crumbles and they just can’t stay away anymore. Of course that brings along a whole other set of problems and it escalates in horrific ways.

Even through all that, you just know in your heart of hearts that these two amazing women belong together. And that in and of itself is a remarkable feat Erdell accomplishes. And I haven’t even started to talk about the sizzle and heat Casey and Leighton create when they physically get to explore each other! That’s a fire that will be impossible to extinguish.

I loved diving deep into the world of art and painting. Half the time the specifics went over my head, seen as I am not an art connoisseur at all. The descriptive imagery Erdell uses though brings the art and this story to life. Although art plays a big part in the story, it never derives from the intense connection Casey and Leighton build between the easels and beyond the atelier.

The story contains references to an abusive relationship and includes an extremely violent situation related to that. So if you are triggered by that, it’s best to know it upfront.

Alaina Erdell proves, once again, she can write a damn good story. Get ready to dive into Casey’s and Leighton’s story, you certainly won’t regret it!

Reading With Caz for @readingwithcaz via NetGalley

A slow burn between an art school owner/instructor and a talented scholarship student. The book starts with insta attraction and progresses from there on this forbidden romance. The heavy subject of abuse is not mentioned in the blurb so heads up if that’s a trigger. This brings some heaviness to what appeared to be a light romance but I enjoyed the read. Bonus points for the epilogue and its artistic grand gesture...

Silvia Manolache via NetGalley

Wow! This was a huge surprise to me! I couldn’t put this one down! I loved all the descriptive language it used and the character development. Great book and I definitely recommend it!

Natalie Asikainen via NetGalley

In August, I read Off the Menu by Alaina Erdell and loved it...Everything I loved about Off the Menu was poured into All Things Beautiful — the detailed knowledge of art and painting (details that made me want to pick up a paintbrush again, something I haven’t done in too long), the beautifully crafted sentences, the fully developed, unique, and lovely characters, the emotions, vulnerability, strength, and chemistry, the romantic plot and a carefully intertwined suspenseful subplot — I loved everything about this book.

This is a mostly feel-good romance with moments of angst that are appropriate to their circumstances and handled with maturity — when a miscommunication occurs, whether of the verbal or physical nature, the characters discuss it like adults. Casey and Leighton’s relationship is one considered “forbidden” by society, which means giving into their growing connection that’s more than skin deep could cost both of them everything they’ve dreamed of for themselves and their children. The way Alaina deals with the nature of their relationship, and builds the tension of their chemistry, love, and evolving wants and dreams keeps you on tenterhooks, wanting and anxious for their happily ever after, right through to the end.

I would describe this as a slow burn, but it’s not like some slow-burn romances where the author dangles a carrot in front of you for the entirety of the book just for the couple to finally end up together in the last few pages. The slow burn in All Things Beautiful feels more like baking a cake, each step increasing the anticipation of being able to cut a slice and put that first forkful in your mouth, but each step is satisfying in its own right. From the sense of fulfilment from being proactive about satisfying your desire, to the enticing sweet scent while the cake bakes, to the impatience of waiting for it to cool, to the way your mouth salivates while you spread the frosting — this is a slow burn that lets you have your cake and eat it too.
This is an easy 5-star read for me, and I can’t recommend it enough...

Amy DeMeritt via NetGalley