The second and final book in the Master of Trickery Duet!“Must be brave, stubborn, and impervious to the tempers of loved ones.”The first line hissed with history.“Hours are endless, pay is non-existence, quitting absolutely forbidden.”The second line ached with truth.“Able to function on no sleep, refrain from running when times get hard, and be more than just a living canvas but a lover.”The … when times get hard, and be more than just a living canvas but a lover.”
The third thrummed with honesty.
“Other attributes required: forgiving, opinionated, and not afraid to tell me when I’m wrong. Must also enjoy being touched and kissed at any time of my choosing.”
The fourth glowed with promise.
“Call or email ‘YOUR HEART, HIS SOUL’ if interested in applying.”
The final made my future unfold.
The advert was so similar to one I should never have applied for.
A twist of fate that brought two destined people back together.
A job I would take in a heartbeat if the employer could offer such terms.
But I wasn’t free.
Neither was Gil.
Therefore, my interview could never happen.
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“Love…the most terrible weapon of all.”
His art is his pressure valve. When the pain and anger built up too much to handle the creativity was his outlet. Or, it used to be. Then it turned into survival. No longer could he follow his muse and see what developed, not since he painted himself into a corner that he couldn’t escape. Are you wondering what kind of trouble he’s gotten into? Well, I wish I could tell you, but it’s a secret.
The author has blown my mind…again. Following her down dark paths without knowing where she is leading me has become a favorite pastime. The unknown is like a beacon I can’t resist. Never knowing if it’s going to lead me to a good place or a bad one, but I’m never disappointed. Lies and betrayal, paint and passion, pain and loss. I fell so hard for these broken characters. I felt so helpless in the face of their torment. The mistakes that couldn’t be undone. Forgiveness might have been granted but the pain remains. I wanted so badly to remove the many obstacles keeping them from the forever they dreamed of as teenagers.
“We destroyed each other with a violent kind of lust that incinerated right and wrong, past and present. All I wanted was him. All he needed was me.”
This duet had me totally entranced from beginning to end. I could not stop thinking about it even after I finished reading it. Another amazing, spellbinding, thought-provoking masterpiece that guarantees that I’ll be ready for wherever she takes me next. The line forms here…
The Living Canvas is the conclusion to the Master of Trickery Duet by Pepper Winters and boy do it blow me away! After getting to the end of the Body Painter, having to wait even the shortest amount of time was going to drive me nuts. I had a totally different setup in my head for how Book 2 was going to go. Never did I expect the story Pepper delivered. It was sheer genius.
The story of Gil and Olin is difficult and complex. So many people involved themselves in their lives trying to steer them in directions neither wanted to go and in the end their efforts led to wasted time and misery.
After the jaw dropping end to The Body Painter, this book will take you in an incredible emotional roller coaster ride that left me in tears. This book has love, loss, heartache, betrayal and enough suspense you will be would tighter that a spring by end. This is a Duet you don’t want to miss!
The fastest paced story by Pepper Winters which in itself is a big feat. She generally draws out the story in its full panorama of drama, angst, turbulent emotions with the full spectrum of actions and their consequences at an unhurried tread.
But here She changes the trot and the speed adds to the melodrama. Add to that an intoxicating journey of frustrating, unrequited love and you have pure concentrated dose of misery on your kindle.
“Our foundations were rotten and full of holes.
Our walls were riddled with secrets and lies.
Our trust was torn apart.
There is no us anymore.”
Book 1 took its fare share of time showing us the background story of Olin and Gil, how they met, the ordeals they went through and the catastrophic cliffhanger where pepper left us hanging bewildered and slackjawed.
“His paint on my skin, and my death on his hands. He didn’t deserve my forgiveness, but he did have my understanding.”
This book picks up at that same exact point. Tragic and devastating events take place at a rapid pace, I didn’t have enough time to collect my thoughts or measure the full impact of intensifying volatility of the situation Gil “forces” O to participate in, leaving her as a bait and then succumbing to the wounds he suffers, I mean it was quite a flurry of activity which is so not Pepper’s MO generally, but I LOVED IT!
There’s a tautness in the plot which I relished & pulse pounding drama which kept me on tenterhooks throughout. I was a step BEHIND the characters, frustratingly wanting the dice to roll their favor but alas, Pepper’s a superior author who doesn’t let cheesiness creep in and give unrelatable twists. She actually throws the karmic gauntlet and runs her characters through it to show growth and emphasize the importance of law and protocol.
“Just remember, nothing lasts forever. Good, bad, terrible—it all passes in the end.”
I had many many teary moments, hiccuping with sobs, yelling for my fave characters to be left alone. Gil’s fate and tragic solitary figure were reminiscent of Ren from Ribbon series, not in life story but in pathetic feel. I so wanted him to catch a break, prayed to Gods above to let him breathe a bit, have a respite to hug his daughter to his heart’s content.
Tragedy was the main emotion in the forefront. The painting scenes which were pregnant with eroticism in book 1 slipped into ticking time clock in book 2. You knew once painting was over, it was time to part
“Be my canvas.”
“It’s too late,” I whispered
“It is too late. Everything is too fucking late. I’m too late to make any money. Too late to fix my business. Too late to save my daughter. Too late to repair everything broken between us. But it’s not too late to say goodbye.”
Any scene where Gil and Olin bask in the stolen warmth of their love, was generally followed by untold pain and cataclysmic woe. It made their few and far between minutes of togetherness all the more treasured and momentous.
The twists and turns were severe and inflexible, there was no escaping them or bypassing them.
The narration was slick and relentless, I felt as if I had to read fast or the events would unfold without me!!
The characters of Jeffrey and Olin were remarkably noble and gallant, it could’ve been caricature like but I personally know of such people in real life, so it was believable to me. There’s still too much kindness and good in this world, enough to make me not cynical. Pepper has portrayed that through Jeffrey.
Olive Oyl the Girl prodigy, showed sensibility way beyond her age and considering the emergencies and mishaps that have scarred her, it’s remarkable that the child wasn’t permanently damaged except a few nightmares. The adorable bond she shares with O and then opens her circle of trust for Jeffrey eventually, highlights the tenacity and grit of this beautiful young girl.
And Gil- The tragic Shakespearean hero. His classic personality is of a lonely artist, a creator of magic and trickery where he fools the world yet can’t untangle himself from the web of villainous design. His purity of heart is his biggest asset turned into greatest drawback. I loved that he wasn’t overrun by cynicism and yet had enough nobility in him for acceptance and resignation.
“I was born to a pimp, whore to a teacher, and now, I’m a collector for a murderer. The first two crimes weren’t my fault. But the third… I’m guilty.”
The story will stay with me forever, it’s cogency deriving from the soul stirring story and compelling characters. It rattles you while you read it and leaves you shaken after you’re done.
Very unique and unprecedented, impactful and poignant, a typical Pepper Winters saga which will be delightfully devoured by her loyal fans.
5 stars for Owls and Otters
This book takes up where the first book ended in a huge cliffhanger, so i would advise reading The Body Painter first.
We join Gilbert and Olin not knowing which way this disaster of a situation is going to play out. Pepper left us with so many fears and questions in the first book, and thankfully she didn’t leave us hanging before we start to get answers!!
Omg I wasn’t sure wether to love Gil or despise him, yes he’s made so many bad decisions, yes he’s had a horrible life which has broken his trust in people so badly, but i still wanted at times to throttle him. Even though i disliked so many of his decisions, my heart still broke for him and the life that took such a good heart and and left it blackened and charred.
I also at times wanted to shake Olin, she seemed so ready to forgive, in such dark horrendous situations.
Yet at the same time i couldn’t help but feel the depth of their love for each other, and i had no escape from their pull as i also fell into their love!
Gil might be the master of Trickery with a paint brush, but Pepper Winters is the master of Trickery with her writing. She gives us unforgettable characters that leave their marks on your heart and emotions. i can honestly say, this book will have you Angry, Happy, Sad, Devastated and yet still be filled with Hope and Love!!! A book you can’t put down, filled with the darkest parts of life, brought to light with love, friendship and family !!
This is hard! This book was amazing. No spoilers. Gil was a character that checked every box for me. His emotion bled thru the pages. Olive stole the light every time she was mentioned. She was an amazing character. Justin and Olin so selfless. As time moved thru the book you are so aware of the growth of each person. They came together to form a family. A family that stood by each other thru it all. You need to read this book!
woah this book blew me away. I could not put it down! this is the perfect sequel to book 1.
Yet another brilliant read from Pepper Winters! I’ve devoured every last one of Pepper Winters books except this duet right here. I don’t know why I waited to read it. It’ll forever be a mystery. Pepper Winters is so deep in her writing. She’s very detailed and I love that about her books. I dislike when authors will skip over areas or scenes and I feel like it makes the book incomplete or had potential if they would’ve filled in the blanks a little more but Pepper is all about the details and everything adds up and is put together so nicely you never miss out on anything.
I wasn’t expecting anything that happened in this book at all. It’s very different from other books she’s written before. A body painter, second chances, murder mystery, it was all just different but it was still amazing. She wrote this book perfectly. I absolutely loved it like I expected I would since I’ve loved all her other books too. She’s just such a phenomenal writer.
The Living Canvas
Master of Trickery, Book 2
By: Pepper Winters
Narrated by: Will M Watt, Felicity Foster
Book two the Master of Trickery duet, this story has it all. Picking up where book one leaves off, we have Gil once again painting Olin. These two were childhood sweethearts, but things in their path tore them apart. Now back working together, it is obvious that their connection is still there. But what Gil has in store for O will be the breaking point. Secrets kept, transactions made, and now when it all comes to a head, we will see if their unbreakable bond is really that. I love to listen to books, and there are so many that I enjoy. But there are only some that make me feel. This duet tore my heart out, and like a good slow burn and lots of faith worked to put it back together. Tortured souls, tragic events, the best of friends and a little girl that stole my heart, I could not have listened to a better story. Pepper Winters brought it all to the table and I enjoyed every morsel.
The narration team of Will M Watt and Felicity Foster truly enhances the story. They become Gil and O, let us live their lives and feel every single emotion they go through. It’s exhausting and exhilarating. These two voice actors are incredible and understand exactly what it takes to make the story alive.
I received an ARC via Expresso Book Tours
I don’t understand how Pepper has this insane ability to make my heart physically break. I cried–not as much as some of her other books–but I did. When I wasn’t crying for Olin and Gil, my chest was in pain solely from the words on the page. While The Body Painter was mystery and angst, this one was all heartbreak and angst. Secrets are out; it’s the outcomes of those secrets to deal with now.
Unlike The Body Painter this book only takes place in the present, all besides one chapter in the beginning. All there is to be said of the past has been said and this book is how that past and that horrible teacher just continues to ruin Gil’s life and affect the present.
The book picks up right where the first ended with Gil telling Olin he will be sacrificing her. The book immerses you into the sadness right away. It did take me for a bit of a surprise as I wasn’t expecting the blackmail thing to be resolved as quickly as it was, but I can see why and appreciate why the author didn’t just get stuck on that one plotline. It has much more of an impact to the characters than I first thought, and the rest of the book is about the outcome after that night.
I do need to say how I do appreciate the author for going through with it and not giving Gil that happy ending right away. I can’t describe much here to avoid giving out spoilers, but if it was all cut and dry, it’d be unrealistic, considering the events. Plus, it only added to the sadness that much more, and later, when he does get his happy ending, even more angst is tacked on as Gil deals with what occurred during the time.
Oh, Gil. I reflect on The Ribbon Duet as well as it’s companion, and I am trying to figure out who has caused me the most sadness: Ren, Jacob, or Gil. I’m not sure I have an answer to it and if Gil isn’t the winner here, then he’s a close second or third. Ever since that first scene in book 1, life has been throwing hell at him. Between Olin, the teacher, Olive, and the events of this book…my goodness, can someone have more bad luck than him? Even at the end, when things are going right, he thinks otherwise in regards to O, so you just feel for him here.
I’ve said this briefly, but the story is fantastic. The plot is realistic; not an everyday thing, but something that is plausible. The romance and angst is there, causing half the heartbreak. Olin and Gil are a childhood romance that never fully came to be and they’re still trying to make it work. It’s a story of survival, at its core. Surviving the past, surviving the past’s effects on the present, and surviving to make it to the future. Survival in the book occurs in many forms: surviving life’s challenges, parenthood, relationships, and near-death. Olin survived Gil and Jeffrey, Olive survived absence and Jeffry, and Gil survived everything.
I talked about Gil already, but in regards to the other characters, I have nothing negative to say. Justin turned out to be one of my favorites. He’s genuine and good and is a true friend. Nothing he does is for his own benefit. He doesn’t try to take Gil’s place in any way; just supplement it for the time being. As much as my heart broke for Gil mostly, it also broke for Olin. The poor girl just keeps losing him, and when she has him, given what he has done, can she cope with it all?
It’s one that will keep my mind reeling for a long time. I’m really happy Pepper got this duet out into the world and now bring on Goddess Isles!
I Don’t Know How I’d Fix You
*self-purchased. No need of sugar daddies called promo teams*
What’s this book about? (I’m trying to give as little spoilers as possible)
The blurb to book two is basically book one’s blurb. It says nothing about what this book will truly be about.
Let me start of by saying how much I loved book one. I believed in this couple. I wanted them to get to places. I bought into their endless for one another. Apparently, this endless love was somewhat one-sided. That’s what the first quarter of the book made me feel like. Yes, one of the leading characters was awfully abused, mentally and physically. Yes, that character couldn’t just have upped and become a strong character out of the blue. The dynamics in the first quarter ruined everything for me. I was annoyed throughout that phase.
I wanted to like Olive. I really did. But that character annoyed the hell out of me and that’s truly unfortunate considering who this person is supposed to represent in the book. How can you be annoyed by Olive, Evil Witch? If it wasn’t for Olive, one of the leading characters would’ve been able to live their life for once, but that character couldn’t do so out of pressure to be there for people who betrayed and hurt them THOROUGHLY. It doesn’t get any worse than that. Everyone bashed book one, but why is book two so uber-rated? Is it because the author started dropping all the toxic hints? I completely shipped how Olin handled that for the better part of the book. It seemed like the author was channeling all the energy she’d received from the reviews; or maybe she’d intended Olin to turn out this way. I don’t know what it was, but it was a somewhat good choice. I looked forward to her living out that truth, but she never got to.
The middle part dragged out and was completely unnecessary for me. It just delayed the inevitable. We could’ve used more post-bad situation at the end and not short epilogues instead of a dragged out middle part of nothingness where Olin went nowhere and did not discover herself away from the drama at all.
I lost all faith in Gil. I truly did and I felt saddened by it. I hate to take Olin’s side on this; she occasionally threw very toxic comments about Olive in her head, the jealousy and all. It was unkind. But the way Gil handled it, of course, Olin would feel jealous and just devastated. I simply couldn’t buy into Gil’s role in Olive’s life. I didn’t buy his doting role. I should probably turn a blind eye due to what he experienced and blame it on his weakness, but, honey, there’s a TON of tortured heroes out there. If they want to have their cake and eat it, too, THEY CAN. I have very conflicting feelings about this story and it was a disappointment. AND NO. I didn’t want an easy out for this couple. I just didn’t feel how everything played out. I agreed with the plot points; the punishment, who got to live, etc etc. The only thing I missed in the plot was Ms Tallup. The author could’ve added that and there would’ve been more sense to the entire book if there was more conflict with her.
I liked The Body Painter and I had expected something else from The Living Canvas. What’s the title mean anyway? I’m very sorry to feel this way. I won’t lose faith in Pepper Winters because she is a dark romance legend. I will continue to read her stories.
This is the second book in The Master of Trickery Series. I was super frustrated at the end of The Body Painter because I had to wait until this was released. I dont often enjoy the second book in some duets and only speed read or finish it when I have an idea of how it’s going to end and I’m not super interested. That was not the case with this book, I was interested until the very end.
4.5 why does it have to be over stars?!!
This is book two in the “Master of Trickery Duet” and, therefore, finalizes this duet. I can’t believe Olin and Gil’s story is over.
I am in love with this couple. As well as Olive. Though I don’t feel this book was very dark throughout but the beginning had some big triggers. I am so happy for these characters. I love these souls. All four of them and once you read it you will know who I mean. I kept wondering about Justin. Anyone else feel the same way?
I have read many Pepper Winters books and never once have I said that book was plain or sloppy. These books are original, mysterious, sexy, slightly dark and twisted . This author is a superb writer and the words tend to fly off the page. The first book was crazy and the beginning of this book was outright scary. I think it fell a little for me the second half it was a little predictable. I kept waiting for that Pepper Winters twist.
This is a beautiful duet full of second chances, dark days, loss of hope, trust and triggers. This is a duet you will want to read!!
**I received this book as an ARC and in return gave my honest review**
I had hope after Book 1, but sadly the second one didn’t work for me…
I didn’t DFNed, but I certainly skipped pages, so that’s not a good sign.
***ARC kindly provided by author via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review***
This book was the second book of the Master of Trickery Duet and I could not put it down. This book focused Gil facing the consequences of choices made and learning that family is what you make, even if you didn’t see it coming. Olin on the other hand is learning to let go of the past, even if the decision hurts. I enjoyed the first book of this duet but I loved this one so much more. So good!
Well I must say after reading The Body Painter and liking it just enough to want the end of Olin and Gil’s story but definitely not loving it I was very surprised and pleased with how Ms. Winters redeemed herself with The Living Canvas.
At the beginning I felt it was written very much in the same vein as book 1 but it picked up very quickly and the story just took off with enormous steam and I just had to know how it was all going to end.
I really didn’t connect much with both Gil and Olin in the first book but when you get the whole story and see the full picture the connection becomes very intense very quickly.
I really didn’t think I would recommend this duet but believe me that book 2 really makes it all worth it.
**Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed**
I couldn’t stop thinking about this story for days after I’d finished it. It was sensual, alluring, emotional, hot, and definitely ticked all my boxes.
I felt Gil’s pain and Olin’s despair. Pepper Winters was able to lodge both of these characters into my heart and keep them there.
The Living Canvas is the conclusion to The Body Painter and it picked up exactly where it it finished. I was frustrated to no end with the push and pull of Olin and Gil but it was needed as it as it showed the development and growth of them both and them finding solace within themselves.
I adored Olive. She burst onto the pages with tenacity and I just fell in love with her.
Justin proved to be so much more than just a guy who checked in on Gil every so often. He was so selfless and a true friend. I felt that this was the perfect ending for Gil and Olin and that the road they travelled was perfect.
I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and devour their story of a body painter and a living canvas.
Thankyou Pepper Winters for giving us not just 2 but 4 fantastic characters.
This is book two and the conclusion to the Master of Trickery series, and you need to read book one (The Body Painter) before indulging in this one. This is a heavier and darker read. Book one held lots of secrets that caused so much pain and suffering. Book two we get some answers and a price has to be paid. We know the ‘Hero’ is tormented, we know the ‘Heroine’ is self sacrificing, but when is enough enough? Both struggling to let the other go, yet at the same time, neither are able to freely do so. They try and try, but a magnet keeps pulling them together. Most of the anguish that takes place in this book takes place internally within the characters. While there is a lot going on in their lives and in the story, it is a slow paced story. This isn’t a quick read. It is a beautifully crafted story, but at the same time, it felt there was a lot of redundancy. (Same thing with happened in book one.) As it is a darker read, there isn’t much going on to being lightness to it, though there are a couple laughs taking place between the characters here and there. Due to the subject matter and the sexual content, this book is suitable for mature readers.
“Love painted in pain.”
“You’re a walking gift of pain, Gilbert Clark.” “And you’re the ultimate gift of redemption, Olin Moss.”
I recently read Pepper Winters blog and basically, she said that really did not like this duet which she wrote. I was baffled a bit by her statements regarding her own work. While she may feel this way, I personally am here to tell you that I truly loved this duet! I love the ideas, complexity, the eroticism and the struggle that the heroine and hero went through as a result of the choices they made while being victims of the evil, cruel and careless villains in their world.
Certainly, the hero Gibert Clark started out as a dark anti-hero and his character progressed almost to the point of repulsive. His slow redemption came from his first one true forever love, Olin, with her noble and loving heart, viewed by some readers as weak. Yet, she proved to be a warrior, advocate and healer. She is a survivor that always held on to the bright side of life with hope, despite life-changing setbacks, traumas and tragedies.
Ms. Winters writing is always simply beautiful and this story was inventive, suspenseful while laying bare the suffering of the naive being coerced and manipulated, a decent and loving man being tortured and blackmailed,Gilbert Clark, and a young women whose parents have all but abandoned her, Olin Moss. She had to suffer the destruction of a her dreams by her body being broken in a life-altering accident. She also suffered the loss of her one true love inexplicably not once but twice. The last time was unspeakably traumatic.
Somehow, no matter how twisted and dark the tale, there are pops of color and light that explode in erotic scenes whether tender or rough or in revealing the core or development of her characters. Ms Winters, I am in awe of your talent for beautiful words and soul deep ideas. You take us to dark places and lead us back to the light..even back to ourselves.
I realize the Pepper Winters has set the bar extremely high for her writing. I have read most of what she has published and I have never been disappointed. Her insight into human nature both dark and light is ever present in your characters. Eventually she takes the reader to a profound and sublime place after dragging our hearts through devastation.
Thank you for writing this, Ms. Winters. It is a triumph and comfort especially for those who have ever been manipulated into false choices by being vulnerable to the evil doers in this world. I highly recommend any reader of complicated, darker romance that stings at first to read this beautiful duet.
Absolutely Amazing! Just BRILLIANT!!
The Living Canvas is the tantalizing, and unexpected conclusion to the intense Master of Trickery Duet, and it didn’t disappoint. It picks up right where book one ended, and is a real page turner, all-consuming, captivating, heartwrenching, and entertaining wild ride.
The story is twisted, full of emotions, suspense, masterfully developed, and fast paced! This has been by far, one of the best duets I have read this year.
I highly recommend this duet if you can handle the darknest. I wasn’t able to set this book down until I had turn the final page.