Sigh.

Some love stories end with a sigh.

Definitely there is a sigh because the romance ends well before the
reader is ready to close the book or part company with the
characters. Possibly there is a sigh because the characters are
reminiscent of true passionate loves we have personally known or
whispered breathlessly about with friends. And, maybe, just maybe,
there is a sigh because the tale is so powerfully evocative of our
own fantasy romances.

FLESH TONES ends with a sigh.

M. J. Rose's heroine Genny Haviland loves Slade Gabriel, a
successful artist featured in her father's swanky uptown New York
gallery. And Slade Gabriel adores Genny, a bright and somewhat
precocious gallery intern. Rose's third book is about a boundless
(sigh) love that transcends a litany of obstacles. First, Slade is
married to someone else. Second, Genny is 20 years his junior (and
only 17, to boot). And, finally, it appears that Genny may have
assisted Slade with his own suicide. If you hear an ethical echo,
it is a faint one. Rose treads on all these taboo issues while
never really passing judgment on them. She leaves that up to you to
do. Her goal is to tell a story of love --- maybe even obsession
--- in the tradition of stories like THE ENGLISH PATIENT and
REBECCA. And she succeeds.

The book opens with Genny, now 38, facing a jury of her peers in
the murder trial for her deceased lover. The telling of their
affair unfolds through flashbacks, mostly triggered by courtroom
testimony. Rose weaves seamlessly in and out of the present day and
20 years earlier, focusing equally on both. The earlier scenes are
hypnotic --- erotic and intelligent portrayals of Genny and Slade's
attraction to each other and the ultimate consummation of their
attraction. Rose paints a beautiful picture of a slightly troubled
and dark artist, without being cliché, who finds light in his
love interest and sometimes subject. Rose's descriptions of Slade's
art and the inspiration for his work are captivating. The romance
is breathtaking.

The courtroom scenes are a framework for the recounting of the
affair but they too are strongly written and compelling. They
introduce just enough doubt into Genny's motivation to keep the
present day story suspenseful. Central to the decision of guilt is
the question of whether or not Genny truly loved Slade or if she
was unhealthily obsessed with him. Their love seems beyond
question, and yet, there's just enough teasing detail thrown in to
make one wonder. Was Slade dying from a debilitating disease as
Genny claimed, and was she just doing what any loved one would do
if found in the same situation? Or were there other factors
influencing her, like her devotion to her father?

Intelligent and fast paced, FLESH TONES introduces the world of art
houses and galleries, courtroom drama, and palpable passion. Rose
leaves readers wanting more (sigh) --- like any good love story
should --- more of Genny and Slade's undying love for each other,
even in the face of death.