The Shadow Portrait

Continuing with my reviews of the series, I'd have to say this is a refreshing book. Gilbert takes two storylines and meshes them well together.The year is 1907. Phil Winslow has recently returned from a tour of Europe and is restless. He goes home to the ranch in Montana but soon sets his sights on New York City, home of a great art institute. Through a stange turn of events, he becomes acquainted with the Lanier family. The oldest child, Cara, dabbles in paint herself, and is challenged by Phil to paint more than soulless flowers.Peter Winslow is returning to New York City with his friends Easy Devlin and Jolie Devorak to compete in automobile races. He also meets a Lanier, in the form of oldest boy, Clinton. He soon gets caught up with wealthy socialite Avis Warwick and, against his friends' advice, allows the woman to ride in his car during a race. Tragedy strikes, leaving Peter with a load of guilt and Jolie with a burden of anger and jealousy. Phil looks for a way to help the Lanier children break free from their father's grasp, but only when Clinton defends his sister's honor do the walls come crashing down.

I found this book to be as wonderful as the other House of Winslow books just as I had expected! I have enjoyed this series imensley and cannot wait for the next book. You will find it hard to set this book down once you start! Cara plans to stay in her room the rest of her life painting sad things, but Phil surpriseingly changes her mind. Will love bloom as well? Peter thinks Jolie is too young but she's fallen for him. They've been through so much together but she feels self-concise about her scar. Will he fall for another woman? Jolie finds herself soon having to care for the one Peter may love. Can she do it? To find out you have to read it! Happy reading!

Gilbert Morris continues to produce engaging works that entertain and challenge. In The Shadow Portrait, Morris mixes history, romance and the pursuit of artistic vision. While a bit formulaic (many fiction series are), I have enjoyed each and every book in the series and look forward to more!