To My Senses by Alexandrea Weis

I don't read a lot of romance novels, but I'm glad I agreed to review To My Senses by Alexandrea Weis. I was intrigued by the promise of a love story involving a New Orleans debutante who doesn't crave money and status like others in her family's circle and the painter/gigolo she meets at a tea party.

Nicci Beauvoir doesn't want to take over her father's scrap business, and studying to become a nurse doesn't leave her much time for men, much to the chagrin of her cousin Colleen, her Aunt Hattie, and the rest of her family. She first sees David Alexander on the arm of Sammy Fallon, her father's main business competitor and the mother of Eddie, who has long been in love with Nicci. David is intrigued by Nicci, as she is much different than the rest of the crowd and not easily won over by his charms. He paints the scenery of New Orleans, hoping his "connection" to Sammy will generate interest in his art, but it's not until he meets Nicci that he reaches his artistic potential. Nicci is his muse. Weis does an excellent job showing the passion between Nicci and David, both sexually and artistically.

To My Senses is a standard romance: rich girl meets bad boy, boy eventually wins girl's heart, boy loses girl. But thankfully, the book is so much more. Not only does Nicci have to come to terms with her feelings for David, but she also must find herself. After she and David part ways (I won't give the reason away), she decides she can never fall in love again but immediately starts a relationship with Dr. Michael Fagles, a psychiatrist whose main concern is money and status. Nicci goes from being an independent, intelligent woman to someone who puts up with a man telling her she needs to dress more conservatively and keep her thoughts to herself. Of course, in true romance style, David is not gone for good.

I hated the ending, but I must clarify my thoughts here. The ending was great--character evolution, no loose ends, compelling story. But I didn't expect it, and it wasn't what I wanted. Weis pulled an Anita Shreve on me, changing the course of the entire book in one paragraph. Boy, I haven't shed a few tears at the end of a book in awhile. When I closed the book, I still had 40 minutes of my afternoon commute left, and I couldn't do anything but stare out the window and contemplate. To me, that shows why To My Senses is much more than just a romance novel. To top it off, the book is beautifully written. Here's my favorite passage:

I open my eyes and suddenly the world looks completely different, like a veil has been removed from before me. It is the same world, but I see everything around me in a new way as if the darkness of the past has been replaced by the light of a new beginning. (page 336)

To My Senses is a good choice if you enjoy a passionate love story, intriguing characters who bare their flaws and all, and a vivid setting. If you're a painter, a writer, or any other artist, you'll appreciate the struggles the main characters encounter during the artistic process.

To My Senses also was reviewed by:

A Bookworm's World
Bookopolis
A Reader's Respite
You've GOTTA read this!
Pudgy Penguin Perusals

If you've also reviewed it, let me know in the comments, and I'll add your link!

Disclosure:  I received a free copy of To My Senses from the author for review purposes.