Review - Drowning Rapunzel by Annette Gisby

Title: Drowning Rapunzel

Author: Annette Gisby
Genre: Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Pink Petal Books

Cover Designer: Valerie Tibbs

Format: Ebook

Length: 217 pages

Buy Links: Pink Petal Books | Kindle | Nook 

Book Description:

Recently released from a mental institution, Beth Gregory accepts a job as a live-in secretary/PA to the reclusive painter Josh Warrington. Beth's long red hair fascinates him from the first moment he sees her and Josh wants her to be his Rapunzel for a series of fairy tale paintings he's working on.

Beth has two major fears: that she will be sent back to the mental hospital and the visions which landed her there in the first place will return. They do; this time giving her glimpses of murders before they happen. Beth becomes the main suspect in the murder investigation and then she has the most disturbing vision of all: she will become the next victim...

My Review

Somewhat of a play upon the children's fairy tale, Drowning Rapunzel, a dark Gothic romance with paranormal elements by Annette Gisby, captured my attention from the first page.  With a likable heroine and hero, interesting secondary characters, and a well developed mystery, Ms. Gisby takes us into the world where nothing is quite as it seems.  Dealing with visions, depression and mental health issues, Drowning Rapunzel, is very entertaining.

Recently released from a mental institution, Beth Gregory wants to find a job, move out of her aunt's house and move on with her life.  Applying for the position of secretary for a reclusive artist, with room and board provided, seems like the perfect job. At least until she starts having visions of women drowning in the lake on the property.  Shaky from her experiences in the mental home, Beth first finds herself a suspect and then begins to have visions of her own death.

Wealthy, attractive and very reclusive, famous painter Josh Warrington needs a personal assistant.  When he first meets Beth, he realizes she's the perfect model for his commissioned painting of "Rapunzel", especially with her waist length red hair.  Usually a loner, Josh soon realizes Beth is not only the ideal assistant, she's someone he would like to know outside of their work.  Especially when he learns about her visions.  He knows she's going to need his protection.

The scenes between Beth and Josh are entertaining and well done, both damaged people, they soon realize there's potentially more to their relationship than just work.  When Beth agrees to model as "Rapunzel", Josh definitely sees the real Beth, who's usually hidden.  Ms. Gisby did a good job developing their relationship, while providing us with the story on Beth's life before her stay in a mental institution.  We also get to experience Beth's fears for her mental health and her panic attacks.

The secondary characters are well done and all contributed something to the plot from Beth's aunt Sarah, to her brother Andrew and Andrew's new wife Jill.  We also meet Josh's sister Carol, his drunken brother in law Robert, and his nanny/housekeeper Flora, who's somewhat of a sinister characters.  There's also a well developed villain who's been killing women for years, women who in some way remind him of Beth - the final masterpiece he has sinister plans for.

Will Beth and Josh's love survive her "visions"?  Will they be able to uncover the identity of the serial killer?  Read Drowning Rapunzel to find out.  I really enjoyed it and if you like a good, Gothic mystery.....I think you will too!

My Rating:  4.5 out of 5 Crowns

FTC Disclosure:  I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review.