Painted Lady

by Piper Davenport

There’s a fine line between love and death, and I am that line.


Evangeline
My mother was my first pimp.
I was six.

To say my life has been a game of survive and adapt is an understatement.

But now some sexy-ass, glorified cater-waiter has walked into my life and messed with my perfectly crafted world and I need to find a way to walk him back out.

Permanently.


Shep
The media called me a hero.
The Department called me a shining example of Savannah’s fellowship of firefighters.
I just wanted to be left the fuck alone so I could cook.

After early retirement, I traded in my axe for a chef’s knife, convinced I was done putting out fires.

Little did I know that a brush with a beautiful but troubled woman was about to set my world ablaze.


Clarke
After twelve years of devotion to the NYPD, I was out on my ass and blacklisted for doing the ‘right thing.’

Exiled to Shitville, USA, and sentenced to serve the remainder of my life as a small town sheriff, busting petty teenage criminals and meth heads.

However, when a pair of unsolved cases continues to haunt me, I’m drawn to what could be the biggest case of my career, but it could also cost me my soul.

Genres: Contemporary, Amazon, Ebooks, Abuse, Mystery

263 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 27, 2024

About the author

New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Piper Davenport writes from a place of passion and intrigue, combining elements of romance and suspense with strong modern-day heroes and heroines.

She currently resides in the Pacific Northwest with her author husband, Jack Davenport, and an obnoxious YorkiePoo named Pepper who may or may not be an international spy.

Reviews

[Mrs Moa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hot and steamy, reverse morally grey, serial killer dark romance.

Trafficked by her own mother as a young girl, Evangeline has found her own unique way to heal - providing a safe haven for young abuse victims, documenting her life in her best selling biographies and killing her past tormentors and rapists.

Shep is a fireman turned private chef. A chance meeting sees an instant connection form between Evangeline and insightful Shep. Their romance is hard and fast.

A tenacious ex-homicide detective is hot on Evangeline’s heels and threatens to upend her carefully curated life.

🖤 found family
🖤 she’s morally grey, he’s a golden retriever
🖤 instant connection
🖤 serial killer
🖤 suspense
🖤 spicy

I particularly love how Evangeline is the hero in her own story and Shep is her bonus chapter.

🖤🖤Highly recommend, love Evangeline and Shep’s story🖤🖤

🖤 Please check the trigger warnings 🖤

I was sent this book by the authors and all opinions are my own.

[MissPetiteBrunetteBookBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

A former firefighter turned chef, a troubled girl turned advocate and a disgraced detective turned small town Sheriff lives all intertwine in this dark and twisted mystery. Evangeline Monroe had a horrid upbringing which is why she helps save children as an adult. When she holds a charity event at the place chef Shep Waller is working they have an instant connection. When bodies keep plying up a Sheriff Andrew Clarke tries to figure out what’s happening. I can’t say much more other than nothing is as it seems. This has very dark themes and is not for the faint of heart. Twisted & Dark. Told in first person and multiple POV.

[CK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read! First time author for me and this book had me hooked! Great job!

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing story by two of my favorite authors! This page turner tale is different from their other stories but just as intriguing! I couldn't put it down! I loved how characters from their other series are mentioned in this book! Really ties everything together and pulls you into their world they’ve created!

You are pulled into the story from page one and you are in for a wild ride with all the twists and turns of these amazing characters! You will be on the edge of your seat until the very end.

If you like intrigue and mystery that's on the darker side, you will thoroughly enjoy Shep, Clarke, and Evangeline as their lives are brought together in ways you never would guess.

WARNING: This book contains sexual abuse, trafficking, and gore that some readers may find disturbing or be triggered. For those who choose to continue, you won’t be disappointed!

[Emma Matkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I read this book in about one day because I could not put it down. This was a mystery and romance all rolled into one story. Evangeline, Jack, and Shep were all such complex characters and you get to see the POVs from all 3 of them. If you love the Mindf*ck series by S.T. Abby you should definitely give this book a try! A female vigilante is one of my favorite types of characters. I loved the romance and it didn't overshadow the mystery in any way. Sometimes in other books the romance dilutes the rest of the tropes and themes, but the Painted Lady was a perfect combo of both. Painted Lady is written by a husband and wife bestselling author duo which is so unique and I look forward to reading more from both of them.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Painted Lady is a bit different from the usual books from these authors (who are a wife and husband team) but I enjoyed it for the most part! It was definitely a lot darker than most of their stories but I think it was done in a good way. I love the idea of a victim turned vigilante but I would have liked that part of the story to be fleshed out a bit more. The last few chapters did seem a little rushed through, as did the relationship development between the characters but I loved the twists and turns it took. It should also be noted that this is not a standalone story as there are more books featuring these characters in the works. One other thing was that there were a lot of grammar and spelling issues throughout which could be a little distracting at times.

[Ann L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow, what a fantastic story this is, Evangeline is a survivor of a terrible and traumatic childhood, and is now a successful author and speaker and also the founder of a home for abused and trafficked children, on one of her talks she meets Shep Waller, friend of Doom (Dogs of Fire MC, Savannah), they have an instant attraction but she has a very big secret and doesn’t like to get close, however Shep has other ideas. When Sheriff Andrew Clarke reveals he knows it, drastic action is needed.

Honestly this is an emotional story and near the end I cried but oh what a twist there was to make me smile.

[BecReadReview · Rating 4 out of 5]

Painted lady definitely has taken a ride in the dark. I had mixed feelings about Lina as i discover who & what she was. There was a line between admiration & fustration. Shep was a cute character you instantly like but gets you thinking are you for real as it gets darker. I enjoyed the rush of how fast the pace was & the twist that sneaked making me so mad. Love the snippets of other characters we know & love. Definitely a book that entertains. Honest review.

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something new and completely different from two of my favorites. When I say I was drawn in, I mean it was from page one. Unwinding the words and trying to follow along, the story of Evangeline, Shep and Clarke just kept twisting me in different directions. Their story is filled with major issues and can be triggering for some. The characters have a depth that adds layers to them and the story that we uncover with each turn of the page. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of these characters.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 star!!

I have read all of Piper's books and all of Jack's books. The two collaborating on this book, brilliant! I have to say this is my favorite book of this year. I read a lot of books! I love a book that can surprise me and this one did. I don't want to give anything away. I highly recommend this book. It's one you will not be able to put down. Evangeline and Shep are great characters, along with the rest. Just a great read. Thank you Piper and Jack.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never actually read these authors before, however I think I will be reading them again.
I really enjoyed this book, which kept me on the edge of my seat and couldn't put down.
It was a dark twisted and emotional romance mystery book surrounding 3 main characters which Intrigued me. I found it to be well written, with a great storyline and well developed characters.
Lots of triggers however it does have a happy ending.

[Audrey Krofchick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book made me speechless! It was so good. This book is different than any other book they both have written, but it was incredible! Evangeline was a warrior! This book had many twists and turns in it. You will love Evangeline, Shep and Clarke. I highly recommend it!! It is in the darker side but you won’t be disappointed.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book was so different from what these authors normally write but I was sucked in from the start.
This story really flowed and Evangeline was a true warrior! I found myself rooting for her at every turn of the page.
This book is like taking a wild ride on the dark side, but it’s so worth the journey!
I recommend going in totally blind and just enjoy the ride!

[Stéphanie Fraser · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am disappointed that I didn’t enjoy this book as I met the authors and they were lovely. It wasn’t my usual style of book which is why I think I didn’t enjoy it as much as some others.
The printing in my copy was also off which I don’t think helped. I wish I had tried one of their MC books to start off with first.

[Brandy Glaser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has TRIGGERS. It's not a cutesy love story. It's gritty, traumatic, mind bending at times. Think of Pride and Prejudice meets Dexter meets Criminal Minds! DARK places where LIGHT is fragile, cherished.

[Michele Del Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was wow!! I don't want to say to much but this book has some dark themes and some twists and turns about these three characters that lives intertwine. I was amazed at this book and read it with my mouth open most of the time. But, the book was amazing.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a dark romance lover so I was a little nervous going into this story because I went in BLIND, but I am glad I took the plunge! This is not a cute feel good story! This is dark and gritty and full of mystery and I was hooked from page one!

[Amour.Rebelle.Reads (Bran.d) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Painted Lady" by Piper and Jack Davenport is a gripping read that kept me hooked with its suspenseful plot and strong characters. If you're a fan of AR Torre, like I am, you will find this book just as engaging. It's definitely worth checking out if you're looking for something new!

[Victoria Wyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first by Piper Davenport. I have to say I really was impressed. The three characters Clarke, Evangeline and Shep have an intriguing story. Clarke does the unexpected which was a douche move. Not to spoil it but it is worth taking a chance on reading.

[Dawn Ireland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a hard read

I only found two bloopers, so that’s in this books favor. The subject matter was very tough to get through, but the characters were drawn up as real people. The plot was well thought out, just reiterating it was tough to read.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read

Well this was different. 3 characters but what a journey and what’s surprise. Nice little cameo role for the dogs of fire but this was Evangeline’s story primarily with the oh so gallant Shep and twisted Clarke. Quite the story and well, wow. Highly recommend.

[Debbie Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very unique story. This was not a story line that I would have normally read the whole book but it was written so well that I stayed intrigued and enjoyed it a lot. Great job Davenport. Great collaboration. Thank you for opening delivering something so unique.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy moly this was AMAZING. I’ve devoured every book by the Davenport husband and wife team and loved them but this was UNBELIEVABLY the best

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent 🙂

[Marsha Stearns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding. Not my usual genre, but I was hooked for the first page.

[Wendy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW such a fantastic read. A strange tale of a former victim striving to achieve what law enforcement fails to do. Evangeline is a cunning, duplicitous as well as a courageous serial killer of men that the law enforcement seem to let slide under the radar. I absolutely loved her and Shep’s story ❤️❤️❤️ She found a man she could love and trust, who had her back and knew her every secret. I was totally absorbed into this novel, couldn’t put it down. A definite page turner and so very thrilling and entertaining. 100% recommend this book to everyone ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ you will not be disappointed 😎🖤

[Jill Bridgeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wild ride this one sent me on. So many twists and turns. I was on my toes the whole time trying to figure out who the killer was and was completely shocked to figure out who it turned out to be. But the signs were all there now that I reflect back on what I read. Excellent! I hope Piper and Jack bring us more just like this one soon.

[Trudy Dowling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am speechless. I have been silenced by all of the emotions I experienced reading Painted Lady. I was shocked by how much I enjoyed the “dark side” of the story. I found myself looking forward to what Evangeline would do in the future.

"Vengeance is Mine" seems to be Evangeline’s creed. There are times when it seems to be the only option. I can see where she thought she was right. How else would those that hurt her be punished? She is so detailed in her actions that it made for wonderful reading. I'm not sure I want to crawl in the authors brains, but Holy Moly!!!! I was in awe of Evangeline, not only for her vengeance, but her dedication to protecting others.

The romance in Painted Lady shone brightly. If there was ever a character that deserved love it is Evangeline. Her travels as an author gives her that chance. Shep and Evangeline might not have called if love at first sight, but the chemistry steamed up my kindle. Shep and Evangeline just work.

There is a lot going on in Painted Lady making for a story I refused to put down. The thrill of not knowing what would happen had me on the edge of my seat, sometimes leery for what the next page might contain.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review For a honest review. Wow this was fantastic over coming Evangeline Monroe's past ,now she need to make another choice for love or obsession.

[MN Book Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was quite different from anything I've read by Piper and Jack Davenport. Also, check trigger warnings before going into this book.

Evangeline survived immense trauma from her childhood and has come out a better, well-adjusted person and she is now an author writing about her journey and runs a home to help kids who went through what she did. On her latest tour, she meets Shep, a personal chef with whom she clicks. She also meets Clarke, a small-town sheriff who thinks he knows what Evangeline has been up to in her spare time. So while falling for Shep, Clarke blackmails Evangeline to get what he wants. So what happens when she has to choose between the two?

This is a romance book and ends with a happy ending that I don't want to spoil.

This book deals with past trauma of SA and how one character chooses to live her life after getting away. While the encounters are not fully detailed on the page, please be aware of this when going into the book.

While the books I've read by either of the Davenports in the past have been lighter and fun from the beginning, this was a heavier book and subject matter. But in true Davenport fashion, there was a satisfying end to the story and I'm happy with where the story went. I do wonder what all happened in the MMC's past that he was able to accept Evangeline's choices and how she sought revenge.

I received an advance review copy from the authors and I am leaving this review voluntarily.