What do you think?
Rate this book
The Painted Sisters #1
Painted Trust
A WOMAN RIPE WITH DARK, SENSUAL SECRETS FLEES FOR HER LIFE ... A BRILLIANT MAN ENCASED IN THE MACABRE WORLD OF THE DEAD AND DYING WHO WANTS HER ... A FLEDGLING KILLER TESTING HIS WINGS ... AND AN INSPECTOR WITH HIS UNLIKELY ASSISTANT WORKING TO HUNT THE KILLER DOWN. It is a dark, macabre and Gothic world that Miss Edith Appleby flees as a man who no longer wants her alive hires a groomed killer to do the job. But Edith has a plan, it requires a forged medical degree, one she plans on stealthily acquiring from the dangerously alluring Dr. Anthony Vaughn, Edinburgh's most eminent forensic surgeon. Never had a woman climbed under his skin and burrowed so deep as his new staff member, Miss Edith Appleby. She carried a light that banished the darkness creeping into his soul. It had been a long time since he thought he could trust someone, since he let anyone close, she clearly had secrets but how bad could they really be? Inspector Morrison and his newly acquired assistant, Master Brody, are assigned to a case officials fear is the Ripper returned or a copycat killer. Neither are surprised at the mode of killing, they have seen his tests and trials fished out of the Thames and know he's just getting started. Moreover, bigger powers are at play behind the killings; men of power with networks in every branch of public office, every political party and every prominent family tree; men who may be impossible to find and impossible to stop. 'Holland takes readers once again on a tantalizing tour through the darker side of Victorian England...' ~ RTBookReviews 4 STARS HOT for The Painted Heart prequel to PAINTED TRUST
- GenresRomance
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 2, 2018
27 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Elsa Holland
16 books82 followersElsa Holland writes lush, sensual stories set in Victorian England. They skirt the edge of gothic eroticism and dark romanticism giving them a rich, moody feel (which has nothing to do with the bowl of chocolates at the side of her keyboard or the pictures she chooses for her desktop). Her heroines walk fearlessly through the dark and her heroes are exactly the kind of men you secretly want to find there.
She lives with her Viking-stock husband and her follow-you-everywhere dog, in semi-tropical Queensland, Australia.
She lives with her Viking-stock husband and her follow-you-everywhere dog, in semi-tropical Queensland, Australia.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Want to read
August 14, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/14/2020)! 🎁
March 7, 2018
Review written: March 7, 2018
Star Rating: ★★★☆☆
Heat Rating: ☀☀☀☀☼
I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book for review as a result of an author call for reviews. I have not been paid in any way for this review, nor did I agree to write a positive review. I have also purchased the book.
After reading The Painted Heart, I was quite eager for the new turn in the Velvet Basement stories. The Painted Sisters series is an offshoot of that series and I eagerly awaited Painted Trust. After all, we met Edith and the Skinner and the whole conspiracy.
Unfortunately, Painted Trust just did not live up to its promise. While I loved the suppressed passion (and visible passion) of The Painted Heart, Edith and Vaughn's slow burn and abrupt about-faces just didn't work as well. There was an appropriate amount of push-pull. After all, Edith is in a terribly precarious position. Unfortunately, Vaughn seemed somewhat over the top in his reactions. Eccentric he may be, but sheesh!
Edith seemed mostly level-headed despite the danger she was in. But, she was particularly isolated and her inability to trust anyone made her act in ways that were not in her best interest. As a strong character, I liked Edith. As a woman in a precarious position in precarious times, I think she was drawn well. I was impressed with her work ethic and her planning to save herself. As a character, I often felt something was lacking in Edith, though.
Vaughn was intriguing, but his tendency to over emote and his bitterness and possessiveness did not sit well. I liked his profession and I enjoyed the glimpses of his surgery and his work. These contributed to an almost gothic feel to Painted Trust, which I did like. His reaction to an unveiling felt so over the top and disconcerting. But, he was certainly an interesting combination of Victorian-era straitlaced and also Victorian-era kinky. (A specific scene comes to mind here.)
But while Edith and Vaughn made me want to cringe sometimes, Morrison and his new assistant, Brody, stole the show for me. I was fascinated from jump with the two of them and when my suspicions were confirmed, I was thrilled. I very much enjoyed the investigative work (which led to a small scene with Blackburn, who predictably was particularly careful with Elspeth). The work attempting to find and catch the Skinner held my interest, especially when we began to get glimpses from the Skinner himself.
Painted Trust is an interesting book with three main storylines: Edith and Vaughn, the attempt to catch the Skinner and save the remaining Painted Sisters, and the odd relationship between Morrison and Brody. All three are integral to the book, but it also made Painted Trust far less romantic and fractured the book a bit. Additionally, the ending was quite abrupt and took me off guard. I would have preferred a bit more at the end.
Overall, I like the story and I like where I perceive the series is going. I hope we don't lose too many of the Painted Sisters to the Skinner. I hope to see more of Blackburn and maybe a little of Elspeth despite his intense protection of her.
ARC vs. Final Editions
This review is ©March 2018 by Monique N. and cross-posted to Amazon.
Star Rating: ★★★☆☆
Heat Rating: ☀☀☀☀☼
I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book for review as a result of an author call for reviews. I have not been paid in any way for this review, nor did I agree to write a positive review. I have also purchased the book.
After reading The Painted Heart, I was quite eager for the new turn in the Velvet Basement stories. The Painted Sisters series is an offshoot of that series and I eagerly awaited Painted Trust. After all, we met Edith and the Skinner and the whole conspiracy.
Unfortunately, Painted Trust just did not live up to its promise. While I loved the suppressed passion (and visible passion) of The Painted Heart, Edith and Vaughn's slow burn and abrupt about-faces just didn't work as well. There was an appropriate amount of push-pull. After all, Edith is in a terribly precarious position. Unfortunately, Vaughn seemed somewhat over the top in his reactions. Eccentric he may be, but sheesh!
Edith seemed mostly level-headed despite the danger she was in. But, she was particularly isolated and her inability to trust anyone made her act in ways that were not in her best interest. As a strong character, I liked Edith. As a woman in a precarious position in precarious times, I think she was drawn well. I was impressed with her work ethic and her planning to save herself. As a character, I often felt something was lacking in Edith, though.
Vaughn was intriguing, but his tendency to over emote and his bitterness and possessiveness did not sit well. I liked his profession and I enjoyed the glimpses of his surgery and his work. These contributed to an almost gothic feel to Painted Trust, which I did like. His reaction to an unveiling felt so over the top and disconcerting. But, he was certainly an interesting combination of Victorian-era straitlaced and also Victorian-era kinky. (A specific scene comes to mind here.)
But while Edith and Vaughn made me want to cringe sometimes, Morrison and his new assistant, Brody, stole the show for me. I was fascinated from jump with the two of them and when my suspicions were confirmed, I was thrilled. I very much enjoyed the investigative work (which led to a small scene with Blackburn, who predictably was particularly careful with Elspeth). The work attempting to find and catch the Skinner held my interest, especially when we began to get glimpses from the Skinner himself.
Painted Trust is an interesting book with three main storylines: Edith and Vaughn, the attempt to catch the Skinner and save the remaining Painted Sisters, and the odd relationship between Morrison and Brody. All three are integral to the book, but it also made Painted Trust far less romantic and fractured the book a bit. Additionally, the ending was quite abrupt and took me off guard. I would have preferred a bit more at the end.
Overall, I like the story and I like where I perceive the series is going. I hope we don't lose too many of the Painted Sisters to the Skinner. I hope to see more of Blackburn and maybe a little of Elspeth despite his intense protection of her.
ARC vs. Final Editions
This review is ©March 2018 by Monique N. and cross-posted to Amazon.
March 13, 2018
This is the second book in the Painted Sisters series. The Painted Sisters are beautiful women trained to be canvasses. Their bodies, covered in tattoos, are works of art and their skin belongs to rich, powerful “Collectors”. “The Painted Heart” was a 5 star read. Although this is a stand alone book, I recommend reading the books in order.
Edith, one of the Painted Sisters, is running from her Collector and a killer. Her plan is to leave England after she obtains a forged letter of recommendation and a medical degree using her new employer, Dr Anthony Vaughn’s signature and his degree. The chemistry between them is electric from the start. Edith is intelligent, vulnerable and has secrets which she needs to keep for her safety and Anthony’s. Anthony is dedicated to his patients and his profession, gruff, demanding and has been betrayed by love. This is not a typical romance. There is a serial killer, vivid descriptions of what he does to the victims’ bodies and the sadistic Collector who sends the killer after Edith. There’s also Inspector Morrison and his side kick. The author gives enough clues as to who “the pup” is which makes Morrison’s attempts to make a man out of his assistant very entertaining.
For beautiful images of Victorian clothing, tattoos, etc, visit Elsa Holland Books Pinterest pages.
Edith, one of the Painted Sisters, is running from her Collector and a killer. Her plan is to leave England after she obtains a forged letter of recommendation and a medical degree using her new employer, Dr Anthony Vaughn’s signature and his degree. The chemistry between them is electric from the start. Edith is intelligent, vulnerable and has secrets which she needs to keep for her safety and Anthony’s. Anthony is dedicated to his patients and his profession, gruff, demanding and has been betrayed by love. This is not a typical romance. There is a serial killer, vivid descriptions of what he does to the victims’ bodies and the sadistic Collector who sends the killer after Edith. There’s also Inspector Morrison and his side kick. The author gives enough clues as to who “the pup” is which makes Morrison’s attempts to make a man out of his assistant very entertaining.
For beautiful images of Victorian clothing, tattoos, etc, visit Elsa Holland Books Pinterest pages.
March 14, 2018
All good things must come to an end...at least until the next book comes out.
This is another exquisite novel by Elsa Holland and so worth the wait. The characters and the world Holland created is just magical and will captivate the reader and leave them longing for more. I look forward to the next book in this series.
This is another exquisite novel by Elsa Holland and so worth the wait. The characters and the world Holland created is just magical and will captivate the reader and leave them longing for more. I look forward to the next book in this series.
May 2, 2018
Elsa Holland writes some of the most original and thought provoking historical romances currently being written. Her characters are often ones that many might overlook but that standout and shine brilliantly garbed in her words. The Painted Trust takes readers to an intriguing clandestine society that test limits and ignores social norms. Yet there is no judgment from Ms. Holland as she extracts goodness from places readers will least expect and makes being different if not acceptable a place that one might find unexpected beauty and desire.
Anthony and Edith were intelligent and complex characters. Neither fit the standard role of a romance hero or heroine but surprisingly they exceeded every expectation with their honest portrayals and unique details. The Painted Trust was captivating from the first page with Ms. Holland's extensive background research and mesmerizing storyline. The underground society that this work explored was rich in detail and was perfectly accompanied by a riveting suspense element that was not only fascinating but highly entertaining. This writer's ability to take pain and make it a means to not only survive but bring out her characters potential merits mention. Don't expect to walk away from an Elsa Holland book without being effected on multiple levels whether they are the pleasure of reading a good romance or contemplative over the choices made in circumstances that you would not ever expect yourself to be experiencing. With each new Elsa Holland book it is hard not to become more and more in love with this author's storytelling.
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.*
*While part of a series this book can be read as a stand alone although it will enhance readers overall experience to read the previous books.*
Anthony and Edith were intelligent and complex characters. Neither fit the standard role of a romance hero or heroine but surprisingly they exceeded every expectation with their honest portrayals and unique details. The Painted Trust was captivating from the first page with Ms. Holland's extensive background research and mesmerizing storyline. The underground society that this work explored was rich in detail and was perfectly accompanied by a riveting suspense element that was not only fascinating but highly entertaining. This writer's ability to take pain and make it a means to not only survive but bring out her characters potential merits mention. Don't expect to walk away from an Elsa Holland book without being effected on multiple levels whether they are the pleasure of reading a good romance or contemplative over the choices made in circumstances that you would not ever expect yourself to be experiencing. With each new Elsa Holland book it is hard not to become more and more in love with this author's storytelling.
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.*
*While part of a series this book can be read as a stand alone although it will enhance readers overall experience to read the previous books.*
March 5, 2018
When your skin is worth more than your life
I’ve been waiting for this book since I first read The Painted Heart, the prequel to this book, and it did not disappoint.
Edith is a rejected Painted Sister whose Collector has gone rogue and now her life is in danger. While she studied Anatomy & practiced on cadavers in her basement laboratory at the Hurley’s, she has no formal education nor degree which she can use to get a job or aid in her escape.
Dr Vaughn is known as “The Butcher” because most of his patients come to him when it is too late & he must amputate a limb. He is also jaded in the field of love, hurt by a betrayal.
The forbidden chemistry Dr Vaughn & Edith share, is off the charts both in their job & sexually, however, Edith’s deception of the man she is falling for, knowing that what she will do, will be the kiss of death to anything they may build, breaks her heart. Dr Vaughn tries to break through Edith’s exterior, knowing that she is exactly the woman he wants and needs in his life and his future.
I’m excited to see what is next for both the Painted Sisters series, and the Velvet Basement series. I’m not sure what’s coming next, but I’ll be reading it!
I’ve been waiting for this book since I first read The Painted Heart, the prequel to this book, and it did not disappoint.
Edith is a rejected Painted Sister whose Collector has gone rogue and now her life is in danger. While she studied Anatomy & practiced on cadavers in her basement laboratory at the Hurley’s, she has no formal education nor degree which she can use to get a job or aid in her escape.
Dr Vaughn is known as “The Butcher” because most of his patients come to him when it is too late & he must amputate a limb. He is also jaded in the field of love, hurt by a betrayal.
The forbidden chemistry Dr Vaughn & Edith share, is off the charts both in their job & sexually, however, Edith’s deception of the man she is falling for, knowing that what she will do, will be the kiss of death to anything they may build, breaks her heart. Dr Vaughn tries to break through Edith’s exterior, knowing that she is exactly the woman he wants and needs in his life and his future.
I’m excited to see what is next for both the Painted Sisters series, and the Velvet Basement series. I’m not sure what’s coming next, but I’ll be reading it!
February 11, 2021
This is my favorite book from the Painted Sister Series (so far). Elsa Holland’s writing is decisively original and the Painted Sister series shows a dark Victorian world in which a woman's skin is a commodity, transformed into works of art for exhibition and owned by men (the collectors) who may or may not really care for the woman under the skin, and who may not hesitate in having they killed in order to preserve her skin. This is Edith's and Anthony's story: Edith, a painted sister with an interest in forensics and no formal training, is running for her life after her collector decides she is not longer wanted and has a scape plan that involves a false medical degree and emigrating; and Anthony, an eminent surgeon with demons of his own. Two damaged souls, a burning attraction, murder and danger are the ingredients that make this book irresistible. The stories in this series are dark, uncomfortable and really hot. Elsa Holland at her best! I would recommend reading first The Painted Heart for context.
March 4, 2018
Painted Trust is a very graphic and intense book. This is not a book for a quick afternoon read. It is full suspense, mutilation, and a murder investigation into the deaths of women who have their skin peeled off of them. That being said even though the subject matter may be hard for some readers to read this book will entice you to continue to turn page after page to figure out who and why these murders are taking place. The author has done her homework and attention to detail is excellent. Edith and Anthony are an unlikely couple and that is why they work so well. As Anthony becomes more involved with Edith we see more of his human side. The medical aspects of this book and how they play into the investigation of the murders is a little overwhelming but does not distract from the story at all. This is the first story I have read by this author and it did grow on me. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to become absorbed in a story.
April 17, 2018
***This book contains scenes that could trigger emotional distress. Unfortunately, that is not noted anywhere in the description.***
I read the Velvet Basement series, which I loved, and have been anxiously waiting for the start of The Painted Sisters. I was not disappointed. Ms. Holland does a wonderful job of creating a story and letting it flow to the end. I never feel as though she has left any unconnected dots. She makes it easy to understand the point of view of the characters, even if you don't agree with them or want to be part of their world. I certainly didn't want to run out and buy ropes and whips after reading The Velvet Basement, but I had an understanding of how those characters felt about their use and an appreciation for what would be considered unethical in their communities. Quite the opposite of how I felt after reading FSOG, which I did not enjoy (or the movie). The Velvet Basement series and The Painted Trust are gothic romances, murder mysteries, thrillers and historical fiction wrapped together.
I read the Velvet Basement series, which I loved, and have been anxiously waiting for the start of The Painted Sisters. I was not disappointed. Ms. Holland does a wonderful job of creating a story and letting it flow to the end. I never feel as though she has left any unconnected dots. She makes it easy to understand the point of view of the characters, even if you don't agree with them or want to be part of their world. I certainly didn't want to run out and buy ropes and whips after reading The Velvet Basement, but I had an understanding of how those characters felt about their use and an appreciation for what would be considered unethical in their communities. Quite the opposite of how I felt after reading FSOG, which I did not enjoy (or the movie). The Velvet Basement series and The Painted Trust are gothic romances, murder mysteries, thrillers and historical fiction wrapped together.
March 29, 2018
I'm a huge Elsa Holland fan, and Painted Trust did not disappoint. The plot is intriguing and the characters stayed with me long after I finished the story. Ms Holland creates a world that is lush, relatable and just a little bit dark. She is a master story-teller, and if you're looking for a fabulous read, you'll love Painted Trust.
March 2, 2020
A wonderfully delicious series by Elsa Holland
I first read Elsa Holland's The Velvet Basement Series. And absolutely loved then So different dark gothic romance suspense and everything else. Cannot wait for the next book in the series
I first read Elsa Holland's The Velvet Basement Series. And absolutely loved then So different dark gothic romance suspense and everything else. Cannot wait for the next book in the series
April 22, 2020
I think this book is great however I think I would have liked it more had I read the previous series first. Still 5 stars from me though and I will absolutely be reading the first series now while I wait for the next book in this series.
July 1, 2020
Dark and sensual thriller- even though this is Book 1, you should read the Painted Heart first as it will make a lot more sense. Whilst the genre is primarily romance, the historical dark crime plot is reminiscent of the Alienist. 4 stars!
March 6, 2018
This will be 5 stars I’m sure if it’s better spell checked / edited.
The sentence starting ‘she would ruthlessly’ has a word missing and a spelling mistake!
The sentence starting ‘she would ruthlessly’ has a word missing and a spelling mistake!
April 5, 2022
Freaking love this series. Reading the prequel is necessary, imo.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews