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Kindle Edition eBooks Details
  • B00QPO23YG
  • 321 pages
  • $$2.99
Vivian Winslow
Author
The Dahlia Trilogy (The Gilded Flower Series)

Adult; Romance; (Publish)

THE COMPLETE DAHLIA TRILOGY OF THE GILDED FLOWER SERIES (Contains all three books: Blue Dahlia, Black Dahlia and Red Dahlia)
Reviews
Sarah Mel from Smut and Bonbons Book Blog

You’ll remember Dahlia from the Gilded Lily trilogy. She wasn’t one of my favorite characters then because of the way she tried to prevent a disaster marriage for her identical twin, Lily. Dahlia has always been more of the rebel sister. When she was younger, she left the nest partially to get out from under her parents’ thumbs. I suspect the intent was also to agitate her morally questionable mother. Sadly, I have found that D seems to have similar values even if she doesn’t want to admit it.

Before committing to move to Miami with Rodrigo, she has to clear up something from her past. She decides to ask her husband for a divorce herself and in person. By going she opens herself up to a painful past and someone she feels was tainted by her family, more specifically her conniving mother. What will happen when she faces her events from long ago?

The first part is surprisingly one of the more tame installments in the Gilded Flower series. I don’t expect that to last long at all. It sets everything up for a showdown in Miami. I’m curious as to whom Dahlia will choose because both men, Rodrigo and Shane have some great qualities. I even initially thought they were both too good for her. After reading this, my dislike for Dahlia has lessened quite a bit. I think her parental influences have molded her into a character with questionable morals but I realize now she tends to do what she does with good intentions even if it raises a few eyebrows. I can’t wait to see how her story unfolds.

The second part drops so many bombshells it’s not funny. When I received the email about it, it actually asked not to give any spoilers please and it might hurt not to. I thought there’s no way it can be that intense and unexpected. Let’s face it many romance and erotica books tend to follow patterns or formulas all with subtle difference in the details. Nothing wrong with that, in fact, I tend to enjoy getting my happy ending. In the case of this novella, I was wrong. This one starts off with a bang and doesn’t stop. Here’s what I expected: additional male characters pulled into the story so Dahlia has more choice. It happened with Lily’s story. Her entire trilogy was surrounding 5 men and which she would end up with. So far this one has two but with Dahlia’s history of loving her one night stands, how is it there have only been two men? Well, we do get more men in this one but it’s how they unexpectedly come about which left me speechless.

This installment in many ways has more to do with Dahlia’s character than her love life but those two facets are intertwined. She has to journey to find out who she is but with the unforeseen assistance of an old woman, she discovers she can’t be just one person who never changes. Good and bad will happen to her but she isn’t cursed in spite of her mother’s belittlement and how she broke up Lily’s engagement in the very first Gilded Flower. Struggling with what the future holds, Dahlia first needs to learn to forgive herself so she can move forward and uncover her true purpose.

This last installment picks up with the search for her child. She truly has to go through both a physical and emotional journey to look for her lost girl. Her best friend, Vi, connects her with a private investigator and the globetrotting begins again but this time with a purpose. I can remember back in the first Gilded Flower book how atrocious I thought Dahlia to be and now as her story wraps up, I may like her more that Lily. She’s materialized as a strong woman with somewhat of a free spirit. Not always approaching situations with the appropriate means she does always have the best intentions. Interestingly, I realized towards the end of the book this final piece is less of a romance for Dahlia and a man and more of her love for a child; however, there is a great and somewhat subtle ending for D too.

Also, Vi’s backstory emerges with much intrigue. So now the curiosity for her trilogy overwhelms. I also suspect Rosa, a frequent partier/cousin in Miami, will have her own trilogy in the future.

Formats
Kindle Edition eBooks Details
  • B00QPO23YG
  • 321 pages
  • $$2.99
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