Sophie Hawkins is not happy with the course of her life. As an assistant in interior design, it infuriates her when her boss takes credit for her work. To make matters worse, she gets no help from her mother, who continues to demean her at every turn. Dylan Marshall hasn’t had much happiness in his life. The businessman has been known to be quite greedy and notorious. Because of a bad decision in his life, he has been cursed to live as a hermit for years. Now drifting in the restrictions of a painting, he hopelessly waits for the right person to break the curse that keeps him trapped. The one woman, he hopes to one day break the dreaded curse, has yet to make any connection with him until Sophia visits the art museum, and suddenly both their lives make a connection that could alter their current situations. Sophie finds Dylan intriguing and will do whatever it takes to help him with the dreaded curse. The more Dylan and Sophie try to break the barrier that enslaves Dylan, it appears other forces are eager to stop the couple from finding any happiness together.

I thought The Portrait was a most intriguing read. It has a way of capturing the reader from the beginning and holds tightly until the dramatic conclusion. I found Sophie a delightful character, and the way she and Dylan interact together is brilliantly penned. Together the chemistry weaves into a wonderful romance that comes to life and dances right off the pages. Crystal Inman tells a story that keeps me captivated and makes me want to revisit it many times over. I really like the way she creates Sophie as someone trapped in her own shell but in time breaks free to be what she wishes in life. The ambience in the story can be felt completely, as well as the romance between Sophie and Dylan. A wonderful paranormal with powerful characters and a touch of suspense that keeps the reader mesmerized.

Reviewed by: Linda L.