Guest Review: Painting Class (Chiaroscuro #1) by Suzanne Clay

Ainsley's first gallery showing is way out of her comfort zone. After teaching high school art for over a decade, she can't think of anywhere else she'd rather be than the classroom, and especially not in front of a crowd of strangers ogling her paintings.

Salvation comes in the form of an insightful young woman who coaxes Ainsley to open up about her inspiration, her drive, and her sexuality. Sparks fly before Ainsley realizes that the young woman is her former student, Noma, freshly graduated from college. As Ainsley fights to reconcile her memories of Noma with the woman she's become, they fall into a playful game of dominance and submission that will change their relationship forever.

Reviewer: Shee Reader


Our story opens at an art gallery exhibition where the artist, Ainsley, is hiding with her friend and drinking wine. When pushed out of her hiding place to mingle, she wanders over to a sort-of-familiar, striking young woman and listens to her thoughts on the painting she’s focused on.

In the course of the conversation, Ainsley recognises Noma, who had been a student of hers in her high school art class. Noma has since graduated college, and has come to see her favourite teacher’s gallery show.

The attraction is immediate, but Ainsley tries to quash it. Noma used to be her student after all. Fortunately for the reader, Ainsley is no match for Noma’s persistence and she soon agrees to show her studio to Noma, and paint her.

Things escalate quickly, this is a shortish story after all. The sexy times are beautifully written and the promise of more for our lovely women is tantalising.

I enjoyed the writing and will definitely look out more work by this author. This is a short, sexy, pleasing read. Recommended!

I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.