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Counterfeit
AMATEUR. MASTER. UNWILLING RECRUIT. Dr. Richard Reed, wealthy professor and connoisseur of fine art, becomes a temporary member of Interpol’s Experts Group to stop the flow of fraudulent paintings. He feels sure he has found a master copyist when he zones in on an attractive tourist, Kendra Cooper. Kendra, who scrimped for years to travel to Amsterdam and study originals of the great masters, has much to teach the professor. His most likely suspect becomes his strongest asset in the fight against frauds until a dealer in counterfeits strikes back. Cutting off the flow of millions makes Kendra his target. As professional partnership grows into personal devotion, Richard and Kendra combat greed to gain what cannot be bought.
Audible Audio
Published September 9, 2026
About the author
Lee Carver
24 books24 followersLee Carver is once again failing at retirement, a hybrid author in every sense: fiction and nonfiction, traditionally and independently published. She also does freelance editing, formatting, and print book and e-book uploads as well as being a Stephen Minister, singing alto in the choir, crocheting with Prayer Shawl Ministry, and playing piano, among other activities. Married forty-nine years to a very supportive man, they have two adult children and five grandchildren.
During her husband's international career, Lee lived and reared their two children in Greece, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Indonesia, Brazil, and Spain. She has visited about 49 countries, settings which become material in her novels. After her husband's retirement, they served as volunteer missionaries in the Brazilian Amazon, where he used his military training as a pilot. The Carvers have settled in Fort Worth, where they remain active in aviation and community missionary concerns.
www.LeeCarverWriter.com
http://LeeCarverWriter.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/lee.carver.507
https://www.pinterest.com/leecarver2
During her husband's international career, Lee lived and reared their two children in Greece, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Indonesia, Brazil, and Spain. She has visited about 49 countries, settings which become material in her novels. After her husband's retirement, they served as volunteer missionaries in the Brazilian Amazon, where he used his military training as a pilot. The Carvers have settled in Fort Worth, where they remain active in aviation and community missionary concerns.
www.LeeCarverWriter.com
http://LeeCarverWriter.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/lee.carver.507
https://www.pinterest.com/leecarver2
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 18, 2017
This is a very interesting mystery. The story grabs you right from the beginning and does't disappoint. The main characters are very well developed and you feel like you are getting to know them personally. I thought several times I had the ending but was pleasantly surprised. I do wish that what happens to some of the bad guys were made known, but that's not a big deal and leaves the book open to a sequel. The story flows well and I actually did not want to put it down and would fall asleep reading because I would read so late into the night. The editing was well done with only a small amount of errors, mostly in punctuation. The story is set in modern times and is mostly believable, though you wouldn't expect this to happen and this adds to the enjoyment. You will not be disappointed if you like a good mystery that is an easy read. In depth enough to keep you interested but not so much to be like a text book. The love of God is shown and Kendra's faith well detailed. But, this is not a preachy book. This is my own, honest review. I was given this book through Bookfun.org.
March 20, 2017
I was thrilled when I found out I was going to get to read this book. I love the author and think her writing is very detailed. Kendra is a wonderful character and I loved her artistic ability. When she travels to Amsterdam I felt like I was there with her. The vivid description is easy to imagine and the history of the place was well researched. Throughout the book I enjoyed the various artwork the author included and I appreciate the time she took to be precise about it.
Kendra is a long way from home but decides what a wonderful place to improve her skills. She starts to paint famous paintings and is quite good at it. Her ability catches the eye of several people. One will suspect she is copying art and selling it as her own. The other person has more selfish and unlawful intentions towards her work. The story is suspenseful and it made me think what a great movie this would be. The art world has come to life in this fast paced book with interesting characters and a plot to put counterfeit art on the unsuspecting market. It's a race to catch the imposter as the book keeps you guessing . Thank you for your beautiful story that helps readers understand art better and takes us behind the scenes to a world few people get to experience.
I received a digital copy of this book from the author and The BookClub Network. The review is my own opinion.
Kendra is a long way from home but decides what a wonderful place to improve her skills. She starts to paint famous paintings and is quite good at it. Her ability catches the eye of several people. One will suspect she is copying art and selling it as her own. The other person has more selfish and unlawful intentions towards her work. The story is suspenseful and it made me think what a great movie this would be. The art world has come to life in this fast paced book with interesting characters and a plot to put counterfeit art on the unsuspecting market. It's a race to catch the imposter as the book keeps you guessing . Thank you for your beautiful story that helps readers understand art better and takes us behind the scenes to a world few people get to experience.
I received a digital copy of this book from the author and The BookClub Network. The review is my own opinion.
August 22, 2025
Kendra is an innocent among a world of art thieves and forgers--but a smart one! And young university professor Dr. Richard Reed, loaned for the summer to Interpol, works out of Amsterdam to discover art forgers. Take an exciting whirl through Europe and learn how criminals forge art, and how their forgeries are revealed. And no, it is not illegal to copy the great artists--until the forger also signs the painting as the original artist. Then selling the work at current prices makes the forger and his middleman wealthy and guilty.
A suspenseful but clean story, with added conflict between the wealthy professor and the scraping-to-get-by summer art tourist. As professional partnership grows into personal devotion, Richard and Kendra combat greed to gain what cannot be bought.
A suspenseful but clean story, with added conflict between the wealthy professor and the scraping-to-get-by summer art tourist. As professional partnership grows into personal devotion, Richard and Kendra combat greed to gain what cannot be bought.
May 10, 2017
Set in Amsterdam, Counterfeit features a strong female protagonist in Kendra Cooper who finds herself a suspect in painting counterfeit art. The book begins with Dr. Richard Reed working with Interpol to catch a counterfeit art ring. I learned more about the art world and several European countries through this suspenseful book. I enjoyed Counterfeit and recommend it to others. I received my e-book from the author through Book Fun. This is my honest opinion.
May 17, 2017
Reviewed at Online Book Club. I received a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
January 28, 2017
Associate professor of art Richard Reed is on loan to Interpol from Emory University in Atlanta. On the trail of a master forger, he's sure he's found his "man" when he zeroes in on American tourist Kendra Cooper. Kendra's suspicious behavior, added to the painting she just sold a local dealer - an exact copy of Vermeer's 'The Milkmaid' - leads him to raid her room where he finds even more copies of famous paintings. Her claims of innocence fall on deaf ears, after all, they can see with their own eyes that she can copy the masters AND they know she sold at least one of them.
Kendra Cooper saved for years to travel to Amsterdam to study the original paintings of the Dutch masters. She has studied them from afar for years but there's nothing like seeing them up close to see exactly how they applied the oils, what their paint strokes looked like and exactly what their colors looked like. A painter herself, she learned from her college professor that there is money to be made in copying the masters. The more exact the copy, the more the painting is worth. As long as she doesn't sign the name of the original painter, it's not a forgery and there is nothing illegal about copying. When her museum asks her to check out a painting that's for sale in a local gallery, she takes the opportunity to show the dealer her copy of 'The Milkmaid.' He snaps it up and the next day she receives a call from the man who bought it asking her to 'finish it by adding the Vermeer signature.' She refuses, knowing this is the line that she must draw between guilt and innocence. Returning from another morning spent at the Rijksmuseum, she is horrified to see police cars surrounding her boarding house. She is even more horrified to find officers searching her room. When they arrest her and haul her in for questioning using her own art as evidence, she doesn't understand what she might have done.
Is she a master forger or an innocent art fan? As Kendra convinces Richard and the police of her innocence, she is drawn into the investigation. Not only is she a great copyist, she has an amazing eye for possible forgeries. Who better to spot a copy being passed off as an original than someone who can imitate the masters' brushstrokes down to the minutest detail? As dangerous men begin to take notice of what Kendra is doing, can she and Richard stay one step ahead of those who want to silence them?
This is great suspense with a little romance thrown in to keep it even more interesting. I liked how Kendra not only talked the talk of being a Christian, she quietly walked the walk as well, holding to her Christian principles even though stepping outside of them would have brought her substantial financial gain. I also liked that she was a smart, knowledgeable asset in the Interpol investigation in spite of the fact that she holds an "underling" job in a Fort Worth museum and has always been undervalued by her remaining parent. She knows her stuff and proves it again and again.
Lee Carver was a "new-to-me" author. If you haven't tried her books yet, I definitely recommend Counterfeit. It was well worth my time!
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
Kendra Cooper saved for years to travel to Amsterdam to study the original paintings of the Dutch masters. She has studied them from afar for years but there's nothing like seeing them up close to see exactly how they applied the oils, what their paint strokes looked like and exactly what their colors looked like. A painter herself, she learned from her college professor that there is money to be made in copying the masters. The more exact the copy, the more the painting is worth. As long as she doesn't sign the name of the original painter, it's not a forgery and there is nothing illegal about copying. When her museum asks her to check out a painting that's for sale in a local gallery, she takes the opportunity to show the dealer her copy of 'The Milkmaid.' He snaps it up and the next day she receives a call from the man who bought it asking her to 'finish it by adding the Vermeer signature.' She refuses, knowing this is the line that she must draw between guilt and innocence. Returning from another morning spent at the Rijksmuseum, she is horrified to see police cars surrounding her boarding house. She is even more horrified to find officers searching her room. When they arrest her and haul her in for questioning using her own art as evidence, she doesn't understand what she might have done.
Is she a master forger or an innocent art fan? As Kendra convinces Richard and the police of her innocence, she is drawn into the investigation. Not only is she a great copyist, she has an amazing eye for possible forgeries. Who better to spot a copy being passed off as an original than someone who can imitate the masters' brushstrokes down to the minutest detail? As dangerous men begin to take notice of what Kendra is doing, can she and Richard stay one step ahead of those who want to silence them?
This is great suspense with a little romance thrown in to keep it even more interesting. I liked how Kendra not only talked the talk of being a Christian, she quietly walked the walk as well, holding to her Christian principles even though stepping outside of them would have brought her substantial financial gain. I also liked that she was a smart, knowledgeable asset in the Interpol investigation in spite of the fact that she holds an "underling" job in a Fort Worth museum and has always been undervalued by her remaining parent. She knows her stuff and proves it again and again.
Lee Carver was a "new-to-me" author. If you haven't tried her books yet, I definitely recommend Counterfeit. It was well worth my time!
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
January 28, 2017
I always enjoy reading a novel where I learn something and here it was about art fraud. Our hero is Dr. Richard Reed. He's taken the summer off from his university teaching duties to work with Interpol in their art fraud division. He meets Kendra Cooper, a librarian for a Texas art museum. She has taken a few weeks vacation in Amsterdam to study the masters. When Reed sees her closely inspecting and then photographing paintings, he is sure he has found a part of an art fraud ring.
The setting is Europe, mostly Amsterdam. There is quite a bit of action and some suspense. I was a little disappointed in the suspense as I felt it was predicted, caused by a dumb move on the hero's part, especially in light of previous dangerous encounters.
The major characters are pretty well developed. Dr. Reed is from a wealthy family while Kendra had to work her way through college. Their budding romance has to bridge that financial hurdle as well as the difference in their family structure.
The most interesting aspect of the novel by far is the information about art. The author has included many facts and tidbits about well known artists and their works. It was interesting to learn about art being hidden, say during WW II, and then discovered later. But some of the “found” art turn out to be contemporary forgeries. I also found out how forgeries are identified, sometimes something as simple as the age of the packing material.
I recommend this novel to those who enjoy a novel as much about a topic as it is romance and suspense. You'll learn quite a bit and enjoy a goof plot too.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through The Book Club Network. My comments are an independent and honest review.
The setting is Europe, mostly Amsterdam. There is quite a bit of action and some suspense. I was a little disappointed in the suspense as I felt it was predicted, caused by a dumb move on the hero's part, especially in light of previous dangerous encounters.
The major characters are pretty well developed. Dr. Reed is from a wealthy family while Kendra had to work her way through college. Their budding romance has to bridge that financial hurdle as well as the difference in their family structure.
The most interesting aspect of the novel by far is the information about art. The author has included many facts and tidbits about well known artists and their works. It was interesting to learn about art being hidden, say during WW II, and then discovered later. But some of the “found” art turn out to be contemporary forgeries. I also found out how forgeries are identified, sometimes something as simple as the age of the packing material.
I recommend this novel to those who enjoy a novel as much about a topic as it is romance and suspense. You'll learn quite a bit and enjoy a goof plot too.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through The Book Club Network. My comments are an independent and honest review.
January 16, 2017
Counterfeit by Lee Carver
Was interested in this book because of the art and travel, knowing I will be learning new things in this book.
Starts out with a woman who's in Amsterdam and travels to the local art galleries and is able to take pictures. She is observed and followed at times.
When Kendra returns to her room she is able to paint what she had pictures of-not forgery but selling her work as her interpretation due to the brush strokes, etc. When she is leaving a prestigious gathering she realizes the painting she just passed was not the same as when she first saw it that night she tells others and she is now suspect to the forgery.
The men, Richard and Martin want her to work with them as they want to catch the thief. Enjoying not only the discussions of art but the places she travels to, the sights she is able to see. Love how the author describes them all in detail.
When everything she had was stolen she agrees to help Interpol with the information she knows-they will pay for her meals, room, etc for her expertise. Many times others have tried to kidnap her-to use her painting talent to their benefit....
Like how prayer helps her to keep going and able to overcome fears she has and how others notice she prays before each meal. Love the connection of crochet. Other works by the author are highlighted and summarized at the end. Like writing style of this author, can't wait to read more.
I was given the book by the author via Book Fun (The Book Club Network) and this is my honest review
Was interested in this book because of the art and travel, knowing I will be learning new things in this book.
Starts out with a woman who's in Amsterdam and travels to the local art galleries and is able to take pictures. She is observed and followed at times.
When Kendra returns to her room she is able to paint what she had pictures of-not forgery but selling her work as her interpretation due to the brush strokes, etc. When she is leaving a prestigious gathering she realizes the painting she just passed was not the same as when she first saw it that night she tells others and she is now suspect to the forgery.
The men, Richard and Martin want her to work with them as they want to catch the thief. Enjoying not only the discussions of art but the places she travels to, the sights she is able to see. Love how the author describes them all in detail.
When everything she had was stolen she agrees to help Interpol with the information she knows-they will pay for her meals, room, etc for her expertise. Many times others have tried to kidnap her-to use her painting talent to their benefit....
Like how prayer helps her to keep going and able to overcome fears she has and how others notice she prays before each meal. Love the connection of crochet. Other works by the author are highlighted and summarized at the end. Like writing style of this author, can't wait to read more.
I was given the book by the author via Book Fun (The Book Club Network) and this is my honest review
November 28, 2016
Kendra Cooper is on a vacation to Amsterdam and uses her artistry to copy the Masters she has studied in the towns museums. She is harmlessly painting them for fun and to hone her own craft. Dr. Richard Reed an American art professor and wealthy arts patron is also in Amsterdam to assist Interpol with discovering who is behind a counterfeit art ring.
Ms. Cooper is in the wrong place at the wrong time and arouses Dr. Reed's suspicion that she is a copyist for the criminals who want to sell the fake artwork at any cost, human or otherwise.
Lee Carver brings the art world to life and the intrigue behind the scenes of one of the world's finest museums.Her characters are life-like and ones you can feel for as they go through the emotional roller coaster in parts of this book. I'm excited to read more stories from this author who you can clearly tell does her homework.
Ms. Cooper is in the wrong place at the wrong time and arouses Dr. Reed's suspicion that she is a copyist for the criminals who want to sell the fake artwork at any cost, human or otherwise.
Lee Carver brings the art world to life and the intrigue behind the scenes of one of the world's finest museums.Her characters are life-like and ones you can feel for as they go through the emotional roller coaster in parts of this book. I'm excited to read more stories from this author who you can clearly tell does her homework.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews