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The Art of Love and Lies
“Enchanting. An art thief can't prevent love from blooming.” —Foreword Reviews, starred review
“Exciting historical romance. A tender love story.” —Library Journal
“The romantic escapades of this unlikely duo will keep readers eagerly turning pages.” —Publishers Weekly
A free-spirited artist teams up with a no-nonsense detective to capture a thief who has stolen a priceless Michaelangelo painting.
Manchester, England, 1857
Rosanna Hawkins is one of Manchester’s finest artists, even though no one knows her name. She reproduces “parlor versions” of classic masterpieces with near-perfect precision, which her employer then sells to the emerging upper-middle class families.
When the largest art exhibition ever to be held in England opens in Manchester, Rosanna is excited to visit. She meets the handsome Inspector Martin Harrison, who is head of security, and is immediately intrigued by his charm, confidence, and portrait-worthy good looks. The two spend many a flirtatious afternoon exploring the exhibition hall, discussing art, and sharing their secret hopes. Rosanna dreams of painting something original and meaningful, and Martin hopes to one day shed the shadow of his father’s notorious past.
But when they discover the theft of some of the paintings—and all the evidence points to Rosanna—she must convince Inspector Harrison she is innocent and proposes a plan to capture the real art thief.
It is a daring race to catch the criminal before he disappears with the most priceless piece in the collection—Michaelangelo’s The Manchester Madonna. If Rosanna and Inspector Harrison fail, not only will the painting be lost forever but so will their chance to paint their own happily ever after.
“Exciting historical romance. A tender love story.” —Library Journal
“The romantic escapades of this unlikely duo will keep readers eagerly turning pages.” —Publishers Weekly
A free-spirited artist teams up with a no-nonsense detective to capture a thief who has stolen a priceless Michaelangelo painting.
Manchester, England, 1857
Rosanna Hawkins is one of Manchester’s finest artists, even though no one knows her name. She reproduces “parlor versions” of classic masterpieces with near-perfect precision, which her employer then sells to the emerging upper-middle class families.
When the largest art exhibition ever to be held in England opens in Manchester, Rosanna is excited to visit. She meets the handsome Inspector Martin Harrison, who is head of security, and is immediately intrigued by his charm, confidence, and portrait-worthy good looks. The two spend many a flirtatious afternoon exploring the exhibition hall, discussing art, and sharing their secret hopes. Rosanna dreams of painting something original and meaningful, and Martin hopes to one day shed the shadow of his father’s notorious past.
But when they discover the theft of some of the paintings—and all the evidence points to Rosanna—she must convince Inspector Harrison she is innocent and proposes a plan to capture the real art thief.
It is a daring race to catch the criminal before he disappears with the most priceless piece in the collection—Michaelangelo’s The Manchester Madonna. If Rosanna and Inspector Harrison fail, not only will the painting be lost forever but so will their chance to paint their own happily ever after.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2023
52 people are currently reading
3439 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Anderson
5 books161 followersRebecca Anderson is the nom de plume of contemporary romance novelist Becca Wilhite. She is a high school English teacher and loves hiking, Broadway shows, food, books, and movies. She is happily married and a mom to four above-average kids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews
did-not-finish
March 29, 2025DNF @ pg. 45 || end of chapter 4.
I started listening to the audiobook of this and have decided that I don’t think I’m going to continue it. I’ve read another book by this author and didn’t care for the romance and this one is shaping up to be in the same vein of insta-attraction and I’m not liking the main girl. Perhaps it’s the audiobook because on a faster speed, the narrator sounds raspy and mid-aged and not the young woman this is supposed to be, but I found Rosanna to be annoying. She’s very much “not like the other girls”, doesn’t follow society’s rules to a way that would have gotten her outcasted, and then is seeing no harm in painting replicas of artwork. Maybe that last one will change by the end because I assume her broker/man-who-is-acting-way-too-familiar-with-her is up to no good. I can sometimes look past a plot where the main girl isn’t the typical young woman of her time period, but I have to like her first. The flirting also just felt silly and made me feel like a disapproving schoolmarm. I’m not caring for this one and honestly was not interested enough to continue. Oh well! Another book off of my physical TBR at least.
Broad content from what I read:
Martin comments on there being religious iconography at the art exhibition and Rosanna teases that the Italian Renaissance artists had “access to a Bible that we Philistines had no need for. The illustrated version, you know. The one that showed that babies were born with mature faces, lo these many centuries. And that particularly holy people come with ready-made halos shining atop their curls.”; She adds “have you any real need to know what an angel looks like?” and he wishes to say that “I know what an angel looks like. One stands before me this very moment.”
Mentions of religious paintings (like The Manchester Madonna, and ones with angels); A vicar stands in front of a statue and telling young ladies to protect their virtue by averting their eyes (Martin says they are walking a tight line “people have come here for an education, after all. Who are we to say what they ought to learn?” and finds this amusing).
Rosanna paints “reproductions” of art that wealthy people want to show that they are knowledgeable about it; She takes offense at being called a “copyist”; She finds no harm in doing this from the part I read.
Rosanna’s parents told her and her sisters that one of the facets of growing up was “finding fulfilling employment” and they appreciated their parents’ “expansive modern views” but not everyone does; A few more comments about expectations of men vs women and how Rosanna would have had to be a man to have been an art student.
Kisses (on cheek and top of the head) & almost kisses (a few, up to a couple sentences); Touches & an Embrace (up to a couple sentences); Flirting.
Rosanna’s art broker acts too familiar with her while kissing and embracing her (up to a couple sentences), which she doesn’t care for but thinks is her fault for not restating boundaries with her; She doesn’t really mind and feels like she should be grateful because he is handsome, employed her, and gave her compliments;
Rosanna & Martin instantly are attracted to each other and start flirting (She wishes to draw him; When he opens his arms to catch her if she falls, she thinks about stepping into his embrace; When she says a painting is delicious to the eye, he wishes to say that she is the one that is delicious to the eye;
A newspaper article shares about young couples having rendezvous and even sharing a kiss at an art exhibition.
I started listening to the audiobook of this and have decided that I don’t think I’m going to continue it. I’ve read another book by this author and didn’t care for the romance and this one is shaping up to be in the same vein of insta-attraction and I’m not liking the main girl. Perhaps it’s the audiobook because on a faster speed, the narrator sounds raspy and mid-aged and not the young woman this is supposed to be, but I found Rosanna to be annoying. She’s very much “not like the other girls”, doesn’t follow society’s rules to a way that would have gotten her outcasted, and then is seeing no harm in painting replicas of artwork. Maybe that last one will change by the end because I assume her broker/man-who-is-acting-way-too-familiar-with-her is up to no good. I can sometimes look past a plot where the main girl isn’t the typical young woman of her time period, but I have to like her first. The flirting also just felt silly and made me feel like a disapproving schoolmarm. I’m not caring for this one and honestly was not interested enough to continue. Oh well! Another book off of my physical TBR at least.
Broad content from what I read:
Martin comments on there being religious iconography at the art exhibition and Rosanna teases that the Italian Renaissance artists had “access to a Bible that we Philistines had no need for. The illustrated version, you know. The one that showed that babies were born with mature faces, lo these many centuries. And that particularly holy people come with ready-made halos shining atop their curls.”; She adds “have you any real need to know what an angel looks like?” and he wishes to say that “I know what an angel looks like. One stands before me this very moment.”
Mentions of religious paintings (like The Manchester Madonna, and ones with angels); A vicar stands in front of a statue and telling young ladies to protect their virtue by averting their eyes (Martin says they are walking a tight line “people have come here for an education, after all. Who are we to say what they ought to learn?” and finds this amusing).
Rosanna paints “reproductions” of art that wealthy people want to show that they are knowledgeable about it; She takes offense at being called a “copyist”; She finds no harm in doing this from the part I read.
Rosanna’s parents told her and her sisters that one of the facets of growing up was “finding fulfilling employment” and they appreciated their parents’ “expansive modern views” but not everyone does; A few more comments about expectations of men vs women and how Rosanna would have had to be a man to have been an art student.
Kisses (on cheek and top of the head) & almost kisses (a few, up to a couple sentences); Touches & an Embrace (up to a couple sentences); Flirting.
Rosanna’s art broker acts too familiar with her while kissing and embracing her (up to a couple sentences), which she doesn’t care for but thinks is her fault for not restating boundaries with her; She doesn’t really mind and feels like she should be grateful because he is handsome, employed her, and gave her compliments;
Rosanna & Martin instantly are attracted to each other and start flirting (She wishes to draw him; When he opens his arms to catch her if she falls, she thinks about stepping into his embrace; When she says a painting is delicious to the eye, he wishes to say that she is the one that is delicious to the eye;
A newspaper article shares about young couples having rendezvous and even sharing a kiss at an art exhibition.
August 7, 2023
“Ought you to be seen kissing an accomplice to a major theft, Inspector?”
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! I like books based on an actual historical event. In this case, it’s the Manchester, England Art Treasures Exhibition that took place in 1857. I loved the descriptions of the event and could easily picture it through the author’s writing. The story was original, romantic, and slowly built to an exciting conclusion. It’s a sweet, witty, romantic story involving art theft, mystery, and a bit of suspense.
Rosanna Hawkins has an extraordinary talent. She’s able to almost flawlessly copy world renowned paintings with exacting detail. She believes her copied paintings are meant to adorn the homes of the upper middle class who can’t afford an original. However, when her business partner becomes increasingly menacing, she begins to question her relationship with him.
As she frequently strolls the halls of the Art Treasures Exhibition, she meets a handsome “Peeler” (policeman). They share a fun friendship involving Rosanna’s playful imagination, witty banter, and an intense attraction. However, the staunchly good Inspector Martin Harrison can’t abide any form of deception after his father’s shameful past. Will he be able to overlook Rosanna’s occupation? When a famous painting is suspected of being a forgery, is Rosanna to blame?
I loved the whirlwind romance between Rosanna & Martin. They were so cute together. One of my favorite scenes involves a painting Rosanna wants to recreate with Martin to prove a point. Rosanna’s partner Anton Greystone was particularly devious and a great villain. I loved Rosanna’s sisters and am hoping there are other books in the works including their stories.
This is an art and Victorian romance lover’s dream with a swoony romance, mystery, and even Queen Victoria herself. Highly recommend and look forward to more from this author! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily given.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! I like books based on an actual historical event. In this case, it’s the Manchester, England Art Treasures Exhibition that took place in 1857. I loved the descriptions of the event and could easily picture it through the author’s writing. The story was original, romantic, and slowly built to an exciting conclusion. It’s a sweet, witty, romantic story involving art theft, mystery, and a bit of suspense.
Rosanna Hawkins has an extraordinary talent. She’s able to almost flawlessly copy world renowned paintings with exacting detail. She believes her copied paintings are meant to adorn the homes of the upper middle class who can’t afford an original. However, when her business partner becomes increasingly menacing, she begins to question her relationship with him.
As she frequently strolls the halls of the Art Treasures Exhibition, she meets a handsome “Peeler” (policeman). They share a fun friendship involving Rosanna’s playful imagination, witty banter, and an intense attraction. However, the staunchly good Inspector Martin Harrison can’t abide any form of deception after his father’s shameful past. Will he be able to overlook Rosanna’s occupation? When a famous painting is suspected of being a forgery, is Rosanna to blame?
I loved the whirlwind romance between Rosanna & Martin. They were so cute together. One of my favorite scenes involves a painting Rosanna wants to recreate with Martin to prove a point. Rosanna’s partner Anton Greystone was particularly devious and a great villain. I loved Rosanna’s sisters and am hoping there are other books in the works including their stories.
This is an art and Victorian romance lover’s dream with a swoony romance, mystery, and even Queen Victoria herself. Highly recommend and look forward to more from this author! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily given.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2023
The Art of Love and Lies is a lighthearted book talking readers on a journey of romance, artistry, thievery and suspense. This book was clean and enjoyable to read and reminded me a bit of Michelle Griep’s book The Thief of Blackfriar’s Lane because of the solving-the-case events, witty banter, and lovable characters.
All in all, The Art of Love and Lies is a fun read! Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC of The Art of Love and Lies. A positive review was not required, only my honest opinion. All thoughts are expressly my own.
All in all, The Art of Love and Lies is a fun read! Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC of The Art of Love and Lies. A positive review was not required, only my honest opinion. All thoughts are expressly my own.
March 2, 2024
uh... this didn't go well. and I'm very sad about it, because I don't like it when I don't like books.
that feels a little unfair, because honestly, I should have dnf'd it. I thought about it, at about 40%, but I really hoped it would pick up. (it didn't)
first of all, this feels like a sequel, and not in a good way. there's SO much backstory/setup/info-dumping that the actual plot doesn't start until 52% of the way through the book. up to that point, it's just endless conversations about art and anton being sleazy and martin thinking about how hot rosanna is, and I'm just... not interested? (the conversations about art were written with so much clear love for art itself that I didn't mind them, I do want to mention that. they were lovely, they were just keeping me from the plot lolll) the way the character backstories were explained felt like the author was trying to remind me of stuff I should have already known from a previous book and it was weird because I don't think this is a sequel/spin-off? (if I'm wrong, please correct me)
the romance is VERY insta-love, which I don't mind in most cases (I know I'm in the minority, but I actually find that trope quite cute) but here it didn't work for me. the main characters didn't connect on anything outside of how physically attractive they found each other and that they had "interesting" things to say. martin's fully planning their wedding by the 15% mark, and idk it was just a little meh for me.
when the actual plot pops off at 52% it was so weird that I didn't know how to feel, lol. I sensed the switch coming (because I've read/watched a lot of actual mysteries and this did nothing to turn those plots on their heads) but the fact that rosanna didn't see it coming was so baffling. (I understand that this is historical fiction assumedly set before forgeries were really a thing but still, she's involved in the art scene, shouldn't she at least be a little familiar with that side of it? ALSO anton just comes to her apartment unchaperoned and takes a whole lot of liberties with her personal space and she's just fine with it? isn't put off by it in the slightest? that's so strange for a historical novel?)
martin turns on her SO FAST it genuinely made me sit upright and go "I'm sorry??" he didn't give her the slightest chance to explain herself and then complains that she didn't tell him anything and I'm like "sir?? you didn't let her??" he just turned into a big ol' red flag for me (not as much of one as anton, but still)
rosanna deserves better. it's not her fault she's a sweet little idiot. she's doing the best she can.
so yeah, overall, kinda bleh. I'm still interested to read more from the author, but this was just not it for me. 2 stars, unfortunately.
((oh and I almost forgot to mention that the line "a man of rather clear importance if one measured such things by the height of one's top hat" made me laugh out loud so it does have that going for it 👍))
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
that feels a little unfair, because honestly, I should have dnf'd it. I thought about it, at about 40%, but I really hoped it would pick up. (it didn't)
first of all, this feels like a sequel, and not in a good way. there's SO much backstory/setup/info-dumping that the actual plot doesn't start until 52% of the way through the book. up to that point, it's just endless conversations about art and anton being sleazy and martin thinking about how hot rosanna is, and I'm just... not interested? (the conversations about art were written with so much clear love for art itself that I didn't mind them, I do want to mention that. they were lovely, they were just keeping me from the plot lolll) the way the character backstories were explained felt like the author was trying to remind me of stuff I should have already known from a previous book and it was weird because I don't think this is a sequel/spin-off? (if I'm wrong, please correct me)
the romance is VERY insta-love, which I don't mind in most cases (I know I'm in the minority, but I actually find that trope quite cute) but here it didn't work for me. the main characters didn't connect on anything outside of how physically attractive they found each other and that they had "interesting" things to say. martin's fully planning their wedding by the 15% mark, and idk it was just a little meh for me.
when the actual plot pops off at 52% it was so weird that I didn't know how to feel, lol. I sensed the switch coming (because I've read/watched a lot of actual mysteries and this did nothing to turn those plots on their heads) but the fact that rosanna didn't see it coming was so baffling. (I understand that this is historical fiction assumedly set before forgeries were really a thing but still, she's involved in the art scene, shouldn't she at least be a little familiar with that side of it? ALSO anton just comes to her apartment unchaperoned and takes a whole lot of liberties with her personal space and she's just fine with it? isn't put off by it in the slightest? that's so strange for a historical novel?)
martin turns on her SO FAST it genuinely made me sit upright and go "I'm sorry??" he didn't give her the slightest chance to explain herself and then complains that she didn't tell him anything and I'm like "sir?? you didn't let her??" he just turned into a big ol' red flag for me (not as much of one as anton, but still)
rosanna deserves better. it's not her fault she's a sweet little idiot. she's doing the best she can.
so yeah, overall, kinda bleh. I'm still interested to read more from the author, but this was just not it for me. 2 stars, unfortunately.
((oh and I almost forgot to mention that the line "a man of rather clear importance if one measured such things by the height of one's top hat" made me laugh out loud so it does have that going for it 👍))
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
February 22, 2023
Holy smokes I really enjoyed this book! Romance, action, a bit of adventure and fun banter make this story so entertaining. This is the first story I’ve read by Rebecca and I can’t wait for future books by her, and hopefully ones about Lottie and Ella!
The history came alive for me and I felt like I was in Manchester and able to walk the halls of the Art Treasures Exhibit. And while I’ve always had a deep appreciation for art, and have absolutely zero talent, this story made that love increase. Another intriguing aspect of this story was getting a glimpse of the world of art, forgery, and police/investigative work during the Victorian era.
Another weird tidbit that I completely, 100% loved about this story was how I was able to relate it a bit to the movie How to Steal a Million. This is one of my ALL time favorite movies and it was so much fun for me to find similarities.
And last but not least I need to compliment the utter perfection that is the romance in this book. Martin and Rosanna were so sweet and they were the best main characters in this story. I felt like their timeline of falling in love was believable and so well done. Their time together touring the exhibit were some of my favorite parts of the book and I loved that they were able to become closer this way.
I could go on and on how I loved this story, but I’ll just say that if you’re a fan of historical romance then this is the perfect book for you!
I received an ARC from NetGalley. A positive review was not required but happily and honestly given.
The history came alive for me and I felt like I was in Manchester and able to walk the halls of the Art Treasures Exhibit. And while I’ve always had a deep appreciation for art, and have absolutely zero talent, this story made that love increase. Another intriguing aspect of this story was getting a glimpse of the world of art, forgery, and police/investigative work during the Victorian era.
Another weird tidbit that I completely, 100% loved about this story was how I was able to relate it a bit to the movie How to Steal a Million. This is one of my ALL time favorite movies and it was so much fun for me to find similarities.
And last but not least I need to compliment the utter perfection that is the romance in this book. Martin and Rosanna were so sweet and they were the best main characters in this story. I felt like their timeline of falling in love was believable and so well done. Their time together touring the exhibit were some of my favorite parts of the book and I loved that they were able to become closer this way.
I could go on and on how I loved this story, but I’ll just say that if you’re a fan of historical romance then this is the perfect book for you!
I received an ARC from NetGalley. A positive review was not required but happily and honestly given.
March 18, 2023
A good art heist in novel is hard to resist and when inserted into a real, historical event like the Art Treasures Exhibition of 1857, anticipation mounts. The ATE brought thousands of masterpieces together for extended display and the idea that some could be replaced by forgeries during the exhibition is fascinating.
Initially, this story introduces us to Rosanna Hawkins, who is painting reproductions of masterpieces to be sold by her employer to wealthy people who are well aware that they are not buying originals. Rosanna's employer has no interest in artistic skill or merit and simply sees Rosanna as "copying" famous works. At some point, her employer switches to replacing originals on display with Rosanna's work, thereby making them forgeries. Interesting, there's no real moment when the fluidity of her work is explored. It would have made for an interesting discussion.
There are a few places where belief must be suspended and any knowledge of the time period is best forgotten. First, Rosanna is presented as the daughter of an upper class gentleman, as some of her work is being sold to wealthy neighbors of hers. However, she is living alone in a boardinghouse and we learn that she and her sisters were encouraged to find employment. Living alone and working doesn't seem to work for an upper class woman in 1857. Second, Rosanna produces nearly flawless copies of masterpieces in just days. She painted FOUR reproductions of a Michelangelo (The Manchester Madonna) in a week. She wraps the paintings up within hours and her employer hauls them off. Even those with rudimentary understanding of painting know that it takes a significant amount of time for a painting to dry and cure. It also seems impossible to replicate masterpieces in days. Again, suspend the disbelief. Third, Rosanna befriends the head of security at the art exhibition and when she realizes that her own work is on display in place of original paintings, the immediate response is too extreme to be believed.
I loved the premise here and someone without interest in or knowledge of the time period might enjoy it.
Initially, this story introduces us to Rosanna Hawkins, who is painting reproductions of masterpieces to be sold by her employer to wealthy people who are well aware that they are not buying originals. Rosanna's employer has no interest in artistic skill or merit and simply sees Rosanna as "copying" famous works. At some point, her employer switches to replacing originals on display with Rosanna's work, thereby making them forgeries. Interesting, there's no real moment when the fluidity of her work is explored. It would have made for an interesting discussion.
There are a few places where belief must be suspended and any knowledge of the time period is best forgotten. First, Rosanna is presented as the daughter of an upper class gentleman, as some of her work is being sold to wealthy neighbors of hers. However, she is living alone in a boardinghouse and we learn that she and her sisters were encouraged to find employment. Living alone and working doesn't seem to work for an upper class woman in 1857. Second, Rosanna produces nearly flawless copies of masterpieces in just days. She painted FOUR reproductions of a Michelangelo (The Manchester Madonna) in a week. She wraps the paintings up within hours and her employer hauls them off. Even those with rudimentary understanding of painting know that it takes a significant amount of time for a painting to dry and cure. It also seems impossible to replicate masterpieces in days. Again, suspend the disbelief. Third, Rosanna befriends the head of security at the art exhibition and when she realizes that her own work is on display in place of original paintings, the immediate response is too extreme to be believed.
I loved the premise here and someone without interest in or knowledge of the time period might enjoy it.
July 22, 2023
I really enjoyed Rebecca Andersons last Proper Romance so I was looking forward to reading this one but sadly I did not enjoy this story at all. With the plot being about forgeries and stolen artwork I thought there would be some mystery to the plot but there was none, we all knew exactly who had stolen the paintings. I'm not into art much so I found I didn't understand the art discussions and most of the banter went over my head. I didn't like Rosanna, she was pretentious, insincere (being true to neither Anton or Martin) and really not that clever outside the realm of art. I liked Martin but his policing was terrible, it was mere chance that he caught the criminal. The romance was the most disappointing of all, There was no growth to it, they were instantly in love yet knew absolutely nothing about each other, they chose to trust each other despite having no character knowledge to base it on. There entire love was based of banter, it was just silly.
March 10, 2023
Between 3 1/2 and 4.
Rosanna is an artist who reproduces masterpieces and sells them through a middleman who's her contact with clients. Despite her talents, no one knows who she is and the intermediary puts a lot of restrictions on her, going to great lengths to make sure she stays anonymous.
When the art exhibit opens in Manchester, Rosanna starts going every day and there she meets Martin, the detective in charge of security. At first, it doesn't look like they have much in common, but later in the story they work together to solve the mystery.
Setting the story at the exhibit makes it really stand out from other historical romances in the same time period. It was fascinating to read about it.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
Rosanna is an artist who reproduces masterpieces and sells them through a middleman who's her contact with clients. Despite her talents, no one knows who she is and the intermediary puts a lot of restrictions on her, going to great lengths to make sure she stays anonymous.
When the art exhibit opens in Manchester, Rosanna starts going every day and there she meets Martin, the detective in charge of security. At first, it doesn't look like they have much in common, but later in the story they work together to solve the mystery.
Setting the story at the exhibit makes it really stand out from other historical romances in the same time period. It was fascinating to read about it.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
June 7, 2023
Rosanna is in a position I'm sure a lot of us have found ourselves in: she's good at something that can make someone else money, and so they do their level best to quash all of her other ambitions, gaslighting her to the point where she believes her only talent is in reproducing other people's art. As the title of the book might suggest, the lies of her artwork end up getting in the way of her love with a policeman, who is predisposed not to trust thieves and crooks. And my, is he all too ready to believe the worst of Rosanna.
Although this sounds like a set up for a very frustrating novel, it surprisingly isn't. Rosanna and her beau Martin both have very believable backstories, and that he can't understand her position - and that it takes her so long to recognize that she's being used - makes a lot of sense in context. Anderson's writing is smooth and comfortable to read as well, which definitely helps. Her words are sufficiently old fashioned to make it clear that this takes place in 1857 without being self-righteously archaic, a difficult balance to achieve. There's also a clear love for and appreciation of art, which is charming. On the whole, this is simply a nice book, and hopefully Rosanna's sisters will get their own stories.
Although this sounds like a set up for a very frustrating novel, it surprisingly isn't. Rosanna and her beau Martin both have very believable backstories, and that he can't understand her position - and that it takes her so long to recognize that she's being used - makes a lot of sense in context. Anderson's writing is smooth and comfortable to read as well, which definitely helps. Her words are sufficiently old fashioned to make it clear that this takes place in 1857 without being self-righteously archaic, a difficult balance to achieve. There's also a clear love for and appreciation of art, which is charming. On the whole, this is simply a nice book, and hopefully Rosanna's sisters will get their own stories.
July 25, 2023
Such a lovely, and exciting story. Rosanna was wonderful, if not a bit naive to her situation, but I enjoyed every bit of the story. Martin was also a great to read. I thoroughly enjoyed their courtship. Martin was entranced by Rosanna and that was also fun to read. Anton was nasty villain. Each character was written well. I wanted more from Rosanna’s sisters too. The climax was quite exciting and I was turning pages so fast.
Favorite quote: “I shall, instead, hold the memory of your face within my mind and heart forever.” (Page 100)
I received an ARC from the publisher. All views and opinions are my own.
Favorite quote: “I shall, instead, hold the memory of your face within my mind and heart forever.” (Page 100)
I received an ARC from the publisher. All views and opinions are my own.
September 5, 2023
What a fun cover and I just adore that hat!
Rosanna is an independent woman--one who finds herself painting copies of famous paintings and unknowingly ends up caught in a ring of intrigue. It was fun to imagine the replicas and the painting process. Martin is a dashing investigator and it was a treat to watch their interactions.
I felt like the story was building up for the first half of the book and I wasn't sure what twists and turns it would take, if any, so it was a surprise to watch the second half unfold. While it did take a minute to get into the story, it was a ride once I did.
The romance was a bit of a whirlwind and was fun to watch develop. I loved the Victorian art experience and it was a surprise to see an appearance by the Queen herself. The mystery, intrigue, and gradually building plot made for an amusing story.
Content: a few mild moments of peril/danger; mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
Rosanna is an independent woman--one who finds herself painting copies of famous paintings and unknowingly ends up caught in a ring of intrigue. It was fun to imagine the replicas and the painting process. Martin is a dashing investigator and it was a treat to watch their interactions.
I felt like the story was building up for the first half of the book and I wasn't sure what twists and turns it would take, if any, so it was a surprise to watch the second half unfold. While it did take a minute to get into the story, it was a ride once I did.
The romance was a bit of a whirlwind and was fun to watch develop. I loved the Victorian art experience and it was a surprise to see an appearance by the Queen herself. The mystery, intrigue, and gradually building plot made for an amusing story.
Content: a few mild moments of peril/danger; mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
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March 14, 2023tl;dr
Endearing clean romance featuring a sweet couple and a lot of great historical flourishes. Gets some miscommunication drama in the back half.
Thoughts
It's clear that the author Rebecca Anderson loves art. The MC's enthusiasm is infectious - not just to other characters, but to the reader as well, and I found myself caught up in her excitement. It's this passion for art that also makes it easy to see why Martin is so immediately attracted to her. Even though our leading couple have a rather instant liking, it doesn't hit my usual instalove bumps of "but why???" and I found their relationship to be rather endearing. The plot was straightforward with stakes that kept me invested and a satisfying conclusion. To my personal distaste, the book also includes the one-two combo of miscommunication and jumping to conclusions to generate drama. Such is life. Overall, a fun and cute read for anyone looking for clean romance with a sweet couple and some well-researched historical fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Endearing clean romance featuring a sweet couple and a lot of great historical flourishes. Gets some miscommunication drama in the back half.
Thoughts
It's clear that the author Rebecca Anderson loves art. The MC's enthusiasm is infectious - not just to other characters, but to the reader as well, and I found myself caught up in her excitement. It's this passion for art that also makes it easy to see why Martin is so immediately attracted to her. Even though our leading couple have a rather instant liking, it doesn't hit my usual instalove bumps of "but why???" and I found their relationship to be rather endearing. The plot was straightforward with stakes that kept me invested and a satisfying conclusion. To my personal distaste, the book also includes the one-two combo of miscommunication and jumping to conclusions to generate drama. Such is life. Overall, a fun and cute read for anyone looking for clean romance with a sweet couple and some well-researched historical fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
December 20, 2023
2.5 /5
this was a little to insta love for me but it was cute
this was a little to insta love for me but it was cute
August 2, 2023
A Victorian era romance between Rosanna, a young artist and Martin, a police inspector. The romance is complicated by an art thief and a forgery ring. I found parts of the story to be predictable and other parts clever, if a bit unbelievable. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions are my own.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions are my own.
June 7, 2023
This is the story of Rosanna Hawkins whose upper-crust parents with progressive feminist views have allowed her to live on her own and earn her wages. Her chosen profession is as an art copyist. Rosanna visits an art exhibition regularly and creates exact copies of great artists' paintings to be sold to wealthy social climbers. She sees nothing wrong with this until she meets Inspector Martin Harrison, head of security at the exhibition, whose past involves a father arrested and deported for counterfeiting and fraud.
This newest novel from author Rebecca Anderson definitely has a more lighthearted, fun feel than her first published historical romance. The reader gets an instant sense of the heroine's naiveté and innocence as we meet the man she has entrusted with selling her paintings. As this character is compared and contrasted repeatedly with the hero, these relationships become immediately obvious to the reader. That the heroine dithers between her opinions of these two men really makes the plot drag.
The conflict for the first half of the book is largely this internal struggle of the heroine. This is coupled with a large dose of art appreciation and the development of the relationship between the hero and heroine. While there is an instant attraction between them, I was pleased to note that the author conveyed a sense of time spent getting to know each other. The only annoying thing about their relationship is how often they are both willing to jump to conclusions rather than communicate.
The second half of the book introduces the external conflict involving the theft of the Manchester Madonna. While the pacing of the plot picks up, this part felt really unrealistic to me. This conflict was far too easily resolved in my opinion and involved some behavior on the part of the heroine that felt very uncharacteristic based on what came before and after.
While I didn’t enjoy The Art of Love and Lies as thoroughly as I did this author's first foray into historical romance, I still think this is a decent story that many will enjoy. The characters are complex, and the history is interesting. The plot does move a little slowly, particularly in the beginning. But one does get a feel for what it may have been like to attend this art exhibit during this time.
2.5 stars
Read blog post: https://apricottreealcove.wordpress.c...
This newest novel from author Rebecca Anderson definitely has a more lighthearted, fun feel than her first published historical romance. The reader gets an instant sense of the heroine's naiveté and innocence as we meet the man she has entrusted with selling her paintings. As this character is compared and contrasted repeatedly with the hero, these relationships become immediately obvious to the reader. That the heroine dithers between her opinions of these two men really makes the plot drag.
The conflict for the first half of the book is largely this internal struggle of the heroine. This is coupled with a large dose of art appreciation and the development of the relationship between the hero and heroine. While there is an instant attraction between them, I was pleased to note that the author conveyed a sense of time spent getting to know each other. The only annoying thing about their relationship is how often they are both willing to jump to conclusions rather than communicate.
The second half of the book introduces the external conflict involving the theft of the Manchester Madonna. While the pacing of the plot picks up, this part felt really unrealistic to me. This conflict was far too easily resolved in my opinion and involved some behavior on the part of the heroine that felt very uncharacteristic based on what came before and after.
While I didn’t enjoy The Art of Love and Lies as thoroughly as I did this author's first foray into historical romance, I still think this is a decent story that many will enjoy. The characters are complex, and the history is interesting. The plot does move a little slowly, particularly in the beginning. But one does get a feel for what it may have been like to attend this art exhibit during this time.
2.5 stars
Read blog post: https://apricottreealcove.wordpress.c...
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October 11, 2023The Art of Love and Lies
(Proper Romance Victorian)
By Rebecca Anderson
Pub Date August 2023
If you enjoy...
🎨Well written characters
🎨Mystery Story
🎨Fast Paced Read
🎨Sweet Romance
🎨 Historical Romance
Then I recommend giving this one a go. This has been the 2nd novel I have read by this author, and I had fun. It was a perfect lighter reader after a heavy one.
I received an ARC paper back from the publishing house exchange of my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Book Synopsis: 📖
"A free-spirited artist teams up with a no-nonsense detective to capture a thief who has stolen a priceless Michelangelo painting
Manchester, England, 1857
Rosanna Hawkins is one of Manchester’s finest artists, even though no one knows her name. She reproduces “parlor versions” of classic masterpieces with near-perfect precision, which her employer then sells to the emerging upper-middle class families of Manchester.
When the largest art exhibition ever to be held in Manchester opens, Rosanna attends, excited by the chance to sketch such famous works. When she meets the handsome Detective Martin Harrison, who is head of security for the exhibition, she is immediately intrigued by his charm, confidence, and canvas-worthy good looks. The two spend many a flirtatious afternoon exploring the exhibition hall, discussing art and sharing their secret hopes. Rosanna dreams of painting something original and meaningful, and Martin hopes to one day shed the shadow of his father’s notorious past.
The couple’s blossoming summer romance takes a strange turn when Rosanna recognizes her own works on display in the exhibition hall. Someone is stealing paintings and replacing them with her parlor version reproductions. When the evidence casts suspicion on her, Rosanna must convince Detective Harrison of her innocence and proposes a plan to capture the real art thief."
(Proper Romance Victorian)
By Rebecca Anderson
Pub Date August 2023
If you enjoy...
🎨Well written characters
🎨Mystery Story
🎨Fast Paced Read
🎨Sweet Romance
🎨 Historical Romance
Then I recommend giving this one a go. This has been the 2nd novel I have read by this author, and I had fun. It was a perfect lighter reader after a heavy one.
I received an ARC paper back from the publishing house exchange of my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Book Synopsis: 📖
"A free-spirited artist teams up with a no-nonsense detective to capture a thief who has stolen a priceless Michelangelo painting
Manchester, England, 1857
Rosanna Hawkins is one of Manchester’s finest artists, even though no one knows her name. She reproduces “parlor versions” of classic masterpieces with near-perfect precision, which her employer then sells to the emerging upper-middle class families of Manchester.
When the largest art exhibition ever to be held in Manchester opens, Rosanna attends, excited by the chance to sketch such famous works. When she meets the handsome Detective Martin Harrison, who is head of security for the exhibition, she is immediately intrigued by his charm, confidence, and canvas-worthy good looks. The two spend many a flirtatious afternoon exploring the exhibition hall, discussing art and sharing their secret hopes. Rosanna dreams of painting something original and meaningful, and Martin hopes to one day shed the shadow of his father’s notorious past.
The couple’s blossoming summer romance takes a strange turn when Rosanna recognizes her own works on display in the exhibition hall. Someone is stealing paintings and replacing them with her parlor version reproductions. When the evidence casts suspicion on her, Rosanna must convince Detective Harrison of her innocence and proposes a plan to capture the real art thief."
August 12, 2023
The Art of Love and Lies is a Proper Romance full of things an art lover will love. This Victorian romance has the beautiful artist Rosanna and the serious police investigator Martin. They are brought together because of the largest art exhibition ever to be held in England in Manchester, 1857. Rosanna dreams about having her paintings in art galleries someday. Meanwhile, she's doing paintings that are copies of famous paintings. Her boss, Anton, seemed unpleasant and untrustworthy from the beginning to me. Rosanna doesn't realize what is truly happening with her paintings. Anton becomes a little violent with Rosanna at one point.
Martin is dealing with his father's sins and shady past. He admits not knowing a lot about art but is drawn to Rosanna as she shares her love of art with him. I enjoyed their witty banter as they "flirted" with one another. The romance happened quickly in this novel.
The action picks up halfway through when Rosanna and Martin are both trying to find out who stole valuable paintings from the exhibition. Time is not on their side. The deeper part of Rosanna and Martin's relationship also happens in the second half of the book. The romance is clean and some parts of the mystery you may figure out early. Readers may or may not be surprised at the end and I'm not telling. ;)
3.5-4 Stars
Martin is dealing with his father's sins and shady past. He admits not knowing a lot about art but is drawn to Rosanna as she shares her love of art with him. I enjoyed their witty banter as they "flirted" with one another. The romance happened quickly in this novel.
The action picks up halfway through when Rosanna and Martin are both trying to find out who stole valuable paintings from the exhibition. Time is not on their side. The deeper part of Rosanna and Martin's relationship also happens in the second half of the book. The romance is clean and some parts of the mystery you may figure out early. Readers may or may not be surprised at the end and I'm not telling. ;)
3.5-4 Stars
August 12, 2024
Unfortunately, I just don’t think this author is for me. I seem to always be left wanting. I enjoyed how this book started, but then the insta-love lost me. It didn’t keep me invested and a lot happens in a short time, giving me whiplash.
Thank you to Shadow Mountain for a gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.
Thank you to Shadow Mountain for a gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.
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August 14, 2023This Victorian romance uses the Art Treasures Exhibition that was held in Manchester England in 1857 as the backdrop and the author does a masterful job in describing it so the reader feels like they are right there among the paintings. Rosanna Hawkins is an artist, but her work isn’t in the exhibit. Her talent is producing “parlor versions” of masterpieces, a copy that upper middle-class families can own and show off. She goes each day to fine-tune her reproductions and while there meets Inspector Martin Harrison who is the head of security over the exhibition. They form an unlikely friendship, bonding at first over different art pieces in the exhibit, then their hopes and dreams for the future.
Read the rest of my review at Meridian Magazine https://latterdaysaintmag.com/book-ch...
Read the rest of my review at Meridian Magazine https://latterdaysaintmag.com/book-ch...
August 10, 2023
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Steam Level: 🔥 (kissing only)
Trigger Warning: brief mentions of incarcerated parent
Rosanna Hawkins has been making a living recreating famous artwork to sell to wealthy art lovers. Her boss, Anton Greystone, does the selling while she hones her skills. When Anton asks her to recreate The Manchester Madonna- a famous painting currently on display locally- she begins to see a different side to the man. As she works on her recreation, she also has a chance encounter with the handsome Inspector Martin Harrison who just happens to be helping with security at the art exhibition. As her relationship with both men changes, she begins to see that her current profession may not be as innocent as she once thought. And a crime at the art gallery will put her career and life in danger.
This book was definitely intriguing at points, but unfortunately the execution left me a bit bored. There's kind of a confusing love triangle going on, and I found it hard to understand what Rosanna saw in Anton at all. I had warning sirens going off in my head from the moment I first read his name. The romance with Martin on the other hand had a lot of potential. The moments they shared were sweet, but we didn't get enough of them. Instead we're told about all the time they spend together without seeing much of it. I liked the main conflict, but it felt a bit rushed at the end, and by then I was already a bit checked out. There's also several newspaper articles by Rosanna's sister sprinkled throughout that I honestly just skimmed since they didn't really add anything to the story. I really wanted to like this and saw the potential, but it just didn't quite come together for me.
Thank you Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Steam Level: 🔥 (kissing only)
Trigger Warning: brief mentions of incarcerated parent
Rosanna Hawkins has been making a living recreating famous artwork to sell to wealthy art lovers. Her boss, Anton Greystone, does the selling while she hones her skills. When Anton asks her to recreate The Manchester Madonna- a famous painting currently on display locally- she begins to see a different side to the man. As she works on her recreation, she also has a chance encounter with the handsome Inspector Martin Harrison who just happens to be helping with security at the art exhibition. As her relationship with both men changes, she begins to see that her current profession may not be as innocent as she once thought. And a crime at the art gallery will put her career and life in danger.
This book was definitely intriguing at points, but unfortunately the execution left me a bit bored. There's kind of a confusing love triangle going on, and I found it hard to understand what Rosanna saw in Anton at all. I had warning sirens going off in my head from the moment I first read his name. The romance with Martin on the other hand had a lot of potential. The moments they shared were sweet, but we didn't get enough of them. Instead we're told about all the time they spend together without seeing much of it. I liked the main conflict, but it felt a bit rushed at the end, and by then I was already a bit checked out. There's also several newspaper articles by Rosanna's sister sprinkled throughout that I honestly just skimmed since they didn't really add anything to the story. I really wanted to like this and saw the potential, but it just didn't quite come together for me.
Thank you Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 19, 2023
“You have stolen my heart, and I shall never be the same.”
An artist. A detective. An art exhibition in Manchester England, and a crime to be stopped.
This book had me on the edge of my seat, I had to keep reading to see what would happen next! There is a mystery, some danger and suspense. There is also a lovely love story. I loved Rosanna and Martin! They have some very sweet moments and kisses between them.
Read for:
🤍the meet cute
🤍Victorian England
🤍instant attraction
🤍an art exhibition
🤍a mystery to be solved
🤍danger and suspense
🤍sisters
🤍a sweet romance
I loved learning about the Art Treasures Exhibition of 1857 in Manchester England. I felt like I took a step back in time to visit! The author’s knowledge and love for art really shone through the pages and I loved it! I also loved how the story tied up so nicely in the end. Such a satisfying happy ending! This is a wonderful, educational, romantic, suspenseful, adventurous story that you don’t want to miss!
Thank you to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the arc copy. All opinions are my own.
Content: some violence, some dangerous situations.
An artist. A detective. An art exhibition in Manchester England, and a crime to be stopped.
This book had me on the edge of my seat, I had to keep reading to see what would happen next! There is a mystery, some danger and suspense. There is also a lovely love story. I loved Rosanna and Martin! They have some very sweet moments and kisses between them.
Read for:
🤍the meet cute
🤍Victorian England
🤍instant attraction
🤍an art exhibition
🤍a mystery to be solved
🤍danger and suspense
🤍sisters
🤍a sweet romance
I loved learning about the Art Treasures Exhibition of 1857 in Manchester England. I felt like I took a step back in time to visit! The author’s knowledge and love for art really shone through the pages and I loved it! I also loved how the story tied up so nicely in the end. Such a satisfying happy ending! This is a wonderful, educational, romantic, suspenseful, adventurous story that you don’t want to miss!
Thank you to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the arc copy. All opinions are my own.
Content: some violence, some dangerous situations.
August 8, 2023
This is a fun and lighthearted read. It’s sweet, romantic, and has some nice suspense. I especially loved the mentions of famous artist and artworks. I felt like I could see the beauty and detail of the paintings through the descriptive writing, which I loved. Very enjoyable read.
I received a digital review copy from NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I received a digital review copy from NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 13, 2023
This book surprised me. It was so different from others in the same genre. The end was a little weird but the epilogue helped. I loved the dialogue and there were some intense moments that made it hard to put down. There were some slow parts too but that was okay as it was easy to put down in those parts and come back later. There were a lot of “that was convenient” moments but I was able to roll with it through those. I liked the main characters, and the interesting insights into the art world during that time period.
August 9, 2023
I enjoyed learning about the art but really didn’t like the insta-love. There just wasn’t any chemistry for me. I did enjoy the mystery when it finally appeared in the second half of the book however by that time I was already disengaged and basically skimmed to finish the book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
August 24, 2023
What a delightful escape! This book felt like an unexpected breath of fresh air! Rosanna and Martin had such lovely chemistry and banter that made me smile and sigh. I loved the beautiful descriptions of the art. It all just felt happy.
March 2, 2024
This was a pleasant enough read but ultimately somewhat unfulfilling. I wanted more character development with Rosanna and Martin, and a deeper romance to unfold -- it was all fairly one-dimensional. I liked Martin well enough, I just didn't feel we truly got to know him. Meanwhile, Anton was so cringe-worthy, and I understand why, but I couldn't ever figure out why Rosanna would allow herself to be treated in such a way or why it took her so long to wake up to the truth. I also feel that it took too long to get to the crime and so-called "mystery" and I'm not sure if there was supposed to be any real suspense as to what was happening or who the criminal might be, but I saw through it easily. I appreciate that the author gave us something a bit more than just a romance with her plot, and that it was a fairly light mystery (no murders, etc), but I wished it had been just a bit more complex. I did really enjoy the setting with the Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition of 1847 and some of the passages discussing how Rosanna felt about art and her own artistic process were lovely.
July 29, 2025
3.5 stars! Super enjoyable but I had to take breaks in between reading 😂
August 7, 2023
3.5 stars.
Summary: Rosanna, a phenomenal artist with a creative mind is constrained to imitating other great artists. Martin, an inspector with a strict moral code is trying to get out from the shadow of his tainted family. An art exhibition brings them together but their differing opinions of right and wrong threaten to tear them apart. When an art heist further complicates matters, their independent courses to stop a thief just might bring them together in an unexpected way.
I’m a bit conflicted on this one. The premise of this story had my name written all over it. Art, Victorian romance, mystery—sign me up! The execution, however, was a bit different than what I expected.
What I liked:
I do feel like the author showed creativity and uniqueness with the plot and aspects of the characters. She flipped the stereotypical gender roles making our heroine more bold and outspoken while the hero is more on the demure side.
Little bits of dialogue and description scattered through the book I found witty and humorous. Things like: “Finally, the man approached, his graying ginger hair combed back from the peak of his forehead, side-whiskers partly concealing his somewhat pointy ears. Martin had the fleeting feeling he was speaking to a fox in the process of becoming human.” While not essential to the plot, they added to my enjoyment as I read.
Things really picked up in the second part of the book. The added danger, action, and excitement the art heist portion brought was fun and not something I’ve seen a lot of in the other proper romance books I’ve read.
The exploration of creating and enjoying art set a nice background for the story.
I know the whole “don’t judge a book by its cover” thing, but seriously, this book cover is beautiful.
What I didn’t love:
My biggest qualm is that the relationship moved too fast to have any real depth. While I wouldn’t call this insta-love (a trope I hate) the relationship between the two characters felt more like infatuation. The time between them is spent either flirting with each other or thinking about the person in their absence. We only see the beginning of their relationship, as most of the story happens in the span of a few weeks. Then, the last chapter jumps ahead several months to the happy ending (which I admit was very sweet and sigh-worthy.)But those in between months where their relationship could be explored and the reader could watch it deepen we don’t get to see, we are simply told and then we jump to the ending.
The conflict between them seemed a bit exaggerated and then resolved too quickly. I would’ve liked to have seen things drawn out a bit more and resolved more gradually.
I don’t mind introspection of the characters but at times it seemed repetitive.
I liked the characters well enough but wasn’t really invested in them. They tease and banter, which is fine, but I felt like they could’ve used a bit more substance.
I didn’t really understand Rosanna’s relationship with her employer, Anton. I felt that a few things that happened on the train wouldn’t have happened the way they did considering all the other passengers onboard (which seems almost forgot about at first.) But these were minor, and didn’t take away from the overall story.
Bottom line: I enjoyed the story well enough but it fell a little flat for me and contained tropes I personally don’t love. So whether or not you should read this really depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for a slow burn or a deep connection between the H and h, this probably isn’t for you. But if you don’t mind a whirlwind romance, you’re looking for a light read that’s a little different, or if you can’t decide between action and romance, you might like this book.
Content— Romance: Clean. Kisses only. Mild innuendo when one of the characters is trying to deceive another.
Language: None.
Violence: Present, but not graphic. A man strikes and threatens a woman. Mild danger and peril.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving a review with my honest opinion.
Summary: Rosanna, a phenomenal artist with a creative mind is constrained to imitating other great artists. Martin, an inspector with a strict moral code is trying to get out from the shadow of his tainted family. An art exhibition brings them together but their differing opinions of right and wrong threaten to tear them apart. When an art heist further complicates matters, their independent courses to stop a thief just might bring them together in an unexpected way.
I’m a bit conflicted on this one. The premise of this story had my name written all over it. Art, Victorian romance, mystery—sign me up! The execution, however, was a bit different than what I expected.
What I liked:
I do feel like the author showed creativity and uniqueness with the plot and aspects of the characters. She flipped the stereotypical gender roles making our heroine more bold and outspoken while the hero is more on the demure side.
Little bits of dialogue and description scattered through the book I found witty and humorous. Things like: “Finally, the man approached, his graying ginger hair combed back from the peak of his forehead, side-whiskers partly concealing his somewhat pointy ears. Martin had the fleeting feeling he was speaking to a fox in the process of becoming human.” While not essential to the plot, they added to my enjoyment as I read.
Things really picked up in the second part of the book. The added danger, action, and excitement the art heist portion brought was fun and not something I’ve seen a lot of in the other proper romance books I’ve read.
The exploration of creating and enjoying art set a nice background for the story.
I know the whole “don’t judge a book by its cover” thing, but seriously, this book cover is beautiful.
What I didn’t love:
My biggest qualm is that the relationship moved too fast to have any real depth. While I wouldn’t call this insta-love (a trope I hate) the relationship between the two characters felt more like infatuation. The time between them is spent either flirting with each other or thinking about the person in their absence. We only see the beginning of their relationship, as most of the story happens in the span of a few weeks. Then, the last chapter jumps ahead several months to the happy ending (which I admit was very sweet and sigh-worthy.)But those in between months where their relationship could be explored and the reader could watch it deepen we don’t get to see, we are simply told and then we jump to the ending.
The conflict between them seemed a bit exaggerated and then resolved too quickly. I would’ve liked to have seen things drawn out a bit more and resolved more gradually.
I don’t mind introspection of the characters but at times it seemed repetitive.
I liked the characters well enough but wasn’t really invested in them. They tease and banter, which is fine, but I felt like they could’ve used a bit more substance.
I didn’t really understand Rosanna’s relationship with her employer, Anton. I felt that a few things that happened on the train wouldn’t have happened the way they did considering all the other passengers onboard (which seems almost forgot about at first.) But these were minor, and didn’t take away from the overall story.
Bottom line: I enjoyed the story well enough but it fell a little flat for me and contained tropes I personally don’t love. So whether or not you should read this really depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for a slow burn or a deep connection between the H and h, this probably isn’t for you. But if you don’t mind a whirlwind romance, you’re looking for a light read that’s a little different, or if you can’t decide between action and romance, you might like this book.
Content— Romance: Clean. Kisses only. Mild innuendo when one of the characters is trying to deceive another.
Language: None.
Violence: Present, but not graphic. A man strikes and threatens a woman. Mild danger and peril.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving a review with my honest opinion.
April 14, 2023
If you enjoy a romance/ mystery novel, art, a little bit of danger and intrigue, daring, lovable main characters as well as some pretty creepy bad ones. This book is so for you!!
The story starts off a little slow, but super sweet and allows us to get to know the main characters as their lives cross paths.
Rosanna Hawkins is an exceptionally talented artist. Her forte? Reproductions, imitations, copies, forgeries, whatever one chooses to see her work as, she can make an identical piece to match great masterpieces. As such she spends a great deal of time at one of the largest exhibitions in Manchester, observing all facets of art and masterpieces.
Detective Martin Harrison is head of security for the exhibition. Upon meeting, Rosanna and Martin are quickly swept into a friendship and blooming romance while roaming the exhibition halls.
Both have such intriguing lives and pasts, but the real action is in their current lives, where there are art thefts, threats, kidnapping, chasing trains, it’s all there!
If you read the synopsis, I definitely paints a clearer picture, but if I’m being honest, I didn’t read it. I saw Proper Romance on the cover and dove right in. And I am so glad I did! The element of surprise in a book with more mystery is, for me, essential! But even if you do read the blurb, there is plenty of twists along the way to keep you in the edge of your seat! And plenty of sweet romance along the way to keep it interesting in both areas!
I will say, the beginning is a bit slower, and then it really picks up with the action, romance, all of it! But the things I learnt about art, especially great art, I left this look feeling like I read a beautiful story and learned something! Which I love! (And be sure to read the authors note to learn more of the behind the scenes that inspired it all)
My conclusion? This book is beautiful, it has this elegance that will sweep you in from the beginning with that stunning cover, and the pages within match it, with a touch of mystery added to really make this story a masterpiece! It is definitely a book to add to your shelves!
Thank you NetGalley and Covenant Communications for the complimentary e-arc of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Content: clean with a little TW
Romance: kissing
Violence: mild; threats, kidnapping, a man slaps a woman. The bad guy in this could be a trigger for some, as he is nice until he’s not, and then he’s really not.
Language: none.
The story starts off a little slow, but super sweet and allows us to get to know the main characters as their lives cross paths.
Rosanna Hawkins is an exceptionally talented artist. Her forte? Reproductions, imitations, copies, forgeries, whatever one chooses to see her work as, she can make an identical piece to match great masterpieces. As such she spends a great deal of time at one of the largest exhibitions in Manchester, observing all facets of art and masterpieces.
Detective Martin Harrison is head of security for the exhibition. Upon meeting, Rosanna and Martin are quickly swept into a friendship and blooming romance while roaming the exhibition halls.
Both have such intriguing lives and pasts, but the real action is in their current lives, where there are art thefts, threats, kidnapping, chasing trains, it’s all there!
If you read the synopsis, I definitely paints a clearer picture, but if I’m being honest, I didn’t read it. I saw Proper Romance on the cover and dove right in. And I am so glad I did! The element of surprise in a book with more mystery is, for me, essential! But even if you do read the blurb, there is plenty of twists along the way to keep you in the edge of your seat! And plenty of sweet romance along the way to keep it interesting in both areas!
I will say, the beginning is a bit slower, and then it really picks up with the action, romance, all of it! But the things I learnt about art, especially great art, I left this look feeling like I read a beautiful story and learned something! Which I love! (And be sure to read the authors note to learn more of the behind the scenes that inspired it all)
My conclusion? This book is beautiful, it has this elegance that will sweep you in from the beginning with that stunning cover, and the pages within match it, with a touch of mystery added to really make this story a masterpiece! It is definitely a book to add to your shelves!
Thank you NetGalley and Covenant Communications for the complimentary e-arc of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Content: clean with a little TW
Romance: kissing
Violence: mild; threats, kidnapping, a man slaps a woman. The bad guy in this could be a trigger for some, as he is nice until he’s not, and then he’s really not.
Language: none.
August 1, 2023
Thank you to Shadow Mountain for the ARC.
NEEDED MORE.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
The premise of this sounded truly promising. The execution? A bit lacking.
I think I really got off on the wrong foot with the insta-love. It didn’t work for me and when I clocked the percentage of the first kiss I was rather surprised. Rosanna and Martin DID grow on me and I think the core of their relationship was sweet. I just needed more of a burn to get there with them.
All of the facets about painting and artwork were interesting. I thought it was kind of cool to learn about different painting techniques and how reproductions were created and used in this time period.
In the end I really to have more from the plot. There was nothing surprising or enchanting about it. While I did like the main characters and I do think they exhibited some growth from the beginning of the book the plot itself was lacking in definition.
Overall audience notes:
- Historical Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low
- Trigger/Content Warnings: brief assault, physical altercations, theft
NEEDED MORE.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
The premise of this sounded truly promising. The execution? A bit lacking.
I think I really got off on the wrong foot with the insta-love. It didn’t work for me and when I clocked the percentage of the first kiss I was rather surprised. Rosanna and Martin DID grow on me and I think the core of their relationship was sweet. I just needed more of a burn to get there with them.
All of the facets about painting and artwork were interesting. I thought it was kind of cool to learn about different painting techniques and how reproductions were created and used in this time period.
In the end I really to have more from the plot. There was nothing surprising or enchanting about it. While I did like the main characters and I do think they exhibited some growth from the beginning of the book the plot itself was lacking in definition.
Overall audience notes:
- Historical Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low
- Trigger/Content Warnings: brief assault, physical altercations, theft
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