The Art of Love and Lies

De: Rebecca Anderson

Narrado por: Justine Eyre

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.

It is a daring race to catch the criminal before he disappears with the most priceless piece in the collection—Michelangelo’s Manchester Madonna. If Rosanna and Detective Harrison fail, not only will the painting be lost forever but so will their chance to rekindle their romance and paint their own happily ever after.

©2023 Becca Wilhite (P)2023 Blackstone Publishing

Artfully Done

I enjoyed this book a great deal. It was quite different than most romances set in this time period. It was truly refreshing to read a story of a woman who was independent without being classified as a spinster and who wanted more to life than just an advantageous marriage and “at home” days. The banter between the main characters was clever, Rosanna’s personal growth was satisfying, and the end was utterly charming.

For those who care, this is a clean romance and there is no vulgarity of any kind. A smart, witty, delightful story with a dash of action.