The art of love and lies

Review by Booklist Review

In 1857 Manchester, England, gifted painter Rosanna Hawkins dreams of creating original works, but presently she is painting professional imitations of masterpieces to support her life as an independent woman. Her newest assignment, to reproduce a recently discovered work by Michelangelo, takes her to the Art Treasures Exhibition, where a flirtatious chance encounter with detective Martin Harrison lights her heart with possibility. But the dangerous implications of her work are revealed when Rosanna finds herself at the center of a forgery investigation, and she must find a way to prove her innocence and regain the trust of her handsome detective. Anderson's latest, following Isabelle and Alexander (2021), is a lovely proper romance that features the delightful tension between desire and deceit amid the halls of Manchester's real-life Art Treasures Exhibition. Anderson is richly descriptive in her detailing of artistic composition and impressions and equally gifted in her revelations of the conflicted human heart. Her characters and the novel's featured artwork come to life in a story that is visually elegant, emotionally engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

A talented artist and a very proper police inspector team up in the appealing latest Victorian romance from Anderson (Isabelle and Alexander). In 1857 Manchester, England, artist Rosanna Hawkins, a young woman ahead of her time, earns a decent living painting reproductions of fine art for Manchester's elite. Her latest project is reproducing The Manchester Madonna, an unfinished painting by Michelangelo, the original of which graces the walls of the city's Art Treasures Exhibition. Inspector Martin Harrison, who's in charge of the exhibit's security, quickly becomes enthralled with Rosanna and asks her to attend the exhibition with him on the day of Queen Victoria's visit. Problems arise, however, when that morning Martin discovers that someone has broken into the exhibition hall and replaced many priceless artworks with Rosanna's replicas. Though Martin initially believes her to be involved in the thefts--and even has her arrested--Rosanna's able to convince him of her innocence, offering to work with him to apprehend the true thief. The ensuing romantic escapades of this unlikely duo will keep readers eagerly turning pages. It's a chaste yet undeniably alluring romance. (Aug.)

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Review by Library Journal Review

In this exciting historical romance set in 1857 Manchester, England, Rosanna Hawkins paints reproductions of masterpieces for upper-middle class socialites, so when the city hosts a large art exhibition that includes a Madonna study by Michelangelo, Rosanna quickly attends to view many famous artworks to use in her reproductions. While there, Rosanna literally runs into detective Martin Harrison, who manages security for the exhibition. As an apology, he gives her a tour of the show, and the two continue to meet and grow close. When Martin believes he has foiled an attempted theft of the Michelangelo, Rosanna examines it, in addition to other artworks, and realizes that several of her reproductions now hang in place of the originals. Initially suspicious, Martin blames Rosanna, while Rosanna tries to clear her name and find the real thief. But she and Martin will have to work together before the real thief escapes and the art is lost forever. Some readers may find that Martin's hasty but temporary condemnation of Rosanna feels jarring and makes their happily-ever-after feel incomplete. VERDICT Anderson's (Isabelle and Alexander) latest stand-alone features a tender love story between a gentlewoman painter and a detective trying to rise above his difficult childhood.--Eve Stano

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