Rosanna Hawkins is a wonderful artist. She can reproduce famous works of art and make the indistinguishable from the original. She is excited when an art exhibit comes to town and provides her the opportunity to sketch more famous works of art. She even meets the handsome Detective Martin Harrison, who is the head of security. However, she notices some of her reproductions on display at the exhibit. Someone is taking the originals and replacing them with her reproductions. Working together, and possibly falling in love, Rosanna and Martin must find the culprit.

I enjoyed this book! I love Rebecca Andersons writing style. The star is compelling and a hard to put down book! I cannot wait to read more of her books!

"The Art of Love and Lies" by Rebecca Anderson is a historical romance novel that transports readers to the elegant and refined world of Regency England. This novel is a delightful and heartwarming story that beautifully captures the essence of the era and takes readers on a journey of love, loss, and redemption.

The story centers around Caroline Jardine, a young artist who is struggling to make a name for herself in a world that is not kind to women. When she meets the dashing and mysterious Lord Nathaniel Harte, Caroline finds herself drawn to him in ways she never imagined. But Nathaniel is hiding a dark secret that threatens to destroy their budding romance and everything Caroline holds dear.

The characters in this novel are well-crafted and multi-dimensional, making them feel like real people that readers can root for and empathize with. Caroline is a strong and independent heroine who is not afraid to challenge societal norms and pursue her passion for art. Nathaniel is a complex and intriguing hero, whose past traumas have left him scarred and in need of healing.

The romance between Caroline and Nathaniel is beautifully written and develops slowly over the course of the novel, allowing readers to fully invest in their journey. The chemistry between them is palpable, and their interactions are filled with tension and longing. The supporting cast of characters adds depth and nuance to the story, creating a rich and vibrant world that readers will not want to leave.

Overall, "The Art of Love and Lies" is a captivating and well-written novel that will appeal to fans of historical romance. Rebecca Anderson's writing is engaging and immersive, transporting readers to a bygone era and making them feel like they are a part of the story. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a heartwarming and entertaining read.

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!

THE ART OF LOVE AND LIES by REBECCA ANDERSON is a delightful historical romance novev which takes place in Manchester during the time of
Queen Victoria, and in fact this illustrious lady makes an appearance in the book. It is at the time of the Art Treasures Exhibition where Detective Martin Harrison literaly bumps into professional imitator Rosanna Hawkins! I love thevway they relate to one another, teasing and flirting and having lively discussions about life and art until the detective arrests her for her supposed involvement in forgery and theft……
This is a most enjoyable read, full of suspense, lies and skulduggery, with charming (and some not so charming) characters, some romantic moments and also a fair bit of humour. I love Rosanna’s courage and quick thinking. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Shadow Mountain Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Take art mix in romance and replicas. Fun!
This book looks at the world of art and the deceit that can follow it. Rosanna was an artist or at least a copyist. Her original artistic efforts had been panned by her teachers but her talent was genuine so began her career as a replicator or copyist, making copies of the masters that would be sold as copies, by her associate Anton. Sold to those willing to purchase. Through this endeavor she was able to live independently. As she tours the Art Treasures Exhibition, she meets Martin, a detective assigned to guard the valuable art objects. As they spend time together touring the exhibit and becoming acquainted, their relationship develops first into friendship and then more. However, when Martin expresses his opinion about copies or replicas of the originals the relationship begins to fracture. And when the full extent of Anton’s dealings are brought to light, the relationship may be totally and completely destroyed unless Rosanna can somehow get Martin to understand. An engaging book that will keep you wanting to read just one more page. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy. This is my review and all thoughts are my own.

4 stars

Great story. Rosanna (that's the second book I've read this week with this name) is a talented artist. She lives independantly in Voctorian times and funds her lifestyle by copying masterpieces from the manchester exhibition. These she gives to Anton who then sells them to local middle class families. She meets Martin who is a peeler doing security detail at the exhibition. A romance statrts. He is squeaky clean because his father was sent to Australia having been convicted of being a fence, It's just kisses but there's still the first flush of passion,

There are two more sisters so scope for a series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book started off a tad slow but after the first two chapters I couldn’t put it down! I wish I could read it again for the first time.

This was a sweet story about a naive young woman extremely talented with the paintbrush, and an inspector who delights in her but detests all forms of crime. The author contrasts the two men in her life along a backdrop of distinguishing which works of art are original and which are fake; the truth eventually comes out whether it's character or a painting.

If you enjoy historical fiction this is a clean read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and for the opportunity to post an honest review.

Mystery, intrigue and romance what's not to love?! Another well written book by Ms. Anderson. Five star worthy!

This book was different from my usual reads, which I found enjoyable. The book had a flow to it that almost seemed like paint strokes on a canvas. It was written almost like a poem and contained a lot of words I was unfamiliar with. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

I appreciated the bits of history of art that was put into the story and the information given about art that beginners and/or non-artists could appreciate. It was an interesting and different storyline but I did find it kind of slow, personally. It may have been because I’m NOT an artist that I didn’t appreciate it as much, I’m not really even sure what it lacked, I just felt like it left me wanting something more.

This is a fun, lighthearted historical romance with a dash of crime/thriller. Rosanna Hawkins is a modern sort of woman, even though it's 1857 in Manchester, England. She lives on her own, is an accomplished painter, and is bordering on being a successful businesswoman with her partner, Anton Greystone. Everything is going along smoothly until she meets Inspector Martin Harrison. Inspector Harrison is a good and honorable man, striving to differentiate himself from the life of his father, who had the same name but lived a life of crime. <It's almost unbearably stereotypical but he's so earnest that it works.>

Rosanna is engaged in the business of reproducing master artworks. It's a steady, lucrative use of her talents as an artist. But is it ethical? Does it satisfy her creative needs? And what is this relationship with Anton? Are they business partners, lovers, something else? Meeting Martin has made her see her circumstances in a new light, and her questioning of the status quo is met with resistance by Anton.

This story has one of the best meet-cutes I've ever read. Without spoiling too much, there are several scenes that I could see so vividly in my mind's eye it was like watching a movie. The first kiss scene with Rosanna and Martin, and the train chase scene with all of them. So richly detailed without being clunky.

I wanted to know more about how Rosanna and Anton had fallen into their arrangement. It was a bit nonsensical to me that Rosanna, despite being a 'modern' woman with a great deal of independence and self-awareness, would go along with Anton's arrangement. But, it's necessary for the story so that's that.


Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Art of Love and Lies was a really different book from what I usually read. however I was not disappointed. I loved Rosanna and Martin so much and I just wished we got more romance scenes between the two of them in the book. Unfortunately, the plot didn’t really do it for me it was a bit expected and not really exciting. My overall opinion is that it was a fast and entertaining read and i’m so thankful i got the opportunity to get an arc it and review it.

This was a fun read. I liked the characters and their interactions. It was a bit obvious, but still an interesting story.

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.

I haven’t read many books set in the art world, and I enjoyed that different setting. Rosanna was naive but sweet. She’s tougher than she seemed, and I liked that. I loved that Martin appreciated her intelligence and humor as well as her beauty. An enjoyable read.

This book is beautiful inside and out. The gorgeous cover first drew me in (although it's not exactly accurate — our protagonist always has pencils tucked into her hair!) and I absolutely loved the title.

This historical romance takes place in Manchester, England, in 1857.
Rosanna Hawkins is an artist of immense talent who can reproduce any masterpiece for her rich clients. She spends much time in the world's largest art exhibition — which by chance, is taking place in Manchester — studying the greatest painters' masterpieces in order to reproduce them at home. This is where she meets the head of security, Detective Martin Harrison, a policeman who had to overcome a difficult past. Both soon become close friends and start developing tender feelings for each other. However, when Rosanna discovers that some masterpieces have been replaced by her own paintings, Detective Harrison looses his trust in her, for how can he love and trust a con artist?

I really enjoyed the setting of the book. It's unusual to read a historical romance taking place in Manchester, and in an art exhibition no less, but that brought much originality to the story and allowed it to develop in unexpected ways. The author did her research about painting — not only about the craft, but also its importance and interpretation and importance.

The plot was fine. There wasn't much going on in the first half of the book, and much happened in very little time towards the end. It would have been interesting to develop this second part a bit more, especially as it would have been an opportunity to dive deeper into the characters' minds, and their view on trust, betrayal, etc.
I loved Rosanna and Martin's romance but I wished it would have been a bit more developed, with more dialogues, more chemistry... It was still very sweet and enjoyable.

Overall, a really good book with a great cover!

*I received an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion*

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 with 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.

Rebecca Anderson weaves a compelling tale set in Victorian Manchester, England. Featuring a somewhat unconventional heroine and a hero with rigid, unbending rules, "The Art of Love and Lies" is a fast-paced read filled with fascinating characters.

Ahead of their time, the parents of talented artist Rosanna Hawkins encourage her to work for a living. That she does, and her skill for accurately reproducing fine works of art pays her bills. That comes to an end when it appears she has stolen valuable artwork. Rosanna displays great character growth, maturing from a naive young lady to one who outwits an art thief. Martin Harrison likewise learns that things aren't always black and white. Their romance develops quickly but is nevertheless sweet and believable.

Rebecca Anderson's prose is lovely and flows well. Victorian England is wonderfully portrayed, and the art itself is well-researched. Manchester is not the usual setting for historical novels; her previous book "Isabelle and Alexander" also takes place there. Hopefully Rosanna's two sisters get their own stories.

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC of this engaging work.

I really enjoyed this book. Who doesn’t love a good romance with mystery and adventure mixed in. I loved the characters and their witty banter. I’ve enjoyed Rebecca’s book, and will definitely read more from her.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for a ARC in exchange for my honest review!

tl;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.

2.5 stars, rounded up

While I didn't completely hate this book, it definitely could have been better.

I enjoyed seeing the Rosanna's dedication to her work and enthusiasm for artwork. It was also sweet seeing Detective Harrison develop an interest and appreciation for artwork.

The main thing that would have helped the book is if the author had cut the entire first half of the book because NOTHING WAS HAPPENING. Yes, the MC was meeting the love interest, but the parts with the two of them weren't even that sweet.

The description made it sound like the MC would discover that her copies were being used to help steal the originals, but that didn't happen until HALFWAY THROUGH THE BOOK!!!

The second half of the book should have been drawn out a bit more. ADD SOME ACTION!!! ADD SOME DANGER!!! ADD SOME ROMANCE!!!

This book had a lot of promise, but could have been a lot better!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Art of Love and Lies by Rebecca Anderson

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley for review. My opinions are my own.

5/5 stars

If you love historical romances, you MUST read this book! I read this entire book in a car trip - thank God - because I could not stop.

Rebecca Anderson weaves a fabulous story about Rosanna, an artist who recreates famous artworks, and Martin, a detective. Naturally, they fall for each other. I’m not giving anything away here because this is in the description, but they work together to take down a criminal who is stealing real artwork from an exhibit.

I am left wondering if this will be part of a series. I also could see this being part of a trilogy, where each of Rosanna’s sisters have a story… and I’m here for it!

Rebecca Anderson is a new to me author. I enjoyed her work very much. It was a little different from most of the other stories I’ve read from this time period with some fun plot twists and turns. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to more of Rebecca Anderson’s work.

This is a delightful read. Martin is head of security for an art exhibit in Manchester, Rosanna is an artist who makes her living replicating famous paintings. She longs to create art, but it's hard to argue that copies of known art sells. I liked the moral quagmires raised here, can copies or replicas of art, be art in themselves? Is it wrong to appropriate someone else's creative work if your intent is not fraudulent? Interesting stuff. I got both Martin and Rosanna's perspectives and could see where they were coming from. I also liked their romance, it felt genuine, cultivated through repeated conversations and interactions, which I think is so much more authentic than how courting is generally presented in historical romances. Also on the scene is Anton, who at first seems like a suitor of sorts, I found him highly effective as a bad guy. He's not a mustache twirling, cackling villain, he's smooth and Rosie wants his approval, maybe even his affection, this too I felt was a departure but the general one note villains often found in this type of story. A truly engrossing, fast moving, effective story. Well done. I received an ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for an honest review

This was an interesting story. I learned a bit about art since so much of the story took place at the exhibit. I'm one that has never really understood art. I can say if I like something or not but I can't tell you why or understand the artist at all. I'm an art simpleton. So I found the descriptions for the art and the processes fascinating. It was a fun set up for the story. And it was obvious that the author loves art. That came through in Rosanna.

I liked Rosanna and Martin. Their playful banter was fun and I believed their attraction. Their romance takes place over a pretty short time period but it didn't feel like insta-love, just insta-attraction that grew into love.

What I would have liked better... The blurb as currently written, which is months before the actual release so it could change before release date, lead me to believe that Rosanna and Martin would hatch a plan together to catch the bad guy. But they really they were working separately and just happen to get their guy together. I would have loved to see Martin have faith in her from the start (though that would have dismissed one of the plot points). I wanted them to decide on a plan to work together instead of having things just happen to come together. I suppose it added an element of drama in the romance part of the story to question if they would end up together but since I already knew they would, the drama was lost on me. I would have preferred the drama to be centered in catching the bad guy and seeing just how they well Rosanna and Martin could work together for a common goal. I understand why it was written as it was but that doesn't change what I would have preferred. They each needed the other to be successful in catching him. One alone could not have done it.

I enjoyed the story overall. Though I predicted the bad guy's plan early on it was still fun to see how it was going to play out. Interesting, clean read.

Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: yes
*I received a complimentary ARC through NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review it.

This was a very interesting story. It's unlike anything that I had read before. And I loved it!

I got sucked into the story from the very first page and I finished this book at one seating. I happened to be painting a lot when I was in school and just didn't have much time for it as a working adult. When Rosanna mentioned something about learning by imitating, that was something my teachers and tutors told me too! Very relatable to me. The set up of the story was interesting to me. The fact that the story took place mostly at an art exhibit was a plus!

The way they "courted" each other at the exhibit was very romantic and it's one of my favourite scenes.

I liked Rosanna and Martin. Their banter was fun, playful and witty! The chemistry and the attraction between them was believable. Their romance didn't feel like insta-love.

I also liked the way the mystery was handled, I did expect a little bit more drama in it. The mystery was solved pretty quickly and very neatly!

I felt that the story between them was too short. I wanted some more. Perhaps, can we have more books on the Hawkins' sisters?

I enjoyed the story overall. This is a clean and swoon worthy romance read to me! I will be reading more of this author's work!

Lastly, many thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley.
I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a fun story into the art world in the later 1800's, with a bit of intrigue and theft.

Rosanna is a painter, but not a painter of her own art, that was discouraged. Instead, she is a very good reproduction artist. She is so good that her art is wanted by people to put in their houses, or so she thought....

Inspector Hawkins is a man with a family whose past keeps following him. He has tried to outrun it, to be the opposite of his father, and has a very firm line of what is black and what is white.

As their friendship increases, so do darker forces behind the art exhibition.

I enjoyed the characters, I loved their banter and the humor in this story. Another win for Rebecca Anderson.

THE ART OF LOVE AND LIES-Rebecca Anderson

Shadow Mountain Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-63993-108-8

August 8, 2023

Historical Romance



Manchester, England-1857





Rosanna Hawkins will firmly tell you that she is a reproductionist and not a copier. When it comes to recreating the paintings of the masters, she is the best, at least that is what Anton Greystone tells her. He is the man that sells her reproductions to wealthy families who can’t get the real works of the masters they love. Rosanna makes a good living doing this.



She spends her days at The Art Treasures Exhibition, which has come to Manchester, England for a couple of weeks, to draw the works of famous painters. The exhibition houses some of the most famous works in the world, most notably art works by Michelangelo. While there one day she meets Inspector Martin Harrison who is there to protect the works of art hung up in the exhibition.



Martin is from Manchester but left after his father was found guilty of the crime of selling stolen goods and then was sent to Australia. Martin is a salt of the earth kind of man with a strong moral compass. When he meets Rosanna, he is instantly smitten. After that, he looks for her as he partakes his daily rounds around the exhibition. Over the coming weeks, Rosanna and Martin run into each other and Rosanna explains the works of art to Martin.



THE ART OF LOVE AND LIES is a sweet romance with a couple of twists I did not see coming. Rosanna comes from a wealthy family that allows her to have her independence for her and her sisters, Lottie and Ella. All three of them have endeavors into the arts. Rosanna rents a room in a boarding house and pays her own way while recreating famous painter’s work. She was not encouraged by her art teachers to produce works of her own and sometimes Rosanna has a desire to do so.



Anton Greystone reveals himself to be a villain and a scary one at that. When Martin finds out that Rosanna, as he puts it, is a forger, the would be couple, have a few bumps in the road before finding their happiness.



If you are the type of romance reader that likes a relatively clean romance(there are only two kisses in the story) that is well researched and with an heroine that can be annoying but interesting and a hero who blushes but who is strong and moral then THE ART OF LOVE AND LIES is for you.

This was a fun read. Rosanna is an interesting and flawed character. She is independent and also naive as a woman of her era would be growing up sheltered. Readers can't not help but love Rosanna because she is such a real character. Rosanna and Martin's relationship is enchanting from the beginning. Their conversation is witty and intelligent. The insight into the art world is also so interesting. The author has an appreciation for art and gives some wonderful perspectives to the art they view in the novel. I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions below are my own.

I loved this story! Another in the Proper Romance collection, it has delivered a fresh, sweet, adventurous, cosy read. The plot was pretty original. The banter between the MMC and FMC is top notch, and there is pretty much romantic tension from the start. I’m not sure how realistic the ‘security detail’ aspect of the story is, but it’s fun anyway! I hate seeing the FMC being used so terribly by her ‘boss’, but I loved seeing her artistic talent develop until she finally realised how good she is. Not to mention there’s a robbery, a counterfeit ring and a total visit thrown in. This is another great read and I’m looking forward to official release day.

This was a cute story. A lot of mystery and sleuthing. I struggled a bit with the main character. I don’t think I would have been the type of girl to allow a guy to touch me as much as much as Anton did.

I really liked martin. He was a good love interest. I felt like he had his hands full with Rosanna, she kept heading into situations head first.

I liked how you were on top of your toes. It was a fun resolution.

This book was enjoyable, but I was left wanting more: more details, more explanations, more depth of storyline. I thought the relationship between Rosanna and Martin was very cute and playful. I enjoyed her little art appreciation lessons and her fun, made-up stories about the artwork. Rosanna was a wonderful character and I liked watching her slowly come into her own and how she would start questioning and standing up to Anton a little more each time she saw him. It was an enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.

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.

I loved this book about Martin and Rosanna. Their chemistry was written perfectly and I loved their banter and wit.

The story of catching an art thief definitely kept me interested though it was somewhat easy to predict what was going to happen. There were some things time line was that didn't make sense but I was able to let those things go and just enjoy the novel. I loved the authors descriptions of the artwork and paintings. You could tell she put a lot of effort and thought to make it easy to picture and feel the love of the artwork the characters saw.

It was a sweet romance with quite a few sweet kisses, no language and a story that kept me turning page after page. I would love to see novels written about Rosanna's sisters as well to keep the series going.

Grateful to get an eARC version of the book from netgalley and Rebecca Anderson.

BRIEF REVIEW
I thought the premise of the book sounded promising. I thought there were some beautiful moments in which we see what's going on in Rosanna's heart and soul as she creates. The relationship developments were not my ideal, and there were some details I didn't care for. The pacing of the book also didn't work for me. However, the second half of the book really picked up, and I was interested to see where it was going. PLEASE remember that just because this book wasn't MY complete ideal doesn't mean it isn't someone else's ideal! If you're interested in reading it, please do!

BRIEF CONTENT GUIDE
😘 Kisses only
🙊 No swearing (1 use of "damning" synonymous with "condemning")
🍷 No substance use that I recall
🤕 Mild violence

BOTTOM LINE
If you'd like (1) a character-driven story that leads to a more plot-driven/balanced storyline and (2) a unique Victorian setting involving art, you should give this one a go.

NOTE
I received a free digital ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for honest feedback. This did not affect my review.

The book follows the story of Rosanna, a painter artist that tries to have a place between the guild of professional artist. She reproduces replications as good as the originals which are sold to the middle-class members in Manchester.
In the meantime, an art exhibition take places in Manchester and she dreams about sketchs the masterpieces from renowed authors, so she visited it.almost everyday. There she meets Detective Martin, who is in charge of the security staff. They spent many afternoons discussing art and feelings between them grows. One day she discovers that one of her paintings are displayed in the exhibition as an original, what means that someone are replacing them and stealing the originals.
The evidence signales her as responsible for the thefts, so she has to prove her innocence to Martin and to the rest , so she devises a plan in order to catch the thief. Will Rossana and Martin be able to stop the criminals from steal the most valuable piece of art in the exhibition and at the same time restore their relationship?
I have find this book very enjoyable, very well written and the mystery adds the perfect mix for a great story

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 Shadow Mountain Publishing 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.

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.

There is nothing so uplifting as a good love story wrapped in a “light” crime story accompanied by the story of a woman figuring out who she really is. I found this book entertaining and it captured my attention. Will the love story come to completion? Will the characters stick to their “moral” structures? Will the truth of the crime be found? A good, solid read that was enticing and easy to read. There are some good gifts although many are around art supplies so that might be a limitation. Here are my favorites.

The world of fine art has always fascinated me, so I was excited to see a Proper Romance book about art! Overall, I enjoyed the characters and the story. Rosanna was both traditional, yet independent. It was a good mix. Martin was a solid, good man with a romantic heart under his tough detective exterior.

I enjoyed the story, but there were some inconsistencies that were a bit frustrating. It's best to just read and enjoy the adventure! The Victorian Era is one of my favorites so I enjoyed the little details about that time period.

Thank you to NetGalley, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

The Art of Love and Lies is the perfect blend of a cozy mystery and historical romance. Although this book has a bit of a slow start, I found myself soon caught up in the story. The climatic train scene at the end had me on the edge of my seat and reminded me of a Victorian version of "Ocean's Eleven." Overall, this was a very satisfying story. Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rosanna is an artist who reproduces masterpieces. She meets Martin, the inspector, and becomes friends while at the museum. They both seem to fall for each other quite quickly. I think the first half of this book seemed pretty slow, but was intrigued the second half of the book with all the action. Their relationship was sweet but seemed to just move so quickly in the first few chapters ( in my own opinion). This was a clean and fun read. There were just kisses and some innuendo in it.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book and an opportunity to post an honest review.

**Review will be published August 1st, 2023 on my site and socials**

NEEDED MORE.

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

I loved this story by Rebecca Anderson, such a great storyline and characters!

I just reviewed The Art of Love and Lies by Rebecca Anderson. #TheArtofLoveandLies #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

I wish I could be glow-y about this book, but it just didn’t work for me. The information about the real life art exhibition was interesting. The author is clearly a big art fan. But Rosanna’s willingness to put up with the casual touching and kissing and baby names from uber creep Anton was annoying, as was her ability to self-delude. Martin’s overreaction when Rosanna made a confession about what was happening in the exhibition was out of character. The bad guy was literally a moustache-twirling Victorian villain, and a big climactic scene on multiple trains was wholly unbelievable. I hope for better next time from the author.

I read an advance reader copy from Netgalley.

I enjoyed the story in the beginning and thought Anton and Martin were going to be potential suitors until it was clear Martin was better suited. The sudden plot twist was jarring and honestly the story went downhill from there. It felt lacking in substance.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Martin Harrison is an inspector whose father is a criminal. Roseanna is a brilliant painter who makes a living recreating other artists paintings. They meet at the Art Treasures Exhibition where she is trying to sketch and memorize certain paintings and he is on security detail. Roseanna believes she is making an honest living, but is she? When a theft is discovered they both become involved in a dangerous game.
I really enjoyed the characters and their interactions. I would definitely recommend this book.

This book is a fun escape into the world of art thievery! The romance is clean and full of entertaining and witty banter. The cover is definitely gorgeous and would make a lovely addition to any book lover's shelf. The suspense and mystery are well done and enjoyable. I really enjoyed this exciting blend of historical, suspenseful, adventurous, romance!

Thank you for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

"The Art of Love and Lies" is a clean Victorian romance between an upper-middle class female artist and a working man, with some extra dashes of a heist thrown in for flavor.

I enjoyed the setting and the general plot. Our FMC, Rosanna, is an artist who produces "parlor pieces," or reproductions of famous artworks to earn her living (a reader familiar with social mores of the time must suspend some disbelief that she does this, that she lives in a boarding house when her family is described as quite wealthy, that her sister is a journalist, etc). Our MMC, Martin, is the son of a convicted conman who hopes to demonstrate though his diligence and hard work that he is trustworthy. The author did great work in developing Martin's backstory and character, as it was a common belief at the time that criminality was a heritable trait; and Martin faces distinct social consequences as a result of his father's actions. The two meet at the Art Treasures Exhibition, where Martin is running security and Rosanna is there to study and reproduce the pieces. They have a bit of a meet-cute, they flirt; it's quite wholesome and winsome.

The reader must once again suspend some disbelief when it comes to Rosanna's work, as she is able to VERY QUICKLY replicate paintings perfectly, from memory, back at her studio. We're talking two oil paintings in a week, four sketch-and-watercolors, each perfectly indistinguishable from the original. However, Rosanna's agent turns out to be a villain, who organizes a heist to steal the originals and replace them with Rosanna's reproductions.

I quite enjoyed the first half or-so of this book, but I think the story suffered in the latter half from some weak writing that could have been better shored up. Martin becomes a bit unsympathetic in his actions, and his moral uprightness quickly becomes frustrating and obstructive. I think the story would have benefited from some more time spent in his POV. The heist and its resolution suffered from a lack of tension and stakes. Rosanna is clever and she keeps her head, which I appreciated. However, at the end of the action, I felt like there needed to be perhaps at least one more scene where the two of them came together again, or checked on one another, or something.

Two small things I did not enjoy in the story: the "newspaper articles" inserted between chapters, which felt so obviously written to the plot of the story that they made me roll my eyes a little; I also didn't care for the insertion of Queen Victoria as a figure into the narrative. Her presence did absolutely nothing to advance the story or even add character; it felt superfluous and, given Victoria's well-documented behavior, a little bizarre.

TLDR: An enjoyable G-rated historical romance set in the Victorian era, with some mild adventure in the form of an art heist (but don't expect some Ocean's Eleven level of tension).

I put this one down several times early on because I really didn't like Anton, and I couldn't figure out if I liked Martin or Roseanna either. However, once the story got going Martin and Roseanna really grew on me and I loved the character development that happened. I learned a lot about art and was fascinated by the work Roseanna did- that in itself was worth the read. I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves a good, clean, historical romance. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.