A young woman at the height of her career, a mother who has many secrets and a lost girl! This is a story in dual-timeline, The story of Wren Summers and her life, her family and so many secrets. This is her search!

I love this book as it is so interesting, the pace is perfect and it isn't too long and drawn out yet still provides all the details, descriptions and story to make it a great book.

There is glamour, art, travel and it is a story you can delve into and go along on Wren's journey and it is an exciting, dramatic and intriguing full of family secrets, betrayal and so much more! I loved that throughout the book I never lost interest, I didn't want to skip through pages to find out what happens as I didn't want to miss anything. It is a book that held my attention.

Well written, well researched and a book I could read again (just incase I missed anything). Highly recommend this wonderful book.

This is another moving novel by Alexandra Joel set in glamorous locations with an ambitious Australian heroine who is forced to search for the truth about her relationship with her mother, and learn to understand her own values and identity. The settings include Venice and New York, which Joel describes beautifully, and with intimate knowledge.

A time-slip novel, this story is about Wren in the 1980s, and her mother's passionate and heartbreaking story in the 60s. Mostly it concerns Wren, however. She manages to get out of the commune in the country where she and her mother live to pursue a career in the Arts, but when her mother is dying, Wren makes a promise to her. Lucky enough to be able to work in New York, Wren endures much drama, betrayal and even trauma before she finds love, and happiness. Having a Mafia boss help your career is certainly a mixed blessing!

I really enjoyed the descriptions of the cut-throat art business in this book. It certainly gives readers an insight into what goes on behind the scenes at famous auction houses, and even the process of whether an art work is genuine or not! I also liked the descriptions of Wren's outings with her girlfriends, and her travels. Alexandra Joel has a lovely style, and she is fast becoming one of my favourite authors!

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

3.5⭐️ When I read the synopsis for this one I was so excited to start reading Wren’s story but unfortunately I just didn’t think a lot of the storyline was that believable so I found myself continually losing interest throughout. It has had a lot of great review though so don’t let my opinion deter you from picking this one up in the new year.
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Thank you to HarperCollins Australia and Netgalley for this advanced copy to read and review. ‘The Artist’s Secret’ is available on 4 January 2023! ✨

Wren Summers had an unusual upbringing, her mother Lily lives in a commune on the NSW south coast and she doesn’t tell people where she grew up. As a teenager Wren won a scholarship to a Sydney private school, she did well at university and she now works at the Sydney Art Museum. Wren’s given the opportunity to apply for an internship in New York, unfortunately her mother receives some bad news at the same time, Lily wants Wren to find a girl called Roma while she's living in, 'The Big Apple.'

The Artist’s Secret narrative has a dual timeline, it’s easy to follow and it goes between 1965 and 1987.

Lily Summers is an American college student, her boyfriend has just received his call up papers and he’s going to be sent to fight in Vietnam. They burn his papers in protest, flee to Lake Como in Italy and he escapes the expectations of his wealthy family. The couple are madly in love, things don’t go as planned and Lily is forced to make a difficult choice.

Wren starts her internship at Archer’s Auction House, it’s a male dominated work place and it’s never employed a women as an auctioneer. A Mafia boss is a customer of Archer’s and so is a high profile entrepreneur. Wren has to cope with working in a very sexist environment and not knowing who she can trust and she’s lost her faith in men. When she encounters people who are double dealing and involved in illegal activities, fraud and deceit, Wren and one of her friends lives are put in danger.

I received a copy of The Artist’s Secret from NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I read Alexandra Joel’s previous book, The Royal Correspondent and she’s upped the ante with her latest novel. A well written story about famous art pieces, work place discrimination and Wren discovering the truth about herself and her mother. I really enjoyed reading about Wren living in New York, visiting the famous Nell’s club, her relationship with her girlfriends and being on the lookout for fake artwork. Wren meeting Dr. Jordan Grant and realizing how lucky she was to grow up in Australia and not to judge her mother so harshly. Five stars from me and remember 'love always deserves a second chance.'