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.

I really, really wanted to like this, but it was just plain boring. Nothing of interest happened until halfway, and by then, I’d lost interest.

I really tried to read this book. It just didn't grab my attention well enough to keep going so it's a DNF for me. 😕I might try again sometime because it felt like it might end up a promising read. Just not for me at this moment with all the other books I really want to read.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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*

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.

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.

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.