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 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.

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 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.

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!