The Work of Art is a sweet romance featuring Phyllida Satterthwaite, an orphan completely dependent on her uncle who intends to have her marry a heartless London art collector, and Captain Heywood, a man scared by the effects of the Peninsular War who though love was no longer a possibility for himself.
When Phyllida realizes the future her uncle has in mind for her, she becomes desperate, and it is Captain Heywood who comes to the rescue helping her in the most difficult moment of her live.
Mimi Matthews is an incredible story teller and in the Work of Art that was visible with the easiness with which the reader is pulled into the story. The writing style is very engaging and fluid and I didn’t want to stop reading this book.
The pacing is also perfect with a slow and sweet friendship being developed with a mixture of new and exciting events taking place at the same time. Every time the story needed a new element to keep it interesting, Mimi Matthews delivered a new twist. With that, she created a multifaceted and remarkable storyline that never failed to engage the reader. I never expected the story to take so many turns and for so many aspects to be approached. The characters had a background that gave them depth and that allowed them to establish a beautiful bond based on love, understanding and devotion.
Captain Arthur Heywood was just the type of hero I love! He is damaged and brooding, but caring and loving with and exceptional integrity. He was such a hero for Phyllida in so many different moments, and he went to the extreme of his abilities to make her feel loved and safe. He was definitely the selling aspect of this book for me. He is swoon worthy!
Phyllida is not the typical heroine I see in regency romances, but I loved her devotion and openness that contributed to the development of a beautiful relationship that felt real and unique. Phyllida’s mature approach helped to mend Arthur, and his strength of feeling helped Phyllida feel safe and at home. I loved how their relationship was built and how it slowly grew into a deep affection.
The antagonists were my least favourite characters in the story, and I was especially surprised with the events at the end of the book. While I loved the impact those events had in Captain Heywood’s character, I felt the antagonist motivations were somewhat exaggerated.
Summing up, the Work of Art is a brilliantly executed regency romance that I cannot praise enough. I highly recommend it.
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Reviews with images
Swoonworthy Read
"I don't compare you with anyone, Philly."She looked up at him, startled by his vehemence."Since the day I met you, I haven't even thought of another woman. Indeed, I've been hard pressed to think of anything else at all."What can I say about this book? Perfection. I first read Mimi Matthews' Belles of London series and I knew I'd eventually have to read more of her works because I was in love with that series. So I headed over to the Somerset Stories first in anticipation for Appointment in Bath coming out in late June. Needless to say, I consumed the first three books in a few days.Arthur and Philly were everything my heart needed. Philly has a tendency to gravitate towards broken and wounded animals, Arthur included. Philly is an outsider looking for kindness and Arthur is the grump unknowingly, at first, to provide it. Theirs is a marriage of convenience and while the romance is swoony, there is a mystery to be solved as well.The title Work of Art is a nod to a name given to Philly because she has heterochromia with one blue eye and one amber eye. She is unique and her beauty is valued. I identified with Philly as a heroine. She is driven, strong and loving personality, but also having central heterochromia myself I adored that detail about her eyes.This book made me swoon, gasp, laugh, tear up and smile. Mimi sets the scene where the details draw you in and then keep you there with beautiful story telling. The detail in her historical research is something I love and come to depend on when I read her works. If you're looking for a clean historical romance that will make you feel all of the things, this is the book for you.
