He must solve a mystery
She's a beguiling distraction!
Inspector Hazard Manning is determined to catch the art
forger plaguing London's aristocracy. As his investigation leads him to Kent's
new art school, sweet, beautiful Addy Stansfield volunteers as his guide. He's
used to a dark criminal world, but Addy's sunny nature draws him to the light.
However, as long-awaited passions stir, so do Hazard's professional instincts…
Could she unwittingly be the very person he's been sent to unmask?
Good book. Addy is the younger sister of Artemisia, the
female artist who took on the Royal Academy in
Portrait of a Forbidden Love. Unlike
her sister, Addy is more laid-back, painting because she can, not because she
is driven. Her interests lie more in art history. Addy also has a bit of a
self-esteem issue, seeing herself as plain and uninteresting. She has a suitor who
pops in and out of her life, full of flattery, big plans, and expensive gifts. Addy's
dreams for her future don't include marriage; she'd rather travel and learn
about the art she's only heard about. In the meantime, she teaches at her
sister's new art school for girls and practices her painting skills.
Hazard is a Bow Street inspector investigating cases of
art forgery. He enjoys solving puzzles, and tracking this forger challenges
him. He traced the latest painting to a small seaside town, where he lost the
trail. His only lead is the girls' art school and its students and teachers. His
only possible suspect is Addy, but how could someone so sweet and open be
involved in something so wrong?
The mystery of the art forger is pretty clear-cut, and I
liked that it didn't take long to figure out who the real villain was. The
challenge came in carrying out the apprehension. I appreciated that Hazard helped
Addy see the truth without threatening her or her sister. Once he knew the
truth, he also knew that Addy was in danger and took steps to keep her safe. I
did start to wonder when the bad guy would show up, but when he did, the action
became intense very fast. I wanted to shake Addy for being so gullible and fall
for his lies. I ached for Hazard, who wasn't sure if he'd be in time to save
her. The final confrontation was intense with a satisfying end.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between
Addy and Hazard. The sparks flew between them from the start, though both tried
to resist. Addy feels that she should be loyal to her suitor, though he
doesn't have the same effect on her, and she isn't ready to marry anyway. Hazard
resists because he fears that anyone he is close to could become a target of
the criminals he pursues. Because of an event in his past, Hazard also believes
that he doesn't deserve that kind of happiness. I liked seeing Addy and Hazard
spend time together. Their shared interests in art give them much to talk about.
Addy's bright nature also breaks through some of the darkness that haunts him,
and Hazard finds himself wishing to make more of it.
I liked how keeping Addy safe led Hazard to take her to
his family's home. Hazard rarely saw his family because of his fears for their
safety and the guilt that haunts him regarding his brother's war injuries.
Hazard's work during the war fascinated me, and I could see why he was so good
at it. I liked how Addy's influence and Rafe's persistence finally helped
Hazard face his past. Seeing Rafe and Hazard repair their relationship warmed
my heart. Hazard and Addy spend much more time together, and as their
attraction grows, so do their feelings. I ached for them both because it looked
like, to be together, each of them would have to give up something important to
them. Nearly losing each other made them realize what was important was being
together. There was a nice twist at the end that made both their dreams come
true.
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