“Matthews weaves suspense and mystery within an absorbing love story. Readers will be hard put to set this one down before the end.” -Library Journal, starred reviewWinner of the 2020 HOLT MedallionAn Uncommon Beauty… London, her oddity has made her a sensation. Far worse, it’s caught the eye of the sinister Duke of Moreland—a notorious art collector obsessed with acquiring one-of-a-kind treasures. To escape the duke’s clutches, she’s going to need a little help.
An Unlikely Hero…
Captain Arthur Heywood’s days of heroism are long past. Grievously injured in the Peninsular War, he can no longer walk unaided, let alone shoot a pistol. What use can he possibly be to a damsel in distress? He has nothing left to offer except his good name.
Can a marriage of convenience save Philly from the vengeful duke? Or will life with Arthur put her—and her heart—in more danger than ever?
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The Work of Art by Mimi Matthews
Every time I pick up one of this author’s books I know I will be in for a treat! From the chaotic beginning flooded with dogs to the excellent happily ever ending I was interested and engaged with the characters and absolutely fell in love with them! AND as I had to find out what would happen…stayed up till nearly 3am to finish this book!
Phillida “Philly” Satterthwaite was raised by her grandparents away from town and has simple tastes bred in the country life she has experienced. At twenty-three, after her grandparents die, she is taken in by the family of the man who inherits her grandfather’s title. With a season to look forward and a husband to find she is less than enamored with the choice her uncle has in mind for her. Taking things into her own hands she comes up with a much better solution than the Duke of Moreland…yes…she opts for Captain Arthur Heywood. The fact that nobody in town understand WHY she would choose a second son over a Duke is not of importance to her and it isn’t of much importance to Arthur either.
This book has the young heroine in a dire situation with a dashing…well…perhaps not so nimble…hero that steps in to save her. There are some hurdles for them to overcome as they get to know one another and there is also someone out to cause trouble…perhaps more than one someone.
I loved the relationship between Philly and Arthur and knew before the end of the story that they were well suited to one another with decades of happiness to enjoy with one another and a loving family.
I have a smile on my face as I write this and am eager for whatever book Ms Matthews offers next!
Thank you to NetGalley and Perfectly Proper Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Well, I am lost for words (I’m sure some will think that a blessing) but really, I am struggling to express just how magical this book is. Everyone knows how much I adore Mimi Matthews work, I have so much respect for her as a writer and I always get a thrill whenever I open another of her books. Each time I read one of her stories I am always blown away, I read her work and as I do, I keep thinking; how can she possibly top what is the peak of perfection and then what happens? Boom; I am once again blown away by her words, if there was ever a title that was perfect for a book, because this is a work of art in its own right. I honestly think that this is the very best I have read by Ms Matthews – which feels a but traitorous towards her other work.
After the death of her grandfather, Phyllida (Philly) must leave her home to live with family which are practical strangers to her, her only companions are her own pack of dogs, which she refuses to leave behind. Unfortunately, she soon realises that now her life isn’t her own she is lonely and unhappy, she thinks that her uncle Edgar has took her to London to find a suitable match. How wrong she is! Because of her uniqueness her uncle has one man in mind for her; the mysterious and notorious, Duke of Moreland, a man who collects all rare and unique things whether that be art work, dogs or people. Her uncle is a despicable human being, he thinks it’s OK to ‘sell’ Philly to the Duke, even though she has been sheltered, she has always done as she is told, she has always been obliging to others; you could say that she is a little naïve to the world, even she knows that marrying the Duke is the very last thing that she should do.
Enter her hero, in not so shining armour, who comes limping in to rescue her; Captain Arthur Heywood, has recently returned wounded from the war, up until now he has always stayed away from society, away from the scathing remarks and backstabbing ton, but Arthur has business in town, with her uncle that he cannot escape from, which is wen he meets the shy, and monopolized; Philly. He is instantly taken with her, as a friend she was kind to him when others treated him like a leper, in her innocent and very subtle way she showed him that there is goodness in this life and not just the darkness that engulfs him at times. On hearing that his little friend is to be more or less forced into marrying the Duke, a man Arthur has heard some terrible things about, he doesn’t the gentlemanly thing and offers marriage.
Alas, their nasty marriage and fleeing London to his estate, doesn’t go down well with others and as you can expect they soon they find that they have danger hanging over their heads, Arthur is determined to protect his new wife at whatever the cost.
I loved Philly and Arthur the moment we meet them, she is a quiet, caring and loyal young woman who just wants to be able to live happily with her dogs, she isn’t made for the ton she is far more at home in the country being able to run free, I can so relate to Philly she has a gentle soul, but I sensed that she had a strength hidden away and that really shines through in those moments when she is quietly encouraging Arthur, when subtly helps him and the way she stand firm beside him.
What struck me most about Philly and Arthur’s romance was that even though their was ‘marriage of convenience’ they started out as genuine friends, they saw something of themselves into the other and that drew them together, it’s a relationship that isn’t all heart-pounding lust, their blossoming romance is formed on a mutual friendship, they learn about each other and as they start to delve into their own feelings and how their marriage could be, so do we readers, we all go on this journey together and I think that is so skilfully and beautifully done, it really brings the reader into the story and into the character’s lives, I really love how this is written.
Honestly thought this book is amazing; what appears to be a very simplistic regency romance about a young woman who needs rescuing and the wounded war hero appears offering the protection of his name; turns out to be far more then the stereotypical marriage of convenience. With a brilliantly vile baddie, manipulative family, tortured war nightmares and an unexpected twist that makes you go; “What? I didn’t see that coming”, The Work of Art is a marvel of regency romance writing.
I have to say that this is a masterpiece of character writing, each one are brilliantly created, whether that be the sweet and loving Philly and Arthur, the arrogantly horrible; Moreland and Edgar and the cackling banshees that are Elizabeth and Lady Elliott – who really can give the evil Duke a run for his money at being a sadist. But really it is the connection and blossoming romance between Arthur and Philly that keep you hooked and turning the pages, they are an adorable, shy, realistic couple.
Overall a charming, beautifully written, character driven romance, with a dash of intrigue, I cannot recommend this more, it is utterly perfect. I love it, absolutely utterly love it!
When the remarkable Phyllida Satterthwaite comes to town to stay with her uncle, she has the modest expectation of being treated to a London season and falling in love with a good man who won’t mind her lack of fortune. What she doesn’t expect is to be the talk of the ton on account of her unusually-colored eyes and unparalleled beauty. As the season begins, the lords and ladies of high society wait with bated breath for Phyllida to be snapped up by “the Collector.” The Duke of Moreland, a cruel old man with a penchant for one-of-a-kind curiosities, sees in Phyllida another work of art that he must acquire. Calculatingly, the duke makes a finanical arrangement with Phyllida’s uncle, and she finds that her consent is hardly required for the betrothal to take place.
Unfortunately for Phyllida, she knows no one in London to rescue her from her predicament–no one except for Captain Arthur Heywood, a soldier who can hardly walk on account of his injuries during the Peninsular War. Arthur is a business partner of Phyllida’s uncle–quiet, circumspect, and unobtrusive. It’s unlikely that a beauty like Miss Satterthwaite would favor him with more than a glance, but Phyllida surprises him by her consideration in each encounter at the park or over the dinner table. When she turns to him for help, Arthur knows that dueling the duke is out of the question. So just how can the honorable Captain Heywood save Miss Satterthwaite from her nightmare?
In true Mimi Matthews fashion, this story is full of broken heroes, damsels in distress, and clean but breathtaking romance. Although the setting is the Regency Period instead of Matthews’ usual Victorian Era, the settings and scenery come alive as a brilliant backdrop for the characters. Arthur is crippled in leg and spirit, learning to cope with the loss of his former physical prowess now that he can no longer be the best shot and best rider in his unit. Phyllida becomes his bright star, his reason to live and his reason to rehabilitate himself so that he can be her protector. One of the best things about Arthur is how capable he is. When Phyllida divulges her distress, he immediately puts events in motion to organize an escape, and as each chapter unfolds, the reader sees just how thoughtful and effective Arthur’s planning has been.
Phyllida (or Philly, as she prefers to be called) is a winsome and tender-hearted lady who cares enough for Arthur to avoid showing him pity. Her adoption of abused animals demonstrates that she cannot resist helping unfortunates, and she conducts herself wisely and well throughout all the difficult circumstances arrayed against her. One of the things I particularly enjoy in Matthews’ books is that the heroines are determined but still feminine, strong but never shrill, and women who comport themselves according to the norms of their time period. The well-worn tropes of so many Regency romances are present in this book, but the story is crafted so delightfully that it is as original as Phyllida’s face.
As with all other titles by this author, this book is highly recommended.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.