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Exquisite
304 pages
A charming blend of Regency courtship and cozy antiquities mystery, anchored by a fiercely talented heroine.
What it feels like
Reading this traditional Regency romance feels like stepping into a sunlit parlor in Bath, where sharp wit and hidden talents take center stage. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging clip, seamlessly weaving a cozy antiquities mystery into a classic tale of aristocratic courtship. The prose is elegant and period-appropriate, capturing the sparkling banter and societal nuances of the era without ever feeling weighed down by historical exposition. There is a delightful tension between the heroine's anxious concealment of her artistic forgery and the hero's steady, intrigued pursuit of the truth. It is a perfectly balanced comfort read that will delight fans of old-school historical romance who crave capable, creative heroines, dashing experts, and a romance built on mutual respect and shared curiosity.
- Mood
- elegant
- cozy
- intriguing
- sunlit
- Tone
- witty
- romantic
- lighthearted
- earnest
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- artistic integrity · hidden talents · deception and truth · unexpected partnerships
- The writing
- Elegant and period-appropriate, balancing sharp, witty banter with gentle descriptive charm.
- The arc
- Moves from anxious concealment and mutual suspicion to a trusting, affectionate partnership.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love traditional Regency romances featuring capable, artistic heroines and a dash of cozy mystery.
Content notes
- fraud and deception
- mild peril
About the book
Rachel Manvers is a talented sculptor and painter but she is horrified when she discovers that her uncle has been selling her sculptures as Roman originals. One sculpture has been bought by the mother of Nicolas Woodward, England’s foremost expert of antiquities and a wealthy nobleman. Nicolas is intrigued to meet the lively Rachel, even as he finds himself involved with trying to solve some vicious robberies of his peers, which somehow seem connected to Rachel and her uncle.
Description from Open Library.
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