The Work of Art - Review

The Work of Art

By: Mimi Matthews

Publication: July 23rd 2019 by Perfectly Proper Press

356 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Personal Kindle Library

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Goodreads description--An Uncommon Beauty...

Hidden away in rural Devonshire, Phyllida Satterthwaite has always been considered more odd than beautiful. But in 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?

Mimi Matthews does it again. And I have to be honest that I was a little worried about how much I would enjoy this book. While I love creating my own art, I'm not big into collecting and books that I've read about collectors can come off as pretentious. But let's face it, there's not much that is actually about art in this book.

Philly gets nicknamed as "the work of art" by London society gossip due to her mismatched eyes. She's one of a kind. Which is exactly what the Duke of Moreland likes to collect. Rumors abound about the Duke. If he's not able to collect the things he sets his sights on, those things seem to meet an unfortunate end. And his sights have been set on Philly. Yet she gets the coldest vibes from the Duke of Moreland. She must escape the marriage arrangement that her uncle is set upon making for her as a means of padding his own pockets.

Enter Captain Heywood. I loved everything about these two. I love how they created a genuine connection of friendship before Philly's need for him to interfere. I loved how their relationship built. ***Spoiler: I actually appreciated that these two had a true marriage from day 1 in the physical sense because I believe that to be realistic. Even couples who married for convenience still had physical marriages. Our culture wants to ensure doubly that both parties are 100% consenting to the physical deed. And while I think that's great, it isn't always realistic given the culture of all societies throughout history. ***End spoiler.***

I wasn't sure if there was going to be a lot of build-up for the conflict with the Duke of Moreland only for there to be nothing. But I was okay with how everything fell into place--even if I did spot a few pieces earlier than they were revealed.

The Work of Art wasn't anything that I was expecting it to be. But I devoured it. I enjoyed every word. I appreciated the realistic aspects that sometimes get left out of other books from this same period or similar situations. I loved the characters and their stories. Mimi Matthews has quickly become one of my favorite authors. The Work of Art gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read The Work of Art? What did you think? Let me know!