Dr. Miranda Jones is a well-respected authority of Renaissance art. She is summoned to Italy by her less-than-likeable mother to authenticate a recently found sculpture. She decides - through a rather scientific and drawn out process that the sculpture is indeed real. Days later, she is fired - by her own ruthless and cold mother - because someone else has taken the sculpture and deemed it a fake. Miranda is sent home, chastised like a toddler rather than treated like a grown woman; and shortly thereafter, the art institute she runs with her alcoholic brother is burglarized.
This is the point in the book where the hero is introduced and I really thought it would get better. It didn't. Ryan Boldari is a respected and well-known art dealer with galleries in more than one major city. He is also an art thief. While there is a small bit of believable chemistry between Miranda and Ryan - they mostly fell flat for me. And while there are actual reasons for this - I don't want to list too much more in case this book might be wonderful for someone else. For me though, this book was only okay. It definitely took me longer to read than most other Nora Roberts books.
This was a very intriguing read. However, not my favorite Nora Roberts book it was interesting and kept you attention with the vivid and realistic characters she creates.
ReplyDeleteDr. Miranda Jones is a specialist in Renaissance Art and is called to Italy by her mother to authenticate a bronze statue called "The Dark Lady", thought to have been created by Michelangelo. Dr. Jones loves her work. She is one of the Jones's from Jones Point. Her work involves artwork, not prints or copies but the original artwork. Arriving home after a lecture she is deeply disturbed when someone steals her bags and slashes her tires. After verifying that the statue is indeed authentic, Dr. Jones is blamed for a media leak and is sent back to Maine.
Someone else does tests to see if the bronze is real and it leaks out that it is a fake. Dr. Jones reputation comes into question and she denies that it's a fake. Her brother, Andrew stands by her as she has stood by him time and time again. One day she goes to his office and meets the smooth, dark, handsome Ryan Boldari from Boldari Gallery. Right from the moment they meet unwanted sparks fly.