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mom2qandk's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I wanted to like this book. I heard the author speak, the description sounded intriguing, and although it was a little out of my usual type of book, I wanted to branch out. What I got was not mysterious or intriguing. I didn’t find myself wondering who was behind the forgeries (it’s pretty much broadcast about 2/3 the way through, and that’s when the action actually starts). It wasn’t cozy or a slow burn romance. It was kind of boring for half, sort of interesting for a quarter, and then smacked with heavy handed Christianity at the end, completely out of nowhere. For me, it was just meh.
lynnuwatson's review
5.0
The story sucks you deep into the lucrative world of art forgeries. The devious work and intentions threaten the emotional longings for the love of those closest to them. Lauren's chosen field of Egyptology and its art, along with her desire to be known and loved by her father who has long abandoned her and her late mother places her at the center of this world, often putting her in harm's way and threatening her professional position with the Met.
Having often felt emotionally abandoned by my father, I connected with Lauren's struggles to find her worth and a home for her heart.
Having often felt emotionally abandoned by my father, I connected with Lauren's struggles to find her worth and a home for her heart.
krjdolan's review
2.0
For a mystery involving Egyptian artifacts in a prohibition-era intrigue-fest this book is a DRAG. So slow, and so not worth it.
The good:
- I don't know that much about Egypt, but it seemed well-researched enough.
The bad:
- This book had too many things going for it to be this slow
- I am not a Christian-lit aficionado, and maybe this just isn't the right genre for me, but the heavy-handed final chapter about God... was just so unnecessary. Incorporate God, incorporate morality, incorporate religion, but don't shoehorn it in there. Frustrating.
The good:
- I don't know that much about Egypt, but it seemed well-researched enough.
The bad:
- This book had too many things going for it to be this slow
- I am not a Christian-lit aficionado, and maybe this just isn't the right genre for me, but the heavy-handed final chapter about God... was just so unnecessary. Incorporate God, incorporate morality, incorporate religion, but don't shoehorn it in there. Frustrating.
momloves2read's review
emotional
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Alcohol, and Gun violence
melmo2610's review
mysterious
4.0
This one caught my eye because of the Egyptian elements and the mystery. It was an enjoyable read and a fun storyline with the mysterious elements. Good read.
camrobbins's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Good balance of mystery and romance. Well-paced. There were enough clues to play along and enough misdirection as to not be obvious.
I thought one character was going to get a redemption arc and was pleasantly surprised when they didn’t. It made the story stronger.
The proselytizing at the end was out of place. I can’t say out of the blue because there were some ham-handed one-liners about God that popped up every once in a while. They were odd enough that they took me out of the story. Made sense at the end, but kind of felt like how I imagine Diana added mentions of Rollings Reliable Baking Powder into Anne Shirley’s story: done to win some prize but having no relation to the actual story.
I thought one character was going to get a redemption arc and was pleasantly surprised when they didn’t. It made the story stronger.
The proselytizing at the end was out of place. I can’t say out of the blue because there were some ham-handed one-liners about God that popped up every once in a while. They were odd enough that they took me out of the story. Made sense at the end, but kind of felt like how I imagine Diana added mentions of Rollings Reliable Baking Powder into Anne Shirley’s story: done to win some prize but having no relation to the actual story.
l1ndz7's review
4.5
This book was everything I was look for in a historical fiction book to pull me back into this genre. It had a dual POV between the two love interests that were also working together on art forgery cases. It covered family, loss, childhood, parent’s approval/love, and more! It’s an incredibly well-rounded story with an ending that was touching.