Title: How to Spot a Fake
Author: Rachelle Paige Campbell
Genre: Sweet, contemporary romance
Book Blurb:
Lovelyn Pettigrew wants to transform the mansion and collection of fine art inherited from her grandmother into a world-class museum. She has one week to submit a proposal to her family foundation. Her parents prefer the museum to operate downtown with a staff they’ve already hired. Her success depends on authenticating the works their curator dismissed. She finds the receipt for the egg rumored to be one of the missing Imperial Faberge works. When she calls the gallery in London, she is given an email address to send proof of the artifact.
Her email reaches the wrong John Smith.
Finishing his degree in art conservation, John is passionate about art. One of many side hustles to afford life in Chicago, he runs a website dedicated to tracking down tips about some of the most famous missing works of art. When he checks his inbox, he is floored by the contents of the email. With weeks until he graduates from university as a mature, thirty-year-old student, he is looking for a full-time position and the correspondence could be the opportunity of a lifetime.
Working side-by-side, John and Lovelyn grow close and their mutual respect deepens into something more. When the mistaken identity is revealed, shocking them both, they must choose between the future or each other. He might not be who she expected, but could he be exactly who she needs?
Excerpt:
A chilly, late November breeze snaked through the doorway.
Shivering, Lovelyn crossed her arms and rubbed her shoulders.
No one waited outside her door.
With a foot on the threshold, she breathed in the scent of a distant fire but detected no hint of exhaust. She strained for any mechanical noise and glanced across the covered, limestone porch. At the bottom of the steps in the pea gravel drive, she spotted a tall, retreating figure.
Cupping both hands around her mouth, she called out to the dark shape. “Hello? Did you knock?”
The person turned, crunching the pea gravel under scuffed loafers and clutching the collar of a coat closed. “Yes, hello,” a deep voice boomed. The man waved. “Are you Lovelyn Pettigrew?”
Nodding, Love tightened her grip on the edge of the door, curling her bare toes against the icy, entryway tiles. She should be scared. An unknown man strode along her front path and addressed her by name.
She wasn’t afraid.
His features came into clearer focus with each step he took from the path to the porch. With a strong jaw, slim figure, and smooth face, she’d place his age around thirty. His piercing, gray eyes held hers with a steady, knowing gleam. Her heart skipped a beat at his slanted grin. He knew her name. Did she know him?
She smoothed the cashmere sweater over her hips. “I’m sorry? Do we have an appointment?”
She crossed one pajama-clad leg in front of the other, minimizing how much of her outfit was on display on her front porch. Her earlier concerns for phone etiquette couldn’t match the heat scalding her cheeks because of her improper attire.
“I got your email,” he said.
“My email?” While her mouth formed the words, her brain struggled with processing her speech. Scanning his face, she searched for a clue. She had the oddest sense of peace with the stranger like she greeted an old friend. His gray eyes were remarkable and unforgettable.
“About…” Standing a few feet away, he inched forward. “The egg.”
She slackened her jaw. “John Smith?”
He nodded.
Relief flooded her with warmth. Her breath eased out, and she opened the door wide. “Please come in out of the cold. Oh, thank you for coming. I can’t believe you’re here. I’m sorry I’m surprised. I expected a call first.”
He brushed past her and entered the hall.
She shut the door and locked it. As she tugged at the hem of her sweater, she studied him. Dressed in a thick overcoat and neatly tied scarf, he certainly looked the part of expert dealer from London.
He scanned the hall from one side to the other, taking in the stacks of papers scattered through the cavernous space like a flammable mountain range.
Her security must have checked his credentials before letting him pass the main gate. A twinge of doubt flickered in the back of her mind. The man materialized like her positive affirmations were magic.
What else could she manifest? “Did you dust off a Concorde somewhere?”
For a moment, he held her gaze steady.
Love couldn’t place the expression. Bemused? Confused? Teasing a stranger was another misfire. Her manners were rusty for company.
He chuckled. “Not quite.”
The warm, rich tone of his laughter was as welcoming as her fireplace on a snowy day and removed the hint of confusion from his gray eyes. She relaxed her bunched shoulders and twisted her fingers in the hem of her sweater. His even smile held toe-curling properties.
“I’m sorry to say everything is a bit of a mess. Do you have a bag or briefcase or something?” She turned back toward the door. “You don’t need to leave your things outside.”
“Oh…well…umm…” He ran a hand through his hair.
Her cheeks flamed again. Another assumption? Every rule of hospitality she knew, ingrained since childhood, evaporated with her thoughtless comment. She cooled her hot face with her icy fingers. Of course, he wasn’t carrying his things.
He’d probably left his luggage at his hotel or kept the bags with his driver and car. “Sorry, I’m feeling a little off-balance. I expected a reply or a call before you’d appear on my doorstep.”
“I should have called. I read your email and was anxious for an in-person visit.”
“I’m pleased you’re here. I can’t believe it. Your help might finish this project.” She held her arms out to the side to indicate the boxes littering the floor.
Excerpt From
How to Spot a Fake
Rachelle Campbell Dio
This material may be protected by copyright.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-spot-a-fake-rachelle-paige-campbell/1143660794?ean=2940167280380
What makes your featured book a must-read?
Part romance, part mystery, complete with all the feels! This book is the perfect Christmas-time escape as mistaken identity leads to real connection between perfect strangers.
Giveaway –
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Runs December 18 – December 31, 2023.
Winner will be drawn on January 2, 2024.
Author Biography:
Rachelle Paige Campbell writes contemporary romance novels filled with heart and hope. With a master’s degree in Art History, she is always eager for a chance to sneak antiques into her books. Missing works of art capture a special place in her imagination. She believes love and laughter can change lives, and every story needs a happily ever after.
Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rpaigebooks
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Rachelle-Paige-Campbell/e/B00T0T533Q