Title: How to Spot a Fake
Author: Rachelle Paige Campbell
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Book Blurb:
Wrong place, right guy?
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?
My Review:
In a last-ditch effort to convince her parents to turn her grandmother’s estate into a museum, she emails John Smith to authenticate a missing Imperial Faberge egg. But the wrong John Smith appears. Can these two work together to make both of their dreams come true?
How to Spot a Fake is a feast for the senses, especially if you love romance with a dash of adventure and mystery. The world-building is exquisite. The narration immersive. The characters are relatable and expressive. The romance is slow burn with an art lover twist.
Let’s start with the characters. I connected with Love and John right away. Their love of art and preservation of art in all forms spoke to my heart. Their meet-cute is so sweet. The more I got to know these characters, the more invested I became in the story.
The ‘adventure’ part of this romance is tracking down this mysterious Faberge egg. I was hooked from the beginning to its epic conclusion. As someone who minored in art history, I’m very familiar with the Imperial Faberge egg collection. Rachelle Paige Campbell has done extensive research and I applaud her for including this historical information into the story. It brings an authentic feeling to How to Spot a Fake. I loved it.
The romance is filled with romantic tension. Not only that, but the attraction leading to love is expertly written. Rachelle Paige Campbell writes realistic romance, nothing fake here. I found myself falling in love right along with this couple.
If you’re looking for an unputdownable romance, this book is it. A truly wonderful romance I will read again.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Buy it Now:
Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C87D32DT
Amazon CA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0C87D32DT
Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C87D32DT
Author Biography:
Rachelle Paige Campbell writes contemporary romance filled with heart and hope. No matter the location—big city, small town, or European kingdom—her feel-good stories always end with a happily ever after. She’s grateful for the support of her family, her robot floor cleaner, and her reluctant writing partner (her dog).
Social Media Links:
Twitter/X https://twitter.com/rpaigebooks
Reviewed by: Nancy