New Review for Painted Lady

Painted Lady by Maggi Andersen


Painted Lady by Maggi Andersen
Publisher: New Concepts Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Historical
Length: Short (106 pages)
Heat: Sensual
Rating: 3.5 Books
Reviewed by Lavender

Were Astrid and Dylan merely caught up in their roles as they performed the screenplay based on the life of painter Milo Russo and his daughter, Gina? Or was the magic that seemed to explode between them with each on-screen kiss real?

This is a charming dual story set in modern times and in the late Victorian era, 1890. The parallel stories are written in an interesting way, sometimes touching base but mostly not.

The modern story is set in the year 2008, in London, and mirrors the Victorian tale. Two actors, Dylan and Astrid, are staring in a film, which portrays the story of the Victorian couple. The two stories go back and forth, and the author cleverly did this. While Dylan and Astrid are playing out the lives of the historical couple, Gina and Blair, they are developing their own relationship. Astrid has a lover already, but she’s considering leaving him.

I found Gina and Blair’s story to be more entertaining. Much more happened between them, and in the course of reading the story, I looked forward to the sections that focused on them. Gina modeled for her stepfather, an artist, and Blair, an enchanting Irishman, was drawn to her for more than her looks.

A wicked lord was after Gina, but not just for the obvious reasons. He also had it out for Blair. Even though there was a parallel villain in the modern day story, the plots were not echoed exactly. They had things in common, but with very different outcomes. The modern day villain was merely an actor who wanted the beautiful Astrid in his bed, and like the Victorian scoundrel, he had no redeeming qualities.

Overall, this was a good book that I’d recommend, but mostly for the Victorian part of it, which for me, had a more satisfying tale of love.