Artfully Yours by Joanna Lowell

 

While the cover may look like it will be akin to Charles Dickens or Jane Austen, this book bore little resemblance to those great authors. This was no genteel society novel with romantic tension--it was a pornographic romp that turned my stomach. Having to skip past multiple salacious scenes, I began to wonder if there was even a plot to the story. The story details seemed to be secondary to the lengthy descriptions of promiscuity.

This is a prime example why I believe that books--like movies, music, and video games--should come with content warnings. There was so much potential in this book: tragic childhood, estranged brothers, lonely bachelor, forged artwork. And yet the story was utterly ruined for me by throwing in such tasteless scenes. I would not recommend this book to anyone as it is highly graphic and disturbing. How an author can immerse herself in that kind of writing is beyond my comprehension. Lowell will be added to my "Steer Clear" book list and I will stick with historic novels that have a compelling storyline, not a pornographic peep show. I deeply regret having agreed to review this book.

Perhaps the true irony is that the heroine who forges paintings--copying authentic artists, falls victim to the forgery of promiscuity that masquerades as authentic love.

Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of Artfully Yours from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received (no amount of money would have enticed me to read this book had I known its content).