Portrait of a Lover

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔 OG Cover ----not a fan of the new one
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥.5
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖.5
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨

Cover Stepback

First Impressions
Portrait of a Lover (or also known in the KU catalog as "To Annabelle, With Love" is a story show more that I would recommend reading the previous book before reading this one as they are connected and there are events in the previous book that will make this book matter on a deeper level. Portrait of a Lover is a story about redemption, yearning, a bit of a grovel for both parties and a captivating love story that will bring a tear to your eye.

First Line
Annabelle Lawson tipped her head back against the rough bark of the oak tree on the hill and laid a hand on her stomach.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Magnus Wallis
The Heroine: Annabelle Lawson

Summary
Annabella Lawson met a charming stranger on a train ride, she believed him to be an employee of a hotel and one who had an affinity for art and fishing. She has a secret affair with Magnus, until she learns the truth of his true identity and he breaks her heart in the process. And now its been 13 years later and he has come back to England after settling in America, and is here in England to find Annabelle and right the wrongs he made 13 years ago. He always loved Annabelle but he knew her family would never tolerate or accept him and did the rightful thing at the time. But now he is more mature and will fight to have the woman he loves. But love sometimes isn't always enough to heal past wound and they will have to forge their own path of redemption...

What I Loved
I think what drew me to this story the most was the quiet moments between these two. How honest they are in the redemption plot line of their story. And how both Magnus and Annabelle had to do their own way of groveling. It was actually refreshing to see that, as its normally just the hero doing the groveling. And Annabelle did need to do her way of groveling. She didn't trust Magnus when it mattered and really hurt him in her own way and didn't redeem herself in the way that she needed to. I did enjoy aspects of the story though, the art element was super fascinating and I appreciated the way in which the author wrote that style. I also loved the third act in the mystery that gets unsolved with Annabelle that connects to Magnus' past. And seeing her brother become accepting of Magnus once the truth is revealed was so satisfying.

What I Struggled With
Not a fan of the flashbacks, the long period of time of 13 years and that her family hadn't pushed her into the season or courting in any way in all of that time was a bit strange.

Overall View
Portrait of a Lover is a sweet sensational love story that digs deep into the heart and torment of the human condition while delivering a story of healing and hope...

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Historical Romance-Victorian Era
Character Types: Artist, Self Made Hero
Themes: Heart/Emotionally Touching, Tear Jerker, Angsty
Tropes: Second Chance, Forbidden

Book Perspective
3rd POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Both

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Elise Braden
Suzanne Enoch
Julia London

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes

Steam/Spice Explanations

Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments. show less

From BackCover:
A picture of deception...

Annabelle Lawson knew nothing about the breathtaking stranger she met on the train -- only that he'd make an ideal model for the budding young artist...and that she desired him more than she believed possible. But after she'd been seduced, she learned that she'd also been betrayed.

The man she thought she loved was really Magnus Wallis -- a scoundrel like his father before him, the loathed cousin of Annabelle's benefactor, the honorable Earl of Whitby.

A landscape of love...

No longer the naively romantic girl who would tumble for a rogue, Annabelle cannot avoid a reunion with the despicable Magnus, who wants to include her portraits in his new London gallery. She means to show him her coldest show more face -- but upon seeing him again, her every intention melts from the heat of his touch. It is clear that Magnus still burns with love for her. But is he still the villain he once was, or can he be reformed into a man Annabelle can dare to love? show less