Official Review: Diary of a Painted Lady by Maggi Andersen

debo9967 · Post by **debo9967** » 05 Sep 2016, 05:34

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Diary of a Painted Lady" by Maggi Andersen.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Dairy of a Painted Lady by Maggi Andersen is a book in the romance genre. The book switches between two love stories, separated by over a century, one set in 1890 and another in present day.

Giovanna Russo, or Gina, wanted a secure and comfortable future more than anything else. Her stepfather, Milo Russo, a pre-Raphaelite artist, was close to achieving this dream, with his paintings rapidly gaining fame in London. Blair Dunleavy was mesmerized by the woman, a glimpse of whose beauty was enough to compel him to buy Mr. Russo’s painting. He had only one thing on his mind now: to meet Mr. Russo’s model and make her his new mistress. Unfortunately for Gina, he is not the only one who pursues her.

Astrid LeClair is steadily climbing the ladder in her acting career, but her relationship with her much older boyfriend is going downhill. Sorting out her relationship troubles was already proving tough, and it is further complicated by the presence of her attractive co-star, Dylan Shaw. Playing the lead roles in the movie Painted Lady, based on Gina’s diary, both discover that the script might be closer home.

A plotline split into two time zones isn’t a new formula, neither is the idea of drawing parallel between reel life and real life. Yet, despite the cliché, the novel manages to impress, courtesy the solid writing. The author has spun a tale which is well-detailed, rich, and replete with a wide array of emotions. The storyline itself is uncomplicated, though with enough twists to keep it interesting for the readers.

The story’s focus tilts slightly in favor of its female characters. Both Gina and Astrid want to be independent, and while for Gina, financial independence is of greater concern; both the characters don’t want to be the dependant or needy half in their relationship. For Gina, her monetary troubles increase when her step-father is suspiciously murdered, and she needs to find her footing soon. Circumstances force her to choose the unsavory alternative, but she finds her way back, and establishes herself in a city still alien to her. Similarly, Astrid has never lived alone, and that is one of the reasons why she procrastinates in breaking off her loveless relationship. Astrid’s sensible choices and how she sorts her priorities in life make her quite a likable character.

The male characters on the other hand, seem to be only charming and lusty, at least initially. Their emotional evolution is pleasing to read about. However, I was a tad bit disappointed that both the characters, especially Blair, were to some degree bearing a conventional mindset. Blair’s whole attitude towards Gina changes when he discovers that Gina is not from the demimonde, which clearly reveals how he compartmentalized women. Dylan’s attitude is much more progressive, which is no surprise, since belongs to the present century.

The book is not perfect, but I found it hard to put down. This well written, heartfelt, and naughty romance would be an engaging read for those who looking for a light romance on a lazy afternoon. I rate it 4 out of 4 stars.

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Diary of a Painted Lady
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