An Artful Secret

The Art of Love #4

by Holly Newman

Lancelot Nowlton, Viscount Lakehurst, writes gothic novels.

The widow Lady Cassandra Tidemark, Marchioness of Darkford, is living a gothic nightmare.

The young marchioness is haunted by nightmarish visions of a past she can't escape. The memory of her husband's death, shrouded in a ritualistic mystery reminiscent of Sir Francis Dashwood's notorious Hell Fire club, casts a chilling pall over her life.

By chance, Cassandra reads a bestselling gothic novel penned by the elusive ‘Anonymous’ that describes what happened that night. To her shock, she discovers that Viscount Lakehurst is the author, and she accuses him of her husband's murder.

But the meddling Dowager Duchess of Malmsby, Lakehurst's grandmother, sees a potential match in Cassandra for her grandson, Viscount Lakehurst, and devises a quest to throw the two together and unearth the truth about Lord Darkford's death.

The pursuit of truth unearths long-buried Darkford family secrets, revealing a web of deception, murder, and danger.

In "An Artful Secret," love and mystery entwine, testing the bonds of the heart against a backdrop of deceit, fraud, and revenge. Amidst the shadows, Cassandra and Lakehurst are drawn together. Can they conquer the Darkford past and unearth the secrets that will set them free?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2023

Reviews

[Rainelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

So Lancelot Cassandra and Guinevere. The names almost threw me off about the story’s plot. I really enjoyed the mystery and suspense behind Lancelot chasing down the criminals who’ve set their sites on Cassandra and her son Alex. The storyline moved freely with the characters and the plot. I was entertained and pleased with the romance. I enjoyed the book a lot. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved reading this story! It was a mix of mystery and romance and had some hints of paranormal wrapped in a historical setting. It was nothing like I was expecting and I enjoyed every bit of it! I absolutely loved Cassie’s first reaction to Lancelot and omg the names Lancelot and his twin Guinevere. A wonderful love story filled with surprises!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to BookSprout for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

I put off reading this one for a bit because it seemed to have a darker feel to it and I needed a bit of lightness in my life. On saying that, I finally got around to it and found I did enjoy the gothic drama of it, and there was a balance of lightness to it as well, mainly through the brightness of the secondary characters and their various relationships.

In this one, the widowed Marchioness of Darkford is coming out of her period of mourning for her husband who died in a truly traumatic manner 18 months prior. Because of her involvement/witnessing his tragic death, she has been in a state of trauma and stress herself.
He had a love of the occult and demons and held rituals and parties similar to the Hellfire Club. On the night of his death, Cassandra was somehow drawn into one of his rituals and ended up tied to an alter, while one of the members was trying to knife a sigil into her body, when her husband was stabbed and ended up dying over her incapacitated body. The trauma of her memories caused her to be living in a bit of a fog, allowing her uncle in-law and his wife to essentially take over and run her life, and take over managing the household and her son's patrimony. They do not believe what she relayed to them about the manner of her husband's death and hold the threat of incarceration in an asylum over her, thinking she is ill and unfit. The uncle and his wife are overbearing, and quite bold in how they take over, shamefully abusing their status, and Cassandra's finances.

When Cassandra starts to go out and about in society again, she ends up reading a gothic novel written and published anonymously which revisits her trauma as a scene in the book is almost exactly like what she experienced 18 months prior and she initially convinced whoever wrote it must have been there, and possibly the murderer. She is horrified when she finds out that Lord Lancelot, Viscount Lakehurst was the author.

His grandmother and sister, determined to help Cassandra gain control of her life from her in-laws, and face her fears, and hopefully bring Lance and her together, conspire to get her back to the family estate, where everything occurred. When there, they uncover the secrets of the family and her husband's death.

This historical romance had sweet and cute elements such as Lance's sister Gwinnie and her enthusiasm and cheerful embrace of life (that does hide a deep loneliness too), and Cassandra's sweet son, and the warmth of some of the family relationships, but that is in sharp contrast to Cassandra's marriage, and then the darkness and mystery of Darkford's death and Cassandra's trauma, and the family secrets that are stirred up in their investigation of the events 18 months prior. The romance that brews between Cassandra and Lance takes a back seat to the gothic story.

But it was an interesting story overall, and I liked the ensemble of characters and how they related to each other, generally.

3.75 stars out of 5

[Nanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great, lots of intrigue, suspense, mystery and romance all rolled into one story. Lady Cassandra Darkford is living a nightmare. Her husband died under strange circumstances. Now she lives a half-life as her brother-in-law, Edmund, and his wife Vanessa want to have her committed and take her son away. While attending a dinner at the house of Lord Lakehurst and his sister, Lady Guinevere, she reads part of a gothic book and screams. The story is just like her nightmares! Wow, Lakehurst and his family set out to help Cassie and her son. She is at first shocked but then sees they only mean to help her. As they follow leads and find out information there is much more to the night her husband died then any expected. With the Duchess keeping the young boy safe. Cassie, Lakehurst and Ginnie set out to find out what really happened and why. Edmund and Vanessa are quite the evil, nasty pair hoping they would get what was coming to them. There is a lot going on in this fast-paced story. Lots of twists and turns and villains you don’t expect. Thu everything that happens it the slowing growing attraction and more for Cassie and Lakehurst (Lancelot). He is the only person who makes her feel safe, I loved that. This whole series is great and can be read as standalone. So much better read in order. You don’t want to miss this one. I received an ARC from the author and wish to thank her. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Cassandra Tidemark, the widowed Marchioness Darkford, and her young son are living with her husband’s uncle, who is her son’s guardian. He is not a friendly host to her. Her husband was killed and she was abused during an evil ritual. Lancelot Nowlton, Viscount Lakehurst, is the author of gothic novels and a large, but gentle man. It seems that his latest work includes a scene very much like that of her husband’s murder, and Cassandra did not react well. After that, Lakehurst, his sister Guinevere, and their Dowager Duchess Grandmother determine to help Cassie and her son Alex. This was a gothic romance wrapped in mystery with secrets, evil and greedy schemes, betrayal, and unexpected villains. Lakehurst is a wonderful caring man. Guinevere is independent, opinionated, and talented. Their grandmother oversees their adventure and safeguards Alex, who is an active, curious, and cheerful child. The support brings Cassie out of the nightmare she has been living. Will the villain be caught? Will Lancelot be able to convince Cassie that they belong together? An exciting, unpredictable story with interesting characters and a great happy ending.
I received an ARC of this book via BookSprout and voluntarily reviewed it.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lakehurst writes gothic tales, unfortunately Cassie lived through a gothic tale of horror, losing her husband and being haunted by nightmares from what she had experienced. When Cassie reads Lakehurst's latest tale, because it so closely follows what happened to her, she is convinced that not only was he there when her husband was murdered, but that he is the likely murderer.
What follows is Cassie discovering not only the truth of what happened that horrible night, but a strength of character that helps her stand firm in defense of her son and herself. Lakehurst is a delightful man who is determined to help Cassie discover the truth and also protect her from any more harm.
Lovely story with a touch of the gothic itself. Wonderfully twisty and kept me wondering who the villain was until almost the end.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I live this series. There is always intrigue along with romance.

Lakehurst gets his HEA in this story. His latest book causes a widow in their circle to become upset because it seems so similar to the horror she has recently endured. This intrigues both Lakehurst and his sister along with their grandmother. They decide to help the widow.

A house party that is less party more horror sees all the secrets coming to light, including Lakehurst’s love for the widow.

This story has less romance than the others but is very enjoyable. Lots of twists and turns!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Pat Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be the most original tale I have read in a long time! A gentle giant, Lord Lakehurst writes stories, and inadvertently writes a story that Lady Cassie has lived. I loved how she responded to the story, much to Lakehurst’s dismay and how Grandmama does her dead level best to stop the odious guardian and his wife. The villain took some time to become apparent and the surprise at the end was phenomenal! Loved this story and can’t wait for the next!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassie is being followed and her husband’s uncle wants to commit her, I believe for financial reasons and increased control over her son and his inheritance. Lakehurst is attracted to her and wants to help her determine who is behind her husband’s death in the hopes she can get past it and move forward together. I would have chills going to the castle especially the cave where dark rituals were performed. The uncle was evil but so were others. Cassie’s young son was precocious. I loved that Lakehurst was an author. His sister was a riot and I’m looking forward to her finding her match.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank Holly Newman, author and Goodreads First Reads for the eBook Kindle copy of An Artful Secret ~ The Art of Love ~ Book 4 that I won in the Giveaway.

A secret author, a book thrown across a room started a relationship between Lancelot Nowlton, Viscount Lakehurst, who writes gothic novels (the one thrown) and Lady Cassandra Tidemark, Marchioness of Darkford. The plot involves a murder, a secret satanic society, an embezzlement and a grandmother that enjoys planning plots and matchmaking. Lots of twists and turns to a happy ending after solving the murders.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really enjoyable story of love and mystery. Cassandra lost her husband in mysterious circumstances and has lived with the nightmares surrounding his death and murder. Lancelot is the anonymous author of Gothic novels. The mystery surrounding his death draws Lancelot and his family to her plight ensuring her safety and that of her young son. Leading them both on a journey of discovery to uncover a murderer and hopefully love.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh

I feel like I’ve read some version of this book 100 times and there was no real anything. No surprises, no spice, no tension and the romantic aspect was ridiculous. Just lots of meh. Not bad just very forgettable.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. It has suspense, mystery and intrigue and of course romance. The characters were very interesting and I enjoyed reading about them. The story kept me glued to the pages.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining historical romance. It was romantic, suspenseful and held my interest. It was I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

[Kimberley Stafford · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok

Ok but not as enjoyable as previous books I read. Received as a Goodreads giveaway. Opinions are solely my own.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy read

My 1st Holly Newman book. After just finishing a Stephen King novel, her writing style was so different. I enjoyed the characters and the story. I wil definitely read more of her books!