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Review: The Artist and the Muse - For Love and Money #4

The Artist and the Muse book cover on blue background

This might be one of the books that I've waited for the longest since starting up my blog and Bookstagram account! In fact, it was not long after I binge read Nicole Lam's books in a week or two that I sought out her earlier stories on Wattpad and discovered The Painter and the Pretty Girl, which has now transformed into The Artist and the Muse, releasing on March 17, 2025 😊

I am grateful to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Synopsis

I need this Art History class to get my degree. But I never expected my professor to be my former fake fiancé.

Struggling artist George Devereaux needed a visa to stay in New York when I met him, and I needed a date for my ex's engagement party. So offering to marry him was a purely logical decision. But when he broke off our engagement of convenience, I thought we would have a clean break. After all, it's not like what we had was real.

Our history might be more complicated than a Da Vinci invention. Our relationship should be strictly educational, but George still manages to draw me into his magnetic orbit every time.

And no matter how much he tempts me, I know that George Devereaux will never be the settling down type—so he definitely shouldn’t be mine.

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

After reading the original chapters for this book two years ago, I was immediately hooked and willing to wait for this romance to be told! Now that I’ve finished reading George and Georgia’s story, I can confidently say that it has been worth the wait and that this is my favourite For Love and Money book in the series. I loved getting to revisit past characters from the first three books, culminating in a sweet family reunion. If you happen to be new to the series, you’ll want to meet all of the characters that the author introduces as she provides even more teasers to their stories. Alongside the rich Christian content in this book, Nicole Lam is gifted in being able to immerse readers in various foreign destinations, making readers feel at home whether they’re in New York or in Rome. Add in her knack to describe mouth-watering cuisine, and her books will have you wanting to pack your bags!

Through an intentional series of flashbacks, I appreciate that readers get a sense of the character development that takes place for George and Georgia. Pastor Tony plays a pivotal role in this book, and his discussions on Christian themes in artwork make me want to further explore the works described in The Artist and the Muse. What pulls this story together so well are the twin messages of how God looks beyond our appearance, yet He is the God who creates beauty and wonder. Both themes are seamlessly woven throughout how George and Georgia look at the world and at themselves. The Gospel is presented faithfully, providing comfort and hope when external circumstances seem bleak and inner discontentment is overwhelming. If readers are looking for a romance that spans the continents with a fresh dose of God’s pursuing love, this book might just inspire you to create your own works of art that reflect God as the ultimate Artist.

Book Summary

  • Format of book: 📱
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Recommendation: 👍

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