"The Work of Art" by Mimi Matthews

Phyllida Satterthwaite has newly arrived in London under the care of her uncle. Having a simple and somewhat lonely country background, Philly brought her favorite companions with her—her four dogs. She loved country life and has a gift with animals, but when the grandfather who raised her passed away, it was on to Town to find a match on the marriage mart.

Philly makes a splash on the social scene, not because of her gentle personality but rather her uncommon beauty. She has heterochromia, or one brown eye and one blue eye, and combined with her auburn hair, people have never seen anything like her. Society begins to call her The Work Of Art, and she is courted by an older and mysterious duke known as The Collector. Rumors abound as to what happens when The Collector does not get what he wants, and he certainly wants The Work Of Art.

Captain Arthur Heywood rarely ventures into Town. The wounds he suffered during the Peninsular War have left him reliant upon a cane and unable to enjoy most of his former pursuits. He's struck when he meets Miss Satterthwaite—not only by her beauty, but her generous heart which sees beyond his woundings to gain his friendship. She senses his loneliness matches hers.

When Philly becomes fearful of the marriage that is being pushed upon her by her uncle, she turns to Arthur for help. What can he do? Sidelined by infirmity, with nothing great to recommend himself, his options are limited. But he would do anything to protect her—and she is grateful that her only friend will help her when she needs it most.

There were several things I enjoyed about this book. Philly is so kind and good, and her bond with her dogs and other animals in the story really sets her apart in the heroine category. Arthur's limitations, fears, and insecurities make him an atypical hero, as well. These characters actually talk about their problems and rely on one another to face them together—a refreshing change from a lot of romance stories of any genre. 

I felt the first half of the story was much stronger than the second. Certain storylines all but died away, Philly seemed almost too perfect, and there was some content beyond what I usually read. There were enough positives that I would definitely be interested in reading more from this author, and I truly enjoyed the unique slant she gave to the story overall.

Content warning: This is not a Christian fiction book, which I knew ahead of time. In the second half of the story there is some PG-rated swearing, and there are also bedroom scenes between a married couple which are not explicit but you definitely know what's going on. If you're familiar with any BBC shows like Poldark or Downton Abbey, it's very much in line with what you would see there. Use your own discretion. Arthur's description of the war is also a little graphic and could be unsettling for some readers.