If you’re in the mood for a festive read that’s equal parts romance and intrigue, this one’s a must-add to your list. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

The story follows Darcy, a PhD student on a year-long secondment at the Danish National Gallery. Her research takes an unexpected turn when she's assigned to investigate a mysterious painting found attached to the back of a masterpiece by a revered artist. Meanwhile, Darcy’s flatmate Freja, concerned about Darcy spending Christmas alone, signs her up for an exclusive dating app. Despite being behind on her thesis and still reeling from a brief, disappointing relationship, Darcy decides to swipe right on three profiles. One of these profiles belongs to Max, who turns out to be the trustee of the foundation where Darcy will be conducting her research.

The chemistry between Darcy and Max is undeniable from the get-go which creates tension as they struggle to keep their relationship professional. As Darcy uncovers more about the painting, they find themselves at odds, raising doubts about whether any kind of relationship is possible between them.

Darcy is a compelling character strong, independent, and easy to root for. And Max? He’s that classic combo of handsome, wealthy and arrogant but there’s also a tenderness to him that makes his character growth all the more satisfying.

The Danish setting adds a magical backdrop to the story, and the pacing is spot-on, with each chapter leaving you eager to turn the page.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan MacMillan for the ARC

Set in Copenhagen, Darcy is working to try and discover the identity of a woman’s face painted over by a famous artist. Having just come out of a failed relationship, her friend Freja has signed her up to a dating site, and Darcy becomes attracted to Max deciding, to contact him. However, when they discover they will be working together they decide to keep their professional and private lives separate, but sizzling chemistry between them insists on breaking through.

The setting is beautifully described, atmospheric historic buildings filled with valuable artwork, vibrant city and canals come alive at the stroke of a pen. Darcy and Freja are the best of friends and their relaxed, easygoing relationship is full of humour. All the characters are well drawn, though Max comes across as arrogant with his rich, entitled background.
All characters develop and grow throughout this compelling story, and not all they seem.

With Darcy working hard to discover the woman in the painting, and unavoidably coming into contact with Max, trying to play down their undoubted attraction this complex intriguing story steadily unfolds. I became engrossed in both setting and characters in one of my favourite novels by Karen Swan.

Another lovely, cosy, Christmas read by Karen, You are in for a treat with this one, and I liked the mystery element to it. It's not just another cookie cutter Christmas novel. Really loved it, even reading it in summer!

This was a really good book that I thoroughly enjoyed & will recommend to others.
Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it

While working on her PhD in Denmark Darcy is asked to research a painting found hidden on the reverse of a well known painting. During the research Darcy becomes emotionally and professionally involved with the history of a well known family . The painting is a portrait in oils of a woman done in the 1920s but who she is and who painted her is unknown. This becomes a legal fight not only for ownership of the portrait but also to uncover what happened to the woman.
This book not only brings the characters to life but draws you into their livers keeping you reading right through to the end. A really enjoyable read which is not only a romantic novel but a historical mystery as well.

This was another book of the author which I could not stop reading. A very enjoyable theme, set in Denmark, with the heroine trying to work out the story behind a hidden painting which has just been discovered. So good.

Thank you very much Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the advanced copy for review!

There's something very comforting with knowing Karen Swan comes out with 2 books each year. Having read The Lost Lover (Wild Isle #3) not too long ago, I was excited to see her next Christmas/Winter novel would be releasing in October.

While it seems odd to read about the festive season while it's summer - as usual Karen Swan's novels are very atmospheric and evocative of the holiday spirit. We're treated to a setting in Denmark, featuring a Christmas market, a fun city tradition, as well as the glamour and high stakes of the fine arts scene. Darcy is a very enjoyable female lead - I liked how she mostly knew her own mind, was forthright in her opinions, and also came from a slightly less established career background (being a student still) than some of our previous heroines.

Max, our male lead, is described as very handsome, very rich, and also very arrogant. He's actually quite insufferable on paper. He's possessive, and has his own personal hang ups, which influence how he forms relationships with women and those around him. While I found this part of his trait to be annoying, nonetheless he still makes for a swoony lead - he has a soft spot for Darcy and helps her out on many occasions. Darcy and Max also have very palpable chemistry.

Beyond the romance - the underlying mystery that Karen Swan weaves into her books are always a treat to read. They're usually a secondary plot and I find them very engaging, this one being no different. I liked learning more about the identify of the woman in the painting, as well as what her fate and legacy were.

This is another winner from Karen Swan's books, and hope others feel the same!

This was a well written and entertaining story set in Denmark. I liked the premise - PhD student Darcy is attracted to Max a representative of the Madsen Fiundation who want to acquire a painting. Darcy is given the job of identifying the painting on the back of Denmark’s most famous painter.

There was a large cast of characters which sometimes confused me as Intried to remember which side of the argument these people worked for. I thought Darcy’s friend Freja was a very pushy, interfering friend but she played an important role so I forgave her.

It was a little predictable in places (soft gentle vet turns out to be an abusive man with drink problems) but the quality of 5e writing carried this story really well.

I was disappointed with the brevity of the denouement - just a. Couple of pages. Considering how long it had taken to get to the happy ending, I would really have liked a longer and more satisfying climax.

All I want for Christmas is for everyone to read this book! It is one of those books that transports you making you forget about real life and full of delightful characters that spring to life. I actually felt like I was there in the story with them ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a very atmospheric read which is set in Denmark in the run up to Christmas however although there were a few Christmas events dotted throughout this I didn’t feel that this was an overly festive read. That said I found this very engrossing with both the storyline and the incredible chemistry between the two main characters - protagonist Darcy and aloof lawyer Max. Darcy is taxed with finding out the identity of a woman in a portrait that was discovered stuck behind a famous painting which is due to be displayed in an exhibition shortly. Max works for the foundation that is assisting Darcy with her research and coincidentally just prior to Darcy being given this assignment matched with her on a dating app and the balance between professional and personal is a very fine line for both of them. I really e joyed the background story to the lady in the portrait and her history unfolded well throughout the book, the tension between Darcy and Max felt very strong and believable and the way Darcy’s feelings towards Max vacillated really added to this. The Danish setting was wonderful and I was captivated throughout this wonderful book. 9/10

Thanks to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for a review copy of this novel. Karen Swan is a go to author for me. Always consistent in weaving wonderful stories with richly drawn characters and a wonderful sense of place, she is one a handful of authors I look forward to reading and a rare author I will read again. This novel is definitely one to add to the collection of re-reads. It was an immersive compulsive and enjoyable read set in a wonderful location that comes alive under Swan’s deft handling.

Denmark is the setting in this story, with Darcy Cottrell on secondment from England to the premiere Danish national gallery for her PhD studies in art history. After an intriguing discovery of another painting glued to the back of a painting by one of Denmark\s revered 20th century painters, Darcy is tasked with finding out the identity and history of the subject of the portrait with only a shadowed outline from a scan to go on. To undertake the research she must go to a private foundation’s archives whose main mission is to collect all the paintings of this renowned painter. Coming off a failed relationship and with Christmas approaching Darcy is glad for the distraction of the project while resisting her roommate’s efforts to hook her up with someone through a dating app. Despite herself, she finds she’s swiped right on three potential candidates, only to find that one of them, Max is a trustee of the foundation where she’s researching. But despite the time and irresistible chemistry between them Darcy gradually finds that both Max and the foundation have plenty of secrets and manipulative strategies that eventually entangle her and are threatening both her workplace and her own principles.

With my own background in archives, researching art objects and that world, I found this novel’s premise irresistible from the start. I enjoyed so much following Darcy’s progress, but as always, I loved the manner in which Swan creates such wonderful atmosphere and a real sense of place as the reader gets a view of the Christmas St Lucia celebrations on a Danish canal, or the Danish seaside in winter along with the classic Scandinavian summer house, or the streets of Copenhagen preparing for Christmas. But those are bonus extras that go with a wonderful, warmhearted story with complicated characters and plenty of romance in the mix. Recommended.