Tag: mimi matthews

ARC Book Review: Miss Beresford and the Beast (Daughters of Somerset #1) by Mimi Matthews

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 294 pages
Author: Mimi Matthews
Publisher: Perfectly Proper Press
Release Date: August 25th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A spirited Victorian beauty with a fondness for fairytales unwittingly falls under the power of a beastly, scandal-plagued nobleman in the first book in USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews’s new Daughters of Somerset series.

Charlotte Beresford has spent far too long under the iron rule of strict governesses and unflinching finishing school teachers. When she’s offered a brief window of freedom—an invitation to spend the summer with a recent acquaintance in a remote corner of Yorkshire, far from societal expectations—she jumps at the chance. Never mind that her new friend is odd, their chaperone questionable, and the village rumored to be cursed. Charlotte knows how to look after herself. All she must do is show a friendly face, keep her wits about her, and—above all—avoid the derelict manor house that stands on the edge of the moors…

Battle-scarred and bad tempered, Magnus Sterling never intended to return to England, let alone Yorkshire. But now he’s inherited the title, it’s his responsibility to settle his late father’s affairs. It should be simple enough to do without riling up the superstitious locals. Indeed, they don’t even need to know that the infamous son of the equally infamous Earl of Eversleigh is back on British soil. Magnus will keep to himself, and to the crumbling manor house, and for once in his miserable life avoid any cloud of scandal. A straightforward enough plan, or so he believes, until he catches sight of the bold, auburn-haired intruder infiltrating the grounds of his estate…

Thank you to Mimi Matthews for a gifted eARC.

SWEET RETELLING.

I liked the Beauty & the Beast nods and the interpretation Mimi Matthews went with this historical. One of the more unique opening *meet cute [disasters]* I’ve read and I thought a good use of an amnesia moment.

I really enjoyed Charlotte and Marcus together. I loved the sunshine x grump dynamics and the soft banter between them. You can easily see Magnus falling and YAYYY for having dual POV because I desperately needed his thoughts and feelings too. Things do move quickly (and I do wish they had been slower) but I thought MM kept the focus on Charlotte and Magnus so you got to see their relationship develop through plenty of proximity.

The mystery kept me curious and I loved the derelict home and crumbling walls. I loved how well Charlotte saw every layer of Magnus and did not shy away. It made my heart burst seeing Magnus receive the love in return he’s been after his whole life.

I adored getting to see past characters and the epilogue where even more of them showed up. There’s something magical about having read so many books by an author that you see the evolution of characters + children over series and how they come back into play at times. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: head injuries, gun violence (recounted), loss of life (recounted)

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ARC Book Review: The Marriage Method (The Crinoline Academy #2) by Mimi Matthews

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Mimi Matthews
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: November 25th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The Academy always comes first . . . which makes marriage to its most formidable adversary an exceedingly inconvenient arrangement.

Well removed from London’s more curious eyes, the Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies strives toward one clandestine to distract, disrupt, and discredit men in power who would seek to harm the advancement of women—by appropriate means, of course.

When intrepid newspaper editor Miles Quincy starts to question the school’s intentions, the Academy appoints Penelope “Nell” Trewlove, one of their brightest graduates, to put this nuisance to rest. An easy enough mission, she supposes. Or it would be, if Miles wasn’t so fascinating—too fascinating to resist—and if Nell’s visit to London didn’t perfectly coincide with the murder of one of Miles’s reporters.

When the inexorable claws of fate trap Nell and Miles in a compromising situation, they agree to an arrangement that will save their reputations while enabling them to investigate the story that led to a man’s death, as well as the surprising chemistry between them.

Thank you to Mimi Matthews and Berkley for the gifted copy and PRH Audio for the audiobook.

MY LATEST OBESSION.

Oh this EASILY is now in my top five favorite book from Mimi Matthews. I was OBESSED from the first chapter. I don’t think anyone does marriage of convenience romances better. I will be unable to think of anything else for the foreseeable future.

Miles. Miles. Miles. I could have highlighted half of this book just listening to him talk. The man was so far gone and all sorts of protective and could not be a step away from Nell and I LOVED IT ALL. And I loved Nell too. I loved seeing her find her strength and inner fire from having to be away from the academy. Miles helped her genuinely blossom and grow and I loved the way they played off of each other.

Matthews also writes some of the best romantic scenes everrrrr. The way emotion and love is conveyed through every moment. It’s heated and sensual and lights my kindle on fire every time.

I loved the suspense elements and mystery. The plot is engaging and balanced just right. It’s a book worth devouring.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: vague fade to black
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: kidnapping, murder, attempted murder, physical and weapons based altercations, near death experiences

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Book Review: The Viscount and the Vicar’s Daughter by Mimi Matthews

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 232 pages
Author: Mimi Matthews
Publisher: Perfectly Proper Press
Release Date: December 1st, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A WORLD-WEARY RAKE

After years of unbridled debauchery, Tristan Sinclair, Viscount St. Ashton has hit proverbial rock bottom. Seeking to escape his melancholy, he takes refuge at one of Victorian society’s most notorious house parties. As the Christmas season approaches, he prepares to settle in for a month of heavy drinking…until an unexpected encounter changes his plans—and threatens his heart.

A PRIM VICAR’S DAUGHTER

Valentine March is not the drab little spinster she appears to be. When her new job as a lady’s companion lands her smack in the middle of Yorkshire with England’s most infamous rake, she resolves to keep her head down and her eyes fixed firmly on her future—a future which most definitely does not include a sinfully handsome viscount.

A MATCH MADE IN SCANDAL

A friendship is impossible. An affair out of the question. But when one reckless act binds them together, will two star-crossed souls discover there’s more to each other than meets the eye? Or will revelations from the past end their fragile romance before it begins?

ANOTHER GREAT MIMI BOOK.

This was a very good use of instant love that honestly worked well for me. I think the beauty of Mimi Matthews writing is convincing me of any trope and just rolling with the journey these characters take.

For a very short book I didn’t love how the third act went down because it took away from the relationship. I loved Valentine and Tristan together and would have read pages and pages of Tristan falling HARD for his woman.

I’m almost finished with Mimi Matthew’s backlist books and they are just as charming as her current books. You really can’t go wrong with these historical romances.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: The Winter Companion (Parish Orphans of Devon #4) by Mimi Matthews

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 318 pages
Author: Mimi Matthews
Publisher: Perfectly Proper Press
Release Date: February 11th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She needed to be seen…

As a lady’s companion, Clara Hartwright never receives much attention from anyone. And that’s precisely how she likes it. With a stormy past, and an unconventional plan for her future, it’s far safer to remain invisible. But when her new employer is invited to a monthlong holiday at a remote coastal abbey, Clara discovers that she may not be as invisible as she’d hoped. At least, not as far as one gentleman is concerned.

He wanted to be heard…

Neville Cross has always been more comfortable with animals than people. An accident in his youth has left him with a brain injury that affects his speech. Forming the words to speak to his childhood friends is difficult enough. Finding the right things to say to a lovely young lady’s companion seems downright impossible. But Miss Hartwright is no ordinary companion. In fact, there may not be anything ordinary about her at all.

During a bleak Devon winter, two sensitive souls forge an unexpected friendship. But when Clara needs him most, will Neville find the courage to face his fears? Or is saying goodbye to her the most heroic thing he can do?

CHECK.

Another Mimi Matthews series is complete! I really enjoyed this whole series and this book specifically was super sweet. I loved the romance between Clara and Neville. It was incredibly tender and they continually found small ways to connect with each other. It showcased the effort and love that goes into taking care of someone else and allowing that love to be in your life.

This was a quick audio read and another charming story. I adore this entire cast and seeing how things came around for everyone. I enjoyed the plot of this book and watching the growth in spirit of both Neville and Clara.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Langauge: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings: mentions of previous child abuse

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