Tag: perfectly proper press

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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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: Gentleman Jim (Somerset Stories #2) by Mimi Matthews

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 378 pages
Author: Mimi Matthews
Publisher: Perfectly Proper Press
Release Date: November 10th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She couldn’t forget…

Wealthy squire’s daughter Margaret Honeywell was always meant to marry her neighbor, Frederick Burton-Smythe, but it’s bastard-born Nicholas Seaton who has her heart. Raised alongside her on her father’s estate, Nicholas is the rumored son of notorious highwayman Gentleman Jim. When Fred frames him for theft, Nicholas escapes into the night, vowing to find his legendary sire. But Nicholas never returns. A decade later, he’s long been presumed dead.

He wouldn’t forgive…

After years spent on the continent, John Beresford, Viscount St. Clare has finally come home to England. Tall, blond, and dangerous, he’s on a mission to restore his family’s honor. If he can mete out a bit of revenge along the way, so much the better. But he hasn’t reckoned for Maggie Honeywell. She’s bold and beautiful—and entirely convinced he’s someone else.

As danger closes in, St. Clare is torn between love and vengeance. Will he sacrifice one to gain the other? Or with a little luck—and a lot of daring—will he find a way to have them both?

FIERY.

Okay. I am a SUUUUUCKER for a revenge plot with an alpha hero (who’s not a jerk, that protective broody stuff though? ALL DAY LONG). I LOVED this book and it had me in a complete hold the entire day it took me to listen to it.

I loved the second chance romance. It had a bit of a flair with the hidden identities and new stations in life. There was fantastic push and pull and so much flippin’ chemistry between Nicholas and Margaret I could not handle it. I LOVE MIMI MATTHEWS BOOKS.

The plot is steady and uber romantic. I loved alllll of the intense moments. There’s a good bit of action and these two are flat out combustible. I seriously can’t think about anything else other than these two. Perfectly placed vulnerable moments, THE KISSES, the reconnection through change and hardships. All of the complexity of family dynamics and finding a way to be together. It’s all here. It’s so good.

READ IT.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisse
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, false imprisonment, sexual assault (unwanted forceful attempt at kissing someone), loss of loved ones, physical altercations

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