Hi y’all!
I am thrilled to share my review of The Lily of Ludgate Hill by Mimi Matthews. I absolutely adore this series and was thrilled to receive an ARC of Mimi’s latest installment.
This Victorian England set series follows the relationships of four friends as they navigate a changing society and find love. They can be read as standalone novels but I recommend reading in publication order to experience the stories as they build on each other. They are all fantastic!
Check out my reviews of the other Belles of London books.
The Siren of Sussex
The Belle of Belgrave Square
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.
This book releases today – January 16th, 2024!
Book Summary: “Lady Anne Deveril doesn’t spook easily. A woman of lofty social standing known for her glacial beauty and starchy opinions, she’s the unofficial leader of her small group of equestriennes. Since her mother’s devastating plunge into mourning six years ago, Anne voluntarily renounced any fanciful notions of love and marriage. And yet, when fate puts Anne back into the entirely too enticing path of Mr. Felix Hartford, she’s tempted to run…right into his arms.
No one understands why Lady Anne withdrew into the shadows of society, Hart least of all. The youthful torch he once held for her has long since cooled. Or so he keeps telling himself. But now Anne needs a favor to help a friend. Hart will play along with her little ruse—on the condition that Anne attend a holiday house party at his grandfather’s country estate. No more mourning clothes. No more barriers. Only the two of them, unrequited feelings at last laid bare.
Finally free to gallop out on her own, Anne makes the tantalizing discovery that beneath the roguish exterior of her not-so-white knight is a man with hidden depths, scorching passions—and a tender heart.”
The writing is absolutely exquisite. Mimi builds a compelling Victorian world that transports readers into her scenes. I feel like I am there on the streets of London, riding with Hart and Anne, attending the Christmas house party. It all felt so real and vibrant. The words themselves seem to come alive and pull readers into the story. Mimi takes her time in her storytelling which only adds to the aura surrounding her stories. She develops her scenes and her characters with such ease and finesse. Truly a delight to experience a book by Mimi Matthews.
Getting to know Anne and Hart was a delight. Their obvious chemistry builds throughout the novel and climaxes in the most beautiful romantic scenes. I appreciated their depth and complexities. They both have dealt with significant difficulties in their pasts. Anne lost her beloved father and still grieves him intensely in her all black wardrobe years after his passing. Hart learned shocking truths about his father after his father died. And he continues to grapple with the repercussions of that revelation years later. They aren’t perfect people. They make mistakes and push others way. But they learn from their experiences and they learn to seek for their own happiness which is a beautiful journey. Plus, we get several truly swoony kisses and beautiful love declarations along the way. Such a beautiful balance of depth and romance.
Lily offers readers a beautiful story contrasting the depth of love with the difficulties of grief. For so much of the story, Anne is hyper focused on her grief and her mother’s grief. She sees herself as the necessary companion of her mother and there are many reasons to back that decision. But as she falls in love with Hart (again) she begins to see a life that can balance grief and love. I loved seeing her journey to understanding how to honor her beloved father while also building a life she loves and thrives in. Her entrance in the ballroom in her red dress is a scene of absolute beauty. It captures her journey so perfectly.
I adore this series and am anxious to read more of Mimi’s books. Perhaps I will start with the series where we first meet Teddy (our protagonist alongside Stella in the next book! The first chapter is fantastic and I am already anxious for more of their story). The writing is beautiful, the romance is lovely and the complexities are so satisfying. This book is a must read for historical romance lovers. A captivating exploration of the ways we lose love and find it again. Highly recommend!
What are your favorite historical romances?
Who are your favorite authors in this genre?
Mimi Matthews is a USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of historical romances. Her critically acclaimed works include The Siren of Sussex, a 2023 RUSA Reading List shortlist pick for Best Romance; Fair as a Star, a Library Journal Best Romance of 2020; Gentleman Jim, a Kirkus Best Book of 2020; and The Work of Art, winner of the 2020 HOLT Medallion and a 2021 Daphne du Maurier Award nominee.
Mimi’s novels have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, and Shelf Awareness, and have been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, Oprah Daily, NPR, PopSugar, Goop, Paste Magazine, BookPage, Book Riot, and BuzzFeed. They have been translated into eight languages.
When not writing historical romance, Mimi authors nonfiction books and articles on all aspects of nineteenth century history—from animals, art, and etiquette to fashion, beauty, feminism, and law. Her nonfiction history books (A Victorian Lady’s Guide to Fashion and Beauty and The Pug Who Bit Napoleon) are published by Pen and Sword Books UK. Her articles are available at various academic and history sites, including the Victorian Web and the Journal of Victorian Culture, and can also be found at BUST Magazine.
greenish bookshelf 