Hi y’all!

I hope you are having a lovely November and experiencing all your favorite things as we enter the holiday season. Wishing you joy and happiness this Christmas!

I am so excited to share my ARC review of The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews. I have read and adored all 4 books in this series. As the finale in the series, this book has been one I have anticipated basically since I finished book 3 and wow did it live up to my personal hype! I loved this story and these characters so much!

Mimi’s finale in the Belles of London series is a captivating triumph! As usual, the story is gripping, detailed and emotional. I couldn’t put it down from the first page.

This book releases today — November 19, 2024!
I received an ARC from the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.

Book Summary: “A silver-haired equestrienne and a charismatic artist turn a scandalous bargain into a vibrant portrait of love.

Stella Hobhouse is a brilliant rider, stalwart friend, skilled sketch artist—and completely overlooked. Her outmodish gray hair makes her invisible to London society. Combined with her brother’s pious restrictions and her dwindling inheritance, Stella is on the verge of a lifetime marooned in Derbyshire as a spinster. Unless she does something drastic…like posing for a daring new style of portrait by the only man who’s ever really seen her.

Aspiring painter Edward “Teddy” Hayes knows true beauty when he sees it. He would never ask Stella to risk her reputation as an artist’s model but in the five years since a virulent bout of scarlet fever left him partially paralyzed, Teddy has learned to heed good fortune when he finds it. He’ll do anything to persuade his muse to pose for him, even if he must offer her a marriage of convenience.

After all, though Teddy has yearned to trace Stella’s luminous beauty on canvas since their chance meeting, her heart is what he truly aches to capture….“

Getting to know Stella is a beautiful culmination to this series about four dear friends. While we have seen and learned about Stella in the previous books in the series, now she is the focus of the story. I loved seeing her friends in her story as we see their happily ever afters continue to pan out. Their support of each other is beautiful! Learning about her difficult history and truly horrible brother helped shape her character and why she sees the world in the ways she does. I admire her determination towards independence. And I admire her strength, loyalty and devotion to those she loves. Seeing her interact with her dear friends and her horse, Locket, were truly beautiful moments in this story. And witnessing her budding friendship with Teddy was a delight.

Teddy is not like other heroes in an historical novel I have read. He is witty and out spoken. Often we know just what he is thinking regardless of whether it is socially acceptable to say so. That outspokenness makes him a refreshing and engaging protagonist. I was impressed by the well researched details about his profession as a painter and the many meticulous pieces in his creative process. This Victorian time period was such a compelling one in the history of art. I enjoyed learning more about how artists of this time were changing the course of artistic creation. Teddy is at the forefront of this movement. While his fascination with Stella begins with his hope to paint her as his muse, I love how those feelings become something so much more.

Stella and Teddy’s love story is as beautiful as it is unexpected. They are both unusual and a bit on the outskirts of society — Stella with her gray hair and Teddy in his wheeled chair. That creates an unlikely bond between them that grows into the most beautiful love. I enjoyed their banter as they first become friends and then pen pals. I loved how Stella inspires Teddy and how much he wants to immortalize her. He sees her in the most beautiful, powerful way from their first meeting. And I think that helps Stella begin to see herself as extraordinary. Their marriage of convenience (which is naturally nothing of the sort) is a clever way to bring them together. But the beautiful climax on their wedding night when they realize how much they mean to each other is incredibly moving. I absolutely loved seeing them discover how much their love means to them and how it has changed them. Seeing how their love transforms them and gives them hope, happiness and meaning is one of the most compelling parts of this whole series.

I adore everything I have read from Mimi and this is my favorite read yet! Stella and Teddy are complex and compelling characters who transform in the best ways because of their relationship. Their love story is unconventional and also incredibly powerful. What a fantastic end to a truly captivating series!

What are some of your favorite historical novels?
Which are your favorite Mimi Matthews novels?