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….
The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews is another five star read for me. I am a huge fan of her writing and this fourth installment of her Belles of London does not disappoint. This book centers around Stella Hobhouse, a silver haired horsewoman, and Teddy Hayes, an artist who would like nothing more than to paint this goddess.
However, Stella does not see herself as a goddess. In her eyes, those silver tresses are a cursed premature gray. It’s a look that makes her stand out as an oddity and object of pity. She would rather hide under a bushel than shine her light. Teddy is having none of this.
Teddy has had his own share of both the pity of others and his own frustrations with being wheelchair bound. Scarlet fever ravished his childhood home causing his legs to be paralyzed. He worked on honing his upper body and found that drawing scenes from outside his window kept his mind in shape. He strives to gain more freedom from his sister’s constant worry and become more independent especially after she marries. Two is company and three is a crowd.
Stella and Teddy see one another on several occasions but meet again at an art exhibit where the auburn haired subject of a painting inspires Stella to change her appearance. Stella decides to color her hair and attend a friend’s house party. She is desperate to escape her father’s attempt to sell her off to an odious man. The house party gives her five days to secure a match. This house party is where they meet again. Teddy, for his part, would recognize his goddess anywhere. He is confused as to why she is doing something so desperate.
Teddy tries desperately to convince her to pose for him and when he learns of her situation, offers her a marriage of convenience that would help both their situations. Teddy can truly establish himself in his own household and Stella would be safe in his care.
This book is the masterfully crafted love story about two people who have burdens all their own but who come together to overcome obstacles and thrive. It could be classified as a slow burn where the hero falls first. I loved how Mimi Matthews brought together the heroines of her other books in this series who are also known as The Four Horsewomen. I just love that moniker. I was also delighted to see characters from Parish Orohns of Devon series. Alec from that series is married to Teddy’s sister, Laura. I am sad to see the series end but rest assured I am already on the look out for more from Mimi Matthews.
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Readers, have you read Mimi Matthews yet?
How do you feel about premature graying? Would you color your hair or go natural? (no right or wrong answer here)
One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 23 will receive a print copy of The Muse of Maiden Lane.
*U.S. only
*Must be 18
I haven't read Mimi's books yet, but they do look interesting. When I started going grey I had my hair colored but eventually wanted to stop (found out it's difficult to color your hair grey). So the problem is making that transition. Then the pandemic happened, and I wasn't out much - so I have "pandemic grey" hair now and am thrilled not to color it anymore.
ReplyDeleteI have read several books by Mimi Matthews including the previous three books in this series and Gentleman Jim. I started going gray in my early twenties and colored my hair until I retired. I went natural and was lucky enough to have started just before the Pandemic, (my transition started in late 2019). Like Diane Sallans who responded above, my transition was somewhat private while everyone endured the scary Covid times in 2020. No regrets - my only surprise was that I didn’t have salt and pepper coloring like my mother did, it was primarily white like my paternal grandmother, with strands of dark hair mixed in and pewter shading underneath my neck layer.
ReplyDeleteMy grey hair started coming in charcoal grey. I am fair skinned and with almost black hair I no longer had a face....it simply faded away. So, I am blond now, with new nearly white hair coming in. But, of course life is never simple. I don't have a thyroid gland nor para-thyroid glands. That affects a lot of a woman's body. So, my hair has become coarse, and also I have some spots that are empty of any hair. Anyone want to vote on the Telly Savalas look for women? OK, it is not that bad, but it is discouraging to see bare scalp in places. Ms Matthews is a new to me author. And this sounds like a story I would enjoy....Thanks for the review and the introduction to a new author.
ReplyDeleteI love Mimi’s writing! I’m fine with premature greying — I think I might just be tempted to dye all of my hair grey at once once it started, though.
ReplyDeleteMiMi's novels are captivating and special. I have been enjoying the series for years. My hair grew in grey after chemo and I left it for a few years, but I realized that the color did not flatter my coloring at all and it was drab. I have been coloring my hair now and will continue until I get tired of the bother.
ReplyDeleteI've been coloring my hair since I went prematurely grey in my twenties.
ReplyDeletedenise
Thanks for the review, Santa! I started coloring my salt and pepper hair when I became a widow at 50. Stopped coloring ten years later when I decided to embrace the grey. No regrets with either decision.
ReplyDeleteI have a couple of her books on my kindle. Looking over her books on Amazon, I have missed some good books. This series is especially interesting.
ReplyDeleteMy hair started turning gray in my 40's. It has been salt and pepper for a long time, but the gray is rapidly taking over. I have never colored my hair, unlike my sister who started coloring her hair shortly after the first gray showed up. She really has no idea what her true hair color is. My mother and her mother both had lovely salt and pepper hair. My fraternal grandmother had snow white hair and it was lovely. I am quite happy with my hair color.
I hope you have an enjoyable Thanksgiving.
I love Matthews' books and can't wait to read her new one. My gray hair began showing up in my 20s so I started coloring then and continued for 35 years. Let it go during covid and haven't gone back. Saving a bunch of money!
ReplyDeleteMary
Glad to see that Mimi Matthews is fast becoming a favorite. I hope those of you that have not read her pick up a book or two. I have not gone fully grey yet though my hair is more salt than pepper in certain lights. My mom's hair didn't go grey until she was in her. One of her older sisters went prematurely grey when she accidentally drove into the gates of her convent!
ReplyDeleteI definitely color, but it's an individual choice.
ReplyDelete