Review - - Look Before You Leap

Look Before You Leap

by Virginia Heath

Miss Prentice's Protegees - Book 2

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: June 24, 2025

Reviewed by Santa

Nine years ago, Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount Wennington, was publicly humiliated by a failed and reckless romantic gesture. Despite this, his mother clings to the promise he made her then: that she would have a house full of grandchildren by his thirtieth birthday. Still single, embittered, and swiftly approaching thirty, Guy's work is his life. In desperation, his mother blindsides Guy with a weeklong house party at his estate filled with annoying debutantes, all competing to be his wife.

After failing as a governess, Lottie Travers is struggling as a lady’s companion. Raised in an all-male household, she’s developed habits that get her dismissed. Even after years of Miss Prentice’s teachings of how to be a lady, she climbs trees better than she embroiders and can’t resist riding horses astride, in breeches. But with the family farm in trouble, and her father now in dire need of her wages, she’s determined to conquer her wildness once and for all.

Even with his home full of eligible women, there is only one who catches Guy’s eye—though he tries to deny it. For Lottie, succeeding in her new role proves difficult when the Wennington estate is filled with horses, and a spark ignites between her and the grumpy lord. Will they remain stuck in their ways, or learn that they may just be the perfect match?

Santa Says:

Look Before You Leap by Virginia Heath instantly became one of my favorite books of 2025. I’ve never read a Virginia Heath book that I didn’t like and this is a five star keeper. The dialog is witty and the banter sublime. This is a master class in writing with main characters who could not be more different in temperament and attitude.

Lottie Travers is a failed governess and, as a last resort, agrees to be a companion to a very exacting woman. She knows she can be successful if she curbs her hoyden ways like sneaking out to the stables in old boots and breeches riding through the park at breakneck speeds careening into some daft though handsome man. Her sunny disposition gives her the confidence to face any circumstance.

She must also mind her tongue and remember all the things she learned at the finishing school her father sent her to. Miss Prentice’s School For Young Ladies prided itself on getting young ladies ready for employment in the best households. She crosses her fingers and promises not to engage in any rough riding as a new companion to Lady Frinton. They set off to the wilds of Scotland when they learn that the grand dame is needed in Kent to help put together her nephew’s 30th birthday party.

Lord Guy Harrowby was in a reach to get home to his estate in Kent. He wasn’t in a rush to be hassled by his mother to have a big bash for his 30th birthday in order to secure a wife. His mother was desperate for grandchildren and for her son to shed his curmudgeon armor and return to his joyful self again. Guy is hesitant especially after embarrassing himself publicly following a disastrous proposal. He convinces his mother to make it a small gathering. Unbeknownst to him she enlists the help of her half-sister who comes to Kent with her new companion.

Not only must he contend with his Aunt, a house full of debutants and guests but the companion is none other than the tornado who knocked him on his arse in Hyde Park. Lottie is none too pleased to see him either but she needs this job in order to send money to her father’s struggling farm. They face off time and time again but under their hostility is a simmering attraction that they fight against. His grumpiness is no match for her sunshine.

This slow burn romance is a delight to watch unfold. There are delightful discoveries to be had. I could not put this book down and finished it in one day. I cannot wait for the next heroine from Miss Prescott’s School to get an equally satisfying HEA!

Review & Giveaway - - Ride With Me

Ride With Me

by Simone Soltani

Lights Out - Book 2

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: May 20, 2025

Reviewed by Santa

Stella Baldwin thought her life couldn’t get worse. Being left at the altar was bad enough, and the drunken rant she posted to her social media followers in the aftermath was the cherry on top. But having to show up at her cousin’s bachelorette party in Las Vegas barely two weeks later feels like a cruel joke.

Thomas Maxwell-Brown is just looking for a good time. With his family’s expectations pressing down, his career as a Formula 1 driver threatened by fresh talent, and a new reputation making him the most hated man on the grid, he needs a break to clear his head. And what better way to decompress than with a stag party in Vegas?

Stella isn’t the woman Thomas expects to meet that night. And Thomas isn’t the man Stella expects to wake up next to in the morning—with a ring on her finger. Staying married might be the perfect solution to all their problems, even if it is a little wild. Sometimes, what happens in Vegas doesn’t need to stay there. . . .

Santa Says:

If you’re looking for a madcap feel good rom com then look no further than this five star gem! Ride With Me by Simone Soltani follows Thomas and Stella, two strangers who meet across a crowded (and loud) party bus. It’s a mixed bachelor/bachelorette party. Stella’s cousin is marrying his brother’s best friend. They make the best of a situation neither of them particularly want to be in. Both are trying to get away from a very hurtful time in their lives and an escape from everything is just what’s in order.

Just a few short weeks ago Stella’s fiance leaves her stranded at the altar with all her family and friends in attendance. She spirals fast as a video of her drunken rant against all men and her fiance goes viral. Not a good look for a woman who is a successful entrepreneur of an expanding baking empire. She agrees to get out her own way and join her cousins for a fun, carefree weekend.

The saying that be careful what you say because every mic is live really hit home for Thomas. His careless remarks about a fellow driver were posted on the internet. He becomes a persona non grata overnight. He decides to accept his friend’s invitation to come to his party in Las Vegas. It just may be the perfect opportunity to lay low for a few days.

It turns out neither want to really be there. As the night progresses, they decide to be each other’s plus one to keep hangers on at bay. Thomas finds this beautiful Black woman very attractive. Stella finds him to be very easy on the eyes, too. Somehow they find themselves MARRIED when they wake up the next day. Now what? An annulment sems in order and lawyers are engaged but somehow it gets out that they are married and so begins a farce to appease his family and her family. 

Throughout their attraction continues to build and they struggle with keeping each other at arm's length and to be just friends. At one point, they decide to make it official. His family decides to throw them a big wedding. Stella hesitates because though she has feelings for Thomas she is afraid it will all come crashing down around her again. When, in fact, everyone around them can see they are meant for each other.

The author kept me on tinder hooks until the very end and made me earn this HEA! I suspect her other books are equally as well written. It seems I now have a backlist to happily invest in.

Readers, how do you feel about the accidentally married trope? (I love it!)

Have you read Simone Soltani?

Are you a F1 fan?

One randomly chosen person posting a comment before 11:00 PM, May 23 will receive a print copy of Ride With Me.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review & Giveaway - - Rules for Ruin

Rules for Ruin

by Mimi Matthews

The Crinoline Academy - Book 1

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: May 20, 2025

Reviewed by Santa

No one betrays the Academy. But now Euphemia must decide: break the rules for her enemy, or let the rules break her heart.

On the outskirts of London sits a seemingly innocuous institution with a secretive aim—train young women to distract, disrupt, and discredit the patriarchy. Outraged by a powerful lord’s systematic attack on women’s rights in Parliament, the Academy summons its brightest—and most bitter—pupil to infiltrate the odious man’s inner circle. A deal is struck: bring down the viscount, and Miss Euphemia Flite will finally earn her freedom.

But betting shop owner Gabriel Royce has other plans. The viscount is the perfect pawn to insulate Gabriel’s underworld empire from government interference. He’s not about to let some crinoline-clad miss destroy his carefully constructed enterprise—no matter how captivating he finds her threats.

From the rookeries of St. Giles to the ballrooms of Mayfair, Euphemia and Gabriel engage in a battle of wits and wills that’s complicated by a blossoming desire. Soon Euphemia realizes it’s not the broken promises to her Academy sisters she should fear. . . . It’s the danger to her heart.

Santa Says:

Mimi Matthews has a new book out. Rules For Ruin is the first book in her new series revolving around The Crinoline Academy. This five star read has all the hallmarks that distinguish Matthews’ writing in a wide field of romance writers out there.

The Crinoline Academy is not all it appears to be - at least from the outside. While the young ladies who attend are taught the rudimentary aspects of any young lady’s curriculum, they are also trained to ultimately bring to light and discredit the patriarchy. Euphemia Flint is summoned back from her position in Paris to do just that.

Her quary is a member of Parliament who is vehemently opposed to securing women's rights. And his voice and vote carry a lot of weight. He also harbors a dark secret from his past that would ruin him. Euphemia needs only to bring this to light and her obligation and debt to the school's headmistress would be stamped paid. Setting her up for a life of independence. 

Gabriel Royce, a St. Giles betting house owner, needs Euphemia to keep her distance. Not because he has any great need to protect this particular Lord. He needs him in his corner to bring forward thinking men of influence to help secure funding for rebuilding St. Giles into a decent place for the people around him to live in. 

Initially, Euphemia and Gabriel work at cross purposes. They end up chasing after a clearer purpose which has them skirting danger and intrigue. This really was a page turner for me. I could not wait to see how Mimi Matthews would help her characters clear obstacles and come together without compromising her characters’ natures. Pick up a copy! I know you are going to enjoy it!

Readers, have you read Mimi Matthews yet?

Do you enjoy a hero and heroine at cross purposes?

One randomly chosen reader who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, May 23 will receive a print copy of Rules for Ruin.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - Love, The Duke

Love, The Duke

by Amelia Grey

Say I Do - Book 3

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Release Date: April 1, 2025

Reviewed by Santa

When the Duke of Hurstbourne receives a letter from his childhood friend asking him to marry his sister Ophelia, Hurst declines. He’s not adverse to taking a bride, but he believes in love at first sight that stirs his desire—not marriage sight-unseen.

Adhering to society’s strict propriety for ladies, Ophelia Stowe has no choice but to present herself as a man to seek the Duke of Hurstbourne’s favor. If not for the dire situation she finds herself in, she wouldn’t have asked for help from the handsome man who had rebuffed her. When the alluring duke’s response is a plan of his own, Ophelia never dreams it would be a proposal of a marriage of convenience.

But the stakes are high, and the good name of the Stowe family will be damaged if a missing antiquity isn’t found. When she accepts his offer, she quickly finds she isn’t immune to the passion building between her and her new husband--or how real the marriage begins to feel.

Santa Says:

Love, The Duke by Amelia Grey is the final book in her Say I Do series. I really enjoyed the series and this book was no different. It was a five star hit from the first page. It includes romance and a bit of intrigue that kept me enthralled throughout. 

Drake Cheston Kingley, the duke of Hurtsborne is at loose ends. He is well aware that he should marry soon. He would marry someone he fell in love with at first sight or not at all. His two best friends have just married and he hardly sees them so he is especially looking forward to some time away with them. His enjoyment is cut short when a letter arrives from an old childhood friend who has become ill. He asks that Drake honor an oath to come to his friend's aid. His friend the good Reverend Winston Stowe asks that he marry, sight unseen, his sister. Drake is stunned and impulsively writes to decline his friend’s request saying he will return home to meet with him instead. He signs the note with Love, the Duke. Memories come back to him. Growing up, Drake’s own father went through his allowance like water, often leaving no money for food or the servants wages. He found himself spending all his time at the Stowe house. They were the loving family he did not have. He would visit his old friend as soon as he could. 

Olivia Stowe was undeniably a beauty so when Drake fails to find her brother and her, she takes matters into her own hands and seeks him. Drake is shocked to find her in his study dressed as a man. It was a guise he sees straight through but Olivia is desperate. She doesn’t seek marriage but his knowledge and access to the ton. Someone stole a priceless chalice from a locked box in the church her brother ran. If the theft is discovered before she can track the piece down her brother would be accused of the theft and her family’s reputation would be ruined. 

Olivia suspects a visiting nobleman who recently visited the chapel and was shown the piece by her ailing brother. A servant only catches part of the crest on the side of the carriage seen leaving the church just after the chalice went missing. Drake offered his assistance as best he could. Olivia took matters into her own hands when she attended parties with her mother. She would search libraries and studies on her own to see if she could find the chalice herself.  

Drake finds himself enchanted with her when he first sees her dressed as a woman across a crowded ballroom. He follows this vision to the study and discovers its’s none other than Olivia. He warns her to not go sneaking into darkened rooms. Drake’s efforts to stop her land them in compromising situations.  

The best solution would be a marriage of convenience where he can keep an eye on her but close proximity works its magic to the delight of this reader. I hope you pick up a copy today and enjoy it as much as I did!

Tour Review & Giveaway - - Just Our Luck

Just Our Luck

by Denise Williams

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: March 25, 2025

Reviewed by Santa

Sybil Sweet has always been lucky, but lately she can’t catch a break. After years of bouncing from job to job in search of something that feels right and from man to man in search of something special, Sybil is worried that she’s the directionless, floundering daughter her family thinks she is. All she really wants now is a little financial stability and carb comfort. Lucky for her, she’s got just enough in the bank to buy a lottery ticket, and the late-night donut store is open.

Kieran Anderson put his dreams of becoming a doctor on hold to take over running his family’s bakery, and after fighting a losing battle to save the place, he’s exhausted, broke, and no closer to getting back to school. But when a whirlwind of a woman sweeps in late one night, flirty energy gives way to more…until she runs out the next morning, leaving behind her winning lottery ticket.

Lucky for Kieran, his attempt to return the ticket looks like a grand romantic gesture and goes viral, sending sales through the roof. In an effort to keep the store afloat and to convince Sybil’s family she can make good relationship choices, they agree to fake a relationship for three months. Even with hundreds of millions of dollars, finding each other might end up being the sweetest bit of luck for both of them.

Santa Says: 

I am fast becoming a Denise Williams fan. I enjoy her books immensely and Just Our Luck does not disappoint. I happily give it five stars because that's what this book makes me feel. Happy.

The book brings Sybil Sweet and Kieran Anderson together when she goes into his family's donut shop after going out with her friends. Sybil has found that her luckiness is not working for her. She’s lost yet another job, her car is held together by duct tape and a prayer and her love life, well the less said about that the better. She lives with her mother who is quietly disappointed in her not reaching her full potential like her successful, soon to be married sister. Always the optimist, she buys a lottery ticket. It could be her lucky draw. 

Kieran is stepping in to help save his family’s donut shop while his grandfather recuperates from a heart attack. It is an uphill battle that he hopes will take a good turn so he can get back to school to complete his medical degree. His sister and grandfather do what they can. Kieran doesn’t believe in luck or chance but that all changes when Sybil walks into his world late one night. 

He reluctantly gets swept up by Sybil's positive attitude and flirtiness. It also helps that he is wildly attracted to her. They flirt and more over his luscious donuts. His sister accidentally walks in on them and Sybil runs out the door. More bad luck for Kieran when he finds the bakery ransacked because the front door was left unlocked. While cleaning up he discovers she left her WINNING lottery ticket behind. His sister suggests he post on line that he has her winning ticket. The post goes viral. 

When Sybil comes to collect she suggests that he take a portion of it to let her know it was there. Kieran is too proud to accept any money. She offers to loan him the money to get the bakery up and running since she feels it was her fault the door was left open. This second meet plays out as customers clamor to the bakery to see who comes to claim the ticket. The public also thinks that the ticket has brought two lovebirds together. Sybil plays this, convincing a reluctant Kiernan to go along with the idea of a fake relationship. It also works to her benefit if she has a steady, live boyfriend at least for the three months leading up to her sister’s wedding. 

Kieran tries his best to keep a clear head about Sybil but her positivity, good vibes and beauty reel him in. This makes his quirky and loveable grandfather very happy. Sybil finds herself falling deep and hard for Kieran. And I was there for every minute of it. 

 ~~~~~~~~~~

Readers, have you read Denise Williams yet?

Do you enjoy fake relationship romances?

Do you ever play the lottery? Ever dreamed about how you would spend the money if you won?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, March 30 will receive a print copy of Just Our Luck.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

 

Review - - Get Lost With You

Get Lost With You

by Sophie Sullivan

Rock Bottom Love - Book 2

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: February 11, 2025

Reviewed by Santa

Jillian Keller took the long route to her best life, but is now happily settled in her hometown of Smile, raising her little girl alone while helping her brother run Get Lost Lodge. A lover of structure and routine, she doesn’t need anyone disrupting her carefully curated life.

After chasing and achieving his culinary dreams, Levi Bright realizes he’s still missing something he can’t find in a big city. Returning home to Smile, he intends to build a different future for himself, including reconnecting with family and friends, and creating elevated comfort food for a town he loves.

When Levi and Jilly run into each other, past feelings that never had a chance to bloom flare between them… but she’s been hurt before, and falling for her older brother’s best friend seems like a recipe for drama. But sometimes, a second chance at love leads you right where you’re meant to be.

Santa Says:

Get Lost With You by Sophie Sullivan is the second book in her Rock Bottom Love series. Don’t worry, this five star book can be read as a stand alone, too. The book takes place in the idyllic small town of Smile. Everyone and everything about the island makes you want to take the ferry over and have a slice of pie at Pete’s.

Jillian Keller came home again with her daughter Oliie after a disastrous marriage and divorce. Her focus is on her daughter and her brothers’ restoration and launching of The Get Lost Lodge. They hope to attract groups to the lodge to take advantage of the surrounding hiking trails, group activities and great food the lodge would offer. Jillian is not looking out for herself. She is still hurting from her marriage to trust anyone else.

Levi Bright returns to Smile after going off to culinary school. He carved out a very good living. He was head chef in a successful restaurant in Burlington, Vermont but something was missing. He really didn’t connect with anyone there. Levi comes back to Smile to figure out what the next steps look like. As soon as he set foot there again he really felt like he was home again. 

Jillian and Levi run into each other very quickly. Kind of hard not to when Levi was the best friend of Jillian’s older brother. Immediately sparks fly. Levi was Jillian’s school girl crush. Levi had started to have feelings for her before he left.  Levi would like nothing more than exploring those sparks. Jillian is a bit more cautious. However, the fates, and we readers, want to see if second chance romances are real. Circumstances both personal and professional toss these two together more and more.

I, for one, was all for it. Sophie Sullivan writes so beautifully about how love approached with caution and care can bloom into something gorgeous. This is what Jillian and Levi’s relationship was like. Two people with very human traits and faults still able to overcome obstacles that really were no match against their blooming love. 

Review - - She Doesn't Have a Clue

She Doesn't Have a Clue

by Jenny Elder Moke

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Release Date: January 21, 2025

Reviewed by Santa

A high-end wedding on a private island off the coast of Seattle sounds like something out of a magazine. But for bestselling mystery author Kate Valentine, it’s more like a nightmare.

Why Kate agreed to attend her ex-fiancé’s wedding is its own enigma, but she’ll plaster on a fake smile for two nights, with the aid of free champagne, naturally. And because the groom happens to be her editor, she’ll try to finish a draft of her latest Loretta Starling mystery as a wedding gift.

When the bride is poisoned and Kate stumbles across a dead body, she finds herself in a real-life mystery that eerily echoes the plot of her latest novel. And the only person who seems willing to help Kate catch the killer is Jake Hawkins, aka: the Hostralian; aka: Kate’s biggest romantic regret.

As the wine flows and the weather threatens to hold every guest hostage, bitter resentments and long-held grudges surface amongst the colorful crowd. Anyone could be capable of murder, it seems. What would Loretta do? Unfortunately, Kate doesn’t have a clue.

Santa Says:

She Doesn’t Have A Clue by Jenny Elder Moke is a madcap murder mystery rom com because who doesn’t want a little murder intrigue dropped in the middle of a romance? I would give it four out of five stars. Our main female character, Kate Valentine, is a successful writer of Loretta Starling mysteries. Kate is surprised to have been invited to her ex-fiance’s wedding. He also happens to be her editor which has got to be awkward. But Kate shut down after their break up six months ago and has not been able to write a word and so she’s behind in getting her chapters to him. 

The surprises keep on coming as she races to make the boat that will take her to his bride-to-be’s family compound on a private island off the coast of Seattle. She crash lands on the boat knocking the wind out of the one man she never thought she would see again - Jake Hawkins. Jake is the one that ran away on trans-global adventures. He also mysteriously received an invite and they find themselves having to share a room in a huge mansion, an oddly crowded mansion. 

The mayhem ensues when Kate accidentally crashes into the gift table and the bride-to-be. Flustered, Kate settles in to hear the groom’s speech which sounds just like a speech from one of her books. She runs out of the room and proceeds to get drunk. Some time later Jake finds her in the wine cellar over the body of the bride, Kennedy,  who they discover has been poisoned. Again, life imitates art as this scenario is also from one of her books. This does not look good for Kate who some see as a jealous ex out to get revenge. 

Kate and Jake must weed out who is friend or foe. The guest list spans friends, relatives, fellow authors and business associates. They all seem a bit shady. Kate takes some notes from her heroine Loretta and sets out to find out the truth because now the hostess of the whole weekend Rebecca Hempstead has been poisoned to death. There are quite a few people who may have wanted her dead because she held tightly to the purse strings of the family. The island and expansive manor house become smaller as a whole cavalcade of characters come into play.

I found this book to be full of humor. Amid all this chaos Jake and Kate work through their attractions and feelings. It was a bit hard to follow at times when Loretta’s perspective and parts of her books popped into the story. This may have been in part due to the fact that I was reading an uncorrected digital galley and all the fonts separating the texts from the books were not consistent. 

This is also Ms. Moke’s first adult novel. She has several YA books out there. I will be keeping my eye out for more books from her in the future.

Review & Giveaway - - PS: I Hate You

PS: I Hate You

by Lauren Connolly

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: December 3, 2024

Reviewed by Santa

Maddie Sanderson would be proud to honor her older brother’s dying wish, that she scatters his ashes over eight destinations that the adventurous 29-year-old never got to visit before he died from cancer. But in his will, Josh assigned her an impossible partner to help complete the mission—Dominic Perry. Seriously, if Maddie weren’t already at her brother's funeral, she would have killed him for this.

Sure, Dom was Josh’s life-long best friend. He’s also the infuriating man who broke Maddie’s heart back when she was naïve enough to give it to him. But since Dom insists on following the rules and Josh didn’t leave much room for Maddie to argue the matter, they embark together on a series of farewell trips that span thousands of miles, exploring new places and revisiting their complicated history along the way.

After a snowstorm leads to a shared bed, Maddie starts to wonder if her brother might be matchmaking from the grave. But when grief also reopens old wounds between them, Maddie will need more than Josh’s ghostly guidance to trust Dom again.

Santa Says:

PS I Hate You by Lauren Connolly is a five star read with engaging characters and breathtaking places and people. I will warn you to have tissues handy. You’re going to need them because this rom-com will test your fortitude. Don’t worry there will be happy and sad tears in equal portions. 

The main character, Maddie and her brother Josh were very close having grown up with a verbally and emotionally abusive grandmother, a self-absorbed mother and the less said about the father, the better. Actually, the less said about this trio of losers, the better. Josh and Maddie were each other’s anchors. Maddie's life is turned upside down by her brother's year-long battle with cancer. It’s a battle that he loses at the tender age of 29. A lifelong adventurer and outdoor photographer, he traveled the world. His dying wish outlined in his will is that his sister spread his ashes in eight places in the United States that he never got to see. Maddie is more than happy to fulfill his wishes except he wants her to make the trip with his best friend Dom Perry.  Maddie would rather eat glass than spend any time with the boy, er man, who broke her heart.  

Growing up, their only other source of normalcy and security came from Josh’s childhood best friends Dom and Rosaline. Maddie was the younger sister always at their heels. From an early age Maddie worshipped Dom Perry and basked in the warmth of his family. Dom and Rosaline were high school sweethearts but broke up for a brief time while in college. After a romantic interlude with Dom during that break, Maddie came upon Dom proposing to Rosaline. Oh, yes he did! Heartbroken, Maddie went far away to college and purged Dom from her heart. 

However, Maddie agrees to go on this excursion across the country with a now divorced Dom. What they discover along the way is that Josh has picked some pretty incredible places to spread his ashes. They also discover who they really are as individuals. Old hurts and betrayal come to the surface and misunderstandings come to light. And, yes, there is a snow storm and an inn with just one bed! Thank you romance trope gods! There is also a mind blowing revelation that I didn't see coming at all! I love those kinds of surprises. 

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I have always liked younger sister in love with brother’s best friend stories but this one was layered with so many emotions. I cried for Josh gone much too soon. I lost my own brother when he was only 44 years old. Twenty years later, it still leaves an ache, especially during the holidays. But Josh played Maddie and Dom like fiddles in bringing them together. Well done, Josh and well done, Lauren Connelly. I look forward to more from this author.

~~~~~~~~~

Readers, have you read any books by Lauren Connolly?

Do you enjoy books that elicit deep emotional responses?

What are the places (world-wide) that you'd like to see?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, December 8 will receive a print copy of PS: I Hate You.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review & Giveaway - - The Muse of Maiden Lane

The Muse of Maiden Lane

by Mimi Matthews

Belles of London - Book 4

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: November 19, 2024

Reviewed by Santa

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….

Santa Says:

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.

~~~~~~~~~

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