About the Book:
Title: The Lily of Ludgate Hill
Author: Mimi Matthews
Series: Belles of London
Page Length: 432
Publication Date: Jan. 16, 2024
Publisher: Berkley
Synopsis: A BookBub Best Romance of Winter 2024!
Fortune favors the bold—but is a confirmed spinster daring enough to loosen the reins and accept a favor from the wicked gentleman who haunts her dreams?
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.
PURCHASE LINKS
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My Review:
I’m so happy to be on the book tour today for The Lily of Ludgate Hill, the third book in Mimi Matthews’s Belles of London historical romance series in which four friends share a love of horse riding and support each other through life’s trials. I’ve enjoyed this series since The Siren of Sussex and have become a big fan of Mimi Matthews’s books. The Lily of Ludgate Hill is no exception. A story about grief, duty, friendship, and taking a second chance on love, it’s a romantic and charming book. I was so eager to learn more about Anne’s story, and Hart is such a swoon-worthy love interest for her.
Anne and Hart have such a great second-chance, enemies-to-lovers romance. Both are bound by familial duty and make selfless choices in their lives. They’re intriguing protagonists who both grow so much over the course of the story. Hart is so much more than the shallow man he presents to the world. Caring and kind, generous and protective, Hart is as selfless as Anne, who has put her life on hold for years to support her mother in her time of need. I felt for both of them. They’re put in impossible situations, and they go through so much inner turmoil as they struggle with duty, responsibility, and their own desires and needs.
The romance between Anne and Hart is filled with chemistry and excellent banter, and these two sure can argue. Whew! The first time they are together, she is absolutely laying into him, and they both seem affected by the antagonism and bickering. Hart has always loved Anne, and he loves to tease and taunt her, but she knows deep down that she can go to him when she’s in need. Childhood friends turned romantic interests, the pair has a history, and there are a lot of unresolved feelings between them. Their slow-building romance is fantastic, and t’s interesting to see how they resolve all of the secrets, misunderstandings, and family pressures between them.
I also love the friend group and the messages about class, gender inequities, social and familial expectations, and independence. Matthews has once again written a layered and nuanced story that made me laugh, swoon, and think. I thought it was a great addition to the series, and I can’t wait to read the next book! Special thanks to Austen Prose PR and Berkley for sending me a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Rating:
Favorite Lines:
No man on earth has ever been loved the way I loved you, Felix Hartford.”
Desperation made for powerful fuel.
“I suppose that sometimes you have to be put into the fire to realize what’s truly important to you,” he said. ”It burns everything else away. Melts you down to your finest parts.”
About the Author:
USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning proper Victorian romances. Her novels have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, and Kirkus, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes a retired Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats.
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Another blogger I follow also read and loved this one. You both had similar things to say. I need to add it and the entire series to my TBR. Great review!
Thanks, Deanna! It was such a good one! Definitely worth checking out if your looking for clean and clever historical romances.
YESSSSS. LOVE HER BOOKS SO MUCH!!
They’re sooooo good!!!!