Phyllida (Philly) Satterthwaite's entire life has changed since the death of her grandfather. Now she must rely on the hospitality of others, she has been taken into her uncle's household. But she soon begins to realize that he cares nothing for her happiness or safety, merely his own business schemes. She has been feeling isolated and stifled, the only person around her she can feel safe or understood around is Arthur Heywood and so she turns to him for help.

Captain Arthur Heywood's life changed three years ago on a battlefield in the Penninsular War. He has lived a life of seclusion and of feeling incapable since returning home. His father is concerned for him and pushes him into handling some business in London in order to get him around other people once more. The business is a potential deal with none other than Philly's uncle. He is intrigued by her from their first and less-than-ideal meeting and he finds that he enjoys spending time with her. His interest in her grows with each meeting and so when Philly comes to him for help he is determined to do what he can to keep her safe.

What follows is a marriage of convenience that sends them fleeing London and the alternate path her life could have taken.

I loved this book so much, I started it after coming home from work and could not put it down. I refused to go to bed until I had finished it. I became so invested in  Philly and Arthur's story, I just wanted the best for them and for them to be happy.

Mimi Matthews is such a phenomenal historical romance author, and this one has a mystery in it too. That's basically all my boxes checked. I've read almost all of her books so far and I think this one might be my favorite thus far.

I highly recommend this book, you'll love it.

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this book from Perfectly Proper Press via NetGalley, this is my honest review.

A wonderful Historical Romance!
This was a beautifully written Historical Romance, lots of twists & turns which kept you in suspense right to the very end. It was quite obvious between the lines right from the start that Arthur & Philly's marriage was not or never would be one of convenience! I truly enjoyed every chapter & will be recommending it to both some family members & friends too .

Philly happily lived in the depth of the countryside with her beloved grandfather caring for strays and waifs, loving her horse and dogs until she found herself taken away to London by her uncle who took responsibility for her when her grandfather passed away. She would rather have kept herself hidden away but is told she needs to marry well to support herself now she is alone. The only person who appears to show her any kindness is Captain Arthur Heywood who was grievously injured in the last war and has been a recluse ever since. He responds to Philly’s gentle manner and their interactions turn into friendship. When Philly realises her Uncle’s plans she finds that Captain Heywood is the only person she can ask for help. Beautiful and gentle story with a twisting plot, I love Mimi’s stories, as the characters and atmosphere are so well written. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

When the remarkable Phyllida Satterthwaite comes to town to stay with her uncle, she has the modest expectation of being treated to a London season and falling in love with a good man who won't mind her lack of fortune. What she doesn't expect is to be the talk of the ton on account of her unusually-colored eyes and unparalleled beauty. As the season begins, the lords and ladies of high society wait with bated breath for Phyllida to be snapped up by "the Collector." The Duke of Moreland, a cruel old man with a penchant for one-of-a-kind curiosities, sees in Phyllida another work of art that he must acquire. Calculatingly, the duke makes a finanical arrangement with Phyllida's uncle, and she finds that her consent is hardly required for the betrothal to take place.

Unfortunately for Phyllida, she knows no one in London to rescue her from her predicament--no one except for Captain Arthur Heywood, a soldier who can hardly walk on account of his injuries during the Peninsular War. Arthur is a business partner of Phyllida's uncle--quiet, circumspect, and unobtrusive. It's unlikely that a beauty like Miss Satterthwaite would favor him with more than a glance, but Phyllida surprises him by her consideration in each encounter at the park or over the dinner table. When she turns to him for help, Arthur knows that dueling the duke is out of the question. So just how can the honorable Captain Heywood save Miss Satterthwaite from her nightmare? 

In true Mimi Matthews fashion, this story is full of broken heroes, damsels in distress, and clean but breathtaking romance. Although the setting is the Regency Period instead of Matthews' usual Victorian Era, the settings and scenery come alive as a brilliant backdrop for the characters. Arthur is crippled in leg and spirit, learning to cope with the loss of his former physical prowess now that he can no longer be the best shot and best rider in his unit. Phyllida becomes his bright star, his reason to live and his reason to rehabilitate himself so that he can be her protector. One of the best things about Arthur is how capable he is. When Phyllida divulges her distress, he immediately puts events in motion to organize an escape, and as each chapter unfolds, the reader sees just how thoughtful and effective Arthur's planning has been. 

Phyllida (or Philly, as she prefers to be called) is a winsome and tender-hearted lady who cares enough for Arthur to avoid showing him pity. Her adoption of abused animals demonstrates that she cannot resist helping unfortunates, and she conducts herself wisely and well throughout all the difficult circumstances arrayed against her. One of the things I particularly enjoy in Matthews' books is that the heroines are determined but still feminine, strong but never shrill, and women who comport themselves according to the norms of their time period. The well-worn tropes of so many Regency romances are present in this book, but the story is crafted so delightfully that it is as original as Phyllida's face. 

As with all other titles by this author, this book is highly recommended.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

So glad I finished this book... now maybe I can sleep and work and have a life again.

Seriously, I loved this book. I want to marry the two of them but it's not that kind of book. I was so excited to get an advance copy and I enjoyed it thoroughly. The hero is broody, wounded and complex. The heroine is sweet, innocent and compassionate, quite reminiscent of my dog rescue friend. He helps her escape her bad situation and then intrigue continues. The villain was not who I thought it was. (I'm rarely surprised like that!) #netgally