Surrey England - 1860

Laura Hayes, age 24, happens to be swimming in the pond near her home when a man jumps in the water and pulls her out thinking that she is drowning. When she assures him she is fine, he leaves.

Laura’s father was a perfumer who, when he invested in a large scheme, lost his money. Shortly afterward, he died from scarlett fever. Her brother contracted the disease too, surviving, but left wheelchair bound and sickly. Their mother had passed away when they were very young and they now live with their Aunt Charlotte.

Alex Archer is on his way to the vicarage of Talbot’s Wood. His friend, George Wright, son of the parson lives there. Alex is there to meet Miss Henrietta Talbot of Edgington Park. They are scheduled to walk with Henrietta today and her chaperone will be Laura, Henrietta’s friend.

When Laura meets Alex, whom she finds very handsome, she realizes he is the man who tried to save her in the pond.

Alex has come to Surrey to seek a rich wife and is zeroing in on Henrietta to fit that bill. However, he finds her to be spoiled and flighty. It seems that she’s more interested in George.

Alex learns that Laura’s odious solicitor wants to maintain control of their money when her brother turns 21 soon because the man insists that the young man is too frail to handle the job. Now, Laura needs to get another solicitor to fight him if possible.

Alex’s past is a sad one and one that he does not want to admit to. But he is taken with Laura and she with him. They agree to marry and Laura understands that he may leave her at any time as he has a hard time with commitment. But will he? And will their marriage be a happy one?

Oh, my goodness! I loved, loved. loved this book! Mimi Matthews is a fabulous author and her books are the best. Don’t miss this one!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is book 3 in the Parish Orphans of Devon series, and while it’s not necessary to read the previous books, you really should because they are delicious.

This book had a different feel from the first two. The Matrimonial Advertisement was an arranged marriage story. A Modest Independence was essentially is road trip romance with characters who already knew each other. This book is an unanticipated “meet cute” - characters that never would have crossed paths but are instantly drawn to one another.

As with all Mimi Matthews books, I appreciate how her lead characters actually talk to each other. No one is perfect, not even close. Alex can appear cold and distant due to self-preservation. Laura is stubborn and driven, thinking she has to shoulder her entire family’s burdens. But Alex and Laura are at least honest with each other. They know where they stand, and there isn’t some 11th hour secret revealed to throw a wrench in their plans - they may be delayed in revealing their pasts, but they don’t lie or hold back.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A Convenient Fiction By Mimi Matthews
Parrish Orphans of Devon #3

Perfect in every way – I loved this book! I was swept into the story and really cared about Alex, Laura and Laura’s family. At first I thought Alex was a bit of a scoundrel but what a scoundrel he was...and what a warm tender heart he had lurking beneath! This book made me care and feel and wonder and took me back in time. I learned a bit about swimming in 1860 and as my father had and my brother has interest resuscitation this was a part of the book that reminded me of them.

What I liked:
* Laura – what a strong, intelligent , caring woman she was with the will to take on so much for those she loved
* Alex – I admired his strength and ability to survive then thrive coming from the horrible beginning he was born to.
* Edward – Laura’s brother was a man I believe might be in need of a story of his own and do hope the author will write it for him. He seems to have depths that will be interesting to plumb
* The vicar – a good man with a rascal of a son.
* The way the story was told with the interweaving of the men from the stories in previous books
* Wondering if Neville will find true love in a book of his own.

What I did not like:
* A few people that redeemed themselves in the end
* The pain and suffering the orphans went through
* Weatherwax...despicable creature – won’t say more but know you will feel the same when you read the book.

Did I enjoy this book: Definitely
Will I read more in this series: As soon as I can!

Thank you to NetGalley and Perfectly Proper Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Alex Archer grew up in parish orphanage and spent his life trying to forget the miserable place. He had carefully crafted a life and background to cover up the truth and, after a life of rootless wandering, decided to settle down. In A Convenient Fiction, the third book in Mimi Matthews' Parish Orphans of Devon series, the fiction of Alex's life comes up against the reality that is Laura Hayes.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books of the series, and Matthews tantalized with references to Alex Archer and definitely does him justice. The writing is wonderful, and the characters are well-developed as Matthews shows us the promise of Alex's future while reconnecting him with his past.

Alex coldly sets out to marry heiress Henrietta Talbot to gain an estate that he feels will give him a sense of belonging. When Laura is called in as a chaperone for Henrietta, Alex meets his "water nymph" and is surprised by his reaction.

"This was something else. Something new and deeply unsettling. It was awareness. Some variety of recognition."

Laura is very perceptive and sees Alex as a both a hero and a villain, with a rawness and vulnerability behind his mask. While Alex thinks that having land will give him a sense of belonging, Laura has the real answer for him.

"You don't want land, Alex. What you're looking for is a family."

Laura offers her family and marriage to Alex, and he rebuffs her. Later circumstances result in a marriage to save Laura's reputation, and Alex finds where he truly belongs - with Laura.

The vicar read the parable of the prodigal son to Alex, and it is analogous to Alex's life. As the vicar explains to him, it's not just a story of repentance and forgiveness but also of homecoming and reconciliation. Alex's life comes full circle when he returns home and reconciles with Justin, Tom and Neville.

While the book can be read as a stand alone, you will enjoy it more and better understand the relationships if you read the first two books. I heartily recommend them all!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There are so many books one looks forward to for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, not many books live up to expectations. However, A Convenient Fiction lived up to and exceeded my expectations.

Was that why such a man had come to their village? Not as the hero of the story, but as the villain?

A Convenient Fiction is the third book in Mimi Matthew's Parish Orphans of Devon series. It can be read by itself but as this is a series about four friends it would make more of an impact to read the previous two. However, there is no need to make yourself read the books if you don't want to as the events are detailed in this book. But if you want to see points from a different perspective....

She hadn’t the luxury of a champion. In the absence of one, she’d learned to champion herself.

After her father dies, Laura Hayes becomes the head of the family which consists of her brother Teddy and Aunt Charlotte. They are all each other have. Teddy is about to turn 21, which should mean an end to their financial suffering. But legal troubles brought on lead Laura to consider an alternative option: marriage.

“Land is the only thing that gives man a sense of connection. Of meaning. Unless he has it, he never truly belongs anywhere.”

Alex Archer has arrived in Surrey for the sole reason of snaring an heiress with a considerable estate. He has been running from his past and is looking for a sense of connection. Property, he believes, will help him achieve that. But what he (and everyone) needs is something Laura has: family.

“I have a family,” she said. “You should marry me.”

I absolutely adored Alex! And it would be the whole truth to say that my biggest reason for my expectations were because I wanted to read his story. Laura was a lovely heroine. She is crafty, intelligent, and has this amazing amount of strength. Alex has set himself out to be a villain but he is far from it. And his reasons for what he was done in the past at the orphanage are understandable and no would blame him. Yet he has carried this guilt for over 20 years.

Both of them compliment each other well. And the one thing I really love is that they are very open and honest about their feelings.

Mimi Matthew’s writing is always a highlight of her books. But I equally love the authenticity she brings to her novels. Her details and historical accuracy always make reading her books a visual delight. Highly recommended!

These opinions are my own. I thank NetGalley and Perfectly Proper Press for the digital ARC.

This was such a captivating story! I just loved everything about it. The main characters of Laura and Alex were so engaging. Laura held herself responsible for her family, she was also,very astute. Alex had much more depth than at first meeting, he hadn’t had a happy childhood and this was revealed through a number of memory flashbacks. I enjoyed the bathing descriptions at Margate and had a chuckle at some of the aunt’s observations. Alex and Laura has an obvious connection but Alex needed to marry and heiress with land. There are also some interesting secondary characters. The ending was delightful! I have read a number of books by Mimi Mathews and always found them to be an engrossing read. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 Stars - I recommend if you enjoy historical proper romance.

When Laura Hays's father died, he left them without much money. Laura has had to take up the finances, and the plans to re-open their floral farms and fragrance distilleries.When she meets with her solicitor, she finds out that he plans to deny her brother's inheritance as he comes of age as he is an invalid. Her only choice is to find another solicitor and fight for the inheritance, or to marry. However, she's never imagined herself married at all. Alex Archer has been running from his troubled past as an orphan, and swindling people out of money through gambling debts. He ends up in Surrey, collecting on one such debt, as he meets lady Henrietta ?? and intends to marry her. However, after a chance meeting in a pond with Laura, he cannot keep his mind on the task at hand.

It was so fun to tuck into another Mimi Matthews book! I really loved Laura as a character, and her drive to thrive and work hard to reach her dreams. I thought that the meeting of the two characters was very cute, and that they had very good tension. I think that Alex was a bit shut off due to his past, so it took me a while to feel that he really liked Laura... or that he was really invested in their relationship or his feelings toward her in the beginning. I think that made it a bit less swoony for me, but as the book went on it definitely made sense how he felt, and why. I think my favorite part continues to be the brotherhood of the four orphans as they reconnect, that made me quite teary. I'm so excited to see how Neville's book goes.

Mimi Matthews continues her Parish Orphans of Devon series with Alex Archer- the orphan who disappeared as a child and no one knew if he was alive or dead, or why he left. Now Alex is all grown up, has a well-earned reputation as a gambler, and a plan to marry an heiress and settle down somewhere in England so that he can finally feel like he belongs. His plans fall apart when he meets Laura Hayes, an impoverished perfumer's daughter trying desperately to hold onto what her family has left. Two people used to being in control of themselves begin to lose control with their first meeting- and it may be the best thing that ever happened to them.

Laura is a strongly-written heroine: she's strong, independent, and controls the failing resources left to her family. She's learned not to rely on anyone but herself to get things done. Of course, this means she doesn't give her younger brother a chance to learn how to help- or even how serious the situation is- and she's at the mercy of a lawyer who doesn't have her family's best interests at heart even as he controls the finances. Until Alex appears on the scene Laura would never think of sharing her burdens, even as she drowns under them. Alex is more of an enigma, being all things to all people, and creating convenient fictions about his past to cover up what he sees as his past villainy. He believes he can't be trusted when push comes to shove. When the going gets tough he'll start going. A large part of him seems to still be the boy who ran away from Devon: hurting, lonely, and believing there are things that can't be shared, even with those you consider family. He plans to marry an heiress with a good estate and instantly become part of a community but Laura sees what it is he is really looking for: a family.

Matthews does a lovely job describing the Surrey country-side, and later the French countryside, and her research into bathing resorts in Victorian times comes through perfectly. Her main characters are well-rounded, flawed and fully human, full of complex emotions, hopes, and dreams. Her secondary characters are a bit more uneven and under-developed and a few strings are left hanging, but overall, the story and the characters work. While readers may enjoy reading the first two books of the series (The Matrimonial Advertisement, A Modest Independence) before this one, Fiction can also stand on its own and you won't be lost starting here. Although you will probably finish this and feel the need to read the rest of the series just to stay in Matthews' world a bit longer.

A Convenient Fiction is a lovely book that will whisk readers away to 1860s England and make them glad they visited.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

By chance I found this amazing author and began reading this series with the Matrimonial Advertisement. I also listened to it on audible and I am still thinking about if even now. Mimi Matthews has a true gift with her words that is perfect and speaks to me as a reader. Her characters have such deep emotions and she is able to pull me into the story in a way I feel I am watching a movie unfold ( yes The Parish Orphans of Devon need to be made into a series).
My very favorite heroes and heroines are those that are wounded, either in body or mind or in both because seeing them find redemption and happiness is pure joy and Ms Matthews is a master at this plot.
She shines again with the story of Alex, one of the Parish Orphans who I truly wondered about in the first story. Alex has been away and now has returned to find a wife. A rich wife to be exact, but as fate would have it, on his way to his friend's home, he meets Laura Hayes. Well he really thought he was rescuing her from drowning, but she really wasn't!
Laura is barely making ends meet and she needs a husband to rescue her and her invalid brother. But life is never that easy.
Set in the Victorian era, the author has brought the times alive with her historical knowledge and I learned many new facets of that time. The way she brought these two together, slowly let the them get to know each other.
I have truly loved every story in this series. They have touched my heart and are not soon forgotten. What I enjoy even more is after reading them is listening to the audible version. Amazing, truly amazing.

Ms. Matthews has a way of bringing history to life. Of placing the reader right smack dab in the middle of the action, quickly establishing the heroine and hero and letting you pick which one to route for. Now I must admit, I’ve been wanting Alex’s story since I read book one (which is totally swoon worthy).

And he didn’t disappoint. There were a few times in his scenes that I wanted to tear up or just plain ol give him a hug. I’m so glad he was able to meet a deserving heroine.

And Laura Hayes, wow has she been through a lot. I was immediately intrigued and wanted to know if she would get a happily ever after for herself and for her loved ones.

Mimi Matthews created it in spades! I was so tickled to read this book and sad when it was over. Now to wait around for book 4 since I finally caught up on her backlist.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. My review was not required nor influenced.

August 1860 Surrey. Three years have passed since Laura Hayes’s father died. Her invalid brother and Laura having to survive on the income from her father's failing perfume business. Their business affairs managed by solicitor Weatherwax
Alex Archer wants to marry for the land an heiress can provide and maneuvers George Wright, vicar's son, into an introduction to Henrietta Talbot, his lifelong friend and neighbour. But what of Archers' troubled past which started at the orphanage in North Devon.
Although the third in the series, it is easily read as a standalone story, though I would recommend the first two books as they are both an enjoyable read.
A delightful, well-written romance story, with such a group of likeable well-portrayed characters.

(4.5 stars) – A story of redemption!

[This is Book 3 in the Parish Orphans of Devon series. It can be read as a standalone]

Technically, this is an enemies-to-lovers trope as well as a bit of a marriage of convenience one. But at its heart, it’s my favorite – a story of redemption!

Alex & Laura enjoy an unusual meet-cute that is quite entertaining. It leaves them somewhat annoyed with each other. Circumstances lead them to spend time together - Alex has come to court Miss Talbot for whom Laura is acting as chaperone, & in their repeated forced proximity, they begin to know each other better. Still to very mixed feelings though.

Alex has given himself up as a soul beyond redemption, and has devoted himself to achieving a material match to acquire an estate, but Laura unwittingly keeps reminding him that his heart is still beating no matter how much he tries to ignore it. He sees himself as a scoundrel – and so does Laura – but she also sees the hero within him. She helps him realize that his past doesn’t have to define him – he can choose a new course.

As Alex’s past begins to catch up with him, though, he has to decide whether to keep running or finally face it. And it is brutally painful. My heart broke for him. Those who have read the previous books will finally have their questions answered.

I loved Alex & Laura. Alex is like a broody Rhett Butler, and Laura is rather like a livelier version of Elinor from “Sense and Sensibility”. Their story, though the courting of Miss Talbot felt a bit insipid at times, had me completely engaged from beginning to end. The secondary characters were surprisingly well rounded, too. Henrietta was a surprise. And of course, seeing several of the lead characters from the other books was absolutely icing on the cake.

This will be on my “Best of 2019” list along with Mimi Matthews’s “The Work of Art”!

*Clean romance level: passionate kisses, marital intimacy takes place but discreetly & without graphic detail.
*Religion: only topical to setting, use of the Lord’s Name in vain in typical Regency expressions (By G*d,for G*d’s sake, etc) but not cursing at least
*Language: a dozen or so “d*mn”s + a” h*ll” or two

The Parish Orphans of Devon has been such a fun series and book 3, A Convenient Fiction, may well be my favorite. This series is full of strong, lovely characters with witty personalities and charm. There are some updates on previous orphans we have meet as stories intersect and come to light. In this tale, we meet Laura and Alex. Alex has been a fighter his whole life and believes himself to be a villain. What happens when a villain meets a sea nymph? Magic. Laura and Alex create a magical love story as they both learn to trust their heart and perhaps, one another.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own gladly given.

"The mysterious Alex Archer returns to England in Book Three of Mimi Matthews' USA Today bestselling Parish Orphans of Devon series.

She Needed A Husband...

It's been three years since Laura Hayes's father died, leaving her and her invalid brother to subsist on the income from the family's failing perfume business. But time is swiftly running out. What she needs is a husband, and fast. A noble gentleman who can rescue them all from penury. When a mysterious stranger arrives in the village, he seems a perfect candidate. But Alex Archer is no hero. In fact, he just might be the opposite.

He Wanted a Fortune...

Alex has no tolerance for sentiment. He's returned to England for one reason only: to find a wealthy wife. A country-bred heiress in Surrey seems the perfect target. But somewhere between the village railway station and the manor house his mercenary plan begins to unravel. And it's all the fault of Laura Hayes - a lady as unsuitable as she is enchanting.

From the beaches of Margate to the lavender fields of Provence, a grudging friendship slowly blossoms into something more. But when scandal threatens, can a man who has spent his entire life playing the villain, finally become a hero? Or will the lure of easy riches once again outweigh the demands of his heart?"

Love or money, the age old question that we readers keep devouring...

Although I'm not typically a romance reader, I've always made an exception for an old-fashioned gothic romance like those that were so popular back in the '70s. This series reminds me so much of those beloved old reads. I adored the first book in this series; and really liked the second, but I believe this third installation is my favorite of them all. I just loved this book, and I can't wait to read the fourth and final one!

Mimi Matthews is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. This is the 3rd book in the series Parish Orphans of Devon. I loved the 1st book in this series, was iffy on the 2nd book. But this story of Alex Archer, one of the 4 orphans who lived together in the orphanage, was my favorite. I started it and couldn't put it down.
Alex is coming to Surrey to be introduced to a young lady who he is hoping to court, hoping to marry. She is an Heiress with a good amount of property. He's a gambler and a fortune hunter.
Who he runs into 1st is Laura. He sees her floating in a pond and thinks she is drowning. He jumps in to rescue her only to find out she needs no rescuing.
They argue back and forth as to what he's doing there and whether or not he rescued her.
This opening chapter sets the tone for the relationship in the book.
They challenge one another, they need one another and they rescue each other.
Miss Matthews made me laugh and made me cry in this story. She kept it fast paced and moving.
I give this book 5 stars. If you haven't read the first 2 books, I reccomend you do. It would make the story more complete.
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to review this book

A historically rich novel with lush landscapes and fascinatingly complex characters.

A Convenient Fiction is the third book in the Parish Orphans of Devon series, in which one more of the Devon orphans finds redemption and haleness in his true love.

Alec Archer is a fortune hunter on the hunt for a wealthy landed heiress. After working his way up from his pauper beginnings, he now needs a wife to realize his dream of a home of his own.

Laura Hayes has been taking care of her invalid brother and weary Aunt since the death of her father. Her brother is finally coming to his age of majority, and they family will finally be able to take control of their former perfume business that has been left in the hands of their solicitor. Will Laura be able to take control of the business and save her family’s legacy? Or will a dashing stranger in their humble village and a seaside romp overturn all of her plans?

Mimi Matthews writing is a pure delight! Her sweet story and the rich history she weaves in are a treat for romance and history lovers both.

A Convenient Fiction- Parish Orphans of Devon, Book 3 by Mimi Matthews is scheduled to release October 22nd, 2019.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Perfectly Proper Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#AconvenientFiction #MimiMatthews #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads

This is a terrific book. The characters are so well written I started to believe they were real people. Alex is not a “bad” man, just a man trying to make his way in a world that doesn't always seem to want him to make good. Laura is desperate to save the family from financial ruin by guardians of her father's estate. These two have a slow build romance that has the reader hang on every word and turn every page quickly. Mimi Matthews is a terrific author and I can't wait for her next romantic offering.

A Convenient Fiction is the third book of The Parish Orphans of Devon series by Mimi Matthews. The first book I read by this author was The Matrimonial Advertisement, the first of this series. I was totally blown away by that story. I thought at the time that there was no way that Ms. Matthews could write a better book than that; I was dead wrong. Each book after that kept getting better and better, I swear they did. And considering I gave the first book 5 stars, that is saying a lot. Mary Balogh and Grace Burrowes have always been the epitome of historical romance writers to me. Ladies, please scooch over a bit and make room for Mimi Matthews on your exalted pedestal. That’s not hyperbole; I love her writing that much.

If you haven’t read the first two books of the series, you won’t be lost. However, I suggest that you read them first. Having a bit of background on the dynamics of the orphans adds so much to the “feels” in the story. Alex Archer was the boy who ran from England as far and fast as he could when the opportunity arose. He’s back, looking for an heiress to marry. It’s not the money he wants, but land; he feels that it will give him a sense of belonging. On the way to meet his possible heiress, he spies a young woman in a pond whom he believes is drowning. He “rescues” her, only to find out she doesn’t need rescuing. The young woman is Laura Hayes, the daughter of a deceased perfumer, who is not anywhere close to being an heiress. Yet he is totally drawn to her. Read the book blurb to read more of the story synopsis; I’d rather talk about the emotions. Yes, those pesky uncontrollable emotions that can make or break a romance novel.

Laura is overwhelmed in life, with no one to really lean on. Her deceased father left his business in a shambles, with barely any money to keep her family afloat. She basically has to beg his solicitor to give the family funds to live on. Her younger brother was crippled from a fever. Her aunt who has heart issues also lives with them. Laura cares for them all. All she desires is to get the business running again…and to swim in the ocean. Alex, on the other hand, fears the ocean. He’s made money from gambling and is by no means destitute, but he wants land. Alex hides a lot from Laura; you can easily see that he is unhappy with his past actions and doesn’t believe he deserves love. He wants to protect Laura from what he’s done and endured in order to survive. Oh, their interactions touched my heart and boy, did I cry! I think I cried though the last third of the book. My heart hurt for Alex. He was seeking absolution; would he get what he desired?

This is a book you can share with your mother and grandmother. Physical intimacies are behind closed doors; it’s the beautiful writing that makes you feel their attraction and need for each other. I’ve said this before about this author’s writing – you don’t realize until after you’ve finished the book and your face is puffy from crying that there wasn’t any sex. The story just sweeps you away. ~Sigh~ I want more! The fourth orphan’s story can’t come out quickly enough for me. Actually, ANY book by Ms. Matthews can’t come out quickly enough for me!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

It's been three years since Laura Hayes's father died, leaving her and her invalid brother to subsist on the income from the family's failing perfume business. But time is swiftly running out. What she needs is a husband, and fast. When a mysterious stranger arrives in the village, he seems a perfect candidate. He's returned to England for one reason only: to find a wealthy wife. A country-bred heiress in Surrey seems the perfect target. But somewhere between the village railway station and the manor house his mercenary plan begins to unravel. And it's all the fault of Laura Hayes--a lady as unsuitable as she is enchanting.
This is the third book in this brilliant series, this is my favourite of the three books the enigmatic Alex Archer returns. I love a rogue who is redeemed & a feisty heroine. I loved the chemistry between the two. Well written with very well portrayed characters & a story that draws you in from the start & holds you engrossed until the end. The author is definitely on my growing list of must read authors
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read