Winter Companion is the final book in Mimi Matthews Orphan Quartet. Our hero is affected by a traumatic brain injury and the heroine of the story is looking for more from life than being a paid companion. Throw in an ancient pug and a pregnant moor pony and you will find a delightful Victorian romance.

3.5 Stars - I recommend if you enjoy proper romance, and have read the rest of the Parish Orphans of Devon series.

Neville Cross was in an accident as a boy, and suffered a blow to the head that resulted in a stutter. His three best friends have cared for and provided for him, and he is left to care for the horses as his friend Justin Thornhill's estate. He is content with his life until he meets Miss Clara Hartwright, and comes to find that maybe his life is missing something after all. Clara has taken a position as a companion in order to help finance her brother's college tuition and living expenses. As she caused her family much grief, she is paying her debt to them until he graduates and takes her up as his secretary on his naturalist exhibitions. As Clara spends Christmas at the Thornhill residence, she quickly falls for Neville, only to wonder if she is about to make a fool of herself once again.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. Neville and Clara were both loveable and sweet. I thought that Neville's inner dialogue and his stutter really painted a picture of a character that we previously knew little about. I loved his profession and love of animals, and the sweet moments with the dogs and horses. While I enjoyed the romance in this book, it wasn't my favorite of the series. It had it's fair share of swoony moments though. While this book takes place at Christmas it isn't too Christmassy to read at another time of year. I loved the resolution of this book quite a lot, maybe the most in the series, and am sad that this is the last book. Overall a sweet conclusion to a great series.

I will admit that I wasn't sure how Neville would play the hero in this book. Due to his speech impediment from his accident as a boy we only got a very simplistic view of him from the other books. But I should not have doubted, his difficulty speaking in no way reflected his mind which was sharp and strong. There was so much more to his character and as we got into his head you really got to see the amazing man he was. And Clara was amazing and the perfect match for him! I loved the way she was un-bothered by his inability to articulate his thoughts at times and the way she saw past it to his true self. Their friendship that blossomed to more was achingly sweet and I loved every second! The perfect conclusion to an amazing series!

North Devon, England - 1860

At Greyfriar’s Abbey, preparations are being made for the month-long Christmas celebrations.

Miss Clara Hartwright has arrived to become the new companion for Mrs. Charlotte Bainbridge. Clara has brought her elderly pug with her hoping he will be allowed to stay. He had belonged to the woman she had previously been the companion for before the woman passed away with no one left to take care of the dog.

Justin, Alex, and Neville are friends who all grew up in an orphanage. When they were young, they were playing near the cliffs and Neville fell into the water below. He was rescued but suffered a brain injury that left him with a bit of a stutter. Now, he is happy working in the stables at the Abbey caring for the horses.

Clara works hard and saves her money to help put her brother through Cambridge. She hopes that when he is finished there, he will get a job and she can be his secretary and assistant.

Clara and Neville begin a friendship where she learns about the horses and how to care for them. She is hiding a secret where she was treated badly by someone in her past that has left her humiliated. Their friendship soon grows to a physical attraction but they know that with Mrs. Bainbridge leaving soon, their togetherness will soon end.

I have read quite a number of Mimi Matthews’s books so when I saw this one on NetGalley, I immediately requested it. As I read this story, I kept waiting for something sparkling to happen, but it is quite dull and boring. As I haven’t read any of the Parish Orphans series, I had to struggle to figure out how the characters related to one another. A pet peeve of mine is that authors fail to provide a brief synopsis at the beginning of a book to help bring readers up to speed with the characters. I really liked the character of Neville and his love and caring for the horses. He’s quite a man. The constant rain I could have done without.

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

I’m so enamoured of Mimi Matthews work, she has written 3 wonderful books in this series, Parish Orphans of Devon, we finally have Neville’s story.

Handsome, tall and brawny Neville, is the perfect figure of a man, but he suffered a head injury as a child, and his speech is affected, he is seen as impaired, despite his intelligence and emotional sensitivity. He has been scooped up by Justin, and he is expected by his friends to live out his life at the abbey, focusing on the animals that he loves. He is often frustrated by his inability to say what he wants to, and also with the level of expectation that people have of him, both his friends and the local society in general.

Clara Hartwright arrives at the abbey. New companion to Laura’s aunt, she arrives with her previous employers dog in tow. She seeks out the stables to get some help with her dog, and meets Neville. She immediately understands that this man is intelligent and unassuming, not stupid because of his difficulties with speech. Neville is equally fascinated by Clara: “He had the queerest feeling that he was the only one privileged to see how beautiful she was. As if it were a secret, locked up tight, to which only he had the key.”

Clara has her own issues. Intelligent and alone, she has been compelled to earn a living, in order to fund her brother’s university education, her dream is to be as educated as her brother and work as his secretary. When she is let down by her brother, it is Neville who steps up to support her.

All of the romances in this series have been glorious, and this one is no exception. Clara is a determined and thoughtful woman, with the ambition to forge a different future than most women of her time. Held back by unfairness and the moral code of the time, she is doing her best to move forward, but she find being a companion lonely and stultifying.

Neville is such a lovely character, struggling with the disconnect between peoples perceptions of him, and his true self. When Clara sees his true self clearly, it gives him the strength to step outside his normal life and pursue his dreams.

The animals are a huge part of this book, and the whole thing is utterly delightful, can’t wait for Mimi Matthews next book,

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

Also posted on Goodreads

Oh, my! What a delicious, beautiful ending to a wonderful series. Mimi Matthews is a favorite author and I intend to read everything she ever writes. I imagine even her grocery list is lyrical. The mid Victorian era is brought to life with all its sanctions, mores and prejudices. The slow to develop love is told in believable and lovely prose. The dreary, cold Devon weather seeps into your bones as you read. You just know Clara is falling for Neville because she is constantly drenched in mud and rain and still goes out of her way to get to the stables where she can have time with Neville.
This is a 5 star book and it comes at the end of a 5+ star series. If you have not read this series then I urge you to start with THE MATRIMONIAL ADVERTISEMENT, book #1 in the series, although each book can standalone.

This author has such a skill at bringing her characters to life! I always pitied Neville in the previous books because of his limitations, but what he really needed was a champion- Clara sees him for who he really is and knows that he is capable. I loved being able to get into his head and seeing just how much he comprehends and what the effects of his head injury really were. Their friendship and romance is just so, so sweet! I have a soft spot for the strong silent type, and Clara's individuality and acceptance of him made them a perfect match. There is a bit of a mysterious subplot throughout the book that provides the impetus for the climax, and it was just right for this gentle romance with three-dimensional characters. It was also fun to revisit the couples from the previous books in the series, and it was an absolute joy to end this wonderful series with such a strong finish. Highly recommend all the books in the Parish Orphans of Devon series!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions expressed in this review are my own)

This is the 4th and final book in the Orphans of Devon Parish series. The previous 4 books about Alex, Justin, Tom and now Neville. It's not necessary to read the previous books, as this can be read as a stand alone, but it would certainly add to the story.
Neville has been a secondary character in some of the previous books. He has suffered a head injury as a child and it has left him with a speech impediment. But there is nothing wrong with his mind.
The 4 former orphans, friends, finally have gathered together as a group for the first time in 20 years for Christmas at the Abbey. 3 are now married, one expecting a baby. Neville.who lives and works at the Abbey is happy to see his friends but doesn't like the disruption it brings to his life, the new people it brings in.
Until he meets Clara . Clara is the companion to the mother in law of one of his friends. She brings into his stables, where he lives and works, her little pug dog. The dog is to stay in the stables until she gets permission to keep him in her room. Its love at first sight. Neville is awestruck by her and she somewhat reservedly by him.
Both are lonely, both feeling they don't deserve each other. So both decide to be friends even though there is an attraction between them.
The friendship, relationship that Miss Matthews grows between them is slow but sweet. It's the little moments that when put all together show how very much they love one another.
You will enjoy such a beautiful, clean romance, with its HEA. A perfect ending to a great series.
Thank you to netgalley for allowing me to review this book.

(4.5 stars) - Neville finds his much deserved & long overdue happiness

Generally, a parasite is of a different species from its host, but sadly, free will allows humans to exhibit parasitic behavior to each other. Clara is made to feel like a parasite by others, but in truth, she's the one who has been parasitized, taken advantage of to her detriment.

Real families are intended to be symbiotic, with each member helping out to benefit the others. Neville has found a makeshift family with his friends. Clara wants to love and be loved, to care for & be taken care of as well. Sadly, her romantic nature & inexperienced naiveté make her an easy target for those who would take advantage, but at the same time makes her a perfect fit for Neville and his band of brothers with their wives.

She & Neville are kindred spirits. They each value the other's perspective & what they have to say. Respectful consideration denied Neville for his speaking difficulties & Clara for being a mere woman readily develops between them, quickly becoming admiration & then affection. The time they spend together is a happy, companionable respite from the prejudiced judgments of the world, but the world intrudes when familial duty pulls Clara away.

They think their Brigadoon is to be relegated to the mist of the past, until Neville & Clara find themselves stepping far outside of their comfort zones to help each other. The realization comes that perhaps their idyll is not so much a where as it is a who.

And as the remhttps://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-winter-companion-mimi-matthews/1133409295aining complications are dealt with, all of the Parrish Orphans of Devon have now found a form of healing for all of their pasts that fully extends towards their bright & hopeful futures!
What a wonderfully satisfying ending to an excellent series!

It did leave me wondering about what happened with Clara's family after Neville's proposal.

And I love the news that Teddy might have a novella where he finds his own happily-ever-after - perhaps his new art teacher will be a woman who sees the beauty of his soul as well as his talent!

*Clean romance level: passionate kisses, nothing graphic
*Language: only 1 or 2 d--- & h---
*Religion: only noticed one use of the Lord's Name in vain with "for G-d's sake"; story's not especially religious, some negative experiences mentioned but also some positive ones, leans informal over formal but that would be consistent with the characters' backgrounds

What better way to celebrate Valentine's day than with a proper romance set in Victorian era Devon on the rough and wild coast. Mimi Matthews new book, The Winter Companion completes the Parish Orphans of Devon series where we finally get to know the quiet and handsome Neville Cross; whom we were merely introduced to in the previous books.

As a young boy Neville suffers a head injury leaving him with a speech impediment and scars on the inside that are much easier to hide. Neville never wants to appear foolish or stupid so he avoids people at all costs and prefers to remain in the company of animals, spending his days in the stables at Greyfriar's Abbey.

Beautiful and petite Clara Hartwright has been in service much of her life. But a lady's companion is far from the future she dreams of. The years of feeling overlooked, under appreciated and invisible will one day all be worth it, at least she hopes so. For the last four years she has paid for her brother to attend school at Cambridge in exchange for copies of his lesions on Natural history, all so that one day she could be his secretary. When her new employer is invited to a month-long holiday at a remote coastal abbey Clara finds herself imagining a very different future for herself, especially when she lays eyes on the intriguing and very handsome "Sir Galahad".

During a reunion of the orphans and their wives the arrival of Clara Hartwright leaves Neville rattled and flustered. He can't seem to speak a coherent sentence in her presence. An injured Dartmoor pony, a mutual attraction and their need for understanding forges an unexpected friendship. But when Clara must suddenly leave with little hopes of ever returning, will Neville let her go or will he leave the safely of the abbey for the women is has fallen in love with?

Review posted on Goodreads, Amazon and Instagram Lost_in_a_Book_reviewer
Mimi Mathews The Winter Companion is beautifully romantic, delightfully intriguing and the perfect end to her Parish Orphans of Devon series. Your heart is sure to skip a beat as you read this sweet tale.

I want to preface my review by pointing out that I have read the previous books in the series, so I am particularly invested in the final installment in the Parish Orphans of Devon series. I cannot give any insight into whether this is a standalone novel, except to say that I think all of the pertinent information form past books is there.

As I said before, I am beyond emotionally invested. I have been hearing about the main character, Neville, for three full books. I have imagined him many times and came into this book feeling pity and sympathy for him. Finally, getting to read from his perspective did nothing to change those feelings.

From the opening of the book, the characters are introduced and are almost immediately likable. It helps that they are both trying to care for an elderly dog. It's impossible to dislike someone that is sheltering an aging pup with vision problems. This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Neville's kindness.

As opposed to the other men, Neville is remarkable sweet. His brain injury makes him a man of few words, but his thoughts and feelings run extremely deep. I love that Clara recognizes this and appreciates it. She ends up being the perfect romantic pairing for him despite the bumps they go through for their HEA.

I loved getting updates about the other couples from the previous books. In showing all four couples, the reader can really appreciate Mimi Matthew's ability to develop and represent personalities. Each couple seems to have a different identity, and each character has a distinct identity within that couple. It's so hard to do well but seems to be accomplished flawlessly in these books.

The Winter Companion is the perfect conclusion to the Parish Orphans of Devon series, with endless amounts of heart, love, and compassion. This is a must read series for historical fiction and romance fans. Mimi Matthews is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers of the genre.

The Winter Companion the final installment in the Parish Orphans of Devon series does not disappoint. Similarly to the three previous books it delivers a entertaining time period classic read. I have grown incredibly fond of these characters and reveled as the author allows us one final opportunity to visit Greyfriar Abbey and the put together family it inhabits at the top of those mysterious cliffs. This time we are reacquainted through the eyes of a stranger, a hired winter companion for an elderly aunt. A newcomer, and an outsider to the group, her impressions immediately settle me in for a satisfying read:
<i>"Mr. Thornhill with his burn scars. Mr. Finchley with his world-weary blue gaze, so much older than all the rest of him. And even Mr. Archer. The way he looked at his wife. The way he stayed close to her and held her hand. It was love, of course . But there was something else there as well. The thirst of a man too long deprived of water. And what of Mr. Cross? The most mysterious gentleman of all. He wasn’t like the others. And she began to understand why."</i>
Of course the icing on the cake is we finally get to hear Neville Cross' story. The most loyal, yet seemingly less vocal of the Parish Orphans. I have had so many questions about him throughout the series and truly wondered what his path was and would be remain the loner he appeared be?

Mimi Matthew's brand of storytelling has no expiration date, writings like these with her firm grasp of history and atmospheric accuracy of the time is what allows her books to break away and stand out as something special, refreshing and memorable.

An injury in childhood has left Neville with difficulty forming words and sentences, particularly under stress. He now lives with Justin, his close friend in the orphanage in which they both grew up, and looks after the stables for Justin and his wife. And there he knows he must stay, because the world would not be friendly to anyone with his problems - however much part of him might sometimes long for something more, like a horse farm of his own. But when Christmas festivities bring Clara into his life as the companion of one of the guests, he finds someone who for the first time shows him the possibility of something more. Their time together is all too short, though, and he must stay while she will be leaving. But does he really *have* to stay, or will he be brave enough to leave the safety of his home in order to follow Clara ready to help her in her hour of need?

I've been looking forward to Neville's story ever since he was introduced in book 1, and it's great to see him finally get his happy ending (or to finally get a happy start in life?). Once again, the author has produced a clean, well-written book with characters I enjoy getting to know and a storyline that feels real. My only problem was - what happened to Bertie? All in all, a great read, though I must admit to having slightly mixed feelings about this book: It is a very satisfying end to the series (each of which can be read on its own, though the four friends from the orphanage are each in each book), but I have enjoyed the series so much that I'm sorry to see it end! Regardless, I'm looking forward to whatever she writes next because I know I'll enjoy it. Highly recommended.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

What a joy it is to read a book by Mimi Matthews, and The Winter Companion, the concluding book in the Parish Orphans of Devon series, is no exception. We have our companion, Clara Hartwright, who needs to be invisible (companions are neither seen nor heard) but cannot — she brings a pug dog to her newest assignment, something unheard of for the day. Then there is Neville Cross, whose brain injury leaves him with a difficulty in speaking and more at home with animals.
He is the fourth of four boys raised in a harsh orphanage; we have met his three friends in the earlier stories, and now we will see what happens to Neville as he meets a woman who is beautiful, intelligent, ambitious and shares his love for animals and the natural world. All four orphans are together for a reunion this winter, together with spouses and relatives.
The richness of a Matthew novel comes not just from the search for love at the heart of the tale -- she is a writer who brings depth to the telling of her story. We learn about the Dartmoor pony and Neville's dream of saving them. We see how Clara must put her brother's education first, but shadows him at university — he sends her his lessons — so she can have a bigger future than simply serving as a companion. We are shown the struggles of Neville's brain injury in an honest but compassionate way. He is damaged in body and Clara has her own hurts from incidents in the past. The coming together of these two is richly satisfying. They become stronger together, able to achieve a more glorious future than they would apart.
This a story to enjoy and then to read again and savor. Excellent, just as readers have come to expect of Mimi Matthews. (I received an advance copy from NetGalley. Opinions mine.)

This was a most engaging read. The two main characters of Neville Cross and Clara Hartwright were very likeable. Neville had an accident when he was younger that left him with a speech impediment. Although he was an intelligent man, he found difficulty in expressing himself. Clara was a companion to an older woman, but she had plans of her own. Clara met Neville when she attended the Christmas house party where Neville lived. They saw something in each other that others missed. There is something that happened in Clara’s background that means she needs to keep her job. This has some really heartfelt, tender moments that brought a tear or two. I enjoyed the meeting up of all the other characters in this series. It had a lovely ending. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I did preorder my own copy.

The Winter Companion was a very easy read. Probably because I knew most of the characters and it was like visiting old friends. Great way to end the series though I wouldn't be upset if there were more stories.

The fourth book in the Parish Orphans of Devon series tells the story of the most beloved and mysterious of the orphans…

Neville Cross has had difficulty with his speech ever since falling off the Devon coast into the ocean as a boy. He was fortunate to be rescued by his friend, but life afterwards did not turn out how he had imagined. Now mainly mute due to the difficulty his brain has with formulating speech, Neville is happiest being by himself, caring for the animals at the estate of his childhood friend. Until a tiny pug and his owner need his help.

Forced into the occupation of ladies companion to support her family, Clara Hartwright finds it difficult meek servant she is paid to be. Even in this position of servitude, she can’t help bring her former employers abandoned pug along to her new post. While receiving assistance int he care of her dog, she discovers a mutual affinity for nature in Mr. Cross, she finds herself actually being seen again.

Through mutual respect and acknowledgment of each others worth, these two find that there is love out there for them… as long as they can step out of their known comfort to take it.

This was another delightful historical romance from Matthews. Her writing as always includes many historical details that give life to the story and characters. The characters themselves were a true joy to see developed and grow. I especially appreciated the delicacy in which Matthews handled Mr. Cross’s brain injury. TBI is very common nowadays, but would have held great stigma during this time period.

I highly recommend to all readers of historical fiction/ romance. This sweet tale is bound to leave you with a smile.

The Winter Companion by Mimi Matthews is scheduled to release February 11th, 2020.

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

#TheWinterCompanion #MimiMatthews #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads

"The Winter Companion" is a romance set in December 1860 in England. This is the fourth book in a series, but it can be read as a standalone. When a young man first flirts with Clara and then tells everyone she misread his interest, she begins to doubt herself and scorn her romantic notions. As punishment, she must work as a lady's companion to pay the way of her brother through college. He has promised that she can share his lessons (by reading his notes) and become his secretary one day. Neville has difficulty speaking and this makes him shy around others. At first, he's tongue-tied around Clara, but they soon find a shared love of animals, which draws them together.

The author has deeply researched the time period and woven this information into the story, creating a distinct sense of time and place. The characters were complex and reacted realistically to events. I cared about what happened to the characters. There was no sex. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this story, especially if you enjoy accurate historical aspects in your fiction.

Clara Hartwright is brought to gloomy Greyfriar’s Abbey by her newest employer where she encounters the mysterious Neville Cross who initially appears to be some sort of tongue tied groom. However, as Clara gets to know Neville, she realises his difficulty with words hides a kind heart and sensitive intellect. Unfortunately Clara’s past and her current commitments intervenes in her growing friendship and Neville feels he is an unsuitable match for Clara. I’m always excited to read Mimi Matthews’ stories and was doubly excited to read Neville Cross’s tale. He was always the one to be pitied in previous Orphans adventures with no prospects or hope. I was so totally drawn into his story that I missed my stop on the tube, a sure sign of a good read. Highly recommended. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Perfect conclusion to this amazing series. Neville was tender hearted, strong, and quite the understated hero. This is a sweet romance that develops slowly and allows the reader to savor a friendship that blossoms into more. Simply lovely!