Ooh I really liked this. This adds something different to the usual stories that you expect from this genre and style of book.
Evie and Ahmad both don't quite "fit" with society and their lives are challenged and judged for it. This is honest and heart warming. A difficult read at time as the author doesn't shy away from tackling difficult and sensitive subjects.
I felt immersed into this world, and I think that was primarily down to the descriptions of fabric. I am obsessed with fashion, and the tailor details really enhanced this read for me.

Evelyn Maltravers has come to London to find a husband. Knowing that her strength lies in her horsemanship, the first thing she needs to find is a tailor who can make her a stunning riding habit. She finds a shop where half-Indian Ahmad Malik is working. He is trying to build his reputation as a fashion designer but faces many obstacles including his heritage.

Evelyn is also facing some obstacles including trying to overcome the hit to her reputation caused by her older sister's running away with a man. She certainly doesn't expect to fall in love with her tailor.

Ahmad and Evelyn face all sorts of trials on their way to their happy ending. Society's expectations and a noblewoman who wants Ahmad and is aching for vengeance when he refuses her are all obstacles in their paths.

This story set in 1861 takes advantage of the Victorian fascination with spiritualism and the effects of Prince Albert's death and weaves them into an excellent romance. I really liked Evelyn who was determined to chart her own path and not be swayed by what anyone else says. I liked Ahmad for being an honorable man in a difficult situation and for his love for Evelyn.

Fans of historical romances with depth will enjoy this story.

Evelyn needs a successful season to save the family from her sister’s disastrous one. Hoping to attract interest through her riding skills, she seeks a tailor for a stunning riding habit and meets the up and coming tailor, Ahmad Malik. Fun, yet thoughtful, Victorian romance addressing classism and racism.

Evelyn Maltravers is a strong woman character whom I loved. She is a unique woman who is not afraid to be different. I like that she makes a plan and works to follow it through. She is a woman who focuses on her strength - which is horse riding.

The love interest in the story is a dressmaker named Ahmad Malik. It was interesting to read a romance between two people of different race set in the regency period. I had not read one before and liked the way the author introduced this diversity to the story. The difficulties a mixed race person during this time would have faced were not disregarded by the writer and I appreciated this.

The Siren of Sussex is my delightful introduction to author Mimi Matthews. I thoroughly enjoyed this trip to Victorian England, and am now longing for a custom ball gown of my own.

4.5/5 stars

Evelyn Maltravers has arrived in London for her Season. But, she knows she’s not a typical English miss and thinks her best bet for getting noticed by a prospective husband is by showing off her accomplished riding skills on Rotten Row. For that, she also needs a stunning outfit. After investigating the best tailors, she asks Ahmad Malik to design her riding habit. The two immediately feel a connection, and Ahmed is inspired by Evelyn’s personality and riding skills. They determine that they can help each other: her to land a husband (and pave the way for her younger sisters in society), and him to expand his own dressmaking business.

But, romance between a gentlewoman and an English/Indian dressmaker is unheard of and the pair face numerous obstacles. The book is not shy about the overt racism towards people of color. I liked the way the story focused on Ahmed’s individual struggles vs. all the many wrongs of Victorian England. The book also looks at the relationship between artist and muse, and the age old question of whether the right clothes “make” the person. Even the popularity of the spiritualism/occult in Victorian England appears, in a way that is both natural and enhances the story.

One note: this book is on the PG side when it comes to romantic interludes. Usually I like my books a little steamier, but it worked for me in the context of this book.

The Siren of Sussex is a treat from beginning to end, and the well-drawn characters are at the heart of the story. Evelyn and Ahmed’s unique perspectives are a delight, and made this book impossible to put down.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒

The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews is the first book in her Belles of London series, and I’ll be first in line to read the rest of the books in this series, as I’ve enjoyed this first one very much. This book was just a lot of fun to read.

Evelyn Maltravers moves to London from her small village in Sussex to secure a husband and improve the future for herself and her sisters. She knows she’s not the attractive beauty her older sister is, but her sister has run off with the neighbor and has brought disgrace to the family. In order to save her family and provide a future for her sisters, Evelyn must find a rich and titled husband in the London season.

Evelyn knows she’s not a great beauty, so she takes her stallion to Hyde Park to ride and hopefully meet potential husband material. She decides she needs a new riding habit and goes to a famous tailor who makes the most beautiful riding habits for women. When she goes to the shop she finds the man behind the beautiful designs is a man named Ahmad Malik, a half Indian, half English man who doesn’t feel at home either in India or in London. He’s working at the tailor shop with an agreement to take over the business once the owners are retired. When Ahmad meets Evelyn, and he agrees to make her riding habits, they end up working together to make an entire wardrobe for Evelyn to wear during the season. Evelyn and Ahmad find themselves in an impossible situation as their attraction grows. Ahmad can’t support a fine woman like Evelyn, and she needs a wealthy gentleman in order to save her family.

The Siren of Sussex is a delightful look at regency England with a spirited heroine. I loved learning about the horses and the fashion of the day. The love story between Evelyn and Ahmad is a slow-burn and beautiful romance. They have an impossible road to romance. Evelyn wants and needs a wealthy husband to help her and her sisters are accepted into society. Ahmad is half Indian and half English and is a tradesman, not a titled or wealthy gentleman so he knows he’s not a suitable match for Eveyln, despite his growing feelings for her. I kept trying to figure out how they could be together, but until the end, I couldn’t find a satisfactory way for these two people to find a path to romance.
These characters’ motivations were very strong. I love reading romance because I know that the main characters will end up together in the end, but what I enjoy more is the journey the main characters take to get to their happily ever after. In The Siren of Sussex, the journey of both the main characters is powerful and moving. The author wrote a beautiful and angsty romance with the gorgeous backdrop of regency England.

I highly recommend The Siren of Sussex to anyone who loves historical romances. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I've read one prior romance by Mimi Matthews and I remember thinking that it didn't feel fully complete. I think great care was definitely taken with Ahmad's story (as well it should be) and I liked the descriptions of dressmaking. The romance felt natural, not forced, and even though it is close-door, I think there's enough sexual tension to keep things at a satisfying simmer. Admittedly, I got a little bored with all the various side stories/characters, but I'd still recommend this to any historical romance lovers, especially those who enjoy The League of Extraordinary Women series.

What a breath of fresh air! This story is delightfully unique and creative while staying admirably real and honest to the era in which it is set. It is a heart-warming, inspiring, enlightening and just plain lovely romance that leaves a reader with a much deeper understanding of the lives of those who weren’t part of the aristocracy in the 19th century - all while delighting one with an unlikely but completely sigh-worthy romance!

Especially recommended for those who love the work of Jane Austin and Georgette Heyer. Ms. Matthews’ stories are very reminiscent and hold all the beauty of both.

I really enjoyed the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. If you love forbidden romances and forced proximity, then this is a book for you. This story about equestrian Evelyn and the sizzling attraction between her and her talented tailor, Ahmad. This story brings up matters of identity, finding a place to belong and finding a balance between logical planning and following one's heart. The discussion of societal status came into effect as Evie is a gentlewoman of society in town for her first season and Ahmad is a member of the working class. This book also explores Ahmad's struggle to find a place to belong in a society he doesn't totally fit in, since he is part English and part Indian. His journey and Evie's had me rooting for them from early on. It was a pleasure to see their love blossom on the page and meet an awesome group of female friends for Evie during this story. I'm definitely intrigued to see what happens with Evie's friends, the other outcasts and wallflowers of society this season. I did find the pace to be rather slow in the first half of the story so it took me a bit longer to feel fully invested in the story. However, the romance and the plot swept me away in the second half of the book and had me turning page after page to see how these two would create their own well deserved happily ever after. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Y'all this book had me scared! I could feel the connection and chemistry between country girl Evelyn and tailor and dressmaker Ahmad and I was worried I wasn't gonna get a happily ever after.
Have no fear, Mimi Matthews takes us on a story told through two outcasts and how they find themselves beyond who they think they are.
Ahmad has never fit in, he isn't Indian enough for the Indians and he isn't British enough for the English. All he wants to to be a tailor and dressmaker successful enough to stop struggling so hard and take care of himself and his cousin.
Evelyn is in London for the season. For one season. She's got one chance to make a splash and set her four younger sisters up for success in their own matches and happiness. She knows the best way for her to do that is on her horse, but to do that she needs to look spectacular, and Ahmad is ready to help.
From the moment these two first meet you know that something special is happening. And they do too, even if they refuse to accept it.
I loved this book and it kept me on the edge of my seat and unable to sleep until I reached the end!

Evelyn Maltravers is having her first season in London after her older sister’s season ended in scandal. Knowing her prospects aren’t the best, she seeks out a tailor to create a riding habit for her that will make her stand out amongst the other ladies in the ton, to hopefully secure an advantageous match for her family. Evelyn approaches Ahmad Malik, a half-endian tailor whose riding habits have been receiving a lot of attention in the gossip columns. As the two start falling for each other will they be able to convince the society to accept them?

This was my first novel from Mimi Matthews and I appreciated how she took great care to make sure things were historically accurate. The novel takes place during the Victorian Era and was inspired by the Pretty Horsebreakers who were famous for their riding habits and horsemanship. I loved the descriptive detail in the fashion of the era, since it was a main point of the story Ms. Matthews did an excellent job describing the beautiful fabrics and outfits Evelyn wore. I wasn’t too familiar with hairstyles and and the fashions and enjoyed a reading break looking them up on the internet. Ms. Matthews also has some good articles written on the fashion of the era on her website.

I have to say this novel felt unique in the pairing of a gentlewoman and a half-Indian tradesman. Ms. Matthews did an excellent job illustrating the challenges a man of Ahmad’s background would face in London during the time, and also how his own struggles of self identity wold shape his view of the world.

I did feel that Evelyn and Ahmad did fall in love too quickly. Their feelings were evident from Chapter 3 and while their attraction to each other was constantly commented on, I just felt details on what originally set the spark, for their attraction and bit more on what Evelyn loved about Ahmad, or what Ahmad loved about Evelyn could have been mentioned to make the romance feel a bit more developed.

Overall, if you are looking for a unique historical romance I do think this would be a novel that anyone could enjoy and would be worth picking up. It looks like there will be other companion novels coming out as well featuring each of Evelyn’s friends, so I am excited to revisit her friends and hear their stories.

Thank you to Netgalley and and Berkley Publishing Group for providing a complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book very much. It had all my favorite parts of a historical romance - the sweet slow growth, good story and character development, just the right amount of steaminess, and of course the period clothes! I also appreciated that this book brought in an aspect of that era of history that doesn't appear very often in romances - the effect of English colonialism on places like India. It added a weight to the story that wasn't at all unwelcome.

I will say, I was less interested in the spiritualism angle, but I understand that had it's hey day back then. That is likely just a personal preference of mine.

I do think there was a little bit of happily-ever-after washing of the ending in regards to Evie's sisters and the social fallout of her relationship.

But overall, I liked seeing the growth of something real between Evie and Ahmad, and enjoyed this sweet and unique romance.

While all of Mimi's books are a delight, this book is a dream. I wasn't sure how she'd make a tailor a knight in shining armor, but she did (pockets, for one!). Romantic tension is carried throughout the book until the very end, which few books do well, in my humble opinion. It seems as if Mimi's writing just gets better and better as time goes on, if that's possible. Although "The Work of Art" is my favorite book of hers, "The Siren of Sussex" is a close second (which is saying something!). Please keep writing, Mimi! No one does it like you do--achingly romantic and realistic without the unnecessary *ahem* scandalous details.

Evelyn Maltravers has a bold plan to take the Season by storm, not in the ballroom but with her exceptional horsemanship. To do that, she plans to make sure she is noticed not only for how well she can ride a horse but also how stylish she looks while doing so. To that end, she seeks out tailor Ahmad Malik, who has made a splash outfitting some of the most scandalous courtesans but who really longs to dress high society women. Together they plan to take the fashionable world by storm. They just didn't plan on falling in love while doing so. Exceptionally smart characters populate a more diverse and interesting world than is generally seen in romance novels set in this time period and was a breath of fresh air for this reader. These are people I would have loved to know in real life and I was very invested in seeing them get their happily ever after.

This book started out okay but then it went downhill from there. The author used God’s name inappropriately,
Then the seances began and I will not get myself caught up into this type of weird spiritual stuff. So no I did not like this book, I only got a couple of chapters in when all the above started.. I will not be reading anymore from this author. I don’t even want to rate this book a one star.

This was truly a delightful read, the characters so well drawn, I could picture them perfectly. The romance was a slow burn with just the right amount of angst. I can’t wait for the other books in this series!

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This didn't work for me. Everything just seemed so unlikely, although there are pages of the author's notes at the end describing all her research. Evelyn's plan to find a rich husband is to impress men by her stylish riding in the park in stylish outfits on her beautiful horse. She thinks this is a good plan, despite the fact that the other women doing the same sort of thing are prostitutes (or 'courtesans' as the author likes to describe them). I can see how this would give rise to confusion... Anyway, Evelyn persuades Malik to design her a riding habit and one thing leads to another. I quite liked Malik and Evelyn together, it was just everything else that didn't sit well with me.

Evelyn's uncle with whom she was staying turned out to be a spiritualist and gave a spiritualist ball and made Evelyn attend a seance and it added absolutely nothing to the story. Malik had quite a dark past, having been a sort of bouncer at a brothel, Evelyn's sister was having a baby with a man who was waiting until he came of age to marry her and in the meantime living on money his family sent him on condition that he didn't marry her, and then his brother asked Evelyn to become his mistress and it all felt a bit grubby somehow. Evelyn made three friends who were blatantly set up with their respective future partners for the next instalments, but I think I'll give those a miss.

I did not expect to love this book. Horses really aren't my thing and I was hoping for something cute and light to read. This book exceeded my expectations. A white woman pursuing a relationship with a POC man in regency London? This book is also PG so if you're looking to dip your toe into the Romance genre without explicit scenes then this is a great book to check out or buy,

The Siren of Sussex is the first book in a new series, Belles of London, by author Mimi Matthews. Evelyn Maltravers, a 23-year-old bluestocking equestrienne needs to rescue her family from ruin. Evie knows she needs to marry to secure her future and that of her 4 younger sisters and sets out from their country home to London. Evie must attract a suitor by standing out and decides to stick to her strong suits: horseback riding…in haute couture. Enter talented London tailor, Ahmad Malik, who Evie enlists to design her riding habits.

You can tell the author did a lot of research for this book and the author note at the end when all the history was so intriguing; the “Pretty Horsebreakers”, famously beautiful courtesans who were the most accomplished equestriennes riding down Rotten Row, Victorian spiritualism following Prince Albert’s death, Indians in Victorian England, and of course Victorian fashion. This read more as historical fiction to me, very light on any romance. I knew going in it was closed-door (they only kiss a couple times), but I just needed more depth to their romance and chemistry to believe in the couple. There is some closeness while he’s draping and measuring her for fittings, with a couple hand-holding moments and a kiss snuck in, but that just didn’t feel like enough for me to believe they’re in love. A lot of their conversations we don’t see any dialogue, are just told after it happened making it hard to connect to this couple.

That said, there were definitely things I liked in this. Ahmad is half-Indian living in London (the author draws on her own Indian heritage) and struggles with his identity of where he “fits in”, he’s too English for Indians and too Indian for the English. His relationship with his cousin Mira and the conversations of British colonialism in India was done really well. If you enjoy Victorian fashion, there is a lot of that described in this read. Ahmad sews hidden pockets into Evie’s clothes so she has a place for her spectacles. Evie rides her Spanish-bred Andalusian, Hephaestus, often while visiting with her friends in the park (these ladies I’m sure will be getting books in the series next). The hype around Victorian spiritualism was interesting, the occult society and their interest in astrology, crystallomancy, spirit realm, psychic energy, etc.

Thank you to the publisher (Berkley) for an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts & review. The Siren of Sussex will be out January 11, 2022

Although I am new to the author, the description was quite enticing! This tale by Mimi Matthews was a wonderful, cozy, winter read. Highly recommend!

Having lived in Bloomsbury and spent lots of time in Russel Square, I loved the setting of this story and the prose for the perceivable time was spot on.

Matthew's story read beautifully of the connection between a white Sussex country gal and Southeast Asian/Indian talented man. The author paid as much mind and detail to the complexity of the socially contrived POVs in the setting as Malik, the tailor, pays to his beautiful garments.

It was very refreshing to read a story that considers a multi-faceted context to the relationships of characters in mixed-race relationships while taking the time to critically discuss station, race, gender, and beyond.

And the FASHION! The author successfully illustrated the story in such a stunning way that it was easy to get lost in this book and seamlessly envision it in my mind. It is just asking to become a film.

While there is a mountain of sexual tension in this book, the spice was mild.

Evelyn is a strong, kind and compassionate character and I just wanted to see her thrive.

I have a handful of equestrienne friends that I may purchase copies of this book for for the holidays.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.