I haven't read the first book in this series, but I was underwhelmed with this one. Jasper's wards were cute I suppose. Julia was yet another wallflower with social anxiety. I'm not saying those are real issues for anyone, but I do wish for a more original female historical romance character once in a while.

Julia Wychwood is not your typical wallflower-she happens to be both beautiful and an heiress. Painfully shy, she's led a sheltered life attending to hypochondriac parents whose ailments dominate her life- with the exception of her obsession with novel reading and her beloved horse, Cossack. Jasper Blunt is a war hero home from the Crimea, whose reputation for ruthless brutality precedes him...as well as his hunt for a wealthy wife. An awkward first meeting leads to an unexpected spark between these two social misfits, but things are not always what they seem on the surface. Can these two opposites attract for a moment- or forever? Set in early Victorian England, this is a sweet romance suitable for a broad audience of readers.

First sentence: Julia Wychwood was alone in Rotten Row, and that was exactly the way she liked it.

Premise/plot: Julia Wychwood is the heroine of Mimi Matthews' The Belle of Belgrave Square. What can I say about Julia? Well, she's socially anxious, prefers books to people, and she happens to be an heiress. Her parents play up (or perhaps that was just my perception???) their illnesses. And they are just as convinced that their daughter, Julia, is weak, fragile, and "poorly." Julia sometimes doesn't fight against this notion--if being "ill" equals more time in her room reading the latest book. But there comes a time when enough is enough is enough.

Captain Jasper Blunt, a war hero (and the hero of this romance novel), doesn't love town life--or should that be TON life. London life isn't exactly his cup of tea; he much prefers life in YORKSHIRE on his estate (run down though it may be). He is in town looking for an heiress to marry. Why an heiress? Well, his estate is in shambles--literally and figuratively. It isn't just that the estate isn't profitable. The situation is dire. He is thinking of his three children--illegitimate though they may be in the eyes of society and the law. Julia is his first choice. For many, many, many reasons.

Julia is drawn to Jasper--deeply. But there are obstacles on the way to this match from both. One thing the two share is a LOVE for reading. In fact, these two love to talk about their favorite authors and favorite books. The discussion is real, and goes beyond the surface.

My thoughts: I love, love, love, love, LOVE, LOVE, crazy love this book. I had no idea it was the second in a series when I chose it for review. I will definitely be going back to read the first book in the series. This book gave off BEAUTY AND THE BEAST vibes, and I was all for it. However, as the novel progressed, I soon picked up on something that thrilled me even more....the book was reminding me of The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery. The Blue Castle is without a doubt one of my favorite, favorite, favorite romances by Montgomery. Perhaps because I identify with the heroine so much.

I loved Julia. I could identify with her. It is so refreshing to identify with heroines in romance novels. Not usual or typical for me. Give me a socially awkward or socially anxious heroine that panics with small talk, and you'll have me at hello.

I loved Jasper. His story isn't necessarily straightforward, plenty of twists and turns. I definitely was cheering for him throughout. There were so many scenes--so many--that just made me giddy.

Is the romance novel clean? Maybe. I'll clarify. If your objection with certain scenes is premarital or extramarital, then yes, this one is "clean" enough. Nothing improper happens before vows are exchanged. Mostly. It depends on if one little kiss counts as improper. But from the start, she knows his intentions are marriage. There's never a creepy-creeper vibe that he is trying to take advantage of her. There are romantic, sensual scenes (a handful) in the novel after they are married. I found them in the tasteful (mostly) range. These scenes are not front and center and written without excessive detail. The scenes don't go on for pages and pages and pages. These scenes do not steal the show or distract from the actual story.

Quotes:

In a novel, she was safe. Her throat didn't close up and her palms didn't grow damp. She could experience things in a way that didn't overwhelm her.

This was how he could help her. Not by holding her. Not by carrying her off to safety somewhere. But by talking to her. By engaging her on the subject she loved most.

This was a sweet romance and a nice follow up to the Siren of Sussex. I appreciated that the heroine had an anxiety disorder, but I think the author somewhat forgot about that about halfway through the story because it kind of fizzled out of importance as the romance got going. The relationship building here was solid, though.

The Belle of Belgrave Square was a light read and exactly what it promised to be. The only surprise was that the Bluebeard stakes were pretty small.

I’m a big fan of Mimi. And I really loved it. Although, it was clean romance but the banter and angst almost made up for all the missing spice. Also, I have always admired Mimi’s talent and the writing style. ‘Cause there’s something special about her heroines that I not only admire but can relate closely too.

Ahh I loved it so much. It was a clean regency romance read with a great and beautiful story including incredible and strong main characters

This book offers a nice difference for the many, many fans of Regency era romances in that it takes place mostly in the countryside, as opposed to London. Like this wonderful author's previous book, the heroine is an accomplished equestrian, which adds to the appeal. A great romance perfect to recommend to readers who like something a little different from the strictly traditional Regency -- like Evie Dunmore.

WOW! This book proves why Mimi Matthews should be a pre-order/auto-buy for every romance reader. It was utterly fantastic and incredibly hard to put down. I know I'm completely wrapped up in a book when I start reading the dialogue out loud and that happened several times here. What a treasure. If the cover doesn't draw you in (so pretty) the story definitely will.

Okay, so if you're reading Matthew's "Belles of London" series, Julia Wynchwood is the one who loves to read and has hypochondriac parents who keep her shut in at their London townhouse. She's only lived vicariously through books. Her parents are literally, THE WORST. Well, this is her love story with a mysterious war hero, Capt. Jasper Blunt. What is Capt. Blunt's secret past? I never saw it coming. My jaw was on the floor. I can't wait for everyone to read this book so we can fan girl over it together!

Anyway, Capt. Blunt has come to London to marry an heiress so he can provide for his three illegitimate children and repair his crumbling estate. Which sounds like heaven to Julia, who only wants to escape into a gothic novel...with a hot man who happens to live in the same setting as a gothic novel. I'm with her on this one. Get it, Girl. And that's all I'm gonna say about the plot, it's too good not to be experienced without spoilers!

This is just more justification for me to read her entire back catalog. Speaking of her other books, if you enjoyed her Parish Orphans series, the Finchley's from "A Modest Independence," make some cameos here too! FYI, intimate scenes are closed door (she glazes over the act, focusing more on the build-up and post-coital snuggles).

Thank you EXCEEDINGLY to Berkley Publishing Group for the chance to enjoy the ARC and know before anyone else how wonderful this book is! I cannot wait for the rest of the series!

Such a delightful regency romance with references of fairytales including Beauty and Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Bluebeard’s wife with sweet touch of mythology, some sweet resemblances with Bridgerton series ( a drunk and eldest Lord Gresham’s forced kissing attempt at the balcony resembles Daphne’s situation at the first book and Julia and Jasper’s meetings as they’re horse riding reminded me of Kate and Anthony’s meetings at the second book) : a quirky, shy, wallflower, bookish, gold hearted heroine meets the notorious, cruel, war hero : the marriage in convenience turns into something incredibly deep, genuine, flaming!

Yes, I’m sold! There are smart twists, surprises in this book that I saw them coming. But they were still great ones! The character development is amazing! Both Julia and Jasper are so adorable characters and the unconventional beginning of their love story evolved into something so real, heartfelt, poignant!

Julia, shy, book lover, suffering from anxiety issues and low self-esteem because of her selfish, hypochondriac parents who force her to take care of them, preventing her to have a fulfilled life!

Unless she wants to marry old and irritating Lord Gresham to be his countess and sooner a widower, she needs to find a groom to win her freedom back from her extra demanding, morbid, soul sucking parents.

Captain Blackbird, very dangerous, ruthless man as he’s mentioned by the members of London society might be answer for her key to the freedom. Jasper Blackbird, raising his three bastard kids alone, having financial issues to renovate Goldfinch Hall: the dilapidated place, presumed as haunted, needing to elope asap! A woman who is fragile with sizable dowry can also be answer of his problems.

The arranged marriage between them can save both of the parties from their own problems.
But Julia’s family has no consent to let her live out of London. They need 24/7 caretaker and this is the duty of their daughter even though it makes her prisoner in her own house!

And of course there’s a risk to marry a man who is rumored to be coldblooded and extremely vicious. But what if Jasper has changed after war? The man Julia interacts with is nothing but caring, romance reader. He seems like caring his children he’s left behind. Doesn’t that man deserve a second chance?

Could their marriage in convince plan work and could it turn into something pure, real, inevitable? Keep on reading to find out!

Overall: this is swoon-smile- feel so good historical romance that fulled my heart with pure happiness. Thankfully I’m not Mr. Bilgewater to write obnoxious reviews! I adored the characters and entire execution! Looking forward to read more books of the series!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

This was an absolutely riveting novel which, once started, I could not put down. I simply had to know what happened next. As always with a Mimi Matthews book, this was both exceptionally well written and well edited. As to the storyline, I admit that I wasn’t certain at the beginning whether or not I was going to like the hero due to the amount of secrets that he was keeping, but believe me, he had three very good reasons for his non disclosure. I very much connected to the heroine as we both share a love of books and have shyness/social anxiety issues. I loved seeing her grow and become more brave as the story progressed. For other readers of this author’s books, there is a cameo appearance of one of the couples from one of her previous series that is an unexpected treat. The following was my favorite quote from the book:

Real life was more complicated than that. And real love was more complex still. It wasn’t faint or feeble. It was rich and nuanced and strong. So relentlessly strong. It had to be. Human beings were fallible. They stumbled and fell. They made mistakes. Love didn’t crumble in the face of those errors. It held fast and true.

An ever-fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken.

This “clean” romance was a fun retelling of many favorite stories. Cleverly incorporating Beauty and the Beast, Persephone and Hades, and many favorite romance tropes (marriage of convenience, bookworm heroine, reclusive hero and more) makes for a classic historical read. There is an undertone of mystery. While Matthews leaves the reader all the clues you need, the mystery is pleasantly surprising. As mentioned this is a clean romance, so the sexy bits are mostly off stage, which is a slight deviation from the trend toward spicier historicals of late. Just a heads up that this feels much more like the classic fade to black historicals of eras past…possibly a really good trait for many readers. The first book in this series is now on my TBR pile, so all in all, this book gets a recommendation from me.

The Belle of Belgrave Square is a perfect Hades and Persephone story.

Captain Blunt’s reputation precedes him. He was labeled a hero because he took on an entire battalion himself but his brutal conduct in the Crimean War and his messy personal life, along with his physical presence and scars, have made him abhorrent to polite society. He needs a fortune to improve his ancestral home and to care for his three “natural” children. In short he needs an heiress.

Wealthy Julia needs to escape from her oppressive parents who use illness to gain control over her. The only way to gain her freedom is to marry. She begins to consider the enigmatic Captain Blunt.

I couldn’t put this book down. So many dark secrets to unpack, but there continued to be hope for a happy ending on every page.

Julia likes to escape into the Victorian Gothic melodramas of her time. Mimi Matthews pays homage to these fanciful and sensational tales by putting shocking secrets, hidden identities, haunted castles, locked rooms, and more into the tremendously entertaining The Belle of Belgrave Square.

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

This book is perfect for fans of historical fiction looking for a sweet romance, rather than a steamy one. It was cute how the main characters bonded over books.

At first glance this seems like a rewrite of Matthews’ earlier story The Work of Art, but as things evolve this proves to have more nuanced characters and even a bit more fun in spite of the intentional melodrama. None of the revelations are a surprise when they come, and I don’t think they’re meant to be. Matthews enjoys paying homage to the classics she loves, and this was enjoyable to read.

Any time Mimi releases a book I get excited. Not because she is one of my favorite authors, but because it's one more book in the romance genre that hearkens back to the days of Austen and the time when Georgette Heyer romances were abound. Romances that focus on the interactions, emotions, and plot more than the sex and risque things a couple can do with one another.

In the previous book we had met Julia. Beautiful, kind, shy, but a lover of books. Though she may be wealthy, she is governed by her parents - two very cruel people who believe that she exists only to take care of them. Being that Julia has social anxiety, and prefers the company of books, she likes to hide away at gatherings reading. She is a bit of an outcast and is known for being 'ill' (mainly due to her choosing to remain at home than be at a gathering with so many people).

Enter Jasper Blunt. He is a war hero and has been smitten with Julia since the first day he saw her. His appearance is tall, dark, dour, and battle scared. His war stories are but rumor of how cruel he was on the battlefield and how he treated both the enemy of war and his own men. War can change a man and certainly has changed Jasper. There is also the talk of his children that were born out of wedlock and his gloomy house far from the city. With lack of funds he is come to town to find a wife to care for his children, reshape his estate, and fall in love with him in the process. He hopes that he can find someone who can see he man he wants to be now than the man he once was.

The moment that Julia and Jasper have a real discussion, a real heart to heart is over books. She finds out that he is a fan of an author that she likes. This allows the two of them to bond incredibly. Though, his guarded demeanor and his war history is puzzling, she can't help wanting to know more of him and learn to love him.

From this moment on, the book plows ahead with moments of lingering glances, will they/won't they, and a marriage proposal and rescue that is absolutely romantic. And hey! We're not even half way through the book!

Mimi makes no disguise in her nods to Beauty and the Beast, Hades / Persephone, and shades of Du Maurier's Rebecca. The theme of this book is also change - can Julia learn to be a stronger woman? Has Jasper truly changed from the cruel man he was rumored to be in the war? What secrets does he hold that he keeps from her? Can she learn to love him?

There is so much I love about this book, and so much I wish to tell and gush about. However, I think a book that is this good requires someone experiencing like I did. I will say that it has been a while since I shed a tear over a chapter and this one had two.

If you love to read, if you are a romantic dreamer, and of course - love romances that are clean with gorgeous lines of love and devotion PLEASE, read this book. You won't regret it and I hope it makes you a fan of Mimi's!

3.5 stars
I love romance novels, especially historical romance, and this book did not disappoint. However, I think it needs to be made clearer in either the book description or promotional materials that this is a clean romance novel. There are no spicy scenes besides kissing and while sex does happen it happens pretty much off-page. I'm not against clean romance and I did enjoy this book and, after reading the first in the series knew what I was going into. But romance novels especially historical romance novels tend to follow a pattern in terms of romantic scenes and this book does not. That is really my only criticism of this book, not that it was clean but that it didn't tell me or other readers that it was a clean romance novel.

Anyways the book was very sweet and the two characters Jasper and Julia were made for each other honestly. The book follows our heroine Julia Wychwood a socially anxious young woman whose only pleasures are novels and horseriding. The daughter of two hypochondriacs Julia is mostly neglected by her parents but also anxious to be in society. Unfortunately for her, she has a large dowry which makes her the target of fortune hunters. Enter Jasper Blunt the "hero of the Crimea" a former captain in the army in need of money to support his children and his crumbling estate in Yorkshire. Japer and Julia become friends first and romance follows though Julia's anxiety and Jasper's army past get in the way of the romance. There's also a fun little mystery throughout which I won't spoil but it definitely adds to the plot. Both Jasper and Julia are relatable characters (Julia especially, I too would rather read a novel than go to a party) and their romance feels believable and their HEA earned. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series

I was provided a free copy of this book through NetGalley.

I read *a lot* of historical fiction (romance and mysteries), and the Belles of London series is among the best I've found in recent years. It can be difficult to toe that fine line between historical accuracy/being true to the era the story is set in and giving the story a modern, feminist sensibility -- and Matthews manages that delicate balance with aplomb.

Heroine Julia is very much a product of her time, but she still manages to have the relatable aspirations and spirit of a more modern lady, while hero Jasper is the sort of decent, goodhearted guy dreams are made of, a man who uses his privileges to help the less fortunate and treats women and children with respect rather than disdain. He's always considerate of Julia, actively listening to and respecting her wishes and demands. It's always nice to have a hero who's kind rather than overbearing; handsome with a "dark, mysterious past" without ever being an actual asshole.

For fans of tropes and references, "Belle" is sure to delight; Matthews pulls inspiration from a variety of corners, including Victorian Gothic literature, Beauty and the Beast, and the myth of Persephone/Hades. It's a lot of fun to see how she weaves together all of the threads into a new whole, wrapping them around a core story about found families, self-sacrifice, and a friends-to-lovers romance.

And over-all, there's a satisfying balance between the obstacles and the payoff, the hurdles the hero and heroine face never overshadowing the sweetness of their story. Highly recommend this.

new from Siren of Sussex that I would love Julia and Capt. Blunt’s story and I’m here to tell you that I should be a psychic because of how right I was! ;) This book had so many things that I just love in books—a strong hero that can overwhelm the senses of the heroine while simultaneously making her feel safe with his mere presence, making her feel stronger just by being beside him. Communication between the hero and heroine. No simpering around feelings, being too afraid, or meaningless miscommunication. Delicious, building romantic tension that keeps me turning the pages. A heroine that I can really sympathize with and root for.
Bottom line, I loved this book and I can’t wait for the next in the series.

Mimi Matthews does it again! Seriously. This author never disappoints me. I knew going in that I would like Julia, but Mimi delivered in so many ways that I didn't expect.

Julia is a young woman who is quickly becoming a spinster in the eyes of society despite her massive fortune that is ripe for a suitor's taking. She has a loyal group of friends that adore her, but the rest of the ton whispers about her ill-health and her shyness. Julia isn't, in fact, as sickly as others (and certainly her parents) make her out to be. She has crippling social anxiety, so she doesn't feel at home in a ballroom full of strangers as much as she feels at home in a cozy bookshop, riding her horse, or tucked away in her own bedroom with a box of chocolates. She longs to be free of the constraints of her parents' expectations and the social mandates of London society that exacerbate her anxiety.

Society knows Captain Jasper Blunt is a war hero, but they also know he's also got a hoard of illegitimate children to take care of back at his ruined estate in Yorkshire. He needs a rich wife to financially support the failing estate, but he soon realizes that not just any woman will do. He wants Julia desperately.

What's a wealthy woman who longs for the freedom of the country and a man who needs a wealthy wife to inhabit his country estate to do? Naturally, they should join forces. Of course the journey to marital bliss is not without its unforeseen challenges, secrets, and misunderstandings as they both realize there is more to their new spouse than they ever suspected.

Jasper and Julia have such an achingly emotional love story. Even before they exchange vows, there are plenty of longing and heated moments between the couple. Just enough to make you turn the pages hoping that these two will find a way to be together. The tension dial is turned up a few notches even after they are married and it makes the story even more enticing. In typical Mimi Matthew's fashion, the love scenes are kept closed door, but there is always enough well-written romance to keep the reader satisfied. My favorite things about this novel: a well-portrayed heroine with social anxiety who grows in her self-confidence, an honorable hero who is equal parts strong and gentle, and the endearing scenes with Jasper's children. Plus, there's a few secrets to unravel along the way. No doubt that historical romance lovers will want to add this one to their bookshelf.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the e-book ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.