It's a red-letter day when a new Mimi Matthews book is published, and Appointment in Bath -- her latest -- does not disappoint. The book is the fourth of her Somerset Stories, focusing on children of beloved characters. Meg Burton-Smythe and Ivo Beresford, though, cannot be friends since their parents are feuding. And for good reason, if you have read the previous tale. Yet when Meg and Ivo meet, they hit it off immediately. They become friends and eventually more. Their character growth is one of the best parts of the stories. Meg is somewhat shy and uncertain -- she's young and has suffered, too, because of her father. Ivo is much-loved and well-traveled, yet he is finding his way as a man — and becoming someone who will give all for love and protect the young, shy woman he is coming to cherish. Their journey toward becoming their best selves is what makes the story so compelling. The sins of the fathers do not have be visited on these two youngsters -- and giving up past grudges creates a hopeful and happy future. A wonderful book. (I received an advance copy via NetGalley. Opinions mine.)

As the author noted at the end of the book, the main characters are young.
And while Ivo has traveled around the continent for his grand tour as most of the gilded youth from his time, he is still only three and twenty.
Meg, instead, has never left the surroundings of her birth place, growing up kind of alone, with no real warmth to cheer her.
Those two have watched the other from time to time, from afar, as their families history made them some English heirs of the Capulet and Montague.

Until upon Ivo’s return, they finally cross path and he can not pass by her without helping her.
From there begins a sort of friendship, as Ivo sees her at first as one of his pet project. He sees the young woman struggling to surface from her shell after years of belittling and no real kindness to give her confidence in herself outside her governess.
And while he was not wrong, that she needed just a little boost to find her inner strength, his youth blinded him on the method. Yet whatever his mistakes, they all came from the right place, his heart. Because Ivo is a good soul, he sees beyond appearances and others’ insecurities but he lacks experience to properly consider things, dismissing how the people he seeks to help might react to his meddling.
As for Meg, outside the governess who sort of raised her, she has always been the overlooked and walked over daughter, obedient to the fault, even by her home staff. So after years of walking on eggs, grazing her house walls and hanging her head, she finally bolster the courage to say her piece and stand her ground, all thanks to a young man she should never have befriended.

Their sort of friendship turned courtship is so lovely, but things left unsaid weight heavily on them as it is added to their families’ feud. Ivo decided for them both, but by not sharing his actions, he digs a bridge between them, jeopardizing Meg’s fragile new self-confidence.

4.5 stars for this tale of coming of age.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses

I have been granted an advance copy by the author and publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

I always enjoy Mimi Matthews' books and Appointment in Bath does not disappoint! This is the story of Ivo Beresford and Meg Burton-Smythe, whose parents (Gentleman Jim) have a long-standing feud. But Ivo believes in looking to the future, not the past, and befriends Meg anyway.

Meg starts out almost painfully shy from being so isolated- her only companions have really always been a few servants, her governess who has now left to get married, and her father- a man who is as much an entitled bully now as he was as a younger man. In her head, Meg thinks of him as Henry VIII, only without the power to chop people's heads off. Thanks to her unlikely friendship with Ivo, she slowly grows in confidence, and watching that was really delightful. Ivo is impetuous and full of plans for the future, sure his was is best and ready to hurry everyone else to get there. He has a good heart and good intentions, is always helping others, but still needs some experience when it comes to people.

Meg and Ivo are younger than Matthews' usual main characters (18 and 23 years old) or most main characters that I've read recently. This gave them a different feel occasionally- though in a realistic way, not a bad way. They are fresh and optimistic, Ivo in particular is sure he can change the world by dragging everyone into the future with him and his railroad friends.

Meg and Ivo feel like that second-chance couple who magically didn't need a second chance but were able to have their families, circumstances, and their own hearts line up to give them their happily ever after the first time around.

This book overlaps Return to Satterwaite Court, and refers to the past created in Gentleman Jim, but while both are wonderful books and I completely recommend them, you don't necessarily need to read them in order to enjoy Appointment in Bath.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest reviewI always enjoy Mimi Matthews' books and "Appointment in Bath" does not disappoint! This is the story of Ivo Beresford and Meg Burton-Smythe, whose parents ("Gentleman Jim") have a long-standing feud. But Ivo believes in looking to the future, not the past, and befriends Meg.

I'm a Mimi Matthews fan. Over the past months I've re-read many of her books as comfort reads.

The first two books in the Somerset Stories series are excellent; I enjoyed (4+ish stars) The Work of Art, and as I mentioned in my review at All About Romance, I L O V E D Gentleman Jim, a slightly steamier book than the usual Matthews fair (which improved this book in every way!). I gave it a B+ in my review - but only because I hated the resolution for a detested character/villain included in its otherwise lovely epilogue.

For whatever reason, I never read book 3, Return to Satterthwaite Court (I think it was around the time I stopped reviewing at AAR)! So I decided to read the first two books and RtSC before this newest novel. I fell in love with the first two books all over again and would give similar or better grades for both; unfortunately, RtSC is a total miss. I kept waiting for something interesting to happen with one or both of the principal characters and was shocked when I checked my progress and realized I was 75% through the book and...nothing interesting or compelling had happened to invest me in the story, and no plot twist was anywhere in sight. Gone was the romantic tension, passion and clever plotting of the first two books. Instead we got underdeveloped characters who seemingly fall into instalust as a competitive activity. Friends, RtSC was such a disappointment.

Fortunately, I knew book 4, Appointment in Bath, centered on the children of the couples featured in the first two novels and so I convinced myself that RtSC was an anomaly and AiB would see Matthews return to form.

Well, this time out things don't improve much. Despite the fact that Ms. Matthews again fails to adequately develop her principal characters, we already knew quite a bit about Meg and Ivo; I was predisposed to like him because of his family ties, and her because I like to root for an underdog. In hindsight, I don't think that's necessarily a great thing.

Margaret Burton-Smythe is a lonely eighteen year old who's spent the entirety of her life hidden away and ignored by her father, Frederick Burton-Smythe. (You remember him right? He's the guy who tried to rape his neighbor Margaret Honeywell after she spurned his attentions in favor of John Beresford, Viscount St. Clare - aka Nicholas Seaton, in Gentleman Jim.) Ahem. Anyway, in the epilogue of Gentleman Jim, we learned Margaret and Nicholas were happily together forever, and Frederick eventually married a local girl.

Then, in book 3, RtSC, we see that despite living on neighboring estates, the two families/fathers remained bitter enemies and never interacted with each other for any reason whatsoever since the close of that story. The Beresford family has 3 sons and a daughter (the heroine), and the Burton-Smythe’s are Frederick, Margaret (Meg), and a son who left home as soon as he could. Meg’s mother died in childbirth with her. We briefly meet Meg Burton-Smythe when she visits the Beresford estate for a supper party - as a surprise guest of middle son Ivo. Matthews teases a relationship between them - much to the dismay of the Beresford clan. Her arrival at the party stops it in its tracks, and through the PoV of Lady Katherine Beresford we see that her visit is poorly received by Ivo’s family.

Fast forward to Appointment in Bath. Er, let's go backwards as we begin Appointment in Bath and discover just how Meg and Ivo came to know each other. Meg, as I mentioned, is a lonely teenage girl with dreams of a season and a love match. She stutters when she’s nervous, and is mostly left to herself now that her long time governess is engaged to be married and living in Bath. Her father seems to barely stand her, and the servants treat her like a tenant in their home. To escape, Meg likes to take solitary rides in the morning; when Ivo Beresford discovers her, she’s nursing a sore ankle after a tumble from her horse. She’s embarrassed to be discovered thus, and he’s immediately struck by the beauty of a neighbor he barely knows and is generally forbidden to acknowledge.

He’s charming, she’s flustered…it’s a match made in heaven! Ha! It isn’t. Their life circumstances preclude these two from forming a friendship, much less a love match, but Ivo ignores the history between their families and suggests Meg meet him the following morning to ride together. He wants to know her better - and maybe get in with her father whom he needs for a railway scheme he’s involved in (although he doesn’t mention that), and he’s intrigued by the kind and gentle, lovely Meg. Meg, for her part, has her doubts about any friendship with Ivo. But she finds herself agreeing to meet him anyway.

Oh friends, these two are clearly meant to be! Except…there are some significant roadblocks in their way, and A Big Misunderstanding about their feelings for each other right from the get go. They secretly meet and spend time together, and both (through their individual PoVs) realize they’ve fallen hard for each other. But their families hate each other and mean to keep them apart, regardless of what Meg or Ivo wants.

Look, I wanted to root for this pair, and I loved every scene of suffering that Frederick appeared in. HE DESERVES TO SUFFER. But I never felt like I knew Meg or Ivo all that well aside from their family feud, and the confusion about ‘we’re just friends,’ goes on much too long. In fact, the resolution happens so quickly it’s a bit of a let down. We barely know Ivo at all, and even when he decides to fight for Meg, Matthews switches PoV and we’re back to sad Meg. The resolution is supremely underwhelming, not very romantic, and a long, long, long, long, long way from the steam level of the first two books. This story lacks urgency or tension and suffers for it.

Appointment IS better than RtSC, and the tease for book 5 is delicious. If you’ve made it this far, you’ll probably want to stick around for that one…and hope Ms. Matthews returns to the strong form of the start of this series.

Ivo and Meg! I loved these two. Meg at first would be seen as shy, inexperienced, having a stammer that would come out with nerves and discomfort. I loved that she decided all on her own to become courageous, brave enough to stand up to her father, to take up space and not to be a doormat.

Ivo was such a sweet one 🥰 he wanted to effect change, forcibly make an age-old feud between the two families disappear, but he had to learn that it had to be undertaken with tact. He was also so clueless of Meg's wants, but it worked out anyway 😂

I can't wait for broody James' story 🤭 Thank you to the Netgalley and Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ivo Beresford's parents have had a feud with Sir Frederick Burton-Smythe ever since they were young, but Ivo has never given much thought to it until he accidentally rescues the man's daughter Meg when she falls from her horse. But the more he sees of Meg, the more fascinating he finds her - and the more he wants to put an end to old feuds. Meg has long felt unloved by her father, but a fear of his temper has kept her obedient. When a chance encounter introduces her to Ivo, though, she sees the possibility for 'more' in life. But does he really care for her, or does he just pity her and want things to change? Will Ivo's efforts enable him to make the match he wants, or lose him all he most cares about?

For those who've read other books in the series, this takes place at somewhat the same time as the previous book and we get to see what exactly was happening with Ivo and Meg - which was interesting. For those who haven't, this can be read as a standalone romance, and is really good read that way (too). I've been loving this series and this book was definitely no exception to the rule. Meg had a lot going on in her life that she needed to overcome, and it was great to watch her doing so - sometimes despite Ivo rather than because of him. Ivo had lessons to learn and did finally learn them - at least for now. I liked both characters, but Ivo did certainly need to learn that he didn't always know best. All in all, an enjoyable clean read (though still occasional blasphemy that I could have done without), with the usual hard-to-put-down writing style and storyline that I've come to expect from this author. A good read.

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.

Such a charming story!

Meg might be young, but she knows enough to know that she doesn't want the trouble that comes with associating with the son of her father's sworn enemy. Ivo, however, doesn't think that he or Meg should have to suffer because of their parents' bad history and he insists that they at least be friends.

Meg realizes that her path to maturity goes right through her domineering father. She had to find her own self, get on her own footing in her relationship with her father before she had the maturity and confidence to pursue a romantic relationship. This is the best part of the book, and it was exquisitely written.

Ivo is determined to win Meg but not always as patient as he ought to be. Despite Meg starting out a bit shy and stammering, she quickly demonstrates that she's not going to be pushed into anything and Ivo learned that he had to respect her wishes before he could win her heart.

Their HEA was wonderful, and I loved the way the author handled the inevitable meeting of their parents. Not only did the characters stay true to their established priorities from the earlier book, but they each showed a devotion to their children that softened even the harshest edges. Not an easy feat when one of the parents was the villain in the earlier book, but this author does it extremely well. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Mimi Matthews has become an auto-read author for me and I thoroughly enjoyed this installment of life in Somerset. I loved Meg’s arc from a stammering, shy, afraid girl to a young woman taking control of her situation. Ivo was such a sweet hero, if a little impulsive and young but I loved his interactions with Meg and wanting to look toward the future. The forbidden love trope was a big part of this story and I loved how that played out in the end. They truly made some poor decisions at times that showed their ages but it worked well for this story.

I went straight from Gentleman Jim to this one so the bad blood between the Berefords and the Bruton-Smythes was fresh in my mind. I loved getting to see the characters from that book again - now as parents to adult children. I did wish the epilogue was a little farther out in time but I’m hoping we see more of Ivo and Meg in the next book and am looking forward to seeing how things go with Lady Kate and Charles Heyward.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

Romantic Content: Kisses

They are the children of feuding parents...

I'm pretty sure Ivo's parents had their own story, as its a complicated past dealing mainly with Meg's father. Ivo is twenty-three and just back from his grand tour. Hembefriends Meg as soon as he is back in the country after she is thrown from her horse. Painfully shy with a stutter, Meg is dazzled by the handsome middle son of their neighbors. Their parents, Ivo's and Meg's father have a contentious feud as her father wanted his mother and was playing very dirty to obtain her. Ivo also has plans for a railroad.

Well written, engaging characters, especially Ivo, who, while young, defintely knows what he wants. I like that they became friends first and also really liked each other.
Recommend.

In Mimi Matthews' Appointment in Bath, the Burton-Smythe family and the Beresford family hate each other, but when Ivo Beresford sees Meg Burton-Smythe in need of assistance after falling from her horse, it’s love at first sight. Two households, dignity, fair Verona, yadda yadda.

Ivo and Meg are the children of the protagonists of a novella I haven’t read (we get the standard sequel content reassuring us that Ivo’s parents are still super into each other). Meg’s father attempted to exploit his guardianship of Ivo’s mother to force her to marry him and merge their neighboring estates, but instead, she eloped with Ivo’s dad. Now, as they meet-cute by the river, Meg is eighteen, a virtual prisoner of her father, and Ivo is in his mid-twenties.

Seven or so years isn’t a huge age gap, but at eighteen and twenty-five/six, it’s an enormous experience gap, which translates into a dynamic of inequality. Worldly Ivo is a college graduate who has traveled the Continent, coming back to his hometown to pitch a railway venture he is developing with fellow sons of nobility. Meg is without a governess for the first time and not permitted to dine on her own at the vicar’s. No wonder Ivo sweeps her off her feet.

Compounding this is a confidence gap. Ivo is a dashing blonde god. He’s often specifically described as Adonis-like, and his major imperfections are needing glasses, and collecting and helping less perfect people sometimes in a way that comes off as pushy (he has, for instance, brought an alcoholic Anglo-Italian back from Italy with the intention of finding him employment). Meg, who is shy and stutters, can’t believe that Ivo is interested in her, and unfortunately, neither could I. When Meg confronts him and asks what he sees in her, Ivo says:

“[Y]ou don’t see yourself as I do. You’re too caught up in worrying over your stammer and your other imagined shortcomings. It’s distracted you from noticing what anyone else can perceive quite plainly.”

Nice start, Ivo! What is it, pray tell?

“You’re stunning,” he said bluntly.

I… what?

“And you’re kind. The way you handle that fractious mare with so much gentleness and devotion? [side note: and without much success; see: being thrown from said mare at meet-cute] The way you smiled when we crossed the bridge together? The way you held my hand?”

Nothing on this list demonstrates that Ivo has considered Meg in any depth at all. It’s even more concerning when he talks about how he’s imagined her, the child of his parents’ enemy, and confesses, “As a boy, I daresay I made you into a bit of a fairytale.”

So we have two options here, and neither is particularly romantic. Either do-gooder Ivo has made lonely and socially awkward Meg his new project, or daydreamy Ivo sees Meg as an idealized Rapunzel manifested in a stunning, shy, untouched pre-Raphaelite beauty. Even as Ivo’s presence inspires Meg to stand up to her father and to ask for more, it still seems as though Ivo sees her as one or another type of object.

So what makes this one a B-? Mimi Matthews is always a competent writer. The pacing is good, and the sentences are well-constructed. I appreciated the scenes where Meg calls Ivo out on making a “project” of her, and the author adds complexity by constructing a situation where he is genuinely wrong. Matthews’s Victorian settings are always well-developed, and I both appreciated the research and detail about railway permitting and construction, and admire the seamless way she integrates it into the plot. You’ll never get a plagiarized info-dump from Mimi Matthews.

I’m not generally a fan of time skips. At about two-thirds of the way through, however, I thought to myself, ‘Wow, a time skip here is PRECISELY what’s needed’. Ivo has opened Meg’s eyes to the world and empowered her to insist on better for herself. Great! Now let’s see her fly for a while. If she has a true chance to see the world, develop some interests, and meet other men, and THEN decides Ivo is right for her, well, wonderful! And there would be more to Meg for Ivo to fall in love with - more than just her need for him and her physical appearance.

As it is, there is just too much inequality in Appointment in Bath for me to be truly happy with it. But what works in a Mimi Matthews novel is still present here, so I have no qualms about coming back to her again for her next release.

Shy and stammering Meg Burton-Smythe has spent the whole of her life living on the fringes of local society. She’s more comfortable with her daydreams than she is with people. But when a dashing, golden-haired hero rides to her rescue one morning, she dares to hope that her dreams might finally come true. There’s only one problem: her handsome rescuer is the son of her father’s sworn enemy.
Ivo Beresford doesn’t believe in clinging to the past. Freshly returned from a lengthy grand tour, he’s looking to the future, eager to spearhead the building of a new railway extension in Somerset. Resolved to put ancient grudges to rest at least where innocent young ladies are concerned Ivo encourages lonely Meg to embark on a secret friendship.
The fourth book in the series & whilst it could easily be read on its own it does feature the children of the characters in ‘Gentleman Jim’. I love it when future generations have their stories. The author never disappoints & once again she’s written a wonderful story, forbidden romance, secret relationship friends to lovers. The chemistry between Ivo & Meg was there from when he rescued her, I loved how their relationship grew & changed. A very well written, delightful & charming romance plus the cover is gorgeous
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

The families of shy Meg and dashing Ivo have been feuding for decades. But that doesn't stop Meg and Ivo from falling in love. Can they ever hope to marry?

This is a sweet, quiet book that focuses on character development more than plot. This is book 4 in a series best read in order.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

4.5 stars, rounded up.

Miss Margaret “Meg” Burton-Smythe was thinking that things can’t get much worse when she finds herself on the cold, muddy ground after being thrown from her horse for the first time ever, but it does get worse because who should come to her rescue but the gorgeous son of her neighbor, Ivo Beresford, the middle son of the Earl and Countess of Allendale who are her father’s sworn enemies. But Ivo doesn’t seem to care that their families are basically the 19th-century equivalent of the Montagues and Capulets, nor does he seem to mind that she has a stammer, red hair, and freckles. He outrageously suggests that they become friends and meet each day to ride together! Meg has been lonely since her governess, Miss Adams left to marry, and soon finds herself falling under Ivo’s spell and gaining a bit of courage in the process. She begins standing up to her bully of a father and asserting herself with the servants. She is sure that Ivo only thinks of her as a friend, something that she tries to remind herself of. But it isn’t until Ivo invites her to his home for an impromptu night of dancing, that she realizes how foolish she has been to believe that they could ever have a future together.

When Ivo Beresford returned to England after two years on the continent enjoying his grand tour, he has big plans but falling in love with his treacherous neighbor’s daughter was not one of them! But fall he does and he arrogantly thinks that he can get everyone to put aside years of hatred and just accept that Meg is nothing like her father. But when he invites her to a party at his home, without warning his family, his arrogance might just cost him the love of a lifetime. Can he convince her that what he feels is more than friendship and that nothing, including his dream of building a railroad, means more to him than she does?

This is a well-written, sweet, slow-burning romance that warms the heart and runs concurrently with the previous book. If you have not read the entire series, this book will give you more insight into Ivo’s parent’s love story and gives Meg’s father, the villain in that book, a chance to slightly redeem himself. As to Meg and Ivo, they both do a lot of growing up in this story, but Meg is hands down the star of this book. The book is a no-steam, gentle read, with secret meetings, a heroine who finally finds her voice, sweet kisses, a bit of heartache, startling truths, interfering siblings, stone-clapper bridges, and attempts at being cordial, leading to a very sweet ending and the promise of HEA. This is the fourth book in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone title. Even though I prefer books with some steam, I really loved this book and didn’t miss the love scenes. I do wish the book had ended with a wedding, rather than the promise of one, but hopefully, it means that we will get three weddings in the next book. I am happy to recommend this title and can’t wait for James' story!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

Appointment in Bath is the fourth book in the Somerset Stories series by Mimi Matthews. Is there anything better than a new release by Mimi Matthews? If so, I can't think of anything at the moment! I adored every book of hers that I have had the opportunity to read. If you love proper Victorian romances, you will fall in love with this book and series. I never imagined books with only kisses would be so wonderful, so color me surprised. Do you need to read the previous books in the series? This romance stands alone; however, you will miss so much backstory that you would be doing yourself a disservice. Read them all!

Meg Burton-Smythe is a shy, lonely young woman. She has a stammer - especially when nervous -, an unhappy home life, and sees herself as not particularly attractive with her red hair and freckles. She spends most of her time alone, until the day she injures her ankle and is rescued by handsome Ivo Beresford - who is none other than the son of her father's hated enemy! Oh, dear. Ivo helps Meg and is charmed by her. Before they part, he declares they will be friends and will ride together in the mornings. Ivo doesn't live in the past; after returning from his long Grand Tour, he is trying to put in motion a new railway extension in Somersetshire. What's the harm in the children of two sworn enemies having a secret friendship? (Hmmm....do the names Romeo and Juliet ring a bell?)

This was an absolutely charming and sweet romance. Trust me, charming and sweet do not equal boring! Both of our leads were extremely appealing, though their personalities were totally different. Meg felt unloved and uncared for by her father. Her brother Roddy took off to get away from home, so Meg was stuck at home trying to deal with a father who didn't seem to care very much for his only daughter. She wanted to go to Bath for a season, as she was shy and didn't want to go to London; however, Sir Frederick didn't seem inclined to allow her to go. She spent much of her time alone. Ivo had a totally different home life. Though the members of his family were loud and boisterous, they obviously cared for one another (though brother James was high and mighty with his younger brother). He wanted progress in his little neck of the woods, and he thought a railway platform in their town would be great for the area. He knew his parents were enemies with Meg's father, but he thought the past should actually stay in the past. At first their friendship was just that. But as they spent more time together, both of their feelings began to morph into something more. When Ivo tried to force change between the two families, things began to fall apart for their friendship, and Meg ventured out on her own. True love, though, can be expected in the beautiful stories of Mimi Matthews. The previous book (the romance of Kate and Heywood) runs parallel to this storyline, so make sure to read the previous books. You don't want to miss a single word! I believe James will be featured in the next book; I can't wait for him to get his justly deserved comeuppance!

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.

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this story, given how Ivo appears in Return to Satterthwaite Court. But I've loved every book of Matthews' that I've read, so I was willing to give it a chance. And I'm so glad I did. I read the whole book in a single evening and very much enjoyed it. Meg is terribly sweet and the way she blossoms over the course of the book is really lovely. Ivo is maybe a little less well developed than Matthews' other heroes, but still far more likeable than his appearance in the previous book led me to believe.

I love this series! Full disclosure: I love everything Mimi Matthews writes!

This story was a quick read but nonetheless amazing! Ivo and Meg come from families who consider each other enemies, but Ivo is determined to put all that behind them. He seeks a a friendship with Meg and, of course, they eventually fall for each other.

The writing is phenomenal, as usual, and I enjoyed the story with the mixed families and other characters we already know.

Cannot wait for next one!

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

A wonderful story by Mimi Matthews that reminds me of #romeoandjuliet with #cinderella vibes 💕

Ivo and Meg have been raised to hate each other. Actually they had little to do with one another until one day Ivo rescues a damsel in distress at the local bridge. She turns out to be the daughter of his father‘s mortal enemy. But with Meg being a kind young lady that is in need of a friend, they meet again and again…

It‘s a beautiful tale of friends to lovers. I loved Meg, she was such a great character. She is shy, insecure and very lonely. She does have a stammer but is not defined by it, which i loved.

Ivo is THE knight in shining armour. He‘s the good guy, accustomed to save the day. Which is great and he‘s a real #cinnamonroll and our picture perfect hero, but oversteps the mark at some point which at first really annoyed me, but just shows that he‘s only human and authentic.

Sir Frederick was brilliantly written and i enjoyed all characters. But I‘m most excited about Hanna and James who may get their story in the next book.

It was perfection, equally angsty and swoony and i highly recommend reading it. For me personally: it was even better than #returningtosatterthwaitecourt #thereisaidthat
IT IS a must read if you have read Mimi Matthew‘s #gentlemanjim Not debatable!

And i loved the title #sowholesome

#appointmentinbath #regencyromance #mimimatthews #somersetshire

This was the first book I read by Mimi Matthews. It won't be the last.
I didn't know this was book 4 in the series when I picked it up, but it was easy to get into the story.

This was one of the better Romeo & Juliet tellings that I've read, and I can see myself reading it again. The only thing I didn't like about the book was really a personal issue - I didn't understand enough about the customs and culture of 1843 England to really get what was going on for parts of it.

If you like R&J retellings and clean enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, this is the book for you.

I had the pleasure of reading "Appointment in Bath" by Mimi Matthews, thanks to NetGalley and Perfectly Proper Press for providing me with a free eARC. All thoughts and opinions shared here are solely my own.

As a devoted fan of Ms. Matthews's works, I was thrilled to be approved for this advance copy. This book surpassed my expectations, especially due to its captivating heroine. Compared to the spirited and fearless Kate from "Return to Satterthwaite Court," I found myself drawn to the shy and introspective Meg. Being an introvert myself, I resonated deeply with her character. I adored every aspect of this book, except for one thing—it was too short! I was left craving more of Ivo and Meg's enchanting romance.

The writing in "Appointment in Bath" is truly exceptional. Mimi Matthews has a unique and distinctive voice that effortlessly captures the essence of the time period. The dialogues feel perfectly in tune with the era, avoiding any sense of anachronism. Moreover, the vivid descriptions of the clothing and settings are absolutely glorious. Finding a modern historical romance author of Matthews's calibre is a rare gem.

The characters in this book are simply outstanding. Ivo, whom we briefly encountered in a previous book, truly shines here. As the non-heir to his family's legacy, he defies expectations by rejecting both military and religious paths. Instead, he ventures into the world of railway companies with his friends, fueled by ambition and a kind heart. Handsome and compassionate, he has earned a spot on my book boyfriend list.

Meg, with her shy nature and charming stammer, stole my heart. Her red hair, freckles, and china blue eyes are just a small part of her beauty, which she remains blissfully unaware of. It's this innocence that makes her even more desirable to Ivo. I appreciate that Matthews portrays them as realistically young and a bit immature, given their age.

The overall feel of the book is absolutely fantastic. It follows a Romeo and Juliet trope, which creates an undercurrent of tension and anticipation throughout the story. I highly recommend reading "Gentleman Jim" to grasp the origins of the families' animosity fully and to understand the obstacles standing in the way of Ivo and Meg's love.

Additionally, "Appointment in Bath" sets up the next book beautifully. I'm eager to witness James, Ivo's older brother, find his own redemption and happiness. His rigid adherence to family honour and his unexpected attraction to Hannah, a squire's daughter, promises an engaging and heartwarming storyline.

Lastly, I must mention the gorgeous cover of the book. While the model could have been slightly younger, the portrayal of Meg is spot-on.

From start to finish, "Appointment in Bath" was an absolute pleasure to read. I wholeheartedly give it a well-deserved 5-star rating. I highly recommend this book to all historical romance enthusiasts who crave a beautifully written story with engaging characters and a touch of forbidden love.

Meg is a wonderful young lady whose governess has recently moved to Bath to marry. She is quiet and has a stutter but that does not stop her from riding or wanting a season to find the love of her life. Little does she know that the love of her life is just next door.

Ivo has recently returned from time away abroad but he has returned home to make his mark on the world. Ivo is all about progress and when he rescues a young lady after a fall from her horse, he realises progress can be made in many ways.

Will Meg get that season in Bath she is so keen on? What will happen when Meg and Ivo's families discover their friendship? Will the feud between the two families mean the end of this budding friendship?

This was a delightful story of character growth and realising that change is possible in all sorts of ways. This is a classic historical romance with miscommunication and manners overruling everything. I loved Kate's story and also love Ivo's story. I can't wait for the other two sibling's stories!

Big thanks to Netgalley, Perfectly Proper Press and Mimi Matthews for this ARC