I blew through the first half - I enjoyed getting to know Anne as well as learning about Felix, whose easygoing exterior camouflages internal, inherited strife. He's been gone on Anne since they were kids, but missteps and understandings forced them apart, and this book is their second chance.

Once we get past 70%, though, the plot pitters out. It's obvious that they love each other and the external forces trying to keep them apart are nuisances, not sources of conflict. I picked it up several times over the course of a couple weeks to try and get back in the groove, but only lasted a few pages before growing bored. I'll still be picking up the next book in the series, hoping for a return to form.

This is the third book in the Belles of London series, but can be read as a standalone as well. I enjoyed this second chance romance that has nods to Jane Austen’s Persuasion here and there. The story unfolds in dual perspectives alternating between Anne and Felix. The romance is sweet (kisses only) and the banter between the characters is entertaining.

Note: one character is a spiritualist and is referenced as having a familiar spirit named Dmitri. This story line was not enjoyable for me at all, but it is a side character story line and it serves the purpose of illustrating the popularity of spiritualism during the Victorian era.

Read if you enjoy books about:
Horses
Female friendships
Complicated family dynamics
Victorian romance
Second chance sweet romance

Many thanks to Berkley Romance for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication!

So rich and satisfying!

Fascinating and complex tale of the third of the four horsewomen friends who ride together in the mornings galloping along Rotten Row. Named by the ton, The Four Horsewomen.
When her beloved father dies Lady Anne Deveril is besieged with grief. Her own and her mother’s.
When her fiancé Felix Hartford, whom Anne had loved from childhood, returned twelve months later after a trip to India with his grandfather collecting plants, Anne still wore black and refused to marry him in order to support her mothers grief. Harsh words were said and Anne repudiated him.
Now, some seven years later, Anne is still wearing black and supporting her mother’s grief, travelling to spiritualists endeavoring to be in touch with her beloved husband, Anne’s father.
Hartford has returned and continues to pursue her, from a distance.
Hart has discovered an awful secret about his father. A man whose love and approval he could never gain. A man who was pointed out as moral and upstanding, a vigorous upholder of Christian values.
As it turned out a man who had a family and three children with his mistress, Hart’s mother’s ex maid. The scandal would reverberate throughout society and badly affect his worthy politician uncle if it ever came out!
More than this, his father had left his alternate family destitute. Hart had taken on responsibility for his half siblings and their rather unpleasant mother. However his half brother Marcus was bleeding him dry with his gambling debts. He and his mother are blackmailing Hart.
Unknown to all Hart’s father had left his inheritance in desperate straights. Hart been quietly investing in a Plumbago mine, and pursuing other methods of making money to support his estate and his siblings.
Hart has never given up on Anne. He offers to escort Anne and her mother to Yorkshire in order to visit one of Anne’s close friends, Julia Wychwood at her abductor’s (now husband) residence. Anne wants to check on Julia, her mother wants to see Captain Blunt’s residence that’s of spiritual significance. His hope is that their relationship might stand some chance of being renewed.
However rough patches are very much ahead for Hart and Anne. Including Anne and her mother having to leave their Mayfair home as the new heir has finally decided to claim his London home. Anne’s mother decides they’ll move to a place on Ludgate Hill, crowded and never quiet, yet claimed to be spiritually important.
Maybe all Anne needs is to be replanted in different soil, like Hart’s grandfather’s giant Himalayan Lily that refuses to bloom. Maybe then they’ll each come into their own?!
Once again a brilliant novel from Mimi Matthews, a second chance romance, with twists and turns I couldn’t see around until they happened!
A novel full of love disregarded, love reclaimed, duty chosen, independence gained in true love, and so much more.
I loved Hart’s column about plants that hinted of course at the Lily of Ludgate Hill.
Despite the frustrations there’s so much joy and anticipation in this novel! Rich indeed!

A Berkley Group ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

This was such a wonderful, fun, thoughtful story! I enjoyed the whole series very much, and this book was no exception.
I always get this special feeling from Mimi Matthews's writing - her style is the perfect mix of old-fashioned and innovative. One moment you're thinking this could be Elizabeth Gaskell's novel, and then there's some detail that reminds you you're reading a historical romance written in the 21st century, and I mean that in the best way possible.
Lady Anne is someone we met early on in the series, and her relationship with the hero had the whole build-up throughout the first two books. I loved how devoted Felix was to Anne, and his pining was top notch - I love a pining hero, so this was definitely something that pulled on my heartstrings. Probably my favourite thing about their relationship was how Felix wanted Anne to be the best version of herself and how determined he was to help her get there. Theirs is also a second-chance romance, and we get some insights to their past, and what separated them. This part I thought was perhaps the weakest part of the story, because it was based solely on the miscommunication, or better the lack of communication between the MC's, and could've been resolved much earlier if they only talked to each other. But overall it didn't bother me much, and the romance part was executed in a satisfying way so I was willing to overlook it when rating the story.

Another interesting relationship, maybe the most interesting, is the one between Anne and her mother. In the first two books Anne's mother was a sort of comedic character, nearly cartoonish in her obsession with spiritualism and afterlife. I'm glad we got to know her better, and that the author decided to give her character more depth, and in that way added another emotional layer to the story by showing the complicated, but ultimately loving relationship between a mother and a daughter. Those were the parts when I cried, and when I laughed through tears, which is one of the best feelings a book can evoke in my opinion.

This book is very heavy on the grief and very light on the romance. I do understand Anne’s grief, her fear, and need for control but she’s made herself a doormat for her mother. As far as the relationship between Anne and Felix, I didn’t feel the attraction between them and quite honestly found them rather dull. Honestly, I just wanted this book to be over - it’s very long, very slow, and very uneventful.

The Lily of Ludgate Hill is a Victorian second chance romance. Mimi Matthews creates strong characters who are forced to deal with grief and disappointment within the confines of society.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lady Anne Deveril and her closest friends are known in society for their strong horsemanship and sometimes nonconformity. For her part, Anne and her mother have been mourning her father for almost seven years. But even as her friends are finding love, she hasn’t told them about her past with Felix Hartwood. The two were practically engaged, but now barely speak. When Anne needs a favor for a friend, though, she asks Hart for help. Now that they are firmly back in each other’s orbits, can they reestablish their relationship?

Anne and Hart both have family obstacles to overcome. Anne’s mother is a looming presence in every decision Anne makes. While both of them claim to be in control of their choices, they both let outside forces take precedence over their own desires.

As with the other books in this series, Matthews does a wonderful job of describing the Victorian world, especially the distain for people in trade and the fascination with the occult. While this book can be read as a standalone, the events of the first part of the book overlap with The Belle of Belgrave Square. And, fyi be aware that this series is closed door, with nothing more than the occasional kiss.

I like this story a lot, and Anne and Hart are characters that readers root for. My complaint is that the story is too long. After being apart for almost 7 years, there is no need to drag out misunderstandings between the two even longer. And, the plethora of subplots doesn’t help move things along.

The Lily of Ludgate Hill is a nice addition to the Victorian-set Belles of London series. If you are a fan of second chance romance with strong characters and family complications, you’ll enjoy this book. And, I’m excited to read Stella’s story next!

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

5 stars for the "Lily of Ludgate Hill!"

I can see why this book is already making "best of" lists. Mimi Matthews brings her signature slow burn, sweet romance to new heights with this third book in her "Belles of London" series. Second chances were never so anticipated or deserved as they are between Anne Deveril and Felix Hartford.

Separated by grief and bad timing after breaking their engagement they've secretly pined for each other for close to seven years. Is the time finally right for a reunion? She's got a mother to take care of and a friend to rescue and he's got big family drama and secretly earns a living in trade (gasp!). How will they ever forgive each other and learn to love again? You'll lose track of time turning pages into the night as you find out!

Utterly captivating, honest and heartwarming. Matthews delivers another epic romance with heart, humor and her signature charming and complex characters. I dare you not to fall in love with Felix yourself.

There's a delicious set up for the next book as well. Pairing the final Belle, Stella, with a yummy artist in a wheelchair?! I'm already salivating for the finale. I cannot recommend this series or this author highly enough. Mimi Matthews should be an auto-buy for every romance reader.

Mimi’s writing is as lovely as ever. It’s so readable without feeling too modern for the time period she’s writing in. This story had a such a mixed bag of settings. We got the quiet countryside, the fashionable London scene, and also the business of the growing city in Ludgate Hill.

I loved the dynamic between Anne and Hartford, and how he was always able to get a rise out of her. The two of them fit together so well, and they were both able to learn from their past mistakes and make meaningful changes going forward. The book was full that great tension and yearning you’d want from a second chance love story.

I read this quickly, as I do with every MM book I pick up. I’m already anxiously awaiting Stella’s story in The Muse of Maiden Lane which should be out later this year!

So utterly romantic! I love this series so much.

Though Lady Anne and Mr. Felix Hartford haven't been friends for many years, Anne requests his assistance in a matter with one of her dearest friends. Their proximity forces them to face what went wrong in their past and become even more honest with each other. This is a really beautiful second chance romance with strong, interesting, loveable characters. Dialogue and banter is so good and the angst is on the lower side (on the second chance romance scale!)

🐎 I'm not always a second chance lover, but this one is a big yes from me. "It's always been you" vibes. I especially loved that the reader doesn't have to wait too long or piece together the reasons for their initial falling out. We get a thorough look at each character's perspective relatively early on. And they are even more right for each other with the growth they did after their initial break up!
🔮 Ever since the first book in this series, I have been so curious about the Victorian Spiritualist movement/occult history that is touched on through this series. Anne's mother is devoted to the movement, fortune telling, seances, speaking with a spirit, etc. and it's interesting to see how Anne navigates this.
🖤 There's a strong theme of grief and the ways it can linger and continue to have ripple affects on a person's life. The ways Anne had to change to accommodate her mother's grief were sad, but also felt very real. It also felt like it was her own decision and I never felt that Anne's mother truly controlled Anne as much as it looked like from the outside. I was very much a fan of the way Hart spoke his mind about that issue to both Anne and her mother.
💌 There are some hidden meaning letters written to Anne via Felix's pseudonyms in the occult columns he writes. This was so perfect. Felix really knows how to make a Lady swoon!
🥰 Want to know something shocking about this series?! It is a totally non-spicy/steamy read, and yet it is filled to the brim with longing, tension, and pining. The kisses offer top tier swoons. I have no complaints--and this is coming from your friendly neighborhood high-steam-lover!
🐎 I have such good feelings about the next book already! I assume it'll be a 2025 release and I'm low-key heartbroken that I have to wait. But also, take your time and work your magic, Mimi!

Thanks so much netgalley and Berkley!

Lady Anne Deveril is fiercely loyal and won’t hesitate to make a deal with the devil if it means she can help one of her closest friends. All she needs is for Felix Hartford to do one simple thing for her, but of course he has a condition—which includes attending a house party. Being near him again reminds her of how much history is between them, but she has given up on love—or so she thought. Sometimes, the heart has other plans.

This book is so full of depth and emotion, especially highlighting how grief can change our life’s path. Anne and Felix are both dealing with loss—loss of family, loss of hopes, loss of what could or should have been. This emotional layer added so much perspective to the characters and the romance. Since our hero and heroine stopped seeing each other, they have become enemies, which adds another obstacle to their already complicated relationship. Yet, the author shows the thread of humor and wit that still bonds them together and there is even a scene-stealing kitten. I loved seeing Felix’s motivations and how he handles not only his family, but Anne’s as well. And Anne’s strength as she puts everyone else’s needs before her own is admirable, though sometimes maddening. Readers will easily relate to her and want her to find her happily-ever-after. The author has put together a stellar cast and the quirky secondary characters are an integral part of the story. They all contribute to Felix and Anne’s journey and will pull the reader in to experience the ups and downs of life right along with them. This second chance romance will have readers feeling all the feels from laughter to tears as we get lost in this wonderfully realistic world Ms. Matthews has created. The Lily of Ludgate Hill releases on Jan. 16 and is the third in the Belles of London series. You can start with this story, but you definitely wouldn’t want to miss out on the first two.

Occasionally I read a book even slower than my normal snail-like pace and it's because I keep re-reading sentences or scenes. It's not a "I love this book". It's an "it's so incredibly good that I might be (read: am) obsessed". I can't even wait to reread it when I'm finished so I reread it as I go. This is one of those books for me.
Anne has withdrawn from society after her father's passing and lives as companion to her sometimes eccentric and perpetually mourning mother. She released Felix Hartford from any promises and never looked back. Felix has returned to London stirring up long ago and new desires.
The series as a whole (up to this point) is fabulous - probably not a surprise to anyone I've recommended her writing to. I adore the balance of attention to history and research with the delicious love story between Anne and Felix. Lily is masterfully done and I highly encourage any romance fan to pick it up (even those who only choose to read contemporary - Mimi makes it accessible in the best way).
Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

The Belles of London series continues! The books in this series can each be read as a stand-alone as they feature four horsewomen who take up the reins of their lives by overcoming their fears and grabbing hold of love.

When Anne believes her friend is in danger she calls a truce, temporarily abandoning her almost seven year feud with Felix Hartford. They once thought themselves in love, but after a year long absense and deeply inflicting parting words upon their reuinon they have been at odds with one another. Anne reminded me of an unhappy Mary Crawley (Downton Abbey) she could be narrow-minded and downright nasty, consumed by a bitterness toward Felix Hartford that was slowly destroying her. While Felix could dish it right back I felt like his taunts came from a place of longing. The fact that for seven years he kept coming back for more shows his longing for the firey Anne!

Beautifully written, Lily is a journey of discovery and healing. It is the journey of two wounded people who have worn masks for years as a method of self-preservation. It is a story of bravery, of taking off the mask and letting someone see the deepest, tenderest parts of you. It is a story of forgiveness, of learning to lay down the hurt and embrace the person who hurt you. It is a story of grief, how it changes a person, a family and how difficult it can be to move forward. It is a story of love, how love, patience and hope conquers all. I've read my ARC twice already!

If you enjoyed the previous book in the series and The Parish Orphans series by Mimi Matthews, you will love the inclusion of beloved characters; Alex Archer, Teddy Hayes, Mr. Finchley, Mr. Malik, Captain Blunt, Evelyn, Julia and Stella! While I enjoyed many aspects of this novel, I didn't enjoy the spiritualism element that was heavily present in The Siren of Sussex and made a comeback in this novel. Of the three in this series, The Belle of Belgrave Square is still my favorite! A bookish heroine is hard to beat! I've read all but one of Mimi Matthews backlist and I've enjoyed them all! I'm not a matchmaker, but if you love closed door Victorian romance, Mimi Matthews is the match for you!

Content warnings: some language, death of a parent, adultery

Read if you like:

Friends to enemies to love
Family secrets
Victorian Era
Closed door romance
Second chance romance

Thank you, Mimi Matthews, Rel Mollet and Berkley Romance for the complimentary copy of The Lily of Ludgate Hill. The opinions expressed here are my own.

A delight of a second chance romance! While this is apparently part of a series, it reads just fine as a standalone. Anne and Felix may have parted years ago but their reunion is in the best interest of a friend - and for themselves as well. The dialogue is sparkly, the setting well done and you'll root for these two. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

This was a second chance, banter filled historical romance and while it was a SLOW BURN and not spicy, I still enjoyed it.

As always, Mimi Matthew’s characters are fun to read with their big personalities and all the DRAMA they face. But, she also brings touches of serious issues as she talks about grief and feminism.

This is not my favorite of this series, but still a good one!

💕Favorite Quote💕
“A man gives up nothing in the bargain. While a woman must give up her name, her home, her family. She must leave everything behind and commit herself to another. It doesn’t sound fair, does it?”

3.5/5 rounded to 4

This was a really sweet historical! I normally read contemporary so it was a bit of a shift, but the core relationship here totally won me over. I love the history these two share, and I really liked seeing Anne overcome some of her issues with grief and her mother. This was a really swoony read!

The incomparable, unstoppable Mimi Matthews has done it AGAIN. After being blown away by her second book in her “Belles of London” series, she was kind enough to gift me an ARC of her next installment, The Lily of Ludgate Hill. I knew I was going to love it, obviously, but this one really stuck with me.

Lady Anne Deveril has sacrificed her wants and needs in order to be with her mother, who has been mourning her husband deeply since his death seven years ago. In that time, she has been the dutiful daughter, seeing to her mother’s comfort and participating in London society. The only thing she really has for herself is her horseback riding with her three best friends. Now, though, she thinks one of her best friends is in trouble, and the only person she knows can help her is Felix Hartford, an old flame with whom she has held a mild acquaintance since their falling out. But being back together again has Anne questioning if it ever WAS over between them…

This is a spectacular second-chance love story that jumps right into it! It overlaps timeline-wise with The Belle of Belgrave Square, as the FMC from that book is the friend Anne wants to “rescue.” If you’ve read the second book, then this book will have you giggling michieviously knowing what will become of her mission. It is delightful. What I found most striking in this book is how relatable Felix is. As a comedy-centric girlie who has always used humor as a coping mechanism to deal with bad shit, Felix’s good humor being both a coping mechanism and a somewhat negative character trait to others really rang true to me. I think this is a spectacular, angsty romance with yearning galore, and approaches the topic of grief in a unique way that I’ve never seen before in HR. I have to say Mimi is an instant buy for me, and when this book drops on January 16th, you need to get this book on whatever format you like and read your ass off. This series is so worth it and I always recommend it to whomever I can.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I've been a fan of this series from the beginning and will continue to be so forever. (Can't wait for Stella's book!)
This book is a perfect second chance romance; two characters who have a lot of learning and growing up to do before they can finally really make the very best of their relationship. A dreamy male lead who can charm anyone but who also has some real repenting to do. A determined Lady Anne who has somehow let her care of her mother overshadow everything she used to want in life. And the real heartfelt conversations that bring them together again.

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for my complimentary e-arc of this book. All opinions here are my own.

4.75/5 stars I loved this book! I am normally not a second chance romance fan but this book was so well written. The dynamic between Hart and Anne was great and the story didn't focus too much in the past and flashbacks. The tying between the books with scenes like the wedding of Malik and Evelyn was also something you don't see often with interconnected stand alone books but I absolutely loved how this book did that.

The Lily of Ludgate Hill by Mimi Matthews is a rare gem that promises both delight and indulgence. This captivating installment of the series presents a remarkable tale of love's rekindling, featuring a spirited heroine and a hero whose depths remain concealed. Prepare to be enthralled as you embark on this enchanting journey.

Ever since her father’s death and her mother’s descent into mourning six years earlier, Lady Anne Deveril has withdrawn from society. Between her unconventional opinions and refusal to conform by not marrying, society is equally happy to leave her in the fringes. It doesn’t help that her mother seems more invested in the spirit world than in the land of the living. But all Anne’s barriers and decisions are challenged when Felix Hartford, the only man she ever loved, reenters her life.

Mimi Mathews’ Belles of London series continues with a story slightly reminiscent of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. The timeline in The Lily of Ludgate Hill overlaps with its predecessors as we learn what was going on in Anne’s life while her friends were falling in love and beginning new lives. Readers also learn what propels Anne’s trip to the Yorkshire Moors in pursuit of Julia (The Belle of Belgrave Square). Though reading all of them isn’t essential to following the story, I would recommend it since they provide a more complete picture.

I didn’t connect with Anne as much as some of the author’s other heroines, but that’s to be expected. They can’t all be a Helena Reynolds or Philly Satterthwaite type, nor would I want that. Matthews’ mastery of the time period and evocative settings were as present as ever.

The Lily of Ludgate Hill provided hints of the Stella and Teddy Hayes romance coming in the next book that have me more excited than ever for that installment. For those of you who have been Mimi Matthews’ fans for a while, you might recognize his name as the brother of the heroine in A Convenient Fiction. Matthews’ incredible story-weaving talent makes her one of the Regency and Victorian era authors I recommend the most.