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.

<b>"I don't want the world," she informed him. "Your friendship will suffice." She paused. "And your kisses, too, if you're so inclined." He flashed her a scorching glance. "I'm always inclined where you're concerned."</b>

I second Jodi Picoult, Mimi never disappoints. Tender and romantic.

✨ THINGS AND STUFF ✨
-london, england 1862
-second chance
-a deal
-old family friends
-horticulture
-a secret of yours for a secret for of mine
-i will defend you until my dying breath
-forced proximity
-🐈‍⬛
-campaigning for her through his columns 📰
-nursemaid (hurt/comfort)
-#IsThisAKissingBook: closed door.
"This is not a good idea."
"Isn't it?" He kissed her again. "It feels rather good to me." She turned her head. "You're not thinking straight."
His lips found her cheek. "You may do the thinking. I'm going to continue kissing you."

Thank you berkley romance for the free book!

Mimi Matthews has carved out a special little niche in historical romance: her books are closed door romances that are also homages to Victorian literature and history. ⁠The Lily of Ludgate Hill is no different. It focuses on Lady Anne Deverill. Six years ago, the day after her beau Felix proposed, her father (an earl) passed away. Instead of remaining in England, Felix left on a year-long plant-hunting expedition. As soon as he returned, he was ready to start his life with Anne. But when she said she needed more time, they had a ferocious row that ended with their breaking the engagement. And ever since, Anne and her mother have lived in perpetual mourning. When the book opens, things around Anne and her mother are slowly changing: Anne's friends are getting married, and the heir to the earldom has notified them that he will be taking possession of their townhouse. ⁠
⁠
This is a book without much plot. Things happen, but there's no real driving force. This mirrors Anne's slow reemergence from her grief. While her mother was able to fully immerse herself in her feelings, Anne felt responsible for holding the small family together. Felix's inability to understand (or, perhaps, his unwillingness to sympathize) solidified her isolation. And yes, Felix has more going on than Anne (or anyone else!) knows. ⁠
⁠
This is a slow, slow burn of a romance that's more about Anne's reawakening to the world than about her feelings for Felix. (Anne and Felix are remarkably constant, despite their falling out.) Their decaying orbit - moving closer and closer to each other as the book goes on - is a pleasure to read, despite the lack of major plot elements or grand gestures.⁠

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

Honestly, Mimi Matthews can do no wrong. I enjoyed this immensely, and stayed up too late several nights in a row to finish this book. I always feel like she's taking such good care of me as a reader, and this was no exception.

As with the first Belles of London, Matthews brings us another slow burn romance, but Anne and Felix's story is a second chance romance with a heavy emphasis on character building, growth, and maturation. A more conventional aristocratic English couple this time around, albeit with many quirks, Anne and Felix are a couple with a lot of trauma, hurts, and misunderstandings that they need to work through. At times it felt long, but never dull or painful. The characters do a lot of growing up and communicating over the course of the novel, and that was a delight. Parts of the storyline felt a bit predictable, but in the end, I enjoyed it immensely.

Loved the historical peek at the spiritualist movement that Anne's mother is involved in and plumbago (graphite) mining that Felix makes his fortune off of.

My new favorite in this series! I really enjoyed the dual POV, second chance, opposites attract Victorian era romance that sees two former flames striking a mutually beneficial bargain and finding themselves learning to forgive one another for their youthful mistakes. Featuring great female friendship, strong women MCs, interesting historical context and a complex mother-daughter relationship. Recommended for fans of authors like Evie Dunmore. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

As with all of Mimi’s books this was a delight to read! I like that there is no cookie cutter plot. Every story has its twists and turns and this one is no different.

I enjoyed the back and forth between Anne and Hart. The deepness of their feelings for each other and the obstacles they overcame to enjoy their second chance at love.

Hart was such a good devoted man. His love for Anne was unfailing, even when they argued and hurt one another. He was there for the long haul. Though there were times when he nearly lost hope over and over he just would not give up.

Anne was a puzzle. She’s got so much going on in her life that pulled at her loyalties and time. She had some growing to do before she finally comes to know what’s most important and what she really wants. It was intriguing to see her transformation.

This is a wonderful second chance romance with lots of heart and slow burning emotions. I highly recommend it.