<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. ⁠
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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. ⁠
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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.

I always love reading books by Mimi Matthews, so when I read the excerpt for The Lily of Ludgate Hill, I was anxiously awaiting the full book. I was over the moon when I received an ARC, and couldn't wait to dive right in! And let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint!

Lady Anne is known for being beautiful and strong-willed. Since her father's death six years ago, she has stood by her mother's side, therefore renouncing any ideas of marriage. For Felix Hartford and the rest of society, the reason for Anne's withdrawal is unknown. And while Hart may have loved Anne at one time, he's long since gotten over that, or so he tells himself. Circumstances force Anne to turn to Hart for help, but Hart has conditions. Anne must attend his grandfather's house party - and not in her mourning clothes. But much to her surprise, the more time Anne spends with Hart, the more she finds herself wanting to run...back into Hart's arms.

In my opinion, second chance romances can be really tricky to make believable, because usually there's a reason they didn't work out in the first place. With Anne and Hart, however, Matthews did a beautiful job showing why they didn't work out the first time, how they've never stopped loving each other, and how they ultimately are able to move past the past and love each other because, rather than in spite, of what they've experienced. Their pull to each other was magnetic, and I loved their banter. Both Anne and Hart demonstrated time and time again that they really cared for each other, making it such a sweet story to read.

Matthews never fails to write deep, multifaceted characters, and Anne and Hart were no exception. Anne's grief after her father's death was raw and Hart's shame over his family secrets felt real. They also had realistic fears, like the fear of loving then losing someone, or the loss of control. I loved how they learn to support each other through these situations, all while pushing each other out of their comfort zones.

Matthews also excels at writing well-researched historical romances. There have been several historical romances that I've read, and while you can tell that they are supposed to be set in the past, it's not really clear when. But with the level of detail that Matthews includes - from the current events to the details about the characters' clothing - it is clear that the book is set in a certain time period, and that Matthews has really done her research, and to me, that gives the both the characters and the story more depth.

The Lily of Ludgate Hill comes out on January 16th, and I highly recommend it! Although it's the 3rd book in The Belles of London series, it can be read as a standalone. I did also love The Siren of Sussex Hall and The Belle of Belgrave Square, so you can't go wrong either way! Many thanks to Berkley, Mimi Matthews, and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Lily of Ludgate Hill by Mimi Mathews is the third in her Belles of London series, but can be a stand alone novel. There are references to past characters, but you have enough information to understand the story. Anne Deveril is faithfully devoted her mother and supporting her since her father’s death six years ago. She has little interest in men, but needs a favor. Felix Hartford has admired Anne for many years. He agrees to her favor as long as she will attend his house party, but not in her mourning clothes. After six and half years apart are they even able to still be friends?

I adored this story! Anne and Hart are delightful characters whose banter, romance, and history together made for a wonderful story. I enjoyed watching them grow, change and become better people. I was so invested in all of the characters and felt they were my friends by the end of the story. The author wove history of London in 1862 in fascinating ways through the story. I enjoyed learning about crucibles, horses, spiritualism, and art exhibits in London.

There is nothing quite like a Mimi Mathews story! I enjoyed every moment of reading The Lily of Ludgate Hill. This redemptive story is a new favorite of mine. I highly recommend!

I was given a complimentary copy and not required to write a positive review.

I mean, it's fine. It's also slow as molasses without any real redeeming payoff. But, I mean, it's fine.

As a sucker for a good second chance romance and a fan of Matthews's Belles of London series, I've highly anticipated The Lily of Ludgate Hill. This story was so good and I applaud Matthews's ability to construct such a beautiful historical romance, each book being so unique and the characters so entirely themselves.
Both Hart and Anne have had appearances in the first two books and the way Anne refuted Hart at every turn had me knowing there was history between the two. I loved seeing what that background was and the way that grief and family responsibilities played into everything. Their chemistry was undeniable even as Anne fought against Hart's affections. I loved the banter and wittiness of their interactions with Hart having so many good quips throughout the book. The buildup was great and I completely was engrossed in reading this book, I stayed up way past my bed time.
I liked the way both MCs grew and how they recognized that timing and personal preparation played into their romance. It had a lot of twists and turns throughout, overall making it feel like I was transported right to Victorian England.
I cannot wait for the next book and will be purchasing a physical copy of this one.
I received an advance reader copy of this novel through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was a bit of a mixed bag for me. The first half was unputdownable—however, the second half dragged a bit.

This is a second chance romance with a whole manner of factors thrown in: mourning, class differences, pining, illegitimate siblings, annoying family, and all other manner of issues. The complex issues keeping the couple apart took too long to resolve for me.

I love the Belles of London series and there just wasn’t enough Belle content in this one; probably because they are all getting married off and moving elsewhere! I did love the horse content in this and all of the books in the series..

While this was not my favorite Belle book, it was still very entertaining.

I also like that the author adds historical notes at the end, including some interesting information about mourning and Queen Victoria.

I’m looking forward to the next book in the Belles of London series.

Mimi Matthews has penned an adorable second chance at romance story for Anne and Hart in this third addition to the Belles of London series. Hartford's devotion and pursuit of Anne stole my heart.
This is actually the first book in the series that I have read and I have already purchased the first two books. Although I had no problem following this as a standalone, I just have to read Julia's and Evelyn's stories as well.

Ms. Matthews has gracefully penned a beautiful story of a family who has grieved the loss of a loved one. As they are pushed into a new environment, they find the courage to broaden their environment, reaching for happiness once again.

Ms. Matthews romances are clean, but readers will quickly find the romantic chemistry practically sizzles off the page. Rich with historical detail of Victorian England, readers of historical romance will find this a must read.

I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher through Netgalley. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Lily of Ludgate Hill by Mimi Matthews is a fantastic Historical Romance. I’ve enjoyed each book in this series, but this book spoke to my heart. As with all Mimi Matthews novels, The Lily of Ludgate Hill has a highly engaging storyline, wonderfully endearing characters, and impeccable attention to historical detail. This is an enemies-to-lovers romance, which is not my favorite trope, but Matthews does this story right. My issue with the enemies-to-lovers trope is that the hero and heroine spend 50-70% of the novel hating each other, constantly arguing, and doing everything they can to be apart from one another. Then, magically, they have an instant change of heart and fall madly in love. It drives me bonkers. I don’t want to read a book where the main characters can’t even be in the same room together for most of the novel. So boring! But that is not The Lily of Ludgate Hill. There is history between Anne and Felix, so the initial angry feelings at the start of the story actually make sense. Unlike typical enemies-to-lovers novels, Anne and Felix talk. They communicate and bare their souls. They get clarity on past situations. They listen to one another and grow. It’s quite refreshing and I loved every minute of their journey from enemies, to actual friends, to the sweetest of lovers.

There is so much to love about this story; for me, I resonated the most with Anne’s relationship with her mother. Anne’s mother is the Queen Bee. She loves big (in her own way), she is a seriously commanding force, and when she enters a room everyone knows. But the loss of her beloved husband has changed her. To the whole world, it seems like Anne’s mother has become overbearing and totally selfish and self-focused. And, yes, she has, but Anne knows the truth. Her strong, commanding, amazing mother is weak and scared and so, so lost. And Anne needs to be there for her mother. Like, she really, really needs to be there for her mom. It’s a control issue. Anne’s mother needs the world to believe she is still in control, so she maintains the Queen Bee façade. And Anne can’t lose another parent, so she, too, keeps her mother close by going along with her mother’s every whim. It is a symbiotic relationship, the kind born from deep grief and loss. And this may be the most realistic illustration of a mother-daughter relationship I’ve ever read. I completely saw my mother in Lady Arundell. And I could easily be Anne — the daughter who so desperately wants to be whatever her mom needs so her mom doesn’t fall completely apart. This is why The Lily of Ludgate Hill spoke to my heart. I deeply felt for Lady Arundell and Anne. Their story is one I won’t soon forget.

The Lily of Ludgate Hill is a story not to be missed. This book is unputdownable and I loved every minute. If you love a well-written Historical Romance with depth and big heart, then this is definitely the book for you!

I received a copy of this novel in eBook form from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I love Mimi Matthews and read everything she publishes, and I also purchase them for my library’s collection. The Bells of London has been a very enjoyable series.

The Lily of Ludgate Hill tells the story of Lady Anne Deveril and her long-time attraction to Mr. Felix Hartford. Anne needs a favor and asks it of Felix who in turn requests she attend his grandfather’s house party. After years apart, Anne and Felix are now constantly meeting. They are quite prickly with each other, and it took a long time for me to believe in their romance.

This is a fine edition to the series, but the characters and their relationship are not as compelling, and I didn’t really understand Anne’s motivations until the end of the novel. While the story may have meandered a bit, Matthew’s writing and research is always good. A must read for fans and those loving historical romance. 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an advanced readers copy of this book.

If you want a solid historical romance with the right atmosphere, characters with spirit and depth, then look no further!

I have been in love with the Belles of London series since the Siren of Sussex. What impresses me most is that each book in the series is incredibly unique and purposefully crafted to fit each main character. None of her books will have the same backstory or type of love. And if you fully embrace that...then that's what makes this series so special.

The Lily of Ludgate Hill is a story about second chances, grief, and allowing yourself to move past what others may say of you. Hart and Anne have a complicated history. When they reconnect after years apart, the flame and the hurts still burn just as fervently. Anne is stubborn and Hart lets his passions drive his tongue and thats why I enjoyed them both so very much.

The push and pull was fantastic and there were plenty of one liners I wanted to highlight Harts one liners so that I could read them again. The grievances were worked through while keeping the tension tight. It was so smartly done that I can help but tip my hat to another job well done.

The perfect historical romance to start of your 2024.

I loved this. It was exactly the sort of banter-filled stubborn hero and heroine who are gone for each other but refuse to admit it story that I love. It's easily the best of the Belles of London series. Anne and Hartford are perfect for each other but it takes them a while to admit it.

The only problem I had with it was that it was *extremely* predictable. I knew exactly how it was going to go from the beginning and there was no deviating from that. I actually stopped about 75% of the way through and checked goodreads to make sure I hadn't already read it before. I hadn't. And yet I had predicted every. single. thing that happened. It was like deja vu but more so. The last quarter unfolded exactly as I expected it to. I don't know if the foreshadowing was just really intense or what but that did lessen my enjoyment of the story.

Aside from that, however, everything else was exactly as I like in a historical romance. I am curious about the next one, as well, after meeting who will obviously be the new wheelchair-bound, artist hero. I have high hopes because neither of those is something we typically get in a romance hero.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an early copy for review.

ll week, of course, but falling in love with The Lily of Ludgate Hill, the latest in the Belles of London series, was worth the bags under my eyes. The romance swept me off my feet and the family drama had me on the edge of my seat as I got more and more engrossed. The longer this series goes on, the harder it is for me to pick a favorite installment, and this is another strong contender.

In the eyes of their friends and all London society, Lady Anne Deveril and Mr. Felix Hartford are bitter nemeses, but no one knows the reason for their animosity: disappointed love. Seven years ago, they were mad for each other and wanted to marry, but family tragedies and youthful immaturity separated them, each bitterly blaming the other but unable to stop caring. When circumstances draw them together again, will they be able to set aside the old grudges and avoid the same mistakes?

One of many things I love about Matthews is her skill at creating complicated relationships that you still root for, and Lily showcases that ability through both the romantic and the familial relationships. Everyone makes mistakes that in a lesser book would be unforgivable, but here, they are simply human. Their mistakes are not minimized or swept away but made amends for and forgiven. And as they work to become better people, you root for them all the more.

And speaking of romance, I'd be remiss not to talk more about Ann and Hart. I really love these two. Their chemistry is tangible, their exchanges rich with fun and drama by turns, and their personalities are matched perfectly to bring out the best in each other (once they can finally see past their own hurt, of course). She brings stability and he brings fun, and most of all, they can lean on each other now in a way they weren't prepared for in their youth. It's easy to mourn what might have been if they weren't parted in the past, but it's also easy to see that neither of them was ready to accept and share the burdens of another person at that point. Now, they can meet in a true partnership.

If you are sensing shades of Persuasion, you're absolutely right. And I love it.

This book also gives us more of Stella and introduces Teddy Hayes, of the Parish Orphans series, to these books. We only got a couple of glimpses of him, but it was nice to finally get to know Stella better. I can't wait to see how our two artists fair together in The Muse of Maiden Lane.

My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's no surprise to anyone who knows me that I love Mimi Matthews, so, naturally, I enjoy everything she writes. What was a bit of a surprise in this reading, though, is that it wasn't quite up to par with the first two books in the series. I am still giving it four stars, because I think if it weren't for the first two books setting my expectations sky high, I would have enjoyed this a bit more. I think part of the problem stemmed from the fact that a bit of time had passed since I read the first two books, and I felt like I needed to reintroduce myself to the characters and what had happened so far. The three books overlap in their timelines, which can make reading them challenging. Do not read out of order, folks! And this is coming from a reader who does that often. All that aside, I still found the characters lovable and the plot engaging, and I finished it feeling very satisfied. With tropes like childhood pining and second chance romance, it was destined for me to enjoy it, and Mimi's signature writing style drew me in quickly and thoroughly.

It's been six-and-a-half years since Lady Anne Deveril and Mr. Felix Hartford have interacted beyond occasional glances while going about in society. After a broken engagement during a tragic time in Anne's life, both parties are still bearing scars from their bitter parting while also holding a bit of a torch for each other. However, the time for romance has long past, and Anne's main focus is the recent abduction of her dearest friend by a scoundrel hounded by terrible rumors. Desperate, she has no choice but to turn to Felix for his help due to his connections to the news publications that her mother reads. She needs him to convince her amateur spiritualist mother that her friend's abductor lives in a haunted area, thus prompting an excursion where Anne can check on her friend without leaving the side of her widowed mother. And in exchange for his help, she will go with him to his grandfather's country estate...sans the black mourning clothes she has worn long past her father's passing. It's a breaking from her sheltered living according to Felix, but to Anne, it's more than that - it's the chance to finally find happiness again.

This couple had SO. MUCH. BACKSTORY. I think it's partially why it's important not to make this your first read in the Belles of London series, because even being a devoted reader from the beginning, I found myself getting lost in the weeds of it all. Not only is there a lot of history between this couple, but Felix himself had a lot of things happen since their breakup - covering for his late father's mistakes, hiding that he is in trade (the horror!), and faced with the realization that he needs to marry but only wants to marry the one woman who won't have him. Anne has a much more simplified past, since it mainly focuses around her father's passing and subsequent sticking to her mother as if they're conjoined twins. I can't imagine how it was for her to live like that, especially after losing Felix in such a harsh way. Their breakup was BAD. He is supposed to be six years her senior, but the way he acted...oof, it was immature and painful to read. He did own up to what he did, but it took a bit of time. I never really got the grovel I needed from him. Anne was such a strong character, stronger than Felix, and I think that's where you could see their differences lay. While a strong person, Felix took a while to start thinking of people beyond himself, and he was stuck in the past when it came to Anne. Only once they spent more time together did they both see how the other had grown and matured, and then their relationship did so as well.

I must say I became much more interested in the next couple's book towards the end! I'm really looking forward to one of my favorite characters from a previous series finally getting his HEA. This is going to be an amazing finale for the series!

Mimi Matthews never disappoints. I was sure the Belle of Belgrave Square was my favorite of hers, but this one is sure close behind.
Mimi's heroines are always strong women and Anne is no exception. She may seems to be weak as she has been at her mother's beck and call ever since her fathers' death six years ago. But Anne knows who she is and who she needs to be for her mother's sake. And she does love her mother.
Her close childhood friend Hart and her had a huge falling out and said some things they both regret. And now he is back and Anne needs a favor from him.
Anne and Hart must navigate through many twists and turns as they discover what they really want in life and who they really are.
This is a unique second chance romance with lots of layers and plenty of romantic tension.
Highly recommend!

Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

This series is life giving. Always romantic and deeply moving. I loved the second chance romance in this one. Anne is particularly fun - she’s strong-willed and quick-tongued.

This closed door historical romance series is pure delight.

Solid 4.5. Mimi Matthews does not disappoint in her much-awaited third installment of the Belles of London series. In this second chance victorian-era romance that has been building since The Siren of Sussex (and six additional years before that), Lady Anne Deveril calls upon her once friend and paramour Mr. Felix Hartford for a favor which reconnects them and resurfaces old feelings. In exchange, Mr. Hartford requests Anne to adorn red (rather than her usual mourning clothes) to his family's annual holiday party. The enduring repertoire and nicknames between the pair makes it easy to fall in love with this couple and the book in this mild romance with forced proximity. Weaved throughout the story are challenges from familial relationships and bonds of friendship. Matthews also sets up the romance for her final book, which features the romantic endeavors of the grey-haired equestrian Stella. I have been excited about this couple and this book since I read the first in the series. I did think this book would be more spicy than it was with less rehashed romantic conflict between Anna and Felix. Another small note, possibly for a future series or storylines, would be to more directly critique on British wealth in the age of empire.