I've loved the previous books in the series, so this one not hitting for me was a disappointment. The characters kept proclaiming their love for each other, but there was no chemistry, and it felt like their love was based on who they were when they were young. I had difficulty understanding why Hartford kept waiting for Anne, no matter how often she told him to leave.

Hope this was a fluke.

This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

4.5


Book 3 in the Belles of London series
Releases on Jan 16, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Mimi Matthews continues to surprise me in the most wonderful way. I mostly stick to contemporary romance that have open door/spicy scenes, so it is refreshing to read a slow burning, second chance, closed door romance set in the 1800's that is incredibly swoon-worthy and heart warming. If you're a fan of anything Victorian era and love the etiquette of that time period, you will LOVE Mimi Matthews.
I highly recommend starting at the beginning of the series to know the characters. The fourth installment will also arrive later in 2024!

Thank you @netgalley for the arc!


#romance #victorian #fiction #2023reads #netgalley #riversidereads #arc #mimimatthews #historicalfiction #bookjournal #bookstagram

This engaging historical romance is the third in the Belles of London historical romance series set in the 1860s. Lady Anne has been her mother's companion in grief for the loss of her father for over seven years. She feels obligated to follow her mother's ever-more-eccentric demands including wearing only black and visiting every sort of spiritualist that London offers.

When Anne was just sixteen, she fell in love with Felix Hartford but her mourning and his trip with his uncle to gather specimens of all sorts of plants separated them. When he returned to wed her, she put him off because she felt she couldn't leave her emotionally fragile mother. He took it badly and said hurtful things still resonating in Anne's mind.

Felix had problems of his own. When he learned that his supposedly upright and righteous father left a mistress and three children upon his death, Felix feels compelled to care for them. But their demands, especially those of the eldest son who is a gambler, threaten to ruin him financially and ruin his family if their existence becomes public knowledge.

Each character is carrying secret burdens which complicate the resumption of their romance making for an interesting story firmly set in the social mores of the day.

**Review will be shared on my site and socials on release day!**

CHARMING SECOND CHANCE.

Audiobook notes: I love two narrators for a two POV romance. I thought both were amazing and I was swept away to historical England.

This was another good read for the series! It does lean a little away from romance and focuses a lot on grief and self growth and finally severing the ties that are holding you back. I absolutely adored Felix. He was carrying so much on his shoulders and worked hard to make things work the best he could.

Anne, I struggled with a little. I thought her Mom issues held her down for SO long and I was waiting for that freedom moment where Anne had the spotlight. Because when she showed up in that dress? I SWOONED. Felix has been pining for years and that man deserved a break. I actually loved that this didn’t have big flashback chapters and that we got to see more at present what was happening.

I loved seeing the other Belles and just being back in this world. Mimi Matthew’s books are always wonderful reads for me and this was no different.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Romance
Language: none-low
Romance: kisses
Violence: moderate
Trigger/Content Warnings: toxic parent, mentions of child labor

4.5 stars
This was a lovely book. I hadn’t read any of Mimi Matthews’ books before so I was unsure what to expect, but I really enjoyed this one. The Lily of Ludgate Hill is the third book in Mimi Matthews’ Belles of London series.
Anne and Hart had chemistry. I loved reading about their relationship and dialogue. They had history and it definitely connected them. I love how they were able to truly see each other. Anne and Hart were fascinating characters, they were so much more than meets the eye.
I wanted to keep reading to see how Hart and Anne would work out their differences. There was so much hurt and misunderstanding hidden behind their words, but they still cared for each other. I enjoyed their banter and how they seemed to truly want the other to be happy. Hart was definitely protective of Anne and wanted to help her as best as he could. Anne was struggling to figure out how to let Hart into her life.
The side characters were fun. I liked how the girls came together and tried to help each other. There were times when I was very frustrated with Anne’s mother but I grew to understand her.
I would definitely recommend The Lily of Ludgate Hill. It was an engaging book with characters that I grew to love. I am excited to read the next book and I need to read the other books too. The Lily of Ludgate Hill is a clean historical romance.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

When reading book one in this series, I wasn't a fan of Lady Anne Deverill - she seemed like a wilting wallflower. This book made her into a powerful heroine, a dutiful daughter, and a pillar of sacrifice. The choice to care for her mother's grief over her own love life showed her inner strength, even though it made her out to be a spinster and under the thumb. I enjoyed reading her opportunity to capture a second chance at love!

I don't know how Mimi Matthews keeps writing these Belles of London books that keep me turning the pages late into the night. The Lily of Ludgate Hill may be my favorite so far (yes I know I said that for the last two, but they just keep getting better)!

I feel like for a short period of time I am one of the Four Horsewomen as I read the Belle books. The Lily of Ludgate Hill is Anne's story. After her father passed, she and her mother took up full mourning and 7 years later they're still wearing black! But Anne wasn't always at her mother's beck and call, she was once in love. Mimi Matthews has written a wonderfully moving tale of how grief and a sense of duty can change a person. I love Anne and Hartford. Their relationship felt natural and right. There was nothing forced about this book in anyway, almost as if the author just watched it play out in front of her!

Honestly, I don't understand how Netflix hasn't snatched up these books for the next Bridgerton style show. Each can be read individually, but as an overarching storyline following these four fierce friends find themselves and their loves is so rewarding. The Victorian setting combined with all these in depth characters and interwoven plot lines is like watching a show (but even better)! Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. I needed to know how the characters would fair as if they were my own family.

Another winner from Mimi Matthews. I have enjoyed the last books in the “Bells of London” series, and this one did not disappoint.
This was a delightful story set in the Victorian era, with Lady Anne Deveril and Mr. Felix Hartford as the main protagonists. Anne and Hart (as she calls Felix) were supposed to marry seven years ago, but then Anne’s father passed away, and she felt she needed to take care of her controlling mother. Now seven years later there might be a second chance. There is a lot of pent up emotions between the two of them, and this leads to interesting banter. The feeling is definitely “enemies to lovers.” We find out many things about both of their families, which make the story very interesting. I also appreciated that the ladies from the first two books make an appearance, and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

Mimi is truly a national treasure. All of her books are filled with such delicious chemistry and heart, and her writing is superb. This one is another winner. Highly recommend.

Mimi's Belles of London series has quickly become one of my favorite historical romance series! Lily is a beautiful and captivating addition to the series.

The writing is absolutely exquisite. Mimi builds a compelling Victorian world that transports readers into her scenes. I feel like I am there on the streets of London, riding with Hart and Anne, attending the Christmas house party. It all felt so real and vibrant. The words themselves seem to come alive and pull readers into the story. Mimi takes her time in her storytelling which only adds to the aura surrounding her stories. She develops her scenes and her characters with such ease and finesse. Truly a delight to experience a book by Mimi Matthews.

Getting to know Anne and Hart was a delight. Their obvious chemistry builds throughout the novel and climaxes in the most beautiful romantic scenes. I appreciated their depth and complexities. They both have dealt with significant difficulties in their pasts. Anne lost her beloved father and still grieves him intensely in her all black wardrobe years after his passing. Hart learned shocking truths about his father after his father died. And he continues to grapple with the repercussions of that revelation years later. They aren't perfect people. They make mistakes and push others way. But they learn from their experiences and they learn to seek for their own happiness which is a beautiful journey. Plus, we get several truly swoony kisses and beautiful love declarations along the way. Such a beautiful balance of depth and romance.

Lily offers readers a beautiful story contrasting the depth of love with the difficulties of grief. For so much of the story, Anne is hyper focused on her grief and her mother's grief. She sees herself as the necessary companion of her mother and there are many reasons to back that decision. But as she falls in love with Hart (again) she begins to see a life that can balance grief and love. I loved seeing her journey to understanding how to honor her beloved father while also building a life she loves and thrives in. Her entrance in the ballroom in her red dress is a scene of absolute beauty. It captures her journey so perfectly.

I adore this series and am anxious to read more of Mimi's books. Perhaps I will start with the series where we first meet Teddy (our protagonist alongside Stella in the next book! The first chapter is fantastic and I am already anxious for more of their story). The writing is beautiful, the romance is lovely and the complexities are so satisfying. This book is a must read for historical romance lovers. A captivating exploration of the ways we lose love and find it again. Highly recommend!

I really liked this book! I am a sucker for second chance in historicals and I loved Anne and Felix/Hart. Their banter was top notch and I loved the evolution of their relationship and how they both realized how the other has changed. They really made an effort to understand each other despite their hurt.

I've read this whole series and though this isn't quite my favorite, I still really enjoyed it and was so happy to revisit this friend group - and I can't wait for the next book!

Read this for:
- Second Chance Romance
- Pining!
- Victorian England
- Grief
- Closed Door

Mimi Matthews' research is always top notch and I really appreciate her author's notes in this series - I find they really help to give context to the story and provide real life examples of what her characters experience.

Thank you to Berkley Romance and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"Fortune favors the bold - but is a confirmed spinster daring enough to loosen the reins and accept a favor from the wicked gentleman who haunts her dreams?

Lady Anne Deveril doesn't spook easily. A woman of lofty social standing known for her glacial beauty and starchy opinions, she's the unofficial leader of her small group of equestriennes. Since her mother's devastating plunge into mourning six years ago, Anne voluntarily renounced any fanciful notions of love and marriage. And yet, when fate puts Anne back into the entirely too enticing path of Mr. Felix Hartford, she's tempted to run...right into his arms.

No one understands why Lady Anne withdrew into the shadows of society, Hart least of all. The youthful torch he once held for her has long since cooled. Or so he keeps telling himself. But now Anne needs a favor to help a friend. Hart will play along with her little ruse - on the condition that Anne attend a holiday house party at his grandfather's country estate. No more mourning clothes. No more barriers. Only the two of them, unrequited feelings at last laid bare.

Finally free to gallop out on her own, Anne makes the tantalizing discovery that beneath the roguish exterior of her not-so-white knight is a man with hidden depths, scorching passions - and a tender heart."

Country estate holiday party!?! YAS!

This was a beautiful written historical fiction about Anne Deveril and Felix Hartford. It was a second chance clean romance and can be read as a stand-alone.
Mimi Matthews writes like no other historical romance author. Shes an automatic buy for me. This novel was about London and its common places. Anne and Felix were different than Matthews others romantic characters and they struggled. They were hurt and stubborn and I was anxious about them. It was a slow burn and I enjoyed how they finally worked things out. The animals were delightful and made me smile. I love horses and have cats of my own.
I can’t wait for Stella and Teddy’s story.
4.5⭐️
Thanks Berkley Publishing and Rei via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

As I’d read the other books in the series, I couldn’t wait to get to this one. It does not disappoint and it may actually be my favorite in the series. It has fun dialogue, great characters and spicy love scenes.

I'm a huge Mimi Matthews fan and have enjoyed many of her previous novels, however this book wasn’t my favorite. I found the plot to be a little slow paced initially and the amount of characters and backstory overwhelming. There was heavy emphasis on the cultish spiritualism that was popular during the time period, and even though it was historically accurate to the time, I still have a hard time being ok with it being featured for my own personal religious reasons. Obviously, not everyone will share these opinions. I found the heroine to be somewhat unlikable. She jumps to conclusions, and springs into action based on wild assumptions. Apart from that the romance continued to be muddied by misconceptions and miscommunication. To the point of frustration for me. I have enjoyed many of this authors other books, I just don’t think this book and series is really hitting the mark for me.

ARC Review:

The Lily of Ludgate Hill is another beautiful story written by Mimi Matthews. Her characters are entrancing, their actions thoughtful, and their feelings realistic. I always come away from her novels feeling like I've been granted a window into someone's life, and this book is no exception. Woven throughout the novel are examples of familial love, camaraderie and devotion between the Belles, and the obvious love the author has for her characters. This is a book I'll be revisiting time and time again.

The pent-up dejected pining radar was getting some off the charts readings whenever Lady Anne and Mr. Hartford interacted in previous books. Right on point, this is such a new favorite second chance (and so-far favorite in this beloved series) with all the years’ worth of frustrated resentment and achy yearning tension, decadent with that short-fuse push and pull plus the most top-notch sardonic banter I’ve read in a minute. I’d be remiss not to mention this also has the most unexepectedly swoony endearment. Got me everytime.

Anne’s the black-bombazine-clad, virago-ish mama bear of the equestriennes girl gang/Furies and when she believes some sisterly rescuing is in order, well, she makes “a deal with the devil” (since I guess “A deal with the thorn-in-her-side, earl’s roguish second son” doesn’t have as good of a ring to it) and gets the help she needs and obviously more than her heart bargained for. Because then it’s like doth-protest-too-much forced proximity road trip! Honestly, that first act? Could’ve been its own angsty novella, so much unpacking and blazing moments of tension packed in. After all that, I was adrift there for a bit with where this was going. But if we learn anything from Hart and Anne, it’s that they’ll go at their own pace. And this reads in a way you knew this story is so much their own.

Though I always would appreciate a prologue or at least lots of background tea on the “first chance” when reading this esteemed trope, I’m so happy this gives so much of the special brand of second chance “Childhood friends to love to enemies to love” essentials: aforementioned angst and tension with a capital “T” for “termagant”, a slow reveal of how the wheels originally came off, the resurgence of latent feels and the discovery of who they are in the present. Plus I just live for the healthy dose of animosity from barely leashed rancor and emotional shredding that ensues as they’re simultaneously battling their individual outside pressures. Just some great hashing it out as the line between “It’s Always Been You” and “Go Take a Long Walk Off a Short Pier” is extremely, crackingly thin. But then of course Ms. Matthews has to go steps further and give me grovel and hidden meaning written communication. Romance reader joy overload.

And also, it finally happened. After eons of repelling Henry Cavill as a too-handsome hero, my mind’s eye locked in on him for Mr. Felix Hartford, and that was it. As he goes from flamboyantly dressed, impetuously daring bon-vivant to some roughened up long-suffering oceans of depth and stubborn ambition and constancy, yep, it worked so well for me. So many layers, he is not just one thing. As Miss Hobhouse’s wisdom gleamed: “…it’s the humorous ones who often pose the greatest danger.” And Hart is hazardous just with his presence, a sense of menace and grit beneath the carefree charm. He knows well the regretful face-palming of teasing barbs and an ill-timed guffaw, and that’s just the tip of the Tower of London; regrets are pesky things. I say again: when a Grade A Piner is made to grovel? Ugh, he’s such a deliciously, devotedly intense “Would Burn It All Down For You” hero.

And it’s good he’s intent on some tried-and-true steadfastness, because Anne demands to see the proof (and needs to work on some things herself). Matching her plaid-wearing “One that let me get away” in complexity, my lady has all the duality, torn by her grieving, her sense of duty and guilt and her grasping for control of her life. She’s very “Have a good cry, then straighten that spine of steel.” The symbolism Ms. Matthews paints with makes me just as giddy as all the banter and stolen kisses. I’m exercising restraint to not list all the characterization little emblems I loved catching. Read the book then look up my Pinterest board; I have such fun with images of tangible parallelisms, but also especially with books that are so utterly steeped in the time and place. Transporting and swoony, just why I read historical romance. What more could you ask?

I love the Belles, and I love this series! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC. All these many, many thoughts are my own.

Content notes: Kissing only. Some language (*amn, *ell, God’s name in vain) Mention of toxic parent. Mention of extra-marital affair and illegitimate children. Mention of child labor. Interest in the occult and seánces by secondary character.

In The Lily of Ludgate Hill, Mimi Matthews weaves a poignant Victorian love story that delves into the complexities of grief, second chances, and the rekindling of past flames. The narrative follows Lady Anne Deveril, a strong-willed equestrienne and widow who, despite her icy exterior, is grappling with unresolved feelings for Mr. Felix Hartford. The novel explores themes of love, societal expectations, and the healing power of connection as Anne and Hart embark on a journey that unveils hidden passions and tender hearts.

Matthews skillfully crafts characters with depth and nuances, portraying a romantic tension that is both delightful and memorable. While the story excels in its exploration of selflessness and second chances, some readers may find certain elements repetitive, and the pacing occasionally stretched, impacting the overall engagement. Nevertheless, the novel remains a testament to Matthews' impeccable writing, bringing historical settings to life and offering a thoughtful examination of love and resilience.

The strong thematic elements, nuanced family dynamics, and vivid historical backdrop contribute to a romance that, despite some pacing challenges, resonates with authenticity and emotion, making it a worthwhile addition to Matthews' body of work.

This is book 3 in the Belles of London Victorian romance series. It can be read as a standalone, but readers will experience extra enjoyment if they have previously read The Siren of Sussex and The Belle of Belgrave Square, since many of the characters in Lily appear in the first two books.

I enjoyed reading this second chance romance book, and I had a hard time putting it down. I wanted Anne and Hart to sort through their various challenges and problems that were keeping them apart and just get to the happily ever after :-) However, Matthews kept throwing in new plot twists and new issues needing to be discussed/sorted out/resolved/forgiven, etc. There are good insights about dealing with grief, how to be there for the person grieving, communicating, seeing through the masks people wear, and the challenges of being a woman in Victorian times when men seem to have all the control over their lives.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." #TheLilyofLudgateHill #NetGalley.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one! I wish I would’ve read the other books in this series first to better orient myself in the setting, but I didn’t have too much difficulty following along. I absolutely adored Hart and Anne. I’m trash for second chance, and throwing in this lush historical setting? Say. Less. Now I can’t wait to go back and read the other two books!