Enthusiastic fist-pump to the air for a strong heroine of the Victorian Era!! It takes so much courage to admit when you're wrong and need to change - and when characters go from driving me CRAZY to making me want to give them a hug - I know the author did their job well. Our heroine, Lady Anne Deveril, exemplifies everything I want to see in a woman who realizes the fallacy of her thoughts and owns up to them!

I loved this so much that I immediately ordered the second book in the series (another friend had already bought me the first one)!

P.S. I'm reading the first book, The Siren of Sussex, now and I don't feel that the books have to be read in order. I truly have no idea what's going to happen based on The Lily of Ludgate Hill! (I prefer series like this sometimes...makes it so easy just to pick up a historical romance and enjoy it for what it is!!)

**Thank you to Berkley & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

I've always loved Matthews ’books ever since the first one I've had read, and I love how she delivers again with this one. It was a perfect amalgamation of sweet. charming and one unforgettable romance!

After a tepid response to the first book and an exceeds expectations reaction to the second, I was hoping this book would continue the upward momentum. But I really struggled to stay interested in Anne and Hart. They didn't have much notable chemistry; Anne could only huff at him and Hart just mooned over her for no convincing reason. The writing also seemed lackluster. DNF at 35%.

Mimi Matthews is a must-read for Jane Austen fans! The third book in the Belles of London series focuses on Lady Anne Deveril. Anne's story is a second-chance romance that will have readers anxiously anticipating her reunion with Felix Hartford.

It’s simply impossible for Mimi Matthews to write a book I won’t adore! The Lily of Ludgate Hill continues Matthews’ Belles of London series with Anne and Hart’s story, and trust me when I say it’s not to be missed. It’s a unique second chance romance set against the backdrop of Victorian England, grief and spiritualism, and discovering one’s identity. Although I haven’t been in the exact position as either of these characters, I found myself easily relating to and empathizing with them. Matthews always captures me with her romantic, thoughtful, and exciting stories, and I’m so excited to read about Stella and Teddy next! 4.5/5 stars

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

The Lilly of Ludgate Hill was a pleasant surprise. Prior to this book, I hadn't read anything from author Mimi Matthews. I can honestly say that this book got me hooked on her writing. As of writing this review, I have now marathoned my way through the first two books in this series and her work does not disappoint. If you are like me didn't read The Siren of Sussex or The Belle of Belgrave before picking up Lilly of Ludgate, make sure to read those first because that will definitely enhance your reading experience and lead to fewer spoilers for the earlier books.

Lady Anne Deveril immediately captured my attention as a heroine, even without having the background of reading the first two books in this series. She reminds me in a lot of ways of Kate Sheffield/Sharma from Bridgerton. She is a sort of older sister to her friends and is fiercely protective of the members of her group of equestrians. Anne is a stubborn, headstrong leader who is more than willing to butt heads with Hartford, the romantic lead. Longtime readers of the books may be surprised to learn that Hart is the male lead for this book, given his history with Lady Anne, but it becomes clear over the course of the story that they have unresolved tension. Said tension and unresolved business allows us to see a more vulnerable side of Anne and Hart.

This book did follow some of the standard romance tropes, including the expected miscommunications that eventually bring the main characters closer together. I can honestly say that there were times when I hated Hart, because he didn't seem to have any sort of understanding, empathy, or patience for the way in which Lady Anne leaned on her relationship with her mother in order to feel some control over her life. He eventually understood and came to respect her decisions by the end of the book, redeeming him in my eyes, but fans of Anne will be in for a bit of a bumpy ride in trying to overcome Hartford's thick headedness.

Despite that, this book was thoroughly enjoyable and I loved seeing the character growth for both main characters, and seeing them open up to one anther was the best part of this book. I also liked the easter eggs sprinkled throughout for Miss Stella Hobhouse's story in the next book. Fans of the series will not be disappointed with the Lilly of Ludgate and I also cannot wait for Stella's story to come out.

All of my favorite tropes: second chance romance, unrequited love and strong interesting characters. Misunderstandings propel this delightful Victorian romance, I can't wait for number 4 in the series.

Mimi Matthews has done it again. I was utterly enchanted by Anne and Hart’s story. I’m not usually a fan of second chance romance (despite Persuasion being one of my favorite books). But this was just exquisite, and not without a few beautiful similarities to Persuasion in the way that Anne and Hart part the first time. Their banter and arguments as they get reacquainted are just so fiery! There’s so much hurt to work through on both sides, and the development of their relationship is just so gorgeous and real. There’s also a great exploration or grief and duty woven throughout.
It’s always a delight too to see the rest of the Belles. We get glimpses of Julia’s and Evelyn’s HEAs. Not to mention a tantalizing preview of what might be in store for Stella! I am just so excited for Stella’s book!
In the meantime, please read this one! You won’t regret it, and you might even shed an emotional and happy tear.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced read! All opinions are my own.

This was the sweetest book. Its everything you could want in a Victorian romance. While it is the third in a technical series, you don't seem to NEED to read the two that come before this, even though the characters intermingle. Matthews does a good job of introducing everyone enough so that you know who all the players are and feel comfortable with the dynamics.

This book is perfect for anyone who loves a good period piece, with all of the manners in tact. I loved the slow build up and the longing between the characters, loved that there was such history between them that they were still drawn to each other, but there were pieces of their lives and their characters that needed to be filled in for the other. It gave the story something to strive for.

As with any story that is heavily rooted in the upper class in this time period, due to the strict rules of society and manners and just a Victorian inclination to misunderstand and misinterpret, there were some repetitive parts to the story, but Matthews seemed to build on those repetitions each time they happened, lending a sense that the characters were learning from past mistakes, not just repeating them.

I particularly liked that this book lacked spice. That's not to say there are not swoon-worthy moments, but this is not Bridgerton and I enjoyed it more because of that.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars

I was so excited when I was approved for this arc! I've loved this series so far and think it deserves far more interest than it has received so far. They're getting better as they go, and I'm sure the last will follow that pattern.

I loved Hart and Anne's relationship and their second chance romance. I don't really remember any specific interactions with them in the first two books, but you'll get the gist of it seeing them interact at the beginning of this one.

Hart was a big ol' softy and I loved how he poked at Anne; someone had to give her some shit! I really felt for Anne's situation and trying to take care of her mother, but seven years way a looooong time to be stuck as she was. But I enjoyed her progression throughout and realizing she'd been stagnant and wanted to do something more with her life.

I'd highly recommend this series, especially for those who are Bridgerton fans. Maybe not quite as much drama as those but still incredibly enjoyable.

4/5 ⭐️
This book came to me right at the perfect time. I just finished this dramoine fanfic that took place in Regency England and had Draco secretly pinning for Hermione for years. When I finished it, I was mourning the fact it was over, but this book was the perfect thing for me to jump right into. It takes place in Victorian England and the love interest also had been pinning for the female main character for years. But it also was like Jane Austen’s Persuasion with the fact the two characters had a failed engagement at a young age but get this second chance. And obviously the time period and some of the family drama made me think of North & South, Doctor Thorne, and Belgravia. So I definitely think this is perfect for historical romance fans, especially if you liked the Bringing Down the Duke series.
I only have two complaints. First, it was just a tad heavy on telling. It wasn’t terrible where it was distracting and annoying, but enough to feel like someone was slyly pressing a finger down on the scale. My other complaint is the ending. Maybe it was me, but it just came across as a little cheesy the wrap up? Like it felt just a little like you can feel the author’s presence, like she’s the wrap it up music during Oscar speeches.
However, I still absolutely adored this book and plan on going back and reading the other two in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

I kind of jumped in the middle of this series without reading any of the previous books, but other than having curiosity about some of the other character's stories, it didn't hinder my enjoyment of this one.

I really enjoyed Felix. I loved his sense of humor, and I was slightly confused why everyone gave him such a hard time for it. He was incredibly patient with Anne and while I don't see what made him fall for her, it is always nice to see a gentleman be steadfast and perseverant. And the truth is Anne really did bug me for a lot of the book. I felt that she was just as much at fault as Felix was, but it seemed to brush aside her need to repent as much as Felix. I felt that a lot of the issue between them could have been solved with some basic communication skills.

The story was enjoyable for the most part though at times it did seem to drag a little. I was also not a fan of the mentioning of the Spiritualist/cultish stuff even though nothing ever went into a lot of detail there.

For my readers who care to know, there is at least a couple passionate kisses.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest opinions.

Mimi Matthews has a real gift for writing excellent sexual tension while still never having sex on the page. Wooboy. I so enjoyed Hart and Anne's second chance love story. There's such great character growth here, where we see Hart and Anne realizing things about each other and their own past actions, and then proving that they've learned from those experiences and become a better partner. It's such a mature story, filled with healthy communication and genuine care. This series has been an all-around winner, and this is the perfect addition to it. Also, the set-up for the fourth book has my full interest; I can't wait to see what happens!

Oh. My. Hart. No, that isn't a misspelling 😉

I loved every moment in this book. Hartford and Anne were so wonderfully written. Their characters were flawed and broken, but working to overcome everything they'd suffered and lost. This was the best of second chance romance. Their banter and even their arguments were so full of tension that it lept off the pages.

The writing was rich (as always with Ms. Matthews writing) and there was so much depth to the characters and their backstories.

This may be up there with my favorite MiMi Matthew book, Gentleman Jim (but it's been a while so maybe I need to reread that one to be sure).

**I would note that there is a lot of talk of speaking to the dead and spiritualism within the book though the main characters view it as ridiculous nonsense. Otherwise, an amazing clean historical romance that delivers on all of the angst and tension.

Mimi Matthews is my comfort author. I have read every single one of her stories 2-3 times. The way she writes Victorian England romances is so fresh, so nuanced. This one is a great follow up to The Siren of Sussex and The Belle of Belgrave Square. 5 stars

The vibes in Lily of Ludgate Hill are everything. The romantic tension was delightful. Our hero and heroine are unique and original, and their second chance romance is perfectly executed- we understand exactly why they broke up and exactly why they need to get back together again. I loved the layers in this book, the integrity of the main characters, and the way everything fit together.

One of my favorite things about this book was the recognition that it's not weakness that causes a person to lower themselves to become a caregiver and put someone else first in their life - that is a strength. "Strong" women have been badly represented in fiction as being selfish, and I loved seeing selflessness being held up as the true strength that it is.

This book focuses on Anne, whose mother is the spiritualist, so that theme was stronger in this book than the last one. The main characters do not adhere to the occult, but they do view it as a harmless diversion, which I strongly disagree with and needed to mention for the sake of my own audience. With that said, there's no occult scenes here, no seances or anything like that, just references to it.

As the clean romance that this book is, I think it is an excellent representation of its genre.

I read a copy for review from Netgalley and the publisher but was not required to leave a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

RATING: 3/5 STARS

I really enjoyed the first two books of this series but this one sadly wasn't quite for me... I didn't connect with the romance between Anne and Felix. Their back-and-forth arguments and the reason for their falling out didn't appeal to me. But fans of this series should still give this book a try and may end liking it a lot more.

Thank you so so so much to Mimi Matthews and Berkley Publishing for this wonderful eARC. I’ve never gotten a Berkley arc before, so this was so very exciting. All thoughts/opinions are my own.

Ok so the parts of this book that were super good were like stupid good🤩. Like the defending of Anne? Incredible. The cat? Incredible. The pet names with both endearing and teasing undertones? Incredible. The taking care of her cat and having her shawl next to his pillow in bed? Incredible.

The writing was, as always, superb. Mimi Matthews has a way with words because you feel all of these sensual elements even though there is no open door sexual content in her books. All of the movements of her characters in these books are intentional. Everything has meaning. Every glance, touch, and smirk all reflect the overarching romance in the book. It’s wonderful and it’s always wonderful to read.

So far Evie and Julia's books are the best. Just so so SO incredibly unique and sensual, whereas this one didn't have as much of *that* sort of depth, romance wise. However!! It is still incredibly romantic with heavy undertones of grief and loss that were so beautifully written. I haven't read a romance like this one in a while and that was really nice to experience again.

There are some excellent quotes that I highlighted that I will be including in this review, just so that you can get a taste of the delightful moments🥹

I will be finishing this review very soon with some non-spoilery quotes🥰

Faced with the prospect of losing her friend, Anne enlists the help of her frenemy Hart. Once sweethearts, now they are verbal sparring partners with a past neither wants to address. However, Hart has never let his feelings for Anne fade, and he is determined that now he will win her over once again and finally get their happily ever after. But only if their families stay out of the way.

This was a fun addition to the Belles series. Anne and Hart's banter was enjoyable to read and made me smile. The introduction of Hart's cousin to the storyline seemed a little abrupt, though I could see where that thread was going from the start. It would have been a little easier to follow if the family members had been introduced in some previous reference before they showed up on the scene.

Looking forward to Stella's story in the next book!

I’m sorry to say I found this entry in the Belles of London series lackluster. The author writes in her acknowledgments that she was grief-stricken over her father’s death when writing this book, and it shows. The romance very much takes a backseat to the grief that Lily and her mother are dealing with. Unfortunately there is also no tension in the relationship between the heroine and hero. I just wanted them to get on with it, since there are no obstacles to their love and marriage except those of their own making. The Lily of Ludgate Hill was a letdown after the brilliant Belle of Belgrave Square. I hope the author found the process of writing it to be helpful in her grief journey.

There are still some lovely passages, and I’m glad I read it. Like all the author’s books, this one is well researched, and I found the Author’s Note about different historical aspects enlightening. I’m looking forward to book four, and I hope the author finds herself in a happier frame of mind as she moves forward.

I read an advance reader copy of The Lily of Ludgate Hill from Netgalley.