Mimi delivers a cross-over novel that does not rely on nostalgia for her other series to be emotionally compelling. Teddy and Stella's story is one of yearning for freedom, whether in art or in life. Matthews renders the frustrations and longings of life in her classic style.

I couldn’t wait for Stella’s story! It was perfect and fun! I love the adventures she and Teddy got into! Great end to the series!

It was great to finally get to read Stella's story! She's been one of my favourite characters throughout this series and especially with her family dynamic I was intrigues to see where Mimi Matthews would take her. I thought she and Teddy were extremely well suited and enjoyed watching their relationship play out.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

This is the final book in the Belles of London series and also kind of a finale for Mimi’s Parish Orphans of Devon series as we see both Stella from the Belles and Teddy from Parish Orphans book three meet together in a fabulous combustion.

Stella is a brilliant free spirit who’s gone prematurely gray and is basically ridiculed for it. Teddy is a brilliant and talented artist who lived a carefree existence until scarlett fever left him paralyzed and his family to treat him like a child.

The two meet once in an art gallery and then again after Stella tries dying her hair at a house party to try and attract a suitor so she can remove herself from her pious brother’s house.

Teddy is looking for a muse, Stella is looking for someone to love her for her differences. Teddy becomes obsessed with having Stella as his muse and will stop at nothing to get her to pose for him. What develops is a slow burn friendship that turns into angsty longing. These two take their time discovering their true feelings for each other, and it’s delicious. There’s so much tension. And yet, all I kept wanting was more of them. Their banter in scenes and in letters they write to each other, is terrific. Mimi is such a strong and beautiful writer and I loved watching her bring to life both their passion for each other (albeit slowly) and their focus on supporting each other to be the best they can be.

As this is kind of a wrap-up of two series, there’s a lot of secondary characters in the book. Teddy’s friends and family are kind of an easter egg - you don’t need to have read that series to enjoy or understand the book, but it was a delight to see them all on page again. I love the Belle series and I think you should read the series to understand how Stella sees her world.

As always, Mimi does a terrific amount of research in her books. It was fascinating to see Teddy’s disability on the page. There were parallels to The Secret Garden with his frustration and loneliness and how Stella was able to bring light and passion back to his life. Also interesting was the history of wheelchairs that Mimi explores in the book and how hard it especially was for Teddy to move around the world with any bit of freedom because of his paralyzed legs.

I love Mimi and I was sad to reach the end of The Muse of Maiden Lane. I miss the women and the men who love them already.

I am obsessed with this series and this was such a great addition. Stella is such a great character who steps up to all obstacles in her way and finds a way to get around them. I love a marriage of convenience that turns into true love. All of the talk about impressionist art was also fabulous.

I have absolutely loved reading about the four Belles of London and it is bittersweet to be writing this review of the final book in such a fantastic saga. This book has everything from slow burn romance that feels genuine to a great disability rep in the form of the main male love interest! Honestly, Teddy is my favorite of the Belles' heroes and I was thrilled to realize that there is a prequel series that tells the stories of some of the side characters in this novel including his sister! I love Mimi Matthews' books so much! She has a hefty backlog of books that I look forward to reading soon!

Such a late review but not because I didn’t love it!! This whole series has my heart. Four women who love horses and live on the outskirts of society find love matches and learn to follow their dreams.

This was the final book in the Belles of London series. Mimi Matthews paints a beautiful picture of life in the city and the country in the Victorian era. Her descriptions really bring the story to life.

Teddy and Stella don’t blend in, but life being what it was at that time they did their best to find ways to fade into the background. They bond over their mutual desire to live a life as more than a wallflower. I loved watching them give each other confidence and strength to embrace who they are.

Finding beauty in each other’s perceived flaws. The slow burn romance was perfection. Mimi writes romantic tension so well, I love the subtle glances and longing that you feel between her characters.

Favorite Quotes:

“His injury wasn’t the whole of him. It wasn’t even the most interesting part. It irked him to no end that, for some people, it was the only thing worth noticing.”

“It didn’t just sadden her. It made her doubt her worth. That was the power of words. Especially harsh words from someone you’d once loved.”

“You deserve more than a life in the background.”

“She’d been made so small for so long, the words hadn’t existed to articulate the wild yearnings within her. But no longer.”

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC!

This is book 4 in a series (can standalone)
Romance: closed door

I liked this book, and I think it was probably the strongest of the series and a good ending for the Four Horsewomen. I did think that the fundamental places in which Stella and Teddy found themselves were at times unbearably sad, and I'm both glad they ended up with each other and also wish it could have been different. The plot is much slower at the beginning of the book than the end, though I'm not sure that's a criticism so much as a note that I could have handled a more drawn out ending.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley.

In this fun and fascinating new Victorian romance novel, readers meet Stella Hobhouse, an excellent horsewoman and a sketch artist whose skills and talents are overshadowed by her gray hair. With her pious brother’s restrictions on her behavior and a lack of funds, she is prepared for a life as a spinster in Derbyshire until Edward “Teddy” Hayes, an aspiring painter, finds inspiration in Stella and her striking hair. Not willing to risk her reputation but looking for his big break into the art world, Teddy will do almost anything to persuade her to pose, even if that means a marriage of convenience for the both of them. With two complex characters on the outskirts of society for different reasons, readers will love the growing romance and relationship between Stella and Teddy over the course of the novel. Charming, steamy, and full of incredible detail, these characters are the stars of the novel as a pair and as individuals. The historical setting -- country parties, weddings, social stratification, and the artists’ community -- really bring the novel to life and add color to complement Stella, Teddy, and their relationship as all three evolve over this charming, heartwarming, and properly romantic historical fiction novel.

This was an incredibly good read! The story was beautifully written and the characters were flushed out really well! Definitely worth the read!

The Muse of Maiden Lane is a very sweet and charming romance. 

Stella has a small inheritance, enough to keep her beloved horse. But her sanctimonious vicar brother expects her to give him her money for his parishioners. Marriage is her only option, but her prematurely gray hair makes her stand out in a way she doesn’t want.

Teddy is an artist, and he lost the use of his legs from scarlet fever. When he first sees Stella, he’s stunned by her beautiful hair and decides he must pain her. And so begins a slow burn romance.

Mimi Matthews is really good at characterization, and Stella and Teddy feel very realistic. This is sort of a quiet romance, and I really liked that. Matthews proves that you don't need high drama to make a relationship work in a historical romance.

I was impressed by how Matthews wrote about Teddy's disability and how he manages in a society that's not built for a wheelchair user. She includes an authors' note about her research, which was very interesting.

A beautiful slow burn.
Mimi Mathews did credit to some really unique characters with different challenges.
My favorite thing about this book was how Teddy encouraged and pushed Stella outside her comfort zone to embracing her true self, and how she pushed him to broaden his world as well.
I love when characters complement each other.
There were times that the pacing felt a bit slow, but the characters were well crafted and I loved how we got to see characters from her previous books.
A satisfying conclusion to the series.
I recieved a complementary copy of this book from the publisher, all thoughts and opinions are honest and completely my own.

The Muse of Maiden Lane, by Mimi Matthews, is the final book in her Belles of London Series and is just as wonderful as the other books. It tells the story of Stella, who has been ridiculed for her grey hair since it turned that colour when she was 16, and Teddy, who is confined to a wheelchair after contracting scarlet fever years before. Both Stella and Teddy must fight for their own agency: Stella from her overbearing and self-righteous vicar brother, and Teddy from his overprotective older sister. They get to know each other during a house party, and it’s lovely watching their initial friendship over art, eventually turn to feelings of love and passion. Teddy initially sees Stella as his muse, but eventually sees something far more special. Stella sees Teddy as a talented and compelling artist, but also starts to see herself through his eyes as more than a silver-haired oddity. As their relationship grows, she also discovers feelings for him that she wasn’t expecting (both during and after the house party). This is a closed-door romance, but there’s lots of sexual and emotional tension, yearning, and passion that make the book a propulsive read.

One of the things I loved about this novel was the slow-burn of Teddy and Stella’s relationship. Matthews builds up to the final love they feel for each other slowly. They both challenge each other to rise above the constraints placed on them by family and society. Despite their differences, Stella is concerned with propriety and fitting in, while Teddy flouts the conventions of society and seeks to make a mark on the art world by defying tradition, they form a bond over their roles as outsiders; they discover their compatibility, mutual attraction, and more about themselves. I love how Matthews depicts Stella as wanting to fade into the background, while Teddy wants her to shine like the star he sees her as being. There’s a lovely epistolary section where Teddy and Stella learn more about each other and gain the courage to pursue their dreams and each other.

I loved the appearance of the other three women of the Four Horsewomen. Their support of one another throughout the series is a beautifully rendered portrait of female friendship and empowerment (as Anne says, “it’s better to be powerful than to be popular.”) I love how each of them finds ways to support the others. The epilogue serves up a lovely conclusion to the series and lets us see how things end for the characters.

In addition to Matthews’ beautiful prose, I love the historical research that goes into her books. The depiction of what life was like for people with disabilities in the Victorian era was fascinating, as were the other impeccable historical details. The author’s note at the end is worth reading to understand the research that went into this book. Overall, a wonderful love story and a fitting finale to the series. I highly recommend!

Serendipity
Disability Representation
Artist + Muse
Marriage of Convenience

This was a lovely conclusion to the Belles of London series.
Teddy is wheeled chair bound, Stella has been looked over for years, but one chance encounter creates and instant connection.
I love how Teddy and Stella both see beyond what others see in each other. There is such compassion (and yet crackling chemistry!) between these two.
My favorite elements include the letter writing, the MOC proposal, and the tender caretaking. I’ll be in a book coma for a bit with this one.

In the fourth and final book of the enchanting Belles of London series, Stella Hobhouse and Edward “Teddy” Hates, both overlooked due to their outward appearances, discover a profound connection. Stella, at 22, is prematurely gray-haired and destined for a life of obscurity, while Teddy, confined to a wheelchair, is a talented painter yearning to capture Stella’s true beauty.

Despite their shared desire to express their artistic talents, their budding romance is met with societal disapproval, especially since Stella is unmarried. However, their initial interactions reveal a deep bond forming between them. Stella’s limited time in London soon leads her back home to her brother and her beloved horse, as she is a skilled horsewoman.

As they exchange letters, feelings of affection blossom between Teddy and Stella. Both individuals face life’s frustrations, driven by their desire for independence. Stella’s overbearing brother restricts her choices, while Teddy’s loving sister, though well-intentioned, overprotects him to the point of suffocation.

In a moment of ingenuity, Teddy proposes a marriage of convenience, a union that could grant both of them the independence they seek. However, doubts arise—are they truly seeking this arrangement, or do they harbor deeper desires? What of their future together? These questions linger as Teddy and Stella embark on a journey that could lead to a far more profound love story than a mere marriage of convenience.  

What a delightful story by Mimi Matthews! This series has been a joy to read, but this particular book holds a special place in my heart because of how Stella and Teddy transcended the judgments of others. However, their journey wasn’t without its challenges, but by delving into this captivating tale, we witness their triumphs and the joys that life has in store for them.

I’ll miss these remarkable horsewomen we’ve encountered throughout the series. While Stella’s story is a standout, previous books offer heartwarming tales of Evelyn, Julia and Anne. Each emotionally charged story in this compelling series could be read as a standalone, but their exceptional quality makes them an enjoyable read in their entirety.

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Stella Hobhouse is silver-haired, brilliant equestrienne and a naturally skilled sketch artist–who is completely overlooked and put down for her unique hair color and quiet demeanor. Living with her pious and suffocating brother she has no opportunity for freedom or joy except through her friends and riding. Upon visiting an art gallery she runs into aspiring painter Edward “Teddy” Hayes who is immediately captivated by her unique beauty and dreams of painting her. After a virulent bout of scarlet fever left him partially paralyzed Teddy learned to heed good fortune when he finds it and will stop at nothing until Stella is his muse…even if an offer of a marriage of convenience is part of the deal.

I really enjoyed the character struggle and growth throughout this installment of the Belles of London series. Both the FMC and MMC were typecast by their appearances–one in a wheelchair and the other with silver hair and a quiet demeanor. Most thought these characters to be weak, but it was in their equal and often overlooked strength that they found happiness.

If you are someone who enjoys Bridgerton, Lisa Kleypas or Elizabeth Everett I would this series to your TBR.

Meme Matthews does it again with another romance that sparkles on the page. I love how much depth her characters have, and by the end of the story you feel invested in their journey. I can’t wait to read more! Miss Matthews is always a one click buy for me, and I recommend her to anyone who wants to read a closed door romance that still has all the feels!

This was such an amazing ending to
the Belles of London series! I completely adored Teddy and Stella's love story. Their romance came together beautifully. I absolutely swooned! There were so many wonderful moments.

Getting to see all of the earlier protagonists and their spouses together was just lovely and a great way to finishthis series. I can't wait to read to read what Mimi Matthews writes next.

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

Stella is destined to be a spinster. She feels unseen but Teddy sees her. I love a regency romance and this didn’t disappoint.

Thank you #NetGalley and #berkley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

It's one of the best closed door Christmas novels I read this December.
Mimi Matthewes is a favorite when you want all the story, the gentle storytelling style, vivid history pieces on each page, and in this case, a great disability rep in romance.
Teddy Hayes is an artist who has personality gone through tragedies and a loss of his ability to walk. While he is sorted and has accepted his new normal, his sister's constant worry for him keeps him from claiming the independence he desires.

When he sees Stella shining with her silver hair and wants to paint her, he propositions her so, scandalized and exciting her at the same time.

Clinging to limited life choices as the sister to a stern clergyman , Stella faces a new life. Now, would she take it with the curt, honest Mr. Hayes, whose Christmas kiss keeps swirling in her mind, or would the horsewoman avoid the risk of love and refuse to be Teddy's muse?

What a way to end the year. I very much enjoyed the story.

Tw: vivid experience description of Teddy's disability and his day to day struggles internal as well as physical. Mention of parents' death.