I love the Belles of London books, and The Muse of Maiden Lane is up there as one of my favorites. I absolutely ADORED that this book has a handicapped main character. Teddy's handicap doesn't stop him, and I think the representation is such an important piece in this story.

While I don't love that there's no spice in this series, I do have to say that I adore the emotional journeys that we've been taken on in this series.

The Muse of Maiden Lane
By Mimi Matthews

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 out of 5 stars

This is a smart end to a charming series. Mimi Mathews is a talented writer and veritable historian- with abundant research and historical accuracy in her books.

There is so much to like about this book, but the aspect that may stand out for readers, as both novel (unfortunately) and informative, will be Teddy’s use of a wheelchair.

Teddy lost use of his legs five years ago after contracting scarlet fever.

This book so articulately describes the emotional and logistical challenges facing a young man with a wheelchair in the Victorian era. The author didn’t shy away from the sad finality of Teddy’s circumstances, nor did she make him a focus of pity. The depiction of Teddy, and his romance with Stella, is as an important and beautiful example of inclusive representation in historical romance.

One shortcoming for me was that I didn’t feel like I knew Teddy quite as deeply as some of the heroes in the author’s other books. While we are given so much insight into Teddy’s feelings about the limits to the use of his legs, I felt there were other aspects of him that didn’t feel fully fleshed out for me.

That said, there is so much to cherish about Teddy and Stella. I commend Mimi Mathews on a singular finish to a smart series and recommend this book.

Thank you to @netgalley and to the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy of this book.

So in the last book of the Belles of London series we finally get to meet the mysterious silver-haired Stella Hobhouse. Previously we knew her as one of the four horsewomen who has a very strict and religious brother. We didn’t know the extent though till this book. Oh boy was he one of the most loathsome, uncaring, and nonchalantly mean brothers I’ve read about recently. I was constantly worried he was going to be worse. Under his guardianship Stella hasn’t really had the room to grow and spread her wings and be a little wild.

Teddy Hayes, the hero of this book, is the same but in different ways. He is almost smothered with care and attention because scarlet fever left him partially paralyzed and he doesn’t really get the room to be independent. This is mostly because his sister loves him so much and worries for him. Her character is the lead in A Convenient Fiction, book three in the Parish Orphans of Devon series. I have not read that one yet but I definitely will after this book. She means the best for Teddy, but he as well wants a little freedom and independence.

Together Teddy and Stella are a perfect pair. Since she is usually practical and used to hiding herself when she meets the almost brash and impractical Teddy they bring out the best in each other. Teddy is an interesting character who cuts through any small talk or pretense. He is a breath of fresh air and it is amazing to see him working through his depression and finding his own happiness as well. We get to see sides of Stella we would not expect and it’s a joy to see her be brave and find her own way towards freedom. We also get to see her hobbies outside of riding, and see her open up and start to trust Teddy.

This was a sweet ending to this series of books and we get to see the other couples from books 1-3. It is still a closed door romance, but it has more spice than the other Belles of London books. It can also be read as a standalone, but it’s always fun to recognize characters from her previous books. Definitely pre-order this book if you can. It's a sweet conclusion to this series and Mimi is such a great writer.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest review.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This was a romance between Stella, whose hair is prematurely grey and who is unwelcome at home since her brother is about to marry, and Teddy, who is a painter desperate to have Stella and her beautiful hair sit as a model for him. I thought the romance was sweet, but other things worked less well for me. Mainly there wasn't much by way of plot - not a lot really happened. There were fairly regular instances of anachronistic language and big chunks of information now and then, for example about wheelchairs. Finally many many characters from the author's other books popped up or were referred to constantly which slowed the plot down even more.

Still, a pleasant read and a gentle romance.

I have been in a pretty serious reading slump lately, so I just couldn't get hooked on this one. It's at no fault of the book itself, I'm sure, I just wasn't really feeling it.

Mimi Matthews never ceases to weave captivating tales, and in her latest offering, she delivers yet again with finesse each moment meticulously crafted.

This is a story about Stella and Teddy. Stella meets Teddy at the British museum sketching, where he recommends her to see a Whistler painting displayed in a gallery. They meet again at a house party, but their reactions couldn't be more different.
While Stella is mortified by Teddy's unexpected presence and his knowledge of her carefully concealed secret—her newly dyed auburn hair, a shade eerily matching the painting he recommended—Teddy is exhilarated, finally encountering his muse in the flesh after their chance meeting.

What follows is a tender story of love and need as Stella and Teddy enter into a marriage of convenience. Teddy's proposal is fueled by his artistic passion and desire to capture Stella's light on canvas, while Stella's acceptance serves as a means to secure her freedom from her pious clergy brother.

This was an amazing read, and in a true Mimi Matthew's style- a delight from start to finish! I loved it.

Ah what a lovely book this was! I was so excited to read this book and it definitely did not disappoint me!

So the book follows Teddy Hayes, who is outspoken, direct, passionate, and focused in his art, which remains his source of joy and solace.

Then comes Stella, the grey-haired beauty. Teddy noticed her in the previous Muse book and likened her to a painting. Stella was unsure how to interpret Teddy's intense comparison. Despite her young age, her prematurely grey hair sets her apart, making her wish for normalcy. Teddy finds her uniqueness exquisite and unlike anything he has ever seen, compelling him to paint her.

Art acts as an invisible force that draws them together, unlocking and healing them. As Stella poses for Teddy's sketches, her initial apprehension transforms into love, while Teddy's focus softens, allowing him to hope for acceptance despite his disability. The intimate moments of him drawing her are vivid and reminiscent of Jack Dawson sketching Rose in Titanic.

What sets these books apart is the emphasis on emotional connection rather than physical intimacy. Stella's growth demonstrates her fearlessness and willingness to love and care for Teddy like a devoted wife. This series beautifully captures historical fiction, appealing to fans of shows like Downton Abbey.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher dir the arc!

*3.5 stars*
First off, this was super cute but I wouldn't say it was my favorite of her books. But let me disclaimer that I could have been in not the right mood to read it and it'll be perfect for someone else. The second book in the series is definitely one of my favorites and I feel like it's hard to top that one. I wished this had some of that romantic energy that one did.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it especially the first half but then found myself losing interest in feeling like this was just really slow. The romance just didn't feel quite as butterflies and sparky as some of her others. It was sweet but didn't quite blow me away like I expected! I needed more romance and spark! The middle was especially slow feeling. But I'll still always read Mimi's books!

I've been waiting for Teddy's book ever since I first met him in Laura and Alex's book, A Convenient Fiction, in the Parish Orphans series. As always, I love Ms. Matthew's writing style. I was so excited that we got to revisit old friends from not only the previous Belles of London books, but also the Parish Orphans series. The author did a wonderful job uniting both series and handling a lot of characters in one book.

I teared up a few times during Teddy's POV as he's dealing with the vulnerability and frustration that comes with being wheelchair-bound and dependent on others. I loved how Stella never saw him as an invalid or less than because of his disability. I also loved how Teddy truly saw Stella from the beginning as a person (something her brother never did).

I will say that the conflict and pacing were a bit off (IMHO) and while I enjoyed the book, I wished it would have been a bit longer so we could have been shown more of Teddy and Stella's time together.

It's best to read this in order, but I recommend it for those looking for closed-door, disability rep, historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC so I could leave an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This might be my favorite Belles of London book, and Stella might be one of my favorite four horsewomen! The blossoming love story between Stella and Teddy—the angst, the banter, the way they truly see and accept each other—stole my heart.

Both of them are not the usual main characters you read in love stories; they are creative, quirky, bold, straightforward, talented, and honest. Unfortunately, London society cannot understand how unique they are, often reviewing them for their differences and unusual qualities that don't fit standard beauty norms and capabilities.

Stella Hobhouse, twenty-two, is a skillful rider, aspiring sketch artist, and loyal friend living with her clergyman brother after losing their parents. She's being pushed to find potential suitors, but her outmodish gray hair is openly criticized by a man in the papers, feeding the gossip mill of London elites.

When she accepts her best friend Anna’s invitation to a London party, she sees it as an opportunity to become someone else by dyeing her gray hair red and meeting potential suitors. What she didn’t expect was that the talented painter Edward "Teddy" Hates, whom she met at the museum three months ago, would also be a guest at the party. He already knows how she changed her hair color, a scandalous move in society that could kill her last hope of finding an ideal candidate to marry.

However, Teddy sees her true beauty, which she’s forced to hide to fit society’s standards. He’s spent much time sharpening his drawing skills and working with a tutor in Paris, portraying others. He’s bold enough to admit he wants to portray her and asks her to become his muse. Even though his straightforwardness can offend Stella, he’s also suffering from people’s pity due to being partly paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair after scarlet fever in his youth. His health situation has made him a more direct and honest person because he learned to lose a lot at a young age.

Their second meeting starts on the wrong foot when he asks her to model for him, resulting in Stella's embarrassment and her ignoring him during the festivities. However, a coincidental meeting in his studio, followed by sharing tea time and a carriage trip around the estate that ends under the mistletoe with an unforgettable kiss, slowly turns things around.

When Stella returns to her old life in Derbyshire, things get more heated with her brother Daniel’s decision to marry Amanda Trent, who criticizes everything about Stella and aims to control the household. Daniel forces Stella to marry a sixty-year-old man with older children than her, planning to restrict her from riding her horse, which he deems inappropriate behavior for ladies. This is the last straw.

Teddy becomes her pen friend under a nickname, giving her the courage to survive these unfair situations. But what if they can find a solution that suits them both? Am I talking about a marriage of inconvenience? Perhaps! You’ll have to read more to find out!

Overall, it’s a slow burn, emotional, angsty, unique story, and one of the best books in the series that I highly recommend! I think Teddy and Stella are among the best characters Mimi Mathews has created.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing historical romance's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I low-key find Mimi Matthews a bit dreamy at this point. Interpret that how you will. Curiously, I really liked the horse in this one, where the others disn't stand out to me, at least in recollection.

Thank you, Mimi, for catering to your OG readers! I’m currently enjoying an extended vacation at the Finchley’s residence in Half Moon Street.

Tenderly sensual and swoony, The Muse of Maiden Lane invites readers to embark on a soul-stirring journey of love, yearning, and resilience. Teddy and Stella’s thoughtful and emotionally rewarding romance will undoubtedly sweep readers off their feet. A supremely satisfying series finale that feels more like a new beginning. What happens when you raise the stakes of a marriage of convenience? Read and find out!

Stella Hobhouse, the last unmarried member of the Four Hoursewomen, is desperate to leave her clergyman brother’s home. She must find a husband. What the silver-haired young lady did not expect was becoming the muse of a handsome artist. Teddy is a delightful menace! I am thrilled he got his own book. His character was first introduced in A Convenient Fiction published in 2019. An illness in his youth left his legs partially paralyzed. I love his directness, I love his vulnerability, and I love how he sees Stella. I also love his practical approach to their situation. Their romance will stay with me for a long time. I love them. Their first meeting in Lily left me enthralled. I wanted more! I got more alright!

The Belles of London series celebrates love, life, friendship, sisterhood, and horses. Furthermore, an empowering theme of this series is that it depicts protagonists who dare to break free from the shackles of societal rules to embrace love and redefine their lives. In Muse, too, Stella and Teddy defy convention and follow their hearts, even when interfering (ok, well-meaning but interfering) family members try to create complications for them. But I do get Laura and Alex’s concerns. Nothing but love for those two. Not Daniel and Amanda though. I hope they make each other miserable.

Mimi Matthews expertly transports 21st century readers back in time with vivid descriptions of Victorian culture, clothes, and everyday life. Several secondary characters from diverse walks of life add charm to an already wonderful book. Most especially, I am overjoyed to be reunited with the Parish Orphans of Devon (one of my all-time favorite historical romance series). While I was hoping to be also reunited with Magpie, I’m glad he’s living his best life in Grasse.

“What’s wrong with being difficult?” Never change, Jenny!

A big thank you to Mimi, Berkley, and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC. All thoughts are my own.

I loved getting to know Stella, the final Horsewoman, and her developing relationship with Teddy, a wheelchair-bound male lead. The author depicted the two main characters' feelings about their abnormalities realistically and I so appreciated their journey toward understanding and helping one another. Both of them were in situations that there is no permanent escape from and the best they can do is manage it as well as they can. Having autonomy and the freedom of choice over their own lives seems impossible but also impossible to live without.

You'll get more out of this book if you've read the others first, because many of Mimi's previous characters make an appearance here, and it means more when you already know them.
While I appreciated this book for the nonreligious clean romance that it is, the fade to black scene (married couples only in MM books!) was borderline for me, and I resonated more with other characters in this series. What I mean is that I was more inspired by Anne's decision to nobly serve another through personal sacrifice than by Teddy and Stella's casting off of restraints for their own sakes only. Their pursuit of autonomy was more self absorbed, which is common in our culture and probably appreciated by most of the readers of this book. The characters were represented well though, and I don't expect all of them to share my worldview.
I'm so grateful to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the ebook so I could read and write an honest review. The slow burn romance was perfect, and I enjoyed this read.

This book is great for anyone who loves Victorian Romances. It is delightful and fun and a great ending to the four part series. I love the way Mimi Matthews captures the struggles of the female characters and the freedom they often seek. I can't imagine living in a time period full of restrictions and rules. I started this series a long time ago and have been eagerly awaiting its completion and Mimi Matthews didn't disappoint. I would highly recommend this to any book club or individual who is looking for a well written, fun, and romantic book.

I am always surprised by how this author creates a love story with simple words...and makes often-overlooked characters come to life...making her Historical Romances a delight to read.

"Be loud," he told her. "Be opinionated. Be as much yourself as you wish...and then some. Once we're wed you and I will answer to no one but each other."

Teddy is an artist who has been in a wheelchair for four years after contracting scarlet fever. He is outspoken, direct, and passionate. He has always felt judged and less than because of his disability and never once entertained the possibility that someone could love him for just being himself. Stella is a skilled sketch artist, a young woman with gray hair, and Teddy's Muse. She desires to marry, leave her brother’s unwelcoming home, and longs for romantic love from someone who sees her as more than just an oddity with silver hair.

It was heartwarming to read about how Teddy and Stella relied on each other for freedom, independence, and unconditional love. They were both in challenging situations with no permanent escape, and the best they could do was manage as well as they could. Having autonomy and the freedom to make choices about their own lives seemed impossible, yet living without it was also unthinkable.

This beautiful book has unique characters, an interesting setting, and a closed-door romance, ideal for historical romance readers. It's the final book in the Belles of London series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but I recommend reading the previous books... The Belle of Belgrave Square will always be my favorite.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC.

I cried knowing this was the finale of the Belles of London series, but the tears dried quickly as I fell headlong into this gorgeous romantic tale of young silver-haired Stella and disabled artist Teddy.

He first saw her at the British Museum and found her "stunning," especially with her distinctive hair that in Victorian society made her overlooked. His disability, born from scarlet fever, left him wheelchair-bound due to weak legs. Will they find true love?

Author Mimi Matthews writes with such elegance and heart that it is pure pleasure to read her historical romances. Her characters are relatable and ALIVE, and her narratives and settings so authentic that you feel you are horseback riding with the belles in Victorian London.

I highly recommend THE MUSE OF MAIDEN LANE to readers who adore historical romances that shimmer like diamonds of the first water. Brava, Mimi!

Mimi Matthews does not disappoint in this final installment Belles of London series. Truly saddened to see this series come to a close, but what a satisfying ending. I loved the relationship between the main protagonists, Stella and Teddy, and felt that their scenes together were dynamic. Matthews offered more moments among the Four Horsewomen together in this novel (or in some chapters, interactions among three of the four), which was something I wished to see more from in previous novels, and Matthews delivered. My only critique is that this series is no to low spice. From what I can recall of the full series, Matthews only writes "fade to black" implied sex scenes in two of the four books, both Belle and this one. I find it an odd coincidence that these are both the books where the heroine gets married during their respective novel and wished that this was something that was consistent across all of the books and something Matthews did not include in Siren and Lily, regardless of their marital status (since these heroines claim to be non-traditional independent women). All in all, though, I loved this book and plan to purchase it when it comes out.

Today I’m reviewing The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews. In this historical romance, we follow the young Stella Hobhouse, who is in desperate need of a marriage of convenience. After encountering the handsome up and coming artist Edward “Teddy” Hayes, she may find her solution after a series of unfortunate events.

What I Loved About it:
Mimi Matthews continues her series in the Belles of London, featuring the final horsewoman whose situation is rather dire. With a verbally abusive clergyman for a brother, who tries to retain her inheritance, Stella is in need of a husband. And marriage of convenience can be a fun trope to use when a character is in a sticky situation. When they are desperate to marry possibly anyone to get away from an already unpleasant situation.

Enter Teddy Hayes.

I loved that Mimi took a chance and had a main character who has a disability. Giving voice to people who are capable of more than their disability including finding happiness and love.

What Didn’t Work:
Stella’s situation seemed similar to Julia’s in The Belle of Belgrave Square. Where Stella and Julia both had family members who did not fully see them or empathize with their feelings or needs. The difference between the two characters though is Julia is privliedged where Stella is not. I understood the challenges Stella would face trying to break free from her overbearingly orthodox brother, but all four women Matthews wrote in her Belles of London series were independent, forward thinking, strong willed individuals. Who all went against the social norms of a woman’s place in the world.

I felt Stella lacked that internal strength. To be able to do things on her own without someone having to step in and save her. Had there been more flushed out scenes towards the beginning of the novel, where Stella doesn’t hide away, but takes the plunge to be in Teddy’s orbit, solidifying the spark and the idea of a marriage of convenience earlier on.

A Few Last Thoughts
But overall, this is a historical romance, romance readers will enjoy.

If you’re looking for a marriage of convenience, grumpy + sunshine, and disability representation, then give this one a try.

Mimi Matthews’ writing enchants as always! She paints the most beautiful love story with words. Miss Stella Hobhouse is a young woman whose hair has gone gray. She wants to find a husband and escape her brother’s unwelcome home. By chance, she meets a handsome artist in a wheelchair at an art gallery. Stella doesn’t expect to see him again at a house party; especially since she’s dyed her hair! Mr.

Teddy Hayes has been confined to a wheelchair for four years after contracting scarlet fever. He discovers his muse with silver hair at a house party, but his enthusiasm scares her away. They eventually become friends and then something far dearer.

Both characters know how it feels to be judged on their outward appearances. But love requires vulnerability and trust. This is a beautiful book with compelling original characters, an interesting artistic setting, an unforgettable love story.

I will post this in my November 2024 newsletter.

I like to thank Mimi for the being the queen she is and forcing Berkley's hand at giving me an ARC. Some people have their authors they will absolutely, 100% support and Mimi is mine. I buy all her books, and every single one of the Muse books I've purchased when they come out after I have read the ARC. If there is a fanclub, I am part of it and vocal in it.

Anyway. Before I begin, I want to say: this book has a handicapped main character. I work with disability individuals, and I get to hear on the phone their suffering and their triumphs. So I responded to this very strongly. Bias (even if it was not Mimi)? Perhaps.

Teddy Hayes is like a pot boiling on the stove. His emotional feelings have been simmering and cooking for so long but held back due to his predicament (scarlet fever caused him to loose feeling in his legs). He is outspoken, direct, passionate, and focused in his art. Art is his joy and the one thing that has not been taken from him so to speak. I recall Teddy from the Orphan series, and I knew we would have an interesting character. He needed the right woman to show him and tell him he matters..

Enter Stella. Our little grey haired beauty. Teddy caught sight of her in the previous Muse book, compared her to a painting. Stella did not know how to take Teddy's outward, focused comparison. Already she has attention drawn to her due to her grey hair at a young age and she wishes she were ordinary. (She didn't always have grey hair, it just changed that way over time.)

To Teddy this is exquisite, perfection, and unlike anything he ever seen and he must paint her.

The focus of art is like an invisible thread and feeling that pulls the two of them together. From my time spent in the art path (before I chose the medical path), art can unlock people. It can heal people. It can change people. Through the course of the book, as Stella sits to be sketched by Teddy, her feelings of apprehension change into love. And his feelings of focus, determination of sketching her begin to make him soften and explore the hope that he can be loved for who he is - disability and all. I can't tell you how absolutely evocative the chapters are of him drawing her. They're intimate, hot, and it was on par of Jack Dawson drawing Rose naked on the divan. (Girl isn't even naked, and when he gets to paint her finally she still isn't naked - she is clothed in less though.)

It was also fun seeing all the Devon Parish couples appear, too. I will say that if you grabbed this ARC / book without reading those you're missing out. (While they weren't part of Berkley, they are on par with these even if under a different publisher.) It's a fun thing for a longtime reader and someone who is a fan.

I loved these books because not only does Mimi not put sex in them, she puts the focus on the emotional aspect and how a person is beyond sexual intimacy. What if Teddy could not have sex? Could he find love, even if he was handicapped? Stella proves time and time again, through her growth, she is unafraid, she is open to loving him... she wants to love him and care for him as a wife does for a husband.

To me, this series was a perfect capture of historical fiction that would delight those who watch shows like Downton Abbey or The Gilded Ones. For readers, it's a Heyer and an Austen (different time periods obviously) when you have read them all.

So thank you Mimi for allowing me to be your fan and allowing me to travel with you through your written worlds. I can't wait for your next series!