The Muse of Maiden Lane is a beautiful conclusion for a wonderful series, and if you enjoyed the other books in Mimi Matthews's Belles of London series or you enjoy regency romances that explore relationships between members of society who are often overlooked, this book is for you.

There is so much to love about this book. Stella absolutely blossoms throughout the novel from a woman who longs to be inconspicuous to someone who is comfortable taking up space and garnering attention, and I am here for it. Mimi did a great job of building tension and chemistry between Stella and Teddy from their first interaction. She viewed him from the beginning in the way that he deserved - as a man full grown, handsome and potentially dangerous to her reputation even though he's in a wheelchair. She views and treats him as a whole person worthy of her respect, affection, and time.

Teddy is extremely candid to the point of occasionally coming across as impertinent or rude, but it makes the moments where he speaks kind words over Stella so impactful. He sees her as truly as her friends do, and he helps her see who she can be if she stops shrinking away from the social spotlight.

The scenes where the two of them are together are delightful, but arguably my favorite part of the story is when Stella has to go home and decide whether she's going to bow to her brothers pressure to marry a local gentleman or set out on her own. The vibe is very Jane Austen with the snide remarks and maneuvering that Stella has to endure, and it's incredible to see her come alive and stand up for herself.

I tend to prefer romances with explicit content. This book does not have any explicit content or scenes, but it still feels very swoonworthy and romantic. Well done, Mimi, for writing a romance where the character's journeys and chemistry speak for themselves without having to include open door scenes. I was enthralled from start to finish.

Thank you to Berkley publishing and NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of this book for me to review.

ARC provided by the publisher.

What a wonderful, wonderful book and delightful way to close out a series. The Parish Orphans of Devon series is one of my favorites and I have absolutely loved the Belles of London. That they have a crossover is pure heaven.

I loved Stella and Teddy’s story so very much. They are two characters whose pairing and ultimate HEA I have been anticipating for months. It did not disappoint. They were perfect for each other in every way. I loved that they saw each other. Truly saw each other. In Victorian England, a prematurely silver haired horsewoman and many in a wheelchair were subjected to disregard and ignorance. Both found ways to express their frustrations that society didn’t fully understand. What mattered is how they understood each other and the magic of that flows each page. Pure magic.

I loved these two together! Seriously from the start, the reader is able to see the tension, the heat, and the angst. And as the book goes on, we get to see them get to know each other some more and fall in love with one another. A definite 5 stars read.