You don’t see a lot of disability rep in historical romance! The MMC is in a wheelchair in this one and I thought it was very well done. It’s a major part of the story without at all diminishing his character. I thought the insight into how he had to deal with other’s perceptions of him was likely very true to life. The FMC also dealt with being conspicuous as her hair was prematurely grey. In the Victorian era where conformity to societal norms was paramount, these two MCs stood out and had to learn to accept and embrace their differences and stand up to the people in their lives who sought to hide them away and diminish them.

The chemistry between them was excellent and I enjoyed their love story even though it was fade-to-black.

This is an interconnected standalone but I haven’t read any of the preceding books and I was able to follow it.

Continuing from the previous book in the series, Teddy has been enraptured by Stella since their first encounter and he desperately wants to paint her. Teddy is a unique main male character partially due to his inability to walk (due to a past illness), his talent in art, and also because of his direct attitude (he doesn’t mince his words!). Hence when he meets Stella, he shocks her to the core but she cannot resist her attraction to him.

As both of them love art, there is quite a lot of conversation revolving around this topic. Their relationship is one that slowly deepens over time spent together and subsequently via letters.

When Stella’s overbearing brother causes trouble, Teddy steps in to offer a marriage of convenience. Unlike most stories, it was refreshing to see how Stella handled the proposal.

I also loved the strong bond between the Four Horsewomen. Their friendship is something to be coveted and I loved how they are always there to support each other.

I went into this book having not read the first 3 in the Belles of London series, and I’m happy to report that it works wonderfully as a standalone! I really enjoyed this one, and am looking forward to reading the prior books!

My favorite thing about this novel is the unique characters! Stella Hobhouse is an experienced equestrian rider, who has so far been expected by society to become a spinster due to her untimely gray hair. Artist Teddy Hayes has been shunned by the public due to his partial paralysis after having scarlet fever. Both outcasts in their own way, they find themselves drawn together: Stella as Teddy’s muse, and Teddy as Stella’s potential way out of an arranged marriage to a much older man she has no interest in.

Wonderful disability rep, a marriage of convenience, witty banter, and more I will not divulge, all made it so I could not get enough! I feel I could have potentially gained more having read the first 3 books set in the same world, but I thoroughly enjoyed this just the same!

I cannot wait to read more from this author, and strongly recommend this for anyone looking for a cozy historical romance!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the gifted eARC!

This series just keeps getting better and better! The Muse of Maiden Lane is a Victorian romance and the fourth and final book in the Belles of London series. Our final horsewoman to find her happily ever is Stella Hobhouse. Stella is an independent spirit under the guardianship of her clergyman brother who wants her to be proper, quiet and small. Stella is anything but! If only her naturally gray hair could go unnoticed she would be happy. When Stella attends a Christmas house party having dyed her hair a more reddish color (unheard of for a proper girl) she doesn't expect to run into someone who know it is not her real color. Enter Teddy Hayes, aspiring artist who wants nothing more than to paint Stella and spend time with her. Stella's hair dye gone wrong puts her right in the path of Teddy, and the two strike up a unique and beautiful "friendship."

I loved the care in which Mimi Mathews writes Teddy as a Victorian man confined to a wheelchair after a bought with Scarlett fever. Mathews takes pains to represent his struggles as a 24 year old man grappling with his desire for independence while confronting the limitations of his body. There is no glossing over how this affects him. At the same time, his attraction to Stella and their relationship is believable and inspiring . Stella sees him as the man he is, Teddy desires a wife not a nurse, the tow of them together make each other better without diminishing the other. This is one of the best romances with disability rep I have read. WE NEED MORE OF THIS. I also loved how Stella and Teddy are united through their mutual love for art. Mathews depicts this with the same care and research.

This book could easily be read as a stand alone and I must admit I have read this series out of order. I love it when a romance series ends while brining back former characters in coming full circle and this one does not disappoint. If you like historical romance with feisty women ahead of their time and HEA's that fully satisfy with found family as added bonus, you will certainly enjoy this book!

A unique pair of individuals have their own reasons for agreeing to a marriage of convenience and a scandalous artistic endeavor by high society’s standards. Mimi Matthew wraps up the Belles of London series set in the Victorian era with two colorful characters seen in previous books with their own emotional, difficult road to lasting love.



The Muse of Maiden Lane is the fourth book in an inter-connected series that still works well as an individual romance if the reader doesn’t mind encountering the previous happy couples from not only this "Belles of London" series but also Matthew's first series, "Orphans of Devon." But you will find more enjoyment should you read the other books in the series, too.



Miss Stella Hobhouse would love to be truly seen and not for her odd, premature graying hair. Edward Hayes, despite his artistic talent, is first noticed as a man in a wheelchair. Stella's prim preacher brother and his even primmer lady are determined to pawn her off on a local, aged widower and squelch her spirited equestrian pursuits. Her previous reluctance to be Mr. Hayes’s art muse is overcome by his honest, earnest desire to see her as special and lovely, but also his wish for something more.



A holiday country house party and her friend Anne’s surprising engagement (Anne and Hartford from book three) allow Stella and Mr. Hayes, Teddy, to enjoy the treats of the season. A sleigh ride and a bit of mistletoe are meant to bolster Stella against a dreary future in Derbyshire. Their secret correspondence draws a deeper connection. Only Teddy is aware that he wants her love, too, and not just her need to escape her brother’s plans.



I loved the layered character development and friendship, starting at the country house holiday party and then through the discreet correspondence. There was also the magnificent support of Stella's Belles of London friends as well as Teddy's Orphans of Devon group that had me cheering for this unlikely couple from the beginning. They both always saw each other as worthy and attractive when others overlooked them. Gradually, love supplanted doubt. Such a tender and sometimes sultry romance without worry about stigmas and ready to face the challenges together.



This series is now complete, but what a satisfying and heartwarming finale. I hope to spot this pair and others as crossover characters in future books just to spend more time with them. Those who enjoy their historical romance full of authentic backdrop, diversity, variety, and compelling characters and plots must add this one to the must-read stack.

3.5 Stars

<i>The Muse of Maiden Lane</i> is a solid finale to the <i>Belles of London</i> series, but also serves as a coda for Matthew’s <i>Parish Orphans of Devon</i> series.

I think a reader needs to have read, if not the rest of this series, then all seven preceding books to fully enjoy Teddy and Stella’s romance. It will also help with all the cameos of previous characters.

The first half of the book takes place nearly all at the March Christmas party. While this is where Teddy and Stella reconnect after their one run-in from The Lily of Ludgate Hill, there is very little - if any - relationship development to consider these two more than acquaintances by the end of the party. Yes, there were moments when Stella was sitting for Teddy’s sketch that lent themselves to possible romantic development but there wasn’t enough.

In the second half of this book, Stella really shines as the Heroine not only of this book, but of her own life and I loved that journey of her from a woman trying to hide in the background to one who demands to be seen and heard.

It is also in the back-half that the romance picks up as Teddy and Stella are reacquainted in London. But Stella says it best herself at the 68%(!) mark: <i> “It occurs to me that, outside of art, and the fact that you once loved a young lady named Miss Talbot, I don’t know very much about you.” </i> Had I not read A Convenient Fiction, I wouldn’t have known more of Teddy nor cared for his HEA as much as I did so IDK how Stella was expected to be falling in love with him at this point.

While Teddy and Stella’s acquaintanceship quickly becomes more from this point, a marriage of convenience is suggested and then crammed into the last 30% of the book in a way that had this not been a Mimi Matthews book, I wouldn’t have believed in. Nor would I have felt a tendre for the <i>finally</i> building romance…I just...wasn’t sold on it completely by the end. Teddy came across as obsessed with his painting of Stella and art in a way that others might find charming but was not to me.

Still, this is a Mimi Matthews book so it is well written, researched and the characters are fantastic. As a series finale, it is also fantastic. But as a Romance, the usual spark and development I come to Matthews for wasn’t present.

I will go cry now that I didn’t love this book as much as I wanted to.

Thank you to Mimi Matthews, Berkeley Publishing and NetGalley for the Arc!

Wow, this book was incredible! Mimi Matthews never ceases to amaze me with her writing, but moreover, she never ceases to surprise me with the intimacy between her characters without them ever having an on-page spicy scene! I was so looking forward to this, and it surpassed everything I thought imaginable.

Let's start with Stella. Stella as a character may have been the most surprising to me since Julia. I loved The Belle of Belgrave Square, in fact, I loved all the books, but Belle is my favorite. Stella was such a beautifully written character though. I loved how much she struggled with the idea of having to be small and quiet due to societal standards, but society wasn't small or quiet when it came to her. I loved how Mimi described the feeling of wanting to feel invisible and blending into the background. From the onset, I loved Stella's voice. I loved how fierce she was especially when we get to those tumultuous moments between her and her brother who by the way is probably more infuriating than any other villain I've ever read.

And then we have Teddy. God, I wish I could say I wasn't picturing a wheelchair-bound version of Henry Cavill, but with the hair and the eyes and the fact that he had great upper body strength my brain was just there! Teddy was also such a surprising character. I found myself loving him more and more as the book went on, specifically when we got to his proposal. I could reread that scene a million times and still fall hopelessly in love with him. But my favorite moment was when he finally let Stella in more and let her massage his legs. There was that moment when she was confessing her feelings and Teddy just said "I love you" and I swear I just wept. It was so beautiful. That moment felt like a movie. It truly was such a beautiful scene and those moments leading up to their marriage were so important to how this unfolded.

That being said, I would have liked to have Teddy and Stella be engaged or feel more like a marriage of convenience much earlier on in the story. I felt like while this is touted as a marriage of convenience it really isn't one because we barely see it as that by the time they're really even engaged. I loved this book with my whole heart. And I will likely reread it over and over again. I am so excited to see what Mimi does next!

"The Muse of Maiden Lane" by Mimi Matthews is a lovely conclusion to the “Belles of London” series! This series follows four horse loving friends during the Victorian era. This final installment tells Stella and Teddy’s story. Stella Hobhouse has always stood out due to her silver hair. Even though Stella’s hair makes her stand out, it is not always in a good way. She is used to being overlooked by gentlemen because of that very thing, making her somewhat of an oddity. Teddy Hayes is an artist who uses a wheelchair, due to being partially paralyzed by scarlet fever. Teddy sees Stella and is taken aback by her beauty and feels that he must paint her portrait, even though sitting for a portrait is considered scandalous for a lady of that time. Ms. Matthews once again brings her readers well thought out and complex, loveable characters. I instantly fell in love with Stella and her love for her horse, Locket. Stella feels more confident and independent with Locket. Teddy’s character brings great disability representation, while also being a three-dimensional hero that readers will root for. It is refreshing to see a male protagonist who deals with chronic pain. I love how Mimi shows what the reality of life would have been like for someone in a wheelchair and partly paralyzed, especially in that era. There is also a lot of talk about art, artists, and techniques that I found fascinating. Readers of Ms. Matthews’s books will love seeing characters from the previous books in this series as well as from her “Parish Orphans of Devon” series. I especially loved the house party setting and getting so much time with characters from other books. Both Stella and Teddy have things that make them different and considered odd in their society and they want to find independence. Combine these characters with a marriage of convenience plot and you have a winner! I only wish there were more books in the series!

Content: I give this book a PG-13 rating. Some examples of the content are: mention of prostitutes and brothels; the Lord’s name is taken in vain; the words “da*n, “bloody,” “hell,” and “devil” are used; characters drink alcohol; reference to someone being born out of wedlock and a bastard; talk of someone having a mistress; someone struggles with depression; a man wants his future wife to pose in the nude for him to paint; talk of wedding night and consummation; fade to black scene with kissing and undressing to underwear.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

The Muse of Maiden Lane is a fabulous wrap up to the Belles of London series! There were also little peeks into certain events happening with each of the other couples from the previous stories as I read through this novel, which was so fun!

I loved these two characters and that the author did such a good job of showing me all of the ways in which Teddy struggled and had to either rise above or endure various difficulties related to his paralysis. There was no shying away from certain indignities that he had to face as he relied on his man, Jennings, to help him. Stella had her own different troubles to work through, from the way she was looked upon because of her gray hair to the hurtful way she was treated by her own brother. Both Teddy and Stella had some big decisions to make regarding their futures in this story.

I loved the way these characters slowly got to know each other, both during the house party and through their correspondence. Their attraction and interest in each other bloomed into a deep love and affection that was both unconventional and true.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The final book in Mimi Matthews’ Belles of London series is “The Muse of Maiden Lane.” Stella Hobhouse was mortified when, at sixteen, her hair had turned completely gray. At twenty-two, she has yet to find a husband, and her older brother, Daniel, is pressuring her to wed an elderly squire. If she does not obey, she may find herself homeless, with just a small inheritance that she uses for the care of her beloved mare, Locket. Stella derives comfort from the company of her good friends, Anne, Julia, and Evie, all of whom are, like her, accomplished equestriennes.

One day, while visiting the British Museum, Stella encounters Edward (Teddy) Hayes, a painter who is confined to a wheelchair. He is instantly enchanted by Stella’s exotic appearance, and decides that he wishes to capture her likeness on canvas. When the two meet one another again at a house party, Stella is attracted to Teddy, but she is convinced that he is obsessed with his career and has no interest in romance. She is taken aback when he asks her to pose for him, since no respectable lady would agree to such a scandalous request.

This is a diverting tale about two unconventional individuals who are struggling to maintain their independence. Stella’s brother is a bully, and Teddy’s compassionate but overprotective sister, Laura, hovers over him, even though he has an attendant who helps him with his day-to-day needs. This novel has excellent descriptive writing, but it is weakened somewhat by the flowery passages in which Teddy and Stella pine for one another. To her credit, the author vividly depicts the transformation occurring in the art world in the 1860s, before the word “impressionism” was even in use. At the time, most critics disdained the work of those who, like Teddy, painted in a style that emphasized light, color, shadow, and emotion. In “The Muse of Maiden Lane,” Matthews shows how challenging it is for Teddy, who longs to be self-reliant, to accept help from others. In addition, Stella’s plight underscores the precarious status of many single women in nineteenth century England, an era when wealth, gender, and family status helped determine what a person could accomplish in life.

Mimi Matthews’ The Muse of Maiden Lane opens with the final story of the last of the four equestriennes to fall in love, Stella Hobhouse. The novel is actually the finale of two series: The Belles of London and the Parish Orphans of Devon. Stella Hobhouse is visiting Lady Anne and Mr. Hartford as a guest of his grandfather, the Earl of March. She misses her horse Locket, quite a force of nature that only she can safely ride her. Locket is “silvery white in color [with] the imposing size of her famous Thoroughbred sire, Stockwell, [and] elegant contoured face and wide-set eyes of her crossbreed Arabian mother” (ARC, location 466).

At the opening of The Muse of Maiden Lane, Stella is running away from a ball. She is hiding from artist Edward “Teddy” Hayes whom she first met in the King’s Gallery of the British Museum. The problem? The 22-year-old did not have Circassian gold hair then. She thought she could color her silver hair for this last London season. Only a few knew her real hair color. The well-bred sister of a clergyman knew that only prostitutes or actresses colored their hair.

Blame it on artist James McNeill Whistler and his painting The White Girl. Stella saw this piece at the Berners Street Gallery and felt inspired to make this rash decision. Desperate to marry, she wanted to turn heads in approval, not disgust. Her unusual gray hair ruined her first London season. One gent even wrote a cruel limerick.

Teddy could easily “out” Stella. And then the unthinkable happens: a maid washes Stella’s hair to remove stubborn styling ointment. Her once strawberry locks turn a lovely green. Great.

After this hair-washing mishap, Stella is back to gray and must hide her hair or else everyone will know she colored it. She and Teddy are thrown together indoors as a result and a companionship begins.

Stella needn’t have worried. He seemed more disappointed than anything. He loves Stella’s hair and her icy blue eyes. From the moment he set eyes on her, Teddy desired to paint her. If this were 2024, he would take to TikTok and say “I’m obsessed!”

Teddy imagines Stella painted as one of the seven sisters of Zeus, the mythological Pleiades that Zeus turned into stars in the night sky. She could be his Calliope; Clio; or even Erato. He has been searching for his muse since that first meeting. And is delighted when he sees his star across the ballroom at the same Christmas house party. He is a guest of the earl of March with sister Laura and her husband Alex Archer. His brother-in-law wished to purchase a new strain of the earl’s roses for their perfumery, Hayes’s Perfumes in Grasse, France.

What’s interesting about this novel is the love interest uses a wheeled chair. Teddy and his sister contracted Scarlett Fever in their youth. Teddy’s condition worsened to the point he lost use of his legs. Laura’s case resulted in asthmatic lungs on occasions when she overexerts herself. His chair makes people pity him or avoid him, depending on their view of his situation. He longs for freedom from the indignities of having to depend on manservant Jennings, a loyal and resolute servant.

Laura took over Teddy’s care when their father died. They lived with Aunt Charlotte in Surrey. (Her story is told in book 3 of the Parish Orphans of Devon series linked below.) She and husband Alex run the perfumery, but it is in Teddy’s name. Teddy doesn’t want that life. At 24, his deepest desire is to not have to depend as much on others. He wants to have some autonomy. He’d love nothing more than to stay in England and follow in the footsteps of his idol, the late artist, Joseph Mallord William Turner, known as “the painter of light.” Teddy does not have much freedom of movement at the beginning of the novel. That changes before the end.

Stella can empathize with Teddy when it comes to a desire for autonomy. Her brother Daniel acts more like a prison guard than father figure since their parents’ deaths. She has a small inheritance she uses to cover the costs of spirited Locket and groom, John Turvey, along with other horses. Her brother would rather she not keep her inheritance. He says she should use it for the poor. Me: Ha! Of course he does. I couldn’t stand Daniel.

Stella suspects his true wishes; he wants more money for himself. He likes having control. He has his sights set on marriage to Miss Amanda Trent, an obnoxious woman. True Christians are known by their love for others. These two must have misread Mark 12:29-31. If they were in Dante’s Purgatory, they’d be on that terrace of pride for a while.

Daniel repeatedly invites this pushing-60-year-old man, Squire Smalljoy over for dinner. He wants her to marry the man. Stella eventually has three people conspiring to push her out of the home. One epic moment causes a shift in her circumstances – albeit a bit scary afterwards – but a shift. I’ll leave it at that.

Teddy tells Stella repeatedly that she’s his shining star, a play on her name. For most of the novel, he attempts to persuade Stella to pose for him. He even gets his sister Laura in on the act at one point after Stella returns home to Fostonbury. But Victorian 1963 society frowned on single ladies as artist’s models. Those ladies who posed for Teddy were either relatives or prostitutes. Even if they didn’t sleep with the artist, the ladies who posed would be seen as prostitutes if they accepted such employment. (See source for more details.) But the title says “The Muse” so I knew circumstances would become much more favorable for that to happen.

Mimi Matthews will published the fourth book in her Belles of London series on Nov. 19, 2024 in time for the holiday season. You can preorder The Muse of Maiden Lane for Kindle or in paperback at Amazon. I enjoyed Stella and Teddy’s steady, growing friendship to lovers story. I learned history about Victorian artists as well as inventors. Teddy receives a new chair at some point with rubber wheels, but before that had a difficult time moving around in society without Jennings lifting and carrying him. The London season and the marriage mart were other Victorian era subjects of interest, as well as women’s small sphere, her lack of autonomy outside of marriage.

Clergy in literature could be another topic for research. Stella’s brother Daniel had no business being called a clergyman. I think for him it was a living, not a calling. In fact, I added a note on my Kindle – “’Do unto others as you would have them do unto you’ is something that doesn’t apply to Daniel.” He called his sister a parasite at one point. He kept pushing Stella to marry the squire, but the worst was when he attempted to make decisions about Locket without her say. That did not go well.

My recommendation is to read the two series, Parish Orphans of Devon and Belles of London before this book. I didn’t know backstories of previous characters that entered the tale. For example, Laura and Alex Archer visit friends who were part of the Parish Orphans of Devon series: Tom and Jenny Finchley, Justin and Helena Thornhill, and Neville and Clara Cross. I felt like the flow of the current love story slowed because of these sudden departures from the main tale. But it could be because I hadn’t read the books. That said, It’s not necessary to have read the two series to enjoy this story. Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this advance copy.

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL STORY.

I love the way Mimi Matthews crafts stories. They are intricate and detailed with complex characters that I just love every time. I loved Stella’s tenacity and watching her really learn to love who she is and not hide behind anything. And the way Teddy worked to be at peace with his situation and finding his ultimate partner in Stella.

This was the best ending to this series and I loved seeing all of the previous Belles and characters from prior books too. The slow burn nature of Stella and Teddy’s romance was just what the plot needed. The swoon is there and so is the heartfelt journey of two people meant for each other.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Romance
Language: low
Romance: closed door
Violence: low

The Muse of Maiden Lane is the fourth novel in the Belles of London that act as standalones but have the same universe of characters. This means that there are tons of side characters and cameos from the other novels present in this story. This novel follows 22-year-old Stella Hobhouse who is an excellent rider and sketch artist. She runs into painter Edward “Teddy” Hates at a party in London. He has Stella become his muse. Teddy has been in a wheelchair after an illness as a child and, as a result, has become more direct and honest.

Art is the thread that holds the two main characters together and I love the author’s portrayal. The characters themselves were a little flat as I expected them to be a little more complex. The same went for the plot as it was fairly steady without a lot of conflict. There is a marriage of convenience that helps move the story along. It was nicely done as I like the “forced” time together. As I have not read the other novels in the series, I did miss all the connections with the past characters, but I was still able to enjoy everything. The writing in the story was good and did entice me to try the other novels. Overall, I look forward to trying the other novels in the series.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Berkley, for the opportunity to read this enjoyable novel. The opinions expressed are completely my own.**

5 stars!! What a lovely end to this series. It can definitely be read as a standalone, but the world surrounding Stella and Teddy is so enriched if you have the background of the other Belles and the Parish Orphan series. She has lots of little references and inside jokes peppered in for us fans.

I’ve loved Teddy since he appeared as a side character in A Convenient Fiction, and I was extremely hyped to see him get his own book. This lived up to the high expectations I set (and even exceeded them). Teddy’s straightforward demeanor and caustic wit still shine through, but seeing his softer side and vulnerability was a joy.

Stella was a fantastic heroine. Watching her growth throughout the novel was such a delight. She starts out a bit beaten down by the world and, by the end of the book, she has the strength and presence of a goddess (quite literally).

Thank you to Mimi Matthews for responding to my silly and slightly unhinged email requesting Berkley to release her book early ~for my election anxiety~ with a digital ARC — what a queen. This book further proves why she’s my number one comfort author. And thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I don’t know what happened with these last two books in the Belles of London series, but book four, The Muse of Maiden Lane, is as much of a disappointment as its predecessor. It slightly edges out the prior book in places, but for the most part, the magic really is lacking that the first two books had.
For all its flaws, I do mostly like the characters. Both are outsiders within their society, although for different reasons. Stella doesn’t fit the “ideal” beauty standards of the Victorian era, due to her gray hair, and this is something she reckons with in the book, including dyeing her hair for a party in an attempt to fit in. Teddy is an artist, and he uses a wheelchair as a result of scarlet fever weakening his legs several years back. While Matthews is not disabled herself, I do respect her attempt to depict the nuances of living as a wheelchair user, and depicting the societal stigma, which would have been more pronounced in the 19th century.
The romance is sweet, if rather understated, and the story definitely felt rather conflictless several times as a result. I do like the attempt to point out the various ways women in particular were subjected to ridiculously misogynistic standards, with the initial arrangement between Stella and Teddy being improper, because artists’ models usually weren’t women of polite society, but instead were sex workers and other women of “ill repute.” This also comes up in the tangent about her coloring her hair, that it’s not something “proper” women do. But it’s not enough to sustain the conflict of the book. And while the romance is billed as a marriage of convenience, this did not occur until very late in the book.
Another factor that made the book seem longer than it was was the ridiculous amount of side characters. While I’m always down to see characters from previous books, these appearances and references felt very ham-fisted, and very “this is the last book, so I need to include all these inane updates on everyone.”
All in all, I’m relieved this series is over, and hopeful that her new series will be the return of the Mimi Matthews magic I’ve come to enjoy. In spite of its shortcomings, I do recommend it if you’re looking for a slow-burn, lower-heat historical romance.

First time reading this author. I liked it enough to find the others in the series. I may even go find more of their books.
I found the characters interesting and liked the history lesson at the end.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARCs in exchange for an honest review.

It’s so bittersweet to come to the end of this series. I’ve loved each installment so much, and this one is no exception. I’d been eagerly awaiting Stella and Teddy’s story since their meeting in the previous book.

This was a slow paced show burn. But that means we get lots of time with our characters as they figure out what they want and who they can be. Teddy is such an interesting hero, not because of his disability, but how intense he is with his art, and how he deals with the well-meaning family that loves him and is also overly protective.

Speaking of overly something, I think this book made me the most ragey with Stella’s brother, his fiancée, and their horrid neighbor. I wanted so badly to just throw them in the trash where they belonged. I loved Stella standing up for herself.

The heart of these books has always been the friendship of our four horsewomen, and we get so much of that here! It’s fitting for the conclusion of the series and it’s so heartwarming. The epilogue almost brought tears to my eyes.

I’m sad to say goodbye, but this will remain a favorite series! Highly recommended!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own.

I found this to be a fitting ending for the series. There are several cameo appearances of well-loved characters from two series. And finally, Stella and Teddy receive their happy ever after.

This is a very different marriage of convenience story, in that the marriage does not happen til the last portion of the book. Yet the author skillfully pens the backstory for both the lovely silver-haired heroine and the hero confined to the wheel chair. Through difficult circumstances, each was made to feel inferior by others.

Although each had found an inner circle of friends, they hid in a life of relative obscurity. I loved the way each was the catalyst for the other to shine, to find the inner courage to seek to be seen for who they are, in spite of their differences from societal expectations. The romance develops slowly, but I like that better than love at first sight. I found this to be a unique love story, yet found it delightful.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher through Netgalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 stars
This was an interesting book to read. I enjoyed the third book so I was excited to read Stella's story and happy ending. The Muse of Maiden Lane is the fourth and final book in Mimi Matthews’ Belles of London series.
Stella was a formidable character. She was strong and didn’t allow others to push her around. However she also feared standing out and making an embarrassment of herself. She wanted to be free but didn’t know how to truly be herself. Teddy was also an interesting character. He told others his thoughts plainly and did not allow the judgment of others to lead him. However he also feared the pity that they may give him because of his wheelchair and disability.
I enjoyed reading about both Teddy and Stella’s journeys as they interacted and sought to find their happiness. They had a connection that was immediate although it was a little bit of an obsession on Teddy’s part. As an artist, he greatly wanted to paint Stella and it did eventually lead to love. The story was interesting and I enjoyed getting to see old characters.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoyed the other books. It is a lovely ending to a sweet series about four friends. The Muse of Maiden Lane is a closed door 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.

The perfect end to the perfect “pudding” read. Pudding is delightful, creamy, “you know what you are going to get and want more afterwards” kind of a read. Simple and classy. Clean without frills.

Loved this conclusion for Teddy and Stella and dare I say l loved it more than the last one!? Is it even possible?!

Thank you to Mimi Matthews, NetGalley, and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this book!