This one was pretty unique to me. Two unique characters Teddy Hayes wheelchair bound due to a contracted illness that attacked his spin and Stella Hobhouse who has premature gray hair very early and excels at riding horses. He becomes enamored with her and wants to paint her calls her his silver starlight. It was very interesting to read the disability reps here and how both have their different struggles. This was a marriage of convenience both trying to get away from their overbearing families and I just wished it didn’t fe like it ended so quickly after they got married. Overall I really enjoyed it as it still had some swoony moments.

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Teddy's sun rose and set on Stella from the very first time they met. She captivated all his thoughts, and nothing else would suffice as his muse, but her. But was he only after her for his painting... or were more feelings involved?! And what if Stella is just as curious of Teddy, and agrees to be his muse, what then? Will it tarnish her reputation? And when he's finished his art will their story be finished?


Hmmm, can I categorize this as a closed door romance if we technically are allowed behind the door? Perhaps. I think maybe I'd say, it's fade to black , with innuendo. And what does occur is between a married couple.

Now that, that's out of the way... I liked this story! I docked a star because it wasn't "love" exactly. For me... the pacing was very slow which made it feel like it was taking a long time to "get to the good parts." I knew we would have a marriage of convenience in the mix but it was rather late to the party for me. That said the story was unique and I genuinely enjoyed watching Teddy and Stella's relationship blossom through the pages.

Thank you to Netgalley, Mimi, and Berkley Publishing for the complimentary copy. This review reflects my own opinions.

The Muse of Maiden Lane, written by Mimi Matthews, is a beautifully crafted slow-burn romance that exudes elegance and charm.

I like Mimi Matthews's closed door Victorian romances a lot, and this one was a great closeout to her current series. I will say that she weaves in her previous "Paris Orphans of Devon" series into this book more than she had with the others in the Belles of London series, so even if you've read the first 3 in this series, you might miss out on all of the character dynamics.

Stella is looking for a husband (surprise, surprise!); Teddy is looking for Stella, but not as a wife. He met her once at a museum and he was immediately inspired to paint her. Matthews bills this as "friends to lovers," but I think she just means that there's low relationship conflict, because these two meet, are immediately attracted to each other, become friends (who kiss at Christmas), and then they get married. This seems more like a straightforward courtship to me! To be clear, that is not a criticism, because I had a lot of fun reading this.

One thing I really appreciated about this historical is that Teddy uses a wheelchair as a mobility aid. The historical research around his wheelchar is on point, and helps to demonstrate both how the world is created for typically-mobile people and how far we've come from the Victorian Era, even if we're not 100% there yet. For example, just to get into his house Teddy needs to rely on a manservant to help him over the front steps; he also has to have his servant hand Stella down from a carriage (you only need to think of P&P 2005's hand flex to realize how much this actually matters in the context of historical courtship).

As I mentioned above, Matthews writes closed door romance, which to me is not a problem, even if I typically prefer romance with a little bit more heat. That said, I think this book in particular really could have benefited from just a little extra steam: I certainly felt that Stella and Teddy were sexually attracted to each other! Being in the bedroom with them as they worked out how to make everything work (this is a double-virgin romance, folks) would have underlined that his mobility might pose a challenge, but one that was not insurmountable.

This is my favorite in the series, and I highly recommend it!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

*Received as a free ARC*
Overall, I definitely enjoyed this book. It's a good historical romance. I absolutely hated the ableism, but I understand that the point of it's inclusion was calling out, not condoning. It still made me deeply uncomfy as a disabled person. I also don't quite understand how I ended up reading three books in a row with intentionally detestable male side characters. Needless to say, I hated Stella's brother. Would recommend to anyone who likes this genere.

If Mimi Matthews is going to write it, I’m going to read it. As always, this book felt authentic to the time thanks to MM’s attention to historical detail and accuracy.

This book would be a great one to pick up in December, since it starts with a holiday house party and moves into the spring. Teddy and Stella had such a lovely romance, and I especially loved how so many worlds collided in this book, with familiar faces from both the *Parish Orphans* and *Belles of London* series.

This series was my introduction to Mimi Matthews, and I’m sad to see it end, but I’m eagerly anticipating her new series.

The story started a bit slow for me. I was immediately intrigued by Teddy’s character, but a lack of action slowed my progress. However, the book picks up once Stella leaves Somerset. The confidence she feels after her time with Teddy spurs her forward to stand up for herself.

Stella finds her courage to defy her brother and live her own life free from his judgement. It’s exhilarating to read.

Stella and Teddy’s romance came together just as I hoped it would. I swooned! There were so many moments I highlighted— so many quotes. It’s just beautiful.

True to form, I don’t recall Stella from the earlier Belles of London novels. It has been long enough since I read The Siren of Sussexx and Belle of Belgrave Square that I didn’t recall Stella being a fourth horse woman. The first time I marked her was in The Lily of Ludgate Hill, which sets up Stella’s story. It was so nice to get to know Stella. She is a firecracker and I absolutely loved her and Teddy in the end.

I love Matthews’ knowledge on Victorian life. From how she describes wardrobe and furnishings to the detailed discussion of disability in the time. I caught myself looking up words and googling Victorian wheelchairs as I read.

I particularly appreciate Matthews’ writing different and disabled main characters. Their differences were not used a plot device but rather were part of their whole being as it is in real life. She takes care to delve into their insecurities while letting them also be proud and confident in their character. It is well done.

And now I must reread all of the Belles’ stories and the Parish Orphans of Devon series as it ties in with this novel as well!

"A silver-haired equestrienne and a charismatic artist turn a scandalous bargain into a vibrant portrait of love.

Stella Hobhouse is a brilliant rider, stalwart friend, skilled sketch artist - and completely overlooked. Her outmodish gray hair makes her invisible to London society. Combined with her brother's pious restrictions and her dwindling inheritance, Stella is on the verge of a lifetime marooned in Derbyshire as a spinster. Unless she does something drastic...like posing for a daring new style of portrait by the only man who's ever really seen her.

Aspiring painter Edward "Teddy" Hayes knows true beauty when he sees it. He would never ask Stella to risk her reputation as an artist's model but in the five years since a virulent bout of scarlet fever left him partially paralyzed, Teddy has learned to heed good fortune when he finds it. He'll do anything to persuade his muse to pose for him, even if he must offer her a marriage of convenience. After all, though Teddy has yearned to trace Stella's luminous beauty on canvas since their chance meeting, her heart is what he truly aches to capture...."

Aw, I love this, it sounds like a plotline for a seventies British miniseries. Must read!

Genre: Historical Romance
England, 1862

The conclusion to the Belles of London series, The Muse of Maiden Lane features the fourth horsewoman, Stella. Sister of a vicar, Stella had enough money set aside for two seasons only, and she's left them with no real suitors and a lot of grief over her silver hair. At a Christmas house party, she meets Teddy Hayes - or rather she meets him for the second time, after a previous encounter over the summer at an art gallery. Teddy is an artist and he's single-mindedly determined to paint Stella as his muse. But it's scandalous for a well-bred unmarried woman to allow herself to be painted and for all his flaws she does not want to bring scandal upon her clergyman brother.

Teddy is wheelchair bound, which Matthews does an excellent job focusing on and yet not making it the center of his character. Both Stella and Teddy have features that make them stand out, and Stella recognizes her hair (aka Teddy's obsession) is not quite the same as Teddy's wheelchair, but it makes her feel conspicuous and uncomfortable. The crux of their relationship is about seeing each other's true character amplified by the what society considers flaws rather than in spite of or because of.

This is closed door, like all of Matthews books, but it's highly romantic all the same. I'm really glad she chose to tackle such a sensitive subject - particularly because Teddy's mobility issues come from a later-in-life bout with scarlet fever. I did struggle with Stella's brother as a villain - in large part he just made me mad. Sometimes I just don't need additional patriarchal injustice. The last 20% of the book ends up being my favorite because the romance really takes off at that point.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Historical Romance, Romance, Victorian Romance, Disability
Spice Level: Fade to black
Language: Mild profanity upon occasion
Representation: Leading man is disabled after contracting an illness at 19

THE MUSE OF MAIDEN LANE is the last of this series of companion novels, and I am genuinely sad to see it end. I've adored these four women and their fierce loyalty to each other.

Stella is a conundrum. At times she seems to want to fade into the background, but she also participates in dangerous activities—like galloping sidesaddle with a horse that many would consider unridable. I enjoyed the nuance in her character. And I've known women who went gray in their 20s so it was fun to see how she handled it.

Teddy is so forceful and passionate—and an artist, which some society members might use as an excuse for his behavior. No matter what way you paint it, he is impertinent. His struggles of dealing with a wheelchair, trying to maintain dignity, and his worries about developing relationships (especially romantic) seemed very well portrayed.

This book highlights the complicated facets of family in addition to the burgeoning romance. The back material tells the reader where the author fudged some of the dates to make things happen the way she wanted for this novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it! And I can't wait to read the next thing from Mimi Matthews' pen / computer.

Happy reading!

eARC Review: The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews
Pub Date: November 19, 2024
Thank you to Berkley Romance for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I have really loved all of the books in this series and this one is no exception! Stella is on the verge of being a spinster and her vicar brother wants to marry her off - even if it's too a man who is much much older than she is. Teddy is an artist who is traveling in London from France and sees Stella at an art showing once and is instantly inspired. By chance, they happen to find themselves at the same house party not long after and Teddy begs Stella to model for him. Though she initially declines, she eventually realizes that this could be her ticket to freedom.

The beginning of the book did start off a bit slow for me - mostly because Stella and Teddy don't spend a whole lot of time on page together. I did love the epistolary moments and once they finally saw each other in London again, the book picked up pace for me and I was much more invested. I loved seeing how they came together and started to love one another.

The inclusion of Teddy being a wheelchair user after a bout with Scarlet Fever was really interesting to see - I loved how he eventually let Stella in to see and understand what he needed but that she also respected his independence.

I think this series is absolutely worth reading! While it may be closed door, Mimi doesn't shy away from tension and swoon.

🤍Book review 🤍

The Muse of Maiden Lane
by Mimi Matthews


The Muse of Maiden Lane is a beautiful and moving romance that pairs two characters society overlooks, bringing their love story to life with heart and depth.
Stella Hobhouse, with her striking silver hair and quiet resilience, and Teddy Hayes, an artist who overcomes his physical challenges, make a memorable couple. Their marriage of convenience, born out of necessity, becomes a heartfelt journey as they embrace each other’s dreams and passions.
I loved seeing Stella find the confidence to stand out and Teddy’s unwavering support for her true self.
The friendships among the Four Horsewomen add warmth and humor, while the historical details make the setting rich and immersive. Mimi Matthews brilliantly captures the art, love, and courage in this story. This final book in The Belles of London series is full of emotion, with beautifully written characters and a romance that feels timeless and inspiring
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy, opinions are my own.

There were so many things about this book that just did not land for me. The execution was muddled, the pacing was slow and the romance lacking.
This book is a finale for not one but two series, and as a result, it was bogged down by side characters and cameos. And for a marriage of convenience, they didn’t get married until nearly the end. Very little time was spent with them together and I felt very little between them. The thing I could not get over was Stella saying she decided to fall in love with Teddy because she wanted love in her marriage. But they truly both married each other out of desperation and a need for both of them to live freely and independently from their domineering families. This could have been ok if we had enough time with them together building on that, but we didn’t. I still feel incomplete and like I don’t really have an idea of what their HEA looks like.
Also the family drama on Stella’s side was a caricature of what Mimi usually writes. It was almost lazily inserted and not resolved.
This is so unfortunate as I was highly anticipating this story. Overall this was just so very flat. It had moments of the style I like from Matthews but it really lacked emotion and angst.
I’m rounding to three stars because it’s still a Mimi Matthews, and she is a very good writer. There were moments of great description and I could always tell I was reading one of hers, this one just wasn’t her best.

I have wanted to love this series so so so badly. And unfortunately, every book in the series has just missed the mark for me. Which shouldn’t be the case, because I’ve loved Mimi Matthews other series and novellas. Stella and Teddy were really the couple I’ve waited for this whole time because I was hype about Teddy from her previous books in the Parish Orphans of Devon series. But I was so bored. Which has essentially been my issue with each of the books in this series. The burn isn’t even a burn. It’s nonexistent. And for it to be advertised as a marriage of convenience, they don’t marry until far, FAR into the story. Which…negates the point of a MOC for me as a reader. Teddy and Stella are fine on their own but the chemistry? Nonexistent. Their personalities? Can’t find ‘em. It may be a while before I pick Mimi’s books back up under her Berkley contract because these have not been it.

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

A somewhat disappointing end to the series for me 😩

I'll start by saying Stella was a great FMC. She was stuck in a horrible spot with no prospects and a brother who should kick rocks, but she still kept her spirit and as much of a positive outlook on her life as she could get.

But where was her romance story?? Compared to the first three books, there is almost no romance here, just Teddy's obsession with painting her, which I don't think ever REALLY transitioned that well into actually loving her.

I couldn't really get behind Teddy. He had a couple of good moments, but his character was totally flat and because of that their relationship was just not realistic. I feel like they spent almost half the book apart, and it's advertised as a marriage of convenience story, but the prospect of marriage doesn't even come into play until about 3/4's of the way into it...

Unfortunately a lack luster ending to an otherwise great series 💜

The Muse of Maiden Lane, the fourth installment in The Belles of London series, delivers an unlikely romance between two artistic souls who society has pushed to the margins. Stella Hobhouse's premature silver hair has rendered her nearly invisible to the ton, while artist Edward "Teddy" Hayes navigates life and his passion for painting from a wheeled chair following a bout of scarlet fever.

Their initial meeting in a London gallery evolves into something deeper during a Christmas house party, where a romantic sleigh ride proves no mistletoe is needed for their first kiss. United by their shared love of art and horses, Stella and Teddy forge a connection that defies society's narrow views. When circumstances push Stella toward a lifetime of restriction in Derbyshire, she makes the decision to cut ties with her brother and move to London. Teddy's offer of a marriage of convenience to secure her future (and as his model) becomes an opportunity for both to paint their own version of happiness.

Mimi perfectly portrays how two people marked as "different" by society recognize the light in each other, creating a romance that feels both period-appropriate and refreshingly modern in its themes of acceptance and visibility.

The friendships continue amongst the Four Horsewomen, and I loved seeing the other charaters/couples make an appearance in this book. These ladies are the definition of ride-or-die friends. When society sneers, they close ranks, celebrating everything from Harriet's math brilliance to Stella's artistic talent. No judgment here - Stella's silver hair and Alice's shyness are just part of what makes them special. What starts as ballroom small talk turns into the kind of friendship where you can show up in tears or doubled over laughing. Whether they're trading gossip over tea or having heart-to-hearts in the garden, these women prove that true friendship is the real treasure in Regency London.

Content warnings: disinheritance, past parental loss, bullying (past), and abandonment.

A stunning conclusion to the Belle's of London - and easily my favorite of the series. From the moment Stella races from the ballroom at the end of Anne and Hartford's book, I was enthralled. The sharp banter between her and Teddy from the outset, the ways they shield their own vulnerabilities, the tension that builds as they tentatively circle one another, the ability they have to see each other's independence and passion - every note felt right between them. And once again, Matthews writes a Bad Family like no other, and I found myself feeling a uniquely Mimi-Matthews-brand of claustrophobic rage at the halfway point. She examines both family loyalty and abuse, raising the stakes and turning characters against one another to expose the layers of ableism and control at work in each. And our reward for sticking with her through the pain is an absolutely magical third act, a slow-burn that culminates in a star-bright inferno of desire and devotion and devastating vulnerability. She has perfected the art of fade-to-black intimacy, showing us the ways two people long for - and learn from - one another. I adored this final chapter in our series, and I know lovers of this series will be equally swept away by Stella and Teddy.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced reader's copy.

"First a Fury, then one of the Four Horsewomen, and now a star. What transformation next, I wonder?"

Oh my heart… I loved this historical romance set in the Victorian Era. This is a perfect conclusion to the Belles of London series about four horse loving friends & their adventures. I’d strongly suggest reading them in order as they build upon each other. Mimi fills her books with so many historical details & I love how each of her books focus on unique elements in history. I fell in love with Stella, a silver-haired horsewoman & Teddy a wheelchair-bound artist. I mean seriously this is not only a marriage of convenience but so much more! It’s full of found family, friendships, art, love, lots of swoony moment & of course horses. I love the themes of what it’s like to not only be seen but accepted.

"I'm asking you to be conspicuous with me!” -Teddy

Seriously one of the best lines ever! I loved Stella’s transformation from someone who wants to blend in, to someone who is ok with standing out & becoming a star. I love the thought of living life out loud & being accepted for who you truly are.

“The freedom to want, to choose, to be. To live a colorful, conspicuous, unconventional life with the man she loved.”

Stella Hobhouse, silver-haired equestrienne, skilled sketch-artist, and stalwart friend is often overlooked. Bullied by her brother, concerned about her future prospects, Stella embraces the unexpected once she meets Teddy Hayes.

Teddy Hayes, aspiring painter and artist, while wheelchair bound after scarlet fever leaves his legs paralysed, is looking for a life of independence and something more. With his yearning desire to paint Stella, his muse, he is willing to enter into a marriage of convenience. Will they each find more than what they dreamed of?

I really don't know how Mimi Matthews does it - with each succeeding book, I'm in awe with her writing. This sensuous and lovely book is filled with emotion, romance, longing, and an ethereal effervescence much like the Turner, and other painters of light referenced throughout the book. What an excellent conclusion to the beautiful Belles of London series.

Stella is absolutely fabulous! I loved getting to know her better, and to understand the difficult circumstances she suffers under with her overbearing brother. Mimi Matthews really knows how to write unpleasant characters, without turning then into villainous caricatures.

Stella's passion, at first quiet and seemingly unassuming, blossoms as she builds her friendship and connection with Teddy. I also really appreciated how her true, bold, and beautiful self gains confidence as she stretches her hand to the stars to take up dreams she hadn't dare dream before.

Teddy is just lovely. At no point did I feel like Mimi or Stella pitied him due to his disability. His shining talent, passion, and determination make him a formidably charismatic man.

I also really enjoyed his interactions, not only with Stella, but with his family, and our other Parish Orphans (I always love to see them). Teddy coming into his own, and taking up the life he wants makes him the perfect match for Stella. They are so well suited.

And of course the novel contains a marriage of convenience plot, and as that is my favourite trope, I was one hundred percent sold. Mimi portrayed Stella and Teddy's burgeoning attraction so well. The tension and longing were so well done.

As I'm a big fan of the Painters of Light (the Impressionists), and I loved that Teddy knew and interacted with them. It was exciting thinking about Turner's beautiful paintings, and all the other lovely paintings and artists mentioned.

All in all, this was a lovely and absolutely gorgeous conclusion to this fabulous series. I can't wait to reread The Muse of Maiden Lane again.

Thank you to Mimi Matthews, Berkley Publishing, and NetGalley for this eARC. This review contains my own, honest opinion.

RATING: 4/5 STARS

A sweet and satisfying end to the Belles of London series! I love the fierce independence of each Mimi Matthews heroine, and Stella was no different. But what really stood out in this novel to me was the disability representation in Teddy's character. I was intrigued by Teddy from A CONVENIENT FICTION, and was so happy to see him get his happy ending in THE MUSE OF MAIDEN LANE. The realities and frustrations of having a physical disability in Victorian Era society were well explored in this book with sensitivity. And the essence of this book was a sweet romance, which it definitely delivered!