This book, compared to the others in the series, is short!
Stella and Teddy sort of slowly, sort of quickly come together to make their own life together, and I appreciate that they don't really have to fight that hard to be together, they just have to decide they want each other enough to get on with it.
Teddy and Stella connect over art, and I really like that the author always does loads of historical research for their books.
This book features a lot of talk about art styles, new adaptations in wheelchairs, and as ever with this author, clothes.
Attention to detail in these areas makes for an educational and thrilling jaunt of a book!
Well done Mimi Matthews! <3

I absolutely loved this book! The disability representation, the found family, and slow burn of it all. This book was everything I needed in a historical romance. One thing that I loved was both lead characters battled a similar family turmoil that helped guide their relationship with each other that was beautiful to read. Stella and Teddy were just a delight to read and experience!

The Muse of Maiden Lane is a satisfying wrap up to a wonderful series. Stella and Teddy’s story is a wonderful, sweet romance that has disability representation that is not often seen in romance novels. It was a refreshing take at romance without the focus being so fully on the male main character’s unrealistic body type. Instead, their relationship truly grows from enjoying each other’s company and other ways that parallel true relationships, something that Matthew’s excels in writing.

The plot and main characters drew me in initially, but I found the dialogue to be too lengthy and meandering. As a result, I ended up skipping several chapters. While I think other readers might enjoy the book, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

3.5 stars for Stella and Teddy!

The Muse of Maiden Lane concludes the Belles of London series, leaving our Four Horsewomen to enjoy their happily ever afters.

Muse picks up shortly after Lily, with Stella and Anne at a Christmas Party, guests of Anne's beau's grandfather. Teddy and Stella are reunited after a brief meeting mentioned in the last book. They are both scandalized, Stella by his insistence on painting her, and Teddy by the fact that she has dyed her gorgeous gray hair!

The two bond over being outcasts in society, and with help from the other, learn to celebrate their uniqueness.

The main drawback for me was how character driven this novel was. There was little, if any, plot. A good third of the book takes place at the Christmas party, and for the next third they depart from the party to separate places, only exchanging letters. During this time, they go through significant arcs, but for me, it got tiresome to read. I simply wish there had been more happening in the meantime.

In the end, this is a good finale to the series, and if you enjoyed Evie, Julia, and Anne's stories, you will love Stella's.

Thank you to the publishers for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If The Lily of Ludgate Hill is a slow, heart-wrenching burn, Muse is a wildfire. It's a faster read than most of Matthews' others, but the emotions are all still there. This is a soul-stealing romance where both parties have to overcome obstacles, but find themselves (and each other) in the process. This is love at first sight, an artist finding his muse, and a bold, brilliant woman finding out how much she can shine. While Lily will always be my favorite of this series, Stella and Teddy sparkle on their own.

The well written and captivating story of the final "fury" or London horsewoman, Stella Hobhouse. While an outstanding beauty, the oddity of having hair that turned gray at age 16 makes Stella stand out like no woman wants to in London. She encounters Edward "Teddy" Hayes, an artist, at a museum and so begins his fascination with her. Their interactions at a house party they both attend are enchanting, especially their moment in the sleigh. When the party ends and the real world catches back up to the characters, there are long conversations and scenes that, while at times are humorous (in a torturous way), made me feel impatient for "the rest of the story."

The best part of this story was the characters, which is always the case for me in books by Mimi Matthews. They are vivid and have heavy challenges that stretch them. I love seeing their strength as they find a way around the road blocks to their happiness. Stella and Teddy have a unique and tender romance.

In my review of the first book in this series, The Siren of Sussex, I noted the overuse in the story of the word "sensual." When I came across it (three times) in this book, it was like fingernails scratching a chalkboard. I also feel, as I did in the first book, that there was little depth to their relationship beyond physical attraction.

I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest opinion.

I am so in love with this series! I'm sad this is the final installment as I'll miss the girls and their horses.

I was especially excited to see Stella and Teddy (who uses a wheelchair) after their meet-cute in the previous book. I just wish we got more of them together! Both characters are so strong (even when they're scared to be) and it was exciting to see them thrive as a couple (especially that ending!)

I can't wait to see what Mimi Matthews puts out next!

The final novel in the Belles of London series finds Stella Hobhouse, the fourth horsewoman of the group of equestrian friends, regretfully seeking a husband for financial security.

When she meets disabled artist Teddy Hayes again at a country house Christmas party, he is determined to paint her portrait. Since proper young ladies do not work as artist's models, she is perplexed by his dogged determination that only she can be his muse to begin his professional career. The story is about their own personal challenges that are holding them back and how they resolve them together.

This was a great conclusion to the series bringing all of the previous couples back into the story at different moments to support Stella and help her find her happiness. Matthews continues her smooth prose and historical references skillfully. The romance is a slow burn, so be patient until the finale.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was lovely to see all the characters reunited and to see characters from the Parish Orphans of Devon series! My only complaint is I wish there was more of Teddy and Stella. It felt like too much back story of the other characters were crammed in and their love story was cut off a bit. Still a good read!

I'm a huge fan of Mimi Matthews, and this series in particular. Loved this final installment in this series! Such unique characters and a beautiful backdrop of the French Impressionism of the time.

I love Matthews when she’s writing at the top of her game & I like her A Lot even when she isn’t. Here we get somewhat of a mixed result - I liked parts of it and loved others. **the scenes with our principals riffing off one another are chefs kiss excellent.

This is another great addition to the series - maybe my 2nd favorite? I love both principal characters and how their backstories inform the uphill battles they’re forging alone… until they find each other and finally recognize vanquishing their private/public demons (?) is easier and better together.

My only quibble is perhaps there isn’t enough of them together (I loved their conversations) and with an artist as our MC, the cover is a missed opportunity to show us that final portrait. Obv, the cover is in keeping with the series and that makes sense. But. Ms. Matthew’s has some of the Most Beautiful covers in the business and I wish this one was different.

Good stuff!

Haven’t tried a Mimi Matthew’s novel? Why not? Romantic, lovely in every way & the kinds of books you can hook romance-reading-avoiders on. THEY’RE SO ROMANTIC! But not super steamy - which, I’ve come to decide, is okay IF it’s a Matthew’s novel.

The Muse of Maiden Lane was a sweet conclusion to the Belles of London Series! I did, however, struggle with the pacing in this one. I felt that the ending was a little rushed and the build-up between Stella and Teddy finally realizing their feelings was not nearly as satisfying. But, I did respect and appreciate the representation of those who have physical disabilities and how Mimi Matthews and Stella challenge society and beauty standards. I recommend this series to anyone looking for a sweet closed-door romance with so much tension!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was a sweet ending to the "Belles of London" quartet of books about the Four Horsewomen - I found most of the story, exposition and narration fairly standard for this historical romance period (e.g. the scandal if a woman dyes her hair, poses for a painting; the dependence of women on male relatives, who (here) are depicted as almost absurdley dismissive of women as anything but property and breeding/childrearing/homekeeping potential); the scant or nonexistant options for women on their own etc etc.) The most interesting aspects were the new movement in the art world that Teddy enthusiastically takes part in, and Teddy's wheelchair -- how much more difficult it made every aspect of his life -- and the inventor who came up with the newer version for him, It was stunning that basic technology of the time (i.e. a hand brake) in common use on almost every horse drawn conveyance, had not been thought to be applied to a wheelchair until then. And, in an afterword, the author even said she took a bit of artistic license and sped up the development of some of the chair advancements she described. Beyond these aspects, the best part of the book that had the most excitement and tension was the brief middle section where Teddy and Stella are exchanging letters and Stella's future and fate are hanging in the balance.

The aspect I found almost weird for its lack of description was Teddy's assistant Jennings, employed to carry him/transport him and his chair wherever needed. He was ever present, but almost eerily void of personality, motivation or volition. He could have been a robot. His presence was like a monochrome gray spot on the canvas of the story -- was he cheerily doing his tasks? begrudgingly? angry? placid? volatile? eager? lazy? Maybe it was intentional but it was a constant bother throughout that I, as the reader, could not get any hint of any description to get a grasp on what his character was like. The chemistry between Stella & Teddy was kind of hit or miss too... a bit lukewarm overall.

Other than that, it was a nice finish to the series, we got to see all the characters from the Belles series, as well as many from the Parish Orphans series. Happy that Stella and her compatriots all got their happily ever afters!

I love Mimi Matthews and, since I assume this is the conclusion of the series, I found it to be quite a fitting end. The romance was top-shelf and I enjoyed all the little historical details. Matthews really works to evoke the Victorian era and she just did it so well here, particularly when it came to issues like women as chattel and disability. I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but I enjoyed watching the way she was progressing through the era, showing how art and sexual freedom was beginning to become enmeshed following the Pre-Raphaelite era and hinting how it would continue through the Bloomsbury Group, etc.

The Muse of Maiden Lane is a wonderfully tender friends to lovers romance set in Victorian England with the art impressionist movement as the backdrop of the story.

First off, I loved how Teddy easily mistakes his infatuation for Stella with artistic obsession/inspiration. It's <b>so</b> obvious from the get go that he has a major jones for Stella, but because of his pride and wariness to be vulnerable, he chalks it up to just a gnawing desire to paint her. However, over time, both Stella and Teddy become friends during the same party where Anne and Hartford get engaged and then they begin to correspond via letters for the next several months before meeting up in London at the start of spring.

Both Teddy and Stella seem to be two sides of the same coin, where Teddy chafes at his family/friends' concerns over him (and maybe cosseting him) and confinement to a wheelchair, Stella feels stifled by her overbearing brother & his views on how Stella should live her life (not to mention his low-key tyrant of a fiance--we'll see how well THAT marriage lasts)

It was wonderful to read how both Teddy and Stella needed each other for freedom, independence and unconditional love, but for different reasons. Though Teddy has always been loved by his sister Laura, and his aunt, and of course loved by Laura's hubby, Alex, he's always felt judged and less than because of his disability and never once entertained the possibility that someone could love him for being just <i>him</i>. A man--a man who's a talented, budding artist.

Stella, on the other hand, has hardly had a kind word from her oppressive brother and has only ever been loved for who she is by her friends Evie, Julia & Anne. But of course, she yearns for romantic love from someone who sees her as more than just an oddity with silver hair. I love how she had a wildness to her too that came out on occasion that proves there's more to her than meets the eye. (There's a sort of showdown with a country squire in front of her brother that I was trying SO hard not to laugh at because I wasn't expecting Stella to be so bold but boy did she give it to him with both barrels! Way to go Stella!)

I'll share one of my favorite moments that I keep circling back to that is just so classic Teddy-who knows just what to say to soothe Stella's insecurities:

<b>He brought his hands to frame her face, halting her speech. She broke off, meeting his gaze with quivering uncertainty. He heard her inhale an uneven breath.

"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."

Stella's mouth trembled. His head was already bent to hers. There were but a few inches left between them, taut with mingled breath and heat and the stirring fragrance of lilacs. The temptation was too great to resist. Heart thundering madly, Teddy closed the distance and pressed his lips to hers.

.........

At length he drew back from her. His thumbs moved over the blushing curves of her cheeks--tender, reassuring, distinctly proprietary. She was made to be his. He'd recognized it the first time he saw her.

"So, what say you, my beautiful shining star?" he asked huskily. "Is it a yes?" </b>

SIGHHHHHHH that is a MAN right there. Obviously, you'll have to read it to see what happens next ;) but boy oh boy was this book exactly what I needed in my life! There's so much more I loved about this book, between the sprinkles of art history, Stella's love of her horse, Locket, the friendships and reunion between the Parish Orphans characters and the Belles of London characters--it was SO good to see Laura and Alex, Tom and Jenny, Helena and Justin and Neville and Clara again! Not to mention seeing Anne get married off to Hartford and a delightful epilogue where some of our favorite people have babies 😍🥹

Seriously, read it! It's the perfect ending to a perfect series, which of course isn't surprising since it <i> is </i> Mimi Matthews. Seriously, I've read literally everything of hers and I'm convinced she has magic fingers that type out the best stories. You also get a sneak peek of her new series from the Crinoline Academy coming out next year at the end of the book which is super exciting!

Thank you again and again to Mimi Matthews, Berkley & Netgalley for the ARC. It legit made my year!

The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews is a captivating historical romance that tells the story of Stella Hobhouse, a talented equestrienne and artist, overlooked by society due to her gray hair and restrictive brother, and Edward “Teddy” Hayes, a charismatic painter partially paralyzed by scarlet fever. When Stella agrees to pose for Teddy, their initial rocky relationship blossoms into a poignant love story filled with angst, banter, and deep mutual respect. Their unique qualities, often misunderstood by society, bring them together in a marriage of convenience that becomes a profound emotional bond. Matthews masterfully weaves themes of acceptance, autonomy, and love into this richly emotional and inspiring tale, making it a standout conclusion to the Belles of London series.

This was flat and empty of peaks and valleys of plot. The book ended when it felt like it was just beginning, there was no major conflict or crisis. It reads like a novella in-between books and not a complete book. It's bogged down by all of the appearances and nods to other characters and stories in the series, making this unreadable unless you've read everything else.

While I appreciate that Matthews has come a long way from her previous books that feature disabled characters with an ableist perspective, and love DOESN'T cure the disability like it has in her previous work, it is instead bogged down in didactic info dumps about wheelchairs and his disability. I'd have to do a deeper dive but I'm not finding leg paralysis as an outcome of scarlet fever to be true. Maybe she meant polio?

While I really enjoyed Julia and Anne's stories, neither quite captured the magic of Evelyn's story for me. However, Stella's story might just do that! I loved watching Stella come into her own and find a place where she could be her whole self!

I also loved watching Teddy and Stella bond. They had a lot in common and I loved how much they appreciated each other even though the rest of society did not see their gifts. I thought they had a really special bond.

I am always blown away when I finish a historical romance and read the author's note about all the time they put into the research for the story. I really appreciated that Mimi Matthews spent a lot of time understanding what it would have been like to be in a wheelchair during the Victorian period and showed us that research through Teddy's character.

If you like a historical romance this one is sweet and informative! Teddy and Stella both need someone and watching them find that they don't just need someone they need each other is a wonderful journey.

This was a sweet romance. It lacked tension and was a bit more predictable than some of the previous books, but overall it's a good conclusion to the series.