After eight years at sea, Lieutenant Charles Heywood has resolved to settle down. He never expects to meet a lady as skilled with pistols as she is on horseback. Lady Katherine Beresford has never met an obstacle she couldn’t surmount and expects to win the heart of the somber sailor she meets. Will these two opposites prove the saying that opposites attract, or will their differences keep them apart?


Several years ago, I read the first book of this series, The Work of Art. It was sweet to see the main characters of that book as an older couple with children in this book. Though I will admit that it has been so long, I didn’t really remember them or their romance or story. This did make the mystery more interesting for me.


However, that meant that the background of Satterthwaite Court was what kept me reading. I was not invested in either Charles or Katherine. They were such opposites and had so few meetings before a proposal that I have serious concerns about their relationship.


Overall, there wasn’t anything truly wrong with the story. The mystery was interesting. There was a sudden threat at the end that was easily overcome. I would recommend this to readers looking for a quick, historical romance, and don’t mind a relationship that happens quickly.

Such a wonderful, heartwarming story!

I love this type of interconnected series - this book brings everything together from the first two, as the son of the couple in Book 1 (The Work of Art) is paired with the daughter of the couple in Book 2 (Gentleman Jim). Not only do we get to reunite with those couples and see them living out their HEAs, but we can see their familiar traits as they are manifested in the next generation. Beautiful when done right, and absolutely breathtaking when done as well as Ms. Matthews has done here.

Charles is a true hero, having served honorably in the Navy, though his mother reminds him that he's always been the kind to rush to help anyone in need. Kate is the sunshine to his grump, vivacious and full of life, and try as he may, he simply cannot resist her for long.

I simply adored every page in this marvelous story. Both families are a joy to watch, and I'm really looking forward to reading more as this younger generation finds their own HEAs. Historical romance doesn't get any better than this. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

What a lovely continuation of this series. I actually had no idea this book was even in the works. I had just listened to The Work of Art and Gentleman Jim a few weeks ago. Then I happened to see Return to Satterthwaite Court on Netgalley. I literally squealed with delight when I saw the premise for this book! I was so excited when I received my approval to read it!

I guess technically this could be read as a standalone novel, but you would miss out on so much of the charm if you haven't read the first two in the series. There's a lot of history between all of the characters. I actually wish I had remembered more of details from The Work of Art.

There is romance and intrigue filling the pages of this story. You'll also get humor and tension. For any fan of the previous books, this is a MUST READ.

The author's notes and sneak peak at book 4 are the cherry on top!

I really prefer audiobooks, and especially those from this series that are read by a male narrator! I am a slow reader and don't retain information as well when I read it myself. So I can't wait to be able to listen to this one when it becomes available! I may need a Mimi Matthews marathon listening session. I'll plan that just before book 4 releases! It's going to be great!

Again, many thanks to the author, publishers and Netgalley for the advanced digital copy.

Mimi Matthews has written another great book! Return to Satterthwaite Court is wonderful story about two people and their families. The Haywoods and Beresfords were introduced in earlier books (Somerset Stories) and the next generation story is about Kate and Charles. There is a mystery and love story but the real magic of Matthews books is the character development. As always, the main characters are real and interesting. There are lots of cool secondary characters and plot development that resolves into a proposal. Mimi Matthews is a 'auto-buy' and love all her books!

Such a great addition to the series, but for me it’s highest value lies in how it is everything you could want in a second generation story with plenty of presence of the characters one should already love, to then fully appreciate the splendid opposites attract/heroine in pursuit fun with our new couple. So, I say this with love: don’t be a self-sabotaging chaos reader by not reading the first two books before this one. I’m a recovering one myself, and it simply will not do here.

Charles is back from the Navy, disillusioned and unmoored, and of course Philly’s son would find himself in a predicament because of a mongrel. And speaking of mothers, Maggie has been paying her dues with impetuous wild child Kate. Guess knowing what you want runs in the family. Who can blame a lady for swooning when an impressive Christopher Plummer Navy officer pulls out his terse tone? He basically did the equivalent of Von Trapp whistling and Kate was like “Command this unbiddable hoyden, lieutenant. Oh, he’s mine and doesn’t know it yet.” *cue Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero”* I already envisioned her esteemed former hellion mother as Vivien Leigh, and here Kate goes full blue-eyed Scarlet O’Hara going after her stoic, dark-haired Ashley. And, ah, it was such good fun seeing the youngest and only Beresford daughter setting her sights on the Heywoods’ only son, resulting in one of my favorites: the aggravated grump.

I have to say though, for me this was not as epic and consuming and sweeping a soul mates romance as Gentleman Jim (and I do tell myself they can’t all be). Though Charles and Kate are very complementary, I did find myself wishing they had found some motivation/long-term joint adventure beyond finding each other and the pretty straight-forward mild peril mystery that brought them together. Also, when the pursuer becomes the pursued I like some form of resistance or obstacle to keep the tension, but here it felt more of a relinquishing to catch an easy target. I could also mention I would’ve liked a bit more lighthearted moments between them, but Kate would jot out that stubborn chin and proclaim “He may be a stiff, but he’s my heroic stiff.”

This was very full circle in a lot of ways with many bows tied very nicely and others set up for tying. Major points for getting to see older Nicholas and Maggie still making up for that ten year forced separation, and Allendale (formerly St Clare) as the fierce protective father, okaaayy *still fanning vigorously*. Very much worth a read, and I’m invested for all the Beresford generations HEAs in perpetuity.

After devouring the previous book, I was ravenous for this one, so thank you to Netgalley for a chance to read this ARC.

Mimi Matthews is a must read author for me. I've read several of her books over and over.
This book had such draw for me as the characters are children of
Arthur and Philly from The Work of Art and
Maggie and St. Clare from Gentleman Jim, two of my favorite books!
And knowing this I should have suspected that Kate was going to be very strong willed and bold.
I can see how her character would be a hard one to write, She is so different than most of Mimi's women.
So even knowing that, I still had trouble really liking Kate. I wanted to shake her sometimes!
Actually I would have liked to be able to see how both Charles and Kate's minds worked and what they were thinking. I did enjoy the book but felt like I needed more. More of their thoughts and more of their backgrounds.
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own

I adored Charles & Kate! And I love that they are the children of the couples in the first 2 books in this series!

As with the first 2 books, this had some good mystery woven into the story. And definitely some stressful edge of my seat moments. All wrapped up with some sweet swoon.

I just wish there was more! This book seemed over in a flash. I wanted more of the budding romance! More inside Charles & Kate’s heads as their relationship progressed.

I’m looking forward to the next book in the series this summer!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the chance to review an advance copy.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions below are my own and honest!

This book was a cosy, comfortable read. Some plot points are pretty unrealistic and some dialogue a little on the cringey side, but it’s a good story with some really well developed characters. I love a feisty FMC, so extra brownie points there! The MMC is slightly damaged and a bit moody, so watching the grumpy x sunshine trope unfold was quite delightful! All in all, a highly satisfactory Sunday afternoon read.

One of my favorite things about Mimi Matthews is her love of animals and this novel was full of them. I was so excited about getting this and then I was hesitant to start it because it would be so soon. But alas I’ve done just that and I’m here now in my happy place. Such a great book.
This intriguing story had the grown parents of past books and we are introduced to the next generation. My favorites things are a strong willful female protagonist and an equally strong male. Honor above all. And stolen kisses. This had all of that.
There also was a little bit of a mystery with a twist. I loved all the pets of course and the bonds with the siblings, it was wonderful. The love and banter they showed was endearing. I definitely recommend this novel.
And I’m super excited about the next in the series! Yay!
Thanks Perfectly Proper Press via NetGalley.

Victorian romance-mystery lovers will fall headlong into Mimi Matthews' latest, book 3 in the Somerset Stories series, which can be happily read as a standalone, but makes you want to read the first two ASAP.

I loved the character of spirited Lady Katherine Beresford, who pursues the handsome Lieutenant Charles Heywood after they meet on a busy street where Charles is trying to save a dog. When he finally rescues it, the dog bites Lady Kate. As an animal lover, she is not bothered by the nip but is immediately taken with Charles, who finds her arrestingly beautiful, in turn, yet guards his heart.

Kate's first coming out season left her with no palatable matches, in part because potential suitors found her too lively. Charles finds her thus too, when she takes the initiative to visit his parents' house unannounced with her brother. But Kate knows her own mind and won't give up, and also turns out to be a perfect partner as she helps Charles attack a mystery threatening his family.

A lovely romance ensues, making readers swoon as the couple grows closer. The mystery grips, as well, adding intrigue to the already compelling tale.

Lushly written, gracefully realized, Return to Satterthwaite Court won my heart from the start. If you love hist fic romances, you will be enchanted. And what about that gorgeous cover?

Thanks to author Mimi Matthews, Perfectly Proper Press, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

Another amazing story by Mimi! I loved the connection to previous books in the series. I was sucked into the story immediately and it was a perfect combination of romance and mystery. It was clean of course, but with all the feels. The dialogue was witty and the characters were enjoyable. Kate was a refreshing heroine and I appreciated both main characters' forthrightness. I always love Mimi's books and I will look forward to more! I especially hope to see a story for James.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Steam Level: 🔥 (kissing only)

After years of serving in Her Majesty's Navy, Charles Heywood has returned home so that he can purchase an estate and lead a peaceful life in the country. What he's not prepared for is an accidental meeting with feisty and beautiful Katherine Beresford. As the two spend more time together, Charles can't deny his attraction to her. Meanwhile, he must also solve a mystery surrounding his mother's childhood home- Satterthwaite Court. Can Charles save the place that was so dear to his mother? And will Kate be able to win his heart while helping him in this adventure?

This is officially my favorite book in the series! From the very beginning, Charles and Kate stole my heart with their undeniable chemistry. I loved how Kate pursued Charles, instead of the other way around. And it was fun to see how she got involved in his quest to save Satterthwaite Court. The way everything was resolved with the mystery was perfect! While this could be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading books 1 & 2 first. There were so many storylines and characters from the previous books involved in this one. Seeing Phyllida, Arthur, Maggie, and St. Clare made me so happy. And their other children are going to make excellent main characters for upcoming books. I'm really looking forward to what's coming next after all the romances that were hinted at in this one!

Thank you Netgalley and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Somerset Stories series. Take the son of the couple from Book 1 and the daughter of the couple from Book 2, throw them together, and you get Book 3. Kate and Charles have a chance meeting in a London street when Charles rescues a stray dog (much like his mother) and Kate finds herself completely enthralled and ready to pursue him. Kate is uninterested in any of the other gentlemen she’s met this year and Charles is newly returned from serving in the Navy. The romance here is pretty straightforward and we get to revisit the families we loved from the previous books. Plus, there’s a nice setup for Book 4, which comes out later this year.

Such an absolute treasure!!! I loved being able to read the continuation of this proper romance series!!!

Such a lovely, heartwarming romance. I adore Mimi Matthews, and have loved every book I have read by her. They are always so satisfying, and leave the reader happy - happy with the ending, happy with the delightful writing and characters, happy that she is a prolific author that has many more books for me to read! If you haven't read Mimi Matthews - what are you waiting for? You won't be sorry!! And this book was one of her best!

Ex-naval lieutenant Charles and heiress Kate are both misfits in their own spheres. Charles is disgusted by the injustices of war, and Kate will never be the staid and proper miss society expect her to be. In each other, will Charles and Kate find the sense of belonging they crave?

This book is engaging and fun from the start. I like how Kate is the one who pursues Charles at first, how she wins him over with her kindness toward his sister. While this is largely a character-driven novel, there's also an intriguing mystery to keep the plot moving.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Return to Satterthwaite Court wow what a story. This had me hooked from the very first chapter and I could not put it down. Mimi Matthews as become one of my top authors for Historical Romance as this book had it all.

Both main characters Katherine and Charles have strong personalities that often clash with each other but through it they learn to respect each other and love each other bringing out the best.

The families that they come from each have mystery and intrigue attached to them which makes you want to read more but also to read what their stories are.

Charles has come out of the Navy because He doesn't agree with how things are being conducted. Katherine fights against what is expected of a woman at that time because she has a mind of her own a thinking mind and doesn't see why a woman should be treated just as an ornament on someone's arm.

Katherine also wants love like her parents have she doesn't want to settle for convenience which again was different to what happened to most women in society in those days. Charles on the other hand wants to settle down eventually but after years at sea is a little lost and hesitant when it comes to finding a wife.

It was fun to see Katherine being the one that initially pursued Charles before he took control which brought a modern twist to the romance.

The mystery surrounding the families and an estate and how both Katherine and Charles became interwound with that was brilliant to read.

I loved every bit of this story and wish it had gone on longer. Thank you to Mimi Matthews and Net Galley for this ARC copy. I have now downloaded the rest of the series.

ABSOLUTELY CHARMING.

I love that this book combined the best of both world’s from the previous books!! (You don’t HAVE to read them first, but highly recommend because it brought about even more feels). I loved seeing the previous couples and how things are fairing now.

But onto the main couple here, Charles and Kate!! I LOVED THEM. I love that Kate was the initial pursuer. I didn’t know how I’d feel about this switch up and I thought the execution was great. It was riveting to see her take those initial steps to show Charles she’s interested and also allowing him to do the same for her. There was a sweet balance and give and take between them. Not to mention all of those little moments that really start to add up and having me chanting KISS HER as the slow burn takes hold. And I’m sorry, SWEETHEART? Melt my soul. Oh my gosh, I love well placed endearments. Flawless.

I enjoyed the larger plot too. I like that Mimi Matthew’s books often have a dash of suspense to them that adds a great edge to the third act. It’s written so well that it feels natural to the story and has you flipping pages even faster to get to the conclusion.

No lie, I have turned completely into a Mimi Matthews fan girl and I am loving this journey for me. READ HER BOOKS.

Overall audience notes:

Regency Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: small dog bite, gun violence

“Don’t tempt me, Kate. I can’t keep resisting you forever.” —Charles Heywood

There were so many unique elements that I enjoyed in this clean Victorian romance:

1. I loved seeing more relationships with pets/animals and how they were a part of the families lives in the novel.

2. I loved loved LOVED that Katherine (Kate) was the pursuer of Charles at the beginning of their relationship.

“‘Then come to London. Pursue me there, as I’ve pursued you.’ He looked at her intently. An expression of resolve gradually settled over him. ‘If I pursued you, then I’d have you. There would be no turning back.’”

3. Kate’s personality and cheekiness lent to a lot of laugh out loud moments. She spoke her mind and it was hilarious.

4. I thought the meet cute was original and since it was at the very beginning of the story, it is what hooked me into the book.

I would have liked to see a longer pursuit on Charles’ part. And I definitely want to read James Beresford’s story!!

This is my honest review. I would like to thank Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy online.

I've read the other books in the Somerset series, so reading Return to Satterthwaite Court was like coming home to my favorite people. I love these characters and the setting. The opening scene where the hero rescues the feisty dog is just amazing. Charles rough exterior covers a tender heart and Kate is a breath of fresh air with her daunting personality.

The conflict in the book is well done. So many of the places and characters were familiar, but they were also easy to love. I did not want the book to end. An excellent read.

I received a copy of Return to Satterthwaite Court from the publisher, Perfectly Proper Press, and from NetGalley. All opinions are my own. #ReturntoSatterthwaiteCourt #NetGalley