RATING: 3/5 STARS

I have read a couple of Mimi Matthews' books now. They're great go-to's when I'm in the mood for a historical fiction with a HEA ending. I enjoyed THE WINTER COMPANION. I hadn't read the previous novels in this series, but I didn't feel it was necessary to understand the story. Neville and Clara are both sweet characters and I definitely rooted for them. This author's books follow a predictable formula but they are pleasant reads.

A sincere thanks to Perfectly Proper Press for providing an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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As a lady's companion, Clara Hartwright never receives much attention from anyone. And that's precisely how she likes it. With a stormy past, and an unconventional plan for her future, it's far safer to remain invisible. But when her new employer is invited to a month-long holiday at a remote coastal abbey. Neville Cross has always been more comfortable with animals than people. An accident in his youth has left him with a brain injury that affects his speech. Forming the words to speak to his childhood friends is difficult enough. Finding the right things to say to a lovely young lady's companion seems downright impossible.
During a bleak Devon winter, two sensitive souls forge an unexpected friendship.
This is the fourth & final novel in the series & it certainly rounds the series off on a high. It could be read on its own but to fully appreciate it, I’d recommend reading the whole series. I’ve loved all four books & personally I've found each book is better than the one before. I loved everything about Neville & Clara's story. Very well written with strong believable characters of depth & a story that flows effortlessly. I'm so, so glad Neville has had his story, I’ve loved him throughout the series & his story didn’t disappoint. A brilliant series finale
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

This was one of the sweetest romances i have ever read. The development of the relationship between Neville and Clara was so tender and lovable, and i loved them. The happily ever after was wonderful.

Once upon a time there were four unwanted children - Justin, Tom, Alex and Neville - who survived hell at a orphanage by forming their own little family. This is Neville's story, book 4 in the Parish Orphans of Devon series. This book can be read as a standalone, but all of the books are excellent and I highly recommend them. I'm a little heartbroken that this is the last book, and can only hope for reunion stories for them.

The four boys, now men, have all gathered for Christmas at Justin's estate in Devon, the first time they have all been together since they were children. Three of the men have met and married their wives. Justin's wife's aunt has also joined them for Christmas, with her new companion. The aunt was not pleased when the companion showed up for her new position with an elderly pug dog, who had belonged to one of her former employees.

Neville received a head injury in a fall from a cliff as a boy, and speaking is a struggle for him. He is self conscious about his disability, and avoids being around strangers. He is painfully aware that people who don't know him may consider him to have less than normal intelligence. Unlike the other boys, he has never left Devon. Neville is training to take the position of steward for Justin but prefers working with animals to doing paperwork. He currently is also caring for a heavily pregnant, wild Dartmouth pony with an injured leg. I loved learning a little about these wild ponies and the conservation efforts that were made for them even in Victorian times.

Clara Hartwright, the companion, is from a family with little money. She had worked previously as a teacher with her mother, but left home to find work as a companion to elderly ladies, halfway between upstairs and downstairs. It is a solitary and insecure life for her, without friends, and her only contact with her family is through letters, and not affectionate ones at that. Most of what she makes goes to help pay her brother's expensive school fees. Clara has a plan for herself, but it depends on her brother finishing his studies and employing her. Then she gets some very troubling news about her brother ....

I had so hoped for Neville to find someone to love and be loved in return, but couldn't see how it would happen. I should have had faith. This is a lovely story about two injured people who have been silenced in different ways and find their voices and courage. Loved it and highly recommend it and the whole series.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this advanced reader copy. All opinions expressed here are mine.

The Winter Companion by Mimi Matthews
Parish Orphans of Devon #4

Neville Cross is someone I have been hoping would get a happily ever after from the time I first met him. I knew there was more to him and was pleased to find out that he was not only handsome, big and strong but also gentle, kind and a truly good person. The connection between his thoughts and putting those thoughts into words was a struggle but he was not lacking in wits...not at all. So, when Clara Hartwright walked into the stable with Bertie the Pug I was on tenterhooks waiting to see how their story would develop.

I found Clara to be the perfect person for Neville. She could read him and knew he was a fine person and a man she could trust...after she got over her first misgivings. She really didn’t see a future for herself beyond being a lady’s companion and later being secretary for her brother and had left many dreams behind as she worked as a lady’s companion. There was more to her, too, than met the eye and Neville saw her beauty of face, form and intellect right away.

That the four friends, once orphans struggling to survive, were together for Christmas and there for one another was a heartwarming. It was so nice to see how the men and their ladies were doing.

What I liked:
* Neville: such a wonderful person inside and out – a gentle giant – perfect for Clara
* Clara: a woman I could feel with and for – brilliant woman in a time that did not appreciate women as they should
* The couples met in the first three books of this series – getting to see them again and hear about their lives was a bit of fun
* The dogs – so glad that Bertie got to join the pack for awhile
* The part about the Dartmoor ponies – had fun looking them up online
* The strength of both main characters – they faced what they had to and did so brilliantly
* All of it, really except…

What I did not like:
* Clara’s brother Simon – seemed a self-entitled son and brother that had had smooth sailing too long
* Simon’s tutor – a cad, creep and callous male that deserved a thrashing
* That both Neville and Clara had spent time questioning parts of themselves and were made to feel “less”

Did I enjoy this book? Definitely
Would I read more by this author? Without a doubt
What I might like to still know? What happens to Edward/Teddy

Having been a neurosurgical intensive care nurse and then having worked in a nursing home for mentally alert but neurologically impaired I have known people with injuries like Neville’s. The ability to “come back” from those injuries is not easy and often is not 100%. I am so glad that Neville found his place in the world and a life that was so rich and rewarding.

Thank you to NetGalley and ??? for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

"A winter reunion for the orphans brings romance for Neville Cross in Book 4 of Mimi Matthews' USA Today bestselling Parish Orphans of Devon series.

She Needed to be Seen...

As a lady's companion, Clara Hartwright never receives much attention from anyone. And that's precisely how she likes it. With a stormy past, and an unconventional plan for her future, it's far safer to remain invisible. But when her new employer is invited to a month-long holiday at a remote coastal abbey, Clara discovers that she may not be as invisible as she'd hoped. At least, not as far as one gentleman is concerned.

He Wanted to be Heard...

Neville Cross has always been more comfortable with animals than people. An accident in his youth has left him with a brain injury that affects his speech. Forming the words to speak to his childhood friends is difficult enough. Finding the right things to say to a lovely young lady's companion seems downright impossible. But Miss Hartwright is no ordinary companion. In fact, there may not be anything ordinary about her at all.

During a bleak Devon winter, two sensitive souls forge an unexpected friendship. But when Clara needs him most, will Neville find the courage to face his fears? Or is saying goodbye to her the most heroic thing he can do?"

Dammit I love Devon!

“The Winter Companion” is the last book in the “Parish Orphans of Devon” by Mimi Matthews, and it is a delightful conclusion to this series. Neville Cross has been a significant character throughout the series, and his devotion to his friends has shone through despite the childhood brain injury that left him with a speech impediment. He has a worthwhile life at Justin’s estate, but his meeting with Clara Hartwright, lady’s companion with a troubling past, opens up new possibilities for happiness. They first forge a connection because of their love of animals; the scene of them helping the Dartmoor pony deliver her foal added to their growing affection for each other. I thought that they might have to help Helena deliver her baby after that experience! They definitely have chemistry too and you could feel their heartbreak when they part. When Clara meets up with her brother in Cambridge, her disappointment in him is palpable. At the same time, back in Devon, Neville faces his fears of going out into the world so he can help Clara. I loved seeing how he summons his courage and is rewarded for it.
As in all her books Mimi Matthews’s knowledge of the Victorian era and her gift for description are evident. The story is set during Christmas, and the traditions are beautifully described. She also conveys the challenges of the weather and the terrain; I almost felt that if I looked outside my window I would see the rain and mud that the inhabitants had to deal with.
The inclusion of the final lines of Tennyson’s “Ulysses” was a masterful touch. I shed a few tears along with Clara in reading the poem, one that I have always loved.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Perfectly Proper Press, for the ARC. I also preordered the book to support this wonderful author; she is an auto-buy for me.

5 stars

This is a new author for me and I will definitely be looking out for more of her work. This was apparently the last in a series but it didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book and I might seek out the earlier stories. Nicholas was an orphan who had a bad accident, so whilst his compatriots were able to move away from the surroundings he was kept back in the area to recover. Clara earned her money as a companion to pay for her brothers schooling. There seemed to be many things wrong with her situation but it was very evocative of the victorian practices and mores. I really enjoyed their relationship and the build up to Nicholas rescuing her and their happy ever after. Just kisses but due to the good writing I didn't miss any more passion. A great book that I heartily recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

*Puedes encontrar esta reseña en español al final.*


I know I sound like a broken record, but Ms. Matthews has become my favorite author of historical romance. Due as much for her slow and sweet romances as for her interesting and original characters as for her, almost millimeter, historical accuracy.
If we add to all of the above that, in this series, The Orphans of Devon, only one MC belongs to the nobility, this is already the icing on the cake. Finding in "historical-romancelandia" a story that does not have a duke, an earl, a baron and the likes is difficult. Finding a series is impossible. Except, of course, this one.

This is the last book in the series, and it is the only one in which all the previous characters make an appearance, I imagine that as a tribute or farewell, so, although the main story between Clara and Neville could be read as a stand-alone, there will be a compendium of secondary characters which will be difficult to enjoy if the previous stories have not been read.

Neville has been my favorite character from the beginning. His story is somewhat dark, secret, the author has always made us understand that he was the most fragile of all the orphans, and although he has appeared in all the stories, he is the least known, so I was very interested in read more about him.

As in the previous books, the romance is sweet, slow and full of nuances. This author always takes her MC´s out of their comfort zone and forces them to face their fears and take charge of their life. And she does it in a natural way, not forced and within the reality of the time.
And despite the fact that this series is starred by the four orphans, I can't help thinking that it is the heroines that really manage the story, the ones that release the orphans from their past and give them a future that they didn´t dreamed of. And along the way, they (the heroines) get what they had wanted throughout all their lives, which is nothing other than being mistress of their own destiny. And doing so in such a subtle and realistic way in the Victorian era is a demonstration of Ms. Matthews' literary quality.

By the way, the historical notes that the author gifts us at the end of each book, and which put the story in perspective, are priceless. They are simply wonderful.


**e-ARC kindly provided by Perfectly Proper Press via Netgalley.**



Ya sé que parezco un disco rayado, pero la señora Matthews se ha convertido en mi autora favorita de romance histórico. Tanto por sus romances lentos y dulces como por sus personajes tan interesantes y originales como por su precisión, casi milimétrica, histórica.
Si a todo esto le añadimos que, en esta serie, Los Huérfanos de Devon, sólo una protagonista pertenece a la nobleza, esto ya es la guinda del pastel. Encontrar en "romance-histórico-landia" una historia que no tenga un duque, conde, barón (etc…) es difícil. Encontrar una serie es imposible. Salvo esta, claro.

Este es el último libro de la serie, y es en el único en el que aparecen todos los personajes anteriores, imagino que, como homenaje o despedida, así que, aunque la historia principal entre Clara y Neville se podría leer sin problemas, sí que va a haber un compendio de secundarios difícil de entender si no se han leído las anteriores.

Neville ha sido mi personaje favorito desde el principio. Su historia es un tanto oscura, secreta, la autora siempre nos ha dado a entender que era el más frágil de todos los huérfanos, y a pesar de que ha aparecido en todas las historias, es del que menos sabíamos, así que estaba muy interesada en leer más sobre él.

Como en los libros anteriores, el romance es precioso, lento y lleno de matices. Esta autora siempre saca a sus protagonistas de su zona de confort y los obliga a hacer frente a sus miedos y a tomar las riendas de su vida. Y lo hace de una manera natural, nada forzada y dentro de la realidad de la época.
Y a pesar de que esta serie la protagonizan los cuatro huérfanos, no puedo dejar de pensar que son las heroínas las que realmente manejan la historia, las que liberan a los huérfanos de su pasado y les dan un futuro con el que ninguno soñaba. Y por el camino, ellas consiguen lo que habían deseado durante toda su vida, que no es otra cosa que ser dueñas de su destino. Y hacerlo de una manera tan sutil y realista en la época victoriana es una demostración de la calidad literaria de la señora Matthews.

Por cierto, las notas históricas que la autora nos regala al final de cada libro, y que ponen en perspectiva la historia, no tienen precio. Son, simplemente, maravillosas.

The Winter Companion is the fourth and final book of the Parish Orphans of Devon series by Mimi Matthews. It stands alone, but you are missing a great deal of perfection if you skip the first three. I was thrilled that Ms. Matthews states there may be novellas to tie up some loose threads, such as what becomes of Teddy. That's good to know, because I am not ready to let these beloved characters go. This series is, in a word, beautiful.

Neville Cross is the fourth parish orphan of the group which also includes Justin, Tom and Alex. While they were all living in the orphanage, Neville had a horrible accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury. As a result, he has a speech impediment and has trouble getting his words out. While his friends left the Parish and made their way in the world, Neville remained in the area. Feeling self-conscious, he much prefers spending time with animals instead of people....until lady's companion Clara Hartwright arrives and sets his world on end. All of the orphans and their families are spending Christmas at Justin's home, and Clara is the companion of one of the guests. She tries to keep a low profile so she isn't noticed, but Neville certainly sees her. They become friends, but feelings begin to morph into something more.

This story is simply lovely. Clara has a bit of a past and issues with her family while Neville deals with his speech problem. There isn't a huge mystery, danger or love triangle going on here, just two people falling in love and believing there is no way they can be together. When Clara has to leave due to a family emergency and tells Neville she won't be back, they are both devastated. However, Neville's love for Clara gives him the strength to go after her and venture away from his comfort zone. This sweet and beautiful story brought tears to my eyes. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever gotten through an entire novel by Ms. Matthews without crying! I am so thankful for the extraordinary books that this talented author has given to us. I hope there are many more stories to come.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I wasn't sure what direction Mimi Matthews would go in The Winter Companion. I liked Neville's character what little we see of him in the prior books of the series. I almost felt protective of him in a weird way. So I found myself nervous about his story. Yet it was just right for him.

Neville was injured in a fall and near-drowning incident when he was a child. The resulting head injury affected his speech most of all. While he could still speak, long sentences are difficult and interacting with strangers is partially flustering to him. I just loved his character so much. He's a gentle giant. Strong and large physically, but tender and caring emotionally. Every decision Mimi Matthews made in regards to him made sense to me.

*Side note: I hate that we live in a world where an author of a fictional story has to write a note at the end explaining that all people who have injuries or disabilities respond differently and apologize to some who she might have offended with the language used by the character or about the character. This just makes me sad. But I suppose I understand why she would write this note. I certainly don't fault her for it because I assume she will still end up receiving negative feedback from someone out there concerning this exact thing.

Clara is the perfect compliment to Neville. She is sweet and gentle herself. And I admire her desire to learn, her work ethic to help herself and her brother, as well as the things she's gone through. There was a point in my life when I couldn't have understood how someone could get you to question an experience you went through together, but I have experienced enough to know that this can 100% happen. And I felt for her to not feel confident in how she was reading a given situation.

Mimi Matthews doesn't always shy away from physical relationships with her characters even though she isn't exactly descriptive of physical scenes. But The Winter Companion was about as tame as they come. Yet this was totally in line with the characters and not at all a complaint on my end.

I'm excited to see more come from this world as she mentions wrapping up some loose ends with Teddy and potentially following the children of the 4 orphans in the future. At this point, I feel certain that I will check out all of Mimi Matthews's future work.

Favorite quotes:
-one’s infirmities weren’t any easier to tolerate simply because some other poor chap had it worse.

-Words only had value if they were honest and true.

The Winter Companion was a perfect wrap to this series as Neville and Clara couldn't have been more deserving of each other and this happily ever after. The Winter Companion gets 4 Stars. I can't wait to read more by Mimi Matthews. Have you read The Winter Companion? What did you think? Let me know!

After reading the first book in this series and being introduced to Neville, the quiet one, who had suffered a traumatic brain injury as a teenager, I knew that his book was the one I most wanted to read. Neville was a wonderful hero, outwardly quiet, yet inwardly he had plenty of thoughts, hopes and dreams. He just isn't sure how to go about making a life for himself independent of his friends until he meets Clara who inspires him to dream of a bigger life than the one he's currently leading. I loved Clara also. She had big dreams that were constrained by the expectations placed on women in Victorian times as well as by the circumstances she found herself in. She worked as a paid companion to earn enough money to pay for her younger brother's Cambridge education, while hoping all the while that she'd eventually find a place as his secretary so that she could at least be adjacent to the research that she longed to conduct herself.

Once Neville and Clara meet at a month-long Xmas house party thrown at the Abbey, it's like two kindred souls recognizing the other half that will complete them. They are so clearly meant for each other that it gives them both the courage to reach out and finally take control of their own lives. This book left me with a happy glow. I also loved all of the period details that the author threw in. So many historicals are just wallpaper in regards to their setting whereas this one took the time to get the details right.

I loved this whole series, which reminded me of the gothic romances I loved as a young girl in the ‘70s, but updated to eliminate some of the rather dated and problematic aspects of the genre. I’ve had a soft spot for Neville since the first novel and I was thrilled to see him get his time in the spotlight. This book was a joy from cover to cover. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for my review.

This was a nice read. It wasn't terribly memorable, but it was nice. I don't know if I'd have purchased it, but if it was on a library shelf, I'd read it. The characters were okay, and the plot was nice, but it didn't resonate with me the way I was hoping for. I will continue to read this author, but it wasn't a favorite.

I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate a review. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise. All opinions are my own.

'All she'd known was that she wanted nothing more than the formidable safety of his arms.'

Mimi Matthews brings us the last book in her 'Parish Orphans of Devon' series and now I am so sad that there aren't any more books in this series. A friend recommended Mimi Matthews to me last month and I quickly read the first three books in this series and found them absolutely wonderful. This one is Neville Cross's story. Sweet, strong Neville. We find all four men, former orphans who were treated so despicably by the orphanage director, together for a winter reunion. Justin, Thornhill, Tom Finchley, and Alex Archer are all married happily and Neville feels his life will always be what it is now: living on Justin's property caring for the horses and animals. He loves the animals and he loves his friends, but deep inside he yearns for more.

Clara Hartwright is at the Thornhill's for the winter reunion, serving as a companion to Mrs. Bainbridge. Clara wants nothing but to remain invisible in order to keep her stormy past in the past. But she soon discovers that there is something about Neville that she is mightily touched by.

As we watch Neville trying to back away from Clara, fearing he will be frowned upon because of his inability to speak everything on his heart because of a traumatic injury in his youth, we watch love unfold and blossom between these two sensitive souls, it is the most precious thing to behold. I wept several times during the reading of this book. Neville is a most wonderful hero, in this reader's opinion. His heart is enormous! It's as if God created these two especially for one another. And Mimi Matthews' weaving of this tale together is magnificent. I was captivated by her writing, as I was during the first three books in the series. She deftly moves through the story, carrying the reader along feeling every emotion in these characters' hearts. I dearly wished this series didn't have to end. I loved every single moment of these books. Well done! Highly recommended.

*My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.





Reading Progress

Mimi Matthews has become an auto-buy author to me! I loved seeing all the characters from the past three books in the series together in this one and Neville gets all my heart eyes. :) I loved this finale to Matthews' orphan series and I can't wait to see what she writes next.

Author: Mimi Matthews
Publisher: Perfectly Proper Press
Pages: 316
On Sale: February 2020
Genre: Romance, HIstorical Fiction
Stars: 5/5

From the Publisher:

She Needed to be Seen…

As a lady’s companion, Clara Hartwright never receives much attention from anyone. And that’s precisely how she likes it. With a stormy past, and an unconventional plan for her future, it’s far safer to remain invisible. But when her new employer is invited to a month-long holiday at a remote coastal abbey, Clara discovers that she may not be as invisible as she’d hoped. At least, not as far as one gentleman is concerned.

He Wanted to be Heard…

Neville Cross has always been more comfortable with animals than people. An accident in his youth has left him with a brain injury that affects his speech. Forming the words to speak to his childhood friends is difficult enough. Finding the right things to say to a lovely young lady’s companion seems downright impossible. But Miss Hartwright is no ordinary companion. In fact, there may not be anything ordinary about her at all.

During a bleak Devon winter, two sensitive souls forge an unexpected friendship. But when Clara needs him most, will Neville find the courage to face his fears? Or is saying goodbye to her the most heroic thing he can do?

I received an early reading copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for a review. I have never read anything by Mimi Matthews before, and I was blown away. I read the entire book in a Sunday afternoon and it felt like comfort food. It may have been a bit predictable, but it was warm and inviting and the romance was sweet and just what I had hoped for. I have not read the other books in this series, and while they are also probably enjoyable, this read just fine as a stand-alone. The characters didn’t blur together like I’ve found jumping into other series, they stood out just fine on their own. Overall, it was lovely.

It was a terrible thing to be alone in the world. To be dismissed and discarded. To never belong anywhere. What was a dog to do in his old age if no one wanted him? More to the point, what was a woman to do?

She becomes a lady's companion. Well actually, Clara is not quite over the hill yet, but she is certainly quite alone without a home to call her own and she knows how it feels to be dismissed and discarded. Arriving at an isolated abbey with her new employer for a winter house party, she is armed with only a few modest belongings and a geriatric dog, rejected by its previous owner. Seeking shelter for her pet, she encounters the reticent and enigmatic Mr. Cross, who resides above the stables, but has the appearance of a gentleman and who is treated as a respected intimate friend of the owner of the abbey.

For Neville, it is pretty much love at first sight. Much that Clara tries to practise the art of invisibility, he immediately sees the beauty dressed in modest, plain garments. Moreover, he is fascinated by her warmth and generosity of spirit and her immediate acceptance of him without judgement. His reserved manners and social avoidance stems from his childhood head injury which resulted in expressive language impairment. Where others might dismiss him as being slow in the head, Clara has no difficulty ascertaining his communication disability and differentiating it from his other sound intellectual capabilities.

Language went to the heart of a person's humanity. It was the dividing line between men and beasts.

Theirs is a slow and tentative friendship over the course of several weeks. The attraction is there from the beginning, and the respect and feelings soon follow. However, much stands in the way of a possible future for them both - her past transgression and ongoing penitence for this and his perceived lack of future.

Mimi Matthews is a wonderful writer, making the most of two less glamorous protagonists. Her attention to historical details is quite remarkable and the language appears very authentic. Neville is a sweetheart, a true beta-hero who gradually grows in confidence as Clara encourages him to realise his full potentials beyond the boundaries of the abbey. Clara is likeable enough, but I must say her aspiration is a bit foolish to say the least. I can understand if she helped her brother out of misguided guilt and a sense of responsibility, but to do so in expectation of learning by secondary means in order to ultimately become his secretary, well that is just silly and neither here nor there. She thought herself his intellectual equal by learning alongside him, then why settle for being his secretary? And yes anything higher is unrealistic, but then to be an educated female secretary was not really realistic in those days, and if we're going to be ambitious, why not go all the way and work alongside her brother as his equal? Still it is a minor point and does not detract from the overall enjoyment of a well-told story.

The Winter Companion by Mimi Matthews is a beautiful historical fiction I'd highly recommend. It centers around Clara, a lady's companion who longs to have the same opportunities as men and be able to go to university, and Neville, a gentle but kind giant who has a heart of gold and a speech impediment. The friendship to romance in the story was so sweet and well done. The main characters really complimented each other and understood who the other was as a person.

This is book four of a series, but I was completely fine having never read the others. As a reader you meet the other couples from the previous books but are never made to feel like you are out of the loop having not read books 1-3.

I really enjoyed this novel and will look out for any others that may come afterwards, since I'd love to have another glimpse of Clara and Neville's life.

I have slowly been falling in love with Neville since the first book in this series. In my opinion, he's the glue that holds these four friends together. I'm sure he holds a special place in all of our hearts. He's one of the most endearing characters I've ever encountered in my years of reading.

Years ago, Neville was involved in an accident that resulted in a brain injury which has affected his speech. It hasn't been easy to deal with. People think he's slow and, for lack of a better word, dumb. But that's far from the case. Neville is actually pretty smart. He just has a hard time forming his thoughts into words and expressing them. His condition seems to get worse when he's in stressful situations, he's upset or... when he's around Clara.

Clara lost her teaching position after a scandal involving her rocked her little village. She was forced into letting all her dreams go and become a lady's companion. If her past has taught her anything, it's to become invisible. She doesn't need another scandal derailing the only dream she has left, becoming a secretary to her brother once he completes his schooling. Meeting Neville was never in her plans.

From the moment Neville and Clara meet, there's an instant connection that neither one of them can deny. However, they both know that nothing can ever happen between them. Neville can't leave the abbey and Clara is only visiting for a month with her new employer. But the more time they spend together, the closer they become and the more their feelings start to grow.

As their time together comes to a close, Neville will need to decide if saying goodbye is what's best for both of them or if their love is strong enough to see them through whatever obstacles life may throw at them, together.

*dreamy sigh*

Oh how I loved Neville and Clara! If anyone deserved a HEA, it's these two! I loved watching their relationship grow from friendship into something more. Both of them had insecurities that were hard to face. But together they had all the love, courage, strength and determination they needed to face anything life had in store for them.

What an amazing ending to a fantastic series! I have loved spending time with the Parish Orphans of Devon and their wives! This series will be a must read over and over again. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves Victorian romance!

I am seriously loving all the books of Ms. Matthews I have read. She has quickly become a favorite and an auto-buy author for me. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!