Romance, clean, period;
M.M. creates a vivid period novel of romance, and revenge. Maggie is upper class, and Nicholas the bastard son of a loose woman, rumored to be the son of a notorious highwayman. They have an innocent friendship, that grows into a romance. Maggie is however intended for the son of a neighboring landowner. As they are pulled apart, Maggie has to try to remain true to her promise to keep her heart for Nicholas. The neighboring son, tyrannically holds Maggie's home, and her ability to inherit and live there after her father's passing in order to force her hand. Maggie will have to choose between her heart and her home.
St. Clare appears, and there are hints to the reader as to his real identity.
Lovely romance, sweet revenge, and Maggie staying true to her heart's promise to Nicholas. St. Clare is a great character as well, and his backstory and relations made for an interesting subplot. M.M. always writes compelling novels, with heartfelt emotions, and characters that you want to find their HEA.

I have been an avid reader of Mimi Matthews work for a long time now, I never turn down the chance to read one of her books, and I have been hooked by each and everyone since the very first. I am so used to her classically Victorian romances, that Gentleman Jim was a little shock to the system, it’s so different to what we are used to, especially as it is a Regency and not my beloved Victorian, but hey, that’s OK, I can cope with that and I certainly did more than cope with this beauty, I completely fell in love with it.

Set during the Regency era, Gentleman Jim tells the heart-warming story of finding love in the most unexpected places, Maggie is a landowners daughter raised to make a good marriage, her life has been set out for her and she is expected to marry a man of influence. But, our Maggie’s heart has already been stolen by Nicholas, a low born groom; son of a maid and one notorious highwayman who goes by the name; Gentleman Jim – a character who for me stole the whole book – But life goes wrong and Nicholas is soon having to flee.

Years later a mysterious man by the name of St.Claire turns up wanting revenge, he is an enigma, a complex individual with secrets and more intrigues, as soon as Maggie sets eyes on him she knows that there is something about this man, she knows him, is he really who he claims to be or is there something more?

This book is all about love, it’s about finding true love and happiness, with two young sweethearts who are torn apart by social standing, but entwined within is the classic Mimi Matthews love story which is full of secrets, lies, revenge, mystery, intrigue and sadness.

As much as I loved this book, I will be honest and say I would have loved to actually ‘meet’ the notorious highwayman; Gentleman Jim, I did feel as though something was missing by not actually seeing the rogue, I was fascinated by him, I was hooked with his exploits and those whispers and rumours, the stories about him made him all the more compelling to me, I have to admit I did become a little addicted to this shadowy figure lurking in the back of the story but never shows his face – but that’s me, I d love a bad boy, highwayman!

Gentleman Jim is a beautiful, captivating, intriguing and wonderfully romantic story, all about love and loss, about finding happiness and it is a story that will take you on a richly textured journey and settle upon your heart. As always with Mimi Matthews, she will cast a spell around you with her wondrous words.

#gentlemanjim #netgalley

Mimi Matthews is one of my all time favorite authors right now! She writes an amazing storyline filled with intrigue and romance. I know that I can't put a Mimi Matthews book down until I'm finished. This book was amazing!

Inspired by two classics - The Count of Monte Cristo and Tom Jones - both foundling stories - Gentleman Jim is a wildly improbably romantic romp that Mimi Matthews draws with infinite delicacy to a satisfying end. An "ordained for each other" couple, separated by impossible odds - both societal and their own ornery personalities. What could be more delicious, what could fill a compulsive historic romance reader with more anticipation than such a setup?
Mimi Matthews firstly creates a believable hypothesis, and then brings it to a credible conclusion, thanks to convincing characterisation and persuasive historical detail. I'm no expert on the Regency period, far from it, but the reader senses the author is, and it gives Gentleman Jim a compelling reality. Yes, Gentleman Jim starts with a high stakes concept, but it's robustly supported by a strong sense of the period.
Entertaining and diverting, it's a great option to have in hand at a warm fireside on a winter's night.

When Margaret Honeywell was sixteen years old, her best friend and first love—who also happened to be the stable boy—runs away after being falsely accused of stealing her jewelry. Nicholas Seaton believes his father was the notorious highwayman Gentleman Jim, and sets off to find the man and a place to truly belong.

Maggie has never forgotten Nicholas, though a decade has now passed. Grief and illness have changed her life, and she's near to accepting the marriage proposal of her odious neighbor Frederick Burton-Smythe in order to fulfill the terms of her father's will. It's not what she wants, but she'll do anything to keep Beasley Park. When she hears Fred has challenged the mysterious Lord St. Clare to a duel, she pleads with him to call it off. Fred refuses, and Maggie calls upon her spirited upbringing to visit Lord St. Clare herself.

But Lord St. Clare looks shockingly familiar—and yet not familiar at all. He protests her claims that he's her childhood friend come back to her at last. But is he really? Has her first love returned, or will the cold and aloof stranger turn out to be someone else entirely?

This gripping story held many twists, turns, and delicious layers. If you're a fan of Mimi Matthews or Regency romance, you are going to want to check out this title.

Content warning: This is not a Christian fiction book, which I knew ahead of time. There is quite a bit of PG-rated swearing. If you're familiar with any BBC shows like Poldark or Downton Abbey, it's very much in line with what you would hear there. Use your own discretion.

I received my copy of the book through NetGalley. All thoughts in this review are my own.

***4.5 stars***

I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I started reading this book, I thought it might be about someone named Jim. He is part of the story, but not the focus.

This book follows Maggie and Nicholas. They were childhood friends that realized that they loved each other as teenagers. Nicholas is forced to flee his home when the neighboring son of a landowner, Frederick, accuses him of stealing Maggie's jewelry. The word of a servant does not carry the weight of someone with money.

The book picks up ten years later when Maggie makes a clandestine trip to ask the Viscount who is going to duel Frederick not to kill him. Her father has entrusted her care to him when he passed away. He has control over her finances and whom she marries. She faints when the Viscount bears a striking resemblance to Nicholas.

This book.... sigh. I honestly enjoyed every moment of it. The relationship between Viscount St. Clair and Maggie is intriguing. She speaks to him just as she did Nicholas. She's not afraid to voice her opinion and take chances. She is a strong female MC set in Regency England. The banter and the relationship that they share is fantastic.

The book also deals with extended family who wants to secure their future and threaten the legitimacy of St. Clair's claim. I honestly did not like them one bit. I didn't like Fred either. They get lumped in with him at one point and they become less likable together. Anywho.....

If you are looking for a fast-paced Regency Romance with intrigue and fantastic characters you should definitely read this one!

Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I am thrilled to participate in the blog tour for Gentleman Jim by Mimi Matthews! When I was contacted about reading and reviewing this novel in exchange for an advance reader copy, I was immediately intrigued.

This novel was really engaging. It fits perfectly in my favorite historical romance genre. I loved the unique elements and the connections to classics like The Count of Monte Cristo. A fun read!

One of my favorite narration styles is the dual perspective and this novel offers a great combination of Maggie and St. Clare’s points of view. I love getting inside both of their heads so see how their love build them up. They are so passionate about and loyal to each other. We see that in Maggie’s narration when she is constant drawn to St Clare and is willing to give up her home for him. And we see it in St Clare’s narration as he can’t truly forget how much she means to him. The narrations support each other well and build a beautiful love story.

This is a gorgeous, passionate love story that shows the power that true love has to make us into our best selves. I love how long Maggie and St Clare have loved each other and I love how loyal they are to each other. Maggie is nearly an invalid at the start of the story and in a precarious situation with her inheritance and marriage prospects. I love how St Clare helps her engage with the world again and embraces her fierce loyalty and even her temper. St Clare is seeking to distance himself from his difficult past and wants revenge on those who wronged him. Maggie helps him embrace his past as a part of his identity and move forward without defining himself by his past. True love requires sacrifice and dedication and there is plenty of both in this story. These characters are willing to give up everything to be together. Not in a cliche, immature way, but in a deeply committed way. These two truly are soul mates and their journey to being together is fantastic. Mimi writes beautifully about their feelings towards each other and creates some truly swoon worthy romantic moments. I’m getting goosebumps thinking about their waltz on the veranda and the scene when St Clare’s identity is finally revealed. Well done, Mimi!

I really loved all the connections to and elements from other classics like The Count of Monte Cristo and Wuthering Heights. I love the story of The Count of Monte Cristo. Honestly, the reference to that novel alone sold me on reading this book. The similarities to that story are engaging and subtle. St Clare is wrongly accused like Edmund Dantes and loses seemingly everything to begin the story. He seems consumed by revenge at first as well. I was relieved that Maggie isn’t married to someone else like in the original. And I loved the way she discovers his identity long before he is willing to admit it. Another review made the connection to Wuthering Heights and I like that comparison. Maggie and St Clare really are star crossed lovers and their passionate love affair in their youth haunts them for years before they are reunited. Mimi takes compelling elements from both of these classic novels and uses them to create a new and exciting story of her own.

My standard for historical romance novels is somewhat intensely high and this was a great novel with a few things that I didn’t enjoy. None of these ideas distract too much from the overall story, but they are worth noting. The beginning of the story is not as well developed as the later parts. I would have liked more development about Maggie’s relationship to her father and the estate as well as more development of Nicholas’ situation–more show rather than tell. It wasn’t clear to me why Maggie loved the estate so much and yet her father’s will is forcing her to marry Fredrick. Also it seems to be a small miracle that Maggie’s reputation remains untarnished for all the after dark meetings they have. I appreciated the clean romance but some of those encounters seemed a bit unrealistic for me. The ending could have been more complex as well. Everything comes together a bit too neatly for me.

Overall, this historical romance takes readers on a passionate and thrilling journey to discover that who you love can define who you are. A brilliant love story with engaging characters and riveting adventures. This is a novel for romance lovers and anyone who appreciates a happy ending.

Growing up, Maggie Honeywell wasn't your typical female member of British high society. She loved to ride, hunt, and spend time with her best friend and first love, Nicholas. That all changed when Nicholas, the stable boy, left when wrongly accused of theft and was never seen again. It was hard for Maggie to overcome this great loss and then her father died leaving her penniless and under the control of Frederick, who not only now controls Maggie, but her father's will and Beasley Park where she grew up. Now Maggie is twenty six, which for 1817, means she is a spinster. She realizes that in order to keep Beasley Park, she must marry the odious Fred as he isn't giving her much choice. World on the street is that Fred got into a little trouble last night. He challenged Viscount St. Clare, who is known to have a great shot, over a card game snafu. What will happen to Maggie's estate if Frederick dies? Who will inherit Beasley Park? After trying to talk Fred out of a duel and him not agreeing, she is determined to speak to Viscount St. Clare, who is new to London after being abroad for many years. She knows this isn't exactly proper, but her inheritance is at stake. After meeting with St. Clare, Maggie's life changes forever and readers are taken on an exciting tale of revenge and romance in Gentleman Jim by Mimi Matthews.

My heart went out to Maggie after all she's been through in Gentleman Jim. I hated that she was controlled by Fred and couldn't just inherit her father's estate outright. I was feeling frustration for her, especially when dealing with Fred as he is a major pain. The truth is, Maggie never really got over her love for Nicholas and she would have ran away with him, but he was a stable boy and she was being groomed for high society. She ended up receiving many marriage offers, but denied them all. She always held out hope that Nicholas would return for her, but tragically he never did.

St. Clare is also an equally interesting character in Gentleman Jim. He seems like the dreamy newcomer to town whose mysterious background leaves a few questions up in the air, but he is so much more than that. I thoroughly enjoyed the witty banter and moments between Maggie and St. Clare. I don't want to give too much away, but it was all very well done and he is a swoon-worthy hero for sure.

I really enjoyed every aspect of Gentleman Jim; it was just the kind of Regency romance that I needed. Matthews says at the end of the novel that The Count of Monte Cristo inspired this story and I wholeheartedly agree; I adored some of the similarities. There's highway men, inheritance issues, romance, a mysterious identity, revenge, fancy balls, stolen kisses, duels, and of course, the controlling Fred constantly trying to throw a wrench in Maggie's plans. If you love a good Regency tale and are a Janeite, you won't want to miss Gentleman Jim; it would be the perfect book to curl up with this holiday season.

The bastard son of scullery maid Jenny Seaton and highwayman Gentleman Jim, Nicholas Seaton’s one joy in life is his friendship and burgeoning romance with the outspoken Squire’s daughter, Maggie Honeywell. But when Maggie’s smug neighbor, Frederick Burton-Smythe, frames Nicholas for robbery, the young serving man must flee for his life. He makes Maggie a promise–that he will return for her no matter what, no matter how long it takes.

As the years go by, Maggie Honeywell finds life closing in on her. Her deceased father leaves the estate bound up in a silly trust designed to force her to choose Frederick Burton-Smythe as her husband. But throughout her London debut and throughout the long period of mourning and sickness that came afterward, she has never forgotten her first love, Nicholas Seaton.

When John Beresford, Viscount St. Clare, arrives in England from the continent and takes London by storm, Maggie is aghast to see the face of her childhood friend on the shoulders of this cold aristocrat. And however much the Viscount might deny that identity, he cannot deny his intractable attraction to Miss Honeywell or his utter contempt and loathing for Burton-Smythe. But even if St. Clare could be brought to remember everything they have shared, would Maggie give up the claim on her father’s estate and the responsibility for the people she holds dear? And would St. Clare renounce the quest for vengeance that has been the reason for his survival, the impetus behind his metamorphosis, and the desire he has nourished, for so long, like a serpent in his heart?

This new novel by Mimi Matthews is a top-notch adventure bound up with a swoon-worthy romance. As a newly-minted aristocrat playing a part to perfection, St. Clare is everything that fans of The Scarlet Pimpernel could hope for. Maggie’s physical weakness from her long illness gives a vulnerability to her character that contrasts well with her iron determination. With echoes of Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo, the story deals deftly with the themes of vengeance and love, and what happens when the two are intertwined. Maggie and Nicholas must both contend with their own pride as the visions for what they want to accomplish prove incompatible with the love they both share. Highly recommended.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I don’t want to give away any details about this book, but let me say this: It’s a fabulous story from one of my favorite authors. This storyline and these characters are wonderful. Be prepared to become deeply absorbed in every page of this book. This is one you’ll want to read again and again.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This book! I had read a review on Smart Bitches, Trashy Books that recommended just diving in without reading any plot description, so that's what I did. What I got was an extremely fun, wild ride - something I don't usually expect with period romance, but that was very welcome! I really liked how good Matthews's period details are - she's clearly done her research, and those details add to texture of the story. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire book (which I finished in two days), and afterwards I immediately looked up all of Matthews's previous books, which I plan to read soon!

This was my first book by Mimi Matthews but it certainly won’t be the last! I thoroughly enjoyed St. Clare and Maggie’s love story. There is romance, adventure and of course a happy ending! If you’re in the mood for a clean, Regency romance I heartily recommend Gentleman Jim!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.

Such a lovely book! Gentleman Jim brought all the feelings and emotions that you'd want and expect when reading a good romance between two people who are soul mates.

A very clean romance, only a few chaste kissing scenes. But the steam and connection between Maggie and St Clare will have you fanning yourself. I loved Maggie and St Clare so much. I wish we could have seen more flashbacks into their childhood together to get a better grounding in this great love they have.

Interesting plot that moved along at a good pace, well written dialogue and action scenes.

I wish the villains suffered a bit more in the end, but that's me being a bit more bloodthirsty. There is the case of hidden identity, but luckily it doesn't last too long.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to review, all opinions are my own and freely given.

As always is the case with Mimi Matthew’s books I absolutely adored this story! She is truly in a class of her own and I’m convinced she can’t write a bad book if she tried.
I loved Maggie’s character, she had the class and softness of a true lady but knew how to stand her ground and could give as good as she got-the perfect blend of feistiness and femininity.
St. Clare was a forced to be reckoned with, I admired his calmness under pressure, though sometimes he was pushed too far and his temper reared it’s head it was always well justified in my opinion. I felt for all the hardships he’d been through but was impressed with the man he’d become in spite of it all.
They had a romance for the ages and I was absolutely swept away. I could have happily been lost in their love story for many more pages.
Everything about this story was well done from the intriguing storyline, to the romance, to the sniveling villains! Mimi Matthews has done it again and her fans are sure to be enthralled with this amazing tale!

Gentleman Jim by Mimi Matthews caught my attention simply because it is a historical romance novel whose title doesn't include the words Duke, Earl, Viscount, or Lady. And there's not even a woman on the cover! In case you're wondering if this is truly a historical romance novel based on the above information let me assure you that it definitely is and it is positively wonderful.

I was sold on this book from the very first chapter. I'm not usually into the whole soul mates trope, but there's something so sweet about hero and heroine loving each other since they were children. Nicholas and Margaret believed they were soul mates from the moment they met and those feelings never dulled, even after being torn apart and separated for over a decade. I cannot think of a single thing more romantic than watching the innocent love of children blossom into the passionate love of adults. That's the truest form of love right there.

Margaret is, like many heroines, a kind-hearted, good-natured, wonderful person. And we love her for it. I'll admit that even though the perfect, innocent heroine trope is a little overdone, I still adored Maggie as a main character. She was just loud enough and bold enough and crass enough to stay interesting. Nicholas, or shall we say St. Clare, was utterly fabulous. I can't even explain how much I love that we got to see a hero who, right from the start, was madly in love with Maggie, wanted to pursue her, and didn't care who knew about it. So refreshingly romantic.

The excitement stemmed from the plot to undercover Nicholas' true birth right and keep Maggie free from the clutches of Fred, the man in charge of her fortune...and the man who wants her for himself. Who doesn't love the excitement of the main characters out-maneuvering the bad guy at every turn? I can't get enough of it, that's for sure.

This would be a wonderful read for historical lovers who enjoy: fake and/or mistaken identities, mysteries, bossy heroines (who says bossy has to be a bad thing?), and enamored, sexy heroes who don't mind pretending to be a highwayman if it means keeping a creep's hands off their lady. Well-written, captivating, and incredibly sexy.

Oh my word, this was everything delectable in a story. Mimi Matthews is already one of my favourite historical romance authors, but this is now one of my favourite novels of hers to boot. That makes it a favourite of a favourite! It has intrigue, a bit of derring-do, a hero and heroine I absolutely adore, and oh, so much passion—and I don’t mean the explicit kind. It’s a restrained and carefully controlled passion more often than not, both in the characters and the writing—though it’s certainly given free rein when the time is right. But it’s that sense of leashed energy that gives this story its potency. Oh, the potency!

Do I even need to say anything else after that gushing opening? The plot was wonderfully engaging, because even if you were sure of one element of the plot, it only raised more questions in its place. And I truly did have a jaw-drop moment at about fifty percent of the way through the novel, which was when I began to see how the pieces may fit together. But even then, there was a question as to how everything would turn out and a vastly enjoyable journey to get there.

Much like in the novel Rebecca, the eponymous Gentleman Jim plays his central role posthumously, but make no mistake, it is certainly a central role. Also, while Matthews’ writing style differs somewhat from Heyer (to neither author’s detriment), there was a very Heyer-esque feeling to the overall story.

Truly, Matthews is an historical romance author par excellence!

Gentleman Jim
A Tale of Romance & Revenge
by Mimi Matthews
Back of the Book: “She Couldn't Forget...
Wealthy squire's daughter Margaret Honeywell was always meant to marry her neighbor, Frederick Burton-Smythe, but it's bastard-born Nicholas Seaton who has her heart. Raised alongside her on her father's estate, Nicholas is the rumored son of notorious highwayman Gentleman Jim. When Fred frames him for theft, Nicholas escapes into the night, vowing to find his legendary sire. But Nicholas never returns. A decade later, he's long been presumed dead.
He Wouldn't Forgive...
After years spent on the continent, John Beresford, Viscount St. Clare has finally come home to England. Tall, blond, and dangerous, he's on a mission to restore his family's honor. If he can mete out a bit of revenge along the way, so much the better. But he hasn't reckoned for Maggie Honeywell. She's bold and beautiful--and entirely convinced he's someone else.
As danger closes in, St. Clare is torn between love and vengeance. Will he sacrifice one to gain other? Or, with a little daring, will he find a way to have them both?”
Impressions: This was as it says on the back of the book, a tale of romance and revenge. It was quite exciting although a bit coarser than the Christian romances I am typically reading.
Liked: I enjoyed all the excitement of this book. I was most curious to see how things worked out.
Disliked: I actually did not care for the romance of these characters. I’m sure that sounds crazy. They were so clingy to one another. It seemed childish to me.
Learned: I think that my take-home was where we put our value. Do we base our value and worth on other's opinions? I should hope not. Nicholas Seaton struggled throughout the book with his worth. He let the importance of society dictate his value. He then hid himself away while those who loved him were pushed away. I don’t think this is uncommon. With social media, and media, in general, being the guiding light to many, our value and worth have been distorted to their command. I take great encouragement from these verses when I’m questioning my worth: Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do," 1 John 3:1 "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" What a friend we have in Jesus; that He should call us His own. We are His handiwork and likeness. What worth do I have? A great deal to our Father.
I received a copy of this book via the publisher in exchange for my honest review shared here.

Gentleman Jim was another novel that I picked up and had a hard time putting down. The story was rollicking good fun and riveting.

Margaret Honeywell is a fearless teenager. She was overindulged by her father as his only child. She loves two things, their estate and young Nicholas Seaton, a servant. Her mean-spirited neighbor, Fred Burton-Smythe loves Margaret and is jealous of Nicholas. One day he frames Nicholas for a theft, and Nicholas is forced to flee into the night. He vows to find his father, the legendary highwayman, Gentleman Jim. Margaret vows to wait for Nicholas to return and she does.

Year later firmly on the shelf at age twenty-six, Margaret has spent the last two years mourning her father and her aunt. Alone in the world, her father has decided to force his hand with his will stating that Margaret must marry two years after his death to inherit the estate, and that Fred has to approve the match. Until then, odious Fred serves as her guardian. Margaret arrives in London to visit a friend and runs across the mysterious Viscount St. Claire who has recently returned from Europe. Margaret instantly recognizes her long lost love Nicholas. St. Claire denies any knowledge of her or of Nicholas, but Margaret is not convinced. What happened to Nicholas and what is the mystery behind St. Claire?

I loved this book. The characters were brilliant. I loved the Regency England setting. The dialogue and writing were wonderful and really drew me into the story. This is a clean romance, but the passion and love between the two main characters leapt off the page. I loved the secondary characters as well, especially Margaret’s friend Jane. I loved the swashbuckling adventure that occurred at different points of the novel. I also loved that revenge was a large part of the plot as well as St. Claire tries to control his own desires for revenge. It reminded me of The Count of Monte Cristo. I also loved that Margaret was a strong character and no shrinking violet. The story kept me guessing throughout and I once again stayed up too late as I just couldn’t put this book down.

The book was a five-star historical romance. My only complaint is a rather strange one. I LOVED the cover, but it made me think I was going to read the story of someone with African heritage in Regency England and I was excited on that prospect. I was disappointed when the hero was a tall blond man, and no one appeared that matched the cover. I am still waiting for that story!

Favorite Quotes:
“The fact is, he and I were more than friends. More even than lovers. We were soulmates. As essential to each other as light or air.”

“I’m not some damsel in distress for you to rescue.”

Overall, Gentleman Jim is a perfect Regency romance with intrigue, love, revenge and swashbuckling adventure. It’s another book that I couldn’t put down!

Book Source: Review Copy for being a part of the Blog Tour. Thank-you!

Maggie Honeywell found the love of her life as a kid. Nicholas Seaton was a servant but her very best friend. Unfortunately Maggie was meant to marry Fredrick. Fredrick was mean and rude and had it out for Nicholas. One night he set Nicholas up and Nicholas had to run. He promised he'd come back for Maggie. Years later Maggie meets John Beresford who looks a lot like Nicholas but is he? I haven't read a historical romance in ages. Honestly the title drew me first and then the blurb seemed interesting so why not give it a try. Wonderful book with exciting characters with a tough leading lady who through everything stayed sassy even though she might have been dimmed for a while. Maggie and Nicholas seems so cute together and teenagers you find yourself rooting the John is Nicholas. Great wrap up from a new to me author.

Find out more about this book and author here www.mimimatthews.com

I’m a big fan of Mimi Matthews’s historical romances.

I love how her novels and novellas seem to effortlessly combine those two elements. I’m not a big reader of outright romance novels, so the fact that her characters have always won me over completely (s individuals and with the chemistry within the relationships) says a lot. The historical side is always meticulously researched but the little details and tidbits are woven in so that it never feels like a lecture or info-dump.

GENTLEMAN JIM is fun and fast-paced. Because of the hidden-identities and secret pasts storyline Matthews manages to combine both the depth of character chemistry and fun you get from established relationships with the will-they wont-they tension of a courtship. This is a second-chance romance story with a wonderful, rogueish twist.

I really enjoyed the mystery of Nicolas’ mother and father and how dynamic Maggie is as a heroine, jumping right in to uncover St Clare’s secret and to stake her claim on the future of her family estate. She’s spunky and bold, with enough flaws to make her incredibly likable. Likewise, St Clare is charming: suave and awkward in turns.

You’ll be rooting for them both.

I really enjoyed GENTLEMAN JIM, especially the dramatic duels, fistfights, and Count of Monte Cristo vibes.

It’s fast-paced with vibrant characters and would make a perfect introduction to Matthews’ writing. Fans of her writing won’t be disappointed either, but that’s really no surprise at this point, is it? When are we ever?