Mimi Matthews is the master of Victorian romance and Gentleman Jim is a perfect example. Maggie is a strong, lovable heroin who knows her own heart, regardless of what others try to press upon her. I love the backstory of Maggie and Nicholas and how their love surpasses all obstacles. I enjoyed the transformation of Viscount St. Clare and the way all the loose ends came together. The passion is tampered, but palpable, and thoroughly enjoyable. This story leaves you feeling warm and satiated from head to toes. You do not want to miss this one by Mimi Matthews.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own, freely given.

Count me as one of Mimi Matthews' die-hard fans! Gentleman Jim was fantastic...I'm pretty sure I read it in one day. (Yay for Saturday reading!) I loved how the story kept me guessing (one minute I was sure I knew what was up with John and the next minute I was all, "But wait...hmm...I don't know...") and it was paced so well. I so appreciate a story in which the plot moves along quickly enough to keep you turning pages but slows down in poignant moments to let you savor the romance and/or the emotional journey of the characters. And speaking of romance, this one has it in spades and it. is. splendid. LOVED IT!!

Good heavens. I don’t even know what to say. Gentleman Jim is more than I ever expected from author Mimi Matthews. I want to read it again, starting right now. So yeah... gotta go.

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

This is my first experience with this author, but dang, girl! Way to blow me away. I really enjoyed this story line. It was exciting and cringe worthy. I love a plot where the main character seems to be lost to the wolves, but in the end it all blows up and is thrown in the wolves faces. It really was a "take that," kind of moment and I just wanted to scream and punch them in the throats...

I can't wait to pick up another book by Mini Matthews.

Review will go live on the Book Confessions Blog on 11-22-20.

This is a fabulous historical novel that captures the romance of Jane Austen and the adventure and intrigue of Count of Monte Cristo. This prolific author once again swept me off my feet with her storytelling and plopped me back in time to meet a delightful cast of characters. For an avid fan of history this book was a veritable treat. Never once while reading the book could I guess how the author would resolve the obstacles in the hero and heroine’s path.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. This review is my honest opinion.

I finished [book:Gentleman Jim|49471321] [bookcover:Gentleman Jim|49471321] This is the first time that I have read anything by Mimi Matthews and I found it well done.
Set in the Georgian/Regency period, I felt the angst palpable and the longing genuine. Margaret, (Maggie), Honeywell is tied into a no win situation. In order to take any control of her dead Father's estate, he has written that she must marry the obnoxious son of the neighboring estate, (to join the estates together), or get his approval to marry someone else. Fredrick Burton-Smythe, (Fred), is a domineering oaf and will no way surrender her estate to another.
At the heart of the story is her love of a former groom on the estate. He is her soul-mate and accused of a crime he did not commit, he had to run away.
Ten years later in London, Maggie comes across a dead ringer for her beloved Nicholas Seaton, only he is Viscount St Clare, John Beresford, who has recently returned to London from the continent with his Grandfather. Chomping at the bit are Beresford family members trying to discredit St Clare as the real heir so that a distant relative can step into the inheritance.

One thing that I really liked was the intrigue, Is he Nicholas re-invented or not? Also, Maggie is a strong character, certain in her convictions, and daring in her actions. She suffered a bout of influenza that left her physically weaker than she was in her youth, but her spirit and mind are robust. There is a small cast of supporting characters who are not as fleshed out as I would like, but that would have made for a longer book.

All in all, it was a great read that I stayed up way too late reading. 4*'s

I have read pretty much every Mimi Matthews book and she has never disappointed. So naturally I had to read this and from the start I was in fact not disappointed. Another good story from a great author.

Gentleman Jim was most definitely a tale of romance and revenge. Maggie Honeywell has returned to London after mourning her father and aunt, as well as suffering the long term effects of influenza. For Maggie, this is a short period of freedom before she finally gives in to her persistent suitor, who just so happens to also control her fortune. However, Maggie's reluctant plans are cast adrift when she meets Viscount St. Clare, a man who bears an uncanny resemblance to her childhood sweetheart, Nicholas Seeton, whom she had thought dead. Considering that Nicholas was born to an unwed mother, Maggie is conflicted on whether or not St. Clare is exactly who she thinks he is.

What follows is a tale filled with romance and revenge (and the revenge is sweet, with the villain getting his just desserts). The tension between St. Clare and Maggie is palpable - there is so much standing in the way of their happily ever after. Matthews does an incredible job in calling into question whether or not St. Clare and Maggie will get their happy ending. The claustrophobia of Maggie's circumstances truly came across the page and that tension really propelled the plot. The swoony romance helped too!

A fabulous romance from Matthews!

i really enjoyed reading this book, i always enjoy the time period and I found these characters really well done. I look forward to more from the author.

While this wasn't my favorite of Ms.Thomas' books,it was entertaining. It lagged at the 1/2 way mark. The last chapters were predictable to a fault.
I much preferred the "Orphans" series. I also like the fact that her books are "clean" romamce. I get really tired of the swelling bosom, bodice ripping and rutting males.
Her stories are sweet romances with mystery and intrigue.

<i>I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Mimi Mathews has a way of bringing my favorite gothic novels to life, in spirit if not in plot. Her books have a way of perfectly capturing all the mood and drama of gothic classics. If her Parish Orphans series reminded me of Jane Eyre, then Gentleman Jim was Wuthering Heights. Nicolas and Maggie’s story, their fated love, and tragic separation is so very reminiscent of Heathcliff and Cathy’s angsty romance. I read this in one sitting; by the time I was done I was startled to look up and realize it was morning already! And if that’s not enough to recommend a book I don’t know what is!

<b>You Should Read This If You Like:</b> gothic romances, friends to lovers OTP, fated lovers or soulmates, case of mistaken identity, persuasion by Jane Austen, etc.

Gentleman Jim is the love story of Nicolas Seaton, bastard son of legendary highwayman Gentleman Jim, and the wealthy squire’s daughter Margaret Honeywell. The social disparity in their status and jealousy from Maggie’s most ardent suitor Fred, leads our lovers to separate and for Nicolas to flee the country and a death sentence. Fast forward to years later, Maggie is under Fred’s guardianship, wholly dependent on him. Nicolas is long since presumed dead. She longs to be free from Fred’s control and take ownership of her home. Amidst the turmoil of her life, enters John Beresford, Viscount St. Clare, who bears a striking resemblance to her dead lover. Is the Viscount really Nicolas? And if so, why does he pretend to not know who she is?

Honestly, when we are first introduced to Nicolas and Maggie I didn’t really buy their relationship. It was evident from the first moment we see them, lying together in the grass and holding hands, all of 16 and so much in love. My main issue with this, as with most Mimi Mathews romances, is that so much of our initial understanding of these characters happens second hand. The reader is informed of Nicolas and Maggie’s lifelong friendship, despite their social disparity. Their differences in class means they both lead widely disparate lives. It is Nicolas who has to bear the weight of transgressing his social boundary while Maggie remains largely ignorant to the daily problems and prejudices he has to deal with.

This would have made for some excellent character foundation, except that most of this information is told to the reader via info dumping and exposition in the first couple of chapters. We are told Nicolas doesn't have enough money to marry and provide for Maggie. But we see next to nothing of the life he has had to live. Most of what we know of Nicolas, including his abusive relationship with his mother, we learn through exposition. It makes it very hard to understand how very impossible their relationship is and indeed when it is confronted, to then sympathize with it. I just wish the foundation of their relationship and their character didn’t happen offstage. In any case, it would have made their separation that much more tragic.

But that’s really my only major complaint. Because once the story gets moving, damn but it’s something to see! I loved everything about Maggie and Nicolas. Maggie with her quiet strength, learning to stand up for herself again and find that fighting spirit in a world that had broken her down was beautiful to read. I loved that she had friends to support her through her issues and give her some breathing room. Her meeting with the viscount, and their subsequent romance was part angst, part forbidden romance, and all sizzling chemistry! Seriously, these two could light a room with the amount of repressed sexual energy they have been hoarding for all these years!

I loved the mystery of it, even though it was pretty obvious from the get go. My favorite thing about this novel though, is the way both Nicolas and Maggie have to reconcile with the people they have now become as adults and adjust their lives accordingly. They lived as two parts of a whole and evolved as such, never losing their love for one another. And if that isn’t the best kind of fated love I don’t know what is!

I also appreciate that the stakes in this book feel very real and urgent. The villains do an excellent job of being threatening and a looming concern to our couple’s happily ever after.

The Gentleman Jim story was also another favorite! The whole highwayman story, just shrouded in mystery and intrigue, coupled with danger and drama always gets to me! This one was a cut above the rest, managing to be both dangerous and incredibly sexy at the same time. Mimi Mathews brought all my gothic fantasies to life and honestly, I couldn't have asked for more!

I do have a minor complaint about the cover. It just looks seriously terrible, and very wild west and not at all representative of the moody, gothic feel of this book! I just wished we had something to better show how freaking awesome this book is! <b>4 stars</b>. Mimi Mathews has quickly become one of my favorite historical romance authors and I cannot wait to read more from her!

Absolutely my favorite of Ms. Matthew's stories so far. It kept me guessing for far longer than most books with hidden character backstories. So well-crafted and deftly honed character arcs. As always I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book from Mimi Matthews!

Mimi Matthew's never fails to produce exceptional stories which rattle along with strong, likeable characters. Here we meet Maggie, a feisty independent young lady and St. Clare the erstwhile hero. Their adventure is vastly entertaining with a comfortable HEA. I recommend this book for lovers of historical romance. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy.

Gentleman Jim took me by surprise, it wasn’t your usual trope of a regency storyline – at least for me, it wasn’t. I liked that Mimi Matthews isn’t afraid to color outside the lines and this is what will keep me coming back to see what else she has in store for us readers.

I liked all the characters (and even the not so nice ones) but I have to mention Jane Trumble, Maggie’s stalwart friend. She wasn’t as fiery as Maggie but she packed a good punch, and as far as best-outstanding (and supporting) characters go, I want to nominate her!

I thoroughly enjoyed Gentleman Jim, and I will be back for more of Ms. Matthew's writing.

My gratitude to Perfectly Proper Press and Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

In Gentleman Jim, the two young protagonists Margaret Honeywell and Nicholas Seaton are separated by class in Somerset in 1817, as well as the local neighbor's son Fred, who has his eye on Maggie and her land. He's abetted by both his father and hers who want the match so that their estates can be joined. When Fred separates the best friends, who are on the cusp of a burgeoning romance, by framing Nicholas for theft, it appears as if Nicholas will be gone for good. He manages to escape with Maggie's help, and goes in search of his father, who may or may not be the highwayman Gentleman Jim but not before promising to return for her.

Several years later, Maggie's father is dead and under his wishes, is under the guardianship of Fred until she is married with Fred's approval. She remains unwed, and loathes the idea of marrying Fred but does not wish to see her estate go to a distant relative. The novels kicks with when the mysterious Lord St. Clare challenges Fred to a duel, and Maggie sees a sharp resemblance to her lost Nicholas.

Mimi Matthews has been a welcome surprise for me--she's the definition of a comfort read in historical romance. That said, I did think some of the suspense was unnecessarily drawn out and Maggie's attachment to her home in comparison to her attachment to Nicholas also got drawn out. 4.5 stars.

An ARC of this novel was provided by NetGalley--all opinions are my own.

This is a good contender for my favorite book by Mimi Matthews. I’m very much stuck on the Orphans of Devon series, but this new book has made me doubt my rankings!

Maggie and Nicholas are childhood sweethearts, separated in their youth when he is framed for a crime by a jealous rival for Maggie’s affections, who is a bully of a higher social rank. She promises to wait for him, though, enduring her coming out, seasons in London, and threats of losing her home if she doesn’t marry the aforementioned bully. Then a Viscount appears, ten years later, and shakes everything up.

The book was very fun, something I would not normally say I about historical romances! I loved the tropes that showed up, but in creative ways. It was never just longing stares in ballrooms. There was a titillating highwayman scene, daring carriage rides in the park that courted scandal, and a standoff at gunpoint. It was great, and I particularly enjoyed the parallels to other novels. Mimi mentions that she was inspired by the Count of Monte Cristo, and it was apparent, but I could see shades of other books too, like Persuasion, in the long wait for true love, the male lead finding his fortune and worth, etc. Even the old Viscount seemed eccentric and temperamental, reminiscent of Emma’s father in Jane Austen’s classic. I loved these little connections to some of my favorite classic novels, at least within my own perception as I read.

I found Maggie to be one of my favorite lady protagonists of Mimi's, perhaps the most well-rounded and developed. She can shoot a pistol, ride horses, argue with and verbally best any man she meets in the book. At the same time, she is physically weakened by a strong bout of influenza she contracted years before the events of the book. The dichotomy of that vulnerability and her willful personality, determined to reclaim her agency and identity at every turn, was a delicious mix for me. It made her so human and relatable, as someone also very feisty but limited in daily life by a disabling physical injury.

As usual, there were the little touches that remind you you’re reading one of Mimi’s period romances – great attention to costuming detail, chaperoning, all sorts of etiquette, and you just end up fully immersed in the setting. I will absolutely read this again, and highly recommend it for those who like historical romances.

When squire’s daughter Margaret Honeywell’s father dies, her abusive neighbor and prospective husband Fredrick Burton-Smythe gets total control of her. He has challenged a stranger to a duel and Margret finds he looks the spitting image of her childhood friend. Events spiral into a race of jealousy and revenge, where Margaret is stuck in the middle.

Getleman Jim is the standalone regency romance by Mimi Matthews set in Somerset 1817 about squire’s daughter Margaret Honeywell who has been left in control of her abusive guardian and neighbor Frederick Burton-Smythe. Through his will, her father forces her to marry Fred and have the estates joined or she will lose all her assets. But Margaret has her heart set on illegitimate son and estate groom Nicholas Seaton, who went in search for his father years ago and never returned.
When Margaret tries to prevent Fred from dueling, she is shocked to meet John Beresford, Viscount St. Clare, who looks just like Nicholas but denies having met him. Fred picks up on a connection between the two and becomes even more bullying and controlling towards Margaret. She finds herself stuck between the two men trying to prevent them from hurting each other.

Main character John Beresford, Viscount St. Clare, has a secret history having grown up in Europe. I feel for him as the plot progresses and he is not able to tell Margaret the truth.

Secondary character squire’s daughter Margaret Honeywell was verbally assertive but suffered health challenges following her father’s death. Descriptions of her health I felt made her character come alive and be relatable. She is my favorite character of this story.

I felt this plot included some unique elements. The terrible lack of judgment and next level cynicism in the will added excellent dramatic effect. I particularly felt surprised and relieved by how Margaret’s closest friend Jane acted reminiscent to her lawyer in the early parts of the story. She certainly needed one as the plot progressed. The writing was captivating with thoroughly engaging dialogue and great character building. All this made me fly through the pages and wish for more.

The best part of this story was when Margaret tried to stop Fred’s duel by visiting his opponent. This serious surprise became the center of the plot. The effects of the will were by far the worst part.

The heart wrenching feelings between St. Clare and Margaret I felt were particularly well written. St. Clare offered Margaret 3 forfeits which I felt gave the story an element of fairy tale I’m sure would appeal to younger readers.

This unique story with several fresh elements would captivate readers of regency romance and fans of Mimi Matthews. Similar authors might be Michelle Griep or Erica Vetsch.

Thank you to publisher Perfectly Proper Press and for this eARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions in this review are completely my own.

Conclusion: this unique regency romance includes captivating drama, legal issues, mystery and romance as St. Clare and Margaret tackle difficulties of secrecy, jealousy and revenge. I look forward to reading whatever Mimi Matthews releases next because of the enjoyable plots she comes up with.

I want to write a very full review for this... but then again I don't.

I think to enjoy this book you can't go in with too much detail, but instead just have to ride the roller-coaster of it. Given the blurb (and also the first chapter), I think experienced romance readers will quickly intuit some things. It gives a little nod to the Count of Monte Cristo. But the enjoyment is how the plot gets from point A to point B.

This is a very romantic story with a strong, enjoyable heroine and a dashing, very enigmatic hero. It also has plotting rogues and scheming relatives, a parent trying to control a child from beyond the grave and another parent who goes to the grave with a lot of secrets to be uncovered. And through it all you wonder about identity -- mistaken or fraud or real? And it keeps you guessing until the end with an appropriately dramatic climactic scene.

I started this yesterday and did not put it down til I finished. It was a great read with just enough angst (not too much) and adventure (more than enough) and romance (a lot). Also I really appreciate that both the hero and heroine have their own separate high stakes plots that intersect in some ways but are still have separate but equal importance to that character.

Good book.

Gentleman Jim by Mimi Matthews is a story of romantic suspense set in Victorian London. Nicholas Seaton and Maggie Honeywell are childhood sweethearts. Never mind that he is a servant in her father's household and the rumored son of a notorious highwayman, Gentleman Jim. When he is framed for theft by his rival, Frederick Burton-Smythe, for Maggie's affections, he runs away to save himself, but breaks Maggie's heart in the meantime.

Ten years later, Maggie is orphaned and set to marry Frederick, despite her longing for Nicholas. When she learns Frederick has challenged the mysterious Lord. St. Clare to a duel, Maggie can't help but intervene. But there's something very familiar about Lord St. Clare and Maggie hopes that perhaps the love she lost so long ago may have in fact been resurrected.

In Gentleman Jim, Mimi Matthews once again proves she's the master of the Victorian historical romance. Her details make you feel as if you are really strolling in London. I love that her heroines are strong women but don't fall out of the historical behaviors of the period. There is more physicality in this book than I have seen in some of Matthews other stories, but none of it feels especially out of place considering the story and the character's emotional arc.

I did see the twist coming fairly early on but I still enjoyed the path to see how they got there and that is where Matthews shines. I look forward to more of her books with high anticipation.

Note: I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley and the publishers.

Gentleman Jim is a very good story. Its main characters are Maggie and Nicholas. They are 2 who have grown up together and loved each other from the start, first love. He a stable boy and she the young lady of the house. They are torn apart by a jealous rival, Fred. He sets Nicholas up to be arrested for stealing. So Nicholas has to flee for his life. He promises Maggie he will be back for her.
Flash forward 10 years. Maggie has had a very rough 10 years. She lost her father and then her aunt who was like a mother to her. In between she is laid low by influenza. She never totally bounces bounced back from that. She is now 26 and going back to London after all these setbacks. She had a season in London and turned down many offers of marriage. She was waiting for her soulmate to come back. Now she has given up all hope. Fred still wants to marry her. Should she accept him?
When she finds out Fred is challenged to a duel, she tries to stop it by going to the house of the Viscoubt, he is to duel, Visount St.Clare,the grandson of the Earl of Arrandale. Both have just recently returned from Europe. When Maggie gets there, she goes to introduce herself and looks into the eyes of a man she hasn't seen in 10 years. Of course he denies being this man. Is he or isnt he keeps you going for a while. The questions and answers come. The love grows.
It was a very good story, I really enjoyed it. But what I found disappointing is that I've been a fan of Mimi Matthews since the beginning. I live her books because they are extraordinarily different, not your ordinary Regency romance. This was an ordinary Regency romance. Dont get me wrong, it was very good, just not extraordinary.
I want to thank Netgalley for the chance to review this book.
4 1/2 stars rounded up to 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐