This book was very sweet and surprised me with a few plot twists! I loved the character of Julia, our bookish, romantic, horse-riding, strong-willed protagonist, and the relationship that develops between her and Captain Blunt, the mysterious war veteran who has scandalous rumors abound. If you enjoy: Victorian settings, Beauty and the Beast vibes, and a book focused on a relationship developing from friendship and trust, I think you'd really like this one!

I definitely will be reading more of Mimi Matthews' books. I enjoy how well-researched her stories are.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a digital review copy of this book via NetGalley.

I was lucky enough to win a digital ARC of THE BELLE OF BELGRAVE SQUARE by Mimi Matthews from a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Have a safe and happy summer, and thanks for the early look!

4.5/5.0
For anyone who enjoys stories that are absolutely lyrical they're so beautifully penned, this one should be top of the list! The ability of the author to imbue the Victorian era in each phrase so subtly that the reader is completely transported to that era without even realizing it is a marvel.

The story itself is slow building and for a few of today's readers may take a bit of patience, as the plot-line isn't flashy or exciting and there isn't a huge climax. Rather, it is a slow-burn, calming and beautiful tale of a terribly shy and awkward young woman stuck in a smothering house yet expected to shine in crowds, and a broken and hardened man who holds terrible secrets. The readers follows the two as each grows and learns to love, trust and forgive. It truly is a exquisite, if sometimes heart-breaking, journey. One where a reader can appreciate a truly classic style of writing while closing the last page content and uplifted.

okay, I am officially head over heels in love with jasper and julia. I love how caring, loving and affectionate they are with each other. I love how they are fond of reading books. I love how they always communicate openly and honestly about their feelings. there's no miscommunication, and that's so refreshing.

I think this is the fifth book I have read by miss mimi, and they just keep getting better and better. my plan was initially to read the first book in the series, but then I saw that my request for one of my most anticipated reads of this year was approved, and I'm so happy that it exceeded my expectations. I even purposefully read it very slowly because I didn't want it to end. dreamy sigh, I will forever treasure this story in my heart.

p.s. I can't get the scene out of my mind when he brushed her hair because she told him it made her feel as though someone cared for her and it helped soothe her to sleep. please excuse me while I melt into a puddle in the corner. 🖤

Mimi Matthews' The Belle of Belgrave Square is an absolute pleasure. Ms. Matthews had somehow managed to escape my notice, even as she darted up bestseller lists. I am happy to say that my oversight has been remedied--I will keep an eye out for her from now on. This has all the cliches of the genre: fortune-hunting, "invalid" parents, a hero with a scar across his face. Yet, it all feel wonderfully fresh. I very much enjoyed Matthews' writing style and even went out and bought one of her earlier titles. Five stars and I do plan to recommend it to anyone interested in the genre.

RATING: 3.5/5 STARS

This was a charming novel, and an excellent continuation of the series. Julia and Captain Blunt's story had some twists but settled into a sweet ending. I enjoyed the romance between them. This wasn't my top favorite of Mimi Matthews' books but a lovely one to add to the collection for sure.

A loosely retelling of Beauty and Beast. Julia is basically held hostage by her parents. Captain Blunt is a disfigured war hero in search of a wealthy bride to rebuild his estate and help care for his 3 natural children. Blunt ends up being Julia's savior, but he has conditions to them marrying; don't go to the 4th floor study and don't ask him about his past. Julia is willing to honor these request, until she finds herself falling in love with him. What secrets is Blunt hiding and can Julia remain in the relationship if she learns the truth?

Engrossing, The Belle of Belgrave is an all-consuming don’t-stop-turning-pages story that will enrapt readers from page one. Fans of Mimi Matthews’s first book , The Siren of Sussex, will thoroughly enjoy her second installment. Like a master weaver, Matthews’s The Belle of Belgrave Square has threads of mythology and fairytale in her story, creating this intricate balance between those legends and her own. What’s most rewarding is how Matthews continues to create dynamic and complex characters who dance off the page like those on the silver screen.

With the fierce Captain Jasper Blunt, tall and broody, and over time we find disarmingly charming, but for his many secrets, add in Julia Wychwood (think Belle from Beauty and the Beast) a quirkily sweet, yet shy heiress, with a debilitating anxiety in social settings, and you have this swoon-worthy story which unfolds exquisitely like the silken petals of a newly formed blossom, eager to drink in the warmth of the sun.

A perfect regency romance that will tug at your heartstrings as you race through each chapter to uncover the secrets, witnessing and enjoying how these two characters change from the beginning of the story to the end, and a giddy smile plastered to your face as you watch Julia and Jasper slowly fall head-over-heals for each other.

The Belle of Belgrave Square is a story about what it means to find pleasure, to find family, to find something that is completely and utterly yours.

I fell in love with this story and I hope you will too.

Happy Reading ~ Cece

The mark of a great book is when you wish it was longer. Truly, I found myself deeply immersed in an incredibly romantic and mysterious atmosphere. Leave it to Mimi Matthews to craft a resplendent and emotionally nourishing tale, brimming with intrigue, compelling characters, rich historical detail, and a romance to heal your heart.

The Belle of Belgrave Square is the second book in the Belles of London series. Julia Wychwood is a shy, anxious wallflower, who prefers her novels to navigating society. She would rather feign an illness than attend a ball or dinner. Her lack of confidence in social setting is a result of her cruel, hypochondriac parents. Julia is, however, confident on horseback. According to her friend, Lady Anne (can’t wait for her book!), only a special gentleman can break Julia’s crippling shyness and anxiety.

Here's presenting Captain Jasper Blunt. The scar-faced, infamous hero of Crimea with a brood of illegitimate children and a haunted estate in Yorkshire. He needs to marry an heiress and he has set his eyes on Julia. The awkward first meeting between Julia and Captain Blunt, which takes place in The Siren of Sussex, is the opposite of a meet cute. Julia runs off during the introduction! I’ve been eagerly waiting for this book since that tease.

Julia is my spirit animal. She is adorable. Endearing and relatable. Novels are her safe space. There is strength in her vulnerability, too. When faced with an unsettling future, Julia proposes a marriage of convenience to Captain Blunt. It was remarkable to see her grow as a person and stand up for her rights. Moreover, Julia and Jasper’s relationship evolves beautifully. Readers will experience and appreciate every nuance of their relationship.

This book is exceedingly romantic! I’m invariably enamored with Mimi Matthews heroes, and Jasper is no exception. He is kind, honorable, and a romantic at heart. He reads novels, too. The tender moments gave me giddy butterflies. There are also clever twists and surprises. I’m always drawn to stories with Beauty and the Beast/Hades and Persephone elements in them. Therefore, I loved the references.

Additionally, The Belle of Belgrave Square extols the healing power of books. Indeed, I appreciate the homage to novels. It’s a timely reminder to take care of your mental health during distressing hours. Thank you for that.

Mimi Matthews is my favorite author. I love, love, LOVE her books! This book is special, and I shall return to it again and again. It’s right up there with A Modest Independence for me. Speaking of which, fans of A Modest Independence will delight in reconnecting with Tom and Jenny.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with an arc.

This was a wonderful addition to the Belles of London series. The pacing and chemistry are absolutely lovely, and the romantic tension builds beautifully. The work draws on many classic references and tropes, including allusions to the story of Hades and Persephone and Beauty and the Beast. The work is light in explicit sexual content while still having very real passion on the page, so this would be a good pick for readers who like sweeping historical romance with more of a gentle fade to black rather than spicy content.

I think this must be my favorite Mimi Matthews book so far.
It's one of those few books that I really wanted to know the ending but I didn't want it to end!
This was a romance but also a mystery all woven together in the best way.

Mimi has such a way of crafting her characters into complex pieces all the while keeping you wondering if the character is good, evil or even who I think he is (such as Jasper).
Julia was a paradox, shy and pliant yet strong and determined when she needed to be especially for those she loved.
This story's conclusion was a surprise for me. Mimi led me down a road of doubt, confusion, as I grew to love the characters.

Mimi has an unparalleled talent for intertwining other books into her works. I love that and it makes her books so much richer and fun to read.

I am never disappointed in a Mimi Matthews book. I recommend this one and them all highly.

Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

Shy and bookish Julia would like nothing more than to stay home and read the newest novels. Unfortunately her parents are demanding and keep her under their thumbs. They feel she has no other role than to serve and provide for them. In fact, her father is determined to find her a husband who will keep her close by and available to care for them as they age.

Jasper has returned from the war scarred in more ways than one, and finds himself in desperate financial trouble. His only recourse is to find a wealthy bride. Unfortunately, he also has three illegitimate children to care for, and that is not an appealing attribute for a young woman looking for a suitable husband.

Can these two form an unlikely and create a satisfactory union?

After reading the first book of the series with foreshadowing for this installment, I was very excited to read Julia and Jasper's story. And this did not disappoint! I enjoyed the first book, but this was so much better in terms of relationship development and character growth. While I knew what the secrets were as a reader, I was continually amazed at how those problems kept compounding and kept the tension going. Though predictable, it was still a great read to see how things played out.

Recommended for fans of Regency romance, especially Deanna Raybourn.

Julia Wychwood suffers from anxiety amidst the London season - which is no surprise given her ailing parents, who seem to inflict their own troubles on their only daughter. When Julia meets the mysterious and suspicious Captain Jasper Blunt, she is intrigued, attracted and wary. But there is no denying these is something between these two. However, Blunt is known to have been a ruthless and cruel captain as well as the father of three bastard children and apparently in need of money to support them. Julia, with a considerable dowry, seems like a perfect match - but will her family and his secrets keep them apart?

A slow burn, with time to get to know and appreciate the characters. Not sure if Matthews intended it, but I definitely figured out Blunt’s secrets at the very beginning of the novel. Overall, a fun and pleasurable read - great for the summer and hard to put down!

I. Adored. This. Book. Mimi is so consistently *good*. I loved the little glimpse that this story was coming we got in the previous book in the series (not necessary to read to enjoy this one, however). Mimi's writing is so immersive and detailed and lovely, and her characters so fully drawn and loveable. There's a hint of the gothic here, with secret towers and mysterious children, but it's not full blown melodrama. I love Jasper Blunt <the second> and I love Julia's growth over the course of the story.

Everything you want in a Regency romance, including a heroine with a touch of spunk. There is even a quiet little mystery if you go in for that sort of thing in your romance.

I haven't read the first book in this series, but I was underwhelmed with this one. Jasper's wards were cute I suppose. Julia was yet another wallflower with social anxiety. I'm not saying those are real issues for anyone, but I do wish for a more original female historical romance character once in a while.

Julia Wychwood is not your typical wallflower-she happens to be both beautiful and an heiress. Painfully shy, she's led a sheltered life attending to hypochondriac parents whose ailments dominate her life- with the exception of her obsession with novel reading and her beloved horse, Cossack. Jasper Blunt is a war hero home from the Crimea, whose reputation for ruthless brutality precedes him...as well as his hunt for a wealthy wife. An awkward first meeting leads to an unexpected spark between these two social misfits, but things are not always what they seem on the surface. Can these two opposites attract for a moment- or forever? Set in early Victorian England, this is a sweet romance suitable for a broad audience of readers.

First sentence: Julia Wychwood was alone in Rotten Row, and that was exactly the way she liked it.

Premise/plot: Julia Wychwood is the heroine of Mimi Matthews' The Belle of Belgrave Square. What can I say about Julia? Well, she's socially anxious, prefers books to people, and she happens to be an heiress. Her parents play up (or perhaps that was just my perception???) their illnesses. And they are just as convinced that their daughter, Julia, is weak, fragile, and "poorly." Julia sometimes doesn't fight against this notion--if being "ill" equals more time in her room reading the latest book. But there comes a time when enough is enough is enough.

Captain Jasper Blunt, a war hero (and the hero of this romance novel), doesn't love town life--or should that be TON life. London life isn't exactly his cup of tea; he much prefers life in YORKSHIRE on his estate (run down though it may be). He is in town looking for an heiress to marry. Why an heiress? Well, his estate is in shambles--literally and figuratively. It isn't just that the estate isn't profitable. The situation is dire. He is thinking of his three children--illegitimate though they may be in the eyes of society and the law. Julia is his first choice. For many, many, many reasons.

Julia is drawn to Jasper--deeply. But there are obstacles on the way to this match from both. One thing the two share is a LOVE for reading. In fact, these two love to talk about their favorite authors and favorite books. The discussion is real, and goes beyond the surface.

My thoughts: I love, love, love, love, LOVE, LOVE, crazy love this book. I had no idea it was the second in a series when I chose it for review. I will definitely be going back to read the first book in the series. This book gave off BEAUTY AND THE BEAST vibes, and I was all for it. However, as the novel progressed, I soon picked up on something that thrilled me even more....the book was reminding me of The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery. The Blue Castle is without a doubt one of my favorite, favorite, favorite romances by Montgomery. Perhaps because I identify with the heroine so much.

I loved Julia. I could identify with her. It is so refreshing to identify with heroines in romance novels. Not usual or typical for me. Give me a socially awkward or socially anxious heroine that panics with small talk, and you'll have me at hello.

I loved Jasper. His story isn't necessarily straightforward, plenty of twists and turns. I definitely was cheering for him throughout. There were so many scenes--so many--that just made me giddy.

Is the romance novel clean? Maybe. I'll clarify. If your objection with certain scenes is premarital or extramarital, then yes, this one is "clean" enough. Nothing improper happens before vows are exchanged. Mostly. It depends on if one little kiss counts as improper. But from the start, she knows his intentions are marriage. There's never a creepy-creeper vibe that he is trying to take advantage of her. There are romantic, sensual scenes (a handful) in the novel after they are married. I found them in the tasteful (mostly) range. These scenes are not front and center and written without excessive detail. The scenes don't go on for pages and pages and pages. These scenes do not steal the show or distract from the actual story.

Quotes:

In a novel, she was safe. Her throat didn't close up and her palms didn't grow damp. She could experience things in a way that didn't overwhelm her.

This was how he could help her. Not by holding her. Not by carrying her off to safety somewhere. But by talking to her. By engaging her on the subject she loved most.

This was a sweet romance and a nice follow up to the Siren of Sussex. I appreciated that the heroine had an anxiety disorder, but I think the author somewhat forgot about that about halfway through the story because it kind of fizzled out of importance as the romance got going. The relationship building here was solid, though.

The Belle of Belgrave Square was a light read and exactly what it promised to be. The only surprise was that the Bluebeard stakes were pretty small.