I received a free copy of Mimi Matthew's book Lily of Ludgate Hill from Netgalley. This is a second chance romance between Anne Deverill and Felix Hartford. This is the 3rd in a series entitled the Belles of London. Anne is worried about her friend Julia who we met in the second book and Hartford takes her and her mother to see her as he still is in.love with Anne. What does get tiring is Anne calling him Dear boy and Felix calling her old thing. While gone Felix tells her his dad cheated on his mother and that he has siblings abd the one is causing difficulty. Meanwhile, Felix has other problems on his plate. Anne is still mourning her dad after 7 years and to support her mother wears black. She eventually starts to breakout of her grieving when they are forced to move to Ludgate Hill which symbolizes her rebirth. Everything comes to a head by Christmas time. There are no scenes of sex but there is violence of assault

If you enjoy reading historical romance genres with slow burn tropes, then you will love reading it. I just wish it wasn't much of a slow burn in historical romance books. I tend to lose focus when I read them. I need a little more tense or banter between the characters.

This was such an enjoyable addition to the Belles of London series! Anne and Hartford’s story had a lot of fun tropes - second chance romance, slow burn - and didn’t feel formulaic at all to me. They were both interesting, well developed characters and I really enjoyed reading about them overcoming their own hang ups and stubbornness and ending up together. Her books are closed door, which I usually don’t prefer, but these are just written so well that I find I don’t mind.

"I don't want the world," she informed him. "Your friendship will suffice." She paused. "And your kisses, too, if you're so inclined." He flashed her a scorching glance. "I'm always inclined where you're concerned."

I’m utterly besotted with the London Belles, my favorite four horsewomen furies.

Filled with forgiveness, longing and romantic tension, Lily of Ludgate Hill was a wonderful read, that left me with forever lessons. Caring for others is the strongest thing you’ll ever do. Also, enjoy life, let yourself be a little ridiculous at times, always search for happiness. For a life filled with color and light.

All the stars for Anne and Hart’s slow burn, swoony second chance romance. I simply cannot wait for Stella’s story.

✨ALL THE THINGS✨
•England 1862
•Second chance romance
•Forced proximity
•Anything for you!
•I’ll tell you my deep dark secret if you tell me yours
•Campaigning for her through newspaper articles
•Hurt/comfort
•Banter and so much longing

I love this series so much, the female characters are so strong and loveable. I love a second chance romance and this one was done so well. I love this author so much. She writes regency so well and it's always super engaging.

Anne was sixteen when her father died. She had secretly accepted Hart's proposal of marriage but when he returned from being away for awhile expecting to be married, she felt she couldn't leave her grieving mother. Both being young and immature they fought and parted ways. Now 6 1/2 years later, Anne is still wearing black, obedient and meek to her overbearing mother. She accuses Hart of being irresponsible, not knowing he's had to take on financial responsibility for his deceased father's secret family and is running a business. Because you know - by-blows and tradesmen, not respectable in an upper crust family. Hart has been in love with her all this time, while Anne is a little hard to take. There is a short excursion to check on Julia from book two but mostly it's them reconnecting as adults and dealing with grief. This is a zero steam, closed-door romance.

I enjoyed the dynamic between Anne and Hart, especially with all of the unrequited longing and pining that Hart went through before Anne asked for his help. Eris the kitten stole the show, and the way that both Anne and Hart opened themselves up to each other and shared their most carefully kept secrets made me super happy. The miscommunication that occurred in their past was painful, but I really liked how they both earned from that mistake, recognized what each other’s coping mechanisms were and did better the second time around after they realized they both still had feelings. I also thought that there could have been more romantic tension between them, as the romance element felt a bit flat at certain points, but overall I really liked the plot and characters!

The Lily of Ludgate Hill is a second chance historical romance with opposites attract. It's closed door and the slow burn is almost painfully slow. This book is the third in a series. I liked the first two books better than this one. While the writing was lovely, I found that the book didn't have much of a plot. It lacked true conflict and I didn't necessarily see a lot of character growth. The audiobook was well done and I did enjoy the narrators.

The Lily of Ludgate Hill is Lady Anne Deveril's story. I have enjoyed the previus books in the Belles of London series but I think this is my favourite so far. It's a great read --- Matthews writes clearly and with great with and enthusiasm. I love how fully immersed I was in Anne and Hart's story. They had a great rapport and both characters were expertly crafted and written. I can't wait for the fourth book in the series! Highly recommend to all historical romance fiction fans.

One of my favorites! I absolutely adore this book. I have newborn twins at home right now and still managed to find the time to read this because I love the writing so much. I like that this hero was a bit funnier than some of Matthews other male characters. Lots of wit, but heartfelt moments. Perfect romantic writing.

I was lucky to be given an ARC of this book to review, though I’m behind and just not getting to it. This is not my first time reading something by this author, nor in this series. ​​I was able to read the first two books in this series, and really enjoyed them. This is a great historical romance series with a sweeping romance and showcases one of my favorite couples so far in this series.

One of my favorite things about this book is how open our main two characters are. This is a second chance romance, and there are some pretty big circumstances that keep them apart the first time. And instead of ignoring them, these two openly only talk about them. Now, it’s a lot of arguments, but they are very open with each other. With a troupe or situation like this, it is really easy to use miscommunication. But the author doesn’t do that, and lets the characters figure it out through very adult conversations and realistic character arcs.

They are definitely some tougher subjects, including loss of a family member and what that does to the family dynamic. But overall, I really enjoyed every second of this story. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: I love this author and this series!

Mimi Matthews has such a lovely way of crafting a historical romance novel. Her tone is clear and informative, her characters are interesting and full of dreams and flaws, her words are strung together with thought and knowledge-all of these things work beautifully hand in hand to create a historical romance that not only feels like something from its time, but also holds a comfort and joy to it that Matthews is able to beautifully lay out. The Lily of Ludgate Hill is the third book in the Belles of London series and it is a wonderful companion to its predecessors. I have been easily charmed by each and every one of these novels, which I find can be easily read as standalones. Mimi Matthews has a uniqueness to her writing and niche that will work well with lovers of Georgette Heyer and Mary Balogh. I find that Matthews writing is always clear and focused, the heart of the story lies in the romance, and the new budding feelings of love, and she does this through moments of interaction that are everyday ones.

This novel is a second chance romance between Lady Anne, a confirmed spinster, and Hart, the wicked man that haunts her dreams. They have both carried a bit of a torch for the other since a youthful stolen kiss, but both are strongly in denial. So this novel really focuses on the push and pull between these two. Their banter and interactions build with each confrontation creating the perfect amount of tension for their chemistry and feelings to blossom. It is through the forced proximity that a holiday house party provides that is the perfect recipe for these two to fall head over heels for the other. I think Mimi Matthews brings these two to life in a fun and charming way. I really enjoyed watching Lady Anne come to terms with decisions she made around love and learning to open and trust her heart to someone else. I loved watching these two work together, grow together and to embrace some unrequited feelings that they have both buried deep down. Mimi Matthews brings to life rich feels of passion while keeping her romance a closed door one, and while this is not always my preference, I think Matthews handle this well, and her writing really illicit emotions and the depth of love in a beautiful and understandable way.

I would highly recommend this novel to any romance lover. I think Mimi Matthews is a gem in the sub genre and definitely worth peoples attention!

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoy this series, but I have to say this one is my least favourite so far. It was still good, but I didn't seem to warm up to the characters as much as the previous two books. I think it's because this is a sort of second chance romance, which isn't my favourite trope to read about. I did however get more into as I read. I liked how the male main character took care of. his father's family even when he didn't have to, and I could understand why the female main character wanted to stay with her mother, but it definitely got tiring after a while when she used it as an excuse for so long. I did like them together in the end, and I am excited for our fourth and final lady to get her match.

Hart was left with very little inheritance and an unwanted family - his late father’s mistress and their three children.  He is left to support them by running a factory.  His first (aristocratic) family knows nothing of daddy’s indiscretion (he was a moralist) and also nothing of the fact that they have a tradesman in the family.

Anne has been emotionally supporting her mother who mourns her husband six and a half years after his death.  They still wear black.  Don’t eat sweets.  Anne’s friends don’t understand.  Anne’s only fun time is riding her horse with the four horsewomen, (the Belles of London) two of which were featured in the first 2 books of this series and have found their true loves. 

This sweet slow burn romance is between two people who have known each other for many years.  A broken engagement means the path to romance is fraught with resistance.  Their family obligations add a layer of complications that make both Hart and Anne believe they are less desirable to the other. 

In the end, this lovely story is about friendship, acceptance, family and love.  All of these elements will have to come together before things will work out for the couple. 

So many historical romances set in England are about titled women and men.  Not so in The Belles of London.  In this series, we have seen a tailor of mixed heritage, a soldier and now, in The Lily of Ludgate Hill, we have a man of trade.  The look into the middle class is refreshing and relatable and sets it apart from many others in the genre.

I love this series!  Mimi Matthews historical romances are full of adventure, friendship, family, relationship issues, sweet moments, passion, tension and true romance.

This was my first Mimi Matthews and now I am so excited to go and read her previous titles. I requested to read because I love historicals (and horses) and this looked perfect. Happy to say the contents live up to the synopsis and the cover!

I'm not usually a second chance romance but Mimi orchestrated Hart and Anne's so perfectly. The author was adept at making it clear why Anne and Hart's relationship ended the first time and how it was not due to lack of chemistry or love for one another, but outside forces. And then Mimi was able to elucidate WHY they could and how they can get back together. It felt very flawless and totally believable. Sometimes people are right for us but the timing is just wrong.

I felt like this couple really brought out the good in each other and Hart wasn't going to let Anne get away with things too easily. I liked that the story was about more than just the couple's romance and relationship but also about grief, and familial obligations, and setting boundaries.

Mimi Matthews can write yearning -- I will give her major props for that! Some writers cant achieve that and it's my favourite aspect of a romance (or any book) and this had it in spades!

Kudos!

When you pick up a Mimi Matthews book, you are always in for a richly immersive reading experience. The Lily of Ludgate Hill is no exception. From the vibrant, layered characters to the vividly drawn setting to the delicious romance – oh the romance! – every pitch-perfect element makes the story come alive so that you feel as though you’re right there in the middle of it.

I have been looking forward to Lady Anne’s story because I knew it would be as striking as she is, and I was right. She’s fiercely loyal to her friends (and I loved getting to see some events from The Belle of Belgrave Square again through Anne’s perspective this time) and simultaneously stronger and more vulnerable than she appears (I absolutely adored this dichotomy in her character – so unique). She is a force to be reckoned with, the friend you want in your corner, and a spine of steel struggling to stay upright against warring factions of grief, love, duty, and control. And when it comes to Felix Hartford, well… the line between ‘I love you’ and ‘I hate you’ is a very fine one indeed. On either side of that line there is passion, though, and ooo boy do some delightful sparks fly!

Hart is as beautifully layered a hero as I’ve met in some time. On the surface he is all humor and no substance but with her usual brilliance, Matthews gives even his humor depth. I adored his wit and flirtatious banter when it comes to Anne, too, especially in the hidden meaning he tucks away in his writings for her to find. Not only that, but the author imbues him with such profound longing and an inherent decency that will have you swooning in no time. Like Anne, he too is caught in a battle between love, grief, and duty, and the added dimension these elements added to his character made him all the more swoonworthy and compelling. I can’t say enough wonderful things about Hart, and I can’t wait for you to discover him for yourself.

Bottom Line: The Lily of Ludgate Hill is yet another prime example of Mimi Matthews’ unparalleled ability to immerse readers into the Victorian era while entertaining them with a story that engages all the senses. Lady Anne and Felix’s second chance romance is deliciously passionate (while remaining chaste) and their individual characters are masterfully layered. Add in an endearing parrot-kitten, some compelling subplots, and the power of friendship, and you have a treat you won’t want to put down. The hints we get about Stella’s upcoming story are icing on the proverbial cake, and I cannot wait for book four!

Reviewer’s Note: Readers may want to be aware that there are some mild curse words scattered throughout this novel, as well as the word God as an occasional expletive and a subplot involving the spiritualism movement of the era.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

This is the third installment of the Belles of London series and I am really enjoying the series so far! It has been fun seeing how Anne's character has evolved throughout the series. One thing that I've found to be unique to the series is Mimi Matthew's way of intermingling all of the books within each other. They take place during the same time and you get to see how the events in one story affect the characters in the next. </spoiler>For example, during the course of this story readers get to see Julia leave London with Captain Blunt from the perspective of Anne and how Anne fought to travel to save her. Whereas in Julia's story, we just see Anne arrive in Yorkshire.</spoiler>

It was hard not to fall in love with such a complex character as Hart. It was a joy to see him take down his mask and show his true self to his family and Anne. I think many readers can relate to wearing a mask.

This also sets readers up for the fourth (and final? I'm not sure) book in the series, which follows Stella. I'm excited to see that it appears to have a disabled MMC! We love disability rep.


NOTE: I will also make a post about the series on my blog in the next couple weeks (https://radishandhare.wixsite.com/endpapers)

Matthews writes Victorian era historicals—not Regency—but I find her writing to be incredibly Austen-like: introspective, mature, and deliriously romantic. The third book in her Belles of London series echoes Persuasion with a second chance romance full of pining. Lady Anne Deveril and Felix Hartford were happily engaged until tragedy struck Anne’s family and split them apart. Six years later, they reunite as friends, but Hart is determined to make Anne see how much he’s changed—and that they could be happy together if she would only embrace her freedom.

“I told you in York,” he said. “It isn’t over.” Her eyes closed briefly against a swell of such raw yearning she didn’t know whether to weep or to swoon. He bent his head to hers. “It never has been. Not for me.”
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I love so much about a story from this author and here are some of my favorite things about this one!
One is the beauty of female friendships that are highlighted in this story and this series! These ladies have found a family with each other in the midst of difficulties and I love the way they support and care for each other!
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This author writes some of my favorite male characters and Felix has definitely been added to my list! Is there anything better than a man who won’t give up on you and your love despite years and hurt you’ve caused each other? And who knew articles about plants could be so romantic?
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Also, this story shows a family going through grief and the way their loss has changed them and how they move forward in such an authentic and beautiful way.
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I have loved each story in this series and look forward to Stella’s story next!
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I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

IF Mimi writes it, then I read it and LOVE IT! She is one of my favorite authors. She gives you swoons, romance, in a historical backdrop that will make you want to time travel. I ADORED this book.