Mimi Matthews does it again. Nell and Miles' story was super engaging and I can't wait for more from the Crinoline Academy.

The Marriage Method is a romance/mystery set in Victorian London that focuses on two characters, Nell and Miles (and some cats). Nell comes from the Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies, which is a place for orphaned girls to find a home and purpose. Miles works as a newspaper editor and is looking into the academy's hidden motive. While Nell meets with Miles to soothe his concerns, a cat decides to do what cats do best, cause chaos.

While I did not read the first one (I will now!), I did not feel like I was missing anything. Mimi did a fantastic job of setting up the world and characters so I didn't feel like I was missing out. Everything from the characters, to the mystery, to the romance was so good. I really enjoyed hoping into this world! If you like the marriage of convenience trope, hidden blades, and strong women, then this is the book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Mimi Matthews for the advanced copy!

After devouring Book 1, I was shouting with glee to get my hands on an advanced copy for Book where Ms Matthews again enchants readers with Nell and Miles story! Both were introduced in the first book and it was wonderful to delve deeper into these unique characters (and see a bit more of Gabriel and Effie from the first story) so I recommend you read the first one although you can certainly dive in to this one and then catch up later.

Penelope “Nell” Trewlove, notable alumna and current deputy headmistress of the Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies (a.k.a., The Crinoline Academy) finds herself unexpectedly having to join forces with Miles Quincy, journalist and editor-in-chief of the 'London Courant' newspaper following Nell's disastrous visit to his office to give an exclusive interview about the academy. Add in a ferocious stray cat, cumbersome crinoline and the restrictive societal expectations of 1860s England and the two nemesis find themselves compromised with only marriage presenting the most viable way to salvage their personal and professional reputations (for the record, I love the 'marriage of convenience' trope!)

Then comes their separate side quests to each find a missing person that escalates into murder mystery territory...and whoo the rest is a fast-paced and heart-swooning adventure as Nell and Miles discover that a merger of their two heads (and eventually hearts and more) results in much, much more than they could ever envision. The two unravel the evil underbelly of human trafficking, greed amidst navigating their reality of becoming newlyweds (e.g., the characters become even more likeable as they both joke about spending their honeymoon investigating seedy brothels in London's notorious East End).

I loved how this story unfolded in Ms Matthews' wonderful style of integrating cold historical fact with heart-warming romance with Nell being one of her strongest female leads despite her physical disability. I also like how she manages to distinguishes Miles from the broody hero by revealing his soft side (the man collects stray cats after all) and enlightened worldview...and his 'super power' of always 'paying attention.' The balance between the mystery and their relationship was exquisitely perfect!

I did feel it was too convenient that Miles already had a lovely home and funds to cater to an unexpected bride, which may not have been the case for a newspaper editor of the times. And how he was readily accepted as a gentleman at an aristocratic gathering instead of being sneered at for being 'in trade,' but they work for the story.

So whether this your first time or faithful reader of this author, I highly recommend it especially if you like historical settings with intelligent and courageous characters, swoon-worthy enemies-to-forced married (with lots of banter) and a fascinating mystery to boot!

P.S. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley publishing for making my summer with this complimentary copy!

Mimi Matthews is really shining in this new series. I adore the Academy and its talented inhabitants.

I’m such a sucker for marriage of convenience and this was done to perfection. A nosy newspaper reporter and a clever beauty with secrets? YES

I was unable to put this book down. From the completely swoony romance with so much heart to it, to the mystery going on, it was impossible to stop my reading. And as if it was not enough, there are cats everywhere in this book and Mr.Léo and I were absolute fans of that! (Cat daddies are the best if you ask me, and Miles' love of cats was heart-melting.)

Right from the start I was captivated. Our characters' first interaction was chef's kiss. The way everything happened had me kicking my feet and giggling. I love a good forced marriage trope and this one was done oh so well. Nell really tried to find another way to solve things but in the end it was the better option, and it made for such a great development in our characters' relationship.

While the romance part of the story makes you feel all mushy and happy, there is definitely a darker side to this story, and it kept things fascinating. It added a thrilling side to it all, and I did enjoy seeing Miles getting so protective of Nell. I loved even more how our sweet Nell was so bold in her attempts to solve all that was happening. She's a marvellous character and had also a vulnerable side that made her character's growth super satisfying. The women in this series are so intrepid and likeable, and even if I like a good protective hero, I love it even more when matched to a woman who's able to fight for herself and won't be belittled. Nell definitely made me proud.

Let me also say that our two main characters were so adorable together. They TALKED and worked together. Can you believe it? They were paying attention to the other, and listening, and it was fantastic. Such an unproblematic couple it was just the best to follow them.

Mimi Matthews' stories are closed-door which can honestly be refreshing in historical romances. That being said, it doesn't mean you do not get all the tension between the characters, believe me, it's all there. You can feel the attraction in the air, charged moments with a simple touch that makes you feel so many things, exchanges and glances with such longing. So yes, many butterflies moments in there and such beautiful scenes with a tenderness that brings comfort and happiness. It is always a delight to read.

It's such a pleasure to hear mentions of previous characters and see them back, and I love how The Belles of London is all linked with this series!

Huge thanks to Berkley, Netgalley and the author for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

This is the definitive example of a Mimi Matthews story. It has everything I've come to see in her books. There was romance, mystery, emotion animals(cats) and couture.
This is now my favorite in this series. It was not as dark as the first book even though there were some seriously bad people and bloody acts in the story.
Marriage of convenience is a favorite of mine and the first meet that caused the need to marry was the most unique I've read.
The story built steadily along with the relationship as they spent more time together. It was romantic with a few twists The pacing was good and the slow burn was perfect.
One definite difference was that there was a little more intimacy than in Mimi's books typically. But it was more emotional than descriptive and it fit with the story.
I totally enjoyed this story. It was good to see some familiar people from previous books in the story; Effie, Gabriel and Malik.Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

Well, I have to hand it to Mimi Matthews. If there is a better “meet cute” than a cat trapped in a crinoline, forcing a hasty marriage when a snippy local parson assumes the worst after interrupting the couple trying to remove said cat, I can’t imagine what that would be.

This is the opening to “The Marriage Method,” the second in Matthews’ Crinoline Academy series. Book 2 features Miles Quincey and Penelope Trewlove, known as Nell and something of a skeptic when it comes to romance, despite her name. Nell and Miles are friends, respectively, of Effie Flite and Gabriel Royce—the lead couple in “Rules for Ruin,” the first Crinoline Academy story, which came out earlier this year. Miles runs the local newspaper, “The London Courant,” struggling since the exposure of a prominent politician by Effie and Gabriel in the previous book. Nell sees her future as a teacher at the Academy; marriage has never entered into her plans—in part because a fall in her teen years left her with an incurable limp and scars that she has long considered off-putting, but also because marriage in Victorian Britain stripped a woman of all legal rights.

Like its predecessor, “The Marriage Method” mixes a budding romance and the gradual acclimation of two strangers to each other with a darker plot, here involving the abduction of young women into prostitution. One of the victims comes from the aristocracy, so there is an element of social commentary here, too. But the book is never preachy, and its complex and sympathetic leads handle their mutual attraction, the schemes of their adversaries—and, of course, Miles’ five cats—in a fast-moving, captivating plot. I’ll be including this one in my fall bookshelf post on my blog (link below). Highly recommended.

I can’t say enough good things about The Marriage Method. This is the first book I’ve read by the author and after having finished it I can say I will be sprinting to my local library for more.

As a regular devourer of historical romance, this book had everything I could possibly want: a marriage of convenience, mutual pining, only one bed, a woman who defies convention, and a protective man willing to do anything to protect her. Nell and Miles’ love story developed at the perfect tempo to match the mystery plot of the book. The pacing of this story was perfect, moving along at just the right speed to make it nearly impossible to put down for wanting to know what happened next.

This story manages to be both tender and adventurous in equal measure, with a cast of characters that you can’t help but love. The concept of a group of women with the skills and determination to stand up to power in society despite traditionally possessing very little of their own reminds me of (my very much beloved) Sarah MacLean’s Hell’s Belles series but—dare I say—even better.

A five star read for me to be sure, and I can’t be more grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for access to an ARC of this book!

This is the second book in this series, and while I didn't read the first one and don't feel it is necessary, I most likely will go back and read it. It probably sets up the premise a little more, that being that girls are taught how to take care of themselves at an academy formed by an ex-socialite who has been wronged by the patriarchy. This book gets off to a very quick start with the hero and heroine having to get married for propriety's sake, and solve a murder and a disappearance. I really liked all the characters very much and enjoyed the slow-burn romance of Miles and Nell with just enough hiccups along the way. The mysteries are all solved with satisfying consequences for all the villains. All in all, a very quick enjoyable read.

3.75-4*

Mixed feelings for this book. I loved Miles but I went back & forth with liking Nell's character arc. She was raised in a country academy and trained with certain skills/talents. It seemed a little unbelievable that she was able to navigate figuring things out in the city and put her skills out there confidently with no "real world" experience. It made more sense with Effie since she'd already been living outside of the academy. Miles definitely makes the book, great character.

4.25 ⭐️

Another richly detailed historical tapestry of mystery and romance! Also, I nearly screamed when I got my arc approval! 🤩🤩

(Quick note for my fellow closed-door girlies, there’s a vague open door scene—I’ve got all the content details below 👇🏻)

While there’s something different about this story compared to Matthews’ other works, the immersive research drew me right into the pages! I absolutely adore Nell and Miles! Their marriage of convenience started rather comically in my opinion, and the way they grow together & as individuals was very sweet. The way they soften each other? Precious. The feminist undertones were stronger in this one, but the partnership & development of the characters as a couple were solid. Also, the cats. 😂

Romance aside, mystery & murder play heavily into this installment. It’s not super gory or graphic (if you’ve read Agatha Christie’s Sherlock Holmes, or Mary Stewart, you’ll be fine), but it’s definitely twisty with a bit of heaviness due to the topic matter (brothels kidnapping and trafficking girls). I didn’t guess the bad guys, but I don’t think I was supposed to, haha. Besides, I loved the *journey* to get there!

Okay, now for thoughts on the vague open door scene. I was surprised to find it here, since Mimi’s not given more than fade-to-black in the past. HOWEVER. It’s vague. Like incredibly vague, and solely emotionally focused. It’s kind of a fade to black physically (clothing removal) that turns into Nell’s inner emotional feelings during the actual act (no real physical description or body parts) that cuts to an “after” scene. Its focus is around Nell’s fear of her injury making her undesirable & her feeling of finally belonging to someone after not being wanted. Personally, I do wish we could have gotten the emotional resolution from the before and after without actually still being there in the in-between, but I do love the emotional triumph Nell made during that scene. Honestly, it was tamer (less physical) than the wedding night scene in Divine Rivals. Take from that what you will.

That part aside, I loved the book and read it in an afternoon! If you want closed-door modifications, simply skip the first half of Chapter 31 to the scene break, which is the “afterwards” moment or skip the entire chapter. You might lose some of Nell’s emotional arc since that’s essentially what the scene’s focus is, but it’s possible to do.

We’ve already met our next heroine, and I loved getting Effie & Gabriel cameos!


*Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

HistRoms are nothing if not convenient. So if I thought the investigative events of both mysteries were a bit too coincidental, then... ✨wave it away✨ Likewise, I'm generally not a fan of a 24-hour acquaintance igniting Big Romantic Feelings in either MC. And yet! I liked Nell and Miles in under 24 pages, so why can't they be in love in less than 24 hours?

Still do not like Effie—she's very high on herself and her dog. I also still don't know how to feel about Miss Corvus. She was a big part of what I disliked in the previous book, and her purpose continues to bewilder me here, in various ways. Pacing was better, although the last 25% lost gas, bogged down by repetitive characterization and dialogue.

Overall, I did technically enjoy this book more than its predecessor, and that was the hope.

3.5⭐ rounded up to 4

I started to devour this book at my usual fast pace and decided to dial it back, so that I could properly savor it. The Marriage Method is part romance and clever mystery. It is such a brilliant book!!

Penelope (Nell) Trewelove and Miles Quincey are both introduced in Rules for Ruin, the first installment of the Crinoline Academy series. While intended as maybe the more mild mannered duo, their story and chemistry burns slow and white hot.

Nell and Miles are a perfect match in their intelligence and tenacity. That they are a match in wits is an absolute bonus. While their initial interaction starts as a cat and mouse game, it evolves into scandal and two very connected mysteries.

There are two more elements that you can count on in a Mimi Matthews book - pets and fashion. The Marriage method has both! 5 cats, one of whom plays a huge part in the plot and amazing descriptions of the fashions. I love that MM provides such in depth details about what the characters are wearing — So much so that it engages all 5 senses. That’s incredibly powerful.

The elephant in the room - Some believe Historical Romance is on its way out. I have to vehemently disagree. NOW more than ever, we need all the stories of hope, strength, friendship and love to inspire and fortify us. All it takes is imagination and research.

The Marriage Method absolutely stole my heart. I can’t wait for the next book in the Crinoline Academy series!


A kind thank you to the publisher for providing an advanced copy of The Marriage Method.

Cat got your crinoline?

The Marriage Method is a pleasure to read with an added bit of thrill and mystery. Nell and Miles are the cutest couple. The basis of their relationship is a partnership and I love the tenderness between them. Their first kiss is so sweet, you can't help melting a little inside.

I really enjoyed following Nell's character as she works through her insecurities and grows more confident in herself. I adore how much Miles treasures her.

Lastly, never underestimate the Academy women! Just ask Silas after that battle scene with Miss Trewlove, Miss Flite, and Miss Brent...it's giving Kingsman fight scene energy.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! And thank you Mimi Matthews for sharing your brilliant writing with the world!

In this engaging historical romance, Nell, a Deputy Director at the Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies, is sent to London to discreetly handle an inconvenient situation—Miles Quincy, a persistent newspaper editor, has been asking questions the Academy would prefer remain unanswered. Nell expects this to be a quick assignment before she focuses on her real mission: locating a missing orphan girl who was supposed to be en route to the Academy. Meanwhile, Miles is also on the hunt for someone—one of his missing journalists.

When Nell and Miles cross paths, sparks fly. An unfortunate (yet rather amusing) turn of events forces the two to work together. Their dynamic is spirited, full of witty banter and undeniable chemistry, which makes for a thoroughly entertaining read.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I truly enjoyed it. Nell is a refreshingly unconventional heroine—not the typical mold of what women were expected to be in that era. The chemistry between her and Miles felt natural and believable, and the characters, as well as the storyline, are well-developed and compelling.

I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

Oh. My. Goodness. This was such a delight to read! It’s like ‘Pride and Prejudice’ - with punching! Chock full of mystery, suspense, and cats! The characters are unforgettable with a ton of personality. Miles is such a sweet and swoon-worthy MMC and I just adore Nell’s journey of expanding her horizons and maintaining her independence, but finding herself willing to view herself as more than a teacher.

This is a perfect follow up to ‘Rules for Ruin’ and I truly loved every bit of it!

After reading book one in this series and reading the blurb for book two, I knew I wanted to read this too. A marriage of convenience!

I enjoyed the plot of The Marriage Method more than I did in book one. The mystery elements were enthralling! Mimi Matthews definitely writes well, as I've seen in previous books I've read of hers. What ruined things for me in this one was the open-door scene. It definitely tipped over the line from clean romance. This author writes passionate romances, which I knew beforehand, but I don't remember this line being crossed before.

The feminist tones continue, but obviously that is the theme of this series. I read them for the romance and did appreciate how Nell came around from her preconceived notions about men.

So I didn't love (or agree with) everything about this novel, but the relationship between Nell and Miles was tender and sweet and the mystery interesting and gritty, But there was a strong feeling of disappointment when I got to that scene (very near the end of the book).

I received an ARC to review, but this review is entirely my honest opinion.

As a disclaimer, I DNFed this book so my review is based off of what I did read. I was honestly just not hooked by what I did read and really wasn't encouraged to continue.

Mimi Matthews did it again. I feel like closed-door historical romance is so hard to find, and it’s comforting to know I can always count on this author to deliver.

The Marriage Method is set in the Victorian era, as the MCs try to solve a mystery involving the editor MMC’s missing gossip columnist and the schoolteacher FMC’s missing pupil. The romance is perfect and sweet. The mystery is exciting and keeps you on your toes.

I loved that the couple gets together at the beginning of the book and that there’s no third act breakup. ❤️

Mimi Matthews with another hit! I am LOVING this series (The Crinoline Academy). With this second book in the series, I loved Miles' protectiveness and Nell's spirit and they were so good together. The plot had a bit of mystery that was interesting as it unfolded and unraveled at the very end. Looking forward to more books in this world!