Lily of Ludgate Hill (Belles of London #3) by Mimi Matthews

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
Publication Date: January 2024

Ever since her father’s death and her mother’s descent into mourning six years earlier, Lady Anne Deveril has withdrawn from society. Between her unconventional opinions and refusal to conform by not marrying, society is equally happy to leave her in the fringes. It doesn’t help that her mother seems more invested in the spirit world than in the land of the living. But all Anne’s barriers and decisions are challenged when Felix Hartford, the only man she ever loved, reenters her life.

Mimi Mathews’ Belles of London series continues with a story slightly reminiscent of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. The timeline in The Lily of Ludgate Hill overlaps with its predecessors as we learn what was going on in Anne’s life while her friends were falling in love and beginning new lives. Readers also learn what propels Anne’s trip to the Yorkshire Moors in pursuit of Julia (The Belle of Belgrave Square). Though reading all of them isn’t essential to following the story, I would recommend it since they provide a more complete picture.

I didn’t connect with Anne as much as some of the author’s other heroines, but that’s to be expected. They can’t all be a Helena Reynolds or Philly Satterthwaite type, nor would I want that. Matthews’ mastery of the time period and evocative settings were as present as ever.

The Lily of Ludgate Hill provided hints of the Stella and Teddy Hayes romance coming in the next book that have me more excited than ever for that installment. For those of you who have been Mimi Matthews’ fans for a while, you might recognize his name as the brother of the heroine in A Convenient Fiction. Matthews’ incredible story-weaving talent makes her one of the Regency and Victorian era authors I recommend the most.

Review copy provided by publisher via NetGalley. Thanks!

Garden of the Midnights by Hannah Linder

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Barbour
Publication Date: September 2023

William Kensley can no longer ignore the fact that someone is intentionally trying to kill him. When the only man he trusts to tell him about his past is murdered, William flees Rosenleigh Manor. Uncovering his family’s history plunges his life into scandal costing him his wealth, status, and friends. His only solace comes in the form of Isabella Gresham, a woman now far above his rank. When Isabella is taken captive, William will risk everything to rescue her.

Garden of the Midnights is a slow-paced Regency tale that mostly sticks to the romance genre, despite a few sprinkled moments with suspense. Hannah Linder pens antagonists and villains that really make the blood boil. Unfortunately, the protagonists didn’t elicit equally strong emotions. They lacked romantic tension and never felt more than friends. In several instances, characterization was inconsistent (ex. the protagonists and heroine’s father).

While the gothic vibes didn’t shine through, Linder created vivid settings. She painted clear images that stuck in my mind. All in all, after reading her three novels, I’ve come to think I might not be the right reader for Linder’s style. I can see these novels appealing to Regency fans who like tales that are heavy on the family drama and light on the mystery.

Review copy provided by publisher via NetGalley. Thanks!

Educating Elizabeth (Blue Orchid Society #4) by Jennifer Moore

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Publication Date: September 2023

Elizabeth Miller has finally fulfilled her long-held dream of opening a school for underprivileged girls. Despite all her careful planning, she finds that the cost of running the place is slowly drowning her, and she might lose everything almost before she has a chance to truly begin. Desperate to not let that happen, she turns to the one person Elizabeth would rather never encounter again, Lord Charles Chatsworth. He agrees to help on the condition that Elizabeth tutors his relative. She quickly becomes drawn toward her new pupil, and against her better judgment, toward Charles himself. But sabotage could destroy not only the fledgling school but the romance as well.

Jennifer Moore’s Educating Elizabeth provides a sweet read for Victorian fans. I especially enjoyed the scenes where events were set up at the school. The protagonists are likeable for the most part. In a few instances, Elizabeth becomes convinced of certain things, and while she ends up being right, the reader isn’t provided with good reasons for her initial suspicions other than a dislike of the person. It made her come across as someone petty with a vendetta. Stronger motives would have deepened the story and helped me root for the heroine in those moments.

Although it is the fourth installment in the Blue Orchid Society, I had no trouble following the plot even without reading its predecessors. I am completely intrigued by Dahlia (Elizabeth’s cousin) and Reuben’s thread. So much so, I want to go back and read the first three books to see what I missed. Is Reuben a true jerk or a redeemable jerk? Honestly, right now I don’t see how Moore could turn him around and make him likeable, but I’m not going to lie, I kind of hope she does.

Review copy provided by publisher via NetGalley. Thanks!

Man of Shadow and Mist (Of Monsters and Men #2) by Michelle Griep

Genre: Romance, Mystery, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Barbour
Publication Date: June 2023

England, 1890

Vampires live among the North Yorkshire community, or so the townsfolk say. Not one to put stock in gossip, librarian Rosa Edwards determines to prove otherwise. Yet even she can’t deny the sense that something dark and sinister lurks from the shadows.

Sir James Morgan detests England and all it entails, especially his closed-minded and superstitious neighbors. But for the sake of his dying mother, he endures the scorn and contempt of those around him as he desperately searches for a cure to an illness that ails her and will eventually take his own life as well.

Inexplicably drawn to James, Rosa risks the disapproval of family and friends to find the truth. However, the more time she spends in his presence, the less certain she is of the line between reality and fiction.

In Man of Shadow and Mist Michelle Griep explores the effects of superstition, judgment, and the fear of the unknown in this deliciously gothic tale that had me riveted from beginning to end. I became so entrenched in the storyworld that its shadow lingers and continues to echo long after encountering the final page.

Masterfully sewn together with spooky settings, evocative storytelling, and unforgettable characters, the Of Monsters and Men series not only holds the distinction of being my favorite Griep series to date, it’s a favorite in its genre. With threads of faith weaving through the fabric of these stories, they remind readers that light shines even in the darkest times. Man of Shadow and Mist stands alone as it shares no characters or storylines with book one. Nevertheless, gothic mystery fans won’t want to miss one second of this series.

Review copy provided by publisher via NetGalley. Thanks!

In the Shelter of Hollythorne House (The Houses of Yorkshire #2) by Sarah E. Ladd

Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: July 2023

Years ago, Charlotte Grey and Anthony Welbourne parted ways with hearts less whole than when they’d met. Determined to move beyond the past and memories, they forged lives far from each other, one marrying a wealthy estate owner, the other fighting wars overseas.

When Charlotte’s husband dies, she discovers that his pursuit of wealth has left behind numerous enemies. Some of whom wouldn’t hesitate to go after his infant heir to claim what they believe rightly theirs.

Now a member of William Walstead’s watchmen, Anthony is tasked with guarding a young widow and her infant child. When he meets his charges, the past and present collide, resurrecting old hurts and creating new ones. With danger rising on all sides, and sometimes closer to home than they realize, Anthony must risk everything to protect Charlotte and her baby, even losing his heart a second time.

While slightly more suspenseful than book one, In the Shelter of Hollythorne House leans more heavily toward romance. The villains were pretty obvious from the start which kept the mystery aspect at a minimum. Slow-paced and predictable, I found myself coasting through the story. It wasn’t bad. The characters, the setting, the narrative simply needed a little something more to make it pop for me.

That being said, Sarah E. Ladd still delivers a sweet, second-chance story that Regency fans can enjoy. This second book in The Houses of Yorkshire series will appeal to readers looking for a light, easy read with low tension and quick conflict resolution.

Review copy provided by publisher via NetGalley. Thank you!