Cover Reveal: A Lady of Conscience by Mimi Matthews

Is it July yet?! I am so beyond excited for Mimi Matthews’ A Lady of Conscience I can’t even begin to tell you. Hannah and James only made a brief appearance in Return to Satterthwaite Court but they stole the show for me. I kid you not, I reread their sections, hoping to somehow see beyond the words on the page and catch a deeper glimpse of them. Of course, that did not happen, and I’ve been dying to read their story ever since.

While we still have a little longer to wait before experiencing their story — too long if you ask me — I’m honored to share the synopsis and new cover. What do you think?

About the Book:

West Country beauty Hannah Heywood may be quiet with fashionable strangers, but when it comes to animals in need, she has no trouble finding her voice. Newly arrived in Bath for her very first season, all she desires is to find one like-minded gentleman. A man of warmth and compassion, as sensitive to animals as he is to people. But if such a man exists, he dare not approach her. Not with the tall, blond, and menacing Viscount St. Clare standing in the way.

James Beresford, Viscount St. Clare has often been described as a sentient block of ice. A man so cold and dispassionate, he would never suit a young lady of Hannah’s disposition. And she would certainly never suit him. Focused on repairing his family’s infamous reputation, James requires a diamond of the first water. The daughter of a duke or a marquess, at least, not a simple country girl with a passion for four-legged creatures.

And yet, there’s something about conscience-driven young Hannah that draws James, first to Bath, and then into one increasingly hare-brained scheme after another. She confounds him at every turn, subverting his expectations and threatening to do what no lady has succeeded in doing before—thawing his ice-cold heart.

The Cover:

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning proper Victorian romances, including Fair as a Star, a Library Journal Best Romance of 2020; Gentleman Jim, a Kirkus Best Book of 2020; and The Work of Art, winner of the 2020 HOLT Medallion. Mimi’s novels have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, and Shelf Awareness, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine.

In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes a retired Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats.

Connect with Mimi through her website, Facebook, and Twitter, Pinterest.

Appointment in Bath (Somerset Stories #4) by Mimi Matthews

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Perfectly Proper Press
Publication Date: June 2023

Meg Burton-Smythe has always felt more comfortable surrounded by daydreams than people. Consequently, she’s lived on the outskirts of life and society. That is until a handsome hero erupts into her life and seems determined to stay. Suddenly, Meg finds herself wishing her dreams and life matched. There’s one problem, the dashing young man is the son of her family’s nemesis.

Ivo Beresford always looks to the future. He believes the past should stay exactly there — in the past. That’s why he wants to see the new railway reach Somersetshire, and will do everything necessary to make it happen. He applies that same mentality when his path crosses with the daughter of his parents’ oldest enemy. However, he quickly discovers that sometimes the past insists on leaking into the future.

If Romeo and Juliet had a happy ending, it would probably look something like Appointment in Bath as two young people from rival families find each other and love. Mimi Matthews once again shows readers she falls in a caliber all her own. Matthews’ youngest protagonists to date, Ivo and Meg make many mistakes that come with youth and immaturity. Yet, she pens them in such a way that the reader can’t help but love and root for them.

Returning fans will recognize Gentleman Jim’s villain, Frederick Burton-Smythe. While he continues to tightly hold his villainous status, Matthews gave him the complexity of human nature by weaving moments that hinted of buried warmth and love for his daughter.

Vivid settings, captivating characters, and exquisite storytelling come together to transport readers to a world of Victorian romance. While Appointment in Bath can stand alone, to capture the full beauty of this family saga, I would recommend reading the entire Somerset Stories series in order.

Review copy provided by author. Thanks!

Return to Satterthwaite Court (Somerset Stories #3) by Mimi Matthews

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Perfectly Proper Press
Publication Date: April 2023

Ready to leave behind the adventures and dangers of the battlefield, Lieutenant Charles Heywood returns to England in search of a quiet life. But purchasing the estate that once belonged to his mother’s family proves harder than he expected as secrets and family history unfold.

Lady Katherine Beresford doesn’t fit the role of a proper lady, nor does she want to. Skilled with pistols, on horseback, and at speaking her mind, she has yet to face a challenge she can’t overcome. That is, until she encounters Lt. Heywood. Determined to penetrate Charles’ indifference, Kate decides to help the young man procure the estate he desires. But some quests might be too much even for Kate Beresford.

An exquisite continuation to the Somerset Stories, I held off putting my fingers to the keyboard at a loss for how to do this book justice. My second 5-star read for 2023, Return to Satterthwaite Court snatched my breath, leaving me to float to reader utopia in this beautifully-woven tale of self-discovery and family. To say that I experienced major withdrawal after finishing the book falls short.

Kate caught me by surprise. I know she’s a Mimi Matthews heroine, and yet I still didn’t dream I would love her as much as I did. Strong and independent without becoming a steamroller, Kate embodies what I look for in a character. For that matter, it’s what I loved about both Kate and Charles. Their strength and identity never came at the expense of the other. They became true partners.

As always, the author pens a breathtakingly immersive experience. I can’t read one of her books without becoming completely lost in the setting and storyworld. Though only briefly on the page, James and Hannah (Kate and Charles’ siblings) stole the show for me, and that’s saying something considering how much I loved Kate and Charles. I cannot begin to tell you how desp — errr — eager I am for their story (coming in book 5).

A second-generation tale to the beloved protagonists of The Work of Art (my all-time favorite Matthews book!) and Gentleman Jim, returning fans will be delighted to revisit old characters while meeting new ones. First timers, while Return to Satterthwaite Court can stand alone, if I haven’t convinced you yet, go read the entire series! You won’t regret it!

Review copy provided by author. Thanks!

Cover Reveal: Appointment in Bath by Mimi Matthews

It is no secret that I love — and I mean LOVE — Mimi Matthew’s books. Her novels transport me to the Regency and Victorian eras like no other tales. They are among most reread books since I practically read them on a constant loop. Well, right now is an exciting time for Somerset Stories, my favorite series of hers. Book three Return to Satterthwaite Court releases next week (!!!!), and yesterday, the cover to Book 4, Appointment in Bath, waltzed into the world. Let me say, it. Is. GORGEOUS. But then just take a look at the entire series. It comes as no surprise.

Now, since you didn’t stop by to hear me babble about Mimi, let’s move on to synopsis and cover.

About the Story:

Shy and stammering Meg Burton-Smythe has spent the whole of her life living on the fringes of local society. She’s more comfortable with her daydreams than she is with people. But when a dashing, golden-haired hero rides to her rescue one morning, she dares to hope that her dreams might finally come true. There’s only one problem: her handsome rescuer is the son of her father’s sworn enemy.

Ivo Beresford doesn’t believe in clinging to the past. Freshly returned from a lengthy grand tour, he’s looking to the future, eager to spearhead the building of a new railway extension in Somersetshire. But an unexpected encounter with Miss Burton-Smythe, the isolated only daughter of his parents’ oldest foe, sets the past and the future colliding.

Resolved to put ancient grudges to rest—at least where innocent young ladies are concerned—Ivo encourages lonely Meg to embark on a secret acquaintance. After all, what harm can a friendship do? It isn’t as though there’s any danger of the two of them falling in love…

The Cover:

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning proper Victorian romances, including Fair as a Star, a Library Journal Best Romance of 2020; Gentleman Jim, a Kirkus Best Book of 2020; and The Work of Art, winner of the 2020 HOLT Medallion. Mimi’s novels have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, and Shelf Awareness, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine.

In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes a retired Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats.

Connect with Mimi through her website, Facebook, and Twitter, Pinterest.

Free Friday: Gentleman Jim by Mimi Matthews

Gentleman Jim by Mimi Matthews (My Review)

She Couldn’t Forget…

Wealthy squire’s daughter Margaret Honeywell was always meant to marry her neighbor, Frederick Burton-Smythe, but it’s bastard-born Nicholas Seaton who has her heart. Raised alongside her on her father’s estate, Nicholas is the rumored son of notorious highwayman Gentleman Jim. When Fred frames him for theft, Nicholas escapes into the night, vowing to find his legendary sire. But Nicholas never returns. A decade later, he’s long been presumed dead.

He Wouldn’t Forgive…

After years spent on the continent, John Beresford, Viscount St. Clare has finally come home to England. Tall, blond, and dangerous, he’s on a mission to restore his family’s honor. If he can mete out a bit of revenge along the way, so much the better. But he hasn’t reckoned for Maggie Honeywell. She’s bold and beautiful–and entirely convinced he’s someone else.

As danger closes in, St. Clare is torn between love and vengeance. Will he sacrifice one to gain other? Or, with a little daring, will he find a way to have them both?

**Disclaimer: Unfortunately, time doesn’t allow me to read every book I share on Free Friday, so I can’t guarantee they’ll all be good. But I’ll do my best to find authors and/or books I know, know of, or sound good. If I have reviewed it, I’ll make sure to include the link as well.