Oh, my. Mimi Matthews just keeps getting better! This is the sixth of her books that I've read, and it's definitely in my top two. (I adored The Lost Letter, and I think it still gets the edge, but just barely.)
She Needed a Husband...
It’s been three years since Laura Hayes’s father died, leaving her and her invalid brother to subsist on the income from the family’s failing perfume business. But time is swiftly running out. What she needs is a husband, and fast. A noble gentleman who can rescue them all from penury. When a mysterious stranger arrives in the village, he seems a perfect candidate. But Alex Archer is no hero. In fact, he just might be the opposite.
He Wanted a Fortune...
Alex has no tolerance for sentiment. He’s returned to England for one reason only: to find a wealthy wife. A country-bred heiress in Surrey seems the perfect target. But somewhere between the village railway station and the manor house his mercenary plan begins to unravel. And it’s all the fault of Laura Hayes—a lady as unsuitable as she is enchanting.
From the beaches of Margate to the lavender fields of Provence, a grudging friendship slowly blossoms into something more. But when scandal threatens, can a man who has spent his entire life playing the villain, finally become a hero? Or will the lure of easy riches once again outweigh the demands of his heart?
Is this book predictable? Yes. Do I care? No. From the instant the author revealed that Laura could regain control of her family's assets with a husband, I knew that Alex would marry her. It took the two of them a bit longer to reach that conclusion, but the joy was definitely in the journey. Though intended to be a marriage of convenience, it definitely was a love match, and I so enjoyed watching Alex and Laura fall for each other!
This is the third book in the Parish Orphans of Devon series, and I'm loving watching Justin, Tom, Alex, and Neville reunite. I especially loved the way that Tom (main character of A Modest Independence) and Alex found their way back to each other. That said, you could absolutely read this book without having first read the others—all the stories are self-contained with some overlapping characters. 5 stars.
Note: The book contains a few very mild curse words. Otherwise, it's totally clean. PG rated.
Buy the book.
Read my review of The Matrimonial Advertisement (4-1/2 stars).
USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning proper historical romances set in Victorian England. Her articles on nineteenth century history have been published on various academic and history sites, including the Victorian Web and the Journal of Victorian Culture, and are also syndicated at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes an Andalusian dressage horse, two Shelties, and two Siamese cats.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received purchased this book and chose to review it. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click the link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
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I just reread this by listening to the audio and fell in love with it again! The Lost Letter is the only novel by Mimi I haven't read. Now I must sneak it to the top of my TBR stack!
ReplyDeleteOh, you must read it, Courtney! It's just wonderful :-) And I have you to partially blame for this Mimi obsession--you're one of the people I saw posting about her novels on Instagram ... so, thank you!
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