Loved it. ( )

A Georgian romance, book 2 in the series. Predictable, but enough tension to make a good read. I listened to this on an audiobook ( )

1807 Bastard son of Gentleman Jim, Nicholas Seaton, a groom on Beasley Park, owned by Squire Honeywell, has been wrongly accused of theft, by Frederick Burton-Smythe. Friend and lady, Maggie Honeywell helps him to escape. Between these two is a young frustrated love, they feel only complete with each other.
But after ten years apart is it time Maggie married as her father's will instructed. But after the death of her father she visits friend Jane Trumble, in town, where events conspire for her to meet John Beresford, the Viscount St. Clare and heir to the Earl of Allendale.
Can secrets be uncovered, what family mysteries are there to be solved.
A delightful well-written Victorian romance with its hint of mystery. It is wonderful to read a story where the author can write conversations that read so true, and have such well-developed characters.
Received an ARC from the author


Received an ARC from the author. ( )

Maggie and Nicholas have been in love for most of their young lives, but Maggie is the lady of the manor while Nicholas is the bastard stable-hand. Everyone assumes Maggie will marry her wealthy neighbor who wants Nicholas out of his way, so fabricates a crime, forcing Nick to run for it. Years later, Maggie recognizes John Beresford, the Viscount St. Clare, as her lost love.
Ms. Matthews has mentioned that this book was inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo, and certainly, it's a very familiar plot with the deviation that Mercedes, or Maggie in this book, is not married by the time that Edmond, or Nicholas in this book, returns. This makes for a different ending that honestly wasn't as satisfactory to me as a reader. No spoilers but this crucial difference makes Maggie into a needy woman begging for John's attention and John into an aloof aristocrat, disdainful of the woman who helped him escape.
Ms. Matthews always writes a good story and I love her Victorian settings. This is still a good read, but, for me, I might have been happier even if there wasn't a HEA. ( )

—‘Wait and hope.’ Alexandre Dumas

I found myself enchanted by the delicate yet determined Margaret Honeywell from wealthy landed gentry stock and the wonderful John Beresford, Viscount St. Clare.
As St. Clare reflects, "a shapely scrap of femininity—altogether too weak and frail." He'd had an overpowering urge to protect her.
A tale of lost love, of lost identity and an eventual HEA Victorian romance to be reckoned with.
We begin with an illegitimate stable boy, rumoured son of highway rogue Gentleman Jim, Seaton and a young mistress of the house separated by the dastardly accusations of a jealous youthful neighbor, Frederick Burton-Smythe.
That neighbor grows into the bully he already was, placed by her father's will as Maggie's guardian. Determined to marry her, Smythe makes her life miserable and then St .Clare arrives in London from the continent, a man in whom Maggie sees a whisper of her beloved youthful companion Nicholas. Will Nicholas come to the fore or is this truly St. Clare?
Smythe is a ghastly man, absolutely convinced of his own worth and his right to order both Maggie and her holdings around in any way he sees fit. Associated villains, particularly St. Clare's aunt are suitably underhanded.
A rewarding tale of true love, with a full measure of danger and pitfalls along the way.

A Victory Editing ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change ( )