“[Matthews’] books are classics and remind me of Georgette Heyer and Mary Balogh…simply wonderful.” -Jane Porter, New York Times bestselling authorA USA TODAY BESTSELLER 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 … 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?
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Alex Archer grew up in parish orphanage and spent his life trying to forget the miserable place. He had carefully crafted a life and background to cover up the truth and, after a life of rootless wandering, decided to settle down. In A Convenient Fiction, the third book in Mimi Matthews’ Parish Orphans of Devon series, the fiction of Alex’s life comes up against the reality that is Laura Hayes.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books of the series, and Matthews tantalized with references to Alex Archer and definitely does him justice. The writing is wonderful, and the characters are well-developed as Matthews shows us the promise of Alex’s future while reconnecting him with his past.
Alex coldly sets out to marry heiress Henrietta Talbot to gain an estate that he feels will give him a sense of belonging. When Laura is called in as a chaperone for Henrietta, Alex meets his “water nymph” and is surprised by his reaction.
“This was something else. Something new and deeply unsettling. It was awareness. Some variety of recognition.”
Laura is very perceptive and sees Alex as a both a hero and a villain, with a rawness and vulnerability behind his mask. While Alex thinks that having land will give him a sense of belonging, Laura has the real answer for him.
“You don’t want land, Alex. What you’re looking for is a family.”
Laura offers her family and marriage to Alex, and he rebuffs her. Later circumstances result in a marriage to save Laura’s reputation, and Alex finds where he truly belongs – with Laura.
The vicar read the parable of the prodigal son to Alex, and it is analogous to Alex’s life. As the vicar explains to him, it’s not just a story of repentance and forgiveness but also of homecoming and reconciliation. Alex’s life comes full circle when he returns home and reconciles with Justin, Tom and Neville.
While the book can be read as a stand alone, you will enjoy it more and better understand the relationships if you read the first two books. I heartily recommend them all!
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Parish Orphans of Devon has been such a fun series and book 3, A Convenient Fiction, may well be my favorite. This series is full of strong, lovely characters with witty personalities and charm. There are some updates on previous orphans we have meet as stories intersect and come to light. In this tale, we meet Laura and Alex. Alex has been a fighter his whole life and believes himself to be a villain. What happens when a villain meets a sea nymph? Magic. Laura and Alex create a magical love story as they both learn to trust their heart and perhaps, one another.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own gladly given.
This author knows how to write romance. She just does. She gets it. I want a clean romance that has me swooning because of the manly hero. That has a heroine who I would want to be best friends with. That has a page turning story line with a happily ever after. This book has all of that. Well done Ms. Matthews! My only complaint is I’m going to have to wait until February to read the next book in the series.
*I was given a copy of this book by the author and this is my honest opinion.
By chance I found this amazing author and began reading this series with the Matrimonial Advertisement. I also listened to it on audible and I am still thinking about if even now. Mimi Matthews has a true gift with her words that is perfect and speaks to me as a reader. Her characters have such deep emotions and she is able to pull me into the story in a way I feel I am watching a movie unfold ( yes The Parish Orphans of Devon need to be made into a series).
My very favorite heroes and heroines are those that are wounded, either in body or mind or in both because seeing them find redemption and happiness is pure joy and Ms Matthews is a master at this plot.
She shines again with the story of Alex, one of the Parish Orphans who I truly wondered about in the first story. Alex has been away and now has returned to find a wife. A rich wife to be exact, but as fate would have it, on his way to his friend’s home, he meets Laura Hayes. Well he really thought he was rescuing her from drowning, but she really wasn’t!
Laura is barely making ends meet and she needs a husband to rescue her and her invalid brother. But life is never that easy.
Set in the Victorian era, the author has brought the times alive with her historical knowledge and I learned many new facets of that time. The way she brought these two together, slowly let the them get to know each, was inspiring.
I have truly loved every story in this series. They have touched my heart and are not soon forgotten. What I enjoy even more is after reading them is listening to the audible version. Amazing, truly amazing.
(4.5 stars) – A story of redemption!
[This is Book 3 in the Parish Orphans of Devon series. It can be read as a standalone]
Technically, this is an enemies-to-lovers trope as well as a bit of a marriage of convenience one. But at its heart, it’s my favorite – a story of redemption!
Alex & Laura enjoy an unusual meet-cute that is quite entertaining. It leaves them somewhat annoyed with each other. Circumstances lead them to spend time together – Alex has come to court Miss Talbot for whom Laura is acting as chaperone, & in their repeated forced proximity, they begin to know each other better. Still to very mixed feelings though.
Alex has given himself up as a soul beyond redemption, and has devoted himself to achieving a material match to acquire an estate, but Laura unwittingly keeps reminding him that his heart is still beating no matter how much he tries to ignore it. He sees himself as a scoundrel – and so does Laura – but she also sees the hero within him. She helps him realize that his past doesn’t have to define him – he can choose a new course.
As Alex’s past begins to catch up with him, though, he has to decide whether to keep running or finally face it. And it is brutally painful. My heart broke for him. Those who have read the previous books will finally have their questions answered.
I loved Alex & Laura. Alex is like a broody Rhett Butler, and Laura is rather like a livelier version of Elinor from “Sense and Sensibility”. Their story, though the courting of Miss Talbot felt a bit insipid at times, had me completely engaged from beginning to end. The secondary characters were surprisingly well rounded, too. Henrietta was a surprise. And of course, seeing several of the lead characters from the other books was absolutely icing on the cake.
This will be on my “Best of 2019” list along with Mimi Matthews’s “The Work of Art”!
*Clean romance level: passionate kisses, marital intimacy takes place but discreetly & without graphic detail.
*Religion: only topical to setting, use of the Lord’s Name in vain in typical Regency expressions (By G*d,for G*d’s sake, etc) but not cursing at least
*Language: a dozen or so “d*mn”s + a” h*ll” or two
Mimi Matthews knows how to draw the reader in from the very beginning of the story. Her writing is a joy to read. I did not want the story to end! Fortunately, there is to be a book #4 to transport me back in time.
I liked the dark and mysterious Alex Archer, although he is at first drawn as a fortune hunter. Laura Hayes is of strong character, protecting and keeping her small family of younger brother and aunt together. Laura is to serve as her friend Henrietta’s chaperone when their childhood friend, George, and Alex call upon Henrietta. While Alex’s intent is to court Henrietta, the picnics and walks serve more to further the connection between Alex and Laura. It is a very believable love story.
I read an advance copy; the thoughts expressed are my own.
A Convenient Fiction
Parish Orphans of Devon Series #3
Mimi Matthews
https://www.facebook.com/MimiMatthewsAuthor/
Release date 10/22/2019
Publisher Perfectly Proper Press
Blurb:
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?
My review :
What a woman to do when dire circumstances force her into a wall, and the man who could rescue her wants to have nothing to do with her.
There is nothing I like better than the redemption of a man’s way, all in the name of Love.
Having not read the two previous installments, I do understand Alex was described as the vilain of the group of four orphans. The one who took off and never looked back.
Still he carries his past transgressions like a cross, so ashamed by what he sees as his sins, he never stopped running away.
For his first encounter with Laura, he fights his attraction to her, chemistry he senses either way.
She awaken feelings he has long ago bury and refuses to experience again as it has carved deep scars last time he felt the same.
Laura is holding her household with her fortitude, but now she struggles to make ends meet.
She is kind and caring but also hardheaded and not easy to relinquish her control.
She tries to find a way to restaure her family business but her plans are dwarfed by her solicitor and as a woman she hold little to no power.
As for Alex, her relationship with him unsettles her, but still, she is drawn to him even knowing he has come with a specific goal and hide a great deal of things.
Alex might be introduced as the wicked guy but George and Henriette, Laura’s childhood friends are no flawless angels, they bear their own sins.
Mrs Mimi Matthews has manufactured an arresting tale of vanquishing one past’s guilt to let it go for the hope of a future. This tremendous story with vibrant and spirited characters had me turning the pages with bliss, eager to see the plot unfold and Alex and Laura find their way to one another. Their romance was so sensual, by small touches with bare hands, a hint of skin revealed, a scent lingering, Mrs Matthews expressed voluptuously their growing sentiments. Scorching gaze does enough a steamy scene to convey the magnitude of their love.
The one matter was to find where home was really, an act of property or in the heart of those you care for.
5 stars
I was granted through Netgalley by the publisher Perfectly Proper Press an advance copy, prior to it I have preordered my own.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
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