“The perfect quick read for fans of Regency romances as well as Victorian happily-ever-afters, with shades of Austen and the Brontës…” -RT Book ReviewsA PROUD BEAUTYWhen the tragic death of her gamester father leaves her destitute and alone, society beauty Sylvia Stafford finds work as a governess in a merchant’s household in Cheapside. Isolated from the fashionable acquaintance of her youth, … fashionable acquaintance of her youth, she resigns herself to lonely spinsterhood…until a mysterious visitor convinces her to temporarily return to her former life–and her former love.
A SCARRED BEAST
Colonel Sebastian Conrad is no longer the dashing cavalry officer Sylvia once fell in love with. Badly scarred during the Sepoy Rebellion, he has withdrawn to his estate in rural Hertfordshire where he lives in near complete seclusion. Brooding and tormented, he cares nothing for the earldom he has inherited–and even less for the faithless beauty who rejected him three years before.
A SECOND CHANCE
A week together in the remote Victorian countryside is the last thing either of them ever wanted. But when fate intervenes to reunite them, will a beastly earl and an impoverished beauty finally find their happily-ever-after? Or are some fairy-tale endings simply not meant to be?
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Mimi Matthews showed up on my radar at the end of 2019 because many of my blogger and reader friends raved about her on the “best of the year” book lists. Therefore, she jumped to the top of my 2020 tbr list. Because of my already overwhelming stack of books to read and review, I opted to squeeze in an audiobook of one of Matthews’s novels.
While I’m not usually a huge fan of the plot device of misunderstanding due to failure to communicated (and there’s a lot of that happening in The Lost Letter), it works for this particular book. It allows for some excellent character development of both Sylvia and Sebastian who have both been deeply wounded by the perceived slights of the other.
As these two dance around the source of their regrets and pain, I couldn’t help but cheer them on to just speak up and discover the problem so they can finally reach their happily ever after.
The Love Letter was a quick read (or, in my case, listen), and I will definitely be digging into another story from Mimi Matthews soon.
A story of love lost and found.
Sylvia Stafford’s life was turned upside down when the man she loved went off to fight in India & never replied to the letters she wrote, then her gamester killed himself leaving her destitute and alone. She finds work as a governess in a merchant’s household in Cheapside. Isolated from the fashionable acquaintance of her youth, she resigns herself to lonely spinsterhood until two years later a mysterious visitor convinces her to temporarily return to her former life and her former love. Sylvia Stafford’s life was turned upside down when the man she loved went off to fight in India & never replied to the letters she wrote, then her gamester killed himself leaving her destitute and alone. She finds work as a governess in a merchant’s household in Cheapside. Isolated from the fashionable acquaintance of her youth, she resigns herself to lonely spinsterhood until two years later a mysterious visitor convinces her to temporarily return to her former life and her former love.
Colonel Sebastian Conrad is no longer the dashing cavalry officer Sylvia once fell in love with. Badly scarred during the Sepoy Rebellion, he has withdrawn to his estate in rural Hertfordshire where he lives in near complete seclusion. Brooding and tormented, he cares nothing for the earldom he has inherited–and even less for the faithless beauty who rejected him three years before when she never replied to his letters.
A well written clean romance of misunderstandings & second chances. Sebastian is dark & brooding having never really grieved for his father & brother, he also thinks his injuries now label him as a beast, it takes Sylvia to make him realise that he shouldn’t hide away but be proud that he fought, was injured & survived. Sylvia was shunned after her father died but managed to find employment & make a life for herself, I would have like for the pair to have ‘rubbed a few noses in it’ to some of the supposed friends. The characters are well developed & on the whole likeable. Quite a short book that I read easily in a day & really enjoyed, I was taken on an emotional journey especially when Milsom returned from London. I look forward to reading more from the author
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
You felt for the characters and wanted it to end happily.
what a great book to me it was a mixture of the Notebook & Beauty & the Beast, Just love how real it was , will be reading more from this Author
You will not be sorry when you get this book. I fell in love with all the people
in this book. It is a love story from begin to end. I enjoyed this book very
much. I know back in those days parents were very hard on their children
who they wanted them to be with. But love wins some how or other.
Really enjoyed this book. The characters were unique and well developed. It kept me interested until the end.
Beautiful rendition of a view from the Regency era. Fine brush strokes of words used masterfully.
A new favorite. I have gone to read several others by this author.
I wish there were more nice clean stories with characters who you can relate to and find yourself interested in the plot. I enjoyed it.
This book leaned to closely to the typical romance novel. If you love these yes of books it’s a must read
Stories have been written about lost letters before, but never before has one been done with such excellent characterization. You believe both of them have motivations behind their behavior and reluctance to renew their relationship. The hero particularly is heart wrenching and reluctant to be seen due to his facial injury. You realize in this authors capable hands, his fears are genuine and he will never be healed physically. His steps to emotional recovery are heart rendering.
Beautifully written love story.
Second chance.
Great characters; interesting plot; different than many other romances.
Just what you want out of a historical romance. Drama, love and a happy ending!
This book flowed along. Not a deep book but still a good book.
A joy to read, lovely. I was so engrossed I read it in one sitting. I just couldn’t put it down, so looking forward to Sylvia’s and Sebastian’s happily ever after. Thank goodness for annoying little sisters. Julia’s love and concern for her brother was the catalyst needed for bringing Sebastian together with his lost love.
This was a well written book and I’ll be looking for more books by this author.
These characters are interesting in that the heroine has some unexpected depths. The sister of the hero is an interesting combination of the superficial and genuine care for the hero. The hero is much like many of the injured heroes, really stuck on the idea that he is injured and no one will love him.
This is a story of missed connections and misunderstandings. However, the author does resolve these missed chances well, building some tension. I realize the missed connection is the theme for the entire story, but I detest it when authors spend a lot of time having their characters imagine what the other characters REALLY MEAN. I get it that in reality there is some back and forth about the truth of missing info and communications. However, at some point, we all have to get on with our lives.This author handles that scenario better than most.