“For this impressive Victorian romance, Matthews crafts a tale that sparkles with chemistry…an excellent series launch that will appeal to fans of Loretta Chase and Stephanie Laurens.” -Publishers WeeklyShe Wanted Sanctuary…Helena Reynolds will do anything to escape her life in London, even if that means traveling to a remote cliffside estate on the North Devon coast and … estate on the North Devon coast and marrying a complete stranger. But Greyfriar’s Abbey isn’t the sort of refuge she imagined. And ex-army captain Justin Thornhill–though he may be tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome–is anything but a romantic hero.
He Needed Redemption…
Justin has spent the last two decades making his fortune, settling scores, and suffering a prolonged period of torture in an Indian prison. Now, he needs someone to smooth the way for him with the villagers. Someone to manage his household–and warm his bed on occasion. What he needs, in short, is a wife and a matrimonial advertisement seems the perfect way to acquire one.
Their marriage was meant to be a business arrangement and nothing more. A dispassionate union free from the entanglements of love and affection. But when Helena’s past threatens, will Justin’s burgeoning feelings for his new bride compel him to come to her rescue? Or will dark secrets of his own force him to let her go?
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Loved this one
Enjoyed this whole series by Mimi Mathews!
After I have read several psychological thrillers, I look for books exactly like this to help cleanse my mind. The historical romance is well written and kept me reading with few stops. While all the main characters are flawed (aren’t we all?), they are very believable and their stories unfold with the accompanying angst that ends well. Really enjoyed it.
I usually stick to Christian Fiction but also enjoy clean historical fiction. I stumbled across this and overall I enjoyed it.
It was mostly clean. I found the tension in the various storylines to be captivating and couldn’t wait to read more.
The two negatives for me were the repeated use of God’s name in vain (not speaking to Him or about Him), and it was a bit on the overtly heated side, sensually, though thankfully it didn’t get graphic.
There is less of these in the 3 sequels, in fact almost none in book 4. Overall I have really enjoyed the entire series!
I like hoe you can see him starting to care for her and it was a great story
I loved it. Mimi Matthews is a great writer and she does a wonderful job with historical romance.
I loved the main characters very much. Justin and Helena are both captivating. Brave, polite, handsome and good-hearted. A lady and a true gentleman but not of birthright. I enjoyed a lot their interaction and how their feelings are growing for each other but also everything that pulls them apart.
Great world building and entertaining plot. I had an awesome time reading this historical clean romance.
Near the end I shed a tear or two but it just made the happy ending that much sweeter.
Really good story line and character / plot development.
Unique story which I found to be quite enjoyable.
I love everything Mimi writes
The Matrimonial Advertisement (Book 1 of Parish Orphans of Devon) by Mimi Mathews
4/5 Stars rounded to 5
World building
Character Development
Storytelling
Can be read as a stand alone
HEA
Although this period piece can be predictable, it is an interesting read, and really doesn’t follow most period piece novels.
This deals with the reality of women’s position in England in the 1850’s, and their limited options, regardless of their station. Mathews also highlights the use and abuse of mental asylums. It’s a very disturbing read knowing that people were used and abused by such institutions for gains by the interred relations.
The depth of Mathews storytelling is beautifully sublime. Her world building of Victorian England is spot on, and you are almost transported there throughout the pages. The romance between the two main characters, Justin Thornhill and Helena Reynolds is repressive, representing the era, but so touching as well. It’s a slow build, full of angst and fragility. Both have baggage and are keeping secrets from each other.
Justin and Helena wouldn’t meet under normal circumstances, but they need something that the other can provide. Once their secrets come to light, can they weather the fallout?
This is the first time I’ve read a novel by Mimi Mathews. I was so impressed that and I’ve purchased the next novel in this series.
Very good story with interesting characters. I have read a couple of books by Mimi Mathews and have been very impressed with her writing.
When a marriage starts as a business arrangement, you know you’ve stumbled on troubled, complex characters. When the author leads them–and you–step by step to romantic entanglement and an emotionally satisfying ending, you know you’ve found a gem. When it turns out to be book one in a promising series, you know it is your lucky day. This is one of those books.
This one is full of tropes that I love: marriage of convenience, decrepit old castle, and a hero who isn’t nearly as damaged as he thinks he is. I really loved the relationship between hero and heroine. The plot was a little wonky for me, especially at the end when he decides to leave because he isn’t worthy of her, and her uncle so easily gives in. Given that it is a romance, I was willing to forgive that, and overall enjoyed the book!
I kept seeing Mimi Matthews and this particular book show up as recommend for me so I decided to check it out and was glad that I did. The story was definitely well-developed and well-researched for the historical aspects. It kept my interest with the intriguing backgrounds of both Justin and Helena as well as my need to know if things would work out between them in the end. It was refreshing that while there were secrets between them, the two communicated fairly decently. I enjoyed their romance and chemistry, particularly that it had that strong connection without the author taking it to a level that moved it from being what I would qualify as clean. I would recommend it to fans of the Victorian era and historical romance.
If this story were a king-sized Snickers bar, I would’ve devoured it all in one sitting, which I rarely do. But I couldn’t put The Matrimonial Advertisement down. Could. Not. Do. It.
I love historical romance, and this story hits all the sweet spots. AND it’s clean (other than the sexual tension between the hero and heroine). I LOVED the marriage of convenience, the crumbs of their past that the author teased us with, and the dialogue. The dialogue was incredible! So well done. It showed us who they were so clearly.
Justin is the perfect brooding, strong hero and Helena is an intelligent, capable heroine. Their match was lovely and I sighed at least a dozen times while reading. And now I have to exercise self control because I asked my husband to get the rest of the Parish Orphans of Devon series for Christmas (UGH, that means I have to wait almost two months to read the rest of the series).
But I’m sure it’ll be worth it. Meanwhile, I’m going to nibble on a Snickers bars.
If you love clean historical romance, check out Mimi Matthews. I’m so glad I did!
I loved this book.
The characters were so interesting and the romance was real.
I loved the very originality of the story and the hero.
I think it was Rachel McMillan that first introduced me to Mimi Matthews. I read one book and I was hooked and couldn’t wait to read ALL the books!
I’m a fan and I really enjoyed each of the instalments in the Parish Orphans series. With beautiful characters, lush landscapes and compelling storytelling I think you will too!
Mimi Matthews, where have you been all my life? I came across The Matrimonial Advertisement (Book #1 in the Parish Orphans of Devon series) by chance and was hooked from Page 1. Wonderful characters, atmospheric setting, great dialogue and a swoon-worthy hero! This is the kind of book where you curl up on the couch with a cozy fire, a steaming mug of your favorite beverage, and just let the day pass…I promise you will not even notice the hours flying by, this book is so good! Helena Reynolds is a vulnerable but strong Victorian heroine, more than up to the task of understanding–and loving–the fierce and damaged Captain Justin Thornhill. Equally fascinating is the hero’s backstory of his time as a soldier in British India during The Great Mutiny, which propelled me to further research the tragic events of 1857. I loved this book so much that before I’d even finished Chapter One, I had downloaded the remaining three books in the series! I feel like a kid on Christmas morning, knowing I have so many more of her books to look forward to!
On my list Of all time favorites! Excellent story. I’ve read it several times