I’m excited to be a part of the blog tour for a much-anticipated novel: Mimi Matthews’ A Convenient Fiction! I have loved each and every book by Mimi. This new novel is even more wonderful than I had hoped and brings so many things together for the characters! After checking out my review, be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of this post!
A Convenient Fiction by Mimi Matthews
Publication Date: October 22, 2019
Perfectly Proper Press Series: Parish Orphans of Devon, Book 3
Genre: Historical Romance
The mysterious Alex Archer returns to England in Book 3 of Mimi Matthews’ USA Today bestselling Parish Orphans of Devon series.
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?
Review
Every book Mimi Matthews writes has a Midas-like touch of Victorian perfection. Exquisite historical detail, endearing and layered characters, the perfect touches of humor, and swoon-worthy romances — sometimes began in surprising ways — all combine in her novels for an immersive and simply DELIGHTFUL reading experience.
A Convenient Fiction is at once a whimsical and sensible romance, pairing two complementary personalities whose strengths benefit one another. Mimi’s attention to historical accuracy is a presence in this novel, even shining light on lesser-known details of history, such as perfume making, sea “bathing” practices, and the laws governing inheritance.
The romance is the heart of this story, but the personal growth of Laura and Alex happens right alongside their deepening relationship. I love how Laura sees through Alex’s carefully constructed facade from the very beginning, perceiving and calling out the hero underneath. And for Laura, she learns to balance strength, independence, and her “duty” to her family, realizing that it’s beneficial to rely on someone else for a change.
My favorite aspect of the romance between Alex and Laura is that their relationship doesn’t go through a typical “halt” in the latter half of the story. There is no “will they/won’t they” type of plot dealing with some kind of disagreement or sacrificial reason. Instead, theirs is a story of steadfast choice, of honor and commitment. The crux of it is all about reconciliation with the past, mainly with Alex and with his friends.
I highly recommend reader be familiar with the previous two novels in this series to appreciate Alex’s character arc in a deeper manner, and to know the dynamic with other characters mentioned from previous books. Mimi’s atmospheric style reveals past events from Alex’s point of view, adding context and layering for readers familiar with his backstory. Fans of this series will be delighted with a glimpse of beloved characters, and the hint of more fun to come with book 4 (Neville’s story YAY).
Thank you to HFVBT and NetGalley for the review copy. This is my honest review.
Praise for the Parish Orphans of Devon series
“For this impressive Victorian romance, Matthews crafts a tale that sparkles with chemistry and impresses with strong character development… an excellent series launch that will appeal to fans of Loretta Chase and Stephanie Laurens.” -Publishers Weekly (The Matrimonial Advertisement) “Matthews has a knack for creating slow-building chemistry and an intriguing plot with a social history twist.” -Library Journal (The Matrimonial Advertisement) “As always, Matthews’ attention to historical accuracy is impeccable.” -Kirkus Reviews (A Modest Independence) “Mimi Matthews is an exceptional story-teller.” -Passages to the Past (The Matrimonial Advertisement) “Matthews is a bright, shining star in historical romance…” -Austenprose (A Modest Independence)
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews (A Victorian Lady’s Guide to Fashion and Beauty, The Matrimonial Advertisement) writes both historical non-fiction and traditional 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 weekly 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. For more information, please visit Mimi Matthews’ website and blog. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, BookBub, Pinterest, Google+, and Goodreads.
Blog Tour Schedule
- Tuesday, October 22 Review at The Green Mockingbird
- Wednesday, October 23 Review at The Lit Bitch
- Thursday, October 24 Review at Gwendalyn’s Books
- Friday, October 25 Review at Bookish Rantings
- Monday, October 28 Review at Amy’s Booket List
- Friday, November 1 Feature at View from the Birdhouse
- Monday, November 4 Review at Austenprose
- Wednesday, November 6 Review at Passages to the Past
- Saturday, November 9 Review at Robin Loves Reading
- Monday, November 11 Review at Lost_in_a_book_reviewer
- Wednesday, November 13 Review at For the Sake of Good Taste
- Friday, November 15 Review at Coffee and Ink
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a signed paperback copy of A Convenient Fiction by Mimi Matthews! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.
Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on November 15th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Paperback giveaway is open to the US only. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. – The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.
Click HERE to enter the giveaway!
The Green Mockingbird 