The Matrimonial Advertisement
(Parish Orphans of Devon, Book 1)
A USA Today Bestseller
2019 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards Honorable Mention - Historical Romance
“…a Victorian romance in all its glory…. The plot is filled with twists that kept me glued to the seat. I enjoyed every second spent reading The Matrimonial Advertisement…” —Readers’ Favorite
She 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 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, firmly established in the grandest house in King's Abbot, 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?
More Reviews:
“An enjoyable love story that dares to dip a toe into bleak social and political history.” —Kirkus
"For this impressive Victorian romance, Matthews...crafts a tale that sparkles with chemistry and impresses with strong character development." —BookLife (Publishers’ Weekly)
"Matthews’...has a knack for creating slow-building chemistry and an intriguing plot with a social history twist. For fans of Victorian romance with a gothic spin." —Library Journal
"I savored every word of this wonderful historical romance and didn't want it to end...I'm so happy to have discovered Mimi Matthews and recommend to all who love fantastic well written, character driven Regency and Victorian era romances. She's brilliant!" —Jane Porter, NYT and USA Today bestselling author
"A heart-rending Gothic love story, with a strong yet vulnerable heroine you want to hug and cheer for. The hero has the dark past of Mr. Rochester and the tightly leashed emotion of Mr. Darcy, but is a true romantic hero in every sense of the word. The historical atmosphere is top-notch, as is the writing. I loved it!" —Caroline Linden, USA Today bestselling author
"A highly enjoyable Victorian-sensation style romance...I enjoyed every minute of this warm, charming book." —KJ Charles, editor and RITA-nominated author
Author Bio:
USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews 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.