What are your favorite outdoor sports or hobbies? I love to go for walks, hikes, and bike rides. When I was younger, I also loved to climb trees and read in them. In this novel, the heroine loves horseback riding.
Evelyn Maltravers knows that her future hangs by a
thread. She is an orphan and the family hopes
had all been placed on her beautiful older sister. After her sister has scandalously run off
with a neighbor, Evelyn knows it’s up to her to find a suitable match to help
out her younger sisters. She travels to
London to stay with her uncle. She
decides to stand out from the crowd, that she will order a beautiful riding
habit and show off her riding skills.
Half-Indian tailor Ahmad Malik has made a name for himself
designing beautiful and unique riding habits for the Rotten Row’s infamous “Petty
Horsebreakers.” His dream is to own his
own shop and he is trying to get unique gowns worn by someone in society to market
his skills. When Evelyn Maltravers stops
by his shop to order a new riding habit, he realizes that she may be the person
who can market his designs. As he gets
to know her, he discovers that he has feelings for her. Will these two be able to pass the hurdles
that society places on them to find their destinies?
I LOVED this novel.
In particular items I enjoyed included:
-
The cover is gorgeous, and it also matches
that description in the novel.
- -
Evelyn is an independent and unique
character. As I also wear glasses, I love that she wears them and tells people
the truth that she actually wants to be able to see.
- -
Speaking of glasses, I love that Ahmad
designed Evelyn’s dresses with pockets so that she could put her glasses in
them. I want functioning pockets on all
of my clothing now and can’t always find them!
- -
Ahmad Malik is a unique and honorable
character. I loved his artistic vision,
but also his caring for his family and friends.
- -
The book faces the fact that as a half
Indian man in Victorian England, Ahmad faced prejudice and had a harder time trying
to build a business and find love.
- -
Evelyn also makes it clear that trying to
catch a husband is a serious affair. She
is not just a giggly girl. Having a
husband is the only way she as a woman during the Victorian era, can make sure
that her and her sisters have support.
- -
The book also looked at double standards. Her neighbor, Anthony, ran off with her
sister, Fenny, and hasn’t married her to keep his inheritance. Anthony’s family
won’t let him marry her because she has lived with a man that is unmarried – Anthony!
The hypocrisy with the situation is shocking, but also sad because this was how
things worked in that time.
- -
Evelyn loves to ride horses and trained
her horse herself. She is proud of it
and doesn’t shy away from her strengths.
- -
Lady Heatherton was a great villain. She only thinks about herself and her needs
and is ruthless.
- -
The spiritualism subplot was
interesting. I know it was very in vogue
during that time period in England and the United States. Poor Evelyn is not amused by her uncle’s
obsession with it.
- -
I loved the author’s note which detailed
the real history that was used in the novel.
I also thought the discussion questions looked interesting. This would make a great book club book.
- -
This is the start of a new series, the
Belles of London, and I want to read more.
Evelyn’s friends were all interesting and unique and I want to learn
more about them. I in particular also
loved the mysterious Captain Blunt in this novel. I was excited to see in the excerpt for the
new novel (The Belle of Belgrave Square) found at the end of this book, he will
be prominently included!
- -
The Siren of Sussex is a clean read.
Overall, The Siren of Sussex is an engaging new
historical romance with great characters, romance, historical details, and
conflict. I highly recommend it.
Book Source: Review Copy from Berkley Publishing as a
part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you. I received a complimentary copy of this book.
Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
QUICK FACTS
·
Title: The Siren of Sussex: Belles of
London (Book 1)
·
Author: Mimi Matthews
·
Genre: Historical Romance, Historical
Fiction
·
Publisher: Berkley Romance (January 11, 2022)
·
Length: (432) pages
· Format: Trade paperback, eBook, &
audiobook
· Tour Dates: January 10-30, 2022
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Victorian high society’s most daring
equestrienne finds love and an unexpected ally in her fight for independence in
the strong arms of London’s most sought after and devastatingly handsome
half-Indian tailor.
Evelyn Maltravers understands exactly how little
she's worth on the marriage mart. As an incurable bluestocking from a family
tumbling swiftly toward ruin, she knows she'll never make a match in a
ballroom. Her only hope is to distinguish herself by making the biggest splash
in the one sphere she excels: on horseback. In haute couture. But to truly
capture London's attention she'll need a habit-maker who's not afraid to take
risks with his designs—and with his heart.
Half-Indian tailor Ahmad Malik has always had a talent for making women
beautiful, inching his way toward recognition by designing riding habits for
Rotten Row's infamous Pretty Horsebreakers—but no one compares to Evelyn. Her
unbridled spirit enchants him, awakening a depth of feeling he never thought
possible.
But pushing boundaries comes at a cost and not everyone is pleased to welcome
Evelyn and Ahmad into fashionable society. With obstacles spanning between
them, the indomitable pair must decide which hurdles they can jump and what
matters most: making their mark or following their hearts?
ADVANCE PRAISE
“…a tender and swoon worthy
interracial, cross-class romance in Victorian London…Readers will delight in
this paean to women’s fashion and horseback riding.”— Publishers Weekly,
starred review
“Matthews brings the Victorian era to
vivid life with meticulously researched details and an impossible romance made
believable and memorable.”— Booklist, starred review
“Matthews deftly underscores racial and
gender discrimination in Victorian London in this excellent start to ‘The
Belles of London’ series; rather than overshadowing, it propels the romance.
Romance aficionados who love fashion and animals will delight in this tender
romance and will be excited to see Evelyn’s friends in future installments.” — Library
Journal, starred review
"Unflinching, tender, and moving, the delicately crafted The Siren of Sussex might just be my favourite work from Mimi Matthews; it certainly is one of my favourite historical romance reads this year."— Evie Dunmore, USA Today bestselling author of Portrait of a Scotsman
PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS
AUTHOR BIO
WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | BOOKBUB |
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
Mimi has generously offered a fabulous giveaway package that book tour participants can add to their posts and on social media. Here are the details:
Timeframe: Jan 4 - Feb 7, 2022
Terms & Conditions:
Giveaway hosted by Mimi Matthews. No Purchase Necessary. Entrants must be 18 years or older. Open to US residents only. Void where prohibited.
The Giveaway Package:
1 winner (selected at random by Rafflecopter) receives the following:
Signed print copy of The Siren of Sussex
Horse scarf
Pewter sidesaddle brooch (made in Sussex, England!)
The Siren of Sussex tote bag
Three candles in scents: Fresh Hay, New Saddle, and Winter Ride
Box of Ahmad Tea (60 count, assorted flavors)
The Siren of Sussex bookmark
The giveaway is open from 12:01 am Pacific time 1/4/22 until 11:59pm Pacific time on 2/7/22.
The winner will be announced on Mimi's blog - mimimatthews.com – at 8:00 pm Pacific time on 2/8/22.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Laura. Mimi is a gifted writer. I really enjoyed the historical details and the love story. I am looking forward to the second book in the series, The Belle of Belgrave Square in October.
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