Scan barcode
blewballoon's reviews
680 reviews
The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The proposal scene!!?!? I'm not normally a quotes person but: "If we marry, I intend to fall in love with you" followed by "Be loud. Be opinioned. Be as much yourself as you wish, and then some. Once we're wed, you and I will answer to no one but each other." Got me on the verge of tears during my work lunch. This book has moments like that AND has Tom Finchley appearances?? What more could I ask for!? That being said, I still feel like I have some unanswered questions and some elements of this book didn't get proper closure, but that may have been intentional since in real life we don't always get the answers and closure we want.
I am so glad I read the Parish Orphans of Devon series before reading this, I would have missed a lot of context and probably struggled to keep all the characters of Teddy's extended found family in order. It does make me want to re-read the rest of this series to see what else I missed, but this book serves as a bit of an epilogue for both series since there are many glimpses at all the happy couples. I did also cry in my car during this book's epilogue.
What am I going to do now? I've been deeply invested in this network of characters for 8 books, I would happily read 8 more. Whatever historical romance I try to read after this is going to be at a serious disadvantage. Mimi Matthews sets a high standard for characters, prose, romance, and setting.
Audiobook narrators were great, although I do think they changed up some accents and some pronunciation of names, unless I'm remembering wrong. It's possible that since I switched to reading text vs listening to audio for the Parish Orphans of Devon, I came up with my own idea of how things should sound.
I am so glad I read the Parish Orphans of Devon series before reading this, I would have missed a lot of context and probably struggled to keep all the characters of Teddy's extended found family in order. It does make me want to re-read the rest of this series to see what else I missed, but this book serves as a bit of an epilogue for both series since there are many glimpses at all the happy couples. I did also cry in my car during this book's epilogue.
What am I going to do now? I've been deeply invested in this network of characters for 8 books, I would happily read 8 more. Whatever historical romance I try to read after this is going to be at a serious disadvantage. Mimi Matthews sets a high standard for characters, prose, romance, and setting.
Audiobook narrators were great, although I do think they changed up some accents and some pronunciation of names, unless I'm remembering wrong. It's possible that since I switched to reading text vs listening to audio for the Parish Orphans of Devon, I came up with my own idea of how things should sound.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Bullying, Chronic illness, Sexual content, and Death of parent
A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
One thing this book gave me that I've been begging for is a male romantic lead who is NOT mega tall with a thick head of hair and rippling abs. The best things about this book are Kathy's relationships with her (ex) husband, her older female friend, and the soul she's trying to help. I see that this is meant to be the start of a series, but it works quite well as a standalone and I wonder how potential books will be able to match up to the level of character growth and heartfelt bonding that Kathy went through here.
The mystery was okay, but fairly similar to another book I've read, so it was easy for me to figure out. I also clocked who the real killer was very early, purely based on vibes. If you're reading this for the mystery and aren't looking for the soft stuff I mentioned earlier, you might be disappointed.
The audiobook narrator did a good job, she has a dynamic voice and had a few different voices. I didn't love the voice she used for Simon, and the crying moments for the main character were sometimes awkward, especially since there are so many of them.
The mystery was okay, but fairly similar to another book I've read, so it was easy for me to figure out. I also clocked who the real killer was very early, purely based on vibes. If you're reading this for the mystery and aren't looking for the soft stuff I mentioned earlier, you might be disappointed.
The audiobook narrator did a good job, she has a dynamic voice and had a few different voices. I didn't love the voice she used for Simon, and the crying moments for the main character were sometimes awkward, especially since there are so many of them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, Violence, Vomit, and Murder
Minor: Infidelity
The Winter Companion by Mimi Matthews
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Well, I read this book in one day, so it certainly kept my attention. I was really excited to get to see inside of Neville's head, since his appearances in the past books were limited to the perspectives of the main characters and Neville's speech impediment keeps his inner workings somewhat mysterious. It was also a delight to have more time with the characters from the previous books, since they spend most of this book celebrating Christmas together. Clara is another excellent female lead, a great pairing with Neville, and I adored how their ending played out. One thing all of the women in this series seem to share is that they are capable and hard working, they are managing their own problems and situations, and it's no so much that they need the men to rescue them as it is that having someone you trust to lean on makes things easier. Honestly, this whole series has been so much fun and I'm really going to miss it. I love this little brotherhood of orphans, their fantastic wives, and their expanding families. I might need to re-read the Belles of London series to catch all of the references to these characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
A Convenient Fiction by Mimi Matthews
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Alex Archer had a lot to make up for when I started this book. He previously beat up my favorite character in this series and at the start of this book his motivations are far from pure. His most heroic act in this story was heavily foreshadowed, practically a foregone conclusion, rescuing Laura from the sea and by then he had grown on me somewhat. He improves pretty steadily from there. He's still my least favorite bachelor of the bunch, but I thought Laura was wonderful. All of the ladies in this series are. This would make for a good summer read, the setting for much of the book is sunny and warm and describes how Victorians spent their leisure time during that season.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
The Warden by Daniel M. Ford
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was okay. It wasn't quite what I was hoping for (mostly based on the cover) and I think my expectations were a little too high. This read like a YA book to me, which is fine, but I think my biggest hang-up was that I never really liked Aelis and the book is entrenched in her experiences and thoughts.
I found Aelis self absorbed and entitled, and while some characters responded positively to her more abrasive approach to people, I thought she was unnecessarily rude. She did have some moments where she was more reasonable after insulting people, but it felt to me like there was a lot of room for character improvement that doesn't seem to be coming because she mostly didn't face any consequences for her attitude.
I didn't find the residents of Lone Pine particularly interesting either, and her interactions with them take up the bulk of the first half of the book. I did like the love interest (who plays a very minor role and is absent for most of the story) and the huntsman/guide she works with for a portion of the second half of the book. I also thought the plot mysteries were fairly intriguing, and they are what mostly got me through to the end.
The audiobook narrator was good, I think they matched the energy the author intended.
Not sure if I will continue with the series or not, I had a physical copy of this book and I might just donate it.
I found Aelis self absorbed and entitled, and while some characters responded positively to her more abrasive approach to people, I thought she was unnecessarily rude. She did have some moments where she was more reasonable after insulting people, but it felt to me like there was a lot of room for character improvement that doesn't seem to be coming because she mostly didn't face any consequences for her attitude.
I didn't find the residents of Lone Pine particularly interesting either, and her interactions with them take up the bulk of the first half of the book. I did like the love interest (who plays a very minor role and is absent for most of the story) and the huntsman/guide she works with for a portion of the second half of the book. I also thought the plot mysteries were fairly intriguing, and they are what mostly got me through to the end.
The audiobook narrator was good, I think they matched the energy the author intended.
Not sure if I will continue with the series or not, I had a physical copy of this book and I might just donate it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Blood, and Classism
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Gore, and Sexism
A Modest Independence by Mimi Matthews
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was very excited for this book after reading The Matrimonial Advertisement because I found Tom Finchley very appealing as a character. I only came to appreciate him more in his own book. Jenny is also lovely.
Tom and Jenny both have an intriguing combination of being guarded yet direct in their approach to people, while having personality traits that differ in complimentary ways. Their conversations were always engaging to read because of their unexpected openness and honesty. No miscommunication trope to be had here, and yet there was immense tension from the ever present conflict keeping them from truly being together.
For historical immersion, I can't think of a romance author who is more devoted than Mimi Matthews to presenting the setting accurately. It was educational and exciting to read about the international travels of the Victorian era in such detail.
I didn't realize until 44% into the book that Ahmad and Mira were the same from The Siren of Sussex! I was absolutely delighted to get more of their story and it made me want to re-read The Siren of Sussex again with this new context.
Tom and Jenny both have an intriguing combination of being guarded yet direct in their approach to people, while having personality traits that differ in complimentary ways. Their conversations were always engaging to read because of their unexpected openness and honesty. No miscommunication trope to be had here, and yet there was immense tension from the ever present conflict keeping them from truly being together.
For historical immersion, I can't think of a romance author who is more devoted than Mimi Matthews to presenting the setting accurately. It was educational and exciting to read about the international travels of the Victorian era in such detail.
I didn't realize until 44% into the book that Ahmad and Mira were the same from The Siren of Sussex! I was absolutely delighted to get more of their story and it made me want to re-read The Siren of Sussex again with this new context.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Child abuse, Racism, Xenophobia, Abandonment, and War
Minor: Death, Racial slurs, Suicide, and Death of parent
The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I've really enjoyed the entire Graves Glen series, and I was pleasantly surprised that this one was set at Christmas time since that's when my audiobook hold on Libby came through! My biggest criticism is that I don't really like this narrator and she used the wrong accent for the characters from the previous books.
I thought Bowen and Tamsyn were incredibly likeable. Tamsyn in particular was refreshingly self aware and open-minded. Their chemistry was great and it was complimented nicely by the time travel plot. A small criticism is that the resolution to the plots/mysteries was a bit lackluster, but that wasn't a big issue for me since I read this series for the romances.
I thought Bowen and Tamsyn were incredibly likeable. Tamsyn in particular was refreshingly self aware and open-minded. Their chemistry was great and it was complimented nicely by the time travel plot. A small criticism is that the resolution to the plots/mysteries was a bit lackluster, but that wasn't a big issue for me since I read this series for the romances.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Child death
Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is my first Agatha Christie book. I should have expected it due to the age of the writing, but the casual racism kept surprising me.
I also think my experience suffered a bit from the "Seinfeld is Unfunny" phenomenon where I've read so many mysteries that are inspired by and derivative of Agatha Christie that reading the original ends up feeling a bit unoriginal.
I felt that the writing was a bit too repetitive and held the reader's hand too much in the first half and then jumped too quickly in the second half to keep the reader from figuring the mysteries out themselves. I can see though how it would be more satisfying as a re-read (or re-watch as a film) once you know the reveals and can see how the clues were there all along.
The writing felt like it would easily translate to a film script, it's mostly dialogue and essentially stage directions of how characters are moving about and reacting to things.
The perspective is third person and not limited to Poirot himself, which I thought was interesting.
I also think my experience suffered a bit from the "Seinfeld is Unfunny" phenomenon where I've read so many mysteries that are inspired by and derivative of Agatha Christie that reading the original ends up feeling a bit unoriginal.
I felt that the writing was a bit too repetitive and held the reader's hand too much in the first half and then jumped too quickly in the second half to keep the reader from figuring the mysteries out themselves. I can see though how it would be more satisfying as a re-read (or re-watch as a film) once you know the reveals and can see how the clues were there all along.
The writing felt like it would easily translate to a film script, it's mostly dialogue and essentially stage directions of how characters are moving about and reacting to things.
The perspective is third person and not limited to Poirot himself, which I thought was interesting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
The Matrimonial Advertisement by Mimi Matthews
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I could not put this book down!! I was sneak reading it on my phone during Christmas Eve dinner with my family, something I never do. This has the exact type of suspense and tension I am looking for in historical romances. I love the way Mimi Matthews writes; the historical setting is ever-present and the characters are expressive and eloquent. I gobbled up all the stereotypical elements of a clever damsel in need and a brooding hero. Give me all that juicy hurt/comfort and mutual pining. Go ahead and write as many Beauty and the Beast adjacent stories as you want, Mimi, I will continue to swallow them happily. I had been trying to restrain myself this year and not just keep reading all of the Mimi Matthews backlog, but I guess my Christmas treat is just letting myself go wild because I've already started the next book in this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Confinement, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and War
Minor: Mental illness, Rape, Suicide, Stalking, Murder, and Alcohol
Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Ashley Herring Blake is a great romance author and their writing is the best aspect of this book. I could not get behind this particular romance, though. Brighton and Charlotte should not be together.
The book tries so hard to justify Brighton's actions in the past and present Charlotte as also being part of the problem, but I just can't see it. Charlotte had some flaws, sure, but what Brighton did was devastating and cowardly and Charlotte not being able to magically intuit what Brighton wouldn't actually tell her is not something she should be faulted for. You cannot expect your partner to read your lip quivers and figure out what you want. And later in the book whenCharlotte leaves, the situation is entirely different. Number one, she actually told Brighton she was leaving and why. Number two, Brighton was not literally waiting at an altar for her, they were just hanging out with friends for the holidays. These events are not equivalent, yet the book implies that now they're even I guess?
Also the resolution to all the conflicts is just tucked into the final chapter and feels a bit unfair. Spoiler rant:Charlotte, who allegedly loved New York and her music career there, just gets over that and decides she does want to live in Nashville where Brighton wants to be. I feel like this whole book is Brighton getting to have everything her way despite causing all of her own problems. She refused to compromise with her band and is upset that they go in a different direction without her, but then gets to shame them for using her song (even though she is partially at fault for showing it to them in the first place and putting it in their backlog). She has a supportive and loving family that she can always crash land on when she makes bad decisions. She has an unconditionally patient friend who is also her boss and tolerates her snapping at customers at work and boosts her music career. She left her fiance at the altar (shortly after having sex with her) without telling her or expressing that she didn't want to keep living in New York, then the fiance apologizes to her and leaves New York to be with her. Once she actually puts her big girl pants on and tries a music career of her own, it just works out and she's successful.
I did like the side characters and the dog.
The book tries so hard to justify Brighton's actions in the past and present Charlotte as also being part of the problem, but I just can't see it. Charlotte had some flaws, sure, but what Brighton did was devastating and cowardly and Charlotte not being able to magically intuit what Brighton wouldn't actually tell her is not something she should be faulted for. You cannot expect your partner to read your lip quivers and figure out what you want. And later in the book when
Also the resolution to all the conflicts is just tucked into the final chapter and feels a bit unfair. Spoiler rant:
I did like the side characters and the dog.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Vomit
Minor: Confinement and Grief