Contemporary Authors

• A Victorian Lady's Guide to Fashion and Beauty - 2018 Pen and Sword , Barnsley, United Kingdom
• The Pug Who Bit Napoleon: Animal Tales of the 18th and 19th Centuries - 2018 Pen and Sword , Barnsley, United Kingdom
• The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter: A Victorian Romance - 2018 Perfectly Proper Press ,
• The Lost Letter: A Victorian Romance - 2017 Perfectly Proper Press,

• Amazon -

  Mimi Matthews (A Victorian Lady's Guide to Fashion and Beauty, The Lost Letter) 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.

  To learn more, please visit www.MimiMatthews.com

• Mimi Matthews Website - https://www.mimimatthews.com/

  Mimi Matthews is the author of The Pug Who Bit Napoleon: Animal Tales of the 18th and 19th Centuries and A Victorian Lady’s Guide to Fashion and Beauty (Pen and Sword Books, July 2018). She researches and writes on all aspects of nineteenth century history—from animals, art, and etiquette to fashion, beauty, feminism, and law. Her scrupulously cited articles 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.
  When not writing historical non-fiction, Mimi authors exquisitely proper Victorian romance novels with dark, brooding heroes and intelligent, pragmatic heroines. She is a member of Romance Writers of America (PAN), The Beau Monde, Savvy Authors, and English Historical Fiction Authors. Her bestselling debut Victorian romance The Lost Letter was released in September 2017.
  Matthews is a polished writer who knows her genre and audience.
  -Kirkus Reviews
  In her other life, Mimi is an attorney with both a Juris Doctor and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. She resides in California with her family—which includes an Andalusian dressage horse, two Shelties, and two Siamese cats.

• BookMarketingBuzzBlog - http://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2017/10/interview-with-author-mimi-matthews.html

  Monday, October 9, 2017
  Interview With Author Mimi Matthews

  The Lost Letter

  1. What really inspired you to write your book, to force you from taking an idea or experience and conveying it into a book? My stories generally originate from one disconnected scene. When writing The Lost Letter, I had an idea for a reunion scene between a soldier who had been scarred in battle and the woman he had once loved and lost. I wrote the scene and then, little by little, built the rest of the story around it. I didn’t intend it to be any longer than a short story or novella, but by the time I finished writing, it was a novel

  2. What is it about and whom do you believe is your targeted reader? The Lost Letter is a Beauty and the Beast-inspired Victorian love story. It features an impoverished governess who is unexpectedly reunited with the now disfigured soldier who broke her heart three years before. At its core, it’s a story of hardship, resiliency, and enduring love. It’s a sweet (i.e. “clean”) Victorian romance, which makes it suitable for readers of all ages. It’s also historically authentic, which will appeal to fans of historical fiction.

  3. What do you hope will be the everlasting thoughts for readers who finish your book? What should remain with them long after putting it down? I hope that those who read The Lost Letter will be emotionally satisfied by the core love story. I also hope that they will end the book feeling hopeful and believing—just a little—that no matter what hardships occur in life, love truly can conquer all.

  4. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers? Oh gosh, I hesitate to give advice. Writing is such a personal thing and we each have our own unique voice. However, as a general principle, I would say that a writer benefits from having a firm grasp of language and grammar. One doesn’t have to be an English professor to write a good book, but language is a critical tool and one must know how to wield it effectively.

  5. What trends in the book world do you see and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? I see lots of historical romances written as part of a series. Every character eventually gets a book of their own. I think many readers enjoy this because it allows them to revisit favorite characters over the course of a series. As far as the book publishing industry, one thing I’ve noticed is that people who enjoy reading romances often don’t want to wait a year for a new book by their favorite authors. Authors who supplement their traditionally published books with independently published novellas are really tapping into this need that readers have for regular consumption. I wouldn’t be surprised if more authors began to go this route.

  6. What great challenges did you have in writing your book? There was a lot of pressure to add sex scenes to this story. Most romances are more explicit and there is no doubt that sex sells. I struggled a lot with whether I would make this book conform to that standard. However, in the end, I determined that The Lost Letter was meant to be more in the vein of Jane Eyre than styled after one of today’s hotter romances. To alter it wouldn’t have been true to my characters or my story.

  7. If people can only buy one book this month, why should it be yours? People are busy and, very often, only have a moment or two in which to read a book. The Lost Letter is the ideal length for devouring in an afternoon or evening. It’s a fast-paced page-turner with a rich plot, engaging characters, and an emotionally satisfying conclusion. A perfect read for both lovers of historical romance and fans of historical fiction.

• Get Lost in a Story - http://getlostinastory.blogspot.com/2017/09/get-lost-in-victorian-era-with-debut_22.html

  9/22/2017
  Get Lost in the Victorian Era with debut romance author Mimi Matthews

  Regan here with my guest today, debut romance author Mimi Matthews. Mimi researches and writes on all aspects of nineteenth century history, from animals, art, and etiquette to fashion, beauty, feminism and law. Her articles have been published on various academic and history sites, including the Victorian Web and the Journal of Victorian Culture and are also syndicated weekly. Her debut Victorian romance The Lost Letter has just been released.

  In her other life, Mimi is an attorney and resides in California with her family, which includes an Andalusian dressage horse, two Shelties and two Siamese cats.

  Comment for a chance to win her new book!

  And now to the interview:

  1. How often to you get lost in a story?

  Constantly! I read a book practically every day, even when I’m writing. If it’s a really good one, it doesn’t matter if I’ve only allotted an hour or two for reading. I’ll stay up all night to finish it. Those are the best books, in my opinion. The ones that take you out of yourself so completely that, when they’re over, you feel a little like Harry Potter emerging from the Pensieve.

  2. What’s your favorite fairy tale?

  I love Beauty and the Beast. Not only is it romantic and magical, but it also teaches an important lesson about looking past a person’s outward appearance in order to find the beauty that lies within. This is a critical component of my new Victorian romance novel The Lost Letter. The hero and heroine have undergone significant changes since they last met and both have to look past the superficial in order to find happiness.

  3. What three things are, at this moment, in your heroine’s purse, satchel, reticule, weapons belt or amulet bag (whatever she carries)?

  Sylvia Stafford, the heroine of The Lost Letter, is sensible, self-sufficient, and very well prepared. She always carries a handkerchief in her reticule—a plain square of linen with a neatly embroidered hem. She also keeps a needle and thread in her bag in case her clothing should require any emergency repairs. Lastly, she never leaves home without a few coins to use for train fare or to hail a hansom cab. A lady never knows when she’ll need to make a hasty departure!

  4. What one thing about your hero drives his heroine crazy? And what one thing about your heroine drives her hero nuts?

  The hero of my novel, Sebastian Conrad, Earl of Radcliffe, is a man of few words (and those words are generally growls, grumbles, and oaths). Sylvia is frequently frustrated by his unwillingness to communicate. Sebastian, by contrast, finds it a little irritating that Sylvia has accepted the hardship in her life with so much equanimity. As a man who is still struggling with accepting his own misfortune, he is often aggravated by her optimistic view of the future.

  5. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?

  It depends on my mood. I love long, intricately detailed epics, like the novels of J. R. R. Tolkien and George R. R. Martin. I’m also a huge Agatha Christie fan, as well as a fan of classic Regency and Victorian romances, such as Persuasion, Jane Eyre, and Wuthering Heights. The romance novels of Georgette Heyer are perennial favorites as well. If only there were more of them!

  6. What drew you to write in the genre(s) you do?

  When I was in my early teens, my mother read historical romance to decompress from her high-stress job. I often borrowed her Amanda Quick novels. They were so much fun. Life can be stressful at times and the world can be a sad, uncertain place. Romances are great because there is always a happy ending. It’s reassuring to know that, no matter what the characters suffer, things will always be all right in the end.

  7. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?

  Definitely tea. I’ve been drinking Darjeeling tea since I was in my teens. It has the loveliest smell, as delicate as perfume. When I got older, I learned that Darjeeling is known as the Champagne of tea. I drink it with a splash of milk—and a muffin or scone if I can get one!

  8. What will always make you smile, even on a bad day?

  My pets always make me smile no matter how bleak things get. I have two dogs, two cats, and a horse. One of my dogs is a seven-month-old Sheltie puppy named Stella who just joined our family in July. She takes so much joy in life; running, leaping, barking, and wrestling with her toys. Watching her play with my elderly Sheltie, Ash, is the best stress reliever in the world.

• Rakes and Rascals - https://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com/2018/02/16/in-the-spotlight-an-interview-with-mimi-matthews/

  IN THE SPOTLIGHT: AN INTERVIEW WITH MIMI MATTHEWS
  February 16, 2018 by carolcork

  I’m delighted to welcome author of both historical non-fiction and Victorian Romance MIMI MATTHEWS to Rakes and Rascals today for an exclusive interview.
  I’m so happy to be here, Carol! I absolutely love your historical romance reviews.
  ~~~~~~~

  R&R:
  Could you tell us where you were born and what it was like growing up there?
  Mimi:
  I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. I also attended college and law school here. It’s a beautiful place to live, close to both the ocean and the mountains, and filled with lots of scenic spots. I got my first horse when I was six and some of my best memories are of riding in the foothills of Mt. Diablo or through one of our regional parks. There were also lots of trips into San Francisco to shop and eat or to visit museums or the theatre.

  This is me when I was in elementary school.

  R&R:
  How would you describe yourself – temperamental or easy-going?
  Mimi:
  As a general rule, I think I’m pretty easy-going. However, I can be quite adversarial if the occasion calls for it. I didn’t become a lawyer for nothing.

  R&R:
  When it comes to food do you like sweet or savoury or both?
  Mimi:
  Definitely sweet. I love sugary pastries, cakes, and candies. I’m especially partial to divinity and marzipan. One of my Siamese cats is even named Marzipan!

  My Siamese cat, Marzipan.

  R&R:
  What is your most treasured possession?
  Mimi:
  I treasure my pets and my family above all things, but they’re not technically possessions. Among inanimate objects, I suppose it would be my jewellery. I have a lot of special vintage pieces, from the Victorian era through the 1930s. For a recent birthday, I got a gorgeous Edwardian ring with an 8-carat oval citrine surrounded in seed pearls. It’s almost too beautiful to wear. Almost!

  My Andalusian dressage horse, Centelleo.

  R&R:
  If you could afford a second home anywhere in the world where would you choose and why?
  Mimi:
  I’m a total anglophile, so I’d have to say England. I would love to have a second home in the countryside with a stable, paddocks, and riding ring. Then again, since I wouldn’t ever want to leave any animals behind, this would mean hauling horses back and forth across the pond. Probably not very realistic.

  R&R:
  Finally, what has been your most embarrassing moment?
  Mimi:
  Oh gosh, where to start? There have been so many—most from my childhood. Maybe things just seem more embarrassing when you’re a teenager? One moment that I can share comes from my lifelong desire to always be on time. My first semester of college, I arrived early for my first class. Or, at least, I thought I was early. Turns out, the class was already in session. I edged my way into the room, weaving through the students to find a vacant desk and generally making a spectacle of myself. No sooner had I taken my seat than the buzzer rang and everyone else in the class got up and left. It was then I realized, much to my mortification, that this wasn’t my class at all. It was the earlier class, which I had walked in on right as it was ending. Awkward!
  ~~~~~~~
  Thank you for taking time out to be here today and sharing these interesting facts about yourself, Mimi.
  Thank you for having me, Carol! It’s been a real pleasure.

  If you would like to find out more about Mimi and her books, here are the links:
  Website
  Goodreads
  Facebook
  Twitter

• C. P. Lesley, Novelist - http://blog.cplesley.com/2018/01/interview-with-mimi-matthews.html

  Friday, January 26, 2018
  Interview with Mimi Matthews

  Those of you who follow Five Directions Press’s monthly Books We Loved posts—and if you are an avid reader, you really should, if you don’t already (you can find them all on our newsletter page)—may have noticed that my picks for January included both Bernard Cornwell’s Fools and Mortals and Mimi Matthews’ The Lost Letter. You can find my Q&A with Bernard in a post a couple of weeks ago, and today I’m hosting a written interview with Mimi.

  Very different subjects, very different styles, but great writing is great writing. So if you have even a little bit of fondness in your heart for a touching love story set in Victorian times and with fully rounded characters, do check out Mimi Matthews’ novels (and nonfiction). Scroll down and you’ll find links to her website and social media accounts, where you can get more information.

  And if it needs to be fast-paced thriller to keep your attention—although still with great writing and complex, compelling characters—then the links in the Bernard Cornwell interview will show you where to learn more about those.

  You have a great interest in Victorian times, as evidenced by your nonfiction book The Pug That Bit Napoleon, among other works. Where did that interest originate, and which came first—the fascination with the Victorian period or the interest in writing fiction?

  My interest in writing fiction definitely came first. I wrote my first full-length book (a YA novel) when I was thirteen and signed with my first literary agent when I was eighteen. After that, I was preoccupied with college, law school, and work and didn’t write any fiction until a few years ago, when I got the idea for a romance novel. I wrote it in a few months and then signed with a new literary agent. While it was out on submission, I wrote three more romance novels, including The Lost Letter and The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter.

  As for the Victorian era, I’ve always been a fan. I read a lot of Charles Dickens and the Brontë sisters growing up and, in my third year of law school, I did a huge research paper on the British Court of Chancery. Since then, I’ve researched and written extensively on the Victorian era for my own website, as well as for other publications. In September 2016, I signed a multi-book deal with Pen and Sword Books (UK). My first nonfiction book with them, The Pug Who Bit Napoleon, came out in December. My next one, A Victorian Lady's Guide to Fashion and Beauty, will be out in July 2018.

  Tell us about Sylvia Stafford, the heroine of The Lost Letter. Where is she, literally and emotionally, at the start of the book?

  At the beginning of the novel, Sylvia is employed as a governess in a merchant's household in Cheapside. It’s a far cry from the life she led as the privileged daughter of a wealthy baronet. But Sylvia is an intelligent, pragmatic sort of woman and has—for the most part—come to terms with her altered status in society. She’s even managed to find a measure of happiness in her work. Or so she believes. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that much of her heartache and disappointment is still unresolved. This is especially evident when she once again crosses paths with Sebastian.

  And what of Sebastian Conrad, earl of Radcliffe? They have something of a past, but their reunion takes place under very different circumstances, for him as well as for her.

  Unlike Sylvia, Sebastian is not coping very well with his change in circumstance. The disfiguring injuries he suffered as a soldier in India both depress his spirits and cause him physical pain. He’s bitter and angry, raging at himself and everyone around him. When Sylvia makes an unexpected appearance at his country estate, he is anything but pleased. He had loved her once, and the sting of her rejection still rankles. Nevertheless, he makes an effort to see her and speak to her, even if only to show her how little he cares.

  Your second novel, The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter, came out this week. What can you tell readers about that book?

  After reading The Lost Letter, you may have guessed how much I enjoy playing with classic romance tropes. The Viscount and the Vicar’s Daughter is my go at the “reformed rake” trope. It features a disillusioned libertine with a scandalous past and an earnest vicar’s daughter with a few secrets of her own. It’s not as tortured a love story as The Lost Letter. I’d classify it more as a mid-Victorian romp. So far, advance reviews have been great. I’m really hoping readers will love it, too.

  In the back of The Viscount and the Vicar’s Daughter, there is an excerpt from a third novel, The Advertisement (which I for one can’t wait to read, because the setup is great), due out this summer. Is that book already done? And if so, what are you working on now?

  I’m so glad you enjoyed the excerpt! The Advertisement is almost done. It’s due to my editor at the end of March. It’s much longer than my previous two Victorian romances and the subject matter is a bit heavier as well. It focuses on two real—and very grim—events from the late 1850s. As for the central romance, it’s poignant, passionate, and exceedingly angst-ridden. So far, reports from my beta readers have been really positive. We’ll see what my editor thinks!

  Next, I’m working on a Victorian Christmas novella about a broken betrothal and (possible) breach of contract suit. It will be out in November 2018.

  Thanks so much for answering my questions, Mimi. I wish you all success with both your novels and your nonfiction works!

  Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction 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 syndicated weekly at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney with both a Juris Doctor and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. She resides in California with her family, which includes an Andalusian dressage horse, two Shelties, and two Siamese cats.

  Find out more about Mimi at the links below.

  Website: https://www.mimimatthews.com/

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MimiMatthewsAuthor/

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/MimiMatthewsEsq

• Jackie Mantey - http://jackiemantey.com/2017/10/09/interview-10-questions-for-author-mimi-matthews/

  Interview: 10 Questions for Author Mimi Matthews
  October 9, 2017 Jackie Mantey -ish, General, Interviews

  Bust magazine readers may recognize the name Mimi Matthews.
  This California-based writer pens a weekly column for the feminist magazine’s website. It chronicles the mostly fascinating, truly fabulous, and sometimes straight-up weird life and style aspects of Victorian culture.
  Matthews does rabidly precise research and has a thoughtful eye for a good story — from Victorians’ beautiful fall dresses made of a toasted-orange fabric (the Pumpkin Spice Girls?) to the fate of old men who married young women in the 1800s (it’s, as predicted, pretty yikes) to their gone-viral beauty obsessions (mmmm, violet perfume).
  You can (and should) read her Bust entries here. I, being an auburn-leaning ginger, am partial to the one about why auburn haired women were beloved (we cray!):
  Auburn hair, with a florid countenance, indicates the highest order of sentiment and intensity of feeling, along with corresponding purity of character, combined with the highest capacities for enjoyment and suffering.
  Matthews has two non-fiction books on the way, including “The Pug Who Bit Napoleon: Animal Tales of the 18th and 19th Centuries,” due out in November, and “A Victorian Lady’s Guide to Fashion and Beauty,” due out July 2018.
  As an attorney with a Juris Doctor and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, it’s no surprise Matthews can expertly handle not only separating fact from fiction — but making them play together nicely.
  Proof: Her debut fiction novel “The Lost Letter.”
  This Victorian romance is the perfect companion for a cuddled-up Fall Saturday. It follows the story of the dynamic Sylvia Stafford. The tragic death of her father demotes her to a life of spinsterhood (no more pumpkin colored evening gowns for Ms. Sylvia!), until fate intervenes and she is reunited with her former love, the once charming Colonel Sebastian Conrad, gone surly and sour from a devastating battle wound. The Victorian countryside is the lush backdrop for this story of love, loss and redemption.
  In the following interview, Matthews talks about her own love affair with the Victorian era, how she balances research with crafting fiction, what she’s working on next, and advice she has for anyone writing a historical novel.
  Oh, and which Bronte she would invite to a dinner party. Would you be able to choose just one?
  ***
  What do you love about the Victorian era? What draws you to it?
  The Victorian era has always appealed to me on multiple levels. First, there’s the obvious: the gorgeous fashions—from wire crinolines to enormous bustles. Then there’s the emphasis on manners and decorum; the strict societal rules for ladies and gentlemen and the limitations imposed on courting couples. The Victorian era was also a time of enormous advancements in industry, medicine, and the rights of women. Aniline dyes were discovered, the sewing machine was invented, train travel became ubiquitous, and women shed their cumbersome skirts and hopped on safety bicycles, an invention which gave them enormous independence. What’s not to love?
  What made you want to write fiction about a subject whose real-life stories you’re so knowledgeable about?
  The Victorian era has a wealth of fabulous history to tap into. And I already write so much about it in the non-fiction realm, it seemed only natural to set my novels there as well. I think my readers would have been disappointed if I hadn’t. Not to mention, when I read historical romances, I really notice when an author gets their history wrong. I was determined that I would use my knowledge of Victorian social history to help me get my own novel right.
  How do you balance being true to the gender roles of the Victorian era with creating an interesting woman and romance your reader wants to root for? (Hello, Sylvia!)
  It’s a challenge, especially as I hate when characters in a historical [novel] come across as nothing more than modern men and women in costume. This is why I really liked writing Sylvia. Since she had essentially been ejected from fashionable society, she wasn’t strictly bound by Victorian social conventions. It was up to her to make her own way in the world. It was a grim situation, but one that allowed her to gain a measure of feminine independence. At the same time, she was still quite constrained in regard to how she could interact with the opposite sex—especially Sebastian. Also, it helps that a lot of the emotion that she and Sebastian felt—the romantic angst, fear of rejection, and feelings of betrayal—is emotion that many of us have felt at some point in our modern romantic lives. This made the characters relatable in spite of the restrictions imposed by the era.
  How did your background studying Victorian era history and culture help and/or hinder the fiction writing process?
  It helped tremendously in that I was able to draw on my knowledge of Victorian fashion, etiquette, and social norms without having to do too much additional research. It hindered me on occasion because I’m such a stickler for historical accuracy and, in writing a scene, I would often think, “They would never have said/done this!” It was sometimes hard for me to put that aside in order to allow my characters to have time on their own to talk—or to kiss!
  Do you have any advice for writers about doing research for a fiction novel?
  If they’re striving for true historical accuracy, I would strongly advise them not to limit their research to uncited blog posts or Wikipedia articles. They should read historic newspapers, magazines, and books. They should get a feel for the language and the behaviour of the era in which they’ve set their story. And if they’re writing about something they know nothing about—like horseback riding—they really need to have their research down. Nothing is more irritating to a reader than being absorbed in a story only to have some anachronism wrench them out of it.

  Check out the Mimi Matthews author Facebook page. She regularly posts paintings from the era and provides some context for the work. She had me at cats sneaky-snackin’ on some tea and crumpets. TBH, I don’t know if that’s a crumpet.
  What do you listen to or watch or read to get pumped up to write?
  I get most pumped up to write when I’ve been researching something. I often find some odd Victorian fact which inspires me to envision a scene or a scrap of dialogue. Victorian fiction—especially classic novels like those by the Brontë sisters, Margaret Gaskell, or George Eliot—also inspires me and helps to get me in a certain frame of mind. As for music, though I love it, I can’t really listen to it when I’m writing. It’s too distracting. I have to have everything super quiet.
  Do you have a daily writing routine or schedule when you’re working on a novel? If so, what is it and how does this help you get the work done?
  I had to finish my latest non-fiction book, “A Victorian Lady’s Guide to Fashion and Beauty,” on a hard deadline. I was at my computer writing every day by one o’clock. I would then write straight through until dinner. For fiction I’m not so strict with myself. I write whenever the muse takes me. There are some days I can write thousands of words. Other days I only write a few hundred—or none. I aspire to be more disciplined (and more prolific), but life often gets in the way.
  Do you want to write another romance set in this time period? If so, what will you do differently or how do you want to grow or explore as a writer in a second book?
  I’ve got a few other novels set in the Victorian era that will be out over the next year or two. “The Viscount and the Vicar’s Daughter” is coming in January. I actually wrote it before I wrote “The Lost Letter.” Because of that, I’m not sure how much it will read as if I’ve grown as an author. It’s far less angst-ridden than “The Lost Letter” was. In fact, it reads more like a romp, with an impulsive, rakish hero and a prim heroine who can’t resist him. Following that, I have a much darker Victorian novel coming out (as yet untitled). It’s about an injured soldier in coastal Devon who places a matrimonial advertisement in a London newspaper. The woman who arrives on his doorstep is not quite what he was expecting. This novel allowed me to explore more sinister themes, including those relating to the legal power that Victorian men had over their wives and female relations.
  What has been inspiring you lately?
  I’ve recently been researching 19th century breach of promises cases. In many, the gentleman had written compromising letters to his betrothed before breaking their engagement. The jilted girl’s father then used the letters as evidence when bringing suit. I’m planning on using one of these old cases as a basis for a novella about a broken engagement which results in a breach of promise suit. I’ve already written the first five pages. We’ll see where they lead!
  If you could invite three people, living or dead, to a dinner party, who would they be and why?
  I’d like to say Queen Victoria would be on the list, but I actually think she’d put a damper on dinner conversation. The guests would be too intimidated to speak. Instead, I’d invite all three Brontë sisters, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne. They were three of the most talented authors of the Victorian era. I would love to hear their thoughts on life, love, and the business of writing.

• Happy Ever After - https://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/2017/09/19/mimi-matthews-interview-the-lost-letter/

  Interview: Mimi Matthews, author of ‘The Lost Letter’
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  By: Joyce Lamb | September 19, 2017 12:01 am

  Mimi Matthews
  Joyce: Welcome to HEA, Mimi! Please tell us a bit about your new release, The Lost Letter.
  Mimi: Hi, Joyce! My new novel, The Lost Letter, is a Beauty and the Beast-inspired Victorian love story. Set in England in 1860, it features an impoverished governess who is unexpectedly reunited with the now disfigured earl who broke her heart three years before. Both have been tragically altered by time and circumstance. And both believe they have lost their chance at a happily-ever-after. At its core, it’s a story of hardship, resiliency and a love that endured when all hope was gone.
  Joyce: What inspires your book ideas?
  Mimi: Anything and everything. However, the biggest source of inspiration for me comes from my research. It’s while researching for my non-fiction history projects that I discover interesting tidbits about things that happened in the Victorian era, many of which find their way into my stories. I also draw inspiration from 19th-century novels by authors like Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and the Brontë sisters. For The Lost Letter in particular, classic Victorian literature definitely played a role in shaping the flow and style of the story.
  Joyce: Do you write by the seat of your pants, or do you carefully plot your stories?
  Mimi: Unfortunately, I am more of a pantster than a plotter. My story ideas often start with a disconnected scene around which I end up building the rest of the novel. I’m not always sure where the story will end up. It’s usually the characters who show me the way. That said, I do try to plot just enough so that critical scenes happen at regular intervals in the story.
  Joyce: Would you like to share a favorite moment from your writing career?
  Mimi: I wrote my first book when I was just a teenager. It was a YA novel that ended up landing me an agent — the late, great Helen McGrath. I was only 18 when I signed the contract for her to represent me. It was one of the most exciting things that had ever happened to me. As a young person with no experience in the book industry (or with boilerplate language), the contract clause about film rights nearly sent me into a swoon. In the end, that YA novel didn’t sell, but Helen kept me under contract until the time of her death, many years later. After finishing college and law school, I finally wrote my next novel, but by that time, she was gone and I had to sign on with a new literary agent. That was exciting, too, but nothing could ever replicate the pulse-pounding feeling I had when I signed that first contract!
  Joyce: What activity interferes with your writing schedule?
  Mimi: Research is probably the biggest time suck when I’m writing. I may stop to research a particular fact for a novel and, next thing I know, it’s hours later and I’m immersed in some obscure corner of Victorian history. I also spend far too much time reading the news, reading my e-mails, reading tweets and — on occasion — even stopping to read a book.
  Joyce: Do you have a pet that hangs out with you while you’re working?

  Mimi’s cats and dogs are always supportive of her writing … well, some of them.
  Mimi: Always! I have two Shelties, two Siamese cats and an Andalusian horse. My horse doesn’t live in the house, thank goodness, but my dogs and cats are my constant companions while I’m writing. My elderly blue-point Siamese, Sapphire, often sleeps on my lap while I type, and my elderly Sheltie, Ash, usually sleeps at my feet. My younger cat, Marzipan, and my 7-month-old Sheltie puppy, Stella, are somewhat less supportive. They have better things to do than watch me write (or so they tell me).
  Joyce: What would be your dream vacation?
  Mimi: Reading a book on the beach at Hanalei Bay in Hawaii sounds pretty great right about now. It’s one of the most beautiful places on earth. England is another top vacation pick of mine. I was in Somerset many years ago to do some cross-country horseback riding. There was a little village there with a stone church and a shop that sold Cornish pasties. It was like falling through a time portal into the 19th century. For someone who loves Victorian history, it doesn’t get much better.
  Joyce: What are you working on now?
  Mimi: I write both historical non-fiction and Victorian romance, so I’m always working on something. I currently have three books coming out in quick succession. The first one is a non-fiction history book titled The Pug Who Bit Napoleon: Animal Tales of the 18th & 19th Centuries. It will be released by Pen & Sword Books (U.K.) on Nov. 30. My next non-fiction book, A Victorian Lady’s Guide to Fashion and Beauty, will be released by Pen & Sword in July of 2018. As for fiction, I’m very excited about my next Victorian romance novel, The Viscount and the Vicar’s Daughter. It should be released in early 2018.
  Joyce: Do you have anything to add?
  Mimi: Only a huge thank you to you for having me as a guest on the HEA blog! It’s been a real pleasure to stop by for a visit.
  Joyce: Thanks, Mimi!
  About The Lost Letter:
  A Proud Beauty
  Society beauty Sylvia Stafford is far too pragmatic to pine. When the tragic death of her gamester father leaves her destitute and alone, she finds work as a governess in a merchant’s household in Cheapside. Isolated from the fashionable acquaintance of her youth, she resigns herself to lonely spinsterhood…until a mysterious visitor convinces her to temporarily return to her former life—and her former love.
  A Scarred Beast
  Colonel Sebastian Conrad is no longer the dashing cavalry officer Sylvia once fell in love with. Badly scarred during the Sepoy Rebellion, he has withdrawn to his estate in rural Hertfordshire where he lives in near complete seclusion. Brooding and tormented, he cares nothing for the earldom he has inherited—and even less for the faithless beauty who rejected him three years before.
  A Second Chance
  A week together in the remote Victorian countryside is the last thing either of them ever wanted. But when fate intervenes to reunite them, will a beastly earl and an impoverished beauty finally find their happily ever after? Or are some fairy-tale endings simply not meant to be?
  About Mimi
  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 with both a Juris Doctor and a bachelor of arts in English literature. She resides in California with her family, which includes an Andalusian dressage horse, two Shelties and two Siamese cats.
  Find out more at www.mimimatthews.com.

The Pug Who Bit Napoleon: Animal Tales of the 18th & 19th Centuries

Joan Curbow
Booklist. 114.11 (Feb. 1, 2018): p14.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
The Pug Who Bit Napoleon: Animal Tales of the 18th & 19th Centuries. By Mimi Matthews. Feb. 2018.200p. illus. Casemate, paper, $19.95 (9781526705006). 907.
Matthews looks at history's pet lovers, some of whom were powerful and creative people. For example, Napoleon's Josephine had an ill-tempered pug who bit the emperor, while Alexander Pope's great dane once saved his life. Pope memorialized that dog in poetry; Lord Byron did the same for his beloved dog. One literary critic once surmised that Emily Bronte could not have written Wuthering Heights and that her bulldog must have channeled the novel. Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, doted on their respective dogs, and bloodhounds were trained to hunt Jack the Ripper. Cats also receive attention here, though in a more generic way; famous people seem not to leave as much documentary evidence about their felines. Many other creatures find their ways into these pages. A favorite donkey remembered his master years after the donkey was stolen. Sharks and alligators found their ways into the Thames River from time to time. Reproductions of animal paintings show how various dog breeds have evolved over time. Well-researched and heavily illustrated. --Joan Curbow
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Curbow, Joan. "The Pug Who Bit Napoleon: Animal Tales of the 18th & 19th Centuries." Booklist, 1 Feb. 2018, p. 14. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A527771755/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=9d96620c. Accessed 18 May 2018.

Gale Document Number: GALE|A527771755

Matthews, Mimi: THE VISCOUNT AND THE VICAR'S DAUGHTER

Kirkus Reviews. (Jan. 1, 2018):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Matthews, Mimi THE VISCOUNT AND THE VICAR'S DAUGHTER Perfectly Proper Press (Indie Fiction) $None 1, 23 ISBN: 978-0-9990364-3-3
An angel and a playboy find love in Matthews' (The Lost Letter, 2017, etc.) latest Victorian romance.
Valentine March is all alone in the world after the death of her father, a small-town English vicar. With few options, Valentine takes a position as a companion to the abominable Lady Brightwell. Despite some unattractive clothing and a lower social status, Valentine's beauty and innocence attract the attention of Tristan Sinclair, the infamous Viscount St. Ashton. When the love-struck couple are caught in a passionate kiss, the playboy swears off his life of gambling, brawling, and women and promises to make an honest woman of Valentine. But his father, the Earl of Lynden, has other ideas about his heir's future. He sends Tristan to his remote estate in Northumberland and, in a Cinderella moment, ascertains that Valentine is a woman of high breeding and connects her with her long-lost and wealthy family. Happily, the two lovers are determined to uphold their promises, though they both battle uncertainty regarding the other's true feelings. Despite a formulaic plot and predictable outcome, Matthews' tale hits all the high notes of a great romance novel. Valentine, the heroine, is a spunky underdog completely unaware of her own beauty and uninterested in material wealth. Tristan is a smoldering hunk of love, a bad boy with a soft heart who just wants someone to believe in him. Their mutual attraction is a joy to behold. But this romance is not a bodice-ripper. Except for a few steamy kisses, this is a rather chaste love story that focuses on emotions rather than sex scenes. Matthews is a polished writer who knows her genre and audience. Several scenes, as when Tristan swoops in to boot out Valentine's sleazy former suitor, are particularly entertaining and allow the Viscount to play the hero. "No one has ever stood up for me before," Valentine gasps. "You were magnificent." Cue the satisfied sighs of romance readers everywhere.
With an ending that is never in question, this tale offers the pleasant experience of simply enjoying a lighthearted frolic in the past.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Matthews, Mimi: THE VISCOUNT AND THE VICAR'S DAUGHTER." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Jan. 2018. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A520735676/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=95caa4c6. Accessed 18 May 2018.

Gale Document Number: GALE|A520735676

Matthews, Mimi. The Lost Letter: A Victorian Romance

Jennifer Rothschild
Xpress Reviews. (Sept. 15, 2017):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 Library Journals, LLC
http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/reviews/xpress/884170-289/xpress_reviews-first_look_at_new.html.csp
Full Text:
Matthews, Mimi. The Lost Letter: A Victorian Romance. Perfectly Proper. Sept. 2017. 204p. ebk. ISBN 9780999036402. $2.99. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
[DEBUT] In the three years since they spent time at a ball stealing kisses in the garden, life has changed dramatically for Sylvia Stafford and Sebastian Conrad. Then, she was the daughter of a baron, but after his suicide, she is now a governess in Cheapside. Sebastian was a second son and military officer, but he has returned from India, unexpectedly the Earl, and in self-exile owing to facial injuries he endured during the Sepoy Rebellion. Sebastian's sister Julia conspires to get the two back together, but there are deeper betrayals. Sylvia never received a reply to all the letters she sent him and is painfully aware of her reduced circumstances. Sebastian knows an earldom cancels out his new appearance, but Sylvia's rejection three years ago still stings. In this sweet romance, their preconceived notions of each other's past actions and current motivations create most of the conflict. With both characters frequently looking backward, Matthews keeps the plot moving quickly enough to prevent their chronic, almost willful misunderstandings from growing tedious.
Verdict A fast and emotionally satisfying read, with two characters finding the happily-ever-after on which they had understandably given up. A promising debut.--Jennifer Rothschild, Arlington PL., VA
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Rothschild, Jennifer. "Matthews, Mimi. The Lost Letter: A Victorian Romance." Xpress Reviews, 15 Sept. 2017. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A507658244/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=c1fdbeaa. Accessed 18 May 2018.

Gale Document Number: GALE|A507658244

Curbow, Joan. "The Pug Who Bit Napoleon: Animal Tales of the 18th & 19th Centuries." Booklist, 1 Feb. 2018, p. 14. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A527771755/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=9d96620c. Accessed 18 May 2018. "Matthews, Mimi: THE VISCOUNT AND THE VICAR'S DAUGHTER." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Jan. 2018. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A520735676/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=95caa4c6. Accessed 18 May 2018. Rothschild, Jennifer. "Matthews, Mimi. The Lost Letter: A Victorian Romance." Xpress Reviews, 15 Sept. 2017. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A507658244/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=c1fdbeaa. Accessed 18 May 2018.

• Minimac Reviews
  https://minimacreviews.wordpress.com/2017/09/21/book-review-the-lost-letter-by-mimi-matthews/
  Word count: 718

  #Book #Review: The Lost Letter by Mimi Matthews
  September 21, 2017 / MiniMac
  Okay, okay, I know I’ve said that I don’t enjoy romances but there is one major caveat to that statement. I have this horrible soft spot for certain period romances, and this Victorian beauty and the beast was just the ticket after a particularly hard day. Short and sweet with just enough steam to keep the pages turning, this is the perfect quick read with a tidy happy ending.

  Title: The Lost Letter
  Author: Mimi Matthews
  Publisher: Perfectly Proper Press
  Publication Date: September 19, 2017
  Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance
  Themes: Romance, Blackmail, Start-crossed lovers

  My Rating: 4/ 5

  Synopsis
  England, 1860. An impoverished Victorian beauty is unexpectedly reunited with the now beastly earl who once broke her heart. Will they finally find their happily ever after? Or are some fairy-tale endings simply not meant to be?
  A PROUD BEAUTY
  When the tragic death of her gamester father leaves her destitute and alone, society beauty Sylvia Stafford finds work as a governess in a merchant’s household in Cheapside. Isolated from the fashionable acquaintance of her youth, she resigns herself to lonely spinsterhood…until a mysterious visitor convinces her to temporarily return to her former life–and her former love.
  A SCARRED BEAST
  Colonel Sebastian Conrad is no longer the dashing cavalry officer Sylvia once fell in love with. Badly scarred during the Sepoy Rebellion, he has withdrawn to his estate in rural Hertfordshire where he lives in near complete seclusion. Brooding and tormented, he cares nothing for the earldom he has inherited–and even less for the faithless beauty who rejected him three years before.
  A SECOND CHANCE
  A week together in the remote Victorian countryside is the last thing either of them ever wanted. But when fate intervenes to reunite them, will a beastly earl and an impoverished beauty finally find their happily ever after? Or are some fairy-tale endings simply not meant to be?

  My Review
  This book hit me in all the mushy spots. First off, Sylvia is a book lover and a bit of a grafter despite the raw deal that she’s been handed, so I couldn’t help but love her. Then there’s Julia, who’s probably the most annoying little creature since Jane Austen’s Lydia, who is somehow still endearing and manages to steal the show. And then there’s Radcliff who manages to say all the wrong things at all the wrong times, jumps to conclusions, and who shouldn’t be left to stew in his dangerous imagination who manages to overcome his own delusions and stubbornness to become a terrific romantic hero.
  And lets face it, I’m a sucker for period costumes. The descriptions of the clothing and costumes in this book are so spot on it hurts. reading something like this so close to halloween for me is practically suicidal. I’ll be dreaming of nothing but gathered skirts, petticoats, and ribboned bonnets for days to come. But more than anything I love how the clothing symbolized the changes, moods, and station of every character in the book. I loved knowing what to expect from the descriptions, which is one of the most interesting foreshadowing techniques I have seen in a good long while.
  Finally, part of me really loves how creepy Radcliff was. Seriously though, lurking in the upstairs windows watching the ladies ride by? Getting jealous over a smile? Hello stalker! The sticking to the shadows was also a fun touch, and so was trolling the house at midnight. Broody, entitles, and ridiculously rich makes for a fun combination and it certainly kept me turning the pages even if Radcliff wasn’t intended to be the comic relief.
  Would I recommend this book? Heck yes! Grab your wine, chocolate, and scented candles because this baby deserves a little ambiance. I will be keeping this one on my beach reading list, and have no doubts that I will be revisiting it again in the not too distant future.

  Many thanks to Perfectly Proper Publishing for providing a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

• Kirkus Reviews
  https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/mimi-matthews/lost-letter1/
  Word count: 391

  THE LOST LETTER
  A Victorian Romance
  by Mimi Matthews
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  KIRKUS REVIEW
  In 19th-century England, a romance frustrated by circumstance struggles to begin anew.
  Sylvia Stafford’s father was an unrepentant gambler and lost the family fortune in a card game; ashamed, he took his own life, leaving Sylvia penniless, abandoned by fair-weather friends, and forced to take a position as a governess to survive. Before her drop in station, she’d begun a romance with Col. Sebastian Conrad, who was sent to India soon afterward to help put down a rebellion. Sebastian was badly wounded, his face horribly disfigured; when he returned to England, he learned that his father and brother died, leaving him in charge of the family estate as the Earl of Radcliffe. Surly and withdrawn, Sebastian now lives a lonely life; his meddling sister discovers that he still keeps a locket of hair given to him by Sylvia, so she conspires to bring her to his estate to revive his sagging spirits. Reluctantly, Sylvia agrees, but at first, the tension between her and Sebastian isn’t borne of rekindled love but rather deep resentment. Sylvia believes that Sebastian deserted her because he never responded to the numerous love letters she sent him. However, Sebastian, too, feels jilted; unbeknownst to Sylvia, those missives never arrived. Debut author Matthews adroitly captures the internal conflicts of her two main characters, particularly Sebastian’s mixed emotions: “He wanted to hate her. At the same time, much to his mortification, he wanted to grab hold of her, to pull her into his arms and cover her soft mouth with his.” Specifically, she shows how Sebastian harbors the suspicion that Sylvia is simply seeking to improve her own lot and how Sylvia believes that Sebastian is repulsed by her family’s sullied reputation. Although the overall story is somewhat formulaic—a love frustrated by mutual misunderstandings—the author’s prose is consistently refined and elegant, and she memorably builds the simmering attraction between Sylvia and Sebastian.
  A beautifully told, if not groundbreaking, historical love story.
  Pub Date: Sept. 19th, 2017
  Page count: 204pp
  Publisher: Perfectly Proper Press
  Program: Kirkus Indie
  Review Posted Online: July 28th, 2017

• Buried under Romance
  http://www.buriedunderromance.com/2017/08/arc-review-the-lost-letter-a-victorian-romance-by-mimi-matthews.html
  Word count: 1022

  ARC Review: The Lost Letter: A Victorian Romance by Mimi Matthews
  August 24, 2017 By AnnMarie Leave a Comment
  The Lost Letter: A Victorian Romance by Mimi Matthews
  on September 19th 2017
  Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo
  Goodreads
  A Proud Beauty
  Society beauty Sylvia Stafford is far too pragmatic to pine. When the tragic death of her gamester father leaves her destitute and alone, she finds work as a governess in a merchant’s household in Cheapside. Isolated from the fashionable acquaintance of her youth, she resigns herself to lonely spinsterhood…until a mysterious visitor convinces her to temporarily return to her former life—and her former love.
  A Scarred Beast
  Colonel Sebastian Conrad is no longer the dashing cavalry officer Sylvia once fell in love with. Badly scarred during the Sepoy Rebellion, he has withdrawn to his estate in rural Hertfordshire where he lives in near complete seclusion. Brooding and tormented, he cares nothing for the earldom he has inherited—and even less for the faithless beauty who rejected him three years before.
  A Second Chance
  A week together in the remote Victorian countryside is the last thing either of them ever wanted. But when fate intervenes to reunite them, will a beastly earl and an impoverished beauty finally find their happily ever after? Or are some fairy-tale endings simply not meant to be?
  ~~~~~

  ~~Reviewed by Amy~~
  I’m not much of risk taker when it comes to reading. I tend to stick to my tried and true favourite authors. But every once in a while, I get the courage to push the envelope a bit and pick an author I haven’t read. In this case, it paid off in spades and I now have a new author to add to my tried and true list.
  Sylvia Stafford had expected to marry once. During her season, she’d had several suitors. One she’d especially considered herself in love with. A dashing cavalry officer. But her father, a habitual gambler, had lost all they had and he had taken his own life. After her father’s death, Sylvia had been bustled back to the country. She’d never heard from friends or family again. And the dashing cavalry officer she’d thought had returned her affections, had never answered a single letter. Letters in which she had exposed her heart and revealed her true feelings. Now she was a governess to a merchant’s family. Poor as a church mouse and tainted by the scandal of her father.

  Colonel Sebastian Conrad, Earl of Radcliffe, had expected to return home from India. He had not expected to have his face nearly cleaved in two, leaving him scarred and sightless in one eye. He’d not expected to return to England to find his elder brother and his father dead, making him the new Earl. Nor had he expected to be rejected by the first and only woman he’d ever loved. Memories of Sylvia Stafford had helped him survive the horrors of war, but she’d never written to him and his letters to her had been returned. Bitter and overwrought, he’d become a recluse in his country estate in Hertfordshire.

  When Sebastian’s sister, Julia, tracks Sylvia down, begging her to return to Hertfordshire with her, Sylvia refused. But when Julia implied that Sebastian was so distraught, she feared he may take his life, Sylvia was compelled to go. She had loved him once and had thought he’d loved her. If her presence could alleviate some of his pain, she must go. But her reception upon arriving was not what she’d expected. Sebastian had not just changed physically. There was something primitive and dangerous about him now. In spite of that, Sylvia had to fight the urge to go to him and kiss him. But Sebastian didn’t want her there. He seemed intent on putting her in her place. Sebastian was angry with Sylvia. Her rejection had unmanned him. He wanted to punish her for it. Though her proud and vibrant exterior had been replaced with one more prim and respectful, she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. He wanted to hate her and at the same time, he wanted to take her in his arms. Though they were both scarred emotionally from the past and distrustful of each other, could they take the risk and accept the second chance that fate was offering?

  I’m a sucker for second chance romance. And if that romance includes a wounded hero and a vulnerable heroine, all the better. Sebastian and Sylvia were still virtually strangers. Though they’d fallen in love, in truth they’d only known each other a matter of weeks before being separated. In their three years apart, they’d become two very different people from two very different worlds. Their distrust of each other resulted from misunderstandings and family interference. I could understand their hesitance. They truly had no history together so I could identify with their wariness. Sylvia thought Sebastian didn’t care for her. That he was repelled by her father’s suicide and how brazen she’d been in her letters. Sebastian thought her only interest in him now was for his title. Why else would she want someone so disfigured? They were both deeply in love but had resigned themselves to a life of loneliness. I thoroughly enjoyed the efforts of Sebastian’s sister and valet in bringing these two together. Their conniving was amusing and brought a lightness to the story. I loved watching Sebastian and Sylvia’s relationship come full circle and truths slowly being revealed. The pacing of the entire story was delightful and made the ending that much more rewarding. And when Sebastian finally responded to Sylvia’s letter, I teared up. So romantic! A sweet, emotional, and hopeful story. I look forward to reading more from this author.
  I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers’ copy of this book.

• Caitlyn Lynch
  https://www.caitlynlynch.com/single-post/2018/01/23/Book-Review-The-Viscount-and-the-Vicars-Daughter-by-Mimi-Matthews
  Word count: 282

  Book Review: The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter by Mimi Matthews

  January 23, 2018
  |
  Caitlyn Lynch

  What’s a rake to do when all his vices have lost their appeal? Tristan Sinclair is tired of living up to everyone else’s low expectations. His father’s dour predictions have become something of a self-fulfilling prophecy; after all, if nobody expects you to do anything good, you might as well just be bad.

  Stumbling across a young woman sobbing her heart out in the woods, though, Tristan has no audience to play to, and he’s touched by her plight. He can’t quite get her out of his mind, even though he knows he has no business thinking of the shy little companion to the woman who’s determined to snare him in marriage.

  Getting caught in the conservatory with Miss Valentine March is a disaster for everyone concerned - Valentine is promptly dismissed by her employer and Tristan cut off by his disgusted father. Tristan, though, has finally found his conscience, and Valentine’s surprising belief in his ability to be a better man makes him determined to prove his father wrong.

  Perhaps the lesson is that sometimes, all it takes is one person to believe in you. Even if nobody else in the world has faith that you can achieve your dreams, just one person really can make all the difference.

  With that message at the core of the story, this is a really heart-warming romance. I was charmed by Valentine’s faith and Tristan’s determination, and very much believed in their romance. Five stars.

• Romantic Historical Reviews
  http://www.romantichistoricalreviews.com/virtual-tour-the-viscount-and-the-vicars-daughter-by-mimi-matthews/
  Word count: 1208

  25th January 2018
  25th January 2018
  Caz
  1

  Review by Em
  This is the second novel by Ms. Matthew’s that I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing for RHR, and I enjoyed this one every bit as much as her first (The Lost Letter). Unfortunately, despite my enjoyment, The Viscount and the Vicar’s Daughter suffers from much the same problem that plagued the earlier novel. After the author introduces two appealing primary characters and a compelling storyline (I was hooked right from the start) she rushes the plot and delivers a too-short story wherein everything feels slightly underdeveloped and unsatisfying. I’m not sure why Ms. Matthew’s books are quite so short – are they meant to be short stories? Novellas? – but her writing is strong and I wish I could have spent more time with this couple. TVatVD is lushly romantic and the premise compelling, but it’s too short.
  Valentine March, our heroine, was left to fend for herself after her father, a small-town English vicar, died. With no relatives willing to recognize her or take her in, Valentine was forced to find work to support herself. With the help of a local widower, she managed to secure a position as a paid companion to Lady Brightwell; she’s saving her earnings so that she might become a missionary and travel abroad.
  When TVatVD opens, Valentine has accompanied Lady Brightwell and her daughter to a weekend house party. The annual party is notorious for the both its scandalous guests and their debauched revelries, and Valentine is warned by household staff not to find herself alone with any of the gentlemen in attendance. With than in mind, she hides herself away to work on a series of illustrations made by her mother shortly before her death. But Lady Brightwell’s daughter interrupts her work and, in the midst of a tantrum, upends a bottle of ink all over the illustrations. Devastated, Valentine flees the house. Sobbing over the damage – a last link to her mother – she’s caught off guard when a handsome stranger steps into the folly and asks if he can help.
  Tristan Sinclair, Viscount St. Ashton, is dirty, tired and annoyed. After traveling on horseback for hours to arrive at a houseparty he doesn’t even want to attend, his groom has just informed him that his father, the Earl of Lynden – whom he’s successfully avoided until now – is waiting to speak to him. Knowing the earl would never willingly attend this particular houseparty, he suspects his father has arrived with an ultimatum of some sort. And frankly, after years of hard living, St. Ashton has hit rock bottom. None of the vices he’s enjoyed – drinking, gambling, women – bring pleasure anymore, and after two years hiding out in his London home, he knows he can no longer avoid his father or his duties as his heir. After taking a moment to gather himself before the coming discussion, he’s en route to the house when he hears a woman sobbing. He’s reluctant to intercede, but concerned someone might be hurt, so he follows the sounds to a nearby folly and discovers an angel in tears.
  Suspecting someone at the party has harassed her and since she’s clearly nervous at being alone with him, he only introduces himself as Tristan Sinclair – purposefully omitting his title. He is surprised by his attraction to the lovely young woman and slightly confused by her effect on him – but he’s enjoying their conversation and does his best to cheer her up. The couple enjoys a companionable few moments in the folly until they’re startled by the arrival of Tristan’s groom – who refers to him as Lord St. Ashton. Valentine has heard much gossip about St. Ashton – from the household staff (who like him) and Lady Brightwell, who hopes he’ll offer for her daughter at the end of the weekend – and she’s furious that he tried to disguise his identity… so she flees once again – leaving behind her ink stained illustration (which vaguely resembles something he can’t quite remember) in her haste.
  Ms. Matthews does a terrific job setting up our principals as strangers who fall for hard for each other during this much too short first meeting. In less capable hands the set-up would be less believable, but Ms. Matthews eloquently lights a spark and the chemistry between them is palpable right from the get-go. Their tantalizing interlude in the folly is enough for both of them to want more – but Valentine knows St. Ashton is an infamous rake, and sets her heart against him; while St. Ashton, forced to endure a humiliating interview with his father wherein he’s given an ultimatum to do his duty (marry and beget an heir) or be cut off, resigns himself to an engagement to Lady Brightwell’s daughter.
  Fortunately for us, neither Valentine or St. Ashton can deny how they feel whenever they’re together – and he’s determined to regain her favor and return her illustration. Shortly before dinner, when St. Ashton’s father appears to recognize Valentine and impetuously decides to stay on at the house party, Tristan is suspicious – but distracted by his overwhelming need to apologize to Valentine, so he follows her after she departs the dinner party. Their meeting, in the dark of the conservatory, is sweetly moving. Tristan, bewildered by his feelings for Valentine apologizes, and Valentine, unable to resist this version of St. Ashton – handsome, passionate and contrite – forgives him. One thing leads to another…and then they’re interrupted by Lady Brightwell and the Earl of Lynden in a compromising position.
  To Ms. Matthews’ credit, the narrative doesn’t quite unfold as predictably as you might imagine. Instead (and much to my dismay), once our principles are linked together, two parallel narratives move to the fore: one concerning Valentine’s past and the other to do with St. Ashton’s relationship with his father and actions after the ultimatum wherein he tries to redeem himself and prove he’s worthy of Valentine’s affections. The pair spends a significant amount of time apart and although I enjoyed the novel as a whole, it is at its best when they’re together. Valentine and St. Ashton are terrific contrasts – she’s a calming, sweet and earnest innocent while he’s a darkly handsome, suave and sexy reformed rake. I liked this match-up very much, although their physical relationship, chaste though passionate, begged for a bit more steam…
  After such a terrific set-up – three parallel narratives in play, and a compelling opposites attract pairing – Ms. Matthews relies on plot contrivances to deliver a happily ever after. And intriguing secondary characters – used to great effect to advance the various plotlines – are mostly ignored after they’ve served their limited purpose. These contrivances, missed opportunities, and most especially the largely off-the-page redemption of St. Ashton’s character, are why TVatVD only earns four stars. The writing, story and characters are strong and they deserved a longer length to fully develop.
  TVatVD is charming and romantic. I just wish it were longer.

• Roses are Blue
  https://rosesareblue.net/2018/01/26/review-the-viscount-and-the-vicars-daughter-by-mimi-matthews/
  Word count: 734

  Review – The Viscount and the Vicar’s Daughter by Mimi Matthews
  Posted on January 26, 2018
  by Rose Blue
  England, 1861. A world-weary rake and a prim vicar’s daughter are thrown together during a holiday house party. Will they discover there’s more to each other than meets the eye? Or will revelations from the past end their fragile romance before it begins?
  A WORLD-WEARY RAKE
  After years of unbridled debauchery, Tristan Sinclair, Viscount St. Ashton has hit proverbial rock bottom. Seeking to escape his melancholy, he takes refuge at one of Victorian society’s most notorious house parties. As the Christmas season approaches, he prepares to settle in for a month of heavy drinking…until an unexpected encounter changes his plans—and threatens his heart.
  A PRIM VICAR’S DAUGHTER
  Valentine March is not the drab little spinster she appears to be. When her new job as a lady’s companion lands her smack in the middle of Yorkshire with England’s most infamous rake, she resolves to keep her head down and her eyes fixed firmly on her future—a future which most definitely does not include a sinfully handsome viscount.
  A MATCH MADE IN SCANDAL
  A friendship is impossible. An affair out of the question. But when one reckless act binds them together, will two star-crossed souls discover there’s more to each other than meets the eye? Or will revelations from the past end their fragile romance before it begins?

  Click on title below for direct Amazon buy link: The Viscount and the Vicar’s Daughter: A Victorian Romance
  My Review:

  I received a complimentary copy of this book.
  Tristan Sinclair, Viscount St. Ashton, has discovered that his straitlaced father has followed him to a notorious house party, and has requested his immediate presence. In order to put off the meeting, which is bound to be another lecture, as long as possible, Tristan takes a stroll through the woods. As he is pondering his life, and wondering why he even attended this party, he hears a woman crying and is drawn to the heartbreaking sound.
  Recently orphaned Valentine March had to seek employment upon her father’s death, and is now companion to Lady Brightwell. She has sought solitude to cry out her anger and sorrow over the cruel actions of Lady Brightwell’s daughter. The spoiled and temperamental young lady blatantly destroyed a series of drawings done by Valentine’s deceased mother. The beautiful pictures and handwritten scripture were all that Valentine had left of the mother she never knew, and she is devastated.
  Tristan immediately recognizes from Valentine’s attire that she is probably a companion. Without revealing his identity, he warns her about the lewd activity that will occur during the house party, and urges her to be cautious. After lending Valentine his handkerchief, he returns to the house to face his father. The earl is very unhappy with his son and heir, Tristan, and the way he’s chosen to live his life for the last decade. Little does he know, but the gambling and womanizing has all but lost its appeal for Tristan, who has mostly turned away from those pursuits. The earl decides to stop paying his son’s bills, and requires that he make his own living from an estate he owns in the remote country.
  During the party, which turns out to be very tame, thanks to the presence of the earl, Tristan finds that he is more entranced with Valentine every time they meet. It seems that the notorious rake has finally succumbed to love, something he never thought possible. When a shared kiss leads to their being compromised, Tristan dutifully proposes. But his father, and fate, have other ideas.
  As Tristan and Val try to determine what path their future should take, their respective families are all too eager to interfere. Tristan truly wants to marry Val, and he is buoyed by the fact that she believes in him when no one else ever has. Val also wants to marry Tristan, but not if it will destroy his future. THE VISCOUNT AND THE VICAR’S DAUGHTER is a well written and romantic story of two lost souls who find love and redemption together though the odds seem stacked against them. ~Rose

• Princess Liselotte
  https://princessliselotte.com/2018/05/14/review-the-pug-who-bit-napoleon-animal-tales-of-the-18th-19th-centuries-by-mimi-matthews/
  Word count: 502

  Review: the Pug who bit Napoleon animal tales of the 18th & 19th centuries by Mimi Matthews

  14/05/2018
  by Liselotte

  How can you read this title and NOT want to read this book? I love most animals, I’m also afraid of a lot, but who doesn’t like a good animal story!
  From elaborate Victorian cat funerals to a Regency era pony who took a ride in a hot air balloon, Mimi Matthews shares some of the quirkiest and most poignant animal tales of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
  Meet Fortune, the Pug who bit Napoleon on his wedding night, and Looty, the Pekingese sleeve dog who was presented to Queen Victoria after the 1860 sacking of the Summer Palace in Peking. The four-legged friends of Lord Byron, Emily Brontë, and Prince Albert also make an appearance, as do the treasured pets of Alexander Pope, Samuel Johnson, and Charles Dickens.
  Less famous, but no less fascinating, are the animals that were the subject of historical lawsuits, scandals, and public curiosity. There’s Tuppy, the purloined pet donkey; Biddy, the regimental chicken; and Barnaby and Burgho, the bloodhounds hired to hunt Jack the Ripper. Wild animals also get a mention in tales that encompass everything from field mice and foxes to alligators and sharks lurking in the Thames.
  Using research from eighteenth and nineteenth century books, letters, journals, and newspapers, Mimi Matthews brings each animal’s unique history to vivid life.The details are sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking, but the stories are never anything less than fascinating reading for animal lovers of all ages.
  This is a really, really fun read! I finished it in about 2 settings, which really says something. The stories are divided by animal species. The stories are really short, but interesting and are accompanied by paintings from the same era, which gives a really nice touch. Some of the paintings were too big to put on a page, so the horizontal artwork has been cropped to fit the page, instead of turning it on it’s side to cover the whole page so we can actually see it. A slight shame!
  My only downside to this book is that there were a lot of dog stories and they were almost all individual dog stories. I’m not a dog person, but all the other stories didn’t have that, they were more collective stories instead of individual stories, which I felt like it was a real shame.
  A slight warning though: Some of the stories are really sad!! So if you just lost a beloved pet, I wouldn’t read this, I even cried at the dog section and, again, I’m not even a dog person!
  This is a great, fun little book which I highly recommend if you are an animal person or if you are interesting in 18th and 19th century history. Definitely a book that shouldn’t be missed on your bookshelves!

• Rosie Writes…
  https://rosemariecawkwell.wordpress.com/2018/02/12/bonus-review-3-the-pug-who-bit-napoleon-by-mimi-matthews/
  Word count: 474

  Published By: Pen & Sword History
  Publication Date: 11th December 2017
  Format: Paperback
  I.S.B.N.: 9781526705006
  Price: £14.99

  Blurb
  From elaborate Victorian cat funerals to a Regency era pony who took a ride in a hot air balloon, Mimi Matthews shares some of the quirkiest—and most poignant—animal tales of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
  Meet Fortune, the Pug who bit Napoleon on his wedding night, and Looty, the Pekingese sleeve dog who was presented to Queen Victoria after the 1860 sacking of the Summer Palace in Peking. The four-legged friends of Lord Byron, Emily Brontë, and Prince Albert also make an appearance, as do the treasured pets of Alexander Pope, Samuel Johnson, and Charles Dickens.
  Less famous, but no less fascinating, are the animals that were the subject of historical lawsuits, scandals, and public curiosity. There’s Tuppy, the purloined pet donkey; Biddy, the regimental chicken; and Barnaby and Burgho, the bloodhounds hired to hunt Jack the Ripper. Wild animals also get a mention in tales that encompass everything from field mice and foxes to alligators and sharks lurking in the Thames.
  Using research from eighteenth and nineteenth century books, letters, and newspapers, Mimi Matthews brings each animal’s unique history to vivid life. The details are sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking, but the stories are never anything less than fascinating reading for animal lovers of all ages.

  My Review
  I’m spoiling you, and me for that matter. I’ve had a pleasant afternoon snuggled under my nice thick, crocheted blanket, my hounds on my legs, reading this lovely, lavishly illustrated book. The stories really take second place to the wonderful reproductions of famous and not-so-famous paintings of animals from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The lives of a variety of animals are written using primary and secondary sources, especially the letters of their humans and those paid to memorialise them in paint.
  This is not an information dense book, but it does provide a different angle to look at the 18th and 19th centuries. People known for their art, literary or political achievements are seen through different eyes. Empress Josephine’s adored pug, Fortune, helped smuggle letters into and out of her prison cell when she was still Madame Josephine de Beauharnaise, Two years after her husband was murdered in the Terror, Fortune earned Napoleon Bonaparte’s endless enmity, by biting the man on his calf on their wedding night. Lord Byron treasured his Newfoundland, Boatswain, to the point that he wanted to be interred with the dog. Emily Bronte went everywhere with her bulldog and her fondness for the creature was used to explain how a quiet parson’s daughter could possibly write her untamed fictions.
  Well-written and engaging, a must for the animal lover
  4/5

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