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It doesn’t happen often, but on occasion titles make it to our list and we have no recollection, or searchable means of remembering how that happened.  The Siren of Sussex (Belles of London #1) by Mimi Matthews is one of those titles.  Readers should know I adore a historical romance, and Ashley will occasionally pick one up.  I for one am so glad we read this title, and very much looking forward to the follow up, which shocking no one, is in my holds list! 

The Siren of Sussex (Belles of London #1) is the first book in a series about a group of accidental friends.  These ladies all struggle in the ton’s ballrooms for one reason or another, and much prefer to be in the saddle, hence the gorgeous cover art.  In The Sirens of Sussex, Evelyn has come to London for a season to save her younger sisters by making a good match, but like any good bluestocking, is taking control of her destiny!  She’s done her research, thoughtfully considered her options, and knows she needs the help of the best habit maker in London to have any hope of achieving the type of marriage she aspires to – one that can set her up to help her sisters also make good matches.  While this is 100% a romance novel, there are also notes of found family, class struggles, immigrants, beauty, the power of being seen, and being true to oneself, oh, and spiritualists trying to commune with the dead (not in the marketing copy, but a super fun addition).  

I’m giving 3.5 stars to The Siren of Sussex and rounding up to 4 because it’s gorgeously written with lush descriptions and witty dialogue.  While it was a fun hang of a title and tackled some interesting historical (and all too current) societal struggles, I am not likely to reread it, even prior to reading the other three in the series.  This is a fun palate cleanser, and I’m definitely interested in more from Matthews.  

What’s a book that has a fun cover and you thoroughly enjoyed?

~Nikki 

Mimi Matthews is our second attorney turned author this month (Marie Benedict) and the sixth (Chanel Cleeton, Alex George, Dierdre Mask, and Rachel Rodgers) on the blog. I struggle with balancing my life as a real estate broker, a family life with no kids, volunteering, and a blog reading and writing schedule – how do these people take on all of those things plus being published authors? Matthews in particular is the author of 20 separate works of fiction and nonfiction, mostly Victorian romances. Her books have hit numerous Best of Lists and been translated into eight languages. Matthews lives in California with her family which includes a retired Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats.

The Siren of Sussex (Belles of London #1), as I shall remind Nikki, came to be on our collective TBR because it was included in a Goodreads upcoming books list in 2023. There were several books that jumped onto the library holds at that time, some of which are still hanging out there. At the time I added it to my library holds, I thought the cover was gorgeous and the premise was diverse and different compared to most romances set in Victorian England. A lady who falls in love with her Indian tailor/dressmaker, sign me up! The dual points of view were so helpful especially when Matthews explains the class difference and backgrounds of the two main characters. The tension of them fighting against their almost immediate, arduous feelings for each other was delicious in the best way. Evelyn and Ahmad hide their desire from each other by leaning on propriety, and everything remains proper until there’s a declaration of feelings. Feelings only lead to kisses and figuring out how marriage will work between this independent minded woman from the country and an immigrant from the subcontinent colony.

The plot, writing, characters, and diversity of The Siren of Sussex did not disappoint. I was, as usual, hoping for a little higher on the spice scale for my romances, but the tension was satisfactory enough. Any spice might have made the premise unbelievable. I am giving Siren a solid 3 stars for meets expectations. I could be persuaded to read the next books in the series, but I don’t think I would put them on my TBR on purpose like I did with Siren.

Is there a book where an ‘author testimonial’ persuaded you to pick it up? (See the Evie Dunmore quote on the front of Siren that says: “Unflinching, tender, and moving.”)

~Ashley

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