Blog Tour: Gentleman Jim by Mimi Matthews

 

Pages: 376

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction/Romance

Pub. Date: November 10, 2020

Publisher: Perfectly Proper

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

 

Goodreads says, "She couldn’t forget…Wealthy squire’s daughter Margaret Honeywell was always meant to marry her neighbor, Frederick Burton-Smythe, but it’s bastard-born Nicholas Seaton who has her heart. Raised alongside her on her father’s estate, Nicholas is the rumored son of notorious highwayman Gentleman Jim. When Fred frames him for theft, Nicholas escapes into the night, vowing to find his legendary sire. But Nicholas never returns. A decade later, he’s long been presumed dead.  He wouldn’t forgive…  After years spent on the continent, John Beresford, Viscount St. Clare has finally come home to England. Tall, blond, and dangerous, he’s on a mission to restore his family’s honor. If he can mete out a bit of revenge along the way, so much the better. But he hasn’t reckoned for Maggie Honeywell. She’s bold and beautiful—and entirely convinced he’s someone else.   As danger closes in, St. Clare is torn between love and vengeance. Will he sacrifice one to gain the other? Or with a little luck—and a lot of daring—will he find a way to have them both?"

 

 

 

Growing up, Maggie Honeywell wasn't your typical female member of British high society.  She loved to ride, hunt, and spend time with her best friend and first love, Nicholas. That all changed when Nicholas, the stable boy, left when wrongly accused of theft and was never seen again. It was hard for Maggie to overcome this great loss and then her father died leaving her penniless and under the control of Frederick, who not only now controls Maggie, but her father's will and Beasley Park where she grew up.  Now Maggie is twenty six, which for 1817, means she is a spinster.  She realizes that in order to keep Beasley Park, she must marry the odious Fred as he isn't giving her much choice. World on the street is that Fred got into a little trouble last night.  He challenged Viscount St. Clare, who is known to have a great shot, over a card game snafu.  What will happen to Maggie's estate if Frederick dies? Who will inherit Beasley Park? After trying to talk Fred out of a duel and him not agreeing, she is determined to speak to Viscount St. Clare, who is new to London after being abroad for many years.  She knows this isn't exactly proper, but her inheritance is at stake.  After meeting with St. Clare, Maggie's life changes forever and readers are taken on an exciting tale of revenge and romance in Gentleman Jim by Mimi Matthews.

My heart went out to Maggie after all she's been through in Gentleman Jim.  I hated that she was controlled by Fred and couldn't just inherit her father's estate outright.  I was feeling frustration for her, especially when dealing with Fred as he is a major pain.  The truth is, Maggie never really got over her love for Nicholas and she would have ran away with him, but he was a stable boy and she was being groomed for high society.  She ended up receiving many marriage offers, but denied them all. She always held out hope that Nicholas would return for her, but tragically he never did.

St. Clare is also an equally interesting character in Gentleman Jim. He seems like the dreamy newcomer to town whose mysterious background leaves a few questions up in the air, but he is so much more than that. I thoroughly enjoyed the witty banter and moments between Maggie and St. Clare.  I don't want to give too much away, but it was all very well done and he is a swoon-worthy hero for sure.

I really enjoyed every aspect of Gentleman Jim; it was just the kind of Regency romance that I needed.  Matthews says at the end of the novel that The Count of Monte Cristo inspired this story and I wholeheartedly agree; I adored some of the similarities. There's highway men, inheritance issues, romance, a mysterious identity, revenge, fancy balls, stolen kisses, duels, and of course, the controlling Fred constantly trying to throw a wrench in Maggie's plans. If you love a good Regency tale and are a Janeite, you won't want to miss Gentleman Jim; it would be the perfect book to curl up with this holiday season.

So, are you a fan of the Regency time period or are you a Janeite? Is Gentleman Jim book on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.