Goodreads says, "Victorian high society’s most daring equestrienne finds love and an unexpected ally in her fight for independence in the strong arms of London’s most sought after and devastatingly handsome half-Indian tailor. Evelyn Maltravers understands exactly how little she’s worth on the marriage mart. As an incurable bluestocking from a family tumbling swiftly toward ruin, she knows she’ll never make a match in a ballroom. Her only hope is to distinguish herself by making the biggest splash in the one sphere she excels: on horseback. In haute couture. But to truly capture London’s attention she’ll need a habit-maker who’s not afraid to take risks with his designs—and with his heart. Half-Indian tailor Ahmad Malik has always had a talent for making women beautiful, inching his way toward recognition by designing riding habits for Rotten Row’s infamous Pretty Horsebreakers—but no one compares to Evelyn. Her unbridled spirit enchants him, awakening a depth of feeling he never thought possible. But pushing boundaries comes at a cost and not everyone is pleased to welcome Evelyn and Ahmad into fashionable society. With obstacles spanning between them, the indomitable pair must decide which hurdles they can jump and what matters most: making their mark or following their hearts?"
Evelyn's future isn't looking to promising. Her family is in a state of ruin leaving her and her prospects pretty grim. Her only way out of this is to find a good match, but she has a reputation of being a bluestocking, so that's another issue holding her back. Plus, Evelyn really doesn't have much going for her other than her equestrian skills, so she hires a tailor to make her a riding habit that will garner a lot of attention from all the right people. The tailor is Ahmad Malik, an up and coming young dressmaker. He takes on Evelyn's order even though he is confused by her lack of escort as well as her behavior. However, one thing is for sure, he can't stop thinking about her. The more time Evelyn spends with Ahmad the more she can't deny the spark the two share despite the challenges their romance would face. As the story progresses, many obstacles do impact these outsiders, so they ban together to face a common enemy who is trying to destroy Ahmad's career. All the while, readers are hoping they also find love. The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews is a promising start to a new historical rom-com series, Belles of London.
Evelyn is the kind of protagonist that I love to read about in The Siren of Sussex. She is independent, strong, interesting, and loyal. Her family's circumstances tugged on my heartstrings and all the challenges facing her made me root for her even more. I loved following her romance with Ahmad and appreciated how it slowly morphed into something more. They have more in common than not despite their differences and I liked how they supported each other.
Obviously, Ahmad faces racial prejudices in society as he is half-Indian and half-English. Evelyn also experiences some prejudices from high society as her family has a scandal attached to their name, so both characters, in a way, are on the outskirts of society. Evelyn is working hard to reverse the path that her older sister forged, but it's been difficult as society talks. Also, Ahmad would like to break free from the job he's at and actually own the dress shop, but he is finding challenges around every corner including a major one from Lady Heatherton who is set on taking advantage of him.
I really liked how Matthews brought the time period of Victorian England to life in The Siren of Sussex. She covered a lot of interesting topics of the time period such as the occult, high fashion, aspects of feminism, racial prejudices, as well highlighting interracial relationships, which, quite honestly, we need more of in historical fiction. Also, fans of horseback riding will especially appreciate the details surrounding this impressive sport as this plays a major role in The Siren of Sussex.
So, if you are looking for a book to hold you off until a new season of Bridgerton begins, check out The Siren of Sussex. It's the start to such a delightful new series that I most definitely plan on continuing with as book two, The Belle of Belgrave Square, focuses on my favorite secondary character, Julia, and is due out in October.
Have you read The Siren of Sussex? Are you a fan of Mimi Matthews? Let me know in the comments below.
You can purchase your own copy of The Siren of Sussex at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository, and Bookshop. Also, you can learn more about Mimi Matthews by visiting her website and connecting with her on Twitter and Facebook.
The Giveaway:
- Signed copy of The Siren of Sussex
- Horse scarf
- Pewter sidesaddle brooch (made in Sussex, England)
- The Siren of Sussex tote bag
- Three candles in scents: Fresh Hay, New Saddle, and Winter Ride
- Box of Ahmad Tea (60 count, assorted flavors)
- The Siren of Sussex bookmark
Sounds like there are so many things to love about this book!
ReplyDeleteYes, definitely if you enjoy historical rom-coms. Thanks for visiting, Angela!
DeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts, Christina. I also thought that Mimi did a great job of brining this era in Victorian history to life. I am looking forward to the second book in the series, The Belle of Belgrave Square in October.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Laurel! I look forward to reading it. Thanks for visiting!
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