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Goodreads says, "A London heiress rides out to the wilds of the English countryside to honor a marriage of convenience with a mysterious and reclusive stranger. Tall, dark, and dour, the notorious Captain Jasper Blunt was once hailed a military hero, but tales abound of his bastard children and his haunted estate in Yorkshire. What he requires now is a rich wife to ornament his isolated ruin, and he has his sights set on the enchanting Julia Wychwood. For Julia, an incurable romantic cursed with a crippling social anxiety, navigating a London ballroom is absolute torture. The only time Julia feels any degree of confidence is when she’s on her horse. Unfortunately, a young lady can’t spend the whole of her life in the saddle, so Julia makes an impetuous decision to take her future by the reins—she proposes to Captain Blunt. In exchange for her dowry and her hand, Jasper must promise to grant her freedom to do as she pleases. To ride—and to read—as much as she likes without masculine interference. He readily agrees to her conditions, with one provision of his own: Julia is forbidden from going into the tower rooms of his estate and snooping around his affairs. But the more she learns of the beastly former hero, the more intrigued she becomes…"
Julia Wychwood is a homebody. She doesn't have any desire to attend every ball in London, much to her controlling parents' dismay. Julia is more content with riding her horse and reading novels at home; in fact, anything else makes her seriously anxious. Enter Captain Jasper Blunt, a war hero, with a reputation that precedes itself. One might think that a war hero's reputation would be unsullied, but what he is known for isn't good. Japser finds himself in a predicament though. His estate is rundown and he can't afford the upkeep. Like many British estate owners, he is looking for an heiress to be the solution to his problems and he has his sights set on Julia. When they meet, she realizes his reputation isn't great, but he is perfectly nice to her. What is she missing? To make matters worse, her father refuses to let her spend time with him. He would rather she be at home to tend to his many ailments. Once her parents show they truly don't care about her happiness, she realizes that Jasper may be her only escape. They obviously can both benefit from a marriage of convenience, but can they actually make it work? More importantly, what secrets is Jasper hiding? The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews is book two in the Belles of London series and it doesn't disappoint.
I really liked Julia in The Belle of Belgrave Square and felt for her. Her social anxiety is very difficult for her to deal with; plus, her parents force her into social situations she isn't comfortable with. Also, living with her parents has been a nightmare. They are hypochondriacs and narcissists, so this obviously has impacted Julia's world. Her only respite is riding her horse and her novels. When things get really bad at home, she thinks that maybe there is something to Captain Jasper Blunt's offer of marriage. He needs money to support his crumbling estate and she needs to get out of the grasping clutches of her parents, who clearly only want her around as a nursemaid.
I also really liked Jasper in The Belle of Belgrave Square. This novel is inspired by Beauty and the Beast and he is the perfect Beast. I really enjoyed a lot of the similarities to one of my favorite fairy tales. But this book is more than just a fluffy cross-class romance. There's a mystery that kept me flipping the pages, especially when it deals with Jasper's past as well as the secrets in his estate. Even though marriage of convenience stories have been done over and over, I feel Matthews made this one fresh and fun.
If you enjoy compelling historical romances and are a fan of Bridgerton, pick up The Belle of Belgrave Square.
Even though it's book two in the series, it can be read as a
stand-alone; in fact, I liked this book a tad more than the first, The Siren of Sussex.
So, are you a fan of Mimi Matthews? Is The Belle of Belgrave Square on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Giveaway:
I feel like I can really relate to Julia!
ReplyDeleteYes, me too! It was a good read for sure. I think you'd like it! Thanks for visiting, Angela!
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