I’m celebrating Belle’s release day Julia Wychwood-style with a sensation romance and a huge box of chocolates!
Copyright Ⓒ 2022 by Mimi Matthews
My Beauty and the Beast inspired Victorian romance novel The Belle of Belgrave Square (Belles of London, Book 2) is out today from Berkley/Penguin Random House! To celebrate, I’m giving away a signed, personally annotated paperback copy of the novel. There’s also a book tour, a bonus giveaway for international readers, and other special treats!
Belle is the story of bookish Victorian equestrienne Julia Wychwood. Cursed by a crippling social anxiety, Julia’s never felt at home in fashionable society. When not riding her horse, the only place she truly feels alive is in the pages of a book. Julia devours sensation novels (thrilling tales filled with sinister secrets, locked rooms, and an ever-present sense of danger). Little does she know, her own life—and that of Captain Jasper Blunt, the mysterious, battle-scarred soldier who enters it—will soon be as exciting as any story!
A PopSugar Best Book of 2022
A BookBub Best Romance of 2022
A Bookish Most Anticipated Book of October
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…
Find out more or Read an Excerpt
Order Today
ebook: $10.99; paperback: 16.00; audiobook: $31.50
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple | Google | Books A Million | IndieBound | Penguin Random House
Praise for The Belle of Belgrave Square
“A grand cross-class romance, a twisty mystery, and emotional internal struggles combine to excellent effect in Matthews’s effervescent second Belles of London romance.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review“Matthews’s second installment in the ‘Belles of London’ series combines deception, risk, and a resourceful heroine to create an intoxicating, suspenseful romance. Highly recommended.”
—Library Journal, starred review““Irresistible… The feel of a story from Heyer or even Austen. A swoony Victorian romance that celebrates the genre.”
—Kirkus Reviews“Mimi Matthews never disappoints, with richly drawn characters and couples whose individual shortcomings become strengths, when paired together.”
—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author“Such tremendous good fun: a heroine with a big horse, an even bigger novel-reading habit, and a hidden anxiety; a hero with a crumbling estate, a trio of wary children, and a literary secret—what’s not to love?”
—Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author“Romantic, well-researched and intriguing…If you love bookish people, this book is for you.”
—All About Romance (Desert Isle Keeper)
The Belle of Belgrave Square: U.S. Giveaway
This giveaway is for one signed, personally annotated paperback copy of The Belle of Belgrave Square. It’s open exclusively to readers residing in the United States. The giveaway runs through October 30, 2022. The winner will be notified via email.
Terms & Conditions:
Giveaway hosted by Mimi Matthews. No Purchase Necessary. Entrants must be 18 years or older. Open to US residents only. Void where prohibited.
The Belle of Belgrave Square: International Giveaway
This giveaway is for one signed paperback copy of The Belle of Belgrave Square. It’s open exclusively to International readers. The giveaway runs through October 30, 2022. The winner will be notified via email.
Giveaway hosted by Mimi Matthews. No Purchase Necessary. Entrants must be 18 years or older. Open to International residents only. Void where prohibited.
Virtual Book Tour
The Belle of Belgrave Square is on tour with Austenprose! Follow along at the stops below for reviews, spotlights, excerpts, and interviews. The tour runs through October 23rd.
- Oct 03 Always with a Book (Excerpt)
- Oct 03 Amanda’s Book Corner (Review)
- Oct 03 Books and Socks Rock (Review)
- Oct 03 Hiding in the Pages (Review)
- Oct 04 The Quill Ink (Review)
- Oct 04 Books, Writing & More (Review)
- Oct 04 Amy’s Booket List (Review)
- Oct 04 Reading Ladies Book Club (Review)
- Oct 05 The Reading Frenzy (Review)
- Oct 05 Reading Reality (Review)
- Oct 05 Rosanne Lortz (Review)
- Oct 06 Gwendalyn’s Books (Review)
- Oct 06 Reading is My Superpower (Review)
- Oct 06 Lady with a Quill (Review)
- Oct 07 The Bookish Bird (Review)
- Oct 07 History Lizzie (Review)
- Oct 07 Rendzvous with Reading (Review)
- Oct 08 Heidi Reads (Review)
- Oct 08 Book Talk & More (Review)
- Oct 08 Read with Princess 1204 (Review)
- Oct 09 The Green Mockingbird (Review)
- Oct 09 A Proper Reader (Review)
- Oct 09 Charlotte Brentwood (Review)
- Oct 09 A Darn Good Read (Review)
- Oct 10 The Readathon (Review)
- Oct 10 Eleanor Lynn (Review)
- Oct 10 Austenesque Reviews (Review)
- Oct 10 Reading with Emily (Review)
- Oct 10 Jocelyne Reads Romance (Review)
- Oct 11 All About Romance (Interview)
- Oct 11 Let Molly Read (Review)
- Oct 11 Getting Your Read On (Review)
- Oct 11 The Culturess (Interview)
- Oct 11 Calico Critic (Review)
- Oct 12 Christian Chick’s Thoughts (Review)
- Oct 12 Between the Lines (Review)
- Oct 12 The Bashful Bookworm (Review)
- Oct 12 Books, Teacups & Review (Review)
- Oct 13 What’s that Book About (Excerpt)
- Oct 13 All the Lovely Pages (Review)
- Oct 13 All of a Kind Mom (Review)
- Oct 13 Bookmarkingit (Review)
- Oct 14 Bringing Up Books (Review)
- Oct 14 Wishful Endings (Review)
- Oct 14 Confessions of a Book Addict (Review)
- Oct 15 Novel Kicks (Excerpt)
- Oct 15 Eli’s Novel Reviews (Review)
- Oct 15 A Girl Reads Books (Review)
- Oct 15 Wilde Book Garden (Review)
- Oct 16 Becky on Books (Review)
- Oct 16 Bonnie Reads and Writes (Review)
- Oct 16 Robin Loves Reading (Review)
- Oct 17 Nurse Bookie (Review)
- Oct 17 From Pemberley to Milton (Review)
- Oct 17 Beauty’s Library Book Blog (Review)
- Oct 17 Literary Time Out (Review)
- Oct 17 Lis Loves Reading (Review)
- Oct 18 BooknAround (Review)
- Oct 18 Greenish Bookshelf (Review)
- Oct 18 Novels Alive (Review)
- Oct 18 Celtic Lady Reviews (Excerpt)
- Oct 18 A Bookish Way of Life (Review)
- Oct 19 Melissa’s Bookshelf (Review)
- Oct 19 The Lit Bitch (Review)
- Oct 19 One Book More (Review)
- Oct 20 Furr the Love of Reading (Review)
- Oct 20 Bookworm Lisa (Review)
- Oct 20 Captivated Reading (Review)
- Oct 20 Roaming the Pages (Review)
- Oct 21 Library of Clean Reads (Review)
- Oct 21 Tar Heel Reader (Review)
- Oct 21 Birdhouse Books (Review)
- Oct 21 Laura’s Reviews (Review)
- Oct 22 Stacy’s Books (Review)
- Oct 22 The Christian Fiction Girl (Review)
- Oct 22 CozyNookBooks (Review)
- Oct 23 The Literature Chick Book Blog (Review)
- Oct 23 The Contented Reader (Review)
- Oct 23 Inkwell Inspirations (Review)
- Oct 23 Lu’s Reviews (Review)
- Oct 23 The Grateful Reader (Review)
FAQ
Q: Is this a “clean” romance?
A: The Belle of Belgrave Square is a “closed door” romance. This means there is no sex on the page. There is, however, plenty of emotional passion.
Q: Do you have to read the first book in the series to understand this story?
A: Not at all! Belle works perfectly well as a standalone story.
Q: Are any of the characters from your Parish Orphans of Devon series in this novel?
A: Yes! Tom and Jenny Finchley from A Modest Independence (Parish Orphans of Devon, Book 2) appear in this story.
A Few Extra Goodies
The Belle of Belgrave Square Pinterest Board
Want to see some of the visuals that inspired me while I was writing this story (including who I’d cast in each of the roles)? Click through to the Pinterest Board! 
My article on the Enduring Appeal of Victorian Sensation Novels
If you’d like to learn more about the Victorian-era inspiration for The Belle of Belgrave Square, check out my article at Women Writers, Women’s Books! No spoilers, only lots of literary context.
My Andalusian Horses
The Belles of London was inspired by my own love of horses and riding. Click through to learn more about my late Andalusian dressage horse, Centelleo, who was my muse for the series. You can also learn about my new Andalusian filly, Asteria!
If you purchase a copy of The Belle of Belgrave Square (or any of my books!), please do stop by my Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram page and let me know so that I can thank you personally. And please don’t forget to leave a review at Goodreads and/or Amazon. I truly hope you all enjoy Julia and Captain Blunt’s love story!
Available Now
The Belle of Belgrave Square
(Belles of London, Book 2)
A PopSugar and BookBub Best Romance of 2022
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…
Find out more or Read an Excerpt
Order Today
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple | Google
“Shiveringly Gothic.”
—New York Times Book Review“Mimi Matthews never disappoints.”
—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author“Such tremendous good fun.”
—Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author“A grand cross-class romance.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review“An intoxicating, suspenseful romance.”
—Library Journal, starred review
© 2015-2023 Mimi Matthews
Join Mimi’s Newsletter
For exclusive information on upcoming book releases, giveaways, and other special treats, subscribe to THE PENNY NOT SO DREADFUL.
You can also connect with Mimi on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and in her private FB group The Victorian Reading Room.
