Mimi MatthewsMimi Matthews

The Belle of Belgrave Square

Book 2: Belles of London

About the Book

A PopSugar Best Book of 2022
A BookBub Best Romance of 2022
A Bookish Most Anticipated Book of October

“Shiveringly Gothic.”—New York Times Book Review

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…

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Audiobook

This book is also available on audiobook from the following booksellers:

Narrator: Ell Potter and Sebastian Brown
Format: Unabridged
Runtime: 12 hrs

Reviews

“Shiveringly Gothic…Watching Julia blossom away from prying eyes is almost as satisfying as seeing Jasper Blunt pine for her from nearly the first page…For best effect, save this one for a windy night when trees scrape against the windowpanes.”

—New York Times Book Review

“Mimi Matthews never disappoints, with richly drawn characters and couples whose individual shortcomings become strengths, when paired together. In this Beauty and the Beast retelling, we get to root for two underdogs who get to rewrite their own stories.”

—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wish You Were Here

“The Belle of Belgrave Square is 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? Mimi Matthews paints Victorian England with vivid humor, and her Belles of London is set to go on for at least a few more much-anticipated installments. Julian Fellowes fans will rejoice!”

—Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye

“This story unfolds like a rose blooming, growing more and more beautiful as each delicate layer is revealed. A tender, luminous romance. I loved it more and more with every chapter!”

—Caroline Linden, USA Today bestselling author

“Mimi Matthews just doesn’t miss. The BELLE OF BELGRAVE SQUARE is exquisite; a romance that delivers the perfect balance of passion, tension, and tender moments.”

—Evie Dunmore, USA Today bestselling author

“Absolutely enthralling: an endearing, novel-reading heroine who’s in dire danger; a swoon-worthy war hero with a scandalous past; and secrets, lots of secrets. Mimi Matthews’s The Belle of Belgrave Square is a thrilling, emotion-packed read from start to finish. I loved it!”

—Syrie James, USA Today bestselling author

“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…fans and new readers alike will root for this well-earned love story.”

Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Matthews’s second installment in the ‘Belles of London’ series (following The Siren of Sussex) 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 

“A bookish heroine readers will identify with, subtle love scenes and some impish children make this romance a true delight”

BookPage

“With nods to classic ‘Beauty and the Beast’ tales, author Mimi Matthews expertly balances suspense and tenderness in this passionate cross-class love affair.”

Goop

“If you’re a fan of Beauty and the Beast, this regency romance will rapidly become a new favorite of yours. Wallflower meets an infamous war hero in this fascinating and intriguing love story.”

BuzzFeed

“Get ready for lots of Beauty and the Beast vibes!”

BookRiot

Awards

  • 2023 Daphne du Maurier Award — Finalist

The Details

Published: October 11, 2022
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 432
Formats: EbookPaperbackAudiobook
ISBN-10: 0593337158 ISBN-13: 9780593337158
Genres & Tropes
Victorian Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Horses, Beauty and the Beast

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