Review: The Siren of Sussex (Belles of London #1) by Mimi Matthews
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Series: Belles of London #1
Author: Mimi Matthews
Published January 11th 2022 by Berkley
Goodreads Synopsis
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?
Goodreads
Review
Though Evelyn Maltravers is from a good family, her 'worth' on the marriage mart is not much, and she knows that she needs to make a name for herself in a different way, to save her future. A gifted equestrienne, she wants to be like the Pretty Horsebreakers, but she needs a tailor who can create haute couture riding habits, at a cost she can afford. But as she searches for a tailor, she finds that many don't want to take a risk on her, except for Ahmad Malik, who has been relegated to alterations for too long now. Taking a chance to work together, hoping that Evelyn can make a name for herself, and for Ahmad's designs, the pair work in close proximity, and soon the sparks fly.
This was my first book by this author, but definitely won't be my last. I'd heard a lot about this series, and as soon as I picked up my book, I knew it was going to be good. Evelyn and Ahmad were characters that you couldn't help but love, and they had both faced hardship and bigotry in the past. Ahmad, as someone who was half-Indian, was relegated to working in the back room of the tailor's, and not listened to, or valued, except for by Evelyn. Though this is a romance, the couple clearly respect, and adore each other, and their friendship was one of the best parts of the book. That being said, their chemistry is fantastic, and so believable. Neither of the pair underestimated the difficulty that they could face by being together, but their love for each other was enough for them, and the support of their friends, particularly Evelyn's new friends, Anne, Julia, and Stella. A great start to a new series, and I look forward to the next book, The Belle of Belgrave Square.
Dates Read:
April 16-17, 2022
Rating
4 Stars
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