The Matrimonial Advertisement - (Parish Orphans of Devon) by Mimi Matthews (Paperback)

About the Book

England, 1859. When ex-army captain Justin Thornhill places an advertisement for a wife, the mysterious lady who arrives on his doorstep isn't quite what he was expecting.

Book Synopsis

She Wanted Sanctuary...

Helena Reynolds will do anything to escape her life in London, even if that means traveling to a remote cliffside estate on the North Devon coast and marrying a complete stranger. But Greyfriar's Abbey isn't the sort of refuge she imagined. And ex-army captain Justin Thornhill--though he may be tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome--is anything but a romantic hero.

He Needed Redemption...

Justin has spent the last two decades making his fortune, settling scores, and suffering a prolonged period of torture in an Indian prison. Now, firmly established in the grandest house in King's Abbot, he needs someone to smooth the way for him with the villagers. Someone to manage his household--and warm his bed on occasion. What he needs, in short, is a wife and a matrimonial advertisement seems the perfect way to acquire one.

Their marriage was meant to be a business arrangement and nothing more. A dispassionate union free from the entanglements of love and affection. But when Helena's past threatens, will Justin's burgeoning feelings for his new bride compel him to come to her rescue? Or will dark secrets of his own force him to let her go?

Review Quotes

"For this impressive Victorian romance, Matthews (The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter) crafts a tale that sparkles with chemistry and impresses with strong character development... Matthews combines authentic period touches with building sexual tension in an excellent series launch that will appeal to fans of Loretta Chase and Stephanie Laurens." -Publishers Weekly

"Matthews' (The Pug Who Bit Napoleon, 2018, etc.) series opener is a guilty pleasure, brimming with beautiful people, damsels in distress, and an abundance of testosterone...It's a well-written and engaging story that's more than just a romance. The author chooses to draw on dark moments in British history to create Justin's and Helena's complicated pasts...It's an unexpected narrative addition that works well, as Matthews seamlessly blends some grim history with light and frothy fiction." -Kirkus Reviews

"Matthews' (The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter) has a knack for creating slow-building chemistry and an intriguing plot with a social history twist. For fans of Victorian romance with a gothic spin." -Library Journal

"An intriguing plot and a haunting setting leaves the reader immersed in this impressive series launch." -Barnes & Noble (20 Favorite Indie Books of 2018)

"Ms. Matthews writes with elegance and precision...The author's research is impeccable...She also makes excellent use of the remote coastal setting, creating a brooding atmosphere reminiscent of the gothic romances of the time with her evocative descriptions..." -All About Romance

"There's no way this book could be anything but a historical and a mid Victorian one at that...The initial scary, isolated setting is haunting and leaves you ready to jump at what might come around the corner. The tension is palpable." -Dear Author

"Gothic Victorian story-telling at its best. This is how this genre is supposed to be written!...By far one of the best books I have read--ever!" -Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

"Mimi Matthews elevates her prose to incomparable heights through tight plot and elegant hand. Her deft storytelling is sublime...Sensual from the first pages and left me breathless by the last. Beautifully executed--should not be missed." -Christina Boyd, The Quill Ink

"This delightful Victorian love story took me away to another time and another place for a few blissful hours. Mimi Matthews is a wonderful storyteller." -Jayne Fresina, bestselling author of Once Upon a Kiss

"Full of romance and heart, The Matrimonial Advertisement takes a marriage of convenience, a pinch of Beauty and the Beast, and some truly engrossing social history and brings to life a satisfying romantic tale. I look forward to more from this talented author!" -Lena Goldfinch, bestselling author of The Unexpected Bride

"The Matrimonial Advertisement is a Victorian romance in all its glory...Mimi Matthews definitely knows how to present historical facts effectively and without sounding bookish...a delightful treat for Jane Austen and historical fiction fans." -Readers' Favorite