Review: The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews

 

The Siren of Sussex (Belles of London #1) by Mimi Matthews

Publication Date: January 11th 2022 by Berkley

Pages: 336

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Evelyn Maltravers is in London for the season, determined to make an advantageous match. Her family’s future depends on it. Evie means to make a grand debut, but not much sets her apart except her riding. Evie just needs a set of riding habits that equal her skill and her gorgeous horse to make an impression. So, she sets off to find the designer of the splendid riding habits worn by the notorious courtesans, known as the Pretty Horsebreakers. His designs transform the ordinary into extraordinary.

Ahmad Malik is trying to make a name for himself in women’s fashion, but being half Indian, half English has made this a struggle. Ahmad has a singular talent; he just needs the right person to showcase his creations. Evelyn Maltravers doesn’t seem like someone who would capture much attention with her countrified day dress and spectacles, but upon closer inspection Ahmad finds himself enchanted by Evie, and he knows she’s the one.

There’s an instant spark of attraction between Evie and Ahmad’s at their first meeting and it’s fanned at every fitting with every touch igniting heat between them. It was a slow burn but oh-so-swoony! But it’s not just the physical attraction that draws. Evie is like no other Englishwoman and treats Ahmad like an equal, and Ahmad sees Evie’s true beauty within and out. There are obstacles to their romance with the differences in class and race, and I wondered how it would all work out. However, once Evie and Ahmad realized that no other would do, it all came together brilliantly. Not without some bumps, but nothing that felt insurmountable.

I’ve read a couple of Mimi Matthews’ romances in the past and absolutely loved them, so I was so excited to read The Siren of Sussex, which did not disappoint! She brings the past to life with her beautiful writing and rich characterization. I rooted for Evie and Ahmad’s HEA from the beginning!

I’m thrilled to see the next story, The Belle of Bellgrave Square, will be focused on Julia Wychwood and Captain Blunt after all their interactions!

5 Stars

Book Description:

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?