Starred review from September 2, 2024
Two high-society underdogs find an unlikely connection in Matthews’s effervescent fourth Belles of London Victorian romance (after The Lily of Ludgate Hill). Only 22 and already sporting a full head of gray hair, Stella Hobhouse is getting ready to conclude her second season. Though marriage would free her from living with her disrespectful brother and the judgment of his equally disdainful fiancée, Stella would much rather continue life as a spinster, indulging in her passions for riding her horse and dabbling in art. Following a bout with scarlet fever, Teddy Hayes, an artist and part owner of his family’s perfume company, uses a wheelchair and lives with his sister and her husband. When he sees Stella, and her striking silver hair, he becomes determined to paint her portrait, sparking first friendship, then unexpected love. Stella’s outspoken nature and Teddy’s tender honesty, together with their mutual disregard for societal norms, result in powerful chemistry. Full of both wit and heart, this is another winner from Matthews. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary.
March 7, 2025
In 1862, Stella Hobhouse goes to London for her second season to find a husband who will free her from her domineering brother. At one party, she meets Teddy Hayes, an accomplished artist striving to find recognition. After a bout with scarlet fever, he now uses a wheelchair, and he feels his overprotective sister hampers him from achieving independence. Teddy is struck by Stella's beauty and asks her to model for him. Stella is shocked at the improper request, but then she realizes that they may be able to help each other out of their current circumstances. They agree to a marriage of convenience, only to discover their feelings for each other run deep. Matthews's lively fourth entry (after The Lily of Ludgate Hill) in her "Belles of London" series shines. Stewart Crank narrates for Teddy, capturing his frustration and embarrassment with his disability while revealing his artistic soul. Zara Hampton-Brown empathetically captures Stella's struggle, voicing her as an independent woman trying to stay true to herself. The narrators' voices carry the story with upper-class British accents that please the ear. VERDICT Series fans and those who love happy endings will enjoy this charming and satisfying novel.--Joanna M. Burkhardt
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