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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
MUCH lighter in tone in many of Ms Matthews works, this was a rollicking good read. Simple, uncomplicated fun. Refreshing and relaxing
Low character development but high on Plot Stuff, I’d recommend this to high school readers who are looking to branch out from YA (it has a deeply YA feel) or those for whom sex scenes are a sign of a poorly written book.
I think this might also appeal to readers of more “inspirational” type romances, although it may be a bit edgy for some readers of that variety, I think the soul mate/pure sexless love might hold some appeal to readers who are branching out from those types of books
Overall I think the childhood soul mate thing gives this a big appeal to readers of YA.
This book didn’t really work for me, but
I think this might also appeal to readers of more “inspirational” type romances, although it may be a bit edgy for some readers of that variety, I think the soul mate/pure sexless love might hold some appeal to readers who are branching out from those types of books
Overall I think the childhood soul mate thing gives this a big appeal to readers of YA.
This book didn’t really work for me, but
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Gentleman Jim by Mimi Matthews was perfect. In the plot and style, but not the language, it read more like a classic love story than a historical romance. The mystery surrounding the hero kept me guessing and the revenge plot was so satisfying. It was a love story, a clean romance, with so much yearning. And best of all, finally a romance with an epilogue that wasn't completely useless. I don't know if this is going to become a series or not but I will be reading more from Mimi Matthews, for sure.
E-arc provided by NetGalley/Perfectly Proper Press in exchange for honest review. My thoughts on this book are entirely my own.
E-arc provided by NetGalley/Perfectly Proper Press in exchange for honest review. My thoughts on this book are entirely my own.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Gentleman Jim is very different tonally from the previous Mimi Matthews book I read, and I found myself surprised by how much I still enjoyed it. While it still being on the sweet side in terms of steam level was a given, I was concerned about the parallels being drawn to works like The Count of Monte Cristo, and the subheading denoting the story one of “romance and revenge.” Revenge plots have never been my thing, and they almost always reflect badly on the “hero.”
But I need not have worried, as Matthews deftly handles these themes, while also managing to make it a believable sweet romance (although this is probably her most sensual, without being super-explicit). Nicholas/John is at heart a good person and he never fully loses that, even as he seeks vengeance against those who wronged him. There’s also a delightful mystery surrounding his circumstances and double identity, and I love the way that was conveyed.
Maggie is also a wonderful heroine, constantly fighting for her own happiness. I loved her unfailing belief in Nicholas also being John, even as he tries to deny it.
With lots of twists and turns, this is a compelling story that had me swept up in the sense of adventure and intrigue. It’s a delightful addition to Matthews’ catalog, and perhaps the one that will have the most broad appeal among historical romance readers.
Author Bio
Gentleman Jim is very different tonally from the previous Mimi Matthews book I read, and I found myself surprised by how much I still enjoyed it. While it still being on the sweet side in terms of steam level was a given, I was concerned about the parallels being drawn to works like The Count of Monte Cristo, and the subheading denoting the story one of “romance and revenge.” Revenge plots have never been my thing, and they almost always reflect badly on the “hero.”
But I need not have worried, as Matthews deftly handles these themes, while also managing to make it a believable sweet romance (although this is probably her most sensual, without being super-explicit). Nicholas/John is at heart a good person and he never fully loses that, even as he seeks vengeance against those who wronged him. There’s also a delightful mystery surrounding his circumstances and double identity, and I love the way that was conveyed.
Maggie is also a wonderful heroine, constantly fighting for her own happiness. I loved her unfailing belief in Nicholas also being John, even as he tries to deny it.
With lots of twists and turns, this is a compelling story that had me swept up in the sense of adventure and intrigue. It’s a delightful addition to Matthews’ catalog, and perhaps the one that will have the most broad appeal among historical romance readers.
Author Bio
One of the few authors whose work I consistently pre-buy. She hasn’t disappointed.
Oh. My. Goodness.
Everytime I read a Mimi Matthews book, I feel so content and fulfilled by the end of it. I know that the whole promise of the romance genre is to deliver that HEA, but a Mimi Matthews story does it with a grace that just sweeps me away.
Her newest book, releasing Nov 10, is the story of Maggie and Nicholas. It's childhood friends, first love, and forbidden love tropes from the start but then turns into much more. Maggie is the daughter of a country squire and Nicholas is the stable boy. Neighbor Fred also grows up with them, the son of a Baron, and he despises Nicholas and wants Maggie for himself. Fred schemes to frame Nicholas for theft, and Maggie helps him escape. Nicholas disappears to search for his legendary highwayman father, Gentleman Jim. That's all in the prologue.
It's 10 years later, and Maggie is being "forced" through her father's will to marry Fred or lose everything. She has 6 months to find her way out of the mess. She visits a friend in London where she meets Lord St. Clare. He's a mysterious grandson of an Earl who was born and raised in the continent and returns to the ton to find a wife. And Maggie is positive he is Nicholas. He assures her that he is not.
This book has adventure, mystery, multiple villains, and so much heart. Maggie is a great main character who has found herself in a tough spot but fights for her own happiness. There's definite nods to The Count of Monte Cristo and Tom Jones in the story, which adds to the feeling of reading an epic and classic love story. I highly recommend any book by Mimi Matthews, and this is one of her best!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Everytime I read a Mimi Matthews book, I feel so content and fulfilled by the end of it. I know that the whole promise of the romance genre is to deliver that HEA, but a Mimi Matthews story does it with a grace that just sweeps me away.
Her newest book, releasing Nov 10, is the story of Maggie and Nicholas. It's childhood friends, first love, and forbidden love tropes from the start but then turns into much more. Maggie is the daughter of a country squire and Nicholas is the stable boy. Neighbor Fred also grows up with them, the son of a Baron, and he despises Nicholas and wants Maggie for himself. Fred schemes to frame Nicholas for theft, and Maggie helps him escape. Nicholas disappears to search for his legendary highwayman father, Gentleman Jim. That's all in the prologue.
It's 10 years later, and Maggie is being "forced" through her father's will to marry Fred or lose everything. She has 6 months to find her way out of the mess. She visits a friend in London where she meets Lord St. Clare. He's a mysterious grandson of an Earl who was born and raised in the continent and returns to the ton to find a wife. And Maggie is positive he is Nicholas. He assures her that he is not.
This book has adventure, mystery, multiple villains, and so much heart. Maggie is a great main character who has found herself in a tough spot but fights for her own happiness. There's definite nods to The Count of Monte Cristo and Tom Jones in the story, which adds to the feeling of reading an epic and classic love story. I highly recommend any book by Mimi Matthews, and this is one of her best!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Oh my word, this was everything delectable in a story. Mimi Matthews is already one of my favourite historical romance authors, but this is now one of my favourite novels of hers to boot. That makes it a favourite of a favourite! It has intrigue, a bit of derring-do, a hero and heroine I absolutely adore, and oh, so much passion—and I don’t mean the explicit kind. It’s a restrained and carefully controlled passion more often than not, both in the characters and the writing—though it’s certainly given free rein when the time is right. But it’s that sense of leashed energy that gives this story its potency. Oh, the potency!
Do I even need to say anything else after that gushing opening? The plot was wonderfully engaging, because even if you were sure of one element of the plot, it only raised more questions in its place. And I truly did have a jaw-drop moment at about fifty percent of the way through the novel, which was when I began to see how the pieces may fit together. But even then, there was a question as to how everything would turn out and a vastly enjoyable journey to get there.
Much like in the novel Rebecca, the eponymous Gentleman Jim plays his central role posthumously, but make no mistake, it is certainly a central role. Also, while Matthews’ writing style differs somewhat from Heyer (to neither author’s detriment), there was a very Heyer-esque feeling to the overall story.
Truly, Matthews is an historical romance author par excellence!
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Do I even need to say anything else after that gushing opening? The plot was wonderfully engaging, because even if you were sure of one element of the plot, it only raised more questions in its place. And I truly did have a jaw-drop moment at about fifty percent of the way through the novel, which was when I began to see how the pieces may fit together. But even then, there was a question as to how everything would turn out and a vastly enjoyable journey to get there.
Much like in the novel Rebecca, the eponymous Gentleman Jim plays his central role posthumously, but make no mistake, it is certainly a central role. Also, while Matthews’ writing style differs somewhat from Heyer (to neither author’s detriment), there was a very Heyer-esque feeling to the overall story.
Truly, Matthews is an historical romance author par excellence!
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.