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funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
✦Series: Belles of London, 1
Interconnected standalones form this series of smart, historical romances. I’ve been reading it out of order, and it still makes sense and is completely enjoyable.
✦POV: Dual, third-person
Evie is an inexperienced country girl who needs to make a match to secure hers and her sisters’ futures, but she’s no pushover! I appreciated her strength, resilience, and determined attitude. Ahmad is trying to make a name for himself as a dressmaker in a racist class system that is not doing him any favours. He’s broody, and stoically delicious. They strike a deal to form a mutually beneficial partnership, but their chemistry is impossible to deny despite the difference in their social classes.
I think it’s clever that the POV often changed mid-chapter (clearly defined) so we can see how they each experienced the scene.
🎙️ Dual Narration by Vidish Althavale and Lydia Hanman
This was my first time hearing both narrators and they were great! Their voices were perfect for these characters and gave believable and distinctive range to the other characters.
✦Spice: Closed door
Great tension and feeling, and a few kisses with increasing levels of heat. I’m generally all about the spice but Mimi Matthews and the Belles have always left me satisfied with the sensuous hint of what’s going on behind that door.
» I am so glad to finally read Evie and Ahmad’s story after reading The Belle of Belgrave Square (Belles 2) and The Muse of Maiden Lane (Belles 4). Their chemistry is palpable through the series, so I had to see where it began; I wasn’t disappointed!
✩ Evie meets Lady Ann, Stella, and Julia when she arrives in London for her first season (at 23!) and they embrace her immediately. These gals are a stunning example of the kind of girl squad that I love.
♡ I have loved every moment of reading this series so far. Highly recommend! HEA guaranteed!
Interconnected standalones form this series of smart, historical romances. I’ve been reading it out of order, and it still makes sense and is completely enjoyable.
✦POV: Dual, third-person
Evie is an inexperienced country girl who needs to make a match to secure hers and her sisters’ futures, but she’s no pushover! I appreciated her strength, resilience, and determined attitude. Ahmad is trying to make a name for himself as a dressmaker in a racist class system that is not doing him any favours. He’s broody, and stoically delicious. They strike a deal to form a mutually beneficial partnership, but their chemistry is impossible to deny despite the difference in their social classes.
I think it’s clever that the POV often changed mid-chapter (clearly defined) so we can see how they each experienced the scene.
🎙️ Dual Narration by Vidish Althavale and Lydia Hanman
This was my first time hearing both narrators and they were great! Their voices were perfect for these characters and gave believable and distinctive range to the other characters.
✦Spice: Closed door
Great tension and feeling, and a few kisses with increasing levels of heat. I’m generally all about the spice but Mimi Matthews and the Belles have always left me satisfied with the sensuous hint of what’s going on behind that door.
» I am so glad to finally read Evie and Ahmad’s story after reading The Belle of Belgrave Square (Belles 2) and The Muse of Maiden Lane (Belles 4). Their chemistry is palpable through the series, so I had to see where it began; I wasn’t disappointed!
✩ Evie meets Lady Ann, Stella, and Julia when she arrives in London for her first season (at 23!) and they embrace her immediately. These gals are a stunning example of the kind of girl squad that I love.
♡ I have loved every moment of reading this series so far. Highly recommend! HEA guaranteed!
❝Wonderful things didn't happen because one was cautious. They happened because one dared.❞
✨ I read the eBook while listening to the audio thanks to my trusty Toronto Public Library card and the Libby App.
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Classism
Minor: Racial slurs, Sexual content, Suicide, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Deportation
I wasn’t vibing with Evelyn as a protagonist. I felt uncomfortable with a white protagonist referring to her love interest as dangerous based on his looks when he’s Indian. Also, for all I’m told by the characters that she is a free-spirit, she reads rather boring and for a book about equestrians, I feel like she is more invested on looking pretty on a horse than actually loving the horse despite the fact she says it’s her main interest. I’d be more interested in just reading a story on Ahmad’s life rather than following Evelyn. I see myself getting frustrated with her in a way I don’t enjoy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Holy moly I am impressed. This book has set a new bar for historical romance for me. It is skillfully written, well-researched, and thoughtfully and carefully with issues of race and class in the Victorian Era.
My only small critique is that I wish the character development was more fleshed out, but that's a small thing.
My only small critique is that I wish the character development was more fleshed out, but that's a small thing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Classism
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Finally a period romance for the horse girlies! And it’s race inclusive and class-spanning too?! A solid little romance with fabulous period dress descriptions and criticisms of colonialism! Cant wait to read the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Colonisation
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide, Pregnancy
Minor: Animal cruelty, Rape, Slavery, Violence
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really wanted to love this book because I felt like it had a banger of a premise and what's not to enjoy about a hist rom for horse girls?? Unfortunately I felt like the narrative really started to unravel around the mid point when many of the potential areas for external conflict were brought up and then handily dealt with within a few chapters. There were certainly interesting elements here but I almost felt it would have been better to split this book in two so one could be about equestriennes in the London season and one could be about Victorian spiritualism. Also, not to be that guy but....they NEVER bone!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Classism
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Colonisation
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm so glad I've decided to give this series a chance! The peek into 1860s England values and high society was wonderfully done, and while the romance didn't quite hit, I still loved the characters. And I couldn't put it down! I can't wait to finish this series, and I hope it becomes a true favorite.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual content, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Classism
Moderate: Misogyny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
- Started out quite slow for me. It was interesting and the characters were intriguing, but I just couldn’t get into it. I persisted and around 1/4 of the way in I was enjoying it a lot more.
- Characters were really lovable; the group of women were my favourite and I’m excited to read more from this series about their stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism
Minor: Colonisation, Classism