You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by taisie22
Gentleman Jim by Mimi Matthews
4.0
Maggie and Nicholas have been in love for most of their young lives, but Maggie is the lady of the manor while Nicholas is the bastard stable-hand. Everyone assumes Maggie will marry her wealthy neighbor who wants Nicholas out of his way, so fabricates a crime, forcing Nick to run for it. Years later, Maggie recognizes John Beresford, the Viscount St. Clare, as her lost love.
Ms. Matthews has mentioned that this book was inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo, and certainly, it's a very familiar plot with the deviation that Mercedes, or Maggie in this book, is not married by the time that Edmond, or Nicholas in this book, returns. This makes for a different ending that honestly wasn't as satisfactory to me as a reader. No spoilers but this crucial difference makes Maggie into a needy woman begging for John's attention and John into an aloof aristocrat, disdainful of the woman who helped him escape.
Ms. Matthews always writes a good story and I love her Victorian settings. This is still a good read, but, for me, I might have been happier even if there wasn't a HEA.
Ms. Matthews has mentioned that this book was inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo, and certainly, it's a very familiar plot with the deviation that Mercedes, or Maggie in this book, is not married by the time that Edmond, or Nicholas in this book, returns. This makes for a different ending that honestly wasn't as satisfactory to me as a reader. No spoilers but this crucial difference makes Maggie into a needy woman begging for John's attention and John into an aloof aristocrat, disdainful of the woman who helped him escape.
Ms. Matthews always writes a good story and I love her Victorian settings. This is still a good read, but, for me, I might have been happier even if there wasn't a HEA.