A review by aoifesbookreviews
The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews

emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

This is one of my new favorite historical romance books. I adored it. It’s a story full of love, family, mystery and facing the past. 

Julia Wychwood, an heiress with severe social anxiety and two hypochondriac parents, has already completely 3 London seasons and seems to be no closer to finding a match. Captain Jasper Blunt, a cold war hero with numerous scandals to his name, is in desperate need of a wealthy wife. He needs the funds to restore his crumbling estate Goldfinch Hall to its former glory and support his three (illegitimate) children. 

Blunt sets his sights on Julia and right from the outset they are comfortable with each other. They discuss topics they probably shouldn’t and Blunt is pretty outspoken about the fact this would not be as love match and he needs her money. This was nicely refreshing as both parties went into the relationship with their eyes open. For the most part. 

I swooned a little when Jasper took Julia from the house because she no longer felt safe there. In that moment, he believes if he marries her there will be no money/dowry and yet that’s exactly what he wants to do. His love for Julia outweighs his desire and need for money.
Aside from the central romance, I also loved the relationship between Blunt, Julia and the children — especially Grace. I did think the middle child was a bit superfluous and he wasn’t nearly as dimensional as other two.  

There are three big “reveals” in this story. 
  1. The MMC is the author of the J. Marshfield novels
  2. The MMC is not the father of the three illegitimate children
  3. Jasper Blunt is actually James Marshfield. James was mistaken for Blunt and subsequently assumed his identity when Blunt was killed in Crimea and James was critically wounded.
I have to say, I guessed the first two but I didn’t see the third twist coming. I really should have, and in hindsight it was so obvious, but I didn’t expect it. I really enjoyed the mystery in this book and every time we’d get a new clue and indication that something wasn’t right I kept trying to reconcile it with my own theories and I’m glad I got most of it right!