REVIEW: The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews

The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews: Stella Hobhouse is tired of being undervalued. Society has all but ignored her due to her prematurely gray hair and quiet demeanor, while her strict religious brother has made it clear that her existence is a burden. Now that her funds for two unsuccessful seasons are up and her brother is preparing to marry a woman with an unkind demeanor to match his own, Stella is quickly running out of options to secure her independence.

A desire for independence is something Edward “Teddy” Hayes can relate to. He’s spent the last few years in Paris studying to be a painter and is ready to make a name and a life for himself. However, he is hindered by the somewhat stifling care of his sister and her husband who fret over Teddy because of his partial paralysis resulting from scarlet fever five years prior.

Teddy and Stella are drawn together the moment they happen to find one another at an art museum in London. Stella shines brightly to Teddy, a radiant goddess rather than a gray-haired lady galloping towards spinsterhood and he is determined to paint her to share this light with the world. Stella sees past his disability to the eccentric, brilliant man he is. But Stella is unwilling to risk her reputation as an artist’s model and unsure what to do with someone who sees through her mousey façade.

“‘Why, you’re a shining star, Stella,’ he said. ‘Hasn’t anyone ever told you so before?’”

This is the fourth book in the “Belles of London” series by Mimi Matthews. While you don’t need to have read the others to follow the plot, you will enjoy the story more if you have a familiarity with the author’s entire backlog as her wider cast of characters make multiple cameos.

It was really refreshing to have a disabled hero, especially in a historical romance. Teddy is a force to be reckoned with and I instantly fell in love with him. I easily could have read an entire book from his POV and he was my favorite part of this book. He is the kind of hero whose frankness makes you grin and the things he says to and thinks about Stella makes you swoon.

“‘You’re made of light, Miss Hobhouse. It shine’s all around you. I’ve never yet met a lady who possesses one fraction of your brilliancy.’”

Stella was also a well-crafted character. I feel like I may have gotten a little more out of the experience if I had read the previous books, but I enjoyed watching her come out of her shell and become her own person rather than try to blend in with the crowd. The pair of them also had a lovely push-pull partnership where they encouraged each other’s growth equally. This is what I’m reading romance for and was very happy to see!

Despite this though, I did find myself getting frustrated a few times. Teddy could veer into a single mindedness regarding his art that was somewhat stifling to Stella’s feelings in a way that felt almost unresolved. Stella seemed to be on the path to putting him in his place, however, so my hope is that she won’t let him get away with this over time. The couple developed a wonderful, strong sense of trust between them that left me optimistic that they could work through any problem together.

I also wasn’t entirely sure what was keeping the two apart. The reasons felt a little too flimsy and it seemed like they should have gotten together earlier than they did. At the very least, the tension that built up between them was great, despite this being a closed-door romance. Every moment they were on page together was an absolute treat.

The Muse of Maiden Lane is perfect for fans of historical romance looking for something fresh and heartfelt. If you’re in the market for a cozy read with found family, “us against the world” vibes, and a swoon-worthy hero this book will fit the ticket.

Book Info:

Publication: November 19, 2024 | Berkley | Belles of London

A silver-haired equestrienne and a charismatic artist turn a scandalous bargain into a vibrant portrait of love.

Stella Hobhouse is a brilliant rider, stalwart friend, skilled sketch artist—and completely overlooked. Her outmodish gray hair makes her invisible to London society. Combined with her brother’s pious restrictions and her dwindling inheritance, Stella is on the verge of a lifetime marooned in Derbyshire as a spinster. Unless she does something drastic…like posing for a daring new style of portrait by the only man who’s ever really seen her.

Aspiring painter Edward “Teddy” Hayes knows true beauty when he sees it. He would never ask Stella to risk her reputation as an artist’s model but in the five years since a virulent bout of scarlet fever left him partially paralyzed, Teddy has learned to heed good fortune when he finds it. He’ll do anything to persuade his muse to pose for him, even if he must offer her a marriage of convenience.

After all, though Teddy has yearned to trace Stella’s luminous beauty on canvas since their chance meeting, her heart is what he truly aches to capture….