The Siren of Sussex (2022)

About the Book

Book: The Siren of Sussex

Author: Mimi Matthews

Release Date: January 11, 2022

Genre: Historical Fiction, Victorian Romance

Victorian high society’s most daring equestrienne finds love and an unexpected ally in her fight for independence in the strong arms of London’s most sought after and devastatingly handsome half-Indian tailor.

Evelyn Maltravers understands exactly how little she’s worth on the marriage mart. As an incurable bluestocking from a family tumbling swiftly toward ruin, she knows she’ll never make a match in a ballroom. Her only hope is to distinguish herself by making the biggest splash in the one sphere she excels: on horseback. In haute couture. But to truly capture London’s attention she’ll need a habit-maker who’s not afraid to take risks with his designs—and with his heart.

Half-Indian tailor Ahmad Malik has always had a talent for making women beautiful, inching his way toward recognition by designing riding habits for Rotten Row’s infamous Pretty Horsebreakers—but no one compares to Evelyn. Her unbridled spirit enchants him, awakening a depth of feeling he never thought possible.

But pushing boundaries comes at a cost and not everyone is pleased to welcome Evelyn and Ahmad into fashionable society. With obstacles spanning between them, the indomitable pair must decide which hurdles they can jump and what matters most: making their mark or following their hearts?

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My Thoughts

The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews is wonderful. Truly, it’s on my top-10-reads-of-the-year list for sure. In short, this book is masterful. The attention to historical detail is stunning. Historical novels like The Siren of Sussex are my favorite types of stories because they give the reader (at least for me) that research bug. I can’t tell you how many times I put the book down for a minute or two so I could conduct my own research. I enjoyed immersing myself in historical tidbits from 1862 England, looking at many, many pictures of beautiful dresses and riding habits, and looking into the names and events alluded to in this book. It added so much depth to my reading of this excellent novel. Ms. Matthews’s characters are superbly crafted. I love Evie’s feistiness, intelligence, and passion. I love her loyalty to Ahmad — even when it went against Society’s expectations. I also love her loyalty to her sisters, both her elder sister who went against Society’s demands, and her younger sisters who are partly in her care. She is exactly the heroine Ahmad needs. Ahmad is beautiful inside and out. I LOVE how much he stresses and cares about what is best for Evie. Oh my goodness, did this make my heart swoon for him. I appreciated Ahmad’s strength and bravery, and I cheered for his success the whole novel. The chemistry between Evie and Ahmad is electric. I love their instant attraction and the slow-burn aspect to their romance. I could not help but stay up way past my bedtime to see how Evie and Ahmad would make it as a couple. Simply put, The Siren of Sussex is a quality reading experience that I highly recommend. If you are a fan of perfectly written Historical Romance you will not want to miss this story.

I received a copy of this novel in eBook form from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.