Review excerpted from my blog post over at FanSciHist Romance Reviews (https://fanscihist.wordpress.com/2020/07/27/fair-as-a-star-by-mimi-matthews/):

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Library recommendation: Recommended for public library historical romance collections.

Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will try never to reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story. 


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Number of titles I have read by this author: 9

Love story speed: Medium burn

Relationship dynamics: Friends to Lovers ; The Compassionate Village Curate (H) / The Melancholic Gentlewoman (h)

Physical descriptions: Mark: tall and broad, with dark hair and blue eyes ; Beryl: dwarfed by tall men (no other mention of stature), with golden blonde hair and blue-green eyes


Sexual content: None. Only vaguely alluded to.

Triggers: Frank discussion of depression and historical medical treatments for it and opinions of it; frank discussion of domestic violence

Grammar/Editing: This ARC had a lone typo (your/you're).

Review: This evenly paced novel is set in a vivid village setting in Somerset, 1864. As usual, the research and writing execution is superb - Matthews is one of my "must-read" authors for that very reason.

Mark and Beryl are the main characters in this novel. Never have I read two characters who understand each other so well and accept each other so unconditionally. Mark and Beryl are #couplegoals personified and their story will make you feel. This may seem to suggest that there would be inadequate tension in the novel, but that is not the case. It is more than sufficient, but never caused by anything insurmountable. Most of the supporting characters have the depth that I have come to expect from Matthews - they are very well developed and contribute to the overall story as far more than props or simple catalysts, which can often happen in short novels. Even Ernest the dog, "messy" as he is, had an endearing development of character. I am definitely hoping to see some of the supporting characters from this novel in future books in the series.

On a related note, I also can't wait for Gentleman Jim. The sneak peak that was included in my ARC was fabulous.




Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this story! I was pretty much in love with the characters from the beginning! The storyline was beautiful and unique. You will love it!

Mimi Matthews is another author who has been placed firmly on my auto buy/read list! I discovered her by chance and have loved everything she has written!

When I saw this one was coming out, I was thrilled and looking forward to another delicious Victorian romance full of sweetness, love, and of course chemistry between the two characters.

What I didn’t know until I started reading this one was that it was a novella rather than a full length novel. That said it’s still around the 200 page mark but still shorter than a conventional novel but don’t let the length fool you, there is plenty to enjoy in this one!

Summary
A Secret Burden…

After a mysterious sojourn in Paris, Beryl Burnham has returned home to the village of Shepton Worthy ready to resume the life she left behind. Betrothed to the wealthy Sir Henry Rivenhall, she has no reason to be unhappy—or so people keep reminding her. But Beryl’s life isn’t as perfect as everyone believes.

A Longstanding Love…

As village curate, Mark Rivenhall is known for his compassionate understanding. When his older brother’s intended needs a shoulder to lean on, Mark’s more than willing to provide one. There’s no danger of losing his heart. He already lost that to Beryl a long time ago.

During an idyllic Victorian summer, friends and family gather in anticipation of Beryl and Sir Henry’s wedding. But in her darkest moment, it’s Mark who comes to Beryl’s aid. Can he help her without revealing his feelings—or betraying his brother? (summary from Goodreads)

Review
Right away I noticed that this book was more bold than some of Matthew’s previous books. In her other books the main character is usually unattached but in this book Beryl is engaged to Mark’s brother. Right away I was like whoa this is going to be much different than some of her other stories and I was totally here for it!

I instantly loved Mark. I thought he was sweet, attentive, and just the kind of man that Beryl needed—that much was clear almost immediately. They clearly had a strong bond and friendship that was evident right away in the story. Mark’s brother Henry was simply not her match in the least. He wasn’t a horrible man or a traditional villain, which I appreciated. In many romances, the rival for the heroine’s affections has a clear flaw for readers to latch on to and rule them out a good match for the heroine—a cheater perhaps, or a drinker etc. But in this story Henry is neither of those things.

Perhaps insensitive to the extreme but not wholly unlikeable—he simply just didn’t suit Beryl. I loved that Matthews approached their romance like this, it was new and different and you didn’t walk away feeling like she escaped a fate worse than death, but rather that she knew herself well enough to know that her and Henry would never do and she spoke up in her defense. I loved that.

This book also addressed an interesting topic that gave it a much more serious note. Beryl has suffered from depression or melancholy and is struggling. This was an unexpected approach for me and I wasn’t sure that it was going to work as well as it did because so often the heroine is meant to be this chipper and upbeat character but Beryl struggled with her own issues. While I might have had my reservations at first, I found that this struggle that Beryl had was relatable and highlighted the reasons that made Mark so perfect for her and how Henry just did not.

As always Matthews has managed to crate a charming story that was full of all the things I love—a worthy hero, a relatable heroine, and of course so much sweet romance! Side note—-I need a story or novella about Winnie and Dr Black!

Book Info and Rating
ebook
Expected publication: July 14th 2020 by Perfectly Proper Press
ISBN 173305698X (ISBN13: 9781733056984)
Free review copy provided by publisher, Perfectly Proper Press in partnership with HFVBT in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 5 star
Genre: historical fiction, romance, novella

Heroines with depression!! I would like more, please! This is something very lacking in historical fiction and particularly in historical romance. Any mental illness is hard to find which makes Fair As a Star even more special to me.

Beryl is back after being away for a year due to her melancholy. She had a nice time, but it wasn't enough to cure her of this darkness she feels. No one can figure out why she feels so down and the doctor who has seen her suggested treatments that she's not willing to put herself through (you can probably imagine).

But now that she's back, she needs to at least try to put on a happy face because she's soon to be married to the rich Henry Rivenhall who proposed before she left.

Since they're getting married, Henry has to be understanding and accepting of Beryl's depression, right?

WRONG!

That would be his brother and the man Beryl is actually in love with, Mark Rivenhall, the village curate. He's kind and caring and while he might not necessarily understand Beryl's melancholy completely, he tries to learn and understand as best he can (please take this moment to swoon).

So why aren't these two together?

1. Henry proposed first.
2. THEY HAVEN'T TOLD EACH OTHER HOW THEY FEEL
3. Beryl feels a sense of obligation to her family to marry Henry. He's rich af and they don't have a ton of money

Mark doesn't even know the reason she left until she breaks down in front of him and reveals all. That's when he goes to his friend, Dr. Black, and asks if there's any cure. There isn't, but there are some things people can do to alleviate some of the darkness.

With that knowledge in hand, he tries to take a bit of the weight of depression off of Beryl's shoulders.

And while Beryl knows her mind more than anyone, she's also not helping it by secretly looking at a pamphlet that the old local doctor gave her. Let's just say it has "treatments" for depression that would do nothing but traumatize the patient. Is this counter-intuitive? Yes, but omg, the awful stuff I've read/watched in a depressive episode...#relatable.

Mark's suggestions don't miraculously change her but they help a little. And with his help, her own exploration of her thoughts, AND A NEW DOG!! (Ernest), Beryl is able to feel a little bit more like herself and finally, stick up for what she really wants.

Oh I loved these two so much! There's a scene where Beryl is sitting in a hidden area outside crying and...I HAVE BEEN THERE, BERYL. But in her case, Mark finds her and that's when he learns all about what's been going on in her head.

There's also the churchyard where a lot happens that has nothing to do with religion lol. *wink wink*

Besides, Beryl and Mark, I also LOVED Winnie, Beryl's sister.  She does not like Dr. Black but her dislike might be hiding other feelings.... I suspect she might be the heroine in the next book in this series, but we'll have to wait and see.

I'm giving Fair As a Star 4 out of 5 stars. If you're a historical romance fan or have been looking for a historical fiction book featuring a character with depression, please check this out!

Fair As a Star by Mimi Matthews is available now!

3.5⭐️
Tropes: friends to lovers; unrequited love

Mimi Matthews tells an emotional, moving story in Fair As a Star.

Recently returned from Paris, Beryl Burnham is expected to marry her fiancé, a man she doesn’t actually love. But she finds herself drawn to his brother Mark instead, a curate who has secretly long loved her and who offers her compassion and understanding about what I would call her depression.

The secondary characters in this gentle romance don’t stand out in a positive way to me but I love how Mark loves Beryl for who she is and the book itself ends on a high note: it’s very romantic. I’m grateful to see depression rep in a historical and appreciate how thoughtfully Mark considers it when Beryl talks to him.

An important & tender read.

CW:

Depression; heroine deliberately took an excessive amount of sleeping powder before book began but not with suicidal intention


Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

“This burden of yours—this sadness—I want you to leave it with me for a day or two.”

What a tender, heart-wrenching, emotionally gripping Victorian romance by Mimi Matthews! This book was my introduction to her writing and I’ll definitely be going back to read her complete backlist. Set in a small, gossip-laden town of Shepton Worthy in 1864 Somerset, England, the beauty of the English countryside is breath-taking and the atmosphere of Victorian society comes alive. I am not a fan of love triangles but the relationship between the two Rivenhall brothers, Henry and Mark, and Beryl is layered, complex, and intriguing. Mark’s compassionate devotion as the curate, loyalty to family, and passionate love for Beryl make him a swoon-worthy hero. His tenderness and gentleness cocoon Beryl as she faces uncertainty and censure from her clinical depression. The author addresses depression and domestic violence as known during the Victorian era with sensitivity and care.

If you enjoy Victorian romance, you will love this book. Even though it’s the length of a novella, the story and characters are fully and richly developed. I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

This is one of my first forays into historical romance, though I've watched enough Jane Austen movies (and remakes) along with BBC dramas and PBS productions to understand the genre from a visual perspective. I was pleasantly surprised to find this book to be charming, vivid, steeped in history, and overall lovely!

Beryl Burnham, our main character, struggles with mental health, which becomes a refrain throughout the book. While this sounds a little bit outlandish for the time period in which this book is set, I think it's an important conversation that people need to have in the present. This novel can be a launching point for book clubs or other groups to be able to have a frank conversation about mental health and I think this is a fantastic venue for it! Beryl is loveable, flawed in the most human ways, and absolutely believable as a character. She feels deeply, loves immeasurably, and her dialogue is wonderful! Other characters, in particular Mark, are incredibly well written as well!

This is a shorter book, clocking in at 202 pages, but the pacing is great and Mimi Matthews packs so much into so few pages! There is no time for dawdling in this book! The imagery is lush! The romance is there, but not overpowering. There is a masterful balance to this book between heavy themes, romance, lighthearted fun, and frank conversations about what matters most. Balance is something that can be very hard to achieve. I commend Mimi Matthews for striking just the right balance with this novel!

I would recommend this to any fan of historical romance, or even just historical fiction. It works for both categories! A lovely book from an author that I hadn't read before, but I will absolutely be picking up titles in the future! Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Mimi Matthews for the opportunity to read and review this book! All opinions are my own.

Romance, period, clean; Series, but stand alone read
Gorgeous, lushly detailed period romance, dealing with a very sensitive health subject. Beryl's return to her village after a being abroad with her Aunt was fraught with emotion for Beryl. Her betrothal to Sir Henry Rivenhall, while practical, was missing what she longed for most, being seen and cherished. This weighs on her spirit as she integrates back into her home life.
Mark Rivenhall, is her friend and pastor. The moments they share, his sensitivity, caring, and concern for her, was so well drawn. Their moments, in sharp contrast to her moments with Sir Henry, were so full of promise, and feeling. M.M.'s knows how to describe the emotions, feelings, wants, cares and concerns, along with the lovely romance that readers are drawn to. Perfect period read.

Beryl Burnham is betrothed, but she is far from happy. Her intended is the wealthy Sir Henry Rivenhall, and there is something missing between the pair. Meanwhile, Beryl is coping with something that is very serious, and this only adds to her concerns. She has a dear friend, however, and that is Mark Rivenhall, Henry's brother. Mark is currently a curate in the village of Shepton Worthy, and soon hopes to become the vicar.

Mark is holding onto something that is rather heartbreaking. He is in love with Beryl, but knows that the most he can offer her is friendship, and he hopes to never let his deeper feelings for her to ever be known. Mark's role in Beryl's life takes on a far deeper meaning as he painfully aware of her fragile mental state. As a reader, seeing how difficult things were for Beryl, especially because at that time in history, mental illness was considered to be a real weakness and it was most certainly frowned up.

Mark and Henry have very different views of Beryl's state of mind, and that was refreshing to me to read because it made the conflict with Mark's feelings for Beryl turn into hope and support. No doubt Beryl would see Henry's true colors as time progressed.

I adored this book by Mimi Matthews. Mark was absolutely ideal in this story. Not only when it came to how he handled his feelings for Beryl, but the fact that genuine goodness was part of his fiber. As much as I love reading "typical" historical romance stories, I truly appreciated that mental health was dealt with openly in this well-developed book. I so felt for Beryl all through the book as I resonated with her on many levels., as I also suffer with mental health issues.

I have read a few of Ms. Matthews books over the past couple of years and absolutely adore her writing. So much so that when this book was offered for review I didn't even need to read the description. I knew I would be in for a very good read, and I certainly was not disappointed in Fair As a Star. I cannot wait to see what this fabulous author has in store for other books in this Victorian Romance series.

Many thanks to Perfectly Proper Press, HFVBT and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Beryl is mortified about anyone discovering why she had to travel with her aunt to Paris, her fiancé Sir Henry has shown her no sympathy. In fact, berating her for her lack of support, their future marriage merely a convenience in his busy structured life. The only light in her world is his brother, Mark, the curate who has been her best friend, reading to her and sending her cheering letters whilst she was away. Mark struggles to hide his true feelings from Beryl especially as she seems so despondent. Another beautifully written story from Mimi Matthews, a pleasure to read. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mimi Matthews never disappoints. I love how the main character, Beryl Burnham, is flawed and suffers from melancholy. Beryl is a real and relatable character who many can connect with as she struggles with dealing with her depression coming to terms with her feelings for Mark, the brother of her fiance. True story of strength and learning to accept ourselves and the power love can have on ones journey when you are accepted completely, flaws and all.

Fair as a Star is a historical novel set in a sleepy English village in 1864. Beryl Burnham has just returned home from a year in Paris, and she is about to enter into a marriage of convenience with the area's most eligible bachelor, Henry Rivenhall. Unfortunately, she has strong feelings for his brother, Mark, who is village curate. As Beryl struggles with her feelings, she also deals with a feeling of shame about the melancholia that has been part of her life since she was young.

I wanted to read this novel because I love Mimi Matthews' books. I was also intrigued by the title for this new series - Victorian Romantics. In school I loved Victorian literature, so this definitely caught my interest.

I have to say that Fair as a Star is my favorite Mimi Matthews book yet! I love the characters, especially Beryl, who is so sweet, sincere, and sometimes tentative. Mark is one of the best book boyfriends I've "met" in recent years. He is the polar opposite of Henry (who is so cool and unemotional) and even knows that Beryl's life would be better with a little dog!

The storytelling and romanticism are lovely. For instance:

"His strong fingers brushed the bare nape of her neck. Soft. Tender. It was almost a caress. Enough to send a delicate shiver down Beryl’s spine. Mark must have felt it, too, for he quickly removed his hand. It seemed as though he might have said something more, but in that same instant, a gentle gust of wind caught his tall hat from the pile at his side. It tumbled down over the grassy slope of the riverbank, coming to a halt on a cluster of flowering weeds. He made no effort to chase it. She looked up at him in question. His expression turned wry.

'There are few moments in a man’s existence when he experiences so much ludicrous distress as when he is in pursuit of his own hat.'

A slow smile spread over her face. 'The Pickwick Club,' she said, temporarily diverted. 'I’m amazed you can recite it so readily.'" (Kindle position 662)

Sigh -- romance and Dickens quotes!

I only wish this relatively short book had lasted longer ... it was such a lovely read. The love story was slow building and swooping at once. There was some humor (i.e. the naughty but lovable little dog Ernest). The author also deals sensitively with the social theme of depression during the Victorian era.

I cannot recommend Fair as a Star highly enough for fans of Victorian England, historical fiction, and beautifully written old fashioned love stories!

1864 After a year away with her Aunt Hortensia, Beryl Burnham is back home in Shelton Worthy and The Grange. Her family believe she is ready to marry neighbour Sir Henry Rivenhall. But what of his younger brother Mark, the curate.
But what forced Beryl to leave so quickly. Rumours are awash in the village.
An enjoyable well-written Victorian romance dealing with a difficult problem with its cast of likeable characters.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

There’s a shortage of perfect novellas in the world, but it certainly isn’t the fault of this little gem. I adored it from beginning to end—hardly surprising, considering how much I’ve enjoyed the author’s full-length novels—and would happily have spent twice as long with these characters except that, by the conventions of story writing, that would have meant it took these characters twice as long to get to their happy ever after. That really would have been unnecessary (not to mention painful!), just one of the reasons I felt this novella was perfect exactly as it was.

But there’s a deeper reason this novella resonated so much with me, and that is the subject matter: mental health—specifically clinical depression, or as it was referred to at the time, melancholy. I have been exactly where Beryl was in this story (minus the engagement), struggled with exactly the same feelings (including the frustration of feeling that I had no legitimate reason to feel the way I did), and even suffered the pain inflicted, sometimes with the best of intentions, by those who don’t understand the condition. Matthews’ portrayal of each of these elements was beautifully done, giving the reader valuable—even illuminating—insight into Beryl’s struggle without allowing the subject matter to overwhelm the story.

And Mark… What can I say that will do justice to one of my new favourite heroes? His compassion, the generosity of his friendship—truly the best foundation for romance—everything about him endeared him to me, particularly that he didn’t try to “fix” her: He gave her a brief, lopsided smile. “Of course not,” he said. “You’re not broken.” He simply found ways to be with her and support her through the times when she struggled. I mean, the guy even read Dickens to her, for goodness’ sake! Be still my beating heart! (My mother reading aloud to me was actually one of my coping mechanisms, so double resonance for me.)

And as always, the way Matthews captures the depth and beauty of romantic love has left me counting down the days until her next release.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Having read the Mimi Matthews regency novel, The Work of Art, I knew I had to get my hands on this. With that said, this was better than I expected. Somehow, Matthews writes clean romances that still have steam. I'm never bored and the characters have perfect chemistry.
To start, the characters. This is a character driven story, no doubt about it. I really connected with Beryl. Her struggles and inner conflicts were ones I felt other readers could relate to and sympathize with. She portrays a woman dealing with depression (or melancholy as it was called in the Victorian era). Matthews lets readers see her inner turmoil. Her white insect embroidery was a beautiful metaphor for this, as well as a fun characteristic. I felt the portrayal (what we saw of it) was pretty accurate, as well as the reactions of those around her; such as family and friends. It was nice to see representation of a woman dealing with a mental illness that was not shown to be unhinged, crazy or suicidal. The heroine is just a normal person who has no modern solution to her illness and manages it the best she can. It endeared Beryl to me and showed that Matthews writes people with disabilities or illnesses (mental or physical) with great care and consideration. I never felt Beryl was being used as writing tool as a way to include diversity/mental illness awareness into the novel. Beryl was her own character from beginning to end.
The other character I would like to mention is Mark. Oh, what a swoon worthy curate, ha ha! Mark was the purest soul in this book. A cinnamon roll to protect at all cost. I loved his friendship with Beryl. They were incredibly sweet to read about. I honestly wished they had more scenes together but what we got was great.
The setting, pacing and plot were balanced and done well. The village sounded so quaint. One could easily imagine being there.
In my opinion, if you have never tried clean romances I would pick up a Mimi Matthews book. Matthews has a way of writing clean romances that is unmatched. I devour them every time.

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Beautiful Heartfelt Eloquent Victorian Romance.

“There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast”
Charles Dickens-

Set in beautiful English Countryside, Beryl Burnham has returned home to her small village of Shepton Worthy in Somerset England. After being mysteriously whisked away to Paris by her beloved Aunt, that has caused many to speculate her hastily trip abroad. Ready to assume her life and step into her roll as the betrothed to the Baronet Sir Henry Rivenhall, with only three months to go until her wedding Day.
Beryl has suffered quietly since childhood with unpredictable bouts of melancholy. While struggles with her inter turmoil, only a few know her secret. She carefully guards it, because this is during a time that medical treatment or the actual stigma of depression was not what it is to day.

Mark RIvenhall the local, curate to the current vicar of Shepton Worthy, has been passionately in love with the Golden haired Beryl for years. Way before his oldest brother, Henry proposed to her. He has come to terms with losing Beryl, and has written her letters out of their childhood friendship while she was away in France.

Mimi Matthews has written another stunning period piece romance, but this time with subtle and grace and sensitivity she has brought the issue of depression to light in a historical romance. Beryl is a sensitive young lady who suffers quietly from bouts melancholy, and has done so since early childhood. Mimi Matthews delicately approaches this sensitive topic of depression into her heroine’s personality, making her protagonist more real and fleshed out. The tenderness and compassion that Mark has for Beryl is exquisitely portrayed. Mark’s acceptance of Beryl’s so called affliction of unhappiness is lovely, he is tender and patient. Mark character is perfect
swoon-worthy, Victorian Gentleman, one that all of us yearn for in our lives.

“This burden of yours - this sadness - I want you to leave it with me for a day or two.”

This by far is one of my favorites reads this year, Matthews lush descriptive writing flows seamlessly and her little historical details captured my heart.
I really appreciated the use of the metaphors, from the mention of white embroidery, that is cleverly hidden in plain sight in Beryls needlepoint, to the imperfections in a Beryls Stone that adds all beautiful colors.
This Victorian romance is richly detailed and resonate with period imagery.
Beryls character struggles with depression and is mastery depicted. She is a protagonist that many of can relate to. The authors strong narrative is fluid and it was a delightful and compelling read for me.

Once again, Mimi Matthews has penned a delightful Victorian romance! Fair as a Star is a bit heavier than some of her other works, as it deals with "melancholy"—but I so appreciate that! Mental health isn't something I've often (maybe ever?) read about in historical fiction, and it's refreshing to see it here.

Also, the love story between Beryl and Mark is so sweet! The romance turned out as I expected, but not in the way I expected—Matthews' characters are all adults acting like adults, which lends a calm authenticity to the story and removes unnecessary drama.

This is the first in a series of three planned novellas, and I'm so eager to get my hands on the other two!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary advance reader copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

A lovely historical romance. This author’s books are sweet and always leave me feeling good. Beryl returns home from Paris with her aunt to her small town, She is returning to a life that is all arranged, a marriage to the one of the wealthiest men in town, a life she thinks she wants until she discovers her heart is elsewhere, with his brother. Will she go on with her engagement or will she defy her family and all that is expected of her and follow her heart.

A nice short summer beach read, that will leave you smiling. Always a pleasure to read a book by this author.

Somerset, England - 1864

Miss Beryl Burnham has just returned to Shepton Worthy along with her Aunt Hortensia after spending a year in Paris. She is looking forward to seeing her younger sister, Winnifred, and her widowed mother, Giselda.

Beryl is betrothed to Sir Henry Rivenhall, a baronet. His estate and her’s, the Grange, are close together. Henry is the oldest of 3 brothers. His brother, Jack, was a soldier who recently died in the war. His youngest brother, Mark who is the local curate. The vicar is quite ill and Mark has been taking over most of his duties.

Beryl and Mark are close friends and they corresponded when she was in Paris. Mark is a kind man and very solicitous of his friends and parishioners.

In the small town of Shepton Worthy, gossip is always rife. So when Beryl went away with her aunt, it was rumored that she had gotten pregnant and went away to have the baby. This is totally untrue. The truth is that Beryl has been plagued with depression most of her life and doctors don’t know how to treat it.

Beryl is not looking forward to marrying Henry. She does not love him. He is a cold and exacting man with whom she has nothing in common. She is just trying to please her mother.

When Mark finds Beryl weeping one day, he steps in and consoles her and tries to help her with her problem. When something happens involving her sister, Beryl finally realizes that she must choose to live her life as she wants to.

Mimi Matthews writes sweet, clean novels that always touch the reader’s heart. I loved Mark and Beryl and found them both very caring people. Well done!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Fair as a Star by Mimi Matthews
Victorian Romantics #1

Two brothers where once there were three
One woman with a heavy burden
Which brother is right for her?
Is it her betrothed?
Or
Is it his brother?

What a delight this novella was! I picked it up, began reading and was swept away by Beryl and the potential storm I could see gathering. Beryl is not a simple miss but one living with what was then known as melancholy. Women were to be perfect and melancholy or depression was not socially acceptable. Women were expected to put their best face forward…no matter what.

What I liked:
* Beryl: a sweet, kind, and loving woman who did for others. She put her family first even when it was not easy. She deserved an understanding compassionate intelligent companion.
* Mark: an intelligent, compassionate, caring man who loved Beryl and did his best to understand and help lift the darkness she dealt with.
* The relationship between Beryl and Mark
* Winnifred: a dynamic whirlwind that loved her family…and horses. She had big dreams and hopefully will be able to achieve them.
* The possibilities provided for future stories. There is Dr. Black who could end up with Winnifred, Henry that might meet a woman to open his heart and life up, and even Mrs. Burnham who is young enough to find love again.
* The sensitivity used to handle the issue of melancholy – so beautifully written!
* Looking up and finding out what whitework and blue grenadine fabric are.
* Feeling invested in the characters and their stories
* All of it really…except…

What I did not like:
* The way medical practitioners thought melancholy could be treated…I realize times were different but still…not very compassionate at all.
* The way those with “power” tended to make decisions for others without really taking into consideration what the person really needed/wanted
* Having to say goodbye to the characters…would gladly have kept reading
* Knowing that I will have to wait to read the next book in the series.

Did I enjoy this book? Definitely!
Will I read more in this series? As soon as I can!

Thank you to NetGalley and Perfectly Proper Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars