I've heard a lot about Mimi Matthews' books over the last year and was so excited when I saw this on Netgalley and could finally see what everyone was talking about. This book didn't disappoint. When I realized it was about depression I kept putting off reading it because I wasn't in the mood for a depressing book. This was not depressing at all. It held my interest from the beginning. I loved Beryl. Yes, she suffered from chronic depression, but she didn't let that define her. She was so much more and ended up having a lot more pluck than I expected. Mark was wonderful. There is no one better to love her than him. I just loved his character, whether he was talking to Beryl, helping parishioners, talking with his brother or confronting husbands. He was awesome. I loved their story. I really hope the series stays in Shepton Worthy and we get to read Winifred's story, as well as Henry's. I think both those stories need telling.

I received a complimentary copy through Netgalley, but the opinions are all my own.

I really enjoyed this novel but then I'm deeply biased to Mimi's work, I love her writing and this novella was perfect!

On my Instagram page for the 13th July- under highlights- NEW releases. I have tagged Netgalley for the RELEASE. Thank you to the author.

This is a beautiful story with some hard topics and a theme of friendship and support.

Beryl returns from a long trip to Paris with her aunt to the small village where her family lives, and the first thing she does is go to the church and see the curate. They've been friends for a long time and Mark wrote to her regularly while she was in France, and she wants to thank him for that.

We immediately see there's something simmering just below the surface between Beryl and Mark. But neither of them is acting on their feelings because Beryl is engaged to marry Mark's brother, Sir Henry Rivenhall.

The writing is so well done, as usual, and the characters are compelling. Beryl's mental health is a heavy subject, and I wondered how she and Mark would be able to resolve the obstacles in their way.

The setting of a small village in the summer adds the right touch to the story.

Highly recommend.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

In typical Mimi Matthews fashion, Fair as a Star gives you more depth than a typical historical romance. And in this story, we get to talk about a subject not often viewed in fiction: depression.

I loved that Beryl Burnham wasn’t your typical heroine but what I loved even more was that Mark Rivenhall wasn’t your typical hero. I’m pretty sure he’s the best of them and more than worthy of the title and the girl.

I loved the sweetness of the book and the look into the life of a person dealing with depression. Those two reasons alone, I would recommend the book. Add to the fact that Mimi Matthews is the author and it becomes a must-read.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via Netgalley. My review was not required nor influenced.

Hidden hues!

A gentle regency romance with a slightly different set of circumstances, sensitively portraying the issue of mental well being. One could be lulled into thinking this is just a pleasing romance. But there's so much more happening here I think.
A young woman, Beryl Burnham is promised to one brother whilst having feelings for another. The so called Rivenhall Triplets, describe the three brothers born quickly in succession. Now only two are left. "Henry, now a baronet ... [and] Mark, curate to the current vicar of Shepton Worthy."
Beryl became engaged to Sir Henry Rivenhall. Her reasons are complex. Having secretly suffered from melancholy for years she agrees to marry him, more to appease her mother, to hide her secret, and to allay her fears about proposed draconian treatments. Fearing Beryl's melancholy might become public, her aunt whisked her off to Paris for three months with the hope that she'd be distracted enough by that city and trousseau shopping, that she'd recover her equilibrium.
That doesn't work. If anything Beryl becomes more stoic about her upcoming marriage and more worried about her mental health.
Upon her return to the village Beryl becomes even more aware of how much she's missed Mark, her fiancé's brother, her vicar and her best friend.
Still she has a wedding to plan for and a dress from Worth and Bobergh to wear.
When I say gentle, Beryl knows the path she's treading is not what she really wants, but her illness seems to have left her without the will to do anything else. She's a dutiful daughter, although the talk of brutal treatments has given rise to fears that she might be pushed towards these if she's not careful. Indeed she fixates on the doctor's reports. It seems like she's drifting through life, carried along by the will of others, letting life happen to her. Beryl is not proactive.
Then there's her needlepoint. Beryl's skill and focus on the hidden. White embroidery! (The more I think about this idea the more enamoured I've become. I'm now looking at my Grandmothers table cloths and napkins and thorough a much more informed filter.)
“Hiding in plain sight," Mark says of Beryl's whitework.
"...the beauty of whitework. It’s never ostentatious.” It was her favorite form of embroidery, white thread on matching white fabric. She liked to place small figures on the corner of a linen handkerchief or the hemmed cuff of a cambric undersleeve. Secret stitches that hid in plain sight, just as Mark had said. The sort that were discovered unexpectedly, and that gave the finder an instant of surprised delight."
And this is the metaphor of Beryl, unostentatious, hiding in plain sight.
Although their conversation about a semi precious stone--beryl, turns these thoughts upside down. Nicely juxtaposed when one considers the properties of white work and the beryl stone side by side. Like Beryl, one secretive and hidden, the other wonderfully hued. I found these clever, insightful interpretations of the person Beryl is.
Sure there's drama here but that thoughtfulness that imbues the novel is catching.

A Victory Editing ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Beautifully done! Like every other Mimi Matthews book I've read, I couldn't put this one down. From the moment I read the first interaction between Mark and Beryl, I was hooked. There's angst and longing and tenderness. There's honesty and beauty and a dog named Ernest. I came to care for so many characters in a small span of time and I think that testifies to the author's talent.

I was also incredibly grateful for the portrayal of Beryl's mental health. There was no simple fix, no magic potion found in love. She is a woman, whole and lovely and nuanced. The author treats her with respect and, in turn, requires readers to do the same. I greatly appreciated that.

Overall, this was a beautiful story and another great offering from Mimi Matthews.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All expressed opinions belong to me.

I received an ARC from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Mimi Matthews has been recommended by a few people as an author of sweet/no-sex romance, so she has been on my radar for a while. And Fair as a Star sounded interesting, so I thought it would be a good entry point into her books.

And it’s a wonderful book that delves into mental health in such a beautiful way with Beryl. Set in a time when both quack cures and abusive mental institutions were common, I love that instead it focuses on Beryl as a real person with depression without the dramatic/Gothic elements so often associated with Victorian literature, and it felt so refreshing to see.

And her relationship with Mark is incredibly sweet as well, and I love his approach to Beryl’s illness, and how it’s influenced by his vocation as a clergyman.

This is a sweet story and it definitely has me excited to try more from her. If you love sweet historical romance, I recommend this one highly.

Author Bio

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novella. This author has written a superb Victorian romance about a woman struggling with depression and a vicar who loves her. The two over some other obstacles for a happily ever after. I can't wait for the rest of historians hope Henry gets his HE A and Winni and Mr Black do too. Loved the little dog Earnest!

Another fascinating tale of love and romance in Victorian times from Mimi Matthews.

Beryl Burnham has returned home to her small village and her fiancé after a year spent in Paris. She’s hiding a secret and is constant fear of discovery… that is until she confides in her long-time friend, village curate and brother to her fiancee, Mark RIvenhall.

Mark RIvenhall has been in love with Beryl for years, way before his elder brother, the local Baron proposed to her. He has had to try to let his love go. Surly a match between a wealthy titled man would be better for Beryl than the life of a vicars wife?

This was another delightful historical romance from Matthews. Through this novella, we see both characters try to work towards what is expected for them and flip to do what their heart desires. Her writing as always includes many historical details that give life to the story and characters. The characters themselves were a true joy to see developed and grow. I especially appreciated the way in which Matthews handled Beryl’s depression. Depression is a medically recognized condition nowadays, but such a diagnosis would have held great stigma and frightening consequences during this time period.

Fair as a Star by Mimi Matthews is scheduled to release July 14th, 2020.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Perfectly Proper Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#FairasaStar #MimiMatthews #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads

What a wonderful book!!!! Mrs Matthews is so talented!!! She writes her book with such a beautiful style that reading her stories is a pleasure!!!!!Lol

After a mysterious sojourn of a year 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. 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.
A lovely, lovely read, beautifully written & it deals so sensitively with mental illness. A short read but certainly packs a punch, Strong believable characters I loved Beryl & Mark, she's dealing with melancholy & feels a failure but he's so understanding, caring & steadfast, he showed how much he cared by the ring he gave Beryl & why – a definite hankie moment. They are perfect for each other. The secondary characters were also very well portrayed & I’d love for them to have their stories. The book flowed effortlessly & I read it in a sitting.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Mimi Matthews has done it again! I am always in awe of her writing and how she's so realistically talks about issues that were both prevalent and handled so differently in the Victorian era.

As someone who suffers from a mental illness that results in long episodes of depression, its amazing to me to read how people dealt with these issues over 100 years ago (although some people aren't much more understanding today!)

I absolutely loved Mark and his calm, patient and accepting approach to Beryl's battles with melancholy. I found Beryl a very relatable character with her insecurities about being unlovable due to her bouts of low mood.

I also enjoyed the interactions with Henry, Dr. Black and Winifred and look forward to read more from them, hopefully (especially Black and Winnie!!)

Once again, Mimi has written a book that is an absolute gift to read and I'm eagerly awaiting her next release! 5stars!

Fair as a Star is a charming tale of romance and siblings and love and hurts. Beryl is betrothed to one brother, Sir Henry, the oldest of ‘triplets.’ Yet, she is in love with the youngest, Mark, the curate.

Ms. Matthews weaves a sensitive topic into her heroine’s personality, an accidental overdose and the darkness that sometimes weighs her down. Indicating a true love and caring is Mark’s desire to assist Beryl with her ‘darkness,’ her melancholy. Henry is his opposite in his care for Beryl. Mark writes Beryl often while she is off resting with her aunt in Paris. Henry, not so much.

One of the important things Beryl does with her time is to embroider white thread items on white fabric, dresses, handkerchiefs, various articles. These small embroidered items are like Beryl herself. They blend in, yet they are still there, still beautiful and still important. Beryl’s beautiful embroidery is a lot like Beryl, ‘hiding in plain sight’ so no one will see the real Beryl. Only Mark does, he sees the real Beryl.

Fair is mostly light-hearted, but with a serious underlying theme of depression. The light-hearted moments include Winnifred and the love of a horse, Vesper. Beryl shows strength of character as she helps Winnifred. Beryl stands strong once her decision is made. I loved that Henry was able to change/grow, realizing what is important between siblings.

Will her encumbrance hide to her the tree from the forest ...

What an exquisite tale once more Mrs Mimi Matthews offers us.
And while it is a novella, it is loaded with all the subtleties she is renowned for.
She sets her cap on dealing with a topic, how people suffering from it were seen, how they were treated and how they went on with their life.
Beryl is made felt guilty because of what she sees as her moment of selfish weakness, as it was fiercely engrained in her mind as a wrongdoing from her part: plus medicine at that time, but also prior to the Victorian area and still sometime now was helpless but also uninterested to help those seen as lesser because they were different.
Mark, oh Mark, how a sweetheart he is, devasted by guilt when he understands Beryl’s impediment, saddened he did not see it before. Yet, what a great friend he is, looking to assist her by giving her weapons to deal herself with her issue. He pulls her upwards when everyone belittles her, even if it is not malicious. She is seen as crippled, but it is also how she represents herself in her mind. Until Mark shows her her own worth, that only she can help herself but a shoulder to rest one’s head has its value too.

I hope we will see again the side characters introduced here as I am very curious about Winnefred, Dr Black, Henry.

Mrs Matthews paints a very thoughtful vision of this society with its up and down.
5 stars

I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Perfectly Proper Press, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

A year or so previously, Beryl's aunt took her to spend time in Paris when she was overcome by melancholy. Now she's back home and preparing to marry her fiance, Henry Rivenhall, but the melancholy only ever seems to go away in the presence of her fiance's brother Mark. From a worldly point of view, it's a good match - but Henry only wants her because he thinks she will make a good appearance as a baronet's wife, and she doesn't care for him either. Will Beryl realise in time that she is more than just the good deeds she does to try to keep herself busy and the melancholy at bay, and that she does deserve love?

It's a relatively straightforward book, with surprisingly few misunderstandings due to communication problems, which is a nice change - but there's lots of emotion in there. The characters felt real, as did the problems they faced, and the story was enjoyable and clean. I'd love to hear Henry's story, though - and Winnifred's, too. Maybe future books set in the same place? All in all, I found this book immensely satisfying and would highly recommend it.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

Beautiful Beryl suffers from melancholy and struggles to understand what she is experiencing. Mental health issues were a shameful secret that families kept hidden.

Beryl’s long-time friend and local curate, Mark has always loved Beryl, and he is the only one who accepts her, unconditionally. However, she is spoken for—betrothed to his brother.

Mimi Matthews engages the reader with her flawless balance of romance, friendship, trust—the issue of depression is delivered with grace and sensitivity.

A beautiful, heartwarming Victorian novella. My first Mimi Matthews read, but most definitely cannot wait for another.

Thank you to NetGalley and Perfectly Proper Press for Mimi Matthew’s read of, Fair As a Star.

Opinions expressed in my reviews are my own.

Beryl Burnham returns home to Shepton Worthy, after a length sojourn in Paris. Whilst betrothed to Sir Henry Rivenhall, it is his brother Mark Rivenhall, the village curate, that she has a strong friendship. Yet Mark has hidden his true feelings for Beryl, having fallen in love with her several years ago. However, his friendship has never been so important as Beryl struggles with her darkest moments.
‘There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast’. This Dicken’s quote from the novel, highlights the underlying nature of this book. Beryl’s struggle with depression are assisted by the true beauty of her friendship and love for Mark. This is not your typical historical romance. Its depth of feeling and ability to delve into the fragility of Beryl’s mental health, are done with great sensitivity and compassion. I thoroughly enjoyed both characters and their obvious love and respect for each other. In many ways, the siblings – Winnifred (Beryl’s sister) and Henry in their less than perfect ways, gave greater realism to this story. They do so balance out the goodness of Beryl and Mark! My only disappointment was that this was a short story but I eager await more books in this series. I am also so looking forward to reading ‘Gentleman Jim’, the excerpt provided at the end of this book.
Once again, Mimi Matthews has excelled!
I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.

I've become a rabid Mimi Matthews fan in the past year...and Fair as a Star only increased my love for her stories! I love her writing voice, her characters, the Regency details she weaves in. But in this particular story, what I loved most was the "melancholia" angle...or what we'd call depression or acute anxiety today. It's not something you read about often in novels, and especially not in historical novels. But in this book, it was threaded in so thoughtfully and realistically. I loved the hero's compassion and the heroine's quiet strength and their romance was as swoony as it was compelling. Mimi Matthews is an auto-buy/auto-read author for me and I can't wait to see what she delivers next!

This is a stunning novella. At only 194 pages, I zipped through reading this and my only regret was that the story did not continue. I wanted more. Henry was definitely self-absorbed, Beryl loves Mark, Mark loves Beryl. The reader knows that if Beryl marries Henry it will be a disaster. Also Beryl's secret plays a role in all relationships. I must not leave out mention of the wisest character, Earnest.

I truly liked this novella and the light it shown on Beryl's secret. Mimi Matthews never disappoints in her beautiful writing, superbly nuanced characters and absorbing plots. I highly recommend this book to all romance fans.

I am convinced that Mimi Matthews can only write five-star books! Even when the subject matter is something that would normally make a book harder for me to read she makes me love every second of it!
Beryl and Mark’s romance was sweet perfection and I was melting! The way Mark gently cared for her and loved her, not in spite of her shortcomings, but because of who they made her to be! While everyone else tried to dismiss or fix her depression he sought to just shoulder the load with her and give her someone to lean on!
Writing a character that deals with depression is a tricky thing but Matthews did it exceedingly well, spotlighting the illness and not dismissing it while also not bogging the reader down or making the character hard to like.
Once again Matthews charmed me from start to finish and I found myself reading this whole book in one sitting! Now to count the days till her next book releases!