Book Review: Return to Satterthwaite Court by Mimi Matthews

RETURN TO SATTERTHWAITE COURT by Mimi Matthews
SERIES: Somerset Stories #3
GENRE: Historical/Victorian Romance (Clean & Wholesome)
PUBLISHER: Perfectly Proper Press
RELEASE DATE: April 11, 2023
PAGES: 286

A reckless Victorian heiress sets her sights on a dashing ex-naval lieutenant, determined to win his heart as the two of them embark on a quest to solve a decades-old mystery in USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews’s sequel to her critically acclaimed novels The Work of Art and Gentleman Jim.

Lieutenant Charles Heywood has had his fill of adventure. Battle-weary and disillusioned, he returns to England, resolved to settle down to a quiet, uneventful life on an estate of his own. But arranging to purchase the property he desires is more difficult than Charles ever imagined. The place is mired in secrets, some of which may prove deadly. If he’s going to unravel them, he’ll need the assistance of someone as daring as he is.

At only twenty, Lady Katherine Beresford has already earned a scandalous reputation. As skilled with pistols as she is on horseback, she’s never met an obstacle she can’t surmount—or a man she can’t win. That is, until she encounters the infuriatingly somber Lieutenant Heywood. But Kate refuses to be deterred by the raven-haired soldier’s strong, silent facade. After all, faint heart never won handsome gentleman.

From the wilds of rural Somersetshire to the glittering ballrooms of early-Victorian London, Charles and Kate embark on a cross-country quest to solve a decades’ old mystery. Will the greatest danger be to their hearts—or to their lives?

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Every time I pick up a book by Mimi Matthews, I happily sigh in a state of reader-bliss from the first word and am a contented little puddle by the end. Her ability to weave characters and plot points and setting and ROMANTIC TENSION (be still my heart) into a story always holds me completely captivated and wholly charmed. Return to Satterthwaite Court does all this while also treating us to readerly nostalgia as the romantic leads from the first two books are now the respective parents of the hero & heroine in this one.

I loved the meet-cute between Charles and Katherine, a brilliant opportunity for us to get a solid idea of their personalities right off the bat, without it having to be spelled out for us. Matthews is exceptionally skilled at ‘showing vs telling’, and this particular meet-cute is a delightful example. I also really enjoyed the fact that this isn’t your typical ‘boy meets girl, boy can’t quit thinking of girl, boy pursues girl’ romance. I love those, don’t get me wrong, and Matthews has written some really yummy ones! But, in this case, it’s Kate who decides that Charles is exactly the kind of guy she wants as a husband and pursues him with dogged intentionality. It was perfect for their characters, and I can’t imagine it going any other way.  And… I have yet to recover from their first kiss – swoon!!

Bottom Line: A swoony romance, a dash of family mystery, a couple of villainous characters, two beloved families, and a lot of endearing-misfit dogs. You’ll find all this and more in Matthews’ latest Victorian romance, Return to Satterthwaite Court. Kate and Charles were both strong characters who knew what they wanted – and what they didn’t – and watching their romance develop was truly a pleasure. I also enjoyed the attraction sparking between Kate’s brother James and Charles’ sister Hannah, and I’m eagerly awaiting their story in book 6! You can never go wrong with a Mimi Matthews book, and Return to Satterthwaite Court is delightful & full of heart. And while you’ll appreciate the significance of Charles & Kate’s families more if you’ve read the first two books, you can still thoroughly enjoy reading this one without having done so.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4.5 stars / loved it!

KissingBook Level: 3+ / will forget to breathe on occasion

Reviewer’s Note: Readers of this blog may want to be aware that there is some scattered & mild cursing throughout this novel, as well as occasional uses of God as an expression, not a prayer.

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What about you? What makes you want to read Return to Satterthwaite Court by Mimi Matthews?