A Perfect British Romance....

 

Book Summary (Amazon): 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?

My thoughts...Some days I just want to curl up with a historical romance and be transported to one of my favorite places...England. And who better to take me there than Mimi Matthews?! I've read all of her novels to date, and each one has affected me differently. All of them are closed door romances, but the way Mimi builds the tension is fantastic. I also love the variety of characters and backstories...no two are alike.

    All of this is true, once again, in Return to Satterthwaite Court. While this novel does travel down the family tree to the children of two of her previous literary couples, Charles and Kate have a unique story of their own. Charles has a bit of tunnel vision, set on establishing his own estate, not necessarily with a lady by his side. Kate enters like a whirlwind and helps him see some other options, and I love her for it! For me, she is the shining star of this novel. I admired the way her confidence and intentions towards Charles were portrayed. She was definitely ahead of her time, not waiting for him to take the initiative, but saw what (or whom) she wanted and didn't let societal rules get in her way! She made herself known, but wasn't off-putting or offensive. She's quickly become a new favorite heroine! The mystery aspect was not too suspenseful, but added a little more intrigue to the plot. I liked the way it added another connection to some of Mimi's previous novels. You don't have to read these other novels, however, to enjoy this one.

    Go grab your copy of Return to Satterthwaite Court!

Many thanks to Mimi, Rel Mollet, and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, which I gave.