Visar resultat för..."mimi matthews"

What did a Victorian lady wear for a walk in the park? How did she style her hair for an evening at the theatre? And what products might she have used to soothe a sunburn or treat an unsightly blemish? Mimi Matthews answers these questions and more as she takes readers on a decade-by-decade journey through Victorian fashion and beauty history.Women's clothing changed dramatically during the course of the Victorian era. Necklines rose, waistlines dropped, and Gothic severity gave way to flounces, frills, and an abundance of trimmings. Sleeves ballooned up and skirts billowed out. The crinoline morphed into the bustle and steam-moulded corsets cinched women's waists ever tighter.As fashion was evolving, so too were trends in ladies' hair care and cosmetics. An era which began by prizing natural, barefaced beauty ended with women purchasing lip and cheek rouge, false hairpieces and pomades, and fashionable perfumes made with expensive spice oils and animal essences.Using research from nineteenth century beauty books, fashion magazines, and lady's journals, Mimi Matthews brings the intricacies of a Victorian lady's toilette into modern day focus. In the process, she gives readers a glimpse of the social issues that influenced women's clothing and the societal outrage that was an all too frequent response to those bold females who used fashion and beauty as a means of asserting their individuality and independence.

Bridgerton meets Jilly Cooper in this feminist historical romance that will have you swooning!'Unflinching, tender and moving.' EVIE DUNMORE'A rare treat to enjoy and savour.' KATE PEARCE'A moving love story and a vivid recreation of Victorian life.' Anna Campbell The marriage mart is calling, and Evelyn must answer . . . Evelyn Maltravers longs for her perfect match. But with her family tumbling toward ruin. Her only hope is to distinguish herself is on horseback and to succeed she'll need a habit-maker who's not afraid to take risks. Ahmad Malik have always made women beautiful - 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. The indomitable pair must decide which hurdles they can jump and what matters most: Making their mark or following their hearts?___________'A well written and innovative story . . . Fascinating characters and a captivating romance' 5* Reader Review'Mimi is the indisputable Queen of writing Victorian and Regency novels. A delightful read' 5* Reader Review'This is a beautiful novel about self-discovery and the power of pure love' 5* Reader Review

A sizzling historical romance perfect for all fans of Bridgerton and Jilly CooperFortune favours the bold. But is Lady Anne daring enough to accept a favour from a wicked gentleman?Lady Anne Deveril has voluntarily renounced any fanciful notions of love and marriage. And yet, fate now puts Anne back into the entirely too enticing path of Mr. Felix Hartford. The youthful torch Hart once held for Anne has long since cooled. Or so he keeps telling himself. But now Anne needs a favour. Hart will play along with her little ruse - on the condition that Anne attends his grandfather's country estate.Away from society, Anne makes the tantalising discovery that beneath the roguish exterior is a man with hidden depths, scorching passions - and a tender heart.A fun, romantic slow-burn love story that you won't be able to put down, The Lily of Ludgate Hill is one of the Belles of London tales readers can't help falling in love with.

The sizzling historical romance perfect for fans of Bridgerton and Jilly Cooper'A page-turner that swept me off fairytale-style and kept up the enchantment right through to the end' 5* READER REVIEW'Swooningly romantic! From the moment I picked it up, I was hooked' 5* READER REVIEW'No one writes historical romance like Mimi Mathews. I just can't get enough' 5* READER REVIEWA marriage of convenience. An unlikely couple. Sparks will fly in the English countryside . . .__________Captain Jasper Blunt requires a rich wife to ornament his isolated ruin, and he has his sights set on the enchanting Julia Wychwood.Julia finds navigating London's high society torture. So she decides to swap the ballrooms for the countryside - she'll marry the Captain. In exchange for her dowry and her hand, the Captain must promise to grant her freedom. This is to be no marriage of love, and Julia is determined to keep it that way. But the more she learns of the beastly former hero, the more intrigued she becomes and soon she finds her resolve beginning to fade and her heart opening. __________'A beautifully written story that stayed with me long after I had turned the last page' 5* Reader Review'Poignant characters and brilliant storytelling. Mimi Matthews is the best historical romance writer right now' 5* Reader Review'Gorgeous historical romance. Wonderful, moving and beautifully crafted' 5* Reader Review

DISCOVER FOURTH AND FINAL BOOK IN THE ENCHANTING BELLES OF LONDON SERIESMixes the steaminess of Jilly Cooper with the feminism of Bridgerton 'No one writes Victorian Romance like Mimi Matthews, and her Belles of London series just keeps getting better!' Kate Quinn ---A silver-haired equestrienne and a charismatic artist turn a scandalous bargain into a vibrant portrait of love.Stella Hobhouse is a brilliant rider, stalwart friend, skilled sketch artist – and completely overlooked. Her outmodish gray hair makes her invisible to London society. Combined with her brother’s pious restrictions and her dwindling inheritance, Stella is on the verge of a lifetime marooned in Derbyshire as a spinster. Unless she does something drastic…like posing for a daring new style of portrait by the only man who’s ever really seen her.Aspiring painter Edward “Teddy” Hayes knows true beauty when he sees it. He would never ask Stella to risk her reputation as an artist’s model, but in the five years since a virulent bout of scarlet fever left him partially paralysed, Teddy has learned to heed good fortune when he finds it. He’ll do anything to persuade his muse to pose for him, even if he must offer her a marriage of convenience. After all, though Teddy has yearned to trace Stella’s luminous beauty on canvas since their chance meeting, her heart is what he truly aches to capture . . .---READER PRAISE FOR THE BELLES OF LONDON SERIES‘Transporting and swoony, just why I read historical romance’ ***** Reader Review ‘Can't stop thinking about Anne and Hart and their yearning!’ ***** Reader Review‘So sweet and tender . . . unforgettable’ ***** Reader Review

A down-on-her-luck Victorian governess and an unrepentant rogue enter into a fake engagement during a lengthy voyage at sea in USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews's sixth book in her acclaimed Somerset Stories series.Stranded in India after being dismissed without a reference, governess Beatrice Layton exchanges her freedom for passage home to England, taking a position with the only family that will hire her. But Bea hasn't reckoned for just how dreadful her new employers will be. Stuck with them at sea in increasingly desperate circumstances, she finds an unlikely champion in the injured ex-soldier traveling aboard their ship.Colonel Jack Beresford has spent the last fourteen years serving in Her Majesty's Army. Though time has lent him maturity, it hasn't dulled the roguish impulses of his youth. When he's confronted with the tantalizing prospect of a damsel in distress, he naturally steps in to rescue her. His solution? An engagement of convenience, of course. One that will last only as long as their voyage.But once back on land, Jack and Bea's simple arrangement is beset by complication after complication. There are former passengers to contend with, and meddling society matrons. Most complicated of all, there's Jack's family—his parents, siblings, and precocious nieces and nephews—all of whom seem to think that Bea might be perfect for him. Jack is beginning to think so too. All that remains is to convince bold, beguiling Bea that he's perfect for her.

A 2024 BookBub Best Historical Romance!One of Parade's Best New Books of November 2024!One of Amazon's and Apple's Best Romance Books of November 2024!A silver-haired equestrienne and a charismatic artist turn a scandalous bargain into a vibrant portrait of love. Stella Hobhouse is a brilliant rider, stalwart friend, skilled sketch artist—and completely overlooked. Her outmodish gray hair makes her invisible to London society. Combined with her brother’s pious restrictions and her dwindling inheritance, Stella is on the verge of a lifetime marooned in Derbyshire as a spinster. Unless she does something drastic…like posing for a daring new style of portrait by the only man who’s ever really seen her. Aspiring painter Edward “Teddy” Hayes knows true beauty when he sees it. He would never ask Stella to risk her reputation as an artist’s model but in the five years since a virulent bout of scarlet fever left him partially paralyzed, Teddy has learned to heed good fortune when he finds it. He’ll do anything to persuade his muse to pose for him, even if he must offer her a marriage of convenience.   After all, though Teddy has yearned to trace Stella’s luminous beauty on canvas since their chance meeting, her heart is what he truly aches to capture….

A BookBub Best Romance of Winter 2024!Fortune favors the bold—but is a confirmed spinster daring enough to loosen the reins and accept a favor from the wicked gentleman who haunts her dreams?Lady Anne Deveril doesn’t spook easily. A woman of lofty social standing known for her glacial beauty and starchy opinions, she’s the unofficial leader of her small group of equestriennes. Since her mother’s devastating plunge into mourning six years ago, Anne voluntarily renounced any fanciful notions of love and marriage. And yet, when fate puts Anne back into the entirely too enticing path of Mr. Felix Hartford, she’s tempted to run…right into his arms.No one understands why Lady Anne withdrew into the shadows of society, Hart least of all. The youthful torch he once held for her has long since cooled. Or so he keeps telling himself. But now Anne needs a favor to help a friend. Hart will play along with her little ruse—on the condition that Anne attend a holiday house party at his grandfather’s country estate. No more mourning clothes. No more barriers. Only the two of them, unrequited feelings at last laid bare.Finally free to gallop out on her own, Anne makes the tantalizing discovery that beneath the roguish exterior of her not-so-white knight is a man with hidden depths, scorching passions—and a tender heart.

One of Kirkus's Best of Fiction 2025 · NYPL Best Books of 2025 + Top Ten Best Romances of 2026 · An NPR Books We Love Pick for 2025 · A Library Journal Best book of 2025 · BookBub's Best Romances of 2025 So Far · BookPage's Best Books of 2025 · A Marie Claire Best Romance of 2025A Most Anticipated Romance for Paste Magazine · The Nerd Daily · Marie Claire · Book Riot · Bookish · FangirlishNo one betrays the Academy. But now Euphemia must decide: break the rules for her enemy, or let the rules break her heart.On the outskirts of London sits a seemingly innocuous institution with a secretive aim—train young women to distract, disrupt, and discredit the patriarchy. Outraged by a powerful lord’s systematic attack on women’s rights in Parliament, the Academy summons its brightest—and most bitter—pupil to infiltrate the odious man’s inner circle. A deal is struck: bring down the viscount, and Miss Euphemia Flite will finally earn her freedom.But betting shop owner Gabriel Royce has other plans. The viscount is the perfect pawn to insulate Gabriel’s underworld empire from government interference. He’s not about to let some crinoline-clad miss destroy his carefully constructed enterprise—no matter how captivating he finds her threats.From the rookeries of St. Giles to the ballrooms of Mayfair, Euphemia and Gabriel engage in a battle of wits and wills that’s complicated by a blossoming desire. Soon Euphemia realizes it’s not the broken promises to her Academy sisters she should fear. . . . It’s the danger to her heart.

DISCOVER FOURTH AND FINAL BOOK IN THE ENCHANTING BELLES OF LONDON SERIESMixes the steaminess of Jilly Cooper with the feminism of Bridgerton 'No one writes Victorian Romance like Mimi Matthews, and her Belles of London series just keeps getting better!' Kate Quinn ---A silver-haired equestrienne and a charismatic artist turn a scandalous bargain into a vibrant portrait of love.Stella Hobhouse is a brilliant rider, stalwart friend, skilled sketch artist – and completely overlooked. Her outmodish gray hair makes her invisible to London society. Combined with her brother’s pious restrictions and her dwindling inheritance, Stella is on the verge of a lifetime marooned in Derbyshire as a spinster. Unless she does something drastic…like posing for a daring new style of portrait by the only man who’s ever really seen her.Aspiring painter Edward “Teddy” Hayes knows true beauty when he sees it. He would never ask Stella to risk her reputation as an artist’s model, but in the five years since a virulent bout of scarlet fever left him partially paralysed, Teddy has learned to heed good fortune when he finds it. He’ll do anything to persuade his muse to pose for him, even if he must offer her a marriage of convenience. After all, though Teddy has yearned to trace Stella’s luminous beauty on canvas since their chance meeting, her heart is what he truly aches to capture . . .---READER PRAISE FOR THE BELLES OF LONDON SERIES‘Transporting and swoony, just why I read historical romance’ ***** Reader Review ‘Can't stop thinking about Anne and Hart and their yearning!’ ***** Reader Review‘So sweet and tender . . . unforgettable’ ***** Reader Review

The Academy always comes first . . . which makes marriage to its most formidable adversary an exceedingly inconvenient arrangement.Well removed from London’s more curious eyes, the Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies strives toward one clandestine goal: to distract, disrupt, and discredit men in power who would seek to harm the advancement of women—by appropriate means, of course.When intrepid newspaper editor Miles Quincey starts to question the school’s intentions, the Academy appoints Penelope “Nell” Trewlove, one of their brightest graduates, to put this nuisance to rest. An easy enough mission, she supposes. Or it would be, if Miles wasn’t so fascinating—too fascinating to resist—and if Nell’s visit to London didn’t perfectly coincide with the murder of one of Miles’s reporters. When the inexorable claws of fate trap Nell and Miles in a compromising situation, they agree to an arrangement that will save their reputations while enabling them to investigate the story that led to a man’s death, as well as the surprising chemistry between them . . .

COLOR Over the years, Mimi Cooper has given her innovative insights to many Fortune 500 companies. So who is Ms. Coopers latest high-profile, fast-forward client? YOU Filled with insider secrets that are both fun and fascinating, this is the book that reveals what only the top experts know about color. ColorSmart explains how color impacts all of us and shows you how to use that information. Discover: How to identify and make the most of your own color profile -- are you Color Forward®, Color Prudent®, or Color Loyal®? Our unconscious reactions to color What colors to use for business presentations to create enthusiasm for your ideas How to use color to sell a house at the best price Where the most "in" colors of the moment really come from

The sizzling historical romance perfect for fans of Bridgerton and Jilly Cooper'A page-turner that swept me off fairytale-style and kept up the enchantment right through to the end' 5* READER REVIEW'Swooningly romantic! From the moment I picked it up, I was hooked' 5* READER REVIEW'No one writes historical romance like Mimi Mathews. I just can't get enough' 5* READER REVIEWA marriage of convenience. An unlikely couple. Sparks will fly in the English countryside . . .__________Captain Jasper Blunt requires a rich wife to ornament his isolated ruin, and he has his sights set on the enchanting Julia Wychwood.Julia finds navigating London's high society torture. So she decides to swap the ballrooms for the countryside - she'll marry the Captain. In exchange for her dowry and her hand, the Captain must promise to grant her freedom. This is to be no marriage of love, and Julia is determined to keep it that way. But the more she learns of the beastly former hero, the more intrigued she becomes and soon she finds her resolve beginning to fade and her heart opening. __________'A beautifully written story that stayed with me long after I had turned the last page' 5* Reader Review'Poignant characters and brilliant storytelling. Mimi Matthews is the best historical romance writer right now' 5* Reader Review'Gorgeous historical romance. Wonderful, moving and beautifully crafted' 5* Reader Review

A sizzling second-chance historical romance that will enchant fans of Bridgerton and Jilly Cooper alike!'I could barely stand to put this book down!' 5 ***** Reader Review'Mimi never disappoints, here is another novel I am swooning over!' 5 ***** Reader Review--Fortune favours the bold. But is Lady Anne daring enough to accept a favour from a wicked gentleman?Lady Anne Deveril has voluntarily renounced any fanciful notions of love and marriage. And yet, fate now puts Anne back into the entirely too enticing path of Mr. Felix Hartford. The youthful torch Hart once held for Anne has long since cooled. Or so he keeps telling himself. But now Anne needs a favour. Hart will play along with her little ruse - on the condition that Anne attends his grandfather's country estate.Away from society, Anne makes the tantalising discovery that beneath the roguish exterior is a man with hidden depths, scorching passions - and a tender heart.A fun, romantic slow-burn love story that you won't be able to put down, The Lily of Ludgate Hill is one of the Belles of London tales readers can't help falling in love with.--Readers have fallen head over heels for The Lily of Ludgate Hill'Enjoyable characters , well-researched and a great story that keeps you hooked . What more do you want?' 5 ***** Reader Review'What can I say, every book Mimi Matthews writes is amazing, and this book is no exception' 5 ***** Reader Review'If you love historical romance, this is perfect for you' 5 ***** Reader Review'Truly a wonderful read. The characters were amazing, and the story was so well-written. Can't wait for the next book in the series' 5 ***** Reader Review