A Convenient Fiction (Parish Orphans of Devon Book 3)

Whenever I pick up a book by Mimi Matthews, it’s always a treat to read. Her stories are beautifully written and wonderfully romantic, with characters that capture your heart. They are impeccably researched with lots of fascinating historical details, and she captures the Victorian era to perfection.A Convenient Fiction is the third book in the Parish Orphans of Devon series and, although it can be read as standalone, I think it enhances the reading experience if the series is read in order.I have been waiting for Alex’s book to discover what happened to him after he mysteriously ran away from the orphanage at the age thirteen, leaving his friends to wonder at his fate - never knowing whether he is alive or dead. It transpires that he is very much alive and, for the past twenty years, his aptitude at cards has enabled him to make a lucrative living at the card tables in London and France, by luring unsuspecting gentlemen into gambling recklessly and losing. More than money, he wants property that will give him a sense of permanency and the only way to achieve this is to marry an heiress.His opportunity arises when George Wright incurs large losses which Alex agrees to forget in return for an introduction to George’s friend and neighbour, Henrietta Talbot, an heiress with property. Accompanying George to Surrey, Alex has every intention of wooing and marrying Henrietta, but his plans become somewhat derailed when he meets the beautiful and fascinating Laura Hayes.Three years ago, Laura, her father and her younger brother, Edward (Teddy), all contracted a fever. While Laura made a full recovery, her father died and her brother was left an invalid and confined to a wheelchair. Since then, Laura has been caring for her widowed Aunt Charlotte and Freddy, struggling to survive on the meagre quarterly allowance received from her father’s solicitor, Mr. Weatherwax. On his 21st birthday which is fast approaching, Teddy will take control of his inheritance and Laura is determined to rebuild the remains of the family perfumery business. However, Mr. Weatherwax refuses to relinquish control on the grounds that her brother is too ill to take on the responsibilities.With everything else to worry about, Laura certainly doesn’t need the added complication of her attraction to the handsome newcomer, Alex Archer. They are constantly thrown into each other’s company as Laura is acting as Henrietta’s chaperone and, although they admit that there is something between them, both are determined to forget it and move on.However, a trip to Margate changes everything. In the course of saving Laura’s life, Alex’s actions cause a scandal and he proposes a marriage of convenience to save Laura’s reputation - a temporary measure for a month or two and then they are free to go their separate ways. But things don’t always go to plan.As I have come to expect from Ms. Matthews, this was a charming, tender, romantic, character driven romance which develops in a natural way. It was very satisfying to see how Alex and Laura grew, both as individuals and a couple, and I also love how Ms. Matthews creates just the perfect chemistry between them.What a complex and fascinating character Alex is. At first, he seems more anti-hero than hero - a man who willingly betrayed his friends; an unscrupulous gambler and a self-confessed fortune hunter; a man who selfishly pursues his own interests without blinking an eye. It was hard to understand how he could have betrayed his friends who were the only family he had ever had. But when he reveals the circumstances that drove him to it, I could appreciate the sheer desperation Alex must have felt and why he would do anything to get away. He had no one to turn to and who would have believed an orphan like him.Laura shows great strength of character and determination and I respect her for taking on the heavy burden of looking after the family. That she sometimes rages against her current situation, I could certainly relate to. I’m sure everyone has had times when everything seems to get on top of them.She senses that Alex is hiding his true self. He is convinced that he is not a good man but, to Laura, he has been ‘every inch a hero’ from the very first day they met, with his kindness to Teddy and Aunt Charlotte, his desire to help and protect Laura, and his willingness to save her life, despite his fear of water, and to save her reputation.Alex sees Laura as beautiful and charming but also incredibly brave and compassionate too. He has been alone for so long with with no one to trust or rely on, no friend or family. Now he has Laura. Even though he hasn’t told Laura he loves, it’s evident in his every word and action, but when he does finally say the words, the whole scene is so romantic.Ms. Matthews always seems to incorporate some fascinating historical details into her books and I particularly enjoyed the part describing the bathing machines, the ‘promiscuous’ bathing, as Aunt Charlotte calls it, and the nosey parkers with their telescopes.The scene in the Epilogue where Alex sees Justin and Neville for the first time in 20 years was so emotional that it brought tears to my eyes, but left me with such a lovely warm glow.MY VERDICT: Another excellent addition to this captivating series. Highly recommended!

A good series although it's easy to forget what happened in earlier books so a reminder at the start would help. A few americanisms sneak in but not many. This book in part owes a debt to Heyer's 'Venetia' but not enough to be annoying. Phrases from Austen and Heyer evident but everyone seems to fall into that trap. The stories and characters are interesting and it all moves at a decent pace; Matthews is definitely one of the better authors in this genre especially if you dislike too much historic inaccuracy.

The characters in this book are portrayed well and likeable. I always wanted to keep reading even after I needed to stop! Well worth reading.

Another brilliant book from MM. I was prepared for Alex being the least likeable of the Orphans that we’ve met by this stage,due to events we are told about in the previous book in the series, but MM managed to redeem him brilliantly.

I love this series and each time I am surprised at how different the characters are. It’s refreshing that the orphans are men and to read how their common background and experience has shaped their lives, but with different outcomes and such singular personalities.Great writing, some super little twists and strong men who fall for independent womenI guess you don’t have to read them in sequence as I have done, but I would recommend it for maximum appreciation

Matthews books are so romantic, and this is no exception. It is so satisfying to watch these men meet wonderful women and then reunite with each other. Alex and Laura May embody the gentle romance Matthews excels at. I loved it.

I started this book with the intention of just having an half hour relaxing,but it took hold of me right from the start! I could not let it go

Having thoroughly enjoyed The Work of Art, I was eager to read another of Mimi’s books set in the Victorian era. This is the third in the Parish Orphans of Devon series and is the story of Alex Archer – one of four young orphaned boys connected by a mysterious past that is only revealed a little bit at a time. I have not read the other books in the series but did not feel that this was a problem. While it would be better to read them in order (and I will when my TBR pile goes down a bit), A Convenient Fiction works just as well as a standalone. Set in Surrey in 1860, Alex accompanies George Wright on a visit home in the hope of marrying local heiress, Henrietta Talbot. On the way to the vicarage, he rescues Laura Hayes, whose life he believes is in danger; she is simply practising breathing underwater and is not impressed. Laura is a friend of Henrietta’s and is called on to act as chaperone, and so the four of them spend a lot of time together.I found the story quite slow to start with, and it was hard to imagine how Alex and Laura could ever be together, but it is testament to the author’s storytelling skills how well she is able to pull this off. My only slight criticism is the occasional use of US English in a book set in the UK. The characters are well-rounded and believable. There are echoes of the world of Charles Dickens in the thread about the dishonest lawyer, and of Jane Austen in the care Alex takes to help Laura’s aunt and brother. By the time his past is fully uncovered, Alex is revealed to be, ironically, a much better man than George. One of the highlights of the book is the trip to Margate with the bathing machines and the people sitting on the beach using telescopes to admire the bathers.Thanks to the author for a copy that I review on behalf of Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT

Well written Victorian romance with fascinating characters. It is not necessary to have read the previous books in the series. Very satisfying.

What a woman to do when dire circumstances force her into a wall, and the man who could rescue her wants to have nothing to do with her.There is nothing I like better than the redemption of a man’s way, all in the name of Love.Having not read the two previous installments, I do understand Alex was described as the vilain of the group of four orphans. The one who took off and never looked back.Still he carries his past transgressions like a cross, so ashamed by what he sees as his sins, he never stopped running away.For his first encounter with Laura, he fights his attraction to her, chemistry he senses either way.She awaken feelings he has long ago bury and refuses to experience again as it has carved deep scars last time he felt the same.Laura is holding her household with her fortitude, but now she struggles to make ends meet.She is kind and caring but also hardheaded and not easy to relinquish her control.She tries to find a way to restaure her family business but her plans are dwarfed by her solicitor and as a woman she hold little to no power.As for Alex, her relationship with him unsettles her, but still, she is drawn to him even knowing he has come with a specific goal and hide a great deal of things.Alex might be introduced as the wicked guy but George and Henriette, Laura’s childhood friends are no flawless angels, they bear their own sins.Mrs Mimi Matthews has manufactured an arresting tale of vanquishing one past’s guilt to let it go for the hope of a future. This tremendous story with vibrant and spirited characters had me turning the pages with bliss, eager to see the plot unfold and Alex and Laura find their way to one another. Their romance was so sensual, by small touches with bare hands, a hint of skin revealed, a scent lingering, Mrs Matthews expressed voluptuously their growing sentiments. Scorching gaze does enough a steamy scene to convey the magnitude of their love.The one matter was to find where home was really, an act of property or in the heart of those you care for.5 starsI was granted through Netgalley by the publisher Perfectly Proper Press an advance copy, prior to it I have preordered my own.Here is my true and unbiased opinion.

It took me a while to decide to try a Mimi Matthews book and now I’m so glad I did! This is a wonderful series and Mimi M is on my list of default pre-order authors. Wonderful!

I so enjoyed this series but of course I am having to overcome the realisation and sadness of coming to the end of the story.

The first half of the book hooked me right away, and I wanted to know what would be happening next. I found the characters very unique and well written.But the ending, even though it was cozy and romantinc, I felt like something was missing. I guess the conflict seemed to have been resolved, so there wasn't that much intregue. It was cute, but it left me feeling like something was missing.But even with this, I really enjoyed the book, and it was easy to read and to imagine the setting.