The Vanishing Bride: a spicy marriage of convenience, historical romantic suspense

by Mimi Gunn

Charlotte Townsend had tasted love before.
The price had been too high to bear.
A scandalous secret drove her into hiding on a remote family estate. True safety lay in being forgotten. When a gravely wounded man arrives on horseback, her peace is shattered. She must decide if the one who once held her heart can keep her secret safe.
Lord Peregrine Spencer never expected the woman from his fevered dreams to appear before him. Sent by his brother to expose nefarious dealings at the Spencer estate, his investigation ends with a bullet to the chest. A love-scorned widower, his horse leads him to a place from his past. Is he seeing a ghost—or the woman once thought lost? Could this tragedy reunite him with his heart’s desire?
When long hidden secrets necessitate a marriage of convenience, Charlotte must choose between guarding her heart or trusting her new husband. To secure their happiness, Peregrine must unmask his would-be killer before losing his love forever.

This is book one in the Lost Loves series, spicy regency romance books with a guaranteed happily ever after.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Mystery, Spicy, Second Chance, Historical, Marriage Of Convenience

394 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 23, 2026

About the author

Mimi Gunn writes from the unique perspective of an Ottawa region born French-Canadian living in Calgary, Alberta. Stories have always been an important part of her culture growing up, from hilarious tales shared around the kitchen table to ghost stories told around the campfire. She is passionate about cooking meals that bring people together and spending time with her family. In her free time, she hoards romance novels and feeds her addiction to travel and adventures, with a strong penchant for Disneyland as a destination! Mimi is delighted to share the stories that have been living in her mind with you and hopes you enjoy her strong heroines and dashing heroes.
Visit her at @mimigunnbooks for romance book recommendations and updates on the next book coming in the series. Follow her Goodreads at Mimi Gunn. Visit her website www.mimigunn.com. Happy reading!

Reviews

[rosie (jason todd's version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ʚɞ the vanishing bride by mimi gunn ⋆.˚

⋆.˚ 26/6/26— 29/6/26

⊱ ۫ ׅ book no. 69 of 2026 ── .✦

₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚

𑣲 ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ɪᴍᴘʀᴇꜱꜱɪᴏɴꜱ/ᴘʀᴇ-ʀᴇᴀᴅ:

thank you so much to lovenote pr and mimi gunn for the e-ARC of this one! i'm ngl i requested it based off the beauty of the cover and the words "regency marriage of convenience" sooo... i've got a real good feeling about this one 😋

the vanishing bride is out now!!

₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚

╰› (⭐4.25)

❝ love was tender. love was sweet. love could tear your life apart. ❞

⋆.˚ ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:

oh this was wonderful 😭🫶

i knew from the first page that i'd really love this book 🥹🩷 the prose was beautiful, and i adored each character with my whole heart. they were so sweet to each other, i loved seeing how both peregrine and charlotte developed.

i especially loved dear little aurelia 😭💗 she was the cutest little kid, while remaining realistic enough to be believable!

i enjoyed how our main characters were both middle-aged, as that's something i rarely see in romance novels! i loved how they both admired each other's bodies, even with that little added softness to both of them. LIKE "having a child made her body more luscious, more tempting" OH MY DAYSSS THE WAY I'D BE FANNING MYSELF AND SWOONING.

LADIES, GET YOURSELF A MAN WHO'S OBSESSED WITH YOUR POST-PARTUM BODY LIKE PEREGRINE 🩷🤞

speaking of peregrine, what a cutie patootie. he was one of the most adorable men i've ever seen. the way he was overcome with tears at the prospect of seeing charlotte again...... oh my goodness get me a man who yearns like peregrine yearns. 🥹💞

i loved the mystery elements, i had no clue who it was until the twist happened - i regret to say that i wrongly suspected one of the sweetest characters lol. my bad dude!! 😭🤞

a few little things that i have a teensy bit of an issue with, however: first of all, i adore the name peregrine, but why on earth did we have to shorten it to 'perry'? it kinda made me giggle a little, especially during the spice scenes - i fear i was unable to take 'perry' seriously lol.

secondly: the use of some very EXPLICIT terms during the spice scenes (especially near the end) genuinely made my jaw drop. is that REALLY the way people in regency england were talking back in the day?! 😭 like damn!! it gave me such whiplash haha

but other than that, i really liked this book! the romance developed wonderfully along with the murder mystery/suspense. it kept me hooked the entire time, and i really can't wait to see what the author has in store for the other characters in this wonderful cast 🤭💖

・・・・・

𑣲 ᴅᴏ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ?

YES, especially if you're a bridgerton fan!!

[anzhelika ୨ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 3.5 stars ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

"Everything about you is pure heaven"

"Love was tender. Love was sweet. Love could tear your life apart."

i was kind of nervous going into this because this is my first historical romance. that being said, i didn't really go into it with any specific expectations. i would say that the vanishing bride was quite a nice read! the writing style and language used throughout the book sets the mood and portrays the regency era really well. the relationship between charlotte and peregrine was sweet, but i feel like it could have been developed more. that's because it seemed like it was just based on past feelings (from almost a decade ago) and lust. i'm probably going to keep up with this series because a historical romance was quite interesting for a little change in my usual reading.

this is definitely for you if you're a fan of bridgerton and those kind of vibes!

˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to Love Notes PR and Mimi Gunn for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗

pre-read:
i'm not sure if i've read a historical romance before so this will be interesting!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc obtained from Love notes
3.5⭐️rounded up
This book was a really nice read. It had what you wouldn’t expect when it comes to a historical romance given how scandalous their love story began. Their love story was very beautiful though I wish there was more development to it. It’s a second chance romance and while their love for each other was very strong, I would’ve preferred seeing more buildup towards it rather than it coming off as a relationship based on past feelings and lust. The writing style was done well and it rlly set you in the mood of this type of romance especially with the portrayal of how a scandal affects women. Their child will always have a special place in my heart she was so adorable. The mystery aspect to it was interesting but didn’t rlly pull me. Overall, it was a nice read and i’ll deff be keeping up with the rest of the series cuz the side characters seem very interesting to me

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Vanishing Bride by Mimi Gunn has the setup to be a great read. We have family secrets, a long-lost love, a murder plot. It's all there. But the writing just didn't connect it all in a way that worked for me, and there were multiple inaccuracies that took me right out of the book as a seasoned historical romance reader.

Charlotte Townsend has lived a life of seclusion in the country for the last decade. After a bad illness and a broken engagement, she retreated from the ton while her family bore the scandal caused when she was jilted. However, the ton doesn't know her worst scandal. Charlotte had a child out of wedlock with her first and only love, Lord Peregrine Spencer. Perry, along with the rest of society, believes Charlotte to be dead, and that is how she wants to keep it to protect both herself and her child.

Perry is sent by his brother to inspect one of the family's country estates. After his father died and his brother inherited the dukedom, things have been a bit overwhelming, and something is seriously wrong at the estate. Perry was recently widowed after his estranged wife passed away, and his brother thinks this will give him a purpose, so Perry heads off to the country. But on the road, he is shot and wakes up on the neighboring estate with a bullet wound in his shoulder and the weirdest sensation that he's seen his long-lost, and very dead, love. But it turns out Charlotte is not dead at all, and something is very off at her family's estate, besides Perry's brush with death.

So much of this book had the makings of a great historical romance with a romantic suspense subplot. Things just never came together the way they needed to in order to be successful.

The second-chance romance was well constructed. When I read a second-chance romance, I have to believe the reason why the relationship didn't work out the first time. In this case, Perry's father did everything he could to marry his son off to a wealthy heiress to increase the family's status. Charlotte's parents were also partly to blame, insisting she marry a much older man to gain a title and increase her family's social standing. They truly didn't stand a chance. Now they're older, more cautious, and trying to make something work for the benefit of their child. This was the part of the story I thought was most successful and well paced.

The suspense plot had a lot of promise but read as tacked on in places. Honestly, I think it could have been omitted entirely from the novel, and things would have been more successful. The setup was good, but the plot didn't organically mix with the romance the way romantic suspense needs to. Our villain wasn't introduced or even really foreshadowed until far too late in the novel. Romantic suspense is an intensely technical genre because an author is trying to balance the plotting of a thriller with the emotion of a romance, and when that thriller isn't cleanly plotted across the whole book, it leads to problems.

Just a note on some inaccuracies that drove me nuts as a long-time historical romance reader: the titling in this book is really wrong. Lords who hold a title are referred to as "Lord [title name]," not "Lord [surname]." Dukes are always referred to as "Your Grace," "His Grace," or "the Duke," and never "Lord [insert surname or title here]." Younger sons of dukes and marquesses carry the courtesy title of "Lord [first name] [last name]" and would be casually referred to as "Lord [first name]" in conversation. I won't even get into how wrong the titling of the women was. And I know we deal with Romance Law™️ a lot in historicals, but the idea that someone was marrying a woman to inherit her father's title makes no sense. If there is no male heir, the title reverts to the Crown. Now, it was eventually revealed that the Crown decided to allow Perry's father-in-law's title to pass to him, but that felt shoehorned into the story. I really wanted that information up front to explain why his father was so adamant that he marry a specific woman. None of these things are critical to the plot, but it really annoys me when these easily researchable details are wrong, especially from someone who has been writing historical romance for a long time.

I'm giving this one 3 stars because I did really enjoy the romance. Had it been a straight-up second-chance romance with no suspense plot, I probably would've enjoyed it more.

Thanks to Love Notes PR for the complimentary ARC.

[Kimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Mimi Gunn for sending me this book and letting me review early.

This book was a nice breath of fresh air for the historical romance genre. It reminded me so much of Julia Quinn's "Everything and the Moon". Our couple falls in love early on while discovering adulthood and the social expectations of the time. One flirtatious summer that was meant to end on a high note had more harmful repercussions for our female protagonist. What typically in a lot of other second chance romances are loud, and ugly breakups, this one followed the lonely path. A chance encounter brings them back together. However once they do reconcile its not on either of their own terms, they instead are forced into society's expectations. They refuse to have a constructive conversation yet have several bedroom romps. It becomes almost hair ripping annoying at times. Neither person gives the other room to speak openly or honestly about what happened or their feelings about the future.

This book was a very quick and enjoyable read, but lacked the depth that I was looking for to bump it to a 5 star. There were a ton of side characters who littered the pages but barely added value. And the main mystery of the story that the Male Lead was investigating was more shoved into the plot then easily integrated. I wish we had a bit more time with the investigation in the early stages of the book, then lead the main characters to their fated meeting.

For a modern historical romance, this checked a lot of boxes for me. I'll definitely be reading more from this author. Its fun, light, and overall compelling.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed The Vanishing Bride. The setting, atmosphere, and historical period were beautifully written, making it easy to get lost in the story. The plot developed naturally and became surprisingly scandalous. While I enjoyed the twists, some events felt a little too dramatic for a historical novel.

Nevertheless, I had a wonderful time reading this book. The engaging writing and immersive atmosphere more than made up for it, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a touch of drama.

[Javiera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mi corazón jesús Mimi 😭

He descubierto que me encanta todo lo que escribe esta mujer y me atrapa completamente con sus historias, a pesar de que es el segundo libro que leo de ella y sus libros son completamente distintos.

En esta ocasión nos presenta a Charlotte y Perry, dos personas que estuvieron enamorados, pero fueron prometidos en matrimonio a otros. Sin embargo, lo que ambos desconocen es que Charlotte tenía un secreto escandaloso que la lleva a esconderse en una remota propiedad familiar luego de enterarse de que su amor habría muerto. Por otra parte, Perry quién pensó que la mujer de sus sueños había desaparecido de la faz de tierra, decide casarse sin amor, quedando viudo tiempo después. Pero las vueltas del destino son curiosas y cuando le disparan a Perry en el camino a su casa de campo, Charlotte y los sirvientes que estaban al lado de su propiedad familiar deciden auxiliarlo, sin esperar encontrarse frente a frente con el pasado y abrir una caja de pandora que lleva años cerrada. ¿Están listos para descubrir la verdad?

CON-CHA-LA-LO-RA! Aunque en el inicio estaba como que carajos está pasando (porque el inglés aún me deja procesando la información JAJAJ), una vez le agarré el ritmo estaba como NECESITO PARAR Y PROCESAR TODAS LAS REVELACIONES QUE ESTÁ SOLTANDO ESTA MUJER 🤯

El tema de los secretos, la segunda oportunidad, la dinámica de los protagonistas y el contexto de romance histórico hicieron tan atrapante la historia que no quería soltarlo y por eso me tomé casi 3 días terminarlo 😭

Por otra parte, me encantó el crecimiento que tiene Charlotte y Perry en su relación, en como a pesar de todos los obstaculos del pasado hacen frente a su presente y sanan sus heridas, así como a los secretos que ambos guardaban y la realidad detrás de todas aquellas falsedades que ambos creían verdades❤️‍🩹

Estoy ansiosa por seguir leyendo a esta mujer, pero desde ya muchas gracias por la oportunidad Mimi, realmente me encantó leerte 🫶🏼

[Tanisha Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Plot and Premise:-

As a huge fan of the Bridgerton series, The Vanishing Bride by Mimi Gunn transported me straight back into the rich and luxurious Regency era, complete with secrets, scandals and long-buried truths.

From the very beginning, the premise felt unique and immediately hooked me. A second-chance romance between a widowed MMC and a ‘ruined’ FMC with a secret child caught my attention right away. It felt like a refreshing twist on the historical romance genre and kept me invested throughout the story.

Characters:-

The FMC felt like a breath of fresh air in this genre. Charlotte, or Lottie, considers herself ruined after a scandalous affair, yet she refuses to let it define her entire life. Instead, she finds happiness in her quiet isolation and devotes herself to raising her daughter away from the scrutiny and gossip of the ton. She is also highly knowledgeable about botany and gardening, which added another layer to her character that I really enjoyed. Although she is content living out her days in the countryside, she still carries the memories of the summer that changed the course of her life.

Perry is the epitome of the sad lover boy. He mourns the memory of a summer that brought him both love and heartbreak. Believing he ruined Lottie’s life, he bends over backwards to make things right once the secrets of their shared past finally come to light. While he spends much of the story burdened by guilt and regret, once he learns the truth he becomes determined to set things right, even if it means entering a marriage of convenience. Throughout it all, Perry never tolerates slander against Lottie and treats both her and her daughter with unwavering care and devotion.

The side characters were equally enjoyable. Beau and Louisa, Perry’s siblings, were particularly likeable and I am very interested in seeing where their stories go in future books.

Setting:-

Mimi Gunn paints a beautiful picture of Regency England. I could vividly imagine the grand estates, lush gardens and elegant gowns while reading. The setting felt immersive and added greatly to the overall atmosphere of the novel.

Themes and Emotional Impact:-

At its core, this is a story about loss, regret, forgiveness and second chances. Both Lottie and Perry spend years carrying the weight of past decisions and missed opportunities and watching them slowly find their way back to one another was deeply satisfying.

The yearning was particularly well done. I could feel the love between them that survived a decade of separation. Their longing felt genuine and emotionally resonant throughout the story.

The book also explores the realities faced by women during the Regency era, the pressures of maintaining appearances, the burden of family expectations and the heartbreak of sacrificing love for duty. These themes added depth to the romance and made the emotional moments hit even harder.

What Didn’t Work for Me:-

The main reason my rating is not higher is the inconsistency in the writing and pacing.

The mystery subplot felt somewhat patchy throughout the novel. While the romance remained the primary focus for much of the story, the latter portion shifted more heavily toward the suspense elements. Unfortunately, the mystery did not receive enough buildup to fully hold my interest. I think I would have enjoyed it more if the romance and suspense plots had been woven together more seamlessly from the beginning.

I also found parts of the book repetitive. Repetition can be effective when emphasizing emotional beats, but some points were revisited so frequently that it occasionally felt like I was reading the same observations multiple times. This was most noticeable in the middle section of the book, which felt longer than necessary.

Final Thoughts:-

Overall, The Vanishing Bride was an enjoyable historical romance with a unique premise, compelling characters and a beautifully written second-chance love story. Lottie and Perry were easy to root for and the emotional weight of their shared history carried the story for me. While the mystery subplot and pacing issues prevented this from being a higher-rated read, I still found myself invested in their journey and look forward to continuing the series.

Ratings:-

⭐ Characters: 4/5
💞 Romance: 3.75/5
🥀 Emotional Impact: 4/5
📖 Plot & Pacing: 3.5/5
🌿 Setting & Atmosphere: 3.75/5
🌶️ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.75 stars rounded up to 4 stars)

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a review copy and these are my thoughts:

This was an enjoyable read. Grand settings, mystery and secrets and, a love of a lifetime lost and found.

A secret relationship and the consequences of a line crossed. Perry and Charlotte spent the last decade apart: she, hidden away in the countryside with their love child and him, married to a woman of his father’s choosing and thinking Charlotte dead. Now, a widower, Perry is back in the countryside to help his brother but on his way there, he is shot and ends up at Charlotte’s neighbouring estate. Charlotte tends to him but is determined not to reveal herself. No such luck, because not only does Perry discover she is alive, he also learns he fathered a daughter with his lost love. Determined to right his wrongs, Perry proposes to Charlotte, who assumes theirs to be a marriage of convenience, but Perry will do all he can to win over his bride.

I enjoyed the flashbacks to when they were younger and their escapades. After he finds out she is alive, though Charlotte is somewhat skeptical that their love can be easily rekindled, their attraction is palpable and they quickly prove that they were very much meant to be. Their friendship feels as if it never ceased to exist and their physical attraction is more ardent than ever.

The “killer on the loose” subplot takes a back seat for a good chunk of the book and the focus is put on the rebuilding of Perry and Charlotte’s relationship, and is only brought back in full force once they return to London. And oh the drama!

I liked their daughter Aurelia, she was a sprite and sassy child, with whom very quickly, Perry fell in love.

This was open door and I liked seeing consent being represented in a historical romance - everything they did was consenting, even in their youth.

I was hooked from the very beginning, the pace and the rich settings really set the scene. I did feel this might have been a tad bit long but I never lost interest and ultimately, wanted to see Perry and Charlotte to their HEA.


[Spice: 2.5/5]

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*
Thank you so much to Mimi Gunn for sending me an advanced copy of The Vanishing Bride! This was my first time reading Mimi’s work, but it definitely won’t be my last.

I had such a great time reading Peregrine and Charlotte’s story. In the decade they spent apart, they both went through so much heartache; he spent all this time thinking she was dead, and she has been in seclusion hiding a scandalous secret. It’s evident that despite their time apart, they both still deeply loved each other and were happy to be reunited.

The side plot of the mystery of who is out to get Perry was interesting, though I often forgot about it to focus on the romance. I just wanted Perry and Charlotte to get their happy ending at last!

I’m so looking forward to reading about Perry’s siblings, specifically Louisa’s story with Michael. 👀

[Phoebe Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great regency romance with a lot of heart! Perry is a thoughtful and honorable man; in that time it’s not easy to do the right thing but he does without question. Charlotte was endearing to me and I found myself loving our time in her POV. The characters together balanced each other out. The tension and yearning were both there which made it a quick read. My hesitation with giving it 5 stars is that the exposition is front loaded without taking a beat in the first 40%. It felt like we were running through the reveal of Charlotte and Perry being reunited, him discovering his daughter, the prodigal, etc. I was able to look past this and have a great time reading this. I’m eager to see what’s next in the series.

Thank you LoveNotes PR for the e-arc!

[⟢₊ Ana ⟣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but not the MMC. They had a secret romance when they were teenagers, she lost her virginity to him..but she was betrothed to a older man, and he was supposed to marry another women... She ends up pregnant tells her parents..his parents find out..they all hide her away cuz it's shameful that she got knocked up and not by her soon to be husband. So she doesn't get married gets hidden away in the country to raise her kid alone..family tells him she is sick..and her family won't allow him access to her. He believes it..claims he spent weeks drinking in misery over her being sick and gone for good...he all of a sudden asks permission to marry her and her parents decline.. .he marries like right away to his new women, thinking there isn't any other options. Saying he is sad about Charlotte but they both understood the terms of their relationship ..meaning they could never be together. it is a arranged marriage with the ow that he apparently didn't want..he felt like he was betraying Charlotte which he was in my opinion...and completely moves on with his life. Has sex with his wife..even tho they had a cold marriage..she didn't even want to sleep with him but he would enter her bed chamber. And it only stopped years later when he realized his wife didn't want to have sex with him & didn't want to work on their marriage. & they grew more cold towards eachother... They didn't really need to have a child really ..I guess it's expected as a married couple..but..for a grieving guy that's apparently still in love with someone else...u would think he wouldn't bed the new wife right away .u would think it would take a few years ? ..he was later lied to and told Charlotte died ..but it was after his wedding..Why was it sooo easy for him to bed another women so fast..., doesn't scream romance to me..anyhoo I didn't like him lol. I didn't like that she was celibate for 10 yrs.. couldn't move on..with anyone cuz no one was him. But he could..he bedded his wife for years...with no issues at all..claimed they both didn't want it but come on...why else r u visiting her bed chambers 🙄 even after his own wife passed away...he grieved by sleeping around and being a manwhore..which he tells Charlotte after he finds her alive & well & she just blushes ew...and we are told A lot throughout the book. He claims he slept around a lot after his wife's death because he failed to be a good husband, failed to have a child with her. He truly didn't think about his old love that passed away. Its kinda mentioned that he missed Charlotte the MFC but bedding other women made him forget about her completely is what was kinda said in the beginning....he was to caught up with his own shit. So it was a good second chance romance...just not for me. I like celibate men ...he could of gotten married and NOT had sex with his wife at all..or had sex once and it didn't feel right to ever do it again...the fact that he was fine to constantly have sex with his wife and move on so quick didn't seem like he ever cared for the FMC at all tbh.. I guess in reality no one would stay celibate for ten years. But to me it ruins the romance in a book. He could of waited a few years before finally sleeping with his wife...but no..he slept with her right away....while his ex lover was still pregnant with his child..or just gave birth not sure of the exact timeline. So this is just a me problem lol overall the book is really good. I would recommend this. The book gives me Bridgerton tv show vibes cuz it's back in the day times. But I just didn't think the MMC cared enough or grieved enough at all for the FMC. She didn't even seem mad or upset that he married and moved on from her so quick and left her with a child to raise alone yes he didn't know...but who wouldn't be a little pissed off? She just gave birth and he was already married..& fully having sex with his new wife...she didn't wanna tell him off a bit? The MFC was just a push over to me.. didn't really do much besides blush at everything he said. And his daughter didn't have much page time, when I read secret children books...I expect more on page of the dad spending time with his daughter getting to know her, since he missed years of her life...having that bonding time..but we don't get that either in this book. He honestly is always never home for them because he is investigating who is trying to harm him & his family but he wasn't even home the night of his marriage like come on you loved her for years but u just take off? I'm sure u were there for it other wife tho right even. Turns out his father is the one that truly kept the pregnancy secret along with her parents cuz he wanted his son to marry someone that had more money, And would inherit a lot. The second half of the book is him trying to find out who is trying to harm him and Charlotte. The villian says he didn't deserve his ex wife, bcuz he was already balls deep in other women b4 his wife was even cold in the ground...does that surprise him? His pregnant ex lover was sick then apparently died & he was already balls deep in his new wife ...sooo ya....the MMC literally only stayed celibate while he was with his wife & they stopped sleeping together...he never stayed celibate for the MFC Charlotte. He didn't grieve her supposed death & not touch his wife..it wasn't hard for him to move on at all. So overall if you are fine with the guy not being celibate..this is a cute read.

[Jade Devorak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four/Five ⭐️

Thank you to LoveNotesPR and Mimi Gunn for providing me with this ARC!💗

This was such a magically beautiful book that took me right out of the 21st century and plopped me down somewhere in the Victorian Era. Historical Romances hold a special place in my heart and their enchanting settings never fail to captivate me.

Peregrine and Charlotte are meant for each other and their love story was wholesome, even if it was quite scandalous. I felt like a rich old auntie, clutching her pearls and sipping my tea, while reading this haha

There’s a bit of a murder/threat on life- kinda mystery situation that was to be solved in this book which I quite enjoyed, and the climax was absolutely thrilling!

Although the cover looks quite innocent, the book is actually quite spicy🤭 and it was interesting to read “filthy” dialogues in such a setting lmao.

Also- I absolutely adored Aurelia, she is such a sweetheart and I love the family of the main characters💗 it’s so heartwarming to see them being supported by their loved ones🥹

This book took me right back to my episode days where I used to play such stories all day and read beautifully illustrated mangas/manhwas. It felt very nostalgic to me and that definitely elevated my reading experience!

There’s nothing better than something that takes you right back to your golden memories of the past🌸

For readers who are looking for a simple, bread & butter, feel-good type of book that is also quite spicy and with a beautiful setting, this is perfect 💗

It’s available on Kindle Unlimited and on Amazon for the Paperback versions, please check it out!!🫧

-Jade xoxo 💋

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute masterpiece!
5/5 stars 🌟
4/5 spice🌶️

🗣️ Dual POV
🥰 Second Chance
👑 Regency Romance
💔 Widower MMC
🍼 Secret Child
💞 Hurt x Comfort
💍 Marriage of Convenience

Quotes from The Vanishing Bride:
'For a moment, he welcomed death, knowing she would be waiting for him on the other side.'

'Love was tender. Love was sweet. Love could tear your life apart.'

A swoon-worthy second chance romance with suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Perry & Lottie's story was beautifully written, to where you can feel every emotion they experience throughout their story...sometimes feeling it too much! 😭😭

We love a man OBSESSED, and Perry DELIVERSSS! He's got a degree in 'yearnalism' for his Lottie 😜

With this being my first Mimi Gunn book, I didn't know what to expect, but she was instantly added to my favorites list. 💕 Her writing style is phenomenal & her story-telling ability is amazing!

I absolutely LOVED The Vanishing Bride & I'm so excited to read book 2!
Thank you LoveNotesPR and Mimi for the eARC!💕🫶🏼

[Sonya Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun, different read for me. I enjoy the historical fiction genre, but I don't think I've ready many that were romance based. This also had some fun suspense & mystery throughout as well, trying to solve who is out to kill Perry.

I loved that after a brief discussion, the blame was placed right where it should be, mainly Perry’s father. Even when Perry was upset, he seemed to recognize the difficult position Charlotte was in, and why she was forced to make those choices. Loved the scene where Perry’s sister is teaching the daughter to ask for dresses, and loved how welcoming she was with Charlotte. Can’t wait to see more of the family hopefully in future books.

Book one in the Lost Loves series, and I am excited to see what is next.

Thank you to Love Notes PR for the ARC!

[Hayley Peckham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohhhh these two 🥹 I am an absolute sucker for a second chance romance, but give me a spicy second chance romance with Bridgerton vibes, I'm completely goner. 🥵

After a sweet summer filled with flirtation and young love, Lottie and Perry are cruelly torn apart because of their families lies. Lottie disappears from Perry's life without him ever knowing the truth.

Years later, an unfortunate chance encounter brings them back together. While forced to stay at Lottie’s home, Perry finally uncovers the secrets surrounding Lottie and learns why they were separated all those years ago. His solution? A marriage of convenience. But is it really just that? 😉

The longing and yearning between these two is absolutely everything. Their chemistry leaps off the page, and the flashbacks completely stole my heart. I absolutely adored how protective and obsessed Perry was with Lottie and his daughter. I was rooting for them from beginning to end, throw in some mystery and some nail biting suspense and I was hooked.

Loved it!!!

Thank you Mimi for the advanced copy to read 🫶

[Jessica Ogram · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had the perfect mix of intriguing plot, lovable characters, spice and good writing. I can honestly say I am impatient to read more from this author and this series. I can barely fault anything, I think the only thing for me was pacing (quite a slow paced book in my opinion), everything else was perfect. The writing was descriptive. The characters didn’t have the most character development but they didn’t need it because they were great, both the MC’s and side characters. It’s just overall a book I would recommend. I am grateful to have read this book as an arc and share my honest joy for it.

[Savanah Weakly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you LoveNotesPR and Mimi for the eARC!
 
What to expect:
🥰 Second Chance
👑 Regency Romance
🍼 Secret Child
💍 Marriage of Convenience
 
Overall I enjoyed this book. The first third/half seemed to drag but the rest of it had more intrigue, twists, and action/suspense. It's a good read for those who enjoy historical fiction with spice and suspense. It was intriguing, fun, and full of mystery. Perry and Lottie were absolutely adorable together, the chemistry was great, and their love for each other was brilliant! Definitely one any fan of historical romance should read!

[Rachel May · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vanishing Bride is a fun, historical romance that takes places in the regency era. This book gave me Bridgerton vibes with a tad more spice.

Charlotte and Perry know each other from a secret past but unfortunately they couldn’t be together because both were betrothed to others. But when an unexpected “injury” brings Perry to Charlotte’s door these two are forced to talk about the past and maybe plan for the future.

I really enjoyed this story, I loved the flashbacks of their former relationship. There is a ton of witty banter between the two main characters and that makes this book light-hearted and funny. If you are a reader who enjoys: historical romances, second-chances, witty characters, and secrets and mysteries you need to add The Vanishing Bride to your TBR.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate to receive an ARC copy of this book, and I found it a really enjoyable read! I have marked this as spoilers to avoid accidentally ruining any surprises!

This is a Regency romance featuring secret baby, second chance romance, and marriage of convenience plots, and I loved seeing these familiar tropes translated into a historical setting, which made the story feel new and fresh.

One of my favourite aspects of the book was the relationship between the two main characters, in both the present and the flashbacks. The mutual pining was lovely and made me root for them as they found their way back to one another. I also really enjoyed seeing their relationship with the child develop, which added plenty of warmth and emotional depth to the story.

The other characters were well developed. Perry's siblings were all interesting in their own right, and I'd happily read books centred around each of them. The crime subplot was also woven into the story really well, and I genuinely didn't see the twist coming.

The only reason this wasn't quite a five-star read for me was that I would have loved a little more development between Perry and Aurelia (father and daughter) by the end.

Overall, this was a well-developed historical romance with a guaranteed happily ever after, which I’d definite recommend

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

[miniessona · Rating 4 out of 5]

☆ ARC REVIEW ☆


♡ This review has been sitting in my drafts for a week now 😭💗 and I finally found the time to post it🥲

♡ It was my first time reading a book by Mimi Gunn and, honestly, I really enjoyed it. It was also my first time reading a regency romance, and I think this was such a good introduction to the genre.😭💗

♡ As always, I won't spoil anything, but if you've never read a regency romance before, The Vanishing Bride is a great place to start. It has a lovely balance of romance and suspense. And if you loved Bridgerton or Pride and Prejudice, you might want to give this one a try too.😌

[Night · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Mimi Gunn and Love Notes PR for the opportunity.

I think this book made me understand that I totally am a regency romance girly. It was a fun and quick read (even though the current heatwave in Europe made me a very slow reader haha). I just wish there were more development in the relationship between Aurelia and Perry, this is why it's 4 stars and not 5.
Other than that, the story was very enjoyable and well developed. The flow was easy to keep track of, and the story made sense. But again, there could be a huge plot hole and I wouldn't see it because when I read, I don't think. I loved the flashbacks that were integrated in the book, we don't have all the details of the story, we discover it with each memory and lines by the characters.
This book is one of the few second chance books I've read that I actually enjoy and don't mind the second chance.
This book makes me want to read more of the author. I loved the writing style and can only hope to be able to read the rest of the series (as arcs if possible but let's not get too greedy) and other projects.
I will definitely recommend this book to some of my friends!

[Aentauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book! It’s a light read, and when you’re into the old, regency romance like the Bridgerton series, this would be a nice book to pick up. There are some similarities but the plot of this one is actually quite interesting. Scandalous, heated affairs reminded me so much of Bridgerton!

There were some grammar and typographical errors that might have been overlooked, but the story was a nice, smooth read! It’s a good book to pass the time.

Also, this is a very smutty book. That part though felt modern and it kind of felt out-of-regency-era, but it fit the book and the story anyway.

[Chloë · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Love Notes PR for the ARC!

For fans of Emma Orchard, Alexandra Vasti and Amalie Howard.

When an injured man shows up at Charlotte’s door she is forced to face her past. When Perry wakes up in a strange place, he thinks he’s seen a ghost.

A beautiful and touching second chance romance with so much yearning that had me in tears more than once, I just wanted them to be as happy so badly.

Throw in a secret child, a mystery that may threaten their newfound happiness and a tumultuous return to society and I was utterly hooked.

Fantastic characters, gripping plot, delicious spice! What more could I want?!

[Somer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vanishing Bride … was soo good I loved every moment Of this book and u am completely obsessed with Mimi’s writing and I know I’m going to pick up every book she writes. This book was giving Bridgerton but more spice and was well executed, I highly recommend this book to all the romance lovers especially If you love historical romances . You don’t wanna miss out on this amazing book I Know it will be a heck of a good time .

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

An attempted murder, a long lost love, a secret child, an actual murder and a marriage of convenience.

The recently widowed Earl of Winchester has been shot on his way to his family's estate. Thankfully he is found by the servants of Fermoy and taken in to recover. During his stay the ghost of his lost love seems to haunt him and his senses.

Charlotte was a dead woman or at least many of the beau monde of London seemed to think so. Having been sent to live in the country after finding herself with child she has come to love her quiet life in the country. That is until a certain gentleman is found shot and now she has to find a way to herself hidden from him.

The Vanishing Bride has everything a regency romance lover would ever want for in a book: Delicious amounts of drama? check. Two idiots in love, but somewhat unable to verbalize it? check. A truckload of well written spice? check

All I can say is that if you love Bridgerton or Pride and Prejudice you need to read The Vanishing Bride. Don't think about it, just go and get a copy!

[Sneha R · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love historic London or Bridgerton vibes then this book is for you.
This book holds all the essence of bridgerton and their feelings of society. No doubt Mimi wrote everything like she is crafting a pearl necklace, bead by bead.
Perry and Lottie have shown that love can be found if we give a second chance to it. Although for them, some coincidences happened or some mishap was there. I am totally smitten by how Perry behaved like a Man and took care of Lottie after so many years, also enjoyed the plot twist here and then.

Overall this book got me hooked to read in a single go and would highly recommend if you like the stories of a ton.

Thank you Mimi and Love Notes PR for trusting me with this ARC copy.

[Kimberly S45 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

It’s been a while since I read a historical and it was just what I needed.

Delightful and a bit of a mystery as well.

Charlotte and Peregrine (Perry) were once in love , but betrothed to others. Mysteriously Charlotte vanished and Perry was reconciled to marry someone he did not love. When Perry’s wife died he resigned to be alone

Charlotte was thought to have died as well, but when Perry is shot on the way to his country home he is taken in by Charlotte and the servants at their estate. Which happens to be next to his family estate.


The hidden secrets and mystery were good. For me it was a tad repetitive in some spots.

Enjoyable read

🥰 Second Chance
👑 Regency Romance
💔 Widower MMC
🍼 Secret Child
💞 Hurt x Comfort
💍 Marriage of Convenience

Thanks to love notes pr for the arc