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Michelle is Currently Reading

Michelle is currently reading

The Siren of Sussex (Belles of London, #1)

by Mimi Matthews (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: audibles, historical, no-steam, slow-burn, favorites, currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

read in July 2025

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Michelle said: " It's a bit embarrassing on how much of a Mimi Matthews reading kick I've been on. But when I try to read other books the writing seems to be so subpar!

I honestly didn't think I would enjoy this book as much as I did. The plot didn't grip me that much It's a bit embarrassing on how much of a Mimi Matthews reading kick I've been on. But when I try to read other books the writing seems to be so subpar!

I honestly didn't think I would enjoy this book as much as I did. The plot didn't grip me that much, but with how much I have absolutely adored her other books, I decided to use my monthly audible credit on this book. I am so glad I did!

Evelyn needs to make a big splash this season in order to find a quality husband. Her older sister ran off to be a mistress of a man she fell in love with, so it's up to Evelyn to make a good match so her younger sisters can have a prosperous future. Evelyn's plan is be noticed on horseback on Rotten Street (what a name for a street...). In her mind, the only thing that really makes her stand out is her horseback skill. So she finds a dressmaker, Ahmad Malik.

Ahmad Malik is an extremely talented half-Indian dressmaker. It being the victorian era and him being half-Indian makes him stand on the edge of society. He doesn't ever feel as though he fits in. He has to deal with racism, classism, and fetishism. A few of the women who hired him to be their dressmaker full on fetishize him and try (unsuccessfully because this is a clean romance AND he has high morals, AND they actually disgust him) to bed him. Reading about their attempts made me get a pit in my stomach--which was, I believe, the goal of the writing. We often read about our heroines get preyed upon by men (and I'm sure nearly all, if not all of us women have experienced it ourselves at least once in our lives, unfortunately), it was a very realistic and interesting twist to read it happening to a man.

Reading about how Evelyn and Ahmad fell in love was so sweet. The sexual tension between them is palpable. But yes, this is a clean romance, so all we get are kisses and ungloved hand holding (think of that hand-flexing scene from 2005 film Pride and Prejudice). They are both strong and independent and good hearted, but not perfect. They are paired perfectly. The longing is sweet and intense.

I love how I learn so much by reading her books. This book delved quite deeply into the Victorian Era's obsession with Spiritualism. It was so interesting to read about! And how it effected fashion and culture as well.

The narration of this took some getting used to. Don't get me wrong, the narration was for the most part fantastic. Vidish Athavale narrated for Ahmed, and when Ahmed's voice got husky for Evelyn...just wow....wow. However, the consonants (especially the c, s, th, t) were particularly harsh to listen to. I was listening to it in my car, but I imagine if I had earbuds in it would make me literally wince in pain. But afterwhile I got used to it (or maybe it stopped? Maybe the narrator got a new mic midway through the reading?). The narrator for Evelyn, Lydia Hanman, has such a beautiful voice. However, she would have random split second pauses in her sentences that would make no sense. It wouldn't be where a comma would normally be, or a period, it was seemingly totally random. But after awhile I stopped noticing that, too. So maybe it was all in my head.

But I very much recommend this book, it has a very different feel and atmosphere than her Sommerset series (Work of Art, ect), it's a bit more light-hearted despite navigating some sensitive issues. But the chemistry between Ahmad and Evelyn is wonderful and gave me the romantic butterflies. So yes, if you like Mimi Matthews read this. If you like historical romances read this. ...more "

Jul 09, 2025 01:22PM · see review

Michelle’s Quotes

“It was a mistake bacause Ifell under his warmth and aroma, his smell. For a split a second, I closed my eyes, enjoing this moment.”
― Yanina K., Seduction by Death: Seduction Series

tags: dark-romance

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