Julie Carpenter

“James had been invited to the Carletons' ball along with the rest of his family. He hadn't planned on attending. He'd already indulged his unwilling attraction to Hannah Heywood far more than was good for him.”
― Mimi Matthews, A Lady of Conscience

“Effie's brow lifted. Miss Corvus never received any of the girls in her private rooms. Not even the teachers. At least, she hadn't during Effie's tenure. Miss Corvus's rooms had always been sealed off, as impenetrable as a tomb, behind an impassable set of tall, iron-banded wooden doors. Not even the canniest members of the Academy had dared attempt entry.”
― Mimi Matthews, Rules for Ruin

“She had promised herself nearly a year past she would never consider marrying a man until she could be certain of his trustworthiness and intentions. James had proven his character over and over again, from the first moments of their acquaintance. She loved him and was far more capable of understanding and giving her affection than ever she'd been before.”
― Emily Opal, The Gentlewoman Companion

“During their months apart, he’d begun to wonder if he’d imagined how beautiful she was–how very perfect she was for his painting. But he hadn’t imagined anything, had he? Indeed, it was possible that his memory had blunted the effect of her.”
― Mimi Matthews, The Muse of Maiden Lane