Gentleman Jim (Somerset Stories Book 2)

Gentleman Jim has been on my TBR list since at least 2020. I've pretty much read all of Mimi Matthews's fiction books. But I just never got my hands on this when it released. Since none of my family members gave me any books for Christmas, I used a gift card to finally purchaseGentleman Jim. As usual, Mimi Matthews didn't disappoint.Maggie and Nicholas grew up together. He was the son of a servant so their classes weren't equal, and there was always a little drama around the amount of time they spent together. Over the years, they grew closer, and their friendship began to transform into more even though they didn't have opportunity to explore that. Maggie's father was always set on her aligning with a neighboring family by marrying Fred, the son of their closest neighbor. The problem, aside from Maggie being in love with Nicholas, was that Fred was a terrible person.Maggie's father could never deny Maggie anything, but in his death he willed that Maggie's financial guardianship would be handled by Fred until she weds and only to a man that Fred approves up. Unfortunately, the only man Fred approves of is himself. Maggie has 6 months to get married before she's pretty much forced to marry Fred. But Fred is the one responsible for Nicholas leaving her. Fred framed Nicholas for stealing Maggie's jewelry, and Maggie helped him flee before he was hung. He promised to return to her no matter how long it took, but that was 10 years ago.We start the story with Maggie visiting her friend in London. She learns upon arrival that Fred is set to engage in a duel the next day over cheating at a game of cards with a Viscount. She basically freaks out because there is no provision in her father's will if something happens to Fred. She makes the hasty decision to visit the Viscount in the dead of night and beg him not to kill Fred.I had so many questions. Would Maggie forget about Nicholas? Was Maggie right about her suspicions? What circumstances would ever get Fred to agree to Maggie marrying anyone else? Ultimately, I liked how Mimi Matthews handled all of my questions.Favorite quotes:-"Your Mr. Burton- Smythe needed to be taught a lesson. He needed to be humiliated. I hope he’ll be a much better person now.” Miss Honeywell bristled. “He’s not my Mr. Burton- Smythe.” “I’m very happy to hear it.” “And if you think anything could make him a better person, then you’re very much mistaken.” “Yes. Perhaps I am. In truth, I suspect he’ll need to be shot a great many more times in order to effect a noticeable change.”-“Enough of your forked- tongue pleasantries, Lavinia,” Allendale said. “There’s nothing I despise more than a serpent who walks upright.”Despite waiting a couple of years to read Gentleman Jim, I wasn't disappointed. I read it within 24 hours because I didn't want to put it down. I had questions that I don't even want to reveal because even the questions might be spoilers. Gentleman Jim gets 4 Stars. Have you read Gentleman Jim? What did you think? Let me know!

Wealthy Margaret Honeywell grew up alongside neighbor Frederick Burton-Smythe and stablehand Nicholas Seaton. She's always disliked the one and loved the other. When Fred frames Nicholas for theft, she helps Nicholas escape and he leaves promising to come back to her. Ten years later she is in the difficult position of having to marry Fred -who has only grown worse with age- or see her fortune and estate pass into his hands and leave her nothing. Then the appearance on the scene of the mysterious John Beresford, Viscount St. Clare, changes everything. Maggie is certain he is her long-lost love Nicholas. St. Clare denies it, but proceeds to court her and drive Fred to increasing levels of cruel antagonism. St. Clare's right to inherit the title and estate of his grandfather is being questioned by distant relations and he should be keeping his focus on dealing with that. But Maggie changes all of his plans and now he must decide who he is, and what he is willing to do- and to give up- to be that man.Author Mimi Matthews (Work of Art) has once again written a book that enthralls and entertains from start to finish. She's admitted that Gentleman Jim has some Count of Monte Cristo inspirations and I enjoyed every one of those moments. That knowledge means that it won't surprise readers familiar with the story to know that St. Clare and Nicholas are the same person. But there's much more to the story of Nicholas and his origins than that and one of the questions that keeps readers guessing is: how much of St. Clare/Nicholas is fiction and how much is truth? He grows into an intelligent, cold, and calculating planner with an obvious path set out, but how much is his plan and how much his (supposed) grandfather's? Trying to keep up with the secrets and machinations of the Beresford men kept me guessing all the way to the end, which I very much enjoyed. Maggie may be one of my favorite Matthews' heroines- a strong woman willing to overcome obstacles, believing unconditionally in her love even when she isn't always able to believe in herself or see her way out of a situation. She's willing to accept help from friends (unlike so many headstrong characters), take risks, and when in doubt, use a pistol to great effect. I also loved the relationship between Maggie and St. Clare. These are two people who are meant to be together, and who have a soul-deep understanding despite being separated by ten years, a continent, and endless secrets. Their chemistry is perfect, and their connection perhaps shows readers that there are times when people are just meant to be together.From shadowy taverns to glittering ballrooms, Gentleman Jim is a winner from start to finish. Wonderful characters with electrical chemistry, revenge, adventure, and fortunes hanging in the balance, this is a perfect book to read and re-read. This is Mimi Matthews at her finest!

I have loved every one of Mimi Matthews’ books I have read, and GENTLEMAN JIM is no exception. She skillfully blends an exciting story of mystery, revenge and intrigue with an emotionally charged second-chance love story.The way that Ms. Matthews conveys the inseparable bond between the young Maggie and Nicholas in the Prologue is so beautifully done. I loved Nicolas’ gentle teasing:“…I never do what?”“Stare at my bosom.”Heat rose in his cheeks. He looked at her a moment, dumbstruck, before giving her a crooked smile. “What bosom?”and Maggie’s fiery temper:“The blackguard!” Maggie’s low voice trembled with fury. “The confounded coward!…”It was heart-breaking to see Maggie and Nicholas torn apart by Fred’s evil machinations, but it compelled me to read on, desperate to know what happened to them.Ten years have passed, and I was sad to notice the change in Maggie. A bout of influenza and two periods of mourning for her father and aunt have left her in a fragile state of health. As executor of her father’s will, I hated how much control Fred exerted over Maggie’s life and how she had no choice but to marry him if she wished to retain her beloved home, Beasley Park. Despite everything, Maggie’s spirit has never been broken and this is clearly seen later on in the story.'…what she lacked in physical stamina, she more than made up for in spirit. In heart.'John Beresford, Viscount St. Clare, the Earl of Allendale’s grandson, has recently returned to England after spending many years on the continent. His whole bearing proclaims him as someone of wealth and privilege since birth. He is known for his coldness – a man who ‘never lets his emotions get the better of his reason’. His grandfather is eager for him to find a wife to secure the survival of the family line.When Maggie goes to London to stay with her friend, Jane Trumble, she discovers that Fred is to fight a duel with Viscount St. Clare. Fearful of what would happen to Beasley Park should Fred be killed, Maggie goes to see St. Clare in the hope of stopping the duel. She is shocked to see that he bears an uncanny resemblance to her beloved Nicholas!I knew in my heart of hearts that St.Clare and Nicholas Seaton must be one and the same person, but Ms. Matthews certainly kept me in suspense. How on earth could an illegitimate, lowly groom become a well-educated and much travelled viscount? Even Maggie has her doubts at first, but the clues are there – the eyes, the smile, the way he says her name, and the one thing that ultimately proclaims, beyond a shadow of a doubt, his true identity.“Great God, I knew it.” Her eyes found his, a glimmer of triumph shining in their liquid sapphire depths. “It really is you.”The romance is so beautifully written, and I could feel the depth of their love for each other – both willing to give up on their dreams to be together. I think this is definitely the most sensual book Ms. Matthews has written, and she succeeds in making a single kiss or a look far more effective than any number of tedious sex scenes.Their happiness is threatened by Fred who is always scheming to drive them apart, and Cousin Lionel and his mother who are spreading rumours to cast doubt on St. Clare’s legitimacy. I’m delighted to say that they all get their just deserts.At first, I disliked Clare’s grandfather. It seemed that all he cared about was securing the family title, and St. Clare meant nothing to him other than a means to an end. However, his actions later in the story reveal how much he truly cares for his grandson. I liked Maggie’s friend, Jane Trumble, and her maid, Bessie, who showed such loyalty. Jane’s Aunt Harriet, their supposed chaperone, made me smile with her habit of falling asleep the minute she sits down and her inability to hear anything without her ear trumpet!Although deceased, Gentleman Jim has a strong presence in the book and the mystery surrounding his true identity and his relevance to the characters and events in the story was intriguing.The icing on the cake was a truly charming Epilogue.Another wonderful book by one of my favourite authors. Highly recommended.

This story moves along at a good pace, and held my interest throughout. Not a new idea - a servant boy discovered to be the heir to a titled gentleman - but told well, with a lot of uncertainties throughout surrounding the legitimacy of the claim and an interesting cast of supporting characters. There is a first, undying love, villainous relatives, scheming relatives on both sides, supportive friends and faithful servants. As OLT said in her review, there was one aspect that was rather glaringly wrong; the story moves on from that, but I couldn't dismiss it. I liked the way certain issues were dealt with realistically - the heroine has an illness, coupled with a long period of mourning, which leaves her quite weak; she improves, but will have to live with her condition and make some adjustments. In her role as the only daughter of the owner of the estate where she grew up, she makes certain assumptions about her influence on the running of the estate, but as an adult she is disabused of that idea by the land steward. In other words, her situation is presented as it would have been at that time, with a woman having no rights or say over how her life is managed by male relatives. The author is American and English readers will be conscious of the differences in spelling, the occasional American word or terminology, but it didn't affect my enjoyment.

What a lovely story to start my book reviewing year! At the start of Mimi Matthews’ Gentleman Jim, there’s a strong and abiding affection between two friends, Nicholas and Margaret. Margaret is a squire’s daughter, Nicholas the bastard son of a servant. Straightaway there’s a tension between Nicholas and the bullying son of a wealthy landowner. Nicholas is driven off, and Maggie is left without her friend… until time passes, and they meet again.No spoilers here, but immediately the story set up a question in my mind: “What if Catherine Earnshaw had kept the faith, and not married Edgar Linton in Wuthering Heights, when Heathcliff was forced away? Is this what would have happened?”Gentleman Jim is subtitled as a “tale of romance and revenge.” Romance, definitely. Revenge? Meh. My one caveat about the story is that I don’t think the villains really get their come-uppance (or maybe I’m just bloodthirsty). But it is a lovely, light, engaging, entertaining, funny, sweet, sexy and delightful story to start a year of romance reading. Mimi Matthews was a new writer to me, and I will definitely be reading more of her work.

A lovely story , well written and polished. No complaints this time. Quite often, kindle stories read like the first draft of a story with mis spelling and misplaced words. were they on paper I would be tempted to read with a red pen in my hand for making corrections. Also, all too often they are littered with slang which would never have been allowed in the period about which they portray.

This was an captivating read with engaging characters. I did like Margaret ( Maggie) Honeywell, she was a strong character and even though she was recovering from her illness, she was determined not to give in to Frederick’s domineering wishes. John Beresford, Viscount St. Clare was a handsome man, but he had his problems. Some relatives were trying to cast aspersions on his birth. John does seem familiar to Maggie but she isn’t sure if they have met before. As with the other books I have read by this author, it will keep you reading until the end. There are a few villains as well as some interesting secondary characters, such John’s grandfather, the earl.