Fair as a Star

by Mimi Matthews

Overview

--A LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST ROMANCE of 2020--

"A kindhearted love story that will delight anyone who longs to be loved without limits. Highly recommended." -Library Journal, STARRED review

"Historical romance fans won't want to miss this." -Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

A Secret Burden...

After a mysterious sojourn in Paris, Beryl Burnham has returned home to the village of Shepton Worthy ready to resume the life she left behind. Betrothed to the wealthy Sir Henry Rivenhall, she has no reason to be unhappy--or so people keep reminding her. But Beryl's life isn't as perfect as everyone believes.

A Longstanding Love...

As village curate, Mark Rivenhall is known for his compassionate understanding. When his older brother's intended needs a shoulder to lean on, Mark's more than willing to provide one. There's no danger of losing his heart. He already lost that to Beryl a long time ago.

During an idyllic Victorian summer, friends and family gather in anticipation of Beryl and Sir Henry's wedding. But in her darkest moment, it's Mark who comes to Beryl's aid. Can he help her without revealing his feelings--or betraying his brother?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781733056977
Publisher:	Perfectly Proper Press
Publication date:	07/14/2020
Series:	Victorian Romantics , #1
Pages:	202
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.46(d)

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning Victorian romances. Her novels have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, and Shelf Awareness, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes a retired Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats.

Editorial Reviews

--A LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST ROMANCE of 2020---

"Matthews (The Lost Letter) spins a moving friends-to-lovers Victorian romance that stands out for its sensitive portrayal of a heroine living with depression...Historical romance fans won't want to miss this." -Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

A compassionate treatment of a heroine with a condition not commonly addressed in the historical romance subgenre. This, combined with Mark's romantic gestures toward Beryl, results in a kindhearted love story that will delight anyone who longs to be loved without limits. Highly recommended." -Library Journal, STARRED review

"A romance that is built on empathy and trust...the author deftly addresses the importance of bringing mental health treatments out of the shadows." -Kirkus Reviews

"If you love historical romance, you'll love this book." -The Herald-Dispatch

From the Publisher

07/17/2020

Beryl Burnham dreads returning to the village of Shepton Worthy and her impending marriage to the somber but wealthy Henry Rivenhall after a yearlong reprieve in Paris. Unfortunately, Beryl's depression returns full force now that she's home, and the only person willing to support her without question is Mark Rivenhall, Henry's younger brother and the local curate. Mark has loved Beryl for years, but owing to her engagement has vowed to keep his feelings secret. Seeing Beryl blame herself for her melancholy, he tries to find ways to help her manage her sadness, rejecting the widely recognized but barbaric medical solutions of the day, which Henry clearly endorses. When Henry's insensitivity toward Beryl's depression becomes clear, Beryl realizes she must make a choice between a safe but miserable future with Henry and a less predictable life with Mark, who accepts her unconditionally. VERDICT From the best-selling author of the "Paris Orphans of Devon" series comes a compassionate treatment of a heroine with a condition not commonly addressed in the historical romance subgenre. This, combined with Mark's romantic gestures toward Beryl, results in a kindhearted love story that will delight anyone who longs to be loved without limits. Highly recommended.—Eve Stano, Ball State Univ. Muncie, IN

Library Journal

2020-07-16
A young woman’s homecoming sparks secret revelations in this Victorian romance.

Beryl Burnham suffers from clinical depression, or “melancholy,” as it was known at the time. Though she keeps busy to hold the sadness at bay, Beryl can never fully escape it. After an overdose of sleeping powder, she is whisked off to Paris with her aunt to rest and recover. Beryl returns home to her small English village and must face her fiance, Sir Henry Rivenhall, a wealthy man who is ruled by practicality. He has no tolerance for Beryl’s silly “emotions” and believes bearing children will cure her of her selfish sadness. While Beryl struggles to cope with Henry’s accusations and ideas, her one refuge is her friendship with Mark, Henry’s brother and a curate at the local church. Mark sets out to better understand Beryl’s depression and tells her that he has “no expectation of curing” her. He just wants to help Beryl cope and, in modern parlance, give her the necessary tools to succeed. But as the days pass, it becomes apparent that Beryl and Mark have feelings for each other. Beryl accepted Henry’s proposal because it was practical. But she soon realizes that she must find a way to extricate herself from the arrangement and embrace her feelings rather than push them aside. Matthews constructs a romance that is built on empathy and trust, demonstrating that it’s not just brute strength or power that might attract a person. In addition to offering a sweet romance, the author deftly addresses the importance of bringing mental health treatments out of the shadows. And just as she explores the depression that underlies Beryl’s need to stay busy, Matthews exposes the darker side of a pretty English village where malicious gossip and unrealistic expectations can render incredible harm.

An emphasis on mental health care and compassion underlies a charming historical romance. (author's note)

Kirkus Reviews