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Review: THE MARRIAGE METHOD by Mimi Matthews
- Christina Boyd
- 11 hours ago
- 3 min read
ABOUT THE BOOK
The Academy always comes first . . . which makes marriage to its most formidable adversary an exceedingly inconvenient arrangement.
Well removed from London’s more curious eyes, the Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies strives toward one clandestine goal: to distract, disrupt, and discredit men in power who would seek to harm the advancement of women—by appropriate means, of course.
When intrepid newspaper editor Miles Quincey starts to question the school’s intentions, the Academy appoints Penelope “Nell” Trewlove, one of their brightest graduates, to put this nuisance to rest. An easy enough mission, she supposes. Or it would be, if Miles wasn’t so fascinating—too fascinating to resist—and if Nell’s visit to London didn’t perfectly coincide with the murder of one of Miles’s reporters.
When the inexorable claws of fate trap Nell and Miles in a compromising situation, they agree to an arrangement that will save their reputations while enabling them to investigate the story that led to a man’s death, as well as the surprising chemistry between them . . .
REVIEW by Christina Boyd
The Marriage Method is a delightful mix of intrigue, feminist mischief, and slow-burn romance. The Benevolent Academy secretly works to undermine men who hinder women’s progress, which puts them on a collision course with Miles Quincey, a sharp-eyed newspaper editor. To divert him, the Academy sends Penelope “Nell” Trewlove—only for the pair to end up entangled in a murder investigation and an unforgettable, hilariously ridiculous misunderstanding that forces them into marriage. The titillating “compromised into marriage” scenario perfectly balances humor with the first sparks of attraction.
Nell's mouth went dry as his fingers engulfed hers. His hand was easily twice the size of her own, surely better suited to holding a steel broadsword than a steel-nibbed pen. His shoulders were quite broad, too, lending an unmistakable power to the leanness of his long-limbed frame.
Alarm bells jangled in her head, inspired as much by his physical presence as by the peculiar intensity that gleamed at the back of his dark brown eyes.
This was the gentleman who had penned the explosive series of articles that had lately brought down a politician. A dogged and indefatigable reporter, possessed of an unassailable firmness of character, unafraid of retaliation or threats.
For the first time, Nell considered the possibility that she might be out of her depth. —Chapter 1
The romance sparkles: Miles’s attentiveness, rooted in both his journalist instincts and his kind heart, makes Nell feel cherished. Despite being closed-door, the intimacy feels natural and essential, with slightly more heat than typical for Mimi Matthews, while still staying well within boundaries.
Warm, witty, and emotionally satisfying, this is a charming romance with enough mystery to keep the pages turning—and a couple you can’t help but root for. Brava!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning Victorian romances, including The Siren of Sussex, a 2023 RUSA Reading List shortlist pick for Best Romance; Fair as a Star, a Library Journal Best Romance of 2020; Gentleman Jim, a Kirkus Best Book of 2020; and The Work of Art, winner of the 2020 HOLT Medallion and a 2021 Daphne du Maurier Award nominee. Mimi’s 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. To learn more, please visit her website.
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