Loved reading a historical where characters of Indian heritage take the lead. Loved the MCs, loved how they found a way to cross the class divide. Really enjoyed all the Belles and look forward to reading the next one. ( )

I've read 6 previous books by this author and enjoyed them all above average, but this one was just mediocre. Perhaps if it were edited down it wouldn't feel so meandering. But this was kind of a slog for not a ton of payoff. I didn't dislike the characters, but I wasn't that drawn in to them either.

Things I did like- I liked that the hero was a tailor/dressmaker. And I liked her female friend group. And that it starred an interracial couple.

And I liked the attention to historical detail, though I think it was partially this focus on historical events that bogged the book down. The multiple seance scenes for instance, given in great detail, which the heroine had to sit through, kind of forced the reader to sit through them too. She wasn't performing them or buying into them, the hero wasn't there for any of them, if you removed that entire theme the story would still make sense with only very slight adjustment (but the book would be significantly shorter). I think the only reason the author went into such great detail was to include some historical facts she knew. (I had wondered why the mediums were getting so much focus when they weren't even *side* characters, but in the author's notes apparently they were based on some real people.*shrug*) I generally enjoy true events worked in, but they either needed to be just touched on and not made such a large part of the story, or they needed to add something more relevant to it. ( )

I love a good historical romance, with interesting characters, and this book delivers. But what I love even more is a historical fiction book that teaches me something about the time period, and this book does that as well — based a little on the historical figures of the pretty horse breakers, courtesans of Rotten Row. Even better, a hero who loves tailoring and fashion and is of Indian background. Delightful. ( )

Now this is the way that clean romances should be written... Steamy without being scandalous! (Although I do appreciate a scandalous scene too- but I digress.)

Excellent character development and a subtle way of discussing social issues of the time made this book incredibly enjoyable. I look forward to reading the future books in this series! ( )

Someone else here said there is a lot going on, and I would agree. The spiritualism sub-plot, the Lady Heatherton villainy that isn't fully addressed, the issues with the seamstresses that Ahmad alludes to, Evie's disgraced older sister... it's like the author wanted to address all the issues of racism, colonialism, and elitism in one book. This means that some issues got more attention than others leading to some lopsided storytelling!
Overall however, I enjoyed this. While there were minimal truly "steamy" moments, the way that the author used the clothes that Ahmad had made for Evelyn as a substitute for his hands on her body *sigh*! Everything wrapped up (a little too) neatly in the end, and Ahmad and Evie got the HAE they deserve with comparatively little drama, considering the buildup.
The introduction of the other ladies that will serve as the Belles of London has interested me enough that I will certainly continue on with the series. I hope that, as the series progresses, Matthews tightens up the narrative and finds a "less is more" approach. ( )