Return to Satterthwaite Court - Review

Return to Satterthwaite Court (Somerset Stories, # 3)

By: Mimi Matthews

Publication: April 11th 2023 by Perfectly Proper Press

? pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Personal Kindle Library

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Goodreads description--A reckless Victorian heiress sets her sights on a dashing ex-naval lieutenant, determined to win his heart as the two of them embark on a quest to solve a decades-old mystery in the long-awaited sequel to USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews’s critically acclaimed novels The Work of Art and Gentleman Jim.

Lieutenant Charles Heywood has had his fill of adventure. Battle-weary and disillusioned, he returns to England, resolved to settle down to a quiet, uneventful life on an estate of his own. But arranging to purchase the property he desires is more difficult than Charles ever imagined. The place is mired in secrets, some of which may prove deadly. If he’s going to unravel them, he’ll need the assistance of someone as daring as he is.

At only twenty, Lady Katherine Beresford has already earned a scandalous reputation. As skilled with pistols as she is on horseback, she’s never met an obstacle she can’t surmount—or a man she can’t win. That is, until she encounters the infuriatingly somber Lieutenant Heywood. But Kate refuses to be deterred by the raven-haired soldier’s strong, silent facade. After all, faint heart never won handsome gentleman.

From the wilds of rural Somersetshire to the glittering ballrooms of early-Victorian London, Charles and Kate embark on a cross-country quest to solve a decades’ old mystery. Will the greatest danger be to their hearts—or to their lives?

I'm a little miffed because I always get denied for Mimi Matthew's books published through Victory Editing/Perfectly Proper Press. And it makes me angry. I was just denied book 3 in this series before I sat down to review this book, so I might not be in the best frame of mind. BUT I must remind myself that it isn't this book or Mimi Matthew's fault. Whoever is the gatekeeper of these egalleys needs to let me in! Rant over.

It took me way too long to figure out how everyone was connected and how the characters in this book fit in with the characters from the previous two books in the Somerset Stories series. But sheesh, I did read The Work of Art back in 2019 for goodness sakes even though it took me until this past December to get around to Gentleman Jim since I didn't receive a review copy of it. Too much time has passed for me to remember the specifics of book 1 enough to connect the dots. So I'll save you the time. Lieutenant Charles Heywood is the son of Philly and Captain Arthur Heywood from The Work of Art, and Lady Katherine Beresford is the daughter of Margaret & John Beresford (aka Nicholas) from Gentleman Jim.

Katherine is a lot like her mother. Fiesty and not one to entirely follow the rules. She follows her own path. And when she unintentionally meets Lt. Charles Heywood on the streets of London as he is rescuing a street dog, she feels a connection and a spark of interest that she hasn't felt yet in her life. More than anything, Katherine is searching for a hero to sweep her off her feet. She is bored with all of the other options and men she's met in her first season and in her neighborhood. So, she does whatever she can to throw herself into Charles's path. And honestly, I really enjoyed this change-up. I don't think I've ever read a historical fiction book from this time period where a female character so relentlessly pursued the male character before.

Charles isn't sure what to think about Katherine, especially when she so openly pursues him. But his mind is a little preoccupied with a mysterious note he receives that seems to be threatening his mother. Katherine worms her way into the quest to solve the mystery, and Charles finds that he can't (and he doesn't want to) shake Katherine's presence and help.

I'm not normally a huge fan of mysteries. I find that if they are written in a way where things are obvious but the characters miss them, I get annoyed. If I can figure out the information before the characters, I sometimes feel disappointed. Yet if the author doesn't provide enough information for me to even make a guess I often feel cheated. I need just the right mix of figuring things out before the characters and being completely surprised in order to enjoy a mystery on its own. This wasn't the perfect mix for me, but since the romance drove the story for me, I didn't mind too much.

Favorite quotes:

-"Life can't always be exciting," Christine said. "Sometimes we must put our heads down and get on with the business of a lady's day-to-day. There's happiness to be found in the quiet moments. In being industrious and obliging mothers and wives."

-"Don't tempt me, Kate. I can't keep resisting you forever." "I wish you wouldn't resist me at all..."

-"Pursue me there, as I've pursued you."

I did enjoy Katherine's habit of blazing her own trail. She knew what she wanted, and she went after it with a gusto that can only be appreciated. But Charles did his work too. And these two might end up being a favorite couple of mine come the end of the year. Time will tell. I can't wait to see what's going to happen next when we return to the feud between Nicholas and Frederick. Return to Satterthwaite Court gets 4 Stars. Have you read Return to Satterthwaite Court? What did you think? Let me know!