Appointment in Bath

Such a charming story! Meg might be young, but she knows enough to know that she doesn't want the trouble that comes with associating with the son of her father's sworn enemy. Ivo, however, doesn't think that he or Meg should have to suffer because of their parents' bad history and he insists that they at least be friends. Meg realizes that her path to maturity goes right through her domineering father. She had to find her own self, get on her own footing in her relationship with her father before she had the maturity and confidence to pursue a romantic relationship. This is the best part of the book, and it was exquisitely written. Ivo is determined to win Meg but not always as patient as he ought to be. Despite Meg starting out a bit shy and stammering, she quickly demonstrates that she's not going to be pushed into anything and Ivo learned that he had to respect her wishes before he could win her heart. Their HEA was wonderful, and I loved the way the author handled the inevitable meeting of their parents. Not only did the characters stay true to their established priorities from the earlier book, but they each showed a devotion to their children that softened even the harshest edges. Not an easy feat when one of the parents was the villain in the earlier book, but this author does it extremely well. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Grab a cozy reading spot & be prepared to savor this next book in the Somerset Stories! I love books that overlap & tell a similar story from another point of view. Appointment in Bath takes events just prior to, during, & after Return to Satterthwaite Court and shares them from Ivo & Meg’s perspectives. If you haven’t read Return to Satterthwaite Court, you can just as easily enjoy this as a standalone, but it’s much better if you’ve read it. A must read, delightful, Romeo & Juliet love story.

A perfectly lovely forbidden romance, that deftly handles family issues, redemption, and coming into one's own. I really adored Meg and Ivo so much! Meg’s fire and spirit are a good match for Ivo's energetic bouncing ahead into the future, she tempers him. I also really loved that Meg and Ivo spent a lot of time getting to know each other as friends. I highly recommend this lovely read. Mimi Matthews is just such an amazing writer!