The Winter Companion by Mimi Matthews

The Winter Companion by Mimi Matthews ISBN-13: 9781733056946 ebook: 316 pages Publisher: Perfectly Proper Press Released: February 11th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
As a lady’s companion, Clara Hartwright never receives much attention from anyone. With a scandal in her past, it’s far safer to remain invisible. But when her new employer is invited to a month-long holiday at a remote coastal abbey, Clara discovers that she may not be as invisible as she'd hoped. At least, not as far as one gentleman is concerned.

Neville Cross has always been more comfortable with animals than people. An accident in his youth has left him with a brain injury that affects his speech. Forming the words to speak to his childhood friends is difficult enough. Finding the right things to say to a lovely young lady’s companion seems downright impossible. But Miss Hartwright is no ordinary companion. And she dreams of an unconventional future. During a bleak Devon winter, they forge an unexpected friendship. But when Clara needs him most, will Neville find the courage to face his fears?


My Review:
The Winter Companion is a romance set in December 1860 in England. This is the fourth book in a series, but it can be read as a standalone. When a young man first flirts with Clara and then tells everyone she misread his interest, she begins to doubt herself and scorn her romantic notions. As punishment, she must work as a lady's companion to pay the way of her brother through college. He has promised that she can share his lessons (by reading his notes) and become his secretary one day. Neville has difficulty speaking and this makes him shy around others. At first, he's tongue-tied around Clara, but they soon find a shared love of animals, which draws them together.

The author has deeply researched the time period and woven this information into the story, creating a distinct sense of time and place. The characters were complex and reacted realistically to events. I cared about what happened to the characters. There was no sex. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this story, especially if you enjoy accurate historical aspects in your fiction.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.