THE WINTER COMPANION

A young man must overcome insecurity to seize his chance at true love in Matthews’ latest romance novel.

The fourth installment of the Parish Orphans of Devon series finds former orphans and longtime friends Alex, Tom, Justin, and Neville reuniting to celebrate the holidays at Greyfriar’s Abbey, Justin’s Gothic home perched on the cliffs of Devon. Neville, who lives a quiet life at the abbey with Justin and his wife, is happy to have his friends and their families in attendance. But he’s also overwhelmed. Neville suffers from a brain injury caused by a childhood accident, and though he is physically and intellectually unimpaired, he struggles to turn his thoughts into words. His friends have all found love and moved on. But Neville is stuck in a prison of his own making, preferring the company of animals to people. Things change for Neville when he meets Clara Hartwright, a lady’s companion who arrives at the abbey in the company of the elderly aunt of Tom’s wife. Clara begins to help Neville take care of the horses, and a tentative friendship forms as they each share their budding hopes and dreams. However, their nascent romance is jeopardized by difficulty in Clara’s personal life. A scandal from her past and troublesome family problems resurface, demanding her presence and attention. Neville must choose between the safety of his familiar surroundings and an unknown future with a chance at love. Matthews, the author of A Convenient Fiction (2019), once again delivers in her latest Victorian novel. Her love story is sweet and chaste, the characters well developed, and their relationship beautifully rendered. Matthews also addresses the lack of educational opportunities for women of the time, supplementing her romance with a meatier storyline. Her treatment of Neville’s brain injury is sensitively handled, and it’s a welcome change to encounter a knight in shining armor who isn’t defined by perfection. In fact, the lovers stand on an even playing field, as their strengths and weaknesses balance each other. As Clara realizes, Neville “needed her, just as she’d needed him.”

Memorable characters and a well-researched history make for a charming and enjoyable love story.