A Matter of Persuasion

By: Theresa Howes

Narrated by: Kate Handford

'Achingly romantic with lashings of Gilded Age glamour.' Jessica Bull

'A Matter of Persuasion completely captured my heart! The way it immerses you in the lavish details of the era made me feel like I was living in that time. I couldn’t help but stay up late, lost in the world the author created.' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Loved this beautiful Gilded age novel! The outfits the settings and gorgeous historical content had me reading late into the night!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lose yourself in this retelling of Persuasion, the ultimate tale of love, loss and sacrifice, re-imagined in the opulent but guarded Gilded Age society.

New York, 1882. Amy Eaton is a bestselling authoress, much to the embarrassment of her family. Proudly ‘old money’, they see her professionalism as an impropriety. Despite their undisguised disdain for her, Amy is bound by a promise she made to her dying mother to look after her two sisters and father.

Eight years have passed since Amy gave up the love of her life, after her mother’s best friend persuaded her not to marry him. But now Wareham is back: a rich, self-made man in search of a wife.

Doing her best to forget the life she might have had with Wareham, Amy must learn how to navigate her small social circle without letting her true feelings show. As new and unexpected situations arise, will Amy defy expectations and choose her own path?

Praise for Theresa Howes:

‘Truly gripping… I loved it.’ Jill Mansell, Sunday Times bestselling author of Promise Me

‘I absolutely loved this… Vivid and heartbreaking.’ Lana Kortchik, USA Today bestselling author of Sisters of War

‘War, passion and tragedy unite in this atmospheric and moving tale.’ S D Sykes, author of the Oswald de Lacy Medieval Murders series

‘A wonderfully immersive, emotional read.’ Annabelle Thorpe, author of The Enemy of Love

‘I stayed up late into the night to finish… A thrilling, exciting story… You might want to have some tissues handy.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This book will stay with me for a long time. A credit to Theresa Howes for exquisite writing and an evocative storyline.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘It was absolutely compulsive – my heart was in my throat for the brilliant heroine all the way through.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

©2025 Theresa Howes (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

Praise for Theresa Howes:

‘Truly gripping… I loved it.’ Jill Mansell, Sunday Times bestselling author of Promise Me

'Achingly romantic with lashings of Gilded Age glamour.' Jessica Bull, author of Miss Austen Investigates

‘I absolutely loved this … Vivid and heartbreaking.’ Lana Kortchik, USA Today bestselling author of Sisters of War

‘War, passion and tragedy unite in this atmospheric and moving tale.’ S D Sykes, author of the Oswald de Lacy Medieval Murders series

‘A wonderfully immersive, emotional read.’ Annabelle Thorpe, author of The Enemy of Love