Loved novel I'd read about maiden (7)
I believe the answer is:
admired
'loved' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'novel i'd read about maiden' is the wordplay.
'novel' is an anagram indicator (letters in a new or novel order).
'about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'maiden' becomes 'm' (cricket abbreviation).
'id'+'read'='idread'
'idread' with letters rearranged gives 'adired'.
'adired' going around 'm' is 'ADMIRED'.
(Other definitions for admired that I've seen before include "Beloved" , "Cherished" , "Popular" , "Held in high regard" , "regarded with respect" .)