A Tale of Two Matchmakers
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Book Tour
TYPE OF BOOK: Regency Romance
SERIES: The Gentleman’s Match #1
THE PREMISE: Two charming and attractive matchmakers individually offer assistance with securing martial matches for London’s affluent yet hapless or hopeless. Lord Featherstone and Lady Loveluck lend their services in these enterprises because both are in desperate need of funds. And while both are surrounded by eligible matrimonial prospects, neither of them have any desire to enter the married state themselves…that is until they encounter an attraction that cannot be denied…
MY THOUGHTS: Regency dating coaches that bring together the awkward, clueless, and the hopelessly unmarriagable – it sounds excessively diverting, doesn’t it? Especially when one of the matchmakers is a charismatic and way-too-charming gentleman with a failing estate, and the other is a beautiful widow with trust issues. And with their clients crossing paths and wagers being placed, it sounds like these two have met their match!
This story has an abundance of quality ingredients for a terrific Regency romance – a likable hero, an engaging heroine, matchmaking schemes, love triangles, and a country house party. I was immediately drawn in to Lady Loveluck’s and Lord Featherstone’s plights. I always love seeing a hero who is too flirtatious for his own good yet deep down is sincere and yearning. Lord Featherstone displayed great consideration and selfless regard when he altered his course in concern for Lady Loveluck and her client’s needs. And I appreciated seeing a heroine in Lady Loveluck’s position – a woman deceived and left cleaning up her husband’s messes. I admired her strength and her self-sufficiency. She is wary of bestowing her trust and putting herself in a vulnerable position again. I appreciated seeing how both characters faced their own quandaries and how they had the courage to make some difficult decisions.
Other elements I enjoyed in this tale were witnessing the interactions and coaching with Lady Loveluck’s and Lord Featherstone’s clients. They were an interesting assortment and their romantic situations added some entertainment and tension. In addition, I loved the eventfulness of this novel – art exhibits, charades, games of croquet, and dances. How fun to vicariously live through these characters and their whirlwind of diversion and drama.
While I loved many of the components of this story, I don’t know if I loved its foundation and conclusion. Lord Featherstone and Lady Loveluck seem to have fallen in love based on their attraction to each other, and I felt like we were missing some more of their “why.” What are the deeper reasons for them losing their hearts to each other? And how do they overcome the obstacles that were standing in their way? The ending wraps up a little abruptly with quite a few threads left hanging. After seeing our hero and heroine suffer the angst of believing they can’t have a future together, the reader needs to know how they were able to reconcile their impediments. But perhaps we will learn these answers in the next book of the series.
Like a great date, this book is charming, witty, and genuine. I’m eager to read the next book in this series and see more of our Regency relationship coaches!
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I enjoyed this story and look forward to the next book as well. I’ve read quite a few of her Regency romances and they are always entertaining and fun to read.
Thanks for sharing.
Yes, the premise does sound like a fun one. Good to know that it may be light on the romance development.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Meredith. I love the premise of two matcmakers that are rivals falling in love!
I like the cover!
I liked the cover, the premise and your inviting review. Another one on the wish list. This would be my first from this author. Thank you for bringing it to our notice.