Series: N/A
Traits & Tropes: starched hero; titled hero; working heroine; employer/employee; forbidden; class difference
Publication Date: 09.27.22
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; London, England, 1817
Heat Level: 4
Rating: 4/5
Impoverished vicar’s daughter Joanna Porter has made a name for herself as one of the best matchmakers in London. She truly believes in love and delights in securing that level of happiness for her clients. But her latest client, the stuffy Duke of Crestmont is about to give her a run for her money. He may be handsome, but he’s also arrogant, stubborn, and a bit snobbish. Jo knows that finding a match for him would be exactly what she needs to solidify her standing as the top matchmaker in the city, possibly the whole of England, but the insufferable man finds something wrong with nearly all of her suggestions.
Matthew Leighton, the Duke of Crestmont, is not thrilled to be seeking the assistance of a matchmaker in the first place, especially not when he learns that she’s a beautiful young woman and not the older matron he expected. In fact, his matchmaker is quite the spitfire and he’s thoroughly intrigued by her. But he must secure the perfect duchess and ensure his estate’s succession to keep his tenants safe from his no-good uncle. This means finding a lady of good breeding and flawless reputation, but Matthew still can’t help wanting to be with the vivacious matchmaker instead.
I really liked the tone and writing of this story and the matchmaker premise was such fun, but there were some aspects I wasn’t crazy about. It felt like Matthew’s denial of his feelings for Jo and the possibility of a future between them went on too long, especially since there really was no good reason why they couldn’t be together, though an unconventional choice. This made it seem like Matthew was creating problems where they didn’t exist and that made the angst of this relationship seem like too much. Matthew was also an incredibly starched, stuffy hero, but that seriousness made it that much better when he shocked us with some dirty talk. I loved that he was that free and open with Jo. What I didn’t love was how Matthew was still trying to picture himself with the other girl even after being with Jo. I was also very much over Lilly as a character very quickly. Her friendship with Jo seemed very one-sided, with Jo putting in tons of effort and self-sacrifice and Lilly unable to see beyond her own desires. She just seemed a little pointless to me after a while and was very hard to root for. Her plot line also made it very hard not to be mad at Jo for being such a martyr and it just seemed like Lilly didn’t really deserve all the sacrifices Jo was making for her. Although, to be fair, Jo chose not to confide her true feelings in anyone and made herself a martyr in that respect, so no one really realized the true sacrifice she was making.
I really liked that Jo and Matthew had real discussions about unique topics that interested them both. They discussed rowing and meteorology, and he didn’t doubt her intelligence or ability to understand scientific principles, which I loved. I also really liked that these two did spend so much time together, I only wish the third act drama had been handled a bit differently, otherwise I loved the way things worked out for these two and I think they made an excellent couple.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/726120431
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4418911069
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