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I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
MY REVIEW:
Genre | Tropes: Regency, Historical, Romance, Friends to Lovers
Rating: 5 out of 5 ⭐
A laughably witty and enjoyable story of two friends that have been hiding their feelings for one another and are forced to face themselves. Jemma made a promise to her grandmother on her deathbed that she would marry and find love. Even though she’s been adamantly against marriage for as long as anyone can remember. Her close group of friends, known as The Rebels, includes Miles Jackson the town vicar and the man she really loves but refuses to admit.
Instead, she employs the assistance of the Matchmaking Mamas to help her find a husband. But throughout the courting of a Mr. Bentley, Miles finds himself at his wits end watching her get to know another man and realizes he must say something about he feels incase she returns his sentiment.
What I loved most about these characters were how much “outside the norm” they all were. Throwing caution to the wind with societal expectations of women, men, and the class of people they belong to. They love to test the boundaries and the story is filled with so much humor and love that I couldn’t put it down. Miles and Jemma were hilariously stumbling around one another without realizing that the other felt the same way. There were many times that I was holding my breath waiting for one of them to realize, only to have them interrupted before that realization could dawn on them.
Jemma was a wonderful female character exhibiting independent tendencies and a personal drive towards charity. Everything she does is related to how she can help others, which at times keeps her from realizing what she should be doing for herself.
Part of a series of stories about the Matchmaking Mamas successes, this was my first foray into the series. I can’t wait to read the others and watch for new ones to release!
GET IT HERE:
Inexperienced in love, Jemma seeks help from her best friend, Miles, unaware that he has secretly loved her for years.
Brookeside, England, 1822
Jemma Fielding has always considered herself an independent woman, but to honor her beloved grandmother’s dying wish, she makes a promise that she will marry and fall in love. To fulfill her promise, she turns to the Matchmaking Mamas Society for assistance and is paired with the charming Mr. Bentley. Though he is everything Jemma could hope for in a match, she is clueless about how to win his heart. Desperate to make a good impression, she seeks guidance from her dearest friend, Miles Jackson, a humble rector with a talent for understanding matters of the heart.
However, Miles’s secret affection for Jemma has spanned years, and teaching her to love someone else threatens to betray his own heart. Trapped by his own selfless nature, Miles fears he will never be more than a humble rector in her eyes.
Even as he gives Jemma lessons in love, Miles grapples with the challenge of convincing her that Mr. Bentley may be a perfect gentleman but he is not the perfect match for her. Will Miles’s advice in romance jeopardize their years of friendship, or will it reveal the attraction that has quietly blossomed between them, proving that this time, the Matchmaking Mamas may have made a mistake? Miles must decide if he’s brave enough to confess his feelings to Jemma before she is whisked away forever.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anneka R. Walker
Anneka R. Walker is a best-selling author of historical and contemporary romance. With humor and an abundance of heart, she crafts uplifting stories you won’t soon forget. She is the winner of the Swoony Award, the LDSPMA Praiseworthy Award, and various chapter contests. Her books have received praise from Publishers Weekly, Historical Novel Society, Midwest Book Review, and Readers Favorite. She graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in English and history and hopes to never stop learning. She is a blessed wife, proud mother of five, lover of Jesus, connoisseur of chocolate, and believer in happy endings.
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