A Match In The Making By Jen Turano

A Match in the Making

by Jen Turano

Publisher: Bethany House

Series: The Matchmakers

ISBN: 9780764240201

As an avid fan of Jen Turano, there was NO way I was missing out on the first book of her new series, The Matchmaker. Jen's books are ones where I don't even have to know what they're about to know I need them the moment they release. Being on the launch team, I was sent the book for review.

Summary:

Miss Gwendolyn Brinley accepted a temporary paid companion position for the Newport summer season, believing it would be a lark to spend the summer in America's most exclusive town. She suddenly finds her summer turning anything but amusing when her employer expects her to take over responsibilities as an assistant matchmaker. Tasked with the daunting prospect of attaining advantageous matches for her clients, Gwendolyn soon finds herself in the employ of Mr. Walter Townsend, the catch of the Season, but a gentleman Gwendolyn finds beyond irritating.

Walter Townsend is reluctantly in search of a wife for the sake of his unruly motherless children who cannot keep a governess for long. What he wasn't expecting was Miss Brinley, an amateur matchmaker who turns his quest for a new wife into a complete and utter debacle. Constantly besieged by society ladies on a mission to win his affection, Walter must find a way to overcome their inundating attention--and his unexpected attraction toward Gwendolyn.

The more time they spend together throughout the Newport Season, the harder it is for Gwendolyn to find Walter a wife when she realizes his perfect match might be . . . her.

My Review:

If you enjoy laughing then you don't want to miss out on 358 pages worth of it! Literally, I don't know if there was a single page where I didn't at least give a little chuckle. This was one of my most anticipated stories this year and it didn't disappoint.

First we meet Gwendolyn, who was employed as a companion, but in a strange turn of events became an assistant matchmaker. Watching her throughout the story trying to give up the position is a hoot. The more she tries to ditch the role, the more she becomes ensconced it... against her will. Of course, stepping into the role, trying to do her best leaves the women and men of the Season scrambling to make sense of what's going on! To say she upturns the entire Season in Newport is putting it mildly.

Then there's Walter, the catch of the season. He's utterly clueless as to how to find a suitable woman to be a mother to his children and how to find the "right" woman. Let's just say, his bar wasn't set very high. When Gwendolyn appears in his life on the heels of a social faux pas they begin a tug of war of finding that woman. The two of them together reminds me of Miss Scarlet and the Duke. They drive each other nuts and it endears us to them!

There are definitely some good lessons in the story. Walter's kids have grandmas who spoil the children to keep them in line, which has only made them terrors. Walter is an absent father and we see the impact that makes. How we treat other people who aren't in the same "league" as us matters! 

The end of the story had me in a fit of giggles! I don't know how to say that "what happens" is probably one of the funniest and most memorable EVER. Of course, finishing this story has me in restless anticipation for book two! I can't WAIT to see how that one unfolds.

About the Author:

Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from RT Book Reviews, and praise from Library Journal. She's been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers' Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado. Readers can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and at jenturano.com.