A Match for a Bookish Bride: a clean historical romance with a bit of mystery

A Match for a Bookish Bride is the first book in The Mystery Matchmaker of Ella Pointe series by Tess Thompson. In the spring of 1910, Amelia Young saw an advertisement in a Boston newspaper that would change her life. A wealthy family is in need of a secretary on Whale Island and this person must have an affinity for books. It fit her perfectly. When she is offered the position, she packs her merger belongings and travels to Washington state. Her new employer is Benedict Tutheridge. She didn’t expect him to be handsome or interesting but she knows that he would never see her as more than an employee. After the death of his father, Benedict is expected to run the family business. He fully expects his new secretary to be a man and is shocked when his new secretary is a beautiful woman. As the two work together, they find themselves drawn together. Do they risk their work relationship for something more? 

After reading the prequel, The Making of a Matchmaker, I was intrigued about the Tutheridge family and the matchmaker who would find their perfect matches, even the mystery behind the death of the Tutheridge patriarch. I enjoyed Amelia as a woman who pulled herself up from a poor beginning through hard work and her love of books. Benedict is a man who was tortured by his father and believes every horrible thing his father believed about him. However, it is when Amelia arrives, she begins to break out the falseness of what Benedict believes about himself. My heart broke for Benedict and I had my suspicions about his difficulties. The family dynamics were a great source of drama as they deal with their past and the situation surrounding their father’s death. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I am looking forward to the rest of the series. If you enjoy clean, historical romance, I recommend A Match for a Bookish Bride. 

A Match for a Bookish Bride is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Valentine Bride: two scheming old women play matchmaker

Valentine Bride by Shanna Hatfield is the first book in the Holiday Brides series. Fynlee Dale returns to Holiday to take care of her wacky grandmother, Matilda. Although it means putting her dreams aside for now, she needs to be there for Grams as she was there for Fynlee. Carson Ford vows to take care of his elderly aunt, Ruth, after buying her ranch, the Flying B. Suddenly a plot is afoot as the two old women become matchmakers and scheme to help Fynlee and Carson fall in love. Little do they know, but there is a monkey wrench thrown into their plans when Carson’s “fiancée” shows up at the ranch. Will Fynlee and Carson see they are truly meant for each other? Or will they be torn apart? 

Valentine Bride is a funny, sweet, clean romance novella. With a wonderful cast of characters, there is no shortage of laughter and a dose of drama. Carson and Fynlee are great together. Grams is a wonderfully eccentric free spirit. This story is a fast read as I was not able to put it down. I knew Carson and Fynlee would end up together. It is a romance novel after all. However, I needed to know how they finally admit their feelings and deal with the interfering “fiancée.” I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. If you enjoy clean romances with sweet moments, funny antics and a dose of drama, I highly recommend Valentine Bride. 

Valentine Bride is available in paperback and eBook

Workout Wishes and Valentine Kisses: when love is right before your eyes

Workout Wishes and Valentine Kisses by Barbara Hinske is the fifth book in The Wishing Tree series. In Linden Falls, wishes are tied to the branches of the linden tree in the town square. Wishes of hopes and dreams. Some believe in the magic of the tree and others do not. Can anything change their minds? Pam Olson and Steve Turner have been childhood friends who are now work colleagues at the local gym. They are perfect for each other except they do not see it. Fortunately, there are a few who do and are willing to bring these two together. After disastrous online dating, Pam joins Steve in a no-dating pact. What they don’t know is that there is a covert mission to bring these two together. Will they finally see the sparks between them? 

I love The Wishing Tree series and its magical town of Linden Falls. In this story, Pam and Steve have seen their share of heartbreak and are determined to never be hurt again. Reluctantly, Pam agrees to try online dating and it ends as horribly as she imagined. I thoroughly enjoyed Pam and Steve. They have a history and a friendship they don’t want to jeopardize in case their romance fizzles. I felt for Pam as each online date she goes on is worse than the one before. I enjoyed the involvement and the covert mission that those close to Pam and Steve put in action as they see these two belong together. I highly recommend Workout Wishes and Valentine Kisses as well as the previous books in The Wishing Tree series. 

Workout Wishes and Valentine Kisses is available in paperback and eBook