The Matchmaker Bride by Ginny Baird – a Review

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Description:
Successful Boston matchmaker and television personality Meredith Galanes’s reputation is on the line. During a guest appearance on a morning talk show, she’s broadsided by questions about her own romantic attachments, just as she’s trying to secure a syndication deal. Afraid to admit her love life is a total disaster, Meredith blurts out that she’s seriously involved with a very special man–a boatbuilder in Maine. She never expects that small slip to get spun into a story about her supposed engagement.

Or that the paparazzi will track the guy down…

Derrick Albright is laid-back about many things. Being hounded by the press about some imaginary engagement to a woman he’s only met once–and couldn’t stand–isn’t one of them. Then Meredith actually shows up at his cabin in Blue Hill, Maine, with an apology, a pot roast, and a proposal–play along until she secures her TV deal, and she’ll help him win back his ex.

It’s a simple plan, but if they have any chance of pulling it off, they’ll have to survive each other first…

Each book in the Blue Hill Brides series is STANDALONE:
* The Duplicate Bride
* The Matchmaker Bride

Review:

The Matchmaker Bride begins with Meredith Galanes’s both nervous and excited about the possibilities before her.  She has a local matchmaking show that she is hoping will be picked up and go into syndication.  Her being interviewed by the host of Talk Time should be just the thing to get the executives to pick up her show.  What Meredith did not count on was the host asking her about her love life, which was non-existent.  She made a split-second decision to say that she, in fact, does have a special someone in her life, even though that is not true.  In her mind, how could a matchmaker NOT be involved with someone?  Meredith also does not count on the story being picked up so quickly and the press going to find the “boatbuilder in Maine”, even though she never gave a name.

Derrick Albright had no idea what to think when the press showed up at his house in Maine wanting to know about his engagement to Meredith Gaines.  When Meredith shows up in the middle of the chaos, he is even more surprised.  They had only met once and to say they did not get along is a bit of an understatement.  Once Meredith lays out what is going on and proposes that this will help him get back with an old ex, he finds himself intrigued and agrees to go through with the plan for a few weeks.  However, neither of them expected to get along, let alone start to develop feelings for each other.

The Matchmaker Bride is nicely written by Ginny Baird, with very relatable characters.  Meredith and Derrick were each strong on their own but really flourished together.  I really liked the dynamic between the two of them.  The secondary characters were also well written.  The worldbuilding was great as well.  If I am being honest though, I did have a bit of an issue with not knowing about their history, other than the author saying that they did not get a long when they first met.  The other characters also talked about issues that I feel would have been good to know before reading this story as well.  I would not normally bring that up, as I read and review books in the middle of series all the time that say they can be read as a standalone.  But I do feel like something was missing for me due to the multiple references to the first time they met and the other characters’ comments.  With that said, I enjoyed the story and have put the first in the series near the top of my “to be read” list!  If you enjoy the genre, you will certainly enjoy this one. 

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy provided by Publisher