Set in the 1800s, Marrying the Matchmaker is the fourth and final installment of the Shanahan Match historical romance series.

Marrying the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund

Genre/Categories/Setting: Historical Fiction (1800s), Historical Romance, Irish Immigrants, Fake Relationship, St. Louis

***This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links

My Summary:

Thanks #NetGalley @Bethany_House @GreatReadsBookPromo for a complimentary eARC of #MarryingTheMatchmaker upon my request. All opinions are my own.

Marrying the Matchmaker is the fourth and final installment of the Shanahan Match historical romance series. Zaira has a secret dream of becoming a romance author; however, she is inexperienced in love and needs some inspiration to write more authentic stories. She strikes a deal with the local matchmaker to help him with a difficult match if he will kiss her. When they are caught together, they are forced to forge a fake courtship to protect both their reputations. Things get complicated as they each develop real feelings for the other.

My Thoughts:

What happens when the matchmaker meets his match?

Sizzling Chemistry

In each installment of this fun series, you can depend on sizzling chemistry and sweet romance (closed door). I love the memorable and likable characters and swoon-worthy romance in each installment.

Page-turning and Entertaining Series

Fans of page-turning action, entertaining banter, complicated situations, and chaste romance will enjoy the Shanahan Match series. The business of matchmaking drives the action and intrigue in each story. A poignant theme in Marrying the Matchmaker includes the plight of orphans and the efforts of Zaira and the Matchmaker to care for them. I also appreciated how Zaira and the Matchmaker supported and promoted each other’s dreams. In addition, their commitment to honesty is inspiring.

While the installments can be read as standalones and in any order, a series, in my opinion, is always best read in publication order.

Matchmaking

The fun in this story happens when the traditional practice ot matchmaking meets a modern fake relationship trope. Secrets, intrigue, sizzling kisses, romantic tension, and witty banter keep you turning the pages.

The practice of matchmaking is an interesting premise for the series. Marrying for love was a radical idea! What happens when the matchmaker meets his match?

Irish Immigrant Community

Each installment in this series offers its own themes, but the customs and struggles of the Irish immigrant community are woven throughout. This adds a rich layer of storytelling, and you will enjoy the vivid details and strong sense of place.

Recommending Marrying the Matchmaker and the Shanahan Match Series by Jody Hedlund:

If you are looking for a compelling, entertaining, and well-written historical romance series, you will appreciate this one! Likeable characters, sweet romance, family drama, customs and struggles of Irish immigrants, and page-turning action are a few reasons why this multi-layered series is TBR worthy!

Related: Reviews for Saved by the Matchmaker and A Wager with the Matchmaker

My Rating: 4 Stars

More Information Here

Meet the Author of Marrying the Matchmaker, Jody Hedlund

Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over fifty books and is the winner of numerous awards. She writes sweet, clean romances with plenty of sizzle (but without the spice).

---

---

QOTD:

Do you love historical romance?

---

---

Let’s Get Social!

Find me at:
Twitter/X
Blue Sky
Instagram (Threads link in bio)
Goodreads and StoryGraph
Pinterest
SubStack: @carolreadingladies
Reading Ladies Book Club on Facebook

---

---

Happy Reading Book Buddies!

“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for reading bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“I read because books are a form of transportation, teaching, and connection. Books take us to places we’ve never been, teach us about our world, and help us understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley

---

---

***Blog posts may contain affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, I can earn a small percentage of your purchase price.

All books I review are purchased or borrowed from the library unless explicitly stated that the book is free (arc).

Amazon or an author’s (or publisher’s) website receives all credit for book covers and author photos.

© ReadingLadies.com