♡ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰʀᴇᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ, ᴍɪʀᴀ ʙᴏᴏᴋs | ʜᴀʀʟᴇǫᴜɪɴ/ʜᴀʀᴘᴇʀ ᴄᴏʟʟɪɴs, ᴛʜᴇ ʜɪᴠᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ sʜᴇɪʟᴀ ʀᴏʙᴇʀᴛs.
Synopsis
Frankie Lane knows what’s best for just about everyone but herself. Her divorced sister, Stef, who is too young to give up on love; her shy employee, Elinor; and her daughter, Natalie, who works in Frankie’s shop, Holiday Happiness, and really needs to start her own business selling the delectable chocolates she makes at home; even her best friend, Viola, who is trying to renovate her old Victorian. Frankie knows she could help all of them, if they’d just let her—and if all of her help didn’t end in utter disaster.
Then there’s Mitch Howard, the owner of the local hardware store. They’ve been friends ever since Frankie opened her store, nine years earlier. He got her through the nightmare when she lost her husband in a freak accident, and he’s her favorite shoulder to cry on. He’s been divorced for years, and it’s such a waste of man! Mitch is the fittest, finest man Frankie knows. He’s easygoing, wise and kindhearted. Mitch needs someone. And she’s determined to help him find that someone—whether he likes it or not.
Thoughts
Inspired by our favorite matchmaker, Emma by Jane Austen, The Merry Matchmaker was a delight to read! This book found a place on my bookshelf among a select few favorite Christmas romance stories.
This book had just enough plot to add depth, and it left me with the warm holiday spirit that I look for in a holiday romance story. I felt that Frankie was relatable and the whole cast was enjoyable. The book gets bonus points for its adorable cover!
If you are looking for your next Hallmark movie style book, pick this one up. It is especially good if you love Jane Austen, small town, mature characters, slow-burn, friends to lovers, romcoms, and holiday themes.
★★★★★