Saved by the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What is your favorite romance trope?  Marriage of convenience, second change romance, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, etc.?  Saved by the Matchmaker is a romance novel with one of my favorite tropes, marriage of convenience.

Enya Shanahan thought she found the love of her life when she eloped with Brian.  After he abandoned her, her family quickly had her marriage annulled.  One problem is that she is pregnant.  Her father hires a matchmaker to find her a husband quickly.  The matchmaker pairs her with steamboat Captain Sullivan O’Brian, who also needs a quick marriage to appease his father and keep his job.  Will these two find love and understanding?  Will they be able to work together to help enslaved people find freedom?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was a very romantic story full of romantic tension.

·       Sullivan has scars from rescuing people from a devastating fire during the Mexican American War.  He is afraid no one will love him because of these scars.

·       The story had hints of Beauty and the Beast, if the Beast was actually a nice man with unsightly scars.

·       This story takes place in the 19^th century in St. Louis, New Orleans, and along the Mississippi River.

·       Both Enya and Sullivan were wonderful, deeply developed, and well-rounded characters.  I loved their growth through the novel, as well as their romance.

·       This was a clean read, but oh my – the romantic tension was definitely there!

·       This is the second book in the series, but it can be read as a standalone.

·       I loved that Sullivan gave time for Enya to fall in love with him.

·       The story is told through Enya and Sullivan’s alternating points of view.

·       It was an interesting detail on how Sullivan used his river boat as part of the underground railroad to help enslaved people escape to the north.  Enya loves this about him and wants to help.

Overall, Saved by the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund is a beautiful historical romance with well developed and likeable characters, and great romantic tension.

Book Source:  Review copy from Bethany House Fiction as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

After her annulment is finalized, Enya Shanahan finds herself caught in a web of scandal and obligation while carrying a secret that threatens to shatter her family's reputation. Determined to find a suitable marriage for Enya, her father turns to a wily matchmaker to save them from their circumstances.

Sullivan O'Brien, a steamboat captain committed to aiding enslaved people on their path to freedom, is faced with an ultimatum from his father. Forced to marry or lose his livelihood, a marriage of convenience seems to be the only solution. As he and Enya face the trials of their pasts and a city consumed by fire, they must confront their deepest fears and learn to trust in love, even when darkness threatens to engulf them.

AUTHOR BIO

Jody Hedlund (JodyHedlund.com) is the bestselling author of more than fifty novels and is the winner of numerous awards. Jody lives in Michigan with her husband, busy family, and five spoiled cats. She writes sweet historical romances with plenty of sizzle.