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The First Three Dates #1
The Matchmaker's Tricky Catch
A fresh take on a romantic comedy classic, Hitch, this fake dating romance is Cupid’s nightmare with an annoyingly stubborn quarterback and the con artist determined to give him away… before she falls for him herself.
Fine. I’m a matchmaker who doesn’t actually know much about love. Not too surprising, really. After all, the only people who lie more than Social Engineers are spies, and neither are famous for their sweeping romances. Honestly, (not that I know much about that, either) we can't even manage healthy relationships. But I want out of The Life, and what better way than to use my special skillset to play cupid to a bunch of rich lonely hearts? I just need to prove myself, and I know the perfect place to start. Denver’s hottest and most untouchable bachelor, Broncos quarterback Noah “Stone” MacCallion. All I have to do is read the guy, send send him on three dream dates, and this city’s singles scene will be lining up.
Sure, he's a tad miffed because I accidentally framed him for kidnapping… me… but no worries. We can fix that tiny hiccup.
He should be an easy score, too, except he’s distractingly handsome, irritatingly stubborn, and seems determined to mess up every match I send him on. And then there's his outrageous flirting, his mischievous tricks, and we’re not even going to talk about his kisses. Those brain-liquifying, neuron-searing, I-forgot-my-own-name kisses. He’s playing me, but I’m not sure what his strategy is. Yet. No worries. He might think he’s got game, but if there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s engineering people.
Wanna know how this ends? Easy. I win, Noah MacCallion, because you've totally met your match.
Fine. I’m a matchmaker who doesn’t actually know much about love. Not too surprising, really. After all, the only people who lie more than Social Engineers are spies, and neither are famous for their sweeping romances. Honestly, (not that I know much about that, either) we can't even manage healthy relationships. But I want out of The Life, and what better way than to use my special skillset to play cupid to a bunch of rich lonely hearts? I just need to prove myself, and I know the perfect place to start. Denver’s hottest and most untouchable bachelor, Broncos quarterback Noah “Stone” MacCallion. All I have to do is read the guy, send send him on three dream dates, and this city’s singles scene will be lining up.
Sure, he's a tad miffed because I accidentally framed him for kidnapping… me… but no worries. We can fix that tiny hiccup.
He should be an easy score, too, except he’s distractingly handsome, irritatingly stubborn, and seems determined to mess up every match I send him on. And then there's his outrageous flirting, his mischievous tricks, and we’re not even going to talk about his kisses. Those brain-liquifying, neuron-searing, I-forgot-my-own-name kisses. He’s playing me, but I’m not sure what his strategy is. Yet. No worries. He might think he’s got game, but if there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s engineering people.
Wanna know how this ends? Easy. I win, Noah MacCallion, because you've totally met your match.
164 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 10, 2023
1 person is currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 16, 2021
LOVED it!!! Must have more!
April 18, 2023
This is a very entertaining opposites attract story that I loved. Zoe is a reformed pickpocket that reinvents herself as a matchmaker and sets up a business in Denver with a wealthy and eccentric older woman who has all the connections that she needs, as her backer. Noah is a Broncos football player, on vacation for fives weeks with a plan to visit his family and chill. He stops off at a classic car show in Denver before leaving. There a Zoe’s former partner in crime tracks her down and in order to avoid him she jumps into the open trunk of Noah’s Mustang. So that’s how the relationship between the two starts and the fun begins. This is in my opinion a great first book to a wonderful series.
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May 12, 2021Awesome! Loved every word!
This is the first book I have read by you, but I promise you it will not be the last! I absolutely loved this book it was just what I needed. So thank you! Please keep doing what you do! God bless you and yours!!!!
This is the first book I have read by you, but I promise you it will not be the last! I absolutely loved this book it was just what I needed. So thank you! Please keep doing what you do! God bless you and yours!!!!
March 7, 2023
There's a charming love story in the middle of all this. It's a fun read for the characters alone. They hop off the page and slap you around to make sure you pay attention to them.
The writer is clearly skilled at writing prose, even in the difficult present tense. She's uniquely adept at writing the cadence and downright uncanny description and dialog of 1930s or 1940s movies. I could hear Jimmy Stewart narrating the first four chapters, and it discombobulated me when the characters had cell phones and modern contraptions. It would have worked well set in 1939 after the Great Depression, especially with the main character's particular criminal past.
In a contemporary romance, however, there were too many references that wouldn't be used by a couple in their 20s or 30s, and the general story plot seemed out of place in this timeline.
The 1940s cadence and tone changed by chapter five to a Southern Texan drawl. By the final chapter, it switched again to stylistic gibberish that, even after reading it twice, I couldn't quite understand. I got the main gist of what was happening, but these characters deserve a better sendoff. Hopefully, there's still time for an edit.
A lot of good stuff that made it worth reading through the whole book. A character suggesting merch like ice and egg molds and character toasters that pressed a picture onto the toast cracked me up. That made me Google it to see if that was a thing. After finding a Bob Ross toaster that puts his face on your bread, I want one.
The comedic lines and fun date ideas made this love story joyful to read. I also truly appreciated the introduction to the sport of skijoring, which is fascinating (thank you, YouTube, for giving me the visual.)
I look forward to reading more from this author and will read enthusiastically if she wants to visit bygone eras or in the present with more seniors letting loose like Ms. Danksbury, who was a hoot.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The writer is clearly skilled at writing prose, even in the difficult present tense. She's uniquely adept at writing the cadence and downright uncanny description and dialog of 1930s or 1940s movies. I could hear Jimmy Stewart narrating the first four chapters, and it discombobulated me when the characters had cell phones and modern contraptions. It would have worked well set in 1939 after the Great Depression, especially with the main character's particular criminal past.
In a contemporary romance, however, there were too many references that wouldn't be used by a couple in their 20s or 30s, and the general story plot seemed out of place in this timeline.
The 1940s cadence and tone changed by chapter five to a Southern Texan drawl. By the final chapter, it switched again to stylistic gibberish that, even after reading it twice, I couldn't quite understand. I got the main gist of what was happening, but these characters deserve a better sendoff. Hopefully, there's still time for an edit.
A lot of good stuff that made it worth reading through the whole book. A character suggesting merch like ice and egg molds and character toasters that pressed a picture onto the toast cracked me up. That made me Google it to see if that was a thing. After finding a Bob Ross toaster that puts his face on your bread, I want one.
The comedic lines and fun date ideas made this love story joyful to read. I also truly appreciated the introduction to the sport of skijoring, which is fascinating (thank you, YouTube, for giving me the visual.)
I look forward to reading more from this author and will read enthusiastically if she wants to visit bygone eras or in the present with more seniors letting loose like Ms. Danksbury, who was a hoot.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 26, 2023
Really enjoyed Zoe and Noahs quircky romance.I have wanted to read this since i read the second book in the series.
A laugh out loud romantic comedy.
Zoe is an ex-con artist and has opened up a matchmaking agency.Noah is a star quarterback and has been accused of kidnapping Zoe,so his career is on the line.
Noah becomes Zoe's client and she tries to find his perfect match,in doing so she hopes her matchmaking business will be the best.
Noah agrees as it seems to be the only option to save his career.
Problem he likes Zoe.Zoe is also attracted to him and on paper they are the perfect match,but he is her client.
With an ex boyfriend stalking her,her dissapointed mother,a personal assistant with no filter,Noah trying to sabotage her plans they get to their happily ever after.
I recieved an advanced review copy of this book for free via booksirens and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
A laugh out loud romantic comedy.
Zoe is an ex-con artist and has opened up a matchmaking agency.Noah is a star quarterback and has been accused of kidnapping Zoe,so his career is on the line.
Noah becomes Zoe's client and she tries to find his perfect match,in doing so she hopes her matchmaking business will be the best.
Noah agrees as it seems to be the only option to save his career.
Problem he likes Zoe.Zoe is also attracted to him and on paper they are the perfect match,but he is her client.
With an ex boyfriend stalking her,her dissapointed mother,a personal assistant with no filter,Noah trying to sabotage her plans they get to their happily ever after.
I recieved an advanced review copy of this book for free via booksirens and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
February 22, 2023
Zoe, a reformed pickpocket, reinvents herself as a Matchmaker and sets up a business in Denver with a wealthy backer.
Noah, a football player with the Broncos in Denver, is on vacation for 5 weeks, and has plans to go home to his family and chill. He stops off at a classic car show in Denver before leaving.
Hunter, Zoe’s former “partner in crime”, tracks her down after being released from prison, and in order to avoid him catching up with her jumps into the open trunk of Noah’s Mustang.
This sets up the storyline for this riotous read, with Noah signing up to be “matched” with hilarious results.
I enjoyed reading this book very much, and laughed out loud at some of their exploits, and had empathy for the characters at others.
I look forward to reading Book 2 in the series.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
Noah, a football player with the Broncos in Denver, is on vacation for 5 weeks, and has plans to go home to his family and chill. He stops off at a classic car show in Denver before leaving.
Hunter, Zoe’s former “partner in crime”, tracks her down after being released from prison, and in order to avoid him catching up with her jumps into the open trunk of Noah’s Mustang.
This sets up the storyline for this riotous read, with Noah signing up to be “matched” with hilarious results.
I enjoyed reading this book very much, and laughed out loud at some of their exploits, and had empathy for the characters at others.
I look forward to reading Book 2 in the series.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
April 10, 2023
This was a fun opposites-attract storyline with an original slant, and I loved it! Zoe is trying to go straight from a very unusual life of crime by setting up a dating service, but she needs to bolster her successful dates total and finds the help of an eccentric older woman who has all the connections that she needs. However, she needs to successfully match an unwilling client that ended up on the wrong side of publicity due to a stunt that she had pulled, and now his reputation is on the line if she doesn't fix it. So starts the relationship between Zoe and Noah. Let the fun begin from there! This was cute, fun, a bit zany, and sweet with a HEA and a prolonged epilogue (which I am always happy to find)! A great first book to a wonderful series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 8, 2023
A very amusing and different RomCom with quirky and believable characters. Zoe, is a reformed character and previously a pickpocket and Noah, is a giant of a sportsman who she tries to matchmake. The banter between the two main characters was very funny and the book had an interesting storyline. The book is well written and is paced well. It is told from both main character's POV and I enjoyed this book.
March 4, 2023
Loved the back story of Zoe being a pickpocket… made for an interesting plot.
Noah was instantly lovable and his character's quirks added a lot to the story.
This book had me laughing and feeling their strong connection.
Loved the HEA!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Noah was instantly lovable and his character's quirks added a lot to the story.
This book had me laughing and feeling their strong connection.
Loved the HEA!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
March 26, 2023
The Matchmaker’s Tricky Catch is a fun and enjoyable romantic comedy with perfect characters, a humorous storyline, and great writing. Zoe and Noah/Stone are made for each other. I highly recommend this delightful romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 26, 2023
This novella is packed with action and emotion. Great meet-cute followed by an amusing ride as Zoe tries to set Noah up with other women (she's a matchmaker and she doesn't date the clientele). I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 25, 2023
The classic story of opposites attract, but also of the hitch romance where the matchmaker falls for the client... a light read, dispite some heavy moments... the characters really stood out to me and amused me to no end.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2023
A laugh out loud read. I really enjoyed the cast of characters. So funny.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 16, 2023
The Matchmaker's Tricky Catch
Book 1 of The First Three Dates
Frieda J. Downing
I enjoyed the story and characters, Zoe and noah. The chemistry and journey were fun and exciting. Great read.
Book 1 of The First Three Dates
Frieda J. Downing
I enjoyed the story and characters, Zoe and noah. The chemistry and journey were fun and exciting. Great read.
March 3, 2024
It's about a girl for whom the circumstances of her upbringing and the con aspirations of her mother (and her grandmother before her) clash with her personal values and inherent goodness.
A funny and enjoyable story of how she finds her North with a wholesome guy, who falls for her hook. line and sinker - and horse.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A funny and enjoyable story of how she finds her North with a wholesome guy, who falls for her hook. line and sinker - and horse.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews