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Maker #1
The Matchmaker
From the journal of Miss Olivia
Lord H...Drinks too much. Ill-mannered and altogether too bold. Though rough-edged, he is tall and reasonably handsome. But he proves the rule that looks can be deceiving.
Ill-suited for marriage.
Since her entry into society three years ago, Olivia has kept detailed notes on every eligible man with whom she's ever sipped a cup of tea or twirled across the dance floor. Some of her diary entries have resulted in successful matches for her friends, but she's never found any man she considered remotely suitable for herself.
But once Lord Neville Hawke comes into her life, the other men in her book look positively perfect. Neville's a notorious scoundrel with a shady and painful past, and a penchant for destroying rooms in fits of drunken rage. A heartbreaker and a rogue, Lord Hawke is the kind of man who knows how to seduce a woman with only his taunting eyes and challenging words. The kind of man to whom a well-bred lady like Olivia is quite definitely immune. Until he kisses her.
And in that kiss he lets her know she is his salvation. With each caress he dares her to stop looking in her book and start listening to her heart. For two very stubborn souls have just found their perfect match...
Lord H...Drinks too much. Ill-mannered and altogether too bold. Though rough-edged, he is tall and reasonably handsome. But he proves the rule that looks can be deceiving.
Ill-suited for marriage.
Since her entry into society three years ago, Olivia has kept detailed notes on every eligible man with whom she's ever sipped a cup of tea or twirled across the dance floor. Some of her diary entries have resulted in successful matches for her friends, but she's never found any man she considered remotely suitable for herself.
But once Lord Neville Hawke comes into her life, the other men in her book look positively perfect. Neville's a notorious scoundrel with a shady and painful past, and a penchant for destroying rooms in fits of drunken rage. A heartbreaker and a rogue, Lord Hawke is the kind of man who knows how to seduce a woman with only his taunting eyes and challenging words. The kind of man to whom a well-bred lady like Olivia is quite definitely immune. Until he kisses her.
And in that kiss he lets her know she is his salvation. With each caress he dares her to stop looking in her book and start listening to her heart. For two very stubborn souls have just found their perfect match...
308 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 15, 2001
29 people are currently reading
563 people want to read
About the author
Rexanne Becnel
64 books119 followersRexanne Becnel is the author of more than twenty historical romance and contemporary mainstream novels, many of which appeared on the USA Today bestseller list. With the publication of her first novel, My Gallant Enemy, Becnel won the Waldenbooks Award for Best First-Time Romance Author and the Romantic Times Award for Best Medieval Romance by a New Author. While growing up, Becnel lived for a time in Germany and England, where she became fascinated by medieval history. After studying architecture at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, she worked as a building inspector for the Vieux Carré Commission, the agency of the City of New Orleans charged with protecting and preserving the distinct architectural and historic character of the French Quarter. Becnel lives in New Orleans with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
May 20, 2022
If you want to read a book where the characters fight 90% of the book, where the heroine doesn’t want anything to do with the hero one minute but the next she wants him and this goes on and on and on the whole book, you're welcome to be frustrated right along with me. This is 300+ pages of nothingness. They don't get to know each other, they only fight. I liked a few aspects of the story but I seriously got to a point where I couldn't believe they didn't know anything personal of each other. Only the last few pages is where we understand the hero better and even then it was so not worth enduring the rest of the story.
Not worth the time.
Not worth the time.
October 22, 2020
I love discovering new authors and hidden gems, and this book certainly did sparkle. Tortured alpha male and war hero, Lord Hawke, was a perfect lead - witty and charming on the outside and yet so much more on the inside than he gave himself credit for. Suffering from PTSD and a severe case of self-loathing, he thus self-medicated with nightly doses of whatever grog was at hand. One such sleepless night, our heroine, Olivia, wandered into his presence and in his alcohol-hazed mind, he mistook her for a loose lady and added to her already jaded view of men in general. This was the start of their acquaintance and set the tone for their future encounters where we witnessed the two protagonists matching wit alternatively with matching their growing passions, passions which they could not contain despite common sense screaming otherwise. Lovely writing with fully evolved characters, where scenes of humour and dark angst coexisted deftly together. This is my first book by Ms Becnel - the first of many that is.
March 14, 2022
Reread March 2022: Now 3.75 stars
Reread for 3rd time February 2016: updated rating from 5 stars to 4; still great read!
Great romance (with terrific chemistry!) - stubborn and independent woman meets a charming but tortured hero
I absolutely loved The Matchmaker, Becnel's first book in her "Maker" series. She is a talented writer and really knows how to write wonderful chemistry that leaps off the page! Her main and secondary characters are three-dimensional and accessible and we meet a great hero and heroine in Neville and Olivia. One looks forward to each of their encounters and the subsequent teasing and sparring that takes place.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
Olivia is 21 years old and though she's been on the marriage mart for three years and received many offers, she has yet to meet a man whom she would want to attach herself to for life. Her family situation is an interesting one: she has an older brother and younger sister and they each have different fathers. Her mother, Augusta, is a woman who loves being in love and has been widowed three times. Memories of her father's devil-may-care ways and watching her mother's relationships with men has made Olivia wary of passion and matters of the heart. She's a wonderful heroine who is easy to like - independent and strong-minded, intelligent and sensitive.
Lord Neville Hawke (~30) is the tortured hero-type. He has suffered a great deal of loss in his life: he was in the army and watched many of his friends and fellow soldiers die in battle (causes his nightmares, feelings of guilt, and escape into alcohol addiction) and a couple of years ago his parents and brother died. He's friendly and charming and flirts with Olivia at every opportunity, engaging in a battle of wills and chasing after her, unable to resist the strong pull between them. His devil-may-care facade (which reminds her too much of her late father) hides an extremely sensitive and lonely man, however, who (of course!) is unknowingly waiting for the right woman to provide him with his HEA.
SUMMARY (from back cover):
"Since her entry into society three years ago, Olivia has kept detailed notes on every eligible man with whom she's ever sipped a cup of tea or twirled across the dance floor. Some of her diary entries have resulted in successful matches for her friends, but she's never found any man she considered remotely suitable for herself.
But once Lord Neville Hawke comes into her life, the other men in her book look positively perfect. Neville's a notorious scoundrel with a shady and painful past, and a penchant for destroying rooms in fits of drunken rage. A heartbreaker and a rogue, Lord Hawke is the kind of man who knows how to seduce a woman with only his taunting eyes and challenging words. The kind of man to whom a well-bred lady like Olivia is quite definitely immune. Until he kisses her.
And in that kiss he lets her know she is his salvation. With each caress he dares her to stop looking in her book and start listening to her heart. For two very stubborn souls have just found their perfect match ..."
OTHER BOOKS IN "MAKER" SERIES:
Olivia's younger sister, Sarah, is the heroine of the second book in Becnel's "Maker" series, The Troublemaker, and her older brother James, Viscount Farley, is the hero of the fourth and last book in the series, The Heartbreaker. The third book is The Bridemaker and it's hero, Adrian Hawke, is Neville's illegitimate nephew.
BOTTOM LINE:
A definite keeper and re-read for me; the only complaint I have is that the ending (right before the epilogue) is a little too sappy, but the book is so great otherwise that I found it easy to overlook.
(Written January 2009)
Reread for 3rd time February 2016: updated rating from 5 stars to 4; still great read!
Great romance (with terrific chemistry!) - stubborn and independent woman meets a charming but tortured hero
I absolutely loved The Matchmaker, Becnel's first book in her "Maker" series. She is a talented writer and really knows how to write wonderful chemistry that leaps off the page! Her main and secondary characters are three-dimensional and accessible and we meet a great hero and heroine in Neville and Olivia. One looks forward to each of their encounters and the subsequent teasing and sparring that takes place.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
Olivia is 21 years old and though she's been on the marriage mart for three years and received many offers, she has yet to meet a man whom she would want to attach herself to for life. Her family situation is an interesting one: she has an older brother and younger sister and they each have different fathers. Her mother, Augusta, is a woman who loves being in love and has been widowed three times. Memories of her father's devil-may-care ways and watching her mother's relationships with men has made Olivia wary of passion and matters of the heart. She's a wonderful heroine who is easy to like - independent and strong-minded, intelligent and sensitive.
Lord Neville Hawke (~30) is the tortured hero-type. He has suffered a great deal of loss in his life: he was in the army and watched many of his friends and fellow soldiers die in battle (causes his nightmares, feelings of guilt, and escape into alcohol addiction) and a couple of years ago his parents and brother died. He's friendly and charming and flirts with Olivia at every opportunity, engaging in a battle of wills and chasing after her, unable to resist the strong pull between them. His devil-may-care facade (which reminds her too much of her late father) hides an extremely sensitive and lonely man, however, who (of course!) is unknowingly waiting for the right woman to provide him with his HEA.
SUMMARY (from back cover):
"Since her entry into society three years ago, Olivia has kept detailed notes on every eligible man with whom she's ever sipped a cup of tea or twirled across the dance floor. Some of her diary entries have resulted in successful matches for her friends, but she's never found any man she considered remotely suitable for herself.
But once Lord Neville Hawke comes into her life, the other men in her book look positively perfect. Neville's a notorious scoundrel with a shady and painful past, and a penchant for destroying rooms in fits of drunken rage. A heartbreaker and a rogue, Lord Hawke is the kind of man who knows how to seduce a woman with only his taunting eyes and challenging words. The kind of man to whom a well-bred lady like Olivia is quite definitely immune. Until he kisses her.
And in that kiss he lets her know she is his salvation. With each caress he dares her to stop looking in her book and start listening to her heart. For two very stubborn souls have just found their perfect match ..."
OTHER BOOKS IN "MAKER" SERIES:
Olivia's younger sister, Sarah, is the heroine of the second book in Becnel's "Maker" series, The Troublemaker, and her older brother James, Viscount Farley, is the hero of the fourth and last book in the series, The Heartbreaker. The third book is The Bridemaker and it's hero, Adrian Hawke, is Neville's illegitimate nephew.
BOTTOM LINE:
A definite keeper and re-read for me; the only complaint I have is that the ending (right before the epilogue) is a little too sappy, but the book is so great otherwise that I found it easy to overlook.
(Written January 2009)
October 21, 2013
I loved the book. Because it includes everything that I have in a regency book.
The story was built on our hero and heroine conflict which I love to read very much :)
Their relation development is very well written. When you read, you can be easily conviced about that progress. Of course there is some major or classic topic like hero is a warweary so he has nightmares and can't sleep and drink very much.
Heroine's late father was a rake so she wants to get married different from her father. She thinks that the hero is the same like her father etc.
I like most of things in the book, just the last a few pages before the epilogue was not good for me or made sense. It's not a huge thing but I think, it can be handle better.
Last thing, maybe I like to read story and the relationship but it's romance factor is average for me. There are some books that sometimes I reread some scenes that affect me very much. Judith McNaught's Once and Always book is one of them. So it's not that kind of book for me. It's a well written, includes nice elements and has a good progress kind of book for me :)
Overall, it's like a classic a hr book we used to read. I had quite good time while reading so I'll check autor's other books too.
The story was built on our hero and heroine conflict which I love to read very much :)
Their relation development is very well written. When you read, you can be easily conviced about that progress. Of course there is some major or classic topic like hero is a warweary so he has nightmares and can't sleep and drink very much.
Heroine's late father was a rake so she wants to get married different from her father. She thinks that the hero is the same like her father etc.
I like most of things in the book, just the last a few pages before the epilogue was not good for me or made sense. It's not a huge thing but I think, it can be handle better.
Last thing, maybe I like to read story and the relationship but it's romance factor is average for me. There are some books that sometimes I reread some scenes that affect me very much. Judith McNaught's Once and Always book is one of them. So it's not that kind of book for me. It's a well written, includes nice elements and has a good progress kind of book for me :)
Overall, it's like a classic a hr book we used to read. I had quite good time while reading so I'll check autor's other books too.
September 4, 2010
I really liked this book. Based on the cover and on Olivia's matchmaker status, I went into it expecting a much lighter book. By the time we get our first glimpse of Neville's despair when trying to make it through the night, which happen on pages 15 - 19, I realized that this story would be quite a bit darker than I expected. But then the story reverted back to a less angsty tone. It seemed like the despair would come unexpectedly, for me at least. I kind of liked it.
Even though the book had a lighthearted tone through most of it, it never felt fluffy. The characters felt well-rounded and engrossing. I particularly like the mother's character. I still don't know if I like her or not, but I felt that she was given a lot of time and attention. I liked how information about her relationship with Olivia's father was given in small doses through stray comments. It felt way more authentic than characters info-dumping about a subject that they weren't comfortable discussing with each other. I felt that Olivia's mother was willfully blind to Olivia's issues. But what could she really say to change her mind? I understood both of their side's but I wished she was less self absorbed.
I really felt for Olivia. She was never a ninny, but she was afraid. Afraid of repeating past mistakes. She only saw the black and white of the issue, not the gray. She didn't understand that those symptoms of attraction don't always spell disaster. I really liked how levelheaded Olivia was. It seemed like that was also her biggest weakness at times. She was too afraid to let herself go. I really appreciated that she didn't sugarcoat Neville's drinking. She refused to let herself be sucked into that kind of relationship.
I really liked how she would go write in her journal whenever Neville irritated her in the beginning of the book. I also liked the note he left back! She was always so irritated and scandalized by his gall, but Neville was right when he said that's what drew her to him too.
Neville was an interesting character. He wasn't a rake, but wasn't adverse to dallying. He also didn't conform to the typical portrayal of an alcoholic. In some ways that's my main gripe with the story. I felt that it was much too easy for him to ignore his addiction when it suited the story. I liked that the epilogue alluded to his sleeping problem taking a while to fix, but I still would have like a bit more care taken with his drinking problem.
I really liked their relationship together. I'm interested in going back and reading about the couples that Olivia had a hand in setting up!
I had to reread two parts of the book before I put it down. The scene where Olivia talks to her brother in an attempt to foil Neville's plan to pressure her into doing something she didn't want to. His reaction was so funny! The other scene was where Sarah busts her mom and the brother jumps to the wrong conclusion. His shock when he found out what was really going on was hilarious!
Even though the book had a lighthearted tone through most of it, it never felt fluffy. The characters felt well-rounded and engrossing. I particularly like the mother's character. I still don't know if I like her or not, but I felt that she was given a lot of time and attention. I liked how information about her relationship with Olivia's father was given in small doses through stray comments. It felt way more authentic than characters info-dumping about a subject that they weren't comfortable discussing with each other. I felt that Olivia's mother was willfully blind to Olivia's issues. But what could she really say to change her mind? I understood both of their side's but I wished she was less self absorbed.
I really felt for Olivia. She was never a ninny, but she was afraid. Afraid of repeating past mistakes. She only saw the black and white of the issue, not the gray. She didn't understand that those symptoms of attraction don't always spell disaster. I really liked how levelheaded Olivia was. It seemed like that was also her biggest weakness at times. She was too afraid to let herself go. I really appreciated that she didn't sugarcoat Neville's drinking. She refused to let herself be sucked into that kind of relationship.
I really liked how she would go write in her journal whenever Neville irritated her in the beginning of the book. I also liked the note he left back! She was always so irritated and scandalized by his gall, but Neville was right when he said that's what drew her to him too.
Neville was an interesting character. He wasn't a rake, but wasn't adverse to dallying. He also didn't conform to the typical portrayal of an alcoholic. In some ways that's my main gripe with the story. I felt that it was much too easy for him to ignore his addiction when it suited the story. I liked that the epilogue alluded to his sleeping problem taking a while to fix, but I still would have like a bit more care taken with his drinking problem.
I really liked their relationship together. I'm interested in going back and reading about the couples that Olivia had a hand in setting up!
I had to reread two parts of the book before I put it down. The scene where Olivia talks to her brother in an attempt to foil Neville's plan to pressure her into doing something she didn't want to. His reaction was so funny! The other scene was where Sarah busts her mom and the brother jumps to the wrong conclusion. His shock when he found out what was really going on was hilarious!
February 11, 2022
DNF @40% Just poorly written.
February 16, 2025
3 stars
Just ok, she was angry up to 80%, then switch and the story ended.
Just ok, she was angry up to 80%, then switch and the story ended.
October 18, 2019
I was loving this book for about 70% of the story. Not really a romance about a Matchmaker, since Olivia does matchmaking but at the beginning only (maybe in her past) and keeps a little notebook where she takes notes about all possible bachelors for her girl friends. And when Neville finds that notebook is when their romance more or less start.
I loved Neville from the beginning, because he reminded me of Carla Kelly's heroes. He was fun and a flirt and a gentleman with all people except with the heroine.. he was a fun scoundrel with her only -too bad she didn't have much humor-. And his dark secret was that he was suffering from PSTD, from war... just like a CK hero. He couldn't sleep at night, didn't want to, because it meant dreaming about all his friends dying.
Olivia was alright as a heroine, I like her confrontations with Neville.. the sparks between them. And her resentment towards him was totally justified, since he made the worst kind of assumptions about her. After he kissed her and all she could think about was his kiss, I would have loved if she picked up a better other kisser.. did she have to go and picked a slobbery one? **facepalm**
Anyway, I loved their banters and Olivia resisting and Neville insisting. I loved it till I got tired of it :(
I loved Neville from the beginning, because he reminded me of Carla Kelly's heroes. He was fun and a flirt and a gentleman with all people except with the heroine.. he was a fun scoundrel with her only -too bad she didn't have much humor-. And his dark secret was that he was suffering from PSTD, from war... just like a CK hero. He couldn't sleep at night, didn't want to, because it meant dreaming about all his friends dying.
Olivia was alright as a heroine, I like her confrontations with Neville.. the sparks between them. And her resentment towards him was totally justified, since he made the worst kind of assumptions about her. After he kissed her and all she could think about was his kiss, I would have loved if she picked up a better other kisser.. did she have to go and picked a slobbery one? **facepalm**
Anyway, I loved their banters and Olivia resisting and Neville insisting. I loved it till I got tired of it :(
April 19, 2022
Very good regency
January 10, 2025
This book was better than I expected. Chemistry between characters was off the charts, and Loved the steamy kisses 😚
Only taking a star off for that ridiculously abrupt ending! Left me feeling shortchanged - I think we deserved a better ending than the rushed steamy scene and quick confessions of love 😑
Only taking a star off for that ridiculously abrupt ending! Left me feeling shortchanged - I think we deserved a better ending than the rushed steamy scene and quick confessions of love 😑
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2022
There were things that just didn't work for me in this novel. I kept waiting for it to get better, and before I knew it, I was at the end.
August 29, 2011
This started out really promising, with both an interesting hero and heroine, but somewhere in the middle it all kinda sizzled out, becauseissues weren't really addressed and they seemed to keep going in circles.
And I had a few issues.
I felt that the book handled the alcoholic hero quite well, but that his recovery wasn't touched deeply enough. Alcoholism is a fight that never ends, and that facet was brushed over way to soon.
I also thought that the heroine had good reasons for not wanting to marry the hero, and that the selfish meddling of her mother, as well as the heroes motivations were quite hurtful. While I could definitely see (and feel) the attraction, I kept expected a tremendous amount of sadness for the heroine, and thought that that weighed down the story. However, when the final catharsis didn't go as I had forefelt, I felt robbed, because I really wanted Hawke to see Olivia, and realize who she was.
Now it was mostly a case of too little too late, or rather too much in way too few pages. He doesn't come clean about his war history until she catches him after a nightmare. He doesn't realize he loves her untiol even after that - and then it's followed by the most sappy ephiphany about the healing power of love. Followed by an even sappier epilogue.
After such a tumultuous book, and witha hero and heroine who both have a difficult past, and so much between them to overcome, I really felt like a quarter of the book was missing.
At times the writing seemed slightly repetitive as well; I have never have read the word perverse so much as a description for the heroine's feeling (and all she wanted was to kiss him), and the hero made a couple of exact observations as well.
Despite the slightly disappointing (and a bit too sweet) ending, I still liked it well enough. Hawke is not the classic kind of tortured hero - he has turned inwards and private rather than hash out outwards, and while he definitely acts rakish, his intentions - when not under influence - are never dishonorable.
Olivia was a very original heroine, wary of men, a troubled - but still loving - relationship with her mother (who I loathed). Stubborn, but not out of stupidity, but for actual understandable reasons, very caring, and smart. She gets feisty once in a while, and she's the queen of denial, but I really liked her.
I think I'll probably try out at least another one in this series, because her characters are all well-rounded and interesting, and the conflicts the author creates seem those of real people.
And I had a few issues.
I felt that the book handled the alcoholic hero quite well, but that his recovery wasn't touched deeply enough. Alcoholism is a fight that never ends, and that facet was brushed over way to soon.
I also thought that the heroine had good reasons for not wanting to marry the hero, and that the selfish meddling of her mother, as well as the heroes motivations were quite hurtful. While I could definitely see (and feel) the attraction, I kept expected a tremendous amount of sadness for the heroine, and thought that that weighed down the story. However, when the final catharsis didn't go as I had forefelt, I felt robbed, because I really wanted Hawke to see Olivia, and realize who she was.
Now it was mostly a case of too little too late, or rather too much in way too few pages. He doesn't come clean about his war history until she catches him after a nightmare. He doesn't realize he loves her untiol even after that - and then it's followed by the most sappy ephiphany about the healing power of love. Followed by an even sappier epilogue.
After such a tumultuous book, and witha hero and heroine who both have a difficult past, and so much between them to overcome, I really felt like a quarter of the book was missing.
At times the writing seemed slightly repetitive as well; I have never have read the word perverse so much as a description for the heroine's feeling (and all she wanted was to kiss him), and the hero made a couple of exact observations as well.
Despite the slightly disappointing (and a bit too sweet) ending, I still liked it well enough. Hawke is not the classic kind of tortured hero - he has turned inwards and private rather than hash out outwards, and while he definitely acts rakish, his intentions - when not under influence - are never dishonorable.
Olivia was a very original heroine, wary of men, a troubled - but still loving - relationship with her mother (who I loathed). Stubborn, but not out of stupidity, but for actual understandable reasons, very caring, and smart. She gets feisty once in a while, and she's the queen of denial, but I really liked her.
I think I'll probably try out at least another one in this series, because her characters are all well-rounded and interesting, and the conflicts the author creates seem those of real people.
June 21, 2023
I wouldn't recommend this book at all, I did not find it enjoyable to read. The author was going for an enemies to lovers sort of trope, but instead ended up writing some very uncomfortable assault scenes on the main character, failing miserably to capture what makes etl so enjoyable to read. It was hard to read feel invested and root for the character of Neville when he started the book thinking jarringly sexist things about Olivia and other women, then proceeded to assault her on multiple occasions throughout the book.
The writing itself wasn't great either, and as a Scottish person myself I couldn't help but cringe multiple times at the author's attempts to write Scottish characters and dialogue. That could be argued as nitpicky, but I feel like it exemplifies the very American tone the whole book has, with a lot of this really breaking the immersion for me.
The structure of the story felt very off, Olivia finding out about Neville's trauma feels like it should have come earlier in the book. It would really have solidified the redemption arc of him in her eyes, and I could have at least understood her change of heart for wanting him after she found out that there was a reason he acted the way he did. I still feel like the author included too many issues to really strike the enemies to lovers tone correctly, I didn't feel like there was any way I could root for the relationship between the characters.
As something positive, I quite liked the character of Olivia. She was flawed in a realistic way, and I enjoyed reading her internal dialogue. Her "holier than thou" attitude to her mother felt quite tiring to read at times, but I think her experience with seeing her and her father's relationship deteriorate was a good reason for her to be so adverse to Neville and picky with her marriage.
The writing itself wasn't great either, and as a Scottish person myself I couldn't help but cringe multiple times at the author's attempts to write Scottish characters and dialogue. That could be argued as nitpicky, but I feel like it exemplifies the very American tone the whole book has, with a lot of this really breaking the immersion for me.
The structure of the story felt very off, Olivia finding out about Neville's trauma feels like it should have come earlier in the book. It would really have solidified the redemption arc of him in her eyes, and I could have at least understood her change of heart for wanting him after she found out that there was a reason he acted the way he did. I still feel like the author included too many issues to really strike the enemies to lovers tone correctly, I didn't feel like there was any way I could root for the relationship between the characters.
As something positive, I quite liked the character of Olivia. She was flawed in a realistic way, and I enjoyed reading her internal dialogue. Her "holier than thou" attitude to her mother felt quite tiring to read at times, but I think her experience with seeing her and her father's relationship deteriorate was a good reason for her to be so adverse to Neville and picky with her marriage.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2010
If you enjoyed Rexanne's other Regency-set book, Dangerous to Love, you'll love this series, too. They're not your average family series. The heroines of the first and second books are half-sisters. The hero of the third book is the illegitimate nephew of the hero of the first book. And the upcoming fourth book features the two half-sisters' half-brother. It's less complicated than it sounds, and oh, are these books delicious!
March 11, 2008
An easy and pleasant read. Humorous.
January 23, 2023
*3.5 stars*
I guess I'm on a historical romance/Rexanne Becnel kick. This book was still well written and the characters well developed, but I found it a bit tiresome to be sure. Mainly because Olivia spent too much time trying to resist Neville, only to capitulate all of a sudden in the very end. I was left wondering why that moment and not before. Don't get me wrong, I understood her reasons for resisting so much, but as far as I'm concerned there should have been some kind of resolution between them by the halfway mark at the latest. Either take him or leave him, girl! Dont be wasting your time and mine.
I guess I'm on a historical romance/Rexanne Becnel kick. This book was still well written and the characters well developed, but I found it a bit tiresome to be sure. Mainly because Olivia spent too much time trying to resist Neville, only to capitulate all of a sudden in the very end. I was left wondering why that moment and not before. Don't get me wrong, I understood her reasons for resisting so much, but as far as I'm concerned there should have been some kind of resolution between them by the halfway mark at the latest. Either take him or leave him, girl! Dont be wasting your time and mine.
February 6, 2024
Sooo long.
August 10, 2020
It was soooooo long
It was very long but very well written. A slow burn. Decent development. It was what it was. Nothing more.
It was very long but very well written. A slow burn. Decent development. It was what it was. Nothing more.
July 19, 2016
MY FIRST BECNEL HR AND I ENJOYED EVERY SECOND OF IT!
After reading books by author Shirlee Busbee, I needed an emotional connection to a story and I was glad I started with this. Somehow it isn't the greatest I have read but overall still entertaining because of the chemistry and sexual tension between the H/h.
OUR HERO is a tortured war veteran who is haunted by the ghosts of his past and he has trouble sleeping at night because of the nightmares. So he imbibes in alcohol and previously loose women just to forget. One fine midnight, he encountered sweet Olivia and mistaken her for a whore because what well bred lady wanders the house at 4am and dressed as such, carrying a journal with a list of men names and their attributes? Something about her intrigues him and thus he begins to pursue her. It wasn't long for Neville to love her but he just never realised it. What sane man who doesnt give a fig for a woman he cares about spends so much time plotting to win her and even considers her feelings? A man in love that's who! He is a gentle and passionate character it is hard not to like him.
OUR HEROINE can be silly sometimes with all her fretting but she means well. After three seasons of husband hunting, she is bored with the ton and the milksops. When she meets Neville, he didn't make a good impression of himself and it triggers their on/off banter and sexual chemistry. She's a strong character and she loves her family much, eagerly protective of her mother and due to that, she loathes her father who is said to be a drunken philandering type of man. It wasnt mentioned if her parents were wedded by judging by how much tears Augusta shed for the man, I am doubtful. So Olivia compares men to her father and it becomes an obstacle to Neville's pursue.
OVERALL it is a romantic light read. Nothing intense and the sex and passion was average. I would love to read the next one in the series.
After reading books by author Shirlee Busbee, I needed an emotional connection to a story and I was glad I started with this. Somehow it isn't the greatest I have read but overall still entertaining because of the chemistry and sexual tension between the H/h.
OUR HERO is a tortured war veteran who is haunted by the ghosts of his past and he has trouble sleeping at night because of the nightmares. So he imbibes in alcohol and previously loose women just to forget. One fine midnight, he encountered sweet Olivia and mistaken her for a whore because what well bred lady wanders the house at 4am and dressed as such, carrying a journal with a list of men names and their attributes? Something about her intrigues him and thus he begins to pursue her. It wasn't long for Neville to love her but he just never realised it. What sane man who doesnt give a fig for a woman he cares about spends so much time plotting to win her and even considers her feelings? A man in love that's who! He is a gentle and passionate character it is hard not to like him.
OUR HEROINE can be silly sometimes with all her fretting but she means well. After three seasons of husband hunting, she is bored with the ton and the milksops. When she meets Neville, he didn't make a good impression of himself and it triggers their on/off banter and sexual chemistry. She's a strong character and she loves her family much, eagerly protective of her mother and due to that, she loathes her father who is said to be a drunken philandering type of man. It wasnt mentioned if her parents were wedded by judging by how much tears Augusta shed for the man, I am doubtful. So Olivia compares men to her father and it becomes an obstacle to Neville's pursue.
OVERALL it is a romantic light read. Nothing intense and the sex and passion was average. I would love to read the next one in the series.
December 13, 2021
I 1st read this paperback Regency in 2009 and liked
it. This time around: not so much.
Both the heroine Olivia & hero Lord Neville (a baron)
were brooding,+ self-centered. Both were "horse-mad."
She created a matchmaker list of 38 men, mostly with
their character deficits IE frugal, Mama's boy, etc. To
assist her friends and others in finding a mate. Neville
by accident found this list. Who was she to judge these
men? She also ?'d her widowed 3x, youthful-looking
mother (who had a child by each man) as to the gen-
uineness of Mom's affection toward these 3 men.
The hero had a rationale for his anti-social behavior.
He had nightmares and drank too much over his PTSD
war survival guilt. When he had a horse in a race or he
hoped to sell, he conformed to shaving & looking pre-
sentable. I doubted the MCs respected each other. And:
where was the love?
it. This time around: not so much.
Both the heroine Olivia & hero Lord Neville (a baron)
were brooding,+ self-centered. Both were "horse-mad."
She created a matchmaker list of 38 men, mostly with
their character deficits IE frugal, Mama's boy, etc. To
assist her friends and others in finding a mate. Neville
by accident found this list. Who was she to judge these
men? She also ?'d her widowed 3x, youthful-looking
mother (who had a child by each man) as to the gen-
uineness of Mom's affection toward these 3 men.
The hero had a rationale for his anti-social behavior.
He had nightmares and drank too much over his PTSD
war survival guilt. When he had a horse in a race or he
hoped to sell, he conformed to shaving & looking pre-
sentable. I doubted the MCs respected each other. And:
where was the love?
November 7, 2015
The Matchmaker had all the right ingredients, but somehow fell flat. It got bogged down in the middle, with lots of repetition, after a decent start. It was difficult to keep reading(without falling asleep) and had a fine ending.
March 21, 2016
I really love this story. I read this when it was first published and it's still a joy to read. I love the storyline and the characters too. It's so very well written.
Read
October 21, 2021In The Matchmaker, the hero deals with alcoholism brought on by his experiences in the war. Another book I read which dealt alcoholism extensively was Reforming Lord Ragsdale. Good read.
I listened to this book for the first half while running errands and sat down to read the 2nd half after a tiring day.
I enjoyed the familial scenes of Olivia's family Another way to flesh out characters, ay? Her mother is a mess though, Augusta is the walking embodiment of 'can't live without men'. On one hand, if men can marry often and younger each time...I don't see why women should not as well. Either way, I'd be snickering at both of them. Truly the avatars of reveling in love. Sarah and James, the siblings played their parts well. I am interested in how Sarah's life will play out. James, meh because he's just the stock protective devil may care older brother.
While reading The Matchmaker, errant thoughts couldn't help but intrude to either (1) make my eyes roll a lot at the characters' thoughts and going ons, (2) make me, the reader be in the state of disbelief and/or frustration.
Olivia did indeed become trapped...I wonder if she had other options, options now available to all, what she would have done? It did not help at the mother and brother both wanted them together due to her admitting she took an active role in her 'dishonouring'. At least her brother accepted her wishes and helped her not get wedded, initially. Her mother though....🤬 Not much support.
And of course, the way it is written...she doesn't want to get married and yet those suppressed urges are niggling at her. She wants him, she doesn't. He's like all the other men of their station and then, he isn't. He engineered the situation, she knows it and yet, she can't help yearning for him. Of course they end getting together.
Tying things up with the belief that a partner will help him of his journey of curing himself of addiction. Thinking that she could maybe 'fix' him. I think those points brought it down to reality and their married life will be full of trials and tribulations (despite the happy 3 years later scene at the end). Just as any other marriage would be I suppose but the trials they probably faced aren't implicitly stated. Sort of assumes he got over his demons and she was the one that helped him. One of those days when I feel less satisfied with a mandatory HEA.
He is probably, how he would have been in real life which equally terrifies and fascinated me. I can delude myself with well meaning, handsome, do good at the end heros but the Nevilles were probably more common in those times. We are dealing with people, aren't we? Flesh and blood.
I listened to this book for the first half while running errands and sat down to read the 2nd half after a tiring day.
I enjoyed the familial scenes of Olivia's family Another way to flesh out characters, ay? Her mother is a mess though, Augusta is the walking embodiment of 'can't live without men'. On one hand, if men can marry often and younger each time...I don't see why women should not as well. Either way, I'd be snickering at both of them. Truly the avatars of reveling in love. Sarah and James, the siblings played their parts well. I am interested in how Sarah's life will play out. James, meh because he's just the stock protective devil may care older brother.
While reading The Matchmaker, errant thoughts couldn't help but intrude to either (1) make my eyes roll a lot at the characters' thoughts and going ons, (2) make me, the reader be in the state of disbelief and/or frustration.
Olivia did indeed become trapped...I wonder if she had other options, options now available to all, what she would have done? It did not help at the mother and brother both wanted them together due to her admitting she took an active role in her 'dishonouring'. At least her brother accepted her wishes and helped her not get wedded, initially. Her mother though....🤬 Not much support.
And of course, the way it is written...she doesn't want to get married and yet those suppressed urges are niggling at her. She wants him, she doesn't. He's like all the other men of their station and then, he isn't. He engineered the situation, she knows it and yet, she can't help yearning for him. Of course they end getting together.
Tying things up with the belief that a partner will help him of his journey of curing himself of addiction. Thinking that she could maybe 'fix' him. I think those points brought it down to reality and their married life will be full of trials and tribulations (despite the happy 3 years later scene at the end). Just as any other marriage would be I suppose but the trials they probably faced aren't implicitly stated. Sort of assumes he got over his demons and she was the one that helped him. One of those days when I feel less satisfied with a mandatory HEA.
He is probably, how he would have been in real life which equally terrifies and fascinated me. I can delude myself with well meaning, handsome, do good at the end heros but the Nevilles were probably more common in those times. We are dealing with people, aren't we? Flesh and blood.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2024
This ebook was on the Hoopla bonus borrows, and it just sounded interesting to me. Ordinarily, I'm not a huge readers of Regency era literature, but I do love a good romance, especially an enemies to lovers one. I also love a handsome, but brooding and somewhat sardonic male lead in fiction, and alas, in real life. Although, the latter doesn't work as well for me as the former. And, of course, I love a feisty and relatable heroine. And snarky banter is my weakness. This novel had all those elements, and they are all well done. This was a fun and funny read. I highly recommend it.
Miss Olivia Byrd is a woman who knows her own mind. Despite her mothers near constant scheming, Olivia has still not found herself a husband. She does not really need one, as she has inherited a family home and lands to oversee from her late father. Additionally, she does not want one. Having seen what her rogue of a father put her mother through, Olivia is determined to guard her heart against falling for such a man. However, she is quite gifted at helping her friends find their perfect matches. Moreover, she meets many men at balls and other social outings, and records her observations of each man in her small notebook, later using this information to make connections for others. Then, one night she meets Lord Neville Hawk. He is nothing that she wants for herself or any of her peers. He's sarcastic, and brooding. He drinks too much, and has trouble managing his own affairs. He even mistook Olivia for a lady of the night when they were both guests in a friend's home. Olivia wants nothing to do with him, and yet, something about Lord Hawke intrigues her and attracts her as their paths continue to cross. Will she give in to her attraction or continue to stand firm.
Neville Hawke is a man of tragedy. A war hero, he is haunted by the night he could not save his fellow soldiers. He is also lonesome, as he has lost his entire family. His memories plague him at night, giving him insomnia. He turns to the bottle to try and keep the terrors at bay, and sleeps by day. He is struggling to manage his floundering estate. The last thing he needs or wants is to drag a woman into his situation. Plus, he's certain that no one could ever care for him in his current wretched state. Yet, he's strongly attracted to Olivia Byrd from the first moment they meet. Plus, he thinks she may feel the same way. Does Neville dare to open himself up to her love? Read The Matchmaker to see if Olivia and Neville make a wonderful match. You'll be glad you did.
Miss Olivia Byrd is a woman who knows her own mind. Despite her mothers near constant scheming, Olivia has still not found herself a husband. She does not really need one, as she has inherited a family home and lands to oversee from her late father. Additionally, she does not want one. Having seen what her rogue of a father put her mother through, Olivia is determined to guard her heart against falling for such a man. However, she is quite gifted at helping her friends find their perfect matches. Moreover, she meets many men at balls and other social outings, and records her observations of each man in her small notebook, later using this information to make connections for others. Then, one night she meets Lord Neville Hawk. He is nothing that she wants for herself or any of her peers. He's sarcastic, and brooding. He drinks too much, and has trouble managing his own affairs. He even mistook Olivia for a lady of the night when they were both guests in a friend's home. Olivia wants nothing to do with him, and yet, something about Lord Hawke intrigues her and attracts her as their paths continue to cross. Will she give in to her attraction or continue to stand firm.
Neville Hawke is a man of tragedy. A war hero, he is haunted by the night he could not save his fellow soldiers. He is also lonesome, as he has lost his entire family. His memories plague him at night, giving him insomnia. He turns to the bottle to try and keep the terrors at bay, and sleeps by day. He is struggling to manage his floundering estate. The last thing he needs or wants is to drag a woman into his situation. Plus, he's certain that no one could ever care for him in his current wretched state. Yet, he's strongly attracted to Olivia Byrd from the first moment they meet. Plus, he thinks she may feel the same way. Does Neville dare to open himself up to her love? Read The Matchmaker to see if Olivia and Neville make a wonderful match. You'll be glad you did.
did-not-finish
March 18, 2022Stopping at 25%.
I no longer have patience for books where a male character treats a female character poorly and then she's inexplicably attracted to him in a way that she's never been to any man before. This sends a terrible message to women about how they should be treated.
Let me expand on this a bit. I love books where a character has a lot of wounds from their past that they have to work through. I love books where there are misunderstandings between the two characters, where they get off on the wrong foot, and even where they're a bit antagonistic to each other at the start because they don't like each other. But that is not the same as a man who tries to pressure a young woman into sleeping with him because he assumes he's in a position of power over her (he's a rich lord and he assumes she's a servant) or where he assumes a woman is a prostitute and tries to hire her. He was absolutely disgusting in how he clearly views and is willing to treat women (as objects meant only for his pleasure). Then when he realizes who she is and that he might have messed up his chances at a business deal because of how he treated her, he tries to be better mannered--all for his own self interest.
I don't think this book can redeem him enough. For me to buy into this romance, it wouldn't be enough for him to treat the main female character well and amend his ways for her. He'd also need to change his view of women and show somehow that he recognizes how wrong his prior treatment of them was.
I'm not enjoying the journey enough to stay around for that slim hope.
I no longer have patience for books where a male character treats a female character poorly and then she's inexplicably attracted to him in a way that she's never been to any man before. This sends a terrible message to women about how they should be treated.
Let me expand on this a bit. I love books where a character has a lot of wounds from their past that they have to work through. I love books where there are misunderstandings between the two characters, where they get off on the wrong foot, and even where they're a bit antagonistic to each other at the start because they don't like each other. But that is not the same as a man who tries to pressure a young woman into sleeping with him because he assumes he's in a position of power over her (he's a rich lord and he assumes she's a servant) or where he assumes a woman is a prostitute and tries to hire her. He was absolutely disgusting in how he clearly views and is willing to treat women (as objects meant only for his pleasure). Then when he realizes who she is and that he might have messed up his chances at a business deal because of how he treated her, he tries to be better mannered--all for his own self interest.
I don't think this book can redeem him enough. For me to buy into this romance, it wouldn't be enough for him to treat the main female character well and amend his ways for her. He'd also need to change his view of women and show somehow that he recognizes how wrong his prior treatment of them was.
I'm not enjoying the journey enough to stay around for that slim hope.
August 28, 2024
The pacing of this narrative is quite slow. Olivia is also prone to self reflective musing that suggest she believes herself to be above those she is spending time with; the frequency of these musing does nothing to aid the slow nature of the plot. Our hero, Neville, and those around him, are quick to excuse his terrible behavior without expectation of change because he has/had trauma. Even though readers are suppose to root for the relationship between Olivia and Neville, they rarely share a scene that does not involve a fight or contempt.
This narrative does have more than one perspective, and it would be nice if some manner of formatting was used to signal more clearly when the current perspective is shifting, as the characters' voices were often not distinct enough distinguish on their own.
This narrative does have more than one perspective, and it would be nice if some manner of formatting was used to signal more clearly when the current perspective is shifting, as the characters' voices were often not distinct enough distinguish on their own.
May 26, 2025
I bought The Bridemaker (book 3 of this series) a while back, really enjoyed it. The Matchmaker box set, books 1-3, was offered on BookBub so bought it. I liked this first book of the series. H & h like magnets=get close and the next thing their kissing. I didn't care for the second book, The Troublemaker. I quit not very far into it. I didn't care for that h in the first book. Seemed like a spoiled/disagreeable 12 year old. She seemed the same in book 2 but now she's an adult.
I've liked half of the books I've read by this author. Out of 9 books: I've given four of them a 4 or higher rating. Two I didn't care for sample or description so didn't read. I mentioned I didn't finish the 2nd book of this series and two I gave a 2.5 and a 3- rating. I've downloaded The Maiden Bride, her most read book. It's free on Kindle Unlimited. I'm looking forward to reading it.
I've liked half of the books I've read by this author. Out of 9 books: I've given four of them a 4 or higher rating. Two I didn't care for sample or description so didn't read. I mentioned I didn't finish the 2nd book of this series and two I gave a 2.5 and a 3- rating. I've downloaded The Maiden Bride, her most read book. It's free on Kindle Unlimited. I'm looking forward to reading it.
April 29, 2018
More people should know and read Roxanne Becnel, The Maiden Bride was a wonderful love story ....hot and sexy and this my second book by this author , The Matchmaker , about Neville and Olivia , was equally good . It may just be me but around 95% finished both endings got weak and confused to me . In this book Neville decides he is not capable of loving someone and then immediately in the next sentence he decides he is ....the writing could have been so much better at the bitter end . The epilogue while satisfying on one level , wasn't on another ....But I admit I've read all day with hardly a break and the fault may lie with me . I give it a strong 4 rating , dialogue is delightful .no where near as steamy as The Maiden Bride but good
November 30, 2020
Good enough filler while I am searching for Historical Mysteries. Good and interesting introduction to Olivia's character and life... I like the humour... then she met Hawke and antagonism and attraction were both a constant emotional mix for her... so that she turned from one calm and collected young lady to a confused and bothered one. I just did not like her being too judgemental where the 'insomniac and beset by war~nightmares' Hawke was concerned... also, after their night of intimacy, they both had issues against each other? Annoying.
July 25, 2021
I almost really liked the book. The writing was excellent - Becnel is a great story teller! But, I was uncomfortable with the forced kissed and sexual encounters between Olivia and Neville. She said no, he *knew* she really wanted it so he kept going and then *poof!* she was aroused.
Some might call this a spoiler, but I think no one would be surprised to read it: He compromised her and then threatened her unless she married him. Aaaannnd after 7/8ths of the book hating him, she realizes she did in fact love him and wanted to marry him.
Some might call this a spoiler, but I think no one would be surprised to read it: He compromised her and then threatened her unless she married him. Aaaannnd after 7/8ths of the book hating him, she realizes she did in fact love him and wanted to marry him.
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