The Gentleman's Confession

Matchmaking Mamas #3

by Anneka R. Walker

Inexperienced in love, Jemma seeks help from her best friend, Miles, unaware that he has secretly loved her for years.

Brookeside, England, 1822

Jemma Fielding has always considered herself an independent woman, but to honor her beloved grandmother’s dying wish, she makes a promise that she will marry and fall in love. To fulfill her promise, she turns to the Matchmaking Mamas Society for assistance and is paired with the charming Mr. Bentley. Though he is everything Jemma could hope for in a match, she is clueless about how to win his heart. Desperate to make a good impression, she seeks guidance from her dearest friend, Miles Jackson, a humble rector with a talent for understanding matters of the heart.

However, Miles’s secret affection for Jemma has spanned years, and teaching her to love someone else threatens to betray his own heart. Trapped by his own selfless nature, Miles fears he will never be more than a humble rector in her eyes.

Even as he gives Jemma lessons in love, Miles grapples with the challenge of convincing her that Mr. Bentley may be a perfect gentleman but he is not the perfect match for her. Will Miles’s advice in romance jeopardize their years of friendship, or will it reveal the attraction that has quietly blossomed between them, proving that this time, the Matchmaking Mamas may have made a mistake? Miles must decide if he’s brave enough to confess his feelings to Jemma before she is whisked away forever.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Regency, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Historical, Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2024

About the author

Anneka Walker was raised by a librarian and an English teacher turned judge. After being fed a steady diet of books, she decided to learn about writing. The result was a bachelor's degree in English and History. When she isn't dreaming up a happy ending for a story, she's busy living her own together with her husband and adorable children.

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Gentleman's Confession" by Anneka Walker is such a charming romance! I had a smile on my face as I read this wonderful story. Readers will fall in love with this friends-to-lovers romance and even more so with our hero, Miles Jackson. Jemma Fielding feels she needs to marry to honor her late grandmother’s dying wish and goes to the Matchmaking Mamas Society. Jemma is matched with someone but feels she does not know anything about love. Jemma decides to go to her old friend Miles for advice. Miles is one of the best male protagonists I have read in a long time. He is such a sweet cinnamon roll. The way he loves Jemma, even when his feelings are not returned, is so romantic. He is willing to teach Jemma about love so she can fall in love with and marry someone else, even though he secretly loves her. He is nicknamed “Mr. Romantic” for a reason! There is even a lake scene with a wet shirt! It is very reminiscent of the infamous lake scene from the Colin Firth “Pride and Prejudice” movie! Be prepared with your smelling salts!

Jemma, our headstrong, lovable heroine is a bluestocking and loves fashion. She also loves to support causes. Miles and Jemma have a group of friends called “The Rebels,” many of whom readers will recognize from previous books. You need not have read the previous books to enjoy this one, but I look forward to reading all the rest of the books in the series! The friendship between the Rebels is so fun and heartwarming. It is admirable how they come together for worthy causes and to fight injustice. There are also lots of historical tidbits in the story including cricket, fashion, and the Chios massacre of 1822. The author writes in a witty way and there are several humorous scenes that I enjoyed.

The author calls this book “romantic, witty and uplifting!” It surely is all those things, and it is also a clean read. I highly recommend this book!

Content: I give this book a G rating. Examples of the content: the word “devil” is used; there is a rumor that someone was drunk; it says that someone almost uttered a swear word; there’s mention of a woman showing too much of her chest.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Tasha (the_clean_read_book_club) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I am here to request a favor. I am in need of Mr. Romantic's assistance."

THIS BOOK IS A TOTAL 10!!!

This is my all-time favorite book from Anneka and I seriously cannot get enough of it. I have been loving this Matchmaking Mamas series since the beginning, but now I'm legit obsessed!

If you like friends to more...stop reading this and just run to Amazon and buy it ASAP!

Jemma is a fun character. She's independent, determined and a little bit naive. She's got a lot of heart and just wants to fulfill her grandmother's dying wish-that she find love. How hard can that be? She's only sworn off marriage since book 1, but with the help of her best friend, Miles (aka Mr. Romantic) he can help her fall in love with anyone.

The only problem is...Miles has been in love with Jemma basically his whole life.

Oof.

This is reader's gold, friends!

There are hilariously awkward parts, swoony parts, banter galore and a group of friends I seriously want to adopt. I will be here for each and every single one of these books. I hope and pray there are more!!!

If you like historical romance, best friends to more, a great group of side characters and best friends, matchmaking mamas and a happy sigh type of book...this needs to be your next read.

The Gentleman's Confession is available in all formats tomorrow and I've spied Amazon shipping books out early :) I'll link them in my stories today.

Happiest of reading to anyone who picks this one up!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Content: death of a loved one, romance-kisses only.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a delightful escape into a charming, Regency love story! Jemma and Miles are captivating characters, each so wonderfully developed. Jemma, trying to honor her grandmother’s last wish, finds herself in an unexpected journey of the heart, and watching her grapple with love felt so relatable. I especially adored Miles—his selflessness, mixed with that classic "falling first" pining, really tugged at my heart. He’s that perfect mix of honorable and human, struggling with his love for Jemma while coaching her to win someone else’s affection.

The dual POV added such depth, letting us experience both sides of this sweet, tension-filled story. Even though it’s a clean romance, the chemistry between them was undeniable, and their banter only made their connection feel deeper and more genuine. The way the plot developed, with a few twists I could see coming, actually made it all the more satisfying as it played out.

The author’s writing completely transported me to the Regency setting—the details, language, and atmosphere were spot on! I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators brought Jemma and Miles to life in the best way. They made the story even more engaging and enhanced that sparkling chemistry.

I haven't read the previous book yet and can’t wait to dive into the rest of this series! This was such a lovely romance, perfect for those fall evenings.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!
“The Gentleman’s Confession” is a clean regency book. I actually didn’t realize this was the third book in the series, i wasn’t lost at all, however I will definitely be going back to read the rest of the books! The match making mamas sure know how to make a perfect match! This was a friends to lovers, sweet romance.I really liked this one. Gemma and Miles were so cute. There was some miscommunication with their feelings and Gemma wanting to protect Lisette. But I definitely saw that coming with Gemma being gone while Mr. Bentley was at the house and sweet Lisette being there to keep him company. I loved the cricket tournament and the note sending. I found myself smiling and grinning just reading this hilarious scene. This book is charming and all regency lovers will have to read this one!

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. These are my honest opinions.

[Heather (heathers.clean.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Matchmaking Mamas strike again and boy did they have their work cut out for them this time! Those mamas sure are sneaky, let me tell you!

Miles has loved Jemma long as he’s known her, but she never had intentions to marry anyone. So when her Grandmother’s dying wish was for her to marry and fall in love, she decided to ask the Matchmaking Mamas for assistance.

But Jemma needs help in the love department, so she turns to Miles for love lessons. What she doesn’t expect, though, is to start catching feelings for the man she least expected to. Can Miles convince Jemma that her one true love has been right in front of her the whole time?

I adored Miles and Jemma! Their friendship was beautiful and the slow burn on Jemma’s side was worth the wait. I enjoyed this take on the friends to lovers trope, where both parties had valid reasons for not revealing their true feelings.

This story was so unique with lots of twists and turns, and unexpected surprises. Those love lessons definitely were swoony and flirty!

If you love historical romances full of laughter, heartfelt moments, true friendships, fun side characters, and so much love, then this is the book for you!

This is book three in the Matchmaking Mamas series, but can be read as a standalone. But you will want to read them all!!

What to love:
🤍Vicar MMC
🤍The dress debacle
🤍“Love” Lessons
🤍Best friends to lovers
🤍The bench scenes
🤍Teasing
🤍The waltz
🤍The letters
🤍The charity auction
🤍The poetry book🫠
🤍The kiss!!!!!
🤍Those Matchmaking Mamas!
🤍The Rebels

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Melissa (christianbooksandcoffee) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 3 in the series but it definitely works as a standalone. However, the other two are fantastic so I recommend them! Anyway, this time we are back with Miles and Jemma. Poor Miles, he loves Jemma so much but she just doesn’t see it or want to see it. She thinks Miles and Lisette are destined to be married. Jemma made a promise to her grandmother to fall in love and marry. So she enlists the matchmaking mamas help and they find her a suitor. But she doesn’t know the first thing about love so she asks for Miles to teach her. Again, poor Miles, but he agrees. As they spend more time together, Jemma realizes she may have feelings for Miles!
I really loved this story! I felt bad for Miles, he tried so hard to get Jemma and she just keeps being stubborn! I thought it hilarious that Miles was a vicar and had so many women after him. I really enjoyed how Miles and Jemma got together it was so sweet. I can’t wait for the next story!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Cait | GoodeyReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Shadow Mountain for the ARC.

I’M TRYING.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM

I have realized that friends to lovers is a trope I struggle to get on board with and this unfortunately became another case with reading this book. I thought the writing was just fine and I did like the characters, I didn’t love the plot choices though.

There was too much focus on Miles and the girl that everyone thought he was supposed to be with even if there wasn’t any legs for that plot line to stand on. I was tired of hearing about Lisette and how forceful Jemma and others were about the situation. I didn’t mind the dating lessons and thought those provided good opportunity for some closeness.

I’m not going to keep going on here, this one wasn’t for me, and that’s okay.

Overall audience notes:
- Historical Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy to read, entertaining proper romance with a bit of humor, endearing characters and lots of heart. If you’re a fan of the genre, you’ll know what to expect and won’t be disappointed. This is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Holly (IG Hollys_Book_Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There is no changing your mind now. After kissing me in public, I am duty bound to marry you."
"Duty bound." She smirked. "You will be chasing me to the altar."
"Shall I chase you there now?"

The Gentleman's Confession by Anneka Walker

Oh Miles and Jemma...Haha, I adored their story so much! Mr. Romantic is romantic indeed and I think is taken for granted by other characters. I absolutely loved his character and his smittenness. He has been in love with Jemma forever!
I loved their sweet interactions, playful banter, the pond scene (IYKYK), their bench...So sweet!

I loved that his lessons weren't on flirting, but on true lasting romance. You have to read the book to find out what those lessons were. But oh so good!

I just adore when the male main character interacts in a positive way with children. That scene was so cute. These types of scenes remind me of when my husband has fun with our nieces and nephews.

Kissing Comfits. I had to look up exactly what they were. I learned something new about candy during the Regency period. Look them up! It was a lot of fun learning about those.

There were so many excellent parts. Absolutely loved this one and would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves Regency with heart, marriage advice, and plenty of swoon. I have loved this series and getting to know the rebels.

Also, the audio for this one was soooo good! That male narrator was excellent!!

Favorite Parts:
Romance lessons from a Vicar
Reward
Unrequited Love
Meeting Mr. Bentley
Children and candy
Pond scene
The ball
Glove
Wet shirt
Confession
Cricket match
Poetry

Content Guide:
Language: none
Romance Content: feelings of attraction, mild kissing
Violence/gore: moderate head injury with blood,
Substance Use: none
Prejudices: none
Religious Content: Character is a vicar and characters attend church.
Other: death (past), grief

Book Info:
Series: Matchmaking Mammas book 3
Genre: Historical Romance; Regency
Romance Level: Kisses only
Release Date: Available
Publisher: Proper Romance Series
Narrators: Mary Jane Wells and James Joseph
POV: dual

[Sherry Deatrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was truly hoping to love this book. And I was anxious to read it.
This is a new author to me and I liked the description of the story.
The book was easy to read and I loved that the main male character was a rector.
But the book fell flat for me. It felt like I’d read something familiar which is probably true.
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

[Janssen]

Fine.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars! I have enjoyed this series very much, and this book is my favorite so far.

Miles Jackson is the local vicar, and has been in love with his childhood friend, Jemma Fielding, since they were young. Frequently referred to as an Adonis, and hounded by the unwed women of Brookeside, Miles hides his love for Jemma because of an uncorrected misassumption from their childhood. Miles once saved Jemma's cousin Lisette's life when they were much younger, and for some reason, everyone decided from that moment that Miles and Lisette were destined to be married. He doesn't want to hurt Lisette, so he doesn't say anything about the expectations that are placed on him, and over the years it gets harder and harder to set everyone straight, especially since he knows hurting Lisette will also hurt Jemma, who is very devoted to her cousin.

Jemma Fielding is an independent woman with a passion for charity work, righting injustices, and helping those who are in need. Miles Jackson is her best friend and a constant source of support and wisdom. She ruthlessly quashes any potential romantic feelings for Miles out of love for her cousin, and plans to remain a spinster for the rest of her life, using her fortune to fund charitable causes wherever she can.
She was raised for most of her life by her grandmother after the death of Jemma's parents, and when her beloved grandmother is dying, she makes Jemma promise that she will marry - and fall in love!

Jemma turns to the Matchmaking Mamas for help in finding her future husband and is determined to do whatever it takes to fall in love with the man they choose for her, Mr Bentley. After having spent so much of her life avoiding love and marriage, she is at a loss as to how she can win Mr Bentley's affections and make herself fall in love with him. So, of course, she turns to her best friend, Miles, for help. Miles very reluctantly agrees to give her lessons in love, while desperately trying to hide his feelings for her. As Jemma struggles to connect with Mr Bentley, Miles finally decides he is tired of stepping aside and starts using his lessons to subtly woo Jemma for himself.

Who knew Miles would be so swoony? Sure, his nickname is Mr Romantic, but I was not prepared for this!! The waltz and the eye-contact lesson! Be still my heart. I will be getting my own copy as soon as I can, and I can't wait to see what comes next when it is Ian's turn.

I received an ARC of this book from Shadow Mountain Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my absolute favorite book by Anneka Walker!!! It is fabulous!!! I loved it so much after reading it that when the opportunity to listen to an early copy of the audiobook, I jumped on it and listened to it right away!!! So yes, I've enjoyed this book twice now! And will enjoy it more!

The Matchmaking Mamas series is truly delightful! These Mamas keep their children on their toes! And they all know it! The Mamas and the children! And the lengths they go to on both ends to facilitate everything or to avoid everything is comical and delightful. And to watch it all come full circle is so much fun! That whole adage of moms having eyes in the back of their head, or knowing everything...very apropos in the case of this series!

Jemma and Miles have been friends for years and years. When Jemma surprises him and all of their friends with the fact that she's ready to get married, Miles can't stand by and let anyone but him be the one to marry her. Of course it takes some time for him to come around to that. But Miles, aka Mr. Romantic, agrees to give her romance lessons and teach her how to fall in love with the man the Matchmaking Mamas have in mind for her. And what ensues is perfection!!! Seriously!!! All the heart eyes and swoons and sighs for this book! I just adored Jemma and Miles so much! They are both such wonderfully good characters with sweet and good hearts. You're not going to want to set this one down at all. You'll want to enjoy every moment of lessons and backfired plans and humorous moments!

And that kiss!!!! Oh! My! Heart!!!!!!! So worth the wait for these two!!! Read it! Or listen to it!!! You're going to love it!!! The narrators of the audiobook were so much fun to listen to bring these characters and story to life. I was very happily entertained while listening and enjoying this book that has been added to my favorite's list!!!

Content: Clean. Some kisses but nothing further.

I received a copy from the publishers, Shadow Mountain Publishing and Dreamscape Select, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading and Listening!!!

[Jo|Ruth Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Needless to say, I loved this story! I never even got a chance to mark it as "currently reading" because once I started I couldn't put it down!

Yes,it is the best friends to lovers trope, but it's more than that.

It's forced proximity as Jemma has Miles give her "Love Lessons" when he doesn't want to teach her how to love someone else.

And it's forbidden romance because Jemma and Miles have both been promised to/expected to marry someone else!!!

Miles has always loved Jemma, and he had always wanted to marry her. But she was always above his station. And then when he saves her cousin Lisette, the expectation becomes that Miles and Lisette will marry. It's whats expected and what's being forced on them. But, Miles only ever loved Jemma. But her friendship was always enough. That was until she announces she is getting married , an arranged marriage, and she wants him to teach her how to win over her future fiance! Miles never expected her to even court, much less marry. And now she wants him to spend one/one time with her, teaching her to love, someone else. It would be all too tempting to want to use that time helping her fall in love with him. But he is first her best friend, and a man of honor. And with them both promised to another, many hearts would be broken if he declared his feelings for her. So he holds back, but for how long? Should Jemma at least know his feelings? How would she feel if she knew, would it make her call off her arrangement with Mr Bentley? Even if she did... Miles is still promised to Lisette! There is no way to stop loving her, and no way to be with her, other than their lessons.

You all, this story gave me all the feels. My heart was breaking for Miles and the love he couldn't act on. The fact he penned his feelings into his journals, poetry and letters was oh so aweet! Jemmas self control was admirable. I don't know many that could withhold their affection for Miles. I totally understood his appeal, and yet, he only ever had eyes for her. This story is everything!

I can not wait to read Ian's story! ❤️

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Matchmaking Mamas is one of my most favorite Regency series. Anneka Walker never fails to bring a charming and delightful story that has all the romcom feels and laughs, along with the sweet and tender romance I’ve come to expect.

In this installment, independent Jemma decides to honor her grandmother’s last wish and try to get herself matched with a certain gentleman, but she has no idea how to win him over. She asks her dear friend, Miles, who is also a rector, for help, not knowing his deep and true feelings for her.

There are so many vulnerable moments, along with many laughs and adorable situations. I fell head-over-heels for these characters and couldn’t listen to this story fast enough. With dual narration, the narrators bring this book to life and are fantastic voices. I loved everything about this one!

Each book in this series holds a place in my heart and I can’t wait for more!

Content: mild romance

*I received a complimentary audio copy through Netgalley from Dreamscape Select. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given*

[Avie K :): · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 2.
ARGH this book was SO disappointing!!! 😭 The blurb made it sound amazing but, dang, I was so let down. I paid $8 for it when a typical kindle book is $5…so ig I had higher expectations.

🚫🌶️ = no spice (or natural chemistry either!) A couple kisses. There is 1 unnecessary scene where FMC steps on dress, rips the back, and asks MMC to assess the damage. He sees her underwear but nothing else happens.
🚫🙈 = no explicit or implied intimate scenes.
🚫🤬 = no cussing
📉✝️ = low Christian faith references. It’s there, the characters pray, MMC is a pastor, but it doesn’t feel realistic. The pastor gives poor advice and it feels like what should be his life-defining vocation is more of a side hustle. Faith is a mere side dish to an unappealing meal of unidentified meat.
🚫⚔️ = no violence, a semi-descriptive head wound.
🚫🏳️‍🌈 = no LGBTQ+ references or representations
🚫 worth reading…oops! Read the rest of the review before you hang me, alright?

Miles: MMC - the idea of him was perfect. The best friend that has secretly loved the FMC his whole life….
It had so much potential but it was like drinking water expecting it to be a Shirley Temple. L A M E.
Bro is scared into confessing his feelings for her when she decides to marry some random guy to “honor her grandmother’s dying wish.” 😫
He was just boring, not even passionate, and just a saltine cracker all around.
Also he sucked as a pastor. Gave the worst advice and honestly was just too inexperienced to be shepherding an entire church.
And stop with the romance lessons. That was doomed to be a disaster before the world began. HoW cRiNgY cAn A bOoK bE?! Quill me now.
When Jemma is hit in the head by the cricket ball (ha! How pathetic) he freaks out and loses his mind. He KISSES her in front of everyone like an absolute MORON when she literally has a serious concussion and probably some brain bleeding and mental trauma going on.
WHAT AN IMBECILE. Literally get your life together.

Jemma: FMC - the girl who pretends to have backbone in everything except in the one life-defining decision of marriage. And she was SO DENSE when it came to love. Sure, Miles was cold and unfeeling and then all of the sudden decides to teach her the “lesson of touch” and tries to kiss her. “Ohhh wait…my best guy friend is in love with me and has been for my entire life?! You’re kidding!” *violent facepalm*
And when she realizes he loves her, she has a little message boy run hate mail back and forth for her because “oh my gosh I can’t even stand you anymore because you ruined our perfect friendship!” (News flash: girls and guys can NEVER be best friends without one or both of them falling for the other! Trust me, I’m talking from personal experience.) WOMAN UP AND TALK TO THE MAN YOURSELF. YOU ARE THE SADDEST EXCUSE OF A WOMAN.

Lisette: side character - TALK ABOUT THE WORLD’S WORST BEST FRIEND. She steals Jemma’s prospective husband away from J while J is out flirting with the idiotic Miles. Yes, the other guy was lame and a total starched collar type of guy (honestly don’t even remember his name) so good luck being stuck with him for the rest of your life. And really? The instalove trope again?? THEY WEREN’T SUPER HOT NOR ANYTHING BESIDES PAINFULLY POLITE. They say the honeymoon phase lasts about a year….bet theirs will last a couple months at best.

The other side characters gave the cringiest nicknames to everyone: Angel? Mr. Romantic? Seriously??? Bet you could guess the defining characteristic of those characters. Did a 5 year old help brainstorm for the little details? HOW CAN YOU ABSOLUTELY TRASH SUCH A GOOD PLOT?!????

This makes me want to take this plot and write my own freaking book about it because this author murdered it amd sent it to bed without dinner.

Oh yes, it’s clean. And it’s no-spice romance. But it also had ZERO natural chemistry.
Oh yes, everything works out perfectly…she discovers she has ✨always✨ loved him (no way!) and they live idiotically ever after.
You won’t catch me trying out the other books in this series, nor anything else by this author, ever again.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun! Miles has been in love with Jemma forever, but she has always insisted that she will not marry. After a deathbed promise to her Grandmother, Jemma is ready to marry, but she’s asked the Matchmaking Mama to find her match, and it isn’t Miles. But she does ask him for lessons on how to fall in love. Could this be his chance to get her to fall in love with him?
Oh my goodness, this story was so funny! I loved Miles’ lessons and the confusion they gave Jemma! I couldn’t wait for her to see what was before her eyes. I couldn’t believe that none of their other friends had seen through him. This book is full of embarrassing moments, true friendship, swoon worthy meetings, and a happily ever after. I stayed up far later than I’ll admit to my husband reading it!

[Beauty in the Binding · Rating 3 out of 5]

In The Gentleman’s Confession by Anneka R. Walker, readers meet Jemma Fielding and Miles Jackson, two affectionate, life-long friends whose relationship changed when Jemma’s dying grandmother exacted a promise from Jemma that she will marry. The beginning of Miles and Jemma’s story was one of friendship and felt largely absent of romantic tension. It wasn’t until Miles truly started pursuing Gemma that the pull between these two grew and my interest piqued.

My favorite aspects of The Gentleman’s Confession were the witty letters that Jemma and Miles exchanged and the theme about being brave enough to pursue what is good and right above pleasing others. It is the introduction of this theme that changes the direction of the story and the relationship between Miles and Jemma. I marked several quotes related to this theme and it has stuck with me since reading the story.

The Gentleman’s Confession by Anneka R. Walker lands a book three in the Matchmaking Mamas Romance series. The romance between Gemma and Miles stands well on its own, but their meetings and work with the Rebels gave me a sense of being out of the loop because I had not read the prior novels. Three stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Jeni | StoryTimeReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love slow-burn romance, prepare for a deliciously frustrating (and swoon-worthy) ride! 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 is a classic friends-to-lovers story with so much heart, humor, and emotional tension, it’ll have you turning pages late into the night. Anneka Walker delivers everything you want—an adorable hero stuck in the friend zone, a clueless heroine, and a few hilarious moments that’ll leave you shouting “Just kiss her already!” at the book.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸:
💔 Unrequited Love: Miles has been head over heels for Jemma for years—she just hasn’t noticed.
🤣 Witty Banter: Their playful back-and-forth will leave you smiling like a fool.
💫 Slow-Burn Romance: The kind of tension that builds so perfectly, the payoff is chef’s kiss.
👩‍❤️‍👨 Friends-to-Lovers: Watching two people fumble their way out of the friend zone is just so satisfying.
📖 Regency Charm: A delightful backdrop of polite society, matchmaking mamas, and romantic misunderstandings.
🤦‍♀️ Clueless Heroine: Jemma’s obliviousness is both hilarious and maddening—but in the best way.
🌸 Lovable Hero: Miles, the humble rector, is sweet, selfless, and quietly pining.
🙌 Satisfying Payoff: When these two finally figure things out, it’s worth every moment of tension.
📝 Standalone Romance: Part of the Matchmaking Mamas series, but no need to read the others to enjoy this gem.

⚠️ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁/𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀:
• Mild romantic tension
• Brief mention of grief
• Emotional whiplash from all the will-they-won’t-they

⭐ 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5 stars
This book hits every note—sweet, funny, romantic, and deeply satisfying. If you love slow-burn romances with lovable characters and just the right amount of tension, The Gentleman’s Confession will steal your heart.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and Shadow Mountain. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.

[Kyliegh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ll start off by saying that I really enjoyed the writing style and I did enjoy the beginning of this book.
I really wanted to love this book, but I am not a fan of the miscommunication trope and this book is one huge miscommunication. I don’t understand why Miles led everyone, including Lissette, to believe that he loved Lissette and would marry her. Had he put a stop to the rumors years ago, all of this drama could have been avoided. I’m not a huge fan of the MCs playing the martyr and sacrificing their happiness for others.
Also, Jemma had feelings for Miles and refused to tell him. Lissette also could have been honest that she didn’t want Miles anymore. No one even asked Lissette or Miles what they wanted…or seemed to care. All their friends kept trying to push Miles to choose Lissette even after they knew he was in love with Jemma. Honesty and communication would have gone a long way. A few simple conversations would have had this whole mess cleaned up. The only honest person in this whole book was Mr. Bentley.
I did enjoy the writing style and would be interested in going back and reading the rest of the series and reading the next one. I love the matchmaking mamas. This storyline just wasn’t for me.

*I was sent a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations for a favorable review.

[Emma | meadowroselibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

"...𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆. 𝑹𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓, 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒚 𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒅, 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒖𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔."

I’m not sure why I hadn’t read one of Anneka Walker’s books yet, but I’m definitely hooked now! This book was just perfect and had everything a sweet regency needs. I loved Miles & Jemma’s childhood close friendship, how it gradually formed into a slow burn romance - with him falling first.

I would highly recommend you check this one out if you enjoy clean, sweet regency romances!

"𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅...𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔, 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒕."

[The_Power Of_The Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

The matchmaking mamas have struck again. After promising her dying grandmother that she would marry for love Jemma has no clue how to go about it. So she enlists the help of her longtime friend, the vicar, Miles Jackson. She asks him for lessons on how to fall in love with the man that’s been chosen for her.

Miles has secretly been in love with Jemma since they were children. But since she’s always said she never wanted to marry he’s kept his feelings secret. Reluctantly he agrees to help her. The lessons are at least a way to spend more time with her before she marries. Of course the more time he spends with her the more difficulty he has keeping his feelings in check.

I especially enjoyed the lesson on “the power of eye connection” and its disastrous effect when she tried to use it on her intended. There are so many fun and awkward moments in this story! (My favorite).

Friends to more is not my favorite trope but Anneka did a great job of making it fun and engaging. This is part of a series but can totally be read as a standalone.

[Katie S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Almost DNF on this one. The absolute harping at the beginning of the book for the MMC to marry Lizette was so annoying. Literally nobody listened to the MMC and instead, the FMC doubled down on her absolute obsession for the MMC to be "made for" Lizette. It makes absolutely no sense why she would be so obsessed with this pairing, and the ultimate reasoning is flimsy at best. It's literally all anyone talked about for 7/8 of the book, because one event from childhood?? Annoying "conflict" - listened at 2x speed just to get it over with because the FMC was insufferable.

[Jan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very poor narrator. Shallow, predictable plot. Redundant dialogue. DNF last 40 pages.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dearest Anneka,

I absolutely, totally, completely loved this book with my whole heart! It was so charming, so wonderful, so much fun. I will admit that I’m a big fan of friends-to-lovers, so I loved that aspect right away, but the entire book is just so sweet and darling!

Miles is truly the hero made of dreams. Don’t get me wrong, he isn’t overly perfect, so that isn’t going on here, but his thoughtfulness and kindness toward ___ was the sweetest. I loved how much he tried to serve her and help her, the lengths he would go to make life good for her. And that scene at the cricket match! *mega swoon* I just adore this man.

Jemma is cute in a misguided sort of way. But I admire her tenacity and her wholehearted gusto in the ways she approached her mission. I thought it was funny how long it took her to figure out her heart, but I loved the journey to get there. And honestly, it felt believable to me, because when you’ve been doing something one way your entire life, you never question it. Your relationships just exist; you don’t wonder if something has changed. Anyway, I loved Jemma’s slow path to figuring out her heart. Her spirit and fire make her a lot of fun.

Also, the Matchmaking Mamas are hilarious! Definitely a fan of them! Ha!

This book has risen to the top for my favorite of yours, and I am so happy about that. The book made me smile all throughout and was the perfect diversion from the monotonies of life. Like laundry. Mile’s women admirers, the romance lessons, his care for people, Jemma’s impetuous and well-meaning ways, and the matchmaking all made for a most enjoyable time. I loved it.

Yours,
Jessica

**many thanks to the author and publisher for the lovely book. All thoughts are my own.

[Readingintheweehours · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jemma’s intentions to live life as a charitable spinster is challenged after a promise made to her grandmother to find love. Her life long friend Miles knows her better than anyone else, but is assumed as intended for someone else. Jemma seeks Mile’s help in love lessons to prepare to marry - but Miles has only ever wanted her. This friends to lovers story is adorable and sweet - but has some angst as well!
My ultimate favorite scene is the cricket. Hello, swoon alert!
Tender love, heart realizations, and the gentleman turned into ardent pursuer make this story a worthy read.
Can be read standalone but may be fully appreciated in context of the series.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more like 3.5 start but I rounded up as I think most of my negative feelings about the book resulted from having listened to it on audio rather than reading it. The readers on the audio book made Jemma sound like a shrieking shrew and when she slipped into her “sacrifice all for Lisette” mode, the voices and the sentiment were pretty annoying. That being said, I laughed out loud in many places and there were some very tender parts. The ending was predictable but I was okay with that. I would have liked to have had less worry over Lisette and more scenes with the “matchmaking mama’s”. They were alluded to more than they were actually part of the story. I am looking forward to Ian’s story in the next book. He has been an intriguing character throughout the series.

[Sara Fehr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic friends to lovers story, and I have to admit that I really enjoyed this book(even after I’ve said that I didn’t like romance books).🤭 It’s clean and it’s a sweet story. The chapters alternate between the two main characters’ POV. I liked the writing style, AND there’s no curse words!! Yay!

[Shauna Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is a vicar. She is a lady of wealth.
A wonderful story of love finding a way as hearts slowly change. Miles has loved Jemma for years but she is a woman of wealth and has no desire to ever marry which everyone knew. Now Jemma is about to lose her grandmother, who had raised her since she lost her parents. Her grandmother’s one final wish is that Jemma marry and as Jemma promises to do just that, she realizes she wants family like grandmother had provided. Vowing to keep her promise Jemma contacts the unofficial matchmakers of the village. With them in motion, she approaches Miles to teach her how to fall in love with the man chosen by the matchmakers, Mr. Bentley. As he struggles to help her fall in love, while keeping his feelings in check, they are met with one difficult situation after another, and her cousin who she lives with, Lisette is left to entertain Mr. Bentley when he comes to visit. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy. This is my review and all thoughts are my own.

[Sheila (sheilasbookreviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having a new book come out in a beloved series is always exciting. This story offers a unique take on the "never a bride but always a bridesmaid" theme, told from a male perspective, and features a friends-to-lovers storyline that should grab your attention. If you're new to the series, it's best to start from the beginning, but this book can also be enjoyed on its own.

The Gentleman's Confession is the third book in "A Matchmaking Mamas Romance" series. I love seeing familiar characters return, especially the friends group called Rebels. I was thrilled to finally read the story of kind-hearted vicar Miles Jackson and the independent Jemma.

Jemma made a promise to her late grandmother to give up her vow of never marrying. She goes to the Matchmaking Mamas to find a husband, and they introduce her to a newcomer, Mr. Bently. At the same time, Jemma asks her best friend Miles, known as Mr. Romantic among his fellow "Rebels," to give her lessons about love. He agrees, but he's secretly been in love with her for a long time. This leads to many funny and awkward moments as they meet at their secret bench. Miles subtly tries to show her that he is her ideal match. I enjoyed their lessons and the chemistry that builds, especially when Jemma begins to realize her feelings for Miles. One memorable line from the novel I loved is, “Romance does not take talent; it takes love.”

This book is filled with a slow-burn romance, witty conversations, a mix of tricky situations, clever letters exchanged, a memorable waltz, an exciting cricket match, and a couple of incredible kisses. The Gentleman's Confession is a fun and engaging read.