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Americana #8
The Matchmakers
Every novel in this collection is your passport to a romantic tour of the United States through time-honored favorites by America's First Lady of romance fiction. Each of the fifty novels is set in a different state, researched by Janet and her husband, Bill. For the Daileys it was an odyssey of discovery. For you, it's the journey of a lifetime. Your tour of desire begins with this story set in Delaware.
His words were like a knife in her heart
Of all the romantic fools, Kathleen thought, she had to top the list. In her crazy old-fashioned thinking, she had believed Jordan Long would want to marry her. Instead, he wanted to set her up as his mistress.
Her eyes searched the beloved features of his face, scarcely believing the words he'd just spoken. Could she be satisfied with such a tenuous existence--willing to accept the crumbs of his attention, never sharing the joys and sorrows of everyday life?
"No." Kathleen was startled to discover she'd spoken aloud. "No," she repeated. "I don't want you to make love to me."
His words were like a knife in her heart
Of all the romantic fools, Kathleen thought, she had to top the list. In her crazy old-fashioned thinking, she had believed Jordan Long would want to marry her. Instead, he wanted to set her up as his mistress.
Her eyes searched the beloved features of his face, scarcely believing the words he'd just spoken. Could she be satisfied with such a tenuous existence--willing to accept the crumbs of his attention, never sharing the joys and sorrows of everyday life?
"No." Kathleen was startled to discover she'd spoken aloud. "No," she repeated. "I don't want you to make love to me."
189 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
88 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
Janet Dailey
397 books1,846 followersJanet Anne Haradon Dailey was an American author of numerous romance novels as Janet Dailey (her married name). Her novels have been translated into nineteen languages and have sold over 300 million copies worldwide.
Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.
She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.
Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.
Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.
She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.
Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 19, 2020
"The Matchmakers" is supposed to be a story of Kathleen and Jordan..but it's actually the tale of Annette and Marsha!
Basically, our H's young daughters work as a very clever pair of matchmakers, to make the kind and wonderful h work for them and their grumpy father, the older H. The story is told from their POV, and is basically them manipulating situations around them so that their father could find a loving wife, and they get a lovely stepmom. Not much of a romance though, but has a sweet famililal ending!
Safe
2.75/5
Basically, our H's young daughters work as a very clever pair of matchmakers, to make the kind and wonderful h work for them and their grumpy father, the older H. The story is told from their POV, and is basically them manipulating situations around them so that their father could find a loving wife, and they get a lovely stepmom. Not much of a romance though, but has a sweet famililal ending!
Safe
2.75/5
April 1, 2017
Very cute story, there was no big drama, no crazy other women or men but just two mischievous girls to give this book four stars.
July 25, 2022
Two precocious little girls, Annette and Marsha, find the woman they wish to be their nanny. Their motives are ulterior yes beyond becoming their nanny, they wish Kathleen to become their stepmother.
The story draws you in as we find Kathleen‘s employer Mr. Long trying to ignore feelings for Kathleen as well as her feelings for him. While they each fight what is inevitable between them, each falls in love.
This was a quick read and once I started I didn’t want to stop until I’d finished.
The story draws you in as we find Kathleen‘s employer Mr. Long trying to ignore feelings for Kathleen as well as her feelings for him. While they each fight what is inevitable between them, each falls in love.
This was a quick read and once I started I didn’t want to stop until I’d finished.
September 21, 2021
The prolific Dailey, at her husband’s suggestion, wrote a romance set in each state; this one is Delaware and was published in 1977. (Georgia was The Night of the Cotillion). Then she switched to “mainstream fiction” and hit international bestseller lists. This is a reissued state romance title—and she had initially planned to update these novels, modernize them and bring them into the “high-tech age.” But she realized she couldn’t do it—they’d become “historical novels, however recent the history.” And that was the right decision. Romance is timeless, and this story of a young nurse (25) quitting her hospital job to take on a new situation—some kind of nanny-companion for two young girls (not a governess exactly, not a babysitter) whose handsome widowed father (37) is often away on his job. He wanted an older women but his daughters conspire to get a young pretty one in hopes he’ll marry her—SPOILER ALERT. It’s sort of the enemies to lovers meme because he wants to fire her, but of course he ends up falling in love with her; she is madly attracted to him from the beginning but generally maintains her professionalism (except when he kisses her). Yes, the plot is contrived, but Daily makes the romance-relationship convincing. It was also fun to go back to a simpler age of Doris Day comedies—I think there was a movie with a plot like this at that time—a time of bathing caps, normal land lines, washing dishes by hand, even the fashions…..and the HEA ending was satisfying so who cares if the story really isn’t believable.
October 5, 2017
A Harlequin Romance from 1977 this is a really cute one with two young girls trying to get their Dad to find a new wife. They choose a new Nanny and get their father to approve her by fudging her age on her application. The dad, Jordan Long works out of the country and meets the new nanny at the airport. She is young and beautiful just the opposite of what he wanted in his house. He is very angry thinking Kathleen lied about her age but the girls convince him to let her stay for one month. The girls do every thing they can to help them fall in love but it does not work out the way they want.
I read this one straight through without stopping. It was a lot of fun.
I read this one straight through without stopping. It was a lot of fun.
December 14, 2016
Quick read with a cute premise and even cuter daughters that interview a prospective nanny. A few chuckles and a few tears. Not a lot of meat but love is in abundance at least where Jordan's daughters are concerned. Happily ever after that had everyone cheering.
February 21, 2010
Cute little story. A little dated in the careers and view of nurses I think but otherwise I don't really think it seems 30+ years old
February 28, 2017
Predictable, but it was still a cute, fun read to see how the girls manipulated the couple.
November 5, 2023
Overall, this was not one of my favorite romances I read this year. The love interest Jordan was a jerk and since the book was less than 200 pages there wasn't enough time to redeem him to the point where he might have been likeable. The story spends most of the time with Jordan's two daughters as they try to get Jordan and Kathleen together. Although the girls were cute, I think the romance suffered because we spent so much with them rather than getting to see Jordan and Kathleen spending time together. So, at the end when we get our love confessions it feels more like instalove rather than an earned happily ever after. Also, this was first published in 1977 and there are parts where it is definitely a product of its time. Overall, it was alright by not great.
June 3, 2024
I would rate the story at 3 1/2 stars, but goodreads doesn't accommodate 1/2 star ratings. This book was published in 1977 & 47 years later, I'm first reading it. I also believe this is my first Janet Dailey book. I needed something light to read so I grabbed this from my bookshelf. What a delight. What a fun read. Two young girls of a widower scheme first to get the nanny hired, but then also scheme to get the nanny & their dad together as a couple. The writing was pretty good too...not too over the top with a bunch of clichés or kitschy phrases.
October 13, 2023
The 2 extra stars are for the two imps annette and marsha, lovely girls.
H and h didn't have much to do, less romance wanted more, plus the insta romance at the end and the issues they had it seemed not real, coz nothing seemed resolved i still believe they were in lust specifically the H.
H and h didn't have much to do, less romance wanted more, plus the insta romance at the end and the issues they had it seemed not real, coz nothing seemed resolved i still believe they were in lust specifically the H.
September 6, 2022
Cute predictable. Loved the girls
January 17, 2023
It is a romance good but not as good Mary Stewart's romances.
March 23, 2023
Překlad je občas krkolomný.
s. 105 sa [se]
ji/jí - s. 32, 42, 64, 141
uvozovky - s. 45
s. 105 sa [se]
ji/jí - s. 32, 42, 64, 141
uvozovky - s. 45
February 11, 2023
His words were like a knife in her heart.
Of all the romantic fools, Kathleen thought, she had to top the list. In her crazy old-fashioned thinking, she had believed Jordan Long would want to marry her. Instead, he wanted to set her up as his mistress.
Her eyes searched the beloved features of his face, scarcely believing the words he'd just spoken. Could she be satisfied with such a tenuous existence--willing to accept the crumbs of his attention, never sharing the joys and sorrows of everyday life?
"No." Kathleen was startled to discover she'd spoken aloud. "No," she repeated. "I don't want you to make love to me."
Of all the romantic fools, Kathleen thought, she had to top the list. In her crazy old-fashioned thinking, she had believed Jordan Long would want to marry her. Instead, he wanted to set her up as his mistress.
Her eyes searched the beloved features of his face, scarcely believing the words he'd just spoken. Could she be satisfied with such a tenuous existence--willing to accept the crumbs of his attention, never sharing the joys and sorrows of everyday life?
"No." Kathleen was startled to discover she'd spoken aloud. "No," she repeated. "I don't want you to make love to me."
March 30, 2015
A light and pleasant read.The plot is not very unique but the author's style of writing is entertaining.
Read
June 25, 2018His words were like a knife in her heart.
Of all the romantic fools, Kathleen thought, she had to top the list. In her crazy old-fashioned thinking, she had believed Jordan Long would want to marry her. Instead, he wanted to set her up as his mistress.
Her eyes searched the beloved features of his face, scarcely believing the words he'd just spoken. Could she be satisfied with such a tenuous existence--willing to accept the crumbs of his attention, never sharing the joys and sorrows of everyday life?
"No." Kathleen was startled to discover she'd spoken aloud. "No," she repeated. "I don't want you to make love to me."
Of all the romantic fools, Kathleen thought, she had to top the list. In her crazy old-fashioned thinking, she had believed Jordan Long would want to marry her. Instead, he wanted to set her up as his mistress.
Her eyes searched the beloved features of his face, scarcely believing the words he'd just spoken. Could she be satisfied with such a tenuous existence--willing to accept the crumbs of his attention, never sharing the joys and sorrows of everyday life?
"No." Kathleen was startled to discover she'd spoken aloud. "No," she repeated. "I don't want you to make love to me."
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews