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Sunshine Valley #2
A Very Merry Match
Melinda Curtis brings the spice for the holidays with this small-town romance featuring a woman who must maintain a secret identity and the man who begins falling for her.
This holiday season, kindergarten teacher Mary Margaret Sneed never imagined she'd be unwrapping...herself. But a burlesque side gig is the young widow's only hope of paying off her late husband's substantial debt. With her reputation and career on the line, she performs in disguise, under the stage name Foxy Roxy. But her secret identity is threatened when Roxy's biggest fan turns out to be Mary Margaret's biggest crush -- the handsome-as-sin mayor of Preston!
Newly divorced single dad Kevin Hadley is prepping to make the jump from mayor to state assemblyman. He knows he should be settling down with someone quiet and practical, someone like Mary Margaret Sneed. The last thing Kevin needs right now is a steamy scandal. But he just can't stop thinking about Foxy Roxy...and if Preston's matchmaking Widows Club has their way this Christmas, Kevin won't have to...
Includes a bonus novella by Hope Ramsay!
401 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2020
43 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
About the author
Melinda Curtis
258 books1,297 followersPrior to writing romance, award-winning, USA Today Bestseller Melinda Curtis was a junior manager for a Fortune 500 company, which meant when she flew on the private jet she was relegated to the jump seat—otherwise known as the potty. After grabbing her pen (and a parachute) she made the jump to full-time writer. Between writing sweet romance and sweet romantic comedy, Melinda finds time to bond with her husband over home remodeling projects. She recently came to grips with the fact that she’s an empty nester and a grandma, concepts easier to grasp than jet-setting on a potty.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
August 9, 2023
A VERY MERRY MATCH by Melinda Curtis is a sweet, holiday romance that is both heartwarming and delightful. This book could easily turn into a Hallmark movie as it’s everything you’d expect on the Hallmark Channel for a holiday movie. There are enough cute Christmassy events, but not too much to make it saccharine. Plus, you throw into the mix, the Sunshine Widows Club with the matchmaking and Grandma Edith with her husband hunting and their conversations, will have you giggling out loud.
It’s been a year since Mary Margaret’s husband lost his battle with cancer. While she does miss him, she doesn’t miss the fact he racked up a huge gambling debt that has been left to her to settle. To meet the demands of the debt collector thugs, Mary Margaret has resorted to getting a part time job on top of her full time job as a teacher. Having no other choice to get cash fast, she starts to dance again. She had to be careful to hide her identity or else she could be fired from her teaching job. A VERY MERRY MATCH kept me flipping the pages every chance I had to spend with this holiday romance while it was 98 degrees outside!
Melinda Curtis can write a sweet, lovely Christmas story like nobody else. She balances some tough issues, inside a sweet small town, with just a bit of Christmas magic that is perfect for the holiday season. I could feel the conflict that Mary Margaret was going through and couldn’t wait for her to find her way to happiness. As usual, this Melinda Curtis story, A VERY MERRY MATCH does not disappoint.
I recommend A VERY MERRY MATCH to anyone looking for a sweet holiday romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Forever and Netgalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
It’s been a year since Mary Margaret’s husband lost his battle with cancer. While she does miss him, she doesn’t miss the fact he racked up a huge gambling debt that has been left to her to settle. To meet the demands of the debt collector thugs, Mary Margaret has resorted to getting a part time job on top of her full time job as a teacher. Having no other choice to get cash fast, she starts to dance again. She had to be careful to hide her identity or else she could be fired from her teaching job. A VERY MERRY MATCH kept me flipping the pages every chance I had to spend with this holiday romance while it was 98 degrees outside!
Melinda Curtis can write a sweet, lovely Christmas story like nobody else. She balances some tough issues, inside a sweet small town, with just a bit of Christmas magic that is perfect for the holiday season. I could feel the conflict that Mary Margaret was going through and couldn’t wait for her to find her way to happiness. As usual, this Melinda Curtis story, A VERY MERRY MATCH does not disappoint.
I recommend A VERY MERRY MATCH to anyone looking for a sweet holiday romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Forever and Netgalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
October 4, 2020
It’s beginning to look a lot like … extortion.
Stuck in a personal and financial rut leading up to the Christmas season and facing strong-arming from a pair of shady bill collectors, Mary Margaret is at her lowest. In these earliest chapters, author Melinda Curtis has no problem letting the suffering pile on. And as Mary Margaret initially comes off as a quiet, resigned character who’s barely getting on, there’s a genuine worry that she’ll be stuck under a mountain of debt, or worse. Fortunately, Curtis utilizes a quiet optimism that permeates the pages, and there’s always an understanding that brighter moments might only be a chapter away. After all, Christmas and love are in the air—how bad can things get?
It’s when Curtis moves beyond these initial woes, though, that things really pick up. Elaborate burlesque performances. A politician with a secret and an image to uphold. A meddling matchmaker grandma. Curtis expertly weaves a lot of threads together and, while her writing always has a muted charm, she knows how to pack in plenty of action and tension.
However, it’s her attention to relationships that’s her greatest asset. Mary Margaret has the perfect potential partner in Kevin, even if they might not immediately understand that themselves. Curtis keeps things slow, with only a few chance encounters and eventual dates—mostly because they’re so wrapped up in personal drama that takes up the bulk of the action. Mary Margaret is risking her teaching career by dancing, while Kevin juggles a burgeoning political career with family stress. These big moments take center stage, but their romance simmers in the background and it’s incredibly effective.
Ultimately, A Very Merry Match is a sweet Christmas romance with plenty of quiet moments that let its underlying heart shine through.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
Stuck in a personal and financial rut leading up to the Christmas season and facing strong-arming from a pair of shady bill collectors, Mary Margaret is at her lowest. In these earliest chapters, author Melinda Curtis has no problem letting the suffering pile on. And as Mary Margaret initially comes off as a quiet, resigned character who’s barely getting on, there’s a genuine worry that she’ll be stuck under a mountain of debt, or worse. Fortunately, Curtis utilizes a quiet optimism that permeates the pages, and there’s always an understanding that brighter moments might only be a chapter away. After all, Christmas and love are in the air—how bad can things get?
It’s when Curtis moves beyond these initial woes, though, that things really pick up. Elaborate burlesque performances. A politician with a secret and an image to uphold. A meddling matchmaker grandma. Curtis expertly weaves a lot of threads together and, while her writing always has a muted charm, she knows how to pack in plenty of action and tension.
However, it’s her attention to relationships that’s her greatest asset. Mary Margaret has the perfect potential partner in Kevin, even if they might not immediately understand that themselves. Curtis keeps things slow, with only a few chance encounters and eventual dates—mostly because they’re so wrapped up in personal drama that takes up the bulk of the action. Mary Margaret is risking her teaching career by dancing, while Kevin juggles a burgeoning political career with family stress. These big moments take center stage, but their romance simmers in the background and it’s incredibly effective.
Ultimately, A Very Merry Match is a sweet Christmas romance with plenty of quiet moments that let its underlying heart shine through.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
September 2, 2020
If there’s a Sunshine Valley novel, count me in. If there’s a novel with holiday themes, sign me up. The SV characters are so great, and I loved how this had almost a bit of suspense added with Mr. Laurel & Mr. Hardy.
I did feel like Mary Margaret’s and Kevin’s relationship did escalate quickly. One moment they’re sharing a kiss, two chapters later he says he bought an engagement ring? I’m all for Christmas magic, but their relationship quickly developed and didn’t really have that organic feel to go from friends to almost engaged in such a short time. I went back to make sure I didn’t skip anything on accident when flipping a page. I love yous, yes. Marriage? Eh..hard to understand.
I honestly feel horrible for Mary Margaret and think she deserves so much better than Kevin. He saw her history with her father as an angle for campaigning and then treated her the same way as not being worthy when she didn’t tell him about dancing. She talked about how she loved to dance because of how it made her feel, her passion. All he wanted was for her to end it. I just felt so bad for her. You want a partner to support your passions. I’m so glad Kevin’s father stepped in when he did, because I did find that frustrating that she tried to explain and he brushed her aside. Kevin’s father is the true voice of reason here.
Overall, I enjoyed it. I loved the premise and how The Widows Club gave their unconditional support. I think I adore Sunshine Colorado, but not so much Kevin & Mary Margaret’s relationship. I can’t wait to see what the rest of their residents have in store next.
Thank you Forever & Net Galley for this gifted copy. This one is out Sept. 29th!
I did feel like Mary Margaret’s and Kevin’s relationship did escalate quickly. One moment they’re sharing a kiss, two chapters later he says he bought an engagement ring? I’m all for Christmas magic, but their relationship quickly developed and didn’t really have that organic feel to go from friends to almost engaged in such a short time. I went back to make sure I didn’t skip anything on accident when flipping a page. I love yous, yes. Marriage? Eh..hard to understand.
I honestly feel horrible for Mary Margaret and think she deserves so much better than Kevin. He saw her history with her father as an angle for campaigning and then treated her the same way as not being worthy when she didn’t tell him about dancing. She talked about how she loved to dance because of how it made her feel, her passion. All he wanted was for her to end it. I just felt so bad for her. You want a partner to support your passions. I’m so glad Kevin’s father stepped in when he did, because I did find that frustrating that she tried to explain and he brushed her aside. Kevin’s father is the true voice of reason here.
Overall, I enjoyed it. I loved the premise and how The Widows Club gave their unconditional support. I think I adore Sunshine Colorado, but not so much Kevin & Mary Margaret’s relationship. I can’t wait to see what the rest of their residents have in store next.
Thank you Forever & Net Galley for this gifted copy. This one is out Sept. 29th!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2020
Merry Christmas!! 🎄 This somewhat wholesome book will definitely get anyone into the holiday spirit.
Kevin, the town mayor, is coming off a divorce and looking to run for office at the state level. While trying to convince the town to vote yes for a new distribution center, he is battling his ex-wife on body shaming their 5 year son Tad. To top it off, Kevin is trying to figure out his feelings for Foxy-Roxy, the burlesque dancer and Tad's kindergarten teach, Mary Margaret.
It's been a year since Mary Margaret's husband lost his battle with cancer. While she does miss him, she doesn't miss the fact he racked up a huge gambling debt that has been left to her to settle. To meet the demands of the debt collectors, Mary Margaret has resorted to getting a part time job on top of her full time job as a teacher. Having no other choice to get cash fast, she starts to dance again. Will she be able to continue to hide her true identity while she dances, or will she be found out and be fired from her teaching job?
I voluntarily read this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Kevin, the town mayor, is coming off a divorce and looking to run for office at the state level. While trying to convince the town to vote yes for a new distribution center, he is battling his ex-wife on body shaming their 5 year son Tad. To top it off, Kevin is trying to figure out his feelings for Foxy-Roxy, the burlesque dancer and Tad's kindergarten teach, Mary Margaret.
It's been a year since Mary Margaret's husband lost his battle with cancer. While she does miss him, she doesn't miss the fact he racked up a huge gambling debt that has been left to her to settle. To meet the demands of the debt collectors, Mary Margaret has resorted to getting a part time job on top of her full time job as a teacher. Having no other choice to get cash fast, she starts to dance again. Will she be able to continue to hide her true identity while she dances, or will she be found out and be fired from her teaching job?
I voluntarily read this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
September 5, 2020
Thank you to Forever Pub for a gifted copy of this book.
This is my second book by Melinda Curtis and after reading it, I don't think she's really an author for me. Her books are fine, not awful but also not great. The plot for A Very Merry Match sounded really good and I was in the mood for a holiday read. Unfortunately execution was poor. I did not find Mary Margaret and Kevin's relationship believable at all. They barely had any dates and all of a sudden she came to the realization that she loved him. Really? I also did not like Kevin - . That gave me a very icky feeling and the book took a nosedive after that. This would have been more engaging and believable if more time was spent on Kevin and Mary Margaret's relationship instead of the various side stories (his ex, her grandma's dating life, the debt collectors, etc).
This is my second book by Melinda Curtis and after reading it, I don't think she's really an author for me. Her books are fine, not awful but also not great. The plot for A Very Merry Match sounded really good and I was in the mood for a holiday read. Unfortunately execution was poor. I did not find Mary Margaret and Kevin's relationship believable at all. They barely had any dates and all of a sudden she came to the realization that she loved him. Really? I also did not like Kevin - . That gave me a very icky feeling and the book took a nosedive after that. This would have been more engaging and believable if more time was spent on Kevin and Mary Margaret's relationship instead of the various side stories (his ex, her grandma's dating life, the debt collectors, etc).
October 1, 2020
Cosy, amusing, and delightfully festive!
A Very Merry Match is a winsome, uplifting, wintery story that takes you into the lives of two main characters, Mary Margaret Sneed, a young, kindergarten teacher with a boatload of debt and some very intriguing side gigs, and the divorced, local golden boy, Kevin Hadley who is focused on raising his five-year-old son and has his sights set on political advancement.
The prose is witty and light. The characters are multilayered, endearing, and quirky. And the plot is an engaging tale of tender moments, humorous hijinks, self-discovery, friendship, family, community, happiness, love, a dab of mystery, and a little Christmas cheer!
Overall, A Very Merry Match is a quaint, charming, enjoyable, holiday read that will have you dreaming of snowflakes, hot chocolate, and some very scrumptious treats!
Thank you to Forever and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in an exchange for an honest review.
A Very Merry Match is a winsome, uplifting, wintery story that takes you into the lives of two main characters, Mary Margaret Sneed, a young, kindergarten teacher with a boatload of debt and some very intriguing side gigs, and the divorced, local golden boy, Kevin Hadley who is focused on raising his five-year-old son and has his sights set on political advancement.
The prose is witty and light. The characters are multilayered, endearing, and quirky. And the plot is an engaging tale of tender moments, humorous hijinks, self-discovery, friendship, family, community, happiness, love, a dab of mystery, and a little Christmas cheer!
Overall, A Very Merry Match is a quaint, charming, enjoyable, holiday read that will have you dreaming of snowflakes, hot chocolate, and some very scrumptious treats!
Thank you to Forever and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in an exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2020
Sunshine Valley Matchmakers Club is back at it again! Trying to play matchmakers and piece together two hearts into one. It's what they do and they do it well!
This time we have a very different dilemma of sorts. I won't spoil it for you, many reviews give you all the deets, but this one kinda hit different for me. Kevin has some issues that didn't win me over. However, if you are into a fast-paced storyline and something you can easily pick up and put down throughout the busy holiday season, I can't think of anything better!
As always, author Melinda Curtis gives you everything you want in a sweet romance. Add in the spice of the holidays and you have a Christmas read that will put you in the mood to snuggle up and read.
~Tanja
**Thanks to Forever Pub and Grand Central Pub for sending this my way.
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December 27, 2020
Book #116 of 2020 • A Very Merry Match by Melinda Curtis • Finished 12.21.20
:Sigh:
I LOVED the first book in this series • In fact, it is one of my favorite romance reads of the year • Unfortunately, the second offering fell flat for me
I enjoy Curtis' writing style & the premise, while a bit out there, set-up what I was hoping to be a story as quirky as the first • A Very Merry Match was a true case of failure to launch due to character connection for me • Our main couple, Mary Margaret & Kevin fell flat for me - if I can't root for the couple in a romance, there really is no draw for me to keep reading • Mary Margaret lost the character development arc I hoped we were headed towards & I can't get past Kevin allowing his ex-wife to continuously steamroll their young son • Our main matchmaker from what was the hilarious Widow's Club in the first installment seemed to go off course from how she was set-up characterwise & the Widow's Club scenes didn't hold the same charm with her domination of them
Also, for being a full-blown Christmas title and cover, the holiday themes were lost in all the side stories
I'll still be anxiously awaiting the next Sunshine Valley installment as I know there's potential for so much more based on the first book
:Sigh:
I LOVED the first book in this series • In fact, it is one of my favorite romance reads of the year • Unfortunately, the second offering fell flat for me
I enjoy Curtis' writing style & the premise, while a bit out there, set-up what I was hoping to be a story as quirky as the first • A Very Merry Match was a true case of failure to launch due to character connection for me • Our main couple, Mary Margaret & Kevin fell flat for me - if I can't root for the couple in a romance, there really is no draw for me to keep reading • Mary Margaret lost the character development arc I hoped we were headed towards & I can't get past Kevin allowing his ex-wife to continuously steamroll their young son • Our main matchmaker from what was the hilarious Widow's Club in the first installment seemed to go off course from how she was set-up characterwise & the Widow's Club scenes didn't hold the same charm with her domination of them
Also, for being a full-blown Christmas title and cover, the holiday themes were lost in all the side stories
I'll still be anxiously awaiting the next Sunshine Valley installment as I know there's potential for so much more based on the first book
December 24, 2020
Mary Margaret still misses her husband even though he's been gone a year. She didn't know he had a huge gambling debt until the debt collectors demanded payment. She could never pay it back on her teacher's salary, so she starts dancing again as she did in college. She had to be careful to hide her identity or else she could be fired from her teaching job.
Kevin is the mayor and looking to run for office at the state level. He has his hands full trying to get votes for a new distribution center while having issues with the way his ex is treating their 5 year old son. Kevin is also trying to figure out his feelings for a burlesque dancer, Foxy-Roxy, and also his son's kindergarten teacher, Mary Margaret.
The Window's Club members are hilarious. They do a lot of good in the community but are always matchmaking, too. Kevin doesn't have to worry about his love-life. They'll look after it.
I loved the ending of A Very Merry Match. It left me smiling.
Kevin is the mayor and looking to run for office at the state level. He has his hands full trying to get votes for a new distribution center while having issues with the way his ex is treating their 5 year old son. Kevin is also trying to figure out his feelings for a burlesque dancer, Foxy-Roxy, and also his son's kindergarten teacher, Mary Margaret.
The Window's Club members are hilarious. They do a lot of good in the community but are always matchmaking, too. Kevin doesn't have to worry about his love-life. They'll look after it.
I loved the ending of A Very Merry Match. It left me smiling.
September 21, 2020
Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog: http://www.romancingthereaders.com/20...
I want to start off this review with the fact that I hate Barb! If you haven't yet read this series you are probably confused about who Barb is when the heroine's name is Mary Margaret. It's just something you need to learn by reading the story.
Now that I wet your whistle lets move on to what I thought of A Very Merry Match. Those of you who follow me on the regular know how much I love small-town Christmas stories. I just love them! Heck, I'm a small-town reader girl. Love those types of books. I was so excited to read the next book in Curtis' Sunshine Valley series. I've been really enjoying the series so far and wanted more. It was a plus that it also happened to be a Christmas themed story.
I so loved Mary Margaret. There is just something about her that made you think that she'd be the perfect mommy. She was so cute in her kindergarten class. You got glimpses of what could be. She was shy and fun. You wanted to be friends with her. In fact, I liked her much more than I did Kevin.
Usually, I'm more into the hero than the heroine but not this time. I took Kevin a long time and some straight talk from his parent to get a clue. By then he almost lost everything. At times you'll find him to have tunnel vision but I think that Roxy really helped him to look and think about something else other than his future in politics.
I really felt for Mary Margaret, she has put up with a ton because of her dead husband. At the end of his life, he became very selfish and only thought about himself not about what he was leaving behind. I was shocked when Mary Margaret believes the men that showed up for money but kinda understood after all the financial shocks she has been under.
I will admit that the romance between these two is a little different than I usually like. It was a very slow burn to a wild firer. I wish the author spent a little more time with only them. But even with that, I liked their story and truly felt by the end of the book that they really did love each other.
The story is full of holiday cheer and small-town stick your nose into everyone else lives. You'll really enjoy it. I would say that you should read this series in order, It just makes for a better series.
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ARC recieved for an honest review
I want to start off this review with the fact that I hate Barb! If you haven't yet read this series you are probably confused about who Barb is when the heroine's name is Mary Margaret. It's just something you need to learn by reading the story.
Now that I wet your whistle lets move on to what I thought of A Very Merry Match. Those of you who follow me on the regular know how much I love small-town Christmas stories. I just love them! Heck, I'm a small-town reader girl. Love those types of books. I was so excited to read the next book in Curtis' Sunshine Valley series. I've been really enjoying the series so far and wanted more. It was a plus that it also happened to be a Christmas themed story.
I so loved Mary Margaret. There is just something about her that made you think that she'd be the perfect mommy. She was so cute in her kindergarten class. You got glimpses of what could be. She was shy and fun. You wanted to be friends with her. In fact, I liked her much more than I did Kevin.
Usually, I'm more into the hero than the heroine but not this time. I took Kevin a long time and some straight talk from his parent to get a clue. By then he almost lost everything. At times you'll find him to have tunnel vision but I think that Roxy really helped him to look and think about something else other than his future in politics.
I really felt for Mary Margaret, she has put up with a ton because of her dead husband. At the end of his life, he became very selfish and only thought about himself not about what he was leaving behind. I was shocked when Mary Margaret believes the men that showed up for money but kinda understood after all the financial shocks she has been under.
I will admit that the romance between these two is a little different than I usually like. It was a very slow burn to a wild firer. I wish the author spent a little more time with only them. But even with that, I liked their story and truly felt by the end of the book that they really did love each other.
The story is full of holiday cheer and small-town stick your nose into everyone else lives. You'll really enjoy it. I would say that you should read this series in order, It just makes for a better series.
Follow me on:
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ARC recieved for an honest review
July 19, 2021
I really loved the premise for this book--a kindergarten teacher making ends meet by taking a second job as a burlesque dancer falls for the local mayor with an eye for higher office. I love the slightly more risque take on a small town romance. Unfortunately, I don't think there was quite enough focus on our protagonist's side gig in the first half of the book, and the pace didn't really pick up until the second half.
Pacing aside, there was a larger problem--I didn't really want the main characters to end up together. Kevin, our leading man, seemed into mysterious dancer Roxy but then wasn't sexually attracted enough to kindergarten teacher Mary Margaret to kiss her in the same way (and yes, he kissed both, and that's a problem, too). But then when inevitably finds out Mary Margaret and Roxy are one and the same, he's upset, because it would damage his career. Buddy, you can't have it both ways! You can't have your cake and eat it, too! Kevin was such a hypocritical character with more faults than those listed here (because I don't want to spoil), that he really didn't deserve Mary Margaret. And, at times, I couldn't even tell if Mary Margaret even liked him. She seemed to have no real interest in dating him or kissing him or anything, and it was supposed to be because she wasn't in a position to date, but really it just didn't seem like she was that into him. It's hard to love a romance novel where you're not rooting for the two main characters.
This book was fine. I think it was written well, and has some interesting plot points, and a good hook, indicating this author's other works are likely an improvement, and I may give her first in series a try, but I can't say I'll return to this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Pacing aside, there was a larger problem--I didn't really want the main characters to end up together. Kevin, our leading man, seemed into mysterious dancer Roxy but then wasn't sexually attracted enough to kindergarten teacher Mary Margaret to kiss her in the same way (and yes, he kissed both, and that's a problem, too). But then when inevitably finds out Mary Margaret and Roxy are one and the same, he's upset, because it would damage his career. Buddy, you can't have it both ways! You can't have your cake and eat it, too! Kevin was such a hypocritical character with more faults than those listed here (because I don't want to spoil), that he really didn't deserve Mary Margaret. And, at times, I couldn't even tell if Mary Margaret even liked him. She seemed to have no real interest in dating him or kissing him or anything, and it was supposed to be because she wasn't in a position to date, but really it just didn't seem like she was that into him. It's hard to love a romance novel where you're not rooting for the two main characters.
This book was fine. I think it was written well, and has some interesting plot points, and a good hook, indicating this author's other works are likely an improvement, and I may give her first in series a try, but I can't say I'll return to this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 4, 2021
When I read the summary for A Very Merry Match, I was intrigued by the story and the potential for it. I noticed that this was the second book in the series, but I picked this up as a standalone, and I didn’t feel like I was missing any major plot points from the first book when I jumped into this one. It seems that each of the books in this series focus on different characters in the town, so it’s easy enough to jump into any single book.
We’re introduced to Mary Margaret, a kindergarten teacher whose husband died and left her with a large amount of gambling debt. With no way to pay off the money, Mary Margaret returns to her love of dancing and takes on a disguise to perform as a dancer at a club for the extra money. Kevin is a newly divorced single father with an overbearing ex-wife, and he’s looking to take his career from the mayor’s office to higher levels of government. The last thing he’s looking for is a scandal, but when he sees Mary Margaret’s alter-ego dancing, he can’t help but being attracted to her without realizing who she really is.
As much as I loved the premise of this one, the story didn’t pull me in as much as I hoped. The ladies of the Sunshine Valley Widow’s club, particularly Mary Margaret’s grandmother, were some of my favorite characters in the book. They added entertaining subplots that helped to flesh out the rest of the story.
I have a hard time putting my finger on exactly what about this story was the thing that kept me from getting lost in it. The plot was somewhat predictable, but I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing, and while I liked Mary Margaret and Kevin and was hoping for them to get a happy ending, I didn’t connect with them as much as I’d hoped to.
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
We’re introduced to Mary Margaret, a kindergarten teacher whose husband died and left her with a large amount of gambling debt. With no way to pay off the money, Mary Margaret returns to her love of dancing and takes on a disguise to perform as a dancer at a club for the extra money. Kevin is a newly divorced single father with an overbearing ex-wife, and he’s looking to take his career from the mayor’s office to higher levels of government. The last thing he’s looking for is a scandal, but when he sees Mary Margaret’s alter-ego dancing, he can’t help but being attracted to her without realizing who she really is.
As much as I loved the premise of this one, the story didn’t pull me in as much as I hoped. The ladies of the Sunshine Valley Widow’s club, particularly Mary Margaret’s grandmother, were some of my favorite characters in the book. They added entertaining subplots that helped to flesh out the rest of the story.
I have a hard time putting my finger on exactly what about this story was the thing that kept me from getting lost in it. The plot was somewhat predictable, but I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing, and while I liked Mary Margaret and Kevin and was hoping for them to get a happy ending, I didn’t connect with them as much as I’d hoped to.
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
September 12, 2020
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
We all know what a garbage fire 2020 has been so far. I saw a tweet that mentioned romance novels doing the heavy lifting for mental health and boy is that true! Melinda Curtis’s A Very Merry Match was exactly what I needed. Though it is September and I’m in hot Florida, this book put me in the Christmas spirit. The Colorado setting, Christmas tree shopping, and all the talk of characters drinking hot chocolate made me wish it were Christmas already.
This was my first time reading a book by this author and I really like her voice. If you’re a fan of Kristan Higgins, you will enjoy this novel. The heroine Mary Margaret is down on her luck, getting over her husband’s passing, and is left to clean up his debts all before Christmas. The hero Kevin is a small-town mayor who is trying to bring a new addition to the town of Sunshine and he’s constantly met with pushback from constituents who hate to see change, all the while trying to co-parent with his busybody ex-wife to their five-year-old Tad.
Without giving too much away, Grandma Edith and her dating escapades and meetings with the Widows were funny to read. Also, that burlesque club sounds cool. When everything *gestures all around* is back to normal, I’d like to see a burlesque show in Las Vegas!
Overall, I recommend for fans of Netflix, Hallmark, and Lifetime holiday romance fans. Make sure to have a cup of cocoa while reading. Trust me, you're going to be craving it by the time you reach the last page.
We all know what a garbage fire 2020 has been so far. I saw a tweet that mentioned romance novels doing the heavy lifting for mental health and boy is that true! Melinda Curtis’s A Very Merry Match was exactly what I needed. Though it is September and I’m in hot Florida, this book put me in the Christmas spirit. The Colorado setting, Christmas tree shopping, and all the talk of characters drinking hot chocolate made me wish it were Christmas already.
This was my first time reading a book by this author and I really like her voice. If you’re a fan of Kristan Higgins, you will enjoy this novel. The heroine Mary Margaret is down on her luck, getting over her husband’s passing, and is left to clean up his debts all before Christmas. The hero Kevin is a small-town mayor who is trying to bring a new addition to the town of Sunshine and he’s constantly met with pushback from constituents who hate to see change, all the while trying to co-parent with his busybody ex-wife to their five-year-old Tad.
Without giving too much away, Grandma Edith and her dating escapades and meetings with the Widows were funny to read. Also, that burlesque club sounds cool. When everything *gestures all around* is back to normal, I’d like to see a burlesque show in Las Vegas!
Overall, I recommend for fans of Netflix, Hallmark, and Lifetime holiday romance fans. Make sure to have a cup of cocoa while reading. Trust me, you're going to be craving it by the time you reach the last page.
October 2, 2020
Mary Margaret Sneed is a kindergarten teacher in Sunshine Valley. She lost her husband last Christmas. She's still struggling with the enormous debt he incurred. It gets worse when two thugs show up and demand $100,000.00 for his gambling debts. Afraid and overwhelmed she decides to dance in a burlesque club, but to keep her day job she has to keep it secret. I knew this would end badly especially when Kevin Hadley, the mayor, needs a quite, respectable woman to advance his political career. He decides Mary Margaret is perfect. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. Mix in the Sunshine Widows Club with the matchmaking and Grandma Edith with her husband hunting and the shenanigans will knock the world off its axis. I cheered Mary Margaret on. She's a sweet loving woman who deserves a break. Kevin is a good guy behind his stuffed shirt personality. Doesn't he realize how important love is? I know he's had a rough time with his cheating ex, but when he gets self righteous I had a hard time forgiving him. Melinda Curtis has combined romance, heartbreak and humor into a wonderful story that left me smiling. A visit to Sunshine Valley will do that. There is always something special going on here.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.
December 24, 2020
Thanks to @readforeverpub for the gifted book.
This was a very sweet story and very funny. I love the small town books. I love the Widows Club! Cute set of older ladies that want to set up widowed men and women on dates so they can fall in love again. Edith was such the fun grandmother.
Mary Margaret is learning about the debt her late husband accured through online gambling. When debt collectors come to collect their money, Mary Margaret has no choice but to dance at the local burlesque club to earn extra money to pay off the debt. She has to hide though because she's also the town's kindergarten teacher.
Kevin is the mayor and has bigger political aspirations that could take him away from the small town and his vindictive ex-wife. (Oh she's awful!) He starts to pursue Mary Margaret- his son's kindergarten teacher. Can her secret be safe from him?
I really enjoyed this one. It's the second in a series but I didn't feel that you need to read the first one (which I haven't yet) to thoroughly enjoy it .
This was a very sweet story and very funny. I love the small town books. I love the Widows Club! Cute set of older ladies that want to set up widowed men and women on dates so they can fall in love again. Edith was such the fun grandmother.
Mary Margaret is learning about the debt her late husband accured through online gambling. When debt collectors come to collect their money, Mary Margaret has no choice but to dance at the local burlesque club to earn extra money to pay off the debt. She has to hide though because she's also the town's kindergarten teacher.
Kevin is the mayor and has bigger political aspirations that could take him away from the small town and his vindictive ex-wife. (Oh she's awful!) He starts to pursue Mary Margaret- his son's kindergarten teacher. Can her secret be safe from him?
I really enjoyed this one. It's the second in a series but I didn't feel that you need to read the first one (which I haven't yet) to thoroughly enjoy it .
December 27, 2020
[GIFTED REVIEW] Merry Christmas friends! One of my last holiday reads of the year is a cute contemporary romance.
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A Very Merry Match follows members of the Widows Club of Sunshine Valley as they try their hands at matchmaking between two of the town’s heartbroken younger residents: widowed kindergarten teacher Mary Margaret and recently divorced mayor Kevin. Kevin likes Mary Margaret and loves the idea of a wholesome kindergarten teacher as a romantic partner, but Mary Margaret has a few not-so-wholesome secrets up her sleeve.
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Mary Margaret is a great romantic heroine: she has intrigue, a dark side, and is occasionally quite funny. A few other side characters I loved: Mary Margaret’s grandmother, Kevin’s adorable son Tad, and Mary Margaret’s supportive friends! Kevin starts out as a delightful hero, but the story starts to struggle when some of his sexist views bubble to the surface.
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About two thirds of the way through, Mary Margaret and Kevin’s relationship got pretty confusing for me to follow. I also didn’t appreciate his sexist response to Mary Margaret’s secrets when they are eventually revealed. It made the events of the last third of the book a bit challenging for me, which is why I rate this a solid three star holiday read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
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A Very Merry Match is available now! Thank you to @readforeverpub for sharing a finished copy with me in exchange for my honest review. You can purchase your own copy of Not the Duke’s Darling on Bookshop.org through the link in my bio!
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CW: widows, death of a spouse, sexism
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Follow me on Instagram & Twitter @whatalexreads for book reviews, recommendations, and more!
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A Very Merry Match follows members of the Widows Club of Sunshine Valley as they try their hands at matchmaking between two of the town’s heartbroken younger residents: widowed kindergarten teacher Mary Margaret and recently divorced mayor Kevin. Kevin likes Mary Margaret and loves the idea of a wholesome kindergarten teacher as a romantic partner, but Mary Margaret has a few not-so-wholesome secrets up her sleeve.
•
Mary Margaret is a great romantic heroine: she has intrigue, a dark side, and is occasionally quite funny. A few other side characters I loved: Mary Margaret’s grandmother, Kevin’s adorable son Tad, and Mary Margaret’s supportive friends! Kevin starts out as a delightful hero, but the story starts to struggle when some of his sexist views bubble to the surface.
•
About two thirds of the way through, Mary Margaret and Kevin’s relationship got pretty confusing for me to follow. I also didn’t appreciate his sexist response to Mary Margaret’s secrets when they are eventually revealed. It made the events of the last third of the book a bit challenging for me, which is why I rate this a solid three star holiday read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
•
A Very Merry Match is available now! Thank you to @readforeverpub for sharing a finished copy with me in exchange for my honest review. You can purchase your own copy of Not the Duke’s Darling on Bookshop.org through the link in my bio!
•
CW: widows, death of a spouse, sexism
•
Follow me on Instagram & Twitter @whatalexreads for book reviews, recommendations, and more!
October 14, 2020
3.75 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and Forever Pub for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A Very Merry Match by Melinda Curtis is a fun, small town Christmas story. The story follows Mary Margaret Sneed, a Kindergarten school teacher, who finds herself hopelessly in debt due to her deceased husband's unwise purchases and gambling. To help pay off her debt she dances in a burlesque show at night. Things get complicated when she starts dating the Kevin Hadley, mayor of their small town who has his sights set on a larger political stage. A third factor in the book is the town's Widows Club that have their sights on finding Mary Margaret a partner.
Overall I thought the book and storyline were fun. I enjoyed learning about the burlesque dancing. I liked Kevin's relationship with his son and parents. What never really resonated for me was a strange sideline about Mary Margaret's grandmother Edith and her dating. I'm not sure why but especially in the early stages this seemed like more of a distraction than really progressing the storyline forward. Ultimately I really liked Edith and the Widows Club but it took awhile to get there.
So if you are a fan of small town romance, you might want to give this one a try. It has the requisite busybodies, holiday events, and quirky goings on that you'd expect from a small town romance. The book is closed door so also a great choice who prefer pure romance to sexy times.
Thanks to NetGalley and Forever Pub for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A Very Merry Match by Melinda Curtis is a fun, small town Christmas story. The story follows Mary Margaret Sneed, a Kindergarten school teacher, who finds herself hopelessly in debt due to her deceased husband's unwise purchases and gambling. To help pay off her debt she dances in a burlesque show at night. Things get complicated when she starts dating the Kevin Hadley, mayor of their small town who has his sights set on a larger political stage. A third factor in the book is the town's Widows Club that have their sights on finding Mary Margaret a partner.
Overall I thought the book and storyline were fun. I enjoyed learning about the burlesque dancing. I liked Kevin's relationship with his son and parents. What never really resonated for me was a strange sideline about Mary Margaret's grandmother Edith and her dating. I'm not sure why but especially in the early stages this seemed like more of a distraction than really progressing the storyline forward. Ultimately I really liked Edith and the Widows Club but it took awhile to get there.
So if you are a fan of small town romance, you might want to give this one a try. It has the requisite busybodies, holiday events, and quirky goings on that you'd expect from a small town romance. The book is closed door so also a great choice who prefer pure romance to sexy times.
December 28, 2020
Thank you so much to @readforeverpub for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
I so wanted to love this book more. I adore holiday books and thought the premise of this one sounded cute, but unfortunately, it didn't work for me. Although I appreciated Curtis' writing style, and really liked both Mary Margaret and the ladies of The Widow's Club, there were many things I found very off-putting about Kevin. From fabricating a relationship with Mary Margaret to make himself look better to political party representatives (before he'd even asked her on a single date!) and revealing some of her very personal trauma to them (which she'd told him in confidence), to judging and shaming her for her side job, these were some big relationship red flags for me. Kevin and Mary Margaret's relationship also felt like it needed more fleshing out. From a single date, to them both realizing they loved each other, to a middle-of-the-spotlight proposal (all within a matter of a few weeks), it felt very forced, and I wish that instead of some of the side plots (Derek's unpaid debts, Edith's attempts to woo David, Barbara's interference, etc.), Curtis had further developed Kevin and Mary Margaret's characters and relationship (and had maybe included more From a single date, to them both realizing they loved each other, to a middle-of-the-spotlight proposal (all within a matter of a few weeks), it felt very forced, and I wish that instead of some of the side plots (Derek's unpaid debts, Edith's attempts to woo David, Barbara's interference, etc.), Curtis had further developed Kevin and Mary Margaret’s characters and relationship (and had maybe included more interaction between Mary Margaret and Edith, or Mary Margaret and Lola). I also think a softer approach from Kevin might have made him a more likeable character. I will say that I really liked Kevin's parents and Tad, though, and loved how The Widows Club ladies got more involved toward the end of the book!
Overall, this book was just ok for me, but as this was my first Melinda Curtis book, I'm holding out hope that maybe I'll like some of her other titles better.
I so wanted to love this book more. I adore holiday books and thought the premise of this one sounded cute, but unfortunately, it didn't work for me. Although I appreciated Curtis' writing style, and really liked both Mary Margaret and the ladies of The Widow's Club, there were many things I found very off-putting about Kevin. From fabricating a relationship with Mary Margaret to make himself look better to political party representatives (before he'd even asked her on a single date!) and revealing some of her very personal trauma to them (which she'd told him in confidence), to judging and shaming her for her side job, these were some big relationship red flags for me. Kevin and Mary Margaret's relationship also felt like it needed more fleshing out. From a single date, to them both realizing they loved each other, to a middle-of-the-spotlight proposal (all within a matter of a few weeks), it felt very forced, and I wish that instead of some of the side plots (Derek's unpaid debts, Edith's attempts to woo David, Barbara's interference, etc.), Curtis had further developed Kevin and Mary Margaret's characters and relationship (and had maybe included more From a single date, to them both realizing they loved each other, to a middle-of-the-spotlight proposal (all within a matter of a few weeks), it felt very forced, and I wish that instead of some of the side plots (Derek's unpaid debts, Edith's attempts to woo David, Barbara's interference, etc.), Curtis had further developed Kevin and Mary Margaret’s characters and relationship (and had maybe included more interaction between Mary Margaret and Edith, or Mary Margaret and Lola). I also think a softer approach from Kevin might have made him a more likeable character. I will say that I really liked Kevin's parents and Tad, though, and loved how The Widows Club ladies got more involved toward the end of the book!
Overall, this book was just ok for me, but as this was my first Melinda Curtis book, I'm holding out hope that maybe I'll like some of her other titles better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2020
This small-town Christmas book was a lot of fun! It had some unique plot points that I really enjoyed! We have a single parent father, who's son is fond of his teacher, who happens to be a widow. She is down on her luck, and frantically try to pay off her dead husband's debt, while not doing anything to disparage her teaching job.
Loved how this one played out a lot! I'm a Melinda Curtis fan for sure now! Will be reading as many books in this series as they decide to write!
Loved how this one played out a lot! I'm a Melinda Curtis fan for sure now! Will be reading as many books in this series as they decide to write!
December 16, 2020
A Very Merry Match by Melinda Curtis was so different from what I expected. I think that it’s nice to be surprised by a holiday book, however. I was expecting a little bit more steamy based upon the description, but this book veered in a more sweet direction. It does a wonderful job of capturing a holiday miracle though. Read my full review here Link goes live 12/18/2020
January 7, 2021
Im sorry, i couldn't get into this. I might come back to another time. At the moment i couldn't get past the 3 chapter. I'm not saying its a bad book. Its just not for me at the moment.
September 29, 2020
The Widows Club (also known as the Sunshine Valley Matchmakers Club) is at it again. They want to make a match of two people they think would be a great pair. They are full of good intentions, but offer that leads to very humorous situations.
I adore the characters of Sunshine. They are quirky and lovable. This story includes characters of many ages, from 5 year old Tad to the mature ladies of the widows club. The two main characters are a kindergarten teacher (with a very interesting side job) and the mayor of Sunshine.
This is book two in the Sunshine Valley series (but there is a book 0.5, The Christmas Wish and a book 1.5, Sealed with a Kiss). The third book in this series, Dream a Little Dream, will be issued in February 2021. I have read the previous books and while I recommend reading the entire series, the books can be read and enjoyed independently.
There are many themes running throughout this story, accepting faults in others and loving them anyhow, friendships that hold tight in face of problems, being judged falsely but carrying on and forgiving, and family that is made up of strong friendships.
I enjoyed so much reading this clean romance book. It is really refreshing to me to read a heartwarming book at this time that the world is suffering with the Covid pandemic. It is a joy to leave the real world and visit Sunshine for a while.
I want to thank NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for allowing me to read the advanced reader copy. My review is my own opinion not influenced by receiving the ARC. #AVeryMerryMatch #Forever(Grand Central Publishing) @melcurtisauthor
I adore the characters of Sunshine. They are quirky and lovable. This story includes characters of many ages, from 5 year old Tad to the mature ladies of the widows club. The two main characters are a kindergarten teacher (with a very interesting side job) and the mayor of Sunshine.
This is book two in the Sunshine Valley series (but there is a book 0.5, The Christmas Wish and a book 1.5, Sealed with a Kiss). The third book in this series, Dream a Little Dream, will be issued in February 2021. I have read the previous books and while I recommend reading the entire series, the books can be read and enjoyed independently.
There are many themes running throughout this story, accepting faults in others and loving them anyhow, friendships that hold tight in face of problems, being judged falsely but carrying on and forgiving, and family that is made up of strong friendships.
I enjoyed so much reading this clean romance book. It is really refreshing to me to read a heartwarming book at this time that the world is suffering with the Covid pandemic. It is a joy to leave the real world and visit Sunshine for a while.
I want to thank NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for allowing me to read the advanced reader copy. My review is my own opinion not influenced by receiving the ARC. #AVeryMerryMatch #Forever(Grand Central Publishing) @melcurtisauthor
October 19, 2020
*View my reviews at www.drinkreadrepeat.com*
I have, historically, been very uncomfortable around the elderly.
I’ve always attributed this discomfort to the fact that I grew up without living grandparents and, as such, have little practice dealing with those past middle age.
I just feel like I don’t know what to do around them. I always try to talk too loudly, accommodating a hearing loss they may not even have, explain technology too simplistically, assuming a deficiency that may not be real, and assist too much, implying an incapability that might not exist.
I've been working on this defect since I married my husband — who is rich in grandparents with three still living. It's kind of like a 12 step program but, instead of 12 steps, there's only 1: spend more time around the elderly.
As I’ve worked to overcome this weakness, I have actually grown fond of this older generation. And this growing fondness made falling into this novel natural and delightful.
The male and female lead of this novel were not, themselves, elderly. But their budding love-affair was encouraged — and at times even fully arranged — by a group of adorably argumentative women: the Sunshine Valley Widow's club — think THE GOLDEN GIRLS but without the Miami vibe.
Though the Sunshine Valley Widows Club might not be the best group to provide it, our hero and heroine do need some help.
Our heroine, Mary Margaret, honestly doesn’t even have time to think about love. She’s too busy trying to survive on a relatively meager kindergarten teacher salary.
As an educator can tell you, living on a teacher’s wage is a challenge. But the task is made even more difficult by the fact that she is also trying to repay the debts accrued by her now deceased husband, Derek. As he battled cancer, Derek allowed himself to partake in some of his most destructive vices — one of which was gambling. While he enjoyed gambling, he certainly wasn’t good at it and, as a result, amassed a major debt.
Mary Margaret is noble almost to a fault. So noble and fact that she is entirely unwilling to ask for help. Instead she insists on doing anything she can to right her husband’s wrongs and repay his debts.
When the burden of his debts becomes too intense for her to handle, she turns to an occupation she undertook in college, one that she found to be as shameful as it was lucrative, burlesque dancing.
Despite the fact that it is unbecoming of a kindergarten teacher, Mary Margaret takes to transforming a local strip club — the Hanky Panky — into a decidedly classier burlesque hotspot. But no one can know of her side hustle. After all, few would accept that the same woman teaching their children their ABC's is shaking what God gave her in front of anyone willing to fork over a cover charge.
Meanwhile, Kevin, the mayor of Sunshine Valley, is still nursing his wounds from his divorce. Making it harder for the aforementioned wounds to fully heal is the fact that his ex-wife, Barb, still continues to insert herself into his affairs, both personal and professional. While the former couple will likely be bonded for life, thanks to the young son they share — a son who happens to be in Mary Margaret’s class — Barb’s intrusion into Kevin’s life goes far beyond what would be necessary to successfully co-parent.
But Kevin is intent on moving on with his life. To him, moving on means two things. First, finding a new partner in life. Second, moving out of local politics and advancing to state and maybe even national levels.
Complicating matters, he has his sight set on one particular woman: Mary Margaret. He knows that she will make an ideal partner, an ideal stepmother to his son, an ideal first lady in whatever capacity he may need her. And it also doesn't hurt that he happens to have a little bit of a crush on this surprisingly enigmatic kindergarten teacher.
But can this budding romance survive the scandal that would come from the mayor cozying up with the burlesque dancer? Can Mary Margaret keep her secret identity secret from those who may seek to look deeper into her past? Or, instead, is this romance doomed from the start?
With a more complex and nuanced plot than I typically expect from romance novels — especially ones of the Christmas variety, where magic tends to flitter through the air as freely wind-blown snowflakes — this Melinda Curtis novel was largely successful.
This success is owing in large part to the strength of the characters.
Both Mary Margaret and Kevin had robust personalities and strong backstories that upped the stakes and increased readers’ desires to see them somehow work it all out, despite the odds stacked against them. The hero and heroine of this novel were obviously the most developed, but Curtis also successfully built a robust cast of assorted secondary characters, giving them all sufficient backstory and personality to make them feel real within the world of this novel.
While I was fully satisfied with the character development in this novel, I can’t quite say the same about the development of the setting. Like so many Christmas romances, this novel was set in a tiny, close-knit town. Unfortunately, though, I’m not left with a strong lasting impression of Sunshine Valley because little attention was paid to developing it as a setting.
As I read along, snuggled under a blanket and sipping a coffee I had dressed up with peppermint and chocolate and spiked with Bailey’s, I found myself wanting to taste and smell and feel the festivities that would undoubtedly take place in a Christmas-season Sunshine Valley.
But I couldn’t.
I was left wishing that just a little bit more time had been spent transforming Sunshine Valley from a paper place into a real one. As successful as Curtis was in developing her characters, I am sure she could have transformed what was a relatively flat and forgettable town into something warm and special and inviting.
All things considered, this is a novel that lovers of Christmas romances will likely devour as quickly as I downed my boozy coffee concoction.
It earns 3 out of 5 cocktails.
I have, historically, been very uncomfortable around the elderly.
I’ve always attributed this discomfort to the fact that I grew up without living grandparents and, as such, have little practice dealing with those past middle age.
I just feel like I don’t know what to do around them. I always try to talk too loudly, accommodating a hearing loss they may not even have, explain technology too simplistically, assuming a deficiency that may not be real, and assist too much, implying an incapability that might not exist.
I've been working on this defect since I married my husband — who is rich in grandparents with three still living. It's kind of like a 12 step program but, instead of 12 steps, there's only 1: spend more time around the elderly.
As I’ve worked to overcome this weakness, I have actually grown fond of this older generation. And this growing fondness made falling into this novel natural and delightful.
The male and female lead of this novel were not, themselves, elderly. But their budding love-affair was encouraged — and at times even fully arranged — by a group of adorably argumentative women: the Sunshine Valley Widow's club — think THE GOLDEN GIRLS but without the Miami vibe.
Though the Sunshine Valley Widows Club might not be the best group to provide it, our hero and heroine do need some help.
Our heroine, Mary Margaret, honestly doesn’t even have time to think about love. She’s too busy trying to survive on a relatively meager kindergarten teacher salary.
As an educator can tell you, living on a teacher’s wage is a challenge. But the task is made even more difficult by the fact that she is also trying to repay the debts accrued by her now deceased husband, Derek. As he battled cancer, Derek allowed himself to partake in some of his most destructive vices — one of which was gambling. While he enjoyed gambling, he certainly wasn’t good at it and, as a result, amassed a major debt.
Mary Margaret is noble almost to a fault. So noble and fact that she is entirely unwilling to ask for help. Instead she insists on doing anything she can to right her husband’s wrongs and repay his debts.
When the burden of his debts becomes too intense for her to handle, she turns to an occupation she undertook in college, one that she found to be as shameful as it was lucrative, burlesque dancing.
Despite the fact that it is unbecoming of a kindergarten teacher, Mary Margaret takes to transforming a local strip club — the Hanky Panky — into a decidedly classier burlesque hotspot. But no one can know of her side hustle. After all, few would accept that the same woman teaching their children their ABC's is shaking what God gave her in front of anyone willing to fork over a cover charge.
Meanwhile, Kevin, the mayor of Sunshine Valley, is still nursing his wounds from his divorce. Making it harder for the aforementioned wounds to fully heal is the fact that his ex-wife, Barb, still continues to insert herself into his affairs, both personal and professional. While the former couple will likely be bonded for life, thanks to the young son they share — a son who happens to be in Mary Margaret’s class — Barb’s intrusion into Kevin’s life goes far beyond what would be necessary to successfully co-parent.
But Kevin is intent on moving on with his life. To him, moving on means two things. First, finding a new partner in life. Second, moving out of local politics and advancing to state and maybe even national levels.
Complicating matters, he has his sight set on one particular woman: Mary Margaret. He knows that she will make an ideal partner, an ideal stepmother to his son, an ideal first lady in whatever capacity he may need her. And it also doesn't hurt that he happens to have a little bit of a crush on this surprisingly enigmatic kindergarten teacher.
But can this budding romance survive the scandal that would come from the mayor cozying up with the burlesque dancer? Can Mary Margaret keep her secret identity secret from those who may seek to look deeper into her past? Or, instead, is this romance doomed from the start?
With a more complex and nuanced plot than I typically expect from romance novels — especially ones of the Christmas variety, where magic tends to flitter through the air as freely wind-blown snowflakes — this Melinda Curtis novel was largely successful.
This success is owing in large part to the strength of the characters.
Both Mary Margaret and Kevin had robust personalities and strong backstories that upped the stakes and increased readers’ desires to see them somehow work it all out, despite the odds stacked against them. The hero and heroine of this novel were obviously the most developed, but Curtis also successfully built a robust cast of assorted secondary characters, giving them all sufficient backstory and personality to make them feel real within the world of this novel.
While I was fully satisfied with the character development in this novel, I can’t quite say the same about the development of the setting. Like so many Christmas romances, this novel was set in a tiny, close-knit town. Unfortunately, though, I’m not left with a strong lasting impression of Sunshine Valley because little attention was paid to developing it as a setting.
As I read along, snuggled under a blanket and sipping a coffee I had dressed up with peppermint and chocolate and spiked with Bailey’s, I found myself wanting to taste and smell and feel the festivities that would undoubtedly take place in a Christmas-season Sunshine Valley.
But I couldn’t.
I was left wishing that just a little bit more time had been spent transforming Sunshine Valley from a paper place into a real one. As successful as Curtis was in developing her characters, I am sure she could have transformed what was a relatively flat and forgettable town into something warm and special and inviting.
All things considered, this is a novel that lovers of Christmas romances will likely devour as quickly as I downed my boozy coffee concoction.
It earns 3 out of 5 cocktails.
October 30, 2020
A Very Merry Christmas is a great story revolving around a former burlesque dancer turned kindergarten teacher, Mary Magaret in Sunshine Valley. As the second book of the series, it provides enough detail about what the characters experienced to get the reader up to speed for those who haven’t read the first book yet (such as myself).
The Widows Club is at it again, this time they have their sights set on fellow club member, Edith’s granddaughter Mary Margaret and setting up her with another local single man. Mary Margaret, or “Maggie” as Kevin, Sunshine Valley’s handsome mayor endearingly calls her, has been a widow for a year and is still trying to pay off her late husband Derek's, huge debt he left behind for her to clean up. But when she is approached by two sketchy men claiming he left behind a hundred thousand dollar online gambling debt on top of everything else, Maggie is forced to supplement her kindergarten teacher’s pay with another job. After a couple of stints of second jobs that go awry, she enrols back into the burlesque world from her past.
Kevin Hadley is trying to be a good mayor and move his town’s future towards an influential one while trying to please his residents who are against change. Along the way, he begins to fall for his son’s kindergarten teacher but also can’t get the sizzling dancer he witnessed at the neighbouring town’s club. Little does he know they are one of the same and he’s forced to make a decision to carry forth his career or listen to his heart and accept Maggie for all her flaws and background.
I loved the ladies of the Widows Club and how they came to Maggie’s defence when the town found out she burlesque danced at night. Not only were they so adorable in their own quirky ways, they were also hilarious in their competitive pursuit of the local elderly playboy bachelor. Maggie’s grandmother, Edith’s funny attempts to ensure she remained on the club’s board and her suggestion to the dance club’s owner’s regarding hosting an amateur night so she can show off her dance moves moved me to laughter.
Maggie’s and Kevin’s relationship came with a lot of baggage and I actually liked that it did. This small-town holiday romance was a joy to read and it reminds us that life and love can be complicated, but it can be beautiful too.
The Widows Club is at it again, this time they have their sights set on fellow club member, Edith’s granddaughter Mary Margaret and setting up her with another local single man. Mary Margaret, or “Maggie” as Kevin, Sunshine Valley’s handsome mayor endearingly calls her, has been a widow for a year and is still trying to pay off her late husband Derek's, huge debt he left behind for her to clean up. But when she is approached by two sketchy men claiming he left behind a hundred thousand dollar online gambling debt on top of everything else, Maggie is forced to supplement her kindergarten teacher’s pay with another job. After a couple of stints of second jobs that go awry, she enrols back into the burlesque world from her past.
Kevin Hadley is trying to be a good mayor and move his town’s future towards an influential one while trying to please his residents who are against change. Along the way, he begins to fall for his son’s kindergarten teacher but also can’t get the sizzling dancer he witnessed at the neighbouring town’s club. Little does he know they are one of the same and he’s forced to make a decision to carry forth his career or listen to his heart and accept Maggie for all her flaws and background.
I loved the ladies of the Widows Club and how they came to Maggie’s defence when the town found out she burlesque danced at night. Not only were they so adorable in their own quirky ways, they were also hilarious in their competitive pursuit of the local elderly playboy bachelor. Maggie’s grandmother, Edith’s funny attempts to ensure she remained on the club’s board and her suggestion to the dance club’s owner’s regarding hosting an amateur night so she can show off her dance moves moved me to laughter.
Maggie’s and Kevin’s relationship came with a lot of baggage and I actually liked that it did. This small-town holiday romance was a joy to read and it reminds us that life and love can be complicated, but it can be beautiful too.
October 1, 2020
The matchmaking widows club has their sights on a new love match!
Mary Margaret Sneed is your perfect small-town kindergarten teacher. Sweet, kind, and beautiful. What the town’s residents do not know is that Mary Margaret is in a lurch. Her late husband racked up some online gambling debts and now two henchmen come calling demanding she pay up. The only way she can pay such a huge debt is to go back to burlesque dancing on her off hours. When she starts being friends with the mayor Kevin Hadley, she knows it cannot go further than that if she wants to keep her Foxy Roxy stage name hidden. After a few stolen kisses, can she just stay as friends?
Kevin Hadley, newly divorced is the Mayor of Preston and needs to settle down if wants to advance his political career. He starts searching for the perfect woman. Not many women in town are sweet and innocent, but Miss Mary Margaret starts looking like the perfect candidate. Can he convince her to take their friendship to a new level?
This is such a sweet story so beautifully written by Melinda Curtis. The widow’s club ladies are hilarious, and they bring such fun anytime they are in the story. The two main characters Mary Margaret and Kevin are so lovable you are cheering them on right from the beginning. I loved that they both had to work at the relationship which made the story believable. When I started this book, I actually put it down and went to read the first few books in the series to start at the beginning. It can be read as a stand a lone novel, as Melinda does a brilliant job of filling in the supporting characters backgrounds, but I wanted more of the widows and their antics. A thoroughly enjoyable series! Thank you so much to the author Melinda Curtis, Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to review. It was fabulous! All opinions expressed for this review are unbiased and entirely my own.
Mary Margaret Sneed is your perfect small-town kindergarten teacher. Sweet, kind, and beautiful. What the town’s residents do not know is that Mary Margaret is in a lurch. Her late husband racked up some online gambling debts and now two henchmen come calling demanding she pay up. The only way she can pay such a huge debt is to go back to burlesque dancing on her off hours. When she starts being friends with the mayor Kevin Hadley, she knows it cannot go further than that if she wants to keep her Foxy Roxy stage name hidden. After a few stolen kisses, can she just stay as friends?
Kevin Hadley, newly divorced is the Mayor of Preston and needs to settle down if wants to advance his political career. He starts searching for the perfect woman. Not many women in town are sweet and innocent, but Miss Mary Margaret starts looking like the perfect candidate. Can he convince her to take their friendship to a new level?
This is such a sweet story so beautifully written by Melinda Curtis. The widow’s club ladies are hilarious, and they bring such fun anytime they are in the story. The two main characters Mary Margaret and Kevin are so lovable you are cheering them on right from the beginning. I loved that they both had to work at the relationship which made the story believable. When I started this book, I actually put it down and went to read the first few books in the series to start at the beginning. It can be read as a stand a lone novel, as Melinda does a brilliant job of filling in the supporting characters backgrounds, but I wanted more of the widows and their antics. A thoroughly enjoyable series! Thank you so much to the author Melinda Curtis, Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to review. It was fabulous! All opinions expressed for this review are unbiased and entirely my own.
December 4, 2021
Ughhhhhh this book made me mad. It’s cute, in the typical ways. But BOOOOY am I mad. WHY DOES NOBODY LISTEN TO EACH OTHER?!?!
Sorry. I am going to contextualize.
Yes, we know there are tropes of the genre that are slightly more problematic in real life than they are in books. The man doggedly pursues a woman, whether she thinks she wants him to or not. And it’s usually done with charm, thoughtfulness, and a cute inner monologue to go along with it.
In this book? The main man, Kevin, literally NEVER listens to the main woman, Mary Margaret. Not about what she wants, what they’re doing, whether or not they should spend time together. Like literally she would say “this isn’t a date”, and he would be thinking at the same time “I love going out on dates with Mary Margaret”. Or she would say “ I don’t want to date you” and two seconds later he would grab her and kiss her.
On the other hand, the times she did say yes, it made NO SENSE.
And not to mention her grandmother, Edith, who wouldn’t listen to ANYBODY and was THE MOST SELFISH PERSON. She literally bumped women off their dates with a man she suddenly realized was a catch, who nobody seemed to have a problem with all the old grannies dating at once??
Honestly, this book had cute moments, but I couldn’t give a chronological summarization of it if I tried! It was disjointed, hard to follow at times, and it seemed the author tried to add so many details that they all seemed superfluous until the author reminds you of what was going on and points at one detail she told you twenty pages ago, because, obviously, that was the important one!
Sorry. I am going to contextualize.
Yes, we know there are tropes of the genre that are slightly more problematic in real life than they are in books. The man doggedly pursues a woman, whether she thinks she wants him to or not. And it’s usually done with charm, thoughtfulness, and a cute inner monologue to go along with it.
In this book? The main man, Kevin, literally NEVER listens to the main woman, Mary Margaret. Not about what she wants, what they’re doing, whether or not they should spend time together. Like literally she would say “this isn’t a date”, and he would be thinking at the same time “I love going out on dates with Mary Margaret”. Or she would say “ I don’t want to date you” and two seconds later he would grab her and kiss her.
On the other hand, the times she did say yes, it made NO SENSE.
And not to mention her grandmother, Edith, who wouldn’t listen to ANYBODY and was THE MOST SELFISH PERSON. She literally bumped women off their dates with a man she suddenly realized was a catch, who nobody seemed to have a problem with all the old grannies dating at once??
Honestly, this book had cute moments, but I couldn’t give a chronological summarization of it if I tried! It was disjointed, hard to follow at times, and it seemed the author tried to add so many details that they all seemed superfluous until the author reminds you of what was going on and points at one detail she told you twenty pages ago, because, obviously, that was the important one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2020
A VERY MERRY MATCH is a charming Christmas romance that follows Mary Margaret and Kevin. Mary Margaret is a young widow after her husband died from cancer. He had not handled his diagnosis well and ran off to Vegas with another woman and then took out a bunch of credit in both their names to fuel his gambling habits. Mary Margaret is now saddled with his debt and unfortunately some less than kind lenders.
She had given up burlesque dancing when her abusive father had forced her to stop, but she can make good money that way - if she can get over her hang-ups still remaining from her father. Kevin is a politician who loves his young son and finds himself attracted to his teacher, Mary Margaret. His ex-wife has all manner of opinions on everything and tells him he should not date as a politician.
As their lives continually collide, they both feel an undeniable attraction. However, there are so many things keeping them apart. As they fall deeper, they may not be able to stay away.
I loved Mary Margaret, and I appreciated her backstory and the way that she must gather her courage to forge ahead. I had some mixed feelings about Kevin, as he was not always his best self in relation to Mary Margaret. However, given Mary Margaret and her grandmother, they were excellent characters that I really enjoyed reading about. I loved her passion for dancing and her genuine nature that shines through the book.
Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable Christmas romance read. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
She had given up burlesque dancing when her abusive father had forced her to stop, but she can make good money that way - if she can get over her hang-ups still remaining from her father. Kevin is a politician who loves his young son and finds himself attracted to his teacher, Mary Margaret. His ex-wife has all manner of opinions on everything and tells him he should not date as a politician.
As their lives continually collide, they both feel an undeniable attraction. However, there are so many things keeping them apart. As they fall deeper, they may not be able to stay away.
I loved Mary Margaret, and I appreciated her backstory and the way that she must gather her courage to forge ahead. I had some mixed feelings about Kevin, as he was not always his best self in relation to Mary Margaret. However, given Mary Margaret and her grandmother, they were excellent characters that I really enjoyed reading about. I loved her passion for dancing and her genuine nature that shines through the book.
Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable Christmas romance read. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
January 1, 2021
What a book I chose to read on Christmas week! Melinda Curtis’ A Very Merry Match is a romance that involves serious threads. Mary Margaret, widowed last year at Christmas, is trying to survive the memories of the season. As a Kindergarten teacher with a strong sense of honor, she has been very disciplined with her finances to try to repay her husband’s debt accrued through shopping therapy at the end of his life. Just when the mountain of debts have been conquered, two unsavory characters show up on her doorstep wanting an obscene amount of money.
You’ll like Mary Margaret. She’s a dedicated and loving teacher always wanting to do the right thing. Sadly, she carries around the physical and emotional scars of childhood abuse. Kevin, the mayor of the little town of Sunshine, has a son in Mary Margaret’s class. His initial dilemma is a decision regarding a development project that has potential positive and negative impacts on the town and is thus quite controversial. He also develops an interest in his son’s teacher. Along the way we meet Barb, Kevin’s ex-wife, and Edith, Mary Margaret’s supportive and fun-loving grandmother along with the local Widow’s Club whose members are always interested in matching up lonely hearts.
Mary Margaret has, out of financial necessity and a love of dance, a second career as a burlesque dancer, and Kevin is being considered for political office at the state level. Although they are attracted to each other, a serious relationship seems unlikely. Christmas is the backdrop for the fun, romance, and conflict that permeate the plot. This is a clean romance you can enjoy at Christmas…or any time of the year!
I would like to extend my thanks to NetGalley and to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
You’ll like Mary Margaret. She’s a dedicated and loving teacher always wanting to do the right thing. Sadly, she carries around the physical and emotional scars of childhood abuse. Kevin, the mayor of the little town of Sunshine, has a son in Mary Margaret’s class. His initial dilemma is a decision regarding a development project that has potential positive and negative impacts on the town and is thus quite controversial. He also develops an interest in his son’s teacher. Along the way we meet Barb, Kevin’s ex-wife, and Edith, Mary Margaret’s supportive and fun-loving grandmother along with the local Widow’s Club whose members are always interested in matching up lonely hearts.
Mary Margaret has, out of financial necessity and a love of dance, a second career as a burlesque dancer, and Kevin is being considered for political office at the state level. Although they are attracted to each other, a serious relationship seems unlikely. Christmas is the backdrop for the fun, romance, and conflict that permeate the plot. This is a clean romance you can enjoy at Christmas…or any time of the year!
I would like to extend my thanks to NetGalley and to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2020
After the death of her husband she had to deal with more then she can handle with his overwhelming debt. Now collectors are hassling her and she needs to come up with cash quick. Now this kindergarten teacher must use her dancing skills at a burlesque show, thing is she gotta keep quiet she lives in a small town and this can cause problems for her job. Kevin is newly divorced and running for mayor he really has no time for drama and Mary seems to have a quiet life he's looking for that will work for his mayorly image little does he know about her side job.
I really enjoyed this book. So basically the sweet kindergartner teacher is moonlighting as a dancer in a small town, its only a matter of time before things go south and I was curious to see how and when it would turn out. Then there was the sketchy debt collectors on her tail hounding her. There was just so much going on in Mary's life that you can't help but want her situation to improve find a good guy, be done with what her ex put her though when it comes to his cheating and debts. Then there is the side thing with soon to be mayor Kevin and he really can't have drama and if she decides to have a relationship drama will soon follow and that's a thing in itself. There is so much going on in this book I can't help but be hooked to this book. While it was set during christmas time if you are looking for Christmas spirit here but you will find a great book in return. I really enjoyed this book.
I really enjoyed this book. So basically the sweet kindergartner teacher is moonlighting as a dancer in a small town, its only a matter of time before things go south and I was curious to see how and when it would turn out. Then there was the sketchy debt collectors on her tail hounding her. There was just so much going on in Mary's life that you can't help but want her situation to improve find a good guy, be done with what her ex put her though when it comes to his cheating and debts. Then there is the side thing with soon to be mayor Kevin and he really can't have drama and if she decides to have a relationship drama will soon follow and that's a thing in itself. There is so much going on in this book I can't help but be hooked to this book. While it was set during christmas time if you are looking for Christmas spirit here but you will find a great book in return. I really enjoyed this book.
September 18, 2020
We are back in Sunshine Valley, this time during the holiday season and once again with the older ladies of the Widows Club, as well as the young widows of the town.
This story belongs to widowed kindergarten teacher Mary Margaret Sneed’s and divorced Mayor Kevin Hadley’s story.
Mary Margaret’s husband left her with debts she has been paying slowing. Thinking she’s almost clear of all the debts, a $100,000 gambling debt is presented to her by two less than stellar individuals. Desperate times require desperate actions and she secretly begins working in the Hanky Panky as a dancer. If the school board finds out, she could be fired.
Meanwhile Kevin has aspirations for higher office . But his son’s teacher, Mary Margaret , intrigues him as did “Roxy” the masked dancer at the club he recently visited.
Add to the mix a vengeful ex, a project that has divided the town , and a political future, and have an entertaining story.
I have to confess that at times it dragged and I wasn’t too impressed with Kevin’s original comments about kissing Mary Margaret.
Still, it was engaging and a reminder that our childhood does in fact affect the adult individual. Scars, whether physical or emotionally , are real.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Forever. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
This story belongs to widowed kindergarten teacher Mary Margaret Sneed’s and divorced Mayor Kevin Hadley’s story.
Mary Margaret’s husband left her with debts she has been paying slowing. Thinking she’s almost clear of all the debts, a $100,000 gambling debt is presented to her by two less than stellar individuals. Desperate times require desperate actions and she secretly begins working in the Hanky Panky as a dancer. If the school board finds out, she could be fired.
Meanwhile Kevin has aspirations for higher office . But his son’s teacher, Mary Margaret , intrigues him as did “Roxy” the masked dancer at the club he recently visited.
Add to the mix a vengeful ex, a project that has divided the town , and a political future, and have an entertaining story.
I have to confess that at times it dragged and I wasn’t too impressed with Kevin’s original comments about kissing Mary Margaret.
Still, it was engaging and a reminder that our childhood does in fact affect the adult individual. Scars, whether physical or emotionally , are real.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Forever. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
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