The Matchmaker Bride

Blue Hill Brides #2

by Ginny Baird

A delightful romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Ginny Baird...

Successful Boston matchmaker and television personality Meredith Galanes's reputation is on the line. During a guest appearance on a morning talk show, she's broadsided by questions about her own romantic attachments, just as she's trying to secure a syndication deal. Afraid to admit her love life is a total disaster, Meredith blurts out that she's seriously involved with a very special man―a boatbuilder in Maine. She never expects that small slip to get spun into a story about her supposed engagement.

Or that the paparazzi will track the guy down...

Derrick Albright is laid-back about many things. Being hounded by the press about some imaginary engagement to a woman he's only met once―and couldn't stand―isn't one of them. Then Meredith actually shows up at his cabin in Blue Hill, Maine, with an apology, a pot roast, and a proposal―play along until she secures her TV deal, and she'll help him win back his ex.

It's a simple plan, but if they have any chance of pulling it off, they'll have to survive each other first...

Each book in the Blue Hill Brides series is
* The Duplicate Bride
* The Matchmaker Bride

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

350 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published July 27, 2021

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Ginny Baird writes heartwarming contemporary stories filled with love, laughter, and happily ever afters. Visit her website to learn more about Ginny and her books. www.ginnybairdromance.com

Reviews

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 OOPS! Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
I loved The Duplicate Bride. It was smart and human and The Matchmaker Bride continues with this vain.

Meredith and Derrick met when the other wedding was being planned and all they did was bicker and but heads. Then a situation happens where Meridith feels cornered during an important interview about her and her company. In order to address her personal status, she makes up a relationship to throw the interviewer off...

Oops! Now she has to get Derrick to please, please be part of this fake relationship. As time goes by, it becomes more for both.

This was fun and this series is a winner.

The Duplicate Bride (Blue Hill Brides Book 1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Matchmaker Bride (Blue Hill Brides Book 2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meredith Galanes is a super successful woman in The Matchmaker Bride, part of a series by Ginny Baird. As a professional matchmaker, Meredith has gained so much popularity with her television show. Put under pressure about her own romantic life, Meridith creates a fictional boyfriend when she is put in the spotlight on live tv. A fictional boyfriend would probably have been fine, except she uses a not so fictional man she knows that she met the prior year at a wedding. Sparks sizzled then as they really got off on the wrong foot and did not get along. Meredith is about to find out if those sparks are still there when she heads to his cabin to warn him about the press coverage. Meredith heads off to Maine and starts off with a bribery and an offer to help Derrick Albright win his ex fiancé back.

This sweet romance is a fun read with depth. I love Meredith's Aunt who comes to the rescue. The humor in this book really made me laugh. Definitely enjoyed the read and getting to know more of the characters from the first book better. The setting descriptions were so good, I can't wait to visit Maine!

Tip: Try to read The Duplicate Bride first (from Blue Hill Brides) as it has a few interesting characters that reappear in The Matchmaker Bride and make it more personal when you have read the first. Still okay to read as a standalone.

Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing and Ginny Baird for this temporary advance review copy for me to read and enjoy. As always, my opinions are my own and my reviews voluntary.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first book by Ginny Baird and to be honest, I wish I’d read the first book in this series because I felt like I was missing big chunks of information going into this one without having read that first book. I liked this book but at times I felt lost when they referenced events that obviously took place in the first book that I missed. The hero and heroine met in the first book and from the sounds of got off on the wrong foot with one another and that carried on throughout the entire wedding week until an almost kiss. The heroine has a local matchmaker television show in Boston and is being looked at for syndication when she is interviewed by another local journalist who asks her about her own relationship of which she has none, she mentions a boat maker in Maine as being her fiancé, which is not true. Racing to Maine to set the record straight the media beats her there and soon Meredith (Mer) and Derrick make a plan to continue the charade for 10 days which Mer tries to track down Derrick’s ex and possibly reunite.

I actually liked these two characters a lot and found them interesting, smart, funny, and real. What bothered me is they both were feeling something between them, but neither one communicated that throughout this book while Meredith worked to get Derrick back with his ex-wife. They spent the entire book pretending they weren’t attracted or interested in one another only for everything to be wrapped up in a nice neat little bow in the last few pages of the book. We saw them go from not really liking one another to friends all while beginning to form feelings and really liking what they saw in the other NONE of which was communicated. It was frustrating because we never really saw them as a couple, just two people thinking they missed their chance to a crazy proposal to a wedding. WHAT? Slow down, Derrick had already jumped into one marriage without really thinking and wasn’t right for him and then boom again? No, sorry I found this completely ridiculous.

While the “relationship” part of this story puzzled me and was quite frankly unsatisfying, I absolutely loved Derrick’s family, the Albrights. They added so much to this story as did Meredith’s Titi Clarita, she was a hoot!

Overall, it was a cute book and fun to read I just want more romance in a book labeled a romance.

Review copy provided for a voluntary review.

[SCBookAddict · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had me torn. On one hand, I enjoyed the story but on the other hand, I felt like I was missing bits and pieces of the puzzle.

I loved how Meredith and Derrick are attracted to each other but both don't want to be. They literally fight their attraction through most of this story. The angst was on par and was what kept me hooked.

Having said that, there were pieces to their story that I wasn't privy to.

Have you ever asked someone what's so funny and they tell you "it's an inside thing, you wouldn't get it"? That's how I felt with parts of this story.

I know the bare bones of how they met and I feel like that should have been something that one of them could have reflected on - especially since other parts of the past were reflected.

Making me read the story prior to this one to understand this couple's story just made me feel let down.

[Marti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an ARC of this book.

I really struggled with this book. Since I haven't read the first book, I was missing some of the background which was a bit confusing. It seemed to just plod along, especially in the middle part and I was tempted to stop reading but I kept going and am glad I did. I liked how the book ended and the resolution of the plot. I did like the characters, but the slow moving plot was tough to take.

[January · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Matchmaker Bride by Ginny Baird (2021)
Blue Hill Brides #2
334-page Kindle Ebook story pages 8-319

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Featuring: Boston, Massachusetts; Fictional Small-Town Maine near Bangor, Profesional Matchmaker, Television Shows, Fake Relationship Trope, Workaholic, Boatmaker, Planned Breakup, Investigation for Lost Contact, Media, Affluent People, Spanish, Miami, Florida; Enemies-to-Friends-to-Lovers Trope, Cradle Making, Family Functions, Miscommunication, Preview of First Bride to Fall - Chapter 1, Author's Bibliography, Blurbs for: A Lot Like Love by Jennifer Snow, Forever Starts Now by Stefanie London, and Wishing for a Cowboy by Victoria James

Rating as a movie: PG-13 for suggestive content

Books and Authors mentioned: Iliad by Homer, The Odyssey by Homer, Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️👰🏻‍♀️💒🤵‍♂💔👩🏻‍🦰

My thoughts: 🔖Page 108 of 334 Chapter Twelve - I'm surprised the twins haven't popped up although they've been mentioned a few times. This plot is weak but the writing makes it work. I'm interested to see how this is going to work.
🔖159 Chapter Seventeen - Nope this isn't working for me. Olivia needs to go home. I'm also wondering why you'd make a cradle for a 4-month-old, she may already be too big for it, and if not she barely has a couple of months to use it.

I had a few breaks from this book throughout the day but my thoughts were the same, I don't like Olivia, and I am not a fan of this storyline. Overall the story was okay. I had high hopes for it but this flower never blossomed for me. I wouldn't mind seeing a book about Sally or Jackie.

Recommend to others: Maybe, it was okay, it seems like there were supposed to be more books but I haven't seen them.

Blue Hill Brides
1. The Duplicate Bride (2020)
2. The Matchmaker Bride (2021)

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite romance trope: fake relationship! I don't know why though, maybe because if they didn't see potential there, why would they even agree to a fake relationship?

Meredith is a modern day matchmaker. She has her own show and during an interview trying to promote her show, she has the tables turned on her when she's asked point blank how she can be a matchmaker if she hasn't found a perfect match for herself. She immediately thinks of Derrick, whom she met last year when her best friend Jackie was engaged to be married to his brother.

The media somehow figured out she meant Derrick, even though she was vague on the details and didn't mention his name. She makes a deal with him, to try to match him up with his ex-wife Olivia. The complications start immediately when they realize they get along so well and are extremely attracted to the other. Derrick's marriage to Olivia ended partially because they couldn't not get along!

I enjoyed the story and I really liked both Derrick and Meredith, along with seeing Derrick's family and Meredith's aunt. It was pretty obvious to the readers that Derrick and Olivia were not together for a reason.

My only complaint might he that the book was a little long but this was a lot to squeeze into just about two weeks of their lives! So that made up for the length. There is no doubt in my mind that while their lives will not always be smooth sailing, they really are meant for each other.

Another great book and I look forward to reading more of Ginny Baird's books!

[Cindy Davis- Cindy's Book Corner]

I will not rate the book since I did not finish it. I read the first 100 pages, and the book was getting on my last nerve. I wanted to like it and be invested, but I just couldn't. Here's why:
The main characters are thirty years old but they are acting like adolescent teenagers. They constantly say how hot the other is, yet they are not attracted to each other. Whatever. They say they value their purity and reputation, yet Meredith moves into Derrick's house (staying in the living room) so they can have a fake relationship. Then, Meredith's aunt shows up so they will stop living in sin. I get that it is supposed to be funny, but it wasn't. I didn't care for either character, and if I was thirty, NO ONE would be coming to stop me from living in sin (if that makes sense, it's completely unrealistic). I did read the first book and you need to if you do decide to read this one, otherwise you will be lost.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC, Entangled: Amara for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

Well, I got 42% of the way into this book and had to DNF it. I just don't like the MC h. For some reason, she just rubbed me the wrong way. I liked her aunt, but I didn't like her. It's a shame, because I did enjoy the first book of this series and I wanted to meet Olivia in this book, but I just couldn't continue reading this.

Not a bad book, but it didn't work for me at this time. Not sure how clean the book is, by 42% it was just a heated glance here and there. 2, not the right book for me, but might be for you, stars.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! Super fun and full of banter with zero stress. Definitely would recommend, especially if you like things PG.

[Julie - One Book More · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opposites attract in this new fake dating romance by Ginny Baird. The second book in the Blue Hill Brides series, The Matchmaker Bride is filled with miscommunication, hidden feelings, longing, angst, and some laugh-out-loud antics.

The characters in this story are great. Meredith is a smart, positive, and ambitious woman who has a gift for matchmaking. Derrick is a gifted boat-builder and instructor. Though they are very different and they seem to contradict each other, they actually have a lot in common. They are both kind and thoughtful, and they are both close with their families. They also both hide their growing feelings for each other.

It’s interesting to see this pair slowly realize the depth of their feelings. Because of something she said on live television, Meredith must convince Derrick to pretend to be her fiancée. In return, Meredith will help Derrick reunite with his ex-wife. Neither is honest about their feelings and what they really want, which adds a lot of angst to the story. Meredith is sure that Derrick wants his beautiful ex-wife back, and Derrick knows that Meredith doesn’t want him. How wrong they are!! Whether they are bickering, joking with each other, or working in harmony together, their chemistry is fantastic.

The secondary characters, especially Derrick’s family and Meredith’s aunt, are fabulous. Meredith’s aunt is funny and very insightful. I love her vivacious personality and how supportive she is of her niece. Much like Meredith’s family, Derrick’s family is so close and loving. You can tell that they’re very involved in each other’s lives and that they spend a lot of time together. They support each other through the ups and downs of life, and their loyalty shines through. Plus, they’re so fun! Some of the shenanigans they get up to in this book are fantastic, especially when they are at the baby shower.

This is a light and charming contemporary rom-com with fun characters and a lovely romance. Though it’s the second book in the series, you don’t have to read the first book to read this one. However, many characters from the first book, including Meredith and Derrick, have roles in this book. The Matchmaker Bride takes place about a year after The Duplicate Bride, and it’s great to see how the characters’ lives have progressed throughout this time. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Ginny Baird, and Entangled: Amara for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

[PP's Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happens when the matchmaker specialist set out to make a match for herself? You need to read The Matchmaker Bride by Ginny Baird to know the details. It was a adorable rom com with some dramatic emotions. Small town romance sweetness combined with enemies to lovers sharpness in this story.

Meredith is a very successful matchmaker with her own local tv show but she wants to take it to next level. Syndication. Streaming services. But when a famous talk show host corners her for lack of her own love life, she blurts out the description of Derrick Albright. The grumpy boatmaker in Maine who had an issue with her in a wedding...Now she has to convince him to play fake fiance and in turn she promised him to get him back together with his ex wife Olivia. But does Derrick want Olivia?

The story started pretty well and I was excited to see how this zing between Derrick and Meredith goes. She has come to Blue Hill and she is stuck with him in his cabin. The possibilities were endless and I was enjoying the simmering slow burn. But then came families. Don't get me wrong. I love big families. The Albrights are a large bunch and I found spending lots of time with them rather than exploring their complex dynamic. Then came Olivia and everything became muddled. Meredith is such a strong and bright and loving woman. And Derrick is a real gentleman. He has a sexy side, a charming side, a witty side and a caring side. They spent a lot of time convincing themselves that Derrick wants to go back to Olivia and ignoring their feels. A lot of unnecessary complications and they were dragging the story down. It slowed the pace a bit. That ending was all about grand gesture and I was happy with it!

If you are looking for a light hearted rom com, The Matchmaker Bride by Ginny Baird is worth trying.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily received through Netgalley and Entangled Publishing

[Tanja ~ KT Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oooooooh (smirky smile) This is all the good book trope things rolled into one! Can you say, enemies to friends/pretend couple/friends to lovers and so much more. I fell in love with Ginny Bairds sweet and romantic storytelling when I read The Duplicate Bride last year. To say I have been excited about this release is an understatement.

Meredith Galane, and her disaster of a love life, delivers herself to the front door of laid-back boat maker Derrick Albright. The combination of chemistry and somewhat questionable plans make for a fabulous read!

The Matchmaker Bride is a fun and enjoyable read. Perfect for those beach bags!

~Tanja


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[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meredith is a matchmaker trying to take her show national 💍. She’s in the middle of a disastrous interview, when the host discovers she’s single, so how could she possibly be a credible matchmaker? Meredith blurts out that she’s dating someone, a boat builder. Soon, the media tracks down Derrick. Who she last saw a year ago and hasn’t seen him since.

She’s shows up on his doorstep and they strike a deal - Derrick plays her fake boyfriend for the media, and she will help him reconcile with his ex, Olivia.

Of course, nothing goes as planned. They bicker and banter, until they slowly start realizing they enjoy each other’s company. They have definite chemistry and it was fun to watch them spar and fight their attraction to each other.

I felt like I was missing a bit of background information and would have liked some of the gaps in their history filled in. But overall it was a really cute read! Theres a good cast of side characters, including Derricks’ family, Meredith’s aunt who shows up to “chaperone”, and Olivia; there are a lot of funny interactions between them all.

If you’re in the mood for a sweet romance, and enjoy the fake dating trope (one of my favs! 🙃) then I recommend giving it a read!

✨Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for a free copy of the ebook, in exchange for my honest review.✨

[Kelly - Words We Love By · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when a matchmaker gets put on the spot with her own love life while on National TV? She comes up with the first person she can think of... a boat maker in Maine. That boat maker just happens to be Meredith's friend's brother in-law. Why did she think of him? Yes they were both in Brent and Hope's wedding last summer but she argued with him most of the wedding. Now she has to race to find him before anyone else so she can talk him into being her "fake fiance". Ginny Baird writes a slow burn love story about an unlikely pair. Derrick is a small town boat maker and lead instructor at the boating school in Blue Hill, Maine. While Meredith is an up and coming matchmaker trying for a syndication deal and living in Boston. They couldn't be more different or so it seemed, they did have one thing in common, their irritation but also admiration of each other. So when Meredith tries her matchmaking skills to help Derrick rekindle the romance between him and his ex-wife, Olivia, as repayment for being a fake fiance she discovers all the sweet and loving things about him. Unfortunately, they both learn about each other and all the things they are beginning to admire about each other. So will Meredith go through with her plan to reunite Derrick and Olivia or will they both realize they want each other? Check out Ginny Baird's new book in the Blue Hill Brides series (which can also be read as a stand alone) and watch how Meredith works her Matchmaking skills.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet Enemies to Lovers Rom-Com between a Boat maker and a Matchmaker
I really enjoyed Meredith and Derrick’s story. It’s a fun clean slow-burn romance, where two people are thrown together in close quarters for their mutual benefit – to get what they think they want.

What I liked:
• The re-meet-cute of her bringing him a pot roast to butter him up to her plan.
• Each of the characters shows growth over the length of the story.
• Both Meredith and Derrick were likeable characters.
• I felt the attraction that grew between them was believable and I was rooting for them.
• I enjoyed secondary characters Titi Clarita, Grandma Margaret, and even Olivia
• The Baby Shower games were a riot. I am so going to suggest one of these in the future.

What I didn’t like:
• I felt that internal feelings in the narration were sometimes rehashed too much.
• I didn’t like how Derrick’s internal dialogue seemed to be so indecisive about Olivia and Meredith. He was always so confident in other ways, that I would have liked for him to be more certain of his own feelings.

I received an advance reader copy from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my unbiased review.

[Cervina Liu · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Matchmaker Bride was first published in late July 2021 and by September had already managed to find its way onto a bookshelf at my local thrift store. After buying and reading the book for myself, I can see why.

I hated this book from start to finish. The internal monologue was repetitive and derivative; I struggled to stay invested in the personal lives of the characters, who were dull and devoid of personality. The protagonist's stubborn reluctance to confront her fervent desire for the love interest throughout the book revealed a lack of plot development and character growth as well as the laziness of Baird's writing and would have been frustrating to me had I cared at all about Baird's characters.

This enemies-to-lovers romance featured a fake-dating relationship and off-putting, overt objectification of the love interest. The book was boring to read, but I appreciated the Latinx representation.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Matchmaker Bride by Ginny Baird was such a fun and delightful read. Meredith is a very successful matchmaker, but when asked about her love life, she puts herself between a rock and a hard place. When she accidentally blurts out she is in a serious relationship, she never expected what follows. But Derrick, a man she only met briefly expected it much less. They are not meant to be together as they barely stand each other. But if they can help each other out, what can go wrong, right? But as they maneuver through a fake relationship, what happens when feelings begin to change? Can they figure it out before it is too late? This was a fun read with great characters.

Happy reading!

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meredith, her back against the wall when grilled by a barracuda talk show host, fibs about having a boyfriend. Faced with her lie, in order to get a tv deal, she strikes a deal,with Derrick, to find his first love.
During the whole book, I wasn’t buying the vibes esteem Derrick and Meredith.
The ending was cute and cheesy, but I do think a permanent HEA is in the cards for these two.
Thanks to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the early read.

[Sascha · Rating 2 out of 5]

At 40% I am done and gone. DNF

A woman shows up with a pot roast to engender happiness (why did I feel like this was a Mrs. Maisel episode from the first season?)

At about the 20% mark, a Gertrude Stein quote reverberated in my head: there's no there there. Nothing of substance happened in the 40% of The Matchmaker Bride that I read. I didn't laugh. I didn't care about the characters--oh, not quite true. I did care that the main character seemed like an idiot. Why does a woman only pack heels for a trip to coastal rural Maine? It's not like she wasn't there before and didn't know the landscape...so, why? Ah, vanity.

And, that leads to the next point. This book is by no means a standalone. Perhaps I would have appreciated it more, may have even joined in on some inside chuckles if I'd read the previous book, and may have understood what a lot of the allusions to past events were about. So, no, definitely not a standalone.

There's lots of aka too much dialogue that takes the plot nowhere.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[lowkeyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this first book I've read by the author. Meredith and Derrick's story was entertaining, sweet, funny, and well-written. They made me laugh out loud and swoon a lot. I loved the banter between them. I definitely want to go back and read the previous book.

[Renay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this story had very relatable characters. It has great humor and I was wonderfully entertained.

[Sara Oxton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Matchmaker Bride by Ginny Baird a three-star read that may be worth a second chance. This was number two in the Blue Hill Bride series, and they are supposed to be able to be read as stand-alone, but I felt lots for chunks of this story, it was clear that Meredith and Derrick had history, and maybe if I had known more about that I would have enjoyed this one, but honestly, I struggled to read it most of the time. It almost felt like I as missing part of a private joke, I didn’t feel like I knew the secondary characters enough to care about them. I may pick up the first story and then do a re-read of this one, after I have read something else by this author as I hate feeling like I have left a story not fully finished, I only hope that I enjoy the story as I have heard such good things from this author. If you like to get deep and under the skin of characters like I do I would advise reading The Duplicate Bride first, if you just like light and don’t care about the secondary characters then try reading this one first.

[Suzette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a downright blast. It is funny and witty. Meredith is a matchmaker who finds herself needing a match. Improvising on the fly is not her strong suit. Derrick is boatbuilder who suddenly finds himself in the spotlight. These are two characters who have been more enemies than friends and now they have to form an alliance. There are many opportunities to laugh out loud as well as to have your ovaries wiggle at the sweet and endearing moments throughout the book. If you have read the previous story in the series you will once again be delighted by the family of characters and all the crazy antics they can get up to. It is another fun happy ending in the Albright family.

[Ancillar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly a huge thanks to Riki from Entangled Publishing for reaching out and ensuring that I don’t miss out on this delightful rom-com

The Matchmaker Bride is my second Ginny Baird book and I am absolutely now obsessed with her books. The book follows Successful Boston matchmaker and television personality Meredith Galane. Meredith finds herself in a pickle when she is asked if she is dating someone on a TV show being a matchmaker and all and she finds herself blurting out a lie in the form of the delectable( Derrick Albright) boat builder in Maine. She ends up heading to Maine to convince the one man that can’t stand her that they are ‘dating’ and offers a nicely packaged offer to convince him that I won’t talk about because I am not going to spoil it for you. The book has the perfect angst and chemistry and I highly recommed it for the romance

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted on my blog: I Heart Fictional People

IN A NUTSHELL

Since Meredith is a well-known matchmaker, when she is asked on national TV about her love life, she lies. Her lie gets back to Derrick when reporters show up at his house, asking about their non-existent relationship. One thing leads to another, and they’re “fake engaged.” But their dislike for each other may turn into something more pleasant.

WHAT I LIKED

The romantic-comedy vibe. Romantic comedies are some of my favorite movies, and I instantly felt like I was watching one. It really reminded me of Jennifer Aniston’s Picture Perfect and Jennifer Lopez’s The Wedding Planner. Fake engagement for the sake of work and falling for your client who you are trying to help work something out with another woman. And I LOVED it. I could see this entire book play out on the big screen. It was great. It had humor (though I wish there was a lot more), it had heart, and it even had some drama.

Meredith and Derrick’s relationship. I really loved seeing how this played out. Their irritation with each other was funny. Their friendship was sweet. And their growing feelings for each other were heartwarming. It was just an all-around great romance that I really enjoyed reading about.

Family dynamic. I just loved Derrick’s family. They were all overprotective and nosy but loving at the same time. This was so realistic. It had me laughing at times, and it was also heartwarmingly sweet.

The end. I really loved the end. It was cute. And it worked out just the way it should have, in my opinion.

WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME

Not admitting their feelings. At first, I really liked this. The will they, won’t they was cute. They tried so hard not to like each other. But then it just kinda went on too long for me. They were constantly thinking about each other other but denying that they were thinking about each other. It began to feel a bit repetitive.

The confusing past. So, this book is advertised as a stand-alone in a series. However, last year’s wedding was constantly referred to. And I kept waiting for an explanation, wondering if it was going to be part of the plot somehow. Then I realized that it was all in the first book in the series. It definitely made me want to read the first book, but I wish it wasn’t such a focus because I still have no idea what went down.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

This was such an enjoyable read! I love that beautiful cover, and I love the sweet story behind that cover. Ginny Baird is a great storyteller, and I will definitely be reading more of her books. This one hit all the right spots, and I’m so glad I chose to read it. If you’re looking for a romance with a bit of humor and a lot of heart, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

*Thank you to the author/publisher and InkSlingerPR for an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!*

[Sapphyria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meredith Galanes has a problem. As a renowned matchmaker and tv personality she has successfully paired up many couples. Her successful tv show showcases her matches, proving she has the magic touch when it comes to setting couples up. This isn't Meredith's problem, though. Her problem stems from her inability to successfully match herself. Her love life has been nothing but one disastrous date after another. While trying to secure a syndication deal for her tv show, Meredith appears on a talk show and their main question involves her love life. She can't go in front of the entire viewing audience and admit that, while she can pair other couples up, her attempts at romance are epic failures. What's a little white lie in front of the camera?! Meredith has no idea that her little white lie would be escalated to the point that her new, fake boyfriend would be hunted down by the press.

Derrick Albright is a boatbuilder in Maine. He lives a quiet, laidback life. That all changes when reporters come knocking on his door wanting him to comment on his relationship and engagement to Meredith Galanes, matchmaker extraordinaire. There has to some mistake. Derrick has only met Meredith once and spent a lot of time trying to avoid her. Now, she's on his doorstep trying to explain away the reporters all while trying to butter him up with a homecooked meal, a proposal, and a guarantee she can find Derrick's ex and get them back together. First, they have to learn to get along or the entire plan will go up in smoke right along with Meredith's successful matchmaking empire.

Meredith and Derrick are an amazing couple of characters in The Matchmaker Bride. They were constantly bickering, in total denial of any feelings and chemistry, yet tried to convince the world they are perfect for one another. Their dance was one filled with missed opportunities, longing glances, cute moments, and miscommunications. All things that helped make this enemies-to-lovers/fake engagement romance novel hard to put down.

I was engaged in their story from the very beginning and devoured the book. I enjoyed this contemporary romance. The author's writing style is smooth and conversational. The characters have depth and development. The setting was written well, and I was able to visualize the story as I read along. While this series is listed as each story being a standalone, I highly recommend you read the books in order so you understand what happened in book one between Meredith and Derrick. The author does a great job bringing in all the details from The Duplicate Bride into The Matchmaker Bride, I found myself searching for Meredith and Derrick's interactions in The Duplicate Bride as a refresher.

[Stacy Alesi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this series out of order, but if you can believe the publisher, each book is a standalone. That wasn't really my experience, so I recommend reading them in order. This is the second book.

Meredith was in the first book, she's Jackie's best friend and maid of honor at that disaster of a wedding. But it is also where she meets Derrick, the groom's youngest brother, when they get into a fender bender. It's pretty much hate at first sight, so you know something is going to happen. It never does in the first book, but this is their story now.

Meredith is a professional matchmaker with a TV series on a local station. She is in the process of trying to get picked up for syndication, so she happily accepts the offer of a TV interview with another local show. But that interview quickly devolves into one about Meredith's love life, which is nonexistent. But a nonexistent love life is not a good look for a professional matchmaker, so feeling the pressure of the live interview, she blurts out that she is seriously involved with a boat builder in Maine.

The press starts digging and then Derrick's name is leaked as the serious boyfriend. Meredith jumps in her car and heads up to Blue Hill, Maine, to warn him and beg him to play along. Unfortunately, the paparazzi beat her to his home, and he is totally confused. He slams the door on the news media, and probably wants to on Meredith once she finally gets there and starts explaining.

Meredith comes up with a plan - she'll stay in the cabin with Derrick, they pretend they are engaged while she tries to get him back with his ex-wife. He's not even sure he wants to, but they were both very young when they married and their divorce was acrimonious, to say the least. Ten years later he is curious to see if they still have that attraction so he gives Meredith ten days to pull it off.

Meanwhile, Meredith and Derrick had had a moment at the wedding the previous year, but neither pursued it. Now that they are in such tight quarters, those feelings are starting to return. There is definite chemistry going on, and as they learn more about each other the closer they get. But Meredith is still working on getting Derrick back together with his ex, and figures she and Derrick will "break up" once he gets back with his ex. Good ending for everyone, except she is falling in love with him and is surprised by how much it hurts to put her matchmaking skills to work here.

There are a lot of characters that overlap from the first book, and it was much easier to understand who they all are and their relationships if you read the first book first. This was a good enemies-to-lovers sweet romance, and I highly recommend this series.

[Vickie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

The Matchmaker Bride begins with Meredith Galanes’s both nervous and excited about the possibilities before her. She has a local matchmaking show that she is hoping will be picked up and go into syndication. Her being interviewed by the host of Talk Time should be just the thing to get the executives to pick up her show. What Meredith did not count on was the host asking her about her love life, which was non-existent. She made a split-second decision to say that she, in fact, does have a special someone in her life, even though that is not true. In her mind, how could a matchmaker NOT be involved with someone? Meredith also does not count on the story being picked up so quickly and the press going to find the “boatbuilder in Maine”, even though she never gave a name.

Derrick Albright had no idea what to think when the press showed up at his house in Maine wanting to know about his engagement to Meredith Gaines. When Meredith shows up in the middle of the chaos, he is even more surprised. They had only met once and to say they did not get along is a bit of an understatement. Once Meredith lays out what is going on and proposes that this will help him get back with an old ex, he finds himself intrigued and agrees to go through with the plan for a few weeks. However, neither of them expected to get along, let alone start to develop feelings for each other.

The Matchmaker Bride is nicely written with very relatable characters. Meredith and Derrick were each strong on their own but really flourished together. I really liked the dynamic between the two of them. The secondary characters were also well written. The worldbuilding was great as well. If I am being honest though, I did have a bit of an issue with not knowing about their history, other than the author saying that they did not get a long when they first met. The other characters also talked about issues that I feel would have been good to know before reading this story as well. I would not normally bring that up, as I read and review books in the middle of series all the time that say they can be read as a standalone. But I do feel like something was missing for me due to the multiple references to the first time they met and the other characters’ comments. With that said, I enjoyed the story and have put the first in the series near the top of my “to be read” list! If you enjoy the genre, you will certainly enjoy this one.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meredith Galanes is a matchmaker with her own TV show in Boston. The show was doing quite well so hopes were high it would be syndicated. Although Matchmaker Meredith was highly successful with the couples she matched she wasn't doing such a great job with romance in her own life. After being caught out when asked about her own romance on a talk show Meredith fibbed, to keep hopes of getting the syndication deal alive, and indicated the love of her life was a boatbuilder in Maine. The media figured out just who Meredith was referring to and descended en masse on the poor man, cameras rolling and microphones shoved in his face. Meredith had to fix this. When she arrived at the poor guy's cabin she proposed this fake engagement to hopefully save the syndication deal in exchange for helping Derrick Albright get back together with his ex-wife. Meredith never would have guessed that she'd fall for the guy herself. Especially not after their initial meeting at his brother's wedding the year before.

Derrick Albright couldn't believe the media hoard that showed up at his cabin. His response to their questions was, "No comment" and his door slammed in their faces. When the woman who drove him crazy at his brother's wedding the year before showed up he almost slammed the door in her face too. The pot roast she brought him got her inside his door. Derrick agreed to her crazy plan but had his doubts about reuniting with his ex-wife. He made an effort but somehow it was Matchmaker Meredith that he started falling for.

The Matchmaker Bride by Ginny Baird is the second book in her Blue Hill Brides series. This was a really fun enemies to lovers/fake engagement story. I fell for this storyline from the beginning and laughed and loved along til the end. The characters are great. Meredith and Derrick are a fun couple. One of the best scenes in the story was the family baby shower and the games they played. One game was a timed diaper change of baby dolls with peanut butter smeared throughout the diaper area. The pair who changed the doll's diaper after cleaning up the mess won. The way Derrick accomplished the task was really funny. This is an entertaining series and I'm sure the next book will be as fun to read as this one was.

I received an AR in exchange for a honest review.