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Luella Linley: License to Meddle #3
All Arranged
Regency romance author, Luella Linley (AKA Louise Brooker), should feel satisfied she has helped her two daughters marry happily. However, her successful meddling came at a price and her husband has advised she leave the children to their own devices.
But her eldest, Pete, is thirty-five, living back at home and dejected after having been jilted days before his wedding. Her responsible, hard-working and handsome son would make a good husband and father—but he’s given up after three failed relationships. He’s a good catch, but unlikely to be fooled by his mother’s scheming and meddling.
This situation calls for a direct approach. Just like in her novels, Louise decides the parents should do the arranging and sort out the wheat from the chaff.
Carrie Davis is a dedicated career woman and hasn’t had time for relationships. However, her sister, Ellen, is now happily married with a delightful little girl and for the first time, Carrie finds loneliness stalking her. Ellen want’s the best for Carrie, so when she comes across an odd advert in the classifieds, she wonders if it is a prank or an opportunity sent from heaven.
“Wanted. For a social experiment. A family arranged marriage.”
But her eldest, Pete, is thirty-five, living back at home and dejected after having been jilted days before his wedding. Her responsible, hard-working and handsome son would make a good husband and father—but he’s given up after three failed relationships. He’s a good catch, but unlikely to be fooled by his mother’s scheming and meddling.
This situation calls for a direct approach. Just like in her novels, Louise decides the parents should do the arranging and sort out the wheat from the chaff.
Carrie Davis is a dedicated career woman and hasn’t had time for relationships. However, her sister, Ellen, is now happily married with a delightful little girl and for the first time, Carrie finds loneliness stalking her. Ellen want’s the best for Carrie, so when she comes across an odd advert in the classifieds, she wonders if it is a prank or an opportunity sent from heaven.
“Wanted. For a social experiment. A family arranged marriage.”
289 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 14, 2021
16 people want to read
About the author
Meredith Resce
39 books77 followersSouth Australian Author, Meredith Resce, has been writing since 1991, and has had books in the Australian market since 1997. She is an Australian best selling Christian fiction writer.
Following the Australian success of her “Heart of Green Valley” series, an English Publisher has taken the first three books in this series, and has released them to the British and American markets.
Apart from writing, Meredith also takes the opportunity to speak to groups on issues relevant to relationships and emotional and spiritual growth.
Meredith has also been co-writer and co-producer in the 2007 feature film production, “Twin Rivers”.
With her husband, Nick, Meredith has worked in Christian ministry since 1983.
Meredith and Nick have one daughter and two sons.
Following the Australian success of her “Heart of Green Valley” series, an English Publisher has taken the first three books in this series, and has released them to the British and American markets.
Apart from writing, Meredith also takes the opportunity to speak to groups on issues relevant to relationships and emotional and spiritual growth.
Meredith has also been co-writer and co-producer in the 2007 feature film production, “Twin Rivers”.
With her husband, Nick, Meredith has worked in Christian ministry since 1983.
Meredith and Nick have one daughter and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 5, 2021
If you enjoy Romantic Comedies you do not want to miss this one! Full review here: https://cindysbookcorner.blogspot.com...
June 22, 2021
What a brilliant story. It captivated me from the very start and had me completely absorbed right through. This author is so good at putting layer upon layer to her characters and story. I was taken on such a journey - fun and laughter, challenges to my thoughts/ideas, hope, joy, grief and loss, renewed hope and redemption. Wow! The characters and the life I lived through those characters has become a part of me deep down inside. I doubt I will ever forget Pete and Carrie. I love the way they met and how their relationship developed. And who can’t love the meddling mother? The families are so real and relatable. Some stories have the power to move you in ways you never expected. This is one of them and my life is richer for having read it.
May 26, 2021
Mother Luella Linley has one final match to make - her son. He was recently jilted and is emotionally detached. Would he be able to find love again? With his mom and sisters meddling, maybe!
This is book 3 in the series and, in my opinion, was the best one yet! I was smiling and I was in tears. Some parts seemed unrealistic to me. However, I’m not in a culture where arranged marriages are common. The second half of the book is totally gripping. I couldn’t put it down. I had to know what happened and had moments of anxiety while reading. I know it’s a good book when I have to remind myself to breathe! I highly recommend this book but do suggest reading the series in order.
This review was based on a complimentary pre-release copy. I was asked to give my honest opinion and was not compensated for my review.
This is book 3 in the series and, in my opinion, was the best one yet! I was smiling and I was in tears. Some parts seemed unrealistic to me. However, I’m not in a culture where arranged marriages are common. The second half of the book is totally gripping. I couldn’t put it down. I had to know what happened and had moments of anxiety while reading. I know it’s a good book when I have to remind myself to breathe! I highly recommend this book but do suggest reading the series in order.
This review was based on a complimentary pre-release copy. I was asked to give my honest opinion and was not compensated for my review.
June 17, 2021
A perfect read for a rainy day. The characters were delightful and I laughed and I cried. A satisfying and realistic look at singles life, with all the ups and downs of a contemporary relationship. I was hoping for a happy-ever-after and I was not disappointed, but there was plenty of drama along the way.
May 30, 2021
This was a great wrap up to the series. I loved sawing the characters from the other books again and I like that this author deals with some hard life situations. All three books have flawed characters just like in real life. We all have crap we deal with in life and I like that these books touch on that.
May 16, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. It has a good plot. The characters were very like-able.
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December 16, 2021As the author, of course I've read this title, numerous times and in different drafts. This was the original story which my editor advised I make number three in a series, bringing the mother character to be a larger than life, slightly comedic character. On her advice (confirmed by me daughter) I set out to write the first two in the series, and Luella Linley, Regency Romance author, was born and busy meddling in her adult children's lives. It has turned out to be a fun series. Some have said it is rom-com, however, I'm reluctant to categorize it as such. There are definitely laugh-out-loud moments, but there are also some deep and difficult moments. The overwhelming response has been positive and I have been pleased to see that Luella Linley has found a place in readers' hearts. If you haven't yet, try the first in the series - Organized Backup.
July 1, 2021
You know that when all the loose end appear to be tied up and you're only half way through the book that it's going to be a good read!
I love that throughout this series each book is such a new and different story and yet still holds ties to the ones before. Are you sure Luella/Louise doesn't have anymore children!
As you are taken through the trials and worries of a relationship littered with insecurities and past trauma the actions of many people in the world suddenly become clearer as the personal beliefs behind actions become known.
Another great book!
I love that throughout this series each book is such a new and different story and yet still holds ties to the ones before. Are you sure Luella/Louise doesn't have anymore children!
As you are taken through the trials and worries of a relationship littered with insecurities and past trauma the actions of many people in the world suddenly become clearer as the personal beliefs behind actions become known.
Another great book!
June 29, 2021
4.5 stars for me.
I enjoyed this story about Pete after seeing him in the background of his sisters' stories. I appreciate how the author doesn't skirt hard topics, but manages to wade through them with grace. This book definitely had the humor and there were spots that were hard to read because of grief and emotions, but I liked the ending and the growth you see in the characters -- they're very real and authentic, not perfect, but endearing.
I enjoyed this story about Pete after seeing him in the background of his sisters' stories. I appreciate how the author doesn't skirt hard topics, but manages to wade through them with grace. This book definitely had the humor and there were spots that were hard to read because of grief and emotions, but I liked the ending and the growth you see in the characters -- they're very real and authentic, not perfect, but endearing.
June 22, 2021
This was really good. I liked the arrangements that were made. The families were great, meddling, but great. I love Amanda and how she tried to "help" Carrie before, during and after. Well written.
I received a copy of this book from the author. This is a new author to me, so it was an introduction. This review is voluntary and honest. I will be reading more by Meredith Resce.
I received a copy of this book from the author. This is a new author to me, so it was an introduction. This review is voluntary and honest. I will be reading more by Meredith Resce.
May 24, 2021
Definitely 5 stars for this one. Thank you author Meredith Resce for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Regency Romance author Luella Linley is back to her meddling best in the finale of the series . But she finds her single 35 year old son isn’t as malleable as her Regency characters. He succumbs to her machinations (with some extra help from other characters!) to undertake an arranged marriage with 32 year old Carrie. Both of them have former relationships they still carry wounds from and the following year brings a wedding, heartache and misunderstandings. A beautiful climax to the story results in love winning through forgiveness and restoration. A highlight for me was the family support for this young couple as they worked through their burgeoning love for each other.
Regency Romance author Luella Linley is back to her meddling best in the finale of the series . But she finds her single 35 year old son isn’t as malleable as her Regency characters. He succumbs to her machinations (with some extra help from other characters!) to undertake an arranged marriage with 32 year old Carrie. Both of them have former relationships they still carry wounds from and the following year brings a wedding, heartache and misunderstandings. A beautiful climax to the story results in love winning through forgiveness and restoration. A highlight for me was the family support for this young couple as they worked through their burgeoning love for each other.
January 28, 2023
I had been looking forward to this third part of the Luella Linley series since hearing it was the original and best, and it definitely is.
While the fabulously warm Brooker family is still central, I felt the tone was quite different, with some weighty emotional moments. (CW: grief.)
While the romance was still adorable, it took a most intriguing tangent and I shall be discussing it with friends for a while I think.
Deep social issues from the other two volumes gave me some warning of the content of this one but I might not have had enough tissues on hand in the end, and I was left sensing the Brookers have been altered somehow - and aren't we all.
While the fabulously warm Brooker family is still central, I felt the tone was quite different, with some weighty emotional moments. (CW: grief.)
While the romance was still adorable, it took a most intriguing tangent and I shall be discussing it with friends for a while I think.
Deep social issues from the other two volumes gave me some warning of the content of this one but I might not have had enough tissues on hand in the end, and I was left sensing the Brookers have been altered somehow - and aren't we all.
May 29, 2021
All Arranged by Meredith Resce is the third in the Luella Linley books. Regency romance author, Louise Brooker (aka Luella Linley) has successfully set her two daughters up with the love of their lives, but can she now help her heart-broken son?
After three failed relationships, including being jilted days before the wedding, Pete is devastated and depressed. When his intrepid mother with a head daydreaming in the 19th century, suggested a family-arranged marriage as a potential solution to his problem, he more or less goes along to not make waves. He makes a list of what he thinks are impossible criteria for an ad he is sure no one will answer. Carrie has dedicated herself to her career as a high school teacher following a disastrous relationship years ago. She doesn't need a partner or children, that is until now, when she suddenly is fearful of missing out. Her well-meaning sister answers Louise's ad and gets the ball rolling before wrangling her sister to meet with Pete’s family.
Both Pete and Carrie are somewhat passive as their respective families organise things around them. And Pete’s list adds insecurities in their relationship which is further challenged by an unexpected event. While Pete and Carrie's motivations are explored as to why two modern, Western, independent adults in their thirties would go along with such a scheme in the 21st century, the scenario didn't quite gel with me. Plus, it seemed strange that only one person answered the ad, who just happened to meet all but one of Pete's impossible criteria except one (maybe providence??). So, I wasn't as engaged in the story, at least until the final one third of the book, which was gripping and real and hard to put down.
I did feel that the author was trying to make a point, or at least explore an idea and this was more obvious than it was in the other two books. Still, there were many funny moments and I particularly liked how both Pete and Carrie's insecurities were dealt with and the portrayal of coping (an not coping) with grief and disappointment at the end of the book. Three and half stars. This has been a great series to read.
I received a review copy. My opinions are my own.
After three failed relationships, including being jilted days before the wedding, Pete is devastated and depressed. When his intrepid mother with a head daydreaming in the 19th century, suggested a family-arranged marriage as a potential solution to his problem, he more or less goes along to not make waves. He makes a list of what he thinks are impossible criteria for an ad he is sure no one will answer. Carrie has dedicated herself to her career as a high school teacher following a disastrous relationship years ago. She doesn't need a partner or children, that is until now, when she suddenly is fearful of missing out. Her well-meaning sister answers Louise's ad and gets the ball rolling before wrangling her sister to meet with Pete’s family.
Both Pete and Carrie are somewhat passive as their respective families organise things around them. And Pete’s list adds insecurities in their relationship which is further challenged by an unexpected event. While Pete and Carrie's motivations are explored as to why two modern, Western, independent adults in their thirties would go along with such a scheme in the 21st century, the scenario didn't quite gel with me. Plus, it seemed strange that only one person answered the ad, who just happened to meet all but one of Pete's impossible criteria except one (maybe providence??). So, I wasn't as engaged in the story, at least until the final one third of the book, which was gripping and real and hard to put down.
I did feel that the author was trying to make a point, or at least explore an idea and this was more obvious than it was in the other two books. Still, there were many funny moments and I particularly liked how both Pete and Carrie's insecurities were dealt with and the portrayal of coping (an not coping) with grief and disappointment at the end of the book. Three and half stars. This has been a great series to read.
I received a review copy. My opinions are my own.
June 9, 2021
All Arranged by Meredith Resce is a charming, realistic look at romance's ups, downs, joys and losses. With an interesting plot, great characters and real life issues, this story is a good one. Worth the read.
December 23, 2021
An excellent read! I love all of Meredith Resce’s books as they are fun and inspirational, and are hard to put down!
December 30, 2022
Review to come
April 13, 2025
A fun read… also, what a hunk on the front of this book!
January 17, 2022
Almost 5 stars, just felt slightly unbelievable which is Ok, I can deal with in a book but I was so invested in this Adelaide family.
Still fun easy read but more emotional than other 2 books - I like the serious elements that made you think and relate to the characters.
hints on depression but doesn't really go into it.
First series by Meredith, I will look for more books
Still fun easy read but more emotional than other 2 books - I like the serious elements that made you think and relate to the characters.
hints on depression but doesn't really go into it.
First series by Meredith, I will look for more books
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews