Ms. Matched

A Venus and Mars Affair #1

by Kay Keppler

Maggie Jorgenson would love to fall in love again. Her first marriage ended badly and she doesn't miss her ex, but she longs for the companionship and intimacy of a loving partnership.

The odds of that ever happening are next to zero. She’s got three kids, a fulltime job, and a house badly in need of repair. Even if she had the time and energy to date, she doesn’t see any likely prospects in the small town where she lives.

Venus, the goddess of love, and Mars, her protector, come to help. But cell phone service to the pantheon is shaky, and Venus’s instructions are garbled. Maggie is matched with guys who could put her off dating forever.

Meanwhile, something magical happens…

Genres: Romance

244 pages, Paperback

Published June 28, 2021

About the author

Kay Keppler likes happy endings, whether they’re in the fiction she writes, the fiction she edits, or the fiction she reads. After all, an unhappy outcome is what the newspaper is for! Her characters are resourceful to a fault, hard-working to the extreme, and loyal to the end—qualities she absorbed growing up in a small town in Wisconsin. Resisting the character-building aspects of deep snow and cold, she now lives in California and spends her time creating happy endings.

You can reach her at
kaykeppler.com, kaykeppler@yahoo.com, @KayKeppler, or facebook.com/kaykeppler.

Reviews

[Mel Mars · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute rom-com.

I did really enjoy reading about Maggie, her family life, and her quest for companionship.

Her story was funny and relatable (we do tend to go on disastrous dates). There is a trend of books with unreliable or unlikable protagonist so that was a breath of fresh air.

As the book is supposed to be a Venus and Mars affair, I was expecting a bit more meddling from them, but… oh well. I still had a good time, and liked the side-story, even if it had a hallmark-movie feel (it was to be expected).

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Angela Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a hard one for me to review. In the end, I figured I'd give the first half a 2 and the second half a 4, so decided to settle in the middle on a 3 overall.

My previous experience with Kay Keppler was with the "Skirting" set of books (aka Chasing the CIA series) which I thoroughly enjoyed right from the start, so I was excited to read something else from this author.

Sadly, I found this book really hard to get into. I think it was partly because I couldn't really connect with any of the characters (I just couldn't find a single one I had any commonalities with) and I think maybe it was also because there were too many characters who all seemed to have very unrelated stories. I found it all very confusing and hard to get my head around.

Eventually you start to see that there are actually two different stories running simultaneously, so two different sets of connections that overlapped here and there into the other story (rather than direct connections between all the characters).

Fortunately, once I got my head around that and the story really started to move along, I got right into it and didn't want to put it down.

Basically, I struggled through the first half over the course of about a week and a half because it just wasn't grabbing me and then suddenly got so involved that I stayed up late on a reading binge session to read the entire other half because I was so engrossed, I didn't want to put it down.

If I had the opportunity to give the author some feedback, I'd say maybe make it clear right from the start that Mars has a mission as well. I started reading this book thinking this was all about what Venus needed to achieve, and Mars was just a background character along for the ride. I think if it had been clear from the start that they both had separate missions to achieve and they might just happen to cross over from time to time, it would have been easier to follow and easier to get into, which ultimately would have made the whole book enjoyable for me, rather than just the last half.

Am I glad I read it - yes
Was it a waste of my time - no
Would I sit down and read it all over again - probably not
Would I read more by this author based on this book - yes, I'd be interested to see how the next book in the series compares to this one.

I received a free copy of this book via Book Sirens and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dot Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of Ms. Matched
By Kay Keppler

Slow to Take Off

This is the story of Maggie Jorgenson, a divorced mother of three, being Emily who is one, Kyle who is nine and David who is eleven, living in the small town of Cedarburg, Iowa. When she and the children get home after eating at the Wee Bite diner, she discovers that she has a new neighbor who introduced herself as Venus Victoria Tane. She mentions that her boyfriend is Mars Maxwell Huntington-Smyth who is away on a job at the present, thereby allowing her time to work on her garden. Maggie is amazed at the garden that seems to have sprung up overnight.

What Maggie doesn’t know is that Venus is actually the Goddess of Love and her boyfriend is the God of War. They have been sent to Cedarburg to help Maggie find a man she can love and who will love her just as much. However, the lines of communication between Venus and Mars and their boss leave much to be desired and they can’t always make out what their boss tells them to do.

Maggie’s house is falling apart in places and she makes regular trips to the hardware store to buy Super Glue, which she uses to hold things together until such time as they can be properly fixed. Ed Medina owns the store and has been attracted to Maggie for a long time. She shows him some of what she uses Super Glue for when she glues down a piece of metal trim on her 11-year-old Civic.

Three men from England arrive by auto in Cedarburg. They intend to hand off diamonds to a local man in exchange for cash so they can go home. However, they have a problem actually finding him as he’s always gone when they go to his house. And this is where the wires get crossed between Venus and Mars and their boss. What follows is a humorous merry-go-round of potential suitors for Maggie, while the man she actually prefers isn't one that Venus and Mars know anything about.

To be honest, I initially didn’t like this book and thought seriously about turning it back in until about the 25% mark. Fortunately, the story improved and I enjoyed the rest of the book, so I’m glad I decided to finish it. While it wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read, it did have a lot of redeeming qualities and I would probably read another book by this author.

My rating: Three Stars.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Melisa Longhurst · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a delight! If you're looking for a comfy, fluffy romantic storyline, this is a great read! The writing style feels very "classic storytelling", complete with relatable characters in a down-to-earth town. There was also enough spice to keep me interested and squealing with excitement, but not enough that I felt the need to say "ew". The plot was fairly clear, however, if I hadn't read the blurb beforehand, I think it would have been a little confusing trying to understand what was going on. The take on Venus and Mars and their respective roles throughout the book was interesting, and I appreciated reading about their story and relationship through modern eyes. I could definitely relate to the main character, Maggie, and her love interest, Ed, was very enjoyable to imagine - he seemed very real and charming, definitely someone worth swooning over. The plot progressed steadily, and all the loose ends were tied up nicely at the end.

That being said, I didn't give it 5 stars for a few reasons. While enjoyable, the plot was a little simplistic - I had hoped, from reading the blurb, to experience a more dynamic story between the main characters and Venus and Mars. Also, a storyline featuring 3 men from Scotland had so many opportunities to grow into something exciting and thrilling, yet it didn't go anywhere I wanted it to. The endings for the 3 men from Scotland was satisfying enough, but I wish the journey to get to their respective endings had been a little more exciting. This book was the equivalent of floating down a calm river, and seeing some small rapids, which makes you think you're headed for an exciting time, but the river remains calm till the very end. It was a very pleasant story that will leave the reader feeling satisfied, but not overly wowed. However, not every book needs to blow your socks off, which is why I appreciated this book so much - there is something positive to be said for books that feel comfortable and leave you content and satisfied. I love a comfy read!

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[Ashante Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

RECEIVED THIS FREE ARC FOR AN HONEST REVIEW! So this book was something. Umm… let's see. So, first things first, I like the whole concept of Venus attempting to her couples together, I thought that was really original. I'm not sure if the whole technology issue was supposed to be funny but the author missed the mark in that one. Mars served no real purpose in this book other than as Venus' partner and so I think when the author realized that, she threw in something for him to do outside of being a sexy God. I really wished the story focused on the two main characters, Maggie and Ed, because there was so much more that could've been touched on there. A family dinner with everyone, a little bit of drama, some heart to heart conversations with the adults and their parents, not just the kids with Maggie and Ed. Now the jewelry thieves… what exactly was their purpose, and there was no real resolution to the reason they were there. What happened to Donald? And are these guys just gonna get away with being jewelry thieves? There were just too many ideas thrown into one book and you're left with reasonable questions. As far as romance goes (sex) I would probably put this as a PG-13. These types of books are ok but when the rest of the story of like alphabet soup, you need SOMETHING to sub sink your teeth into to keep you interested. If I hadn't signed up voluntarily to read this and it wasn't on my phone I would have thrown it across the room.

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars - Ms. Matched is a entertaining Rom-Com story. The story about Venus and her lover Mars going to a small town, Cedarburg, to help Maggie Jorgenson a single divorced mom of two rambunctious boys and a one year old daughter find love again was a entertaining read. Venus who moved into the house next door to Maggie starts by being friendly to her neighbor by bring a bottle of wine. So she invites the very attractive neighbor to join her. Soon after Venus gets a call and has to leave. Maggie who sits on her porch doing her favorite pastime, crossword puzzles, when the kids are at her ex's, also daydreams about having a man who could fix her rundown house she got thru the divorce. As the days go by she notices the neighbor's growing yardwork and plants growing out of season. When Maggie goes to the hardware store to buy her crazy glue she uses for fixing up her broken and rundown things, she talks with Ed. Ed Medina whose family run the local hardware store finds Maggie very attractive but never got the nerve to ask her out. When Venus starts interfering with bringing three male jewelry thieves into Maggie life will Ed get the courage to ask Maggie out? This cute story branches out about Venus and Mars relationship and the story of the thieves that find themselves in Cedarburg and the chaos they bring. I volunteer to read and review this ARC I received via Hidden Gems.

[Helen Causer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Venus, goddess of love, and Mars, her protector and soulmate, move into Cedarburg, Iowa, next door to Maggie Jorgenson, divorced mother of three, with a dilapidated house and very little cash to spend on it.

Maggie misses being part of a couple, and would like to have a special someone in her life, but doesn’t find it easy to manage her family life, her job, as well as have much of a social life.

Unbeknownst to Maggie, Venus has a mission to find someone to love and care for her, but messages from her boss have a habit of being misheard, or misunderstood, resulting in some very poor outings for Maggie, with men who are not right for her.

This is a very enjoyable story, set in a small town where everyone knows everyone else, and is well plotted, with interesting characters.

There is a lot of magic in the air, a funeral, followed by a birthday party, and a gang of Scottish jewel thieves in the mix, who are being pursued by a Scottish detective.

Can Venus fulfill her mission, and find Maggie’s soulmate before she has to move on? You’ll have to read the book to find out, but won’t be disappointed.

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[Narelle Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie, a divorced mother of three, is having a life that seems a bit ordinary - if not even somewhat of a trial at times but that is all about to change when Venus, the goddess of love, takes an interest in her.

Suddenly life takes quite a few interesting turns on the way to true love as it takes a while for Venus to get it right for Maggie. This is a charming story that has some extremely quirky moments courtesy largely of a Scottish flavour involving diamond thieves and a detective who find themselves in rural USA.

I certainly enjoyed the escapism of the story and the characters were well-told. There were a couple of moments when I had to really suspend my disbelief and I struggled a little with the Venus /Mars relationship. However, this novel is well worth the time if you enjoy a romantic tale with a supernatural twist.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jodi Walton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was drawn to this because of the magic aspect, I like sprinkles of magic in a story to make it fun. I did end up enjoying this story but it took about a third of the way through to get me hooked. There are really 3 stories going on here and when the second part (Scottish aspect) came in I was very confused. It didn't really seem to fit. Eventually it wove it's way in but was sort of clumsy at the beginning. The magic portion (Mars and Venus) seemed on the fringe for me. In fact that whole portion could have been taken out and the story still would have been interesting. Lastly, I felt that some references (Super Glu, dancing and the turquoise dress) were used too many times. I ended up being tired of hearing about them. But, in general, I liked the book but not sure if I'd rush to read a sequel. Thanks for letting me read it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Colin Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main focus of this story is Maggie, a divorcee with three children and Ed, who is the son of the owners of a local store, although there are several other characters including three Scottish criminals looking to fence some diamonds in this small local town and a Scottish detective on their heels. Throw in Venus, the goddess of love, and Mars , her protector, who are tasked with finding a new partner for Maggie, with several false starts.

This is a fun read, spicy in places, showing the positive side of living in a small US community, along with some of the negatives, with a sprinkle of the supernatural added to the mix. With some uplifting parts showing that redemption is always possible this book shows great promise for the start of a new series.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through BookSirens, however this did not influence my review of the book.

[Noreen Hussain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series of books.Venus and Mars are sent to the small town of cedarburg to find the perfect match for Maggie a divorced mum of three.With hilarious results.

Maggie is looking for love and companionship,but doesn't think she will find it in her small town especially with being a mother of 3 kids.

Ed the son of local shop owners has feelings for Maggie,but knows his family will not approve so tries to keep his distance.

Maggie is mismatched by Venus a few times because of poor reception.Add in a few more characters into the mix and chaos ensues.

A sweet small town romance which is quirky and fun with lots f laughter,chaos,different POVs,adorable kids,a sweet romance in the midst of it all with a happily ever after.

I recieved an ARC of this book for free via booksirens and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Darla Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie Jorgenson is a single mother of three who would love to fall in love again after a disastrous marriage. However, she the odds of that happening in her small town are nonexistent. Enter Venus, a matchmaker, and Mars, her protector. But poor cell phone coverage has Venus setting Maggie up with all the wrong men.

I received a free copy of this book from Hidden Gems and this is my honest, unbiased review. The book's fairly well-written with some wonderful characters. It captures the essence of small town life and family dynamics. I really enjoyed the book although I did think that it was a little slow in places. Still, it was humorous and romantic, and definitely a wonderful read that I do recommend.

[KDRBCK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Matched: A Venus and Mars Affair by K. Keppler, published by Victory Editing, is a small-town, sweet romance. A slow burn with a touch of magic.
Maggie Sorenseon is a divorced mother of three and wants to love again. Only the odds are rather slim.
When Mars and Venus start to meddle all bets are off again.
And then there's Ed, the hardware store owner with a heart of pure gold and voilá, case closed. If only it were that simple, promise it's not.
Ms. Matched is a beautiful and sweet story, like reading wrapped in a cuddly blanket - gives all the feels. I loved the story and the writing, connected easily with the characters. sweet stars.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t quite know what that was that I just read, but I know it was loads of fun. I felt like it had the dry British wit of Fawlty Towers combined with the slapstick comedy of errors that characterized The Pink Panther. Wrap that all around a core of a sweet (and slightly steamy) romance and you have something that would come close to describing this book. Maggie’s also got a couple steamer trunks full of personal family drama which adds to the comedy, and the errors. This story was as light and fluffy as candy floss and would be the perfect read while relaxing poolside.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Hidden Gems Books.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Matched is a warm, feel-good romance with just small whiffs of the paranormal. Maggie is a divorced Mom in a very small town, trying to keep her house together, holding down a job and raising three kids. While romance would be lovely, it’s also an unrealistic fantasy in a life that’s essentially super-glued together. Venus, acting as Maggie’s Cupid, works with the limited offerings for romance available in this setting. I smiled all the way through this book, even though the HEA was predictable. Every woman will find some of herself in Maggie. Loved this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Krysti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms Matched by Kay Keppler

I received a digital copy of this book from BookSirens for review. My opinions are my own.

4/5 stars

I really, really enjoyed this book. Could not put it down. Finished it in several hours.

The general premise is that Venus, the goddess of love, is assigned to help Maggie find love, no easy task as the divorced mom of 3. Venus gets her wires crossed a few times, but it’s easy to see who Maggie should be with. Ed. Ed, an attractive man who owns the local hardware store.

This book loses a star because there was a lot of unnecessary backstory. Jewel thiefs in town that really didn’t add to the story…

All in all, an enjoyable book.

[DENICE · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE JOB GETS DONE DESPITE FAULTY COMMUNICATION

I received this book for free and am giving my honest and voluntary review.

Venus and Mars are on their assignment in Iowa to find a love match for Maggie Jorgenson. The communication between their boss gets garbled because of poor cell reception and leads to many interesting dates for Maggie. Other love matches and a series of straightening out criminals makes the story a joy to read.

[Jeanne Estridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Perfect Upbeat Read

I loved this book. It was like drinking cocoa while wrapped in a soft, fluffy blanket. Lots of characters arcing from miserable to happy.

If you're looking for a no-stress read that will make you feel more optimistic about life, this is it.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of the Venus and Mars Affair series a well written story that had me laughing as I read so many misunderstandings/miscommunications. I enjoyed seeing Maggie and Ed's story finally come together. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and entertaining matchmaker story. Venus and Mars are to a little town in Iowa to find love for Maggie, a divorced with three children’s funny and hardworking woman. Some mishap, wrong dates and superglue will bring love and happiness to Maggie with or without Venus’s help.

[Kelly Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kay Keppler writes a funny, magical, small town romance. Highly recommended! Thank you to the author and netgalley for an advanced copy for my free and fair review.

[Labannya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie would love to fall in love again. Her first marriage ended badly and she got three kids, a fulltime job, and a house badly in need of repair. Although she's divorcee but longs for the companionship and intimacy of a loving partnership.

The odds of that ever happening are almost zero. Even if she had the time and energy to date, she doesn't see anyone worthy enough to be with in the small town where she lives.

Venus, the goddess of love and Mars, her protector (Yes, the actual God and Goddess) come to help and they're on a mission to match-up the townsfolk of Cedarburg, Iowa no matter how much chaos it causes. And, there is Dr.J, who's cell phone service is worse and the instructions are garbled, distortion with shaky voice.

Maggie is matched with guys who could put her off dating forever.
Meanwhile, something magical happens... and if you're looking for a beautiful rom-com then this is the book for you.

Such a lovely read and the storyline is definitely unique. I love all the characters... very well written couldn't put it down.

One thing I understand reading this that if you're meant to be with someone, you'll end up with that someone sooner or later in life.

Highly recommended.

Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Thank you @booksirens for the #arc in exchange for a honest review.

[Melissa Carlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the characters in this book. Maggie Jorgensen is a divorced mother of three young children trying to keep her life and her household together with twine and super glue while living in a small town full of nosy people. She barely has time to think, much less worry about finding love.
Venus and Mars are gods who are on a mission to match up the townsfolk of Cedarburg, Iowa, no matter how much chaos it causes.
Readers will laugh at the hilarious attempts to match bumbling crooks, boring momma's boys, and a handyman with a heart of gold in this totally charming story with a happy ending for many of its quirky characters. A sweet and funny read.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the book cover I expected this to be a bit cheesy and very light hearted, I was pleasantly surprised to find it filled with heart. Honestly, this sometimes reads like 2 separate books with alternating chapters as Venus and Mars with their magic/god powers don't really mesh with the day to day chaos but overall heart that drives Maggie. Her love for superglue knowns no bounds! Sometimes we all need a little help keeping our lives and families together. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Corinne Dewey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book and am reviewing it voluntarily

This was a lovely read so different from other stories

I loved the good/ bad side how lives were turned around by “the gods” how simple living became so important and natural how folk met and were kind how love prevailed

Very well written couldn’t put it down

Thank you

[Mickey Kay Troxell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed most of this book with the exception of Greek mythology and very heated romantic scenes. I prefer less details on the romantic side and only God, if Spirituality is discussed. Nevertheless, this author is easy and interesting to read with wonderful characters.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Vic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the town and the people. I enjoyed how completely things got mixed up do to bad signal, that was a lot of fun. The happy ending is perfect. My one problem is the issue with the criminal part is never resolved. It makes me feel like something is missing. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Elvira · Rating 5 out of 5]

The storyline entertains and the flow is amazingly well done. The characters are engaging and well developed with plenty of chemistry throughout the pages.

I received a copy and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok read for me. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. I love small town story books, so that was a positive. It just wasn't for me all that much.