Marriage is the last thing on the deputy’s mind. After tragically losing his sweetheart, he vowed never to love again. But as sweet, spunky Beth introduces him to potential fiancées, Hart finally feels a spark…for her! The stubborn bachelor will be Beth’s first matchmaking miss, unless they can both admit that she just might be his perfect match."
Author: Regina Scott
Length: 288 pages
Format: paperback, e-book
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She sees the sun.
He only sees shadows.
Could they be the perfect match?
MY REVIEW:
I shall start this review how I normally do...with a fangirl moment. *clears throat*
OH MY STINKIN' WORD THIS COVER IS GORGEOUS!!!
Thank you for sticking around for your weekly "Alysha fangirl" moment.
The love inspired historical line is chock full of my favorite troupes. (I have quite a few, so I'm never sad when reading one of these books.) This book was no different. The matchmaking troupe is so fun and cute to me. Especially when the matchmaker and matchmakee fall in love. *major happy sigh*
Beth was such a fun character to follow around. And follow her we did, the girl never sat still. 😅 She was so bubbly and optimistic. She saw the good in everyone, but she never let anyone walk all over her. I think that's what made her character different to me. A lot of times when authors write "bubbly, naive, young, optimistic" characters they grind on my nerves after a while, but I never felt that with Beth. She was the PERFECT blend of strength and femininity. She loved with her whole being, and she loved hard!
Hart on the other hand...hmm. I understand why he was the way he was, but BLEH he was so stubborn. Overall I liked his character, he was a good guy with a big "heart". (eh, eh, see what I did there?) He, like Beth, loved and loved hard. Which is why he had a hard time loving again when his heart was broken.
Where Beth saw the sun in every situation, Hart saw the shadows. His background kept him from seeing the good in situations and people. But everyone needs a little light in their life! Beth was his match in every way, and I loved watching him realize that fact.
There was a thread of suspense/mystery, but it was not a FOCAL point I loved guessing to see if I knew who the culprit was. (I was right by the way)
There was quite an age gap between the characters, it wasn't my personal favorite, but that is just my opinion. It didn't take away from the book at all! If anything it added some elements to the story. Because Hart had been hardened by life and Beth was a beautiful butterfly, she was able to soften him. So this time the age difference worked in favor of the story, because of the characters and their personalities.
I rated this a 4/5 stars. I would recommend it to anyone who loves the matchmaker troupe, or anyone who loves a strong female role.
This is book 8 in the "Frontier Bachelors" series, but in my opinion they do not have to be read in order. Though of course reading series in order is the preferred method, and you will see the whole story. Books 1-7 were the love stories of some secondary characters in this book.
Quotes:
There was nothing more dangerous than a woman with a vision.
"I ought to lock you up for safekeeping."
Beth pressed a hand to her chest. "Me? Sweet little Beth Wallin? The entire city of Seattle would be in shock."
"And your Literary Society friends would march around the office until I let you out."
"If my brothers didn't batter down the door first."
"I'd rather take my chance with you brothers."
Beth giggled. "Clever fellow. Hatpins can be deadly, you know."
"Which would you prefer--a dinner engagement or a walk through the woods?"
"Either could get me killed."
She squeezed his arm. "Come now. The woods can be very picturesque, and our ladies don't cook so badly as to endanger your health."
"You haven't tried the pies they left. Sheriff Wyckoff is using one as a doorstop."
He'd captured bandits, stopped vandals and settled disputes with hostile natives. Who would have thought the one thing to terrify him was the thought of loving a pretty woman named Beth Wallin?
*I received this copy in exchange for my honest review* *All opinions are my own*
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Regina Scott always wanted to be a writer. Since her first book was published in 1998, her stories have traveled the globe, with translations in many languages. She now has nearly 40 works of warm, witty romance to her credit, and has twice won the prestigious RT Book Reviews award for best novel in her genre that year. Fascinated by history, she learned to fence and sail a tall ship. You can often find her haunting the halls of the local historical museums. She and her husband reside in Washington State between Puget Sound and Mt. Rainier.
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AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH REGINA SCOTT!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH REGINA SCOTT!
Hi Regina! Thank you so much for being
here today!
R: "Thank you for having me, Alysha!"
When did you know you wanted to be an
author?
R: "I knew I had to be an author when I
figured out in third grade that those wonderful books I was devouring
were written by somebody. Why not me?"
That is such an inspiring dream! Where do you find inspiration for your
stories?
R: "History. Take me to a museum or a
historical home, hand me a period diary to read, and I’m sure to
find dozens of ideas I want to explore further."
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who could devour history! Which character
have you connected with the most?
R: "Oddly enough,
Lady Emily Southwell, the heroine of my Lady Emily Capers. I
sometimes hear my characters talk to me in my head. She was the
loudest, most vocal character I ever wrote. She told me how she felt,
what she thought I should write next, how she wanted the scenes to
go. I didn’t always agree with her, but she was so much fun to
write."
I'm friends with you Facebook, and recently saw one of your characters isn't cooperating. I love knowing your characters talk to you! Who has been the
hardest character to write?
R: "In general, I
find my villains the most difficult to write. I don’t like getting
into the heads of people with dark ideas. I’m just glad I generally
don’t write about people with dark ideas. Even some of my villains
end up getting redeemed. 😊"
That totally explains why your characters are so sweet. 😉 “Frontier
Matchmaker Bride” is your last book in your “Frontier Bachelors”
series, as well as your last book for Love Inspired. What will you
miss most about the series?
R: "The people of
Wallin Landing, the settlement outside pioneer Seattle, where much of
the action is set in the series. Drew, Simon, James, John, Levi, and
Beth Wallin have become like family. It’s hard to let them go."
How did you come
up with the idea for the “Frontier Bachelors” series?
R: "I have been fascinated with the Mercer
Belles—real-life women who came west after the Civil War to be
brides in pioneer Seattle—since I was a girl. I’ve done extensive
research on them—who they were, what they accomplished when they
reached Seattle. I have always wanted to tell their stories. The
first five books in the series feature heroines who are Mercer Belles
(my fictionalized versions, of course)."
That is so fascinating! Now I want to know more about the (real) Mercer Belles. *to google I go* Can your series
be read out of order, or do characters cross over so much that they
need to be read from start to finish?
R: "Each book stands alone, but you’ll
have more fun if you read them in order, because once the Wallins
come on the scene in Book 2, there’s a whole lot of family dynamics
that are too good to miss."
Family dynamics in stories bring me so much joy! Don't want to miss out on any of the goodness within the pages! Now that the
historical line of “Love Inspired” is closing, do you have plans
to continue writing?
R: "Absolutely! My
agent is shopping a romantic historical mystery set in London at the
cusp of the Regency and an inspiration historical romance set in the
American West. In the meantime, I’m bringing out a new Regency-set
series about a mysterious woman who runs an employment agency for
gentlewomen down on their luck and her matchmaking cat, Fortune.
Fortune’s Brides will debut with Never
Doubt a Duke in May, followed by
Never Borrow a Baronet
in June."
I feel like Fortune might be a little mischievous, and I cannot wait to read all about it! What is the most
important thing you want your readers to be inspired with after
reading one of your novels?
R: "I hope they come
away believing in possibilities—that two people can come together,
that love and faith can triumph."
You've written
both western and regency novels, which is your favorite to write?
R: "Oh, so hard!
Both! I love the elegance and wit of the Regency period, but I also
love getting to delve deeper into local history."
Those are the same reasons why I can't pick a favorite to read. Love them both! What is your
favorite genre to read?
R: "Historical
mysteries, but only those with a romantic subplot. 😊"
I love when my mysteries have a romance thread weaving through the story! What is your
current read?
R: "I can’t read
while I’m writing, or my characters start to sound like the one’s
I’m reading about. When I finish a draft, I treat myself to someone
else’s book. Right now, I’m working my way through Elizabeth
Peters’ Amelia Peabody historical mysteries, to which a friend
introduced me."
Reading is the best treat you can get, in my opinion! Thank you so much
for taking time and visiting with us today!
R: "You’re welcome!
I always enjoy talking about books."
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You can connect with Regina further online on
And if you want to be sure you hear when a new book is out or on
sale, sign up for her free e-mail alert (www.eepurl.com/baqwVT).
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