 Author: Jen Turano Genre: Historical Romance Series: The Matchmakers #1 Pages: 368 Release Date: February 21, 2023 Publisher: Bethany House Miss Gwendolyn Brinley accepted a temporary paid companion position for the Newport summer season, believing it would be a lark to spend the summer in America's most exclusive town. She suddenly finds her summer turning anything but amusing when her employer expects her to take over responsibilities as an assistant matchmaker. Tasked with the daunting prospect of attaining advantageous matches for her clients, Gwendolyn soon finds herself in the employ of Mr. Walter Townsend, the catch of the Season, but a gentleman Gwendolyn finds beyond irritating. Walter Townsend is reluctantly in search of a wife for the sake of his unruly motherless children who cannot keep a governess for long. What he wasn't expecting was Miss Brinley, an amateur matchmaker who turns his quest for a new wife into a complete and utter debacle. Constantly besieged by society ladies on a mission to win his affection, Walter must find a way to overcome their inundating attention--and his unexpected attraction toward Gwendolyn. The more time they spend together throughout the Newport Season, the harder it is for Gwendolyn to find Walter a wife when she realizes his perfect match might be . . . her.
 Reviewer: Joy Hannabass I love any book by Jen Turano, and this one sure didn't disappoint. Gwendolyn is my favorite character she has had in a while. Her job as an Assistant Matchmaker has her matching all kinds of characters, especially those of the more high society people of their time, which would be Walter Townsend at this time. Jen Turano gets it done right with her books. Her writing is phenomenal, and her stories are fun and entertaining. I never tire of the hilarious humor throughout her books. Gwendolyn was a hoot as she tried to find a match for the high society Mr. Townsend. He really doesn't want much, just a mother for his wayward children, who are strangers to him. Townsend wasn't my favorite character at all. It's hard to like a man that neglects his children, but they are loved by many, especially Gwendolyn. It's fun and entertaining to watch the banter between Walter and Gwendolyn. Neither could see that the match was between the two of them. I thoroughly enjoyed this story so much that I didn't want it to end. I kept looking forward to the last page and counting how many pages I had left, and I would read slower. For me, the children added so much more to the story. They were delightful and added a lot of variety to the scenes. I am looking forward to the second book, To Spark a Match, which releases in November 2023. If you enjoy funny laugh-out-loud stories, you will enjoy this one. Or if you enjoy a good clean story with a faith element running through and hits on matchmaking, you will love Jen Turano's A Match in the Making. This is a book I highly recommend. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.  Reviewer: Deanne Patterson You'll be guaranteed laughter if you read a Jen Turano book. Her books are full of humor, always make me smile, and put me in a good mood as I read them. I really enjoy books set in places I've been to. This past summer, we vacationed in Newport and visited many of the opulent mansions of yesterday there. From doing this, I could picture the author's descriptions in her writing, and it makes the book come alive. I often laughed out loud, imagining the hilarious scenarios being played out. Gwendolyn is one of my favorite female characters Jen has written about. The children make the book charming and amusing. The dialogue is humorous and witty. I enjoyed reading how the assistant reluctant matchmaker does a wonderful job with matchmaking. Yet, she becomes part of a perfectly matched pair herself. If you're looking for a historical romance full of humor and wit, may I recommend this one? I look forward to seeing what the author puts out next. I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Winnie Thomas Jen Turano’s books never fail to delight me. I always find myself laughing out loud, snickering, and, yes, even some most unladylike snorting may occur as I’m devouring the pages. A Match in the Making begins a new series. It stars Gwendolyn Brinley, who is coerced into being an assistant matchmaker by her new employer Mrs. Parker. “I’ve never had an assistant matchmaker before, so I’m making up job requirements as we go.” When she finds herself tasked to find a wife for the “catch of the season,” Mr. Walter Townsend, sparks begin to fly, and not necessarily in a romantic way. Widower Walter has decided he needs a new wife because his motherless children have become unruly. With her signature wit and humor, Turano has penned yet another fantastic tale set among “high society” during the Gilded Age. Gwendolyn is a spunky, independent, and very capable heroine who is not afraid to show some disdain towards that so-called “society” and its snooty ways. Walter is a successful, likeable, but sometimes clueless businessman who could use some direction in being a more involved father. I enjoyed seeing their relationship change and grow. “It’s a strange circumstance, because I’m generally not at odds with gentlemen when first introduced. It typically takes me a good few weeks before I begin annoying them, or vice versa.” I would highly recommend this book along with all of Jen Turano’s other books if you enjoy clean, humorous historical fiction. They’re loads of fun! I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishers. All opinions are my own. Reviewer: Erin Stevenson Buckle in for a fun, wild ride with Jen Turano’s first installment in her Matchmaker series, A Match in the Making. If you love the gilded age and all that comes with the Newport scene, you won’t be able to put it down. Rich descriptions put the reader right in the middle of the setting—vibrant, glittering colors and all the sounds, tastes, and smells of the era. Be sure to caffeine up before starting the ride! The pace is quick, with Gwendolyn’s intellect and wit resulting in sparkling, rapid-fire conversations. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, from Walter and his children, mother, and mother-in-law to the large secondary cast of women and a few men hoping for a successful match of the season. It took a while for the love story to kick into high gear, but once it did, the resulting happy ending was well worth it. I was provided a copy of this novel from Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions were my own. Reviewer: Ewurabena Wilson This a beautifully written novel from the pen of Jen Turano, who never disappoints with her humorous faith-filled novels. I was hooked on the novel right from the first sentence to the very end of the book. The characters of Gwendolyn Brinley and Walter Townsend drew me right from the beginning to the end. Gwendolyn, a smart, strict, and confident woman who is thrust into the unexpected and challenging role of matchmaker assistant, has to navigate her way through an elite society. The twist in the latter part of the story was the icing on the cake especially when I thought the novel was about to end. The book, set in the gilded age, has themes of godly love and true purpose for marriage and family, which are relevant to today’s society. I like the element of the Word of God interspersed in the novel, especially in relation to the activities in the story, which caused people to demonstrate uncharitable characteristics. The message of demonstrating love and how one can set out with one purpose but find an actual God-given purpose, in the end, resonated with me. The challenge I had was remembering the many secondary characters. I found myself asking who this character is and what was their role in the novel again? However, having read the various series of Jen Turano, the introduction of many characters is to be as expected in the first instalment of this Matchmakers series. Overall, this novel is a delightful read. I recommend it to anyone who wants a blend of humour and a touch of faith. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Adriann Harris When I have the opportunity to read a book by Jen Turano, I know I am in for a fun read, and A Match in the Making fits that bill. She sweeps me away into her wonderful and hilarious adventures. I can’t help but smile when I start to read a novel by this author. The heroine Gwendolyn Brinley gets in over her head when her boss Mrs. Parker changes her job description from companion to the most unusual assistant matchmaker the Newport Season has ever seen. The rom-com takes off with a bang. Some of the best moments are the witty, amusing, and overdramatic banter between Walter and Gwendolyn as she sets out to find the best wife and mother for him and his children. The ending was a little abrupt (missed not having an epilogue), but maybe we will see more of Walter and Gwendolyn in To Spark a Match. Jen Turano never fails to entertain me with her stories. Her unique sense of humor always makes me laugh, and I thoroughly enjoy every minute of her incredible prose and plots. I found myself smiling and laughing out loud. There were also dangerous situations with tense moments, confrontations, and jealousy. Faith and love always make Jen Turano’s books a fun read. I requested and received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews. All the opinions are my own, and I was not required to give a positive review.  Reviewer: Katelyn Sponaugle A gifted wordsmith, Jen Turano’s novels have no lack of witty verbal sparring or rich vocabulary. She delivers a light, enjoyable, and humorous read. I’ve read and enjoyed several of Jen’s books, but A Match in the Making didn’t end up being a favored volume for me. I could not connect with the characters and storyline and thought the main character's relationship was fairly lackluster. I generally enjoy the banter between characters in Jen’s books. But in many places in this book, the dialogue seemed to stretch on and on while the happenings around them just seemed to stop moving. I found other characters endearing, such as the grandmothers, the Duveens, and even Gideon Abbott. All in all the story wrapped up satisfactorily, with Walter showing growth by the end. I would still read another Jen Turano novel in the future. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Lori Parrish This is my go-to author for rom-com, with some fun added to the mix! I enjoyed this book so very much! My favorite was Gwendolyn and Walter's bantering back and forth. The children were my second favorite. They were an absolute delight. Turano sure knows how to entertain her readers. She had me snickering the whole way through. A can't put down book that will have you laughing out loud. I loved the setting of this book too. I didn't want to come back after this book was finished. I read it in one day. You never know what God has in store for you. Gwendolyn sure didn't, and that was the best surprise of all. I highly recommend this book! I received a review copy courtesy of Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews. My thanks for a copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. Reviewer: Laura J. Davis This historical rom-com was a delight from start to finish. With a vibrant cast of characters, A Match in the Making is a fantastic start to Jen Turano's The Matchmakers series. Whenever I read a book by Jen, I wonder if she is as funny in person as she makes her leading ladies because this book is hilarious. Gwendolyn is the perfect female to infiltrate high society and bring them down a peg or two. And she does it most endearingly. While Gwendolyn tries to find a potential wife for Walter, she runs up against a pack of wild dogs (aka females on the hunt for a husband). So she sets out to train these dogs...er...females on how to find a suitable husband. The author had fun with Gwendolyn, and it shows! The dialogue, settings and vibrant sparring between Walter and Gwendolyn make this a book you can't put down. The author also had fun with the ladies making a beeline for Walter. Each one had a quirk or fault that made them unsuitable for Walter but perfect for someone else. Turano's character development makes this a delightful book you'll want to read again and again. While the ending was a little abrupt (an epilogue would have been great), I hope to see more of Walter and Gwendolyn in book two. If you enjoy historical romantic comedies, you will love this book! I received a review copy courtesy of Bethany House and NetGalley for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Karen Baney
What if Mary Poppins was a New York 400 Matchmaker during the Gilded Age? Jen Turano has outdone herself in this magnificent romantic comedy set during the Gilded Age. True to her style, Turano continues to delight me with witty dialogue and funny, creative, off-the-wall scenes that make me laugh. This is her best work yet. This past year, I’ve read several of Turano’s books. She continues to mature as a writer, devising amazing comedic scenes and lovable, less-than-perfect characters, which draw me into the story and the series. In A Match in the Making, her use of dialogue comes across even stronger while maintaining a witty appeal. Turano continues to deliver wonderfully entertaining stories. Gwendolyn’s character came across as realistic and relatable. Her no-nonsense approach to life drew me into her plight immediately. I loved how she challenged Walter to become a better father and man. His character arc warmed my heart. Turano’s choice to add children as a central part of the storyline was brilliant. Walter’s children brought plenty of tension and comedic relief to the story. Gwendolyn’s interaction with the children reminded me of Mary Poppins but with a flare all her own. The non-stop action moved the story at a rapid pace. I was so hooked on this book that I could not put it down. I rarely stay up until the wee hours of the morning reading, but this one was impossible to put down. I strongly recommend this for fans of clean historical romance with a touch of faith and a large dose of smile-inducing comedy. You will not be disappointed with this read. I requested and received an advanced copy of this book courtesy of Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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