Marrying the Matchmaker

Author: Jody Hedlund
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: A Shanahan Match #4
Pages: 336
Release Date: February 3, 2026
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

As the middle child of the Shanahan family, Zaira does her best to keep the peace. She doesn't share her dream of becoming a published author with her family to spare herself their disapproval. When she's caught in a scandal involving the local matchmaker, Bellamy McKenna, she must put her storytelling ability to good use and feign a match with him to avoid wagging tongues and her parents' anger.

Feeling the growing pressure to marry as a well-known, yet single matchmaker to St. Louis's Irish community, Bellamy reluctantly agrees to a temporary match with Zaira. But even though the matchmakers in his family might be able to find love for others, they have a history of disastrous relationships for themselves. When secrets and danger force Zaira and Bellamy to work together, is it finally the matchmaker's turn to be lucky in love?

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Reviewer: Rebecca Maney

“You’ll be my fake fiance, Bellamy . . . . And I’ll be yours.”

The stage is set. Zaira Shanahan needs some first hand romantic experience in order to write more emotional depth into her newspaper columns and Bellamy McKenna is being pressured to include personal knowledge of a more amorous nature with his current clientele as he continues to build his distinction as a reputable matchmaker. Naturally, what happens next sends a ball rolling down a slippery slope of potential catastrophe, ensuring the consequences will be both entertaining to watch (or in this case, read) and embarrassing to imagine.

Realizing a little too late that their subterfuge has consequences, Bellamy and Zaira furiously try to backtrack their impulsive decision to deceive their families, when unfortunately they find themselves in a terribly compromising situation. “It’s not too late to work at being honest.”

Romantic tension oozes from every pore of this engaging story, proving that sometimes a picture is truly worth more than a thousand words.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews.

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Reviewer: Carolyn Bryant

Marrying the Matchmaker is a captivating conclusion to the wonderful A Shanahan Match series. The series offers an entertaining snapshot of Irish American community life in 19th century St. Louis, unfolding through the lives and loves of the Shanahan and McKenna families. 

This story centers around the relationship between middle daughter Zaira Shanahan and matchmaker Bellamy McKenna. Their contrasting personalities (imaginative versus logical) clash in delightful ways, and both beautifully crafted characters are conflicted between family expectations and personal dreams. Tender moments mixed with humorous ones, wrapped in romantic tension, keep the well-paced story engaging and fresh. I totally enjoyed this story and the series and highly recommend them.

I read an early copy of this book from the publisher through Interviews & Reviews via NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

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Reviewer: Lori Parrish

This book y’all! Best by far, hands down!!

My favorite in this delightful series. I wish it wasn’t the last one. I’ve loved these characters since the beginning.

This book made me chuckle throughout the whole story with Bellamy and Zaira’s banter and their antics.

I simply couldn’t put this book down. I finished it early this morning.

This had the perfect ingredients to keep you interested all the way through. I learned much and made friends with Bellamy and Zaira. I found myself rooting for them too. I mean, they really did make me laugh. I knew she wanted to shake him at times, and so did I . I wanted him to wake up and smell the roses to see what’s in front of him. He kept me on the edge of my seat. I did love getting to know him though.

Hedlund has done a wonderful job as always with this beautiful, heartfelt story. I was in love the minute I opened this book. Or before I even opened it. I didn’t want it to end and was sad when it did.

5 stars for a wonderful adventure through St. Louis that I thoroughly enjoyed!

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.

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