I received a copy of The Allure of Attraction by Julia Kelly from NetGalley in exchange of a fair review. This is the third in her Matchmaker of Edinburgh Series but can be read as a stand alone. While the first two books are wonderful to read, the characters do not make an appearance in this book but in passing. However, Lavinia Parkem has been in the previous books.
Lavinia Parkem has never forgotten her first love Andrew Colter. Believing he was dead, Lavinia was forced to marry someone whom she could never love. Now a widow and successful dressmaker in Edinburgh, she comes face to face with Andrew.
Andrew lost at sea came home to find his finance Lavinia married. Hurt and betrayed, he lashed out at Lavinia with hateful words. Now years later, he is forced to request her help in a matter for the Crown. But, can he trust her?
I love Julia Kelly and her stories. And this is no exception. A wonderful second chance story that pits Andrew and Lavinia against one another is sheer stubbornness. Lavinia succeeds in maintaining her hard earn independence and Andrew learns the truth. In my opinion, this is the best of the series so far!!! #TheAllureofAttraction #NetGalley

I love this book! Lavinia was such a strong woman that had to endure a great deal in her life. She simply pulled herself up and forged ahead. She has a worthless brother that expects monetary help for his gambling problems. He has very decided opinions about how his sister should live especially when it would benefit him. Andrew Colter was not afraid of strong feelings for Lavinia from a young age, but strong feelings of love change to hate easily when he is hurt. He doesn't give Lavinia a chance to explain just expels vitriol at her. Years later they meet again under forced circumstances and boy do we have fireworks. I do not want to give anything else away, so please read the book.

Entertaining from beginning to end, this is a story of love once lost but with an unexpected chance to be found again. Lavinia Parkem and Andrew Colter had grown up as childhood friends and when she was 16 they became engaged. But Andrew was a sailor in the navy and in a turn of events, was lost in a shipwreck. Or so everyone thought! Lavinia was forced by her parents to marry another and when none other than Andrew returns looking for her, he is devastated she did not wait for him. So he devotes himself to the navy running secret missions for the foreign office which eventually brings him full circle back to Lavinia. Needing her help to infiltrate the home of a businessman, he uses the influence of Moira Sullivan, the infamous matchmaker of Edinburgh, to convince Lavinia, now widowed, to help him in his quest. Old feelings start to surface, but there are a few hidden secrets and danger lurking as sparks fly between the two. A delightful story that is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone. But why would you want to do that? Enjoy!!

Eyemouth Scotland - 1863

Lavinia Malcolm, 16, is the daughter of a vicar. She is in love with Andrew Colter who works with his father ferrying people from Eyemouth to Edinburgh. Lavinia has stolen out into the night to meet Andrew. That night they make love with promises that he would always come back to her.

London - Years Later

Andrew has worked hard for 20 years sailing and finally becoming the Captain of the Endeavor. Now that he has made a goodly sum of money, he has returned home and is ready to retire. During his many years of sailing, he has carried out numerous missions for the War Office. Now he has been summoned to undertake yet another assignment to ensure that the Prince of Wales’s visit to Edinburgh is safe. In order to get Andrew to agree to help, the War Office tells him that Lavinia is in some way involved with a plot against the Prince.

When Andrew left Eyemouth in 1863, he promised Lavinia he would return. However, he was shipwrecked, injured, and declared dead. By the time he recovered and got back home, Lavinia had married Alistair Parkem. Now, she is a widow who owns a dress shop in Edinburgh. Her odious landlord, a man named Wark, has been trying to get her to be his mistress. She has always rebuffed him. Now, the War Office wants Andrew to convince Lavinia to at least pretend to be Wark’s woman so she can keep an eye on him and gather information on him as the War Office believes he is very much involved in the plot against the Prince. At first she says no but her younger brother, Caleb, has lost 2,000 pounds gambling and she promises to get the money for him. Thus, her fee to help Andrew is 2,000 pounds.

Moira Sullivan is a matchmaker and part of the War Office. Andrew has asked for her help to persuade Lavinia to help.

As Andrew and Lavinia meet up again, he is bitter that she did not wait for him and she tells him she had no choice as her parents pushed her into the marriage. Now that she is a successful, independent woman, can she and Andrew hope to have a future together?

This could have been more appealing to me how there not been so much involvement with the War Office. This is supposed to be a romance novel.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Time and circumstance tore them apart. Could a case of intrigue unite what was always meant to be? The Allure of Attraction is appealing romance hidden inside a spectacular adventure. Lavinia and Andrew are captivating pair.

The Allure of Attraction by Julia Kelly is book Three in The Matchmaker of Edinburgh Series. This is the story of Lavinia Parkem and Andrew Colter. I have read the previous books, but feel this can easily be a standalone book.
Lavinia and Andrew were childhood friends then they became engaged with she was 16 years old. But Andrew was a sailor working to earn money when he was thought to be dead. For six months she mourned his loss but her parents forced her to marry another man. Just a few days after the marriage Andrew came back into her life and he said terrible things to her about her betraying him by marring another. Now all these years later, she is a widower and he a spy in need of her services. It seems that Lavinia landlord who also flirts with her might be in trade with arms dealers. So Andrew needs her to spy on the man to learn his secrets. This brings them together again and the old feels start to come out again along with the old hurts of past.
Enjoyed reading their story!

Publisher's Description:

The lyrical and enchanting Matchmaker of Edinburgh series returns with this third novel following a Scottish matchmaker who uses her uncanny ability to craft perfect matches—no matter what the couple may initially believe.

Lavinia Parkem, the most talented dressmaker in Edinburgh, has never forgotten her first love: Captain Andrew Colter. They were meant to be married years earlier but when Andrew’s ship was wrecked in the Caribbean her parents forced her to marry another.

Andrew may have survived a shipwreck to find fame and fortune at sea, but he never fully healed after Lavinia’s abandonment. Instead, he dedicated himself to the navy—and secret missions for the foreign office. Nearing retirement and back on British soil, he’s given a new assignment—infiltrate the home of a wealthy banker who’s suspected of being behind a plan to assassinate the Prince of Wales. But to do that, Andrew must recruit and turn the woman the banker once wooed: Lavinia Parkem.

Unable to shirk his duties, Andrew begrudgingly uses the influence of successful matchmaker of Edinburgh to convince the now-widowed Lavinia to help him take down his mark. She relents, telling herself that Andrew’s no longer the warm, loving young man she once knew. But the more time she spends with him, the harder it is to pretend there’s no longer any attraction there. And it’s tormenting Andrew that he must ask her to put herself in more and more danger and now, he must decide whether his duty to queen and country is worth risking the life of the woman he never stopped loving.

My Thoughts:

This is another very well written installment in Julia Kelly's Matchmaker of Edinburgh series. This author has amazed and entertained me since the first book I read by her in September of 2016. The first title I read by her was The Governess was Wicked. I have now read and reviewed four others and found them to be delightful reads. I look forward to reading many more.

The characters in all of these books are well developed and make me look forward to the next in the series.

This is book #3 of this series and unfortunately I missed Book #1. I did read the one prior to this one so Lavinia was not new to me and I am happy she got her own story.
Lavinia and Andrew knew each other as children and as teens had promised themselves to each other. Unfortunately fate took over and Andrew was thought to be dead so Lavinia found herself married to someone of her father's choosing.
Now time has passed and her husband is dead. Lavinia is now a renowned dressmaker in Edinburgh and Andrew need her to help him catch an would be assassin.
What can come of this reunion of sorts? Will this second chance at love lead to a happily ever after for this pair?
Don't miss this third book of this series. Although there are connecting characters each book can be read and enjoyed as a standalone.
I gave this book 4.5 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization and a warm sensual rating of 3.25 of 5.0 flames. This is more of a renewed love story with underlying mystery than physical intimacy although there is some involvement.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley to read and review. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Lavinia Parkem nee Malcolm, the most talented dressmaker in Edinburgh, has never forgotten her first love: Captain Andrew Colter. They were meant to be married years earlier but when Andrew’s ship was wrecked in the Caribbean & he was feared drowned & her parents forced her to marry another. Andrew may have survived a shipwreck to find fame and fortune at sea, but he never fully healed after Lavinia’s abandonment. Instead, he dedicated himself to the navy and secret missions for the foreign office. Andrew’s wanting to retire but is given one last new assignment, to infiltrate the home of a wealthy businessman who’s suspected of being behind a plan to assassinate the Prince of Wales. A man who happened to be interested in Lavinia. Unable to shirk his duties, Andrew begrudgingly uses the influence of Moira Sullivan the most successful matchmaker of Edinburgh to convince the now-widowed Lavinia to help him take down his mark. She relents as she also has an ulteria motive .
Another engrossing read which I read in under a day, this is the third book in the series but could be read by its self, but why would you when the series is very good. We did meet Lavinia in the second book when she was modiste to Caroline so I was pleased to read her story. The characters are very well fleshed, I really liked Andrew & Lavinia & they were just meant to be together. Another bonus was Lavinia was a self made woman who had forged a life for herself when left with very little when her husband died. The pace of the story is very good & doesn’t lag but builds to a breathtaking & satisfying climax. I hope there are more books to come in the series

My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Ms. Kelly's writing is so engaging that it is hard to put her books down once you start reading. What can I say, Andrew is a hero any woman can love. I knew I liked Lavinia from the previous book. What I really like about these characters is that, especially Lavinia, is not young and dumb. She is highly intelligent and is not afraid to show it. The interactions between these two and the interaction with secondary characters leave you feeling you are right there with them. I didn't think any story could eclipse the last one but this one is on the same plane. Loved, loved it.

Who will be next for The Matchmaker of Edinburgh? I have some thoughts.