I will not rate the book since I did not finish it. I read the first 100 pages, and the book was getting on my last nerve. I wanted to like it and be invested, but I just couldn't. Here's why:
The main characters are thirty years old but they are acting like adolescent teenagers. They constantly say how hot the other is, yet they are not attracted to each other. Whatever. They say they value their purity and reputation, yet Meredith moves into Derrick's house (staying in the living room) so they can have a fake relationship. Then, Meredith's aunt shows up so they will stop living in sin. I get that it is supposed to be funny, but it wasn't. I didn't care for either character, and if I was thirty, NO ONE would be coming to stop me from living in sin (if that makes sense, it's completely unrealistic). I did read the first book and you need to if you do decide to read this one, otherwise you will be lost.

This book was just sadly not for me! I was hoping for something different but it turned out to be something I was not expecting, which is okay and I'm sure someone else would love it!

Hello

Apologies for the late notice, but I have decided not to review this title.

While I am certain it's obvious by now, I wanted to also clear this off NetGalley, so it's not showing as open for either of us.

I look forward to continuing to work with you in 2023 and beyond.

Laura

Unfortunately this one was a no go for me. I wanted to lovei t but, I had to DNF it about 2/3 way through.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. Love the cover. Cute romcom. Recommend

This book was just outstanding. I just had so much fun reading this story. I’m really excited to see what’s next from this author.

The Matchmaker Bride is the second book in the Blue Hill Brides series by Ginny Baird. I really wish I would have known this was a sequel, because I feel like I missed out on a lot of stuff from the first book. One the other hand, I probably wouldn't have read it in time for this event had I known, because I would have wanted to read the first one first... and I'm so glad I read this book. It was super cute, and the characters were loads of fun. I loved their bantering, and you could just feel their chemistry. I really enjoy a good fake romance in general, but these two had that little something extra since they have a history of sorts. I definitely recommend reading the first book first, and now I need to go catch up on that first book myself!

Meredith, her back against the wall when grilled by a barracuda talk show host, fibs about having a boyfriend. Faced with her lie, in order to get a tv deal, she strikes a deal,with Derrick, to find his first love.
During the whole book, I wasn’t buying the vibes esteem Derrick and Meredith.
The ending was cute and cheesy, but I do think a permanent HEA is in the cards for these two.

I love the premise of this book, but there's something about Ginny Baird's writing style that just always falls a bit flat for me, and I can't pinpoint what it is. It's not BAD at all, it just doesn't resonate with me.

The Matchmaker Bride is the second book in the Blue Hill Brides series and since I hadn't read the first book in the series, I struggled to keep up with some of what happened in this book.

I liked the dynamic between the main characters but since their relationship began in the first book I always felt like I was missing a piece of the puzzle. That being said, the story was well written and the setting was lovely.

Although I didn't love the first book as much as I had hoped, I am glad I read it because it did add to this story in some ways. This one was a much more enjoyable read for me as well, so I'm glad I gave the author a second chance!

This book was completely predictable. I found skimming the last few chapters because my interest was waning. Merideth is not the first person to use her love life to get ahead but coming clean to her audience was absolutely the right thing to do. Whatever incident that happened at last summer's wedding still remains a mystery and is still unclear how it impacted the story narrative. Tita Clarita and Derricks grandparents were my favorite characters. Their love and support of their family is admirable.

Absolutely the most beautiful romance I have read in a while.

What happens when you are put on the spot on live television? You lie of course!!! That is exactly what Matchmaker extraordinaire Meredith did. Now she must make the best of the mess she has created.

Mer must stick to the plan...... Get Derrick back together with his ex and get her show syndicated. But what happens when feelings get involved. Will she be able to step aside?

This book was such a fun and highly entertaining read. The characters are amazing and full of energetic personalities. Mer was so much fun to read about and Derrick was a sweetheart. Both are very stubborn, yet they both are loyal and caring.

Overall the story was beautifully written. It flowed perfectly, with it's perfect mix of comedy and romance. I did feel a little lost or shall I say it was missing a chunk. It was talking about last years at Brent's wedding and something that happened during that time. The author did not go into detail and I felt like the story would have been so much better with that backstory. But hey...it was still a hit read.

This Hallmark worthy read is sure to be on the top of your summer tbr shelf. I know I enjoyed it. I have never read any books by Ginny Baird before, but now I intend to find more from her to read.

Ginny Baird was a new-to-me author with the first book in this series, The Duplicate Bride, and since I enjoyed that read so much, I opted to give this new book of hers a try. While it’s marketed as a standalone title, I think you’ll enjoy the secondary characters and their relationships with each other better if you read book one first. As with the first book, this one was quite entertaining. It’s mostly a light-hearted rom-com, but there is plenty of emotion packed between the lighthearted scenes. I will say that the baby shower games scene had me nearly falling out of my chair because I was laughing so hard. If you’re looking for a sweet rom-com with plenty of heart, I think you’ll enjoy picking this one up today.

Since so many other reviewers mentioned being lost because they didn't read the previous book, I want to say that I didn't have that problem at all. It was obvious that there had been a twin switch that went wrong, upset people, and worked out in the end. I didn't need more details to understand that Meredith and Derrick do not want to lie to his family while they are faking a relationship. I am going back to read that book because I am curious about it, but this book is still a standalone.
That said, I enjoyed reading this. I find that a lot of clean novels (this one has no swearing and a few kisses) have a hard time keeping up a decent level of tension. This author put the tension in at the beginning because Meredith wants to offer Derrick something in return for helping her fool the media: getting him back in touch with his ex-wife, Olivia. When Olivia comes for a visit, that means there is plenty of opportunity for interruptions and assumptions and such to interfere with Meredith and Derrick's attraction to each other -- the attraction that neither will admit. Love triangle plots are not my thing, but it never really goes there. Everyone is happy at the end of this story.
Meredith and Derrick are very funny together. The chemistry is obvious to everyone, and I was rooting for them the whole time. I enjoyed the family members who added even more fun. In all, this is what I want in a clean rom-com.

The Matchmaker Bride is a fun and easy to read romance, that has the fame trope, laugh out loud moments and a lovely romance that unfolds. It's a great book to spend an afternoon reading.

This story was a charming, clean wholesome story about a fake relationship turn real.

Meredith was a successful matchmaker with a televised show in Boston. She was hoping for a move up to the big leagues with a syndicated contract and possible streaming possibilities. When she was blindsided during an interview with another show's host, she made up a relationship with a boatbuilder in Maine.

Meredith had only met Derrick one other time, a year earlier, at her best friend's wedding. She was the maid of honor and he was the groom's best man. They had been like oil and water but there had been a spark and he was the first one who came to her mind when pressed. She just had to convince him that she could help him if he would agree to go along with her fake story.

Derrick had been married and divorced ten years earlier. He hadn't forgotten about Olivia and, sometimes, when he was feeling a little down, he thought about what might have been. It wasn't that he still loved Olivia, but he sometimes wondered. When Meredith showed up on his doorstep with her suitcase determined to convince him that she could help him get Olivia back, he didn't know what to think. The more time he spent with Meredith made him question if that is what he really wanted.

I loved the characters in this story; with entire Albright clan and Meredith's aunt. They were fun and really filled out the story. There is a happy ending that you will enjoy.

I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.

I really enjoyed the first book, The Duplicate Bride, and so I was excited to read this one. I also enjoyed The Matchmaker Bride, but I did feel like I was missing some parts of the story because I couldn't remember everything about them from the first book.

This was a lovely book, light and easy to read.

It's the story of Meredith and Derrick, as they make a pact to help each other and try to hide the thin layer of attraction between them until it grows unstoppable.

This book can be read as a standalone, which I did, but at times it refers to the previous book without giving too much detail. As I will not go back to read the other one, the mystery remains.

Both Meredith and Derrick are lovely characters, they are light hearted, respectful, caring, their banter in a bit flirty way, a bit fun, never hurtful. There is a lot of family in the mix, the whole book is a joyous gathering, not to mention Titi Clarita, Meredith's aunt, who is just the perfect spice for the whole reunion.

All in all, this is an easy to read chick lit, sure to bring a positive vibe to your day. It's very slow burn, so don't expect more than a kiss, but it's all nicely written so it's a charming read.

I received a copy of this in order to offer my honest opinion.

This was so funny and easy read! I enjoyed it from first page although it was a slow burn start.

Meredith is a matchmaker, so she gets roasted on national TV by the fact that she's single. In a minute of panic, she reacts and says she has a fiancee on the other part of the state- but doesn't count that media will blown all over and discover that she was talking about boat builder Derrick.

She quickly reaches him and suggest they fake date and she will reunite him with his ex wife.. And the comedy starts.

I enjoyed in this story, it was all I needed to get lost in some simple romance.

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